[Open post] For the Oak and the Ash, they are all cutten down

[winter_came]

Ned has been very quiet, of late. His days are spent looking after his children, those who've grown and those who've yet to be born.

But this morning, his mind is on Westeros, and those children still unaccounted for. Bran. Rickon.

Snow falls slowly, covering the land, flat and hilly alike, and he whispers to himself, winter has come.Nostalgia

Comments

~fashionably late~

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Ned's not the only one feeling nostalgic. The snow reminds Will of home and sneaking around in snowdrifts when he was young and still living at Redmont. It's a peaceful feeling -- so he's standing underneath a tree, with a small smile on his face, though his cowl's up so it might not necessarily be visible.

[winter_came]

For a very short moment, Ned is unsure whether he is seeing an older version of his son Bran, or not - he's got thoughts of his boy, and Will has a similar look to him, from a distance.

Ah, but that may well be why he is walking a touch faster.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will finally spots him.

"Ned!" he calls, throwing back his cowl to reveal a wide grin.

[winter_came]

Ah, Will. Of course. Inwardly, Ned curses himself for believing a moment his middle son might be here, but he likes Will, and so of course, the lad gets the smile Bran might have received, had he been here.

"Young Will Treaty," the Northern lord intones, "it's good to see you again, lad."

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"You too," Will says, easily, and sincerely. "Are you up to anything in particular or are you just standing around in the cold for fun?"

[winter_came]

Ned looks amused enough, despite the lad's familiarity.

"Merely taking in the fresh air, boy," he replies. "As you are, I suppose..."

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"Actually," Will says, keeping a straight face. "I'm just out here because I enjoy the feeling of my toes going numb."

He's joking. Obviously.

[winter_came]

"You must have been meant for the Night's Watch," Ned replies on the same tone.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"Obviously," Will agrees. "It's a shame I wasn't born in Westeros."

[winter_came]

"Nay," Ned replies, probably a touch too fast. "Tis well as it is."

Too much blood, and Will is so young.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

It's definitely a good thing Will wasn't born in Westeros -- he's an orphan. If he'd been born in Westeros, he probably would have ended up starving to death.

"Anyway," he says, grinning. "I met your wife."

[winter_came]

He might, alternatively, have been sold off to a brothel, or sent to the Wall. The latter would be the least dreadful alternative.

"Oh."

Well, that makes Ned smile.

Cat can't help it, can she?

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"There are a lot of you around now, aren't there?" Will says. He's met Sansa and Arya, too.

[winter_came]

"So far as I've been told, only one Eddard Stark," Ned replies, deadpan.

It's a wonder, what Will can don for his moods.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

Will grins. "That's not exactly what I meant."

[winter_came]

"And what did you mean, lad?"

Note how innocent Ned looks!