His Majesty's herald had arrived!
Ned Stark's expression instantly grew grave.
He waved a hand, signaling the captain of the guards outside to remain calm, then turned and fixed Lynn with a piercing stare.
Arya's little face went deathly pale, and she clutched Lynn's sleeve.
As though that alone could keep Lynn in the safety of the study.
"Father, you can't let him go!"
Arya's voice trembled with tears.
"The king... the king will kill him!"
"This is a royal summons, Arya. No one can refuse."
Ned's voice was weary and helpless.
He looked at Lynn, his eyes full of worry.
"Are you ready?"
"Don't worry, my lord."
Lynn's face remained as calm as ever.
He gently patted the back of Arya's hand, then handed the wooden box containing Viserys's head to Ned's guard.
"Bring this along."
Lynn spoke to the guard.
"Also, go to the dungeon and bring the gift the Night's Watch sent."
"Gift?"
Ned froze for a moment, but quickly understood what Lynn meant.
Matters had already slipped beyond Ned's control.
All Ned could do was sigh, turn, and stride out of the study.
He had to change into the Hand of the King's formal attire and go to the Iron Throne Room, where he would stand beside Lynn and do whatever he still could.
Only Lynn and Arya remained in the study.
A suffocating silence hung in the air.
"You..."
Arya opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but her tears fell first.
She hated her helplessness, hated her weakness.
Caught in this vast whirlpool of power, she could only watch the person she cared about most walk toward an unknown abyss.
"I'll go with you."
Arya suddenly lifted her head, her tear-washed gray eyes blazing with a resolve she had never shown before.
"What?" Lynn