The next day, just as dawn was breaking.
Galon, not yet eighteen, climbed out of bed and began preparing to leave.
He washed his face and glanced around the bedchamber. There was little of his own to pack.
So he dressed, fastened his sword at his waist, and stepped outside.
Winterfell was exceptionally quiet.
Galon drew in a deep breath of fresh air, exhaled the staleness of the night, and headed toward the stables.
As he passed Tyrion's room, he could faintly hear the sound of snoring.
Galon did not stop.
The people he needed to say goodbye to had already been seen the day before. As for those he should not bid farewell to, there was no point even if he did.
He walked straight along the corridor.
When he reached the training yard, he saw that Ned and Sansa were already waiting for him.
Galon did not dare delay and hurried forward. "Lord Stark, Lady Sansa."
Ned gave a slight nod, while Sansa looked at him with clear reluctance.
"Come, I'll walk you out," Ned said, turning and leading them toward the stables. "When you return, remember what I told you yesterday. Post more scouts around Seadragon Point."
"I understand, Lord Stark," Galon replied solemnly. "I will see to it the moment I return."
After the events of the past few days, Ned had complete confidence in Galon's judgment and strategy.
Still, Galon was young, and Ned worried he might act rashly or overlook something. He gave a few more careful reminders.
Galon listened attentively, without the slightest impatience.
Seeing how steady he was, Ned finally relaxed and sighed. "It's a pity you're still so young. Otherwise, I truly would have liked to take you with me to King's Landing."
Galon smiled meaningfully. "There will be a chance."
Ned did not think much of it, assuming Galon meant in a few years' time. "Yes, you're young. There will be plenty of chances to go to King's Landing."
"Very well. I'll walk you no farther. Let Sansa accompany you the rest of the way."
There was a hint of double meaning in his words, drawing a glare from Sansa toward her father.
Ned laughed, turned, and headed toward the great hall. He still needed to report the events of the previous night to Robert.
After Ned left, Sansa gathered her courage and asked softly, "Galon, when will you come back to Winterfell?"
"I want to use the hide of the bear you hunted to sew you a cloak."
Galon walked beside her, pleasantly surprised. "Really?"
When Sansa nodded, he smiled. "Then I'll look forward to it every day at Deepwood Motte. As for returning to Winterfell…"
He paused, thinking of the great events soon to come, and said vaguely, "I don't think it will be very long before we meet again."
Sansa took his words to mean the time of their marriage and felt her cheeks grow warm.
She thought seriously for a moment and murmured, "There's still a year…"
Galon noticed her misunderstanding but did not correct it. Instead, he smiled. "I once heard a saying that I think suits us well."
Sansa blinked in curiosity. "What is it?"
"If two hearts are true for all eternity, why fret over a brief separation?" Galon turned his head to look at her. "We will have plenty of time together in the future. Why worry about a single year?"
Sansa lowered her head shyly, unable to meet his earnest gaze.
Just then, they reached the stables.
Robb, Jon, and Arya were already waiting. Roger and five soldiers from Deepwood Motte were loading dried rations onto the horses.
"Robb," Galon greeted him, then nodded to Arya and Jon.
Robb said reluctantly, "Do you really have to leave today? Why not stay a few more days?"
Galon smiled. "Lord Stark is worried about trouble from the Iron Islands. It's better for me to return early and make preparations."
Robb sighed, clearly dispirited.
So much had happened recently that it left him overwhelmed, especially the revelation that Theon had been one of those who harmed Bran.
Though Theon was dead, the shock had not faded.
Robb looked at Galon, unsure what to say, and could only wish him a safe journey.
Understanding Robb's mood, Galon comforted him. "Robb, don't dwell on it too much. Though one culprit is dead and another has escaped, we must remain vigilant."
"Once Lord Stark goes south, Winterfell will depend on you to hold it together."
Robb felt the weight of those words immediately and nodded heavily.
Galon then greeted Arya, smiling as he answered a few of her questions.
At that moment, Roger led a horse over. "My lord, the supplies are loaded."
"Good," Galon said, taking the reins. He looked at Jon. "Jon, say your goodbyes. I'll wait for you at the Hunter's Gate."
Seeing Jon glance around with reluctance, Galon and Roger mounted their horses. Before leaving, Galon cast one more look at Sansa.
"Galon, take care on the road," she said.
Galon smiled in reply, then flicked the reins and rode toward the Hunter's Gate.
A short while later.
Galon halted outside the gate, turned in the saddle, and looked back at Winterfell, reviewing the gains and losses of the past days.
'My betrothal to Sansa, using Jaime to eliminate Theon. I gained what I wanted. Now I wait for the story to reach its climax.'
'This time, I am still a minor player.'
'Next time, it will be my turn to stand at the center.'
His spirit surged, and even the horse beneath him seemed to sense it, stamping restlessly.
Just then, the sound of hooves approached.
Jon rode up, his pack on his back, his direwolf Ghost running beside him.
"Lord Galon, let's set out."
Galon came back to himself and asked, "Not staying a bit longer to talk with Robb and the others?"
Jon shook his head. "No. I've seen everyone I needed to see, given the farewells that mattered. There's nothing left to linger over."
Though he said it lightly, Galon could still hear the reluctance in his voice.
"Don't worry," Galon said reassuringly. "I don't think it will be long before we return to Winterfell."
"Come. It's time we head back to Deepwood Motte."
"Ride!"
With a gesture forward, seven riders and one wolf galloped toward the Wolfswood.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished into the open fields beyond Winterfell.
By the time Robert learned that Galon had returned to Deepwood Motte, it was already midday.
A night of heavy drinking had kept him asleep until nearly noon.
He sat at the table in the great hall, listening as Ned reported the events of the previous night.
"What?" Robert exclaimed in shock. "You're telling me one of the free knights who came with me was involved in an attempt on Bran's life?"
After hearing the full account, he slammed his cup to the floor and roared, "Damn it, who brought that free knight into my retinue?"
"Investigate! Get to the bottom of it!"
"Have the maester send ravens to the surrounding lords. I want him found, dead or alive!"
Jaime and Cersei exchanged glances. Even they were momentarily confused by the revelation that someone else had truly tried to kill Bran.
The atmosphere in the hall grew strange.
No one noticed the flicker of fear that passed through Joffrey's eyes as he lowered his head over his food.
Soon, under Robert's orders, an intense investigation into Joel began and continued for days.
Of course, Galon, already far away, knew nothing of this.
He was still riding through the Wolfswood, leading his men swiftly back to Deepwood Motte.
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