I did it. I finished finals week. Did I do well? Absolutely not. Could I have studied more? Absolutely. But I have once again returned to this story. Some of you have asked my why I got rid of the notes on my reasons for replacing Jon Snow. I shall tell you. I am not a bitch, but that doesn't mean that my self-hatred needs anymore help. I love all those who disagreed with me, but respected my opinions. However there were those that were unnecessarily rude, especially in private DMs. Thank you for understanding.

I truly understand that many of you have your own wishes to add to this story. If you DM me or write a constructive review, I am sure I can work some ideas in. However, as I have already mentioned, I have created family trees for many of the houses and have my own vision of this story. I think there will be some rollercoasters of my own AU that you may not see coming. I try not to disappoint however so please let me know if I can add any thing.

298 AC

Eddard

Robert; his brother, his blood, his closest friend and ally, had asked the impossible of him. Apparently their foster father, Jon Arryn, had fallen incredibly ill and shortly after, fallen into deepsleep. According to Grand Maester Pycelle, Jon Arryn was alive, but it was unknown if he were to ever awake. Due to this declaration, Queen Cersei had quickly called on Robert to appoint her father, Tywin Lannister as the Hand of the King. Something that Eddard was not fond of looking forward to. He was a damn good administrator, none but the Mad King can deny that, but I'll be damned if he is allowed into that position ever again.

Which is why Robert had made the long journey. To ask him to serve as his Hand. While they both loved Lord Arryn, neither could deny that he was not a very effective Hand at the moment.

Damnit Ned! I need someone I can trust! I'm surrounded by vipers and thieves on all sides!

Robert had yelled at him. Eddard was hesitate. Since the royal party's arrival, it had become obvious that the crown prince, Prince Joffrey, was not right in the head. There was a certain…glint in his eyes. Oh many a maid and lady blushed at his dashingly good looks, but Eddard was a man, tried and true. He had seen the eyes of madmen before…and he didn't like what he saw when he looked at the prince.

Let us finally join our blood. As we were always meant too! My son, your daughter, we shall be blood brothers at long last!

Eddard would not accept. Oh if his Lady wife knew of this offer, he would surely hear no end of it. But he would have none of it, none. Already his bannermen were expecting another northern marriage for his eldest daughter, that coupled with the Prince's behavior, made it an easy choice for him.

He promised Robert that he would think over the offer of being Hand. In truth, he wanted to deny it too. But that wouldn't sit right with him. Robert had his faults, no doubt. Eddard would be, and has been, the first to point them out. But the bonds made through childhood adventures and battle-blood…those are bonds not so easily broken. It felt wrong to deny Robert's both requests.

Which is why he found himself in his bedroom, discussing with Cat.

"Robert asked me to be his hand." He stated simply.

Turning around from where Cat had put on a night gown, she responded with a smile. "Oh how grand! It will be good to be in the south once more! I do hope you accepted?"

His silence made her look at him sharply.

"Ned?"

"My love, I told him that we would discuss it."

"What is there to discuss? That honor would make you the most powerful man in the realm!"

"But I wish to remain here, in Winterfell. The South is no place for the Starks of the North."

His Cat walked right up to him, forcing him to embrace her a warm hug. She cupped his right cheek in her hand. "I know you have many bad memories Ned." She said calmly. Though she was not a Northerner at heart, they had found love through time. "Terrible, horrific memories. But when did dark thoughts ever make a Northerner hesitate? I thought that is what you people ran on."

He frowned at the memories of battle, of deceit, of…of worse times. "Oh, and what does my Lady wife mean at 'you people'." Eddard put on a mask of false hurt. She saw through it right away.

"Step off down from that mighty warhorse dear, you know what I mean."

They moved over to the mattress and sat on its end. He held her hands in his. "If I do this, there are some conditions."

"Of course Ned, what are they?" Cat responded with.

"First, I shall not go alone. If I am to ride south with Robert, I shall demand that I bring a contingent of two hundred men."

"Two hundred!? Would the King even allow that?"

"He will if he wishes for me to come. Second, all the children shall remain in Winterfell."

She was about to protest when he held a finger up. "On this my dear Cat, I am unmovable. If I am to go south, I shall be the only Stark to do so."

"What about me? I know you have been hardened through your life Ned, but I fear you still hold honor to close to your heart. I know the ways of court intrigue, allow me to join you."

He didn't respond at first. "I am…open to discussing that." She smiled in her small victory.

"If you have demands Ned, so too do I."

"What are they?"

"You must take with you more men. You would be the Hand of the King, the most powerful man in the entire realm save for the King himself. You must rely on good, trusted men. I demand that you take at least four hundred with you."

