Chapter 14

Notes:

Warnings ahead

M rating level language, nudity and violence

Trigger warnings

Mentions of religion influenced punishments towards women for behaving outside social norms.

Including: stoning, caning, burning, and humiliations via public walk of atonement.

Multiple references to cannon related event of violence towards women and children during Robert's Rebellion.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

(North – Winterfell Guard Barracks)

Osha bit her bottom lip as she looked at the new tabard she'd been given by her now good-uncle-in-law. The black material of a finer quality than she'd ever seen served as the border of the house coat of arms, a grey shield with ten white wolf heads. She looked to Jory, "We only married last night."

"I know, but uncle hedged his bets you would say yes," the guard captain and she had spent many a night patrolling the halls together. To the point her fellow free folk serving House Stark had been teasing her about kneeling for a southron, she'd reminded them Jory would split their heads open if he heard them talking like that.

Jory was a face she did not know from the visions, he had gone south with Lord Stark and was murdered along with most of those who had gone south. She did not know the particulars of his death, but from seeing him in the training yard, it had to have been a craven act. This time he would not be accompanying Lord Stark, instead remaining in Winterfell to help prepare for the coming winter.

Jory gently took the tabard and put it over her head, adjusting it so it covered her leather jerkin, "You are of my house, and think of it like this. Those ten wolf heads, they are the heads of your charges, you carry them as a reminder of the oath you swore to our Magnar." Jory smirked, "Now we better get to our posts, Lord Stark gave us a day, but I know you worry about what mischief Arya and the boys might be getting into."

"Far too many dangers," Osha worried her lip again, "and that lion is here again."

Jory placed his hands on her shoulders, "Benjen has Lannister under watch, and I have guards assigned to him, he goes within five feet of Bran, and I'll split him into enough pieces each of the wolves will get a bite."

Osha smirked, "You would have done well beyond the Wall husband mine."

"I'll take that as a compliment, wife," Jory chuckled, "now off with you, or you'll have to get redressed a second time this morning."

She had not been a maiden in several years, having been stolen from her family and made a wife of a rather brutal man at a young age. He'd only fathered one child on her, but both the child and the man had been taken by the Others. Jory was nothing like her last husband, he did not care she was not a maiden, nor did he take anything she did not willingly give to him. Even to the free folk women were little more than property, but her new husband treated her more like a partner, never holding back in the training yard. Not even the first time they crossed blades.

A sly grin came to her face, "Is that a threat or a promise, husband?"

Jory grit his teeth, "Don't tempt me." a knock on the door drew their attention, causing Jory to grumble, "Enter."

The door opened to admit Jory's cousin Beth, she wore training leathers, and her curly hair was tied back, "I hope I'm not intruding, but since Cousin Osha has the day off, I thought she could help me practice."

Jory looked to his wife, "You did say you'd teach her the spear."

"That I did," Osha grabbed her sword belt from next to the door before shouldering her spear, stepping next to Beth she put an arm over the girl's shoulder in an almost mother way, "We will make a proper Spear Wife of you little cousin." She looked back to Jory as they began walking out the door, "I'm sure a soak in the hot spring after will do us good."

(Great Hall)

Ned frowned as Jory arrived and replaced the guard that had been at his side all morning, "I thought I gave you the day off?"

"You did my lord, but we both be creatures of habit and duty," Jory grinned, "Osha is teaching my cousin Beth the spear, and I got nothing else to do until Uncle is done with morning drills."

Benjen walked over to the pair as the other lords and ladies were still taking a break from the discussions, "What's this I hear of a day off Jory?"

Ned chuckled, "I forgot to tell you, our young friend here decided to steal himself a wife. Rodrik came to me during the celebrations last night and told me they were saying their vows. Did it in the old way, right as the moon was at its highest point."

"Steal?" Benjen sniggered, "That wildling woman that was standing next to you at the ceremony?"

Jory grimaced, "Aye, though they prefer free folk."

Shaking his head Benjen looked to his brother, "What does Rodrik think of this?"

"It was his idea," Ned said reaching to his side to scratch between the ears of his dire wolf, "said he saw something in her when he saw her in Wintertown, that made him think of his late wife. Said if anyone could make a man out of this maiden it was her."

An unintelligible grumble came from Jory, he'd had grown up with Lyanna and Benjen as the only Starks in Winterfell during his childhood. Originally he was to squire for Brandon, but Lord Rickard had changed his mind and was planning to send Jory to the Vale to serve as Lord Eddard's squire. Then Harrenhall happened and the world went mad, Jory still served as Lord Stark's squire during the rebellion against the Mad King but was sent to Riverrun to watch over Lady Catelyn and young Robb following the sack of King's Landing. That had been the last Jory saw of his father, Martyn falling in battle in Dorne.

Benjen chuckled, "The real question is did you steal her, or did she steal you? Free folk women are not as meek as most ladies south of the Wall."

"Speaking from experience brother?" Ned asked with a glare.

Benjen rolled his eyes, "It is not uncommon for recruits to slip over the Wall and take a tumble with some sheep farmer's daughter. Lord Commander has always turned a blind eye to it, we have been cracking down since the whole Mance deserting to join the free folk, found he'd been enticing the recruits to join him."

Ned assessed his brother, "Always wondered about that part of the vows. I can understand renouncing claims to titles and lands, but not taking a wife sounds more like an Andal custom than anything our ancestors would consider. To have something to protect such as a wife and children would make those of the Watch more determined to stand against the Others."

"The change was added after the thirteenth," Lord Rivers appeared at Benjen's side, his unnatural eye angling to look at the dire wolf, "My understanding was everyone feared a second Night's King rising and decided the Night's Watch needed to be a bunch of pent up warriors lacking any form of release. No wonder they have fallen to little more than murderers and rapists."

"That the South has seen us as little more than a penal colony on the edge of the known world doesn't help," Benjen quipped, "We're a little better now with so many recruits from the Westerlands, Reach, and Vale making their way to the Wall. The Watch has already doubled in size in the last four months."

Bloodraven snorted, "A bunch of green boys who've never seen winter. We'd be better off with the Unsullied."

Ned looked to where Daenerys sat, by now the girl who was laughing at something Aegon said would have been married and suffering nightly couplings that any Westrosi would call spousal rape to the very Khal charged with protecting her person. He doubted that Drogo had been informed of his actions in the world of the visions, the Khal who currently stood sentinel with Jorah was nothing like the barbaric beast of a man who bought a child bride and then used her like a whore on a nightly basis. It had taken almost the last of Ned's resolve not to behead the man when he first walked into Winterfell with Jorah.

Jorah had thought Ned's simmering rage that only another Northman would recognize was meant for him and was more pensively surprised that his liege lord was angrier that he dared bring Drogo into his home or let him within a mile of the princess. Jorah had quelled the anger, assuring him that the Dothraki would be on his best behavior. That the Dothraki's eyes had turned to Dacey, made Ned's desire to wield Ice all the more prevalent, though he knew his sister was no simpering girl, and any man who treated her like that Dothraki had the princess, would find himself gelded long before Ned fed their head to a weirwood.

"I know that look," Benjen back away from his elder brother, "you only get that look when you're contemplating introducing some poor soul to Ice."

Robert turned from where he was talking to Selmy to examine Ned, "Aye, that's the look, saw it the day Tywin presented Elia's body along with Rhaenys and that babe everyone thought was Aegon. Even Tywin avoided your gaze that day."

Tywin cleared his throat, "Your grace, I was but the bearer of the ill tidings, you incited Lord Stark's rage with your unfortunate choice of words."

Aegon's eyes narrowed as he looked between Robert and Tywin, "You speak of the sacking of a city full of innocent people and the barbaric butchery of my family as though it were a tragic mistake. You may not have ordered the deaths of my mother and sister with your hand, but you still provided the means for it to come to pass."

"My prince," Tywin began, "what happened was indeed a tragic mistake on my part. I allowed my animosity toward your grandfather to overcome my reasoning. I wanted to make a statement to incite your grandfather, to make him realize that his downfall was my doing. He had sparked the wildfire with his hand with the deaths of Lord Rickard and Lord Brandon Stark, his madness prevented him from seeing he needed to concede defeat. To bring both sides to the table and negotiate, we'd have learned the truth about your stepmother and found a peaceful end to the conflict. Instead, he doubled down and sent your father to his death, thus condemning both your mother and stepmother to their fates. It may have been Robert's hand that ended Rhaegar's life, but it was Aerys' madness that killed your family."

"Then let us ensure no more madness dooms us," Aegon moved to stand before Robert and Eddard, "Lord Stark, Magnar of the First Men. I Prince Aegon Targaryen, as Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms, cousin to his grace King Robert Baratheon, seek your permission to court your daughter Sansa Stark, in hopes that we may wed and when the day comes, she will stand beside me as my queen."

Eddard leaned back in his chair, "I have decreed my daughters will marry only those with the blood of the First Men."

"Though I bare the traits of my Valerian ancestors, I am of the First Men. The blood in my veins from both my great-grandfather and great-grandmother comes from House Blackwood of the Riverlands. A House of the First Men that have held to the traditions of their ancestors alone against the Andals and their faith of the Seven."

Looking around the room Eddard saw Lord Blackwood among the Riverland nobles supporting Edmure, "What say you, Lord Blackwood, does this princeling share your blood?"

Stepping forward the indicated lord nodded, "Aye Magnar of where winter fell, he is a child of the fallen Magnar of the raven tree. It is with the honor of his blood and kin he stands before you."

"Agreed," Brynden Rivers spoke up, "as another child of the raven tree, our honor gives him the right to stand before you."

Eddard nodded, "The Blackwoods have joined their house with that of us, Starks, on more than a few occasions." He looked to where Jon stood next to Selmy, "Jon, what do you say?"

"I have no objections, Father," Jon stepped next to Aegon, "Aegon and I share blood as we were sired by the same man though neither of us sees him as our father. As my brother by blood, I would trust Aegon with the sister I was raised with."

With a nod, Ned motioned Jon back to his place before looking to the Dornish contingent. He saw Edric sitting with Ashara, "Edric, what do you say?"

Standing and moving to stand at his father's side Edric spoke, "Father, as your blood courses through my veins your decision will be mine, but I have no reservations. Aegon is not only of Valerian and First Men but of Dorne through his Martell blood, blood that also contains the blood of the First Men. As a fellow Dornishman, I would trust Aegon with my sweet sister but would remind him we Dornish protect what is ours."

Eddard gave a nod and Edric returned to his seat, receiving proud acknowledgment from several Dornish lords seated around him. Eddard leaned forward, "As my eldest is otherwise indisposed I'll have to settle with his brothers' assessments. You have my blessing to court Sansa, but if she rebukes your bid for her hand you must leave her unmolested."

"That is all I ask," Aegon bowed his head, "My Magnar."

Robert snorted, "Damn Ned, you have to put the poor lad through all that?"

From where the few Iron Born sat Theon sniggered, "Could have been worse your grace, Robb wanted some old ritual where he'd have to compete against a bunch of challengers in a series of contests."

Aegon huffed, "And these are my friends."

(Robb's Chambers)

Robb watched as Margaery dozed next to him, after a bath and simple meal the servants had bustled them back into his chambers. He'd heard the maids whispering about Jory taking Osha as his wife last night in the more classical fashion, a simple no-nonsense ceremony of two people and their closest kin and a tree. What he'd give for something so simplistic, but he was born the son of a Lord Paramount, as his new wife was a daughter of a man of equal station to that of his father, a certain level of extravagance was required.

"Robb," turning to the window one of the servants had opened to let in fresh air, the heir to Winterfell's eyes widened as he saw his younger brother sitting perched on the ledge.

"Bran," he was up and crossed the room in a second, pulling his brother inside, "you swore to father you would not climb the walls."

"Technically," Bran grimaced, "I wasn't climbing, I just walked along the ledge from my window to yours."

Robb shook his head, "Did anyone see you?"

"No one ever looks up," Bran looked around his brother to where Margaery was stirring.

Sitting up the newest Stark giggled, "We have a visitor it seems."

"Aye," Robb huffed, "one who will be lucky not to get his hide blistered if father learns he was foolishly climbing after he promised not to."

Margaery frowned, "Bran, I know you promised your father not to climb."

"I know, but I was bored," Bran huffed, "Robin has to attend the meeting because he has to represent the Vale, even though he is my age. Trystan is acting as his father's cup bearer during the meeting, and Rickon wanted to watch Arya and Sansa dance."

"Dance?" Robb frowned, "Why are our sisters dancing, didn't they get enough after last night?"

Bran shrugged, "Father brought a Bravosi to teach them."

"Bran," Margaery smiled, "you are talking about Bravosi Water Dancing. Syrio is a sword master, Water Dancing is a sword technique the Bravosi are well known for."

Robb nodded, "I remember father saying he was summoning an old acquaintance to teach Arya, did not expect Sansa to want to learn."

