#( sarra karstark )

[studyofasoiaf]

Names used in the North

(according to books; names of characters from Northern houses or Northmen, Crannogmen and Hills Clansmen)

- next to the names are either houses which have a character/s with that name or culture of the character/s with that name

Female

Alarra (Stark)

Alys (Karstark, Stark)

Alysane (Mormont)

Alysanne (Stark)

Aregelle (Stark)

Arra (Norrey)

Arrana (Stark)

Arsa (Stark)

Arya (Flint, Stark)

Bandy (Nortmen)

Barba (Bolton)

Barbrey (Ryswell)

Berena (Hornwood, Stark)

Beth (Cassel)

Bethany (Ryswell)

Branda (Stark)

Chayle (Northmen)

Dacey (Mormont)

Danny (Flint)

Donella (Manderly)

Erena (Glover)

Eddara (Tallhart)

Jessamyn (Manderly)

Jeyne (Manderly, Poole)

Jocelyn (Stark)

Jonelle (Cerwyn)

Jorelle (Mormont)

Jyana (Cranngomen)

Leona (Woolfield)

Lyanna (Mormont, Stark)

Lyanne (Glover)

Lyarra (Stark)

Lyessa (Flint)

Lynara (Stark)

Lyra (Mormont)

Lysa (Locke)

Lysara (Karstark)

Maege (Mormont)

Mara (Manderly)

Margaret (Karstark)

Mariah (Stark)

Marna (Locke)

Meera (Reed)

Myriame (Manderly)

Palla (Northmen)

Raya (Stark)

Sansa (Stark)

Sarra (Stark)

Serena (Stark)

Shyra (Northmen)

Sybelle (Locke)

Wylla (Fenn, Manderly)

Wynafryd (Manderly)

Male

Alaric (Stark)

Alyn (Northmen)

Arnolf (Karstark)

Arthor (Karstark)

Artos (Flint, Stark)

Barthogan (Stark)

Bartimus (Northmen)

Belthasar (Bolton)

Benfred (Tallhart)

Benjicot (Branch)

Benjen (Stark)

Bennard (Stark)

Benton (Glover)

Beren (Tallhart)

Beron (Stark)

Billy (Burley)

Bowen (Marsh)

Brandon (Norrey, Stark, Tallhart)

Byam (Flint)

Calon (Nortmen)

Cayn (Northmen)

Cley (Cerwyn)

Cregan (Karstark, Stark)

Cregard (Stark)

Daryn (Hornwood)

Denys (Woodwright)

Desmond (Nortmen)

Domeric (Bolton)

Donnel (Flint, Locke)

Donnor (Stark)

Dorren (Stark)

Duncan (Liddle)

Eddard (Karstark, Stark)

Edderion (Stark)

Edric (Stark)

Edrick (Stark)

Edwyle (Stark)

Edwyn (Stark)

Ellard (Stark)

Elric (Stark)

Errold (Stark)

Ethan (Glover)

Eyron (Stark)

Farlen (Northmen)

Gage (Northmen)

Galbert (Glover)

Gareth (Long)

Garth (Northmen)

Gawen (Glover)

Hallis (Hornwood, Mollen)

Harlon (Stark)

Harmond (Umber)

Harrion (Karstark)

Harwin (Northmen)

Harwood (Stout)

Harys (Hornwood)

Helman (Tallhart)

Heward (Nortmen)

Hoarfrost (Umber)

Hother (Umber)

Howland (Reed)

Hugo (Wull)

Hullen (Northmen)

Jeor (Mormont)

Jojen (Reed)

Jon (Stark, Umber)

Jonnel (Stark)

Jonos (Stark)

Jorah (Mormont, Stark)

Jory (Cassel)

Joseth (Northmen)

Karlon (Karstark, Stark)

Kyle (Condon)

Larence (Hornwood)

Leobald (Tallhart)

Lonnel (Stark)

