Author's Note: As you can probably guess by the chapter title, Ned and family get reunited, and the truth of Jon's birth comes out. I don't feel that this is my best chapter, but I can't quite think of doing it any other way. So regardless, I hope you like it.

Chapter 7

Reunions And Revelations

Jon

Jon stood beside his father as they crossed the water through the water gate of Riverrun, with Arya and Sansa sat behind them on the boat. Just behind them and off to their left was the boat that was transporting Grenn, Pyp, Sam and Ghost, while to their right was the boat with Lady Mormont and some of her men. He was a little bit nervous of coming here, for this was the childhood home of Lady Stark. It had been days since Jon and his companions found his father and sisters being threatened by men sworn to Stannis Baratheon, and days since learning the truth about Joffrey and his siblings. That truth had been a complete shock to him and the others; Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen were not the children of King Robert Baratheon but instead the children of his wife Queen Cersei and her twin brother Jamie Lannister. Bastards born out of incest, he thought. I knew there was something off about Joffrey, but never did I expect that.

After saving his father and sisters and learning that awful truth Jon and the others followed Lady Mormont and her men to Harrenhal. When the ruin of a castle had come into view Sam just could not shut up about its history, from when it was being constructed to when Aegon and his dragons burned it, killing all those within. Jon had to smirk as Grenn and Pyp rolled their eyes in boredom. Sam was quite happy though, which gave Jon a reason to smile. During their stay at Harrenhal Jon had told his father about Sam and why he had been sent to the Wall in the first place. Eddard was quite angry that a lord would give up on his son like that and send them away somewhere where they would likely perish. After that he promised Jon to find Sam work back at Winterfell if he decided to go with them. While they were at Harrenhal Jon and Arya wandered around the old castle with Sam, learning what they could about the place and having some fun while they were at it.

Eddard had sent a raven to Riverrun telling them that he and the girls were fine and on their way, as well as telling them that Jon was with them. It was for that reason that Jon was nervous; he had heard that Lady Stark was there as well as Robb and Theon. Still he was eager to see his brother and even, to his surprise, the Ironborn heir. As their boat passed under the gate Jon saw people gathering nearby; Lady Stark was stood at the front, with eyes only for her husband and daughters; next to her with auburn hair and looking to be in his mid-twenties was a man Jon thought to have been her brother Ser Edmure, the Heir to Riverrun; stood behind him was a giant of a man with dark hair and a sigil of a roaring giant breaking its chains, which must have been Lord Umber; and with Grey Wind at his side and sporting a beard much like their father, only auburn in colour rather than dark brown, was Robb, who looked like a true Lord of Winterfell in that moment.

"Make room there," one of the guards of Riverrun called out from nearby, and a small group of men moved out of the way of where the boats were to land. Their boat stopped as it came to dry ground, with the other two boats stopping shortly after.

"Amazing," Sam said, his voice giddy with childlike wonder. "The ancient seat of House Tully, given to them roughly a thousand years ago for their service to one of the many petty kings of the Riverlands. It was the Tullys who were first to declare for Aegon Targaryen three-hundred years ago, rising up against Harren the Black and his House. For helping to lay siege to Harrenhal and being first to declare for the Targaryens House Tully were made the Lords Paramount of the Riverlands." Jon looked across to him and noticed that Grenn and Pyp were looking at him with their usual looks of disinterest.

"How do you know that?" Grenn asked him. Jon watched as Sam struggled out of the boat.

"I read about it..."

"In a book," Grenn and Pyp cut in at the same time. Jon sniggered at his friends before he turned to help Sansa out of the boat while his father got out after passing an indignant Arya to a Riverrun guardsman (who had to struggle with Arya squirming in his arms). Ghost padded alongside him before bounding off to greet Grey Wind, while Jon followed his father and sisters from behind. He looked up and saw Catelyn looking at his father with nothing but pure relief, her eyes brimming with tears of joy.

"Oh Ned," she said when he was a couple of feet away, throwing her arms around his shoulders and pulling him tight against her. Eddard wrapped his arms around her and murmured into her ear. After a few moments they broke up and Catelyn walked up to Sansa, who ran into her mother's arms, followed by Arya who Catelyn brought into their embrace. Eddard meanwhile approached Robb, and the two embraced each other, Robb letting out a deep breath as he did Jon noticed. When they stepped apart after a few moments Lord Umber approached with his arms held out to either side, laughing boisterously.

"Welcome back Ned," he said loudly. "I knew those Southron shits couldn't keep you locked up for bloody long. What took you so long to get out of there anyway?" Jon heard his father laughing in response to his bannerman.

"It took Robb's victory over Tywin Lannister and a few other things to make Lord Varys come to his senses and free me," Eddard answered. As he spoke Catelyn released her daughters who then ran up to Robb, who hugged them both. As Robb hugged the girls Catelyn approached Jon, her face neutral as always when regarding him but her eyes lacking the usual coldness that she normally would have.

"Jon," she said, her voice strained as if it took great difficulty to speak with him. In the next moment she closed the gap between them and put her hand on his arm. It took Jon a moment to realise that she was patting his arm in an almost affectionate manner. "I hear I have you to thank for saving my husband and daughters after they were attacked by men loyal to Lord Stannis?" Jon bowed his head briefly before looking back up to her.

"That is right my lady," he said, feeling nervous despite the praise he was receiving (or maybe because of it). He noticed that Robb and the others were looking at them, and he wondered what they could be thinking. But none of them would be as shocked as he was with Catelyn's next words.

"Thank you Jon, for looking after your father and sisters and bringing them back to me," she said, and then she turned and walked to Eddard. Jon was stunned by what had just happened. Did Lady Stark actually just do that? he wondered. As he stood there dumbfounded Robb approached him, a wide smile adorning his face.

"Snow," he said with warmth. Jon looked at him and smiled back.

"Stark," he replied, before they both laughed and hugged each other. They stood back from each other after a couple of seconds, with Robb looking Jon up and down.

