Karhold 599AC

[Marie]

The ancestral home of House Karstark, formerly bannerlords to House Stark and now bannerlords to House Manderley.

[Marie]

Benjen Blaackfyre arrived at Karhold in company with Leilanna. He asked a servant if he could see Lord Karstark.

[The Stranger]

The guardsman eventually escorts Blackfyre in to the great hall, where a boy, perhaps twelve years of age, sits on a carved wooden throne. Sitting beside him, is an older woman, perhaps in her mid-twenties, attractive enough, but Benjen has seen better.

"Benjen Blackfyre, and Leilianna of Braavos to see you milord," the guardsman says.

[Marie]

Benjen bowed to Lord Karstark.

"My lord, I must thank you for permitting me to enter your keep. I have some questions to ask if I am allowed to do so?"

[The Stranger]

"Who the fuck are you!" The boy yells at the top of his lungs.

"Darling... manners," the woman says, and the boy looks at the woman "I'm sorry," the boy tells her, before looking back at the two guests.

"Welcome to my.... Please... welcome to my..."

"hearth.." the woman says helpfully.

"hearth.. and... mead." The boy adds

"Meat and mead," the woman offers.

"Right.. that."

[Marie]

Benjen smiled and nodded.

"thank you, my lord. I am Benjen Blackfyre. I have come seeking assistance. Does your lordship perhaps have any servitors from twenty years past?"

[The Stranger]

The young boy looked up at the woman curiously. She coughed.

"Lord Karstark... isn't twenty years old. Perhaps you would care to explain your purpose here at Karhold? It might make your questions a little easier to understand."

Leilianna giggled, and shook her had at Benjen.

[Marie]

"The information I seek is many years old. Someone as long as your lordship, or your lordship's mother, would not be able to help me," Benjen responded. "That is why I would speak to a servant who has been with House Karstark many years."

[The Stranger]

The woman blinked several times.

"I am his lordship's lady." She replies icily. "And you have still not told us what you seek."

[Marie]

"Information," Benjen said. "I want to know if Karhold had any visitors twenty years past and, if so, who they were."

[The Stranger]

"I'm sure Karhold has had many visitors in the past 20 years.... Benjen whoever you are. If you can't be more specific, I don' think anyone is going to be able to help you," the Lady says, her face as if she had sucked on a lemon.

[Marie]

"This visitor would have brought with them an infant child," Benjen said.

[The Stranger]

"If I let you speak with Maester Thormin, will you promise to leave immediately?" the Lady asks, nose slightly upturned, as if struggling to avoid smelling the half-crannogman.

[Marie]

"if my lady wishes, though I must ask what I have done to offend yuor ladyship so."

[The Stranger]

"You come here, demanding answers to silly nonsense questions, that's what," She snaps back.

"I think he should be sent to the dungeon," the lord commented.

'hush now darling," the lady replied.