The port of King's Landing, the sea breeze carries the smell of silt and salted fish.
Duke Eddard Stark looked tired and was saying his final goodbyes to Duke Jon Arryn, the hand of the king.
The long journey to Telosi was like a nightmare of heart.
He spent more than half a year in Telosi, starting with 294AC and returning halfway through 295AC.
On the first day of returning to King's Landing, Ed received a letter from Master Lu Wen half a month ago.
Scholar Leuvin said in the letter that Caitlin was in good health, but the due date was approaching, and he hoped that he would be able to rush back to the north before then.
This news made Ed's heart fly over thousands of mountains and rivers in an instant, and flew back to the gray boulder castle in the north.
He couldn't wait to report to King Robert about the armistice and the disposal of the noble captives.
The king seemed a little absent-minded until Edward mentioned the whereabouts of the Targaryen siblings.
Hearing that Ed had let go of the Targaryen siblings, King Robert's anger erupted.
He slammed the table and roared in foul language Ed had never heard before, accusing Ed of betrayal and weakness.
Ed endured it in silence, sad and sad.
Ed understood that he and Robert were stronger than gold.
But even so, when Tywin Lannister connived at the Demon Mountain to abuse Princess Ilya Martell and her children, Ed had a huge disagreement with Robert.
Ed thinks this is too outrageous, while Robert insists that their death is deserved.
Therefore, he left King's Landing in anger and led his army alone to support Stannis in Wind's Breath.
Now, in the face of the descendants of the enemy, honor and hatred are tearing them apart again.
Ed insists on honor, even in the face of the descendants of enemies who abused his father and brother, and he believes that tolerance should be given.
Robert ridiculed Ed's honor as "the benevolence of a woman who drank too much wolf milk".
Ed can't stand this hopeless quarrel with his best friend.
He didn't want to stay for a moment.
Moreover, the nobles of the northern realm have been tormented in the damp and dark dungeons of Telosi for too long, and they are eager to return.
Early the next morning, he took all the released lords of the northern border and boarded the ship returning to the north.
On the eve of his departure, he pleaded with Schill to send a raven to Winterfell to report the safety of Caitlyn and the children, and to inform the families of the northern border of the return of the captives.
When writing about Domilic's death in a foreign land, Ed had some dawn.
He wasn't sure how Luce Burton would react when he found out about it, but since it had already happened, Ed had no other choice.
In the end, he could only write with the most concise and cold facts.
On the docks, the lords of the Northern Realm stood silently behind Ed.
He looked at Jon Arryn, hesitated for a moment, and still asked, "Your Excellency, Lord Stannis... He didn't come? "
He thought Stannis would come to see him off, maybe say something.
Jon Allin's wise eyes looked at Ed, "Ned, do you have something to say?" "
He sensed the hesitation in Ed's words.
Eddard opened his mouth, and Stannis' warning about Renley's crazy plan almost burst out of his mouth.
But when the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back.
Stannis is still in King's Landing, and he will definitely make a move.
Maybe he didn't come at the moment, precisely because he was persuading Lan Li to give up that stupid idea?
As long as Lan Li dispelled the idea of replacement, the two behemoths of Tyrell and Lannister would not collide head-on, and the foundation of the kingdom would still be maintained.
If he hastily stabbed the prime minister about this, he could disrupt Stannis' plans and even cause him unnecessary trouble.
Stannis was such a serious and stubborn law-abiding man who knew how to measure things.
Ed comforted himself and squeezed out a smile: "No, it's nothing, Prime Minister, just say goodbye, it's time for me to go back to Winterfell." "
Jon Allin nodded, a gentle smile appeared on his face: "Ned, after Caitlyn gives birth, remember to let the raven bring good news as soon as possible." "
"Certainly, Mr. Prime Minister."
Ed solemnly promised and turned to step onto the rocking deck.
The sails were raised, the cables were untied, and the ships slowly sailed away from King's Landing, which was filled with intrigue and stench.
The voyage back to the north was almost depressing.
The ship traveled north along the coastline, and it took half a month to finally dock under the gray walls of White Harbor.
Ed declined the sumptuous invitation of Count Mandalay and continued on his way with his guards.
When he finally saw the eternal gray outline of Winterfell appear on the horizon, more than a month had passed since he left King's Landing.
The biting cold wind was like a long-lost old friend, carrying pine needles, ice and snow, and the breath of the homeland, pouring into Ed's heart.
He took a deep breath, and the cold air stung his nasal passages, but it also brought an almost painful wakefulness.
He rode past the Winter Refuge and through the huge south gate of Winterfell.
However, as soon as his horse stepped into the schoolyard on the west side of the castle's main fort, he was greeted not by the friendly appearance of his wife and children, but by the solemn face of the chief manager, Vijan Poole, Bachelor Lewin, and the coach, Sir Roderick Keso.