"Might not be with the Watch now, but you're still in black," Robb said. Jon smirked.

"I told you before, black was always my colour," he responded. As they chuckled Jon heard the sound of a direwolf barking, thinking that Grey Wind was coming to greet him, until he looked at Arya whose eyes lit up.

"NYMERIA!" she shouted before running up to her direwolf, the two colliding with each other and falling into the dirt, Arya laughing as they rolled around. Jon looked across at Sansa and saw that even though she smiled she had a slight look of pain in her eyes; he remembered then that their father had to kill Lady, Sansa's direwolf, at the Queen's command after Arya sent Nymeria away to save her after she attacked Joffrey. Jon looked back to Robb who was laughing at Arya and Nymeria's antics.

"Nymeria walked into my mother's tent a few days before we arrived at Riverrun," he explained. "She stayed next to her for the whole trip after that, only leaving mother's side once we were inside Riverrun." Jon smiled at that. "She's been terrorising the staff here ever since," Robb said with a laugh as he turned to face him.

"So tell me Robb," he began as they walked over to Sam, who was busy looking around at the walls of Riverrun. "How in the seven hells did you get Tywin Lannister into a position where you could destroy his host and take him alive?" Robb looked at his feet for a moment before sighing.

"Sheer dumb luck I guess," he said. "That and help with planning the trap from my great-uncle, Ser Brynden Tully. Lords Bolton and Karstark gave some useful tips as well, and after managing to calm down those who were against the idea, such as Greatjon and Lady Mormont, it was pretty easy. Then the actual battle started." Jon looked at Robb then and saw a faraway look in his eyes. "Never thought just how hard it would actually be. I had twenty-thousand men march with me from the North, and lost just over twelve-hundred. I left twelve-thousand at Harrenhal, as you probably gathered when you were there, and took about five-thousand with me on the march over here." Robb took a deep breath then and turned to face him. "A third of those men were either killed or wounded badly enough to take them out of the fight for a while." Robb shook his head then, rubbing his forehead with his hand. "Half of the Riverlands forces were killed during the battle of the camps just outside Riverrun. It would have been a different story if we got the Kingslayer away and either killed or taken captive, but..." Robb trailed off, and Jon nodded his head.

"No point speculating the what ifs," he said, making Robb chortle.

"Aye," he replied. He then looked to his right and frowned. "Who are these three?" Jon looked to his friends and waved them closer.

"Robb, these are some friends that I made while at the Wall," Jon said. "Grenn is the big lad furthest from us, next to him is Pyp, the skinny one, and this one right here is Sam Tarly." Jon looked at his friends. "Grenn, Pyp, Sam, this is my brother, Robb Stark, the Heir to Winterfell." His friends greeted Robb who shook their hands.

"It's good to meet you," Robb said before looking at Jon with a slight curve of his lips. "I'm glad that you inspire such loyalty Jon. The Watch must have been angry that you took three men with you as you left." Grenn chuckled gruffly at that.

"The Watch was not as pissed off as we were when they named Jon to the stewards instead of the rangers," he said. "Me and Pyp didn't start off on good terms with your brother milord, but after a while some of us looked up to him. We even got him to help train us seeing as he's a better swordsman than the likes of Thorne." Robb frowned at the mention of the name, as if trying to think on where he heard the name before.

"Uncle Benjen would've spoken of him once or twice," Jon elaborated. "Thorne is the master-at-arms of Castle Black, and he has an unpleasant manner about him. It was him who no doubt had me assigned to the stewards in retaliation for me helping Sam here."

Jon spoke with Robb about his time at Castle Black, the friends he made up there and everything about Sam, from why he was sent to the Wall to some things about his past that Sam had no problems with talking about, and finally they talked about how Jon left the Wall with the others and how they were relieved that Lord Commander Mormont had sent word ahead to Winterfell as they were leaving. As they spoke they walked into the great hall and sat down at one of the tables, and Robb told them about how they took Riverrun as well as more details about the Humbling of the Lion. After that they spoke about what Jon and the others learned from their father in regards to Joffrey and his siblings.

"Incest?" Robb stated, shocked by the news.

"Aye," Jon said as he nodded his head. "Father said it was while speaking with the girls that Sansa and Arya had said something about Joffrey being more lion than stag. After sending them out father looked at a book that had the details of all the Great Houses of Westeros, from Houses Stark and Tully, to Houses Lannister and Baratheon. Father said that one of the things he noticed was that every child born to a Baratheon parent had black hair and blue eyes, trueborn and bastard alike. Except for King Robert's children by Cersei, who have golden hair and green eyes." Robb reached for his cup and brought it up to his mouth.

"It could easily just have been that the Lannister blood is stronger than the Baratheon blood," he said before sipping his drink.

"I said the same," Jon conceded. "Then father pointed out that King Robert has bastard children running about the realm. All of them it seems have black hair, and blue eyes." Jon now took a swig from his cup while Robb just shook his head, breathing out slowly as he thought about what he has just been told.

"Well now, that puts us on the spot," he said after a minute. "With Stannis Baratheon having sent men to capture father and the girls, and Renly still not replying to my letter himself, who do we support?" Jon looked at his brother in confusion.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, with Tommen not being a Baratheon..." Robb began before Jon cut in.

"No, I meant what do you mean by not replying to your letter?" he corrected. Robb took a moment to answer, and when he did he reached into one of his pockets.

"Renly's good-father Mace Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden, sent this letter in response to mine," he said as he passed the letter over to Jon. "I sent letters out to both of King Robert's brothers as well as to Highgarden, Sunspear, Pyke and the Eyrie, letting the lords and ladies of those strongholds know about what happened east of the Green Fork. Lord Tyrell is the only one to reply to me so far." Jon opened the letter and read its contents.

To Robb Stark, the Heir to Winterfell,

We are quite pleased to have heard of your glorious victory over the Lion of Casterly Rock and congratulate you in humbling the Lannisters. No doubt it would have been quite the sight to see Lord Tywin fall as he did.

