Greeting all! I hope you had a lovely Christmas and a great New Year!

I had hoped to get this chapter out by the 1st of January as a new year's day present but I had some issues with FF.N and was unable to log in for a few days.

Guest – You want Sansa sent to Highgarden for fostering? Are you insane? You send Sansa for fostering in Highgarden with her being as naïve, ignorant and stupid about the real world as she was thanks to her mother and Septa? The poor girl wouldn't have stood a chance. Sansa would have been manipulated by Oleanna Tyrell into her obedient little minion and informant on the Starks, the North and whatever house she eventually married into. Sansa would be a Rose in Wolf's clothing.

No thank you. I'd like to think that even Catelyn Stark isn't that stupid.

Chapter 39 – Welcome to the North

Present Day

"Docks sighted captain! Two degrees off the port bow."

Robert grinned as he raced up to the port side of the ship and watched as White Harbour, Jewel of the North, came into view. His children followed him, gripping the railing as the ship crested a small swell.

"Is that White Harbour father? Is it? Is It?" Tommen's was vibrating with excitement as he watched the city get closer and closer.

He had only been out of King's Landing once in his life and that was to go to his mother's ancestral home in the Westerlands for Joffrey's tenth nameday celebrations but he had been too young to remember much at the time. Now though, Tommen was thrilled to be on this adventure with his father and sister. They had snuck out of the Red Keep one morning before dawn had broken and had ridden into the dark. It was three hours after dawn when they met with their uncle Stannis at Massey's Hook, who had been waiting for them with a ship! Since then, they had sailed North stopping at Gulltown in the Vale to resupply then they sailed around the fingers and into the Bite, sailing past the Three Sisters and heading to the only city in the North. To Tommen though, the best part of this adventure was that Joffrey wasn't here. He would have complained, whined and behaved very badly, ruining everything, Tommen was sure.

"Yes son, that's White Harbour, the Jewel of the North and its only true city." Robert answered him with a smile.

"I thought Winterfell was the Jewel of the North father?" Myrcella asked. Robert chuckled.

"No my sweet girl. Winterfell is the Heart of the North. From what Ned has told me about it, it's not a beautiful looking place but it has grandeur of its own and it's old, very, very old. It's even older then Storm's End! Lord Eddard told me that his family has lived in Winterfell for eight thousand years in an unbroken line. There's no other house in Westeros that can claim that! Not even us!" Robert replied, throwing his arms wide to emphasis the point while his children laughed at him when he lost his balance as the ship crested another small wave.

Robert was glad he had brought the younger children with him. He had taken the time to talk to them, to actually get to know them, something he was denied by Cersei for the most part. She kept the younger two close by at all times, fussing over them and ignoring them in turns while she let Joffrey roam free without restraint or censure in regards to his behaviour.

"Now children, go and get your things organised. We'll be there soon." Robert told them.

Myrcella and Tommen nodded their heads and raced off to their cabins to pack the little they had out.

Robert grinned again. Gods it had been forever since he had felt this free, all that time in Kings Landing had been stifling him and he hadn't even noticed! He had gotten fat. Very fat and unfit.

In the months leading up to his departure for the North, he had decided that he needed to get back into shape, if it was to be war, he wanted to be able to fight but when he had tried to pick up his beloved Warhammer, he had been mortified to find that he couldn't! Where once he had been able to pick it up with ease in one hand, he now struggled to lift it at all with two! And when he decided to go for a ride, he was embarrassed beyond all reason to find that he couldn't haul his weight off the ground and into the saddle. He had needed the Lady Steps to even get on his horse! The Lady Steps were a short set of steps that allowed ladies and young children leaning to ride to mount their horses with ease. It was considering embarrassing if a full grown man needed to use them outside of being wounded.

He was disgusted and disappointed with himself. He had no excuses, not one and he knew it. He was sure his dead father, may the Seven bless him, had turned his eyes away from him in shame and he had shammed himself, his house and his family. His actions since becoming king had not been in keeping with how Jon had raised him to be so he had gritted his teeth and was prepared to take his lumps, seeing it as a just punishment for his laziness and general ineptness in ruling the Realm.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Robert turned his head to see Stannis casually strolling up to the rails where he was standing, smoothly adjusting his stance as he walked without a stumble as the ship crested another wave that had Robert grasping for the rails again.

