Chapter Text
The sun was just beginning to crest over the horizon, reflecting on the small layer of snow that had fallen overnight. Arya took in the beauty, not knowing when she would be able to see such a sight again. By midday the snow would be gone, and so will she.
“It is a peaceful sight.” Her brother’s voice called to her as he came to stand beside her, “Makes it difficult to leave behind, I am sure.”
“Aye, a sight I might never see again.” She replied before turning to look at him, “Storm’s End is a long way.”
Jon nodded, “It is, but not impossibly so. Visits might end up being far and inbetween, but they shall happen. I will want to meet my niece or nephew after all.”
She smiled at him, “I suppose next time I see mine they shall be walking and talking. Winterfell will soon be filled with the sound of running feet and children’s mischief once more.”
“I never thought any of those children could be mine.” He told her, a wistful tone to his voice.
Arya pulled him into a hug, “I will miss you. I will miss all of you.”
“This is not a goodbye that will last forever, I promise you.” He told her.
She wondered if he was thinking of the last time they said goodbye from this castle, so much had happened since that day. She forced herself to pull away, “Once all is settled I will need to insist on hosting you all in Storm’s End. If I am to be a proper Lady, then I will need to act the part.”
Jon let out a chuckle, “I wouldn’t dare refuse an invitation from the Lady of Storm’s End.”
Arya looked back over to the brightening sky, for all their words, it would not be easy seeing each other again. They each had multiple responsibilities and traveling for months at a time would not be something easily accomplished. They passed the rest of the time in silence, waiting until it would be time to break their fast, and say their goodbyes once more.
Sansa looked around the table as they broke their fast, a smile on her face as she took in the three generations that surrounded it. Her mother was holding the now 3 day old Eddard, while Jon and Jeyne each held one their children. Usually the children were not present for these meals, as it was not something they could participate in, but an expectation had been made for this day.
Robb slowly got to his feet, “I want to say that I’m going to miss having you all here. I know that you have your own duties to attend to but selfishly, I wish that you did not have to leave.” He then slowly raised his cup, “To Prince Theon and Princess Sansa, I wish you calm seas and swift winds on your voyage. The Iron Islands will know prosperity under your strong leadership.”
Sansa smiled at him and everyone else as they raised their cups in agreement.
Robb then raised his cup once more, “To Lord Gendry and Princess Arya, I wish you safe travel and good weather on your journey. The Stormlands will have certainly never had ones such as yourself to lead them and I look forward to hearing of all your successes.”
Sansa raised her cup this time, and took a sip of the sweet wine.
“Finally, an announcement for all. Our dear brother has agreed to take on the seat that he rightfully conquered,” Robb raised the cup, “To Brandon Stark, the new Lord of the Dreadfort.”
The congratulations flowed in both words and drinks, but it was sadly short lived. They had long journeys to begin, and they could not delay any longer. For as the words of House Stark said, Winter Is Coming, and it even came to the South.
Catelyn was making sure that everything was set for the departures of her daughters. She had always known that one day she would be sending them off to live in some other castle, but after all the last few years had brought, it was harder than she thought it would be. Catelyn ran her hand over one of the loaded carts, thinking back to the day she had been loaded into a carriage with a infant Robb against her chest to come here, to Winterfell. She was grateful that her daughters would not be taking their own journeys alone.
She noticed Sansa enter the courtyard, her wolf pup at her feet, and walked over to join her.
Sansa smiled at her, “Mother.”
Catelyn reached up and tucked a piece of Sansa’s hair behind her ear, “Do you have everything you need?”
Sansa nodded, “I believe so, everything that matters anyway. It is not as though Pyke is sitting empty.”
“Do you think your young wolf will be able to handle the ship?” She asked, looking at the still growing pup.
“Ember is still young, she will be able to adapt well to life on a ship I think.” She replied and bent down to pet the wolf, “Besides, if I am to be Queen of the Iron Islands, we will both need to get used to the sea.”
“Aye, that you shall.” Catelyn replied with a smile before she looked away, “Shall I be welcoming another grandchild soon?”
Sansa smiled at her as she got to her feet, “Only the gods can answer that Mother.” She then paused before adding, “Speaking of your next grandchild. Will you be going down to Storm’s End for Arya’s labors?”
“I do not think she wants me there. Whenever I have mentioned it she changes the subject. She has always been independent.” Cat replied, looking across the yard to where the Baratheon caravan waited, though her daughter was not in sight.
“I would ask her again. I think she needs you more than she is willing to admit.” Sansa told her before gesturing in the direction of the Godswood.
Catelyn turned to see Arya turning the corner, she gave Sansa another quick hug before heading in the direction her youngest daughter went.
Once in the Godswood she walked toward the heart tree, assuming her daughter wanted to pray to the Old Gods she still followed before leaving.
Catelyn watched as Arya kneeled before the tree, Nymeria sitting beside her. She did not want to interrupt her daughter’s prayer and waited to make her presence known until she stood up. Arya turned and saw her there, “Mother.”
“I didn’t want to miss a chance for us to talk before you left.” Catelyn said, watching as her daughter walked closer, the bump of her belly leaving no doubt of what state she was in.
“Do we have more to discuss?” Arya asked her.
Catelyn waited a moment before saying, “I will be coming down to Storm’s End in two moons. I want to be there for you when you have your labors.”
“I have already said that I will not need you. Robb needs you here, he is ruling a kingdom.” Arya insisted.
