Ned Stark Lives! Part 2

by cbstevp

What would have happened in Westeros if Ned Stark had lived? The story continues, taking us to the Wall, Slaver's Bay, and of course the war between Stannis and the Lannisters. But winter has come, the Others are at the Wall, and the feared long night of myth is about to engulf Westeros and maybe even the whole world.

38. Chapter 38 Eddard

Ned Stark Lives! Part 2 Chapter 38 Eddard

Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, woke up in a cold bed, in a cold room, alone. After Bran and Jon and their companions had left Winterfell his wife Catelyn went to the sept and stayed there all day, refused to eat or talk to anyone, and when night came she went to her own warm rooms and closed the door. Ned's children asked him what was wrong with her, and he told them she was praying for Bran and to leave her be. The long talk that Ned expected and feared between himself and his wife did not come to pass, yet.

Ned sat on the edge of his bed. He felt tired, so tired, each day filled with so many problems and decisions he had to make, decisions which would affect the people he was responsible for. More than his own family, more than the people of Winterfell. Now there were more than five thousand people in the home of his ancestors, and many tens of thousands more out there somewhere in the snowy wilderness. Maybe already dead, or hiding in their homes, or fleeing south to what they hoped was a safe refuge. But there were no safe refuge. Not even Winterfell was safe. It was a death trap. A place to live for a few months or years until their food ran out or the Others finally came in overwhelming force and killed them all. He had told the rest they should stay here and at first he believed it the best course of action. But he always knew that first instinct he had on the road from the Wall to here was right. Go south, while they could still fight and had food and strength enough.

Ned had allowed Bran to go north to the wall for one reason and one reason only. He was the only chance they had, and it was a slim one at that. It had torn him apart to let his crippled son go out there into the unknown, with so many questions unanswered. But he took solace from the fact that Jon was with him, Jon who was now…what was he now? A Prince? A legend come to life with a sword made eight thousand years ago? What could they do to stop the Others? Was this Coldhands really Benjen? Did he speak the truth when he said the children of the forest needed Bran? Or was he some manifestation of the Others' power, trying to destroy Jon and Bran before they could destroy the Great Other of legend?

As Ned thought on all this the door to his room opened and she was there. "Ned?" Catelyn Stark called softly as she walked into the room. The room was mostly dark, the shutters closed, and the only light coming from the glow of the dying embers from his hearth.

"Aye," he replied from his bed and she walked over and stood before him and then sat next to him on the bed. "I suppose it is time we talked," he said, and found his voice weak for some reason.

"You talked enough yesterday," Catelyn replied, and her voice was soft and not cold and harsh like he expected. "I know the story for the most part. I know why you did it. I know you did it for her."

Cat had never met Lyanna. His sister had already been taken by Rhaegar and his brother and father were already dead when Ned and Cat were swiftly married in Riverrun, tying House Stark and House Tully together in the war against the Targaryens. Only a short time later he rode off to war and did not see his wife for over a year, returning with a boy he claimed was his who was not his.

"I did it for Jon as well," he said softly.

She took his hand and held it tight and Ned Stark felt warm all over from her touch. "I was so angry at him, always," she said and he could feel the bitterness enter her voice. "All for nothing."

"It is all my fault," Ned replied heavily.

"Yes…and no. You did what you had to do to protect Jon and the rest of us. Robert would have wanted him dead, I know this to be true. And you would have stood up to Robert to protect Jon, this also I know to be true. That would have destroyed our family. But…you should have trusted me."

"Aye. I should have." He had so many arguments for why he never told her the truth but they all seemed so pointless now and would only serve to make her angry, which is the last thing he wanted now.

"Lyanna loved Rhaegar, did she not?" she asked.

"She did."

"Robert never knew?"

"Never. It would have killed him if he had. He went to war for her, tore apart the realm. We all did, for her and my father and brother. When she told me the truth before she died, I could only think of how senseless it had all been."

"Aerys had to be stopped, if not then, sometime," she said in a reassuring voice. "He did kill your father and…and Brandon."

Sometimes Ned forgot that his older brother had been betrothed to her first. Had she had affection for him? Had she loved him? Ned never asked and she never told him and it was not something to discuss now. "Aye," he replied. "But so many did not have to perish." He had thought of the 'what ifs' many times. Would Brandon and his father gone to King's Landing if they knew Lyanna loved the prince? Could Rhaegar have set aside his own wife Elia for Lyanna? Would Dorne have stood for it? No, he always concluded. War would have come one way or another.

They said nothing for a long few moments and finally Catelyn spoke again, on the matter at hand. "I spent all day yesterday in the sept and asked for protection for Bran and wisdom on what to do about you…about us."

He waited, fearing if he spoke she would become angry.

"And…and…I finally decided that what you did, however wrong, was done for reasons that you thought were right. And so…I forgive you." As she said this she leaned toward him and put her head on his shoulder and he wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. Cat raised her face and there were tears in her eyes as their lips met.

"You know I love you and would do anything for you," he said to her.

"As I would for you, husband." They hugged and Catelyn asked the question that needed to be answered. "What do we do now? About Jon I mean."

"We go on as before," Ned answered. "We tell no one."

"Arya already knows. Who else does?"

"Sam and Gendry."

"Gods. How?"

So he told her how they found the sword in the crypts. "Maester Aemon knows as well, figuring much of it while at Castle Black."

"Can seven people hold a secret?"

"Eight. Howland Reed has known since the beginning."

"Eight people. What would happen if Stannis hears of this?"

Ned sighed. "He would want to kill Jon. More so if he believes he is the true Prince and about Lightbringer."

"It can't be true, what Jon said, can it?"

"I don't know what it means. The sword is real enough, though, we both saw that in the sept. Jon believes it. Maybe that is enough."

"Can they defeat the Others?" she asked with hope in her voice.

What could he say to her? One thing he would not do is lie again. "I know no more than you. Only the gods will decided their and our fate. "

"When will it end? Will we just sit here forever, waiting to die?"

"No, we cannot. We will surely die here if we try to outwait winter and outwait the Others. We must go."

"What? You mean…no, how can we? There are so many children and old ones, many still sick and wounded. Lord Umber can barely get out of bed. The food, how can we carry all the food? And out there, what if those monsters are waiting for us out there? Where would we go Ned? Who would take us in?"

"All my worries you have just voiced. But we must go, Cat."

"Many will die."

"All will die if we stay here. Not today, not tomorrow, but eventually. I have been brooding on it for many days now. Here we're are only stalling for time, hoping all this madness will end. But it won't and no one can help us but ourselves. No one is coming to rescue us. No army is coming up the Kingsroad. Yesterday Maester Aemon and I talked on this while you prayed. The Others are gone for a good reason. They are going south, to destroy the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. Winterfell was but a stone in their path, to be avoided if it could not be moved. But they will come back. The Long Night has come. This winter will last for many years…perhaps forever if they cannot be stopped. We have more mouths to feed than we ever expected, and our food will not last. Much as I would like to send away many of them, you know I cannot."

She took a deep breath and asked the question uppermost in his mind. "When will we go?"

"Soon. We must talk to the rest before we make any decisions."

"Where will we go?"

"That is what I must discuss with the rest of the leaders." He already had some ideas, but needed more advice.

He dressed then and they made their way to the great hall where the workers were already up and preparing breakfast. With Gage dead in the earlier battles, Catelyn and Roslin had taken the burden of supervising the kitchen work, organizing and preparing food for the many hungry mouths. As Catelyn went about giving orders to the kitchen workers and servants Ned grabbed a quick bite of bread and ham and went about the castle checking on the men who had stood guard all night. There was nothing to report except that they were cold and tired and hungry. He sent the men on guard to get their breakfast and some rest while new men took their places on the walls and at the gates. Some were of Winterfell, some of the North, many were wildlings, and a few were of the Night's Watch.