"Stannis." Robert greeted him as Stannis stepped up the rail and nodded in reply to his greeting.

Robert took a moment to study his brother. While Stannis had been his usual stoic self, he had looked more at ease on the deck of the ship then he did on land. He had actually relaxed somewhat, the usual stiff posture he adopted on land was gone as was the clenched jaw and overly formal address when talking to people.

His "Don't fuck with me" attitude was still firmly in place though.

He had mingled with the sailors, talking to them with ease. Robert grinned. So, his brother was more like him then either one of them knew. Robert was the same way, he got on better with common soldiers and people then he did the nobility.

"So, we're here. I still think you should have sent messages to Lord Wyman and Lord Eddard when we were in Gulltown. It's one thing to sneak out of Kings Landing like thieves in the night, it's another to turn up on someone's doorstep unannounced Robert!" Stannis was still annoyed by his brother's antics. He had agreed that a stealthy exit from Kings Landing was necessary but he strongly disagreed about turning up in White Harbour and Winterfell without warning.

"Aww, lighten up brother, where's your sense of adventure? Wyman won't mind us turning up unannounced and neither would Ned but if it really concern's you; I'll send Ned a message alright? Besides, you know we couldn't risk sending Ned a message from either Kings Landing or Gulltown. We don't know whose spies are about and I don't want anyone to know where I am until its unavoidable. I need this Stannis. I need to feel like a normal person, not the King." Robert pleaded with Stannis to understand.

Stannis sighed and decided to let the matter go. He had to admit that Robert had worked hard these last few months, throwing himself into the role of King whole heartedly, determined to correct as many of the mistakes he had made as possible before he couldn't anymore and Stannis could see that Robert needed a break as he wasn't used to doing so much intellectual work. He was trying at least and that was better than Stannis could have ever hoped for.

"How are the horses?" Robert asked.

"They're fine. So, how are we going to approach this? Did you plan to just ride up to the Wolf Den and announce yourself?" Stannis's tone was slightly scornful but movement from the docks caught his eye.

"Well, it looks like we won't have to worry about that." Robert replied as a squad of mounted men in Manderly colours lead by a knight with the Manderly merman on his shield, rode onto the quayside where they were about to dock with and dismounted their horses, waiting patiently for the ship to finish docking and the gangplank to be put in place.

Robert pulled his cloak closer and put the hood up as the cold got underneath it, while his Kingsguard, children and escort formed up behind him as they debarked from the ship. The Manderly knight waited until they were all on the dock before approaching.

"Your Grace, My Lord Stannis, welcome to White Harbour" He said to them while bowing his head slightly.

"I apologise for the lack of a more formal greeting but the message my father received from Lord Arryn stated you were traveling incognito on this trip? With that in mind, I shall escort your party to the Merman's Court while my men tend to your belongings."

"Thank you Ser?" Robert asked.

"Wendel. Ser Wendel Manderly your Grace. I am my father's heir." Wendel answered.

"Thank you Ser Wendel. That will be fine, shall we?" Robert asked as a solider handed him the reins of his horse. Robert was grateful that he had lost enough weight to be able to pull himself into the saddle. He didn't want to use the Lady Steps ever again!

The group mounted and started the trek up the hill to the Merman's Court. Wendel was answering with good humour the children's many questions about the city. It was as different to Kings Landing as day was to night.

For one, the city was split in two by the White Knife, the main river that allowed access deep into the heart of the North. There were a few bridges that connected the two sides of the city together and the buildings rose up the hills on either side with the Wolf's Den and Merman's Court sitting predominately on top the eastern cliff side. Another thing that made it very different from Kings Landing was the smell. It smelt cleaner, fresher. Where Kings Landing smelt predominantly of shit, rotting food and humanity White Harbour smelt of fish, fresh cut lumber, wood smoke and ice.

Robert enjoyed the ride through the city. Dressed in plain clothes with the hood of his cloak concealing his face, there was nothing to indicate what house he was from or even the fact he was a noble. Robert was able to gawk as much as he wanted to without alerting the city that the king was in White Harbour. It was a magnificent city in its own way Robert conceded, it was less than half the size of Kings Landing but it was better organised and the people looked hard working, heathy and above all, happy.