Lothor (Burley)

Lucantine (Woodwright)

Lucifer (Long)

Luton (Northmen)

Lymond (Fisher)

Mallador (Locke)

Mark (Ryswell)

Marlon (Manderly)

Martyn (Cassel)

Maynard (Holt)

Medger (Cerwyn)

Medrick (Manderly)

Mikken (Northmen)

Morgan (Liddle)

Mors (Umber)

Mortimer (Boggs)

Ned (Woods)

Ondrew (Locke)

Osric (Stark, Umber)

Owen (Norrey)

Quent (Northmen)

Porther (Northmen)

Portifer (Woodwright)

Ramsay (Bolton)

Raymun (Redbeard)

Rickard (Karstark, Liddle, Ryswell, Stark)

Rickon (Stark)

Robard (Cerwyn)

Robb (Stark)

Robett (Glover)

Robin (Flint)

Robyn (Ryswell)

Roderick (Dustin, Stark)

Rodrik (Cassel, Flint, Ryswell, Stark)

Rodwell (Stark)

Rogar (Bolton)

Roger (Ryswell)

Ronnel (Harclay, Stout)

Roose (Bolton, Ryswell)

Royce (Bolton)

Timotty (Northman)

Theo (Wull)

Theodan (Wells)

Theomore (Manderly)

Theon (Stark)

Tomard (Northmen)

Torghen (Flint)

Torren (Liddle)

Torrhen (Karstark, Manderly, Stark)

Tym (Northmen)

Varly (Northmen)

Vayon (Poole)

Walder (Northmen)

Walton (Stark)

Warrick (Manderly)

Wayn (Northmen)

Wendel (Manderly)

Willam (Dustin, Stark, Wells)

Wyl (Northmen)

Wylis (Manderly)

Wyman (Manderly)

Wynton (Stout)

[rainwingmarvel7]

Let me know your thoughts!

I’ve got some ideas for some Team Green OCs in Soaring Higher, but I can’t decide who I actually want to add into the story! If you all could vote on who you’re most interested in, that would be so helpful. Here’s a poll with the options! If you like more than one, please lmk!

(Images of faceclaims included in order!)

[sarra-karstark]

Closed starter for @wintervsuns & @darkenedsvn Setting: 141 AC. The North, Karhold.

“My gods, you two are slow,” Sarra said with a playful groan as her brothers finally crossed the gates into the stables. The Karstark siblings had agreed the day prior to meet at daybreak so they could go for a hunt in the early morning. The lady had prepared her hunting gear, her crossbow, and even had her horse saddled and ready to go. “I ought to have left without you,” she teased Bran and Aleks, clicking her tongue as she shook her head in disapproval.

[adam-stark]

fmk: glorie, xia-li, sarra

One of them was already dead, which only made the question all the more cruel. She who had been his first love. She who had given her life so he could live on. Enough time had passed for the wound to stop its bleeding, but the scar remained; and grief, in its peculiar circularity and non-linear process, still caught him from time to time in different, unexpected ways. Like right now. If history had been different, Adam knew he would have made Sarra Karstark his bride. History was not different, though, and somehow he'd been blessed with the surprising understanding and tender care of Glorie. “I am married to the one I would choose. I have chosen her already, and I believe she is choosing me day after day, as we continue to figure things out in our marriage,” the prince murmured, his tone low, putting the effort to remain stoic, composed. “Saying anything else would be both useless and a lie, entertaining ideas of what won't ever come to pass”. A ghost of a smile graced his lips for a moment, subtly tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Aye, I choose Glorie. I choose my wife”.

( @northernglorie )

[daceystvrk]

dacey let out a low hum of understanding. it was a feeling she often felt herself - that something might be about to fall apart, that the winds were warning her of great changes to come. often, it was a result of her many anxieties, the gnawing beast in her stomach that told her terrible things were about to happen. it was hard not to listen to it when terrible things were happening every day. "i still wish it were not so for you." maisie's next words had her thinking about her mother, about alysanne stark, and manal manderly, about sarra karstark and meera reed and rosalyn arryn. "i'm not sure i agree," her voice was gentle, as though maisie might take offence at the mere suggestion.

