Hello, guys! I planned to upload two chapters today coz this one was a long read but did not have enough "drama" like the previous ones. But it is still very important. Unfortunately the next one needed a bit too much revisions. I'm gonna post it as soon as I can. :)

Finally, thanks to all who followed and faved my story. and all your feedbacks are important to me.

Take care, Enjoy! Ciao!

Eddard

The guards have assembled swiftly along the gates when they were alarmed that Lord Stark was seen in the darkness of the horizon.

He felt his exhaustion as he stopped his horse. The air in Winterfell was cold and brutal as usual, his hand on the reign felt stiff.

"You should have sent a raven to alert us you were coming home, my lord." Said Ser Jory. "We could have at least escorted you along King's Road."

Ned had received three ravens, asking him when he will be home, that the house was worried when he sent his bannersmen back to Winterfell after the week long assembly without him. Ned chose not to answer any of it.

"I, myself was not sure when I shall be back, there was no point in sending notice."

"Glad you're safe, Lord Stark." Maester Luwin approached and greeted Ned.

"Where is he, Maester?" Ned asked as he dismounted his horse. "Where is my son?"

The look exchanged between them was stern and somber.

"Which one, my lord?" asked the Maester. They went in the castle together.

Jon and Koreen were drinking tea in the kitchen beside the fire pit. The two have laid down a carpet of wool on the floor and there they sat beside each other.

He cleaned the bookcases today and found some interesting books that he thought Koreen might like, especially now that the Septa was teaching her to read.

"What's it say?" Koreen asked, holding up a thin book of nursery stories.

"It's Damsels and Dragons. It's a children's storybook. Mothers read it to younger children, before they sleep usually." Jon explained.

"Do all mothers of the North do that? Read to their children?" she asked curiously.

"I suppose so. This is actually the Stark's favorite. When we were younger, Lady Stark would gather all the children in the study for a story. She had each child take a part and read their own lines aloud. Bran and Arya always looked forward to it. Sansa was always a princess, Robb the warrior and Theon the Dragon. Theon was older, he hated to admit to enjoy the play." He smiled at the thought, his eyes fixed on the book.

"What part did you get to do?" Koreen asked, smiling.

Jon's grin gently left his lips.

"I got to listen." He pursed them trying to hide his embarassment. He looked at Koreen closely, he then forged a smile.

Koreen was sympathetic, kept Jon company if she found him alone.

Suddenly, Koreen grimaced, clutching her lower abdomen.

Jon dropped the book. "What is wrong?" he was concerned.

"Don't mind me, I must have had too much prunes for dessert." Koreen answered.

"I can take you to Maester, I can wake him up."

"Please, Jon. Let's not bother the old man just because I ate too much." She assured him.

"I thought I heard noises here." Ned announced himself, entered the large kitchen and approached the two.

Jon and Koreen stood fast, surprised at the lord's sudden coming.

"Lord Stark. We're glad you're home!" Koreen curtsied.

Ned smiled broadly at Koreen. "It's nice to see you finally in a dress and without a bow and quiver on your shoulder, Koreen." He commented.

"At least one of us liked it, my lord. It itches." Koreen joked.

"It's late. I didn't expect anyone up at this hour." Ned said.

"Jon was showing me books, Lord Stark. I'm learning to read." Koreen gleefully declared.

"Is that so?" Lord Stark uttered, picking up the storybook. "This was my sister's." he scrolled the book in hand; saw the fading pictures of dragons, knights and princesses.

Koreen then cleared her throat before excusing herself for the night.

"I must go to my chamber, Jon. You and your father must have things to speak about. Good night, my lord, Jon." Koreen lightly bowed to hide her discomfort.

Koreen walked away still holding her stomach. Jon couldn't help but be bothered by it.

"Sleep well, Koreen." Jon bid. Koreen smiled towards the boy before exiting.

Ned saw Jon's broken eyebrow. The boy lowered his eyes, staring at the book he and Koreen shared.

"Welcome home, Father." Jon greeted Ned when Koreen was gone.

"Thank you, Jon." He smiled, he held the boy's shoulder. "Are you healing well?"

"I'd better, my lord. Maester's tonics burn my mouth."

They smiled.

"You and Koreen are getting close with each other, so nice to see you smile for a change." Ned observed, trying keep the mood light as much as he could.

"Koreen helps me a lot in my chores, lately. I think that she was just hiding from Septa Mordane to escape classes. She talks and asks questions all day. Perhaps, the reason Robb has since avoided her." He coolly declared.

"How is Robb?" Ned asked.

