This is something i work on when I'm having trouble with my other story. I try to use this world to keep my characters in my modern au in character. I'm not sure where it's going exactly or if I'm going to keep posting I just wanted to see what other people thought about it. GRRM has created a beautiful world and characters I'm just trying to play with them.

Chapter 1

The chaos in Winterfell left nobody at peace. King Stark was going over the cost of this feast and no doubt the many more to come. Seventeen years ago the kingdom had be divided once again. After the fall of the Targaryens, Lord Stark had planned on bending the knee to his friend and chosen brother like the rest of the realm. Robert Baratheon had shocked everyone when he chose to split the kingdoms once again naming Ned King in the North. "I know nothing of the North Ned. How can I rule it? Besides I won't have my brother kneeling to me." The words still haunted him. Never in his life did Ned believe he would be the Lord of Winterfell let alone King in the North. There was a knock on his door. "Enter"

His wife stepped in with her eyes shining with controlled rage. "My Queen" Ned said fondly.

"Your daughter will be the death of me Ned." He held back his smile knowing it would only extend his wife's foul mood.

"And what has Princess Arya done this time." He couldn't keep the humor out of his voice.

"I caught her playing with a sword with him." There was only one person him could be.

"I'll speak to them." He said to placate his wife.

"Ned, she needs to be controlled she is nearly four and ten. She should already have a match." Ned had grown tired of this conversation. The thought of selling his daughters for political reason pained him. More so with Arya, Sansa would be a perfect lady of a man's castle it was what she wanted in fact he had already made a great match for Princess Sansa but the poor lad was killed in a hunting accident before they could be joined. That was less than a year past.

Arya on the other hand was far to wild for any of her possible suitors. It took all of his restraint not to laugh when she had beaten a young Frey suitor in a fight. The wolf's blood ran wild through his youngest daughter's veins. He knew how some men were with their wives and he couldn't stomach the thought of a man beating her into submission and breaking Arya's wild spirit. Catelyn had blamed him for her behavior. In fairness his wife was most likely right he had humored Arya with her dance lessons but it was the only way he could get Arya to stop sneaking out of her other lessons. "I said I would talk to them. How do preparations go?" He changed the subject.

Catelyn Stark sat across from him and sighed before giving him a tired smile. "I truly despise these trips, Ned."

"The cost is excessive." Ned frowned as he looked at his ledger book. Every few years Robert and he had taken several months of the year to travel to the others kingdom to discuss business. This year was Robert's turn to visit Winterfell with the upcoming wedding. Ned wasn't looking forward to this trip. Before Robert wet out; he had received a raven telling him about Jon Arryn's death. The news of his surrogate father's death had saddened him but the task of finding a new Hand of the Kings was not going to be easy. Jon Arryn had been the Hand droning his entire reign. Finding a man that could handle the stress of balancing two kingdoms would not be easy. The royal party would be in Winterfell before long so preparations were putting everybody on edge. "Is there anything else Cat?"

"Sansa has asked if there has been another match made for her."

"I am still looking for a good match. Please send for Arya and Jon for me if you will." He smiled at his wife.

"Of course my king." Ned watched his wife leave before returning to his work. Moments later there was another knock on his door. He had expected Jon or Arya to step in but it was Robb.

"Father" Robb peaked inside to see if he was busy.

"Come in Robb. Have you finished with the stewards?"

"Yes father," Robb fell silent and stared at his hands.

Ned knew his son needed to say something. "Is that all Robb?"

His son sighed. "This marriage proposal father."

"Robb it has been set for quite some time." He understood his son's nerves.

"She is so young." Robb whined looking like the youth that he was.

"It is necessary to join our houses and her age will mean nothing once you are joined. She is a beautiful girl." Robb looked up and smiled at those words.

"I haven't seen her in years."

"It's normal to be nervous about a wedding." He smiled at his son and sighed when there was another knock on the door. "Please send your siblings in."

"Yes Father." Robb exited and Jon and Arya stepped inside. Arya plopped down in a chair while Jon remained standing. Arya's hair was a tangled mess and her dress was covered in dirt from head to toe. Jon shifted uncomfortably.

The noise in the hall distracted him briefly before he turned to his daughter. "I thought we had a deal Arya."

"We do I finished my lessons." Arya stared defiantly at him making him smile.

"What am I going to do with you?" Jon smirked and looked down quickly. "Arya your mother is worried enough about King Robert's visit. Don't let her catch you playing with swords again." Arya smiled catching her way out in his words. "Now behave and try to stay clean. Go wash up." Arya walked around and kissed him on the cheek before walking to the door heavily like she was in trouble.

"Yes Father." Was all Arya said as she shut the door behind her.

Ned looked to Jon standing before him a Stark in everything but name. The thought pained him. "How are her lessons coming?"

"She is quick in a one on one fight she would beat most." Jon answered quickly.

"You should learn to say no to her occasionally Jon. Maybe both of you would be in less trouble." Jon tried not to smile.

"Yes your grace." Ned hated to hear those words from Jon's mouth. Jon was his blood and the formalities society demanded mad Jon a stranger to him at times.

"Jon sit." Jon slowly sank into the chair across from Ned. "Jon it's time we talked about your future." Jon shifted uncomfortably. "Robb will be married soon and I have to find a match for Sansa and Arya." Jon frowned at the last name. "She can't stay here forever."

"I know."

"Should I be looking for a match for you as well?"

Jon looked up quickly. "I had thought of joining the Night's Watch." Ned paled slightly the Watch was not what it used to be.

"A noble cause, are you sure that is what you want. I could always use a good man to train and fight. I know there is an agreeable match out there for you." He smiled at his son.

"What woman would want a bastard your grace. The watch is where I belong." Jon kept his voice steady but Ned could hear the resentment when Jon said 'bastard'. Ned longed to tell him who his mother truly was and that he was in fact a prince that had more right to a crown than any that wore one but his fear for Jon's safety and a promise he made prevented him from doing it.

"We will speak more of this when Benjen arrives."

Jon's face lit up with a smile. "Uncle Benjen is coming?" Ned had always known that Jon admired his younger brother.

"Yes he would never let me be alone with all of the Lannisters that are coming." Ned smiled at his brothers words. The same words spoken everytime Robert came to Winterfell. "Go clean up and try and help keep Arya out of trouble."

Jon stood and bowed slightly "Yes Father."