"strong?" at that, the ghost of a smile flickered across dacey's face. it was not a perspective she had ever taken. "i suppose i always thought of it as the opposite. as though i was allowing someone else to take control of my life." but with a brother who was a king, allowing him to decide what she did and did not do, and who she would and would not marry, was practically a given. but what were her dreams? it was not something she allowed herself to focus on, her fears taking up far more of her headspace. "i suppose i always thought i would be happiest if i were nobody at all. if i had nothing to worry about except where in the forest i wanted to walk when i woke up in the morning." it was simplicity she craved, far more than dreams of love or power or glory.

and maisie was right. people could be cruel, and men especially. and yet, dacey reverted to her base instincts, to believing there was still good ones, because the alternative was too bleak to bear. "there are good men amongst them." of that, she truly believed. "my brothers are good, i think. and your cousins, brandon and aleksander. they cannot be the only ones."

"Not very cruel, it felt like something inside me knew something was going to happen... like an omen that I should be prepared for something important" And it was true, for a long time an agonizing feeling took hold of Mormont's heart, preventing her from closing her eyes peacefully at night; she always ended up waking sweating from a nightmare she couldn't remember. The first few times, she thought it was her lungs failing while she slept, but as the moons passed, the opposite proved true. It really was a foreboding; this was the period when Maisie stood before the Old Gods the most, asking for instruction for what was to come "But we'll outlive her... usually women always stay alive" she joked, although there was a hint of truth in it. In a twisted way, but it was.

"We're girls who put duty before desire, it shows how strong we are. We don't hesitate if we have to suffer" A small, resigned smile appears on her face with a bit of a bitter taste, but it was better this way, knowing what she needed to do rather than deluding herself with silly thoughts "Even though, as a princess, you have to sacrifice more" Complete, Dacey was above her station and even if she tried, she couldn't imagine the huge sacrifices she would one day have to make "Perhaps, but I don't think about it too much, I just let it happen, but what about you, princess, don't you have dreams?" She asks hopefully, causing Stark to open up a little.

"I hope it's not another war, Westeros has already lost too much, we've already lost too much" She swallows dryly and sighs, Maisie really didn't want a war, even though she knew how fragile any veil of stability was "But it only depends on the men and part of me can't trust them completely" She whispers the last part, like a secret and forbidden confession.

[danceofdragonsrphq]

dance of dragons is taking applications!

below are the key wanted connections from the kingdom of the north, as well as some plot context and ideas applicants could build from. keep an eye out for similar posts about the vale, dorne, the riverlands and the crownlands/occupied stormlands.

THE KINGDOM OF THE NORTH.

open prince and princesses of house stark, two of each role is up for grabs. do they agree with owen’s drastic decisions in shaping the north, such as dismissing the maesters and forcing the night’s watch to bend the knee to him?

open lords and ladies of house bolton, including a position of master of whispers upon the council of king owen stark. in terms of background, these guys have had it rough - domeric was recently revealed as a bastard using the bolton name all along, and their border wars with the manderlys have resulted in house manderly obtaining the title of ‘dukes’ making them a step above the boltons socially. one word? revenge.

open lord karstark of karhold; younger brother of lord brandon karstark. he would have recently dealt with the death of his little sister sarra at the hands of wildlings, as well as returning from an internal war when ironborn pirates and thenns that attempted to take northern land. house karstark has also become dukes.

open lord and lady of house manderly of white harbor: siblings to lord nasir and lady manal manderly. their house has had the social improvement recently, though they are in charge of protecting the faith of the seven in the north. do they agree with nasir’s decision to remain loyal to the starry sept of oldtown, or do they believe tyland lannister has a point in centralising the faith? (note: it is expected this character would have a name of arabic/islamic origin and be a black fc)

open lords and ladies of house mormont of bear isle: their ruling lord rhydian mormont recently died as a result of a wildling attack. they also would have been involved in the war against the ironborn and the thenns. it is a great opportunity to explore a character trying to step into a responsibility they never thought they would have to, admist dealing with grief. 

