DISCLAIMER: Hi, everyone! I am letting everyone know that I do not own Game of Thrones (obviously). I would also like to inform everyone that I write for and by choice. My writing is not professional, nor is it edited by anyone other than me. Feel free to inform me if you see something incorrect (in either a grammatical or informational sense), but unnecessary rudeness will not be tolerated.
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WARNING: the content in this fanfiction may be triggering to some people. Contains [Rape, sexual violence, violence in general]
As Hermione walked over to Ned's Solar, she began to think about what would have to be done to protect their future. Well, Ned cannot go to Kings Landing..at least without me...and I will not have Sansa put in the same abusive position she was in last time. Joffrey is a cruel child, and I will not have her betrothed to him if I can help if. I should encourage Arya, her swordsmanship made her such a strong person as well. And Bran! He most definitely will not be falling from the tower this time. We have more time to deal with the problem of white walkers.
"Mother!" she heard a voice from behind her call out. Turning backwards, she caught sight of a smiling Jon running towards her, slightly out of breath.
"Hello sweetling, how are you? You seem as though you've been in a mud fight!" it was true, Jon was covered in dirt and grime.
"Robb pushed me into the mud when I won, sore loser that one." the statement caused them both to let out a chuckle before Hermione pulled out her wand and cast a quick scourgify cleaning Jon of mud and grime in a quick second.
"Sweetling, I know you and Theon don't get along well with each other, but I wanted him to know that he has someone to look after him in me. I told him he could call me aunty or mother if he wished to." seeing that Jon was about to protest, Hermione held up her hand. "Jon, I may not have been here as you grew, but you had your father and siblings. Theon is alone here, without parents or family, which is most likely why he feels so jealous of you, and why you argue so much with each other. You are mine, my son. I only wish to give him a sense of belonging here. Alright?"
"Alright, mother. I understand." Hermione leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"Good, now then let's go bother your father, hmmm?" Jon let out a snort and nodded, putting his arm through her free one, one hand going out to rustle the sleeping Rickon's hair. "Yes, my dear Eddard will not be having a peaceful day.!"
Jon had kissed his mother on the forehead and left her in front of Ned's Solar, going off to find Robb and Theon.
"Ned!" Hermione sang her way into his solar, "we have some things to discuss!"
Ned looked up from the paper he was holding, the frown clearing from his face.
"Hermione, what can I do for you?" Ned stood up from his place at his desk and put his arms out, indicating for her to give him Rickon.
"Hi papa, hi!" Rickon giggled in his father's hands, reaching up to tug on his hair
"Hello Rick, what have you been doing today?" Ned attempted to release his hair from his son's grasp but ended up giving up when his son persistently began to tug.
"Was with mama! She used a stick and made food! And I got a blanky." as his exclamation, Ned's eyes widened and his head shot up.
"Mama?" Ned's voice was...awed maybe? Possibly confused. "He calls you mama?"
"Yes, he told me he likes me better than your wife. How truly unfortunate." The smile did not leave Hermione's face as she said this, negating her statement entirely. "Rickon has requested that he stay in a room connected to mine, or my room itself."
"Alright, there's a fine room next to my bed-chamber, it has an additional room that could be Rickon's until he is old enough to have his own room. I'll have a lady's maid assigned to you."
"Ah right, Ned, speaking of your bedchambers, you have yet to introduce me to your dear wife." Ned took in a tired sigh, the statement seemed to crush his good mood.
"Yes, I'll have to introduce you to catelyn, but i think you should get to know the rest of the children a bit better before that. I'm honestly dreading your meeting. Catelyn may be stubborn, but she is not nearly as fierce as you." Ned looked half amused and half exasperated. "I will also have to deal with backlash from the Tullys. They won't appreciate that my mistress has returned to Winterfell, but my heir will be tully, and therefore they have nothing substantial to complain about."
"Well, Ned, that sounds like a solved problem itself. If you make the work I've done public, then the people of the North will have a high regard for me. Introduce me as the children of the Old Gods, and I will prove your claims. This way there will be little backlash towards you."
Ned nodded his head at that, pulling Rickon close to his chest and gesturing for her to sit with him on the fur-covered seats to the side of his desk.
"Ned, there is something else we need to talk about," seeing the grave look suddenly appear on his lover's face, Ned sat up straight and leaned forwards slightly. "In a week and some nights, your wife will receive a letter from Lysa Arryn. It will say that the Lannisters have poisoned Jon Arryn."
Ned's eyes widen and he stiffens, but before he can speak, Hermione continues her little speech.