However while we are pleased by this news I must inform you that I do not approve of your demand to ride out to Riverrun to attend a meeting with you. As you are quite young, only fifteen so I am told, I shall let this slide. But next time when seeking an audience with your King it is prudent for you to seek him out and not summon him as if he were a mere servant.

Yours cordially,

Mace of the House Tyrell

Lord of Highgarden, Defender of the Marches, High Marshall of the Reach, Warden of the South and Hand of the King

After reading the letter Jon felt a surge of anger at the southern lord. Arrogant fool, he thought. What right does he have to respond like that to anyone in such a manner? Jon sighed as he passed the letter back to Robb.

"Did you send letters to anyone else?" he asked, to which Robb nodded his head.

"Mother suggested sending word out to other places as well, such as Runestone, the seat of House Royce, and Blackhaven, Lord Dondarrion's seat," he answered. "Lord Dondarrion's cousins sent a message to him, but have not responded to me yet. I do not know if Lord Royce got my letter but I have gotten word that some of the Vale Houses are mobilising their forces." Jon perked up at that, and was about to speak when their father cut in.

"Which Houses Robb?" Eddard asked. Sam and the others quickly stood up and bowed while Jon and Robb just stood up and looked at him.

"House Royce of Runestone and their vassal Houses of Coldwater, Tollet and Shett of Gull Tower," Robb started, "House Waynwood and their vassal House Hardyng also muster their levies, along with Houses Hunter, Redfort, Belmore, Waxley, Upcliff and Melcolm. The rest have either decided to stay neutral as Aunt Lysa has demanded of them, or have not responded either way." Eddard frowned upon hearing that, a slight look of disappointment in his eyes.

"What about House Corbray?" he asked Robb, who shook his head.

"Ser Lyn Corbray has apparently stated that any Vale lord who defies Aunt Lysa is an oath breaker who should be stripped of all lands, and has also challenged some of the lords and knights to duels when they speak out against him, or so I am told," Robb said with some disgust in his voice. "His older brother Lord Lyonel remains silent. That is all that we have heard from the Vale I'm afraid. I'm sorry it's not better news."

"Not to worry Robb," Eddard said. "You've done much over the last few weeks, and I'm proud of you." Jon watched as Robb seemed to stand taller at their father's praise. Eddard also had a proud look about him, and then just like that it was replaced by his 'lord's face'. "But now I must speak with you and Jon, in private." Robb looked back at Jon before nodding his head to their father, who led them from the hall.

Jon and Robb followed their father as he led them up a flight of stairs to one of the rooms that has been set aside for the lords staying within Riverrun. As they entered Jon noticed that Lady Stark was sat at the desk, and to his surprise when she looked up at him she had a look of sorrow in her eyes. Robb sat beside her, asking her if she was alright. Jon walked slowly to the seat that was next to Robb, and he watched as Eddard sat on a seat just across from them. After a minute of silence Jon's father cleared his throat.

"I have something to say to you Jon," he began. "Something that I should've told you a long time ago." Eddard looked up to meet his eyes, and Jon saw that his father had a pained look in his eyes. "Before I say anything else I want you to understand that at the time, I felt that I had no choice but to lie to you, to all of you, to keep you safe." Jon blinked in confusion at those words.

"What do you mean?" Robb asked. "Father, what are you talking about?"

"Robb," Catelyn said softly. "Let your father speak." Jon looked over to his side and saw his brother's mother looking at him with what Jon thought might well have been regret. He turned to face his father again, and what he said next shocked him to his very core.

"You are not my son, Jon."

Eddard

Eddard walked alongside his wife and daughters while Robb and Jon walked off to the great hall. He had smiled as he watched them walking away, but his smile soon fell. I should have told him a long time ago, he thought. He walked with his wife's arm hooked through his own arm as they walked up to the room where his good-father Lord Hoster was resting. Cat had told him about how ill he was, and the sound of her voice breaking made Eddard's heart break. Soon they entered the room, and he ushered his girls in first. Sansa and Arya walked up to the bed and looked at their grandfather. Hoster looked over to them and gave out a soft laugh.

"Lysa," he said weakly, and Eddard heard Cat breath in sharply.

"No father," she said as they approached him. "It's your granddaughters, Sansa and Arya." Hoster looked from Cat to Eddard before he looked at the girls, and he sighed before reaching out to brush his hand through Sansa's hair. Eddard could see that it took all of his strength to lift his arm.

"Oh, I'm sorry little one," he said. "You just... looked like your aunt when she was your age. I could have sworn... that it was only yesterday... that I saw Lysa in here, speaking with me." Eddard let go of Cat's arm to let her walk around to the other side of the bed.

"That was me father," Cat said as she knelt down beside him. "That was me telling you that Ned and the girls were coming here." Hoster looked over to Cat and smiled.

"Ah yes, I remember that now," he said before looking over to Eddard. "Robb was quite happy... when word reached him about you... escaping Eddard. He seemed very happy... like a young boy on his nameday." Eddard smiled as he stepped closer to the bed. "It's good that you got... out of there Eddard. No one... should be made to suffer the indignity of being... imprisoned within the black cells. The sooner that boy is... brought to heel the better."

"He will be my lord," Eddard said as he gently took Hoster's hand and squeezed it. "I don't intend for him to sit the throne for long. Not after what I have learned." Hoster wheezed slightly before nodding.

"The hour of the wolf approaches again," he said. "Well Eddard, whatever you... decide, I trust that you'll do what is right."

With that Sansa and Arya stayed beside their grandfather, speaking with him and keeping him company, while Eddard and Cat walked out to give them peace. As they left Cat leaned on his right side, and Eddard wrapped his arm over her shoulder, squeezing her shoulder gently. As he walked he winced as a jolt of pain shot up through his leg.

"Ned?" Cat asked worriedly. Eddard shook his head.

"'Tis nothing my lady," he said. "My leg has healed thanks to Varys's friend from the Free Cities. But I'll still get pain in my leg for a time." They continued to walk until Cat steered them to a door that led to one of the guest rooms. "I heard that both Tywin and Jamie Lannister have lost limbs?" he enquired.

