Winterfell.
The royal procession gathered once more, with more than two hundred people packing their belongings and preparing for the long journey back to King's Landing.
As Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Ned Stark was equally busy.
Ever since hearing Garon's analysis, he had already made up his mind to head south and help his old friend stabilize the dangerous situation in King's Landing.
And because of Garon's earlier suggestion, Ned ultimately decided to bring two hundred Winterfell guards south with him.
"Once we reach King's Landing, these two hundred n combined with the City Watch should be enough to stabilize the situation there."
Ned walked through the corridor while preparing to visit Bran one final ti before departure.
Ever since Garon left Winterfell, the King had thrown several furious tantrums, but even so, they still failed to uncover the accomplice connected to Swiftfoot Joel.
After several days of investigation, the only thing they managed to discover was that Joel had arrived at Greenstone aboard a rchant ship from Pentos.
By sheer coincidence, he had later been knighted by Lord Estermont of Greenstone.
However, Joel did not choose to swear allegiance to House Estermont. Instead, he eventually drifted toward Storm's End, where he beca acquainted with several hedge knights and free riders, allowing him to slip into the King's northern procession unnoticed.
Beyond that point, every clue vanished completely.
No one knew who Joel had truly been working for.
And naturally, no one suspected Joffrey.
After all, who would suspect a child?
Because of this incident, Robert had even ordered Maester Luwin to send a letter south to Renly Baratheon, cursing him thoroughly for allowing suspicious n to infiltrate the royal procession.
Yet Ned still vaguely felt that the entire matter remained connected to Jai Lannister.
Unfortunately, without evidence, he could do nothing against Jai for now.
At that mont, Ned arrived outside Bran's bedchamber and quietly pushed open the door.
Inside were Rickon, Arya, Sansa, Robb, and Lady Catelyn.
Especially Rickon.
The young boy's eyes were red from crying as he clung tightly to Catelyn, desperately hoping she would pay attention to him.
But Lady Catelyn looked utterly haggard. She sat beside Bran's bed without even sparing Rickon a glance.
Her eyes remained fixed on Bran's slowly rising and falling chest.
As though the mont she looked away, Bran would stop breathing forever.
Ned sighed helplessly inwardly.
Ever since Bran's fall, Catelyn had beco like this, never leaving Bran's side for even a mont.
She ate beside him.
She slept beside him.
Everything revolved entirely around Bran's room.
Rickon had repeatedly searched for his mother, only to feel as though she no longer wanted him.
He cried constantly and threw tantrums almost every day, giving Ned an enormous headache.
Ned had even briefly considered leaving Rickon behind at Winterfell.
But then he rembered that Bran was already unable to travel south because of his condition.
If Rickon also remained behind, many southern lords might begin questioning House Stark's loyalty to the Iron Throne.
"Alas…"
Ned silently sighed before turning his gaze toward Robb.
"Robb, once I leave, Winterfell will be entrusted to you."
"You must protect your family."
"If difficulties arise, seek advice from Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik before making decisions. Do not act rashly."
"And if you still cannot decide…"
Ned paused briefly.
"You may send a raven to Garon and ask for his opinion."
Robb nodded heavily, though reluctance and anxiety were clearly visible on his face.
"Yes, Father."
Ned then turned toward Sansa.
"Sansa, since you are remaining at Winterfell, you must begin helping Robb."
"You need to start learning how to manage the castle's affairs."
Sansa's eyes reddened as she sniffled softly and nodded obediently.
"Winter is coming."
Ned's solemn voice echoed throughout Bran's chamber.
"Rember this well."
"When wolves stay together, they survive."
"But the lone wolf dies."
"You must take care of one another."
The Stark children looked at each other silently, understanding that the ti for farewells had finally arrived.
Sure enough.
Jory Cassel soon appeared outside the doorway.
"My lord, His Grace is waiting in the Great Hall."
"The guards are fully prepared and can depart at any mont."
Ned took a deep breath before beckoning toward Arya and Rickon.
"Arya."
"Rickon."
"It's ti for us to leave."
But Rickon stubbornly clung to Catelyn's arm and refused to release her.
"No!"
"I don't want to go to King's Landing!"
"I want Mother!"
The child cried loudly, causing Catelyn's body to tremble violently.
Finally, she could no longer suppress her emotions.
Tears stread down her face as she tightly embraced Rickon.