"He has not been the same since our last day in the camp, my lord. I didn't dare ask him. I kept my distance," Ned looked at Jon with confusion. "It was what he requested, my lord."

The men looked at each other, anxiety and apprehension painted on both their faces.

Lord Stark turned to go to the kitchen door and barred it.

"Get us some chairs, Jon and sit down." He gestured and directed his son.

Jon's nerves started to creep in. He picked the carpet from the floor and hurriedly folded it before pulling chairs for his father and himself.

Jon stared at his hands rubbing it against each other out of uneasiness. His palms sweated, he knew quiet well the feeling of being in trouble.

"Are you scared, Jon?" Ned asked as he sat.

"No." he uttered. Ned's stare could fold anyone.

"I have always trusted you, Jon. I do not recall a moment when you lied to me."

"Never have I lied to you, Father. I promised you many times I won't."

"These people, Elmyr and Edris, did you know them?" the probing started.

"I have never heard of Elmyr's name and seen Edris' face until three weeks ago when I was attacked in the woods." Jon stated matter of factly.

"They said you owe Elmyr silvers…" Ned sounded suspicious.

"I have never gambled in my life, Father. I have never handled silvers as much as they claim I owe."

Ned was not surprised by his son's demeanor. He was nervous, he sensed but was not in any hurry to defend himself.

"Where were you the past week before your nameday, Jon? They claim you played chance with Elmyr a quarter moon back before our trip."

"I was here, in the castle." He answered.

"Prove it, Jon." Challenged Ned.

"I have never gone out of the castle for over a month before my nameday."

"I talked to one of Elmyr's men. Where were you on the night of the first Fithday of the last full moon?"

Jon was silenced. He was confused. He swallowed and stared at his hands.

"I-i… I can't recall, my lord." He whispered.

"You promised you won't lie, Jon."

Jon lifted his eyes back to his father.

"I asked you a question. I expect an answer." His voice stern and firm.

Jon took a deep breath. He looked into his father's eyes. Jon's eyes were seeking refuge, Ned's were looking for truth.

Jon swallowed and looked at his sweaty hands hugging each other.

"I was here in the castle. After supper, Lady Catelyn ordered me to wait for Robb and Theon, they were out to attend a feast. I did not know where and with whom, I did not ask. I tended the horses, to keep myself busy and awake. I waited until two hours past midnight. Then I must have dozed off. I slept and woke up in the stable, my lord."

"Does anybody know you were there?"

"No, Father."

"I need proof, Jon."

"I am no longer seeking justice, my Lord." he confessed, taking his father aback.

"If you are not, then I am seeking justice for my son." Ned said firmly.

"I-i..." Jon hesitated.

"You promised." Ned reminded his son.

"Theon... Theon can prove I was there. I—I was lashed that night, my Lord. Theon held the whip, he was ordered by the lady." Jon's voice started to break.

Ned thought he could handle hearing the truth of his son's ill-treatment. He thought that he was ready to face the reality of his neglect and his wife's unkindness. He thought wrong.

The man of his stature shuddered at the thought of his son's pain.

"It was my fault." Jon sniffed. "I should have followed Lady Catelyn's orders. I should have stayed awake; I was to open the gates for them."

"We have guards, why were you charged to wait for them?" Lord Stark asked, confused.

"I do not know, my lord. I did not dare ask why I was ordered." He answered.

He has been scrutinizing proof of the claims against his son since the assembly was over and he received a raven about his attack.

He heard all the accounts of the events from Master Luwin. What Robb had done to save his brother and Koreen, what his wife thought of the crime, and how much the Maester doubted the claims.

"I am terribly sorry, Jon. I should have been there to protect you." Ned confessed apologetically.

"You have responsibilities to the realm, Father. I understand –"

"I should have been home, protect you from my wife." Finally, Lord Stark admitted.

Hurt and disappointment painted Ned's face. He knew it was his fault, bringing Jon to Winterfell, breaking Cat's heart, leaving his bastard son to his betrayed stepmother.

"She is a good mother, Lord Stark. I've witness her care and concern with your children, even Theon and Koreen. And I have seen her restless and worried, praying for your safety. I have prayed for her love, Father but I have loved her since I learned she is your wife and my sibling's mother. While she harbors no love for me, I did not care… I know, one day the Gods will be kind to me."

"I've prayed the same thing, Jon." Ned confessed.

"Father, I have promised and kept it, haven't I?" Jon asked.

"Yes."

"Can you make me a promise, too?" he requested.

"What is it?"

Jon looked at his father this time.