Osha and Thoros had charge of the North Gate all night and were happy as always to see the dawn with no new attacks. Ned knew they were lovers now and so did the whole castle for that matter. No one cared and there were many such couples, with Northern men laying with wildling woman and so on, with many other such mixed pairs, all looking for warmth and love before the end came.

Thoros still lit fires at night and prayed with those who followed the Lord of Light before he went on duty. Ned let him do as he wished for he was a good man who had saved his son and also they needed all the gods on their side now. He did notice that Osha did not pray with him and he wondered what the Lord of Light thought of a priest who kept a bed with a non-believer.

As he crossed the main courtyard with its many tents and cook fires he saw Robb coming from the Great Keep and after greeting him good morning gave him orders to call a meeting of all commanders for after the breakfast hour in his solar.

"Father," Robb said as Ned made to leave him. "Is Mother well?"

"Not to worry, she is fine. Just…Bran leaving was hard for her to take."

"For all of us," Robb replied. "I heard Sansa crying in the night. Arya was still awake late, practicing she said, but I think she could not sleep well and her eyes were red. Rickon does not understand it all, and asked me when Bran would come back. Maybe he is the lucky one."

"Maybe. And how are you taking it?" Robb had been one of the most vocal against sending Bran but had reluctantly agreed in the end.

"I think we did the right thing, but will we ever know?"

Will they ever know. Will Bran and Jon and the rest reach the Wall? Will they find Coldhands? Was he really Benjen? Will they do what must be done, whatever that was?

"Some day we will know," he said, to reassure his son more than anything else but Robb did not look reassured. "Get some food and then inspect the walls and gates. Send out the patrols as usual. Meet me in my solar for the meeting later."

As Ned left him he thought on all he and Cat had talked about once more. Ned felt an overwhelming sense of relief that Cat had forgiven him. For sixteen years what he had feared had finally come to pass. She was right, he should have trusted her. But in a way, what he did had saved them all. Her hatred of Jon was well known throughout the kingdoms, and that more than anything had served to hide the real truth from everyone. She was also right about one thing. Robert would have tried to destroy House Stark if he had found out. Ned would never have given Jon to him willingly.

Now they had to keep a new secret to protect Jon once more. To do so he had to talk to two more people, and he knew where to find them. The sound of a hammer hitting steel came from the forge as Ned came near. The smiths were already at their work, mending shield and armor, taking nicks out of swords, forging arrowheads. Gendry was beating on a piece of steel armor when Ned arrived. The lad had been there through thick and thin with the Stark family since King's Landing, and Ned felt an affection for him as if he was part of the family now. He would gladly let Arya marry him. But his low birth was still an issue, an issue he had to solve while there was still time.

"My lord," the big smith's apprentice said with a dip of his head as he saw Ned approach him. Little Tim was putting some coal into the fire and dropped his shovel when he saw Ned.

"Pick that up quick," snarled Mikken as he came out of the small building next to the forge. "Oh, Lord Stark. Morning, my lord."

"Good morning. I need words with Gendry."

They moved off aways towards the South Gate that was nearby the smithy and as they walked Ned asked him where Arya was. "Gone to get our breakfast. She does it most mornings, my lord."

Just as he said this they saw Arya coming their way with a basket on her arm, dressed in furs and with her weapons about her body, with her direwolf helmet hanging from a hook at her side. She looked like she would fall down with so much on her but she was nimble as ever as she moved between wildling tents and cooking fires. In fact, she looked taller and stronger now that he thought on it.

"Good morning, my little wolf," Ned said to his daughter as she saw them and came toward them. "I need words with you two."

Arya's eyes widened and she glanced at Gendry and he shrugged. "Ah…yes, Father. What's the matter?"

Ned looked about to make sure no one was in earshot and he spoke in low tones. "I know all about Jon and the sword. He told me everything yesterday."

"He told you in the sept?" Arya asked.

"Aye," Ned replied in puzzlement.

Arya smirked at Gendry. "I told you I saw a bright light in there."

"And I told you I believed you," Gendry said in exasperation.

"Didn't seem like it," Arya shot back and Gendry knew enough not to reply as Arya turned back to her father. "So, you know that Jon is the Prince." Now Arya's face turned serious. "And…what else did he tell you?"

"I know you know I am not his father."

Arya sighed. "Yes. Is it all true?" She sounded like she wanted it to not be true but Ned could not lie to her.

"It's true. All of it. But no one else can know."

"Sam knows, my lord," Gendry said.

"I have heard. Maester Aemon knows as well," Ned told them. "But it stops here."

Arya chewed her bottom lip like she always did when worried or nervous and then she spoke in a hurry. "But… can't we tell Robb and Sansa…and Mother? She has to know. She hates Jon for all the wrong reasons. He's gone now. Can't we at least tell her the truth?"

"Your Mother already knows. She was in the sept with us."

Arya could not believe this. She just stared at him, mouth agape. "How…how did she take it?"

"Not well at first, but things are better now. But the two of you can't tell anyone else about Jon."

Gendry agreed right away but Arya still hesitated. "But he's gone now…and King Robert is dead and…"

"King Robert may be dead, but King Stannis is not," Ned told her sharply in a low voice. "If he knew Jon was really this Prince who Stannis' red woman is telling everyone he is, what do you think will happen?"

Gendry answered. "He will try to kill him. Like he wants to kill me."

"We don't know he wants to kill you for certain," Ned replied. The two had not yet talk on that subject.

"Then why does he want him?" Arya asked, anger on her face. "Hot Pie said…"

"Hot Pie knows no more than you," Ned interrupted her. "Let's not talk on that either. Few people know and the fewer the better. That is all I will say on both matters. You keep these things to yourselves. Now, I have my duty and so do you both."

Gendry dipped his head and made to leave but Arya was not ready to give up yet. She shoved the basket at Gendry. "Your breakfast," was all she said to him.

Ned had turned away by then and started walking toward the great hall. Arya followed him as he knew she would. Once she had something on her mind she would not let it go. "We should at least tell Robb and Sansa," she said in a hurry as she caught up to him.

"No," he said in a firm voice, his breath frosty in the cold air. "Why do you think all these years I told no one, not even your mother?"

"Because you don't trust us," she replied flatly. "And Jon suffered…"

Ned interrupted her sharply. "How much would he, all of us, had suffered if Robert had known the truth?"

"I…I don't know."

There were many people around them now, all astir, moving to make food, to get firewood, to move to the walls and gates to man them. Ned gritted his teeth in frustration. He could not even talk to his own daughter in his own home with so many ears about. The sept was just past the great hall and he took her by the shoulder. "Come. We must talk. Alone."

Once inside he shut the door and was thankful no one was here. Already some candles were there on some alters, no doubt placed by his wife this morning for her son who was gone away.

Ned turned to Arya. "I love and trust your mother, all of you, but people talk, they tell things to their friends, to people they think they can trust. What if I had told your mother about Jon and she told your uncle Edmure or aunt Lysa? What if they swore to keep her secret but then told someone they thought they could trust? And so on, until one day Varys or Littlefinger or someone else close to Robert heard this tale of a boy who was not my boy but the son of his great enemy? What would have happened then?"

Arya spoke quietly, her eyes down. "He would have tried to kill Jon."

"Aye. As will Stannis try to kill Jon and maybe Gendry as well. Have you told Sansa and Robb what really happened with those men who came here, why they came here and why you killed them?"

"No."

