Honestly, I did not think I would gather as much follows with my little prologue as I did. I felt like the prologue was a bit of a mess. I, also, want to clarify that the reason behind making Robb, who was someone that was friendly to Jon, one of Jon's "bullies" (for lack of a better term) has a mini-story behind it that will be resolved at the ending chapters of this story. So stay tuned. ;)
Jon Snow marched towards that balcony with a sense of purpose. Who was his mother? He needed to know. It was a question all bastards have asked their fathers at some point in their life. Was she alive or dead? Jon Snow marched with determination flaming in his eyes. And Ned Stark continued leaning on the balcony railing, knowing full well what was to come and trying to come up with a way to dodge this question. It was something Ned Stark had gotten good at. For eleven years, all people have asked was who was Jon Snow's mother and he has had to come up with new ways to not answer. Because he made a promise.
"Good morning father," Jon Snow had reached his destination. All that needed to be done now was allow his father to recognize his presence, then ask the question.
"Hello Jon. You are up early for your eleventh name day. What's on your mind?" Ned answered, knowing full well what was on his mind.
Jon noticed that his father refused to make eye contact. "Who-," the words got caught in his throat and his eyes began to tear up. He couldn't do it. He couldn't bear to ask now. Too many feelings were coming in at once and it was clouding his train of thought.
"No. I must," he thought and so came in the questions, which were asked with tears pouring from his eyes. He could taste the salt, but he didn't care. He continued to ask. And when he was done, he put his hands to his face and continued to cry. The tears poured through the cracks in between his fingers like waterfalls in a cave. Jon had always been rather good at controlling his emotions, but now he couldn't.
Ned Stark felt his sorrow. It pained him to watch Jon Snow go through what he went through. Every night, he thought of revealing to Jon everything. But he couldn't. He had made a promise.
"I'm sorry Jon. I cannot."
"W-What?" Jon tears stopped flowing. It was like all his emotions had been put on pause.
"I cannot. Tell you. Who your mother is." Ned said through gritted teeth. His face, however, remained cold and unmoving.
"W-Why?! Why can't you tell me? I want to know! Tell me please! Tell me!" Jon Snow began to shake his father's shoulder.
"BECAUSE I SWORE AN OATH DAMN YOU!" Ned Stark's whole expression changed to one between anger and pain. Pain at causing Jon so much grief. Anger at the Old Gods for making him so damn honorable. So honorable, he can't tell a motherless boy who his mother is, because he swore a promise.
Jon Snow, on the other hand, was thunderstruck. No longer was he crying or angry.
"I'm sorry father."
He, then, turned and walked away.
Ned Stark cursed under his breath. Then, looked behind him and saw Catelyn looking on with thoughtful eyes.
"How much did you hear?" asked Ned.
"All. I wouldn't be surprised if all of Winterfell had heard it as well, with all the noise it was causing," she responded.
Ned cursed himself again for being so loud and losing his temper. A Lord must never lose his temper in the eyes of the populace.
"Why must you always be so hard on him?" he asked Catelyn, "It isn't the boy's fault he is a bastard, but you and some of the children are always there to remind him of it."
Catelyn looked away. "I don't blame the boy for his bastardry. It's just… I cannot bring myself to love him. Look at him. He is growing up to look and act just like you. He is a living breathing reminder of how you dishonored yourself and I cannot bear to look at him for it."
Ned Stark remained quiet. He could understand how she felt.
"Who is his mother?" Catelyn asked.
Ned turned to her. "You promised never to speak of that topic to me."
"I know. But why can't you say? Is it such a dishonor that you would rather not speak it?" she asked.
"Yes."
Catelyn turned away.
"You can't comprehend the type of danger that boy would be in, if the secret of his parentage was revealed. You don't understand the power he could and might have." Ned added.
Catelyn turned to Ned again.
He wasn't looking at her. He was staring outside, looking down at Winterfell as he always like to do. But this time, it wasn't because he was admiring the land. It was because he was deep in thought. She realized he wasn't talking to her so much as he was voicing his thoughts.
"That is why I made that promise."