House of the wolf

“Father can you task me with translating these tablets, I don´t want anyone that´s not a Stark house to read them until I know what´s in them.” 

Ned looks at me for a while evaluating what I said “Sure. I am certain I don´t know anyone else who can write old tongue better than you besides you old Nan but it would be ungrateful to ask her to do even more for our house than she has already”

As we turn to look at the second chest I wait with bated breath too see what it will reveal as he opens the lid on the chest we see 3 bows laying on the top of the chest 2 small bows as if they are made for children and 1 large bow.

“Th-, these bows their body is made with wierewood what impeccable craftsmanship. But use such material to create 2 children's bows” Ned shakes is head with a wry smile. 

I reach over and carefully pick up one of the smaller bows “What about the strings for them to last so long what are they made of?” I ask as I pluck at it to feel its torque. 

“I don´t know but it seems to be on par with the material used to craft the body” 

We take the bows out, lift up the compartment, and see a quill full of wierwood arrows and cloaks of unknown material. Ned studies them for a bit and is about to close the chest when “Wait, don´t close it look there is another compartment under this one” I point out that the bottom here is not as deep as the other and knock at the bottom to find it´s hollow.

Ned uses a tool to break it with persicion and lifts the cracks out of the chest to reveal weapons at the bottom a huge axe and a smaller one handed axe on one side and a longsword and a shortsword on the other and in the middle the is a chisel and a hammer.

My heart pounds my chest as I look at what might have been possessions of Brandon the builder thousands of years ago.

Ned carefully takes deep breaths and says “Edwyn since you found this place I will let you pick 3 things before you make your choice. Ned inspects the weapons. 

“Too heavy to be valeryian steel but the metal is still in good shape and is still sharp…strange how come I´ve never heard of this metal” 

I pick up the smaller axe confirming that it is heavy not too heavy though just a little weightier than normal perfectly balanced. It is an axe a grown man could wield with one hand but for now, I need both hands to hold it steady it feels unnaturally cold but it's not a bad feeling in fact it feels refreshing somehow.

After carefully looking at each weapon and tool I made my pick the longsword I would take when I´m older as well as the big wierwood bow. And wield them when I am big enough until then I will wield the smaller axe a very versatile weapon as well as a tool I can use for very long time.

Ned nodded his head at my picks maybe worried I would choose the huge axe while that was very tempting I was happy with my choices. 

“What about the rest” I ask wondering what Ned will do with them.

“I will give the rest to your siblings if they´re interested and there are enough cloaks for each of you and me for that matter” 

“What about the big axe? I doubt any of us can wield it anytime soon.” 

“You have something in mind?” 

“I just thought it would be a good and fun idea to present the people in town and our neighbors with a challenge and opportunity if anyone can beat a member of the house guard wielding this axe they can keep it if they become a member house guard as well.” 

Ned frowns “A tourney you would have held a tourney in Winterfell?” 

“It´s just a bit of fun! No big deal a little town gathering with a bit of spectacle and if anyone succeeds. Would it not be our gain if someone capable of wielding that thing joined our household guard?”

“It would take a beast of a man indeed. I´ll consider it, I will get a belt for your axe by the end of the week and until you´re big enough for the Longsword and Longbow I will be keeping them safe in the treasury until then you can keep the small bow now let's go back and get some sleep” 

Then, the next day the stone tomes were delivered to my room Ned only told the family about what was found and Maester Luwin since he will help discover which books can still be saved while it falls on me to translate them. Arya begged for the other smaller bow when she saw me carrying one and Ned in a good mood allowed it. Jon was given the shortsword since Robb is already set to inherit Ice. It was decided to leave the stone and chisel to Bran both because of his name and he seemed a little attached to the tools even though they were too heavy for him.

For the next month, I spent my time in the day training and learning new forms with the axe instead of the shield and sword I´ve trained most in it opened my eyes to see how helpless I was with the axe, and resolved my self to at least be competent with most weapons and now I have switched from getting lessons from maester Luwin instead of old Nan. he is helping me  with my handwriting since I´m translating priceless knowledge and teaching me about the higher mysteries that I have found very interesting myself even though he seems skeptical about there being such things.