Game of Thrones: The Legend of Jon Arctic - ASOIAF/GOT

Chapter 18 - Adventures in the North 15.

[Chapter Size: 2609 Words.]
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Eddard Stark POV
North Kingdom, Winterfell, heart of the realm, 289 A.C., On the same day.
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Ned was deep in thought, reflecting on the events of the past few weeks, as he, his guards, and Lord Torrhen arrived at the farm where Jon had stayed.

Upon reaching Torrhen's Square, he immediately grew angry with Helman Torrhen. He had no news of his missing son, who had been in the lord's lands for a while and had become quite famous, yet received no letter from the lord about rumors of a boy with black hair and gray eyes.

Lord Tollhart explained to his lord that he wasn't sure if it was the boy, so he didn't want to give false hope. But when he went to the location and confirmed his description with the farm families, the first thing he did upon returning to his castle was send a raven to Winterfell. However, by the time the raven reached Maester Luwin, Ned Stark had already left Winterfell two days ago.

When Ned learned that the boy had already left the farm, he felt disappointed and somewhat defeated. He had come close to finding Jon, but realized that, in the end, he was too late.

"You said he went north, right?" Ned asked Lord Torrhen at his side, along with his eldest son and heir, Benfred Tallhart, proudly wearing a small leather armor with the emblem on his chest: a brown background with three trees.

"That's right, Ned. We tried to track the boy, but he was faster. Even though I made 30 men available for it, in the end, the trail was lost, and the men were uneasy to continue after seeing the tracks of the giant wolves. You had to see them shivering with the description; few things scare men from the lands of the Tallharts, I can tell you that with confidence." Helman spoke.

"I see..." said Lord Stark thoughtfully.

"Lord Stark, is it true that your bastard stole in your castle, and you sent him to the Wall? Then he fled to our lands?" Suddenly, in the silence, the 10-nameday young Benfred.

The question was loud enough to make even the soldiers flanking their sides on the road look surprised, as it seemed like a delicate matter. But the young one was too straightforward to understand that and asked out of curiosity.

Lord Stark grew somber at this. He knew it was a question without any touch of malice. He already knew this young man, as the boy had become friends with Robb and Theon during his visits with his father to Winterfell. With Jon distancing himself from his heir, young Benfred had never had contact with his son/nephew. Catelyn made sure to keep him away from any heir, but everyone knew, whether from some comment from their children or because everyone knew the term "Bastard of Winterfell."

Ned was internally debating whether he should answer such a question and how, as it was a very complicated matter. First, he didn't like the idea of the boy asking about Jon's escape. But before saying anything, the boy's father spoke.

"Quiet, Benfred. This is not a subject you should ask about, nor is it the appropriate place; just be quiet. I apologize for this, Ned." Helman spoke sternly to his little son and looked apologetically at Ned. But it worked; the boy ended up shrinking and remained silent.

"No offense taken, just a curious child, Helman." Ned said that, but in the end, he inwardly thanked not answering such a question as we arrived at the farm, which was already in sight at this moment.

The first thing Ned noticed was a garrison on the farm to protect it with 15 Tallhart soldiers. Initially, he found it odd to have so many men on a farm, but he continued on his way without asking about it.

However, when he came into view of the farm and its fields, he was shocked by the quality of the land. The soil was visually so beautiful that he wondered if they were still in the cold lands of the north, even though the current season was summer.