To get some food

Riverrun Kitchens

Garrick left the solar with a spring in his step. In one day of pure chaos and surprise, he had gone from a simple sellsword to a member of the Lord of Winterfell's person guard. He made his way to the kitchens first, just as Robb had suggested, and as he walked he felt the pangs of hunger. He found himself wandering through the stone-walled corridors of Riverrun at first, but he knew he was close when the smell of fresh cooked bread, delicious stew and much more filled the air. As he got closer, he heard the hustle and bustle of the servants preparing food for the castle's many residents, though thankfully not for the entire camp outside the walls.

He entered the room, glancing around to find something to eat. He spotted an empty bowl on a counter, opposite a fire with a pot of bubbling stew on top, and immediately began to walk over. Unfortunately for him, Garrick found his path blocked by a young scullery maid, armed with a wooden spoon and pointing it at him like a sword.

She must have been no more nineteen or twenty years, and she was gorgeous, though much of her beauty was covered by the servant's uniform she wore. Her dark hair was tied back under a cloth bonnet, and she glared at him. "What do you think you're doing?"

Garrick tried, and failed, to surpress his smile as she threatened him. He raised his hands in mock surrender. "What do you mean?"

"Seven Hells!" She exclaimed, her frustration clearly growing. "You soldiers know you're not allowed to eat here. Tully men can eat in the barracks, and the rest of you can eat in your damned camps."

"I... I'm not exactly one of the soldiers."

"You're wearing armour like one." She pointed out.

Garrick shrugged. "I'm part of Lord Stark's personal guard."

The scullery maid blinked at him slowly. "What?"

"I was recently given the position."

"I... oh gods... I'm so sorry!" She quickly snatched up the bowl and filled it generously with stew, pressing it into Garrick's hands before he could react. "Please forgive me, ser! I'm so sorry!"

Garrick stared at her "What are you talking about? You don't need to apologise."

She stared at the floor, obviously unable to bring herself to look at him. "I... I do, ser, I should've known."

"You had no way of knowing. Lord Stark gave me the role all of five minutes ago. Perhaps we could start again, this time without the spoon threats?" He suggested with a warm smile. That made her laugh softly, but she still seemed apprehensive.

"Of course, m'lord." Her gaze was still directed at the floor and her voice was full of nervousness, but she seemed to be coming out of her shell.

"I should introduce myself. I'm Garrick."

"I'm Darna" She finally looked up at him.

"Would you care to join me for a bowl of stew, Darna?" He asked, still smiling.

"I... I... yes, m'lord." She stuttered.

"I'm not a lord, or a knight. Just a soldier."

Darna nodded, taking another bowl from the counter and filling it with stew. "We could go to the servants' hall and eat there, ser, if you wish."

"It would be my pleasure." Garrick answered. He followed her through the maze of kitchen counters, through corridors and doorways until they arrived at a large stone hall. Wooden benches and tables lined the floor, but it was mostly empty of people. There were no windows, so all the light came from tallow candles and rusted lanterns, and the Tully banners that hung on the walls were old and tattered, as if they once held a prize position in the Lord's hall but had been discarded for only the servants' viewing. Garrick took a seat at one of the tables, directly across from Darna, who began to eat her stew hungrily. Wasting no time, he began to eat from his own bowl, though he could not help but keep glancing at the beautiful maid before him.

The stew was decent, though that might have been because of how hungry Garrick was. It reminded him of the food his mother cooked before he left the capital, but nothing could ever rival a home cooked meal. "Are you from Riverrun, Darna?" He asked as he ate.

"Yes, m'lord. My family is from the town just outside. You probably didn't see it when you rode in, the camp blocks the view. Where are you from, ser?"

"I'm from King's Landing."

"Really?" She looked shocked "But the war... why did you leave?"