"Maester Vyman had to remove Lord Lannister's right leg after corruption began to spread," Cat answered. "The Kingslayer had his sword arm removed during the battle of the camps, taken by Lord Tytos Blackwood just before he died." Cat fell silent as Eddard opened the door and let her go in first. The room was spacious, with a desk in one corner and four chairs nearby, and a double bed on the opposite wall from the desk. "Tytos Blackwood's son Brynden is now the Lord of Raventree, and he and his younger brother Lucas rode back to their seat to drive out the remaining Westermen laying siege to their home, as well as to lay their father to rest. Brynden and Lucas just returned yesterday, and nearly came to blows with Lord Bracken when they came in." Eddard grimaced as he sat down on the edge of the bed, with Cat sitting beside him. Once they were beside each other Eddard pulled Cat closer to him and kissed her softly on the lips. She returned the kiss, wrapping her arms around him, and for a few moments they just sat there kissing each other until Eddard broke the kiss. They then talked for a little bit, Eddard telling her about the truth of Cersei Lannister's children and what happened in the throne room, including Baelish's betrayal (which shocked and angered Cat), then Cat told him about taking Tyrion Lannister prisoner and taking him to the Eyrie where her sister Lysa had been played by the Imp into letting a trial by combat take place (which resulted in Tyrion walking out of the Eyrie a free man with the sellsword who fought for him).

"It was reckless Cat," he told her. "Both you and Lysa were reckless in dealing with the Imp."

"I know that Ned," she said quickly before taking a deep breath. "If I had known how bad Lysa had gotten then I would not have taken him there. If I had realised sooner what Lord Lannister would do then I would not have taken him at all." Tears began to run down her face then, and Eddard pulled her closer to him. "It's my fault... all my fault," she sobbed as she cried into Eddard's shoulder.

"You couldn't have known Cat," he told her soothingly. Cat sniffled as he rubbed his hand up and down her back. "None of us could've predicted that Tywin Lannister would march out for Tyrion like that after being accused of a serious crime. I would have expected him to ride for the capitol and barge in and roar at me in anger, but not once did I think that he would sack the Riverlands. Although in hindsight, I suppose I should have seen it." Cat looked up at him then with a sad smile on her face, and Eddard let out a long sigh. "Cat, there's something I need to tell you," he said, steeling himself. Cat looked at him then, and shifted herself so that she was facing him.

"What is it?" she asked as she wiped her face. Eddard looked into her eyes, those blue eyes that he loved, and then he stroked his fingers through her hair, that lovely long auburn hair that always made him smile. Gods I don't deserve her, he thought, not for the first time.

"It's about Jon," he said, and already he could see Cat's eyes harden slightly. She looked down at her lap for a moment before she looked up at him again.

"What about Jon?" she asked stiffly then, and Eddard braced himself.

"Jon is not, and has never, been my son," he said slowly, looking into Cat's eyes as he spoke. She blinked at him then, and her face fell into one of confusion.

"What?" she muttered. Eddard put both of his hands on her shoulders before continuing.

"All of these years I have lied about Jon, to protect him," he said slowly, keeping his grey eyes locked with his wife's eyes. "I have kept the truth from you, to keep not just him safe, but you and our children as well." Cat's eyes widened with confusion and concern. "If Robert ever learned the truth, then he would likely have killed me, and perhaps you and our children as well if you knew too. But that would have happened after he killed Jon." Cat gasped then, and brought her hands up to his face, her fingers brushing through his beard.

"What are you saying Ned?" she said. "Why would Robert kill him?"

"Because he is Rhaegar Targaryen's son," Eddard finally told her. Cat's eyes widened with shock. "Rhaegar's son by my sister," he finished.

"Lyanna?" she said, her voice a whisper, and when Eddard looked into her eyes he saw the confusion melt away, to be replaced with understanding, acceptance, and finally anger.

Eddard expected the anger as Cat's arms fell down to her side, but nothing prepared him for what she did next. Cat stood up from the edge of the bed and slapped him hard across the cheek. Eddard's head turned to the side and he kept it there, not moving. His face stung but he knew that he deserved it, for all of the years that he has hidden the truth from her. After a few moments he looked back up to her, and saw the betrayal in her eyes, which hurt more then it did the first time he saw that look fifteen years ago.

"Fifteen years," she finally said. "I have lived with this for fifteen years, and only now do you have the courage to tell me the truth?" Her voice was full of anger, but she kept quiet so no one outside could hear. "Why? Why didn't you trust me?" Eddard stood up from the bed as she spoke and put his hand on her arm. "If you'd told me years ago I could've been better to him. Why did you keep this from me?"

"The less you knew, the better," Eddard stated. "It was not about trust Cat. I may not have known you well at the start of our marriage, but even when I could trust you I still could not tell you. If Robert learned the truth then he would have killed me. He would only leave you alive if it was clear that you knew nothing, that is why I never told you or anyone else." Cat looked up at him then and opened her mouth to speak, but it took her a moment to find her voice.

"How could you know that Robert would kill you, or Jon?" she asked with her voice breaking. Eddard looked down and pulled her closer to him. She tried to shake him off at first but he just kept a firm grip.

"That day in the throne room, right after we took King's Landing," he told her. "When Robert sat the Iron Throne and the bodies of Elia Martell and her children were brought before us wrapped in Lannister cloaks, I argued that Tywin Lannister should be punished for the murders of the children and their mother. But Robert said that he did not see babes, only dragon spawn, and he smiled." Eddard looked up into Cat's eyes. "He smiled Cat. He took delight in their deaths. When I found Lyanna in the Tower of Joy, and saw her lying in a bed of blood with Jon in her arms, I knew that I had to claim him as my own, because Robert would have killed him. Jon is Lyanna's child, but he is Rhaegar's too, and that's why Robert would kill him. The fact that he is the result of Lyanna being raped would be more justification for Robert." Cat gasped then, bringing her hands to her mouth.

