Leaving Winterfell

The next day, just as dawn was breaking,

Garon, who had not yet turned eighteen, climbed out of bed and began packing.

He washed his face and looked around the bedroom. There did not seem to be anything he needed to pack.

So he got dressed, hung his sword at his waist, and left the room.

Winterfell was exceptionally quiet outside.

Garon took a deep breath of fresh air, exhaled the stuffiness of the night, then set off toward the stables.

As he passed Tyrion's room, he could faintly hear him snoring in his sleep.

Garon did not stop. He had already said goodbye to those he needed to yesterday; saying goodbye to those he did not would be meaningless.

He walked straight along the passageway.

When he reached the training yard, he saw that Ned and Sansa were already waiting for him.

Garon hurried over without delay. "Lord Ned, Lady Sansa!"

Ned nodded slightly, while Sansa gazed at him with reluctance.

"Come on. I'll see you off!"

Ned turned and led them toward the stables. "When you get back, remember what I told you yesterday. You need to send more scouts to Sea Dragon Point!"

Garon replied solemnly, "I understand, Lord Ned. I'll see to it as soon as I get back!"

After everything that had happened over the past few days, Ned naturally had faith in Garon's strategic judgment and intelligence.

Still, he worried that Garon's youth might make him careless or impulsive, so he gave him a few more earnest reminders.

Garon listened to every word without a hint of impatience.

Seeing how composed he was, Ned felt reassured and sighed. "It's a shame you're still so young. Otherwise, I'd really like to take you to King's Landing."

Garon smiled meaningfully. "There'll be a chance!"

Ned thought nothing of it, assuming Garon meant he would wait a few years before going to King's Landing. "That's right. You're still young. You'll have plenty of chances to go to King's Landing."

"All right, I'll see you off this far. Sansa can walk the rest of the way with you!"

Ned's words carried a double meaning, making Sansa glare at her father.

"Haha—"

Ned smiled and turned toward the hall nearby. He still had to report last night's events to Robert.

After Ned left, Sansa worked up her courage and asked, "Garon, when will you come back to Winterfell?"

"I want to use the hide of the giant bear you hunted to make you a cloak!"

As he walked slowly with Sansa, Garon was pleasantly surprised. "Really?"

Sansa nodded, and he smiled in reply. "Then I'll look forward to it every day in Deepwood Motte. As for coming back to Winterfell..."

Garon paused, thinking of the major events that were about to unfold, and said mysteriously, "I don't think it'll be long before we see each other again!"

Sansa thought Garon meant he would come to marry her, and her cheeks flushed.

She thought it over, then murmured, "That's still a year away..."

Garon realized she had misunderstood, but did not correct her. Instead, he smiled. "I once heard a line that I think suits us."

Sansa blinked curiously. "What is it?"

"If our love is to last, why should we care about being together every day?" Garon turned his head to look at Sansa. "We'll have plenty of time together in the future. Why worry about this one year?"

Sansa lowered her head shyly, unable to respond to Garon's unabashedly ardent gaze.

Fortunately, they had reached the stables.

Robb, Jon, and Arya had been waiting for some time. Roger and the other four soldiers from Deepwood Motte were loading provisions onto the horses.

"Robb!"

Garon greeted him, then nodded to Arya and Jon.

Robb said reluctantly, "Does it really have to be today? Why not stay a few more days?"

Garon smiled. "Lord Ned is worried something might happen in the Iron Islands. If I go back early, I'll have time to prepare."

Robb sighed, looking glum.

Recent events had come at him one after another, and he had never imagined Theon would turn out to be one of the people behind Bran's attempted murder.

Theon was dead, but Robb was still reeling from the shock.

Robb looked at Garon, unsure what to say. In the end, all he could do was wish him a safe journey.

Garon understood how Robb felt and comforted him. "Robb, don't dwell on it. Though one of the people behind Bran's attempted murder is dead and another has escaped, you still need to stay vigilant."

"Once Lord Ned heads south, Winterfell will be relying on you to hold things together!"

Robb felt the weight of it all and nodded gravely.

Seeing that, Garon greeted Arya as well, then smiled and answered some of her questions.

Just then, Roger led a horse over. "Lord Garon, the provisions are ready."

"Good." Garon took the reins and looked at Jon. "Jon, go say goodbye to your family. I'll wait for you at Hunter's Gate!"

Jon looked around with some reluctance. Garon and Roger's four companions mounted their horses, and before leaving, Garon glanced at Sansa once more.

"Garon, take care on the road!"

Garon smiled and agreed, then flicked the reins and rode toward Hunter's Gate.

A short while later,

Garon reached the gate, reined in his horse, and quietly looked back at Winterfell, reflecting on his gains and losses over the past days.

"By getting engaged to Sansa and using Jaime to kill Theon, I got what I wanted. Now all that's left is to wait for the story to reach its climax."

"This time, I'm still just a minion, playing a supporting role."

"Next time, it'll be my turn to be the protagonist!"

His spirits soared, and even the horse beneath him seemed to sense his ambition, restlessly turning in place.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats rang out.

Jon came riding over with a bundle on his back, accompanied by his Direwolf, Ghost.

"Lord Garon, let's go!"

Garon came back to himself and asked, "Why didn't you spend a little more time talking with Robb and the others?"

Jon shook his head. "No. I've seen everyone I needed to see, and I've given them their parting gifts. There's nothing left to linger over."

Though he said that, Garon could still hear the reluctance in his voice.

"Don't worry. I don't think it'll be long before we're back in Winterfell," Garon reassured him. "Come on, it's time for us to return to Deepwood Motte!"

"Hyah!"

Garon pointed ahead, and the seven riders and one wolf set off toward the Wolfswood.

In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the wilderness beyond Winterfell.

By the time Robert learned that Garon had returned to Deepwood Motte, it was already noon.

The night's drunken revelry had kept him asleep until nearly midday.

He sat at the dining table in the hall, listening as Ned reported what had happened the night before.

"What?"

Robert was stunned. "You're saying one of the free riders who came with me was involved in Bran's attempted murder?"

After hearing the details, he suddenly smashed his wine cup on the ground and roared, "Damn it, who let that free rider in here?"

"Investigate! Get to the bottom of it!"

"Have the maester send ravens to the surrounding lords. I want him found, dead or alive!"

Jaime and Cersei exchanged glances. They still had no idea what had happened, or that a lowlife had really tried to assassinate Bran.

The atmosphere in the hall was strange.

No one noticed the fear that flashed in Joffrey's eyes as he lowered his head and ate.

Soon, at Robert's command—

An investigation into Joel was carried out in full force over the following days.

Of course,

Garon, who had already left, knew nothing about any of this. He was still leading his men through the Wolfswood, hurrying back to Deepwood Motte.