Ned

The look of utter betrayal on his brother's face would haunt him forever, as would the words he had thrown in his direction. He cursed the day he looked his brother in the eyes and told him Jon was his son.

He stayed in the Godswood for some time, going through his sister's letter again. He looked through the sealed letters that rested at the bottom. Lya made it clear that those words were for Rhaenys, Aegon and Jon and them alone. Many times he was tempted to just read them, but he stayed his hand each time.

He buried the box as he had always done, making sure the ground looked undisturbed, and found his way back to the castle.

Robert was waiting for him impatiently, having convinced him to have a hunt on the morrow.

"Where were you, Ned? We should have set out by now. Say, what happened to your face?"

Ned rubbed the area where Benjen had punched him and only just realised it still hurt. His brother had clearly meant it.

"Damn branch right in my face" he lied, not caring how much teasing he would surely endure.

"Serves you right for going into that forest on your own every damn day. Right, let's get to it."

Ned barely remembered the hunt, only Robert's teasing whenever he had failed to hit a target. His mind was elsewhere. Benjen had demanded he stop Jon from going to the Night's Watch. Should he listen? Jon was set on this, telling him the truth was the only way to stop him. But he couldn't. Not now. Jon wasn't ready and neither was Ned.

But what about Benjen, would he tell Jon now that he knew? No. His brother wouldn't betray him, no matter how angry he was. He had to speak to him and convince him that this was the right way. That it wasn't easy but it was the only way to keep Jon safe.

Robert noticed that he was elsewhere in his mind and brought it down to his offer. His offer! Gods how could he forget? He hadn't even told Cat...

As soon as he was done with the hunt he called his lady wife to his solar. She entered with a smile until she saw the look on his face.

"What is it, Ned?" she had asked.

He told her the story of Robert's proposal. She was surprised, a different match presented itself than she expected but otherwise she was satisfied, and overjoyed when she heard he was ro be Hand.

"I will refuse him" Ned said quickly and her face darkened.

"You cannot refuse his honors," she insisted.

Ned signed. He felt in his heart his place was in Winterfell, but could he truly refuse Robert?

"He offers his own son in marriage to our daughter, what else would you call that? Sansa might someday be queen."

"She's eleven".

"I was twelve when I was betrothed to Brandon."

He signed when he thought of his elder brother. If fate was kinder, it would be Brandon here, his wife, his children. His responsibility. Ned was never raised to be Lord of Winterfell. Still, all he could do was try to make the right decisions. And many decisions had to be made now.

"If I agree, it means going to King's Landing."

Cat nodded, with sadness in her eyes.

"We will endure."

"I shall take Sansa, Arya, and Bran with me."

Cat's eyes widened.

"But..."

"If Sansa is to marry Joffrey, then she must go. Arya needs to learn of the Southern court before she can be promised to someone. Bran..."

"Not Bran. The girls ill have to endure. But Bran..."

"Needs to know the world, Cat," he said firmly.

"And Rickon?"

"Will stay with you and Robb. He is far too young."

She nodded with some relief that Ned sadly had to destroy.

"And Jon..."

Cat's head snapped and he felt sad and guilty olat the look on her face.

"He has to go, Ned," she told him quickly.

Ned had expected this, but it didn't make it any less painful.

"He and Robb are close..."

"He is your son, Ned. Not mine. He's not my responsibility nor Robb's. You will do him no good leaving him here."

He could see the begging in her eyes and he knew what she was trying to tell him. Without you here, he'll only be unhappy. I won't be able to change that. Make it easier for both me and him.

"I can't take him South," Ned said after a moment.

"Robert has bastards".

"None of whom are allowed anywhere near the court, Cat" Ned insisted feeling hopeless. What was he to do? Leave Jon here to suffer Cat's inability to make him feel welcome. With only Robb, who would be busy running Winterfell, and Rickon, mostly by his mother's side. Without Arya, Sansa, and Joanna. He would be all alone.