“Arya. I want to be there for you.” Catelyn replied, “Your brother has already won a war and kingdom, he does not need his mother holding his hand.”
“I do?” She shot back.
“I wish I could have had my mother with me when I had Robb, instead all I had was the midwives and maester. I was never even given a choice and I want to make sure you have one. I will be coming to Storm’s End, if when I arrive you do not want me with you, I will not push it.” Catelyn said before placing a hand on her daughter’s arm.
Arya was silent for a long moment before Nymeria nudged her hand, Catelyn watched as her daughter sank her fingers into the direwolf’s fur before saying, “I will gladly welcome you at Storm’s End, Mother.”
Catelyn smiled, “If you want me to come earlier, send a raven and I will as soon as I am able.”
Arya nodded, “I shall.” She said with a smile, “We shouldn’t delay any further, I have a long ride to White Harbor.”
“I do wish you would ride in the carriage.” Catelyn mentioned as they walked toward the courtyard.
“Maester Luwin said as long as I keep the horse to trot that it will not cause any harm to the babe.” Arya told her, “I will be careful, Mother, I promise.”
Catelyn stopped and pulled Arya in for a hug, “I love you Arya.”
Arya returned the hug eagerly, “I love you too.”
Robb was standing in a line, with his brothers around him, watching as his sisters and their husbands approached them. He was sad to see them go, having everyone in Winterfell once more had been wonderful. He didn’t know when he would be able to see his sisters again, he was now a King, and they had their own duties to attend to.
Arya spoke first, “Do not frown Your Grace, what might your subjects think.”
Robb chuckled and a small smile came to his lips, just his sister’s plan he was sure, “I would hate to let them believe that their King is unhappy.”
They all fell back into silence, the only sounds that of the men and horses waiting to take them all on their way.
“This is only a temporary goodbye.” Catelyn said, “We should not prolong it any longer. You both have long journeys ahead and we should not waste the daylight.”
Robb watched as his mother reached forward and hugged Sansa, seeming to whisper something in her ear before letting go and doing the same to Arya. That began the procession of hugs and handshakes between three of the Great House of Westeros.
Arya and Gendry leave first, heading south toward White Harbor where a ship was waiting to take them to Storm’s End. Their modest host emptied from the courtyard quickly, with only 20 horses and a single supply wagon. A howl rose in the distance as Nymeria joined them, a direwolf would soon be calling the Stormlands its home, he hoped the Stormlanders were prepared.
Sansa and Theon left immediately after but their destination was in the opposite direction. They had a small ship waiting for them at Torrhen’s Square which would take them down the river to where a larger ship was waiting in Blazewater Bay to take them to Pyke. Robb wondered if the people of the Iron Islands were ready to have a Northern Queen, and if his sister was truly ready for the different culture she was about to experience.
Robb turned away from the gates and headed up to the battlements, Grey Wind following him. He watched as Arya’s group rode down the Kingsroad, making quick work. Heading west was Sansa’s group, heading down the rockier road toward Torrhen’s square. A thought to implement a network of roads between the larger castles in the North like they had in the South crossed his mind. He would need to remember to talk to his advisors about it, though it would probably need to wait for spring.
Jon and Ghost joined them in their watch, silently coming to stand beside him as the groups became smaller and smaller until eventually they disappeared from sight. Robb then turned to look at his brother, he was wearing a brown leather vest that proudly displayed the Stark sigil along with a fur cloak, one that matched Robb’s own. Sansa had gifted them to all of her brothers the night before. Robb remembered how for years before everything changed Jon would only wear black, as if he was already a member of the Night’s Watch. Black was Jon Snow’s color, now Jon Stark wore the color no more.
“Thank you.” Robb said to his brother.
Jon turned to him, a confused look on his face, “What for?”
“When I sent Theon to get you from the Wall, you came. I know that your wish had always been to become a number of the Night’s Watch and you threw that away to help me. I am not sure I would not be standing here now if you said no. Thank you for saying yes.” Robb explained.
“I was only going to the Night’s Watch because it was the only place that I thought I could make something of myself.” Jon told him, “Growing up it was always made clear to me that you were the future Lord of Winterfell and I was nothing but the Bastard of Winterfell and that was all I could ever hope to be. In the Night’s Watch though, I would have the opportunity to be more. Being a ranger like Uncle Benjen seemed a much better option than whatever uncertain future I would have had here. I could not refuse your call for aid when I had the opportunity to give it. The lone wolf dies but the pack survives, as Father used to say.”
“Aye.” Robb replied, “The pack is stronger now, and it will only grow in time.”
Jon nodded, “You have restored a crown to House Stark, one your son will wear after you, and your grandson after him. My descendents and Bran’s and Rickon’s will be there to support them. House Stark will live on, not only here but in the Iron Islands and the Stormlands as well. Father would be proud of you.”
“I didn’t do it alone. You stood by my side throughout it all. Arya helped secure the alliance with Stannis. Sansa and Theon kept the Iron Island’s alliance stable. Even Bran and Rickon played their part, keeping the North safe in my absence from forces within. He would be proud of all of us.” Robb replied, turning back to look over the rolling hills around them, “I just wish he could be here to see it.”
“If Father was still here, none of this would have happened. His death had just as much consequence as a King.” Jon mussed.
Robb nodded, “Three men changed the outcome of Westeros once and their death brought on yet another change. I doubt any of them would have thought it would be so.”
“Let us focus on the future instead of the past.” Jon said, “We have families to raise and a kingdom to prepare for winter.”
Robb nodded, “You are right, winter is coming.”