Hearth, Heart, and Harvest

Known as a Bog Devil, Howland Reed is a close friend of Eddard Stark, fighting along side him in Robert's Rebellion. House Reed has always remained loyal to the Stark family, and he sent his two children to pledge their loyalty to House Stark. House Name House Reed Words: Hearth, Heart, and Harvest

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[itslikeridingabiker-archive]

She took a step back when the man pulled his own sword out, her eyes darting between the blade and his face. But at his words, she couldn’t help but stare at him. “G-Get to you?” She stammered, completely caught of guard, before she started laughing.

"Oh Gods, that’s hilarious!" She hiccuped, fixing her gaze on his face again. "You think I’m here for you?" She slowly shook her head. "Nah, as far as I know, there’s no price on your head, so you’re not interesting to me."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

"You think I think you're here for me?  Oh gods you are a foolish girl aren't you?"  The bog king laughed, though his eyes never left the other girl.  There had been a reason he asked if she was loyal to House Stark.  He knew who's remains he had in his family's own crypt.  They would stay there until Winterfell belonged to the Starks again.

"I am not a fool girl.  I know why you are here.  I am sworn to House Stark and if you are here for why I think you are.  You're going to have to go through me before you can get to him."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[itslikeridingabiker-archive]

Crap. Was the only thing that went through her mind. Next time she was going to be send out to bring someone’s head back, she should have some back up stories ready, instead of having to come up with one on the spot. “I’m sorry, m’lord,” she smirked, pulling her sword free. “Can’t do. I’m a girl on a mission.”

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland just smirked at her.  What was it with people thinking that he was just a man who would give up anything?  Or that his home was undefended?  He stood up, drawing his own sword.  "You may be a girl on a mission, but..."  A smirk came across his lips.  "You'll be dead before you even get to me."

"I am no fool.  You are a fool to draw a sword on the Lord of a House." There were guards, but not with swords, with bows, drawn to the read.

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[scrappylittlewolf]

"Is this how you greet all of the members of House Stark, or just the girls?"

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland looked towards the young girl again.  "Arya...?"

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[itslikeridingabiker-archive]

She opened her mouth to deny any allegiance to the Starks, but decided against it. “I am loyal to House Stark, m’lord,” she smiled with a small curtsy. Now it was a matter of coming up with a quick and plausible reason for her to need his help. Just having ‘sworn allegiance’ to the Starks, she couldn’t admit she was actually there to bring Robb Stark’s head back to her client.

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

One time, he may have believed her.  At one time he had been far more trusting of people.  He could no longer say that. It was how she opened her mouth, that split second of hesitation.  "Leave."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[eisbllume-deactivated20170113]

Her face soften and she reached out to him, grasping his hand tightly in her own “My dear friend, you are no monster. I shall cut the throats of anyone who thinks otherwise.” A smirk played across her lips, stormy eyes twinkling with mischief “Or perhaps I shall challenge them in combat as I did when we were young.”

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland could not help the smile that came across his lips when she grabbed his hand.  In secret, he had always been fond of Lyanna, but he was a crannogman, below.  So he watched from afar.  "My knight in shining armor," he said chuckling softly.

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+14 have entered the swamp

[whoreingildedclothing-deactivat]

Shae listened to him mildly distracted by his drumming. “I assure you that he is fine and he did get to talk to a Stark while he was there.” 

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland leaned forward then, his eyes on her, curious, but also cautious.  He had heard of what had happened with the Stark family.  His sworn loyalty was always to them.  ”Which one…” he said in a quiet voice.  ”One of the girls?”

[whoreingildedclothing-deactivat]

She nodded her head. Howland was a curious one, much like his son. That must be where Jojen get’s it from. “It was my Lady Sansa Stark.”

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

The name caught his attention instantly.  "Lady Sansa..." he said and closed his eyes a sigh coming from his lips.  "At least he found one of them..."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[itslikeridingabiker-archive]

Running her tongue over her upper lip, Faith crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at the man. “I always have a reason for anything I do,” she smirked. “And you’re right about me not abiding. I’m here for business. Thought you might be able to help me, m’lord.”

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

"What is it that you need help with?  Certainly there was a lord far easier to get too."  He looked at her, his face impassive for the moment.  "And unless you are loyal to the Starks, I suggest you leave..."

[valiantlynoblyhonorably-blog]

Just a new Rhaegar Targaryen blog looking for some people to RP with.  Like or reblog for a follow?

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

[eisbllume-deactivated20170113]

"Since when are you a recluse?" Lyanna asked, quirking a brow inquisitively "Of course I will not abide, I traveled a long way to see you and see you I will." The woman strode past him, yanking off her riding gloves with her teeth, flexing numb fingers.

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland glanced up something of a grin forming on his lips.  "Well I can never be too careful my lady...there are those that simply want to see a monster."  Though he claimed to be immune to their taunts, it still hurt.

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+6 found the bog devil

"I hope you have reason to come here," he said in a low voice.  He did not take kindly to visitors as of late, especially not ones who were unannounced.  "I would ask you to leave but I fear you would not abide by that request."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+14 have entered the swamp

[whoreingildedclothing-deactivat]

Shae listened to him mildly distracted by his drumming. “I assure you that he is fine and he did get to talk to a Stark while he was there.” 

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland leaned forward then, his eyes on her, curious, but also cautious.  He had heard of what had happened with the Stark family.  His sworn loyalty was always to them.  "Which one..." he said in a quiet voice.  "One of the girls?"

