The road back to Ironrath was proving uneventful for Lyra and Gared, and it only added to the optimistic feeling the former had. This whole business between the Forresters and Whitehills might've well built up into a bloody mess if she hadn't shown up, but since she had, she felt that she had done a decent job of persuading them to act against such an ending. The eldest Whitehill daughter had agreed to marry a Forrester son, the son of the patriarch of the Whitehill family wasn't out for their blood anymore and seemed to be willing for a closer alliance after thinking on the subject. It was a welcomed outcome. Now, all she had to do was hope they'd keep their words and become allies.

The young squire on her back didn't share her optimism and she'd be foolish to say she couldn't see why. His former lord had been killed by such hope. Still, she hoped he'd warm up to the idea of having fewer enemies in the world sooner rather than later.

A fresh gust of air smacked her face. "Wind's a bit colder today," Lyra said.

Gared scoffed from Lyra's back. "Well, winter is coming."

"It is?" Lyra asked.

"It's the words of House Stark," Gared said. "But it's also true. Summer ended close to a year ago."

Lyra was tempted to stop right in her tracks. "What do you mean, summer ended a year ago?"

"Just what I said," Gared replied. "Summer's over and winter is on the way."

"I know that. Why the phrase 'a year ago?'" Lyra asked. "Don't you have summer once a year?"

Lyra sensed Gared shake his head. "Winters and Summers come in cycles and can last years." His voice took on a curious tone when he continued. "Is that different from where you're from?"

"Very much so," Lyra replied, her speed decreasing. "Winter and summer come in the same year back in Tamriel. Each one lasting only a few months and separated autumn and spring." She shuttered at the thought of one particular season lasting longer as was the case in this land. "So, what month is it?"

"You'd have to ask a Maester about that," Gared said, as his head began to hurt trying from the woman's questions.

"Fair enough," Lyra replied. "I guess I can't ask too much of a squire."

Lyra's legs finally came to a stop and Gared quickly got off her back. Judging by the reappearance of trees, they were somewhere in the Ironwood forest. "I say we'll be fine if we walk from here," Lyra said, rubbing her neck and taking her pack from Gared. "Not that you're no fun to heave around."

"Ha. Ha." Gared replied, more than happy to be back on his feet. It was true that moving at such a speed was a great time-saver, but staying on the back of someone was far from comfortable and he was ready to stretch his legs for a change. The pair's journey back to Ironrath continued unabated until finally the Forrester keep came into view. The smile on Gared's face at the sight made Lyra chuckle. It seemed that no matter the land, no one ever tired of seeing home.

As the gate opened up for them, Lyra heard the voice of a guard call out to them, "Gared Tuttle, Lord Ethan is waiting in the Lord's chambers for you. "

"Did something big happen while we were gone?" Lyra asked.

"Lord Rodrik survived Riverrun." The guard answered. "He's wounded and currently being tended too in the lord's chamber."

Gared's eyes darted towards the keep and the only thing stopping him from charging off towards it was a firm hand from Lyra. "How'd he get here?" She asked.

"Carted in with the previous lord Gregor and a bunch of other dead men." The guard answered. "Ser Royland nearly chased the man who was carting it off when lord Rodrik pulled himself off the cart."

Lyra took off her pack and began rummaging through it. "How serious are his wounds?"

"Bad." The guard admitted. "But Forresters are hard to kill. Maybe he can pull through it with the Maester looking after him."

Lyra nodded at the information before pulling out a small crimson vial liquid. "Give this to Rodrik if things look really bad." She said to Gared. "If anyone tries to stop you, remind them of how I'm been trying to save your family since I got here."

Gared nodded and took off to the lord's chamber so fast Lyra briefly wondered if he had suddenly become Dragonborn. It wouldn't be the most shocking thing to happen recently, but her ponderings faded with a chuckle. She looked back towards the guard and bowed her head. "If anyone needs me, tell them I'll be in my room. I've had enough family drama for a few hours." Lyra then made her way to the keep.

The innards of Ironwrath were as quiet as she had expected, their surviving lord returning to them must've seemed like a miracle and anyone of note in the keep would surround his room trying to see him. She could practically picture all of the Forrester family huddled around his bed, either embracing him to the point of near suffocation if he was healing or if he was still injured, praying for his recovery. Either way, she didn't expect to see anyone of them tonight. She didn't even expect Gared to join her on her way south now that his lord had returned from the grave. She did wonder if she should stop by herself and make sure he's not too terribly injured but she trusted Gared would come running to her if he thought things would take a turn for the worse.