Margaery chuckled, "Your father was surprised as well, but I think Princess Arianne showed girls can be just as good with a blade when she bested both Jon and Aegon in the yard."

"That was what Quentyn and Edric were teasing them about?" Robb shook his head.

"So," Bran edged towards the window, "maybe I go watch with Rickon and we don't tell father about this?"

Robb snatched Bran by the collar and guided him to the door, "You use the hallway like a normal human being and not act like a Child of the Forest and I might consider telling father I handled the situation, and you won't do it again." Without waiting for a response he pushed his brother into the hall, to the surprise of the guards posted there before shutting the door with a sigh, "Little fool, cannot believe he was doing that after promising father."

Margaery was instantly at his side, "He is a child, with little fear of what dangers he could face. The best you can do is be his brother, to protect him from those dangers."

"That will be Jon's duty soon, it'll be him Bran, and Sansa in the capital. Edric and Arya in Dorne, with me and Rickon here in Winterfell." Robb noticed her pout, "What?"

"It will not be just you and Rickon, I will be here with you," Margaery stuck out her lower lip, "unless I have displeased my lord?"

Robb snorted, "Nay, but your lord does think you're a tad overdressed."

Margaery pulled at the cord holding her dressing gown closed, "Perhaps my lord husband should do something about that?"

(Hallway)

Hullan tossed Orik a silver stag as Greywinds head perked up a moment before they heard Lady Margaery call Lord Robb's name, "I thought they'd had enough after last night."

Orik chuckled, "Never guarded a newlyweds' door before."

Shaking his head Hullan looked at the graybeard face of Orik, the man was probably the oldest guardsman in Winterfell as he was older that Rodrik Cassel by at least a decade, "Guess it's better they get it out of their systems now."

"I was your age when Lord Rickard started his dalliance with Lady Mormont," Orik sniggered, "they were not young but they sure acted like it."

Hullan looked both ways down the hall, "Lady Dacey visited Lord Stark the evening Lady Stark was confined to her quarters. Never put much credit to the rumors, but when you see them together."

"What does it matter?" Orik huffed, "she's a she-bear of Bear Island. I'll stand with her mace at my side any day."

"Aye," Hullan nodded, "I was with her at Pike, she bashed squids as they had personally affronted her. Think after that display my preference will be shielding her back, let her mow down the opposition and I'll just keep any sodding craven shite from shanking her in the back."

"What craven shite is shanking who in the back?" both guards turned to find Sandor Clegane walking towards them.

Orik frowned, "Just idle talk Ser, you take a wrong turn?"

Sandor snorted, "Drop the Ser, I wasn't given a choice, and no I didn't take a fucking wrong turn." He looked back and forth along the hall, "At least I don't think I did. Lady Stark's chamber is this way, right? All these damn halls look the same."

"Why are you looking for Lady Stark's rooms?" Hullen asked suspiciously.

"Because I'm a fucking dog sent to fetch," Sandor grumbled, "at least Lady Dayne had the decency to attend the meeting with her Dornish countrymen. That just leaves escorting Lady Stark and Lady Lannister to the Great Hall."

Orik grimaced, "Guessed they'd be summoning her eventually."

"You think," Sandor growled, "she calls my squire anything than his name I'd be asking for her tongue. Lad has been through enough having his grace as a sire. Had to keep him away from the bitch queen as much as possible for his safety."

Hullan nodded, "Go back the way you came and go down to the next corridor, you'll see Allen and Kurn, they're the ones assigned to her today. Just be careful Kurn is one of Osha's wildlings, he doesn't speak common."

"Noted," Sandor frowned as he noticed Greywind lying next to Hullen, "Isn't that Lord Robb's?" A high pitch moan from the door behind Hullan had Clegane's good eye widen as Hullen tossed another silver stag to Orik.

(Great Hall)

Tywin watched as Sandor entered along with four guards escorting two women. Tywin's men had not been permitted near Cersei, and following her declaring to follow the Old Gods the Baratheon knights had also been dismissed from guarding her, so it was a pair of Stark men who flanked his daughter. The stoic Northmen would protect Cersei, but they also ensured she did not escape.

He was only thankful this was not the trial of Cersei's crimes. Today it was the other woman facing the judgment of her equals. Tywin would have let the matter between Catelyn and Cersei go, but the Tully fish had done something even more foolish. She insulted her husband's family, Tywin could appreciate a man who protected the image of his kin, even those who'd passed into memory.

Even without his knowledge provided by the visions he'd seen Lyanna Stark as a tragic victim. Contrary to his daughter's beliefs, he had not believed the girl had seduced Rhaegar. He knew Rhaegar, he knew the young man was charming and knew how to work people to do as he wanted them to. It would not have been hard to entice a free-spirited girl like Lyanna with honeyed words promising to help her escape an unwanted betrothal.

During the rebellion, he had an inkling of an idea to get Robert to marry Cersei and have Jaime released from the kingsguard and wed to Lyanna. Jaime's refusal to leave the order and Lyanna's death was not an actual hindrance as it made getting Cersei her crown easier. Too bad his foolish daughter destroyed all his hard work.

Robert had the room rearranged for this, sitting highest on the dais with the lords paramount sitting in a row below him. The other lords and ladies in attendance sat on benches. The King stood up, "Lady Catelyn, you stand accused of infringement of guest rights within the home of your Lord husband, not once but twice." Robert huffed, "How do you plead?"

Catelyn held up her head, "Guilty your grace, though I am confused as to why this matter is brought before you and the lords paramount?" Her eyes focused on Eddard who was sitting next to Tywin in the row of lords paramount, "This matter should be of a private matter of House Stark."

"I called for this inquest," Prince Doran called from where he sat on Stark's other side, "One of your infringements was against a daughter of Dorne. One that is as close to my heart as my dearly departed sister. During your infringement, you quite publicly called into question the honor of other souls both alive and departed who hold equally deep places in my heart, and the heart of Dorne."

Seeing that Doran was finished Tywin spoke up, "I seconded the inquest. I had hoped my warning after you struck my daughter, whom I might remind you is under the personal protection of your lord husband as a prisoner, would stay you from any future foolishness. I was mistaken and realize I should have informed your husband of your transgression immediately."

Edmure stood from the seat reserved for the Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, acting in his father's stead, "Your grace, my lords. I know as my father's heir and only acting in his stead my voice holds little weight, but I would repeat my request this matter be held in a less public forum."

Tywin looked at the young man; he knew from the visions Edmure was nothing like his father. Hoster Tully was an ambitious man, but he had the martial skills and cunning to play the game. Edmure lacked the talent of his father and overreached his ability in a sad attempt to compare to the more noteworthy members of his House.

From the chair next to Edmure's, the young Robert Arryn spoke up, "Aunt Catelyn, why did you hit Lady Cersei and say mean things to Lady Ashara? You and Uncle Ned said we have to think before we act."

The Lord of the Rock could not contain his mirth at the child lord of the Vale admonishing his aunt. The way the boy sat proudly in the seat reminded Tywin of Lord Jon Arryn and assured him his decision to cleanse the world of Lady Lysa's madness was justified. The boy had much development yet to do, but the Lords Declarant of the Vale would see to it he grew into a man that would honor the memory of his venerable father.

Baratheon chuckled from his seat as Catelyn gaped like the fish on her brother's coat of arms, "Should I add hypocrisy to the charges? Teaching our young Lord Arryn to be kind, then not practicing what you preach." Tywin heard the chair the king sat in creak as the large man shifted position, "I've heard reports Lady Stark, you had forbidden your children from interacting with certain guests, due to their circumstances of birth. You even made rather vulgar statements regarding my natural-born son and daughter currently residing beneath your roof under the same guest's rights all of us born on the right side of the sheets have been granted. Each of these incidents has not just been an assault upon the honor of your husband, a man I have seen as close as a brother for more years than you even knew his name. You have insulted the honor of House Baratheon and House Martell."

Mace coughed, "House Tyrell takes offense as well, several daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell are close personal friends to my children. Lady Nymeria in particular has been a close confidante of my daughter for most of Margaery's life. My son Willas also sees Prince Oberyn like an older brother and takes umbrage against anyone speaking poorly of the man's daughters."

As Doran nodded his approval at Mace's words, Daenerys spoke up, "Cousin, I must also speak as the representative of House Targaryen. This woman had been nothing but cruel to my nephew, Jon Targaryen of House Stark, raised as Jon Snow. Lord Stark impugned his honor to protect Jon following the rebellion. I do not claim that Lady Stark needed to know the truth or that she needed to treat my nephew as warranted a child of House Targaryen, but she could have shown a bit of common human decency."

"Aye," Robert huffed, "well, the charges keep mounting. Ned, it's time for you to put your house in order, by right of my authority as King of these Seven Kingdoms, of the Andals, First Men, and Rhoynar, and protector of the faith. I hereby authorize you to deal with this situation as you see fit. Up to setting your wife aside and annulment of your marriage, with the caveat that your children with Lady Catelyn Tully retain their rights and positions in the order of succession of House Stark."

There was a murmuring from the assembled lords and ladies, which ended as Eddard stood, "Cat, you admitted your guilt to the charges of impugning upon the guest's rights of those under my roof. You assailed a prisoner, who has taken up the faith of my gods and requested my protection. After a warning from Lord Lannister, you proceeded to plot against another guest of my house. To handle these matters, I have asked the two injured parties to be present so that I can ask if they are willing to forgive your transgressions." He looked to the two women standing on either side of Cat, but keeping a large space from each other, "Lady Dayne?"

Ashara tilted her head but maintained a placid expression as she spoke, "Words may strike like knives at one's heart, but they are only words. Lady Catelyn's discourteous words against my personage I am willing to forgive. The words she aimed at our child, at the child Lady Lyanna left to you, and Lady Lyanna herself. I will never forgive." A wave of grumbling came from both groups of Dornish and Northern lords in attendance settled only by motions from their respective liege lords.

Eddard nodded, "I will get to those matters in time." He turned to Cersei, "Lady Lannister, your statement please."

Cersei sneered at Catelyn as she stepped forward, "Lord Stark, I have long pitied your situation, to been forced to marry a woman who swooned so for your late brother. A man I am told lived up to his nickname of the Wild Wolf. She did not deserve your loyalty, and she has done nothing but soil the honorable reputation of House Stark. She slapped me in the face in what constitutes a Sept in Winterfell, she has committed violence in a place of worship. I'm sure the Faith would claim she should lose her hand. Yet I cannot hold her solely to blame, I may have antagonized your wife in response to her less than kind words aimed at my children and father's house."

"Be that as it may," Eddard glared at Catelyn, "the Lady of House Stark is expected to act accordingly. Not lash out at prisoners." He motioned Cersei to return to her guards and then focused on Cat, "Princess Daenerys, can you please explain your remarks about my wife's treatment of Jon?"

The princess stood from the Stormland's seat she was holding in Renly's place, "I have asked some of Winterfell's household about my nephew's time here. Their remarks have been glowing concerning your treatment of Jon, my Magnar. Yet your lady wife has acted less than courteous, apparently, as a young child Jon made the mistake of calling Lady Catelyn mother. A simple mistake, especially for a child who does not understand these things. Instead of either letting the episode pass until the boy was old enough to understand or kindly correcting the mistake. Lady Catelyn preceded to physically assault my nephew and verbally abuse him."

Eddard paled at the princess's words before looking to where Jon stood at Selmy's side. The boy was doing his best to avoid eye contact, "Jon, is this true?"

Swallowing hard the boy walked over so he could speak in a lowered voice, "I am sorry Father, I did not think it a matter worth worrying you over. It was just after Sansa was born; I didn't want to upset Robb by causing the two of you to fight again."

Tightening his jaw Eddard sighed, "Did she ever lay a hand on you again after that?"

"Nay father that was the only incident she had done so," Jon blinked, "Old Nan might have said something, she was with Jory when they found me afterward."

Eddard now knew the timing of the event, an evening a few weeks after Sansa was born Jon failed to appear at dinner. The nursery attendant had been frantically searching for him all afternoon, too fearful of Lord Stark's ire to report his son was missing. Jory and Old Nan found Jon hiding in the godswood. When asked, Jon had said he and Robb were playing hide and seek. Robb had looked confused but quickly recovered and confirmed the story, and apologized to his brother for failing to find him.

Suddenly Jon's wording struck him, "You said the only incident she struck you, what other incidents have there been?"

"Remarks, glares, nothing less than expected for a bastard being raised in his father's household," Jon said.

Working his jaw Eddard patted the boy's shoulder, "Return to your place," Jon nodded and jogged back over to Selmy's side, the knight giving the boy a nod before returning his focus to his duty. Ned turned back to Catelyn, "You struck a child for calling you mother? You then went about your day like it never happened, didn't even bat an eye when the boy didn't show up by evening."

Catelyn winced, "I did join those searching the keep for him."

