"Ned—"
Watching a perfectly good family dinner end in such a way, Catelyn's gaze toward her husband was filled with both worry and reproach.
Hearing his wife's complaints, and recalling the pressure he had endured over this period of time, Eddard Stark wearily rubbed his face.
Ever since Jon Arryn's death and Robert's journey north, his once-peaceful life had undergone tremendous change.
It had been only half a year, yet he already felt as though a lifetime had passed.
Robert had come north to Winterfell, persuading him to become his Hand and help him.
Then, on that very same night, a secret letter had arrived—one that described a vast conspiracy.
And just as he resolved to go south with Robert, the matter of the Lannister twins' incest broke out, a matter that even implicated his own family.
Though he knew that the "Kingslayer" had always been one who broke oaths and possessed no honor, no one could have imagined that he would dare to go so far as to attempt to murder a Stark child in Winterfell—an innocent child—merely to cover up his own crimes.
Fortunately, as though blessed by the Old Gods, Kal Stone's timely appearance had saved him.
At the same time, it had completely provoked the Lannisters' conspiracy.
And then came war in quick succession.
Moreover, the war was filled with layer upon layer of schemes, with blood and tragedy flowing everywhere.
The greed of men, the ruin of humanity—all were laid bare upon the stage of that war.
If not for Kal Stone, that formidable man who miraculously ended the war and utterly crushed the Lannister conspiracy, perhaps he himself would still be fighting amid the carnage, his future shrouded in uncertainty.
War and blood.
Oaths and betrayal.
Thinking of Arya's appearance just now, and recalling what she had said about "Dawn Sword" Arthur Dayne, Eddard felt himself dragged back once more to that day before the Tower of Joy.
There, he had led his men into battle against King Aerys II's Kingsguard, and in the end, only he and Howland Reed had survived.
Everyone else had fallen there, their blood staining the yellow sands.
Among them was his own sister, Lyanna Stark.
That was Dorne's territory—and now, today, he even suspected that Stannis Baratheon and Dorne's House Martell might be involved in some unspeakable conspiracy.
He thought of Stannis Baratheon's probing words, and of the ambition that gleamed behind his desire for the Iron Throne.
A few seconds later, Eddard exhaled a long, heavy breath.
Forcing himself to compose his thoughts, he once again wore a gentle smile.
He lifted his head from his hands and looked toward his wife and children.
"I'm sorry, Catelyn, and Sansa, Bran, Rickon. I had thought today would be a happy day—but I truly am too tired."
"So let us end here, shall we? Next time, I'll hold another gathering by the riverside. Believe me, nothing unpleasant will happen again."
Eddard apologized to his wife and children, and to show his sincerity, even arranged a date for their next gathering.
Though somewhat reluctant, Bran was the first to nod.
He seemed somewhat quiet—completely different from how he had been back in Winterfell.
Looking at Bran, and recalling what Catelyn had recently told him—that the boy liked staying with Summer and hardly ever went outside—Eddard only felt the weight upon his heart grow heavier still.
As for Rickon, he had long since eaten his fill; earlier he had already been somewhat drowsy, so he was scarcely aware of his father scolding his sister.
But upon hearing Eddard's apology, Sansa stood up to defend her father, saying, "Father, you don't need to apologize. It was Arya's fault. She's like some wild child and can never sit still."
"She's not a lady at all—you should have disciplined her like this long ago."
It was clear that Sansa had always disliked her little sister.
Yet her tattling and schadenfreude only made the veins on Eddard's temple stand out, deepening his exhaustion.
But before Eddard could explain to his eldest daughter what unity meant, Catelyn's scolding voice followed immediately.
"Sansa, Arya is your sister—how can you speak of her like that?"
"Catelyn," seeing his wife about to grow angry, the weary Eddard hastily stopped her.
He did not want the evening's unpleasantness to continue any longer, and so he chose to end it quickly.
Speaking thus, he stood and walked over to the children, rubbing each of their heads twice in turn.
Then he looked again toward his wife.
