Thank you to everyone who has favourited or is following the story.
ATP
Time will tell whether or not Robb and Mance made a good choice.
Catelyn is left to her own devices for nine years, that means a lot.
I'm glad you like this version of her. :-)
Old truths
Lord Howland's visit in her solar is a pleasant surprise. Catelyn gratefully put aside the parchments filled with complaints and demands.
"I must ask you a question, Lady Catelyn," he says but then stays silent. He seems embarrassed as if he does not know how to start. "I was thinking about…" He stops and squirms a bit in the chair. "Jon… does he know the truth?"
Catelyn frowns.
"What truth, Lord Howland?"
"About his mother."
She understands now and shakes her head.
"Ned couldn't tell him. Jon was too young for that when he died."
"Yes, but…" He is studying her for a moment. "Forgive me, I believed… I believed he told you."
Catelyn sighs. She wished on so many occasions he would have. But that was a long time ago, and it did not matter anymore.
"Ned guards his secrets very well. Far too well." Suddenly, she realizes. "You do know."
Of course. He has to. She leans forward, more briskly.
"You should talk to Jon."
Lord Howland smiles vaguely. "I should, shouldn't I?" But he does not move to look for him just stares down at his hands, deep in thoughts. At the end, he glances up at Catelyn. "To be honest, I hoped Ned spoke with you about that."
Catelyn recalls her husband's last words and nods.
"Maybe he wanted."
"Well… I…" Helplessly, Lord Howland shrugs. "He never mentioned to me whether he planned to tell the boy what happened all those years ago. Although, I presumed it was his intention. He certainly would have found the right moment for it." He smiles again, bitterly this time. "And that is my problem, you see. I don't know Jon. I don't know if it would be good or bad for him to learn the truth. But you watched him grow, my lady. You've cared for him since Ned died. You can be a better judge of what's right."
Talking to Jon. That would be the right thing. On the other hand, how could she be sure of it until she hears what Howland Reed wants to say? If the truth frightens him so much… She bows her head, tense.
"Tell me."
He does. And now Catelyn understands his hesitation perfectly.
Finally, she also understands those words from nine years ago. And everything that led to them.
Oh, Ned.