"You went to the nursery," Ned cut her off, "you forget we had this argument years ago. You seem to enjoy slapping people under my protection whether they have my blood or not. Do you realize how bad that incident could have turned, he had nearly succumbed to the cold when Jory found him." Eddard saw Ashara from the corner of his eye, "I want you to try imagining something Cat, what if roles had been reversed, what if you were gone and another woman was the Lady of House Stark, and Robb was the motherless child? How would you hope that woman would treat your son?"

Catelyn pursed her lips, "The way your rightful heir should be treated."

"This is the North," Ned snapped, "it takes more than being the first son I father to be the true Lord of Winterfell. Something you seem to have failed to grasp." He motioned to the mass of Northern banners, "You think these men and women swore loyalty to me simply because my name is Stark, and I was next in line after Brandon was murdered?" Eddard scoffed, "They could have put Benjen in my place and they'd have been fully in their right. They knew Benjen, they had seen him grow, even though he was little more than a pup when our father and brother were killed. I wasn't known, I spent years in the Vale learning at the knee of a man whose House was central to the Andal invasion. I proved my worth to them, I spilled blood side by side with them to avenge my father and brother. I earned their respect, their trust, and eventually one by one their loyalty. These are not things one is simply given by merit of birth; these are gifts granted by proving one's worth. A lesson I feel I have failed to impart on my sons, but I will not allow such failure to continue."

Moving back to his chair Ned looked to Edmure, "Lord Tully, I am sorry to inform you for multiple offenses, I have little choice but to request an annulment of my marriage to your sister. Be assured that your nephews and nieces are secure in their places as my children and members of House Stark."

"Ned," Cat gasped, "please, you cannot do this."

"What would you have me do?" Ned turned to glare at her, "allow you to continue insulting my House? You insulted the memory of my sister when you referred to Jon as her bastard. You might not have said the words, but the intention was clear in your thoughts. If you knew Lyanna you would know her feelings on having illegitimate children, she despised her betrothal to Robert not because he fathered Mya Stone, she would never hate a child, she hated that Robert let his base desires rule him, and feared he would not stay true to their vows and marital bed. Do you believe a woman who thought as such would have one of her own?"

Catelyn swallowed, "The Faith denounces polygamy, Rhaegar's only trueborn children are those sired on Princess Elia. Whatever the mummer's farce was between the late Crown Prince and your sister was blasphemy, and would not be supported by the most devout."

Robert chuckled from his makeshift throne, "Don't make me laugh, a few gold dragons and I can have the most devout claim my brother's fool Patches is Cersei and my love child from a dalliance when we were teens and claim he's the rightful heir." He looked to Aegon, "Hells, maybe I'll just have them declare Rhaegar was unable to produce an heir and I'm Aegon's true father."

"I think they get your point, Your Grace," Doran grimaced. He then looked seriously at Catelyn Tully, "Lady Tully, you speak in judgment of only the facts you know. My sister was unable to bear another child, her womb was destroyed upon delivering Aegon. The union between Rhaegar and Lady Lyanna was only to produce a spare heir. My sister feared her good father, a feeling many in this chamber felt in those days. If he knew she held no further use to his House, she could very well have ended up on the next pyre. Lady Lyanna agreed to be my sister and good brother's surrogate, a common practice in Dorne. Lyanna would have lived comfortably and freely in Dorne, and any child she gave Rhaegar would have been raised as his and Elia's." The Prince's dark eyes narrowed, "So, never degrade the name of Lady Lyanna in my presence again."

Tywin felt the need to lean away from the Dornishman, as though an aura of deadly intent was emanating from him, "Lord Stark, I have on good authority your marriage to Lady Catelyn interrupted a courtship between yourself and Lady Dayne."

Ned glared at the older man, "I've just annulled my marriage, why bring this up?"

"I'm just ensuring no one questions the reasoning behind your actions," Tywin looked to Ashara, "Lady Dayne?"

Ashara glared at the Lord of the Rock, "My lords, I and Lord Stark have barely shared a handful of conversations since my arrival, and most of those have been in very public settings, and revolve around our mutual son, or handling the particulars regarding the marriage of his eldest son with the daughter of Lord Tyrell, as I was asked to stand in for Lady Catelyn by her daughter. I know not what your goal is here."

"You have answered exactly as I predicted," Tywin nodded, "proof of Lord Stark's nature. The man has shown nothing but loyalty and respect for his wife and his vows to her. While Lady Catelyn has kept to her vows, as I never doubted a woman as pious as she would deviate, she has failed to show her husband the same respect and trust that he has shown her."

Robert grumbled as he leaned forward, "Lady Catelyn Tully, formerly Stark. I hate to say this, but I agree with my former good father. I will have to bring this to the Most Devout unless you want to follow the recent trend and return to Old Gods, but I'm sure you have nothing to fear from them, sure the High Septon will put in a good word, for a gold dragon or two."

Standing once more Edmure turned to the King, "I'm sure that will not be necessary Your Grace, I officially take my sister back into the protection of House Tully and formally apologize to House Stark for her behavior, and ask to relinquish claim to any dowery she had so that it can be put towards supporting Lady Sansa and Lady Arya in finding good matches."

Catelyn frowned at her brother, but when she looked at Ned he had returned to his seat. He looked ragged and weary. The last time she had seen him like this was the day he awoke from his fever all those moons ago. She had been so worried, but when he awoke it was like he was a completely different person. He had thrown himself into his duties, sending correspondence to his banners, and summoned some immediately to come to Winterfell. He'd even sent a letter to Jon Arryn though it probably hadn't arrived before the man drew his last breath.

She had heard about the visions people like her husband had supposedly had, men like Tywin Lannister and Mace Tyrell. Even lords in service to her father had had visions. She did not put much stock in such things, but something had happened. It was in the way Ned looked at the children, his normal joy had been overshadowed by regret and grim determination. Even with Jon as the first whisper of sending him to the Wall was met with the steeled-eyed expression many referred to as the look of the Quiet Wolf.

(Winterfell – Training Yard)

Rodrik Cassel watched the various young ladies around the yard. Dacey was instructing Jeyne in the use of a mace, one of Drogo's bloodriders acting as a living training dummy. Rodrik decided he'd need to inform Lord Stark that the Dothraki was staking a claim on the eldest Mormont daughter, that she happened to be Lord Stark's baby sister had nothing to do with Rodrik's protective fatherly feelings. The young Dothraki laughed as Jeyne hit him with the padded tourney mace and began apologizing.

Shaking his head Rodrik moved on, the three oldest Sand Snakes were in the midst of a practice session with their father. Prince Oberyn blocked and seemingly danced around the blows sent at him from his daughters. Rodrik saw the eldest girl Obara as the most proficient warrior and equal to her father with the spear. The second oldest Nymeria was good with daggers, he'd introduced her to the wrist-mounted daggers the free folk used, originally they were a tool used to climb the Wall. Tyene was far too gentle a soul for melee combat, her hands were soft and showed she had rarely trained with a weapon. Osha had introduced the girl to the chakram, a weapon that could be both handled in a close fight or thrown at an opponent, better yet the weapon was a potential carrier for the girl's true master weapon, poison.

"Ser Rodrik," the old man turned at the sound of one of the younger Sand Snakes. Ella Sand sat atop her borrowed horse, lance in hand, "I think I need a new target."

Looking to the dummy he'd set up on the tilt yard for the girl to practice with, he chuckled as its head was hanging at an angle, "Aye, the Others send a horde of scarecrows at us, you'll be the leader of the cavalry." He motioned her over, "I know you favor that lance of yours, but without a horse, it is not an infallible weapon, you sure you don't want to attempt another choice in armament?"

Ella bit her lip, "Papa says I won't be fighting."

"Aye, if I have a say none of you young'uns would have to dream of picking up a sword," Rodrik huffed, "but that not be the world we live in. The lance is good for tourneys, but what are you going to use to protect yourself if the worse were come to pass?"

Ella looked past him to where her father deflected Tyene's chakram throw causing Nymeria to block the redirected weapon, "The spear is like the lance."

"In a way, and it can be used similarly when you're on horseback," Rodrik nodded, "how about stabling your mount for the day and running over to where Osha is teaching my Beth? Then your father can give you some pointers once he's done thrashing your older sisters."

The girl nodded before urging her horse into a trot toward the stables. Rodrik turned to see Oberyn approaching him, his three eldest daughters taking a water break, "I heard your conversation with Ella, I had thought to coax her into learning the spear. You have my thanks, I have met few people from north of the Prince's Pass who treat girls like mine with such kindness."

"Your girls have been well-behaved since their arrival here, and since Lord Stark gave them permission to use the training yard, they've knocked some sense into some of my hardheaded recruits." Rodrik looked to where Arya was helping Sansa to her feet after a misstep in their lesson under the watchful gaze of Syrio, "Thinking they are the reason Lord Stark thought to send Arya down to Dorne."

Prince Oberyn followed his line of sight, "She is a fierce little she-wolf, Dorne will tremble beneath her paws I am sure. You have my word she will find nothing but our best hospitality. With any luck, she will fall in love with it as much as her dear aunt had."

Rodrik turned to Martell, "You knew Lyanna well?"

"As well as anyone could know her," Oberyn sighed, "I spied her thrashing some squires that were harassing our dear Lord Howland Reed, you know him no doubt as he is a countryman of yours."

"As well as anyone can know a Reed," Rodrik chuckled.

Oberyn smirked, "I had hoped to get to know her better at the tourney, though my sister mistook my curiosity and admiration for the girl as improper and arranged for my dearest brother to summon me back to Dorne. When Rheagar brought her to Dorne I was incensed that he would use her as little more than a broodmare." At Rodrik's irate look, Oberyn continued, "Do not get me wrong, surrogates are common practice in Dorne to deal with infertility. The difference is nominally our surrogates are the paramour of either one or sometimes both of the intended parents and rarely if ever are they from a noble house. If they are they are like my paramour Ellaria, Sands."

Rodrik seemed to understand, "You took afront to Lyanna being asked to fulfill a role below her station."

"I did," Oberyn smirked, "at least until she explained why she was willing to do it. I had gone to her before the ceremony, offering to challenge Rhaegar, that as my bride she would be free of her betrothal to Baratheon and have freedoms she could only dream of. She had gotten to know Obara and Nymeria by then and realized the type of man I am. She said I was a good man, and thanked me for the offer, but she had promised Elia to help her, whatever that entailed. I saw that she and Elia had some affection for one another, perhaps a sisterly bond."

The old man's eyes furrowed, "I didn't know Lyanna was acquainted with the late princess."

"The knight of the laughing tree, Rhaegar and Arthur came upon Lyanna removing the armor. To protect her from Aerys' madness, Arthur escorted her to Elia while Rhaegar delivered the shield to his father with the tale he found it with the knight's armor hanging in a tree." Oberyn mused, "When asked later where she was it gave Lyanna an alibi, my sister was unwell, she was still recovering from her pregnancy with Aegon at the time. Ser Oswell escorted Lyanna back to her brothers later after Aerys had calmed, and thanked her in their presence for sitting with Elia. It was Elia who tasked Rhaegar and Arthur to crown Lyanna the Queen of Love and Beauty. The only recognition she could publicly get for her defeat of those knights."

Rodrik nodded, "I humored Lyanna behind Lord Rickard's back, as did my brother Martyn. We trained her to joust, as we both learned when we were young squiring in the south. We never thought she'd be daft enough to try her hand in an actual contest."

Oberyn chuckled, "Aye," he looked to where Ella was squaring off against Beth Cassel under the watchful eye of the wildling Osha, "Yet with these young ladies you are not merely humoring them."

"The time for humoring is long past," Rodrik tugged at his muttonchops, "when the cold winds blow, these ladies will not be able to rely on men like you and me to ensure their safety. The dead do not distinguish between man and woman, they will kill every man woman, and child they cross paths with."

(Robb's Chambers)

Robb listened as Lady Maege Mormont informed him of his father setting his mother aside through the partially opened door. He worked his jaw, "Thank you, my lady, is my father still in the meeting, or have they adjourned?"

"It was decided to adjourn for the day," Maege responded, "your father has retired to his solar and asked not to be disturbed. I volunteered to carry the news to you and Lady Sansa, your father will explain as best he can to Arya, Bran, and Rickon later."

His knuckles whitened as his grip on the door tightened, "What were the reasons for separation?"

"There were many my lord, just to suffice there were ample grounds. Your place and that of your siblings has been secured, not that Ned would disinherit any of you, you're his blood," Maege sniggered, "Any word I should carry to your siblings?"

Robb looked back towards Margaery for a moment, "I'll not break the customary seclusion, tell them I am with them in thought if not bodily. Remind them the pack survives, and I will see them soon."

Maege nodded, "Well said my lord."

Watching the woman depart Robb gave a nod to the two guards before shutting the door. Walking to the hearth in his room he leaned against the mantel. Within a moment Margaery was at his side, "What happened?"

