Theon trudged back to his room and shut the door behind him. He dropped onto the bed, a heavy sigh leaving his lips.
Tonight's feast had gone from bad to worse.
He had tried so hard to make himself useful and instead had made a fool of himself.
Not only had he failed to complete the task Lady Catelyn entrusted to him, but he had also managed to anger both Ned and Robb Stark.
And that damned Galon had won the trial by combat.
'Why?'
'How can the gods favor him so completely?'
Theon shuddered as the memory flashed in his mind: Galon's blade pierced through Ser Meryn Trant with terrifying ease.
If even a Kingsguard could not stand against him, then what chance did Theon have?
'Tomorrow during the hunt, he will find another chance to humiliate me. And after today, Robb and Lord Stark will not defend me.'
Regret twisted his stomach. If he had known things would end like this, he would never have agreed to Catelyn's request.
'Maybe I should tell Lord Stark the truth. I will say that Lady Catelyn was the one who asked me…'
The thought lasted only a few seconds before he shook his head furiously.
Angering Ned and Robb could be fixed in time. He knew their temperaments. A sincere apology might mend things.
But crossing Catelyn? His life here would be misery.
'When will I ever go home…'
He had always tried to think of Winterfell as his home, but as he looked around the room he had lived in for nine years, he suddenly felt a chilling loneliness.
'Huh? What is that?'
His gaze caught on a piece of parchment sticking out from beneath his pillow.
Puzzled, he picked it up and unfolded it.
[Tomorrow morning. Meet me at the Broken Tower. This concerns grave matters. Tell no one. Balon Greyjoy.]
The words hit him like a hammer.
'Father… here? Sending for me?'
His heart raced. He stood up quickly, meaning to go tell Ned Stark.
But after two steps, he froze.
'What if something happened in the Iron Islands? It must be important. Otherwise why hide it like this?'
'If I warn Lord Stark and ruin Father's plans, what then?'
His grip tightened on the parchment as he paced back and forth, eyes clouded with panic and hope.
Galon's disdainful stare flashed in his mind. Robb and Ned's anger. His humiliation.
He stopped walking.
'I will go see for myself first. Then I will decide whether to report it. If something serious has happened… then I can finally go home.'
His heart lifted. After these last days, the thought of leaving Winterfell filled him with relief. Especially after tonight.
Anywhere was better than being trapped here like an unwelcome guest.
Resolute, he moved to a candle and let the flame eat the parchment to ash.
At that same time, elsewhere in Winterfell, Ned and Catelyn Stark were discussing Galon.
"I never imagined the boy's swordsmanship was that extraordinary," Ned murmured as he stood near the window. "Even a Kingsguard could not match him."
Tonight had shaken him deeply. If Galon had not acted so decisively, the North's honor would have been trampled in front of the king.
Thinking of Theon's behavior, Ned felt his anger flare again.
"What has gotten into that boy? I warned him. Yet he continued provoking Galon throughout the feast."
Catelyn's voice was soft but tense.
"You know they had bad blood from the first day. With Galon here winning Sansa's hand, jealousy is only natural."
"And things worked out fine. We should let Theon be."
Though she spoke lightly, Catelyn's heart burned with resentment. Galon had found a way to win against every obstacle she placed.
Nothing went as she planned.
'Could he truly be favored by the gods…'
Ned did not hear the bitterness behind her tone. He only sighed. "Tomorrow, Theon should rest. I will keep him far from Galon."
A knock interrupted them.
Ned frowned. "Who is it?"
"Maester Luwin requests an urgent audience," came the muffled reply from Desmond outside the door.
"Urgent?" Ned frowned harder. "Bring him in."
He threw on a heavy cloak. Catelyn wrapped herself in a robe and sat straight on the bed as Luwin entered.
"My lord," Luwin said, "I apologize for disturbing you, but a letter has come into my hands."
Ned's brows knit tighter.
"A letter? From whom? No messenger arrived today."
"Not from a messenger," Luwin explained. "Someone placed a finely carved box upon my desk while I dozed. My servants saw no one enter. It must be someone traveling with the king."
"A box?" Catelyn asked sharply.
"Yes, my lady. Inside was a lens and, hidden beneath, a sealed message."
Ned stretched out his hand.
"Give it here."
Luwin did not move.
"It is not addressed to you, my lord. It clearly states that only Lady Catelyn may break the seal."
Curiosity flickered across Catelyn's face as she accepted the letter.
She looked at the seal and gasped.
"It is from Lysa."
Ned saw the moon-and-falcon sigil of House Arryn impressed in the wax. Dread crept through him.
"Open it."
Catelyn broke the seal and scanned the contents. Confusion clouded her features until understanding struck like lightning.
"When we were young, Lysa and I created a secret code only the two of us could decipher."
"Can you read it?" Ned asked.
"Yes."
Luwin stepped forward. "If that is the case, perhaps I should leave."
"No," Catelyn said quickly. "We need your counsel." Her eyes raced across the page. The further she read, the paler she grew.
Her hands trembled.
"What does it say?" Ned asked, voice tight.
Catelyn swallowed hard. "Lysa says Jon Arryn was murdered."
Ned's breath caught.
"By whom?"
"The Lannisters," Catelyn whispered. "...The queen herself."
Shock froze Ned in place. His jaw clenched. "Old gods… does she understand what she is accusing?"
"She knows," Catelyn replied. "She risked her life sending this. If anyone else read it, she would be dead."
Tears pooled in her eyes as she grabbed Ned's hand.
"Ned… y-you must help her."
Ned walked away in silence and stared out into the cold northern night, his thoughts heavy and grim.
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