Well happier than those poor souls who were forced to live in a city full of shit that is.

This was what Kings Landing was supposed to be, Robert was sure of it. He didn't know what went wrong with the city, poor planning for future expansion was one thing that Jon had spoken about at great lengthand not in polite terms either, about the idiot who planned the city in the first place, after all, who doesn't put in a working expandable sewer system in a city full of people that would only grow in size as the years went on? Not doing that was just begging for problems to bite them in the ass so to speak.

This is what he wanted Kings Landing to be. He decided he would ask Lord Manderly if could recommend someone to help redesign Kings Landing into become worthy of being Westeros's capital city.

By the time Robert had finished musing, they had arrived at the inner courtyard of the Merman's Court, the Manderly's home seat in the North. They dismounted and handed the reins to a group of stable boys while he stripped off his gloves, looking around while he did so.

"This way your Grace." Wendel motioned to the doors to the great hall where his father was waiting for them.

The party follow him and entered the great hall. Robert looked around as he lowered the hood of his cloak. Merman statues, gold and silver trinkets scattered around, rich tapestries hanging from the walls, fur rugs on the marble floors, expensive but comfortable looking furniture. The people waiting in the hall were dressed in rich warm fabrics and furs, jewels sparkling in the light of the roaring fire pits and mountains of good food.

All in all, what Robert expected.

"It seems for all the Manderly's words of how they are a Northern people now they're still Reachmen in terms of their southern comforts." Robert sniggered as he quietly spoke to Stannis, who didn't smile but Robert swore he saw amusement in Stannis's eyes.

"Your Grace, Lord Stannis, Prince Tommen and Princess Myrcella, Sers Barristan and Jamie, I am overjoyed to welcome you to White Harbour. You bring us great honour to us for hosting you. I hope you will find the accommodations to your liking and while it is cold outside, you will find only welcome and warmth within these walls." Lord Wyman Manderly greeted the king and his party while servants circulated with bread and salt while the court bowed.

Robert ate the salted bread and washed it down with a cup of wine. With a satisfied smile, he handed the cup back to the servant as he observed the only man he'd met whose girth was larger than his was!

"Lord Manderly, I thank you for your welcome and hospitality and apologise for any inconvenience we may have caused by turning up without warning, or so we thought. Your son mentioned that you received a message from Lord Arryn?" Robert queried.

"Yes indeed we did sire. The raven arrived yesterday morn and it stated that you wished to remain as anonymous as possible, which is why I sent Wendel and a small guard to escort you here rather than give you a formal welcome on the docks." Wyman explained.

"Would you like to be shown to your rooms now your Grace? Dinner will be an hour after sunset so you will be able to rest before tonight. As per your request for secrecy, dinner will be served in the family wing."

Robert frowned as he looked at the people in the great hall with them. It was possible that one of them was an informant for the Spider or someone else. Wyman seemed to sense his thoughts for he spoke again.

"You may trust the people in this room your grace, they are my family or sworn to my family and we would never betray the North or you your Grace. Nothing will be said of your visit here outside these walls I assure you. Lord Varys and others may try to spin their webs here but I clean my house on a regular basis sire." Wyman grinned as he spoke.

Robert nodded in understanding with a grin of his own then turned and followed the servant assigned to show him and his party to their rooms. He bid the rest of them to get settled and rest before dinner while he was told that his escort would be housed in the guest barracks. With a nod showing he understood Robert entered his own room and shut the door behind him while Ser Barristan stood guard outside.

The apartment he found himself in had three rooms, a bedroom, a sitting room/solar and a water closet. It had a colour scheme of sea foam green and soothing pale blue, old but well cared for furniture and large windows that had a view of the city and the ocean beyond. Robert stood at the window and inhaled the cold sea air, shivering once again as the chill slipped beneath his clothing.

Well he was finally in the North and now that he was here, he felt some of the pressure to get here melt away. He was now closer to Ned now then he had been in years and he couldn't wait to see his friend again and ask him what the hell was going on. Robert's things had been delivered during his audience with Wyman and decided to wash up and get changed into something that wasn't stained with salt and sweat. He had just finished cleaning up and was about to pour himself a glass of wine from the provided pitcher when a knock on the door disturbed the silence of the room.