"But Cat, that is nearly half of the Winterfell Guard!"

"Aye, but Robb shall be instructed to hire and train more, after all, there are always families looking to rid another mouth to feed."

Eddard broke in at this point. "Speaking of which, is Robb ready for this? I mean he needs to learn at some point, but…oh I just worry for him."

Once again, Cat embraced him, "Worry not for Robb my husband, he shall have Ser Rodrik and Maester Luwin. Not to mention dear Edwyle!"

He chuckled at that. "We also need to begin preparations for finding a betrothal for Sansa." Ned changed the subject.

"Aye, that we do."

He broke his fast like most mornings, a simple plate of bacon, fried crisp, and two to three eggs, boiled soft. The great hall was louder and busier than normal, but not overly messy or outrageous. From his vantage place, he saw as the Queen's youngest brother, Tyrion he believed, made conversation with Maester Luwin. Noticing the most obvious absence, he asked a guard where the King was.

Apparently Robert had awoken early and also had a light meal, shocking to Ned with his great size. The guard directed him to the tiltyard. Surely the King isn't sparring? Much to his initial expectation, he wasn't. Robert was watching as Robb and Edwyle were sparring. Hearing his footsteps, the King turned around.

"Ned! Come, come, I was just watching your boys!" Eddard winced at the volume. Even early in the morning, Robert had no reservations about being boisterous. Joining the King at his left, Eddard watched his two eldest duel. To his left and rear stood Meryn Trant, he seemed a decent swordsman, though he had no personal experience with the knight yet. To the King's rear and right stood Ser Barristan Selmy, a man that Eddard respected greatly.

Before them, Robb and Edwyle were using live steel. Ever since that terrible day a year ago, he thought that it was appropriate to be rid of practice swords finally. Both Robb and Edwyle were strong and youthful. Dancing to a tempo of controlled aggression, neither of his boys wished to back down. Both were too engrossed to ever admit defeat. Finally, after nearly a ten-minute bout, Edwyle tricked Robb into an opening, where upon Edwyle used the flat of his sword to smack Robb's left-most torso rather hard. Grasping his side in pain, Edwyle smacked his sword from his hand and pointed the tip to his neck, though much further back than normal.

"Yield!" Edwyle shouted in what sounded like anger.

Robb looked with anger before finally nodding and accepting defeat. Immediately, the two brothers smiled and embraced each other before handing their swords back to Ser Rodrik.

"Damnit Ned, it's like us in the Eyrie! Those two of yours are damn fine! Damn fine indeed!"

Robert continued to chuckle to himself, no doubt thinking of the memories they made in the Vale. Eddard decided that now was the best time. "Robert, I need to-"

Before he could continue, Ser Meryn spoke from behind him. "He is 'Your Grace'! Refer to the King as such!"

Robert just looked at the knight in anger. "No man may call me anything but 'Your Grace'! Not even the bloody Seven themselves!" Eddard expected him to be mildly reprimanding by Robert until he continued. "Everyone but this man! If it was up to me, he would be sitting on that gods' forsaken chair! Now shut it before I have you cleaning the crypts of Winterfell for the next five winters!"

Ser Meryn bowed from the neck once before stepping back once more. Eddard decided to continue. "Robert, we must speak."

"Well go on then!" Robert turned back to the tiltyard, watching as prince Tommen and Bran took the practice yard, but using nothing more than blunted, wood blades, more sticks than swords.

But he would have none of it. "Robert. We must speak in private."

The King looked upset but nodded after a moment. "Fine then, you miserable bastard, come, let us speak somewhere."

Eddard had guided the King and his two knights to a small room off of the family wing. It was neither a playroom for the young children, nor a closet for the servants. It was a sitting chamber, where people could simply talk and discuss. Eddard guided them in. he took a seat with the King opposite to him. Ser Barristan stopped in the door frame and turned to his brother-in-arms.

"Guard the door, I shall remain with the King."

Ser Meryn simply nodded before stopping from entering, as Ser Barristan entered and closed the door, Eddard could see that Ser Meryn take up a position in front of the door.

"Well you have me alone Ned! Now what's all this for damnit!"

Eddard took a deep breathe. This is it.

"I have decided to accept your invitation."

"Hah! I knew it, I knew you would help me!"

"But, but I have conditions."

Robert's face soured but was still hopeful. "What is it?"

"First, I shall come with my wife, but all my children shall remain here, in Winterfell."

Robert simply waived it away. "Damnit Ned, I wished to watch your older boys, but I understand."

And Ned was sure he actually did. Though Robert always preferred to fight more than rule, he too experienced what it was like to be thrusted into the position of being a Lord after the death of his parents.

