The journey back North by sea was more pleasant than Jon had thought it would be. His uncle had gotten over the funk he had been for kneeling before Joffrey and the memories of seeing his men be cut down by Lannisters. But he had not forgotten. Ned Stark was not a man who forgot easy. He had struck up a sort of relationship with Brynden that was based on a mutual goal to support Jon more than one of understanding and friendship. They both had one aim and that was to put Jon on The Throne. Ned was doing it out of guilt for how his nephew was treated because of his decisions, and because he did not want a Lannister on The Throne. Brynden because he wanted his family back in power and to pass his titles to his blood, who he helped crown as King.

Outside of that Jon had struck up a friendship with Gendry, who had been smuggled onto the ship at the very last moment. When Ned Stark found out, he was happy about it. Jon suspected that The Lord of Winterfell saw his old friend in Gendry and was happy to have the boy close. Brynden commented that they were Aegon and Orys come again. Jon ignored them both and saw Gendry for who he was, a simple bullheaded boy who liked to swing his hammer at a forge more than anything else.

The group touched at White Harbor a good few days over a month after they had left Kings Landing. Wyman Manderly welcomed them with open arms and hosted them for a feast. Jon sat at the back with the rest of the men at arms while Ned Stark sat with the Lord of White Harbor at the head table. To the world, Jon was still The Bastard of Winterfell and he would play the role until his heritage was made public. They departed the walls of White Harbor the next day with their men replenished, their horses happily fed and a raven bound for Winterfell.

On horseback, it took them almost two weeks to reach Winterfell, and a day away from the Castle of House Stark, Jon was welcomed by a friend he had been dying to see again. Ghost had been waiting for him for how long he had no idea, but Jon knew the wolf had been waiting. And when they were close, he tackled Jon off his horse and showed him love in a way only wolves can, by licking his face. Jon had to leave Ghost behind, he did not want to risk his safety up in the capital and the decision had eaten him ever since. Seeing the wolf now, he couldn't help the tears that fell.

"Gods they've grown" Ned commented when he had seen the rest of the pack, standing beside their respective owners as they stood to welcome their family. Arya had tackled Jon for a hug. Robb went to his father first before going to Jon. Sansa did not come to Jon, and she hesitated in welcoming her father. She had come back not too long ago herself and was not over being sent back home. Rickon had gone to his father and climbed him like a monkey, he then waved to Jon from his place in his father's arms. The feast held that night was one that Jon would remember for days to come. He was home finally, laughing with the people he called family. Even Ned Stark was having the time of his life. But the happiness wouldn't stay the same, not for a long time they both knew. That night Ned Stark had summoned his family and men he trusted to his solar.

"The raven you sent us was an ominous one father. Is everything alright?" asked Robb Stark worry clear in his gaze. Ned let out a soft breath as he looked over the people gathered in the room. His family were there, all but Bran who still hadn't woken from his sleep and Catelyn who was still at The Eyrie. Maester Luwin was there as well as someone Ned Stark trusted with his life. Another was Brynden Rivers, who needed to be there.

"There is much I need to tell you my boy, all of you. But first, tell me about Bran's progress."

"He still breath my Lord. We've been giving him tonics and liquid food to sustain him. But there has been no improvement" Maester Luwin lowered his head. Ned Stark felt his heartache at the information, but he needed to keep his head steady.

"I trust in your ability to do the best for my son, Maester Luwin" Ned Stark smiled a strained smile. "Has Catelyn written to us about how long she would be away from us?" he asked.

"Last she writes she had touched down at White Harbor from The Sisters. It took her some time because there had been some complications at The Eyrie. She does not explain much but she promises that Tyrion Lannister had been released and that The Imp now rides for Casterly Rock."

More like had to be released, Jon thought. So Tyrion had united with Bronn and was now heading down with The Mountain Clan at his back.

Ned nodded and looked at every other person present in the room. This was going to be a tough thing to explain to them all. "What I am about to tell you is something that I have found out about in The Capital in my days as Hand of The King. It is a fact that has gotten Jon Arryn killed. It was also that secret that forced me to send Sansa home early, lest it got her killed as well."

The statement was met with varying degrees of shock from those that did not know. "Surely you jest father" Sansa argued, "it can't be that bad. The Queen would have surely protected us."