"Yes?"

"Your Grace, Lord Wyman asks if you can join him in his solar at your convenience?" Ser Barristan informed the King as he opened the door.

Robert heaved a silent sigh. He wanted to rest but he had come north for a reason and Wyman Manderly might just be the man he needs to tell him if the information Varys had presented to the Small Council about the situation in the North was actually true although he really hoped it wasn't. The wildlings given refuge in the North because of a long winter he could understand and even accept as a necessity but given refuge because of legend's come to life? The very idea of it left him without a clue as to where to start. Ser Barristan had said it the best,

How do you kill something that's already dead?

Focusing his attention to the present, Robert nodded his acceptance and instructed Ser Barristan to send the servant to fetch Stannis and to follow him to Lord Wyman's solar as he walked out the door and into the corridor. They waited for the servant to return with Stannis before they followed the servant to where Lord Wyman was waiting. The servant knocked on the door and announced them.

"Ah, your Grace, Lord Stannis, Ser Barristan, sit, sit please. Can I pour you a glass of wine? Or how about Northern ale your Grace? I've heard you've a fondness for our northern ale so I made sure to purchase a barrel from the brewer just for you when I found out about your impending arrival as a gift from my house to you. Which begs the question, why are you in the North your Grace?" Wyman welcomed and settled his guests with their choice of beverage, ale for Robert, wine for Stannis and water for Ser Barristan who had stated that he was still on duty.

Wyman sat behind his desk and settled in for a long session. He had his suspicions as to why they were here but he hadn't expected King Robert come North in person. Wyman had expected a representative from the crown to come north once the south had found out what was going on up here but the king himself was an unexpected surprise and one that hopefully benefited the North. It was the secrecy around his visit that had Wyman wildly curious as to why he would come without warning, maybe he thought that Ned letting the Free Folk through the Wall was a prelude to invasion south of Neck. Given the King's friendship with Lord Eddard, Wyman doubted it was the case but there were some unscrupulous people in the south who seem to love causing trouble for the sake of causing trouble.

Robert took a deep drink of ale while he considered his answer.

"Ah I see. Word of what's happening here in the North has finally reached Kings Landing. Stories so outrageous, so unbelievable that people think that we of the North have all gone mad. But, there is just something about the stories that ring true enough, that so many people believe it, that you can't just dismiss outright." Wyman was grinning at him.

"You're smarter then you look my Lord."

"We Northerners only look stupid Stannis."

"And the truth of the matter is?"

"That depends on what you already know your Grace."

"Winter, Wildings, War, The Others?"

"All true your Grace."

And with those words, Robert chose to pick up the sword and prepare for War.

"Tell me everything."

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

"Ser Jamie, the turn off to Winterfell is just ahead." Ser Wendel informed Jamie as they road up the Kingsroad. "As a matter of fact, we should see the walls of Winterfell very soon. We're not that far away now."

"Thank you Ser Wendel. I'll inform the King." Jamie nodded his thanks and quickly turned his horse and road back towards the middle of the column where Robert was riding with Tommen and Myrcella. It had taken a few days for the grain barges to traverse the distance between White Harbour and Winterfell. Sailing all day and a few hours into the night had cut their journey time down significantly. It was all part of Lord Stark's drive to improve the North and prepare it for a very long and harsh winter he had been told.

Jamie felt his heart twist in sorrow and jealously when Robert's loud barking laughter boomed out across the countryside while the air rang with his children's laughter.

Jamie could admit to himself that part of reason he hated Robert so much was that he got to spend time with Jamie's children and claim them as his own while Jamie couldn't and then for Robert to have ignored them the way he had, had rubbed Jamie the wrong way. If he couldn't be a father to his children then at least wanted them to have a loving step father which Robert hadn't been until this trip to the North.

Although he had to admit that it was mostly Cersei's fault that Robert didn't know the children as well as he could have. Cersei guarded them closely, believing that Robert wasn't the fit example of a father she wanted for her children and Joffrey, well there was something about Joff that only his mother could love. The Gods know no one else loved him. She was also slightly worried that Robert would finally notice that his so called children weren't actually his at all which is why she had recently handed the responsibility of training Joffrey to Meryn Trant and Sandor Clegane. According to her, Joffrey and Tommen were almost spitting images of him and it would be obvious to even Robert that something wasn't right.

