A few days earlier, dawn had barely broken when Robb Stark and his party left King's Landing.
Catelyn stood at the city gates and embraced Sansa and Arya one last time.
She did not cry. She simply held her daughters tightly, as though trying to pour more than a year's longing and the coming separation into that embrace.
"Mother, don't worry. We'll take care of ourselves." Sansa's voice caught, but she still tried to smile. "Besides, His Grace Viserys has been very good to us. You needn't worry."
Arya still wore her leather armor, with a Valyrian steel shortsword hanging at her waist. This time, she was quiet. She said nothing, only hugged Catelyn tightly around the waist and buried her face in her mother's arms.
Catelyn released them and studied her daughters' faces once more.
"Your Grace." Catelyn turned and bowed deeply to the silver-haired king standing nearby. "I'm sorry to trouble you, but please continue to look after Sansa and Arya. House Stark will never forget your kindness."
Viserys gave a slight nod. "There's no need for such formality, Lady Catelyn. I'm very fond of Sansa and Arya. Besides, they're friends with Rhaenys and Daenerys now. Of course I'll take good care of them."
Robb stood beside them, his gray eyes fixed on Viserys's face.
He wanted to glean something from that calm expression, but he could read nothing at all. The young Dragonlord truly was harder to fathom than he had imagined.
"Your Grace, we shall take our leave, then." Seeing that they had said nearly everything they needed to, Robb quickly bowed, then swung into his saddle. "The North will honor our agreement."
"Safe travels, Lord Stark." With that, Viserys was about to turn and return to the Red Keep.
Just then, however, Jeyne, who had