Swallowing Robb sighed, "My father divorced my mother, she will be sent to return to Riverrun when father departs for the capital and Uncle Edmure returns to the Riverlands." Margaery placed a hand on his shoulder as he continued, "I knew things between them were worsening, but I never thought it would get to the point father would dismiss her. They fought often when Jon and I were young, mostly over Jon, but they seemed to have gotten past that."

Margaery's lips tightened, "Did Lady Mormont give any reason for the separation?"

"No particulars, only that there were ample reasons," Robb grimaced, "my place is here with you, but I feel I should be out there. My siblings need me. Sansa, I think she knew this was bound to happen, she's been strangely calm these past moons, even when she had to act in our lady mother's stead. Arya and Rickon are going to be so confused, and Bran, I don't know, he never lets on about his feelings. He's like Father in that regard."

Placing her free hand on Robb's face she smiled at him, "You must trust in your brothers as I do mine. Jon and Edric are not much younger than you, and they have their own experiences to pull upon to aid your mutual siblings. As you say the pack survives, and this is not the worst that could happen, at the very least your mother lives. You and your siblings can still correspond with her, and eventually, visits could be arranged."

An unkind thought about his half-brother and cousin snaked its way into Robb's mind. In a way it was Jon's and Edric's fault for this state of affairs, it was their presence in Winterfell that had soured his parents' relationship. As easily as the thought came it was snatched between the jaws of a great wolf. Robb looked to where Greywind lay, his dire wolf had slipped through the opened door, while still not fully grown the beast was large enough that sneaking shouldn't be in the cards. Greywind returned his look as though he was personally responsible for removing that dark thought from Robb's mind.

Releasing a breath he did not realize he'd been holding he looked into the eyes of his bride, seeing nothing but warmth and understanding, "Your right, my brothers can handle things until tomorrow."

"That is a welcome acknowledgment," Margaery quipped, "Now we have something important to discuss," at Robb's raised Margaery huffed, "this room is meant to be large enough for two people, you and your wife, I'm not sure if they were accounting for dire wolves when they designed the room. Once we have a child, there will be four beings living in here."

Robb looked to Greywind, "Good thing you don't take up much room boy."

"Oh," Margaery mused, "don't' get confused it'll be you sleeping in the empty room across the hall." Margaery frowned, "Speaking of which, shouldn't that be Bran's room?"

Robb sighed, "It was, but he moved to the third son's chambers, the next room on this side of the hall when he was old enough to realize he'd forced Jon out of his room."

Margaery frowned, "The room has been vacant since Bran was born?"

"When he was two and moved out of the nursery," Robb sighed, "mother moved Jon down to the Night's Watch cells. She hoped his being around them would spark a desire to join them or Uncle Benjen would suggest he go to the Wall. Not that he was there when the Black Brothers were present. Father would move him back up here for his safety after a wandering crow almost did something unspeakable to him. Would have if Uncle Benjen hadn't been here and is a notoriously light sleeper."

Margaery huffed, "If you ever bring a bastard home, the worse place, they'll have to sleep is next to Greywind on our bed while you take the carpet next to the fire, that's if I'm generous, otherwise, you're sleeping in the hallway."

"I'll keep that in mind if I ever think to stray," Robb smirked, "though I would have to be madder than Aerys Targaryen to look at another woman."

"Good answer husband," Margaery smirked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

(Winterfell – Maester's Tower)

Sarella scratched down some notes as she perused the third tome she'd found in the Winterfell library covering the subject of the Others and the Long Night. Her uncle had tasked her with searching for every piece of information she could glean from these ancient books, there were many volumes here that were missing from the Citadel library or had been purposely destroyed by various Archmaesters or by decree of ruling monarchs over the years.

Looking up she noticed Luwin and Almond enter, the two maesters were deep in discussion, "You have a Valarian steel link, you must have studied the higher mysteries."

"I studied some of the more esoteric parts of the Higher Mysteries, yes, but only as much as any maester." Luwin sighed, "Things at the Citadel have changed greatly since your day. The Archmeaster of the Higher Mysteries is considered a laughing stock, that entire branch of study is rebuked and is on the very verge of being erased."

"How far we have fallen," Aemon sighed as he felt his way further into the room.

Movement from a worktable had Sarella's eyes narrowing. Joffrey Waters moved to the blind maester, "Pardon Maester Aemon, allow me to help you."

"Thank you, lad," Aemon glanced in the direction of Luwin, "I did not think you had any apprentices."

Luwin snorted, "I don't, though as busy as my tower has been the past months you would be mistaken. The young man is Joffrey Waters, his parents are Jamie and Cersei Lannister, he has had nothing else to do since being disinherited by Robert Baratheon, so I have put him to work at a few simple tasks."

"It's better than staring out a window all day," Joffrey grimaced giving his hand to help guide the blind Targaryen to a nearby chair, "Maester Luwin I have finished that ointment for Lord Umber's, well hoping it's for foot itch because I don't want to think what else that ointment is used for."

A chuckle from the maester piqued Sarella's curiosity and she walked over to Joffrey's workstation and checked the ingredient list the younger boy had been working with. Her eyes widened as she recognized the ointment as one used to deal with skin chaffing, "I will not agree on many things but I would rather not know what the Great Jon needs with this."

Shaking his head Luwin walked over and examined the ointment, "Not for Great Jon, his uncle Mors. He has had a long-standing condition since a trip beyond the Wall in a futile attempt to retrieve his daughter. She was abducted by wildlings almost thirty years ago. The ointment helps relieve the symptoms though there is no cure."

Joffrey frowned, "His daughter was taken? Why would wildlings kidnap a lord's daughter?"

"Many reasons," Aemon sighed, "none of them particularly pleasant to contemplate. I know the Lord Commander at the time mustered a punitive ranging. Put to the sword any wildlings they found outside the villages near Castle black. A poor decision, it was as likely our rangers killed the poor girl in their senseless butchery. Worse yet those slain were left to rot, and unless the wildlings burnt the bodies after our men had returned to the Wall."

"The corpses became tools of the Others," Sarella surmised, "my readings have shown burning of the dead was still being practiced in Westeros until the arrival of the Andals, they began the practice of preserving the dead when possible. I've checked, and even the oldest tombs in the Stark's crept are meant to hold ashes. I would guess a king or lord since the conquest would have the ashes of their entire family interred with their own. That's why only the kings and lords have statues, there are signs there were smaller statues added around the bases of some of the earliest crypts, but they have long since been removed."

Luwin tapped his chin, "I was not present in Winterfell before Lord Stark, I was sent after my predecessor had a rather sudden and inglorious end."

Joffrey frowned, "What happened?"

"He ran afoul of Lord Bolton," Luwin supplied, "Lord Roose arrived at Winterfell along with Lord Stark. Something that was occurring displeased Lord Stark and to get to the bottom of it Lord Bolton put a particular set of talents to use to force my predecessor to reveal his secrets."

Sarella grimaced, "The fate of Maester Walys is still gossip at the Citadel."

"Is it?" Aemon frowned, "My dear unless I am very much mistaken the Citadel has never admitted a woman into its ranks."

Sarella smirked, "Oh, they are still a bunch of prudes who believe lacking a prick makes you unworthy of knowing things." She took a piece of paper and wrote her name before reversing the letters, "I'm fortunate they do not do a physical examination on initiates. I was sent by my uncle under the alias of Alleras Sand of Dorne."

Luwin smirked as Aemon chuckled. Joffrey frowned, "Are all the Archmaester's blind, there's no way you could pass for a boy?"

"Oh, most of them have poor eyesight, and I have a couple of friends who help me when certain situations arise where my true gender might be revealed. My mother is a captain from the Summer Islands, she taught me how to hide certain features." She shrugged so far no one has ever suspected.

"You take a risk revealing such to Luwin and myself," Aemon remarked.

"I have a feeling among any maesters the two of you are least likely to rat me out, well next to the maesters Caleotto and Myles who both tutored me and wrote glowing recommendations to get me into the Citadel," Sarella smirked.

Aemon looked in the general direction of Luwin, "Perhaps it is time you take an apprentice my young friend, an ambitious initiate who made his way to Winterfell while on sabbatical."

Luwin frowned, "I doubt she has intentions of becoming a full maester."

"True, but it would help explain my long absence," Sarella mused.

"In for stag, in for dragon they say," Luwin sighed, "it would be safer by far, if anyone save archmaester Marwyn learned the truth, even your father and uncle would not be enough to save you from the repercussions."

Joffrey looked at the concerned faces of the two old men, "What would they do to her?"

"Not the Citadel," Sarella cut in, "the worst the Seneschal would do is put me in the stocks for a few days before banishing me from the Citadel. Old Town though is the center of power for the Most Devout, they have certain punishments for women who pose as men. To keep the Septons from forcing their will on the Citadel certain concessions have to be made. I would be turned over to Lord Hightower, who would most likely give me to the Most Devout for punishment."

"Lord Hightower converted to the Old Gods," Joffrey corrected, "it's been the gossip since he ran out of the godswood in nothing but his breeches a couple of days ago."

"He made the choice to return to the Old Gods, but he must still consent to the laws of the land," Aemon sighed, "and unfortunately Sarella would not be given the chance to plead her faith with the Old Gods, she is Dornish, few remember or know the Old Gods' touch reached so far to the south."

Sarella nodded, "I actually wouldn't even be given a trial, I'm a Sand so they would strip me bare and shave me on the steps of the Hightower before forcing me to make a walk of atonement. Which would end with being caned and stoned to death by a mob of Septas."

Joffrey's eyes widened, "What would they have done to my mother? If Lord Stark didn't suggest she switch to the Old Gods."

"About the same," Sarella mused, "I once watched them walk a woman accused of seducing an Archmaester right onto her pyre. Though, that's if they think seducing her brother was her worst sin."

Joffrey looked to the maesters, "And the King has let these people do this kind of thing?"

Luwin shook his head, "The kings outside of the North have ruled because the faith allows them to rule, sense the time of the Andal invasions." He looked to Aemon, "Even the Targaryen King was subject to the will of the Most Devout."

Aemon nodded, "The most my House was able to achieve at reducing their power was ending the Faith Militant orders."

Focusing on the empty sleeve of his amputated arm, Joffrey growled, "Mother told me when I was king everyone would have to listen and do whatever I said."

"To some extent that was true," Aemon nodded, "but even a king must listen to those who empower him. Otherwise, I have little doubt my young cousin would not have murdered you, your mother, and your siblings without a second thought when he learned the truth. Robert is many things, rational is not one of those things."

Sarella frowned, "I have heard he has known of Jon's parentage for years, yet he never acted rashly."

"True," Aemon sighed, "but in some ways he did. It was through a different emotion of course. When he realized Jon's origin, he was not angry, there was no one to be angry with. He had already slain Rheagar and Lady Lyanna's bones were most assuredly resting in the Red Keep's godswood awaiting transport to Winterfell. He was swallowed by grief, and the only beings in the keep who shared the grief were Lord Stark and the babe that he'd made fatherless."

"Mother said father, I mean His Grace and Lord Stark were not on speaking terms at the time," Joffrey noticed them look at him, "I asked when she was fuming about grandfather being refused the position as hand. She said the trip would be wasted because the King had soured his friendship after the Rebellion when he refused to punish grandfather and his men for slaughtering the royal children. She didn't think Lord Stark would agree to be Hand."

A throat cleared and King Robert's voice spoke, "I would say our friendship was strained, but not completely soured." Swallowing hard Joffrey bowed his head, as all those present save Aemon bowed to the king. Robert huffed, "Enough of that." Once they were all done bowing the king approached Luwin, "Need to send a series of Ravens, first to Kings Landing to inform my brother that Lady Catelyn Stark is now Catelyn Tully once more and no long the Lady of Winterfell."

Luwin's eyes widened in surprise, "Your Grace?"

"Sordid affair that, but was bound to happen," Robert looked to Sarella, "You're one of Prince Oberyn's right?"

"Sarella, Your Grace," Joffrey noticed the dark-skinned woman glared the same at Robert as she did him whenever she looked his way, "how can I be of service?"

"Go find my Mya and any other young ladies you can," Robert grimaced, "Lady Sansa and Lady Arya will have learned by now their parents have separated. Think it better if they have womanly support, whatever it is girls do, whatever, gossip, sew, anything that helps when you are upset."

Sarella smirked, "You do realize you are speaking to a daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell."

"Anything within acceptable social norms," Robert sighed, "and nothing that might get someone fed to a blasted dire wolf, there are nine of the damn things running around here."

"Of course, Your Grace," Sarella exited the room.

With her gone his focus returned to Joffrey, "I hear you've been making yourself useful, maybe sending you to the Citadel isn't a bad idea. Better than the Wall, the Others probably wouldn't even bother with a crippled broken thing like you."

"I'm not a cripple," Joffrey grit through his teeth.

"Eh," Robert snorted, "talking back to your king boy, got more spine now than you ever did when you were prancing around like you were one of mine."

Luwin sighed, "Your Grace, you had messages you wanted sent out."

"Right," Robert glared at Joffrey, "perhaps we can continue this in my solar."