Jamie wasn't worried. If no one had notice by now, it was a good chance no one would and if Robert had even the slightest suspicion of the twin's secret, they would already be dead.

"Your Grace, we are approaching the turnoff for Winterfell. According Ser Manderly, We should see the walls of Winterfell very soon. Perhaps the children would enjoy riding up front to get a better first glimpse of the place? With this many armed guards, wildlings and bandits would be stupid to try anything, we're too close to Winterfell." Jamie informed the King with his trademark grin firmly in place.

Robert nodded his consent and detailed two of the closest guards to go with the children. Jamie was about to join them when the king ask him to stay.

"So, Kingslayer, Barristan what's your opinion on what's happening here? What do you think of these Wildlings?" Robert asked his most despised and revered Kingsgard's.

"Well your Grace, the Free Folk aren't what I was expecting. For one, who would have thought that they had their own name for their people? I must admit, Free Folk sounds a lot better than Wildling. When people say Wildlings, one envisions a savage, barely human people, howling for blood and war, not these organised and fairly civilized people." Barristan answered first.

He wasn't wrong.

The original plan was to spend a day in White Harbour, resupplying and resting, then riding out the next day heading across the North towards Winterfell. Wyman had recommended against that, stating that while the Free Folk had made a mostly peaceful transition to south of the Wall, there was still a lot of tension between the two peoples. Thousands of years of enmity doesn't disappear overnight and while the Free Folk were Northmen and knew better than anyone what was coming for them there were those who would attack the King and his party on the road, not knowing or caring who they were, just seeing them as outsiders who didn't belong in the North.

Wyman had informed them that he had a shipment of grains that he would be sending up the White Knife and had recommended they go with the shipment heading to White Knife-by-the-Road, a new settlement that Lord Stark had commanded to be built in order to get shipments from White Harbour faster. The White Knife had be widened in places, extended in others and new branches of the river created. The biggest and most important new extension of the river was up past Castle Cerwyn and ended half a day's ride from Winterfell, where the new village and docking facilities, White Knife-by-the-Road was now located. In winter, they would be able to send sleds up and down the river once it froze over like a road.

Jamie had spent the time he had off duty watching the countryside as they sailed past. He had toured the marketplace outside the walls of White Harbour with Robert and the children that the Free Folk used to trade their wares to the people of White Harbour. Jamie had even brought himself a goat wool cloak with a white fox fur collar as his old cloak, while fine for cold weather normally wasn't up to the challenge of keeping the persistent chill of the north away from his body. He had purchased the cloak from a Free Folk woman then had asked the Manderly's tailor's opinion on the quality of workmanship, expecting it to be average at best, shoddy at worst. He had been pleasantly surprised when the tailor had informed him that the work was exceptional and had asked Jamie where he had gotten it, once he had been informed, the tailor had nodded his head, no longer surprised at the quality of the work.

When Jamie had enquired about his response the tailor had told him while he wouldn't ask a free folk woman to make a dress fit for court, he would absolutely trust them to make high quality winter gear as they know the importance of well-constructed and sturdy warm clothing. Jamie's face must have displayed his surprise about trusting such a primitive people with anything when the tailor snorted and muttered something about typical southern men and their assumptions. Jamie had left at about that point.

"Ser Jamie?"

Jamie shook his head.

"They may not live is castles like we do but they're not savages, but they're also not a weak people either. They're the ultimate survivors. They have to be if they live north of the Wall. This side is bad enough; can you imagine how bad the other side must be?"

Jamie had seen multiple new villages that had popped up along the White Knife. Some seem populated by only Northerners, some populated by only free folk and there had been a few that had a mixture of both living together. Those villages with a mixed population seemed to be doing a lot better than the ones that were only populated by one or the other. They had been lots of smaller boats also navigating the river, either transporting goods, people or they were fishing. It didn't seem any different from any other kingdom he had seen, just a difference in clothing between the two people. The Northmen dressed in wool and leather, the Free Folk in furs.