"Have you told the Frey boys you have no wish to marry their kin and are in love with Gendry?"

"No."

"And why not?"

"Because it's a secret. But…"

"No buts, Arya. Secrets are secrets for good reasons. Lives are destroyed when secrets get out. Your and Gendry's lives would be destroyed if King Stannis or the Freys learn your secrets."

"I understand, Father," she said and then she looked up at him, her eyes wide and shining. "Does this mean I have to marry the Frey boy?"

Ned could not help but laugh and he saw the anger come into her eyes and he reached out and pulled her to him and hugged her. "Gods, no, my daughter. I will do all in my power to stop that."

"I wish I could marry Gendry now," she said quietly into his chest and then he gently pushed her back and looked down at her and shook his head.

"You are not yet a woman," he said.

"I know," Arya replied in a disappointed tone. "But if we were married then the Freys couldn't make me marry Elmar, could they?"

He sighed. "No, that would be against all the laws of the kingdoms. But a promise was made, a pact was agreed to, and the Freys supported us in our wars. Robb's wife and squire are Freys as well. Our houses are joined as one. It would insult them to do this behind their backs. I will find a way to make old Walder Frey break this promise."

She stepped back from him. "What if there is no time, Father?"

"What…oh." He knew what she meant. The Long Night was on them, they were at war with the forces of evil. What if there was no time for her and Gendry or anyone else?

He stared at her for a long time. "What are you asking me, my daughter?"

"I want…I want to marry Gendry…now. Really."

"You are not…"

"A woman, I know. But there need not be a wedding night, not until I am ready. There doesn't have to be a ceremony or a feast or anything. People wed in secret, don't they? I mean, here in the sept, we could…"

"There is no septon."

"Oh," she said, her voice falling and then her eyes lit up. "The old gods! How do people get married before the old gods?"

"They say their words of love and promise before a weirwood tree." Stupid, he thought immediately, why did you tell her that?

She grinned. "Then we can do that! In the godswood, in secret, and no one need ever know!"

"You need witnesses for it to be a true marriage," Ned found himself saying and wondered why he kept speaking on this when he knew it could not happen.

Arya stared at him. "You and…Mother. You will be our witnesses."

Ned knew he was saved. "She will never agree."

"Make her….please?"

Ned sighed deeply. "Arya…I…"

"Please, Father," she begged, her eyes shining with emotion. "I love him, he loves me and…and we may never have the chance. I will be a woman in a year or two. But maybe there is no time."

Ned loved her and would do anything for her but this, this thing he had promised her, it was too soon…or was it? Time was something they did not have. They did not know the future for certain but all he could see was bleakness ahead for all of them. Could he give her some small joy before it all ended? "I…I need to think," was all he could think to say.

She came at him and hugged him tight. "Thank you," she said and then she ran off before he could say another word.

"Gods, Cat will kill me," he said aloud. He looked around at the statues of the Seven. Not his gods, but he had been married with their words in the sept at Riverrun. His father had married in the godswood before the weirwood tree he knew, as had many Starks before, going back thousands of years. Arya wanted to marry there as well and he knew not what to do.

Many things were telling him no, her age, what Cat would say, the pact with the Freys, King Stannis' wish to arrest Gendry. Against all that there was only the love he knew Arya and Gendry had for each other. Ned wished he was in the godswood where he could think better and ask his own gods what he should do. But there was no time, for he had many duties. Perhaps later he would have a chance to ask the old gods for their help.

He left the sept and hadn't walked ten steps when suddenly the old gods seemed to be telling him what to do. Robb came up at rush, a raven scroll message in his hand. "From the Twins."

As Ned read he knew the gods were speaking to him. It was from Stevron Frey. His father was dead, taken by a fever in the night. Stannis Baratheon was there with his army, as was Tyrion Lannister with much of his fighting force, and they had made plans to counter the Others, which were coming in strength down the Kingsroad towards them. Howland Reed and his people had fought the Others and wights and had been forced to retreat to the Twins. The Lannisters and Freys would man the Twins crossing while Stannis' army would block the road south. If Ned could muster any men to fall on the enemy from behind, Stannis commanded him to do so. He looked at the date on the message. Four days ago it flew on dark wings from the Twins. The battle may already be over.

"We must call the commanders," he told his son.

"First we must talk to Roslin and Olyvar," Robb said and Ned nodded.

"Aye, that we must do first. Bring them to my solar."

A short time later, Roslin and her brother Olyvar arrived with Robb. Brother and sister looked confused as Ned told them to sit. Robb stood behind his wife and put his hands on her shoulders and when he did that and she saw the look on Ned's face, holding a raven scroll in his hands, she knew something terrible had happened.

"Is it from home?" Roslin asked in a quiet voice.

"Aye," Ned replied heavily. "I am so sorry…your father…he has passed."

They were silent for a moment and Ned looked at their faces and he knew at once they held very little love for their father. They seemed stunned, but they did not grieve. Maybe they were in shock, but he thought not.

"How?" Olyvar finally asked.

"A fever, your brother Stevron wrote. More than a week past. I am sure the funeral rites were already held."

Roslin spoke up. "I…I thank you for this news, Lord Stark."

They got up to leave but Ned raised a hand. "There is more." They sat again as he spoke. "The Others are on the way to the Twins now. They may already be there."

Roslin gasped and Olyvar cried out. "Gods, no," said the young squire. They did not grieve for the old prickly man who was their father but they felt something for their homeland and their family at least.

"Our home has no defenses like Winterfell has," Roslin said. "They cannot stand."

"There are two armies there," Robb told her, trying to sound hopeful.

"What armies, my lord?" Olyvar asked. Ned handed him the message which he read aloud to his sister.

"That is good to know," Roslin said but she still looked worried. "But how can even King Stannis and the Lannisters stop those demons?"

Ned had no answer for them and his lingering silence told them so.

"We must do something," Robb said to his father as he clutched his wife's shoulders.

Ned knew it was time to reveal what he and maester Aemon had discussed yesterday. "We will. Call the commanders." Robb took his wife and her brother out after they gave thanks to Ned and a short time later the commanders came and sat and all the news was discussed.

Ned watched their faces after he told them the news and as the raven scroll was passed from hand to hand and they later discussed its details. Roose Bolton looked as impassive as ever, his eyes showing no emotion. Master Aemon sighed deeply and then said nothing for a long while, no doubt deep in thought. Mance Rayder merely read and passed on the letter, while Cotter Pyke passed the letter to Ser Denys without reading it. He could not read, Ned knew from things Jon had told him about his brothers in the Night's Watch. Ser Denys read it and immediately said they must send whatever help they could muster.

Cotter Pyke scoffed at this. "Send what? Here are but a thousand fighting men and women, maybe less. And if even only half the fighting force leaves Winterfell then the castle will surely fall with the next attack."

"They haven't attacked in many days," Robb reminded them all.

"Because they are all gone south," Maester Aemon told them.

"All?" Roose Bolton said softly. "Surely not all, my lords. Some are still out there, perhaps even now attacking our people. We know they attacked the Dreadfort but a few weeks or so ago." They had had a raven message with just such news. Ned knew Roose wanted to go home, but also knew he had less than a hundred men and would not survive the long trip with a fight at the end by himself and Ned could spare no men. "Perhaps my home is in ruins now," Roose Bolton continued, his tone unemotional as usual. "But some places might still hold out. We must find the enemy and attack them, somewhere."

"Attack, yes," said Ser Denys right away. "It is our duty to protect the realm from these demons. The Twins. They are there, we must go to their aid."

"As they came to ours when we screamed for help at the Wall and from here?" Pyke asked with a growl.

