Catelyn Tully had long auburn hair and sky-blue eyes; even after bearing five children for Eddard Stark, her figure remained well-preserved.
Catelyn was generous and loving towards nobles, commoners, and her subordinates, always full of responsibility.
However, when it came to the Bastard Jon under her own roof, Catelyn always felt that Lord Eddard keeping his bastard in their home was an insult to her.
Arya, holding her Direwolf Nymeria, looked at Jon as he walked away and grumbled, "Mother, you scared Jon away."
Catelyn said coldly, "I didn't say anything."
With just a look, Catelyn drove away the Bastard Jon.
Catelyn was relieved that the bastard had the sense to leave.
Seeing Jon enjoy the cook Gage's lemon cakes filled Catelyn with anger.
If the Bastard Jon had stayed there, Catelyn couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't have said something venomous.
Catelyn didn't want to lose her composure in front of her daughters, Sansa and Arya; after all, Catelyn valued her image in her children's eyes and cherished her family and children above all else, just like the House Tully motto of Riverrun: "Family, Duty, Honor."
Arya stroked her Direwolf Nymeria, "Jon helped us find the Direwolves."
"Robb found them," Catelyn said, looking at the Direwolves; neither Arya's Direwolf Nymeria nor Sansa's Direwolf Lady had opened their eyes yet.
Arya looked unconvinced, "It was clearly Jon! I heard Robb say Jon was like a sorcerer; he not only predicted the Direwolves but also that Night's Watch deserter, and even the death of the old Hand in King's Landing—he predicted it all.
Maester Luwin also believes Jon has the gift of prophecy and is preparing a report to send to The Citadel."
Catelyn had always been curious about Jon Snow's birth mother.
Years ago, Catelyn had investigated, and the common rumor was that Jon Snow's mother was Ashara Dayne, the sister of the famous Kingsguard, Arthur Dayne, the sword of the morning.
If Jon Snow's birth mother was truly the Dornish Ashara, and his father was Stark of the North, then Jon Snow's birth would truly be "snow and sand."
Another rumor suggested that one of Ashara's Squire gave birth to Jon Snow.
Regardless of who the Bastard Jon's birth mother was, Catelyn's inquiries about Jon's mother in Winterfell years ago thoroughly angered Eddard; it was the first time Catelyn had seen Eddard so furious since their marriage.
After that, no one in Winterfell dared to mention Jon Snow's parentage, and Catelyn wisely kept her mouth shut, no longer inquiring about information regarding Jon's background.
Jon Snow had never shown any prophetic talent before; why did he suddenly acquire this ability?
Catelyn couldn't help but suspect that Jon Snow's birth mother might be a witch.
Catelyn's mother, Minisa Harroway, came from Harren family of Harrenhal, a cursed castle where terrible witches like Alys Rivers and Danelle Lothston had once been its masters.
There were also many witches in The Riverlands; Catelyn had heard various terrifying and bizarre stories about Jeyne of Fair Isle, The Lady of the Green Hands, and Gods Eye since childhood.
If Jon Snow truly had a witch's bloodline, then in the future, he might indeed threaten Robb's inheritance.
If the Bastard Jon mastered the ability of prophecy, he might truly possess some magic, and perhaps he would use magical power to usurp her children's inheritance.
At this thought, Catelyn's aversion to Jon Snow grew even stronger; he was as annoying as the endless snowflakes of the North.
"Mother, everyone is saying the King and Queen are coming.
Will they bring the Prince and Princess?" Sansa's sweet voice pulled Catelyn back to reality from her thoughts.
Catelyn looked at the innocent-faced Sansa, forcing a smile.
"Of course, Queen Cersei's children will all come: Prince Joffrey, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen—not one will be missing.
They are traveling in luxurious carriages, heading north along the Kingsroad."
Sansa's eyes widened, and she clasped her hands over her heart, exclaiming excitedly, "Are we going to see the princes, knights, and kings from the songs? That's wonderful!"
Catelyn stroked Sansa's and Arya's hair; Sansa's hair was neatly combed, while Arya's was disheveled.
"When the Princess, Queen, and Prince arrive, you must both behave well and pay attention to court etiquette, especially you, Arya.
In the future, you might even go to the Red Keep in King's Landing to serve as Squire to the Queen or Princess!
There will be court singers and jesters performing, and King Robert also loves to host various grand Tourneys."
In Westeros, court Squire were almost exclusively chosen from the nobility to foster friendship between noble houses and the royal family.