Luwin looked to Joffrey sympathetically before motioning Robert to lead the way. Once both were gone Aemon sighed, "Boy has as much fire as his ancestor and about as much sense."

Joffrey fumed, "I'm glad that man isn't my real father."

"It is probably for the best to avoid his grace for the time being, at least till the matter with your actual father had been resolved," Ameon said sternly.

(Winterfell – Rampart)

Jon sat with Edric, he'd snagged a flagon of mead from the kitchen, and the two of them were sharing it. They had found a rather secluded section of the rampart, a patrol had passed a few minutes ago, and another would probably not come for an hour. Not that security here was particularly important, beyond the wall were flat open spans of terrain that had little to no cover, the two watchmen positioned on the nearby roof would see any approach on a clear day.

Edric took a swig from the flagon, "You think Robb will blame us for not stopping father?"

"Doubtful," Jon mused, "father made his decision before either of us spoke up. It was those of equal station to father who laid grievances at Lady Catelyn's feet."

Edric huffed, "I never uttered a word in either way, and you only spoke when responding to father's query. You never told father about her striking you?"

"As I told him, I never wanted to make things worse between him and Lady Catelyn," Jon mused before taking a swig from the flagon, "Would you have in my place?"

"I should have been me in your place," Edric growled, "I'm father's bastard, and for all, we knew mother was dead."

Jon passed him back the flagon, "People assumed Lady Dayne was my mother."

"What do you two think you're doing?" Sansa stormed towards the pair, "give me that." Snatching the flagon from Edric she dumped its contents over the wall before handing it to Beth Cassel who was with her along with Jenye Poole, "Hiding up here drinking this early in the afternoon."

Edric winced as Jon bowed his head, "Trying to stay out of sight."

"Father has barricaded himself in his solar and our brother is in isolation with his bride until the morning," Sansa placed her fisted hands on her hips, "leaving me to deal with a castle full of guests, and three confused and upset younger siblings. Here I find you two acting like Theon and searching for answers in the bottom of a flagon of mead."

Edric stood, "Sorry Lady Sansa."

"Don't Lady Sansa me dear brother, scurry to your mother's chamber and beg her to do something about father," Sansa's eyes narrowed, "You could not fail to notice the miserable state he was in. I know their marriage was fraying over the past moons but I think he hoped there was some way to salvage things with my mother. Lady Dayne could keep him from drowning in the bottle of Dornish Red he keeps in the cabinet behind his desk."

Jon frowned, "Sansa, I'm not sure that is wise, propriety sake it looks bad for an unwed lady, especially the mother of his son born out of wedlock to visit him."

Rolling her eyes Sansa sighed, "I'm sure nothing untoward will occur, and worse case we have another sibling."

"Sansa!" they all turned to find Edmure Tully approaching, "What would your mother say?"

"I can imagine what she would say," Sansa glared at her uncle, "but truthfully I have little care for her thoughts or words. I am a Stark of Winterfell, and my words are Winter is Coming. A warning to any who dare cross the pack, and mother crossed my pack the moment she raised a hand to my brother."

"Cousin," Edmure corrected, "and that was years ago," at his niece's glare joined with those of the Cassel and Poole girls, and the narrowing of Lord Dayne's eyes he defensively raised his hands, "and I agree it was a poor decision, we cannot let it tear us apart." He motioned to Jon, "Jon did not dwell on it as he never used it against my sister, and trust me he could have done so."

Edric looked to Jon, "Actually, did you tell your brother or aunt about that?"

Shaking his head in the negative Jon mused, "I'm guessing word got back to Old Nan and she told either of them, more likely just Danerys since Aegon looked rather shocked and irate over it."

Edmure cleared his throat, "I'm actually on my way to Lord Stark's solar," he avoided looking at Sansa, "to make arrangements for sending my sister back to Riverrun."

Sansa frowned, "Won't you be accompanying her back?"

"No," Edmure grimaced, "I'm taking an offer to Pike. Lady Asha Greyjoy is doubtlessly not a maiden, but she is of a high enough standing to be the Lady of Riverrun and agrees as long as I grant her some liberties. Her uncles agree a union between our houses will do much to unify the Iron Born back to the mainland, it will help to have Iron Born blood back on the throne of the Riverlands."

"Theon's sister," Sansa smirked, "I saw her in the yard earlier, she is no simpering maiden like you are used to uncle."

Edmure chuckled, "I traveled with her from Lannisport, their longships are quite swift going through the swamplands of the Neck and reaching Long Lake. It was her uncle Harlaw who approached me with the proposition all I need to do is pay the iron price, tell her father I'm taking her and as long as she consents the Old Kraken won't bat an eye."

"Helps you will be returning my brother to him," Asha and Theon came walking in the opposite direction along the wall, "in a way trading one hostage for another." Asha smirked before placing a fist to her breast above her heart, "Daughter and sons of my Magnar, as a daughter of the Drowned One I'm honored to greet my brothers and sister of those of the earth and trees."

"A First Man greeting," Edric mused, "your ancestors departed for the Iron Islands long ago."

Theon huffed, "More like fled to them more like. Uncle Reader found some old documents, turns out our ancestors were craven. Instead of fighting the Others with the rest of our people, we scurried away to the islands, then blamed everyone else when they wouldn't lift a finger to help us after the Long Night ended."

"The Drowned One was an Old God worshiped by those of us in the costal regions of the North, our priests covered the cowardly flight as we were being called to the islands by our god. It explains why our ancestors took weirwood trees with them, and our ships traditionally christened with sap from those trees before leaving drydock." Asha mused, "never could get Damphair to explain that."

Jon frowned, "I thought the Iron Born houses were chased out of the North by the Barrow Kings."

"The Barrow Kings were in league with the Others," Edmure explained, "Blackwood's maester found documents that predated the Andal Invasion which explained the Magnar of Winter brought down the Barrow Kings, laid them low for betraying the living. The houses of the Barrows today are meant to stand against the possible rise of the Barrow Kings if the Others ever returned."

Edric huffed, "That would be why Father is concerned about Barbrey Dustin."

Sansa tilted her head, "We welcome the return of our lost children of the Drowned One, may you find shelter within the walls of where winter fell."

"If not I know some perfectly good islands we can hide out on," Asha joked, "in fact might be a wise move to evacuate children to the Iron Islands if the Wall fails to hold."

Jon shook his head, "The Iron Islands won't be safe this time."

"I know, but it would at least buy them a bit of time," Asha sighed, "with any luck, we'd stop the dead here. Let Winterfell stand up to the true meaning of its name. The fortress where winter fell, was the place where the Others got their first true taste of defeat. From this very spot the first Magnar of Winter made them fear, and with that fear, victory was soon to follow and the Long Night came to an end."

Edric looked to Sansa and Jon, "As long as our blood continues, there is hope. My mother's vision showed her my fall, I was the last with any Stark blood. I fell trying to hold the dead at the Prince's Pass, against a horde comprised of the dead from all of the other kingdoms. With my death, the Others consumed Dorne and soon after the rest of the known world."

"Guessing that is the real meaning behind there always being a Stark in Winterfell," Jon huffed.

Sansa frowned, "Jon, you remember when father took Robb and me to visit Lord Karstark?"

Jon nodded, "Aye, your mother was visiting her father in Riverrun, but she wanted Father to take me with you. She must have thought a six-year-old was capable of usurping Father's seat."

"I always thought he didn't want to insult Lord Karstark by bringing you," Sansa admitted sheepishly, "at least that was what mother said about his refusal. Yet when we arrived, Lord Karstark asked about you and father simply said there must always be a Stark in Winterfell."

"It wouldn't have insulted Lord Karstark, I've been there before," Jon frowned, "it was before you were born, and before Uncle Benjen left for the Wall. Karstark even said if things with the trout got too difficult I was always welcome at Karhold as we were kin."

Edmure chuckled, "The Karstarks are a branch house from the main Stark line. You never took him up on the offer?"

"I didn't realize what he was talking about at the time," Jon admitted, "I thought he was talking about an actual fish, I had never seen the Tully sigil, didn't see it until I was ten and Maester Luwin started teaching us the sigils of southron houses."

Sansa grimaced, "Mother did not include Jon when she would tell Robb and me stories about the Riverlands, or showed us her father's sigil."

Edmure thought back to his sporadic visits to Winterfell over the years and realized he rarely if ever saw Jon, "Jon, where were you during my visits, I just realized I have rarely if ever seen you and this is by far the most I have spoken to you."

Jon shared a look with Sansa before answering, "When I was little, in my chambers, Father would break his fast with me before going to eat with the rest of the family, and later would eat a second dinner with me. When I got older, he'd send me with guards to hunt and camp in the Wolf Wood or visit Cerwyn or Torrhen's Square. Whatever it took to appease Lady Catelyn."

Edmure sighed before looking to Sansa, "I take it that was why Robb was never happy to see me?"

"He was happy to see you uncle," Sansa assured, "he was just upset and worried about Jon, they have always been inseparable. There was more than once he threw father's lone wolf dies but the pack survives line at him."

Edric sniggered, "Yet I survived four and ten years as a lone wolf."

"You have the luck of a falling star," Asha quipped, "might have balanced out the bad luck imbued by being a lone wolf. Just to be safe, I'll never set foot on a ship with you unless at least one of your siblings is present. You know, just in case."

(Winterfell – Sept)

Cersei sat and listened to Myrcella talk about her morning. Tywin had learned many of the young ladies in residence at Winterfell had taken up learning weapons, he had allowed Myrcella to join in the hopes she would find some comradery with girls her age. Cersei had laughed at the hypocrisy as she'd been rebuked for her desire to learn the sword. Though, with the coming wintery apocalypse hurtling towards them every day, she could understand the loosening of perceived social norms.

Myrcella was no fighter and was not exactly athletic in any way. She was the quintessential princess, a demure young lady who relied on knights to protect her. So, it was to Cersei's surprise when her daughter revealed the short, curved saber at her waist, it was basic and blunt, a training weapon. With some training at the very least Myrcella would be able to stab her assailants, and with enough training would know to aim for the weak points in armor.

Cersei smiled, "You will be both beautiful and deadly my little lion."

Myrcella smiled back, "Father said so."

"Mrycella, we have spoken about this, King Robert is not your father," Cersei frowned.

The girl sighed, "I know mother, it wasn't the King I was speaking of." Myrcella looked to the floor, "He arrived with the Night's Watch, I saw him last night at Lord Robb's wedding feast."

"Jamie is here," Cersei gasped, "why?"

Myrcella shrugged, "He went to the Wall after escaping Winterfell, but Lord Benjen brought him back before he said his vows. He is apparently under orders to return father to the Wall, he volunteered to join the Watch and the Lord Commander only allowed him to be returned to Winterfell to officially admit his guilt and declare his intention of taking the Black for his crimes."

Cersei's mouth went dry as she tried to think of what to say. It was hard to think Jamie had fled to the Wall, she'd half hoped he would make for Essos. If that had been the case she could have accepted banishment and met him in Bravos. As it stood her life was in the hands of Lord Stark, and her dear brother seemed content to freeze his cock off at the Wall. That's if the Others don't kill him first and turn him into one of their undead minions.

Her musing was interrupted by the door opening and Lady Dayne entering. Ashara sent a glare her way, "Pardon I was looking for the library."

"Next floor up," Cersei said easily, many wanting to get a look at the fallen queen had used that excuse, though she doubted it was an excuse in Ashara's case. The way she looked at Mrycella was easy to read, she'd been intending to speak with Cersei, but would not wish to be overheard by the girl, "My proud little lioness, why don't you run along back to your grandfather, I am sure he would love to hear of your time in the yard."

Myrcella smiled tightly, obviously able to read the tension between Cersei and Ashara, "Are you sure Mother, I can stay longer the Septa has postponed lessons because of Lord Robb and Lady Margaery's nuptials last evening. Though, Lady Sansa said the Septa no doubt imbibed too much wine last night."

"Of course, she did," Ashara huffed, "what do you expect from a pious cobweb-filled cunt."

Myrcella's eyes widened at the crass language, but Cersei had to fight back a laugh, it was good to know some things never changed, Ashara's disdain for Septas had been legendary during their shared time in the Red Keep. The Dornish woman could easily pretend to be a pious follower of the Seven-Pointed Star, but Cersei had spotted her on more than one occasion praying at the mockery of a heart tree in the Red Keep's godswood.

Ashara sighed, "Lady Myrcella, you do not have anything to fear, I wish only to speak with your lady mother, and unlike some individuals, I have better control of my emotions." Ashara indicated the door, "If you still do not trust me, I will have Ned's men step inside, I have no fear of them hearing our conversation."

Myrcella smiled tightly, "I do trust you, my lady, you have not been unkind to either of my brothers or myself though you have cause to despise us as much as many do."

Cersei was surprised when Ashara crossed the room and took Myrcella's face in her hand, "Sweet child you do not deserve to be hated or mistreated, no matter the actions of those who brought you into this world. Every child is a gift, granted by the gods of tree and earth."