"That was old Walder Frey's doing," Ned told them. "He would not give a starving man a crust without some gain in it for him. Now he is dead. His son Stevron has been a staunch ally in our fights. If the enemy is there, we should follow."

"We cannot leave so many defenseless people behind," Mance Rayder said. Most of them were his people, old and children, wounded and sick.

"We won't," Ned replied and, except for Maester Aemon, the shocked looks on their faces, even Roose Bolton's, told him they were not prepared for this.

Robb was the first to react. "All of us? Leave Winterfell?"

"Aye."

"But how can we, Lord Stark?" Ser Denys asked. "There are so many, and many are sick or hurt."

"How many, maester?" Lord Bolton asked.

"We had three die in the night so that leaves three hundred and sixteen people are under my and Maester William's care," Maester Aemon told them. "Some can walk, but most can't. Many have fevers which will pass with time…or not. Others have stab wounds or broken bones that should mend well. Twenty some are so ill I fear they will never recover."

"We will take the sick and wounded with us," Ned said in a commanding tone. "The old and children as well. No one will be left behind. We have plenty of horses and wagons, sleds and carts. Food and drink and fodder we will carry as much as we can, with every wagon and horse laden with provisions." As he spoke he saw their faces turn from surprise to deep thought.

"Where will we go, my lord?" Lord Bolton asked.

"Maester Aemon and I discussed this at length yesterday. We concluded White Harbor is the best place to go," Ned told them and that brought a storm of questions.

"Why White Harbor?" Ser Denys asked, the first and most important question.

"Because it is a port that is ice free," Maester Aemon said in his slow ponderous way. "We can use it as a base to move to the south or north or even across the Narrow Sea if need be. We can buy supplies as well and the port will be easier to defend as the enemy can only attack from the landward side. White Harbor has high walls and strong defenses. We can gather allies and prepare to go by ship to help the King near the Twins. Later we can use it as a base to take back the north."

"At White Harbor we will have all these options," Ned told them next. "Here we have none but to sit and wait."

"What if the Others have already been and gone?" Mance asked. "What if we find nothing but blue-eyed demons and ruins?"

"That is a chance we must take," Ned told them. "Unfortunately we have no ravens left for White Harbor and none have been sent to us since all this began. But I think we will not find ruins. White Harbor is stoutly built, with strong defenses as Maester Aemon has said. I have been there many a time and know it will not fall easily. We also know the men from Eastwatch and Ser Axell Florent and his reinforcements from Stannis were heading to White Harbor. They may already be there."

They thought on that for a moment and then Robb spoke to the next issue.

"Why not take Kingsroad straight down past Moat Cailin and the Neck, my lord?" asked Robb. "That is the quickest route to the Twins."

"Not the quickest," said Bolton in his soft voice. "Our patrols report the Kingsroad covered in snow with drifts ten feet high or more in places."

"The Kingsroad is not the way," Ned added. "We will get bogged down. It will take a moon's turn to reach the Twins. All our strength will be gone by then."

"Then how?" Cotter Pyke asked with a snort. "We cannot fly there like a raven."

Ned turned to a shelf and took down a rolled parchment. He untied it and spread it out before them. It was a painted map of the North. "Here's how," he said as they all stood and bent over the map, all except the aged maester. Ned traced his hand along a black line drawn south of Winterfell which crossed the Kingsroad and connected to another line which then moved south to White Harbor.

"The White Knife branch," he said as his finger moved along the black line drawn below Winterfell. "Connects to the White Knife and then all the way to White Harbor. We often used small river boats to move supplies and people back and forth. Now, if it's frozen all the way, we will slide down it and make much faster time."

"Horses cannot walk on ice," Ser Denys said with a shake of his head.

"Wildling horses can," said Mance, warming to the idea.

"Aye," Ned replied. "The wildling horses will pull the wagons and supplies, carry the sick and wounded and old and weak, all on the river. Our war horses and palfreys and roans will walk on the banks, through trails and pathways near the river banks. They will protect our flanks as the main body moves down the frozen river."

"What if there are no such pathways?" Pyke asked.

"There are," Robb answered. "I have fished this river many a day with Jon and Theon…Theon Greyjoy." Ned could hear the anger in his voice as he said this name. "They may be covered in snow, but we will find them." Robb pointed to a spot on the map along the White Knife branch. "Here is Castle Cerwyn. It has some roads leading out to villages. We can find shelter here and take any remaining people with us."

Now Roose Bolton made another objection as he pointed near the mouth of the White Knife by White Harbor. "Here, where the river comes close to White Harbor, are there not steep rocky river banks?"

"Aye," Ned replied. "We may have to adjust our plans depending on the lay of the land. But we will save many days time by moving along the river, my lords."

"I don't know," said Ser Denys, rubbing his thick white beard. "What if Mance Rayder is right? What if the place is already destroyed?"

"Mayhaps," Maester Aemon said. "But we have had no reason to think it has been."

"We should send scouts," Cotter Pyke suggested.

"There is no time," Ned told them. "The weather is holding good for now but how long can this last? I need your answer, my lords. I have laid a plan before you. You need to think on it, I understand. Talk to your people as well. Take it to them, and we meet again this time tomorrow. If the answer is yes, we leave the day after. That is all, my lords."

The meeting broke up and Robb helped Maester Aemon leave. All left, but Lord Bolton hung back and closed the door and turned back to Ned.

"Lord Manderly is no friend of me or mine, my lord," he said in his soft way.

"He will put aside your differences in the interests of our common goals," Ned answered as he rolled up the map and tied it closed again.

"Perhaps. But his people may not. They will not easily forget what Ramsey did."

Ned sighed. "I will have words with Lord Manderly when we arrive."

"As you say, my lord." He made to leave but Ned stopped him, deciding now was the time to get this over with.

"Roose, we must talk on that other matter. Now." Ned sat down and pointed to another chair and Bolton sat as well.

Bolton knew what Ned wanted and showed no emotion as he spoke. "Your son killed my son. What more is there to say?"

"In a trial of combat," Ned reminded him. "For crimes he committed against the people of the North."

"Against smallfolk," Bolton said, as if the word was something foul and disgusting.

"It matters not who it was against. Ramsey did what he did, he was given a fair trial, and he chose trial by combat as well. And what he did to Lady Hornwood was no crime against smallfolk. You as much washed your hands of him at the end of the trial when you refused to stand for him in the trial by combat."

Bolton nodded. "Something was wrong with Ramsey, I do not doubt it. I also have no doubt his death has eased many minds in the North."

Ned waited for him to say more but he did not. "I wish peace between our houses, Lord Bolton. I want no acts of revenge."

"We have enemies enough, do we not, my lord?"

"Aye, we do."

"Then let us put this matter to rest."

Ned nodded. "Very good."

Bolton meant to rise but then sat again and now spoke of something else. "You made a suggestion to me once about a future wife, my lord."

"I did. Lord Frey is dead but his sons can broker a marriage pact for one of his many fine daughters and granddaughters."

"Your daughter Sansa still has no suitors, does she not?"

Ned felt his anger rising and said the only thing that needed to be said. "She is not for you, Roose."

Bolton almost smiled at that. "No, of course not," he said in his soft voice. "I must hope there are some Freys left to choose from when we get there. By your leave, my lord."

Ned nodded, his anger too thick to trust his voice, and Bolton left without another word.

Ned sat for a while and felt his anger slowly leave him. If he would not let Arya marry a Frey he would certainly never let Sansa marry Lord Bolton. Gods, he knew this was not over yet. He had just insulted Bolton and the man would not forget it. Perhaps some day I will have to kill him, Ned decided. But not yet, not with almost a hundred of his men inside my home.

