5.
He is accompanied by a dozen members of the HOUSEHOLD GUARD, all on horseback. Over their heads flaps the Stark banner: a gray direwolf racing across an ice-white field. South of the Wall the grass is still green and the sun is shining, but the air is cold enough to cloud the breath of four guardsmen as they escort Gared toward the stump of a massive oak tree. Weeks have passed since we saw the ranger but he seems to have aged years, his eyes bloodshot and weary, his face haggard, his clothes filthy and torn.
Ned’s sons, JON SNOW (17), ROBB STARK (17) and BRAN STARK (8) sit on their own horses (a small pony in Bran’s case).
Jon is slender, darker than his half-brothers, his eyes black and watchful.
Robb is big and broad, with fair skin and reddish-brown hair.
Bran sits very still, watching the doomed man. He has never seen an execution before. The prospect of it terrifies him, but he tries hard to imitate his father’s solemn expression.
The Guardsmen force Gared’s head onto the stump. Ned dismounts.
His ward, THEON GREYJOY (19), hands over Ned’s sword: Ice, a beautiful weapon, centuries old. Theon is the only man in the party wearing a kraken sigil instead of a dire wolf.
Ned peels off his gloves and hands them to JORY CASSEL (30s), a bull-necked warrior with a heavy mustache.
Ned walks to the stump. He speaks in low tones to Gared, who responds. We watch this exchange from the boys’ perspective.
Gared’s final words clearly trouble Ned, who studies the condemned man’s face, judging his honesty.
Bran watches from afar, his head slightly cocked, trying to make out what Gared is saying.
There is a great weariness in Ned’s eyes as he places both hands on the hilt of his greatsword.
NED In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name--
As Ned delivers the formal sentence to the condemned man, Jon Snow moves closer to Bran.
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