"You know, I was just talking with Ned about funding the repair of old holdfasts around House Stark's lands," I said in a deceptively mild tone. "Granted, we were going to gift them and the coin to establish them to some of the landless Houses sworn to us, like the Cassels and the Pooles, though don't go telling them that yet."
"I won't," he replied, a light of understanding flickering in his eyes.
"But, given that Ned and I had already agreed to this, perhaps it would be most prudent to find you some land of your own," I gently told him.
"I… I mean…" he stammered, torn between excitement and reluctance. "But… what about the Night's Watch?"
"Hmm…" I hummed. "Aren't there a number of abandoned holdfasts in the Gifts?"
"Yeah, there are," he replied. "They've been abandoned for more than a hundred years, I think."
"Well, if you're so concerned about helping the Night's Watch, then perhaps Ned could negotiate with the Lord Commander," I pointed out, my mind connecting dots and running with the idea. "You could take up a lordship and some land in the Gift, and owe your taxes and bannermen to the Watch instead of to Winterfell. That way, you could still see Ned and I somewhat more often than you could have while serving on the Wall, and you would also be helping the Watch."
"That… that might work," he replied. "Do you think you could talk him into it?"
"I don't think you'll have any trouble getting Ned to agree," I replied. "The hard part would be getting the Lord Commander to agree."
"I think the Watch will take any help they can get at this point," Benjen said with a snort. "It's one of the reasons why I wanted to join."
" One of the reasons?" I probed. "What are your other reasons? If you don't mind me asking."
"I… I…" he stammered. "I shouldn't say…"
"Oh Benjen, whatever it is, I won't judge you for it."
"I… it's Lyanna," he muttered. I cocked my head to the side and waited expectantly. "At… at the tourney at Harrenhal, I… may have helped her sneak off to go visit Rhaegar."
"Oh," I said, deliberately keeping my voice soft.
"When… when Father took Lyanna down to Riverrun, to attend what should have been your marriage to Brandon, I sent a raven to Rhaegar," he explained, his voice soft. "I told him that Lyanna was going to meet him just south of Harrenhal, on the shores of the God's Eye…"
"Oh Benjen," I murmured. Getting up, I came around the desk, knelt next to his chair, and hugged him. "You had no way of knowing what would happen. It wasn't your fault."
"But… I…" he said, starting to sniffle a bit. "Even though she didn't say it outright, I… I suspected they would elope!"
"Even so, it wasn't really their elopement that caused the war or Brandon or your father's deaths," I reassured him, gently rubbing his back. "It was Aerys who murdered them, and his demand for Ned and Robert's heads that launched the war."
"But if Lyanna hadn't run away with-"
"No, Benjen," I replied somewhat more sternly. "If Aerys hadn't murdered Lord Stark and Brandon, the war wouldn't have happened. Rhaegar may have suffered some loss of honor, and may have had to pay some restitution to House Stark, but it likely wouldn't have caused a war, Benjen. Your actions or inactions had nothing to do with it!"
"But…"
"No buts now, dear," I murmured, still running his back. "What happened wasn't your fault. Lyanna's death wasn't your fault either, Ben. It's ok…"
Benjen may have been close to his age of majority, but he was still a child in my eyes. As such, when he finally collapsed into sobs, his face pressed against my shoulder, I did my best to comfort him. He was a child placed into a difficult position by two selfish people (though I shouldn't speak ill of the dead), but he wasn't responsible for what happened.
So I knelt there, whispering sweet nothings into his ear, and comforted him as he let go of his grief and guilt. He was my brother in law; comforting him was the least I could do.
"Edmure!" I called out as my brother (or, this body's brother) dismounted from his horse. Breaking protocol, I stepped forward from among the Starks, closed the distance with him, and scooped him into a hug.