Sensing the absence of his wife and children, a cold chill instantly stopped Ed's heart.
He almost rolled off his horse, his voice trembling unconsciously: "Caitlyn?!" She... Produced? What about the children?
Are they all okay? "
Viyan Poole exchanged a heavy look with Scholar Luwin.
Finally, the old bachelor took a step forward, his voice low and sad: "Master... Madam, she... Yesterday suddenly... I had a miscarriage and am resting in the company of my children. "
Ed only felt that the ground under his feet seemed to collapse in an instant, and the cold abyss swallowed him up.
He stumbled into the main fort and rushed to Caitlyn's room.
Pushing open the door, the sight that came into view made his heart ache.
Robb, Sansa, Alya, Bran, the four children all gathered around the bed, their faces full of great sadness and dazedness.
Caitlin lay in a heavy fur mattress, her face as pale as fresh snow, and her lips were bloodless.
Seeing her husband's figure, big tears instantly welled up from her dry eyes, sliding down her emaciated cheeks.
"Ned... You finally... I'm back..."
Her voice was weak like a sigh.
Ed's tears could no longer be suppressed, dripping hot on the back of Caitlin's cold hand.
He knelt on the edge of the bed, took her hand, and pressed it against his frosty face.
"Caitlin... I'm sorry... I'm back late... It's too late.."
His voice choked up.
Caitlin shook her head with difficulty, tears soaking the pillowcloth:
"No, Ned, just come back... I thought I would never see you again... You're in the south... Stayed too long, too long... I really... I'm so scared..."
She gasped, her eyes filled with great pain and loss: "You know what... I've already... The name has been chosen for this child... If he were a boy... It's called Ricken... :"
Unable to bear it any longer, Caitlin cried bitterly, her whole body trembling with intense grief.
At this time, Scholar Lu Wen walked in gently, with a strong worry on his face: "Master, Madam is extremely weak and needs absolute rest.."
Ed woke up suddenly, suppressing his churning mood.
He leaned over and imprinted an apologetic and loving kiss on the back of Caitlin's hand: "My lady, have a good rest, I'm outside." "
He stood up, patted Robb on the tight shoulder, and kissed Sansa, Alya, and Bran on the forehead in turn, gently leading the children out of the room.
When the door closed gently behind him, blocking Caitlyn's suppressed cry, Scholar Lewin led Ed to the covered bridge leading to the armory.
The cold wind blows in through the stone window, sending a chill to the bone.
The bachelor's voice was extremely low: "Master, I carefully checked the food residues used by my wife, and she was poisoned." "
Ed's body trembled violently, and a violent anger instantly rushed to the top of his head, and his eyes turned blood-red: "Who?!" Find out who did it?! "
Scholar Lu Wen shook his head heavily, his face full of frustration and self-blame: "The poisoner is extremely cunning, and the traces are almost completely erased. Madam ate food mixed with poison, and suddenly bleeding heavily yesterday, if it weren't for Madam's physical foundation and tenacity, I am afraid it would have been.."
He didn't go on, but the meaning was self-evident.
Ed's fists clenched, and his nails sank deep into his palms, leaving bloodstains.
No matter what the price, he must find this murderer!
At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a lonely figure in the corner of the school yard.
Jon Snow sat alone on the cold stone steps, with his back to the main fortress, his shoulders swaying slightly, as if the weight of the whole world was pressing on his thin back.
"Jon him.."
Ed's heart sank suddenly.
Scholar Lu Wen sighed heavily, his face full of unbearability: "Madam, she was completely emotionally devastated because of the blow of the miscarriage, and she had a very bad attitude towards Jon, and even kicked him out of the room when he went to visit: :"
The bachelor paused, as if it was difficult to speak.
Ed's heart sank to the bottom, and his voice was cold: "Go on, Master Lu Wen." "
Bachelor Lu Wen lowered his eyes and said with difficulty: "Madam, my emotions were out of control at that time... She... She screamed at Jon, saying that it was all his poison, that he killed her unborn child..."
Ed only felt a huge sourness and sadness blocking his throat, and he could hardly breathe.
Because of his promise to Lyana, Jon was brought back to Winterfell to be raised as his "illegitimate child", which was always a scar that Caitlin couldn't heal.
She has never hidden her indifference and rejection of Jon, seeing him as a potential threat to her biological children's inheritance.
Now, under the pain of losing his son, this resentment that has been suppressed for many years has completely erupted.
Ed looked at the lonely young back in the corner, wronged by his loved ones in the most cruel way, then at the closed door behind him, and finally turned his gaze to the lead-gray northern sky outside the window, as if there would never be an end.
He finally returned to the haunted Winterfell.
But what awaited him was a more bitterly cold and boundless pain than the conspiracy of the south and the wind and waves of the sea.
The cold wind of winter has never been so biting as it is at this moment.