A Break

"On second thought, you're half girl, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about?", You frowned.

“I hadn't taken a good look at your face… until now. You are not one of those begging girls who pretend to be a man to have a home on the Wall, are you? ”, He took a sip of his stew.

"No…"

"Hm".

You were now in a snow-covered clearing. Your travel companion's name was Wate, you found out a few hours after you met. He was a skilled warrior, and in the last hour he proved himself a good hunter too. Although you had seasoned and cleaned the rabbit pricked over the fire, he hunted it. And without arrows.

Wate looked about thirty-five years old. He had short hair and a stubble, both dark brown that approached black. You couldn't see it, but you could deduce that under those robes and rags, Wate was a muscular, athletic man.

You had two horses and supplies for a week, although it was so cold that you didn't think you would last a few more hours. “**** is more painful than that. It's not that fast, kid”, said Wate when you commented on the cold.

"How do I know you're not lying to me?" He asked, chewing meat.

"Have you ever seen a smallfolk with eyes like mine?"

“I don't think I saw it. But I also never saw a Bolton”.

"But you know how they look like."

"Yeah. Everybody knows. Starks, Lannisters, Baratheons, Tyrell... everyone knows what all these noble sons of bitches look like. With all respect".

“I am not a noble. Only son of one ”.

Later, before you left, you started to worry about some itching on your back, scalp and closed parts of your body. Your clothes were stinking. You were still wearing the clothes from the day you were dragged from home, all you had was a cloak to keep from dying of hypothermia.

"It's also itching, isn't it?"

"Yes".

“I suppose I haven't washed my body for a few days too… I came from King's Landing, I've been without a bath for almost a month. If I don't die in the cold, some disease will kill me”.

"The lakes here are all frozen", you said, looking around even though there was no lake around.

"I know".

You looked at him. Eyes narrowing into the trees, as if he were thinking about something.

"Did you have any ideas?"

"I actually did", he replied.

"Do you know the region?"

“I served House Glover when I was younger. When I was your age. I've been through these frozen woods a few times, and... well, I think I know the road ahead. There is a village after this land. We can get there in two hours, if I'm right. ”

"So, what is the plan?"

"We go to the bathroom and, who knows, to the inn to eat a pie".

"And do you have the money?"

“No, but Guard Stark did. Besides, we can sell one of those horses. Yours is more malnourished than mine, but it would make good coins. They are good horses”.

"And do you intend to travel with just one?"

“It's more subtle… and practical. And you don't look too heavy, the stallion over there can take both of us”.