[dominaitheking]

ADOTHT Fanfic

AI generated fanart

Fanfiction Lore

Top left: Lord Benjicot "Bloody Ben" of the House Blackwood, born the 123rd year after Aegon's Conquest at Raventree Hall. Only son of Lord Samwell Blackwood and Lady Karol Blackwood, she of the House Vance of Wayfair's rest. Fostered at Seaguard in his seventh year. Succeeded his father to Blackwood Vale in his twelfth year, after he was slain by Lord Amos Bracken. Declared his House and fought on the side of the Black Faction during the war of succession the "Dance of the Dragons". Called "Bloody Ben" by the men of his company, for prowess and skill in battle at his young age. Head of the "Lads" the company of young nobles leading the hosts allied to the Black faction in the Riverlands. Wedded in his twenty-ninth year to Lady Roslin Mallister. Father to two sons their names being Benedict (154AC), and Samwell (157AC), and a daughter Melissa (155AC). Died his seventieth year, succeeded by his son Lord Benedict.

Top right: Robb Rivers, born the 118th year after Aegon's Conquest at Raventree Hall, bastard son of Lord Luscas Blackwood. Deemed the finest archer in all Westeros. Lead a company of archers during the "Dance of the Dragons" for his half-nephew Lord Benjicot Blackwood. At the Battle of Lakeshore, Rivers used his archery to prevent Lord Humfrey Lefford from calling aid by way of raven, known thereafter as "the Bowman of Raventree". Slain in [REDACTED].

Middle left: Lady Alysanne of the House Blackwood, born the 117th year after Aegon's Conquest at Raventree Hall. The first and only daughter of Lord Lucas Blackwood by his second wife. A skilled ridder, hunter, and archer. Fought in the "Dance of the Dragons" on the side of the Blacks in the archer company of her bastard half-brother Robb Rivers. Member of the "Lads". Slew Lord Amos Bracken in retribution for her lord Father. Wedded in her twentieth year to Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell. Mother to four daughters, their names being Sarra, Alys, Raya, and Mariah. Died her forty-sixth year of childbed fever, with her husband, Lord Stark, and dearest friend, Lady Frey, at her bedside. Honored and laid to rest at Raventree Hall by her nephew, Lord Benjicot Blackwood.

Middle right: Lord Bennard of the House Stark, born the 98th year after Aegon's Conquest at Winterfell, second born son of Lord Benjen Stark, and Lady Lysa Stark, she of House Locke. Fostered at Karhold in his eighth year. Wed in his eighteenth year to Lady Margaret Karstark of Karhold, who died 117 AC giving birth to a stillborn daughter. Married for a second time in 119 AC to Lady Aerena Bolton of the Dreadfort. Made Master of Wintertown by his brother at age nineteen. Upon the death of Lord Rickon Stark in 121 AC, he became Lord Protector of the North and Lord Regent during his nephew Cregan's minority. Fought alongside his nephew against his uncle Lord Brandon Stark of Moat Cailin, when the latter rose up in a short-lived winter rebellion known as the "Blood Moon". Lady Aerena died 126 AC of a fitting fever, the union produced no issue. Remarried for the third time his twenty-ninth year to [REDACTED]. The union produced no issue. Made Lord of Moat Cailin by his nephew in his thirtieth year. Died in the Dance of Dragons fighting on the side of the Blacks.

