Snippet #1501159

Birgitte walked through the courtyard of Winterfell with her woolen cloak wrapped tightly around her, she wore a woolen dress of deep burgundy but still she felt cold. She had not felt warm since the feast months ago, since she had lost her daughter and her brother in law in one fell swoop. It felt as though ice had encased her and would not allow any warmth to pass through. Nathanial did his best to warm her at night but even his strong arms could not break the ice that seemed to cover her permanently. She still loved him and that would never change and yet she had withdrawn from him frightened of losing him too. The pain of his loss might well break her and so she tried to ease any pain in the future by not feeling anything.

The courtyard around her was bustling and she was surrounded by organised chaos. Ever since the events at King's Landing Nathanial had been preparing for the inevitible. He knew that the Winslers and/or Lionel would come for Winterfell as it made sense to remove the King's allies before attacking the King. As Birgitte walked towards the keep she passed blacksmiths working hard beside their forges producing weapons for the men. Winterfell's soldiers trained in the yard practicing to ensure they were as good as they could be when the time came. More men were bringing in food and drink from the villages and land around Winterfell. They were preparing for a long haul and needed to have as much stored for a possible siege as they could.

Birgitte nodded and smiled when greeted but the smile did not reach her eyes and she did not see the looks of concern the men exchanged as she passed. Lady Birgitte was well loved by those who served House Grayhardt and all had noticed how withdrawn she had become. She entered the keep proper and climbed the stairs to the second floor, the corridors were lined with torches and thick rugs covered the floor to help keep out the chill. Pictures and tapestries lined the walls many of them of the Grayhardt family. Though some were also of House Stark who had owned Winterfell before them. Birgitte was well versed in House Stark's history and remembered well how that house had been torn apart by the politics and war of those vying to be King. SHe feared that a similar fate would befall her own family and felt a sense of helplessness to prevent it. Events were happening too fast for her to react and she felt lost at sea without an anchor, all she could do was hope that the current would bring her to land safely.

She entered one of the rooms on that floor and Nathanail looked up when she entered. He stood by a lrge wooden table that was strewn with maps and reports. His second in command stood beside him and both of their faces were grave.
"My lady." Colm Argentis inclined his head.
Birgitte nodded and then looked to her lord husband. "What news?"
Nathanial looked tired, more tired than she had ever seen him and she knew he was missing his brothers strong, stoic presence badly. Quincel had been a rock that Nathanial had often supported himself with and now that he was gone her husband struggled.
"A soldier arrived late last night, he had news from White Harbour. He found an injured man trying to reach Winterfell. Before the man died he told him of how White Harbour had been attacked. Our fleet is in flames and as yet I do not know how many survived the attack."

Birgitte clenched her hands and felt herself wavering on her feet, she sat down heavily in a chair and gazed almost unseeingly at her husband.
So it begins
"Who was it?" She asked wondering which of their enemies had reached them first.
"Lionel Storm."
"He will soon learn that the Wolves are not so easily destroyed." Birgitte said quietly but her voice was like steel and as she spoke she felt a little of the ice around her crack.
Nathanial met her gaze and his eyes showed his love and gratitude that she had stood by him throughout thils whole terrible affair.
"There is more." He said equally quietly. "Quincel and Leiliana were with him. The soldier said he saw Leiliana kill many of our men with her bow."

Birgitte was reminded then of words that her husband had spoken to his brother on the night of the feast.
She is lost to us
"She is truly lost to us."Birgitte said quietly and a little more of the ice cracked making her abloe to feel the stab to the heart that those words caused.