While Jon and Melisandre were dragging the mother direwolf towards Winterfell, Ned Stark was sitting near the ancient weirwood trees in the godswood of the castle. He was cleaning his Valyrian blade, Ice.
He had taken a life. And though he had dispensed justice, it was not something he enjoyed. This was his way to cope. The soft sound of approaching footsteps snapped Ned's attention. He did not need to tilt his head to know who it was. He recognized the footsteps, and he continued cleaning his sword.
"Ned," Catelyn said softly as she approached and stood by him.
"Catelyn," Ned responded softly.
"All these years and I still feel like an outsider when I come here," she said.
"You have five Northern children," Ned replied, looking towards her with a smile. "You are not an outsider."
"I wonder if the old gods agree," she said.
"It is your gods with all the rules," Ned countered.
A moment of silence passed between the duo before she raised her hand. She was holding a parchment in it.
"I am so sorry, my love," she said, her voice unusually soft.
"Tell me," Ned responded, dreading what had happened.
"There was a raven from King's Landing," she said.
Ned frowned. He finally turned his head to look towards her.
"I sent the reply only today," he remarked. "What did the message say?"
"Jon Arryn is dead," Catelyn informed him. "A fever took him."
Ned barely reacted. He just turned his gaze towards the ground.
"I know he was a father figure to you," Catelyn continued.
"Your sister, the boy?" Ned questioned.
"They both have their health," she replied.
She moved and sat on one of the roots near Ned. She took a deep breath.
"The raven brought more news," she said. "The king rides for Winterfell with the queen and with the rest of them."
"If he is coming this far North, then there is only one thing that he is after," Ned said.
"You can always say no, Ned," she suggested.
Ned did not respond. His mind had already gone somewhere else. The king would take around forty days to arrive at Winterfell. And if Jon was going to remain for that much time, then they were going to encounter each other. And though he did not have any substantial reason to worry, this was making him uneasy. Not to mention that the sight of the antler of a stag stuck into the body of the mother direwolf was flashing before his eyes. And where was Jon? Was he successful in saving the mother direwolf? Should he send someone to look after him?
"Ned," Catelyn said, drawing his attention.
"All of this is making me uneasy," she said. "The presence of Unsullied and Dothraki in the castle. The appearance of direwolves south of the Wall, and then you allowing the children to take the wolves as their cubs. And now this news."
Ned did not know what to say to her. He had no words of comfort for her. He, too, like her, was uneasy.
.
.
.
"Jon Arryn is dead," Tywin informed his brother. "A fever claimed him."
"How did this happen?" Kevan questioned in a surprised tone. "The last I heard of him, he was absolutely fine."
"Death does not inform anyone of its arrival," Tywin responded.
"True," Kevan nodded.
"Robert is thinking of making Ned his Hand," Tywin continued further. "He is bringing his entire court to Winterfell."
"And what do you think about it?" Kevan questioned with a raised eyebrow.
There was no expression on Tywin's face. Kevan could not tell what his brother was thinking.
"Are you dissatisfied?" Kevan questioned. "Did you want that position for yourself?"
"If I ignore the friendship of Robert and Ned, then you might be the most probable candidate," he added.
"What do you think I feel?" Tywin questioned.
"I do not know," Kevan shrugged. "And neither do I want to guess."
"But," he continued, "I thought that Ned not asking permission for the arrival of Jon Snow in Winterfell might have chipped the relationship between Ned and Robert. But it seems that Robert still trusts Ned the most."
Tywin scoffed in response.
"The bond between them is stronger than these insignificant issues," he said. "They have grown together as brothers. They have bled together in battle. They won the rebellion together. Their friendship runs deep and is strong. It is not something easily shattered or weakened."
"If it had happened at any other time," Tywin said after a few moments of silence, "I would have surely been dissatisfied."
"Even now I am more competent and more eligible than Ned for the position of Hand of the King," he continued. "It is my gold which has kept the crown afloat. It is my men who maintain order in King's Landing. It is my influence which has kept many voices of dissatisfaction and displeasure suppressed."
"But in the current situation, I am not dissatisfied," he said. "I am pleased by the outcome. In fact, I myself would have pushed for his name."
"Why?" Kevan questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Rhaenys Targaryen," Tywin replied. "With her looming over us, It is a time when the realm needs to be united. We cannot have fractures and division among us. And while the North might not be economically prosperous, they have the finest warriors. They fight fiercely."
"Also, with Ned serving as the Hand of the King, Lord Aeos, Jon Snow, has a far more favourable chance of aligning with us," he added. "This is the most desirable outcome that we could want at this point of time."
"Sounds like a good plane," Kevan remarked.
"What about my plan of meeting Lord Aeos at White Harbor during his return journey?" He questioned.
"Cancel this plan," Tywin shook his head. "Make preparations to travel to Winterfell with the King's court."
Kevan nodded.
"I will also come along," Tywin added.
Kevan was caught off guard and his eyes widened in surprise.
"You will come to Winterfell?" He questioned in disbelief.
"Yes," Tywin responded but did not elaborate.
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