A Chance Meeting (Rickard Norwolf)

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"Do not tempt the hands of fate..." Adian said quietly.

She sighed and looked behind her, glancing at the two men she brought with her. They were traveling from the Wall after bringing the supplies they could to the Night's Watch. Her house was one of the few that still supported the Brothers and actively brought them either supplies or men. Adian turned back to the Kingsroad. After they had spent the night in Mole's Town, they set off on the road at dawn.

Around midday, Adian spotted someone lying off to the side of the road. She dismounted her horse and ran over, much to the dismay of her men. She was not in her formal dresses and simply wearing a black doublet and a pair of pants under a wool cloak with the Raven sigil of her house on the breast. When she knelt down, the man looked up to her, thoroughly shocked to see a woman. He composed himself when he saw the crest on her cloak and spoke. "M-My lady..." The man coughed.

"What happened?" Adian said.

The man did not answer and gave what almost looked like a smile.

"NOW!" He yelled.

A two huge men burst from the woods and one seized Adian. The other one attacked and quickly killed her own men. She screamed, and the man from the roadside slapped her hard. ' Seven hells.... I should've brought more men...' She thought, trying to think desperately what to do.

She looked around, really looked, and tried to find something to use to her advantage. Her thoughts were interrupted when the man from the roadside pulled a knife and spoke.

"Well, well, look at the little noblewoman... We're gonna fuck you 'till you can't walk straight and then we'll kill you." The smaller one said.

'As calm as water...' Adian thought, taking a deep breath. She calmed herself before she acted quickly. She slammed her foot into her captor's groin and he dropped her immediately. Her Braavosi blade was out in a flash and she shoved it deep into the larger man's chest while he was down. She turned in a flash and went for the smaller man when the other brute roared and charged at Adian. She tumbled from his path just in time and turned on her heel to face the roadside man.

She rushed at him, but was suddenly picked up and thrown at the ground, losing her sword. Disoriented, the roadside man turned her roughly over and pinned her with his body.

"Now, now, troublesome little girl... You've made Gilbert mad... He'll fuck you twice as hard now."

"The Others take you and your bitch." She spat at him.

He pulled a dagger and placed it on her cheek, pressing painfully on it. She tried to see how she'd get out of this, but she was running out of ideas. The man ripped off her cloak and started on her doublet. Adian tried to push him off, but 'Gilbert' grabbed her hands and held her down. 'Seven hells...'

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It had been a long day for Rickard.

Ever since Robb Stark left with the majority of what few men he had, Rickard had been busy. Then his dad died, and all hell broke loose. Ned Starks former ward, Theon Greyjoy had taken Winterfell, and then Roose Bolton's bastard followed in that endeavor. At least he had no need to pledge allegiance to anyone yet, as it seemed he was a forgotten man. He was left to his own - well, his houses- devices. It wasn't really too much of a problem either.

The Wolfswood was free to roam, at least until the Kings Road. Rickard always took advantage of that. Scouting out new land, or land that maybe belonged to his house, he wasn't quite sure. Maester Allen was not too much of a help in that regard, as House Norwolf really was not well known. Still, the Maester knew his way around the Wolfswood despite his coming from the south, which Rickard was quite thankful for.

After a half day's travel, Rickard, the Maester, and a group of ten guards made it up past the end of Long Lake. Nothing much had gone on that day, but there was a little flurry, which Rickard found quite nice. But then, of course, Rickard heard a the clashing of swords. Naturally, he felt like he did not really want to take part in the festivities, but since this land could possibly be his, he urged his men forwards with a calm, "Let's go."

In response, the horses took off at a gallop, reaching the side of the Kingsroad is less than a minute. He saw two men and a lady struggling - well, the lady failing in her struggle against the men. And since it was his job to maintain order in these lands (especially with everything going to hell down south), he gave the quick order, "Take out the men," and two of his guards did so with arrows. Quick and easy work, really.

Rickard then made his way over to the lady, and saw a cloak strewn on the ground with a sigil showing. A raven, what house was that? Ravenfell, maybe. Well, hopefully. As he got closer, he could see that the lady was bleeding from her cheek, probably from the two lawbreakers. He then dismounted his horse in the middle of the Kingsroad, not worrying about there being any other criminals, and walked over to who he hoped was lady Ravenfell.

"My lady," he said calmly, while picking up her cloak with one hand and offering his other hand to her, "I pray you are okay?" He looked towards Maester Allen, who nudged him go on. After the lady got up with his help, he placed her cloak around her shoulders and continued, "I'm Lord Rickard of House Norwolf, and if I'm not mistaken you are a lady of House Ravenfell. I know your keep is quite far from here, so I pray you come back to Knife's End so Maester Allen can tend to your wounds." As he finished speaking, Norwolf men were already checking the surrounding areas for much needed supplies.

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Adian closed her eyes, hoping it would be quick when she heard the sound of arrows. She opened her eyes to see the men had both been impaled with several arrows. She dusted herself off and looked to see who had just been her savior. She heard a man's voice come from her side and she looked over. She did not recognize the man who was walking towards her, but whoever he was, he had to have been a noble. Adian noted his attractiveness in the back of her mind and tried to calm her racing heart down. When he offered his hand, Adian hesitated, but took it anyway, and stood up with his help. She dusted herself off and checked to make sure she was still appropriate.

