This is an experiment in storytelling. All of the chapters will be written as articles, largely consisting of interviews. A quick note for worldbuilidng:
Here, the (politically powerless) king was democratically elected to be disposed and the monarchy to be abolished. The crazy Aerys II rebelled, though, gathering thousands of loyal soldiers - the Royalists. This conflict shocked the modern Westeros, but the Royalists were defeated. The system of lords was kept, though.

The business world was in shock to hear of Lord Eddard Stark's resignation, making the news from Skagos to Volantis. It was a move many expected, although far from this early. He has not yet commented on it. We use the exclusive opportunity to ask him about more than just business.

The walls of Winterfell are vast and intimidating. Great, thick stone walls, tall towers, all covered in late autumn snow. It's all grey and almost colourless; not many Reach architects are likely to find much inspiration here. Nevertheless, that is what is endearing about it; Northerners are content with this style, an impressive structure to withstand the icy winter of the North. Seeing it in the horizon, driving through Wintertown and walking through the gates of the castle, it commands strength. It stands untouched, seems immovable and impervious. There is no fooling around. It knows what it is, the Northerners know and foreigners will be quick to learn just how well the First Men have taken the words of their lordly house to heart: Winter is coming, and this castle screeches: "Well then, come!" I can hardly even begin to imagine what it must've been like for the soldiers participating in the few attempted sieges on the castle that have taken place. The stern glare of the grey and cold walls is enough to discourage anyone who dares raise their sword in opposition to it. I am not raising a sword, however, but a pen, and the old Stark castle does not seem to mind.

In wake of Lord Eddard Stark's resignation as president of Stark Group, King's Landing Times have been granted exclusive rights to an interview with the middle-aged Lord of Winterfell. His son, Robb Stark, has taken his place and has proven to be effective at this job. Lord Stark now only seems to have stock in the family's paper, the Winter Herald. Despite having a weekly column in it, Ned Stark, as he goes by, has not been keen on talking about the resignation. Ned, as I'll be referring him to for the large remainder of this article (at his request), rarely talks to the public about his work or life. We've taken to Winterfell for one of the few occasions that he does.

I am greeted in the hallway of the main castle by the man himself and Lady Catelyn Stark at his side. I must admit that I am slightly starstruck. Which Westerosi do not remember the famed footage of him at the entrance to the Red Keep? The gloomy Jaime Lannister in the background, soldiers still holding onto their rifles and the soon-to-be Lord Stark at the centre – the mood not a feather lighter than during the war. We all collectively gasped as he declared the war over and the deposed king as dead. We had won, peace was here and Ned Stark was the face of it all.

They are well-dressed, but casually so, Lady Catelyn in a thick blue dress which colour reflects the cold weather and Ned in green chinos and a blue blouse. Formalities are exchanged, but they don't seem to hang onto them too much. After a little small talk, I'm lead to a room on the first floor; decorated in dark red carpets, candlelit and oil paintings of old Stark lords. A decanter with water, two glasses and a little plate with oatmeal cookies are placed at the table between us. Simple and to the point – maybe us south of the Neck could learn a thing or two from that. Ned sits in his large chair, waiting.

How are you finding life resigned to that of a lord?

"My life as lord has always been an important aspect ever since the Targaryen Revolt. There is nothing new to this life, nothing that I didn't have before."

But, surely, less than you had before?

Ned smiles. "Yes, you could say that. It is simpler, I must admit. I can partake in formalities and my duties as a lord that I've previously had to soundly neglect and only complete half-heartedly. I see now why my wife could be just as stressed as I" he says, laughing a bit.

Was that a part of the reason behind your resignation? Being able to spend more time with your wife?

"Naturally. We have always been happy and content, of course, but there hasn't been much room for pauses in our marriage – it took time to settle down in the civilian life and find my place in the heritage, fortune, castle and titles that were so suddenly mine. Even with all of our children, the business always required lots of work. I wasn't going to let my subordinates take care of it all – then you're not a leader. Then you don't have a right to give commands at will and demand profits simply because your last name happens to own the company. That's what I've taught my son and I'm happy to see that he's taken that with him. Speaking of sons, Rickon is 16 and will move out in not too many years. I, we, wanted to experience the last few years with children living at home before it was too late. That's also part of why I resigned."

And congratulations to him, and you, on winning the junior Northern Climbings tournament.

"Thank you. We're very proud of him. He trains harder than I ever did in the army back then. You see, even when you know that he'll be alright and that you're very proud of what he achieves, I can still hear that low voice, whispering to make him stop climbing. It was terrifying the first few times, seeing him climb."

Is he going professional?

"That is not my decision to make. If he wants to, we will support him in that endeavour."

It would be usual for a father to make sure his children have a safe plan B.

Ned smiles again, knowingly. "I have spoken to him about that, yes. But I've made myself very clear, that he ought to pursue his athletic dreams and not getting bogged down by voices in the back of your head."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you anticipating that route for his older brother?

"Bran was very fond of climbing, and he still is. But it's far more of a hobby for him. He's found much else to cast his passions at, though."