"It's too late today. Have the servants take the children to rest, Catelyn. I'm going to check on Arya. She did nothing wrong—I shouldn't have scolded her."
"Ned, Arya truly should—" Seeing her husband's agitation from the strain and fatigue he had endured, worry filled Catelyn's face.
Yet before she could finish, Eddard forcefully cut her off.
"All right, Catelyn, I know what to do. Take the children back and wait for me in our chambers."
Smiling, Eddard Stark soothed his wife and children, finally bringing an end to the family dinner he had ruined in his own loss of control.
Saying this, he kissed his wife lightly on the forehead, then turned and headed toward the direction Arya and Jon had gone.
When he found them at last, both siblings were hiding beneath a parapet along the castle wall.
Arya was curled up in the shadows, while Jon sat beside her, a torch casting their intertwined silhouettes upon the stone.
Before he could approach, Eddard already heard the two whispering softly to each other.
It sounded like Jon was comforting Arya, trying to cheer her up.
Hearing this, Eddard unconsciously lightened his steps.
When he drew closer, he heard Jon saying that he intended to take part in the upcoming tourney, and that he wanted Arya to come cheer for him then.
But Arya said he would definitely lose—because no one could defeat Kal Stone.
Upon hearing that, Jon fell silent and could only nod quietly.
As that monster's former squire—and his only one—Jon had hardly ever left Kal Stone's side on the battlefield.
Thus, no one understood better than he just how terrifying that human-shaped dragon truly was.
He even suspected that if they were to fight in full armor, there might only be one way to bring Kal Stone down.
That was if too many people wore him out until he collapsed.
Taking advantage of the siblings' silence after mentioning Kal Stone, Lord Stark finally stepped out from the shadows.
"Arya, I came to apologize to you. I'm sorry—I shouldn't have spoken to you like that—"
"Nor should I have gone back on my promise to you. But you're a girl, and I only wish for you to stay somewhere safe."
Looking at the two children before him, Lord Stark showed no trace of embarrassment as he earnestly apologized to Arya.
Today, it was he who had ruined what should have been a pleasant dinner—because of his old shadows, and the fears he still carried.
Of course Arya wasn't that petty. Earlier she had been angry only because her father had gone back on his word.
But once her temper cooled, she understood that it was because her father was exhausted and overworked.
The maids had told her that the Lord actually came to see them every day—only by the time he arrived, they were already asleep.
And she also knew her father wasn't wrong. Girls ought to stay in safe places, with knights like Jon to protect them.
So now that Lord Eddard Stark himself had come to apologize, Arya—already comforted by Jon—naturally would not remain stubborn.
She also knew, deep down, that a girl shouldn't be like her. As the daughter of the Lord of Winterfell, she ought to learn from Sansa.
But she simply couldn't. She just didn't like those things.
"I'm sorry too, Father. I shouldn't have said those things—I didn't mean them."
Facing her father's sincere apology, Arya threw herself into Lord Eddard Stark's arms, her eyes unconsciously growing moist again.
"I'm sorry—it was I who ruined tonight's dinner. I promise I'll hold an even better one for all of you."
Seeing that his daughter had forgiven him, Lord Stark felt much relieved, and he revealed the decision he had made.
"Really?" Arya, upon hearing the good news, immediately forgot her earlier unhappiness.
"We can hold a bonfire by the river and roast fish," Lord Stark said with a smile. "There will be many people then, but I think you'll enjoy it. I hope this will make you forget my earlier rudeness."
"Of course! I'm so happy!"
Arya leapt up, clapping her hands and shouting with joy.
She loved things like that the most; she didn't like staying cooped up in the castle at all.
Only Sansa would like that kind of life—she even liked watching the handsome, gallant knights. Arya had noticed that long ago.
Seeing that Arya was no longer angry with him, the smile on Eddard Stark's face grew all the more gentle.
"That's good. Now go back to sleep—it's already very late."
"All right—" Arya was a little reluctant, but still obediently prepared to go to bed.
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