Denys groaned in pain as he slowly pushed back his covers and climbed out of bed. He wobbled as he tried to stand up. Maester Landon held out his hands to help his lord but he took a step away from him and shook his head. Maester Landon resignedly lowered his hands and looked on as his lord pressed against the wall breathing hard to steady himself.

"Why not allow me to help you, my lord?" Maester Landon begged.

"You will have your wish soon enough Maester Landon I fear." Denys chuckled mirthlessly between shallow breaths.

Maester Landon said nothing his face marred with deep sorrow as he followed his lord as his lord haltingly walked towards the chair near the open window.

Denys was the current lord of the noble house of Dustin, one of the major families sworn to House Stark who were Wardens of the North and ruled as Lords of Winterfell. He was a stout old man with balding head and short neck. Illness had gripped him and he was always sore and aching and only the herbs and potions of his maester allowed him to sit and walk and do his other chores and even then he would often need help of his servants. He hated it.

He longed for an heir but the Gods had robbed him of his wife and then his young heir. Willam Dustin had followed his liege Lord Eddard Stark against King Aerys II Targaryen. Willam was one of the six companions that fought alongside Lord Eddard at the tower of joy against the remaining members of the Mad King's Kingsguard, where he was slain. Barbrey Dustin, his wife, took the words of the death of her husband hard and committed suicide soon after. Denys was now the only two Dustin in the Barrow Hall, the other was his nine year old granddaughter Bethany Dustin.

"Where is Bethany?" Denys asked as he peered down at the empty courtyard from his perch. His granddaughter was the only bright spot in his otherwise bleak life.

"She rode off to Barrowton at first light, my lord. The word in the town is that the men who followed Lord Stark against Greyjoys return back home today . . .

. . . and with them returns Harry Snow. Of course, she rode off at first light! These past months the servants would talk of nothing but how restless Bethany was!" Denys put in wistfully. "Tell me what you make of him, Maester Landon?"

"He is a fine young man, my lord. He is popular with the smallfolk and they hold him in high regard for his munificent kindness and beneficence. He is a man of great valour and courage which now the entire realm had witnessed against the Greyjoys. King Robert himself knighted him in the battlefield after the fall of Pyke."

"Ah! Yes! He is now Ser Harry Snow! Bethany was most happy to hear of it. The day the word of his knighthood reached us, she insisted that the servants cook all her favourites and then after the supper she snuck into the kitchens and stole herself a cup of wine. She was sick half the other day," Denys said with a fond smile. "It is not just she who is mad about him. He is not just popular with the smallfolk, they flock to him, they follow him as if he was their leader, as if he was their lord and that is not because of his parentage, because his father was Willam. No, they flock to him, they follow him because of his qualities. He is a true lord - a lord not by birth but by deeds. The smallfolk have accepted him. Bethany has accepted him. It is now time that I accept him. It is now time that I accept the bastard of my son."

"Are you certain my lord?" Maester Landon pressed. Denys had often hinted at this but never before openly said it.

"Very!" Denys affirmed firmly without any lingering shadow of doubt sinking into the soft cushions of his chair. "I am old and I am sick. I am not long for this world. After me without any heir to rule the Barrowlands other lords would fall on it like wolves after a prey and my beloved Bethany would be trapped amidst the lot. They would barter and trade her like a piece of meat. This would crush my beloved Bethany and I will not have it.

"Harry is our only chance at this and he is a chance I am perfectly willing to take. The Old Gods may have been harsh when they robbed me of my son and my good daughter but they have been generous when they sent me Harry. We could do worse than him, a lot worse. He will love and care for my Bethany and he will love and care for my people - that is all that I need."

"Then I will prepare a letter for our King Robert." Maester Landon bowed.

"No, not for our King Robert. Prepare a letter for our liege Lord Eddard." Denys redressed.

"But my lord only a king can legitimise a bastard!"

"Even if half the words that trickle down from the capital are true then it may be a long wait before our letter spurs any actions and I cannot bear such long wait. On the other hand, a letter from our liege lord, his beloved friend, will spur actions without any wait."

"True words, my lord."

"There's one other thing. It is now time that the future lord begins to know his new home."

"I will send out riders at once."

"See that you do. Also, alert the kitchens. Bethany or for that matter we all will want a feast. The halls, the corridors, the chambers and the entire castle could do with a little make-over. Brighten up this desolate place, will you! Prepare, prepare for the prodigal son finally returns!"

"I will begin the preparations for his home-coming at once, my lord."