The bitter wind beat against my furs. We rode north, to go see the Starks at Winterfell. I turned over to my Knight, Barristan Selmy, one of the greatest Knights of the Seven Kingdoms. His old, pale face turned at me and gave a smile. Than focusing on his main task. The road was muddy, cold, and now it was windy. I slumped in my saddle at the thought of that. I am four and ten name days. A new squire to Ser Barristan. The caravan of people, kept adding on as we rode softly, for the Queen and her kids didn't like to have a long day of being couped up in that box. Whatever they called it. Men talking over hoof stomps could be heard behind me, I turned to see Ser Jaime talking with King Robert, about the travels. "Ser Barristan," his white hairs flew in the wind as his face turned to acknowledge me. "how much longer is it ti' Winterfell Ser?" I asked looking up from my blue eyes. "If we ride fast, 1 moon at the most Tom." He looked back up at the road ahead. His eyes focusing on something, that was never there. I decided to let him have his thoughts to himself, as I strode to the back, to the other Squire I was friends with, Kip.

"Hail, Tom." Kip said extending his hand. I gripped his forearm and shook. "How fares the travel so far?" I asked turning my horse so we would travel in the same direction. He sighed. "Slow.. and long." I nodded my head in agreement. My horse traveled by his for a bit longer in silence than I expected. "Your Knight still teaching you sword play, Kip?" I asked him. He laughed. "He's always to drunk to stand, but some other Knights allow me to train with them from time to time. It's not like I have Ser Barristan." He said with a hint of jealousy. "You never did tell me how." He stated flipping his head in my direction. I stared at him, with question. "You got to be his squire idiot." He answered the question for me. "Well, I'm distant from the current Lord of Bitterbridge, but my mother was married to a Selmy. Ser Barristan was really close to her, he saw me when I was born." I said with a slight smile forming on my face, or was it a smirk. I guess Barristan saw my mother in me. After my father had died, when I was one and ten, I stayed at Bitterbridge, until one day Barristan showed up and asked me if I would like to come with him. I said yes of course, one reason being the other Caswell's thought bad of me. Kip turned away from looking at me. "I miss home, you?" He asked me. I shrugged. "Nothin' there for me." I said staring ahead, at the muddy, cold road. "You see the girls that are traveling with us?" He said with lust. I sighed, "Is that all you think about Kip?" He laughed a hardy laugh. "Aye." Is all he said as he turned his horse around and went towards the back of the caravan. I didn't really know a lot of people here, as I knew the Kingsguard really well, I never had much love for them. Ser Preston, doesn't seem like the best guy, he seems questionable. Ser Boros, is a fat, gluttonous, drunkard. Ser Meryn, is kind to me. Sometimes spars with me. Ser Jaime, spars with me alot, he told me one day if i'd like to be his squire to ask him. I appreciated the offer, but Barristan is family. Ser Mandon, rarely talks to me, more just stares. "Tom!" A shout came from the front of the caravan. 'Ser Barristan' I thought immediately. I rode up back to his side. "Yes, Ser Barristan?" I asked him. He unsheathed his sword and handed it to me. "We're going to make camp soon, clean it for me." He said nodding. I took the sword and held onto it until we made camp. I took a rag out of my pocket, and brought it up to the sword going up and down.

I stopped until it was like the way it used to be, everytime he'd tell me how he'd like it. Satisfied, I walked through the camp back to Ser Barristan. 'Not much like Kingslanding, the drunks are though.' I thought to myself passing up a ton of drunk men and women rambling on about nonsense. I saw Ser Barristan outside of King Robert's tent. "Ser Barristan, your sword." I presented to him. He studied it in my hand, before picking it up and examining it. "You've become used to the way I taught you." He claimed, putting his finger onto the blade. I nodded. "That's good. Your free for the night, or you can stay here and watch the tent with me." He stated. I didn't know anyone in the camp really, so I decided to stay. "I'll stay here with you Ser." I said standing by his side. "You'll need a sword, Tom." He said almost laughing. I forgot, I left it at my tent. "I'll go grab it, my apologies Ser." I assured him. "Tom please, when it's just you and I, it's Barristan." He said with a smile. I nodded and left.

"Tom!" A familiar shout came from the drunk crowd before my tent. The man shoved his way through the crowd, revealing himself. "Kip, what are you doing?" I asked, rasing a brow. "My knight asked me to drink with him tonight, and now we're here." He laughed, stumbling around. "I'm going watch the King's tent with Ser Barristan, I'll see you Kip." I said trying to get out of there as soon as possible. He grunted and went back to drinking. Kip's a good friend, not the best companionship, but a good friend, loyal. I grabbed my sheathe. 'Good, my sword is still in here.' I assured myself with my thoughts. I wrapped it around my waist and fitted it to my liking. After I walked back to Ser Barristan and stood by his side. The night was peaceful, but loud. Barristan always did this, would stand by the tent, every night. I wondered why, after all, this King did kill his other King. Or overthrow him, the killing was done by Ser Jaime. I shook the thought from my mind. "Barristan, what was my father like?" I looked up at him. His face saddened. "Your father?" He looked at me. I nodded. I knew his name, I never knew what he was like. He didn't raise me. He was lways running off to go find adventure. "Your father, Martyn, was a man of adventure, he was an exceptional knight aswell. He could joust worth Rhaegar..." He realized what he said. "He was good friends with us, I mean the kingsguard of course. We asked him to join one time, and he denied it. Said, 'I have to many adventures ahead.' Sadly, when you were born, he kissed your forhead and left." I looked into the distance imagining my father doing this. "Your mother came to me, and stayed in the white tower until she passed from sadness." I nodded in agreement. "So, Martyn was a knight?" I asked him. "Aye, I liked to call him, The Centaur, he rode like he was born atop a horse." He said chuckling. I laughed at that a bit. My coat of arms was a Centaur wielding a Bow. I couldn't shoot a bow worth nothing, but I've always loved horses and swords. I shrugged at the thought.

