Eddard Stark had been in a foul mood lately.
His eldest son, Robb, had brought the Northern army back to Winterfell without permission. Eddard had never expected his son to reject Stannis so openly.
Yet he could not lose his temper just yet. Many Northern bannermen had gathered for the victory banquet. No matter how displeased he was with Robb, he could not ruin the occasion for everyone.
That boy was currently boasting in front of the lords, though Eddard had to admit that Robb's insight into military matters was truly impressive.
Catelyn noticed her husband's stern expression and sighed.
"Enough, Ned. Whatever else, Robb has earned merit in this war. Besides, Lord Stannis has not completely closed the door. Now that the bannermen have returned to Winterfell, the decision is yours to make."
Eddard's icy face softened just a fraction, though it remained dark in the flickering candlelight.
"I think he has grown arrogant and can no longer tell what truly matters. We will need to have a serious talk later."
The Stark children had also gathered. Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon were overjoyed to have Robb home again, and they peppered their eldest brother with questions.
Bran and Rickon were still young and only wanted to hear the exciting stories from the campaign.
Arya, who had been training hard with Syrio Forel, was eager to spar with Robb. She even suggested inviting Roman to Winterfell so he could exchange pointers with Syrio.
Sansa appeared to be listening to tales of the Northern battles, but in truth her mind kept drifting to news of Roman. She cheered for how Roman had reinforced Robb and severed Jaime's sword hand in a single strike. She gave thanks that Roman had helped save her father. Yet she also felt a sting of envy and dejection when she heard that Roman had flown into the sky with Myrcella.
Watching her sister's distant expression, Arya couldn't resist teasing.
"Sansa still seems to be dreaming about Ser Roman. But he already has Princess Myrcella. And he even took the princess flying outside Rosby. Someone's little fantasies are about to be shattered!"
"Who says so?!" Sansa huffed. "I was simply thinking about Robb's important battles!"
Arya grinned. "Sure, if you say so."
Sansa turned away in annoyance, refusing to speak to her sister any longer.
After greeting his younger siblings, Robb suddenly noticed Jon Snow was missing.
"Where is Snow? Even if he isn't attending the banquet, he should still be in Winterfell. Why can't I find him anywhere?"
Sansa chuckled. "Recently Jon went beyond the Wall to investigate with his… Free Folk companion. It's been several months now, and he's missed quite a few important events."
Robb's eyes flickered. "Is… that so?"
Eddard, overhearing, grew angry again. His mood, which had barely stabilized, flared up once more.
That troublesome "bastard" of his had run off with a wildling woman without him noticing!
Although the Free Folk were slowly beginning to follow Northern customs under Mance Rayder's leadership, most Northerners still strongly opposed intermarriage with them. For Jon—the acknowledged bastard of Eddard Stark—to openly take a Free Folk companion would make him the subject of endless gossip among both nobles and smallfolk.
"Jon… I never expected that boy to be the first to cause trouble. And he seems quite attached to that wildling woman. Now the entire North is laughing at us!"
Catelyn could only offer gentle words of comfort, hoping to calm her husband. There were even more outrageous matters she had not yet dared to tell him.
Throughout the banquet, conversation inevitably turned to the roles played in the war, and the name that kept rising was Roman.
His masterful logistics, iron discipline, and the heavily armed Vanguard army left a deep impression.
The Northern bannermen, who had always prided themselves on their toughness and martial prowess, now had to admit that Southerners could also produce true talent and strategy.
These stories about Roman fascinated everyone. As the decisive force in the war, he had left his mark on every battlefield.
Listening to the tales, Eddard thought back to their regular exchanges of letters. He looked at his own children and could only sigh.
"If only they could be as worry-free as Ser Roman."
Catelyn took her husband's hand and comforted him. "Our children are not bad either. Ser Roman is building his power in Harrenhal, and our children are growing up in Winterfell. Who says Robb, Sansa, and the others won't achieve great things in the future?"
Eddard said nothing more. He simply drank his wine in silence.
The banquet lasted several days before the bannermen finally departed to attend to their own lands.
Eddard seized the opportunity to summon Robb.
The moment the Young Wolf entered the solar, he saw his father sitting by the fireplace. Eddard faced the fire sideways, half his face hidden in shadow while the other half looked dark and stormy in the orange glow.
"Explain yourself. Why did you bring the army back to the North without permission? Don't you know Lord Stannis needs our support?"
Robb sighed inwardly. The day had come. He was not afraid, however, and answered calmly.
"Father, I believe it is better to preserve Northern lives rather than throw them away in the Baratheon struggle for the throne. We should consolidate our position and wait to see how their conflict resolves before choosing a side."
Eddard's anger flared instantly. His good brother Robert had entrusted him with his affairs before dying. He had even ended up in a cell because of it.
After the war, the Westerlands were crippled and the Crownlands had fallen to Roman. All that remained was for the North to support Stannis, and the Iron Throne would be his by right. Yet his own son had abandoned the cause.
"Robb! Have you forgotten everything I taught you? Where is your honor? Have you forgotten the oaths of House Stark?"
"Father!" Robb raised his voice. "Isn't it too rash to conclude that King Robert's three children were not his own based solely on a book of noble genealogies and physical descriptions?"
"Do you know how the South views this matter? When Lord Stannis presented that 'evidence,' everyone laughed! No one believes it. If there were truly conclusive proof, the people of Westeros would have already rallied to Stannis. There would be no need for all this struggle."
Eddard was so furious he stood up and grabbed a piece of firewood, ready to strike his son. Robb closed his eyes and braced himself.
"Ned! What are you doing?!"
Catelyn's roar stopped Eddard in his tracks. Robb opened his eyes to see his mother standing between them, the two adults staring at each other in anger.
In the end, Eddard dropped the firewood and said coldly,
"When everything is ready, summon the bannermen. We are marching south to support Lord Stannis."
He pointed at Robb.
"You will also write a letter of apology to Lord Stannis. The next time we march south, you will lead the vanguard with me!"
Robb breathed a sigh of relief at having been spared the beating.
"Yes, Father."
But Catelyn suddenly spoke up. "Ned, there is one more thing I need to tell you about Robb."
Eddard frowned. "What is it?"
Catelyn looked at her son with a mixture of helplessness and reproach. Robb realized what was coming, but it was already too late.
Catelyn said quietly, "Robb has become involved with a battlefield nurse… and he has gotten her with child."
Eddard turned back in disbelief, his eyes darting between his wife and son. For a moment he wondered if he was still dreaming.
"Is… is this true?! Cat, don't joke about such things!"
"Would I joke about something like this?"
Eddard suddenly felt dizzy. He began to wonder what he had done wrong to deserve such punishment from the old gods.
Robb felt a chill run down his spine. He knew there would be no escaping a beating today.
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