At my insistence, Ned had sent an invitation to my father, uncle, and brother. He had also sent one to Jon Arryn and Lysa, but given that they were in King's Landing, Ned had expected them to politely decline, which they did. Still, while Hoster Tully said he was too ill to make the voyage, both Edmure and Ser Brynden had come.
"It's good to see you, Cat," he replied while giving me a tight squeeze. Stepping back, he rested his hands on my shoulder and looked me up and down. "Well, you certainly look like a proper Northern Lady."
"Why thank you," I replied, grabbing my Winter Blue dress and dipping into a somewhat sarcastic curtsey. "I'm so glad you noticed!"
Edmure laughed. "Always the proper lady, you are."
"Aye, but yet she hasn't greeted her dear uncle yet," Brynden cut in with an easy smile, indicating he wasn't truly upset.
"Uncle Brynden," I said with a soft smile. While Catelyn's memories were mostly emotionless, even I could tell that she had been fond of the Blackfish. "Welcome to Winterfell. Both of you."
"Thank you for inviting us," Brynden replied. "Now, why don't you introduce us to your Lord husband?"
"Oh? You don't know him?" I joked. "And here I thought you had met him at our wedding!"
"That may be," Edmure replied with a laugh. "But, as guests, it's only proper to greet the Lord of the castle, isn't it?"
"Oh, I suppose," I said with a mock sigh. "Very well, come with me and I'll make introductions."
"Edmure, Ser Brynden, allow me to present my husband, Lord Eddard Stark, Warden of the North," I said with much formality as we closed the distance. "Ned, this is my brother, Edmure Tully, heir to Riverrun, and my uncle, Ser Brynden Tully the Blackfish."
"Lord Stark," Edmure greeted. "Thank you for inviting us to the Harvest Feast."
"Lord Edmure, Ser Brynden, welcome to Winterfell," he said. He was wearing his icy 'lordly face', but I could see the sparkle in his eyes. He extended his arm and clasped hands with Edmure, then with Brynden. "While I regret that Lord Hoster couldn't make the journey, I am pleased that the two of you could come."
Leaning in and whispering so as not to be overheard, he added, "Cat wouldn't leave me be until I sent the invites; she's a feisty one!"
Uncle Brynden chuckled with genuine mirth, but I had the feeling that Edmure wasn't as amused by the joke as I was.
"Allow me to introduce the rest of the household," I cut in, if only to distract Edmure. "This is Benjen Stark, Ned's younger brother. He is only a year younger than you, Edmure; I expect you'll get along well."
"Well met," Benjen greeted, briefly clasping hands with the two. "I'll be leading some of the hunts over the next moon; I hope you'll join me!"
"I've heard much about the Wolfswood," Edmure replied with poorly suppressed enthusiasm. "I look forward to accompanying you."
"Finally, this is Karla, our wetnurse, who is currently taking care of my son, Robb Stark, heir to Winterfell," I continued. I gently took Robb out of Karla's arms and held him out to my brother and uncle. "Say hello to Uncle Edmure and Uncle Brynden," I told Robb, even though he was too young to understand.
"Oh!" Edmure replied, looking surprised. "He looks like a Tully!"
"Aye, he wears the Tully colors well," I agreed with a genial smile. "But he has the face of a Stark, or so Ned assures me."
"Aye, that he does," Brynden agreed. "A wolf draped in Tully red."
"A symbol of both of our houses," I agreed.
"Well, if this is Robb, then is that…?" Edmure began, pointing a finger at the other child in Karla's arms. I saw Brynden jab an elbow into his ribs to shut him up.
"Allow me to introduce you," I told them, my smile slightly strained. With practiced ease, Karla and I swapped children so that I was holding Jon. "This is Jon Snow, Ned's natural son."
"His bastard," Edmure remarked with a scowl.
"His legitimized natural son," I corrected. "King Robert, at both Ned and my request, legitimized young Jon as the head of a new cadet family. Ned and I are using the name Snow for him until he is of age, at which point he will choose his own surname."