It was for the best. The potion she had taken when the Tuttles found her was not a large one, and since her magic still didn't want to return to her naturally, she had to be careful about how she used it. And with a healing potion gone thanks to her sappy heart, she needed to start finding a way to craft more if she wanted to avoid running out of magic. Alchemy was the natural solution but that was never her area of expertise. Why would she, since potions could simply be bought from a shopkeeper or wandering merchant in Tamriel?

"I guess I'll have to start studying plants now." Lyra sighed to herself on her bed. "Then again, a new world probably means new plants so gods know if I even can learn to make them." Her eyes bore into the ceiling above her as a part of her grew annoyed at her hesitation. Why was she even still here? She could've just started back onto the road and headed south just like she said she said was going to do. Get to King's Landing, talk to the Lannisters, find a way home. That's what her priorities should be.

Another part of her though, the one that had always gotten her into trouble, told her she should enjoy the land she found herself in. Take in the sights that no other modern Tamrielean has ever seen. Maybe no other Tamrielean in history if she was wrong about the Dwemer Lannister. Then again, it was possible that she wasn't the only one in this world. After all, If she could survive Apocrypha it stood to reason that he could as well.

A knock on her door paused her thinking. She told whoever it was to come in and was greeted with the sight of a smiling young Ethan.

"Good news?"

Ethan nodded. "The Maester thinks Rodrik will pull through. He's resting now."

Lyra beckoned him further inside and the pair sat down at the table. "How close was it?"

"It looked bad," Ethan admitted. "He was weak and his body was mangled, the Maester said his wounds would've killed any other man."

"Tough bastard, eh?" Lyra smirked.

Gared frowned and his voice turned serious. "He's not."

Lyra blinked. "What?"

"You just called him a bastard." Ethan pointed out, not a fan of the word.

Lyra sighed. "It was a compliment."

"How?" Ethan asked. "Bastards aren't a good thing."

"Forget it," Lyra waved off. "Good for Rodrik, all the same." She thought back to Gared and the vial she'd given him. "Did Gared give Rodrik anything? A drink?"

Ethan nodded. "The Maester said he'd be fine but Gared gave it to Rodrik just in case. What was it?"

"Just a little something from back home for wounds," Lyra admitted. "It should help him recover quicker."

Ethan's smile returned and he bowed his head. "You're very kind."

Lyra smirked. "I try to be. The world doesn't need any help being horrible."

A brief silence lingered between the two before Ethan spoke again. "Will you be leaving tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I've lingered here long enough," Lyra said. "And while I've enjoyed playing peacemaker, I have problems of my own that I need to take care of."

Ethan frowned but nodded at her answer. "I'm sad to see you go but house Forrester won't forget what you've done for us. I'll make sure of it."

Lyra smiled at the boy's determined tone."How's it going to work for you now? Are you still going to be lord or..."

Ethan shook his head and Lyra could feel the family weights lifting from his shoulders. "Rodrik will take over. He's stronger and much more like Father than I ever was. He and Elaena should be a better match anyway."

Lyra tapped his shoulder from across the table. "Don't sell yourself, short kid, something tells me you'll find a girl one day."

Ethan considered her words before deciding to move on. "How did things go with the Whitehills?" Ethan asked.

"Well, I'm not sure what Rodrik being alive is going to do," Lyra replied." But at the moment, Gryff and Gwyn have agreed to the marriage between her and Asher, should he find his way home."

The surprise in Ethan's voice was palpable. "Really?"

"Between you and me, Gwyn's the more sensible one but Gryff has some potential if he can learn to think for himself." Lyra thought to the man she had beaten at Ironrath just days ago. "I'd be wary about his father Ludd getting into his ear. Maybe keep him here if you can."

"That'll be up to Rodrik now," Ethan said, with a noticeable sigh of relief.

"What's the smile for?" Lyra asked.

"I shouldn't be smiling?" Ethan asked, his grin still shining. "My brother's back, the Whitehills aren't out for our blood at the moment, and you just gave us an alliance that could ensure my family's survival."

"All good things, yes." Lyra's voice turned serious. "But you'll need to work at them to keep them from falling apart. You, your brother, your mother, your sister, you all need to work with each other. It shouldn't fall to just one of you to hold everything together."

"I understand," Ethan said.

"Prove it, tell me how you avoid any complications from arising in the future?"

