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"There are darker things beyond the Wall" She glanced behind her at the heart tree, the pale bark and red eyes, watching, listening, thinking its long slow thoughts
His sentle "You listen to too many of Old Nan’s stories The Others are as dead as the children of the forest, gone eight thousand years Maester Luill tell you they never lived at all No living , no living man had ever seen a direwolf either," Catelyn reue with a Tully," he said with a rueful smile He slid Ice back into its sheath "You did not come here to tell me crib tales I kno little you like this place What is it, my lady?"
Catelyn 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 hiht "I am so sorry, my love Jon Arryn is dead"
His eyes found hers, and she could see how hard it took him, as she had known it would In his youth, Ned had fostered at the Eyrie, and the childless Lord Arryn had become a second father to hi Aerys II Targaryen had demanded their heads, the Lord of the Eyrie had raised his ive up those he had pledged to protect
And one day fifteen years ago, this second father had becoether in the sept at Riverrun to o sisters, the daughters of Lord Hoster Tully
"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 thein pain"
"That is sorief on his face, but even then he thought first of her "Your sister," he said "And Jon’s boy What word of thee said only that they ell, and had returned to the Eyrie," Catelyn 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 naht of the Gate, I’d heard"
Catelyn nodded "Brynden will do what he can for her, and for the boy That is soed "Take the children Fill her halls with noise and shouts and laughter That boy of hers needs other children about hirief"
"Would that I could," Catelyn said "The letter had other tidings The king is riding to Winterfell to seek you out"
It took Ned aca here?" When she nodded, a smile broke across his face
Catelyn wished she could share his joy But she had heard the talk in the yards; a direwolf dead in the snow, a broken antler in its throat Dread coiled within her like a snake, but she forced herself to sns "I knew that would please you," she said "We should send word to your brother on the Wall"
"Yes, of course," he agreed "Ben ant to be here I shall tell Maester Luwin to send his swiftest bird" Ned rose and pulled her to her feet "Daives us no e say?"
"I should think a hundred knights, at the least, with all their retainers, and half again as many freeriders Cersei and the children travel with them"
"Robert will keep an easy pace for their sakes," he said "It is just as well That will give us more time to prepare"
"The queen’s brothers are also in the party," she told hirimaced at that There was small love between him and the queen’s family, Catelyn knew The Lannisters of Casterly Rock had come late to Robert’s cause, when victory was all but certain, and he had never forgiven them "Well, if the price for Robert’s company is an infestation of Lannisters, so be it It sounds as though Robert is bringing half his court"
"Where the king goes, the realood to see the children The youngest was still sucking at the Lannister woman’s teat the last time I saw him He must be, what, five by now?"
"Prince Toe as Bran Please, Ned, guard your tongue The Lannister woroith every passing year"
Ned squeezed her hand "There ers, and Robert ant to hunt I shall send Jory south with an honor guard to sroad and escort the to feed them all? On his way already, you said? Damn the man Damn his royal hide"