"Gods," she said. She stood still for a moment before she closed the gap between them and embraced him. "You foolish man," she said as she wept into his chest. "You foolish, stubborn man Eddard Stark." They held each other for a few minutes, Cat crying and Eddard fighting to keep his own tears at bay.

When they broke apart Cat sat down on the chair closest to the desk. She sat with her hands in her lap and looked up at him, here eyes full of sorrow. There was still some anger there, but Eddard expected that. He sat down on the seat beside her and took one of her hands in his own.

"Who else?" she asked him after a few minutes of silence. "Who else knows the truth?" Eddard sighed.

"Howland Reed, who was with me that day," he said, thinking of the small Crannogman who was the Lord of Greywater Watch. Eddard has not seen Howland in many years now. "Varys made it known that he knew as well, while we were sailing away from King's Landing. And it was when he told me that the girls found out." Cat looked up at him sharply, and her eyes closed as she sighed.

"How did they..." she trailed off then, but Eddard knew what she meant.

"They had started to argue, so I told them off," he started. "Sansa ran out crying and Arya ran after her, apologising. They were gone for a short time, leaving me with Varys. They were walking back when I told Varys not to speak a word about Jon's origins. He was trying to get me to support his claim, saying that Jon is the rightful King." Eddard scoffed at that. "How can he be when his mother and father were not married? Anyway, when I told Varys about Rhaegar luring Lyanna and then raping her, and when I told him that it is better for Jon to believe that he is mine and not the result of his true father raping his mother, that was when Arya spoke." Cat gasped at that, and Eddard let the tear that was threatening to fall do so.

"Oh Ned," she said as she leaned over and wiped the tear away. She looked at him then as he began to cry, which he has not done since Lyanna had died in his arms. As he cried he heard his sister's last words to him; Promise me Ned, promise me. Soon he felt Cat's arms wrap around him, and they both cried together for a short while.

"I couldn't..." he began before taking a shuddering breath. "I couldn't keep it from them after that... not when Arya looked at me the way you did when I returned from the war." Tears ran down his face freely, and Cat just held him for a long time. Before long Cat began to wipe his face clean, keeping one arm over his back as she did. When she was done Eddard calmed himself down, and they both sat there in each others arms, not letting go. "I'm sorry Cat," he finally said after a long time.

"Me too," she said before kissing his cheek. They sat like that for a little longer before Cat spoke again. "You need to tell him Ned," she said. "You can't keep this from him, not if Arya knows." Eddard nodded his head in agreement before rising.

"Aye," he said, wincing in pain as he stood to his full height. "Damn this leg," he hissed. "Why can't the pain just go away quicker than this?" He laughed bitterly while Cat chuckled. "I'll bring them back here," he said when he turned to look at her. "Robb and Jon. They both need to know the truth." Cat nodded her head.

"Okay," she said. Eddard took hold of Cat's hand and squeezed it reassuringly before leaving the room, walking down to the great hall.

When he found the boys they were talking about the Houses of the Vale who were declaring for their cause. Eddard spoke to them and Robb told him which Houses were going to join and which were not. Afterwards he told them that he needed to speak with them privately and he led them to the room where Cat was. Once they were sat down he took his own seat and looked at Jon. Eddard was quiet for a short while before he cleared his throat and began.

"I have something to say to you Jon," he started. "Something that I should've told you a long time ago." Eddard looked up to meet his eyes. "Before I say anything else I want you to understand that at the time, I felt that I had no choice but to lie to you, to all of you, to keep you safe."

"What do you mean?" Robb asked as Jon blinked in confusion. "Father, what are you talking about?"

"Robb," Cat said softly. "Let your father speak." Eddard swallowed then as Jon looked to his side at Robb and Cat, then he spoke.

"You are not my son, Jon," he told him. Jon looked at him with wide eyes, a startled expression on his face.

"What?" he asked quietly. The two of them looked at each other for a long time before Robb spoke.

"Father, how can... no, that's nonsense," he said. "Jon's your son, you've said as much any time someone asked." Eddard looked across to his eldest son and held his gaze.

"That is what I wanted people to believe, even your mother Robb," he told him. "I have lied to keep Jon safe from Robert Baratheon." He turned to look at Jon who had narrowed his eyes at him then.

"Keep me safe from the King?" he said. "Why would your friend want me dead?" Eddard stood up from his seat and walked over to him before kneeling down so that they were eye to eye.

"Because you father, your true father, was Rhaegar Targaryen," he said. Jon's eyes widened even more, and he sat back. "Your mother was my sister, Lyanna Stark." Eddard then told Jon everything that he told Cat, from how Rhaegar lured his mother and raped her, to when Varys revealed to Eddard that he knew and the argument that led to Sansa and Arya hearing the truth. He explained to Jon and Robb why he never told anyone the truth, and told them of his fears that Robert would kill him because of the fact that Jon's father had gotten his mother pregnant after raping her, saying that Robert would kill Jon thinking that he was avenging Lyanna. When he was done talking Jon just sat there in silence for a long time. When he finally spoke he turned to face Cat.

"You only found out today my lady?" he asked her, his voice breaking. Cat nodded her head.

"Yes," she said quietly. Jon looked away from her and leaned forward, resting his forehead against the palm of his hand. "Jon, I can never begin to apologise enough for how I have treated you over the years, but know that I am truly sorry, for how I have been towards you. If I had known the truth then I would not have been so harsh to you. I know it is not going to be enough, but for what it's worth I am very sorry." Jon looked towards her and nodded his head.

"I don't blame you Lady Stark," he said before he looked up to face Eddard. "But why did I have to wait this long?" His voice was bitter. "Were you ever going to tell me the truth? I don't even know how to address you now." Jon's voice was raised.

"Hey hey, Jon..." Robb began, but Eddard raised his hand to tell him to be quiet. From the corner of his eye he noticed that Robb was indeed falling silent while Cat put her hand on his shoulder.