"I think a lot about we think we know about the North and wildlings is going to change very rapidly your Grace. They are definitely preparing for winter, that's easy enough to see, it's the other part I'm having trouble accepting. The Others? Until I see proof, I will not believe in snarks and grumpkins your Grace. I'm a warrior, give me a flesh and blood enemy to kill and I'm your man. Legends though? I can't fight something that doesn't exist." Jamie told them.

"Are you saying that Lord Stark is a liar Kingslayer?" Robert growled dangerously.

Jamie shook his head.

"No, I'm saying that perhaps he's been deceived about what's coming. Maybe the wildlings didn't think he'd let them come south if it was only winter that threatened them. Let's be honest, the Northern Lords wouldn't turn a hair if the wildlings were to die."

"What about the supposed walking dead body the Lords were shown as proof?" Barristan asked him.

Jamie waved his hand in dismissal.

"Nothing but a trick. There are ways to make a puppet dance and seem real. It's also a little too convenient that the "proof" was killed before anyone south of the Neck had seen it."

"So you think that the whole this is a hoax? Not real?" Robert questioned him.

"I believe the long winter is real and that it's coming. I believe that Lord Stark believes that the Others are coming but apart from that, No I don't think the threat of the dead is real your Grace." Jamie told them firmly.

Robert nodded his head and was about to reply when Ser Wendel's second in command, Ser Kriegen approached them.

"Your Grace, forgive my interrupting but the walls of Winterfell are in sight. Your children demand your presence and that of their uncles." Ser Kriegen informed them with a smile on his face. Robert laughed.

"Well then, you heard the man. The children demand our presence, let's not keep them waiting." Robert whooped as he spurred his horse into a fast trot heading towards the front of the escort with Stannis, Jamie and Barristan scrambling to catch up.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*

Jon was quietly freaking out just a little.

The King and his group had been sighted earlier in the morning and were now making their way towards the inner courtyard in front of the great hall. The Stark family, their servants and any retainers and bannermen currently in residence were assembled waiting for the King to arrive.

For Jon, it was eerily similar to the gathering that had happened the first time all those years ago.

Similar yet different.

This time, Tyrion wasn't in Wintertown's brothel while the King and his family were being greeted by the Starks and Sam was standing with Tyrion off to the side along with Theon and Domeric Bolton. That had been a surprise for Jon. According to Robb, their father had asked Roose to send Domeric to Winterfell, not for fostering but as a companion for Robb as both boys were close in age. Roose had been suspicious of Ned's motivations but knew it was a chance for Domeric to get into Robb's inner circle before the boy becomes Lord Paramount. If Domeric played his cards right, he could become Robb's most trusted advisor and Roose would finally have an highly placed informant in Winterfell, something he had been trying to achieve for years without success.

Unfortunately for Roose though, Domeric felt differently from his father. He had been fostered in the Vale for quite some time and the lessons of justice, loyalty and honour had become ingrained in him.

Robb had found him to be a polite young man, a skilled swordsman and a highly skilled rider. He was smart with a wicked dry humour that often had Robb and Theon in stiches. Domeric had been out on patrol when Jon had arrived home and had only returned late the night before after Jon had retired for the night. With everything else that had happened yesterday and all that Robb and Theon had to tell him, informing him about Domeric had had not occurred to them. Jon hadn't had much of a chance to speak to the young man himself but Sam informed him that he was ok, nothing like his father or bastard brother. Jon thanked the Old Gods when he had heard that.

Gendry was also in residence but not present at the moment. His father thought it would be safer for everyone for Gendry to remain out of sight for the time being which Jon agreed with. It had nothing to do with him being a bastard in general, it was more because he was Robert's bastard and things were complicated enough.

Another change was Jon's position with the group. He was standing in line with his family and not hidden away behind them with the servants. Lady Cat had insisted he stand with them when she found him standing in what had been his customary place, having temporarily forgotten that he was no longer a bastard in name. Although he and Robb were the same age, Robb had been born just a few weeks before Jon which made Robb the eldest male and even if he wasn't the eldest, it wouldn't have mattered anyway because Jon was a acknowledged bastard and couldn't inherent over a trueborn child of his fathers. His new place was after Rickon in the line of inheritance for Winterfell and his new position showed that.

