The next morning, just as dawn began to break over Winterfell, Garon climbed out of bed and started packing his belongings.
After washing his face, he looked around the room and quickly realized there was actually very little to pack.
So he simply adjusted his clothes, fastened the sword at his waist, and stepped outside.
Winterfell was still exceptionally quiet in the early morning.
Garon took a deep breath of the cold fresh air, exhaling the stuffiness of the previous night, before heading toward the stables.
As he passed Tyrion's chamber, faint snores drifted from inside.
Garon did not stop.
He had already said farewell yesterday to everyone he needed to et, and there was no aning in saying goodbye again to those he did not care about.
Thus, he simply continued walking forward.
When he arrived near the training ground, Garon discovered that Ned and Sansa were already waiting for him.
He quickly stepped forward.
"Lord Ned, Lady Sansa."
Ned nodded calmly while Sansa looked at him with obvious reluctance in her eyes.
"Co, I'll see you off."
Ned turned and led them toward the stables while continuing, "After returning to Deepwood Motte, rember what I told you yesterday. Send more scouts to Sea Dragon Point."
Garon replied solemnly, "I understand, Lord Ned. I'll arrange it imdiately after returning."
After everything that had happened over the past several days, Ned had already developed considerable trust in Garon's strategic judgnt.
Still, he worried that Garon was too young and might act rashly or beco careless, so he patiently reminded him several more tis.
Garon listened carefully to every word without showing the slightest impatience.
Seeing his calm composure, Ned gradually relaxed and sighed softly.
"It's a pity you're still too young. Otherwise, I truly would have liked to bring you to King's Landing with ."
Garon smiled aningfully.
"There will be opportunities in the future."
Ned did not think too deeply about the words and rely assud Garon ant waiting several years before visiting the capital.
"Yes, you're still young. There will be many chances to go to King's Landing later."
"Alright, I'll stop here. Let Sansa accompany you the rest of the way."
The hidden aning in Ned's words instantly caused Sansa to glare at her father shyly.
"Haha!"
Ned laughed loudly before turning and heading toward the nearby hall.
He still needed to discuss last night's events with Robert.
After Ned left, Sansa finally gathered her courage and spoke softly.
"Garon, when will you co to Winterfell again?"
"I want to make you a cloak from the giant bear hide you hunted."
As the two walked slowly together, Garon revealed a pleasantly surprised expression.
"Really?"
Seeing Sansa nod seriously, he smiled warmly.
"Then I'll eagerly wait for it every day in Deepwood Motte."
"As for returning to Winterfell…"
Garon paused briefly, thinking about the major events soon to unfold, before speaking aningfully.
"I don't think it will be long before we et again."
Sansa imdiately misunderstood his aning and assud he was referring to the day he would officially co to marry her.
Her cheeks instantly flushed red.
After thinking carefully for a mont, she lowered her head and mumbled softly, "There's still another year…"
Garon naturally understood her misunderstanding, but he did not explain it away.
Instead, he smiled gently.
"I once heard a saying that suits us perfectly."
Sansa blinked curiously.
"What saying?"
"If two hearts truly care for each other across ti, why should they mind brief partings?"
Garon tilted his head slightly and looked directly at Sansa.
"We'll have countless years together in the future, so why care about this single year now?"
Sansa instantly lowered her head in embarrassnt, completely unable to et Garon's gaze.
Fortunately, by then they had already reached the stables.
Robb, Jon, and Arya had been waiting there for so ti, while Roger and several Deepwood Motte soldiers busily loaded supplies onto the horses.
"Robb!"
Garon greeted him warmly before nodding toward Arya and Jon.
Robb sighed reluctantly.
"Do you really have to leave today? Why not stay a few more days?"
Garon smiled calmly.
"Lord Ned is worried about trouble from the Iron Islands. If I return sooner, I can prepare earlier."
Robb sighed again, his mood visibly gloomy.