Unless you send him to the Watch, said a voice. He will have Benjen there. Benjen, whom will love him even more knowing he is Lyanna's boy. The thought of his sister made him look at Cat and longed to tell her that there is no need to scorn the boy, no betrayal on his part nor a threat to Robb's birthright, but he found no courage to do so. Besides, it would be unfair to Jon for so many to know the truth before him.

So instead he told his wife he would think about it all. He thought of the benefits of accepting the offer, his children would see the Southern ways, and know more of the world outside of Old Nan's stories. He himself would have Robert again while Robb would know what it was like to be Lord as he was destined to be.

But what about Jon? The boy he swore he'd protect and since then had treated and loved him like he did his true sons. Could he send him to the Night's Watch and tell him who he was once the vows were in place? It felt like a coward's way out, he felt guilty for lying to him and felt guilty for planning to trick him. Jon would never trust him again. If he learnt the truth free from the vows they might work to save what they had built over these past fourteen years. But if he learnt after swearing himself away, it would all collapse and he would lose him forever. And his children... He had no doubt that knowing who Jon was would not change how they see him, but would Ned's deception affect how he saw them? Ned could endure losing Jon only if his children didn't lose him.

Gods, what if Jon actually abandoned the Watch. He remembered the deserter, how he had looked and suddenly he imagined Jory bursting in saying they've caught another one. He was led to the gates, but instead of a man he found a boy with grey eyes and dark hair. His boy, his son. He saw the sword in his hand. His mouth moved.

"You said the words. You took a vow, before your brothers, before the old gods and the new. In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, by the word of Eddard of the House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I do sentence you to die."

Jon kept his eyes down while Ned looked around at every face, he even found Robert telling him to swing the sword. But his hand was frozen...

He shook himself out of the vision and found himself reaching for his goblet. While the thought of going down Robert's path terrified him, tonight he could not help himself.

He was sitting in his solar drinking wine when a knock to the door came.

"Enter" he said and straightened as his brother entered. Benjen clearly hadn't slept and he looked like he himself had some cups, but he still poured himself another one as he sat down beside Ned.

"Tell me what happened," he said after a moment. "All of it."

Ned signed.

"All I know is what the letters say and what Lyanna managed to tell me. She and Rhaegar were in love, they met at Harrenhal. Lyanna was the Knight of the Laughing Tree. She outwitted us all'' he said with a small smile as he thought of his sister in that armour.

"I know," said Benjen, sipping the wine with a fond look on his face. "I helped her set it up."

Ned looked at him.

"You did?"

"It was her plan. She wanted to teach those bullies a lesson. I got her the armour and made up a story about where she'd gone. You remember her on that horse, Ned?" His eyes were teary as he thought back.

"Yes" said Ned, crying as well. "Like she was born for it."

"She cried when he sang that song with that harp of his. She poured wine on my head when I teased her. Gods, I realised she had something for him, but I never would have thought. So they exchanged letters after that?"

"Many more than she managed to save. How we didn't notice I do not know. I'm not sure when they made the decision, but she insisted they've made it together."

"So she went to meet him and they took off. But why didn't she leave a message?"

"I know not. She didn't manage to tell me."

"Did Elia really agree to the marriage?"

"She never loved Rhaegar. Not as a husband anyway, and she held no love for King's Landing. She wanted to go home. That's what Lya and the letters said. She allowed them to marry as long as her children would retain their birthright and he would never love Jon more than them. I didn't read Rhaegar's sealed letters, but I'm guessing they hold the details of what he planned for his children."

Benjen shook his head at all this.

"All that death, all that loss, and it could have been avoided. We lost our father and Brandon for a lie."

"I know Benjen, I know." He looked his brother in the eye. "I didn't want to go through it again, Ben. I didn't want to lose you or Cat or Robb or Jon or Robert. All I wanted was to be home with my family. That's why I lied. And after fourteen years, I don't know what to do. If I send Jon with you and tell him afterwards he will hate me."