"Rickon…"
"Mother is here."
"Mother is here…"
Rickon buried his face against her while greedily inhaling her scent.
"Mother…"
Ned did not interrupt them.
He simply stood there silently, watching the grieving mother and son embrace one another.
Only after Rickon's emotions gradually stabilized did Ned finally step forward and gently pull him away from Catelyn.
"I'm leaving now, Catelyn."
"Take care of the children."
Catelyn slowly raised her head to look at Ned.
Her eyes were filled with sorrow, reluctance, exhaustion, and countless other emotions.
Her lips moved slightly before she finally answered hoarsely.
"Mmm…"
"You must also take care of Arya and Rickon."
Ned nodded silently before glancing toward Arya.
Then he gently led Rickon toward the doorway.
Arya, whose own eyes were already red with tears, tightly hugged Robb.
When her gaze landed on Sansa, she hesitated visibly.
But the sorrow of separation gradually diluted the bitterness that had long existed between the sisters.
Arya finally stepped forward and tightly embraced Sansa.
"When you marry Garon…"
"If Garon eventually cos to King's Landing, make sure he brings a sword!"
Sansa laughed through her tears and nodded repeatedly.
"I will."
"Arya…"
Arya then turned back toward Catelyn and Bran.
"Mother, I'm leaving."
"Bran, I'm leaving too."
At that mont, Catelyn suddenly stood and embraced Arya tightly as tears continued falling from her face.
No one noticed that Bran's eyelids twitched slightly at that mont.
It was almost as though he sensed his family preparing to leave.
But in the end, he still did not awaken.
A short while later, Arya finally walked out of Bran's chamber and followed Ned toward the southern procession bound for King's Landing.
Nyria and Shaggydog naturally followed closely behind their masters.
Outside the window, Bran's direwolf continued howling endlessly.
anwhile, within the courtyard, Cersei frowned irritably in the direction of the wolf's cries.
"Why is that beast still howling?"
"It has kept awake for several nights already."
Jai walked leisurely beside her as the two headed toward the carriages waiting outside Winterfell's South Gate.
Far behind them followed servants and attendants.
"Who knows."
"Perhaps the beast realizes its master is dying."
Jai spoke casually while following beside Cersei.
"Dying?"
Cersei sneered coldly before lowering her voice.
"Didn't our dear brother Tyrion say the child has already survived four days?"
"Even the Maester said that if he were truly going to die, he would already be dead."
Then she suddenly glanced sideways toward Jai.
"I say, Jai."
"You should have abandoned your foolish honor and simply finished him off."
Jai looked at his sister helplessly.
"For your sake, I already allowed that squid to try killing him once."
"But the boy survived."
Then Jai glanced back toward Winterfell's main keep and stubbornly continued.
"Besides, didn't Tyrion say that even if the boy wakes, he will remain crippled for life?"
"He may never awaken at all."
"For a child in that condition, there's no need for us to dirty our own hands further."
Seeing Jai still clinging to his principles, Cersei sneered coldly.
"Fine."
"You'll regret it soday."
Then she glanced toward Ned's approaching entourage and whispered mockingly,
"Why do you think that wolf is bringing so many n south to King's Landing?"
Jai rubbed his forehead tiredly.
"Who cares what he intends?"
"King's Landing is not the old wolf's territory."
"And there are already enough problems waiting for our new Hand to solve."
Cersei silently agreed with this point.
At that mont, after noticing approaching servants nearby, the twins stopped speaking and quickened their pace toward the carriages outside the South Gate.
Soon afterward, Ned arrived with Arya and Rickon.
After settling the children inside a carriage, Robert and Ned mounted their horses one after another, officially beginning the long southern journey toward King's Landing.
As for Tyrion Lannister, accompanied by two guards, he departed northward with Benjen Stark toward the Wall.
As the King's procession traveled south, stories of Garon's deeds also gradually spread throughout the North.
Titles such as "Judge of Contracts" and "Giant Bear Slayer" caused many northern lords to view him with growing interest after hearing the news.
So even developed intentions of befriending him.
Roose Bolton of the Dreadfort, for example, personally instructed his Maester to send a raven congratulating Garon on his achievents.
Of course, Garon himself remained completely unaware of all this.
At that very mont, he was still inside Deepwood Motte, continuing the harsh training of the Steel Fist.
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