Thank you very much for reading this story.

Dear guest: yeah, WE (the readers) know that Jon felt uncomfortable and not wanted. We also know that Catelyn resented Jon's presence in Winterfell. But that's only because we read their thoughts in the books. Nothing they did actually showed what they felt. And if you've only watched the show, there's nothing that would even indicate what was going on. Catelyn never did absolutely anything to Jon other than a few cold glares (at least, nothing else is mentioned in the books) and Jon never really complained or acted out. Ned only knows what he can see and hear: Catelyn complained very little and only at the beginning of their marriage (until he yelled at her and forbade her to even talk about the issue ever again) and never in public; and Jon, even though he may not have been very cheerful, still enjoyed his life with his brothers doing everything together with them. If by reading in the books that Jon felt unwelcome by Catelyn we assume that she must have been awful and done terrible things to him, then we also must assume that there are specific reasons why Catelyn resented and feared Jon so much and that he must have done terrible things to her and the children too, which, as we all know, he never did. Ned is not blind. He (and anyone else, for that matter) only knows what he can see, and the only thing he can see is that Jon is sometimes gloomy and that Cat gets edgy every now and then - but nothing else. Thank for you comment, I hope I have explained my point here and that you will still enjoy the rest of the story. Thanks

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3. I swear, Your Grace.

Ned could not believe he was a prisoner in his own home. How could this have happened? One minute he was excited about greeting his long time friend, and the next he was being apprehended. It had all happened so fast.

What had taken place at the yard that morning he will never be able to forget nor fully comprehend. He had knelt in front of Robert and pledged his home to him, like any Lord would do when the King visits. But his reply had taken him by surprise. He expected his friend to be jovial and to take him right into the hall for a drink. However, Robert's words will forever haunt Ned. "I know" the King had said. And then he ordered his guards to apprehend Ned and his family. When the Stark men reached for their swords, a strong forceful Robert ordered the Stark guards to stand down or Ned would be executed and they would all be charged for challenging the King. It was only then that Ned noticed that Robert had brought more soldiers than he had anticipated, that all the king's soldiers were armed and ready and that he had even placed archers in the windows of the wheelhouse. He must have hidden all these soldiers from Manderly and Cerwin. Winterfell had not been prepared for an attack. At the time, Ned had half hoped his own guards would comply for the safety of everyone involved, but half hoped they would stand in defiance and put up a fight. In the end he opted for telling his men to drop their weapons. He wanted no bloodshed in his house. He had accepted Robert's violation for the safety of his people. Ned was shackled and before he was taken away, he heard Robert give the order to take his wife, Robb, Jon and Theon to the prison cells together with him, and for the younger children to be locked in a room. He had not heard from his family since then. And he still didn't know why Robert had done that.

He couldn't tell how much time had passed, but after a while a guard came to fetch him. "The King awaits" he said. Ned felt his blood boil as he was driven shackled in his own home and to his own solar. While a few hours ago he would have gladly invited Robert to sit at his chair, he now wanted to rip his head off with his teeth when he saw the king lounging behind his desk.

"What's the meaning of this?" he demanded barely keeping his rage at bay.

"You're forgetting yourself, Ned. You're supposed to address me as Your Grace" Robert answered calmly, which only served to fuel Ned's anger.

"I did just that outside and you had my family arrested. So, what's the meaning of this, Your Grace?" he spat.

"Actually, it will be me asking the questions. But before that, and for the sake of our friendship, let's have a drink." Robert got up and walked towards the wine cabinet. He poured a glass for himself and one for Ned. He placed both cups on the table and waited for Ned to pick one up, but his friend just looked at the glass and did not move. Robert squinted and looked at Ned defiantly. "To our long standing friendship" the King toasted alone.

"Ned, do you remember how we used to ride back in the Vale?" Robert started. But his friend remained quiet. "You and I. It was us against the wind. Nothing could stop us. We were brothers Ned. We should have been brothers. I was to marry your sister before that thrice damned son of a bitch stole her from us. I wanted to save her Ned" he took a sip of his glass. "Your father and brother wanted to save her, but the Mad King killed them." He took another gulp. "You went to war with me. To avenge your father and brother. To save Lyanna. To restore Jon Arryn's honor. To save our country from a tyrant. You and me Ned, you and me."

Ned nodded but remained quiet.

"We were a team Ned. In good times and in bad times. In victory and in defeat. We fought together, side by side. And we partied together. Side by side" he laughed. "Do you remember the girls Ned? Oh, how they would follow us? I can't remember their names, now. There was that girl at Maidenpool, no maiden I will say" he snorted. "And that night after, argh, where was it? She had long red hair, the color of fire. And she indeed had fire in her!" he laughed again. "What was that girl you took? Betsy? Betta? Your bastard's mother, wasn't she?"

"No" Ned grumbled.

"Who was your bastard's mother anyway?" Robert asked, still laughing.

"It doesn't matter" Ned replied gruffly.