Bottom left: Lord Cregan of the House Stark, born the 111th year after Aegon's Conquest at Winterfell. Firstborn son and only child of Lord Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden and Lord Paramount of the North, and his Lady wife, Gilliane Glover. Succeeded his father in his tenth year, taken to ward by his uncle and Regent, Lord Bennard Stark. In his fourteenth year, his great-uncle, Lord Brandon Stark of Moat Cailin, offered Lord Cregan the hand of his daughter, the Lady Ayana Stark, in marriage as allegedly agreed upon by his father a decade before, a claim of which none can atest the validity of. Despite the urgings of his councilors and his Regent, citing Lord Brandon's wealth and vast connections by blood and marriage throughout the North, Lord Cregan refused. Instead giving voice of his intentions to wed Arra Norrey, a childhood friend of his. After a private audience, Lord Bennard reluctantly gave his consent. Lord Brandon Stark denounced his nephew and great-nephew as false lords, and styled himself the right and true Lord of the North. Brandon used his means and network to gather swords to his cause, but found little support than he expected from his daughter-in-laws' families and the other Houses. For this his brief uprising was swiftly put down by the combined efforts of his nephews, with Houses Dustin, Ryswell, Tallhart, and Reed. The rebellion fell within a moon's turn, though Moat Cailin got to be in a further state of disrepair. The rebell lord and his sons were clasped in chains and brought to Winterfell to stand trial. Lord Brandon was made to walk barefoot the whole of the way, earning him the moniker Brandon "the Bootless". The rebells were sent to the Night's Watch, their lands attained and given to Lord Bennard, Lady Ayana "the Abandoned" was released into the custody of House Maderly, her mother's house, later becoming a Septa. At sixteen Lord Cregan assumed full lordship and wed Lady Arra Norrey in a double ceremony with his uncle and his third wife. He fathered one son from his first marriage, Rickon, whom Lady Arra died birthing. When the Dance of the Dragons broke out Lord Cregan, unsurprisingly, sided with the Blacks and roused the North accordingly. [REDACTED] After the war he took Lady Alysanne Blackwood to wife. By her he fathered four daughters, Sarra, Alys, Raya, and Mariah, the last of which Lady Alys died birthing. Later he married for a third time, to Lady Lynara Stark, a distant cousin. From this union came four sons, their names being Jonnel, Edric, Barthogan, and Brandon, and one daughter, Lyanna. Succeeded upon his death by his son Lord Jonnel.

Bottom right: Robb Maderforth, birth unknown. Pulled naked from the Mander by Lord Benjicot Blackwood, the young Lord of Blackwood Vale, and an unamed woodswitch after the Second Battle of Tumbleton, as a boy ranging eight to twelve years of age, with no memory of a previous life. He could give them no name, no age, and no device that was either Black or Green. If any knew him, they would have a hard time recognizing him, his body sustained countless injury, and his face had been badly scarred and burnt. Lord Benjicot commanded his own maester to attend to him. When the boy recovered he expressed a wish to fight on and remain with him when the Lord visited his bedside. And so he did. The boy's bravey and courage was an inspiration for many, a brilliant archer, and leal soldier. Fighting alongside the "Lads" in many a battle, called simply "Lad" by the company, until taking an arrow in the shoulder at the Battle of the Kingsroad for Lord Benjicot. Where he bestowed upon the boy the name of his beloved half-uncle, "Robb" whom he reminded him so much of. Even after, some still questioned the boy's origins, to which Lady Alysanne was said to have replied "Whatever he was, he's a Lad now." After the war, and to the abject dismay and disapproval of many, Robb served in the honor guard that brought Lady Alysanne Blackwood North to wed Lord Cregan Stark of Winterfell, and thereafter was brought into the Blackwood household. Upon coming of age, Lord Benjicot invested Robb as Master of Ravensmarch, a castle he intended to bestow upon his bastard uncle before his death. Robb took the name Manderforth, for the start of his life was brought forth from the waters of the Mander. And taking the sigil of a white salamander on red and black, in honor of his Blackwood patrons. He never did recover his memory. He wed Catelyn Paege in 156 AC. Father to one daughter, Alysanne. Died 160 AC in battle outside Sunspear during the Young Dragon's Conquest of Dorne fighting alongside Rickon Stark. Lord Benjicot grieved the loss of his old friend, to honor him he requested that his body be brought back to rest beneath Ravensmarch, and took his daughter as a ward, vowing that for the rest of her life she would want for nothing. Alysanne Manderforth went on to wed Lord Benedict Blackwood, Lord Benjicot's son and heir.

