Catelyn and Eddard are in their bedchamber after making love. Catelyn's bedchamber is always warm thanks to the hot springs that run under Winterfell and course through the walls. The warmth reminds her of Riverrun and days spent with Lysa and Edmure. Eddard states his firm resistence to becoming Hand of the King, but Catelyn cautions him that he must, for Robert may come to suspect his loyalty if he says no. Eddard is still not convinced, saying that Robert would never harm him and Sansa is too young to be betrothed. Catelyn points out that she was twelve when she was betrothed to Brandon, and Eddard wishes that Brandon was there, as he was the one raised to rule. Desmond interrupts and says Maester Luwin is waiting for an audience. He enters and explains that someone left a small box with a Myrish lens and a note in his chambers. He suspects a member of the King's party. The message is for Catelyn from Lysa, written in a secret language she and Catelyn invented as children, and claims that Cersei murdered Jon.1 Catelyn says that Eddard must become the Hand now so he can investigate the murder, and he reluctantly agrees. He laments that his father went south at the summons of a king too and never returned.2
Eddard orders Catelyn to stay and rule the North in his stead and prepare Robb to rule one day. He will also leave Rickon, as he is still a baby, but Arya, Sansa, and Bran will go south with him. Catelyn begs Eddard to leave Bran, her favorite, as he is only seven, but Eddard points out that he was eight when sent to foster at the Eyrie. Furthermore, Ser Rodrik has informed him of bad blood between Robb and Joffrey, and Eddard feels Bran can help bridge the gap by becoming close to the royal family. Maester Luwin asks what is to be done with Jon Snow. Catelyn has always hated her husband's bastard and resented him for it. She has forgiven him for fathering a bastard, as they were apart for their first year of marriage while Eddard fought in the war and she remained at Riverrun pregnant with Robb. What she cannot forgive is how Eddard treated him like a trueborn son and brought him to live at Winterfell. She heard rumors that Eddard fathered Jon on Ashara Dayne when he went to Starfall to return the sword3 of Ser Arthur Dayne, the deadliest knight of the Kingsguard, after slaying him in single combat.4 Catelyn asked him about those rumors once, and it was the only time Eddard ever frightened her. He told her never to ask about Jon again and all she needed to know was that Jon was of his blood.5 Eddard also wants Jon to remain at Winterfell, but Catelyn refuses to have him. Maester Luwin mentions that he had asked Ben about joining the Night's Watch, and Eddard agrees that this is the best solution.
