The intense emotions in his heart he could not control greatly, but his thoughts were his own. His thoughts raced while the young boy mourned his mother's death. I am Robert Barratheon's bastard?
One memory revealed that his mother's family was originally from Riverlands. His great-grandfather from his mother's side was even a minor knight once. His mother had told stories of it all his life. The battles he had fought against Brackens and others in the Riverlands.
Orston Snow. There was no such character in Song of Ice and Fire. But Robert had many bastards, they say. Most of whom were later killed by Cercie Lanister.
What time period was this?
In his little life memories, spanning a little over half a decade, Orston found mentions of the Grayjoy rebellion and its end. That happened around 289 AC. A few years from that means somewhere around 292-293 AC. Five years before the starting events of Book 1, The Game of Thrones.
Orston was confused for the rest of the day. Some hours later, the villagers helped him bury his mother beneath a robust tree where Fenbarrow's dead went. The Old Gran took him to her home and gave him food and company.
The older men of the village came to him all evening, and they even sat around the fire at night. Orston had more or less recovered. The grief remained still, but he could finally think clearly. The men who had come to talk to him offered him jobs and advice about what he should do next.
Few said to go to King's Landing and show the proof to the king. Some suggested against it. Some said, 'Forget all the noble farce, Fenbarrow folk ought to live in Fenbarrow.' Then some said, 'Life at Storm's End as Robert's bastard will be far better than the life of an orphan.'
After a long time, finally, Orston had strength again. He was only ten or eleven but already bigger than most boys his age. Broad through the shoulders and thick at the wrists.
The short childhood memories revealed that everyone treated him more nicely than they would a fatherless, poor boy. Part of it was his height. At eleven, already pushing five foot eight, he stood nearly level with some grown women and taller than many older boys. That alone made villagers think twice before speaking harshly. The rest was how he looked. He had clear, fair skin, dark, thick hair that never quite stayed in place, and steady blue eyes that met a person's gaze without flinching.
His features were still young but balanced and easy on the eye: straight nose, even mouth, nothing sharp or dramatic about him. But he had memories of many a woman glancing towards him more often than they should.
After a lifetime of weakness, Orston was truly happy to be blessed with such a robust body. Even if he was in Westeros, a place more dangerous than medieval Earth. There, at least, the dragons and ice zombies did not exist. Being a nerd of the story and living in this hardcore world were two completely separate things. Still, if there are gods, they did give me my one wish. For that, I should be grateful.
A life in the westeros won't be an easy one, but compared to his frail, bedridden one, this was far better.
The Old Gran shared her fire with him and gave him thin furs to sleep on. But the cold floor was anything but comfortable. Anyway, his mind was too occupied to fall asleep. The whole village knows my secret. That's not good.
If it were a secret, he would still have options. But this village was near Barrowton. If the word spreads, Lady Barbery Dustin will not let him live peacefully. Not that Orston wanted to live peacefully. In the world of Westeros, where danger loomed everywhere, if he did not learn how to fight, he was as good as dead.
Lady Dustin did not appear much in the books. She wasn't exactly a bad one, but he just wasn't sure about her and Barrow Hall as a place. She did declare for Bolton's later and had barely sent any men when Rob Stark marched south. She held some grudge against Ned Stark after losing her husband in Robert's Rebellion.
No. He must leave.
Living in the village makes no sense. He can't travel far being a kid. Neither does he have money, nor can he protect himself from animals and brigands. But Torrhen's Square is not too far from here. From there, Winterfell should be a good enough path.
It was peace time and stark territory, so he shouldn't encounter anything too rough. But he would have to walk all the way there.
From his broken house, Orston had found 17 copper coins and 1 silver stag. Hopefully, that is enough. They also had an old fur cloak; at times, he and his mother slept together wrapped in it. That should do for the journey.
Orston knew it was a risk. But only Winterfell made sense. The northern lords were relatively good people, but being a king's bastard, he would never be safe anywhere. Not to mention, when the war of the five kings starts, the chaos will make his presence dangerous for anyone. Only Eddard Stark, if he accepts him, can give him shelter and keep him safe for a while. Even if word spreads somehow, Winterfell should be the safest place to be in the north.
Catelyn can be a problem, but with the proof of his blood, Ned shouldn't send him away just about anywhere. Even if he does, there is a possibility he will be given some money or something, or the possibility of being sent to one of Stark's bannermen's houses.
With his decision made, Orton put his mind at rest.