He rose then and went about his tasks. First to the armory to check on weapons, then to the steward, Samson, to check on food stocks, which Samson said were getting lower every day, a fact that needed no telling.

"If we had to move suddenly, how much could we get on all the wagons and on horses and even with people carrying food in sacks?" Ned asked him.

The question took Samson aback. "Ah…I'm not sure my lord. Maybe…half of it?"

Ned shook his head. "Not good enough. We will need to take most of it, plus the portable forge, the portable bakery, some of the gold and silver, and the ill and wounded. Today, this is all you do. You count the wagons and sleighs, you determine how much we can carry, and you decide what we will carry. And make room for five chests of gold and five of silver."

Ned made to leave but Samson stopped him with a question. "My lord…are we going somewhere?"

"Maybe. Make sure we are ready. Get me those numbers by breakfast tomorrow morning."

Next he went to the infirmary. Maester Aemon was in the corner at a small table deep in talks with Maester William. Many of the woman of Winterfell were here, helping with the ill and injured. Sansa was among them, helping Lord Umber eat his soup.

"I can do it myself, girl," the Greatjon was saying. "My left arm is not broken and my right is mostly healed."

"Yes, my lord," said Sansa as Ned came to the bed. "But your stab wounds from the fight are still not healed. So you let me help you or you get nothing."

The Greatjon saw Ned. "Lord Stark, I want to complain about the treatment your daughter is giving me!"

Ned smiled, for his friend was his old self again, bellowing at everyone. Ned needed him now more than ever. "Let her do her work, Jon. I need you strong and healthy. There are more fights ahead of us."

The Greatjon nodded. "Aye, my lord."

Sansa had turned as Lord Umber had called Ned's name. She smiled at him and then returned to her work. Ned went over to talk to the maesters.

"How is Lord Umber?" he asked.

"The fever is gone," Maester William told him. "His wounds are healing but he should do no work and stay here at least two more days."

"We may not have two days," Maester Aemon said.

Maester William looked worried. "Lord Stark…some of these people, we should not move them. They will die for certain."

Ned knew this was coming. "Will they die even if we don't move them?"

Maester William hesitated and then nodded. "I believe so."

"Then we must make them comfortable if…when…we leave."

"Comfortable? How?"

"Milk of the poppy," said Maester Aemon and Maester William looked aghast.

"No, my lord, we can't…"

"We must, to help them," Ned said sternly. "If not milk of the poppy some other way. We will leave nobody behind to die alone or in pain. We will leave no one to become a wight."

Maester William sighed heavily. "It shall be done, my lord."

Ned put hand on his shoulder. "You do good work, my friends. I know this is a burden, but we must do what we must."

There was no more to say on the matter and Ned let them get back to their work. By then Sansa was done feeding Lord Umber and she stood from his bedside. Ned was still amazed at how tall she was and how beautiful. And how sad she now seemed. She had all of her mother's good looks and breeding. A woman of the North, fair and beautiful, flowered, and yet she had no one to ask for her hand. Except Roose Bolton and Ned would kill the man before he let that happen.

It was so odd a thing he had never expected, having wild Arya begging to get married, while Sansa was without suitors, looking so sad and lonely. Then he remembered what had happened to her best friend and Ned knew she was still taking it hard.

"How are things?" he asked as she stood and walked toward him.

"Well, Father," she said in a quiet voice. "I am learning much from the maesters."

"Learning?"

"About healing," she said and then she hesitated a moment. "I…I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead."

"I…I am not sure how to put this. But I want to be a maester."

Ned almost laughed but knew he should not do that. "Sansa…there are no woman maesters."

"Oh…yes, I knew that. I mean…a healer then. I want to be a healer."

Ned stared at her for a long moment. "Is this because of Jeyne?"

She almost started to cry then and he knew it had been a mistake to mention her friend. "Yes, and no. I just feel so…helpless."

"There is nothing you could have done for her. No one could have, my child." Ned had seen her body after the battle, a spear through her chest, and she had died in mere moments.

Sansa looked down and blinked back her tears. "I know…but I was right there, standing by her when it happened…and…I couldn't help her."

He wanted to hug her and let her cry on his shoulder but again he was surrounded by strangers. "Come, let us take a walk."

The air outside was cold but it was fresh and invigorating. The skies were blue for a change but the sun's warmth did little to counteract the cold. For once Ned hoped it stayed cold so the White Knife would be frozen for its whole length.

"So…you want to be a healer," he said to his eldest daughter as they walked near the armory and under the wooden walkway that went to it from the Great Keep

"Yes."

He stopped and looked at her closely. "What about marriage? A husband and children?"

She shrugged and looked down. "Who will marry me?" she asked in a voice cracking with emotion. She was on the verge of tears again but held them in check.

"Many a man would be glad to have you as his wife. I will arrange for some lord's son…"

She looked up at him, and now there was anger in her eyes. "No. No more arrangements. No more Joffreys! No more lord's sons with their noses in the air and their wits in their bottoms and cruelty in their hearts! I will choose my husband or I will be a maid and a healer all my life."

Gods, not her as well. Where did they get this stubbornness from? He knew it was from himself, not their mother. "Aye," was all he could think to say.

She stared at him and then she smiled slightly. "You mean to let me?"

"Aye…but with one condition."

She hesitated. "What condition?"

"If I find someone…and not just someone, but a strong, kind, handsome man with his wits where they belong…will you at least meet him?"

Sansa smiled then and she nodded. "Yes, Father. But I doubt I will like him."

"You sound like a woman whose heart is already set on a certain man," he quipped.

Her face froze then in a look of horror and Ned realized that was what was wrong. She did have her eye on someone already.

"No, Father, I don't," she managed to squeak out but he could tell it was a lie.

"Who is it, Sansa?"

"No one, Father, I swear on the Seven and the old gods."

Now she was carrying it too far and he knew for certain she was lying. He only nodded. "As you wish. I will not stop you from being a healer but you should tell your Mother as well. Then you must ask Maester William to train you."

"Yes, Father, I will," she said and then he walked her back to the infirmary and she went inside.

Who could it be? He had no idea and no time to think on such things now. He had more tasks to take care of and none were too pleasant. He had to talk to Catelyn and he was not looking forward to this talk anymore than the morning one.

He found her in the great hall preparing for the lunch time and as he looked at her from afar he realized she was showing their unborn child. Ned smiled and then remembered what kind of world they were bringing a child into. Five he already had, and they were a chore to care for. Robb was a married man but still his son and moreover his heir so he had to prepare him to take his place one day. Rickon was but a small boy yet but he was growing and needed training and learning to take his place in the world. Arya was so stubborn sometimes he despaired of her but she was growing up to be a warrior and for some strange reason he took pride in that. And Sansa now wanted to be a healer and had a secret love she would not admit to. That was trouble waiting to happen.

Then there was Bran. Gone and maybe he would never see him again. That thought unmanned him for a moment and he had to sit down at a table near the doors.

"Ned?" He looked up and his wife stared at him in worry. "Are you well?"

"Tired," he said. "And hungry." He had no food since that bit of bread and meat in the morning.

Catelyn shouted to a passing servant. "Bring soup and bread for Lord Stark. And ale."

Moments later he had a hot bowl of barley and potato soup with bits of venison in it, thick slabs of buttered bread, and a strong cup of ale. As he ate he felt better.

Catelyn sat beside him and whispered. "Robb told me everything. What did they say?"

"They are thinking on it."

"White Harbor is a good choice."

"Maester Aemon's suggestion."

"He is wise," she answered. "Walder Frey is dead."

