Catelyn I
It haunts her once more, to think her son has to witness the cruelty of men this young.
Robb barely any older than Bran when he ventured out of Winterfell, she never forgave Ned for that but it made sense still, in it's own twisted way, Robb was the heir, he is to lead the house and her husband's ways were the old ways, so she convinced herself it was a necessity done.
But Bran was a cheerful boy still, growing up just about, he wasn't graceful or dutiful like Robb and with mischiefs still, not that her eldest had lost it entirely either.
She crunched the letter in her hands as she made pace, her Lord husband has retreated to the Godswood once more, he does that sometimes, whenever he took a man's life, afterward he would seek the quiet of the godswood.
'To find peace' he would say.
The Seven knew he needed it, for she looked over at the Castle yards and Keep's walls and she could see over a dozen and above both men and women carrying about their duties.
Catelyn found her husband beneath the weirwood, seated on a moss-covered stone.
The greatsword was across his lap, and he was cleaning the blade in those waters black as night. A thousand years of humus lay thick upon the godswood floor, swallowing the sound of her feet, but the red eyes of the weirwood seemed to follow her as she came.
"Ned," she called softly.
He lifted his head to look at her.
"Cat," he said, his voice was distant and formal. "Where are the children?"
She spread her cloak on the forest floor and sat beside the pool, her back to the weirwood.
She could feel the eyes watching her, but she did her best to ignore them.
"Robb has taken to the brewery once more along with.. Jon." She muttered the name in a sour whisper.
She doesn't truly know what she feels for the boy, for one hand every time she sees him, it is a cruel reminder of her husband's treachery, but the same boy did take it upon himself to ride along with her son, when he left, the boy had been with him, protected him and shielded him from harm, so it does make her somewhat grateful.
"Sansa is quite charmed by her new companion, Bran and Rickon too." She said, her voice trailing low in sadness as she remembered her wild girl. "Arya would have loved to see the pups herself."
Ned smirked. "You say the girl would be the death of you whenever she was up to something but it seems you have grown to miss her now."
Catelyn arched her brows and narrowed her eyes sharply. "Why, Don't you miss her too?"
Ned smirk slowly lost its strength as he gazed down at the pool. "Aye, I do too."
He sucked in his breath as he continued. "Speaking of children, Lord Manderley wrote to me once more last week, speaking of a union between his eldest granddaughter and the heir of House Stark."
The Manderleys were a loyal vassal of House Stark, Catelyn knew they have never broken faith and if by what she have heard of the Manderley girl, she seemed to be comely and well raised and a worshiper of the Seven that are one, a comfort to her old heart, it would be just as good match as any.
She shook her head with a sad smile as she already knew what might have happened. "Did you talk to him about it, What did he say?"
"What he says everytime." Her husband replied calmly. "He is not yet ready, he knows his duty well enough and he would marry but not yet."
She let out a sigh as it weighed upon her.
"I fear, mayhaps we have done wrong by arranging the betrothal to him, so young, he has lost hope in a marriage."
Ned held her hand firmly as he pulled her against his chest.
"Cat, don't speak madness, he is still five and ten, there is plenty a time for him." He chuckled. "You did not come here to talk about the fates of our children. I know how little you like this place. What is it, my lady?"
She took her husband's hand.
"There was grievous news today, my lord. I did not wish to trouble you until you had cleansed yourself." There was no way to soften the blow, so she told him straight. "I am so sorry, my love. Jon Arryn is dead."
His eyes found hers, and she could see how hard it took him.
"Jon…" he said. "Is this news certain?"
"It was the king's seal, and the letter is in Robert's own hand. I saved it for you. He said Lord Arryn was taken quickly. Even Maester Pycelle was helpless, but he brought the milk of the poppy, so Jon did not linger long in pain." She answered, passing the letter to him.
"That is some small mercy, I suppose," he said, his eyes glazing over the parchment.
She could see the grief on his face, but even then he thought first of her.
"Your sister," he said. "And Jon's boy, what word of them?"
"The message said only that they were well and had returned to the Eyrie," she said. "I wish they had gone to Riverrun instead, the Eyrie is high and lonely, and it was ever her husband's place, not hers, Lord Jon's memory will haunt each stone, I know my sister, she needs the comfort of family and friends around her."
"Your uncle waits in the Vale, does he not? Jon named him Knight of the Gate, I'd
heard."
Catelyn nodded. "Brynden will do what he can for her, and for the boy. That is some comfort, but still…"
"Go to her," Ned urged. "Take the children. Fill her halls with noise and shouts and laughter, that boy of hers needs other children about him and Lysa should not be alone in her grief."
"Would that I could," She replied. "The letter had other tidings, the king is riding to Winterfell to seek you out."
It took Ned a moment to comprehend her words, but when the understanding came, the darkness left his eyes.
"Robert is coming here?" When she nodded, a smile broke across his face.
"I knew that would please you," She smiled.
Ned squeezed her hand. "There must be a feast, of course, with singers, and Robert will want to hunt. I shall send Jory south with an honor guard to meet them on the kingsroad and escort them back and send word to the Bear Island, it is time for Arya to come home."
"I will, my love." She smiled, Ned was walking out by the time she stood up, in search of Jory and the likes.
But a small warmth bloomed in her heart, she is to see her wild girl soon enough.