⊰ onlydiie ⊱

                   qhorin nods. so soon indeed. the watch is not what it once was && there are rangers gone missing. not to mention the old bear SUSPECTS mance rayder is plotting a thing, and mormont’s usually right.  ❛ no. lord commander mormont intends to STRENGTHEN the numbers on the wall.  ❜

                  they don’t have the numbers, nor the resources to open another castle. a PAINFUL thing && if it depended on him, he would’ve done something. but he knows the old bear is trying his best.  ❛ there are many, all sealed, but it consumes many resources to put them in use again. resources we do not have. ❜

          Bran would delight to hear such tales; if this black brother stayed to sup at Winterfell no doubt the young boy would spend hours pleading for another gruff regaling of those stories Old Nan had told a thousand times. Yet even she felt important now, privy to an officer’s plans, no matter how trivial or public such knowledge might prove to be. 

             “Oh, but Father would find great displeasure in hearing of the Watch’s woes.” Every Starkling knew the men who manned the Wall stood great friends to the realm, and to Winterfell in turn; though Sansa suspected such great respect came partly from knowing her half-brother would one day take his solemn vows amongst their number, she revered them all the same. “We Starks have ever considered ourselves staunch allies to the Watch; he would wish to give whatever aid he could.”

⊰onlydiie ⊱

               she’s a PERFECT lady, ‘t is obvious to him from the first second. despite being SURROUNDED by criminals, lowborn SCUM and plenty of things he dare not name in the presence of lady sansa stark, he has not forgotten how to behave properly in the presence of lords && ladies.

                 not a man to talk often, the halfhand solemnly nods, acknowledging his name && the compliment. wary he is when in these LORDLY courts. they are not his HOME, nor will they ever be.  ❛ the night’s watch needs more men. ❜

          Not privy to chatter on the Watch’s current state, she could not fathom how different Winterfell must seem to one whose life revolved about a castle decidedly less noble. Though some thieves and unwanted bastards donned cloth of raven’s wing still Sansa believed in what ancient goodness ran through that brotherhood, espoused so prettily in songs of heroes and fair maids. Half-brother though he was, Lord Eddard would not condemn poor Jon to a fate at all terrible in nature.

             Wordlessly she forgave the black brother his lack of further flattery. Northern men had not the flowered tongues of southron knights. Driven half to tears by waiting, the girl knew better than ever to reprimand another for her failed expectations, least of all a guest awaiting her father’s audience. “So soon?” she quearied, not at all aware of when last they might have asked. “Do you mean to open another castle? Septa Mordane taught us that several stand abandoned all along the Wall.”

⊰ onlydiie ⊱

            it’s no secret he rather stays on the wall, but he’s one of the few familiar enough — save for benjen  — with the stark lords to convince them once again it’s WINTERFELL && the WATCH that must defend the realm from whatever that lurks beyond.

               not lord stark he finds, but SANSA. she has the tully eyes, but still lord eddard stark’s look. the HALFHAND takes off his hood in honor, maimed hand visible under the ragged grays (once it had been BLACK) he dons. ❛ are you sansa stark? ❜

          Recognition ever delighted eldest Stark daughter, come it from commoner or lord alike. In her resemblance to fair mother she took great satisfaction, knowing well what beauty Lady Catelyn held in youth and continued to boast of long after removing herself to the frigid North. 

             Smiling, already delighted by one who so clearly serves with an uncle atop the Wall, Sansa offered the stranger a perfect curtsy. “Indeed, ‘tis so. And I must guess that you are no other than the valiant Qhorin, ranger of the Night’s Watch.” Though she knew far batter than to stare, ‘twas obvious what wound he bore upon one hand. “What is it that had brought you so far south?”