Ethan was caught off guard by the question but the wheels in his mind began to turn. "With Rodrik back, the alliance with the Glenmores can hopefully move forward. Asher marries Gwyn and it creates a strong alliance for our family."

"You already know that," Lyra pointed out. "Now, how do you keep such an alliance from falling apart?"

"I suppose its a matter of making sure each family gains something from it. The Whitehills will want Ironwood to present to the Boltons. The Glenmores will want the same to get in their good graces."

Lyra looked out her window to the dark forest of Ironwood trees. "Okay, Ironwood is your greatest tool. How do you stop from running out as the Whitehills did?"

Ethan curled his fingers."We'd have to take care of what we have. Perhaps restrict access to the Boltons directly."

"What about growing more?" Lyra asked.

"Trees take a long time to grow." Ethan pointed out. "And with winter on the way, I don't think Rodrik will have time to plant acorns."

Lyra bit her upper lip at the lack of current options for the family if their Ironwood ran out. "Okay, so you need to diversify. Find some other way to keep the Glenmores, the Whitehills, and the Boltons happy."

"How?" Ethan asked.

"By going back to the one thing that any person anywhere can use," Lyra smiled. "Money."

"Father always said to be wary of men with too much gold." Ethan said.

"Wise words," Lyra agreed. "And wouldn't you want your family to be one people should be wary of crossing?"

Ethan tilted his head at the thought. He'd never thought much of it before but the Lannisters were the richest family in all of Westeros. It wasn't the guarantee for their power but it was a huge stepping stone. "How?"

"What do people want?" Lyra asked back. " Rule one to making money, find a need and fill it. See what work can be done around your lands and see if you can make something off it. Same for the Whitehill and Glenmore lands. Talos, knows the Whitehills need something nice for their countryside."

"Who is Talos, if I may ask?" Ethan asked.

"Oh, he's one of the Nine Divines from back in Tamriel." Lyra explained. "The Nord conqueror who after uniting Tamriel, ascended to godhood."

"Aegon Targaryen did something similar here in Westeros. Though he didn't become one of the seven."

"And the Targaryen's used to be the ruling family, right?" Lyra asked.

Ethan nodded. "They were overthrown during Robert's Rebellion."

"Any survivors you need to worry about?" Lyra asked.

"Somewhere in Essos I think, but father never seemed worried about them. We'll have enough on our plates going forward."

Lyra smiled. "That you will Ethan," She stretched a hand across the table and Ethan shook it. "I better pack up for the road. Should I ever find myself in the North, would it okay to pay a visit?"

"It would be more than okay!"

The excitement in his voice was all Lyra needed to here. He started back towards the door when another thought entered her head."Hey, just a quick question. Are there any sights in the North I should see?"

"Sights?" Gared asked.

"You know? Wonders a stranger would do well to witness before leaving?"

Gared thought for a moment. "Well, Whiteharbor is regarded as the biggest city in the North. But if you like the cold, you could always go see the Wall."

Lyra's ears perked up at the word. "The Wall?"

Ethan nodded. "It's a wonderous structure. A true triumph of engineering."

Lyra's curiosity manifested in a grin from ear to ear. "Describe it to me."

Early the next morning, Lyra started back out to towards the front gate with a fresh pair of fur clothes on her back and onto the road. A cool wind at her back put her in high spirits until she noticed other footsteps following behind her.

"Wait."

"Gared? I thought you'd be staying here since Rodrik's alive."

"Lord Rodrik's back home now. You're the one who needs a squire," Gared replied.

"I'm not a knight." Lyra pointed out.

"My lady, you're the closest thing to a knight I've ever seen," Gared said. He was dressed in a new set of dark brown clothes and carrying a travel pack of his own and a sheathed sword at his side. "A fairy tale knight perhaps, but a knight all the same."

"Don't you have a father and sister to look out for?" Lyra asked.

"Ironrath's the safest place they can be. You saw to that." Gared said.

"You sure?" Lyra asked. "Odds are you won't see home again for a long while."

Gared turned his head and looked over Ironrath, doing his best to solidify the image in his mind. "I'm sure. I stand the best chance of growing and becoming better by learning from you." Gared replied, facing her with what she could describe as a very Nord-like glare of determination.

Lyra didn't bother to hide a smile. "Very well then."

Gared smiled at his victory. "So, to King's Landing?"

"Maybe, I'm also thinking about going north," Lyra admitted.

"North?" Gared asked.

