Last Hearth

[The Flint]

The keep of the Umbers, bannerlords to Winterfell. Last Hearth sits East of the King's Road, and North of the Last River. The chained giant flutters in the cold Northron breeze.

[The Flint]

Ondrew Burley, his wife Nara, his Cousin Robb, and his new friend Hamish Harclay arrive at Last Hearth, and seek entrance to meet the Lord Umber.

[Horas]

They are admitted.

Lord Bors Umber is a large man, though not quite so large as his younger brother, the famed Big Benn. He sits in his audience chamber, a heavy fur cloak draped over his shoulders. He nods as the clansmen enter.

"Burleys and Harclays, is it?" He asks by way of greeting.

[The Flint]

"Yes milord. I am Ondrew Burley, my grandfather is Herdon Burley. The Burley. This is Hamish Harclay, his father is The Harclay. This is my wife Nara, and cousin Robb. We've just come from the Wall milord, where terrible things are afoot."

[Horas]

Umber frowns. "I've heard no word of any terrible things."

[The Flint]

Ondrew nodded firmly. "Lord Commander Farman says wildlings are raiding deep into the gift. They destroyed a village. Not just grabbing a wife, I think, but all the women, killing all the men. They've grown very bold he says." Ondrew covered his face with his left hand and coughed. "There's more Lord Umber. A King-Beyond-The-Wall is gathering a great force of Wildlings. Or he soon will."

The Umbers were an old family. Blood of the First Men. Ondrew prayed they would hold to the old ways and see the truth in dreams.

"My wife has seen it." He gestured, and the young girl stepped forward, and surveyed the room, managing to look quite elegant in her Rabbit fur cloak, despite wind tussled hair.

"My husband speaks true. I saw a great evil and hungry wolf beyond the wall gathering his pack to devour us. The Old Gods sent me this dream so that we could rouse the North and defend our hmes."

[Horas]

Umber gives Nara a long look. "Have you seen this host with your own eyes?" he asks, "Sometimes even the servants of the Gods can misinterpret their visions."

[The Flint]

"Lord Commander Farman says he is dispatching rangers to locate the Wildlings." Ondrew said.

"He will find them." The girl said. "When he does, we must be prepared."

Ondrew nodded,"Lord Farman says the Wall is heavily undermanned. But he does not think the Southron King will listen to his pleas for assistance. He has placed his hopes in us to rouse the North to action."

[Horas]

"Let no man say House Umber is not a friend of the Watch," Lord Bors says, "But what am I to do? You cannot expect me to raise my banners and march to the Wall because of a dream alone."

[The Flint]

"Would your Lordship consent to ready his banners to march? Ask his fellow lords to assemble men here as well? Than when Lord Farman returns with proof, we shall be ready?" Ondrew asked.

[Horas]

Bors tugs on his beard. "Aye... I suppose I can do that. But this dream of yours," he looks to Nara, "had best be true, or else I will end up looking like a fool in front of all the North."

[The Flint]

She curtsied nervously.

"It's true milord, I swear it."

"Caution is never foolish milord Umber." Ondrew said as he bowed.

[Horas]

"As you say," Lord Umber says. "Will you be returning to the Wall? There's some men in the dungeons the Watch could take off my hands."

[The Flint]

"We meant to travel to the other Northern lords and urge them to join the Umbers in their preparations." Ondrew said. "But if it would suit you we could pass by again on our return and escort them to the Wall."

[Horas]

"That would suit me well," The Umber says.