Chapter 131: The Widow of Barrowton's Marriage Contract

Fellan was originally a poacher and horse thief. During the war in the North to suppress the Rockborn of Skagos, he relied on his superb archery and horsemanship to lead the Northern scout troops, rendering distinguished service; on the battlefield, he even captured the Lord of Floating Driftwood Hall, the leader of the Stern Clan, Billy.

As a hero who emerged from the North during the Skagos war, Eddard knighted Fellan as a Baron. Because Fellan excelled at long-range archery, capable of shooting enemies from horseback at a distance of several hundred meters, Eddard chose the surname "Barrett" for him.

Fellan transformed from a poacher and horse thief into a minor noble under the rule of Winterfell, possessing his own manor and subjects near the Wolfswood of Winterfell.

Under Eddard's matchmaking, Fellan and the widow of Barrowton, Barbrey Dustin, fell in love.

After awakening his skinchanger talent, whenever Eddard entered dreamland, his soul would often inhabit the direwolf Night, wandering through Winterfell at night; the Godswood was the direwolf's favorite place.

Almost every night, Eddard could see Lady Barbrey and Fellan trysting in the Godswood under the gaze of the Weirwood Heart Tree through the eyes of the direwolf Night.

Now, Lady Barbrey was taking Fellan back to Barrowton, which terrified Fellan; he immediately ran to the hall to seek Eddard's help.

"Lord Eddard, if I return to Barrowton with Lady Barbrey, what will those people of the Dustin House think of me? They will surely think that my pursuit of Lady Barbrey is because I have my eyes on Barrowton."

The direwolves Night and Sunshine watched Eddard and Fellan. Eddard said, "The people of the Dustin House will certainly think so. Derron Dustin, Paul Dustin, Steve Dustin, Jason Dustin—these people all have children, and they naturally hope that after Lady Barbrey passes away, they or their children can inherit Barrowton and the castle, Barrow Hall."

"Lady Barbrey is the widow with the richest dowry north of the Neck. Back then, many Northern vassals, and even nobles from the Reach and the Stormlands, hoped to marry Lady Barbrey. Whoever marries Lady Barbrey can rule Barrowton with her. You are Lady Barbrey's lover; if you return to Barrow Hall with her, the people of the Dustin House will naturally be hostile toward you."

The Dustin House rules the vast Barrowlands east of the First Men River. Barrowton is the third-largest population center in the North, after White Harbor and Winter Town. The sigil of the Dustin House is a rusted crown on crossed battle-axes, because they are the descendants of the ancient and proud Barrow Kings.

The Dustin House not only has an ancient and noble lineage, but even looking at the present day, among the many Stark vassals in the North, the strength of the Dustin House can only be rivaled by the Bolton House of the Dreadfort and the Manderly of White Harbor.

As the widow of Barrowton and the head of the Dustin House, Lady Barbrey has a noble identity and prominent status; by comparison, the status and fief of Baron Feilan Barrett are simply not worth mentioning.

Fellan wore a blue velvet coat, with a mole-skin cloak fastened by a silver pin shaped like an archer, and the sigil of the Barret Clan—an archer—embroidered in gold thread on his chest.

Although Fellan Barrett looked thoroughly ostentatious and had the airs of a newly minted noble, the moment he thought about returning to Barrowton with Lady Barbrey and facing the hostility of the Dustin House, Baron Feilan Barrett seemed to revert back to the poacher of the Wolfswood and the horse thief of the Rills in an instant, his brows knitting together.

"Lord Eddard, I love Lady Barbrey, not because of her fief and castle; I love her as a person, and I don't want the people of the Dustin House to misunderstand me. And Lady Barbrey's father and brothers in the Rills—they will surely oppose Lady Barbrey being with me. Lord Roderick still remembers that I was a horse thief in the Rills; I once stole horses from his herd."

A scent of perfume drifted into the hall. Lady Barbrey walked in wearing a crimson linen gown, her feet in crystal-colored bear-fur boots. In the past, Lady Barbrey loved black, but after falling in love with Fellan, she began to favor red.

"Has the horse thief started complaining to Lord Eddard?" Lady Barbrey looked at Fellan with contempt and scolded him, "Fellan, you dress like a gentleman, and everyone says you are a hero on horseback and a demon archer, but in reality, you are a coward at heart. Are you afraid to marry me just because of the opposition from the Ryswell House and the Dustin House?"

Fellan lowered his head like a child, "I just wanted to..."

Lady Barbrey turned to Eddard, "Lord Eddard, I once thought Fellan was your brother Brandon; his horsemanship is indeed no less than Brandon's. However, Brandon was a wolf, and Fellan is a sheep."

Eddard stroked the direwolf Night, "Lady Barbrey, it is not fair to Fellan to say that. Brandon was the Heir to Winterfell, and the noble peers of the North were all followers around Brandon back then. Brandon enjoyed flowers and applause from a young age, and he possessed great personal charisma."

"As for Fellan? He was once a stable boy in the Rills, grazing warhorses for your father, Lord Ryswell. He went hungry and suffered humiliation from a young age, then stole warhorses and fled to the Wolfswood to become a poacher. Fellan is considered poor even among commoners; it is not easy for him to become a hero of the common people. It is too harsh of you to judge him by Brandon's standards."

Lady Barbrey pulled over a carved chair and sat down in front of Eddard.

"I have been a widow at Barrow Hall for many years and have rejected many suitors. 'Whore-bane' Umber, Ser Wendel Manderly, Walder Frey, Galbart Glover—they are either decrepit old men or lack passion. Fellan is the only one who has made me feel passion. I intend to marry him; shouldn't I hold him to high standards?"

Eddard glanced at Fellan, "Fellan will definitely go to Barrowton with you, don't you worry."

"I don't think so." Lady Barbrey looked at Fellan with some disgust, "The moment Fellan heard he was going to Barrow Hall with me to hold the wedding, he was scared out of his wits, as if the people of the Dustin House and the Ryswell House could eat him alive. He is just like a plow horse on its first battlefield, flustered and full of fear."

Fellan said cautiously, "I think it would be better to hold the wedding in Winterfell."

"The wedding must be held at Barrow Hall," Lady Barbrey said in an unquestionable tone, "otherwise I will never see you again."

Fellan was flustered and looked at Eddard with pleading eyes.

Eddard said, "Fellan, you don't need to worry. I will go to Barrow Hall with you to attend your wedding with Lady Barbrey; by then, many nobles of the North will be in attendance."

(End of chapter)