Lyra nodded. "I haven't had the time to wander around since I've been sorting out this business between the Forresters and the Whitehills. So now with that taken care of, I was thinking about going and sightseeing for a bit. I'd like to have look at this Wall everyone seems to be talking about."

"It'll at least take a few days to get there, if you move at your...speed." Gared said. "And there isn't anything to see. Its a place to send criminals."

"What about those..." Lyra snapped her fingers as she tried to remember the name she'd heard from her stay in the Tuttle home. "The Wild people."

"Wildlings?"

"Yeah, them." They were past the open gate now and moving back into the woods with every step. "Is the Wall manned by them as well?"

Gared shook his head. "No, The Wall is manned by the Night's Watch. The Wildlings are the people who live on the other side of the Wall."

"Why the separation?" Lyra asked. "The Wildlings a threat?"

"Lord Gregor never thought much of them," Gared said. "And the stories say that the Wall was built to keep something else out of Westeros."

Lyra's interest rose at the words. "And what was that?"

"Others."

Lyra frowned at the uninspired word but her curiosity for this Wall was growing in her mind. "And just what were they?"

"White Walkers is another name for them. They were creatures of winter that brought darkness and death wherever they went." Gared wanted to laugh at how childish it all sounded but ever since he had met Lyra, well, anything was possible now. "But they've been gone for thousands of years."

"Is that right?" Lyra didn't like how that sounded so similar to a certain type of creature back home but she didn't ponder it for too long. "Well, creatures of darkness aside, What do you think?"

"My lady?" Gared asked.

"Where should we go?" Lyra continued. "I'll work my way around to seeing everything eventually so is there a particular place you want to go?"

Gared thought for a moment and his mind lingered on the image of the most of the Forrester family gathered around Rodrik's bed. Two were missing from that image. "Lady Mira is in King's Landing so... South?"

"South it is." Lyra nodded. "I'll make a note to head back this way before going home."

"Is that what you usually do?" Gared asked. "Just head out in whatever direction you want?"

"It's the best way to explore a new land," Lyra replied. "I don't recommend it for everyone though. The road can be a dangerous place. How long will it be before we reach King's Landing?"

"A month? Maybe a little more or less?"

Lyra clicked her tongue and pulled a strange bright crystal from her pocket. "I don't feel like carrying you for that long."

The crystal began to glow in her hand and a figure began to materialize into being. At first, a bright light, then shifting and morphing into the shape Gared would describe as a horse. By the time the light faded, there indeed was a horse. One of bright brown skin and black as night mane. On his back sat a blackened leather saddle and some accompanying saddlebags. It gave a loud neigh at the pair and Lyra quickly put her hand on its head.

"I know you don't like the disguise Arvak, but I can't risk drawing attention at the moment," Lyra turned back to the once again startled squire. "Gared, meet Arvak. He'll be the one carrying you around this time."

Sensing that he was starting to adjust to the strangeness of the woman, Gared sighed. "Where did he come from?"

"It'd be too complicated to explain to a boy who doesn't know what months are."

Gared mock chuckled at the slight and stepped towards the horse. He was warm to the touch and for a brief moment, a flash of blue flicked across his auburn eyes. Lyra leaped to the saddle and quickly pulled Gared up behind her.

"Isn't the weight going to be too much for him?" Gared asked.

Sensing the doubt from the squire, Arvak began to sprint down the road at a speed that quickly quelled it. Earning a surprised yelp from Gared and a laugh from Lyra as the trio once more set off onto the road. Once out of the forest and heading southward, Lyra sent a glare back to the north. That little voice of hers told her she was missing out on something but she quickly reminded herself she'd be back to see it before she left for back home. For now, it was time for King's Landing, meeting Mira, the Lannisters, seeing this Dwarf, and hopefully finding a way back to Tamriel.

Getting out of the North was easy enough. The Kingsroad was long but quiet and surprisingly lacking when it came to obstacles. That began to change once they passed through the Neck. The swamps at the tale end of the region were bothersome but with Arvak escorting them, it proved more of a hindrance than an outright obstacle. After Lyra entered the Riverlands, the calm quiet of the North wilted away and the legacy of the War of Five Kings became evident.

They passed the Twins quickly enough, Gared had no wish to linger in the area and Lyra dare not test his urge for vengeance on the Freys by doing the same. The whole land around the castle stunk of death and bodies were still visible from the massacre on Robb Stark's forces. They met other people on the road, injured, homeless, angry, no one paid the pair any mind and quickly got out of the way when Arvak came toward them. Fear and loss bathed the whole landscape to the point of making Lyra remember the fresh battlefields of the civil war back in Skyrim. The sooner they could get out of the Riverlands the better.

