Blood and Shadows (Game of Thrones)

Jeyne

It was a relatively warm day in Winterfell, well as warm as it could get with the summer snows. Even so Jeyne wrapped up in several layers just to make sure she did not catch a chill, or another illness. She had been bedridden for several days before her cousin Robb's wedding and had only just recovered in time to greet her mother when she arrived with cousin Edric. She had always been frail, that was what the maesters called it, she feel ill easily, she caught colds easily, it was quite a pain if she was honest and it often led, she knew to some whispering by the servants and helpers when they thought she could not hear them. But Jeyne had heard most of what the whispers said, that it would be better if she simply went off and died, went to sleep and never woke up again, that if that were to happen it would make life so much easier for her family.

Jeyne had never truly heard the whispers, she doubted whether there had been any whispers, when she had lived in Starfall, no the helpers there were too loyal to her uncle Allem and her and Jon's mother, and still remembered Princess Elia to make any comment about their lady's daughter's ill health. Winterfell though, Winterfell was different. She had never truly fit in, in the north, and it was not for lack of trying. She got on well with her cousins, but the cold weather just seemed to disagree with her and more often than not she found herself bed ridden with some illness or the other. She had been eight and newly arrived to Winterfell when she had heard some of the maids whispering about her ill health, they had said some very nasty things about her, and that had made her run to her room and cry her eyes out. She had not come out of her room for hours and eventually it had taken both her brother Jon and her sworn sword Arthur to coerce her out of her room.

She had later spoken to Uncle Ned about it, and he had told her that should she hear anything like that again, she was to come and tell him straight away and he would deal with it. Of course she had come to him once to tell him, but as she had gotten older, though the whispers still followed her around, she simply developed a thick skin and ignored what the whispers said. Let them whisper was what she often thought, the whisperers simply had nothing better to occupy their time with, and really she felt sorry for them. Of course Robb and Jon did not seem to share her attitude toward the whispers- Jon more so than Robb- and she knew there had been times where they had got into fights with some of the local stable boys or other boys about comments they had made about her.

But that was all in the past now. Her mother was here, and she knew that she would finally get to return home back to Starfall. She knew that she would miss her cousins but she would keep in contact with them through letters. The only problem was that Jon wished to join the Night's Watch. When he had told her, she had nodded and accepted his reasons, but internally she had felt like crying, Jon was her brother, they had grown up together, they done pretty much everything together, she did not know what she would do without him, and so she had devised a plan to convince Jon to change his mind. She had worked with Robb and his wife Alys, and then when her mother had come she had told her about her plan, and now days before the king was to come to Winterfell, she was about put her plan in motion.

She heard a knock on the door, and from the way Sandy ran and began scratching at the door she knew that it would be her mother, she went and opened the door. Lady Ashara, Jon and Jeyne's mother had been a beauty when she had been younger, with dark hair and haunting violet eyes she had captured the attention of many men, even now older as she was, she still caused heads to turn, many marriage proposals Jeyne knew had come to Starfall asking for her mother's hand, but Lady Ashara had turned each and every one of them down, why Jeyne knew not, but she was glad, she did not wish to have to share her mother with anyone other than Jon. Robb and Alys soon entered her room as well, Greywind padding in and instantly beginning to play with Sandy, all they needed to do now was wait.

There was a comfortable silence for a few minutes before they heard footsteps approaching her room, and she could tell that it was Jon and so she went and opened the door before he had even had a chance to knock. Ghost bounded in and began playing with Sandy and Greywind, Jon walked into her room looking confused when he saw their mother and Robb and Alys in the room.

"You wanted to see me Jeyne?" Jon asked his confusion evident.

"Yes, well actually we all wanted to see you. We've got something we want to speak to you about." Jeyne replied.

"Okay..." Jon said hesitantly.

Jeyne swallowed nervously and then began. "I know you want to join the Night's Watch Jon, but have you thought about other places for you to go to, other things for you to do?"

She saw Jon begin to reply, his mouth tightening as it often did when he became angry. Jeyne went on, "I know this might be selfish of me Jon. But I don't want you to go to the Wall. We've always been there for each other growing up and I, I don't know, I'd feel lost without you beside me. Who's going to be there to make me laugh when I fall ill, who's going to sing to me at night?"

"Jeyne, I..." Jon began, but Robb interrupted him.