Myrcella placed her hands atop those of Lady Dayne, "Even for one who follows the Seven?"

"Even for one who follows the Seven who are One," Ashara smirked, "you are still the blood of the First Men, the blood of their chosen. You may not heed them, but they will never abandon you, even if you are far from their sight. Their hands are at your shoulder guiding, their voices are whispering in your ear words of comfort, their warmth sustains you in the darkest of moments."

"They sound so different than what the Septons say," Myrcella smiled.

Ashara's lips thinned, "They can be as cruel as any god, child, and their anger is as fierce as any storm. They are the world, and we live and die as they will." She leaned forward and placed her forehead to Myrcella's, "Now off with you child, the gods did not grant such a beautiful day for you to be couped up in this tower."

Myrcella nodded and swept from the room, leaving the door ajar. Cersei took a breath before standing, "I thank you, Lady Dayne, for speaking so kindly to my daughter."

"She is a child, innocent, pure," Ashara turned to Cersei, "her mother on the other hand is a deceitful bitch who only lives because my love is too kind and honorable to watch whatever brutality His Grace might do to you." Ashara's eyes narrowed, "How could you do it? She loved you like a sister, like all of us, and you sent your father's beasts to brutally murder her and her children. What offense did Rhaenys commit against you, what did Aegon do that was so horrible the babe in his place deserved to have its head dashed against the wall."

Cersei shook her head, "What words could I say that would ease the pain of what I did? I was prideful, I was jealous, and I was a foolish girl who believed everything my father said. My earliest memories are of him promising I would be Queen, that Rhaegar would choose me to be his bride. Do you not think there is a night I didn't lay in that castle and regret my actions did not imagine watching them be slaughtered? Not a day went by that miserable cat did not lurk in the corner staring at me as though it knew my hands were stained with their blood."

"Yet you lived and they sit at the feast of the dead," Ashara glared, "you claim to follow my gods, are those just words to garner Ned's protection or are you truly returned to them."

"I won't lie," Cersei smiled sadly, "at first I thought it a simple way to escape the clutch boney fingers of the faith. Say some pretty words before a tree, a simple act to save my skin. Then I spent months staring at these empty masks, what good are these effigies? They hang there silent while the old gods gave their chosen children warnings of the doom marching down from that frozen hell to snuff the very life from every one of us regardless of being high or low born."

Ashara mused, "Then the rumors are true, you are undergoing the ritual of renewal. You know that ritual is normally undertaken by widows before they remarry."

"So I've been told, but it is also used by women who have born a child out of wedlock, to cleanse their honor," Cersei narrowed her gaze, "You wouldn't happen to be thinking of doing the same. Now that your beloved Ned is no longer bound to that insufferable fish."

"I hold no animosity towards Lady Catelyn, nor do I claim a hold over Ned's heart. I do not need to cleanse myself in the eyes of my gods." Ashara stated, but Cersei detected hesitancy in the other woman's voice.

She crossed her arms, "Maybe not in the eyes of the gods, but what about in your own eyes? You did nothing wrong in bringing your son into this world, and from what I have observed from my lofty prison, he is a credit to our Magnar and you, though neither of you raised him. Yet you did abandon them both, made them think you did something both faiths frown upon."

(Winterfell – Godswoods)

It was late in the evening, a chill to the air as Cersei passed through the iron gate into Winterfell's godswood. Her guards remained at the gate; no man would be allowed in the woods tonight. There was no moon in the sky the only light was a row of torches lighting the path to the heart tree. Cersei was clad in only a simple white dress held up by the straps knotted at the shoulders, barely a tug would have the garment falling to the mossy ground.

As she neared the clearing, she saw she was not the only one so clothed. Ashara huffed, "Took you long enough."

"Had trouble with the dress," Cersei indicated the messily done knots, "I wasn't exactly wanting to expose myself on the way here."

Ashara reached up to her knots, "Well does not matter, first part of the ritual is to abandon pride and shame, to present yourself as the gods gifted you to the world."

"Not like we haven't seen each other so undressed before," Cersei smirked.

Both women undid the knots holding up their dresses and let them fall. Cersei noticed the way Ashara tried to cover the stretch marks on her abdomen, the only sign she'd carried Edric all those years ago. She knew her stretch marks were fresher, Tommen was not even ten-name days old.

She cautiously reached out and forced Ashara to drop her arms, "Abandon pride and shame, not like the gods haven't seen those marks before, they are nothing to be ashamed of."

Ashara glared but nodded, "Right, though I forgot how cold it would be out here."

"Better doing this here than anywhere else," Cersei sniggered, "in the south, a Septa would have appeared by now with a cane to beat us for even talking about this ritual."

"Do you know who waits at the heart tree?" Ashara asked.

"Women of the North," Cersei guessed, "my guards told me no men would be present, it is forbidden, and Maege would likely take her mace to any man, even the King himself for intruding."

Ashara nodded, "Good, let's get moving, it is freezing out here."

Even naked as the day they were born the two high-born ladies walked into the clearing. A gathering of women sat at the base of the weirwood. At the center Maege Mormont sat, legs crossed and her mace resting upon her lap, "Who comes before the gods on this night of the new moon, the night of renewal."

Ashara held her hands out in the manner of a supplicant, "Lady Ashara Dayne, daughter of the lords of where the star fell, humble servant of the gods of earth and tree, sea and sky, fire and ice. I come seeking to be cleansed in the eyes of my gods, to be accepted as one of their children once more."

Following Ashara's example Cersei took the same stance, "Lady Cersei Lannister, daughter of the former Magnars of the Rock, lost to the faith of the Andal Invaders. I come seeking to be cleansed in the eyes of my gods, to return to their embrace and guidance as my forefathers."

Nodding Maege indicated the dark pool where the tree's sap mixed with water, "Bathe in the blood of the gods, then join me in the circle."

Following the instructions Cersei went to the pool, she expected it to be as cold as the air around them but was pleasantly surprised to find it as warm as a bath. A Splunk sound next to her saw Ash return to the surface of the pool, the red sap making her olive skin glisten like a coating of oil. Cersei held her breath as she plunged under the dark water, returning to the surface she felt delicate fingers wipe the cloying sap from her eyes.

Opening her eyes to see it was Ashara assisting her, she nodded her thanks as they both pulled themselves out of the pool on the side closest to the weirwood. With the sap still clinging to their bodies and in their hair, they approached the eldest Mormont woman. Gathered around were several other women, though Cersei was not familiar with most of their names.

Sansa Stark and another girl approached motioning them to kneel before the older Mormont woman, before producing combs and walking behind them. Sansa started combing the sap from Ashara's hair as the other girl did the same for Cersei. Maege began speaking.

"Lady Sansa, daughter of our honorable Magnar, Lady Meera, daughter of our honorable Lord Reed," Maege smirked, "Children not yet flowered, children pure and innocent. They do not need to be renewed, yet with their hands, they grace you with their innocence, their purity." The older woman sighed, "Speak of that which you wish the gods to forgive."

Cersei shared a look with Ashara, so far the Dornish woman had led, but Cersei knew here was where she must go first. As Meera Reed continued to comb out the sap from her hair Cersei spoke, "I have committed crimes against the gods. I have taken lives to hide my misdeeds, and I have lain with my brother. He is the father of each of my children, not my husband."

"The gods would know these things," Maege sighed, "incest is frowned upon, abhorred even, but is against the laws of man, not nature. Even an animal would rut with its sibling if there were no other available. Yet we are not animals, we are chosen, the gods will see this and forgive." She produced a bowl of weirwood paste, "Taste, and face those you have stolen the lives of, let them judge you as only they can."

Cersei hesitantly took the bowl and drank the mixture. Within a moment she felt as though a thousand hands grasped her as the godswood blurred out of existence. She tried to scream but no sound came from her throat as the sound of a roaring wind filled her ears. When the rushing winds died down she opened her eyes to find herself sitting on a grassy knoll overlooking Casterly Rock, she could see Lannisport in the distance.

"Your home is beautiful," turning her eyes widened as Lyanna Stark stepped from behind a weirwood tree that should not be here, "I am partial to Winterfell though."

Cersei found her voice, "Why? Why are you here? I did not kill you."

"Didn't you?" Lyanna smiled sadly, "I waited for Prince Oberyn to come as long as I could, but Jon was ready to be born. I gave birth to my son in a filthy abandoned tower in the middle of nowhere. The one person who could help me lay between the legs of his paramour too drunk to help anyone, even himself. Do you know why he was in that state?"

The realization came to Cersei, "He'd heard of Elia's death."

"Not just her," Lyanna continued, "her children, pure and innocent, butchered by men sent under false orders. Orders that came from your hand and not that of your father."

"Aegon lives," Cersei corrected, "he stands with your son in the shadow of your brother."

"My dear Ned's shadow is long and shields any who gather beneath it," Lyanna smiled, "he promised to keep Jon safe. He promised I asked his oath and he would not break it, that much I knew. I needed not to ask, Jon was his blood, and to a Stark, there is nothing more important than protecting those of our blood."

Cersei stood finding herself clad in the same white dress she'd worn to the godswood, "I am sorry Lyanna, I did not wish your death. I did not want the deaths of Rhaenys and Aegon, I did not even want to hurt Elia. It was stupid and impulsive; I have done so many stupid things that way."

Suddenly they were no longer on the grassy knoll, but beside an old well, "Like that night when you were a girl?"

"Melara," Cersei noticed the girl sitting on the edge of the well, drenched, "I shouldn't have pushed her."

"Yet you did," Lyanna surmised, "a life snuffed out, for what, hearing a prophecy from a powerless woods witch."

Cersei huffed, "Her prophecy came to pass, I married King Robert and our count of children is about right."

"We'll get to the children, but for now let's focus," Lyanna sneered, "I am told Melara cannot leave the well, she is a shade, unable to join us at the feast. Help her, if there was ever a time your heart felt anything for her."

Cersei approached the phantom of her long-dead friend, "Melara, is that you?"

"Cersei?" Glassy eyes in bloated skin turned to her, "Is that you Cersei, it's dark, I can't see. I hear a voice calling me, he says I'll be safe, I drowned, and I belong with him in the deep."

Cersei looked to Lyanna, "The Drowned One claims and guides the souls of those who died beneath the surface of the water. She died in a well, she cannot find her way to his table at the feast."

"The Drowned One calls to you Melara, he wants to keep you safe from harm, you fell into the well near Maggie's place." Cersei paused as Melara turned a withering look her way, "You fell when I pushed you. I was jealous, you kept talking about that stupid witch saying you would die and your maiden head would be food for the worms. You said you'd get my brother to take it before the worms could have at it. I got angry, I saw the well, and I shoved you towards it without thinking."

"Why didn't the Stranger come for me?" Melara asked in a confused manner.

Cersei shook her head, "I don't know, but the Drowned One is waiting, his table has been set for you at the feast of the dead. You will find safety there, no one will be able to harm you again."

Melara suddenly gasped, "I see him, his skin looks like the bark of the heart tree in the Stone Garden. He is beckoning me, he said I can see my mother again."

Cersei stepped back as the shade of Melara suddenly turned to water, "What?" she turned to Lyanna, "What happened?"

Lyanna smiled, "You made peace with her, the Drowned One could finally reach past her pain and regrets to guide her to the feast. I will see her when I return there."

"But you didn't drown," Cersei frowned.

"I said she had a place at his table, but we are not bound to those seats," Lyanna smiled, "we are not even bound to the feast. I have traveled far and wide, to the very edges of the sight of my gods, but I always return to the feast, to my mother and father and brother. To my seat with all those who came before me."

Cersei looked at the horrible old well, "We should carry on, this will take a while."

"Good thing time does not pass as it does in the living world," Lyanna took Cersei's arm, "come, we should start sorting through Robert's poor children."

Back in the godswood Ashara had watched Cersei take the weirwood paste and now saw the other woman looking up at the canopy of red leaves above, but her eyes were unseeing, clouded pools of white. She looked to Maege, "Is that normal?"

"Aye," the older woman nodded, "In a trance, no different than greenseeing or warging. Using weirwood paste is different for everyone." She produced a second bowl, "Speak of which you wish forgiveness from the gods."

Ashara licked her lips the sap from the pool a sickly sweetness, "I abandoned my child, I made him and a man I swore to be with believe I had taken my own life. For four and ten years I let them think this, I abandoned my duties to others, all to protect and raise a child, not of my flesh."

"These truths are yours alone," Maege spoke slowly, and Ashara had felt Sansa's hand pause in her combing several times, "I cannot advise on the will of the gods, but perhaps they can ease the disquiet of your soul."

Ashara nodded before taking the bowl and downing it. Within a moment the world swirled as though she stood amid a raging sandstorm. As it settled she was no longer in the godswood but sitting on the Pale Sword Tower dressed in the same white dress she'd worn to the godswood. Below her, she saw people going about their daily lives, ignorant of her sitting on the edge of the tower.

