Eddard

The castle was bustling with activity, men dashing about hastily making preparations for their departure the next day. The whole place was in chaos, people rushing here and there, bumping into each other, from up here they looked like ants scurrying around their nest. Ned felt bad for them; he had given them no warning and now they had to organize the entire party, over three hundred men.

Those numbers would be augmented as they made their way south. Maester Luwin had already sent ravens to Castle Cerwyn and various other keeps in their path to ready their men to march south. By the time Ned reached Moat Cailin he would hopefully have close to a thousand Northmen at his back and more on the way. The maester had also sent ravens to Ned's other vassals to be prepared to raise their levies and march to Winterfell. If war broke out with the Lannisters, the North would be able to bring a host of thirty thousand against them.

Ned saw Ser Rodrik Cassel ordering men about, seemingly in five places at once as he presided over the commotion. Ned smiled as he watched the old knight; Ser Rodrik was a good man, but Ned was leaving him behind to serve as Castellan of Winterfell in his absence. He would be of assistance to Robb as he learned how to rule the North.

His son was almost a man grown, but Ned still thought of him as the young boy chasing his half-brother through the glass gardens with a wooden sword, as they played Knights and Monsters. Nevertheless, it would be a good experience for Robb to learn what it took to be a lord. His boy was not much younger than he had been when the burden of leadership had fallen to him after his father and brother's deaths at the hands of the Mad King. And it was not as if Robb would have to take up that burden on his own. He would have many capable advisors; Ser Rodrik, Maester Luwin, Vayon Poole, even his mother Lady Catelyn would be staying behind to guide him.

A knock at the door startled Ned from his thoughts. Opening it, he found himself face-to-face with his bastard son, Jon Snow. Jon looked up at him, nervousness written in his grey Stark eyes, so much like mine, Ned thought, so much like hers. Jon's albino wolf pup stood by his heels, staring at Ned with its red eyes.

"Father," Jon said with a small bow. Always so serious, Ned reflected, a curse of being a bastard. Ned wished it didn't have to be this way, but it couldn't be helped now.

"Jon," Ned replied with a smile, "what brings you up here? Why aren't you at dinner with your brothers and sisters?"

"Lady Catelyn," Jon answered curtly. Ah, yes. Ned had hoped that his wife would warm to the bastard over the years. He knew Cat would never love Jon as much as her own children, but he had hoped… well it was done now. He had shamed her by bringing Jon to live with them, and she had never forgiven the boy for it. But what other choice had he had?

"Very well, do you wish to take your meal with me? I can ask a servant to fetch us some meat and bread."

"No father, actually I came to… well, I, uh, came to ask for your permission to leave with you when you ride south tomorrow," Jon stammered nervously.

Ned froze in shock. He vividly remembered the last time the Starks had ridden south. Thousands of deaths. Green flames, a leather cord. And a bed of blood. Lya's voice echoed in his mind, Promise me, Ned.

"No. You can't come."

"But Father, why not? I'm four and ten, nearly a man grown! I'm good with a sword and Hullen says I sit a horse as well as anyone in Winterfell! Why shouldn't you take me?" Jon said petulantly.

"Because you're four and ten, and it's going to be dangerous. War is not a game for boys, Jon. I won't let you get yourself hurt."

"The Young Dragon was only fourteen when he conquered Dorne!" Jon responded hotly.

"And his conquest led to countless deaths his own included. I tell you again, it is no game. I will not let you ride south." A crown of blue winter roses swam in Ned's vision.

"Father, you're not being fair! You're taking Theon with you!"

"Theon is nineteen, and a man grown. You are not." And I don't trust Balon Greyjoy during wartime. Theon is not my son, I don't fear for his safety, not if one day I may have to take off his head.

"I'm as good as Theon is at anything; horses, swords, archery. I don't know why you won't let me come! You insist on treating me like a child, but I'm not!" And with that, Jon turned and fled from his father's company. The direwolf looked up at Ned again and then bounded away after its master.