"Jon, you know you can always stay in Winterfell for a bit longer, you don't have to go to the Wall or even back south for a little while. You've still got time coz."

Alys elaborated, "Besides I'm going to need some help keeping Robb in line, if King Robert does decided to take your father down south with him." She smiled at that, and Jeyne could have kissed her.

Jon still looked hesitant and vaguely bemused; he turned to look at their mother to see what she had to say. "I know you wish to join the Night's Watch Jon, but surely you can do that in a few years time. The Wall has stood for eight thousand years, and will continue to stand. Experience a bit more of life Jon, come back home see Starfall, see Allyria before she goes off and marries Lord Beric. Meet Princess Arianne and the Sand Snakes one more time, and then if you still want to take the black."

Jeyne knew they had nearly convinced Jon to change his mind, but then she saw the way his shoulders straightened and the way he stood taller, and she knew they had lost. Jon was decided. "I know that you all want what is best for me, and I thank you for that. But for once in my life I just want to do something because I want to do it, not because I've been told to do it. There is honour in serving in the Night's Watch; a man can rise high in the Watch no matter his name or station of birth. I think that I can fulfil myself in the Watch, and besides," he said a wry smile coming onto his face then. "Black always has been my colour."

They all laughed at that, but Jeyne could not help the feeling of sadness that began to engulf her. Jon- her brother, her companion- would be leaving Winterfell, but he would not be heading south with her and their mother, no he would be heading north to the Wall. As if sensing her distress Sandy began to whine. Before anyone else could say anything though, there was a knock on the door and one of the servants poked, their head round the door to inform them that their presence was required down in the courtyard for the King's Party had been spotted on the horizon.

Robb and Alys bid them farewell and headed out of the room toward the courtyard Greywind on their heels. Leaving Jeyne, Jon and their mother in the room. Lady Ashara looked at Jon and quietly asked him, "Are you sure this is what you wish to do Jon?"

Jeyne watched as her brother nodded, she heard her mother sigh then and say "Very well, I will not force you to change your mind, but know that if you ever do change your mind Starfall will wait for you. Now come, let us greet the baby killing king and his whore of a queen."

"Will you be okay mother? Greeting King Robert and Queen Cersei?" Jeyne asked, both she and Jon knew their mother had a very low opinion of Robert Baratheon and the Lannisters because of what they had done to her friend Princess Elia and her children Rhaenys and Aegon.

Jeyne heard her mother give a bitter laugh. "Yes sweetling I will be fine. With you and Jon here, I have no cause for complaint. So long as I don't have to look to long the royals I shall be fine." She smiled then and then Jeyne, Jon and their mother walked down to the courtyard arm in arm to wait for the royal party.

Because of their mother's presence Jeyne knew that she and Jon would be standing in the front line with their cousins and their uncle Ned and Aunt Catelyn, otherwise they would likely be standing with Theon Greyjoy- Jeyne shuddered at the very thought of it, there was something about Theon that creeped her out- she stood next to her mother and her brother as they waited for the King's party to ride through the gates.

They waited for a long moment and then the royal party burst through the gates of Winterfell in a flurry of gold, silver and crimson, Lannister crimson. Jeyne spotted the Kingslayer, Jaime Lannister wearing golden armour, she briefly wondered if it was the same armour he had worn when he had killed the king he had been sworn to protect, next came a man with a face so burned it was horrible to look upon, and beside him rode a boy who could only be the crown prince, he had golden Lannister hair it curled down to his shoulders and he wore an expression of absolute disdain, Jeyne already felt the hate pooling in her gut at the sight of him, and knew from the way Jon tensed beside her that he felt the same, she reached and grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.

Next came a big fat man, with long black hair and a thick black beard to hide his many chins and loose skin, he vaulted of off his warhorse and strode toward Uncle Ned and soon had him in a bone crushing hug. "Ned!" she heard the man exclaim, belatedly realising that this man was the King, Robert Baratheon. Her uncle's oldest friend. "You have not changed at all."

"Your Grace," Jeyne heard her uncle say in his lord's voice. "Winterfell is yours."

Jeyne then heard the king say "Take me down to your crypts Ned. I would pay my respects." Just as his queen, the Lannister woman dismounted and walked toward him and her uncle, she tried to voice her protests about the long journey, but the king ignored her and merely gestured for her uncle Ned to lead the way.