What about seeing your firstborn climb?

"Not quite as terrifying, luckily. He's just as good at it; otherwise, I wouldn't have let him become president of the group."

You don't have any say in matters of business any longer?

"He's my son – but he's also the man in charge of the group. He asks me for advice, as any son can and should to their father, but I don't have a practical say any longer."

Rumours were circulating that Robb wasn't aware that you'd make him president. At least not this early.

Ned pauses for a moment and finally nods to himself "I can confirm that. He knew that he wasn't going to have to wait for me to be in the grave before he took over, but he wasn't expecting it so early.

Some would say prematurely.

"I disagree, but I can see where the argument stems from. Didn't I groom him enough for the position? No, but that was the point. I wasn't groomed when I took over, either, I had to make do. Now, I'm not one to say that he should have the same experience – I was too unprepared, but I believe that practical work is better than having read a bunch of heavy books and taken notes at seminars. Robb had that beforehand, to a certain extent. But surprising him with the announcement was part of making him a good leader for the company and as future lord of Winterfell."

Did it cause a rift in the family? If only temporarily.

Ned turns his look into that of Lord Stark. It's not a stare you want to be on the receiving end of. It softens after an awkward moment as he silently forgives me. "My wife and I had our disagreements about it. She didn't think he was ready. But he's a man and far more competent than I ever was or could have been. I don't think either of them realises. Perhaps it was a risky tactic, but the results speak for themselves. Robb himself didn't believe he could do it either and wanted more time in front of the desk before sitting behind it. He was dissatisfied with my decision, for a brief time. But it stands."

Stark Group, StarkTech in particular, has seen a significant rise in value in the last couple of years.

"My son's good at what he does."

Some have pointed out, though, that when you resigned, the group lost a good deal of value on the market, making the rise not as great as it initially appears.

"What do you want me to say to that? It's correct, but also proves that Robb's skills were better than what various shareholders and speculators expected and that my decision to make him president was the right one to make. As you mentioned with StarkTech; it was a sector that I never really understood. I knew it was important but I lacked insight. Robb doesn't and has seized opportunities that I never noticed were there."

Brandon is currently studying IT and AI at Hightower University. Can we presume that we'll see him as part of the company once he's finished his degree?

"I'm not so sure. He's a genius at it, and I'm certain Robb would want him in the fold. I just don't want to pressure the boy too much; he should focus on his studies and then we'll see. So no, you can't presume a thing, especially anything coming from me. I have no part in this – you'd have to speak with the president for answers on that one. If you can manage to steal a few minutes of his time."

We can presume, though, that we'll be seeing Robb dressed up and with a bride by his side soon enough.

Another smile, this one heartily, is brought to Ned's face. "You can most definitely presume that. We've been looking forward to it for months. And years for him getting married at all. It'll also be a reason for me to leave Winterfell again. I may not be letting it on as much, but I'm just as excited for it as my wife.

Ms Margaery Tyrell also has a lot on her hands.

"I don't think that Robb would like a, uhm, woman who wouldn't pursue her career to its fullest. My wife decided to stay home with our children much of our time. I will forever thank her for that. But, more importantly, she did it because she wanted to – not because she was pressured. Margaery will not choose the same path. She is as determined in her career as Robb. I've only met her thrice, though, but that is my impression of her. She has also been incredibly easy to get along with – everyone in the family likes her. I couldn't be happier about a match for my son."

So will she be a Stark?

"I hope so. But I genuinely am not aware as of yet. Perhaps you should ask my wife about that one" he laughs. "She'd be welcome into our family."

Do you fear the press coverage of the wedding?

"I've faced far worse than paparazzi, so fear would not be putting it right. I can get annoyed, but I know that some coverage is unavoidable."

You've managed to avoid most of it for many years.

"I married my wife right after the Targaryen Revolt. My family had been murdered; my father, my brother, my sister. But I wasn't alone in experiencing such loss. That's the ultimate truth of war – people die and grief becomes inescapable. I don't dare think how many thousand lives were lost in that revolt, and not just on the Union side. Royalist families suffered too. I may have been a known face, especially at that time, but what does the marriage of some lord to a lady compare to scars you have to heal? There was no coverage of our wedding and we both quit the public eyes as much as we could. Our lives are not public service. But I realise that it is far from the same situation we're in now. But both Margaery and Robb can manage this better than Cat and I."

Lady Margaery has lived in the public eye for many years. She's a socialite while managing her magazine, Illusive. It's undeniable that her image is part of her brand – will that not affect how the public view the Starks?

"Why do you ask? You already know the answer," I shake my head, hoping to nudge him on. "It's not my company any longer. I have no ownership of any of its branches or the group itself. It belongs to Robb. He knows what he's getting into and, largely, what it will mean for him to marry Margaery. Besides, they're a photo genetic couple. That has never hurt anyone in terms of publicity. By the way, Milk (the Stark-owned luxury couture brand, edit.) has used plenty of socialites and influencers for promotion. The only difference is that the cameras will now be more focused on Stark members themselves."

