Catelyn was certainly what most would consider a good lady, and one of her greatest claims to that title was her disdain for complaining in public.
She didn't cry in front of her new husband when she was forced to meet him for the first time at their unplanned and unhappy wedding. Neither did he express her hurt and offense when he arrived in Winterfell with his baseborn son. Whenever she and Ned argued, whenever he irritated her with his harsh decisions, his cold manner, or just by being a typical northern man, she didn't let the people of their keep know her true feeling sin front of them.
Fortunately for both their sakes, this time was no exception.
"I tell you Ned, I REFUSE TO LET THAT BASTARD COME HERE LIKE THIS!"
Not that it did them much good with their three youngest offspring standing outside, listening with horrified awe without their parents' knowledge. They heard their father respond in a voice that was clearly stressed, but not loud or harsh.
"There's no reason to shout Cat! And there's no reason for you to deny me this either!"
"You know damn well there are a hundred reasons to deny you- nay, deny Jon" she spat his name like she was about to vomit "this favour. In fact I may wait until he gets here, so I can tell him to his face he isn't welcome here in these circumstances. And neither is his wildling whore!"
To be fair to the (at her age) miraculously pregnant Lady Stark, the circumstances of which she spoke were by all means extraordinary. Many would say they were scandalous. And to her personally they were just insulting. The fact that she was six months pregnant with her sixth child didn't help her mood.
Perhaps that was why Ned was not being as aggressive in his retorts to her complaining. She almost felt sorry for her dear husband, seeing his efforts not to match her fierceness. Almost. She was still too angry. And Ned had finally lost his patience.
"For all your hatred of him Cat, he's still my son and I will not throw him out. He is Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, he has the support and blessing of King Stannis, and he has the love of our children. And he is coming to Winterfell in order to marry a wildling princess in order to secure a lasting peace. Considering her status, I advise you never to refer to her as a whore in anyone's presence again. Do I make myself clear?"
Cat almost opened her mouth to retort but Ned's authoritative tone and the threatening low depth of his voice brooked no argument. In this moment he was Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North first, Catelyn's lord husband second, and Catelyn's lover third. Seeing that her cause was lost, Catelyn simply sighed heavily and nodded her head.
"As you wish my lord. I cannot persuade you. But I can deny you." She turned to the door, her long thick skirts twirling with her angry speed. "You may find me in the sept but you will not be welcome in my presence there, or in my chamber. Good day."
In a panic, the Stark children hid on the right side of the door before it swung open and their lady mother stormed out. She walked briskly down the hallway without turning her head.
All three of them released the breath they were holding and instantly regretted it.
"Who's there?" They froze. "Come out, I know you're there and if you don't come where I can see you I'll have you thrown out of my keep when I find you!"
Inside his study, Ned stood with clenched fists and a face like thunder. He was a sight of near-unbridled anger and little patience when he saw Arya, Bran and Rickon shuffle out from behind the open oak door.
"Arya? Bran, Rickon?! What are you doing there? How much did you hear?!"
His voice showed his shock but his questions betrayed his lingering and refuelled anger.
"Enough to know Mother is angry with you."Arya spoke quickly, her usual defiance and fearlessness suddenly rediscovered.
Ned simply stared long and hard at his children for a few moments, lost for words and response. Arya had looked up to speak into his strong gaze but her face did not match her tone or words. Her eyes were wide, her mouth neutral, almost pouting, while both her brothers kept their heads down.
Ned sighed as her remembered how young they all were. All three of them possessed traits that tricked others into thinking them older. Arya's wit and defiance, Bran's developed mind and responsible nature, and Rickon's fierce aggression made even Ned and Cat sometimes forget they were only fourteen, twelve, and nine respectively.
Ned spoke at last. "I'm sorry you heard us. But you shouldn't have been there."
"We were just playing 'Catch the Direwolf'. We could hear you both at the end of the hallway. Sorry." Rickon realised he spoke badly and lowered his head again.
"Catch the Direwolf?"
"It's really good, we thought of it whilst watching our wolves race each other."
Ah yes, those direwolves they'd found five years ago now. Back then his beloved son, bastard though he was, was still with them. He'd return to a Winterfell inhabited with five huge beasts terrorising the courtyard daily.
"Where are those pets of yours anyway? Normally Septa Mordane and Maester Luwin have to chain them and drag you away, even at your age Arya." His daughter huffed at Ned's words.
"They were in the godswood sleeping last we saw them." Bran spoke for the first time.
"And by now they're off scaring the horses and the stable lads I reckon." Ned tried to chuckle but Arya's stony look and the nervous ones on the boys' faces told im they knew he was trying to change the subject.
"Why are you and Mummy shouting?" Rickon's sad plea was the final straw.
"I suppose you had to find out sooner or later. I wanted to sort it out with your mother before I announced it to everyone. Come inside."
Three pairs of eyes widened in response to Ned. "Really?" Bran asked. None of them had ever been allowed in their father's study before.
"Yes, now get in before your mother comes back or I change my mind."
Arya, Bran and Rickon rushed into the room and Ned had to chuckle and smile at the knowledge that they still had that childish wonder in their heads. He closed the door behind them and took a seat in his heady padded chair, motioning for his children to come and stand opposite him.
"Now apart from your mother, you three are going to be the first ones I tell this news to. I plan to announce it to everyone tonight before dinner, so I don't want any of you letting on to anyone that you got to find out first. You promise you won't tell?" All three nodded their heads. "Alright then. Brace yourselves, and don't make too much noise at this news."
Ned breathed deeply as he prepared to speak. o be honest, he still hadn't quite gotten over the shock of the news himself yet.
"Your half-brother Jon is coming home to Winterfell in three weeks. And he's coming back to get married to a wildling woman."