"I would have told you the truth about your mother one day Jon, that's the truth," he said to him. "I never wanted you to know exactly how you came to be, but there is no stopping that now. Arya and Sansa know the truth, and if I know my youngest daughter, I know that she would not be able to look you in the eye again and keep that knowledge to herself." Jon stood up abruptly and walked over to the window opposite the door. Eddard stood up and walked closer to Jon. "Hurting you is the one thing that I never wanted to do to you Jon, I hope you can believe me when I say that," he said, his voice full of emotion. "I promised your mother to protect you, to raise you as my own for however long it would take until you no longer needed me to keep you safe. Even though she only got to hold you for a few minutes before she died, your mother loved you with everything that she had." Jon turned to look at him then, his face stern while a tear leaked from his eye.

"Despite the circumstances of my birth?" he asked tersely, and Eddard did not need to ask Jon what he meant for he knew what he was asking.

"Despite the circumstances of your birth," he told him. They both stood there looking at each other until Jon walked over to him and threw his arms around him, weeping as he did. Eddard pulled his nephew into his arms and held him for a long time before both Robb and Cat joined them in their embrace. Nothing would be the same again, but Eddard knew that they were stepping in the right direction. Right now, they just needed time to adjust.

Catelyn

Today has been emotionally exhausting for her. Catelyn was beyond relieved when Ned and the girls came back, but the revelation of Jon's birth was a complete shock to her. She had been angry with Ned, but after he explained himself to her she just could not be angry with him for much longer. He did the right thing, even if he went about it the wrong way. She would need time, a lot of time, before she could forgive him fully, but she could no longer hold any anger towards him. She mainly felt devastated for Jon; for how he came to be and how she has treated him over the years. After Ned had told her the truth he brought Robb and Jon up to the room and told them as well. Jon was shocked, and Catelyn had half expected him to strike Ned like she had done, but to his credit Jon did not lash out. After Ned had told him everything Jon had embraced his uncle, and both Catelyn and Robb joined them, all four of them crying. It was the first time that she had seen her husband cry, and it hurt her to see him so vulnerable. It upset her so much, and Catelyn vowed that she would do anything that she could to not let him or Jon feel so vulnerable again.

After Ned had spoken with them Jon had left the room to go to the godswood. When he left Ned had left to speak with the lords, leaving Catelyn alone with Robb. They sat next to each other, both mulling over the last couple of hours.

"I still can't believe it," Robb had said after a while. "All this time I have seen him as a brother, and in truth he was in fact my cousin." Catelyn had listened to her son as he spoke with her and told her of all the times that he and Jon had played together as children; times that she did not wish to know of in the past. She listened as Robb spoke of his and Jon's antics, playing in the godswood at Winterfell, riding and racing each other through the Wolfswood, drinking Summerwine from Ned's personal supplies when they could get away with it. It made her smile to hear of such things, even the things that she could rightly scold Robb for. After they had spent an hour speaking Robb left the room, saying that he needed to find Jon and speak to him. "We may now know that we are cousins, but he needs to know that nothings changed," he said to her. "We'll always be brothers." Catelyn had smiled when he said that, and she knew that in Robb's mind, and hopefully in Jon's mind, that they would still be brothers in every way that mattered; brothers in all but name.

Catelyn was walking along the corridors of Riverrun, lost in her own thoughts, when she heard the sound of a girl grunting. It was the grunt made by someone who was training, she realised. Who on earth could be training just now? she thought as she walked closer to the source of the noise. She walked until the grunting became louder, and then she found herself stood before a door that was open very slightly. She peered inside and saw Arya with a wooden practice sword in her hands.

"Hello Arya," she said as she opened the door fully. Arya jumped when Catelyn entered the room, and she tried to hide the practice sword behind her back.

"Mother," she said in a surprised tone. "I was... um, I mean..." Catelyn smiled at Arya and raised her hand.

"Don't worry child," she said to her. "I'm not here to scold you this time." Arya seemed relieved at that and relaxed, the practice sword held loosely in her left hand. She looked up at Catelyn and gave her a small smile.

"Did you speak with father?" Arya asked her, and she nodded.

"Yes Arya," Catelyn answered. "We had much to speak of." Catelyn approached her youngest daughter and put her arm on her shoulder. "Including Jon," she said after a minute. Arya bit down on her lip and then nodded her head. Catelyn took a moment to observe her daughter; Arya was dressed in a boy's tunic that was green in colour over a light brown coloured under-shirt, and she wore a pair of rough looking dark breeches. Her brown hair which would go just past her shoulders was tied back in a simple braid to keep it out of her face, but some strands of hair had gotten loose. Catelyn pulled some of those strands back behind Arya's ear before pulling her closer to her. Arya dropped the practice sword, which fell on the floor with a clatter, before she wrapped her arms around Catelyn's waist.

"I still have trouble believing it," Arya said to her when they parted. Catelyn knelt down beside her and rubbed her hand up and down her arm soothingly. "When father was speaking with Varys, when Sansa and I overheard them, I was so angry. I lost my temper," she said, her voice choked as she spoke. Catelyn smiled at her as she took a deep breath. "I... I am ashamed to say that I cursed at father."

"He already told me that Arya," Catelyn said, and Arya looked down and her cheeks flushed a bright shade of red. "We have all had times when we have acted in a less than appropriate fashion, myself included." Arya looked up at her in surprise then. Catelyn sat down on the floor then, patting her hand down onto the space next to her. Arya sat down beside her and she brought her knees up to her chest. "Before I met your father, I was supposed to marry your Uncle Brandon, your father's older brother, do you remember me telling you that?" Arya nodded her head. "I first met your uncle here at Riverrun, and I fancied myself in love with him, despite knowing next to nothing about him other than the fact that he was the Heir to Winterfell back then. However, a few years before I met him I had found out that I was betrothed to him. I was young then, and was hopeful for a royal match or at least a handsome knight of the south, much like your sister. When your grandfather told me that I would marry what I then foolishly believed to be a stinking Northern barbarian I was angry; I was so angry about the thought of being sent to the cold North that I cursed my father, to his face as well." Arya's eyes widened at that.