Once they had disappeared out of sight, it had fallen to her aunt Catelyn to introduce the Queen to the rest of them, when Queen Cersei got to herself, her mother and Jon she gave the three of them a rather cold look before turning her face up at them in a dismissive manner and walking on. As the guests were shown to their accommodations, Jeyne heard Jon whisper in her ear, loud enough only for their mother to hear. "Well that certainly was disappointing. And the Queen seems full of herself." Jeyne had to hide her smile behind her hand and she knew her mother was doing the same. It truly had not been what she was expecting.

Eddard

They went down to the crypt together, Ned and the king he scarcely recognized. The winding stone steps were narrow. Ned went first with the lantern. "I was starting to think we would never reach Winterfell," Robert complained as they descended. "In the south, the way they talk about my seven kingdoms, a man forgets that your part is as big as the other six combined."

"I trust you enjoyed the journey, Your Grace?"

Robert snorted. "Bogs and forests and fields, and scarcely a decent inn north of the Neck. I've never seen such a vast emptiness. Where are all your people?"

"Likely they were too shy to come out," Ned jested. He could feel the chill coming up the stairs, a cold breath from deep within the earth. "Kings are a rare sight in the north."

Robert snorted. "More likely they were hiding under the snow. Snow, Ned!" The king put one hand on the wall to steady himself as they descended.

"Late summer snows are common enough," Ned said. "I hope they did not trouble you. They are usually mild."

"The Others take your mild snows," Robert swore. "What will this place be like in winter? I shudder to think."

"The winters are hard," Ned admitted. "But the Starks will endure. We always have."

"You need to come south," Robert told him. "You need a taste of summer before it flees. In Highgarden, there are fields of golden roses that stretch away as far as the eye can see. The fruits are so ripe they explode in your mouth. You will see, I brought you some. Even at Storm's End, with that good wind off the bay, the days are so hot you can barely move. And you ought to see the towns, Ned! Flowers everywhere, the markets bursting with food, the summerines so cheap and so good that you can get drunk just breathing the air. Everyone is fat and drunk and rich." He laughed and slapped his own ample stomach a thump. "And the girls Ned!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "I swear, women lose all modesty in the heat. They swim naked in the river, right beneath the castle. Even in the streets, it's too damn hot for wool or fur, so they go around in these short gowns, silk if they have the silver and cotton if not but it's all the same when they start sweating and the cloth sticks to their skin, they might as well be naked." The king laughed happily.

Robert Baratheon had always been a man of huge appetites, a man who knew how to take his pleasures. That was not a charge anyone could lay at the door of Eddard Stark. Yet Ned could not help but notice that those pleasures were taking a toll on the king. Robert was breathing heavily by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, his face red in the lantern light as they stepped out into the darkness of the crypt.

He swept the lantern in a wide semicircle. Shadows moved and lurched. Flickering light touched the stones underfoot and brushed against a long procession of granite pillars that marched ahead, two by two in the dark. Between the pillars, the dead sat on their stone thrones against the walls, backs against the sepulchres that contained their mortal remains. He led Robert past the dead of House Stark, past Lords of Winterfell, their likeness carved into the stone tombs that encased them, their swords gripped in an iron grip over their laps and direwolves of their house curled at their feet. He stopped when he reached the place where his sister's statue stood, a garland of pale blue roses were tucked at her feet, Ned had placed them there when he had last visited a few days prior to the King's arrival.

They stood in a contemplative silence for a long moment before Robert began speaking about times past, reminiscing about times that had been and things that should have happened. Most of all though his old friend spoke of Lyanna, and Rhaegar. He spoke lovingly of Lyanna and venom dripped from him as he spoke of Prince Rhaegar. Ned did not wish to think too long on that topic for he knew that the product of their union was in the hall above them, he also knew that buried deep down with Lyanna's bones was the wedding cloak that she had been given by the Prince, a cloak of Targaryen black with the red three headed dragon on it.

Once Robert had finished reminiscing they stood in silence once more for a long time, Ned thought briefly that Robert may have fallen asleep so quite he was, but then he broke the silence and spoke once more, but in a quieter voice. "So Ned, what is it like having the Lady Ashara in Winterfell?"

Ned turned to face his friend keeping his expression blank. "What do you mean Robert?"

