Seven days later, the Starks and the Drakensars stood before the gates of Winterfell to officially welcome Alysane Mormont.
The little lady's entourage consisted of a single wagon and five mounted guards, all of them women.
The wagon, however, appeared to be of no use except carrying provisions and clothing, as Alysane Mormont rode a sturdy pony herself.
She was a girl of ten name days, possessing dark brown hair and black eyes.
She wore a practical wool tunic paired with breeches and knee-high, mud-splattered leather boots. A good quality fur cloak was draped over her shoulders as she rode at the front of the column.
Upon nearing the welcoming party, she dismounted her pony with practiced ease and knelt before Ned Stark.
"I am truly grateful for your approval of my arrival, My Lord," she spoke sincerely, earning warm smiles from both Catelyn and Ned.
Ned bent down and helped her rise, holding her by the shoulders. "It is a joy to host you as well, My Lady," Ned spoke gently; he had no intention of speaking firmly to a child unless absolutely necessary.
Catelyn smiled at the girl and patted her cheek lightly as Alysane bowed to her. "It is good to see you, child. I have great respect for your mother, and I find it a delight to have you here. Come along now, eat and rest for the day after such a long journey," Catelyn said kindly, taking Alysane's hand to lead her into the castle.
Alysane's guards bowed respectfully to Ra before walking alongside him toward the keep.
Inside, Alysane was welcomed into the Great Hall and seated beside Ra for the meal, as she was to be fostered under his specific care. The girl possessed a fierce fire in her eyes, yet that intensity softened noticeably whenever she glanced at Ra.
"Mother and my guards told me of you, Ser Ra. I find it a great honor to be warded by you," she said politely, her eyes shining with undisguised admiration.
Alysane was not tame by any means; the people she admired most in the world were her mother, Maege, and her uncle, Lord Jeor Mormont.
Both of them had sung the praises of the legendary warrior Ra, the man who had single-handedly defended Princess Elia against a whole Lannister army and even broke the Ironborn enough that they join the Night's Watch instead of choosing death as they mostly did.
Ra smiled at her earnest words and patted her head lightly. They ate in comfortable silence, asking little of Alysane, for they could clearly see the signs of exhaustion etched on her face, even as she tried her valiant best to hide it.
After the meal, Ra led her to her chambers. Her room was situated close to Ra's own quarters in the family wing of the castle.
"Rest, little one. You must be tired from the journey," Ra told her gently.
Her luggage had already been brought up, and her nightclothes were laid out on the bed, placed there by one of her guards.
"I am not tired yet, Ser. There is still light, and I wish to start learning from you immediately," she insisted, looking up at Ra stubbornly.
"Here is the first lesson then: Rest when you are tired," Ra said gently, patting her cheek before he left the room to let her sleep.
Alysane's training began the very next day. However, Ra did not begin by teaching her how to fight. Instead, he began by teaching her patience and the art of meditation.
He would sit with her every morning, guiding her through meditation before they broke their fast.
For half a moon, he taught her mental discipline, while Elia took over her academic education alongside Rhaenys.
Alysane grumbled frequently about wanting to train with weapons at the beginning, but Ra would simply respond with a gentle smile and a pat on her head every time she complained.
"You are younger and weaker than almost everyone. How would you win against someone even with these disadvantages?" Ra asked her one day.
Alysane frowned deeply at being called weak, though her expression softened a moment later. "I will fight with all I have. I am a She-Bear, after all," she declared in a heartbeat with a proud smile.
"That, you are. There is no doubt in that. However, even bears are children at the beginning," Ra told her with a chuckle.
"I don't know then," she admitted with a nod after trying to think of a better answer.
"Good. The first step is to recognize and accept what you don't know," Ra praised her, sitting down beside her to explain further. "You were right when you said you will have to fight with all you have."
Ra began, and she leaned against the wall, listening intently.
"But that will not be enough. You will have to be the crueler one. You block their attack and use a dagger to cut your opponent's wrist. You stab their ankle if they manage to knock you to the ground." Ra elaborated, and she nodded along, vividly imagining every scenario Ra described and planning what she would do in those moments.
"That is why we started with meditation. I never wish for you to lose your mind to anger and make a bad decision during combat. Remember, you must win first to have a chance to show mercy," Ra said as he stood up, and she followed suit.
He gestured to her guards, instructing all five of them to stand beside Alysane.
"You all will charge at me together," Ra commanded. He knelt to Alysane's level and caressed her cheek. "Do not hold back," he whispered gently before standing up again.
Ra held a wooden spear in his hand; he was not wearing any armor.
Alysane gripped a small, wooden two-handed battle axe, while the taller guards wielded blunt swords and the shorter ones held one-handed blunt axes.
"Charge," Ra instructed.
None of them hesitated, rushing toward him from all angles. Alysane gave a fierce battle cry as she followed them with her axe.
"Don't shout before you charge at a short distance; it will just make you breathless," Ra instructed her calmly, swatting her attack away with his bare hand.
He blocked two attackers with the shaft of his spear while twisting his body to dodge a third. He then thrust his spear, flinging the first two away, before using his free hand to catch another woman's sword arm and pushing her into her own comrade.
"Get up and charge again," Ra instructed, and they did exactly as they were told.
A/n: Give me your thought on the chapter and reviews on the fic.
And.. you got any power stones? Well, hand em over then.