iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 418: The Heir to Winterfell

At the corner of the corridor, Arya quietly stuck her head out and observed the two tall guards standing by the door of her father's study.

We have to find a way to lure the guards away... climb through the window... it's daytime now... Arya's face frowned. No wonder Syrio disagreed with her plan. This plan was indeed much more difficult.

She couldn't suppress the curled corners of her lips, something that the elegant Mr. Syrio couldn't do.

"what are you doing?"

Arya was laughing triumphantly, but the sudden voice from behind made her shudder and startle.

Turning her head to look... she immediately said angrily: "Hateful Sansa, are you trying to scare me on purpose!"

She was filled with regret that she hadn't noticed Sansa sneaking over. When did she become distracted? She was angry, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Sansa was wearing a round-necked dark green lady's dress. She had her mother's thick auburn hair and blue eyes... Seeing her smug look, the little wolf girl became even angrier.

Looking at the angry Arya, Sansa gently raised one hand, stroked her long curly hair gracefully, and said, "My annoying sister, there is something wrong with what you said. It's because you didn't notice me, not because I meant to scare you. As your sister, I have to kindly remind you that you have to be careful when you do bad things. Fortunately, this is Winterfell."

Arya was so angry that she jumped up and down: "I don't need your kindness!"

She paused for a moment, her bright grey eyes turned, "...I know, stingy Sansa, you are still jealous of my father appointing me as the Swordsman of Winterfell!"

Sansa's hands clenched into fists and her face flushed. "No, I didn't. I am teaching my sister as your sister. This is my responsibility."

"Teach?" Arya didn't want to argue with the hypocritical Sansa anymore. She raised her fist suddenly: "Then I will also fulfill my duty as a sister! ... Don't move, don't run!"

Sansa was frightened. She lifted her skirt and stumbled down the stairs, panting: "How dare you hit me? You are so rude. I will tell my mother about this!"

"You're a coward who only knows how to tell lies!" Arya was just trying to scare Sansa, but when she thought of her mother's bath brush... she was really angry!
"I'll beat you up first!"

As Arya's voice fell, Sansa froze in place. Her sister supported herself on the railing with one hand, then turned over as nimbly as a monkey, and appeared in front of her almost instantly.

Arya pinched her left hand with her right hand, imitating Syrio's cruel smile: "It's too late to regret, hypocritical girl."

Before Arya could figure out how to teach Sansa a lesson, she was interrupted by a hoarse and familiar voice: "Arya, Sansa."

Was it her father's voice? Her sight moved quickly. In addition to her father, there was also her mother and little Rickon (Ed's youngest son). The three of them were walking slowly towards here.

Sansa escaped death, she hurriedly trotted towards Catelyn: "Mom..."

Sansa suddenly stopped talking. Her mother's eyes were red, as if she had just cried. She temporarily gave up the idea of ​​complaining, and obediently took Lady Catelyn's arm, looking up at her mother worriedly.

Rickon Stark, who was a little over four years old, ran over excitedly, grabbed Arya's thigh, and said, "Arya, what game are you and Sansa playing? I want to join in!"

Arya reached out and ruffled her brother's chestnut hair. Except for herself, her brother, sister and brother all had red hair and blue eyes like their mother... Every day she missed the happy life when everyone was together... With Bran's disappearance, there are only three Stark children left in Winterfell.

Looking at little Rickon who was taught by his father every day, Arya smiled and said, "I'll teach you sword practice later."

"awesome!"

At this time, the brother and sister only felt that the scene in front of them darkened, and the tall figure of their father stood in front of them.

"Arya, the cold wind is blowing and winter is coming." The low and powerful voice of Lord Eddard came from above.

Arya lowered her head and whispered, "A lone wolf dies, a pack lives."

Looking at his well-behaved daughter, Duke Ed's tightly pursed lips curled up slightly and said, "Let's go to the study together."

The Lord of Winterfell's study.

"Yes, Benjen (Ned's younger brother and chief ranger of the Night's Watch) got the news outside the Wall. Based on the characteristics described, it is almost certain that it is Bran and his men." Lord Eddard announced the rare good news to the children.