Robert chuckled. "Oh come now Ned, I know you fancied her back when we were boys. Tell me is she still as beautiful as she was at Harrenhal? Have you tried bringing her to yours and Catelyn's bed? I hear Dornishwomen are more than willing to try that sort of thing."

Ned swallowed, he was horrified by what his friend was suggesting, he had slept with Ashara once, at Harrenhal and their daughter believed that his brother Brandon was her father, to better protect Jon, the lie still rankled him all these years later, knowing that he could never hear Jeyne call him father, as Sansa and Arya did, but of course Robert could not know that. So instead he merely replied. "She is beautiful still yes. Any fool could see that. But no I have not asked her to mine and Catelyn's bed, nor will I. I love Catelyn Robert, I love her with all my heart, and I will do nothing to make her uncomfortable."

Robert merely grunted. "Very well then, I might just have to try for myself and see," his booming laughter ran throughout the crypts, Ned even smiled though he knew if Robert tried anything with Ashara he was likely to lose a limb, or two. Robert continued "You must have wondered why I finally came north to Winterfell after so long."

Ned had his suspicions but he said nothing instead he waited for Robert to continue speaking. "Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the King."

Ned dropped to one knee. The offer did not surprise him; what other reason could Robert have had for coming so far? The hand of the king was the second most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms. He spoke with the king's voice, commanded the king's armies, and drafted the king's laws. At times he even sat upon the Iron Throne to dispense the king's justice, when the king was absent, sick or otherwise indisposed. Robert was offering him a responsibility as large as the realm itself. It was the last thing in the world he wanted.

"Your Grace, I am not worthy of the honour."

Robert groaned with good humoured impatience. "If I wanted to honour you, I'd let you retire. I'm planning to make you run the kingdom and fight the wars while I eat and drink and wench myself into an early grave." He slapped his gut and grinned.

Then his old friend sprung something that he truly had not been expecting. "We were meant to rule together. If Lyanna had lived, we should have been brothers, bound by blood as well as affection. Well, it is not too late. I have a son. You have a daughter. My Joff and Your Sansa shall join our houses as Lyanna and I might once have done."

"Sansa is only eleven."

Robert waved an impatient hand. "Old enough for betrothal. The marriage can wait a few years. Now stand up and say yes curse you."

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure, Your Grace." Ned answered. He hesitated. "These honours are all so unexpected. May I have some time to consider? I need to tell my wife..."

"Yes, yes, of course, tell Catelyn, sleep on it if you must. Just don't keep me waiting too long. I am not the most patient of men."

They left the crypts then, Ned's head still reeling from all that had been said. He could not truly enjoy the feast that was held later that day as a result. His mind was still reeling from everything Robert had asked of him and told him. He needed time to think it all through; he needed time to tell Catelyn, he wanted to give Robert a good reason as to why he did not wish to go south. No Stark had ever gone south and lived to tell the tale, his father had gone south and died so too had Brandon. Lyanna had died in Dorne. No he did not wish to go south to the Viper's nest they called a capital especially not with his girls there no.

He had thought that Catelyn would agree with him, but she urged him to go, saying how it would ensure that their family remained safe and secure. She argued that Robert the king was not the same man as the Robert he had known as a boy, nor even the same man he had known during the rebellion. She argued that kingship would have changed Robert, and that it did no good to reject a king's demand. He knew deep down that she was right, she was always right. That did not make it any easier, he still wished to stay in the north where he belonged, where all Starks belonged but then, Sansa would marry Joffrey, and he had seen something dark in the boy that unnerved him, something he did not like the look of, he would need to be there to protect Sansa, from those viper's in the court.

Once Catelyn read the letter her sister Lysa had sent her, in which she blamed the Lannisters- most specifically the Queen- for the death of her lord husband, Catelyn insisted that he had to go south to bring Jon Arryn's killers to justice, something Maester Luwin also said would be wise to do. Catelyn argued that Robert would listen to him if he brought enough evidence to convict the king, she said she had friends in King's Landing who could help him in his inquiries. Reluctantly he agreed with Catelyn, and the next day told Robert of his acceptance of the Handship.

In typical Robert fashion, they had to thrown another grand feast to celebrate, both his acceptance of the handship and Sansa and Joffrey's betrothal. The Prince Ned noticed seemed to be on his best behaviour during the feast, he was very charming toward Sansa and even Jeyne, though Ned saw the hateful looks he shot Robb and Jon, and he saw the way Jon's mouth tightened whenever he looked at Joffrey, something bad was brewing between those two and he would need to stop it before it could blow out of control.

