It's hard not to suspect that this is a conspiracy against the Hand of the King—perhaps even against King Robert himself!
The more Maester Luwin thought about it, the more unsettling the idea became. He knew he shouldn't dwell on such dangerous thoughts. Taking a deep breath, he folded the letter and returned it to Lord Eddard. His old, wise eyes studied the Lord of Winterfell carefully. "My lord, what do you intend to do?"
Eddard Stark looked troubled, torn between conflicting emotions. After a long silence, he exhaled, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Maester Luwin, this news has left me shaken. My thoughts are in turmoil, and I don't know what to make of any of it... This matter is too grave for me to decide on my own."
He pressed a hand against his forehead, while the other clenched tightly into a fist. His mind raced, but no clear solution emerged.
Looking at his trusted advisor, he asked, "What do you think, Maester Luwin? Give me your counsel. At least provide me with something to consider."
Catelyn, standing nearby, watched Maester Luwin with growing anxiety. Her heart pounded with unease, knowing that whatever was decided could change everything. At this moment, she had no choice but to rely on her husband and Maester Luwin to find a way forward.
Maester Luwin nodded, forcing himself to remain calm. He carefully weighed the situation before speaking.
"First and foremost," he said slowly, "whether this accusation is true or not, we must not act hastily. We have only Lady Lysa's word to go on."
"No! I trust Lysa," Catelyn interrupted, her voice rising with emotion. "She would never lie to me about something this serious! Accusing the Queen of murder—she knows exactly what such an accusation means. She would never speak carelessly."
"My lady, I am not accusing your sister of lying," Maester Luwin said patiently. "However, we must not take any claim at face value. Acting on incomplete information can lead to disastrous mistakes."
Eddard turned to his wife, his expression firm. "Catelyn, let him speak."
She pursed her lips but said nothing further.
Eddard nodded at the maester. "Go on."
Maester Luwin hesitated briefly before continuing. "What we have is merely Lady Lysa's perception of events—perhaps conclusions reached under great fear. Her abrupt departure from King's Landing, returning to the Eyrie without notice, raises questions. His Majesty Robert is, by law, the protector of Jon Arryn's heir. What will he think of Lady Lysa fleeing with the boy in secret?"
Eddard and Catelyn exchanged uneasy glances.
Yes. King Robert was named as young Robert Arryn's protector by Jon Arryn himself. And yet, Lady Lysa had taken the boy and vanished without so much as a word to the King. Was this not a direct insult to His Majesty?
Worse still—could Robert himself be suspected?
The idea sent a chill through Eddard's spine.
"No," he said at last, shaking his head firmly. "Robert would never harm Jon Arryn's heir. I know him too well. Jon was like a father to him. His death must have grieved Robert more than anyone."
"Yes, my lord," Maester Luwin agreed, "you, Lady Catelyn, and I may know this to be true. But others who do not understand the deep bond between His Majesty and the late Hand of the King might see things differently."
Eddard frowned. "Lysa should not have left without informing anyone…" he muttered, mostly to himself.
Catelyn stiffened at his words. "Can you blame her?" she countered. "Her husband died suddenly, and the very people she fears could be watching her every move. She acted to protect herself and her son."
Eddard sighed, realizing he had spoken unfairly. He glanced at his wife apologetically, and she, after a brief hesitation, let the matter drop.
"My advice," Maester Luwin continued, "is to wait for word from King's Landing. Let us see how His Majesty Robert reacts to this situation before we make any move."
Eddard and Catelyn exchanged looks. It was the safest course, for now.
After all, what else could they do?
Announcing Lysa's accusation against the Queen would be dangerous. No matter how things played out, such an accusation could lead to war—war between the Crown and the Vale, a conflict that could easily drag the North into its chaos.
And if the realm descended into war, the Riverlands, the Stormlands, and King's Landing itself would be drawn into the conflict. Westeros could once again be engulfed in bloodshed.
It was a terrifying thought.
Eddard Stark had seen war. He had fought in Robert's Rebellion, the war that ended Targaryen rule. He knew the cost of bloodshed, and he valued peace far too much to throw it away recklessly.
So, despite the unease lingering in his heart, he chose to heed Maester Luwin's advice. He would wait.
The next morning, Jason Liu, having finalized arrangements with the Stark family regarding the location of a new logging site, dispatched several dozen men—soldiers he had recruited from nearby villages—to spread word of his "kind and generous" employment offers.
The young men rode to surrounding villages, eager to proclaim the noble Earl's call for workers.
Their words spread quickly, and the villagers were immediately excited. Many had already heard of Jason Liu's reputation—his fairness, his generosity, and above all, the miracles worked by Boris, the healer who traveled in Jason's name.
Months ago, Boris had visited these villages, treating the sick and tending to wounds, earning the gratitude of the common folk. To them, he was a maester, a man of wisdom and healing.
Now, hearing that Lord Easter—Jason Liu—was seeking workers to help build a lumber mill near Winterfell, farmers and laborers leaped at the opportunity.
Even more surprisingly, the soldiers added, "Women can work too. If you have the strength and the skill, Lord Easter welcomes you."
This news caused a stir among the villagers.
"Women too? Truly?" one man asked in astonishment.
"If that's so, my wife should come! She's stronger than me!"
"This is wonderful! Lord Easter is a good man—may the Old Gods bless him and his family!"
Excitement spread through the villages, and people prepared to leave for Winterfell in search of work under this new and unusual lord.
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