"They did NOT. It was Lysa, who was convinced to do so by Littlefinger, Petyr Bealish. He wanted to instigate a fight between House Stark and Lannister. After Lord Arryn's death, King Robert will home here and ask you to become his hand. That is the catalyst for all the tragedies that befall house stark."
Ned sat shell shocked for about a full minute, before transferring Rickon into her hands, and cupping his face. He was obviously both devastated and overwhelmed by this news.
Oh Ned, this must be so hard for him. Jon Arryn was like a father to him.
"Does that mean that I should deny Rob's request, that I should not take the position of hand of the king. And we must do something about Baelish"
"No Ned, you can take the position, but you need to bring me with you. Robert will want to assassinate the Targaryen girl, and his insistence will make you resign your position. Your resignation will anger him, and that evening he will die, he will be gutted by a boar. We will need to prepare for that, so that I may prevent it. We will deal with Baelish when we get to Kingslanding"
Ned was nodding along now.
"Alright, you will come with me. I have a feeling that Robert will push me to betrothe Sansa and Joffrey."
"DON'T! Don't Ned, he is a cruel child, and will be an even crueller king. We need to speak to her, convince her he is not a good man. Let me do it. Betroth her to someone like Willas Tyrell."
"Willas? He is what, 20 name days? She is only 10 and 3 namedays!" Ned's face contorted into upset, maybe even indignation.
(A/N: In this story Willas Tyrell will be 20, as this will make the relationship less inappropriate. Please remember this is set in a medieval time and that he is one of the few kind men Sansa could be with.)
"That is true, but he is one of the few men who will truly treat Sansa well. She will make close friends with Margery and Olenna Tyrell, and will truly be happy with him. He is the kind of man she has wanted to marry….not to mention he is truly quite handsome."
"If you truly believe so, then fine. You know I only want her to be happy." his exhausted voice set Hermione into action.
"Come Ned, you are tired, and you haven't eaten since breakfast. Let me make you something hmm?"
"Yourself? I would be honoured, my dear lady."
"Come then, My dear Lord Why don't I make something for all the children as well. Your wife is still locked up in her room."
(PAGE BREAK)
"Jon! Robb! Theon!" three heads turned at Hermione's voice turned the heads as she walked through the courtyard with Rickon on her hip and Ned at her side, hand on the small of her back. "Come with us! We're heading to get Sansa and Arya, I'm going to make you all a snack!"
Two shouts of "coming mother!" and one slightly quieter "what the fuck is a snack?"
And then suddenly there was a little pack of wolves marching through the courtyard to find their siblings
"Erm...lady Hermione? What exactly is a snack?"
"Oh honestly Robb," wow, that's a nearly nostalgic sentence. "You need not call me so formally. Call me Hermione, or aunt if you are more comfortable with that."
"Right then...Aunty, What is a snack?" Robb looked more comfortable around after Hermione's little reprimand.
"A snack is just a little bit of food, meant to be snuck and eaten conveniently, Robb. Its all the more fun when you are supposed to be doing something else!"
Reaching the Great Keep, and then the small drawing room, Hermione called out to the girls
"Sansa! Arya! Come we are all heading to the kitchen to grab a bite of food. Take a break from your lessons for now."
Looking up from their work, Sansa smiled at Hermione. Arya looked excited at the prospect of taking a break, but was hiding her needlework behind her back.
Catelyn has been berating her so much she obviously feels ashamed.
"Excuse me! You have no right to dictate when these girls may or may not take a break. You have no power here, you're just Lord Starks Mistress whore." the one who spoke was in fact, not the septa as Hermione had expected, but one of the maids in the back of the room.
Catelyn's lady's maid, Hermione noticed. Hermione, not expecting such a strong reaction from the girl, stood still for a moment.
Stepping forwards and putting his hand on her hip, Ned glowered at the girl.
"And you, have absolutely no right to speak to Lady Hermione that way. She is a daughter of our Northern Old Gods and the guardian of the Starks. You, however, are not in any position to be speaking so rudely."
Hermione let the hand that was not holding Rickon grasp Ned's wrist. His fist was clenched, as was his jaw.
"That's enough Ned. If the girl wishes to express such opinions she is free to do so, I for one am proud to be the woman I am. I have no need to lash out. Come girls, lets go get something to eat. Septa, I shall bring some extra food back for you, but I'll need to spend some time with the girls for today."
The Septa seemed quite kind. As a child of the Old Gods, Hermione expected a woman of the seven to hate her, but the septa seemed quote amicable.
"As you say, My lady. I would be honoured to eat anything you decide to make."
Smiling at the woman, Hermione reached out for Arya's hand, walking with her and Sansa out the door toward the boys standing awkwardly in the hallway. All 8 of them headed towards the kitchens.