A family dinner

The top floor of the Main Castle, Eddard Stark's private study.

Eddard, Lord of Winterfell, and his wife Catelyn were comparing handwriting at the desk.

"Ned, does the handwriting match?" Benjen sat nearby, his hands shaking with nerves.

Ned was Eddard Stark's nickname. Only a few of those closest to him called him that.

Eddard picked up the letter and walked over to Benjen, his face solemn. "It is indeed Brandon's handwriting, but that still doesn't prove the child is his offspring. This letter only proves that Brandon once got a woman pregnant."

"As for whether that woman actually gave birth, whether she really was sold beyond the Wall, or whether the child died young, none of that can be verified."

Benjen understood that all the points Eddard had raised were important. Not a single link could be wrong. Otherwise, the child outside was very likely an impostor.

"Once I return to the Wall, I'll send men to investigate."

Mole's Town, where that woman had once stayed, was near Castle Black. It would be more convenient for Benjen to send men to investigate.

Eddard set down the letter. "As for Beyond the Wall, as mentioned in the letter... the rangers' patrols only cover the Haunted Forest. They generally don't extend to Beyond the Wall. You could approach the merchants who smuggle goods across the Wall and ask them to make inquiries for you."

Benjen had been thinking the same thing, but... "I'm afraid it'll take quite some time to get to the bottom of this. I'll leave the child in your care for now."

"Don't worry." Eddard did not mind that. Surely a place as large as Winterfell could afford to feed one more child?

What truly concerned him was whether this child was Brandon's son.

"Benjen, do you think he's Brandon's son?" Catelyn suddenly asked from beside them.

Benjen fell silent for a moment. "I hope he is."

He recalled it carefully, then added, "Ned, do you remember? In the spring twelve years ago, the three of us went to visit the Wall together. Brandon did spend a lot of time with the whores in Mole's Town then."

Eddard remembered that too. Their father had still been alive then, and the War of the Usurper had yet to break out...

Recalling the past, he could not help feeling a little melancholy.

"Have a few drinks with me tonight and leave tomorrow. What do you say?"

Eddard walked over to Benjen and patted his shoulder, his words full of trust.

Catelyn finished tidying her husband's cluttered desk. "You brothers talk. I'll go prepare dinner."

She knew they had not seen each other in a long time and must have much to discuss. Her presence would be inconvenient, so she tactfully left.

The fifth floor of the Main Castle.

This was the floor where the children of House Stark lived. All their rooms were here, except for that of the bastard, Jon Snow.

"Aaah! Aaah! Aaah!"

Inside the room, Robb stood beside the crib and pinched the baby's chubby cheeks. The baby roared angrily and kicked hard.

The adorable sight amused everyone in the room.

Robb let go and grinned. "Look, Snow. Bran's angry."

Snow stood farther back with Gary, not daring to get too close. "Stop teasing Bran. If he starts crying, let's see how you deal with it."

Robb was unconcerned. "Bran likes crying anyway..."

"Robb!"

A toddler who looked about two or three tottered over to Robb. She raised her little fist and hit his thigh, saying angrily, "Don't bully Bran. Go away!"

Seeing this, Robb bent down and chuckled. "Then I won't bully Bran. I'll bully you!" He vigorously rubbed the toddler's face, making her stamp her feet in anger.

Gary observed them quietly. That toddler must have been Arya Stark.

As for Sansa Stark...

Gary glanced toward the window, where a little girl of about five or six sat. She had beautiful long auburn hair, much the same color as Robb's.

She pretended to be demure, but her eyes kept straying toward Robb and Arya, as though she wanted to join their roughhousing. Yet her upbringing would not allow her to do so, forcing her to hold back. Her restless fidgeting was enough to make one chuckle.

The noise in the room caught the attention of Catelyn as she was coming downstairs.

She pushed open the door and entered. Seeing the children playing, she said helplessly, "Enough. Why are you playing in Bran's room again? Everyone out. Bran needs to rest."

The lady's words had an immediate effect.

Tugging at one another, the little brats all dashed out of the room.

Catelyn glanced at the servants in the room and asked impassively, "Has Bran eaten?"

At ten months old, Bran had already been weaned and ate specially prepared meat porridge every day.

"My lady, he has."

"Good. Take care of Bran. I'll come by again tonight."

Catelyn turned and left the room, preparing to head to the kitchens west of the training yard. Benjen rarely came home, so tonight's family dinner had to be a lavish one.

By the time she left the room, the children were long gone.

It was not until she left the Main Castle and passed the training yard that she saw those mischievous little rascals again.

One child dressed in animal skins stood out among the others in their fine clothes.

"Robb!"