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+14 have entered the swamp

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

To Howland, that meant that Meera had been separated from Jojen, especially if his son was in King’s Landing.  ”Gods what is he doing there…” he said in a low voice, though a smile did form on his lips when the food was brought.

[whoreingildedclothing-deactivat]

Shae looked at him and noticed the look he had on his face. “He told me that he was there on a political mission for you.” She smiled looking at the food. She had never had food from the north before. 

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland drummed his fingers on the table.  "I sent him to the Starks...not south to King's Landing..."  Dear god what had his son gotten into now?   "But if he is there he had a reason to be..."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+14 have entered the swamp

[whoreingildedclothing-deactivat]

Shae sat down next to him almost hesitantly. “I’ve not met Meera, but I did have the pleasure of helping the young lord find his way through Kings Landing. He looked very lost.”

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

To Howland, that meant that Meera had been separated from Jojen, especially if his son was in King's Landing.  "Gods what is he doing there..." he said in a low voice, though a smile did form on his lips when the food was brought.

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland laughed again, shaking his head.  ”And here I thought all you Starks were all so noble.”

[eddardxofxwinterfell-deactivate]

"Noble," Ned snorted. "What in seven hells does the word noble mean, anyway?" 

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

"Not entirely certain, it's one of those things I hear when the villagers near Winterfell tell me why I should 'return to those mucky old swamps where I belong.'  But otherwise not sure."  Howland shrugged giving his friend a wide grin.

[xfirstranger-deactivated2017041]

take up your arms ○ Howland & Benjen

Each tall tower of Harrenhal loomed morning and night over the proceedings, massive and burnt all to blackness. Five towers stood watching the tournament, judging the knights and their lances, the ladies and their smiles, the squires, the children, the whores—all of it was under the scrutiny of the pillars of destroyed greatness. Benjen thought them discomforting when walking with his sister and even more now that he walked alone along the fairgrounds. Harrenhal had a stench that was unending, as though the stones still burned with dragonfire and if you should lay your finger upon them it may come back red and bloody, burned just like the towers. 

His feet fell quickly as he walked alone, hands tightly wrapped around the bundle of clothes he held to his chest. Lyanna had sent him to find tunic, breeches, and doublet that might have fit the crannogman they had met earlier that day. The boy was nearer to Lyanna’s age than his, surely three or four years older than him, but Benjen was tall and crannogmen were notoriously small of build. Whereas Benjen was smooth of face, Howland Reed could be seen to have some smatterings of hair starting on his jaw and cheeks. He hoped that the older boy did not mind wearing clothes of Stark colors for Benjen owned little else. 

With relief, Benjen spotted the tent that Lyanna had ushered them into earlier, the place where she had been tending to his wounds. Glancing away from the nearest black tower Benjen rushed the last 15 feet into the tent and attempted to shake off the tingling that ran down his spine. Lya was nowhere to be seen inside the tent but the older boy was still there, sitting up now though there was a visibly strained pain for each movement he made. Benjen could see his bruises better now, the hard purples and red decorating the crannogman, and he felt a surge of anger, the same his sister had felt, at the squires who had done this to his father’s bannerman.

"I, uh, brought you some clothes. They should fit, I think. If not, I’ve got others." Benjen set the wrinkled bundle down next to the older boy. He glanced back to the crannogman, wishing that his sister was still there to help and tell him what to do now. Benjen did not want to leave this boy alone should he need more assistance but he did not know how to voice his concern without sounding foolish. "I’m not a squire but uh, do you need any help?" He phrased instead, nodding his head to the clothes and letting his eyes flicker across the welts and bruises decorating young Howland Reed. 

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland was in the tent alone, refused to let anyone see the shame that decorated his young features.  The complete and utter humiliation that he had suffered, it made him wish that he had never left the Neck. He could not be like these other people, he was nothing more than a bog devil.  Should have realized that and should have stayed away.

A dream of a child was what it had been, he could remember tagging along to other tournaments with Eddard and his brothers, always wanted to be in one himself.  This time, however, he wished he had never set eyes on any of it.  All he wanted to do right then was curl into a ball and not talk.  Wallow in his shame.  Return home and not leave his swamp again.

Unless his friends asked him too.

Lady Lyanna had been so kind to him, got those squires to stop poking fun at him.  Well beating him up was a better term based upon the bruises that covered his skin.  Lyanna had been talking to him, telling him how he could go back out there and defend his name.  But the poor crannogman was to embarrassed, it was bad enough he could not just leave.

At the sound of Benjen's voice he glanced towards him, towards the wrinkled bundle in his arms that was set down on the ground.  Quietly he took the tunic pulling it over his frame.  He gave him a bit of a smile.  "No...you don't need to t help me...not going back out there..."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

+14 have entered the swamp

[whoreingildedclothing-deactivat]

Shae knew she had heard those words before. The Neck. That’s what Jojen was talking about when he came to visit Kings Landing. She heard his name and a smile came to grace her lips. “Pardon the intrusion, but are you kin to the young lord Jojen Reed?”

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland nodded his head, a smile still on his lips.  "Jojen is my son, and Meera my daughter." He motioned for her to sit down.  "Come. I'll have someone bring some food."

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

"Did they seriously?" Howland snorted with laughter.  "God at least I’m just throwing frogs and not anythin’ else."

[eddardxofxwinterfell-deactivate]

"Yes, they did," he said smirking. "It was all over by the time I got the nerve to go up there and join them. We heard about it for weeks from Father. That didn’t stop them, of course. They chose to pelt me instead out by the stables and I threw it back in their faces." 

[ofthegreywaterwatch]

Howland laughed again, shaking his head.  "And here I thought all you Starks were all so noble."