Unbidden
First Day of the Fourth Month 294 AC
She used to have another name once, though it was more winters past than she was minded to count since those sunny days of youth, of being a bride, a mother and then a grandmother. They were all gone now, or almost all, leaving just poor sweet Walder to see to her in her old age. These days she was just Old Nan, as much a part of Winterfell's halls as the creaking door that lead into the pantry or the cracked step leading up to the First Keep or the somber litchyard in its shadow. Some days she felt like she had already died and was just too stubborn to lay down on her earthen bed. But she would always hear some new servant begging for advice, or some child looking for a tale to fill their days with wonder and she would get her old bones moving.
It helped that with all the witches and cunning men about there were a few who could spell away aches and pains for a while and even take the shadow from her eyes, it helped more that these old eyes could get to see here at the end the strangeness and sorcery she had only heard tales of before. None loved tales as much as a a storyteller. Even with all the healing and all the will in the world Nan was too old to go down stairs often, though Walder helped her sometimes gods bless and keep the boy, so these days she spent more time in the great hall, staking out a little corner of the servants' table and listening to the travelers that came by to offer their pledges to Lord Stark.
She had an eye for them she did, the ones who had seen the most in their lives and were minded to share over a bowl of porridge or stew and a wee beer when the kitchens could spare it. 'Twas uncommonly cold that day, the bite of the winter wind coming down from the North so, when an old man with a crow on his shoulder wrapped in a ragged wolf cloak walked in. She was hopeful he might share a tale or two. A wizard for sure that one was.
"Well met and may the Old Gods shelter you," she greeted, coming to sit by the table.
The crow turned to stare at her with black glassy eyes for a long moment before its master answered. "Well they aren't doing a good job of it in this weather, are they? It's already snowing outside."
Snowing... now why was it snowing... there hadn't been summer snows since....
"I heard tell all those that have some touch of magic about them should see a Halys Wavestrider, Ser Halys if you please, as though the North is a place for knights and their airs. Where might I find him right about now?"
"Well," Nan said, slowly blinking through a haze like mist in front of her eyes. "In the evening he's out teaching Lord Stark's boys, only Jon's learning magic of course, but Rob's along to learn about it for good lordship he says. More like he doesn't want want to be parted from him if you ask me."
"Evening you say?" the man snorted. "It's barely afternoon. Must've been fooled by the clouds you were. Now where's Ser Halys and this Jon Snow, I have business with them..."
"What day is it then?" Nan asked confused. "The first so Ser Halys is with Lord Stark and Jon's... why do you want to know about Jon? No... no this isn't right." She tried to get up but her limbs felt like lead. "I won't tell you."
"UsELeSs wORM," The words cut through the air like the sound of cracking ice as the staff smashed against the side of Nan's head. Darkness crashed around her and she knew no more.
***
Bundled in her furs against the night's chill Old Nan gasped... once... twice... then never again. It would be hours before anyone found her body. 'She lived a good life, I hope she's at peace...' the young maid would say looking down at the body. Yet there was no peace to be found for she who had been Nan. A new voice called through the Greendream in pain and fear, but it was faint and still newborn and there were none to heed it. The Last Greenseer had business in the south, the work of kings and princes.
Beyond the wards of Winterfell dead eyes looked on in distant rage and calculated malice. The time for seeking in dreams was over. It would move in flesh.
OOC: As I was rolling events in the North I got 'the Others take advantage of Bloodraven's distraction to move in Winterfell' so unexpected interlude ahoy. Let's see how your flesh-forged assets perform. Also I hope you guys don't mind the lack of votes.
