Chương 8: Sayings of the Old
"Come on lads!" Marcellus urged on as they prepared to transfer the moose onto the carriage. Again. For the third time. Well, Three times the charm.
"1.. 2.. 3!!" And all at once, with all their strength, they lifted the moose. Slowly, they made progress, as they buckled under the weight of the moose, step by step bringing it up to the carriage.
"Shite I can't do this much longer!!" Jory screamed under the Moose's arse. "Hold on you idiot! Just a little more!" Robett screamed holding the moose's head.
As soon as they got near of the carriage, Jory - having not much of a choice - threw the Moose onto it.
*Pant* "That's gotta be the heaviest moose i've carried" Jory panted while touching his knees.
"No slacking off boy, I want to feast on this piece of meat as soon as possible. Let's go!" Robett commanded.
And thus the carriage set off.
The ride back to flint's finger was relatively peaceful, occasionally they ran into various animals, but other than that, they admired the rolling hills of green spanning wherever the eye can see.
Marcellus - with curiosities lingering upon this newfound land - Couldn't help but let his eyes wander upon the snake-like rivers and the little dots of trees in the far distance that upon closer look, could tower over winterfell's castle itself.
Marcellus felt a tinge in his heart when looking upon the various wonders of the North. It was familiar. A feeling he only felt on the Island when he was observing 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. The brown oaked trees, the white snows upon the mountain's summit. He felt it 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦. As though this land 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 him. singing to his heart, welcoming him.
'Is this what you meant that day father?'
His eyes wandered onto the many animals that lingered upon these lands. He watched as the ravens flew, scouting for prey. As the deers ran out and about along the hills.
But he also felt something 𝘰𝘥𝘥. Every once in a while he would catch a snare, observing him. And once he looked into their eyes it woukd scurry away, as if scared. He could feel the Owls in the trees, observing silently but keenly.
'Signatis in his terris; Sanguis noster.' Marcellus repeated the old saying of their House; Etched in this lands; Our blood.
The people might have forgotten. But these lands didn't. They 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. They 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳.
*AHOOOOOO*
He was cut from his thoughts by the sound of the Horn, sounding their arrival. As the gates of the old castle opened, and the carriage entered, the people's mood was enlightened when they saw the hunt;
A Giant Moose. A Giant Moose for a Feast.
"Now you see Lord Stark! I can't let my liege lord leave this castle without a proper feast!! HA HA HA!!" Lord Rickard exlaimed.
Eddard seeing this, had mixed feelings. As he'd prepared to depart earlier, but with Lord Rickard insisting he attend the feast, he couldn't. He could sneak out, but eh, He wouldn't miss out on a delicious piece of meat.
"Well, I wouldn't leave your castle with such feast prepared for me, My Lord. Not without tasting that hunt." Eddard assured the man.
"She was quite a hunt that one, nearly killed Jory." Marcellus aproached the two lords. "Chased him all over the place while he screamed ranting about 'killing this giant moose behind me.' Well, t'was hard to do so with his big mouth." As he leaned to the railings, watching the courtyard.
"Jory? You almost got Jory killed?" Eddard accused him. "Don't look at me that way Ned, besides, He's alive!" Marcellus said while pointing to Jory; kicking the moose alongside Bob.
Ned gave him a deadpanned look. "Aye, he's alive. And hates the moose by the look of it."
"Don't worry, he'll love the meat." Lord Flint commented. "See? Rickard gets it!" Marcellus said.
"In the future you better not play with the lives of my household guards." Eddard said. "Don't worry, I planned it all out, My Father and I always did that strategy for hunting. Just wondered what it felt like watching the other guy shit himself though."
"So you did it because you wanted to know what it felt like laughing at someone running for his life?" Eddard questioned. "Did I say that?" Marcellus asked back.
"Crazy royal bastard." Ned whispered. "What did you say?" Marcellus asked, knowing full well what Ned stated. "I said you got a stick up your arse."
"Well thank you very much." Marcellus smiled.
"I must beg your pardon My Liege, I'll go tocthe kitchens and make sure that the food'll be great later." Lord Rickard said, leaving Marcellus and Ned by themselves.
A few moments lassed where they just embraced the silence. Watching closely as the people went to their duties, as the Summer Snows fell upon the castle roofs. Marcellus has come to love this place in his stay, he liked the peace, the ever-so-present-solemnity.
"A thought has come to my mind." Eddard started "What's your plan?" Marcellus looked into Ned's eyes. "You said earlier - as a matter of fact - that you will reclaim your Ancestors legacy, what's your plan? I mean, you can't do that here this far North. If you're seeking glory it would be better down south, there's only duty here in the North. No Glories."
"Hmm." Marcellus hummed "I've grown to like this place. The snow, the people, I can't quite explain but there's something here, a feeling, and it reminds me of Home."
"Home? Don't tell me you've fallen for the beauty of the North; No, you don't fit being a man like that, no. Men like you has always wanted more."
"Men like what?" Marcellus asked. Slowly. "Like the Valyrians, like Aegon, Seven Hells even the Mad King. You all obsess over this idea of greatness, of, of legacy, Of pro-" He was cut off by Marcellus
"And why do you say that I am just like these men? Obsessing over a figment of greatness?" He said, watching Robett laughing with the men.
"The war has taught me many things Marcellus. I've seen many men die, I've seen men lose themselves in an Image of their ideal world; chasing it. And before you know it you'll be like them. You may call it an ambition, or a dream, but one day it'll consume you."
"It's my purpose, just like every one of us has one." Marcellus pointed to the courtyard "Their purpose may be different but in the end it's the same, In the end it's for ourselves. It may be mad, Aye, but without my purpose what am i?"
"But with it you may just become like them, like Aerys." 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵.
Turning his back on Eddard, Marcellus spoke "Then why are you telling me this? Hmm?"
"Im telling you this because I like you. And that you can stay here, in the North." Eddard's eyes softened "Go and live a peaceful life, make a name for yourself; here. You can restart your house, and maybe even serve the North."
"And serve House Stark." Marcellus finished, staring directly into Ned's eyes. And suddenly Eddard felt his jaws tightening, the words forming in his mind, but for unknown reasons he lacked the courage to say it.
"I may like the North, or even love it. But know this you can't speak to me like a petty love for a land will make me bend the knee to anyone." Marcellus hissed in malice.
"I, will not serve. Just like every Atlas before me. And I'll make sure every Atlas after me know, that no Atlas 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘴." Before Eddard could speak Marcellus continued, approaching closer to Ned.
"I don't know what you're implying when you asked about my plan but know this; The Starks has just been included in my plans, for better or for 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦." Marcellus turned around and left.
The threat was clear to see, but Ned discarded it, concluding it as nothing more than empty words of a boy.
'When an Atlas speaks true, the land bears witness and they carry within their soil the echoes of a sacred vow.' An Old woman recited.
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Hey guys! Sorry for not uploading for a while, I was busy getting into my University. My schedule may vary from time to time now but nevertheless I would continue this story bit by bit. Enjoy!
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