Later as the feast began to unwind, the children were in bed, Catelyn had retired for the night, Robert was fiddling with some serving wench and the Queen and her brother were nowhere to be seen, Ned found himself walking Ashara back to her room. He had not spent any time alone with Ashara since she had been in Winterfell, making perfectly sure that whenever he was forced to be in her company there were plenty of people in the room. He loved Catelyn with all his heart and being, but there was some sort of pull Ashara had over him that he feared.

"So, your girl is to be wed to the crown prince." He heard Ashara say.

"Yes, a good match. Perfect even. Sansa is delighted." Ned replied.

He heard Ashara snort. "Yes, well you might wish to caution her against expecting a fairy tale. Especially from royalty."

"Ashara..."he began but she interrupted him.

"It is true you know Ned. When Elia found out she was to marry Rhaegar, she was giddy with delight. She was so happy not even her frailties could keep her bedridden for long. And then she learnt that life was not a fairy tale, and Rhaegar broke his vows." Ashara spoke coldly.

Ned felt himself tense then. He said nothing but as Ashara broke away from him and moved toward her room she stopped and turned round, and said "Just so you know, Jon does not like the Prince, anymore than Oberyn liked Rhaegar. Keep an eye on him something will happen soon if you don't."

With that she walked inside and closer the door, leaving him feeling perplexed.

Jon

Jon watched Bran and Prince Tommem practice their sword fighting with wooden swords, and cheered with Robb and Theon as Bran managed to hit Prince Tommem again and again, until he eventually managed to knock him to the ground. Jon was not sure what to make of the royal family. King Robert had been a huge disappointment to him, he had grown up listening to his uncle's tales of a strong, brave man who had fought a war for his aunt Lyanna. In his head he had always pictured Robert Baratheon as a tall man, who was strong and built like an aurochs, the man he had seen was a fat old man, who seemed more happy drinking and wenching than doing anything else. The Queen was beautiful, but cold. Not at all like Jon's own mother, who possessed warmth that the Queen seemed to lack, had even aunt Catelyn agreed with that assessment when Jon had spoke with her and his mother the other day. Prince Joffrey was a prick. Robb, Theon even Jeyne agreed.

The crown prince, thought himself above everything and everyone in Winterfell and Jon did not like him one bit. Ever since his betrothal to Jon's cousin Sansa had been announced the prince had only grown cockier, strutting around Winterfell like he owned the place and he was arrogant, so very, very arrogant. Though of course whenever Sansa was present he never failed to act chivalrously and kindly, so of course Sansa thought herself in love with him, it was so infuriating. Though of course when he had brought this up with his mother and Jeyne they had both laughed and claimed that he was jealous, which was ridiculous why would he be jealous of some spoiled twelve year old, when he was going to join the Watch?

Jon listened as Robb and Theon, and Alys and Jeyne cheered Bran on as he knocked Prince Tommem to the ground once more. Robb and Alys, Jon thought made a very good couple. Alys was kind and smart, and she treated Jeyne like a proper person, not like some weakling, which of course made Jon like her that much more. There were many things he could take, like the fact that he was a bastard, but one thing he could not tolerate was people treating Jeyne differently or even making fun of her because of her health. In fact he had gotten into trouble more than once because he had fought whoever had dared insult his sister.

Jon felt something was about to go horribly wrong when Prince Joffrey moved himself into the sunlight he sounded bored. "This is a game for children, Ser Rodrik."

Theon gave a bark of laughter. "You are children."

"Robb may be a child," Joffrey said. "I am a prince. And I grow tired of swatting at Starks with a play sword."

"You got more swats than you gave, Joff." Robb said. "Are you afraid?"

Prince Joffrey looked at him. "Oh terrified," he said. "You're so much older." Some of the Lannister men laughed.

Jon groaned inwardly, Robb was being baited.

Ser Rodrik tugged thoughtfully at his white whiskers. "What are you suggesting?" He asked the prince.

"live steel."

"Done," said Robb. "You'll be sorry."

The master at arms put a hand on Robb's shoulder to quiet him. "Live steel is too dangerous. I will permits you tourney swords with blunted edges."

Joffrey sneered at that and said. "Does Winterfell breed cowards or is it just you Robb? Why hide behind tourney swords if not because you are a coward."

