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Once more they all settled into a contemplative silence as they digested the information dumped on them. Ned threw Lyanna a look and she met her brother's look with her own. It was only after she looked away that his eyes went to Jon. The boy was speaking with Robb.
"Maybe we should continue watching" Jon Arryn suggested, throwing a worried look at Robert. He seemed even more defeated now, pale and weak, like the life was drained out of him.
They all turned back to the screen with varying degrees and expressions of distress.
[Riders from Winterfell come up behind a dazed Will. The scene shifts to the castle, where Bran is practising archery and getting frustrated, under the eyes of Jon and Robb. Jon pats Bran's shoulder.]
"Still no better are you, brother" Robb teased the young boy, who looked distressed at seeing the White Walkers. Robb was as well, but he had pushed it down to lift his sibling's moods. He was glad to see Bran sticking his tongue out at him.
"None of us were any good at his age" Jon elbowed Robb and then smiled at Bran. Which fell seeing the look on Catelyn's face.
"Go on. Father's watching."
[We see Ned and Catelyn watching from above.]
"And your mother."
"Your mother?" Lyanna raised an eyebrow.
"The boy is not mine," Catelyn said stiffly.
"Ned fathered a bastard?! I guess with White Walkers coming back anything can happen" Brandon barked out a laugh. Catelyn seemed to relax because of it.
Lyanna though had her eyes narrowed on Ned. She lifted her chin and Ned gave a stiff nod. Her eyes fell on Jon, who stared forward at the wall with no emotions on his face. Could he be...
[Scene shifts to needlework practice with the girls inside the castle.]
"Fine work, as always. Well done."
"Thank you."
"I love the detail that you've managed to get in this corner. ... Quite beautiful ... the stitching ..."
"Those really are wonderful stitches, Lady Sansa" Margaery complimented with a smile.
"Thank you" Sansa mumbled with a blush, making Arya blanch.
[As she murmurs to Sansa about the embroidery, Arya struggles with her needlework and listens to the arrows hitting and the male laughter outside.]
"Perhaps the Septa should divide her attention to the rest of those there as well" Lady Olenna said almost boredly.
"Arya can't do stitches right. The Septa has tried but she's too unladylike to learn" Sansa explained with a shake of her head.
"That is the Septa's fault then, not Arya's" Elia chimed in kindly. "I wasn't any better at stitching myself at your age" she added with a smile at Arya. The girl returned the smile with one of her own.
[Outside, Bran tries and misses again. Everyone laughs.]
"And which one of you was a marksman at ten? Keep practising, Bran. Go on."
"He thinks a lot like you brother" Brandon said with a grin, which quickly turned into a frown seeing the constipated look on his brother's face. Something wasn't right here.
"Don't think too much, Bran."
"Relax your bow arm."
[Bran pulls the arrow back. An arrow hits the bullseye. Bran (still with his arrow), Jon, and Robb turn in surprise to see Arya, who curtsies after her perfect shot. Robb and Jon laugh as Bran takes out after Arya.]
"That was perfect, and from that distance too. Your girl's a natural Lord Stark" Doran Martell commented.
"Natural in the wrong thing I fear" Catelyn spoke. "It is not a woman's place to learn how to wield weapons."
"You people and your customs" Oberyn snorted. "In Dorne, our women learn to wield a weapon if they so choose to. We have quite several female warriors, my daughters included."
"It isn't much different in the reach either" Margaery added, "while we do not possess female warriors, if our girls should so choose they can learn to use a few weapons. I myself am not so bad at Archery. And if I am not wrong, the North has its equal share of warrior women. The women from Bear Island come to mind. Perhaps Arya is better suited to the life of a Northern Lady, unlike Sansa who is more suited to that of a Southern Lady."
Arya was practically buzzing hearing both Oberyn and Margaery. She looked at her mother hoping she'd let her learn now. The look of stubbornness killed her buzz. Arya knew that look all too well. She looked away and glared down at her feet.
[Rodrick Cassel and Theon Greyjoy approach Ned and Catelyn on the balcony.]
"Lord Stark. My lady. A guardsman just rode in from the hills. They've captured a deserter from the Night's Watch."
[NED grimaces.]
"Get the lads to saddle their horses."
[THEON departs.]
"CATELYN: Do you have to?"
"He swore an oath, Cat."
"The law is law, my lady."
"Tell Bran he's coming, too."
[Cassel nods and departs.]
"Ned. Ten is too young to see such things."
Brandon whistled. "You're as much a softy as always brother. Waiting till he was ten to witness a beheading?"
"Brandon was seven when he first saw one and you weren't much older" Rickard added.
"We are in peace times, I saw no reason to take the innocence of boyhood away from him so soon" Ned argued calmly.
"Peace times never last too long Eddard, you know it better than anyone?" Rickard argued. Ned kept silent, not looking at his brother or father.
Brandon on the other hand shot a look to Catelyn, no doubt the woman had a say in that. This was the woman he was supposed to marry, no doubt Hoster Tully played his cards for his daughter to marry the Lord of Winterfell. He almost felt bad for Ned. He knew there was a woman he liked, and it was not Catelyn Tully.
"He won't be a boy forever. And winter is coming."
"Words of warning. How long did it take for the entire meaning to change?" Jaime questioned.
Nobody answered him.
[Ned departs. In the courtyard, Robb and Jon gather the arrows. Catelyn turns and glares down on Jon. He looks at her and walks away.]
"There is no reason for you to act like that with Jon" Lyanna almost snarled, shocking Catelyn. "It's not his fault you're not his mother!"
"Bastards are sins," Catelyn said, still a little surprised at how the young woman was defending the boy.
"I never quite understood that. How could bastards be sins if they committed none?Are the seven saying that their mere existence is a sin in itself? That doesn't settle well with the image of the all-loving Mother" Yara said, more to spite the Lady of Winterfell than in defence of Jon.
Catelyn stiffened further but made no retort. There was no use fighting anyone on this. Bastards were sin, the Seven-Pointed Star was clear in that regard.
[Scene shifts, and we see Will being taken to the block.]
"White Walkers. I saw the White Walkers. White Walkers. The White Walkers, I saw them."
[He and Ned face each other.]
"I know I broke my oath. And I know I'm a deserter. I should have gone back to the Wall and warned them. But I saw what I saw. I saw the White Walkers. People need to know. If you can get word to my family, tell them I'm no coward. Tell them I'm sorry."
Ned frowned at the scene, his hand fisting on the hand of his chair. The man had broken his vow, but would Ned have done any different if he'd seen something like that? Seen a White Walker kill a friend and then reanimate them right before his eyes? Ned believed himself to be an honourable man, but would his honour stand before death incarnate?
He felt a hand on his and saw Catelyn smiling at him.
"You didn't know," she said simply. "You didn't know the man was speaking the truth. It's not your fault."
Ned smiled at the woman and patted her hand.
[Ned nods yes, and Will is positioned on the tree limb that serves as a block. Neddraws Ice from a scabbard held by Theon.]
"Forgive me, lord."
[Ned bows his head over Ice.]
"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, first of his name ..."
"In whose name?!" Rhaegar straightened at the words.
"Robert's, he's the King now" Oberyn answered.
Rhaegar stared at the man as if he'd grown a second head.
"After your father's death, the realm chose Robert to be King since he had been the face of the Rebellion. Robert's Rebellion they called it" Doran explained.
"Why? My father I understand had to die, and I died in war so I understand it too. Why not Viserys after him? Why not put him on the throne and have a regent?!"