Arrangements

Ned looked out the window, wondering how many dangers were hidden within the pitch-black night.

The constant stream of intelligence reports left him feeling mentally exhausted.

In an instant, Ned sensed that a powerful storm was sweeping across The Seven Kingdoms.

"Winter is coming!"

He whispered the words, yet a decision had already formed in his heart.

Ned turned back from the window and sat in a chair by the fireplace. "Catelyn, you must remain at Winterfell!"

His words pierced Catelyn's heart like shards of ice.

"No!" Catelyn pleaded. "Ned, let me go with you. I don't want to leave you!"

"You must!"

Ned's tone allowed for no argument, firmer even than when he had spoken of Sansa's betrothal.

"While I am in the south serving Robert, you must manage The North in my stead!"

"No matter what, there must be a member of House Stark holding Winterfell. Robb is already fourteen; he will be a man grown soon."

"I can no longer teach him the art of governance myself, so you must have him sit in on your secret councils."

"He must be fully prepared before the moment comes for him to stand on his own!"

Seeing Catelyn bow her head in silence, Ned shifted his gaze to Maester Luwin.

"Maester Luwin, I have always looked upon you as my own kin."

"I ask that you offer my wife your counsel in all matters, great or small, and teach my children the knowledge they must possess."

"Remember, Winter is coming!"

Maester Luwin nodded heavily, meeting Ned's imploring gaze. "May the gods protect you, and may you return to us soon, my lord."

Afterward, silence returned to the room.

It lasted until Catelyn looked up, gathering the courage to ask Ned, "What of the other children?"

Ned sighed, stood up, and pulled her into his arms.

"Sansa has just been betrothed to Garon. Although there is still some time before the wedding, she must stay behind."

"Before she weds, you must teach her how to be a proper lady of the castle."

"As for the others, they will travel south with me!"

Catelyn shuddered. "I cannot bear this!"

"You must learn to endure, Cat," Ned said, staring into her eyes with a stern expression. "Arya needs to learn the rules and etiquette of the southern court."

"In a few years, she will be wed as well."

Catelyn knew Ned was right; Sansa would be married within a year or two at most, making the journey south unsuitable for her, and Arya did indeed need to learn some manners.

But while the girls might go south, Bran and Rickon must stay.

Catelyn leaned her face against Ned's chest and begged, "Ned, for the love you bear me, I implore you, do not take Bran and Rickon away."

"Especially Rickon—he is only six years old!"

Ned shook his head slightly, refusing her.

"When my father sent me to The Eyrie to be fostered, I was only eight."

Ned sighed. He had no desire to force Rickon and Bran to endure a long journey to King's Landing, but the situation left him no choice.

"Ser Rodrik tells me that Robb and Prince Joffrey do not get along well; that is not a good sign."

"Bran and Rickon can serve as a bridge between our house and Robert's. Let them grow up alongside the princes, and friendship will naturally blossom."

"Just as it did for Robert and me. In this way, our family's position will be all the more secure."

Catelyn knew he spoke the truth, but her pain was not lessened by it.

She could only watch helplessly as Arya, Bran, and Rickon were taken from her.

At the thought of it, tears began to fall.

Seeing her weeping, Ned could not bear it; he kissed the tears from her eyes and whispered softly.

"Cat, I know this is painful, but it must be done."

Catelyn held Ned tightly, remaining silent for a long time.

Until Maester Luwin spoke up, "My lord, what of Jon Snow?"

At the mention of that name, Catelyn's body went rigid. Sensing her anger, Ned pulled away and released her.

Catelyn, born in Riverrun in The Riverlands, had known since childhood that it was common for nobles to have bastards.

She could understand Ned having a bastard, but she could never understand why he had brought the boy to Winterfell to be raised under her very nose.

For all these years, she had managed to convince herself to yield on everything else.

On the matter of Jon Snow alone, she would not yield.

Catelyn looked at her husband coldly, "Ned, Jon must go!"

Ned tried to persuade her, "Robb and Jon have a very good relationship, I think it could..."

Catelyn interrupted without hesitation, "He must not stay in Winterfell!"

"He is your son, not mine, and I will not have him stay in Winterfell!"

Ned's eyes were pained as he tried to explain once more, "You should know I cannot take him south; there is no place for him in King's Landing."

But Catelyn remained headstrong, giving Ned no reason to let Jon stay.

"I have heard that your good friend Robert has fathered quite a few bastards of his own."

"But not a single one is kept at court," Ned retorted angrily, "That Lannister woman is very firm on that point. Damn it, Cat, how can you be so heartless toward him?"

"Jon is... he is still just a child..."

Seeing that Ned was about to lose his composure and say things that were better left unsaid, Maester Luwin intervened at the right moment.

"I do have an idea. Jon has been spending a lot of time with Lord Garon lately."

"If it is possible, why not let Jon go to Deepwood Motte?"

Ned was taken aback, "Maester Luwin, are you suggesting Jon become Garon's squire?"

Catelyn said nothing; as long as Jon Snow left Winterfell, she did not care where he went.

Maester Luwin nodded and said, "I recall that Galbart has a ward, a bastard of House Hornwood."

"At Deepwood Motte, Jon should be able to find his own place, just like the Hornwood boy."

Seeing Ned nod slightly, Maester Luwin continued.

"Actually, were it not for Lord Garon, I would have thought Jon could join the Night's Watch."

"Your brother Benjen had spoken to me about that very matter previously."

"However, at tonight's feast, Benjen seemed to have changed his mind."

Catelyn's eyes brightened. If Jon took the black, he would be unable to marry or father children, and thus would have no way to contest the inheritance against her own children.

She couldn't help but ask, "Why did Benjen change his mind?"

Maester Luwin replied, "It seems that was also because of Lord Garon; he persuaded both Jon and Benjen."

"Garon..." Catelyn gritted her teeth in frustration; she felt as though she and Garon were destined to clash.

Whenever she wanted to do something, Garon always managed to intervene and disrupt her plans.

Ned did not truly want Jon to join the Night's Watch either. He thought carefully for a moment before making the final decision.

"Then let it be so."

"Tomorrow, I will speak with Garon and have Jon become his squire."

Maester Luwin waited a moment longer, and seeing that Ned and Catelyn had no further instructions, he bowed slightly and turned to leave the bedchamber.

The sorrow in Catelyn's heart surged once more, and she could not help but shed tears again.

Ned shook his head helplessly, carried her to the bed, and gently comforted her.

The night passed in a whirlwind of passion.