Catelyn called her eldest son over. "Take that child back to your room and get him changed. He cannot come to the table dressed like a wildling."

"Yes, Mother," Robb replied loudly, putting down the wooden shield in his hand.

Gary sensed Catelyn's dislike of him. It did not stem from his identity as a "wildling," but from his being a "bastard."

She had always loathed the bastard Snow, seeing him as proof of her husband's infidelity and the greatest stain on her marriage.

By extension, she had come to dislike Gary, who was also a bastard.

Living under someone else's roof, Gary naturally had no right to choose. He quietly followed Robb away.

Before leaving, Gary stole a glance at the bewildered Snow and sighed inwardly.

Catelyn Tully was undoubtedly a good mother, a capable lord's wife, and an able helpmate. But to Jon Snow, this woman was no good person.

Though there was no physical abuse, emotional coldness was also exceedingly cruel.

That night's dinner was a family affair, with many members of House Stark seated around the long table.

As head of the family, Eddard sat at the head of the table, drinking and chatting merrily with Benjen on his right. Catelyn, on his left, did not join their discussion. She watched her three children, urging them to eat with her eyes.

As for Snow and Gary, they sat in a corner as though invisible. They ate the steaks on their plates and talked quietly.

Gary had changed into Robb's old clothes and looked rather like a young noble.

"Snow, why do you keep staring at me?"

Snow answered quietly, "Luke, I thought you didn't eat much. Who knew you could eat so fast... but if you can eat this much, why haven't you grown taller?"

Through their conversations, the young friends had already learned about one another's circumstances.

For instance, Gary was twelve that year, the same age as Theon Greyjoy. Snow and Robb were seven, five years younger than the two of them.

Yet Gary was not tall, standing about the same height as Snow and Robb. All three of them were nearly a head shorter than Theon, which was why Snow had misunderstood.

Gary rolled his eyes helplessly and explained patiently, "Conditions beyond the Wall are harsh. I didn't live as comfortably as you."

In truth, Leaf had done everything she could to raise Gary. But even the best cook could not make a meal without ingredients, and conditions beyond the Wall were simply too harsh. Leaf often left early and returned late without managing to hunt more than a few animals.

Most of the forests beyond the Wall were controlled by various wildling tribes. As one of the Children of the Forest, Leaf could not approach freely, or her life would be in danger.

Snow had never been beyond the Wall and could not imagine how harsh conditions were there. "Oh. Then eat more from now on."

Gary nodded as he ate. This body of his was very strong and had an enormous appetite. During his years beyond the Wall, he had often eaten only enough to half-fill his stomach to ease Leaf's burden.

Sometimes, he had even woken in the middle of the night from hunger.

But things were different now. He had come to Winterfell, and with House Stark feeding him, he could eat his fill.

An hour later.

The other children had long since put down their cutlery. Only Gary was still wolfing down his food.

Catelyn spoke softly into Eddard's ear. "It's getting late. I'll take the children to bed. I need to check on Bran now as well."

"Mm."

Eddard looked at his children and waved a hand. "Off to bed, all of you."

"Good night, Father."

"Good night, Father. Goodbye."

The children left the table with Catelyn. Only Snow and Gary remained.

As a bastard, Snow had never been welcome in Catelyn's eyes, and naturally could not receive even a shred of maternal love from her.

But Snow showed no sadness, seemingly long accustomed to it. Once Catelyn and the others had left, he too prepared to leave.

"Father, I'll go to bed too."

Eddard raised a hand to stop Snow. "Snow, wait." He turned toward Gary nearby and asked, "I hear you killed someone at the Wall?"

At those words, Snow immediately turned back and stared at Gary in shock.

Gary belched and wiped the grease from his mouth with his hand. He did not want Snow to dislike and distance himself from him over this. After all, Jon Snow was his third-favorite character in this series.

"It was an accident. I didn't mean to. Besides, I was the victim. They were trying to steal my money."

Eddard watched Gary steadily and warned, "No one here will hurt you, so you must not hurt anyone either. Do you understand?"

"I understand." Gary smiled guilelessly. "My lord, I've finished eating. May I ask where I'm sleeping tonight?"

Eddard had already made arrangements. "Go with Jon. You'll stay in his room for the next few days."

Then he turned to Snow. "Jon, show him around Winterfell tomorrow. It'll take a few days to get his room ready, so he'll have to stay with you until then."

Snow already liked his new friend and quickly nodded in agreement. "Of course, Father. I'll take good care of him."

"Good. Off you go."

Gary followed Snow out, but inwardly he was displeased. Eddard Stark seemed very wary of him. He had felt the same thing from the Three-Eyed Crow.