Adian waited for him to place her cloak on her shoulders for her to answer his question. "I thank you. I will be fine; nothing that isn't too serious, I think." Adian said, with a small smile.

She kept herself on guard. Though the man had just saved her, she was still wary of trusting him. Men have saved people and turned on them before. When her suspicions of his nobility were confirmed, she relaxed a little more and replied.

"I am Lady Adian of House Ravenfell. I would be honored to be received as your guest, and I hope I do not trouble your Maester too much."

Adian pressed a hand to her stinging cheek. She had hope her assailant had not cut her, but it seemed he did. She let out a quiet sigh and looked to her men on the ground. 'Thank the gods Sabin was not here. He may be one of the best, but I doubt he would've been much for those brutes...' She thought. She went and picked up her Braavosi Blade, aware that they might be watching her movements. Adian glances at the bodies again before turning back to Lord Rickard. "Whenever you are ready to depart, Lord Rickard, I will be ready." She said.

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Luckily, Rickard had guessed right and saved himself from embarrassment. All those years huddled behind books really had paid off. He had learned all of the houses in the north, yet he had not taken the time to learn his land's own boundaries. Maybe that was fate. If he had, in fact, taken the time to learn boundaries, then he wouldn't have been their to save Lady Adian. So maybe things did always work out for the better. Except with his father and his lowborn lover.

The more that he looked at Lady Adian, the more he was struck by her beauty. She was far from homely, quite good looking. Based on what he knew, she did not have a husband yet. If she did, then she would not have left her home to be so far up north. Still, she would make quite a good wife in terms of looks, if Rickard ever wanted to pursue that route. Now was not the time though, as he had to worry about the gash on her check.

Even though he was not the best leader, Rickard made sure to to put his best foot forward while giving orders to his men, "I am ready my Lady. Maester, have the men surround Lady Adian and I as we head back to Knife's End." And then, as Rickard climbed onto his horse, he spoke more softly, "Would you lend me the pleasure of riding next to you, my Lady?"

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Adian looked up to Lord Rickard and spoke just as softly as he did. “I do not mind, my Lord. I would be pleased to ride beside you.” She said, smiling softly. She went to her horse and mounted it. She rode over to Lord Rickard and started going alongside him. After a bit of riding, she spoke again. “I must send a raven to my keep informing my mentor of my ‘exciting’ adventure. He will make sure we can get my men proper burials and get the news of their passing to the families they left behind.”

As they rode further into the minor forest roads, Adian took a second to really look at the young lord beside her. She remembered a few nobles had visited her and their daughters around Adian’s age spoke of the mysterious Lord Norwolf who was almost never seen. The gossip had gone on quite vigorously until one of the quieter girls said she saw him once and said he had been old, short, and ugly. That was obviously not the case, as the man beside her looked to be her brother’s age, around twenty. He was also quite handsome and tall as well. She smiled, thinking about that girl and wondering who she had seen that she thought to be Lord Norwolf.

Adian let her thoughts drift from her family to Sabin and finally to his visit to Braavos. She remembered that he had been acting strange and it had been almost three moons since he returned. She would constantly ask about what happened in Braavos, but he simply said that it wasn’t her concern. That had angered her more and she stormed off the first time he said that. Adian sighed and turned her attention back to the task at hand.

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The two had been riding for quite a while, and were making good progress down the western edge of Longlake towards Knife's End. THe two had made some small talk, but were, for the most part, quiet the whole time. This, Rickard, (at least partially) blamed on himself, as he never was a talkative person. Sure, he had saved this lovely lady's life, yet he could not find the ability to talk about anything. It was really rather embarrassing.

Maybe Lady Adian Ravenfell was wondering why Rickard wasn't with Lord Robb, wherever he might be. To be completely honest, Lord Rickard had no idea either. He had sent his men south, but his father said to stay. Maybe his father thought that Rickard would die down south, and while there was honor in death, he must have wanted his eldest to stay alive. Still, it did not seem high and mighty for a Lord to stay in his keep while other men were out fighting, it went against the premise of what a Lord is and what a Lord should do.

And then after minutes upon minutes of silence, Lady Adian spoke. Not so much a question as a statement, yet Lord Rickard felt the need to respond to it. "Yes, of course. If you would so wish, Maester Allen could handle sending the letter to your mentor," he said, wondering what a 'mentor' exactly was. He continued on, "We should arrive in just a little bit. I should also warn you that we will have to boat across Longlake to reach my keep."

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Adian and Lord Rickard had been sitting in silence for the entire ride, which made her feel like she was being rude, and she mentally kicked herself. She was never gregarious, and during the ride to his hold showed him how she was. He probably thought she did not enjoy his company. When he spoke of his maester, she almost spoke, but he continued. She almost sighed with relief, glad she did not rudely interrupt him. As he continued she listened to him and thought about her lessons. She remembered what the books taught her of Knife's End and House Norwolf. She looked at him and spoke. "That is fine with me. I've been on boats as well as ships before."

The came closer and closer to the lake and she lost herself in thoughts. She was still dwelling on Sabin and Braavos. She also let her thoughts drift her her brother and father and finally, her dear sweet sister. She still missed Jaidaen greatly, but hoped that she might see her again someday. She held back a sigh and brought her thoughts to reality as they finally reached the lake.

It was beautiful out here, a place she would like to live. She smiled and looked to the Lord beside her, and thought that it wouldn't be so bad to live so far from everyone else.