"I can't imagine that grandfather was happy with you for that?" she asked, and Catelyn laughed.

"My father stood there and glared at me, but he let me wear myself out before he said another word," she replied. "He just said to me, 'Cat my girl, you can curse me however much you want once you've married him, but until then do not say anything until you have at least met the boy'. He left me alone in my chambers for the night, and the next day he took me into his study and we spoke about what being married to a Stark would mean for my father's House and for me. You thought you were ashamed Arya? I was mortified once I calmed down and realised half of the things that I said to my father." Both of them giggled at that, Arya probably struggling to see her doing anything remotely unladylike while Catelyn laughed at the memories of that time. "Then I started to grow up a bit, then had my first flowering, then eventually I met your uncle, and when I thought back on the day my father told me about my betrothal I felt so embarrassed over it. More so because of the fact, if you can believe it, that I did not apologise to my father for my behaviour." Arya looked at her with a stunned look then.

"What?" she stammered. Catelyn smiled at her girl's shock.

"That's right," she said. Arya burst out laughing then, and Catelyn joined her. When she got herself under control Arya looked back at her, her face red and her eyes watering with laughter.

"No way," she said. "That just doesn't seem like you mother." Catelyn smiled.

"I was very young back then," she told her. "Even I had a mischievous streak back then."

Catelyn and Arya sat there in the room for quite a while, speaking about her childhood in Riverrun and her memories; playing games with Lysa and Petyr, listening to her father's conversations with his lords bannermen, fawning over little Edmure when he was just a baby, and her few memories of her own mother Minisa. When they started to speak of Minisa, Catelyn found it hard to speak of her; she was young when her mother died, after a painful birth that resulted in the deaths of both Catelyn's mother and the boy that she had carried. Thinking back to then made her cry for a short time, as to Catelyn her mother's death marked the end of her own childhood.

"After your grandmother died," she told Arya, "I took up some of her responsibilities. I mourned for her, but I just... I took over some of her tasks. I reckon some of the servants would've thought that I had become a snotty little madam for bossing them around, but after a while I got used to everything and they soon became helpful, some of them even going out of their way to help me with what I should focus more on. My father's steward in particular was a great help. I suppose that was when I truly started to grow up. And then, after a time, I met your uncle, and well," she paused as she stood up and looked down at Arya, who had let her hair go loose after undoing the braid that it was in. "You know the rest of that story," she finished. Arya nodded her head and they both made their way to the door. Catelyn looked outside and saw that it was just getting darker outside.

The two of them walked down the corridor to where the girls were staying, and they both walked in to find Sansa reading a book. Catelyn looked at the book in her eldest daughter's hands and noticed that it was one of her favourite romance novels. When they entered Sansa looked up at her and Arya.

"Hello mother, Arya," she said with a slight smile before marking the page she was on and putting the book down.

"Evening Sansa," Catelyn said as she approached. Sansa stood up and embraced her, before looking at Arya. From the corner of the room Nymeria huffed as she stood up to her full height. After months in the wild the direwolf looked much better and cleaner than she did when she entered Catelyn's tent all those days ago. "I see you have company." Sansa smiled a little at that while Arya walked over to her companion.

"I let Sansa look after her for me, so long as she didn't try to wash her or make her look pretty or anything," Arya said. Sansa rolled her eyes. "And I thought it would be good for her, after..." Catelyn looked back at Arya when she trailed off and saw the sad look in her eyes. She remembered Ned telling her about how he had to kill Lady to spare her from undue suffering after Cersei Lannister ordered for her to be put to death.

"I was so stupid," Sansa said suddenly, drawing the attention of both of them. "I should have told the King the truth about what happened that day at the river. If I had then maybe father wouldn't have had to kill Lady. Maybe... maybe..." Sansa trailed off then as tears began to fall down her face. Catelyn began to walk to her daughter, but she stopped suddenly when Arya raced over to her and hugged her. Sansa returned the hug, and Catelyn smiled at what she saw before her. For too long those two had been at odds with each other over their differences in behaviour. They would never see eye to eye, but at least they did not seem to be fighting anymore. After a minute Catelyn walked up to them and wrapped them both into a tight hug, which they both responded to. They stood like that for a minute or so until Arya spoke up then.

"Mother, Sansa, can we stop hugging please," she said. "I feel like I'm being crushed here." Catelyn laughed as she stepped back from them and watched the girls stand apart before looking away awkwardly. The silence did not last long when Sansa spoke up.

"Arya, when did father let you have a sword?" she asked. Catelyn followed Sansa's eyes and found herself looking at a very thin bladed sword that was tucked away in an open trunk that had Arya's few belongings. Arya had the decency to look embarrassed as she stepped closer to the trunk and picked the sword up, holding it carefully in both hands. Upon looking at the sword Catelyn frowned slightly as she recalled seeing a sword of such design in the past, but could not place where she knew it from.

"He didn't, not to start with," Arya said before looking at Sansa. "Why are you only asking now Sansa?" she asked. Sansa shrugged her shoulders absent-mindedly, which made Catelyn shake her head.

"Sorry," she said quietly to her before looking back to Arya. "I just did not think to ask when we were travelling after leaving the ship." Arya chewed on her lip before looking back down at the sword. She fiddled with the pommel for a moment before looking back at Catelyn.

"Please don't be mad with Jon mother," she began, and then Catelyn realised how Arya got her sword.

"Jon had it made for you?" she asked, and Arya looked at her nervously before nodding her head.

"Just before we left Winterfell," she said. "He came to my room as I was packing for the tenth time," she stated with some annoyance in her voice. Catelyn wanted so very much to scold her for her tone, but right now she decided to let it go. "He gave it to me, and said that I should have to be very careful with it and train regularly. After we got to the capitol, when I was sent to my room after... well, after father sent me to my room, he came to see me and saw Needle in my hands. That's the name of my sword," she said, tapping the blade carefully. "We talked about it for a couple of minutes, and then father agreed to get someone to train me." A wide smile spread across her face then, and at the same time Sansa gasped, as if realising some great mystery.

