Chapter 96: The Widow and the Marksman

In the dim Crypts of Winterfell, Eddard held a torch aloft, standing with Lady Barbrey before the statues of Brandon and Lyanna; Barbrey touched Brandon's statue with deep emotion.

The statues of the ancestors of House Stark, the Kings of Winter of generations past, the Kings in the North, and the Lords of Winterfell, all seemed to be watching Eddard and Barbrey with cold gazes.

Lady Barbrey sighed, "The statues here are all rulers of Winterfell. Brandon was the Heir to Winterfell in his lifetime, but it is a pity he died before he could become the Lord of Winterfell. He was not supposed to have a statue, yet you still erected one for him."

Eddard was moved and said, "He was my brother. Both Brandon and Lyanna deserve a place in the Crypts of Winterfell. The North remembers."

Barbrey gave a bitter smile, "Lord Eddard, you are far from being your brother Brandon's equal, yet you have still become a good lord. You are a man of deep feeling."

Eddard nodded in agreement, "Brandon was the true master of Winterfell. If he had lived, he would have married you, and you would have ruled the entire North from Winterfell together. As for me, in all likelihood, I would only have been a minor lord of some manor, or perhaps I would have donned the black and served the Night's Watch like Benjen."

Barbrey's hand traced lightly over the arm of Brandon's statue, "You became the Wolf King of Winterfell, while Brandon became a statue; the gods are truly cruel. You married the beautiful Catelyn Tully, and Catelyn bore you a pile of heirs like a trout spawning, yet Brandon left no children behind."

Eddard smiled, "You are jealous of Catelyn."

"Of course." Barbrey withdrew the hand that had been stroking the statue, "I bear Lady Catelyn no malice, but I am jealous of her. Catelyn and I were once rivals in love; she relied on the power of her father's house to snatch Brandon away. Brandon died, she remarried you, became the Lady of Winterfell, and bore a pile of children, while I became a widow in Barrowton."

"The sigil of the Dustin family of Barrowton is a rusted crown on crossed battleaxes. The Barrowlands are full of graves; it is a desolate place. My first love, Brandon, died in King's Landing, and my husband, William Dustin, died at the Tower of Joy. I went from a young wife to a lonely widow in a spring chamber. In the dead of night, I always think of my husband, and of Brandon."

Eddard placed a hand on Lady Barbrey's shoulder, "At your age of thirty-some years, if you wish to find a husband and bear children, there is still plenty of time."

Lady Barbrey had the vast lands of Barrowton and the Dustin family as her dowry, and thus Lady Barbrey was the most sought-after widow north of the Neck.

Back when Lady Barbrey's husband, Lord William, had just died in battle, Barbrey had many suitors, including Galbart Glover of Deepwood Motte, the 'Whore's Bane' Umber, Sir Maron Manderly of White Harbor, Derron Dustin of the Dustin family, and even some cousins from the Ryswell family of the Rills, Barbrey's kin, all of whom were pursuing Barbrey.

However, Barbrey was always cold and sharp-tongued toward these suitors; as time passed, the suitors wisely stayed away from Barrowton, and Barbrey had remained a widow ever since.

"Barbrey, if you wish to marry, I can introduce someone to you. Nobles of the North, nobles of the South, all are possible," Eddard told Barbrey.

Barbrey was somewhat displeased, "Lord Eddard, are you trying to arrange a marriage for me? You might as well save your breath. My passion has long since faded. Once my father and Roose Bolton arrive at Winterfell to celebrate Domeric's name day, I will return to Barrowton."

Lord Roderick Ryswell of the Rills was Domeric's grandfather, and Roose Bolton was Domeric's father; their arrival at Winterfell could not possibly be solely to celebrate Domeric's name day. Their coming to Winterfell together could only be to join Barbrey in protesting the Salt Ban of Winterfell.

It seemed Barbrey was still unwilling to give up on the matter of the Salt Ban. Eddard said tentatively, "Barbrey, the Salt Ban was originally Brandon's idea. My implementation of this policy is merely inheriting Brandon's last wish. Do you still insist on opposing it?"

"People all say I am a sharp-tongued widow, temperamental." A wicked smile bloomed on Barbrey's face, "Lord Eddard, be a little nicer to me."

Eddard and Barbrey walked out of the crypts and returned to the great hall. In the time that followed, Barbrey stayed in the training yard, watching Domeric, the marksman Fellan, and the guard Dawson practicing swordplay together.

In the sparring, the marksman Fellan did not fall behind in the slightest when facing Domeric. Lady Barbrey scrutinized Fellan, "Are you a new man-at-arms in Winterfell? I have never seen you before."

The marksman Fellan had a head of red hair and a face full of pockmarks, earning him the nickname "Red Pockmark." Fellan often flirted with the maids of Winterfell, but he was surprisingly nervous when encountering Barbrey, avoiding her gaze.

"Lady Barbrey, I am Fellan. Some call me a marksman, and others call me Red Pockmark."

Eddard introduced him, "Fellan is a hero who emerged from the war on Skagos. On the battlefield, he shot and killed several Rockborn warriors and even captured the Lord of Floating Driftwood Hall, the leader of the Stern Clan, Billy."

Barbrey frowned, looking Fellan over, "I feel you look a bit familiar. Which family are you from?"

The guard Dawson interjected, "Lady Barbrey, Fellan is no noble. He is a horse thief and a poacher. You find him familiar because he worked as a stable boy at your father's stables since he was a child. After he grew up, he stole a horse and fled, hiding in the Wolfswood to become a poacher."

Barbrey found this quite interesting, "A horse thief from the Rills actually became a guard of Winterfell and a hero in the Rock-born War?"

Fellan's forehead was beaded with sweat; he lowered his head and said, "Lady Barbrey, I have already paid the price for my crimes. I hope Lady Barbrey will forgive me."

Lady Barbrey smirked, "You are Lord Eddard's favorite, a hero of the North, so I suppose I must forgive you. But Fellan, since you stole horses from my kin, you must take good care of my nephew Domeric. This is called paying your debt, understand?"

Fellan nodded repeatedly in fear. After Lady Barbrey left, Syrio Forel, the guard Dawson, and Domeric immediately crowded around.

Domeric mocked, "Fellan, you are like a mouse seeing a cat whenever you see my aunt."

The guard Dawson said in a rough voice, "It's more like a castrated eunuch seeing a noble lady. Fellan, why do you lose your soul the moment you see a pretty widow?"

The Water Dancer Syrio Forel observed carefully, "You don't even dare to meet Lady Barbrey's eyes. Either you are guilty of a crime, or you have improper thoughts about Lady Barbrey."

Fellan's neck flushed red with anger, "You are talking nonsense! I have nothing but respect for Lady Barbrey!"

Eddard looked at Lady Barbrey's lonely retreating figure in the distance, then looked at Fellan beside him, and an idea formed in his mind.

Thanks to book friend "Sword Art Online Little Soldier" for the monthly ticket, thank you for the support!

(End of chapter)