Everything that had happened recently left him overwheld, especially the revelation that Theon had beco one of Bran's attackers.
Even though Theon was already dead, the shock in Robb's heart still had not faded.
He looked at Garon for a long mont, unsure what to say, before finally muttering a simple wish for a safe journey.
Garon naturally understood Robb's feelings and comforted him.
"Robb, don't dwell on it too much. Although one of Bran's attackers is dead and another escaped, Winterfell still cannot lower its guard."
"When Lord Ned travels south, Winterfell will depend entirely on you."
Hearing this, Robb suddenly felt trendous pressure descend upon him, and he nodded heavily.
Seeing this, Garon turned toward Arya and patiently answered several of her questions with a smile.
At this mont, Roger led over a horse.
"Lord Garon, the supplies are ready."
"Good."
Garon accepted the reins before turning toward Jon.
"Jon, go say goodbye properly to your family. I'll wait for you outside the Hunter's Gate."
Seeing Jon hesitate while looking around reluctantly, Garon mounted his horse alongside Roger and the other five soldiers.
Before departing, he turned and glanced once more toward Sansa.
"Garon, take care!"
Garon smiled in response before snapping the reins and riding toward the Hunter's Gate.
Not long afterward, he arrived outside the gate and slowly reined in his horse while quietly looking back toward Winterfell.
At that mont, he silently reviewed everything he had gained and lost during this visit.
"Becoming engaged to Sansa and using Jai's hand to eliminate Theon…"
"I've already achieved my objectives."
"Now all I need to do is wait for the plot to reach its climax."
"This ti, I was still only a minor figure standing at the edge of the stage."
"But next ti…"
Garon's eyes gradually sharpened.
"Next ti, it will be my turn to beco the true protagonist!"
Ambition surged within his chest, and even the warhorse beneath him seed to sense his emotions as it restlessly pawed at the ground.
Just then, the sound of approaching hooves echoed nearby.
Jon arrived carrying his satchel, with Ghost silently following beside him.
"Lord Garon, shall we depart?"
Garon returned to his senses and asked casually, "Why not stay and talk with Robb and the others a little longer?"
Jon shook his head.
"There's no need. I've already seen everyone I wanted to see, and I already gave away my farewell gifts."
"There's nothing left worth lingering over."
Although he spoke calmly, Garon could still hear the reluctance hidden within his voice.
"Don't worry. I don't think it'll be long before we return to Winterfell again."
Garon comforted him lightly.
"Let's go. It's ti to head back to Deepwood Motte."
"Hup!"
Garon pointed forward, and soon seven riders and one direwolf galloped toward the vast Wolfswood.
In the blink of an eye, their figures disappeared into the wilderness outside Winterfell.
By the ti Robert finally learned that Garon had already departed for Deepwood Motte, it was nearly noon.
After drinking heavily through the previous night, he had slept until late morning.
At this mont, Robert sat in the great hall while listening to Ned report everything that happened during the night.
"What?!"
Robert was instantly furious.
"You're telling one of the free riders who ca north with was actually involved in Bran's attempted murder?"
After understanding the situation, Robert violently smashed his wine cup onto the ground and roared.
"Damn it! Which idiot brought that free rider into my retinue?!"
"Investigate him thoroughly!"
"Have the maester send ravens to every nearby lord!"
"I want that bastard found dead or alive!"
Jai and Cersei quietly exchanged glances.
Neither of them understood what was happening, nor did they expect there to truly be another person attempting to assassinate Bran.
Inside the great hall, the atmosphere instantly beca strange and tense.
No one noticed the fear flashing through Joffrey's eyes as he silently lowered his head and continued eating.
Soon, under Robert's furious orders, the search for Joel began in full force over the following days.
Of course, Garon, who had already departed Winterfell, knew nothing about these later developnts.
At this mont, he was still leading his n through the depths of the Wolfswood while hurrying back toward Deepwood Motte.
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