[dwellordream]

hi dwell! i was writing a fic, and was wondering if you could help me out with some karstark names please? thanks in advance 💕💕

Alaric

Alarra

Artos

Aregelle

Barthogan

Arrana

Benjicot

Barba

Bennard

Berena

Beron

Bethany

Cregard

Donella

Jocelyn

Donnel

Jonelle

Donnor

Lyanne

Edderion

Lyarra

Edrick

Lynara

Edwyle

Lyra

Ellard

Mara

Elrick

Marna

Errold

Raya

Eyron

Sarra

Halys

Serena

Harlon

Sybelle

Jonnel

[sarra-karstark]

TRUTH SERUM: How much do you know of your brother's love life? Are there any in particular you were/are fond of?

“My brother's love life is his business,” the lady stated almost with an air of indifference. Brandon’s happiness wasn’t indifferent to her, however, and the majority of his choices garnered her support when they didn’t come in conflict with their duty as children of Karhold. “His relationship with that blacksmith was...” A pause. The lady pressed her lips before continuing, “Well, I never quite understood it, but at least he seemed happy at the time”. A story of the past now, an ending that she never asked about. But her brother was bound to be Lord of Karhold and it wouldn’t have been right. “I will admit that I always did hope he and Lady Meera would become more than friends. She’s a dear friend, and it’s someone I would love to call a sister”.

( @wintervsuns, @anya-snow & @northernseer )

[adam-stark]

LAWLESS & DAWN GOLDEN — “DESCENT”

Today, we will see the sun in flames Tidal wave, washing on the wild way Today, everything we thought will change And this life will never be the same again Oh, and just let go Oh, and just let go We will rise together We will rise together

@starkwhitewolf, @redwolfff, @edricxstark, @cassvstark, @wintervsuns & @sarra-karstark

[cassvstark]

location: in the woods somewhere in the north

a quiet wind blew through the snow-covered trees outside the small house. the old wooden home kept out most of the wind but a loose window shuttered creaked with every gust of wind that blew in. it was a start of a small flurry of snow outside which would only pick up the wind more. cassana huddled near the fire in the heart for warmth, sipping on something strong to take the bite off the cold. weir, her large direwolf cuddles his head in her lap like a small puppy might do. not she she would complain as it kept her warm. tonight was a night she was thankful to be stopped at one of the various outposts around the north. it was not fancy in the least bit, but it was somewhere warmer and somewhere out of the snow.

staring into the flickering flames of the fire her mind danced between thoughts of where they would be heading off next. however, all the ranger’s heads snapped towards the door as they heard one of the rangers stationed on a watch outside call back into the house. “cassana! you got a visitor.” the voice said before the door opened a flurry of snow rushed in. along with someone familiar.

“brandon!” she smiled, taking her hand off her bow she had instinctually grabbed when she heard the yelling. hurrying over to him she pulled him into a hug. the karstarks were family to her, always had been always would be. she missed brandon and sarra the same as she did her own siblings when she left to accompany the rangers. “wait..wait.” she pulled away looking up at him, “what are you doing here? does torrhen not need you down in white harbor anymore?” being away she could only gets bits and pieces of news brought by the occasional raven or a new ranger joining the search. there had been no word however of her cousin joining them. “come, sit. we will get you something warm to eat.” she said trying to usher him over to the fire.