"Have you ever actually come up here?" Surprise almost caused her to fall, and she would have if strong hands hadn't gripped her arms, "careful, wouldn't want to fall. It's a long drop."

"Arthur?" Ashara blinked, "What? How are you here?"

Arthur indicated the bloody mess of his chest, "I'm dead dearest sister, I don't exactly have anywhere to be especially."

"Thought men were forbidden from this ritual," Ashara smiled at her brother, "living or dead."

Her brother shrugged his shoulders, "Once a kingsguard always a kingsguard."

The words confused her a moment until the knight stepped aside to reveal Elia standing back, "Elia?"

"It is good to see you again my dearest and truest friend," Elia stepped forward, "though I do not like seeing you sitting there, can you please move away from the edge."

Ashara nodded and began to move but the stone beneath her began to crumble, and she'd have fallen had Aurther not steadied her, "I'm afraid to move."

"We are not actually at Starfall," Arthur explained, "I think this is a representation of Ash's worries and doubts, we've just been conjured up from our place in the shadows to help her."

Elia glared at the knight, "Then help her by pulling her off that damn ledge."

"I have," Arthur glared back, "twice."

Ashara gained an understanding, "It cannot be an order or by another's hand. I have to move of my own accord." The crumbling ledge began to restore itself, "I did not jump from the tower."

"We know, you'd have fallen into the void if you had," Arthur said plainly, "forever lost in the dark oblivion beyond the gods' sight."

"I'm sure you'd have jumped in to pull her from the jaws of the Great Other," Elia sighed before turning to Ashara, "I am sorry Ash, for everything, for asking so much of you. You gave me your friendship and I took everything you gave and in return, I gave you nothing but pain and sorrow. I dared not speak with Lord Stark of the plan, or his sons, I was sure Lyanna knew how best to inform her family."

Ashara bowed her head, "She trusted the wrong person, they betrayed her trust."

Arthur nodded, "Oh, we know. Baelish has been my and Oswell's favorite punching bag since his shade materialized, and our dear sweet Elia has made that mad woman Lysa Tully wish the seven hells exists. Don't get me started on what my friends from the North have been doing to the pair, just saying they probably wish they can die a second time."

"You wouldn't be here if you'd listened to me," Ashara snapped, "there was no reason to draw Dawn against Ice, Ned had no more choice in what he did. He did the honorable thing and released me from our promise, I chose not to release him, I declared I would be his in this life or the next, and I tied our souls together. Let the trout have this one lifetime, he would be mine for all those to come."

Arthur grimaced, "Kind of need to beat the Others for there to be a next life, but that's looking on the positive side there sweet sister."

"What do you mean?" Ashara frowned, "The cycle of life, we are reborn."

Elia bowed her head, "Shades like Arthur and I cannot be reborn until our unfinished business has been put aside, and as for those at the feast. It is why Lyanna journeys far and wide, her father noticed the tables keep increasing in numbers but the revelers do not move on as they should. The feast is meant to be a place to put aside our burdens of the past and prepare for our rebirth, but every year fewer and fewer souls are departing the feast and the number of those at the tables increases."

"It is not yet noticeable in the land of the living," Arthur picked up, "the number of new souls would not make it evident ever, but eventually the land of the dead would become over-encumbered, the feasting hall was never meant to be a permanent place for the dead, just a way station. The realm of shades would also become an actual hell, it's bad enough as it is with the few thousand souls roaming about. Imagine millions of souls mopping around about the injustice of their death, I mean so far most of those killed by the Others end up as shades."

Ash stepped from the ledge to stand before her brother, "I cannot believe my dearest brother mopes about his death, no matter if it was Ned or Howland Reed who landed the killing blow. You died believing why you were doing was right, even if it was not what I asked of you. If our dear brother can sit at the feast with our ancestors awaiting our arrival so should you."

"Who am I to argue with you sweet sister," Arthur chuckled, "though, I'm more of a willing Shade. As I said, once a kingsguard always a kingsguard."

Ash turned to Elia, "Why have you not moved on? Oberyn said Rhaenys was able to with Lorch's death."

"My regrets are not tied to my death Ash," Elia smiled, "As I said, I regret I took so much from you. You and Arthur had always been my dearest friends," she looked sadly at Arthur, "even if there was more than that once." She looked back to Ashara, "You gave everything to me, and my children. You gave up being a mother to your son to ensure mine was safe. You made the one man you truly loved think you'd killed yourself. You were willing to give your happiness to ensure some part of me remained in the world. You have been suffering for four and ten years because of me."

Ashara moved to Elia, "I do not regret my choices, Elia, I did those things because I knew it was the right thing to do. Ned knows I was smuggling Aegon from King's Landing when he came upon my party heading for Dorne. He hasn't once accused me of seducing him to keep him from finding the compartment where Aegon and his wetnurse hid."

"What would he have done had he found Aegon?" Elia asked.

Ashara bowed her head, "I don't know, but he would not have harmed him, nor let harm befall him."

"The battle at the trident had yet to happen, Rhaegar yet lived," Elia bowed her head, "The rebel lords would have had a hostage. They would have had leverage to force Rhaegar to keep from attacking, fear of his son being harmed. Perhaps that would have been all we needed, perhaps Rhaegar would have restrained himself long enough to treat with Lord Arryn and Lord Stark, they would have been able to bring Robert to the table."

"Too many of the Mad King's creatures lurked about," Ashara shook her head, "Rhaegar's hand was forced, to engage in battle without parlay, he had no other choice. Aerys made sure of that."

Arthur stepped closer to them, "When did you hear that?"

"Jon Connington, one evening when he was deep in his cups," Ashara avoided looking at them, "He'd overheard me praying to the gods to watch over Ned and Edric. He'd flown into a rage and struck me, told me to never speak the name of the usurper's dog in his presence. I had gone to his cabin to slip a knife between his ribs for daring to lay a hand on me. I found a pitiful sight that was not worth the blood on my hands. He was a weepy mess lamenting Rhaegar's death." Ashara stroked her arm, "I realized he was pliable so I asked him questions, I asked him why Rhaegar did not inform Ned of the plan at the Trident. Jon told me that there was no parlay, at least not one where Rhaegar and Ned met face to face, messengers traded terms before the battle was joined but nothing that would have permitted Rhaegar to keep the battle from happening."

"My poor sweetling," Elia placed a hand to her friend's face, "the past is where we belong not you. You have fulfilled any obligations you believe were owed to me or mine. Please, from this day forward only look to your happiness, that is my truest wish, for you to be happy."

"I will try," Ashara curtsied, "my Princess."

"That is all I can ask," Elia placed a kiss on her friend's brow, "there is another I must see to, let not the worries of the past burden you. The new day will come and with it the next step in your journey down the path of life."

Just as suddenly the sandstorm rose around them once more and Elia and Arthur along with Starfall were swept away, and Ashara knew nothing more.

(Winterfell – Next Morning)

Cersei awoke upon a bed of moss; a thick fur blanket covered her. As she sat up she found she was still clad in nothing but her skin, turning she found Lady Dayne in a similar state. The slightly older woman was seated looking at something in her hand.

The daughter of Tywin frowned at the object, "What is that?"

"Ned and my house pins, but I did not bring them with me to the godswood," she showed Cersei the two pins, but they were now one. The points that would have affixed the pins to a cloak or tunic were now twisted together. Not an easy feat as the pins were made of sturdy iron plated in castle-forged steel.

Cersei frowned as she noticed something else. Markings covered Ashara's arms, torso, neck, and face, and she suspected more markings adorned her legs, "Ashara, you have markings all over you."

"Oh, those," Ashara looked at Cersei, "you have them too, they are protective lines made of weirwood ash. Hard to wash off, if a man dared to intrude after the other women left the godswood and touched us the lines would be smudged and the ash would be on him. Ned would be informed, and he'd send the blasphemer to the gods."

Cersei checked but found none of the lines or patterns on her body were smudged, "It seems we have not been harmed, but why didn't they just wake us?"

"It is part of the ritual, if we survived the night the gods have forgiven us and we are renewed, if we had not been forgiven our bodies would be in a perfect place to be given to the weirwood tree." Ashara went back to looking at her entwined pins, "I wish I understood the meaning of this."

Cersei scoffed, "It's pretty evident to me. Gods are telling you to go find Lord Stark and tell him to finish what he started."

Ashara frowned, "It's not that easy, he has just divorced himself from Lady Catelyn."

"Yes, from a shrew of a woman who harmed a child of his blood," Cersei huffed, "you spent ten and four years protecting a child who was not your kin. Had you been Lady of Winterfell and Jon mistakenly called you mother, you'd have wept and let the boy call you that until you couldn't stand feeling as though you were stealing from the boy's real mother and told the poor child the truth. You do not have it in you to be cruel, it was what I always found most infuriating about you. Everyone thought you toyed with the feelings of those who sought your hand, but the truth was you didn't want to hurt them by flat-out rejecting their advances."

Ashara smiled at the veiled complement to her character but was unable to respond as a sound drew their attention. She blinked as she noticed Ned's dire wolf had appeared, "What is she doing here? She never leaves Ned's side unless he's in the Great Hall."

"She was there with him yesterday," Cersei corrected as she locked eyes with the massive wolf.

They heard movement and the sound of water being poured. Ashara stood and walked to where she could look around to the side of the tree with the pool and face. With a surprised sound she backed up, pressing herself to the tree, "Ned is on the other side of the tree."

Cersei instinctively covered herself with the fur and began looking for the dresses they'd worn the night before, "They didn't leave us any clothes."

"Our dresses are probably laying where we left them. We used the main gate entrance, Ned would have come from the keep entrance. He wouldn't have seen them." The wolf Lyanna looked at the pair curiously.

Cersei huffed, "Do we just hide here until he finishes his prayers and returns to the keep?"

"Um," Ashara looked back around before ducking back, "first day of the lunar month, and he doesn't have a shirt on, guessing he is doing the same thing we did last night."

A frown appeared on Cersei's face, "Wait, men get to just come in during the day and take off their shirts?"

"He's in breeches and they'll come off before he goes into the pool," Ashara frowned, "and he doesn't have to take the weirwood paste unless he wants to commune with the gods directly. Knowing Ned he wouldn't do that without someone else present."

"Why?" Cersei confused, "Don't you just go into a dream trance as we did, meet some dead people."

Ashara shook her head, "Not always, the experience is different for each individual. It depends on your wants and desires, it's helpful to have someone guide your experience like Maege did for us last night."

A louder splash than the one before had them looking back toward the front of the tree. Cersei grumbled as she stood, "We are acting like a couple blushing maidens, we are both women grown, and you for one have great experience with the form concealed from our prying eyes by this sacred tree."

Ashara huffed, "I'm Stoney Dornish, not Sandy Dornish, I have a certain grasp of social norms. Do you want Ned seeing you in nothing but what the gods gave you?"

"He should be honored, the gods did fine work in both of us, we left our shame last night when we stood naked before most of the high-born ladies of the North. Including your potential stepdaughter and Ned's two half-sisters, if the rumors about the worst kept secret of the North are true."

"Ned is of the North, but he was raised with Southern ideas on modesty, you might not be King Robert's wife anymore but he'll feel ashamed of seeing you in such a vulnerable state." Ashara grimaced as there were more sloshing sounds as they heard Ned emerge from the pool. There was then the sound of him whispering to the tree.

Shaking her head Cersei motioned, "He's naked asking the gods for a sign, we're naked after asking the gods to forgive us for our sins." She indicated the entwined pins in Ashara's hand, "I'm thinking those little trinkets are a pretty good sign from the Old Gods. Now, I'm sure you've noticed, but we're in the middle of the North, and we're standing outside in nothing but our skin and these fur blankets. Think we take advantage of the situation, say good morning and make for our dresses while Ned's poor brain is still registering what exactly he saw."

Ashara was about to stop her when they heard another voice, "Pardon father, I'm just checking on Lady Dayne and Lady Lannister."

"Ah, morning Sansa, I was just finishing my cleansing, they've been awake since before I got here." Ned spoke calmly, "They have been debating how best to get to their dresses, guess neither thought to simply ask Lyanna to retrieve them."

Sansa and her dire wolf appeared on their side of the tree, "I'm sure it would have come to them eventually."

Cersei frowned, "You often talk to your father when he is naked?"

"Hot springs beneath Winterfell," Sansa stated frankly, "I have seen my father and all of my brothers fully undressed alongside Arya and my mother on more than one occasion. Father only wore breeches into the water when he was helping us learn to swim. When it was just family, small clothes were always optional. Though Mother did tend to request Jon keep himself covered she couldn't exactly ban him from family time down there." She failed to mention this was before the Greyjoy Rebellion when she was a small child and since Theon's arrival, she and Arya rarely entered the baths with their brothers.

"How very Dornish," Cersei smirked at Ashara.

Rolling her eyes Ashara took the dress offered by Sansa and was about to pull it on when the girl halted her, "Um, Lady Dayne you might want to wash the ashes off first."