Sansa's Direwolf Lady let out a joyful bark, and Sansa exclaimed excitedly, "King Robert's family is coming to Winterfell soon! Will we have a Tourney in Winterfell?"
Catelyn often told Sansa about the prosperous South—The Reach, King's Landing, Oldtown, Lannisport, Riverrun, The Eyrie.
In Sansa's mind, these were names from poetry, and Sansa had always longed to witness a grand Tourney firsthand.
Catelyn shook her head, "No, your father would say a Tourney is a complete waste of money."
Sansa was very disappointed, "It seems I'll only be able to see a Tourney if I go south later."
When she first married into the North, Catelyn didn't quite understand the stoic and simple Northerners, but she gradually came to understand.
The North's winters were too long and harsh, with shortages of food and supplies.
Northerners had always viewed the Southerners' Tourneys and lavish feasts as mere childish games of summer.
Eddard, for example, always disdained the South's hedonism and Tourneys.
Knightly culture belonged to the Andal faith; to become a knight, one had to be anointed with holy oil and swear vows before the Seven Gods.
However, the North had a strong first men bloodline; most of its inhabitants were descendants of the first men and followers of the old gods.
Therefore, the North had the fewest knights in Westeros.
Only White Harbor had a significant number of knights; House Manderly alone had hundreds of landed knights under its banner.
About nine hundred years ago, House Manderly angered the King of The Reach and was exiled.
They came to the North and were settled by House Stark at the Wolf's Den at the mouth of the White Knife river.
House Manderly used the wealth they brought from The Reach to develop their territory into White Harbor, the only city in the North.
Jon stood on the castle wall, looking down at Catelyn in the distance, holding his Direwolf Ghost.
As a transmigrator, Jon naturally understood Catelyn's little worries; Catelyn was simply concerned that Jon would threaten Robb's future inheritance.
In reality, Jon was close to Robb, Rickon, Bran, and Arya.
On the surface, Jon was merely Lord Stark's bastard, but in truth, Jon was the son of Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna, possessing pure dragon blood.
If Jon wished, he could conquer the iron throne in the future, rule the Seven Kingdoms, and govern the vast lands from Dorne to The Wall.
Jon wasn't particularly impressed with the North and Winterfell.
In the evening, Jon gathered with his siblings.
Rickon, only three years old, named his black Direwolf Shaggydog, whose fur was as black as night.
Jon held Rickon, teasing him and making him laugh heartily.
Bran held his own Direwolf, "Jon, you've all named your Direwolves.
What should I call mine?"
Jon said calmly, "Summer would be good."
Bran's eyes lit up, "That's a good name."
Robb's Direwolf Grey Wind, Sansa's Direwolf Lady, Arya's Direwolf Nymeria, Jon's Direwolf Ghost, Bran's Direwolf Summer, and Rickon's Direwolf Shaggydog were all placed in a box lined with fur.
Jon picked up a bottle and fed each Direwolf milk.
Originally, the kennel master had planned for a female dog named Jeyne to nurse the Direwolves, but the dog seemed afraid of them.
Thus, the task of feeding fell to Jon.
Theon, standing nearby, showed a mischievous smile, "Jon, you've become a wet nurse.
That's truly a job fit for a bastard!"
Jon smiled, "These are our Direwolves, Theon.
You don't have a Direwolf, and it's no wonder; you're just an adopted son fostered by House Stark, with no Direwolf blood in you.
Your only purpose in Winterfell is to ensure your ambitious father doesn't declare himself king and raise an army again."
The smile vanished from Theon's face, "Hmph! I don't care for Direwolves anyway.
My pets are hounds and those Squire in the tavern."
Although he said this, deep down, Theon always complained that he hadn't gotten a Direwolf; after all, raising a Direwolf as a pet was a very cool thing to do.
Lord Eddard walked over, "Children, I've written to your Uncle Benjen, inviting him to Winterfell to greet the King and also to deal with the Night's Watch deserter Gared.
You'll see Uncle Benjen very soon."
Benjen was Lord Eddard's brother; he had joined the Night's Watch and was now one of its commanders.
Benjen was not only Old Bear Mormont's right-hand man but also the First Ranger.
Robb said happily, "I want to show Uncle Benjen my Direwolf."
Bran said, "Uncle Benjen knows The Haunted Forest best.
Perhaps he knows about the Others that the Night's Watch deserter Gared spoke of."