They watched as the feast went on till late.

He and his younger brother were hidden under the table where their grandfather was sitting, along with the rest of the knights. They watched the feast from beneath their hiding place; watched as the men came and went in all their finery, and the women danced and gossiped and led the men a merry chase in all their pretty satin ball gowns and ornately styled hair. They watched curiously as every new face flitted from one table to the next, and made sure to keep themselves from being seen by the familiar faces who might rat them out from their hiding place.

"Eddard! I'm thirsty! Should we go out there now?"

The five year-old Eddard put a finger over his lips to keep his four year-old brother silent. "Just wait a while longer, Robert! I just saw Mother talking to Septa Elnore. She appears to be looking for us!"

Robert nodded his head, although he tried to stretch his legs to keep the cramps away. "Did you see the way Father smiled when Grandfather gave him the Iron Stag? It rivals the swords in the old Iron Throne, I tell you!"

Eddard grinned. "The Stag looks like a comfortable throne to sit upon. I could tell that Father liked it better than the old one."

"Father, have you seen Eddard and Robert?"

The children froze at the mention of their name, even moreso when they heard it was their mother's voice speaking.

"Have you looked in their chambers, my love?"

"I have, but the brats seemed to have successfully escaped Septa Elnore again. I swear those brats are running me ragged!"

They heard their grandfather laugh. "I fondly remember a time when I told the same thing to your husband. We agreed that you would run him ragged first before your children would."

"I'm happy that you and my husband have conspired into thinking that I wear everything and everyone down with my feisty nature, and I promise you that I have a very fitting reply to that. But right now, my children are missing. Could you tell me just in case you run into them? I'm beginning to worry."

"I certainly will, my love."

"Thank you."

The boys spied their mother's shoes quickly walking away, but soon returned to the table and said, "Thank you for making the Iron Stag, Father. Gendry was most pleased that you gave him such a beautifully crafted present for his name day."

"I enjoyed working on the new throne. Tell Gendry that I am honored to have made something of value to him."

"I have to go find the boys before they get on Nymeria's back and run off into the woods. Again."

Ned laughed. "Good luck with the boys!"

Robert pinched his older brother's arm. "Mother's getting worried! Maybe we should go out now!"

Eddard sighed. "Fine! Just run as fast as you could and go straight for the kennels. I want to visit the wolves before they do find us and bring us up to the chambers."

Robert nodded in understanding. "Okay, count to three! One…"

Eddard continued. "Two…"

Just then the cloth that covers the table was raised and Ned peeked underneath. "Three."

"Grandfather!" both boys cried out in surprise.

Ned laughed as he grabbed each boy's waist in each of his arms and pulled them from under the table. The boys found the amused faces of the knights, and waved back to those who waved at them.

"You boys are making your mother worried. How long have you been under the table?" Ned asked as he carried both boys towards the Great Table at the center of the Hall.

"We were there before Tom O'Seven started singing the featherbed song," Eddard replied.

"That long?" Ned asked in disbelief. "I'm surprised you haven't fallen asleep while underneath."

"But my legs did fall asleep, Grandfather!" cried out Robert, much to Ned's amusement.

"You brats! Where have you been? Your mother's been looking all over for you!"

They cringed at the sound of their father's angry voice. Their grandfather placed them back on their feet and made them face their father's anger.

"I found these two hiding under our table."

"You've been hiding there all the time?"

"Only before Tom O'Seven started his song!" cried out Eddard. "I'm sorry, Father. I made Robert hide under the table with me. It was my fault."

Gendry placed both hands on his waist and exhaled loudly. "You boys will be the death of me and your mother."

"We're sorry, Father. We'll go find mother now, if you want," Robert said, already close to tears.

Gendry sighed. "No need. I can't let you two run wild again or else you'll run directly to the kennels and visit the wolves."

Eddard and Robert shared a secret glance.

"Oh for the seven's sake! You were off to the kennels now, weren't you?" Gendry asked, his voice louder this time.

"We just wanted to see Nymeria and Ghost and Shaggydog and…" Eddard's voice trailed off when Gendry took his and Robert's hand in each of his own.

"I'm taking you to your bedchambers and I'll ask your septa to tell you a story to put you to sleep," Gendry said as he led his children up the stairs.

"But Septa Elnore tells the most boring stories!" Robert whined. "Why don't you tell us a story, Father?"

"Yes, please, Father!" Eddard joined in. "Tell us about the time Mother threw crabapples at you!"

"And the time when Uncle Bran and Uncle Rickon were spying on you behind the bushes!" Robert added.

Gendry laughed, despite his anger earlier. When they reached the children's bedchambers, they both washed as best as they could before changing into their night clothes. When they were all settled underneath the covers and Gendry between them, he told them the story about crabapples…Uncle Bran and Uncle Rickon…getting drunk at the Peach…meeting the Brotherhood Without Banners…working at the forge with Edric Dayne and Grandfather Ned.

And then he told them about the howling wolf he made for their mother and how she cried when he asked for her hand in marriage.

"But why would she cry? Wasn't she happy about marrying you?" a sleepy Robert said in between yawns.

Gendry stroked his youngest son's black hair away from his grey eyes, and did the same for Eddard's black, unruly curls. He watched as his eldest son, the heir to his throne, tried to force his blue eyes open and chuckled when he was only half-successful in doing so.

"Mother was very happy that day, but sometimes happiness brings tears to your eyes, too. Crying doesn't always mean being unhappy. It can mean being very happy that tears well in your eyes. Mother cried sad tears when she gave birth to each of you, and then she cried happy tears when you started crying."

"Have you ever cried too, Father?" Eddard asked.

"I cried when I missed your Mother. I cried when we were apart. And I cried when she gave me two sons."

They were quiet after a while, until Gendry realized both boys were finally asleep. Being careful not to wake them, he crawled out of the bed to return to the feast at the Great Hall.

"I'm very impressed," Arya whispered as soon as Gendry crossed the room.

A smile emerged from Gendry's face when he saw his wife standing there, watching him as he slowly made his way to her.

"You were spying on us!"

"I didn't know you cried when we were apart."

"Ha ha! You're hilarious, Arya."

"But you love me."

"How unfortunate for me."

"I love you too."

"I know. Ow!" Gendry doubled over when Arya stomped on his foot. "That's very mature of you, My Queen."

"Tell me you love me!"

"You didn't have to stomp on my royal foot! And I do love you!"

"Maybe you should add tears so it'll come across as a happy declaration."

"You can't get me to cry right now. I'm too annoyed at you for hurting my foot."

"Oh, I wager I can get you to cry."

"Do your best."

"I'm pregnant."


"Ser Yoren, is something the matter with my nephew and Arya?"

Yoren looked at Lord Renly and shrugged. "I do not know, My Lord. What seems to be the problem?"

Renly shrugged and shook his head distractedly. "I do not know either. But as I was about to use the stairwell, I found them embracing each other right outside Eddard and Robert's chambers. I was just wondering if they are in the middle of another misunderstanding, because my nephew seems to be crying like a pig about to be roasted."