"That was your dancing lessons?" she said, to which Catelyn stared at her in shock. "You can't dance with a sword Arya."

"This isn't any normal dance Sansa," Arya cut in. "I was being taught the water dance, a sword fighting technique from Braavos." Catelyn's eyes widened then as she realised what Arya was talking about, and then she looked at Arya's sword, her Needle. Of course, the Bravos of Braavos, that's why the sword looks familiar, she thought. "My teacher was Syrio Forrel, who was the first sword to the Sealord of Braavos," Arya said with enthusiasm. She then started to go on about her training with this Syrio Forrel, and all of his lessons which aside from the fencing ranged from chasing cats to balancing on one foot at the top of a flight of stairs. Sansa looked at Arya with bewilderment in her eyes as she told them of each lesson. Then after a while Arya's face fell. "And then the day when father was arrested, Lannister men came in to take me to the Queen, led by Ser Meryn Trant," she said, snarling the knight's name with such hate that it made Catelyn uneasy. "Syrio held them off with his practice sword so I could escape, and even though I have not seen his body I know that Meryn Trant killed him." Catelyn looked at Arya, her heart heavy as she watched her looking down at the floor and clearly trying not to cry. Catelyn was about to speak when a familiar voice spoke up behind her.

"He'll get what he deserves Arya," came the voice of Jon Snow, "I promise." Catelyn looked around at him and saw that he was not looking as sullen as he usually used to be. How much of that sullenness was down to me? she thought. "My lady," he said as he stepped in, bowing his head. "I hope you don't mind the intrusion." Catelyn shook her head.

"No Jon, not at all," she said. Jon stepped closer to them before Catelyn stood up from the edge of Sansa's bed where she had sat down. "Jon, I wanted to say..." she began before Jon shook his head and raised his hand.

"It's okay Lady Stark," he said. "I know you feel obligated to apologise for how you have been around me, but I do not blame you. I cannot blame you," he said. "For fifteen years you have lived under the belief that I am Lord Stark's bastard, and you had the right to be offended by that. I'm still angry at him for keeping this from me for so long, although I do wish that, now that I know the truth of how I came to be, that he was my actual father. He's the only one who I ever regarded as being my father, and no matter what the truth I can't think of him as anything but." Jon looked away and sighed. "And I'm rambling like some blasted fool in a mummers troupe," he added after a short while.

"You don't say stupid," Arya cut in as she stomped over to him. Catelyn was startled by Arya's sudden declaration. "And don't start even thinking of interrupting me Jon. You'll always be my big brother. Robb, Bran and Rickon will always be your brothers, and I'll always be your little sister." Catelyn heard Sansa scoff in annoyance beside her when Arya pulled Jon down into a hug.

"And what about me Arya?" she huffed indignantly. Arya looked over at her and rolled her eyes. Catelyn brought her hand up to hide her laughter.

"I suppose we can count you as well Sansa," she said. At that Sansa walked over and hugged Jon, who looked alarmed at such affection from his cousins. Catelyn watched them, thinking about how cold and unpleasant she has been towards him. He says that I do not need to apologise to him, she thought. But even he knows that my own attitude was beyond harsh. Why does he say that I don't need to apologise when I do? As she stood there thinking things over there was a knock on the door. Catelyn looked over at the door as the others turned to look, and standing there was Theon Greyjoy.

"Evening Snow," he said as he saw Jon, who just grunted a quick response to him. "My ladies, I'm sorry to disturb you at the moment," he said with a serious tone, "but Lord Stark and Robb have called for a meeting in the great hall just now, to discuss our next move. It seems Renly has finally responded to Robb's letter to him." Catelyn looked over at Jon whose face had suddenly become very serious. "They were asking for you my Lady Stark, and you as well Sn... Jon," he said, quickly correcting himself at the end there. Jon looked back at her before looking at the girls.

"We'll speak tomorrow," he said.

"But I want to come too," Arya all but whined. Jon smirked at her and ruffled her hair.

"I believe that it is your mother and I that are being summoned Arya," he told her. Arya responded to that the only way she could; she narrowed her eyes at Jon before sticking her tongue out at him.

"Arya," Catelyn admonished her, trying not to laugh, while Sansa disguised her giggle with a cough. She looked at Theon and nodded her head. "We shall follow after you Theon," she told him. Theon bowed his head and then turned and walked away.

"We'll get a chance to speak later Arya," Jon said. "I promise." Arya looked at him before nodding her head and stepping back to allow Nymeria to wander forward. The direwolf whined at Jon and sniffed him, making him chuckle slightly. "You be good for your mistress Nymeria," he told her as he scratched her behind her ear. With that he nodded at Sansa in a quick farewell before stepping outside. Catelyn looked at her daughters then, and embraced them quickly.

"Get some rest girls," she told them. "If I don't see you later this evening then I'll see you on the morrow."

As Arya and Sansa bid her goodnight Catelyn walked out of the room, stroking her hand through Nymeria's fur as she walked out before closing the door behind her, leaving her girls alone in the same room. In the past that would be a dangerous thing to do, she mused with a slight smirk as she walked along the corridor. Jon was far ahead of her, following after Theon, while a Riverrun guardsman led her to the same destination. As she walked Catelyn sighed, thinking back to ten years ago when she had scolded Jon for some silly little thing and he had gotten upset. She only thought about that particular time because of what she said to him after he had asked a question that at the time had angered her; "Why can't you be my mother Lady Stark?" he had asked then as he began to cry. As she walked she remembered her answer to him, and felt a surge of regret run through her as she remembered her cold words to him.

"You must never call me that bastard," she had said. "I am not, and never shall, be your mother."

Author's Note: Next chapter will be entirely from Robb's POV. See how he deals with the truth about Jon, and find out what Renly says in his response. Then we'll find out which way the North goes from here.