"Thank the gods." After clasping her hands together for a while, Sansa couldn't help but hugged her mother tightly.

Arya hugged the equally excited little Rickon and said, "That's great. Will Uncle Benjen be able to find Bran soon?"

Lord Eddard frowned slightly. Benjen guessed in the letter that Bran and his companions might have gone deep into the Haunted Woods (located north of the Wall), where many wildlings who called themselves free folk were gathering, which was very dangerous.

Eddard didn't want to ruin the children's good mood, so he paused and said, "I will send people to support Benjen tomorrow. Bran should be able to find him soon."

Arya took a step forward excitedly and said to Lord Eddard who was sitting behind the table: "Father, let me go with you. I promise to bring Bran home."

Eddard felt a bit of a headache. When he was worrying about how to refuse without hurting Arya's pride as a "swordsman", Catelyn's stern voice came over: "Arya."

Arya puffed her cheeks, then stepped back unwillingly. Lord Eddard smiled faintly and said, "You will grow up soon. When the time comes, I will use important tasks to test your sword skills. Now... is not the time yet."

After hearing this, Arya immediately became excited: "Father, you must keep your word."

After being glared at by his wife, Duke Ed nodded slightly to his little daughter: "Of course."

Little Rickon looked at his sister enviously and said, "Arya, I'll be your assistant when the time comes."

Arya looked at her brother seriously and said, "I only accept the best swordsmen."

Then, she glanced at Sansa and said, "A crybaby will never be a swordsman of Winterfell."

"You're so naughty."

At a look from Lady Catelyn, Sansa and Arya, who were about to quarrel, immediately quieted down.

She said, "Sit down, children. The Lord of Winterfell has other matters to discuss with you."

The last trip to King's Landing taught Ben Wolf enough lessons, and he is trying to change his previous habits. For example, he would pick out some things every once in a while and call all his children to discuss them in the form of a family meeting. His purpose is not only to train his children's thinking ability, but also to let his little Ben Wolf know more about the world outside Winterfell from an early age.

He spoke slowly as if he was holding a war meeting with his vassals: "According to the intelligence I have received, the Lannister army has already marched towards Riverrun. According to the time, the fighting should have started there." He paused, glanced at the little wolves, and continued: "Your uncle and grandfather only have one ally left in the riverlands, Seamarsh. What do you think Winterfell should do next?"

As soon as the words fell, little Rickon's childish voice was the first to sound: "Father, we should send troops to rescue Uncle Grandpa immediately!"

Arya nodded and agreed, "And quickly."

After a pause, Sansa's voice rang out: "Father, have you received the letter for help from my uncle?"

Seeing that everyone's eyes were focused on her, she said nervously, "I'm worried that my uncle will refuse the support of Winterfell."

Arya's voice was slightly angry. "What do you mean? I will support you even if you refuse!"

Then, Lady Catelyn gave Arya a look and she sat back down obediently.

After a moment of silence, Lord Eddard looked at his thirteen-year-old daughter and said, "Sansa, you are very smart. Lord Brynden did not ask me for help. I can roughly guess what he is thinking. He is feeling guilty and in pain for Robb's...death..."

There was a hint of sadness in his voice: "It is very likely that he wanted to die together with the Lannisters..."

After a moment of silence, the Wolf quickly regained his sharp gaze: "The North will never forget. Tully is a Stark family member. We must support Riverrun."

Arya spoke up immediately. "I agree. The Lannisters also murdered young Robert. The Wolf will make the lion pay with blood."

Lord Eddard raised his hand to calm down his little daughter and son who were shouting for war and killing, and then looked at his eldest daughter who was sitting there and was hesitant to speak, and said, "Sansa, what do you think?"

Sansa first looked at her father, then at Lady Catelyn, and after a pause, she slowly spoke under her mother's encouraging gaze: "Father, I'm worried that the reinforcements from Winterfell will not be able to reach Riverrun, because... because... the Twins... it's now in the hands of the Lannisters..."

