Catelyn

She looked up as her husband joined her down in the crypts. "I wasn't sure I believed them when they said you were down here." He glanced at the statue in front of her, the statue of his sister. He held a bouquet of winter roses in his hand.

"I thought I owed her an apology," she admitted, looking at the carved likeness of her goodsister. "From one mother to another."

He gave a grim smile at that. "She certainly wouldn't have held back her thoughts on the situation."

"Brandon always described her as headstrong."

Ned snorted. "Did he say the same of himself?"

"I think the time he nearly killed Littlefinger spoke to that." She glanced beside her at the other statue, the statue of the man she had once been set to wed. In all her years at Winterfell, she had visited him only twice. "Maybe I should have let him do it."

"Whatever Littlefinger became, I'm glad you're not the sort of woman who would see a man dead on her behalf."

She gave a faint smile at that, but it faded. "I wonder how your sister felt, knowing how many people fought a war on hers."

"Oh, I'm sure she hated it." He stepped forward and placed the flowers on her statue. "I wish she had lived. I wish both of them had..."

She wrapped her arm around her husband. "Do you wish you could go back in time as our daughters did?"

He looked over at her. "You know, I thought about it. But I wouldn't. Because then I wouldn't have them. I wouldn't have you. Of course I wish them alive, but not at the cost of what we have."

She nodded. "We have some pretty wonderful children." She sighed. "And so does Lyanna." She placed her hand on the statue. "I'm sorry for the way I treated your son, and I'm sorry you never got to be a mother to him. I could never take your place as that, but I should have done more for him. And from now on I promise you I will do my best to be there for him, to help him. I swear it by the old gods and the new."

She pretended not to notice Ned wiping away his tears. "We should go," he said. "Time to say our goodbyes."

She nodded and turned to walk out. As she left, she kissed her fingers and placed her hand on Brandon's statue.

Arya

"Can't believe you're all leaving again," Robb said with a shake of his head.

"Can't believe you're leaving me here," added Rickon, pouting.

"Oh, it's not so bad here," Myrcella said with a smile. "You all be safe up north."

Mother gave her a hug, which Arya was pleased to see. "I'm glad you two are getting along. Be well."

"Always, Mother," said Robb.

Father finished packing his supplies. "I really should make haste. I love you all."

He gave them all hugs as they said their goodbyes, then he rode out of the castle.

"So many goodbyes," Arya said. "Never enough time."

"But we have places to be too," Bran said.

"Where exactly are you going again?" Myrcella asked.

"Up to the castles up north," Mother said, repeating the story they had worked on. "Just checking in on all our bannermen there. Ned would love to do it himself, but the business at the Wall is rather urgent."

"So I hear."

"We'll miss you," Robb said.

Theon nodded his unenthusiastic agreement.

More hugs and goodbyes were exchanged, and Arya rode with Mother and Bran out of Winterfell. She never liked leaving her home, but at least this time, she thought, she was going to find Jon, and that was worth it.

"So," Mother said. "Do you know where exactly Jon is?"

"Well, right now he's still over the Wall," Bran said. "He should be back on this side by the time we get up there."

"Do you know where he comes over?"

"Not exactly."

"Oh, wonderful."

"It's alright," Arya said. "Time for an adventure."

Sansa

She looked up at the walls of the Red Keep before her. She wished she could be free of them forever, but that wouldn't happen for some time. The queen stood to greet her, her oversized coat doing little to hide her now clearly protruding belly. "Lady Sansa," she said with a smile. "It's good to have you back."

Jeyne stood beside her, and curtsied. "My lady."

Sansa winced. Her tone was cordial, but not warm. Her childhood friend deserved better than being ignored. "It's good to see you again, Jeyne."

She smiled faintly at that.

"And you of course, Your Grace," she added. "How's the babe?"

"Doing well," she said with a smile. "I'm sorry about your grandfather. How was the funeral?"

"Peaceful," Sansa said. "And it was nice to see my family again."

"I imagine."

"Your Grace, if it's possible, I have an urgent message for the king, from my father."

She nodded. "Ser Barristan, if you could tell His Grace of this message."

He nodded and headed into the castle. Margaery, Sansa, and Jeyne followed. "How has the capital been in my absence?" she asked.

"You've only been gone a month, not so much has changed. Robert remains... well, Robert."

"It's boring here," Jeyne said. "Especially without you."

"I'm sure we can find something to do," Sansa said.

At that moment, Ser Barristan came towards them. "His Grace has requested your presence in his solar, Lady Sansa."

She nodded and followed him, wondering if she was ready for her first private audience with the king.

Robert looked at her and raised his eyebrows. "So your father's sent you as his messenger, has he?"

"Yes. I have information that must be delivered in the strictest confidence."

He nodded and dismissed Ser Barristan from the room. "Well, let's hear it."

"He's written it down," she said. "So you can be certain it comes from him." She pulled the scroll Father had written her from her cloak and handed it to him.

He frowned as he opened it, and she watched as he read it, his gaze growing more and more fierce. "Renly is plotting to overthrow me?"

"That is what the evidence would suggest. He has some plan that hinges on the queen's baby, on whether it's a boy or a girl."

Robert frowned. "That shouldn't matter. Even if the babe is a girl, Renly wouldn't be my heir. Stannis would."

"I don't think he'd have a problem getting rid of Stannis." After all, Stannis had had no problem killing him.

Robert shook his head. "What am I doing? Shouldn't be discussing this with you. Thank you for your message. Do you know how long your father will be?"

She took a breath and tried to hide her irritation. "A few months perhaps, but he should be back before the queen gives birth."

Robert's eyes narrowed. "Wait. How do you know the queen is with child?"

"I have eyes, Your Grace. She's showing already."

"Hmm."

"It might be time to announce it. Perhaps you could declare that her child will be your heir regardless of gender, then Renly-"

"Enough! You may be Ned's daughter, but he is my Hand, not you. You're just a girl."

"I'm more politically inclined than you or others might allow yourselves to believe. I may be a girl, but I'm a girl who knows what she's doing. I'm happy to help you, if you would only let me. Doesn't my father's note say as much?"

"Hmm?" He looked at the note again and moved his eyes to the bottom of the scroll, which he had evidently skipped before. "I send Sansa as my envoy, to speak for me until I return. You can trust her. She can help you." He looked up at her. "He has a lot of faith in you."

She felt a rush of pride. "Yes. Do you have faith in his judgement?"

There was a long pause. "I do. That's why I named him Hand. But he's wrong here. His judgement clouded by a father's love. I can't have a girl of four and ten advising me."

"It's not as though I'm asking to sit on the small council, Your Grace. I just wish to help you with this matter. I can be useful as an asset. People do not suspect me. I can speak to Renly."

He frowned. "I suppose that raises an interesting point. But if anything were to happen to you, while you are here, your father would-"

"My father knows the dangers of the capital all too well. He would not blame you." She didn't know if that was true, but it was what the king needed to hear. "And besides, nothing would happen to me. It's just talking."

He looked at her for another long moment. "If you want to try and speak to my brother, I suppose you might. But don't do anything rash. You are still a child, and a girl at that. Your judgement will be easily compromised."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and said, "Of course, Your Grace."

"Hmm. You're dismissed."

She turned and left the room, wondering what it was her father loved about King Robert.