"The secret is of the Queen," Ned told her, already feeling the argument that was going to bubble up. Wars were easier than daughters, he believed. "Sansa sweetling, can you tell me how the relationship between The King and The Queen was?"

'They loved each other!" Sansa said immediately. Why wouldn't they? They had three children between them. Why would they have three children when they did not love one another?

"You're so stupid" Arya rolled her eyes. Unlike her sister, Arya was fully aware that the songs were merely bullshit stories that highborn princesses enjoyed and fancied. Unlike normal highborn ladies, Arya had been treated like a pariah by her sister and her group her whole life. Unlike Sansa, she grew up around her brothers. Unlike Sansa, she did not look at the world through colourful lenses. "The Queen hated The King because The King would rather shower serving girls and whores than her. And her pride would not have her forgive him for it."

"Arya!" Sansa looked scandalized at the words her sister used, but also angry her sister would assume such a thing. "The Queen is a kind woman and The King will not dishonour his wife like that!"

"No, she's right" Robb spoke and Sansa threw him a surprised look. "The King was not a loyal man. Apologies father but it is the truth. The number of women he has handled in his time here, I shudder to think how many more he would in his own home. It would not have been easy on The Queen. And The Queen is a prideful woman, you'd know after one conversation with her."

"The Queen is a kind woman who has said nothing but kind words to me when we have spoken" Sansa defended the woman.

"You're saying that because she complimented your stitching and said you looked pretty. Anyone with eyes would say that to you" Arya argued. The statement had hit Sansa close to home and an argument broke out between the sisters. Ned Stark brought it to an end immediately.

"Sansa, your brother and sister are correct," Ned said and now the look of disbelief was pointed to him. "Cersei Lannister is a prideful woman, something of a common trait in all Lannisters. She did not take it kindly when Robert did all he did. It is understandable and a crime on Robert's part. The Queen herself said it when I asked her" the explanation had Sansa reeling. Could she have been so naïve as to think that The King and Queen were in love?

"But they have three children father! Surely you are mistaken" she argued. She noticed the darkened look in her father's eyes and couldn't help the shudder that ran down her spine.

"They are not Robert's" the simple statement had everyone that didn't know to reel. "The children are Jaime Lannister's. Her brother's" the extra information made Sansa's head spin. Suddenly her world had been shaken so harshly that she couldn't make sense of any of this. Surely her father was mistaken. Someone had whispered in his ears to turn him against The Queen. Surely sweet Joffrey couldn't be.

Sansa let out a panicked noise before breaking into a run. Her father went after her, leaving Jon with Robb, Arya, Brynden and Maester Luwin in the room.

"Maester Luwin," Jon called and the master was shaken out of his shock. "Keep an eye on the rookery. Sansa trusts the Queen much more than she would trust us. She is still a child and naïve to the harshness of reality. She might send a raven to The Capital to inform The Queen about what she has been told. I don't think you need to be told of the consequences that would follow show she does that."

The master nodded his head in understanding and then the meeting was adjourned for the night.

Two Weeks Later

For the week that followed the revelation, Jon found that things between his family had become somewhat strained, mostly between Sansa and the rest. Sansa had decided to hide in her room if she was not at her lessons. She spoke to no one, not even her group who had become worried about her. Every time her father wanted to talk to her, she would give him the cold shoulder and ignore his existence. During this time she had tried to send a raven numerous times to the Capital as Jon had predicted. Each time whoever was at the rookery would instead send it to Maester Luwin, who would send it to Lord Stark. The man sighed in defeat and waited for his wife to return to deal with their daughter. Brynden in the secrecy of Jon's room had suggested that he could end Sansa painlessly, but Jon had told him to discard such thoughts.

The return of Catelyn Stark did little to change that. But the young girl talked to her mother which was a good thing in a sense. Jon did not trust his aunt to give her daughter proper counsel, not when Sansa was practically a younger Catelyn Stark.

With the return of Catelyn Stark though Ned was able to do more than help the people from The Capital settle down in The North, raise younger sons of major houses to lordship to oversee these people. He had divulged the secrets to Catelyn, who was shocked and disgusted at the revelation. And after Ned called his banners. It was time that the world knew about the True King.