When the Twins were mentioned, the atmosphere in the study suddenly became heavy.

After a while, Arya glanced at her frowning father and broke the dull atmosphere: "If we go by sea, we can just meet up with the Earl of Seafront City's army first..."

As she spoke, her little face wrinkled. She suddenly remembered that her father had just repelled the invasion of the Iron Race on the North. The sea was very dangerous.

Lord Eddard nodded his chin and said, "Yes, the Ironborn are the enemy of the North. If we want to provide support, we can only go by land. Sansa, please continue."

Sansa hesitated for a long time with her childish face before she spoke cautiously: "Father, Mother, can we make a truce with the Lannisters?"

As soon as Sansa's voice fell, Arya was stunned for a moment, and then she said angrily: "Sansa, you are going to be a traitor again! I will beat you!"

Hearing Arya's rebuke, Sansa burst into tears: "I'm not a traitor, Lannister are all liars, I hate them!"

She threw herself into her mother's arms: "Mom, this is the only way I can think of to save my uncle. I don't want him to be killed by Lannister too."

…………

After Sister Mordane took the little wolves away, the study became unusually quiet. Duke Eddard said with a hint of relief, "Kate, the children are growing up very fast."

Catelyn Tully nodded and said, "Especially Sansa. Although she is still immature, she has learned how to think about the overall situation."

Duke Ed also nodded, with a hint of a father's smile on his face, and said, "Yes, she is very smart."

"Ned."

Caitlin came to her husband's side, hugged him, buried her face in his broad chest, paused, and said: "I know what decision you have made."

Her voice gradually choked up. "If...your decision is ten years later, I can calmly wait for Rickon to grow up. If...you can't give me that time, I hope you can consider Sansa. She is your eldest child...Arya and Rickon are too young."

Lord Eddard's chest rose and fell slowly. He reached out and patted his wife's back, sighing, "I'm sorry, Kate, I must restore Stark's lost honor. I will consider your suggestion."

Lady Caitlin shook her head in her husband's arms and cried, "I'm sorry, I didn't teach our child well... Promise me... Let me get pregnant... Don't make me wash my face with tears every day..."

"I'm sorry, I'm not a good husband."

Hearing her husband's self-blame, Kate said firmly: "But you are a good lord, and I am proud of you, Ned."

As the two of them hugged each other quietly, a voice came from outside the study door: "Lord Eddard, Maester Luwin wishes to see you."

The two separated and sorted out their clothes a little before Duke Ed responded, "Please let him in."

The door opened and Maester Luwin walked in. He said respectfully, "Lord Ned, the sellswords from White Harbor have delivered an important letter."

Taking the letter and looking at the wax seal with a flaming red heart on it, Lord Eddard couldn't help but frown. "Is this Stannis's new emblem?"

Maester Luwin shrugged. "This is a faith from across the sea—the Lord of Light."

Lord Eddard unfolded the parchment and asked, "What are Mia and Gendry (Robert's illegitimate children, Chapter 176, Chapter 258) doing recently? I haven't seen them for several days."

Maester Luwin smiled and said, "Shy Gendry has asked his instructor to practice his sword skills in a remote corner. Mia has gone to the Wolf Forest with the Winterfell hunting party. She should be back soon."

"Very good. It seems that Winterfell will soon have an outstanding swordsman and an excellent hunter." After saying that, Duke Ed lowered his head and began to read the letter.

After a while, Catelyn saw that her husband's face had become serious, and asked with concern: "What's wrong, what did Stannis say in the letter, Ned?"

Lord Eddard seemed to have read the letter again. He was silent for a long time before he spoke: "Carter, Maester Luwin, Stannis told me that he plans to lead his army to the Wall to save the Seven Kingdoms."

Maester Luwin asked in surprise, "The Wall?"

Caitlin knew her husband, so she asked, "What else did he say?"

Duke Ed glanced at the two people in front of the table and said, "He ordered me in the name of the king... to go to him immediately when he arrives at the Great Wall and swear allegiance."

(End of this chapter)