Hearing his wife's thoughts, Ed couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking in his heart that he didn't know where to look.
The king and queen left the huge wooden wheel palace in Winterfell, and the royal family took two large luxury carriages presented by Jason Liu.
The other nobles of the royal lands who accompanied them were finally free from hard riding. They lay on the sofa beds in the luxury carriages they had just bought, traveling comfortably all the way back to King's Landing.
Ed also took two of the Stark family's large wagons—one for him, Bran, and Bran's direwolf Summer, and the other for Sansa and Arya, along with their two wolves.
Robb and the others escorted the king and his father out of Winterfell. Eddard told his son once again to take care of the family, then boarded the carriage, joined the king's long procession, and headed south along the Kingsroad.
Benjen Stark led the wagon train prepared by the Eastern store, following the king's procession out of Winter Town before parting ways and heading north to the Wall.
As in the original book, the little devil did not return with the king's group but instead traveled toward the Wall with Benjen, planning to visit it.
In Tyrion's words, he was going to "pee off the edge of the world."
Although Benjen didn't like the Lannister family, he had to agree to take Tyrion along due to his noble status as the queen's brother.
Unlike in the original, where Tyrion rode a horse and suffered a bumpy, uncomfortable journey, this time he and the guards around him rode in a small carriage they had just purchased. They comfortably toured the northern scenery en route to the Wall.
Jon waited on his horse beside the Kingsroad and soon spotted a wagon with the direwolf banner in the king's convoy.
The guards assigned to protect the royal caravan stopped Jon vigilantly at the side of the road. After Jon revealed his identity, one of the soldiers in a golden cloak rode back into the convoy to ask the newly appointed former Prime Minister, Eddard Stark.
Ed stepped down from the carriage and, seeing Jon waiting on horseback, said to the golden-cloaked guard, "Let him come over. You all stay alert."
The golden-cloaked guard bowed his head respectfully to the Prime Minister, then rode off to inform his fellow guards to let Jon approach.
The Stark family's convoy temporarily stopped at the roadside. Nobles from the king's lands passing by looked curiously through their carriage windows at the young man waiting outside the Stark wagon on horseback.
"Adults…" Facing the man he could not bring himself to call "father," Jon's face was a little stiff.
Ed looked at Jon, who had clearly grown taller in the months since they'd last seen each other.
The childishness had completely faded from his face, and Ed felt a wave of emotion rise in his heart.
His usually cold and serious face softened slightly. "I haven't seen you in a few months—you've really grown up, Jon."
Hearing the old father-like concern in Ed's voice, Jon felt a lump rise in his throat, and his eyes turned a little red. He sniffed and said, "Sir, I heard you were heading to King's Landing today, so I came here especially to see you off…"
"Don't call me 'sir.' Call me 'father,' boy!" Ed reached out and patted Jon's shoulder, which was now nearly level with his own. He was about to say more when Arya and Bran shouted from another carriage behind him.
With the corners of his mouth curving slightly, Ed sighed with relief and said, "Go on, say goodbye to Sansa, Arya, and Bran first. We'll talk again later."
Jon wiped his face, smiled, and strode toward the rear carriage.
Sansa, Arya, and Bran were getting out. Arya ran to Jon's side, hugged his arm tightly, and said with a mix of joy and complaint, "Jon, you didn't come say goodbye to me yesterday! I thought I'd never see you again."
Jon reached out and rubbed Arya's smooth black hair—his favorite sister—and chuckled, "I'm sorry, Arya. I should've come by earlier, but I decided to wait here, knowing you'd pass through on the way to King's Landing."
"Jon—" Sansa's relationship with her illegitimate brother wasn't as close as Arya's, but it wasn't cold either. Seeing Jon come to send them off brought a small smile to her face.
Bran followed with his direwolf Summer, who was exchanging greetings with Jon's Ghost, Arya's Nymeria, and Sansa's Lady.
"Jon, I wish you could come to King's Landing with us…" Bran looked up with his big, sincere eyes. He liked Jon even more than Robb.
"I can't, Bran. I'm a knight under Lord Jason now. I have duties to serve him, so I can't go to King's Landing," Jon said gently, bending down to hug the sweet-faced boy tightly.
Bran hugged Jon back and murmured, "Okay… I'll miss you, Jon."
After talking for a while, Sansa and Bran returned to the carriage.
Arya held Jon's hand, reluctant to part.
Jon glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then carefully took a cloth-wrapped item from under his cape and handed it to Arya.
"What's this?" Arya asked in surprise, taking it quickly.
"Didn't you want a real sword? I got this from a blacksmith a few days ago. It's a narrow blade—perfect for you. Arya, keep it hidden, and don't let Father find out," Jon whispered.
Arya's face lit up with joy. She hugged Jon tightly and whispered, "Thank you, Jon. I knew you were the best."
Jon smiled and patted her. "Alright, get back inside. Be careful not to get caught!"
Arya nodded enthusiastically and climbed back into the carriage. Jon watched for a moment, then turned and walked back to Ed, who was waiting up ahead.
"What's that in your hand, Arya?" Sansa asked, noticing the cloth bundle.
Arya quickly opened the drawer under the bed in the carriage, stashed the rapier in her suitcase, and replied, "It's nothing."
Sansa didn't press further. Since Arya didn't want to explain, she let it go.
Bran sat at the round table up front, playing with his toys, paying no attention to Arya's bundle.
After watching Jon say goodbye to his siblings, Ed instructed the Stark convoy to move ahead. He would follow in another carriage shortly.
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