1 year later
Caroline stands with Jon and Robb, helping Bran with his target practice. Well, Caroline helps as Robb and Jon laugh.
"You can do it, Bran." Caroline comforts him as another arrow misses the target. "Take a deep breath as you pull back, and breathe out as you release the arrow. It'll help you relax."
She watches as he misses the target and sends the arrow sailing over the wall.
Jon and Robb burst into laughter, and she gives them both deathly glares. Their smiles fade quickly.
"Go on, Bran. Father is watching. And mother." Bran turns to look nervously.
He fires again, and the brothers burst into another round of laughter. Rickon joins in as well, and Caroline can't help but crack a smile.
"And which on of you was a marksman at ten?" Edd calls down to the siblings. "Keep practicing, Bran."
"Don't think too much, Bran." Snow kneels down to tell him.
Robb follows suit. "Relax your bow arm. "
Before he can fire his shot, another arrow sails straight in the bullseye. Bran turns around to see Arya, holding a bow.
The teens stare in surprise, laughing, as Bran chases after her. These are the mornings that Caroline enjoys the most. That make her feel the most at home. She, Robb, and Jon pick up the bows and take a couple steps back. Caroline had been practicing her archery a lot, and wanted to show off a bit.
She let John fire first. He hits the center, but not completely in the center. Robb hits the ring next to the center circle.
"Watch and learn, boys." She pushes them aside playfully. She notches an arrow, and takes a deep breath. It sails through the air, and ends up splitting John's in half. She instinctively notches another one, splitting Robb's arrow.
The two boys stare, their mouths open in shock. She gives them a small, graceful bow, and hands them back the bow. "Keep practicing." Her secret midnight training sessions with Arya had paid off for the both of them.
Rickon helps retrieve the arrows, and as the group is cleaning up, Theon approaches. "Your father has requested you join him. There has been a deserter of the night's watch."
The boys' faces darken. "Alright." They agree, handing little Rickon the arrows.
Theon turns to Caroline. "You too."
She looks up in shock. "Me?"
"He says that the future lady of the north should bear witness to such things, in order to understand." Theon shrugs. "His words, not mine."
Caroline's stomach knotted up. Why did Edd want her to watch a beheading? Was he testing her strength?
The group quickly saddled up their horses, and Caroline noticed that Bran was coming along.
"Bran, are you coming?" She asked him worriedly. He nods in fear.
Her heart drops for the young boy. He is too young to see such things. "Well, we'll be together. I need you to help me out, I'm quite frightened."
The boy's face lights up a little. "You want me to protect you?" He asks enthusiastically. "What about Robb?"
"I want you there with me." She reassures him. It seems to make him feel a bit better. They ride past the gates of Winterfell, into the open plains. She sees a rock formation, one she's seen many times before without knowing it's purpose, surrounded by many men.
