Rickon Darkstar

## Rickon Darkstar, the Damned

The youngest brother of the now deceased Jon Darkstar

Rickon Darkstar the youngest child of a broken house. For years he lived the shadow of his older and greater brother Jon. His story is one of the more darker and sadder in Westeros

## Ealry Life

Growing up with his brother Jon. It became clear to his mother and father that Rickon wasn't exactly the strongest, fastest, or bravest. The classic traits of a second born. So whilst Jon trained from a young age with sword, lance, and shield. Rickon studied the great houses of Westeros. Reading of great warriors and greater battles. The Andal Invasion, the War of Conquest, The Dornish Wars, the Dance of Dragons, the Blackfyre Rebellions, and Roberts Rebellion. With such stories as this planted into Rickon's head from a young age. Could you really laugh at him for wanting to be a warrior? It was always his aspiration. And it didn't help that his elder brother was already showing great prowess with the sword. He looked up to Jon. He loved. Him. And he mourned for him.

## Lordly Life

When Rickon turned 19 that was when life took a drastic turn. His brother had fallen in battle thus making him Lord of Nightfall keep. The burdens of power the beset him furiously and relentlessly. House Bennet an old enemy had then declared open war on his house. Seeing that Jon was gone no doubt they thought to seize the opportunity and take House Darkstar lands for themselves. Not to mention Westerland rebels had taken to hunting his people. And to top it all off. His brother's crimes were dumped on his shoulders. Rickon was always a soft individual. But this pushed him over the edge. Lucky for him. He had friends.

## The Westerland Problem

A group of Westerland deserters had taken residence in Rickon's lands. Hunting and killing at their pleaser. It was only when a local man pleaded to Rickon to remove them permanently that he realized the magnitude of this problem. The rebels were broken men. They had taken to eating people when deer wasn't enough to satisfy their hunger. Rickon sent a force to eradicate them. Needless to say, the lions never feasted in his lands again.

## The Bennet War

House Bennet and House Darkstar had been rivals for centuries. But it was only when Jon passed away and when Rickon became lord that they dared to show their faces. They treated Rickon to a surprise feast where they chided him, insulted him, and made a mockery of his house. They didn't attempt anything stupid, however. Rickon's back was constantly protected by Bough the Bull. A sellsword that he had hired after he was defeated in a tourney by Ser Jory Redwater, the War Time Hand of the King. After the visit, however. War was on Rickon's doorstep and he had gained another ally. To his surprise, it was the eldest son of Lord Bennet. Corrin Bennet. He saw what his father was and wanted to help. For one reason or another. Rickon accepted him into his household and readied for war.

Before the battle, however, a small Auxiliary force of the Bennet's had trespassed on his lands in force. No doubt to wreak havoc. To Rickon this was his chance to become the warrior he had always wanted to be. It wasn't. Rickon wasn't a warrior. He took a spear in the gut and was nearly executed by Bennet crossbowmen. If it wasn't for the Sellsword Robb Griften who intervened and saved his life. Rickon would have died much earlier in life. Now that I look back. It would have been a mercy.

During the real battle where it was Rickons army and allies against Bennet's it was Rickon's real bitter taste of war. The bodies strewn across the battleground with offal and organs spilling out of their bellies. Screaming and yowling in pain. Every pour of their person drenched in blood. Rickon couldn't take it. He felt the plate on his body strangling and killing him. He ran. Fled from the battle. Even though it resulted in his victory. Whilst in the woods, however. Rickon was kidnapped by Bard the Bowman and his gang of bandits. They took Rickon as a prisoner and made him do unspeakable things.

## Rickon's Capture

After the battle between House Darkstar and House Bennet. Rickon was sold into an underground fighting pit with two others. There he was forced to fight for food, water and most of all freedom. He narrowly escaped death on many occasions and after his torment was shoved into a small dank cell to share with two other prisoners. It was quite lucky for Rickon that he was able to maintain his sanity in the form of a friend. One of the men who he had shared a cell with became a close friend. Rupert his name was. In such a place that he was kept, he found it enlightening to find companionship. Rupert died, however. In the last ever fight of the fighting pit. Before all the crowds had to depart for the war. Rupert was skewered by a spear and slowly bled to death. Rickon stayed with his friend. And watched as his companion died a horrible. Slow death. Rickon had killed men in the pits. With rocks, clubs, and knives. He hadn't become a warrior in those pits. He had become a killer. That was when he had come to a realization. Warriors never fought for glory. They fought to survive. Rickon had reached his lowest point. But still, he would delve deeper and deeper into misery.

## The Black Rebellion

Rickon had read many tales as a boy about many rebellions. But had never fought to find himself in one. Ser Jory Redwater, the War Time Hand of the King. Had declared House Blackwolf and House Darkstars traitors to the realm. He accused Lord Shamus Blackwolf, Master of Coin, of withdrawing funds for his own use. And he accused Rickon of exceeding the number of soldiers he was allowed to garrison in Nightfall Keep. He had jumped from one war to another. With a short holiday of ruthless violence in between. Many Lords had rallied to Rickon and Shamus' side. As House Redwater had a controversial reputation at the time. But Rickon had seen enough of war. He didn't want to see more dead men clasping to the cusp of life only to have it slip from their grasp ever so slowly. So in exchange for peace. Rickon took the black and became a sworn brother of the Night's Watch.

## Rickon's Watch

Rickon had arrived in Castle Black in exchange for peace. He would become a sworn member of the Night's Watch and live the rest of his life in honor. Of course, it didn't last long. He was assigned as a recruiter for the watch for a whole two days. Before the prisoners of war that he had taken to the Watch deserted and killed many peasant folk. After that, he was assigned as a ranger and sent north on a ranging. There Rickon suffered the harshness of winter and what stalked in the snow.

Whilst Rickon was north of the wall and securing a defensive position for other Rangers. They were beset by not wildlings. But others. White Walkers. The stuff of legend. They massacred his brothers. Impaled him on a jagged spike of wood, and slammed a balder upon his head. It would have been the end for Rickon. It should have been. To die and waste away in the snow. Freezing his flesh ice solid and turning his eyes blue. But alas. The gods saw fit to keep him alive.

## An Unlikely Saviour

Rickon's wounds were tended to by none other than the kind that had just tried to kill him. A girl. With pale skin, tattered clothes, and blue eyes saw to his wounds. She communicated through writing. And he by speech. She was called Marry. A wildling girl who had died out in the snows a long time ago. To say that an affection between the two wasn't mutual. Would be a lie.

## Later Life

Rickon fled from the wall after his wounds had healed. He became many things after that. A runaway. A farm hand, a Goldcloak, even a Hedge Knight. He ran and ran and ran. It was the only thing in life Jon could never best him at. Cowardice. Now the lords who knew House Darkstar. Never so much as mutter the name Darkstar. Either because they had forgoten. Or because they know the meaning behind it.