Chapter 1
After having cleaning, himself up from the journey home, Eddard walked at pace towards the solar of the Lord's of Winterfell taking in the feeling of being home again after such an awful war. Arriving at the door to the Solar Eddard paused as he remembered the last time, he had seen his father just before the God's damned Tourney that had sent the whole world to hell. Building his courage, he pushed open the door and looked upon the solar.
He entered remembering the times he had been called here by his father to discuss his talking over the Moat Cailin to provide the North with more security of their southern neighbours. Plans that had now been completely destroyed. He stepped around the ancient weirwood desk that had been in this solar for as long as the Starks held Winterfell and taking a seat. As he started clearing the papers that had both been his fathers and Benjin's whilst he was the stark of Winterfell there was a knock at the door.
"Ned do you have a minute?" He heard Benjin call from behind the solid door. "Come Benjin we have much to discuss". Benjin entered and sat in the chair opposite him. "First Ben, you must know that you have no reason to be sorry regarding the happenings of the last year" "But Ned I knew she ran off with him, I knew and didn't nothing; didn't tell Father or Bran and look what happened. I, Benjin of the House Stark have come to ask you Eddard Lord of Winterfell for permission to join the ancient brotherhood of the Night's Watch to atone for my sins". Ned sat in stunned silence as Benjin made his request to go and pay for the imagined crimes.
"Ben I can't grant you permission to do this. I will set out my reasons before you interupt" Eddard replied when Benjin went to protest. "House Stark is the weakest it has been in nearly 300 years, before this war we had a strong Lord with an Heir, spare and third. Now if you join the watch, we will have me a second born son raised to Lord and a new born babe that could be taken by Winter's chill" Benjin was frozen in shock at the way in Eddard laid out the possible doom of House Stark when he went to speak Eddard got their first "So Benjin what I need from you is to help me get this House back to the top as we were before the Dragons. You will be given lands to rule over and you will marry and have an heir. Once you have you have done this only then can you go to wall to sit and wallow in self pity for imagined sins".
This last statement from Benjin really knocked out any bluster from his sails but before he could reply to his brother Eddard continued "You shouldn't blame yourself for the sins of others. There many who must shoulder the blame for this war but the chief amongst them are Rhaegar and Lyanna themselves. They were selfish and cowardly as they ran to hide than say to world what they had done. This was the catalyst for it all and whilst I miss her everyday Ben we must not discontinue what she did."
This was the straw that broken Benjin as upon hearing that this brother didn't blame or hate him for his part in what happened, he began to cry. Eddard rushed forward and held his brother close, letting him get his grief and pain out. Once Benjin he managed to compose himself Eddard continued "Whilst we lost we have most of family we still have something of Lyanna to hold on to. Jon is not my bastard as I have informed the world but the 'True-born son of Rhaegar and Lyanna' but he will never sit the Iron Throne as I think we have had enough of Dragons. He will be raised as a son of House Stark and if he proves himself worth then I will grant him lands and make him a banner to my son." This once again shocked Benjin into silence. He took a moment to think through Eddard's words and found that this was the best possible solution.
"Well you truly are full of secrets aren't you Ned, I am glad that you were able to save something from Lyanna. I understand what you say regarding my grief and pain but I don't know when this will become true in my heart. I would ask you for some time away from Winterfell so I can have some distance from the memories." Benjin requested from his brother.
Ned thinking back to his plans regarding the North saw an opportunity here so said to his brother "I think that would be best Ben, if you agree I will write to Lord Manderly and request that he take you has late foster. I would like for you to learn to manage a city, captain both trade and warships and command men in battle" "Ned why would you request this of me?" Benjin replied. "Because Ben the first thing I am going to do is rebuild what should never have been destroyed. The Winter Fleet will be remade to protect the North."
"But Ned how will we will be able to pay for this?" Benjin asked in shock of the Quiet Wolf's ambition. "Well Ben, I take it Father never spoke to you of the old values of Winterfell? The values full from the time that the House of Stark waged war on the andals…" Eddard replied with a wolfish smirk upon his face.