Outside Winterfell, Eddard Stark stood with Catelyn and the children to greet the king.
A massive figure in a black bearskin cloak and crowned stag helm ca thundering toward them on horseback like a tank. The horse reared at the last second, making the younger girls jump.
"Seven hells, Ned!" Robert roared as he swung down. "You've gotten fat!"
Ned dropped to one knee with the rest of his household, then rose with a grin. "And you were fat first, Your Grace. Like a great boar."
Robert laughed and pulled him into a crushing hug, then kissed Catelyn's hand with surprising gentleness.
"You're still beautiful, Cat."
She smiled. "The queen is the true beauty, Your Grace. I'm an old woman now."
Robert moved on to greet the children, then grabbed Ned by the arm. "Co. I want to see her."
Ned understood at once. Lyanna's tomb.
As they walked away, Robert called back over his shoulder, "Cat, see to the queen and Tony. And mind your manners — she's a Lannister."
Once they were gone, Tony's group arrived.
"Cat!" Tony swept Catelyn into a fierce hug. She laughed and kissed his cheek.
Arya imdiately grabbed his hand. "What did you bring ?"
Sansa watched him with hopeful eyes.
Tony grinned. "Patience. Diana's bringing everything."
He gave Robb a fine spear — the boy's weapon of choice. Jon received a sharp new sword and looked genuinely moved. Theon got a powerful longbow that made him whoop with joy. Sansa received a pair of delicate crystal shoes that made her gasp. Arya and Bran both got slingshots. Little Rickon got a wooden toy cart that he imdiately started pushing around.
Jon accepted his gift with a quiet "Thank you."
Tony ruffled his dark curls. "You're my little brother. No need to be formal."
Theon was already testing the pull of his new bow. "This is the best one I've ever held."
"You'll win every archery contest in the North with that," Tony told him.
Catelyn stood with Cersei while the children played with their gifts.
"Isn't it strange," Cersei said lightly, "that both Brandon and Eddard have bastards?"
Catelyn's smile didn't waver. "Tony is exceptional. The youngest maester in history. Brandon would be proud."
Myrcella couldn't hold back. "Tony was just knighted too! My grandfather did it himself."
Tyrion strolled over and confird it with a small bow. "It's true, my lady."
Catelyn looked delighted.
Tyrion kissed her hand. "If you'll excuse , I'm off to find so northern hospitality. Tony, coming?"
Tony raised his middle finger. Tyrion didn't understand the gesture, but he got the ssage and wandered off toward Winterfell's brothels with a smirk.
---
The feast began that evening. After Tony had personally cut everyone's hair, Robb, Jon, and Theon drew plenty of attention from the won in the hall.
"Gods, Robb," Theon said, running a hand through his new style. "Tony really knows how to make a man look good."
Jon smiled faintly. A few girls had already tried to pull him outside. He'd politely refused.
Robert, on the other hand, was in high spirits, laughing loudly with the serving girls and ignoring the daggers Cersei was staring into his back.
Catelyn leaned toward Cersei. "Does the king always behave this way now?"
Cersei's mouth tightened. "He used to be handso. Now he's just loud and drunk. There's nothing I can do about it." She glanced at Catelyn. "What would you have done if our places were switched?"
Catelyn had no answer.
A sudden wave of murmurs rippled through the hall. Sansa had entered wearing the crystal shoes and a deep blue velvet gown. With her auburn hair perfectly styled, she looked like sothing out of a storybook. Even Myrcella looked jealous.
"I want Tony to do my hair too," the little princess whispered.
Tony, however, was not in the hall.
He stood in a narrow alley outside with Benjen Stark. Both n smoked quietly.
Benjen exhaled a long stream of smoke. "The wildfire stays between us. No one else can know — not the king, not even Ned yet. And tonight we need to convince Eddard to ask Robert for more n at the Wall."
Tony tapped ash from his cigarette. He'd invented the things during slow nights at the Citadel. "I read every book I could find, Uncle. The Others haven't been seen in eight thousand years. Robert won't send more n for ghosts. And he's not the man he used to be."
Benjen's face was grim. "Nineteen forts along the Wall. Only three are still manned. Wildlings slip through the rest whenever they want. People are dying."
Tony smiled faintly and crushed the cigarette under his boot.
"I brought the wildfire for the Others," he said. "But I also brought sothing else."
Benjen looked at him. "For the wildlings?"
Tony's eyes were cold. "Exactly. A secret weapon they won't see coming."
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