"The second condition is that I shall not go alone. Make no mistake Robert, if I am to come, I ask that I be granted the right to bring my men-at-arms with me."

"Well of course. How many?" No doubt Robert was thinking that it would be perhaps fifty, no more than a hundred.

"Four hundred." Eddard responded.

Both the King and sworn guard were silent. "That is a lot of men Ned."

"Aye, but I have no intention of ending up like my brother or father."

The King's face darkened. "You have the courage to think that I would-"

"It isn't you Robert. It's everyone else that I am worried about. Can you look me in the eyes and tell me that your court isn't teeming with corruption?"

"…No. Damnit Ned, no."

"And my final condition is thus: You shall immediately order all Lannister men-at-arms to return to Casterly Rock upon the return journey to the south. The queen may choose a total of four to remain, but no more. Further, before we depart, you shall send a raven to the capital ordering any of the Lannister men there to return to the Rock as well."

"The Bitch won't like that."

"I don't care. One garb. If I see one garb of Lannister red when we reach the capital, I shall turn me and my men around then and return to Winterfell."

"This'll upset the Lion." Robert said somberly.

"I have no doubt. But I refuse to live within the same keep, let along city, as the same men who serve the likes of Tywin Lannister."

"And what shall I do to replace them? The City Watch is as useless as the cunt that runs them."

"You are not only the King, but a Baratheon of Storm's End. Call upon the Stormlords and they shall send any and all men to the capital. I have heard the Red Keep has become a den of lions. I shall not hibernate myself within such a place if it continues to be so."

Robert's mood had deflated throughout the conversation. "And you are standing by this? I cannot have you any other way?"

Ned shook his head. "Nay. A single infraction of any of the three conditions and I shall return to the North immediately."

Before the King could respond, there was a furious banging upon the door. Initially, the King and Ser Barristan were expecting a request for the King until they spoke. A muffled voice could be heard.

"Lord Stark! Lord Stark! Your presence is requested immediately!"

Standing in a flash, Eddard opened the door. In front of him stood Ser Jory with two Winterfell Guards with him, Ser Meryn was right next to them.

"Mi' Lord, it's Brandon."

His heart clenched.

"He fell mi' lord. He fell!"

He stood like a statue.

"Mi' lord?" Jory asked with a measure of worry.

Without any more hesitation, he yelled at Jory. "Go! Take me to him now! Someone fetch Luwin!

Him, Jory, and the two guards ran through the halls of the great keep until they reached Bran's room. It seemed like some of the guards had just finished setting him on his bed. Not a minute behind him, he heard the chains of Luwin as he came rushing into the room. He wanted so bad to help his boy. His dear, little boy. But he knew, that just as he would not accept interruption in a fight, this was not the time to pressure Luwin. He did the only thing he could, take control of the situation.

Turning, he began giving out orders.

"Jory, keep a guard of our most trusted men outside my son's door, guards on all the doors!"

Jory ran off to organize the task.

"You two, fetch Ser Rodrik now!" They too took off. "Alyn, I want my entire family gathered here now! Go, fly like the wind!"

"Mi' lord!" He bowed before doing his job.

At this point, his wife already came into the room, Alyn took off to summon the rest of his family.

"Oh my boy!" Cat cried out in anguish as she rushed to the other side of Bran as Luwin was still examining him.

Hearing the rush of equipment, he once again turned to see Ser Rodrik enter the room, face going pale at seeing one of his Lord's children in such a desperate state.

"Ser Rodrik!" He snapped his Master-at-Arms' attention.

"Mi' Lord?"

"Lockdown the castle, now! I want every gate, every door, every sally port shut and guarded! I want guards posted to the rookery at all times! Raise the moat bridges!" Due to the moat between the two great walls of Winterfell, small bridges were required to transit between them. They closely resembled those of gangplanks on ships. "I don't want a single person to enter or leave this castle without me knowing about it!"

"Aye, mi' lord!" Ser Rodrik turned to address all the orders until Eddard called his attention once more.

"And Rodrik. Disarm all the Lannister troops and guards and sequester them in their barracks. Isolate the King at once and only allow my guards and the Kingsguard to be in his presence!"

"And the King, mi' lord?"

"I don't care if he threatens your with exile or even death! I am the lord of this castle and I still run it!"

Rodrik went off to complete his orders. His wife finally looked up with wide eyes, for the first time since she got to the room. "Ned? What is going on?"

He looked at his wife, finally allowing a shred of his fear to show.

"Bran doesn't fall. Bran never falls."

I hoped you all like this chapter! Admittedly, it felt like a filler chapter to me, but I think in my own view, necessary nonetheless.