The other major difference between these two times was the King's party itself. Cersei and Joffrey weren't included, the King had come north with a small party, no announcing who he was to the public at large, no baggage train extending for miles. Jamie being present hadn't changed but Ser Barristan was a new development. Suddenly he heard the horn that singled that Robert was close and about to enter the courtyard. Jon cleared his head, took a deep breath and took a knee along with everyone else as King Robert entered the courtyard.

Jon raised his head a fraction, just enough to see what was happening in front of him. A quick glance at the King showed that while he was still fat, he wasn't as large as he had been. Jon could see some places where the skin was loose due to rapid weight loss. He watched Robert closely as he dismounted his horse without the help of the Lady Steps and strode with a firm stride towards his father.

Robert looked down at the kneeling Ned and with an upward motion of his fingers, signalled for the assembled group to arise. Ned stood up and looked at his old friend. He could see what Tyrion and Jon had been talking about in regards to Robert going to seed but he could also see that the his friend was beginning to rectify that particular situation. He waited in silence for Robert to speak, wondering if he would say the same words to him as he did in another life. When Jon had told him what Roberts first words to him were, Ned was amused but not surprised. It was Robert all over.

"You got fat."

Ned's eyes widen fractionally in surprise but other than that, he gave no indication that it meant anything more than that. He blatantly looked Robert up and down then stared at him.

"Your one to talk about getting fat."

The two stared at each other and everyone else held their breath, waiting for Robert's reaction.

Suddenly Robert laughed and grabbed Ned in a bear hug which Ned returned with vigour.

"Damnit Ned, but it's good to see you! Ten years Ned! Ten years! Where the hells have you been for the last ten years?" Robert laughed as he released Ned from his embrace.

"Guarding the North for your Grace." Was Ned's reply and Jon couldn't help but wince as things seem to be going the same as last time and that didn't end well for the Starks or the Baratheon's.

Robert's happy face turned into a frown as he was reminded as to why he was here.

"So I've heard and not from what we think. What's going on Ned?" Robert demanded. Ned looked around and sighed.

"Once you've introduced the rest of your companions to my family, we'll go to my solar and talk. Now your Grace, you remember my wife lady Catelyn?" Ned smoothly diverted Robert's attention away from any dangerous talk for the moment.

Jon watched as the King progressed down the line of Starks, making close to the same comments as he did before, until he reached Jon that is.

Robert stared hard at the young man in front of him. Black of hair, grey of eyes, he didn't have his father's height or build but there was no doubting he was a Stark.

"Your Grace, this is my son, Jon Stark." Ned introduced Jon, putting emphasis on his last name.

Robert looked back at Jon, eyes considering and kind.

"So, he finally legitimized you. How does it feel to be a Stark lad?" Robert asked him kindly, in a quiet voice. He had often wondered why Ned wouldn't let him legitimize him when he was just a babe, before they left kings landing long ago and while Ned wouldn't let him do it, he couldn't stop Robert from gifting him a royal decree of legitimization that he had pushed into Ned's hand as he left Kings Landing. It was it least he could do to try and make it up to him after their fight over the dragonspawn.

Jon reigned in his temper with some effort. If it wasn't for him, this fat old man in front of him, he'd have a father, a mother, siblings who would have adored him and a step mother who actually wanted him. In the end, it didn't matter, the past was the past and if he had of been allowed to change his personal past, the Gods would have sent him back to save his parents instead.

"It feels good not to be considered a stain on my family's honour anymore your Grace but apart from that, nothing else has changed. My family still love me for me and not for my name." He replied politely.

Robert smiled at him.

"Ah lad, you've been luckier than most and smart enough to realise it. You have my respect for that for not all young men have had that realisation. I know I didn't" Robert chuckled.

"Thank you your Grace" Jon said with a bow of his head.

Robert turned away beckoned to his children and the rest of his party to join him while Ned dismissed the rest of the assembled group. Tyrion, Sam, Theon and Domeric took the chance to come over and join the Starks. Tyrion made a beeline for Jamie while the other three stood a small ways back while they waited to be acknowledged by the King and Lord Stark.

"Uncle Tyrion!" Myrcella and Tommen cried in unison, happy to see their favourite short and funny uncle who always made time for them no matter what he was doing at the time. Tyrion have a pleased smile as he was sandwiched between the two children in a three way hug.

