What about me?

Catelyn is in Ned's solar, sorting the parchments she has found in a chest, when someone knocks on the door. She opens it up, then, stares at the small figure standing outside.

Jon Snow looks up at her. He is pale. Terrified. Determined.

As for Catelyn, she couldn't be more surprised if Balerion the Black Dread were snarling at her from the hallway.

"Lady Stark, may I speak with you?"

Still stunned, Catelyn waves Jon in. The boy comes in, then, he just stands in the centre of the chamber looking for the words. In his mind Catelyn must be Balerion the Dread.

"Sit down, Snow."

He obeys, and Catelyn waits again.

"I'm joining the Night's Watch," the boy declares.

In reply, she says the first thing that comes to her head. "Don't be ridiculous!"

He is definitely scared now and paler than before.

"You are just a child, barely eight," Catelyn continues.

Snow gathers all his courage. "Maester Luwin taught us that a Lord Commander of the Watch was only ten."

"Ten is more than eight by two."

"But I would be only a recruit."

"You won't be," Catelyn snaps at him.

The Watch can be a decent place for bastards; there even they can rise high. For grown bastards, at least. Snow is still just a child talking about nonsense.

"But Theon also will go…"

She cuts in. "Theon will go because it is the King's right to decide about his future. About yours, however, I decide."

Why won't I go then? The boy does not dare to ask, but Catelyn sees the question in his eyes.

Why not, really? It would be perfect, so perfect, if…

If.

Promise me, Cat. Promise me.

And she did. She promised… something.

She can't be the one who sends Snow away, anywhere – or, seven hells, even allows him to leave.

Besides, Catelyn means it, eight is too little.

"The day when Robb comes of age and not sooner… that day you could stand before him with your request."

Snow nods, uncertainly, in amazement, then he stands up to leave. "Until then?" he mutters when he reaches the door.

For a moment, Catelyn clenches her jaw. "Until then, you'll train with Ser Rodrik. You'll have your lessons with Maester Luwin." Is that what you want, Ned? "You'll live here just like you have up until now."

He nods again, with even more uncertainty, then, leaves her alone.

The boy has no idea how lucky he is. He got answers, be those answers even so few and vague, he should be grateful.

Catelyn would be. But there is no one to give answers to her.