So sorry for the super late update! Well this was done at 2 am so please pardn the occassional errors... I dont remember proofreading... lolz!

Thanks for the new followers and the views though I havent updated for almost a week.

So try to enjoy... I promise I'll pot two chapters the next update as soon as I get my laptop back... :)

Take care, thanks and Ciao!

Eddard

The wind blew colder that afternoon.

Lord Stark had not had any meal since last night but he felt no hunger even if it was Rickon and Arya who invited him for midday meal. He saw their faces filled with bother.

The children knew too well that the house was facing troubles, the lord was well aware of it. They also knew well enough that their questions will not be truly responded by any adults of the house. He understood how his other children kept silent about their half-brother's situation, never nosey of the circumstances.

He decided to go to the Godswood. Nobody dared disrupt him there, apart from his lady wife who he doubted will approach him anytime soon.

Exhausted, he sat down on the flat boulder where he usually did, putting his elbows on his knees after setting down his Valyrian sword beside him.

Lord Stark prayed more these days, even more than during the war against the mad king and when he had lost his loved ones.

He sat front of the weirwood tree, came face to face with its carving and dried bloody red sap. Lord Stark fixed his eyes onto its miserable expression.

Eddard found war easier than what he was going through, where you know your enemies and friends. You stand by your ally and battle against the foe. One needed a side to fight and be loyal for.

Being torn between loved ones was a torture he would not wish on anyone.

He loved Catelyn with all his heart and his soul. There was nothing he cannot endure for his wife and children. He was always grateful to the Gods for blessing him with a loyal wife and bestowing him wonderful children any father can be proud of.

But then there was Jon, the boy who tainted the lord's dignity and the lady's trust.

He never meant to hurt Lady Catelyn. Never a man of his honor and stature would ever consider disrespecting a noble lady as his wife. And he never meant to give Jon a difficult life in the kingdom. Lord Stark did what was expected of him, what was the right thing to do at the time, what he thought was best for everyone.

"My lord…"

"Maester." He exhaled as he met Maester Luwin's gaze.

"I made no promise to keep this from you, nor it is mine to divulge. But this secret has already revealed itself, my Lord. And as an old friend of yours, I couldn't bear to see that you are the last to know."

The maester's voice was uneasy.

"What is it, Luwin?"

"It's the wildling girl, my lord… and your son…"

Even from afar, Eddard could already hear the iron clashing against the hard dummy set up on the training ground. He silently watched as Robb grunted at each forceful swing of his sword as it hit the training figure.

When Robb was eventually tired, he halted. Robb's brows furrowed, his face beaded with sweat, but his hand still firmly clutching his sword.

"Is it dead yet?" Ned light-heartledly asked his son as he approached him.

Robb was startled, swallowed and tried to catch his breath before answering.

"I didn't notice you, father. I looked for you this morning, but I did not find you. I skipped lunch, I'm sorry." Ribb said, still panting.

"I did not have the appetite, too." Ned said vaguely.

"Were you looking for me? I'm sorry… I was occupied…"

"I always know where to look for you, Robb."

Robb sat down his sword. He then looked down and wiped his sweat with his palms.

"So, you were looking for me." Robb made sure. He was uneasy, it was obvious.

"I have not seen you in a while, my son… and a lot has happened since the last time we saw each other." The lord commented.

"There were more things that had happened since the last time we talked, father." Robb said looking at the ground beneath them.

Ned did not realize that until his son said it. He was gone for five moons before the camping trip for Jon's name day, and even during that time he and Robb had not had a decent conversation.

"You are no longer a boy, you grew up too fast." Ned noticed.

"I had to, Father. Mother needed someone to help her while you were away." Robb said.

"You are all I expected and hoped you'd be." Ned complimented.

"Pardon me, father if I find that untrue." Robb's grin was satirical, trying to calm himself down.

"Why? Do you doubt it?"

"I am not certain of what is known to you or what you were informed… but I'm afraid I'm a disappointment to you, Father." Robb almost choked on his words.

"I know about how you kept your mother's neglect of your brother from me. I know how you misuse the house's finances. I know about how you posed as Jon when you were playing chance with Elmyr. I know of your offenses, Robb." Ned confessed first, taking Robb aback.