"Aye."

"Robb said Roslin and her brother did not shed a tear."

"They did not."

"How terrible to not love your own sire," she said then, sounding sad. Her own father was dead just six months past.

Before he could reply Arya came into the great hall and saw them and immediately walked up to the table. "Is it true?" she asked, her face full of excitement and Ned knew what she was asking.

"Aye," he said. "Walder Frey is dead."

"Good," she said and then she realized how wrong that was by the scowl on her mother's face. "No…I mean…no, that's terrible. But…"

"A man is dead, Arya," Catelyn said sternly. "An ally of ours and your brother's wife's father. We do not rejoice in that. Certainly not in front of Roslin and Olyvar!"

"No, sorry," she said but then she rushed on. "But now I can…I mean, there is no reason not to."

She was looking at Ned and he tried to give a shake of his head to warn her but Catelyn saw it. "What is going on? What are you two conspiring about?"

"Father said I could marry Gendry," Arya said in a rush.

"Arya, I said no such thing," he quickly answered. "I said I would talk to your mother, which I haven't done yet."

Catelyn was staring at him, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Well? What's this all about?"

Arya answered, in a low voice. "I want to marry Gendry. Now. Today."

Catelyn's face turned into a grim visage. She looked at her daughter. "Leave us, Arya."

"But…"

"Go, child," Ned said to her. "We must talk on this. Alone."

Arya left in a huff and Cat turned on him with fire in her eyes.

"Ned, are you mad?" she said in a loud whisper. "No, she is not yet a woman, she is promised to another, she…no, no, no!"

"Cat," he said patiently. "We knew this day would come. You knew she would never marry the Frey boy, that she loves Gendry. But if we wait any longer they may never have a chance. Let us give them that chance."

"Gods, Ned, she is just a girl. She cannot lay with…"

"No, no! They will not share a bed, not until she has flowered."

"But…but what of the pact. Walder Frey is dead, but the pact is still there. If Roslin or Olyvar or the Walders see this wedding…"

"There will be no ceremony, no bedding, no feast."

That took her aback. "But…how can they marry?"

"In the godswood, the old way, before the weirwood tree."

She scoffed. "That is not a true marriage." That stung him and she knew it right away by the look on his face. "Ned…I'm sorry. I know they are your gods. But…is it a real marriage?"

"It is," he said sternly. "She is a lady of the North. He is a man without a home, as much a man of the North now as he ever was of King's Landing. If they wish and if they believe, then it is a true marriage."

Catelyn took two deep breaths, her face a mask of indecision and then she seized on something else. "Ned…he is low born, despite his father. She is a lady of a noble family. How can they marry?"

"Is that your only objection?"

She thought and then nodded. "It is."

"What if he was a knight and I gave him lands when all this madness is over?"

"He would still have the taint of his name. Their children would carry this taint."

"Aye, all true." He had no argument against that. Only a King could remove the taint of being born a bastard, and King Stannis would see Gendry in chains or worse before he did that. "Cat… I don't have all the answers. I know it is madness but can we give one of our children some happiness while we still can?"

She pursed her lips together and finally nodded. "There will be no bedding," she said sternly.

"No."

"This will bring trouble, Ned. Stannis still wants him."

Ned ground his teeth. "He can't have him."

She looked scared. "You would defy the King for your daughter's happiness?"

"I would."

"You can't."

Ned knew she was right. "Then we keep him away from Stannis any way we can."

"And if he demands you turn over the boy?"

"Gendry will be long gone by the time I start to look for him."

"With Arya?" Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"Cat, it may never come to that. There are long leagues and many enemies between us and Stannis."

She sighed then. "As you say. So…a wedding. First he must ask for her hand."

"Aye."

"Then…you must find a way to make him a knight."

"There are only two knights in Winterfell, Ser Alliser and Ser Denys of the Night's Watch. Ser Alliser would sooner spit on me. It must be Ser Denys."

"Ser Denys…I need a favor," Ned said to the old knight when they were alone in his solar a short time later.

"Name it, Lord Stark, and I will do my utmost to carry it out." Spoken like a true knight.

"I want you to knight one of my men."

"Ah, I see. Someone who has squired for many years I take it but his liege knight has fallen in battle?"

"No. My blacksmith's apprentice. Gendry."

Ser Denys looked at him oddly. "Lord Stark, the boy is low born, a bastard from what I hear. He has not squired for anyone, has he?"

"No," Ned admitted. "But you must have also heard he has done great deeds in battle. He saved my daughter on the road home from King's Landing. He stood by us when the Wall fell and he rode with my rearguard when Jon led the rest in escaping. He has proven a valuable man in these troubled times."

Ser Denys rubbed his white beard. "Yes, I have heard some tales of this lad. How old is he?"

"Fifteen, near to sixteen name days counted."

"Young, but some have been younger. But…there is no septon to say the rites."

"That is a formality that can be taken care of later. You know that many a man is made a knight on the eve of battle to make him fight all the harder. A simple touch of a sword and the proper words. You know that any knight can make another."

"All true…but why do you want this one to be a knight? Tell me true or I will not do it. You know Ser Alliser never will and we are the only two knights in the castle."

Ned sighed. "He is to marry my daughter Arya, tonight. It is a condition my lady wife has put on the match."

Ser Denys grinned. "Ah, so it is for love. But still, he is low born, Lord Stark. Making him a knight will not erase this."

Ned knew he had to tell him the rest. "In truth, he is of royal blood."

That took Ser Denys aback. "Royal blood? Who…gods. Not King Robert?"

"Did you ever meet him?"

"No, but I knew his look well enough from the stories. Black of hair and blue of eye, tall and strong as an aurochs. The boy is the same. So…he is one of Robert's by blows?"

"Aye. His mother was a tavern woman of King's Landing. Died when the lad was young, so Robert had Varys find him a place with a master smith. But Joffrey wanted him dead with all the rest of Robert's natural born children. He was on his way to take the black when fate paired him with my daughter and me on the dangerous roads. Now he is not a boy any more, he is a man, who loves my daughter as she does him."

"Well, then. I see no reason the boy…man…cannot be a knight."

"Ser Denys…no one can know the reason you do this. I cannot tell you why, but no one can know they are to be married."

"You have my word I shall tell no one," Ser Denys promised.

Gendry was as surprised as everyone else by being chosen to be a knight. Ned had gone to the forge and took Gendry inside the tool and coal shed to talk to him about it.

"Me? A knight?"

"Aye, lad. As reward for all you did for my family and your bravery in our battles."

Gendry looked bashful. "But…no, my lord. I am low born, I…"

"Your father was a king. And any man can be made a knight, even one low born."

He gulped. "Will people have to call me ser?"

Ned almost laughed. "Only if you want them to."

But he shook his head. "I thank you, my lord, but… I can't be a knight. I'm just a smith."

Ned knew it was time. "Do you want to marry Arya?"

"Aye," he said without hesitation.

"Ask me."

"My lord?"

"Ask me for my daughter's hand. Now before I change my mind."

He gulped again and his cheeks turned red. "Lord Stark…may I have Arya's hand in marriage?"

Ned hugged him tight and clapped his hands on his big shoulders. "Aye. But there is one condition."

"Be a knight?"

Late that afternoon before sunset the ceremony was held. Ser Denys had him kneel in the main courtyard and hundreds of people came to witness the rite. Arya seemed most excited of all and could barely stand still as the ceremony began. She had pestered her father as to the why of it and he only told her it was a reward for his services. He and Cat had decided on not telling Arya about the wedding until the last minute to save her from doing something foolish like telling the whole castle.