He lay in bed with Cat that night, holding her close to him as she slept. Tomorrow at daybreak he would ride out; this would be their last night together. Ned couldn't sleep, try as he might. He was unable to stop thinking of the family he would leave behind. Sighing, he got up and opened the window. The cool icy blast stung against his cheeks and Ned felt invigorated as he breathed in the Northern night air. This was where he belonged, with his children, not in the South. But Ned would come when his King called.

Cat seemed to sense his absence. She had awoken and was looking at him with concern. "Ned, what's wrong?" she asked sleepily.

"Nothing, I was just…thinking."

"What about?"

"Jon. He asked me to take him with me."

Cat's mouth tightened, as it always did when Jon was mentioned. "What did you tell him?"

"I told him no, of course. I can't let him go south; it's too dangerous down there for him. I won't let him get hurt." His sister's dying words came back to him again, Promise me, Ned.

"Why is it dangerous for him?"

"Because he's a boy, and wars are deadly for boys like him." You insist on treating me like a child, Jon had said, but Ned had to, it was for his own safety.

"I don't see why he shouldn't go. He could win some glory fighting, perhaps even become a knight, take a name other than Snow."

You would want that, wouldn't you Cat? Then he'd no longer be a threat to your children. Not that Jon would ever take the rights of his half-siblings away, but Cat never seemed to see that. Although, was it fair to Jon to leave him here with the woman who always looked down on him, never treated him the same as her own children?

"Why leave the boy here with me if he wants to go? You know that I have never liked him. What makes the boy so special that he cannot go to war?"

"Because he is my blood, Cat. And I must protect my blood."

It was the hour of the wolf, Ned would be leaving soon. Yet here he was at the Maester's Turret. Tentatively, he raised his hand to knock. No reply. Ned knocked again, still no response. He was just about to turn around, when Maester Luwin opened the door. The small grey man was dressed in his maester's robes as usual, his chain still tight about his neck.

"Ah, Lord Stark," the maester said, "what brings you here at this time of night?"

Ned stepped into Maester Luwin's cluttered chamber and sat down at the desk the maester used to write messages. "Maester Luwin, I have always valued your advice. I have something to ask of you. Jon came to me earlier today, and asked to come with me when I ride south. I told him he was too young, that I wouldn't allow it. But I can't stop thinking about it."

Luwin looked at him for a while, seeming to gather his words. At last he spoke, "I've known Jon since he was brought to Winterfell as a babe. I have watched him grow into a fine young man. I feel as if I am as much a father to him as you are, Lord Stark. And I have seen how he struggles to fit in, when all people see when they look at him is the bastard. I also know that he looks desperately to you to find some place in life. This is his chance, as he sees it, to prove himself to everyone, especially to you. You asked me for advice, well, I advise you to bring your son. Allow him to show to you that he is ready."

Ned sighed, "I had a feeling you would say something like that, Luwin. But I'm his father. A father is supposed to protect his children. How can I protect Jon if he's fighting in a war?"

"You are not the first father to feel this way, Lord Eddard. Nor is he the first son to want to prove himself. You must let the boy grow up; let him become his own man. You can try to keep him safe forever, but you will fail."

"I suppose so, but still…"

Maester Luwin smiled, "You have already allowed one son to grow up. You are leaving Robb behind to become a lord. He will not be perfect, but that is why I will be here with him, to help him when he stumbles. Let your other son be a man, and be there for him when he makes mistakes."

Ned found Jon beneath the heart tree. The grey light of dawn had not yet penetrated the godswood. Ned knelt on the mossy ground beside his son. They prayed in silence to the Old Gods together. Give me strength, give me wisdom, and help me keep my boy safe. The leaves rustled.

Finally, Ned broke the stillness of the early morning. "Jon, you should probably go and pack your bags if you want to leave with us."