Jon saw Robb bristle and was thankful that Alys laid a hand on his arm to keep him still, otherwise he knew not what Robb would do.

He did not expect Jeyne to speak then. "That is not very gallant of you, Your Grace. Mocking a man who will soon be your ally, that is not smart at all, especially when you are a guest here."

Joffrey turned his attention to Jeyne and sneered at her, his voice was laced with venom when he spoke next. "Do you threaten me Sand? A bastard girl, who is so frail it would be better if she was to fall asleep and never wake again. You would seek to give advice to me?"

Jon tensed, Jeyne meanwhile merely said. "I did not mean to cause offence Your Grace. Forgive me if I did. I merely thought it would be wise to ask you not to offend Winterfell and the Starks when you are a guest here."

Joffrey spat venom then. "Oh so you thought to counsel me did you? Well let me counsel you. Next time I want your advice- which will be never- I will ask it of you. In fact come to think of it you could help me with something now."

Jeyne looked at Joffrey inquisitively, "Oh and what might that be Your Grace?"

Jon saw Joffrey turn his head for a moment looking at the assortment of men and squires gathered around him, before he turned back to face Jeyne a smirk upon his face. "I hear your mother was a slut when she was younger. Perhaps you have inherited some of her promiscuity. I want you to come to my chambers tonight and suck my cock, that is if your frail health does not kill you."

Some of the men next to Joffrey laughed nervously, Joffrey smirked then, Jeyne remained silent as did Robb, Theon, Alys and Ser Rodrik. Jon though felt himself go black with rage, how dare this insolent little shit insult his mother and his sister. Before he knew what he was doing he had moved from where he had been standing and was striding toward Joffrey. He vaguely heard someone shouting his name, it could have been Jeyne or Robb it made no difference, he advanced upon Joffrey raised his right hand curled it into a fist and punched Joffrey in the face once, twice, thrice, four times, he punched him a total of ten times before he was eventually hauled off of the crown prince.

By the time he was done, Joffrey had a bloody lip and a swollen eye. Jon was fuming he was straining against Theon and Ser Rodrik wanting to cause Joffrey more harm. Then he felt Jeyne's hand on his cheek, and then she was in front of him her violet eyes filled with concern. She leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Jon, Jon sweetling its okay. Everything's fine Jon. its okay come back to me Jon, come back to me." And slowly Jon felt his breathing return to normal, and then he felt Theon and Ser Rodrik release him and he fell into Jeyne's arms holding her tightly and sobbing.

Later, once he had calmed down he was brought before his uncle, his aunt and his mother and the king. Lord Eddard looked solemn, in fact they all looked solemn and grim, and for a moment Jon feared that he would have to be executed.

His uncle spoke first, with his Lord's voice. "Jon, do you know why you have been brought here?"

Jon nodded. "Yes uncle."

King Robert sighed then and Jon turned to look at the king. Robert had a sad look in his eyes when he spoke. "Very well then. Joffrey says that you attacked him unprovoked. Is that true?"

Jon bristled with anger. "No your grace it is not. Prince Joffrey insulted my sister and my lady mother. He said that my lady mother was a whore and he insulted Jeyne's health. I admit that perhaps I went too far, but something had to be done. I won't let anyone insult my mother or my sister, not for as long as I live."

He heard his mother and aunt Catelyn sob, his uncle Ned and the King both sighed. "Very well then, Ned?" He saw his uncle step forward then and look at the king. "See that your nephew is kept indoors for the rest of our stay here I don't want Joff or Cersei kicking up a fuss."

"Yes Your Grace."

And so it was that Jon was kept to his room, unable to leave unless it was for dinner or to use the toilet. Ghost was his companion and occasionally his mother or Jeyne would come and visit him, but the rest of the family did not, or could not from what Jeyne told him because they had to pretend to be making amends with the Baratheon's. Jon did not regret what he had done, he was sorry though that his uncle had to pay because Joffrey was a little cry baby. He was in his room when Bran fell, and then the castle went into mourning.

Catelyn.