This is also the second time in a row, where the head of the Stark family marries one that is sworn to another religion. As a businessman, this does not matter one bit, but as Lord Stark…

"It's the duty of Lord Stark, whomever it may be, to be faithful, in the literal sense of the word, to the Old Gods. They can be difficult to believe in. You don't have anyone to tell you what they are, only faces carved into trees. The New Gods, as we call them up here, are more tangible but, to me, also less godlike. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I'm honest before anything else. My wife and I made sure that our children, as well as Jon and Theon, were all raised with knowledge of both religions. They have prayed to both the Old Gods and the New throughout their childhood, in front of both the Winterfell Sept and weirwood tree in the Godswood. They have themselves chosen which ones to follow. I hope Robb will do the same."

How much does the religion mean to the Stark family? And to you, specifically?

"It means a fair deal. To me, at least, and a lot to my wife. I don't know how much it speaks to my children and wouldn't say much if I did. And I won't lie, the Old Gods do not encompass all of my life. We don't have laws to follow, no rituals to complete. So in that sense, it doesn't affect the lives of us Northerners. And yet, by the nature of their ominous presence, we are eternally affected. I suppose that's the basis of our religion. That can be hard for a child to grasp until you convince yourself that you understand it as an adult."

You must understand how foreign the Old Gods seem to a believer in the Seven.

"Of course. It's a process, understanding their presence. I wouldn't expect you to understand – that would require a longer stay."

Then how does it affect your life? Or Northerners' in general?

Ned shuffles in his seat and scratched his stub contemplatively. We both take a sip of water. "That's a question every Northerner would hesitate to answer. Maybe we don't fully know. Maybe that's good and part of the Old Gods themselves; they don't want us to. What do we pray to them for? It's easy for you Southerners. When you want justice through revenge, you pray to the Father. When you want a child, the Mother. Strength, the Warrior. It's not as simple with the Old ones. I don't know what I prayed for when I asked them for a certain present as a child, or for the safety of my family, the efforts in the war to go well. We do not know the consequences of praying to them. They do not seem to grant it often anyway. However, when I look into those eyes, carved in the trees long before the First Men even got to Westeros, I feel humbled. They know, don't they? The lies you told, the bad thoughts and all of the dishonourable things you got away with. That's their power and their strength – their legitimacy. They don't judge, but they know what you did. Then it's up to you whether you want to do something about it or not."

I take another sip of the water, gulping almost all of it down. If I could then speak to them, the Old Gods, what would they say about you?

He gives me small eyes. Humbled, I sense his look is channelling that of the Old Gods. "There are many things they would say. But as I said, they wouldn't, as they don't judge."

Well, telling on someone is necessarily judging them. They could lay out the facts and let the judging be the job for the humans.

"You should work for the Winter Herald."

I laugh it off, caught off guard. I won't let it down, though. What would they say?

"… Things that happened in the war. Things that I did, things I know others did. What I know happened in the family. Where and when I failed to act and when I did so wrongfully. No man is without his failures. Some can hide them, some can't, but none can flee from the Old Gods."

Things that are between you and them.

He nods.

Do you then feel that you let them down? Disappoint them, perhaps?

"Well, that's the issue, isn't it? Do I disappoint them or myself? Or perhaps it is my family that I disappoint."

And then it's up to the family to judge.

Ned Stark leans forward, adjusting his shirt and looks me directly in the eyes. Not angrily, not even sternly – but seriously. "It has to be. But there is no good gained from being actively disappointed in your children. It's the hardest punch, bar heinous and barbaric offences, that a decent, normal or good parent can give to their child. You can combat the anger of a parent; justify, or rather, explain it with certain factors. It was an outburst. He's stressed. Things like that. You can also be angry back at them, although that's rarely productive. But how do you combat a disappointed parent? How can you retaliate in any way? There is nothing that a child wants less than to disappoint their parents. And as a parent, you have to be very selective when you show your disappointment. You can feel it, perhaps, but shouldn't always show it. There is nothing more damaging to your child than never being proud of them."

There is a pause in the room, allowing for the crackling of the fireplace to be heard. Ned looks surprised at his own words – or maybe, what lied behind them. The man in front of me never shared a thing with the public. A nerve had been struck and the walls of Winterfell penetrated – and I did not intend to pull out the pen. Have you ever felt disappointing to someone? Your late parents, your children, your wife?

"… What about you stay till tomorrow and join us for dinner tonight?"

I humbly accept.

A butler soon shows me the room where I'll be staying: a large room in the West Tower, decorated authentically with a somewhat stoic but homely interior. I would be provided new clothes for the next day by my host, I was told. Before dinner, I manage to spot Arya Stark, who doesn't show up at the table later. Ned's infamous son, Jon "Snow" Stark does, though. General small talk is made and when I ask him if he's up for talking further in the evening, he declines. I head back to my chambers with more questions than answers that night.

At the request of Ned, and by the nature of my journalistic ethics, none of any conversations or events other than those explicitly condoned by Ned will be brought, hence the vague description above. The continuation of the interview will be published soon.