"I do not wish to seek justice for what was done to me, Lord Stark. There were nights I get scared, thinking that if Edris did not find me in the woods before, he would have come to Winterfell. They were very dangerous people; they could have hurt someone else. They might hurt your family, it haunts me."

It pained Ned that Jon did not consider the Stark family his own, but he admired Jon's real love for the Starks.

"What do you want me to vow then?"

"Can you promise me to stop seeking them out? I do not know what I'll do if something should happen to you because of me."

"Protecting the family is my responsibility, Jon. It's too much of a burden for a young man to carry." Ned argued.

"Just this one time, please, Father." Jon pleaded.

Ned heaved a sigh and held her son's shoulder.

"Then I shall not break your trust." He promised.

He ordered Jon to go to his room and get his much needed rest. Jon obliged right away.

Ned checked all his other children and found that they were all fast asleep, except for Robb whose door was locked. Ned did not bother. His son was almost a grown man after all and needed his privacy respected, he thought.

Lord Stark hesitated when he came to their chamber.

He had loved Catelyn with all his heart and their marriage was blissful, bringing home his bastard son was the only crisis they underwent.

And it seemed like it was still a problem.

He came inside their room, their bed empty of his wife. He tiredly put his sword and fur rbe on the bed then visited little Rickon in the crib beside it. He lightly touched Rickon's face who was in deep slumber.

He looked at Rickon closely. He realized that he could not remember his other children as infants, for he was almost always out of Winterfell, and that babes in fact grow too fast.

Cat exited from the bathroom, not surprised by her husband's appearance in the room.

He thought his wife was beautiful, her long hair laid down, her body slender and covered in white night gown. He suddenly realized how much he had missed her.

Cat looked at him with a stern glare and a passive manner. She sat down in front of her mirror and started brushing her dark brown hair.

"Cat, I'm sorry. I should have sent a word." Ned apologized from across the room.

"It doesn't matter now. You've arrived home, that's what matters." She said coolly.

"Three weeks, he's grown so fast." He said of Rickon.

"Rickon cannot wait for you; he has to grow up sooner or later, same as your other children. They cannot forever wait for you to be a father to them." Cat looked at her husband from the mirror.

"I received the news of Jon when we were at King's Landing. I had to find out the truth…" he confided to his wife as he moved closer to her.

"Let's not talk about your bastard in our chamber, Ned. I beg you." She warned. , brushing her hair.

Lady Stark was visibly upset.

"I know about Jon's mistreatment, Catelyn. He couldn't keep it forever, either." Ned acknowledged. He looked at his wife, seeking for a reaction.

Lady Stark remained seated and adamant.

"He's unruly and stubborn. I was merely disciplining him." She plainly spoke.

"He already sleeps in the highest room of the castle, cold and without fire, away from his brothers and sisters. He rises earliest and rests the latest. He gets reprimanded for puny offenses with a horse whip?! Where is your mercy?"

Ned strained to keep his temper in check. He was tired and drained. But fatigue could not stop his attempt to put a stop to Jon's misery.

"You have the audacity to ask me where it is, Ned." This was the first time after sixteen years that she and her husband had argued about Jon Snow. Catelyn stood up to confront her husband.

"I have let your bastard in my castle, gave him the same privileges as your true born children. I have defended your infidelity to my family! Other kingdoms talk about my foolishness taking your bastard in and for loving you still. Sixteen years, Ned. You and your bastard son have trampled my dignity." Catelyn was trembling, her tears, welling her eyes.

"It was not Jon's fault! It was mine! I was the one who was unfaithful! I betrayed you! Do not take it out on Jon!" Ned forgot to hold his voice down. He forgot that Rickon was in the chamber with them who was starting to stir and that his other children were on the same floor.

"He needs to know his place! If I have to remind him with whip and chains, then so be it!" Catelyn yelled.

Lord Stark saw her pain. He would have loved to comfort her. Lady Stark turned her back on him, failed to keep her composure and wept.

"He's just a boy, Catelyn." He pleaded his wife. He touched her shoulder.

She waved his hand off her shoulder as she faced him.

"No, Eddard. He is your whore's ghost."

Lord Eddard looked at her keenly. She cried uncontrollably, his heart was breaking seeing her hurt.

Lord Eddard took his robe and sword that he put aside on the bed, he then went to the door. He opened it to exit before he turned to his wife.

"I will say this once and never to say it again, Catelyn. If you hurt Jon ever again, I will leave Winterfell to Robb… and I will take Jon with me." He warned his wife.

He then finally exited the chamber and closed the door behind him.

Lord Stark could hear Lady Catelyn's sobs even against the brick walls of the hall as he sadly marched.