"Gendry Waters," Ser Denys began in a loud voice that carried. "For deeds of valor in battle you are to be raised to the rank of knight of the realm." He took out his sword and lay the flat of the blade on Gendry's right shoulder. "Do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all women and children, to obey your captains, your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely and do any tasks asked of you, no matter what they may be?"

"I do, my lord," Gendry said and Arya could not help but let out a little squeal of joy.

"Arise, Ser Gendry of Winterfell," Ser Denys said and as Gendry rose there came a loud cheer from the people. Arya tried to dash forward to do gods knows what, but Ned grabbed her by the shoulder.

"Your mother needs to talk to you. Go to the bath house."

"What? No, not now!"

He whispered in her ear. "After dark, you are to marry in the godswood."

She stared at him with huge eyes. "You mean it?"

"Aye, now go have a bath and put on a proper dress. I will get your husband ready. Tell no one."

She ran off with a laugh on her lips and Ned could not help but smile. He walked up to Gendry where many were congratulating him. Mikken was just shaking his hand.

"Don't mean you're no better than the rest of us…ser," Mikken said and he laughed loud and long and Gendry did as well but he seemed to be looking for someone and Ned knew who it was.

As he shook Gendry's hand he spoke in a low voice. "She is getting ready."

He looked puzzled and then his eyes widened. "When?"

"After dark, in the godswood."

"I'll be knight someday, too," yelled a little boy's voice and it was Rickon and the Walder boys, playing with wooden swords, bouncing around the courtyard in a mock fight.

"You're too small," Little Walder said. "I'll be a knight before you."

"Not before me!" Big Walder boasted.

"Gendry can make me a knight now," said Rickon and he came up to them and dipped his head. "I want to be a knight, Ser Gendry."

Gendry looked lost. "Ah…when you are older?"

Robb came to his rescue. "All right, little knights to be, off to your supper." He dragged the three boys to the great hall.

After the sun went down many were in the great hall and all were eating and enjoying some ale that Ned had generously brought out. Not so generous, he knew. Samson had told him it would be impossible to move all the large casks of ale and wine in storage. So Ned thought they may as well drink some now.

After an hour he and Gendry managed to find a way to escape. Robb saw them go with a look of puzzlement on his face.

In Ned's chambers a bucket of hot water, soap, and towels were already there as ordered. "Quick, have a wash," he told Gendry. "I'll get your clothing."

As Gendry began to strip Ned went off to Cat's rooms. She was there with Arya, who was dressed in a blue dress, a fur cloak clasped at her neck. Cat was in one of her finest dresses and so was…Sansa.

"Gods," he said as he saw his oldest daughter.

"Don't be mad," Arya said to him. "I told her. I want her there."

Sansa's eyes were glowing. "Is it really true?"

"Aye," Ned said and Sansa came at him and hugged him so tight he thought he would cry out.

"You are the best father in the world," Sansa said with tears in her eyes and she kissed his cheek.

"What is going on?" said a voice from the door and it was Robb.

"Get out!" Arya yelled but it was too late as Robb stepped inside.

"Gendry is in your rooms, Father," Robb said. "He's naked and taking a bath from a bucket."

Arya was mad now. "That's none of your business! Now…"

"Stop it!" Catelyn said and she turned to her son. "Robb…we have something to tell you."

A while later and one by one they made their way to the godswood. Despite the overcrowding in Winterfell Ned had decreed that no one could make camp in the sacred woods of his ancestors. It was tricky to get there without anyone asking questions but in the end they all arrived with few interruptions. Only Rickon was missing from the family, and Catelyn had made sure he was busy, with Mikken teaching him and the Walder boys about sword making at the forge. She told them if they wanted to be knights like Gendry they had to learn all about swords and they eagerly agreed.

"I'd have told him but he would only talk," Arya said and they all knew that was true.

Ned, Cat, Arya, and Sansa were the first to arrive by the frozen pool near the weirwood tree. Ned carried a lantern and he set it on the ground before the weirwood tree. He drew his sword and pointed it in the ground toward the tree. He knelt before the tree and then to his surprise his wife and daughters joined him.

It was normally a silent prayer but tonight he spoke his words aloud. "Gods, hear my words. I have come before you to ask for guidance and wisdom many times. Now I come before you to ask for happiness, for my daughter Arya and her husband to be Gendry. I ask for strength in their love, peace in their hearts, long life, a good home, and many healthy children. I ask for your favor for them and all of us in these troubled times. May you guide us as you will, may we understand how and why you do as you do, and may we accept your judgments as the just way of things."

He stood then and his wife and daughters rose as well. "That was beautiful," Cat said. She had never heard his words before. He grinned at her and she took his hand and squeezed tight.

Then he realized something. "Arya…you have to come last. Gendry must wait for you. Come with me."

He took her by the hand and went off into the trees, not too far, and they could still see the weirwood. When they were alone she hugged him. "Thank you. I love you."

"As I you, my child." Then he saw Gendry and Robb arriving, both still carrying swords at their sides, dressed in fine clothes, Gendry's being borrowed from wherever his wife could get something in his size during the day. She had been so very busy.

"It is time, Arya," he said. "Are you ready?"

She took a deep breath. "Aye, Father."

As Arya and Ned stepped forth he wondered if all he remembered of the ceremony was correct. He had seen it performed a few times as he grew up, but that was many years ago. He had hastily told Gendry what to say, and Robb as well in case Gendry forgot, before they left the Great Keep. There were suppose to be some words about Arya being a woman grown and flowered but he knew that part would have to be left out.

As they approached Gendry spoke in a trembling voice. "Who comes before the gods?"

Ned answered. "Arya of House Stark comes here to be wed. She comes to beg the blessing of the gods. Who comes to claim her?"

Now Gendry's eyes lit up as he saw Arya more clearly as she neared the weirwood. He smiled at her and his eyes were only on her. Ned felt Arya's hand tighten on his and she let out a little gasp.

"I do," Gendry said. "Gendry Wat…sorry, Ser Gendry of Winterfell, knight of the realm." Son of a king also, Ned found himself thinking. He looked so much like Robert it was startling. Gendry continued with the words. "I claim her. Who gives her?"

"I do," Ned answered. "Lord Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, the father of the lady. Lady Arya, do you take this man as your husband?"

"I take this man," she said in a strong clear voice and then Arya stepped forward and took Gendry's hand and together they stood and faced the weirwood, turned and smiled at each other and then looked back at the tree.

"Before gods and men, you are now husband and wife forever," Ned announced and then Sansa let out a cry as Catelyn shed a few tears as well.

"Well?" Robb said to Gendry. "You'd better kiss her now as you may not be able to for a few years."

Arya scowled and looked ready to kick her brother but Gendry picked her up in his strong arms and kissed her on the lips. Then they touched foreheads and looked into each others eyes. "I love you, my wife," he said and she cried then.

"I love you, my husband," she gasped in return and then she kissed him and hugged him for a long time.

Catelyn coughed. "Enough. Now we must go"

"Wait," said Robb as Gendry placed Arya on the ground again. Robb took a bottle of wine from the ground where he had put it in the snow. "A drink to the new couple."

He had no glasses so they all took a drink from the bottle of strong red wine. Then they all took turns hugging and congratulating Gendry and Arya. Catelyn was last to hug Gendry. She hesitated and stared at him. "You promise me to keep her happy?"

"I will, my lady," he answered.

She nodded and smiled. "Welcome to the family." And she hugged him, not even being able to get her arms all the way around his big shoulders.

It was all over too soon, but it was done and they would have to live with it, no matter what came. "I am sorry there is no feast," Ned said to the new couple. "And I am sorry we cannot tell anyone. But you all know why this must remain secret. No one can ever know, not for some time yet."