@wintervsuns​

[wefireandblood]

Semicanon

El Norte

Sarra Stark

Alys Stark

Raya Stark

Mariah Stark

Lyana Stark

Alys Karstark

Valle de Arryn

Quenton Corbray, señor de Último Hogar (puede estar muerto, tener en cuenta en la genealogía)

Tierras de los Ríos

Lucas Lothston, señor de Harrenhal

Falena Stokeworth, señora de Harrenhal

Jeyne Lothston

Lord Bracken, señor de Seto de Piedra y antigua mano del Rey

Barba Bracken

Melissa Blackwood

Lord Butterwell, Mano del Rey

Bastardos de Aegon IV y las Butterwell (0/3)

Occidente

Elaena Targaryen, regente de Plummhall

Tierras de la Corona

Daemon Mares

Septa Alyssanne

Septa Lily

Septa Willow

Septa Rosey

Septa Rhaena (Targaryen)

Ser Arlan de Árbol de la Moneda

Quentyn Ball, maestro de armas de la Fortaleza Roja

El Dominio

Gormon Peake

Wyman Webber

Eustace Osgrey

Armond Caswell, señor de Puerteamargo

Lord Jon Hightower, señor de Antigua

Robyn Ryshling

Ser Buford Bulwer

Tierra de las Tormentas

Terrence Toyne

Ronnel Penrose

Gawen Swann

Dorne

Casella Vaith

Ser Michael Manwoody

[sarra-karstark]

TRUTH SERUM: Would you choose love or your family?

“My family. Every single time,” the lady responded with an icy stare and sheer determination in her voice.

( @wintervsuns, @starkwhitewolf, @rosaaaryn, @adam--stark, @ofwinterwinds, @edricxstark & @cassvstark )

[adam-stark]

Is there anything you would not do for your family?

Star Trek: Into Darkness

[adam-stark]

A single word echoed with the severity of a general's command, with the finality of a king's decree. Brandon had been his brother-in-arms, a most loyal Northern lord— an unspoken sense of kinship that existed between them for years. Never close friends, perhaps, but the Commander of the Kingsguard and the Winter Sun needed not be friends to function together on the field of battle or around the strategy table. They had followed each other to the field countless times. The Karstark lord was not follow him this time.

Grief and an underlying current of anger were present in the lord's voice, in his eyes. Adam recognized it all too well, for it was a sentiment that he'd carried many times now. In the past years only, he felt it for Sarra. For Jon. One lashing of grief coming without a full recovery of the last. Deaths that came when they should not, when life was abruptly severed. Brandon mourned the same for his sister, and now for his wife. And Adam couldn't counter that, he couldn't say anything to go against that simple 'No'. He would not.

Perhaps it was some kind of effect from the substance coursing within him, or perhaps it was only the accumulated weight of one loss after another for the Northern people. Adam felt it too much. Viscerally so. More acutely than the gloomy, stoic prince usually carried emotions within. And then it all shut down. He felt distant. He felt numb. He felt like one of those mythical walkers of pure ice. And the cycle happened again. Right now, standing before Brandon he was on the verge of beginning that turbulent cycle again, feeling the emotion swell slowly.

“It should have been me,” he simply said, his voice low, certain. A statement spoken more so for himself than it was for Brandon Karstark to hear. It was because of fateful days such as that one that the lone wolf of House Stark doubted the gods existed more often than not. If the gods were real, they would have taken him and let Sarra Karstark live.

To this day, he still saw her in his sleep from time to time. Sometimes he saw her dying, heard her shaky breath as the warmth of life left her. Sometimes he saw her as she used to be, as she should have been for many more years: a crossbow in hand, her brown hair dancing with the winter air, that sharp smile across her lips. Brandon's sister still graced and tormented his dreams. He didn't say it, though. He only stood there, poised like a soldier, swallowing back the harsh acknowledgment of having survived only because Sarra Karstark saved his life.

