299 AC, Winterfell...
Winterfell was in a lively mood today, servants were running to the right and left and carrying many things. However, all the noble occupants of the Winterfell were awaiting before the gates to welcome their lord by the night. They had the first news about him from Manderlys as they sent a letter of him appearing in the White Harbour with a crew of a ship.
Lord Manderly was quick to recognize his lord and welcome him to his castle. Though what the Manderlys talked with their lord and what they learned was still a mystery.
A hundred men from the Manderlys' were escorting the Stark Lord and an additional thousand men were going with him but they were to continue to the Wall.
Ned was the first one to pass the gates and the scene before him was a welcome one. Though some people were missing but still, his family and friends were still there and safe.
According to the formality, they were to greet each other in order but his wife couldn't sit still and rushed to him. She threw herself to Ned's arms and Ned hugged him tightly. After all that he endured, he felt like a needle was removed from his heart.
His children also couldn't sit still after seeing their mother not standing in formality so they also throw themselves at their father. It was a warm sight to see that the Stark family reunited.
Robb was looking like a real man as the hardness in his eyes were evident his battle-tested self. On the other hand, Sansa was more aware of her surroundings and she was looking at him with a little guilt in her eyes. Arya was bolder than before and her arms were thicker with muscle but on the lean side. The last time he saw Bran, he was still in his bed and lying but now, his smile was as broad as his old self and he was taller than before. Lastly, his little Rickon… he was the only one who seemed happy as his old self.
Ned looked around after he separated from his family. Indeed, there were many new faces and each of them brought pain to his heart as that meant that many died for his folly in the capital. Though some faces he still remembered and that was heartening.
While Ned was looking around, Robb ordered some guards to lead the men that came with his father to their lodgings. Ned gave out a little smile when he saw his son ordering people around like a real lord as it was weird to see that a boy he raised to become a man when he was not around.
There were many questions asked to Ned but he did not answer anything for the time being. He said that he needed to rest as he was tired from the journey. Catelyn said he wanted to stay with him while he slept and Ned relented to her request. They retired to their chambers and when he went inside, he was a little bit surprised as the interior was a bit different.
When Catelyn saw her husband looking at the changes in their room she held his arm. "After you disappeared, I kept the room same but then the rumours spread about you… they said you were killed by pirates." She squeezed his arm. "Robb sent orders to Manderlys to use their contacts in Essos to search for you and send some ships to search throughout the Narrow Sea but because of the war, they couldn't send too many ships. In the end, they had to end the search as they were losing too much money." Catelyn looked around the room. "In the end, the lords begin grumbling about Robb's regency so he had to take over the lordship… but of course, we reverted the room to its original furniture last night but the servant must have forgotten to put them in their old places."
Ned nodded his head without saying anything and planted a kiss on his wife's head. He changed his clothes and went into bed with her. Catelyn put her head onto his chest but couldn't sleep as many questions inside her head needed an answer. She looked up and saw Ned still awake. "Will you tell me what happened?"
Ned lowered his eyes and looked at her. He saw curiosity and sadness in there and a trace of fear of the unknown. "I'm sure Rodrik and others would have told you but we found some secret tunnels in the Red Keep and I sent some men to investigate them. Before Kingslayer's attack, some men saw him and the queen having an affair from a hole in the secret tunnels but I ordered them to remain silent so I could explain it to Robert myself. I was going to tell him after he came back from the hunt but when he came, he was heavily wounded and it did not take long for him to pass away."
"Yes, there was news about some assassins," Catelyn said.
"Assassins?" Ned shook his head. "No, it was the Lannisters as they heard about me learning their little secret. After Robert's death, I was going to organize a smooth transaction of the regime but they were the first one to play the game. If not for City Watch's betrayal, everything would have been great but it did not go as I planned and I threw me to the cells. Guards were keeping an eye on me day and night."
Catelyn frowned. "Then how did you escape?"
"When I went to the King's Landing I sent some men to the city before me to infiltrate amongst the smallfolk. They used the tunnels and entered the cells. I escaped by using one of the trading vessels but the pirates attacked it on the way and took me prisoner but one of them hit me on the head and took out one of my eyes after I tried to escape so I was not myself throughout the whole journey. Luckily, they met that foreign Prophet's vessel on the way. From what I heard they were the one who rescued me and nursed me back to health."
"Then, why didn't you come back?" Catelyn asked.
"After the blow on my head, I forgot many things," Ned paused for a while. "And there are still many things I can't remember… However, I remembered you and our children after I heard the Prophet received some news about the North from his men."
"News?" Catelyn was confused. "As far as I know, nothing of noteworthy happened lat three months."
"The temple in the Night's Watch sent some news about wildlings advancing to the Wall in mass. That was the moment something clicked in my mind and I remembered our home, you and our children." Ned squeezed her hand. "I asked a ship from the Prophet and sailed home with some friends I gained while I stayed there."
"My love, you're home now. Nothing matters anymore." Catelyn said as they drifted to sleep.