Winterfell, as the capital of the North, has a history almost as long as the Wall.
It is rumored that House Stark, relying on Winterfell, ruled the North for eight thousand years.
The vast Winterfell, like a black crown, sits south of the Wolfswood.
However, Winterfell was currently immersed in tension and anger.
The lord of this castle had merely gone south to become the King's Hand, but within half a year, news returned that he had been sentenced to death for treason.
Everyone in Winterfell knew Eddard's character and all believed that the false king Joffrey was spouting nonsense.
It was even more impossible for the people of House Stark to accept this claim.
In Winterfell, craftsmen worked harder than usual making weapons, and guards trained more diligently, all eager for his son to give the order.
Robb was currently standing before a map of the North, listening to Maester Luwin's plans.
There was also a younger man, older than him but somewhat thin and dark-skinned, standing eagerly by.
This was Eddard Stark's ward, Theon Greyjoy.
He also wanted to contribute to vindicating his foster father.
"...House Karstark is expected to raise two thousand to two thousand five hundred men.
House Bolton is expected to raise around four thousand men.
Castle Cerwyn... In addition, the mountain clans should also participate in the war..."
Maester Luwin had served Winterfell for nearly thirty years, and he could instantly recall these important figures without even needing to consult his records.
He had even delivered every one of Catelyn's children.
Luwin was small in stature, but he had many pockets.
No matter what data Robb wanted, he could immediately pull it out, making him a reliable helper.
In this feudal lord's realm, when a liege lord summons his vassals, the vassals need to provide their own provisions.
However, accommodating and coordinating them would likely be a hassle.
Most of these men were seasoned veterans who had followed Eddard in 'Robert's Rebellion'.
Robb had only just come of age and lacked any impressive resume or experience; truly leading these men would likely take some effort.
However, Robb's thoughts seemed not to be here; he gazed intently at the map on the wall, formulating one bold battle plan after another in his mind.
He found that there was one place he couldn't bypass.
Just then, an assistant maester came to Robb's study with a letter.
"My Lord, Maester, a letter from the Wall."
"The Wall?"
Robb felt a bit strange; he had just ordered supplies to be sent to the Wall not long ago, so what could this letter be about at this time?
He took the letter and began to read it; Luwin, standing beside him, first frowned, appearing disappointed and displeased.
However, as he read the next page, his heart was relieved.
"What is it, Robb?" Theon stepped forward and asked cautiously.
He had no particular impression of the Wall, only knowing that Eddard's perpetually grim-faced, gloomy bastard son had gone there.
"Jon… has returned from the Wall." Robb said, handing the letter to Theon and Maester Luwin respectively.
"He actually deserted! How could he do that!" Theon quickly glanced at Robb, then said with feigned surprise, as if fanning the flames, yet also somewhat gloating.
The letter he held was written by Sam at Aemon's dictation, while Luwin held Jon's 'farewell letter'.
Luwin thought for a moment and said, "Robb, although Jon left the Wall without permission, it was for Lord Eddard. What fault is there in a son worried about his father?
Besides, he is not yet a true Night's Watchman."
Every child in Winterfell had been watched by Luwin as they grew up.
Jon and Theon were slight exceptions.
For Jon, the bastard, he felt a certain pity.
When Jon realized he was a bastard, a certain rift formed between him and his other siblings.
It was a protective shell called inferiority.
He retreated into the shadows, longing for the warmth of a mother he had never met.
He even rarely called Eddard 'father', instead referring to him as 'Lord Stark'.
Now, a son wanted to contribute to rescuing his father, and he decided to help Jon.
Of course, there was also a most important reason: for nearly three hundred years, a large number of criminals had infiltrated the Wall.
Aside from the North, and arguably aside from the Starks who considered joining the Nights Watch an honor, everyone else viewed the Wall as a 'place of exile'.
"The Wall sent Jon's message along, likely hoping he would join the team to rescue Lord Eddard," Luwin said.
He keenly realized this, which also relieved Robb's mind considerably.
If the Nights Watch had this attitude, why should he refuse?
He had two younger brothers, but one was crippled, and the other was only three years old.
Now, having a sibling of the same age and adult status to help him was naturally the best possible outcome.
His mother, Catelyn, had gone south and had not yet returned.
Suddenly facing such a large undertaking, Robb also felt somewhat overwhelmed.
"If that's the case, then we'll bring him back."
Robb made up his mind, and Luwin gave him an affirmative look.
Robb turned to Theon and instructed:
"Theon, it will likely take some time for Jon to return. Since he left the Wall without permission, he probably didn't bring any provisions. Please go meet him for me when he arrives."
Upon hearing Robb's instruction, Theon was initially somewhat displeased.
He thought, 'Jon is just a bastard, does he deserve for me to go meet him?'
"But the letter says the Nights Watch has sent people to arrest... to find him. What if he can't make it back?"
"He will." Robb shook his head firmly. "He will definitely make it back."
Robb's attitude made Theon somewhat jealous, or rather, envious.
In Winterfell, Theon was a 'not-as-good-as-the-best, but-better-than-the-rest' kind of presence.
Jon was that 'rest', the object that allowed him to feel a sense of importance.
Although he was Eddard's ward, he couldn't compare to Eddard's children.
But he was the heir to the Iron Islands!
His father, King Balon, had once rebelled and declared himself king after Robert came to power.
Although it was quickly put down, he had effectively been a prince for a time.
Though Theon was too young at the time to have any memory of his time as a prince.
But just thinking about his experience as a prince, even if he was a ward in Winterfell, effectively a hostage, he would proudly puff out his chest.
No matter what, he was far superior to Jon, the bastard.
And now, they were about to go to war, and he would undoubtedly become Robb's right-hand man, his most important reliance.
Jon's sudden return would inevitably steal his position.
After all, both were Eddard's sons, and seemed to be closer.
However, he then had another thought; perhaps this was a good opportunity to play a trick on Jon.
He had left the Wall without permission, and must have been very anxious along the way.
He should give him a good scare, tell him that Robb had already decided to chop off his head or something similar.
Thinking this, Theon's expression shifted, then he assured Robb: "Don't worry, I will definitely bring him back properly."
Seeing Theon say this, Robb smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.
Feeling the force on his shoulder, Theon felt a pleasant sensation throughout his bones.