Homecoming
The road was little more than two dirt lines in the grass by this point. Although it could have been worse Richard mused, if it had been raining, there was no chance this carriage would be moving. For that he was thankful. “How far do you think Ed?” He asked him as he relaxed in at the front of the carriage, a piece of long grass in his mouth.
“Not far, I’d say we’ll be there in no time if we keep up this speed,” Ed replied, as he looked upon the green beautiful fields of the Reach, the red mountains ever ominous in the distance.
“You know something, you’ve never told me where you’re from, I’ve known you for seven years, and yet never once have you told me.” Richard said, not really paying attention.
“Well, I’m from the Riverlands. Or at least, my father claimed that, told me I was a member of House Strong, but I think he just liked the idea of it in truth. I was too young to remember when he left for Essos.” Ed replied, Richard wasn’t too surprised, Ed’s father had been a member of the Golden Company, it was hardly surprising he claimed to be of House Strong, a lot did. Most of them weren’t, but you never know.
“Ed Strong, has a nice ring to it.” Richard joked as the peaked over the hill. There he saw it. Darkdell Home. It was a beautiful as he remembered it. Now all he had to do was remember where the road leading up to the gatehouse was. It took for the entire rest of the journey for him to remember where it was, and even then it was difficult to find. Why couldn’t they have put a gate at the bottom, instead of making me climb up to the top of the bloody Red Mountains He thought as they ascended upwards along the twisting path. He knew the answer of course, but it was still another trouble.
“So this is the place I’ve heard so much about?” Larra asked inquisitively, as she climbed up the front of the carriage, for once her accent wasn’t as thick, maybe she was nervous about meeting his mother, and tried to conceal her accent.
“Well, these are your lands as much as there are mine, Lady Vyrwel.” He joked, he knew she wouldn’t like being called that. He face gave enough of an answer she didn’t even need to reply. “Don’t be nervous anyway, no matter what they think of you, you’ll still be better than Alester,” He added, laughing as the rode up towards the gate, it stood as imposing as when he was a boy.
A horse and a knight rode out to meet them, the man was much taller than he was, and covered in head to toe in pitch black armour, the sigil of House Vyrwel blazoned across his chest. He meet them and stopped, he pulled off his helmet. Lyonel “Richard?!” He exclaimed and jumped off his horse. In turn Richard did the same and they embraced in a powerful hug.
“Seven years, too long,” Richard said pulling back from the embrace. “This is my wife Larra, our children are in the back, and Ed, friend from Essos, how’s Darkdell?” Richard asked his brother, his actual brother, seven he’s grown.
“She’s far too good for a man with a scar across his face,” He joked. “I’ll ride you in,” He added. “Come.” Richard couldn’t quite believe how much his brother had grown, was it really that long since the two would fight with blunted swords in the training ground. They reached the main gate, the Shadow Gate it was called, he remember, it all came flooding back to him. The black iron gates rose slowly. They entered through the Shadow Gate, as the household guard stood and watched their Lord return home, many had never seen his face before, they soon would. Passing through the second gate of the Shadow Gate they carefully passed over the narrow stone bridge which connect the Shadow Gate to the castle Darkdell. He looked up at the murder holes above them as many faces stared out at the party. The main gate, known as the Wyvern Gate rose, he was home…
Posted Feb 21, 2016, 9:42 PM UTC