“It should not have happened. Not to you, my lord. I am deeply sorry that your wife was taken from you,” the Northern prince said, lowering the hand that had been raised for Brandon to take. A hand that remained empty. “It is no consolation, I know, but me and my men tomorrow to carry out justice”. Not the king's justice. Not even the gods' justice. Only the primal justice of ripping away everything from their enemies; faith, hope, life itself. “They will bleed for it, and pay with their lives for it”.

Quietly, he bowed his head before the Karstark lord. There was nothing more to be said, really.

who: @adam-stark what: continuation of this post bc tumblr is awful and we continue on this bs

there was no reaction that came from the sun of winter at the sound of another entering the chambers that were allocated to the karstark household, the series of apartments that were allocated specifically to house the hand of the king of winter. it were incredibly unlike brandon karstark to hardly look up from whatever it was he were doing upon hearing the presence of another cross the threshold of his door, and even more peculiar to not even look up despite the individual's identity being clear and obvious to him. the prince of winter, the duke of moat cailin and the lord commander of the kingsguard was before him.

the man who had been by his side to slay a giant against the wildling army, and together they had watched as the world went crashing following it's demise.

that, felt like an entire lifetime ago: a time where the sun of winter felt strong, and the illuminations of green danced across the lands that spoke the sun tongue. it were a lesson his fathered had taught him so many years; to continue to live, to avoid becoming afraid of the complexity of life. and thus, despite his towering figure and his hardened hands as a result of years of warfare, brandon of house karstark had always been more sun than winter. a steady, everpresent hand in a time of great change: the world changing from beneath the very feet of those who lived and breathed the north. that change had happened too quickly, and had allowed for certain spiders that had laid certain eggs to fester and continue to spin directly out of their control.

only, that was what he kept telling himself as he prepared to escort his wife's body back to the tombs of karhold, praying the ointments and embalment would be enough to ensure she did not rot away. that was the benefit of the cold, was it not? this was all beyond their control, and there was nothing any of them could do. it was beyond the responsibility of any, but those who had committed such heinous acts; that was what he kept trying to tell himself. that was not what he genuinely believed - not anymore.

"no." brandon spoke, and there was the unfurling of a cloak, of furs of black he once prayed to wear as a ranger, of skin. there was ringing finality in his voice, and in it, came the thundering sound of the karstarks of karhold: those who had made the harsh conditions of the freezing winter their home, along the shivering sea.

it were times like this where brandon was entirely northern; there was no hint of sarcasm, and yet no sense of diplomacy even in his voice. it were blunt, it were crass, and it were harsh; the accent of those lands of the sun wrapping hard around his words as they came out. and he thought not of them. he would think of them. "no, your highness. join you i will not."

he looked upon adam, noting something entirely different about his features. something distant in the expression of his eyes, despite the fact his pupils were entirely wide and focused. grief had once again come knocking at the door of house stark, and whilst his heart bled for the north, it bled more for the wife that had been snatched from him. the life he were ready to make, the life he deserved to make."

prince adam's hand remained outstretched. and the hand of the king did not shake it. he merely looked upon him, with dark grey orbs; that looked no darker than they normally did. "i have a wife to put in the same tombs my sister also rests in." and there, came the rearing ugly head of something that was long since wrapped up under layers. "the one you took beyond the wall." his voice remained rough, harsh.

[adam-stark]

HOZIER & BEAR McCREARY — “BLOOD UPON THE SNOW”

To all things housed in her silence Nature offers a violence The bear that keeps to his own line The wolf that seeks always his own kind The world that hardens as the harsher winter holds

@owenstark, @rosaaaryn, @allysannestark, @cassvstark, @torrhen-stark, @wintervsuns, @sarra-karstark, @northernseer, @anya-snow, @rhydianwildbear, @jin-renshu & @nasirofmanderlys