One night, the pair made camp at the side of a river well off from the Kingsroad. Gared ate in silence, trying to stave off memories from the Red Wedding and kept his eyes on the crackling fire. Lyra looked out into the river at their side and considered calling it an early night when she caught a glimpse of a figure on the other side of the flowing water. In the middle of the night, with no moon to help light up the area, Lyra couldn't make much of the shadow but she was bothered by the fact that it didn't move. It just stood out at the edge of the river, looking directly at her and her camp.

"You want some food?" Lyra called out. "Some fish here if you want it."

Gared tore his eyes away from the fire and over to Lyra. "What were those unfriendlies you mentioned?" Lyra whispered back to him. "The Brotherhood?"

"Brotherhood without Banners," Gared whispered back, grabbing his sword but still sitting by the fire. "It could be them, or Frey soldiers, or Lannister soldiers since they're allied."

"Stay on guard, until we know for sure," Lyra ordered. The figure still hadn't moved from its spot across the river but Lyra could almost hear something over the rushing water. Something like a growl.

The figure lunged into the river and Gared jolted in surprise as several other growls began to emerge around her and Ethan. By now, Lyra recognized them as wolves and not a moment earlier four of them made their way into the light of the fire. Gared scrambled to his feet and pulled out his sword while Lyra put her eyes back on the river and the emerging shadow that walked out to meet her. It was another wolf, though this one was bigger than the rest. It's growl was deeper and the glare it gave Lyra let her know that she was the one in charge. The growls and snarls of the other wolves grew louder as the alpha closed in on Lyra but she never got up to face off with her. Rather than do that, Lyra let out a yawn and mumbled, "KAAN"

A wave of magic rushed around the fire and Gared watched in astonishment as the snarling wolves quited themselves and sat themselves down around him, the danger faded away even as the Alpha continued to snarl at Lyra.

"You're a riled up one," Lyra said to the wolf. "DREM"

Another wave of magic rushed out and this time the alpha silenced herself. Lyra patted the grass beside her and the alpha moved over to it, setting herself down at Lyra's leg and giving the Nord a better picture. She was twice the size of the surrounding wolves and her eyes dull shade of gold that glowed brighly next to the fire. "There, see? No need for anyone to get eaten." Lyra said, patting the head of wolf. "Gared, give them some fish."

"Is that wise?" Gared asked, grabbing some of the roasted fish they had eaten for supper.

"Do you want them to take a bite out of us?" Lyra asked the squire. "I calmed them down, I didn't make them less hungry."

Gared sighed and quickly threw a piece of fish to each of the wolves who wasted little time in scarfing it down. When he moved over to Lyra he saw just how big the alpha was compared to the others.

"This one's bigger so I'd give her two." Lyra said.

Gared did as he was told and threw two of them down at the wolf's paws. The alpha did the same as the rest of her pack and began biting into it when Lyra noticed the puzzled expression on Gared's face. "Confused about something?" Lyra asked.

"That's a Direwolf." Gared said, stepping back towards the fire. "Those don't usually go beyond the Wall let alone get this far south."

Lyra took the information in stride and looked back towards the wolf with a newfound interest. "Bet you've had a journey huh?" She looked back to the squire. "Can you think of any reason why one would be down here?"

"All I know is King Robb Stark had one during the war." Gared said, thinking back to the grey beast that never strayed too far from the king's side. "Maybe it mated before it was killed."

Lyra bobbed her head at the possibility and gave another look around at the pack. They all looked content enough. "Gared, go ahead and put out the fire."

Gared repeated the same action and looked back at the Nord like she had grown a second head. "Are you joking?"

"We're spending the night with wolves, nothing could be safer." Lyra replied with a smile. "If anyone stumbles across us, the wolves should tempt them to keep on moving."

Gared's eyes darted over the other wolves again and took notice of two staring at him. "If I wake up missing some part of my body, I'm blaming you."

"Then feed them again if you're so worried," Lyra said.

A/N: Tada! And so we're on the move. I apologize for the wait. School's been kicking my ass for a few months now and I just haven't had the time to focus on writing. But I did manage to put out this little chapter for you and hopefully I can start updating more frequently. But what did you guys think? Good? Bad? Awful? A waste of time and patience? Leave a review and let me know.

Until we meet again, gods guide you.