Dreadfort Castle
POV of Lady Barbrey Dustin
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Lady Barbrey almost shouted. Her eyes were blazing in righteous anger, and her nephew backed away in fear, raising his arms to calm her down.
Calm her down! Hah! As if she would be calm knowing that Domeric was leaving for yet another stupid expedition as soon as she returned home.
"Auntie. At least let me explain it to you." Her nephew said.
"Explain. What's there to explain? Are you not going on yet another expedition North of the Wall?" she asked as she looked around for something to pick up and beat her nephew with. A few good smacks to his head might yet beat the foolishness out of him.
"Yeah, well… yeah… but there's more to that. Much more."
"Then send your men. What good are they if you have to risk your own life every time something important comes up?" she asked. "Don't you have the greatest swordsman, Varko, as your sworn shield? Why don't you send him on this expedition?"
Her nephew frowned at that. "Okay, first of all, he might be a great swordsman, but a great commander he was not. Secondly, you know very well, Auntie, that I'm not the kind of man who would sit in his castle and expect his subordinates to fight for him."
She almost snorted at that. Even with all the strength he had gained, all the stubble he had grown, and all the maturity he had shown, he would always remain a boy to her. The boy who became a lord when he was far too young to shoulder its burdens.
And the fact that he had done so well as a lord said more than anything about her nephew's talents and abilities.
"Thirdly, you know that I have my own set of skills that make it very important to be present on this expedition."
She frowned and sat down on a chair, motioning him to take the chair opposite her.
"Explain to me then. Why are you going on an expedition North of the Wall once again? Why is it so important that you go out there and risk your life on that frozen piece of land? What do you want, nephew?"
Her angry tirade had turned into a desperate plea by the end, but she paid no attention even as her nephew looked distinctly uncomfortable by it all.
Her nephew remained silent, his eyes closed in contemplation, before he opened his eyes and gazed at her seriously.
"You're the first person I'm about to tell this." He said, "And you're not going to like it. Are you sure you want to know why I'm again leaving for the North?"
"Yes." She replied with equal seriousness.
"Brace yourself for this piece of information then." He told her, and then, after a moment of silence, he explained, "The White Walkers are back, Auntie."
Nothing. Absolutely nothing could have prepared her for this piece of news. And even as she tried not to show any signs of shock or fear, judging by the concern on her nephew's face, she was not doing a good job of it.
She did not even consider that her nephew would lie to her.
"How…" she let out, her voice weaker and raspier than she had expected, and she realized that her throat was dry.
Her nephew took out a glass of water from his bottomless pouch and gave it to her.
She gave him a thankful glance and took a few sips from it. "How would you know such… a thing?" she asked clearly this time, a little angry at how her voice shook in the end.
She did not want to be a frightened kitten right now. She wanted to be a pillar of strength for her nephew. Someone whom he could tell things like these. Someone whom he could consult without any fear. Not a scared little lady.
But the unexpected mention of the White Walkers had shaken her to the core and filled her with a primal fear that she was having difficulty overcoming.
Then her nephew put his hands on top of hers, and it was as if a fog had been lifted from her mind, and she found herself becoming calmer by the moment.
"Take a deep breath, Auntie," Domeric said, and she nodded, doing as he told her to. Feeling more and more calm and collected with each breath.
By the end of it, she had regained her composure, so her nephew nodded at her and started explaining, "All those years ago, when I met Mance on the expedition North of the wall…"
Ten minutes later, she was still silent as her nephew ended his tale of how he could now feel a distinct difference in the air whenever he went North of the Wall and was sure that it was the doing of the White Walkers.
"I must go and investigate this situation on my own." He told her in the end, "I must see if these White Walkers are really as dangerous as they're made out to be. And if they are, then I must inform Lord Stark and King Robert about it to prepare the whole Seven Kingdoms for the war that will come this Winter."
She could only nod at that. Not knowing what else to do.
"Well, it seems like I cannot stop you in this endeavor of yours." She said, "But… promise me that you'll return. That you won't do something foolish and sacrifice your life for your men. Promise me that you'll prioritize your life above everyone else in your group. Promise me this."
Her nephew looked reluctant, but she continued to look at him resolutely, and he finally nodded at her.
"Then I make this vow to you. I'll put my life above those under my command and make sure to return at all costs, no matter what."
She nodded at him before she rose from her seat and pulled him into a tight hug.
At that moment, she was reminded of how she hugged her husband, William Dustin, when he went to the war down South and never returned.
She tightened the hug on her nephew and prayed to the Old Gods once again to keep him safe.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.140: Secret Expedition
Ch.141: In Search of the White Walkers