Winterfell 599 AC

[Marie]

"Lead the way then," he said. "You forget that I do not know the way to the crupts. We'll want a lantern, I assume?"

[The Smith]

The Septa lead him out to the storerooms, and grabbed a lantern, and then took him to the door to the crypts, "You go first... it terrifies me down there."

[Marie]

He took the lantern from her and stepped slowly down into the crypts. After a few steps he checked to see if the woman was following.

[The Smith]

The Septa stepped up and slid a hand through the back of his belt. He could feel her fingers trembling against his back.

[Marie]

"Keep close and nothing will harm you," Benjen promised.

They started to make their way along. As they got to the first crypts, those of the ancient Kings of the North, he shone his lantern to see if any of them had any swords worth taking, thuogh he assumed the very oldest blades would have rusted away.

[The Smith]

He walked down the dark corridor, and shivered. It was summer above ground, but below winter's chill slipped into his heart.

The Septa pressed close against him, to help fight the fear and cold.

The first rooms were as he though, but as he pushed deeper into the gloom the colder it became.

[Marie]

Though he was used to the cold, even Benjen found himself shivering. He swung the lantern about, looking for swords.

"Can you see any we can use?"

[The Smith]

The Septa clung to him, and whispered shakily into his ear, "I can see nothing but your back."

Benjen was forced to step into each room, for it seemed like the darkness would not surrender to the light.

[Marie]

He checked every room carefully, looking for blades.

[The Smith]

After eight rooms he finally spots a sword that does not look corroded.

[Marie]

Standing before the statue of the old lord, Benjenoffered up a prayer to the old gods.

"Forgive me for the desecration.I do it only to defend Winterfell," he said.

He could only hope the old gods would understand his need even though he was aiding the Faith,

[The Smith]

He pulled the sword from its sheath, and it seemed to gleam in the lantern light.

[Marie]

Satisfied, Benjen looked at the blade to check whether it was sharp, then turned around to face the septa.

"Take this, and we'll look for more blades."

[The Smith]

Moving through the cold, dark tombs, they find eight working swords.

[Marie]

Benjen gave the septa the lantern and one sword to carry and bore the rest himself.

"Right. We can go back now. Hopefully the rest of our helpers will have managed to string the bows and get everything back to the great hall, or the courtyard."