"Ah, Barristan!" A drunken voice arose. I turned to see King Robert coming out of the tent. "I'm going to feast with the men, care to join me?" He said raising a cup to his mouth, downing it in one swallow. "Gladly, your Grace." Ser Barristan stated and than added, "May my Squire come along aswell, my King?" He asked. The King walked over to me and studied my face. "Why not, come along now!" His drunken slurred voice stated as he ran off to join one of the drinking groups.

I always thought Winterfell would have been bigger than this. But, this is sort of what I expected. The Stark children resembled their mother, with the exception of the young one, Arya. The king and Eddard, knew each other well. We were seen to our chambers, and as me, I was seen to the stables. I washed off our horses, and prepared them for when we were going to depart from this very cold place.

Once my duty was done, I decided to travel Winterfell. It was a nice, peaceful place. It was rarely busy, for what I expected with the King's consorts here and all. The son's and squires sparred in the training field, as the guards stood their posts. Walking to the training yard, I was greeted by a grey haired man. I greeted myself. "I am Tom Caswell, squire to Ser Barristan, who might you be?" I asked the old man. "Rodrik Cassel, I train the Stark children." He stated simply. He watched the children spar, keeping an eye on them. Robb was good, could be better. It was the other one, Lord Eddard's bastard that excelled in the duel. He was good, I'll give him that. Temptation gave in, as I watched them. I walked over to the bastard, after his duel with Robb. "I'd like to spar, I'm Tom." I said putting out my hand. He grabbed my wrist and shook it. "I'm Jon, this is Robb, as you should know." Robb nodded in my direction and went stand by Rodrik, who told him what he did wrong and what not. "Shall we use steel?" The bastard said, raising a brow. I nodded, and grabbed the dull sword from Rodrik. "Begin when ready." The duel began with his voice. Jon was patient, as was I. We circled each other for a minute or two. I stepped in with a stab, he parried and slashed back at me. I ducked it, and brought my sword up to block his counter. It went on for what seemed like hours. We were both pouring sweat. By this time, a crowd grew, betting on who was going to win. Jon came at me again, I was slow, he hit my side. I let out a groan of pain, and blocked the next attack, that came from the next side. I countered with a swing at his ribs. Successfully landing it, I moved in. He raised his sword again, and swung. I was quick to react and hit his wrist knocking the sword from his hand. He grabbed his wrist and Rodrik came up quick to make sure his wrist was alright. "Go see the maester Jon," He said than looking at me. "You fought well." Was all he said as he walked off. Jon walked up to me, "Good fight, I noticed I messed up when I swung." He said, before walking off to go see the maester. I put the sword back on the rack. A smile formed on my face. 'I'm getting better, thankfully all to Barristan.' I thought to myself walking off. "Tom," Barristan's voice rose from the crowd that was gathered. "that was a good fight." He said before stating where my flaws were. I still smiled through it nonetheless. After, the lecture, I returned to my chambers and rested.

I was awoke by a bunch of noise going on. I grabbed my tunic, breeched, and sword belt. I put those on before exiting my chambers. I walked outside to see everyone bustled up together. I found Barristan. "Ser Barristan what is going on?" I asked him. He turned around and whispered in my ear. "It's Bran, he has fallen from climbing. The maester is seeing him right now, but Robert, is asking Ned to be his hand now. We'll be leaving soon Tom." He said before turning his attention back to the group. I shrugged, and walked off. It was sad yes, I didn't know the kid, so I shouldn't worry about it. I spotted Sansa, with one of her hand maidens. Was it that word? I didn't know what the world was called, It was either a friend or her hand maiden. I shrugged. I walked past them, to hear her friend say something about me. I turned around and confronted the group. "I heard you, you know." A red stream flushed her face. "I'm sorry my Lord." Was all she said, Sansa just stared at me. "I'm not a Lord, I assure you. But, I would like to know what you said, I'm Tom by the way Lady Sansa." I bowed to the Red headed girl. Aye, she was beautiful. "Nice to meet you, Tom." She said, "My friend Jeyne, was just stating you are quite handsome." She said, very shyly with a blushed face. I even blushed myself. I bowed, "Sorry if I scared you both, I didn't mean to." I said hopefully making them feel more comfortable. They nodded, and left. 'That could have went better.' I thought to myself. The travel south will be something new. I assured myself.