chapter 102 part 3
Dik had a certain confidence in the skills he had honed by killing chickens, plus... for Yuria's sake, he would give his life. As long as his sister could continue to live a good life, he was not afraid of sacrifice.
Glyn looked at Dik and Yuria, who seemed to be bidding a final farewell, and nodded inwardly.
"Dik, you are my kinsman. I will not put you in mortal danger or assign you dangerous tasks like assassination. If possible, I hope you will live well and even have a castle of your own one day."
Pausing for a moment, Glyn continued, "When you complete the mission, you two will be reunited. Not only will you receive my reward, but I will also grant you the legal right to the Crabbe name.
"Yuria, possessing the status of a highborn, will find a husband who satisfies her, become the lady of some territory, live in love with her husband, and raise their children together.
"And you, Dik, you will have your own territory and castle, and your highborn children will be your legal heirs."
"Why has this joy come so suddenly?" Dik's eyes reddened as he said, "Lord Glyn, I..."
Dik couldn't continue, fiercely wiping away the tears welling at the corners of his eyes... He couldn't cry, it was too unmanly.
Glyn walked over and patted Dik's arm. "This concerns the future of our House. A strong House Crabbe is your foundation. Work hard for the strength of our House, and in turn, the House will protect you. Dik, for your sister, and for yourself, complete my mission well."
...
...
The North, Winterfell.
Winterfell was situated in the heart of the northern region of the Seven Kingdoms, connected to King's Landing and The Wall by the Kingsroad.
It was a massive castle complex covering several acres, including two thick stone walls and a village situated at its gates.
Winterfell itself was built around an ancient Godswood and over a hot spring. Steaming hot water was piped through its walls, flowing through the keep like blood in a human body to warm the rooms, making Winterfell more comfortable in winter than other castles in the harsh North.
Of all the rooms in Winterfell's main keep, Catelyn's bedchamber was the stuffiest, so much so that there was rarely a need to light the hearth for warmth.
[Catelyn Tully is the wife of Lord Eddard Stark and the eldest daughter of Lord Hoster Tully of Riverrun in the Riverlands.]
Eddard Stark could never tolerate this kind of heat. He said that the people of House Stark were born to keep company with ice and snow. Catelyn would laugh in reply, "If that's truly the case, then their castle was certainly built in the wrong place."
[Eddard Stark is the head of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North. His nickname is Ned.]
After making love with his wife, Eddard Stark climbed out of bed, pulled aside the heavy brocade curtains, and pushed open a narrow window. The cold night air immediately flooded the bedchamber.
At 35, Eddard had a powerful build and always wore a solemn expression. He had the long face characteristic of House Stark, with dark brown hair and grey eyes. His neatly trimmed beard was already beginning to turn grey.
Catelyn pulled the warm fur blanket up to her chin and watched her husband in silence. She was still a little sore, but it was a pleasant kind of soreness.
Catelyn had auburn hair and blue eyes. Though over thirty and having borne five children, she was still beautiful.
"Catelyn, I received a letter from Robert a few days ago. He said Jon Arryn is in very poor health and asked me to come to King's Landing to help share the duties of the Hand."
Hearing this, Catelyn sat up in bed, a hint of anger in her voice. "Lord Jon Arryn? Is it serious? My poor sister... Ned, you should have told me this sooner!"
"I'm sorry, Catelyn. I've been feeling uneasy and didn't want you to worry with me."
Catelyn huffed softly and said, "The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives."
Eddard shook his head. "I can never win an argument with a Tully."
Catelyn glanced at Eddard and comforted him, "Grand Maester Pycelle is a highly skilled physician. You shouldn't worry too much."
After a pause, Catelyn suddenly added, "For King Robert to ask you to go to King's Landing... could it be that Lord Arryn is already terminally ill?"
Eddard nodded. "That's what I'm worried about, but I don't think so. I know Robert. If it were that serious, he would have written it plainly."
Catelyn breathed a sigh of relief. Her greatest worry was for Lysa and Lysa's young son.
"Ned, what do you want to do?"
After a moment of contemplation, Eddard spoke, "Winter is coming. My home is here. My duty is in the North."
But Catelyn was worried and hesitant. "He won't care about any of that. He's the King now, and a King can't be judged by the standards of ordinary men. If you refuse him, he'll surely wonder why and then suspect you of harboring dissent. Can't you see the danger a refusal might bring us?"
Lord Eddard shook his head, his tone firm. "Robert would never do anything to harm me. He loves me more than his own brothers. If I refuse, he'll fly into a rage and curse endlessly, but after a while, he'll just scoff at the whole thing. That's the kind of man he is!"
Catelyn disagreed. She felt that Eddard was sometimes too naive. She advised, "That was the man he was. The King he is now has become a stranger to you."
Eddard's tone was tinged with sorrow. "In his entire life, my father went south only once, and he never returned."
King's Landing would forever be a painful memory for Lord Eddard. Both his father and elder brother had died there.
Catelyn let the fur blanket slip from her body and reached out to her husband, whose face was etched with pain.
"Ned..."
Lord Eddard walked over, his large hand enveloping his wife's slender fingers.
"What do you plan to do?"
Eddard patted Catelyn's hand. "Tomorrow morning, I'll have Maester Luwin arrange for a raven. I want to contact Renly Baratheon first to understand the situation, then I'll make a decision."
For reasons unknown, Catelyn suddenly felt a sense of fear and deeply embraced her husband.
(end of chapter)