"Yes, it does" Robert said, his tone and demeanor having changed radically. His eyes darkened and he stood in front of Ned bringing his face inches away from his. "It does" he repeated.

"What do you mean, Your Grace?"

"I said I would be the one asking questions, remember? Well, that is my question. Who is your bastard's mother?"

"Wendell. From that Inn near Harenhall" Ned finally admitted.

"Wendell. Doesn't sound like a whore's name."

"She was no whore."

"Fuck Ned! Just fucking tell me" he snapped banging his fists on the table.

"We - Wendell" Ned repeated.

"So, Wendell it is. Very well."

Robert stood up and let out an exasperated groan, flaring his nostrils and clenching his fists. His frustration got the best of him and he punched Ned squarely in the face before calling for his guards to take him back to his cell. "Bring me the boy now" he added.

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Ned paced in is cell not knowing what to do or what to make of the situation. He had been roughly shoved back into his cell and then he had heard the guards take Jon. He then heard his wife being taken and then his son Robb. He could hear hushed sobs through the bars of his door. He could hear faint cries of pain and anguish, but he had no idea what was going on. Whenever he called out to his wife and sons, he was quickly silenced by a guard.

"Call King Robert. I wish to speak with him" he begged in the end.

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Ned was unceremoniously pushed down the corridors and shoved into a chair in his own solar again, still occupied by the King.

"Oh, so now you decide you want to speak to me" Robert greeted him.

"Robert please, I demand to know what's going on. Where did you get all your soldiers? That's a lot more than what Manderly and Cerwin had said."

"Of course, you didn't think I would advertize that I was coming North with an army, did you? They have been trickling in by land since long before I sailed out from the capital. I gave them time enough to arrive by the time we met."

"So you lied."

"So did you" Robert countered.

"What are you talking about?" asked Ned at a loss. When Robert remained quiet he continued. "Where's my family? I demand to see them. What have you done with my household and my guards?"

"Your younger children are fine. They have been taken into a room and have been well cared for by your Old Nan. Sweet little old lady. She tried to defy me at first, but the minute the children were threatened she complied like a kitten. Your guards, together with your Castellan, have been permitted to walk free within the confines of their quarters but all the weapons have been confiscated. So long as they don't cause any trouble, nothing will happen to them. You were very wise to tell them to stand down back in the yard. The armory and the forge, they are all under my command. We don't any trouble with your people getting access to weapons. I have locked the raven's turret, we don't want word of what's going on here getting out. Not until I have decided what to do. The same with the stables. My men are tending to the horses now. We don't want anyone to ride out without permission. Your people have not been hurt Ned. I'm not a monster."

"My wife? My older sons? My Maester?"

"So long as they cooperate they will be fine. I have been talking to them. Your Maester and your Septa seem awfully dutiful and loyal. They refused to talk at first, but the minute I threatened to hurt you or your family they lowered their heads. But they really don't know anything, do they? I have let them go."

"My wife and sons?" Ned repeated.

"They don't tell me what I need to know. They don't want to talk" Robert said evenly. "And I have tried to get them to talk" he replied leaving no doubt as to how he had gone about it.

"Robert, what have you done!?"

"Your ward, the Greyjoy lad. He sure has a mouth, fucking pirate that he is. But he won't tell me what I need to know. Your wife, lovely woman. Still beautiful after all these years. And she loves you very much apparently. Your son and heir, good boy. He really tries, doesn't he? He wants to be a good Lord. But he still claims he doesn't know. And the other boy, Jon. Very quiet lad. Very sad and taciturn. He won't speak either. I swear Your Grace, I don't know. That's what they have all been saying so far"

"Gods, Robert, what are you doing?"

"What needs to be done. So now I'll give you the chance to speak again and save your family the trouble. I'll start nicely" he smiled with feigned politeness. "So, tell me about that girl, Wendell from the Inn near Harrenhall" he prompted.

"What do you want to know?" Ned asked fearfully.

"What was she like? Tall? Slim? Fat? Big Tits?"

"I don't remember."

"Come on, she's the mother of your bastard. She must have meant something."

"I swear, your Grace. I don't remember."

"You don't remember" he challenged. "Let's take you back to your cell. Maybe you can think about her and remember her."

Robert stood up, punched Ned in the stomach and motioned for the guards. "Take Lord Stark back to his cell. Bring me his wife."

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Next: Will Ned tell Robert the truth to save his family?

Note: There will be no bashing of any kind. And there will be no unnecessary glorifying of any character either. No Robert, Ned, Cat, or any other character bashing here. Robert may look like the bad guy in this chapter, but rememember, he is the King and he suspects he has been betrayed by his best friend, and not just any kind of betrayal: the secret plotting kind of betrayal that reeks of treason. And he's giving Ned a chance to defend himself and clear the charges before he passes sentence. I will not be taking sides, there are no villains and good guys here. I hope I can transmit this in my writing.

Thanks.