"He could never, he loves you" his brother said after a moment, albeit quietly and without looking him in the eye.

"But he will never trust me. He'll never be able to call me father again. But if I don't send him, he'll have nowhere to go."

He told his brother about Robert's offer and Cat's decision. Benjen frowned.

"Tell her."

"I can't," Ned said sadly. "It's not my place. It will be Jon's choice. But I don't want her in danger. Robert is the way he is, but I'm sure that at least in respect of our friendship he will spare my family if they honestly say they knew nothing."

Benjen frowned.

"So what will do?"

"I don't know," Ned said, feeling tired of hiding how hopeless he was.

"I do," Ben said firmly, finally looking at him fully. "You trust Lya's son."

Ned looked at him hesitantly.

"And then?"

"Like I said, you trust him to make the right choice. Tell him the truth and the stakes of that truth and let him choose what to do with it. If he still wants to come I won't stop him, no matter what I think on it."

He looked at his little brother, whose voice was now wise and sure.

"Trust your son, Ned".

Ned signed, his heart beating as he comprehended the truth of his brother's words.

"I miss the old days. When we were not Lords and Rangers and Hands and Black brothers. I miss how it was when we were just Bran, Ned, Lya and Ben."

"As do I, Ned, as do I" signed his brother. "How was she, in the end?"

"Brave" Ned said. "She feared death, as do we all, but all she cared about at the end was him. Only him."

Joanna

Having her family around was strange. Myrcella and Tommen were fun to be around. They were both a bit meek but fun still. She had even convinced them to meet the direwolves, of which they were frightened up to this point.

"She won't hurt me" said Tommen quietly as he approached Lady, who stood by Sansa's side, while Myrcella nervously approached Nymeria, who sat by Arya.

"Of course not, little brother. Direwolves are smarter than other animals. They know better than to harm you."

She got him and Myrcella to come closer and give Lady and Nymeria a cuddle. Myrcella gasped as Nymeria rose up at her touch, but was soon laughing as Nymeria began to lick her face. Joanna smiled as she saw Lady do the same to Tommen whose laughter caused Ser Lion, who was sitting far away smugly, to hiss with jealousy, but Lady and her sister gave him such a look that the cat didn't make a noise for the rest of the day.

Joffrey seemed to prefer to stay away from her. He was usually off on his own which her siblings didn't find strange. She had heard he got into a bad spar with Robb but no one from the West appeared to find this strange either. She was sadly forced to acknowledge that her brother hadn't changed and she looked sadly at the looks of her siblings' faces whenever they looked at him. She knew how they felt, confused as to whether they should fear him or love him for being their brother. She tried to be around them as much as she could for that.

As for the Starks, Sansa practically worshiped Joffrey, the crown prince and future king. Arya and Robb seemed quite the opposite, they could see what he was, at least a part of it. Bran stayed away from him, as did Jon thankfully. She could only hope that Joffrey didn't try anything in his presence, for if Jon were to attack her brother in retaliation he would surely lose a hand.

Her mother was spending half her time with them. She was polite and sweet enough, but she and Joanna have not spoken alone yet and there was a clear sense of a distance in-between them that no one else seemed to sense. Jaime hung around them half his time and the other half around her father, while Tyrion spent most of his time with her. Her uncle had grown more dry witted and still drunk more than he ought to, but still had his warm smile fir her and it made her think of her happier days in King's Landing. She showed him around Winterfell and Wintertown with Jon, whom her uncle seemed to be fond of, Ghost strolling quietly beside them. Jon, while happy enough, clearly had something on his mind and Joanna knew he spoke with his uncle about going to the Night's Watch.

One evening, she brought out her chest to show him all the drawings she had made over the years. He laughed at some and gaped at others, complimenting her talent.

"When did you draw this? he asked curiously, holding up the dragon she had drawn.

"On my way here, I think," she said, trying to mask her discomfort.

