"Why have the girls come with us?" Theon said turning around to stare. Sansa and Arya rode somewhat behind the rest of them, deep in discussion.

Robb shrugged. "Everyone needs to see this. That's why Bran has come with us today." He smiled at his little brother riding beside him.

Bran was pale and tense. Jon put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Do not worry, little brother. It will not be so bad. But you must watch, and not turn away. Father will know if you do."

"You'll want to duck at the last minute," added Theon, "to avoid the deserter's blood."

"Theon!" growled Robb, "Do not fighten Bran like that."

"I'm not frightened," Bran said defiantly, "a knight cannot feel fear!"

"Knights feel fear," said Jon smiling at him, "but they do their duty despite it. That is true courage."

"If you are going to be knight," said Robb thoughtfully, "then you'll need training. More than you have now."

"Really?" Bran's heart fluttered in excitement.

"Yes," said Robb, "you are a Stark and you are to be a knight. You must know how to protect yourself and others. We will begin seeing to your lessons immediately."

"We," snorted Theon, "I'm not wasting my time fighting a child. The swords are bigger than you, boy!"

"You will if my father commands it," Robb shot back, "if I command it. And you will not call my brother boy."

Theon's face turned ugly and sullen. He kicked his horse and rode further ahead, up near Ned and his men.

"You need to be careful with Theon," murmured Jon.

Robb swallowed. "Must I?"

"Yes."

Bran looked worriedly between the two of them. "Theon didn't do anything wrong," he said anxiously, "I don't think he meant to disrespect you Robb."

Robb and Jon seemed to recover themselves, pulling back from each other and looking ahead.

"Aye he did mean disrespect," said Robb shaking his head, "but I will forgive it. No use getting up in arms over something like this."

"What did you say to Theon?" Sansa rode up near them, studying Theon's hunched form, that radiated tension.

"Nothing," said Jon, "I will tell you later."

His sister's pretty face was scrunched up. Was she angry? Why would she be angry? Bran did not know. Theon was right. Sansa and Arya should not have come. They might fear the blood.

They arrived, and Bran strained to see the deserter. He was disappointed to find a small, scrawny figure dressed in ragged black clothes. He had been expecting something more exciting.

Father dismounted and ordered the man brought to block. The man muttered and twisted in the guardsmen's grasp.

"You have been sentenced to die for crimes against the seven kingdoms" Ned said solemnly. "Speak. What would you say for yourself?"

Everyone craned forward to hear. Arya almost fell off her horse, she was leaning so hard. Bewildered, Bran tried to listen as well.

"White Walkers," the man muttered horsely, "White Walkers. I saw the White Walkers. The White Walkers, I saw them."

Beside him, Jon exhaled hard.

"Where?"

"Beyond the wall. The haunted forest," the man's eyes darted frantically about. He seemed to compose himself after a moment, and looked up at Ned. "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 not coward. Tell them I'm sorry."

"We will get word to your family," said Ned quietly. "And I do," he said, "I do believe you."

The man sagged. Went limp as he was pulled over the block.

"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon…."

His father's voice became a rushing in his ears as Bran watched the great sword take the man's head from his body. White Walkers. Surely his father didn't truly believe this man. It couldn't be true. Fables and dark fairy tales spoke of monsters beyond the wall. But if it was true. He would become the greatest knight the seven kingdoms had ever seen, Bran decided. Then he'd be strong enough to fight any monster.

"There!"

Arya scrambled off her horse, frightening the beast, and falling clumsily to the ground.

"Arya," screeched Sansa, trying to keep her pony from bucking.

"It's a stag," called Arya, "a dead stag!"

Sansa leapt from her horse as well, followed swiftly by Jon and Robb. Theon and and Bran regarded them in shock, before dismounting as well.

"What did this?" said Theon, staring at the great beast, "a mountain lion?"

"No mountain lions in these woods," said Ned, "fan out and search."

Arya and Sansa ran through the snow. Arya's cry echoed out, when they spotted the great direwolf. Tears in her eyes, Sansa pulled Lady from the huddle of whimpering pups. She cradled her like a babe in her arms, Lady's tiny mouth nuzzling at her fingertips.

Beside her, Arya snatched up Nymeria and held her tight.

"By the gods," said Jory Cassel, as he and Ned dismounted beside the children, "look at that great beast."

"It's a direwolf," said Ned softly, "she fought with the stag."

Robb stood over the pups looking intently at them. Finally, he bent down picking up one of the grey ones. He carefully stroked the pup's head.

"Can I have one too?" said Bran, his eyes shone with delight.