Ashara blinked at Sansa, "They wash off in a couple of days with the right oils."

"Or immediately when bathing in the waters in the pool," Sansa affirmed, "I was taught that on my last name day. Alys Karstark did my markings for the ceremonial presentation to the gods since it was my last name day before I'm likely to enter womanhood. I always tended to follow my mother's faith, but there were a few things as the daughter of House Stark I was expected to partake in."

Cersei huffed, "If it will get this ash off quicker, I'm all for taking another dip." She walked around the tree to find Lord Stark kneeling facing the tree with his ancestral sword stuck in the ground, his brow against the cross guard. While most of him were concealed by his position she could see the muscles of his back along with his buttocks. While her brother had flawless skin, Eddard Stark's back was a canvas of scars, a roadmap of a life fighting on battlefields, fighting on the frontline side by side with his men.

She was soon joined by Ashara and Sansa, the girl took one look at her father and then spoke quietly, "I will wait for you at the gate and show you to the baths below the keep."

Cersei merely nodded as the girl walked away, "Is he in a trance?"

"He is not," Lord Stark spoke, "he is allowing you to clean yourselves off while he finishes his conversation with the gods."

Ashara stepped forward, "We apologize if our presence makes you uncomfortable Lord Stark."

"While this entire situation is embarrassing, to say the least," Ned huffed, "it is the handy work of my dearest daughter and two of my sons who will soon learn the error of their ways."

"I am guessing you speak of Edric and Jon," Ashara probed.

Ned snorted, "Aye, they are the culprits. Edric claimed you had already returned to your chamber, and Jon reported Lady Cersei had been returned to her confinement in the Sept."

"What naughty little pups you have Lord Stark," Cersei quipped as she stepped into the pool, "whatever could they have desired to have their beloved father to find himself in such a situation?" She paused at the water's edge, "If your children have played some trick upon us, does the water of this pool truly clean off this ash as Lady Sansa claims?"

"It does," Ned sighed, "part of the ceremony she spoke of is for a girl's father to wash the markings from her face. The markings represent childhood, the washing of them away represents her father's willingness to hear requests for her hand."

Ashara smiled, "That sounds like a beautiful ritual, too bad it must be unique to the North."

"It was a Riverland tradition, brought to House Stark by House Blackwood." Ned explained as the two women dipped themselves into the pool, and the weirwood ash almost instantly began leaving their skin, "Not to sound impatient but this is not the most comfortable position to be in."

Cersei smirked, "We are submerged, you could stand."

"My lady that would be highly inappropriate," Ned groused, "I'm not about to bare myself before you."

Cersei finished washing the ash from her face then after confirmation, it was gone pulled herself from the water, "In that case as I'm done I will join Lady Sansa at the gate to away Lady Dayne. I would question the inappropriateness of baring yourself to her as I am sure she has seen it all before."

Ashara glared as Cersei moved to where their dresses had been hung in a tree just off the path. Ned would not have seen them on his approach, and most likely not until he'd emerged from the water. More than just Sansa and her dear brothers were in on this, "Lady Cersei wait, I have yet to wash my face."

Cersei waved a hand over her head, "I'm sure our most honorable Magnar can confirm you have gotten it all."

Glaring at the Lannister, Ashara went back to cleaning off the ashes, "If you don't mind, I think while you deal with the boys I'll be having words with a certain daughter of yours."

Ned snorted, "Be gentle she is just starting to act like a proper Northern lady."

"It is proper for a Northern Lady to plot to have her father and the mother of her half-brother cross paths in such compromising positions?" Ashara frowned, "I thought the North was more modest."

"Have you met Great Jon," Ned shot back, "or better yet do you remember my brother Brandon. He was more the epitome of a Northern Lord than I, my sensibilities were formed in the South. It took me time to remember how to act up here. I mean, the first time I had to oversee a pissing contest, I thought it was just a crude remark about an argument. It was an actual pissing contest,"

Ashara snorted, "You're joking."

"Nope," Ned flexed his shoulders and shifted, showing his position was as uncomfortable as he claimed, "Actually had another one the other night towards the end of the feast. I might have begged off and told the contestants that as the king, Robert was the highest authority and should judge their contest."

Ashara smirked, "I am sure he enjoyed that."

"Enjoy it, he fucking joined in," Ned huffed.

With a sigh Ashara looked to Ned, "You might as well turn around, Cersei is right, it is nothing I haven't seen before. Besides, I do need you to tell me if I got all the ash from my face."

"It isn't right," Ned insisted.

"You were married and still laid with me, you took my maidenhead the night we traded pins," Ashara sighed, "We have both changed since then, but we are still the two bodies that joined to create a life." Ned sighed before standing and turning. Ashara averted her eyes from looking anywhere below Ned's waist, but her eyes focused on his chest. If his back was a roadmap of scars his chest was a freaking map of the known world, "I…I never heard you were wounded so many times?"

"Most of my fighting was here in the North," Ned sighed, "wildling incursions mostly, but an odd bandit or deserter from the Wall."

Ashara climbed from the pool and approached Ned, "This one I remember, it was left by Dawn."

Ned's eyes avoided looking at Ashara's body, "You tended to it at Starfall when I returned the sword to your family."

"I remember," Her fingers went to the line on Ned's shoulder, "Howland struck Arthur in the back after you were struck here, leaving my brother open for your killing blow."

Ned sighed, "It shouldn't have come to that."

"No," Ashara shook her head, "and if Arthur wasn't such a prideful fool it would not have happened. He should have known only a trusted member of Rhaegar and Elia's inner circle could have directed you to their location. Her fingers traced to a puckered scar just above his heart, "An arrow?"

"Greyjoy's Rebellion," Ned said through gritted teeth, "not as bad as it looks, barely broke the skin."

Her eyes and fingers roved down to a set of four curved white lines and a shorter opposite angled line, "What did this?"

"A lynx, and once more not as bad as it looks," Ned smirked, "Robb and Jon happened upon its den, I drew its ire to allow them to return to our camp. It most likely still roams the Wolf Wood, as do its cubs it was protecting."

Ashara returned the smirk, "I do hope the beast received a scar to remember your encounter as she gave you."

"Lady Dayne," Ned began but she placed her fingers to his lips halting whatever he was going to say.

"My name is Ashara, Ned, I do hope you remember that much," She looked to her hand still holding the entwined pins, "I know the time is not yet right, but when it is, I will be waiting." She noticed his eyes widen as he noticed the way the pins had been joined. She stepped back from him, "Do not be too hard on your sons Lord Stark, they are but boys following the whim of their sweet sister."

(Winterfell – Great Hall)

Robb frowned as he and Margaery joined his family in breaking their fast, but there were two glaring absences. Sansa was not present, but he'd heard she'd been out late with the wives and daughters of many of their banners seeing to a ritual of renewal. He knew little about the ritual as women kept their secrets of it passed from mother to daughter, just as fathers taught their sons to cleanse themselves and their weapons as needed.

The second and more glaring absence was his father, he'd hoped to speak with him about the happenings of the previous day. Margaery took her seat next to him as Greywind moved to the pile of fur that were his siblings and Edric's Whirlwind.

Uncle Benjen's wolf, known simply as the Old Man was lurking at the First Ranger's side, Robb found his uncle's wolf to be the most disagreeable creature in the known world. Lyanna and Lady were absent from the room, no doubt with their missing human counterparts. Robb looked to his brothers, "Where is Father?"

Edric swallowed the eggs he was eating before looking up, "Um, father? He's around."

"Said he had some business to take care of, told us to start without him," Jon picked up.

Robb's eyes narrowed on the pair, "Out with it, you two are acting cagier than Bran when he's loitering near a wall."

"No, we aren't," Edric defended, "we're acting perfectly normal."

"You do realize when you claim to be acting normal, no one believes you," Margaery smiled as she accepted a platter of food from a servant, "So where are Lord Stark and my good sister?"

"Sansa is taking care of a personal matter," Lord Stark said coldly as he entered from behind the table. He scanned the table before narrowing his gaze on Jon and Edric, "Boys, once you have finished your breakfast, I would like some words with you." Both young men swallowed hard, and Robb swore he saw fear in their eyes, "I'll be waiting," Eddard paused for effect, "in the training yard. I would not suggest keeping me waiting."

With that Lord Stark exited the way he came, and Robb sat next to his brothers, "What did you two do?"

"It wasn't us," Jon winced dropping the piece of toast he suddenly had no appetite for.

"Don't give me that, Father was furious," Robb looked to Edric, "out with it."

Edric took a drink of water, "Sansa came to us wanting to do something to take Father's mind off what happened yesterday. Her original plan was to have me tell my mother to go seduce Father again. I had a hard time explaining that Mother never actually seduced a man in her life. Prince Oberyn started the rumors about her skill of stringing men along as a joke and a way to get under my Uncle Arthur's skin."

Robb blinked, "But the time she and father made you?"

"Yeah, I tend not to ponder the greater mysteries," Edric frowned, "You, me, and Jon were all products of that damned war. She wasn't sure if that was going to be the final time she ever saw Father, she didn't know Aunt Lyanna was hidden so close to Starfall or that she was even in Dorne, for all she knew Father was riding to his death."

"Okay," Robb frowned, "you said that was her first plan, what in the name of Old Gods did you do?"

Jon frowned, "Last night the ladies held a renewal rite."

Robb nodded, "I know, figured that was why Sansa hasn't made an appearance."

"She was up before any of us," Edric shook his head, "she caught Jon and me when we arrived and told us when asked to report Mother returned to her chambers and Lady Cersei had returned to her confinement."

Robb paled, "I'm guessing neither of you took the time to confirm that both those statements were factual."

Margaery frowned, "What's wrong?"

"Father divorced Mother the day before a new lunar month began. He would be expected to do a cleansing rite while the sun was up to seek the gods' forgiveness for a broken oath. It's to be done on the day of the first new moon after the sundering of the union. Sansa has known for a month last night would be Lady Cersei's renewal rite, I don't know much about it since women keep their council on their rites and ceremonies."

A furious expression similar to the one Eddard had borne when he entered came to Jon's face, "Sansa went to the Sept yesterday after we refused to help her with her initial plan. I was with Bran and Arya at her behest while she was supposedly seeking council from the Seven."

Edric similarly glared, "I saw Lady Maege talking with Mother yesterday. It was after that and a talk with Lady Cersei that she told me she'd be taking care of a personal matter last night."

"If you are just realizing this," Margaery frowned, "why were you so nervous when we entered?"

Jon grimaced, "We realized something was wrong when a servant was gossiping that Lady Cersei wasn't in the Sept when they went to deliver her breakfast."

Margaery still looked confused, "What is wrong if they crossed paths this morning?"

Robb swallowed air before sighing, "The cleansing rite I said father would be doing this morning, well he'd want privacy for it because it entails being completely unclothed and bathing in the pool before the heart tree, and then completing one's prayers for forgiveness for the broken vows or oath before the heart tree."

Eyes widening Margaery gasped, "So Lord Stark would be?"

"The only thing I know about the renewal rite women undergo is that men are forbidden from entering the woods before sunrise because those undergoing the ritual are similarly unclothed." Robb glared at his brothers, "Neither of you caught a scent of Sansa's plotting?"

"She has spent far too much time with Princess Arianne and the Sand Snakes," Edric huffed, "no offense good sister but your influence has not gone unnoticed either."

A smirk came to Margaery's face, "I know not what you speak of dear good brother."

Notes:

A repeated note on smut, I do not write it, though I am not against alluding to it very bluntly. Ned and Ashara interaction in the godswood is literally as close as you'll see in one of my stories.

Before anyone starts that Sansa is acting very out of character, I'll make this note. Sansa does care for her mother, but she is reacting to certain revelations about the visions, the coming Long Night, and being influenced by various others she never actually met in cannon. She is also trying to come to terms with the fact her grandfather and indirectly her mother forced her father to break a vow, something unheard of for a Stark. Also, while in the books and show she started off emulating her mother including following the Seven, she knew enough about the Old Gods faith to turn to it after her father's death and her captivity by the Lannisters, so implying here she has participated in some rites and ceremonies that didn't conflict with the Seven.

Ned and Catelyn's divorce - Ned did not want to end their marriage, and when the inquest began he thought he could have salvaged things had it just been the two offenses against her from infringement of guest's rights. Something both Tywin and Doran knew, and if the matter was handled privately could have been swept away with an apology and some form of compensation to the injured parties. That's why they called an inquiry about the situation before a gathering. This permitted Tywin and Doran to publicly state their grievances over the situation. It allowed Robert an opportunity to bring his displeasure of her treatment of Mya and Gendry as well. Mace adding his House's weight behind Robert's and Doran's complaints made things worse due to the new union between House Stark and Tyrell. Dany adding Catelyn hitting Jon was basically the straw that broke Ned. Things came to a point that Ned had no other recourse than to dissolve the marriage and remove Catelyn from Winterfell.