"Very well, Lord Lucas," Ned said. "I have been able to develop a slight understanding of your offer and what you want in return."
"Give me some time," he continued. "Perhaps a day. I will need to think about it in detail, weigh its benefits and consequences, and then discuss the entire thing with a few of my trusted advisors. After having preliminary clarity on your offer, we could then proceed to discuss things in detail."
"Very well, Lord Stark," Lucas responded. "Please take your time."
"If there is anything that you do not understand or want more clarity regarding about any aspect of my proposal," he continued, "you can approach me anytime. Or, you can send your advisors to my subordinate, Tillie. She can explain things to them in detail. She is one of the most trusted people working for me, is very capable and well versed with my plans and you can take her word to be as good as mine."
Ned nodded in understanding. This was an easier option. He could ask Maester Luwin to interact with this lady Tillie.
"In the meantime," he said. "You can enjoy the hospitality of Winterfell. Perhaps I can ask Ser Rodrik Cassel to organize a hunt for you, or maybe you could go on a small tour."
"There are quite a few great natural features, the beauty of the North you talked of and praised so much in its full display, not far away from Winterfell."
"Anything you need, please ask us unhesitatingly," Ned added. "If it is within our capabilities, we will surely fulfill it."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Stark," Lucas replied. "And perhaps I will consider your second offer."
Ned merely nodded in response, and Lucas's eyes finally landed on the jewelry box placed on Ned's table. It was all the clue Lucas needed for his perception to pick up what was inside the box and what Ned's intention was for it.
"Lord Stark," he said, pointing toward the box. "I assume that inside the box is the necklace that I had gifted to Lady Sansa Stark."
"Why do you say so?" Ned asked with raised eyebrows.
"I do not see any other reason for a jewelry box to be present on your table," Lucas said with a smile.
Ned chuckled a bit.
"You guessed correctly," he replied.
"And did I not already make it clear that I will not take it back?" Lucas pointed out.
"Yes, yes," Ned nodded. "You made it clear. But I also pointed out that this is too costly a gift for us to accept."
"And you think this is costly even after all the grand proposals I have just placed on the table?" Lucas pointed out, and Ned remained silent.
He had no answer to this or he did have an answer, but he did not want to acknowledge it. If their deal really came to fruition, then this necklace was really not that significant.
"Lord Stark," Lucas leaned slightly, his voice very low. "Please allow Lady Stark to have this gift. Though costly, it is hardly a dime of the total wealth I can afford."
"And in any scenario," he added in a serious voice. "Do not consider this gift anything else apart from it being a goodwill gesture from my side."
Ned remained silent for a couple of moments before he sighed and relented.
"Fine," he said with a nod of his head. "We accept your gift."
Lucas smiled brightly.
"Then allow me," he said, "to give it back to Lady Stark."
Ned did not think much of the request and nodded. "Very well."
Lucas again flashed a bright smile as he scooped the box into his hand. He gave one final nod to Ned Stark before leaving the solar.
After coming out of the solar, Lucas sought out a servant and asked him for directions toward Sansa Stark's room, then approached in that direction.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, back in Sansa's room, she was there with her best friend, Jeyne Poole. Her eyes had only just stopped flowing with tears, yet the stains were still present on her cheeks. She had had a big argument with her mother in the morning about her necklace being snatched away, and just now, she had finished telling her sobbing tale to her friend.
"They always do this to me," she said, her voice full of grievance. "And that was a gift to me. How could Mother take it from me? It was so beautiful. I so badly wanted to wear that necklace."
"I did not wear it even once," she added, tears again threatening to fall from her eyes.
Jeyne Poole agreed with that. She had gotten a glimpse of the necklace at the feast yesterday and, just like every other lady, she had been mesmerized by it. She had been hoping to see it from a close distance today in her friend's room. Even if she could not have tried it around her neck, she would have been very satisfied to look at it from a closer distance. But when she arrived in Sansa's room today, she was almost shocked to learn that the necklace had been snatched from her.
"It is fine, Sansa," she responded. "Maybe they had to do it because of some reason."
This was not at all what she truly thought. She too was grieved by the necklace being snatched away. But unlike her friend, she did not have the freedom to say anything against her Lord and Lady.
"No," Sansa countered. "They always do this to me."
Jeyne remained silent and did not reply. Sansa was about to say something more when there was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?" Sansa lashed out immediately, her tone shrill. "Did I not make it clear that I do not want to see anyone, and neither do I want to eat breakfast or lunch?"
"I did not know that you were in such a bad mood, Lady Stark," a voice came from the other side of the door.
Sansa and Jeyne both froze.
"Lord Lucas," she mumbled incoherently. "No… no… it was not about you."
"Please, just wait a moment," she added as she rushed toward her dressing table. She picked up a brush and made a hurried attempt to remove the tear stains from her cheeks.
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