"Father, I-" Robb was wordless.

Ned looked at his son compassionately. Robb has been going through rough ordeals.

"It is not your fault, Robb. Your mistakes are more of mine." Eddard admitted. He held his son's shoulder to meet his gaze.

Robb was quick to reject his father's sympathy. He shook his head confused f his Ned's kindness.

"No! How can you say that? I have lied! I have burned silvers that weren't mine! I have put my family's lives in danger! I have kept secrets from you when I should have told and Jon would have not hurt for too long! Don't say that to me, Father. I beg you!" Robb cried, furious and disappointed.

"What do you have me do, Robb?" Eddard asked.

"Reprimand me! Punish me if you would! Tell me you're disappointed in me! Say that I do not deserve to be the future lord of Winterfell! You went out of your way to seek justice for Jon, well here I am! It was my entire fault, Father!" Robb exclaimed desperate.

Ned looked on his son forbearing and merciful. His son had been bearing the burden of his guilt that he would rather be rebuked and chastised.

"Your guilt has been wounding you more than I can hit you, Robb." Ned said.

Eddard wanted to comfort his first born. He had never witness him this low.

"I cannot carry this weight, Father! I'm stupid and irresponsible! I'm not worthy to have the honor of your name!" Robb cried, pleading to his father.

"You are human! I didn't bring on to this world as a God! You are my son!" Ned spoke.

"I wish you look at me like I am your son!" Robb raged.

"What are you talking about?" Eddard was confused at his son's rant.

"You have raised me as an heir! You taught me everything I need to learn as a lord! But you never treated me like I am just a son, Father!"

"Robb..." Ned was flabbergasted.

"I saw how you look at Jon, Father. How you smile at him, how you trust all the words he says, how you are never dissatisfied with all his efforts! And he is your bastard!"

"You watch your mouth, boy!" Ned threatened.

Ned never thought Robb as a jealous brother, especially to his half-brother, Jon. Robb never complained. It was never in their practice to disrespect and dishonor the adults, especially their parents, more importantly the lord and the lady .

"You left me here! You were gone for months at a time, with no raven with a message on how the fuck I am ruining your kingdom!" Eddard had never heard his son curse. But he just let his son unburden his heart. "You made me learn sword and archery expecting me to guard the whole realm! You left me with men too high for me to lead, who always doubted my every move! Every time you come home, I always looked at myself at the mirror and check if there was anything more wrong with me! I am the one who has no choice but to stay and live in Winterfell until my death! But still I can never please you, Father!"

He always thought Robb strived hard to gain respect. He always knew.

"You are my son, Robb. My blood. I have loved you and I will love you even if you were born with no hands and feet, with another eye grown on your forehead! I will love you even if you grew wings or horn! I will love you no matter if you grew up a coward or a warrior! I will love you even if you were not your mother's son!"

Ned wanted to prove his love for Robb. He wanted to show that his jealousy was baseless and untrue.

"I have done wrong, my son. I have done all of you wrong. I am a man of mistakes, Robb. Expecting my son to be free of faults is unreasonable."

"Father…" Robb was exhausted.

"You kept Jon's situation hidden from me because you love your mother. I have no doubt of that. You used Jon's name when you realized you were in trouble because you were afraid to ruin the Stark's name. As a Stark I know too well the burden our name carries. You covered up for Theon when he was the one who had beaten up Elmyr. You stole silvers from our account to pay Elmyr, because you intended to correct your mistakes. Your actions were not noble but your intentions were all kind. And I witness your guilt gnawed your soul all this time."

Ned held his shoulder. Robb mustered the courage to raise his eyes to meet his father's.

"Winterfell's future lord has a conscience. My young heir pulled his own weight and guided my kingdom in my absence. You always sought peace and equality among your family. You intended no harm to anyone no matter their position and label. I will forever be proud of you, Robb. I am proud of you as my son, as a brother to your siblings and a future leader of the North." Ned lovingly declared to his son.

"I'm afraid that's not all of my sins, Father. And I pray you find it in your heart to forgive me."

Eddard sensed that there was more that was bothering Robb.

"I know about Koreen being pregnant, Robb." He confessed.

Robb wasn't surprised that his father already knew. His anger was more contained that a while ago, but desolation weighed his face heavier.

