By the time Arthur finished forging the four swords, his tenth nameday had already come and gone. Today was the day he would leave Winterfell.
He didn't have much to pack, so he was ready early in the morning.
Items too cumbersome to carry on his person were stashed in the saddlebags of Shadow, who had now grown to the height of a man.
His gear included the god-tier hunting tool, the [Dragonbone Bow], his personal blades [Twin-Vipers], a hunting knife, a quiver of arrows, some coin, two oilcloths, a collection of peach pits, and travel rations like salted beef.
He wore [Shadow-Splitter] and [Frostbite] at his waist. Hullen, the Master of Horse, had told him that Lord Stark was waiting for him at the South Gate.
For once, Arthur didn't ride through Winterfell. He led his horse by the reins, walking slowly, taking one last look at the place he had called home for ten years.
How could he not have feelings for this place?
Eddard Stark stood beneath the gatehouse with his two sons and two daughters. Jon was teasing Arya by messing up her hair, while Uncle Ned spoke quietly to Robb.
Sansa stood listlessly to the side, clutching a handkerchief. Lady Catelyn was nowhere to be seen.
Arthur led Shadow forward.
"Arthur. When I brought you to Winterfell, you were so small. Now you're taller than me." Eddard Stark spoke first, a trace of sadness on his long face as he embraced his nephew.
"I sent ravens to White Harbor and Starfall some time ago. Lord Wyman has arranged passage for you to Starfall."
"Thank you, Uncle," Arthur smiled. "I was just wondering which route to take. You've saved me the trouble."
"This is a token your mother left for you. Show this when you arrive at Starfall, and they will know who you are." Eddard pulled a ring from his tunic. It bore an amethyst carved with a white sword and a star.
"I had intended to give this to you when you came of age, along with the land I promised…"
"They should know who I am the moment they see my violet eyes," Arthur said, taking the ring and tucking it away safely. He shrugged. "I doubt they'd suspect a Targaryen or a Lysene of impersonating a Snow."
"You have dark grey hair. Perhaps when you are old and grey, they might make that mistake," Duke Eddard joked—a rarity for him. He signaled to a servant, who brought forward a pack horse.
"Arthur, this is your tenth nameday gift. The packs contain a wolfskin tent, clothes, and coin. You will need them on the road."
Eddard hugged Arthur again. "You may bear the name Snow, but wherever you go, you are a Stark. The gates of Winterfell will always be open to you, and there will always be a place for you by my hearth, Arthur."
"Thank you… Uncle, I…"
"Are those the swords you forged?" Before Arthur could finish, Jon interrupted, staring at the two swords at Arthur's waist. "You promised me one. I even got you a present."
Jon pulled a wool cloak with a squirrel-skin collar off Arya's shoulders, eliciting a loud protest from the little girl.
"Catch. As if I'd forget." Arthur tossed the [Shadow-Splitter] he had prepared. "I spent a lot of effort on this one."
Jon drew the sword. The crisp shing of steel cutting the air drew everyone's attention.
Seeing the intricate patterns on the blade and the shimmering light along the edge, Jon's eyes went wide. His hand trembled slightly. "This sword… it's beautiful!"
Lord Eddard, a man who knew steel, offered a warning. "That is a very sharp blade, Jon. Cherish it, but use it with caution."
"Yes, Father." Jon nodded excitedly, then turned to Arthur. "What's its name?"
"It's called Shadow-Splitter. As Uncle said, it is extremely sharp," Arthur warned, afraid Jon might accidentally hurt someone in his excitement. Cutting flesh with this sword would be like cutting tofu.
"Standard mail won't stop a slash from this blade. Be careful with it, Jon."
At that moment, Arya ran over and hugged Arthur's leg, demanding a sword of her own. Lord Eddard scooped her up and carried her aside.
"This one is for you, Robb." Not making Robb wait, Arthur handed him [Frostbite]. "Its name is Frostbite."
"Named after the ancestral sword?" Robb took the blade, immediately drawn to the direwolf pommel. But as soon as his hand closed around the grip, he let go as if shocked.
"Hss… why is the hilt so cold?"
"Grip it and don't let go. I deliberately left the leather off the handle. The cold calms the mind." Arthur caught the falling sword and handed it back.
"When your thoughts are chaotic, hold this sword. It will bring you peace."
Whether it works when the blood is up and adrenaline is pumping remains to be seen… but hopefully it helps, Arthur thought.
Once Robb adapted to the cold, he accepted [Frostbite] happily. In return, he gave Arthur a silver-inlaid dagger bearing the Stark direwolf sigil as a nameday gift.
Sansa gave him a handkerchief she had embroidered herself with a direwolf, offering a polite blessing. "Safe travels, cousin."
Arya, meanwhile, produced a piece of fine cloth from somewhere and demanded that when he returned, he make her a sword just like Jon's.
Arthur looked closely and realized a piece of fabric was missing from Uncle Ned's cloak.
Lucky for Uncle Ned it wasn't a patch from his breeches, Arthur thought with amusement.
Finally, Eddard Stark wanted to send a squad of guards to escort him all the way to Starfall. Arthur refused on the grounds that the journey was too long—Winterfell to Starfall was literally across the entire continent.
In the end, they compromised. The guards would escort him to White Harbor and teach him the basics of travel survival along the way.
Bidding farewell to the home he had known for over a decade, Arthur followed the guards south along the Kingsroad, then turned to follow the White Knife river toward the sea.
If not for Uncle Ned's arrangement, Arthur had originally planned to travel the Kingsroad all the way down—to see the natural fortress of Moat Cailin, cross the lizard-lion infested Neck, and tour the famous sights of Westeros by land before reaching Starfall in Dorne.
Aside from sightseeing, Arthur wanted to unlock more Tactic Cards. Currently, the only unlocked card was [Pact of the Grove].
[Tactic Card (Unlocked)]: [Pact of the Grove]
[Tactic Card (Locked)]: ... (Unlock Condition: Visit unique locations. The more famous and special the location, the higher the chance to unlock the corresponding card.)
Although using Tactic Cards took a heavy toll on his body, their god-tier effects justified the cost.
However, since a safer and more comfortable route had been arranged, Arthur wasn't going to refuse.
On the road, the guards were diligent, teaching him many things he needed to know.
How to choose a campsite, how to build a fire safely. They taught him to be wary not just of beasts, but of fellow travelers—who could easily be thieves or bandits in disguise.
If stopped by highwaymen, if he could pay a toll to pass, he should do so to avoid conflict. Those daring enough to block the road might be more than simple bandits.
When sleeping, his sword should always be within arm's reach.
When passing through dense forests or mountains, it was best to wait and travel in a group.
---
Whether due to Sansa's blessing or the King's Peace in the North, Arthur was lucky enough not to need his coin purse for anything other than inn fees.
Arthur and the guards followed the White Knife south until the white stone walls of White Harbor came into view.
Smelling the pungent mix of fish and salt air, Arthur entered the city through the massive, white-arched Wolf Gate.
In the Fishmarket square, the guards bid Arthur farewell. They said they were heading to a tavern called the Lazy Eel to relax.
Arthur gave them some coin, thanking them for their protection on the road.