"Oh my dearest niece and nephew! I am so happy to see you. My word, your both taller them me! By the God's Robert, what have you been feeding them?" Tyrion half laughed, half demanded of the King while Tommen and Myrcella giggled in happiness. Robert rolled his eyes in amusement.

"All right you two. Come here and meet your father's oldest and best friend. Lord Eddard Stark, I would like you to meet my children, Myrcella and my second son, Tommen. Children, say hello to Lord Stark." Robert proudly watched on as his children greeted Ned with perfect courtesy. Their mother had at least gotten that part of their education right.

Ned was perfectly charmed by the boy and girl and was now even more determined that neither one of them would come to harm from Robert or anyone else. It was not their fault that their parents had sinned and carried on a relationship between brother and sister. Ned was determined make sure they didn't suffer for their parents sins.

Wrenching his mind back to the present Ned greeted them and in turn, introduced them to his family. Arya, who would be staying in Winterfell for the duration of the royal visit, wasn't all that interested in Myrcella who she viewed as another Sansa but remembered her lessons and greeted the princess politely. Tommen, she thought looked wussy but decided not to make a final decision on either of them until she knew them better.

Sansa looked thrilled to have another young lady around. While she was no longer the simple, naive girl she once was, she did miss participating in lady like pursuits such as sewing, singing and dancing, although she did admit to herself that the dancing helped her with her knife fighting lessons.

Rickon was just happy to have a boy closer to his age in Winterfell again. He missed Bran something fierce and while he loved Robb and Jon and spent time with them; it wasn't the same because they were so much older than he was. He hoped Tommen was fun.

Robb and Jon just smiled indulgently at the young ones. While they were happy to play with the younger children, they knew it wasn't the same as playing with someone close to your age. Jon and Robb both silently vowed to protect them.

Tyrion on the other hand was busy catching up with his beloved brother. He couldn't believe Jamie was really here in Winterfell and here without Cersei to boot. It wasn't very often that Tyrion got Jamie's attention all to himself and he planned to saviour it for as long as Jamie was here because normally where ever Jamie is, Cersei usually wasn't very far behind. Tyrion realised that Jamie was no longer listening to him.

"What is it brother?" He asked Jamie as he looked in the same direction as Jamie was looking. In the distance, he could see Sansa and Myrcella walking towards the great hall, chatting spiritly together while Brianne escorted them. Tyrion suddenly realised what had Jamie distracted.

Good old Brianne. She hadn't even met him yet and already he's interested although he didn't yet realise it. Tyrion sniggered. He was going to enjoy watching this.

"Who is that?" Jamie asked, his eyes fixed on the back of the tall blonde warrior escorting the girls inside. There was something about that person that peaked his interest but what that was, he couldn't tell. Tyrion controlled his sniggering and replied.

"The person escorting the girls inside? That my dear Jamie is Lady Brianne of Tarth. Heir to Tarth and currently sworn sword to Lady Sansa Stark."

He started laughing again at the look of surprise on his brother's face.

"A woman?! What the blazes is Ned Stark think? Leaving his daughter's protection to a woman? The wench can't possibly be as good as a man but then again, she's tall enough to me mistaken for one from behind at least." Jamie was now laughing and not in a kindly way. His laughter trailed off as he caught sight of the look on Tyrion's face.

Tyrion was furious. He had considered warning Jamie about her skills with a sword and Jon's skill too but now decided to let Jamie humiliate himself on his own. Tyrion would find it very satisfying to watch his brother's ass dumped in the dirt multiple times.

"I'm disappointed with you Jamie, very disappointed. You of all people should know how badly words can be hurtful. You're lucky Brianne didn't hear you, she would have knocked you flat on your ass and I wouldn't have said a thing to stop her. You know better than to make snap judgements about those who are different. I thought father taught you better than that. I thought I taught you better than that and speaking of father, he'll be arriving tomorrow." Tyrion said as he walked away, he wasn't in the mood to deal with his idiotic brother at the moment. He stopped for a moment and turned back to Jamie.

"Cersei had ruined you brother."

And with that parting shot, Tyrion turned his back on Jamie and proceeded to walk into the great hall.

If he had looked back, he would have seen the look of utter hurt, sorrow and thoughtfulness that appeared on Jamie's face as he follow Tyrion into the Great hall.