Chapter Text
May 23rd
“Sansa said she’s coming, she’ll be here on the 31st.” Ned strolled up to Cat as he spoke, looking down at his phone and texting Sansa back.
Bringing some1 along??
“Robb and Theon will also be here, but on the 1st. Bran and Rickon are getting the pillows and blankets out of the attic.”
“And Arya?”
The youngest daughter was always a surprise ever since she left for Braavos State, she sent back short letters that usually seemed cryptic until the next one came in. They didn’t need to worry about her like the others, she shown them that she’s more than capable of taking care of herself.
“I’m not sure, Ned. She sent a letter last week, but didn’t answer my question. If only she’d let us pay for her phone plan then she can call or text us whenever. Emails and letters aren’t enough for me.”
He smiled at her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her on the side of the head. “She’s tough that one, takes after me and the north.”
“She’s okay, right?”
“We’d know if she wasn’t. Robert’s boy would take care of her as well, at least he lets his father pay for the phone plan.”
New Text:
Yes, hope that’s okay. Love ya dad
Ned sighed as he read the text, letting Cat go as she went back to making lunch. “Sansa is bringing someone with. I hope it’s not that Lannister boy she was harping over after graduation.”
“I do believe I saw that Cersei sent him away from King’s Landing University. They mooned over each other too much for her liking. Their loss, our little girl is too perfect for him anyway.” Cat plated half an egg sandwich and some chips and handed it blindly to Ned. “Did you want some water?”
“No,” he took the plate and went to the fridge, pulling out a soda, “A new boy though. Jon and Robb are going to hound the poor lad.”
“Oh please, those two are harmless. Protective, yes, but harmless. Did Jon answer you?”
Ned had taken a bite, holding up his hand as he chewed. “Yes, Ygritte is excited to visit Winterfell. Tormund too, I guess. Not much he told me about that lad.”
Cat sat next to him, sipping some flavored water, “Tormund isn’t a boy, Ned. He’s older than Jon, showed him the ropes when Jon arrived at the military base.”
Ned shrugged, eating his food. They fell into a comfortable silence, enjoying eating with each other for the first time in a week. Rickon had been suspended from school for destroying a toilet with a firework and Bran had appointments all week for his insomnia. It kept the parents busy, taking turns with Rickon and Bran, making sure both boys were supported in whatever way necessary.
A crash sounded upstairs and both parents looked at each other, groaning in unison as the boys thundering steps sounded from the stairs.
“I told you I had it, Bran!”
“And I said it was going to fall because you-”
“I HAD IT!”
“Rick I swear to the gods I’m going to punch you in your tiny rat face!”
“Muuuum!”
“Daaaad!”
Ned stood up and turned to the hallway they were shoving each other into the walls. “Boys, enough. Get your hands off each other now. What happened?”
Both boys shoved each other at the same time, stumbling into opposite walls. Their clothes askew as if they were fighting for longer than the last few seconds. Dirt smudged Rickon’s face and dust coated Bran’s hair and clothes.
Cat stood and walked up beside her husband, seeing the boys glare at each other but staying silent.
“Rick dropped that box full of vases because-”
“Because there was a bat on the beam above it! A baby one! Dad come see!” Ned looked intrigued and his face softened at his youngest’s discovery. But Cat gripped his arm and squeezed.
“Rickon, that isn’t a good reason to blatantly mishandle boxes that clearly need better care. I sent you boys up there to get your siblings blankets and put them in their rooms. Did you finish that before destroying my vases?”
Rickon groaned and slumped to the floor, Bran uncrossed his arms and looked away from his parents. The dark circles under his eyes made him look hollow, and Cat felt bad for reprimanding them like this.
“No, mother. I...well we...The bat scared me and Rick was just trying to get it out of the way so he could hand me the boxes.” Bran said quietly. Rickon looked the opposite way, red painting his cheeks as his brother spoke, “And he climbed on to that old stool, I told him it was wobbly but he didn’t listen to me, he wanted to get the bat to a safer place. I let the box slip through my hands.”
Cat looked at her boys and decided that no punishment was required this time, “Alright. Take your father to finish the task.”
Rickon shot up and grabbed his father’s hand, tugging him along as he spoke rapidly about how they could care for the little animal. Ned nodded along, ushering the young boy up the stairs. Bran was slower, he looked at the two of them and his shoulders slumped.
“Little wolf, what’s the matter?” Cat reached out and rubbed his back, her other hand patting down his hair. Dust flew off him with the motions.
“Rick didn’t tease me about getting scared.”
“He didn’t?”
He shook his head solemnly, more dust falling off him. “No, he just immediately wanted it away from me. And I got mad at him.”
“Do you know why you got mad?”
She tugged him to the table, sitting him down before going to wet a washcloth. He sat quietly as she wiped down his face and arms free of dust smudges.
“I guess...I got mad because he wasn’t afraid. Like me.” His voice was low and quiet, the words coming out in a resigned sort of way. Cat wiped his nose playfully before setting the washcloth aside and rubbing his legs soothingly.
“Darling little boy of mine, Rickon has his strengths just as you do. You’re not any lesser than he is for being afraid of a scary creature in the attic. He’s not any lesser than you for not knowing the stool was wobbly. You two worked together to do a task, had you both listened to each other it would’ve went without a hitch. That’s the lesson here. Listen to one another, and the chore is done faster.” She cupped his cheek lovingly, smiling at him as he played with the end of her braid.
“But he’s younger than me, shouldn’t he listen to me first?”
She laughed lightly, “It’s not a matter of age, it’s about respect and love for one another. Family, Duty, Honor. Tully words are just as much yours as they are mine.”
Bran looked up at her and gave a smile, Cat ruffled his hair lightly as she smiled back, sighing as he leaned into her touch. His eyes drooped as she switch to scratch his scalp, pulling him into her lap. He didn’t squirm or fight, letting her wrap her arms around him and rub soothing circles on his back.
“Time to rest, my dear.”