"Looks like it came straight out of a nightmare. That's a compliment by the way". He set it down on her desk.

"I'm glad for you, Flamespitter, you grew up happy and that's all that matters to me."

Joanna smiled at him.

"I'm sorry I left you though" she said.

He waved his hand.

"I'm been worse."

She signed.

"Is father going to take me with him when he leaves?"

Her uncle looked her in the eyes.

"You'll have to ask him that, Joanna."

Her father was spending most time with Lord Stark, but did spend some time with her. So when they broke their fast together alone she decided to ask him. He asked her to tell him more about her about how she found her life at Winterfell. He was full of praise for Ned Stark and then spoke somethings of the South.

"You should see it, Joanna, before the summer goes and the autumn sets in. Flowers everywhere, the markets bursting with food, you'll love it when you see Highgarden. Golden flowers run as far as the eye can see."

"I'm sure it's lovely, Father," she said. "How is King's Landing?"

"Fine from what I hear. Jon runs most things for me. He was a fine Hand.

"Have you chosen a successor?" she asked curiously. "You would need someone you can trust."

Her father smiled.

"I already have just the man. You know him, my dear. He had fulfilled my role for you while you were here in Winterfell."

Joanna blinked.

"Lord Stark?"

"Aye, there's no one better for it. I wasn't going to tell you yet, but I've asked Ned to be Hand. He's thinking about it, but I'm sure he'll see how perfect it is. And..."

He leaned in closer.

"I've offered him a match".

"A match?" Joanna asked quietly. Then she had a thought and her eyes widened. "Me and..."

"No, no, my dear girl. Ned thought so too. Sansa to your brother. She's a good lady, I've seen, and she'll make an excellent queen."

"Oh" said Joanna, partially relieved, partially horrified. Sansa was sometimes aggravating in her naivety, but she was a good and sweet girl, her brother, whom she remembered as cruel, arrogant and spiteful, who seemed little different today, with her as a wife? The idea made her feel odd, even worried. But Joffrey was still a boy, surely he would mature and lose his wicked nature?

Her father beamed at the idea of the marriage and so she held her tongue.

"May I ask, father, why did you not decide to match me to Robb?"

Her father smiled teasingly.

"Don't tell me you've fallen in love with him my dear?"

"No" she snapped immediately. Robb would never be anything more than a friend and brother to her. "It's just, you said yourself that's what everyone expected."

"It crossed my mind, but it would leave your brother open to the vultures. Your brother's queen must be a trustworthy woman. Ned Stark would never betray my trust and neither would his daughter."

"And me? she asked. She could sense it, the betrothal of her brother would only be followed by her own.

"I have a match for you as well my dear" he said smiling proudly. "You're strong and wise, you'll fit right in."

"Father?"

"Willas Tyrell. You'll be Lady of Highgarden, wife to Warden of the South."

She looked at her father's proud eyes. Of course, this made sense. The whispers in King's Landing said that the Tyrells were after the Crown. What better way to get it by marrying the Rose of Highgarden to the Crown Prince? Father was clever to do this. The Tyrells would be able to get closer to the Crown without having the heir to the Iron Throne.

"When Father?"

"Not yet, we'll think of an official betrothal when we get to King's Landing."

He saw the look on her face.

"Don't worry, my dear, if Ned agrees, he'll probably take most of his children with him."

She stayed silent for the rest of the meal and afterwards went to her room to think. From leaving Winterfell to marrying Willas Tyrell. Sansa and Joffrey. Jon off to the Wall. Her life was changing again and this time she wasn't sure it would be for the better. For any of them.

(Please leave your thoughts in the comments. I enjoy reading your reviews. Let me know if I make any mistakes or need to change something.

After careful consideration I've decided to change Jon's Targaryen name. I'll upload it in a chapter and then edit the previous chapters. But it won't be one of the usual names like Aegon, Aemon and Jaehaerys. Hope you approve :)