Ned Stark stood beside the narrow window, gazing out into the pitch-black night beyond Winterfell's walls.
The darkness seed endless, concealing dangers he could neither see nor predict.
Tonight's revelations had left him ntally exhausted.
The King's arrival, the trial by combat, the matter of Jon Arryn's death, Lysa's warning, the growing tension between the Starks and Lannisters, and the strange reports coming from the Wall all pressed heavily upon his mind.
For the first ti in many years, Ned truly felt that a great storm was gathering over the Seven Kingdoms.
"Winter is coming," he murmured softly.
Then, as though finally making up his mind, Ned turned away from the window.
He walked to the chair beside the fireplace and slowly sat down.
"Catelyn," he said quietly, "you must remain in Winterfell."
Those words struck Catelyn like ice.
"No!"
She imdiately looked up at him pleadingly.
"Ned, let go south with you. I don't want to stay behind while you leave alone."
"You must stay," Ned replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for argunt.
It was even more resolute than when he insisted upon Sansa's engagent to Garon.
"While I am serving as Robert's Hand in King's Landing, soone must govern the North in my place."
"No matter what happens, Winterfell must always have a Stark ruling here."
His eyes softened slightly as he continued.
"Robb is already fourteen years old. Before long, he will beco a man grown."
"I can no longer continue teaching him everything myself."
"You must bring him into your councils and allow him to participate in matters of governance."
"He must be prepared for the day when he stands on his own."
Catelyn lowered her head silently.
Ned then shifted his gaze toward Maester Luwin.
"Maester Luwin, you have long been as family to ."
"While I am gone, no matter how large or small the matter may be, I ask you to advise my wife and continue teaching my children everything they must know."
His voice beca heavy.
"And rember…"
"Winter is coming."
Maester Luwin solemnly inclined his head.
"The gods willing, my lord, you shall return safely and soon."
After that, silence filled the bedchamber once more.
The crackling fire was the only sound.
It was not until Catelyn finally gathered the courage to speak again that the silence broke.
"What about the children?"
Ned sighed inwardly.
He stood up, walked over, and gently embraced her.
"Sansa has only just beco formally betrothed to Garon."
"Although the wedding is still so ti away, she must remain in Winterfell."
"Before she marries, you must teach her how to beco a proper lady and future mistress of a castle."
"As for the others…"
Ned paused briefly.
"They will accompany south."
Catelyn trembled violently.
"I cannot bear it."
"You must," Ned said softly but firmly.
"Arya should have learned the customs and etiquette of the southern court long ago."
"In a few years, she too will marry."
Catelyn understood that he was right.
Sansa would likely wed within a year or two, making it unsuitable for her to travel south now, and Arya indeed needed refinent if she were ever to survive among southern nobles.
But Arya was one thing.
Bran and Rickon were another.
Especially Rickon.
Catelyn pressed her face against Ned's chest and pleaded desperately.
"Ned… for the sake of the love you bear , please do not take Bran and Rickon."
"Rickon is only six years old."
Ned gently shook his head.
"When my father sent to the Eyrie as Jon Arryn's ward, I was only eight."
He sighed heavily.
Truthfully, Ned did not wish to bring Bran and Rickon south either.
But circumstances left him little choice.
"Ser Rodrik told that Robb and Prince Joffrey do not get along well."
"That is not a good sign."
"If Bran and Rickon are raised alongside Robert's younger children, then bonds of friendship may naturally form between our houses."
"Just as Robert and I beca brothers in all but blood at the Eyrie."
"It will strengthen our family's position and ensure greater security for the North in the years to co."
Catelyn knew his reasoning made sense.
Yet understanding did nothing to lessen her pain.
The thought of watching Arya, Bran, and Rickon leave Winterfell filled her with unbearable sorrow.
Tears slowly stread down her face.
Ned saw her crying and felt his own heart ache.
He gently kissed away the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes and whispered softly.
"I know this is painful, Catelyn."
"But it must be done."
Catelyn clung tightly to him and remained silent for a long ti.
Then Maester Luwin cautiously spoke.
"My lord… what of Jon Snow?"
The mont Jon's na was ntioned, Catelyn's body stiffened instantly.
Ned sensed the change imdiately and slowly released her.
Catelyn Tully had understood since childhood that noblen often fathered bastards.
She could accept that Ned had once made such a mistake.
What she could never truly forgive was that Ned had brought the boy back to Winterfell and raised him beneath her own roof.
Over the years, she had compromised on many things.
Only on Jon Snow would she never yield.
Catelyn looked at Ned coldly.
"Jon must leave Winterfell."
Ned tried to reason with her.
"Robb and Jon are as close as brothers. Perhaps we can still arrange sothing…"
"He absolutely cannot remain here," Catelyn interrupted without hesitation.
"He is your son, not mine."
"I will not allow him to stay in Winterfell any longer."
Pain flickered across Ned's eyes.
"You know I cannot take him south," he said quietly.
"There is no place for him at court."
But Catelyn refused to relent.
"I hear your precious friend Robert has fathered bastards all across the Seven Kingdoms."
"Yet not one of them is raised openly in the royal court."
Ned's expression darkened.
"That is because Cersei Lannister forbids it."
Then, unable to fully restrain his emotions, he added bitterly:
"Damn it, Catelyn… how can you be so cruel?"
"Jon is still only a boy."
Just as the argunt threatened to worsen further, Maester Luwin wisely intervened.
"My lord… perhaps there is another solution."
Both Ned and Catelyn turned toward him.
Luwin continued carefully.
"Jon has beco quite close with Lord Garon during these past few days."
"If Lord Garon agrees, perhaps Jon could go to Deepwood Motte."
Ned looked surprised.
"You an as Garon's squire?"
Catelyn remained silent.
To her, it mattered little where Jon went, so long as he no longer remained in Winterfell.
Maester Luwin nodded.
"I recall that the late Lord Galbart once fostered a bastard of House Hornwood."
"At Deepwood Motte, Jon may perhaps find a place for himself much as the Hornwood bastard did."
Seeing Ned thoughtfully considering the idea, Luwin continued.
"To be truthful, before Lord Garon arrived, I believed Jon would eventually join the Night's Watch."
"Benjen Stark spoke to of it earlier as well."
"However, after tonight's feast, Benjen appears to have changed his mind."
Catelyn's eyes brightened slightly.
If Jon took the black, he would father no children and possess no claim that might ever threaten her own sons.
She imdiately asked:
"Why did Benjen change his mind?"
Maester Luwin answered truthfully.
"It seems Lord Garon persuaded both Jon and Benjen otherwise."
"Garon…"
Catelyn inwardly gritted her teeth.
It felt as though every plan she attempted was sohow disrupted by that young lord from Deepwood Motte.
anwhile, Ned himself had never truly wished for Jon to join the Night's Watch.
After thinking silently for so ti, he finally made his decision.
"Very well."
"Tomorrow I will speak with Garon."
"If he agrees, Jon shall beco his squire."
Maester Luwin waited respectfully for further instructions.
When neither Ned nor Catelyn spoke again, he bowed and quietly departed from the chamber.
After the door closed behind him, Catelyn's sorrow surged anew, and tears once again filled her eyes.
Ned sighed helplessly.
He gently lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the bed, softly comforting her as the firelight flickered across the chamber walls.
Outside, the cold northern wind continued to howl through the night around Winterfell.
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