They all agreed. "We must go," Ned said then. "Before we are missed."

Again in ones and twos they left the godswood. Cat and Ned were last.

"Did we do the right thing?" she asked him, her voice full of worry.

"I know not," he said. "But they are happy and for once there was some joy in this place that has seen so little recently."

They left the godswood then and were not ten feet from the godswood gate when Roose Bolton was walking towards them. "My lord, my lady, there is some trouble."

"What has happened?" Ned asked quickly.

"A family, from Umber lands, they came in through the Hunter's Gate an hour ago. They met your sons yesterday."

"Gods," Cat said. "What did they say?"

"Your sons are well. Jon Snow gave them food and shelter and protected them from an attack of wights and an Other."

"When, where?" Ned asked quickly.

"At the mill where…where the miller was killed and his wife raped."

Ned and Roose stared at each other, the only light from the lantern Ned held. "Go on," he said and he had a bad feeling what the trouble was.

"I took them to the great hall to eat. They began to talk…and many heard the story. Now it is spreading."

Catelyn sighed. "No, not that. They can't know that."

Ned put a hand on her arm to calm her but she was trembling. Roose Bolton slightly raised his eyebrows and continued to talk. "They say Jon had a magic sword that slew the wights with ease and made the Other run away. They say this sword is called Lightbringer and Jon is the prince of legend."

It was all true. "Do the people believe them?" Ned asked, his voice and face grim, the happiness of a short time ago now gone.

"They are starting to. Moreover, many want you to go out and find Jon and bring him back here to fight our enemies."

By the time they got to the great hall a crowd was growing outside. It was a mix of Winterfell people, wildlings, and Northerners. Robb and Gendry were there as were Mance Rayder and the men of the Night's Watch.

Ser Alliser Thorne was outside the hall and sneered as he saw Ned. "Sent your bastard away to protect the cripple when he could have saved us all here? You're no leader, Stark."

Ned had had enough of the man and hit him as hard as he could with his right fist and Ser Alliser crumpled to the ground, then got up spitting blood. His eyes blazed with anger and Ned got ready to draw his sword but Gendry and Robb stepped between them and Cotter Pyke and Ser Denys were there as well.

"Take him out of my sight," Ned growled at Pyke. "Before I lock him in a cell." They dragged Ser Alliser away with Cotter Pyke cursing at him for being a stone headed oaf.

He shouldn't have done that, Ned knew. His right hand was killing him now. He looked at Cat and she had a stern look on her face. The people were all looking at him in awe and Gendry and Robb pushed the people aside and let Ned and Catelyn and Lord Bolton into the great hall.

"Where are they?" he asked Roose and he pointed to a family sitting surrounded by many others.

"Clear the hall of all except them," Ned ordered and it took some time but it was soon done. Then they sat with the family, a man, two children, and an old woman, and got the whole story about their encounter with Jon and Bran's party.

"Was a sight to behold, my lord," the man named Will said. "Made night seem like day it did. Lightbringer, the crip…Lord Bran Stark called it. My lord."

"There's more news, my lords, my lady," the old woman said next. "I need speak with Lord Umber."

"He is in sick bed," Catelyn told her.

"What news from your lands?" Ned asked and they told him about the castle being surrounded and Smalljon Umber refusing to leave.

"I will tell Lord Umber," Ned said. He told Robb to find a place for the family to spend the night and then he wearily went to Maester William with Cat at his side after she insisted he get his swollen hand looked at.

"Nothing is broken," the maester said after examining Ned's hand. "But use it sparingly in the days to come."

"As long as Ser Alliser stays away from me that should be no trouble," Ned tried to quip but it came out flat and tired.

"To bed with you, husband," Catelyn demanded and this time she joined him, in her warm rooms, though there was no loving, both too weary.

As they lay there Catelyn sighed. "Jon's secret is out."

"Let us hope Arya's can last longer than a day."

In the morning his hand throbbed some but the swelling had gone down a bit. The weather was clear and cold, with just a few clouds. Robb reported that many were still grumbling about letting Jon go north and about him being the fabled prince with a magic sword. "He is gone and we can do nothing to stop him," was Ned's answer and he told Robb to spread that around as much as possible.

Robb hesitated. "Is it all true? About Jon and this sword?"

"Aye," Ned replied in a weary tone. "I will explain it all later." That was another talk he was not looking forward to.

Next, Ned met with Lord Umber by his bedside. "That's all we know," he told him as he finished relating the story of the family from his lands.

The Greatjon said nothing but started to rise and was soon on his feet. "Get my sword, Ned. It is time I went home."

Ned knew he would try to walk all the way even if it killed him. "Wait. I have a better plan." And so he told him about White Harbor. The Greatjon joined them in Ned's solar as the commanders once more met to discuss the plan.

"Ser Alliser is furious," Ser Denys said as he sat down.

Ned bristled. "That man has done nothing but complain and get in my way since I went to the Wall."

"Well, you got some measure of revenge, my lord," Cotter Pyke said as he laughed a bit. "He could barely eat his porridge this morning his lips are so swollen."

"To business, my lords," Maester Aemon said. "We must decide what to do. How say you all?"

"We go to White Harbor," Ned said at once.

"Aye," Robb added as Ned knew he would.

"The Watch is sworn to fight the Others," Lord Commander Cotter Pyke said. "We will go where the fight is, to defend the realm against this evil that was unleashed."

"As he says," Ser Denys added unnecessarily.

Bolton spoke next. "We go to White Harbor. Then where?"

"Home," said the Greatjon. "My men and I will go to our homelands by sea if Lord Lard will give us just one ship."

"As will my men and I," said Bolton. The last word both men had of their castles was they were surrounded by wights and Others.

Ned knew he could order them to stay with his forces but he felt he had asked too much of them already. "I will not stop you," he said. "Though I would rather you stay with us to fight the Others by the Twins."

Maester Aemon cleared his throat. "Lords Umber and Bolton, what will you do if you find your castles overrun and your people dead or gone?"

"Come south again," the Greatjon growled. "And kill every one of the bastards we find."

"For certain," Bolton added.

"That is all I can ask," Ned told them. He now looked to Mance. "What say you?"

Mance Rayder looked grim and this was not good. "I know it is the bulk of my people we send out there. Many we have already lost. How many more? All, you say, if we stay here. Maybe. Or maybe none. Long into the night my people argued. Some want to stay, some want to go. Tribal rivalries are showing their ugliness again. We have reached no decision."

Ned knew this could happen and now it had. "We are leaving no food in Winterfell save some large casks of wine and ale we cannot hope to move."

Mance nodded. "Then they will come if staying here means starving. Give me the morning to present this to them."

Ned agreed and it was as close to a consensus as he would get. He thought Cotter Pyke might have some words of mistrust about Mance or about his wildlings being useless mouths to feed, but he had kept his hatred of them in check.

"Then it shall be as we planned," Ned told them. "We will leave on the morrow, my lords, by way of the White Knife. Send out scouts to make sure the route we choose is clear. We have one day to prepare, my lords."

After they all left Robb and Ned were alone and all his fears came out then. "Many will die."

"But not all," Robb said, but Ned took no solace from his words. Not all would die. But who would make it to White Harbor and who would die? And what would wait for them there? And were all the wights and Others truly attacking the Twins? Or were they waiting, out there, to ambush them in the cold and darkness?

Ned felt a sudden desire to send some fast riders to find Jon before it was too late but he clamped down that urge and set his mind to do what must be done. He put on his lord's face and they left the solar then and began to prepare to leave their home once more, to go into the unknown to face more dangers.