"Choose your pup," said Rob triumphantly as he gazed down at his own.

"Direwolves don't belong down South," Jory warned, "we ought to put them down before they get any bigger."

"I'll start," said Theon reaching for his sword.

"No!" Bran cried.

"No," Sansa said, leveling a look at Theon that seemed to stun him, "we will keep them."

"Keep them?" Jory said incredulously. He turned to Ned, "my lord, it is much too dangerous to have such creatures running around."

"We are Starks," said Ned, smiling, "we do not fear our own sigil."

Jon came around with Ghost in his hands, "Six direwolves. One for each of my father's children. It is meant to be."

Sansa watched with pride as Bran picked up Summer and held him to his chest.

"One left for Rickon," said Robb, picking up the last pup, and handing it to his father.

"Please father," cried Bran.

"Bran," said Ned sternly, although a smile played around mouth, "you may keep them, but owning a creature such as this is no small matter. You will feed them, care for them, train them. I will not have direwolves running wild in the castle." He tucked Rickon's pup into his cloak gently.

"Yes father!" Bran smiled widely down at the pup in his arms.

They rode back, the pups safe in their arms. Oh my sweet Lady, Sansa thought, You'll grow large this time. As fierce and strong as your siblings. And I will always keep you safe.

So enamored was she, with the pup that lay tenderly against her breast, Sansa forgot for a moment, why her mother looked pale as snow when they returned. She stood by the gate with Brienne, whose hand rested above her sword, as if ready to defend Catelyn from invisible enemies.

"Bad news from the capital, my love," Catelyn said in a trembling voice, "Jon Arryn is dead."

Sansa looked quickly to her father. He betray nothing, his face sliding into the mask of Lord Stark which he had worn only just this morning.

"Gods rest his soul," said Ned evenly, "was there anything else?"

"Yes," said Catelyn, "the king and his retinue ride for Winterfell. They are already on their way."

"We will have to prepare then" said Ned, dismounting and handing his horse off, "there is a great deal we must do if we are to host the king."

Ned instructed Theon and Jory Cassel to lead the horses back to the stable. Bran ran to Catelyn.

"Look mother," said Bran happily, "Father says we can keep them."

Catelyn examined the little pup in his arms. "You must take great care, Bran," Catelyn said, "if you train him well, he will always protect you."

"I will mother," said Bran, "we've brought one for Rickon too."

"Greywind," Robb blurted out, suddenly "I'll name him Greywind."

Arya snorted. "Good work brother."

Robb looked tremendously relieved.

"Mine will be named Summer," announced Bran. He giggled as Summer licked his chin with a warm, pink tongue.

"Brienne," said Arya holding up her pup, "this is Nymeria. Nymeria was a great warrior queen."

"A suitable name," said Brienne smiling, "I'm sure she would approve of her namesake."

"What do you name yours?" Ned stepped beside Sansa and put a hand on her shoulder. She leaned into her father. He smelled good, like sweat and snow. Safe.

"Lady," Sansa said softly, "her name is Lady."

"Jon's got one too!" Bran said, "except his is all white."

"An albino," Ned said, "they have red eyes."

"He's not moving very much," said Bran, peering at the little bundle in Jon's arms, "is he alright?"

"He's a runt," said Jon affectionately, running his finger down Ghost's nose, "he's just a bit smaller than the others. He'll grow."

"What's his name?" Bran asked.

"Ghost," said Jon grinning, "one day, he'll look like a ghost when he runs through the trees."

"Summer will run faster," Bran said, looking down at his wolf, "he'll be the fastest wolf in the North."

"Bran," said Sansa, "would you like to bring Rickon his pup?"

"Oh yes!"

"I'll escort him there," said Brienne, "come along my lord."

Ned handed the pup to Brienne, and she and Bran walked away. Bran chattering animatedly, urging Brienne to admire his pup's velvety ears.

"We have much work to do," said Ned, when Bran had vanished from sight.

"We'll need enough food and drink. Warm chambers and feather beds must be ready. Cersei needs to feel safe, comfortable. Her suspicions cannot be aroused," said Sansa softly.

Catelyn nodded. "I will see to that. We will be ready when they come."

Ned took Catelyn by the arm, and they left. Sansa wondered if they were going to the godswood or the sept. Perhaps both.

Just then Lady mewled, and Sansa hushed her gently.

"We'll get milk from the kitchens," said Sansa, "we'll feed them with rags, until they are old enough to hunt."

Arya glowed with happiness. Jon seemed more settled than he had in years. They would gather up the pieces of themselves one by one. It would all fit back together one day, despite the cracks. Sansa was sure of it.