By ancient custom an iron longsword had been laid across the lap of each who had been Lord of Winterfell, 根据传统，凡是曾任临冬城主的石像膝上都要放置一把铁制长剑，

to keep the vengeful spirits in their crypts. 以确保这些含恨的复仇怨灵被封印在陵墓里，不致到阳间肆虐。

The oldest had long ago rusted¹ away to nothing, leaving only a few red stains where the metal had rested on stone. 其中最古老的早已锈蚀殆尽，原本放贾宝剑的地方如今只剩红褐铁锈。

Ned wondered if that meant those ghosts were free to roam the castle now. 奈德不禁扪心自问，这是否意味著那些幽魂如今可以恣意骚扰城堡？

He hoped not. The first Lords of Winterfell had been men hard as the land they ruled. 第一代的临各城主坚毅刚强一如他们脚底下的土地，

In the centuries before the Dragonlords came over the sea, 在龙王尚未渡海来犯的日子里，

they had sworn allegiance to no man, styling themselves the Kings in the North. 他们不向任何人低头，自封为北境之王。

Ned stopped at last and lifted the oil lantern. 奈德停下脚步，举起油灯，

The crypt continued on into darkness ahead of them, 陵墓仍然持续向前延伸，百到没入黑暗，

but beyond this point the tombs were empty and unsealed; 然而之後的都是空的，也没有封上，

black holes waiting for their dead, waiting for him and his children. 有如等待死者的黑洞，等待著他和他的子女。

Ned did not like to think on that. Here,” he told his king. 奈德想到这就不舒服：在这。他对国王说。

Robert nodded silently, knelt, and bowed his head. 劳勃静静地点头，跪了下来，然後低头行礼。

There were three tombs, side by side. Lord Rickard Stark², Ned's father, had a long, stern face. 眼前共有三个并肩排列的石棺，奈德的父亲瑞卡德·史塔克有张严峻的长脸，

The stonemason had known him well. 当年的雕刻师父把他的神韵掌握得很好，

He sat with quiet dignity, stone fingers holding tight to the sword across his lap, 他庄严地坐著，石头手指紧握住膝上横躺的宝剑，

but in life all swords had failed him. In two smaller sepulchres on either side were his children. 虽然当年所有的宝剑都救不了他。在他两旁较小的石棺里，则是他的子女。