"I have offered her marriage, but she rejected me yet again." Robb could not control his tears this time.

Ned realized how his son loved Koreen. He was informed that there was interest between them but Robb's appeal of her was more evident.

"She's a wildling girl, you're the heir to my lordship. You are aware of the repercussion of your action, are you not?"

"I am. But I love her, Father. I was told that what I am feeling may not be real, but it was real before as it was real now. Her being a wildling never mattered to me… But she did not want me."

"Did she say that?"

"She said she did not want to marry me."

"Then there must a reason behind it."

"I have convinced myself that she did not want Jon, she never denied nor confirmed but…"

"Jon? Your brother Jon?" Eddard did not hear this side, Robb's side of the story.

Robb wiped his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I overheard this morning that they are to leave Winterfell. Jon would take my place as my child's father. I confronted them, Jon and I had fight. But then Koreen said… that it was all mother's idea. She said it was mother who cannot take another bastard in the castle." He again was not able to contain his weep. "I don't know what to do, Father. I do not know the right thing to do anymore. I want to take my responsibility, believe me. But I am torn between my responsibility to Koreen, to my child, to mother and to Winterfell. Please help me, Father. Tell me what to do." Robb begged.

Ned's heart was full misery. Witnessing his son in grave pain was more than he could stand.

He never thought how his family had gone this awry. He was a failure as father and as a husband, two roles of his that counted the most in his life.

"You need to be by her side, Robb. Koreen is in Maester Luwin's close care. She bled this morning. She's fine for now. The bleeding has not stopped but she was no more in pain." He advised Robb.

"She will push me away." Robb worried.

"I was forced by my duty to be away from my loved ones. If I had any regrets in my life, Robb it was I was never there when my family needed me most."

Robb dried his eyes, which were much lighter. Eddard smiled at his son, assuring him that he will be there for him regardless the circumstances, before he picked up his sword and run off towards the castle.

It was most that he could say. There were so much that could affect the next day that would depend on this night.

"F-father?" said a voice behind the lord.

"Jon. How long have you been hiding there?" he asked.

"I-I wasn't hiding, my Lord. I was to turn around but… I'm sorry, I did not mean to overhear… may I ask what happened to Koreen?" Jon was genuinely concerned.

"She bled, Jon." Ned confessed.

Jon's unsurprised demeanor stated that he had heard more.

"H-how is she, Father? Will she be alright?" Worry painted on Jon's face.

"I do not know, son. Luwin said she's feeling no pain anymore."

Ned told all that he knew, all that Luwin has told him about the girl's condition.

"You care for her." Ned declared, trying lightly to sound like a question.

"I do. She has been a very good friend, my lord."

"Do you care enough to run away with her and take responsibility for her child?"

Jon was taken aback by his question this time.

"I-I can love and care for my future niece or nephew, I don't find that difficult."

Ned was glad at Jon's kindheartedness.

"You promised to never leave Winterfell without my permission. Were you ready to break that?"

"Y-yes, father. I was about to break my promise to you, I'm sorry."

"Did you want to leave Winterfell?" he asked.

"No, my lord. It never crossed my mind." Jon answered quickly. He was beginning to fluster, Jon never liked the feeling of being in trouble.

"Your promise to me was not for you to be chained to the kingdom, Jon." Ned wanted to clear the reason why he made him promise.

"I'm in no position to question your intentions, Father. I always trust your wisdom." Jon simply said.

"Winterfell is your home, Jon." Ned declared yet again.

Jon regarded his father with worried look. The boy was searching for words that he found difficult to compose.

"I'm causing too much pain to Lady Catelyn, my Lord. I was used to her anger, but never I saw her full of misery. I was tired of being a pebble in her shoe, Father." Jon finally uttered.

"You have my blood, Winterfell is mine. Nobody can make you leave, except me. Do you understand?" Eddard exclaimed firmly.

"Father-" Jon was still searching.

"Am I understood, Jon?" Ned asked yet again, if he needed to be firm to his son to make sure he stayed home then so be it.

"Y-yes, father. I understand." Jon answered meekly.

Eddard heaved a sigh. "Everything will be well, Jon. I promise."

"I have no doubt, my Lord. The Gods will be kind to answer my prayers. One day, they will be kind."