Winterfell.
The king's party was assembled once more. More than two hundred people packed their belongings, preparing to begin the journey back to King's Landing.
At the same time, Ned Stark, Warden of the North, was equally busy.
Ever since hearing Galon's analysis, he had decided to head south, to help his old friend stabilize the situation in King's Landing.
Following Galon's advice, Ned also decided to select two hundred guards from Winterfell's garrison to accompany him south.
'Once we reach King's Landing, these two hundred men, working together with the gold cloaks, should be enough to stabilize the capital,' Ned thought.
Walking through the corridor, he planned to visit Bran one last time before departing.
Since Galon left Winterfell, the king had flown into a rage more than once, yet no accomplices of Joel had been found.
After investigation, all that was learned was that Joel had traveled from Pentos by merchant ship to Greenstone.
By chance, he had been knighted by Lord Estermont of Greenstone.
However, Joel did not swear fealty to Lord Estermont.
Instead, he went on to Storm's End, where he met a group of sworn knights and eventually managed to blend into the king's retinue bound for the North.
There, the trail ended.
No one knew who had truly ordered Joel.
No one even suspected Joffrey. After all, who would ever doubt a child?
Because of this, Robert had personally ordered Maester Luwin to write a letter to Renly, cursing him thoroughly in the message.
Yet Ned faintly felt that this matter was still tied to Jaime.
Unfortunately, he had no proof, and for the time being could do nothing about him.
Ned entered Bran's bedchamber in silence.
Inside the room were Rickon, Arya, Sansa, and Robb. Rickon, in particular, had red eyes as he clung to Catelyn, hoping she would speak to him.
But Lady Catelyn looked utterly exhausted. She sat beside Bran's bed and did not even glance at Rickon.
Her eyes were fixed tightly on Bran's rising and falling chest.
As if blinking might cause Bran to die outright.
Ned shook his head weakly. Ever since Bran's accident, Catelyn had been like this, never leaving Bran's side.
She ate there. She slept there.
Rickon could not even find his mother.
Thinking she no longer wanted him, the boy cried and made a fuss constantly, giving Ned a splitting headache.
At one point, Ned had even considered leaving Rickon behind instead of taking him to King's Landing.
But then he reconsidered. Bran clearly could not go south, and if Rickon stayed behind as well, others might begin to doubt House Stark's loyalty.
Ned sighed deeply and turned his gaze to Robb.
"Robb, after I leave, Winterfell will be in your hands. You must protect your family.
If anything happens, consult Maester Luwin and Ser Rodrik. Do not act rashly. If you still cannot decide, send a raven to Galon and ask for his opinion."
Robb nodded, his voice full of reluctance and unease. "Yes, Father."
Ned then looked to Sansa. "Sansa, once I'm gone, you must learn to help Robb. You'll need to start managing the affairs of the castle, large and small."
Sansa's eyes reddened, and she nodded softly.
"Winter is coming."
"Remember this. The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. You must look after one another."
Ned's solemn voice echoed through Bran's chamber. The Stark children exchanged glances, knowing that the moment of parting had arrived.
Just then, Ned's captain of guards, Jory Cassel, appeared at the door.
"My lord, the king is waiting in the Great Hall. The guards are ready and can depart at any time."
Ned took a deep breath and beckoned to Arya and Rickon.
"Arya, Rickon, it's time to go."
Rickon, however, clung tightly to Catelyn's arm, refusing to let go. "No! I don't want to go to King's Landing. I want Mother!"
He cried loudly, causing Catelyn's body to tremble.
At last, she could no longer restrain herself. She broke down in tears and pulled Rickon into her arms.
"Rickon, Mother is here. Mother is here."
Rickon clung desperately to her, sobbing, "Mother…"
Ned did not interrupt. He stood quietly, watching mother and son embrace and release their grief.
Only after Rickon calmed down did Ned step forward and gently pull him from Catelyn's arms.
"I'm leaving now, Cat. Take good care of the children."
Catelyn slowly lifted her head, her eyes filled with pain and reluctance.
Her lips trembled before she finally rasped, "Yes. You take care of Rickon and Arya."
Ned nodded, glanced at Arya, then led Rickon toward the door.
Arya's eyes shimmered with tears as she hugged Robb tightly. When she turned to Sansa, she hesitated for a moment.
But the sorrow of parting washed away the resentment that had long lingered between them. She stepped forward and embraced Sansa tightly.
"When you marry Galon, if he plans to go to King's Landing later, make sure he gives me a sword!"
Sansa laughed through her tears and nodded in agreement.
"Mother, I'm leaving.
Bran, I'm leaving."
Arya said her farewells to Lady Catelyn and Bran, then prepared to follow her father.
At that moment, Catelyn stood and embraced Arya as well, crying as they parted.
No one noticed that Bran's eyelids fluttered slightly, as if sensing his family's departure.
But in the end, he did not awaken.
Soon after, Arya left Bran's chamber and departed for King's Landing with Ned. Nymeria and Shaggydog ran after their masters.
Outside the window, Bran's direwolf continued to howl.
In the courtyard, Cersei frowned in the direction of the howling and said irritably, "Why is that wolf cub still crying?"
"It's kept me from sleeping properly for days."
Jaime walked beside her toward the carriages waiting at Winterfell's southern gate. Servants and attendants followed at a distance.
"Who knows," Jaime said indifferently. "Maybe it knows its master isn't going to survive."
"Isn't going to survive?" Cersei turned her head and sneered softly. "Didn't our dear little brother say the child held on for four days already?
Even the maester says if he were going to die, he'd be dead by now."
She lowered her voice. "If you ask me, Jaime, you should abandon that ridiculous sense of honor of yours and simply finish him off."
Jaime looked at his sister. "For you, I already let an Ironborn try to kill him once."
"But he's still alive."
"He might as well be dead," Jaime said, glancing back at the keep. "Didn't Tyrion say that even if he wakes, he'll be crippled, and most likely never truly awaken at all?
Cersei, a child like that doesn't need us to go out of our way to destroy him."
Seeing Jaime's stubbornness, Cersei sneered. "Just watch. One day, you'll regret this."
"By the way, that wolf is taking so many people to King's Landing. What do you think he's planning?"
Jaime rubbed his temple. "Whatever he's planning, King's Landing isn't his den. There's plenty of trouble waiting there for our new Hand to clean up."
On that point, Cersei agreed.
Seeing someone approach ahead, the two fell silent and quickened their pace toward the carriages.
Soon, Ned arrived as well with his children.
Once Arya and Rickon were settled into the carriage, Robert and Ned mounted their horses and began the journey back to King's Landing.
As for the Imp, he departed with two guards, following Benjen Stark toward the Wall.
With the king heading south, Galon's deeds gradually began to spread through the North.
The trial by combat for his betrothal, the slayer of the great bear, these titles caused many northern lords to take notice.
Some even developed thoughts of currying favor.
For example, Roose Bolton, Lord of the Dreadfort, had his maester send a raven to congratulate Galon.
Of course, far away in Deepwood Motte, Galon was still busy training the Steel Fist and knew nothing of this yet.
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