Ned and the girls and the royal party and Lady Ashara and Jeyne and Jon had been gone for eight days now. Ned and the girls for King's Landing, Ashara and Jeyne for Starfall and Jon, her nephew her strong nephew who had beaten the Prince when he had dared insult Jeyne had gone north to the wall. Cersei had been furious when she had found out what had happened to her son and had demanded that Jon be severly punished and so it had been agreed with Jon's consent that he be sent to the Wall with Benjen, that Jon had wanted to go to the Wall in the first place was not mentioned to the Royals. Catelyn was only glad that the royals had left, she did not like them anymore than Ned did, and yet he rode south with them even though Bran lay in his bed, dead to the world, asleep for all eight days Jon had alerted them to his fall from the Broken Tower and they had all deliberated how he could have fallen. Her little boy never fell, everyone in Winterfell knew that. She thought back to Lysa's letter and wondered if perhaps Bran had seen something he was not supposed to see.

Robb had come to her and begged her to eat, to move from her vigil beside Bran's bedside. But she could not do it, not now, no she couldn't leave him here alone, not when he could need her at any moment. She knew she was being unfair to Robb, she knew that some must think her mad. But she could not help it, her baby Bran was hurt and might die, and she could not leave his side, not even for a moment. Robb had been about to speak with her again to try and coerce her into moving when he had seen the library tower on fire and had rushed to put the fire out. She said a silent prayer to the seven faces of god as she went to the window. Across the bailey, long tongues of flame shot from the windows of the library. She watched the smoke rise into the sky and thought sadly of all the books the Starks had gathered over the centuries. Then she closed the shutters.

When she turned away from the window, the man was in the room with her.

"You weren't supposed to be here." He muttered sourly. "No one was supposed to be here."

He was a small dirty man in filthy brown clothing and he stank of horses. Catelyn knew all the men who worked in their stables and he was none of them. He was gaunt, with limp blond hair and pale eyes deep sunk in a bony face and there was a dagger in his hand. Catelyn looked at the knife then at Bran. "No," she said. The word stuck in her throat, the merest whisper.

He must have heard her. "It's a mercy," he said. "He's dead already."

"No," Catelyn said louder now as she found her voice again. She spun back toward the window to scream for help but the man moved faster than she would have believed. One hand clamped down over her mouth and yanked her head, the other brought the dagger up to her windpipe. The stench of him was overwhelming. She reached up with both hands and grabbed the blade with all her strength, pulling it away from her throat. She heard him cursing into her ear. Her fingers were slippery with blood, but she would not let go of the dagger. The hand over her mouth clenched more tightly, shutting off her air. Catelyn twisted her head to the side and managed to get a piece of his flesh between her teeth. She bit down hard into his palm. The man grunted in pain. She ground her teeth together and tore at him and all of a sudden he let go. The taste of his blood filled her mouth. She sucked in air and screamed, and he grabbed her hair and pulled her away from him and she stumbled and went down, and then he was standing over her breathing hard, shaking.

Catelyn saw the shadow slip through the open door behind him. There was a low rumble, less than a snarl, the merest whisper of a threat but he must have heard something because he started to turn just as the wolf- Bran's wolf- made its leap. They went down together half sprawled over Catelyn where she'd fallen. The wolf ripped the man's jaw open and then tore into his throat, leaving him no time to scream. The blood splattered all over the floor and some of it covered Catelyn. That was how they found her. Sat against Bran's bed, with his direwolf standing over the assassins body, his muzzle bloody.

Later once Maester Luwin had seen to her wounds, she spoke with Robb, and they discussed the fire and the attacker. It seemed that the assassin had been a part of King Robert's entourage that had ridden to Winterfell and had likely been sleeping in the stables waiting for the right moment to strike, he had set the fire as a diversion, hoping that all of the men and even Catelyn would be too busy trying to put the fire out, that they would leave Bran unguarded. Had it not been for his direwolf, she and her son would have been dead now.

Once more guards had been posted in front of Bran and her room as well as Rickon's and Robb and Alys's she called for a meeting in the godswood in front of the heart tree. And it was there that she told her son, his wife, and Ser Rodrik and Maester Luwin as well as Theon Greyjoy about her suspicions about who had pushed Bran and why, as well as about her sister's letter accusing the Lannister's for Jon Arryn's death. After much discussion it was decided that she would travel to King's Landing she and Ser Rodrik would take a ship from White Harbour and get to King's Landing before Ned and the Lannisters and she would present her findings to Ned.

Unbeknownst to the party, hidden behind one of the trees in the godswood was a auburn haired wench who had been sent north from King's Landing. She quickly made her way back to her lodgings to let her master know the news of an imminent arrival.