Chapter 12: Betrothals and goodbyes

298 AC

Eddard

He had thought long and hard about the offer that Robert had made him. Of course, he couldn't do anything but accept, but it still bothered him. He didn't want Sansa to go south at all, let alone to that snake pit they call the capital. Alas, it wasn't his choice to make. He had promised Cat years ago that he would entertain worthy offers from the South and the Crown Prince was difficult to top.

The influence the North could get in the capital for the next two generations with the royal family was immense, so he had to accept. Even so he didn't want his little girl to go to King's Landing at all. He would be keeping a close look on his daughter when they were at the capital. On the crown prince too, as he had heard troubling stories from Robb and Jon over these past few weeks.

It didn't matter anymore for now however, as he found himself in the Great Hall of Winterfell before the start of the feast. Tomorrow they would depart south, but first they would celebrate. Robert and he had decided that they would announce the betrothal here, as well as Robb's betrothal to Alys. At least his son would be happy with his marriage, he thought approvingly.

He hoped it would stabilize the North in his absence. Knowing that it would be announced that House Stark had solidified the backing of one of its major vassals as well as the Crown, it should but your never knew for certain. He had left Robb with very capable advisors and had asked Lord Medger to come every few months to give Robb some extra advice. Besides that, he knew that his son would have both his and Lord Rickard's ear by raven. There was nothing more he could do and there was no way back now.

Knowing this, he looked around at the hundreds of people sitting in his hall, all looking back at him. Some were his people and bannermen, others were Southrons in Robert's charge. The only notable exceptions to this being Theon and Ser Brynden, both at the high table with him. He sat in his central chair, although the queen had complained about this. She thought he needed to give the place to the King, for his higher status. Robert had laughed at this, "He will soon be away from that chair for a while, let him enjoy it for one more night. Besides, it means I don't have to speech too much tonight, all the better."

As such, he found himself standing up and speaking to the crowd, with his wife on his left and Robert on his right. Robb sat next to the king, while the queen sat next to Catelyn with the crown prince next to her.

He held out his glass of wine and at last spoke to the crowd. "I welcome you all here for a last feast in my hall. There is a lot of reason to celebrate tonight. First of all, as you all know, the King has seen it fit to award me the honor of being his next Hand. However, there is more joyous news. It concerns my two eldest children. First, I am very happy to announce the betrothal between my son and heir Robb, to Alys Karstark, the daughter of Lord Rickard of Karhold and one of the most important lords of the North. They will marry when Lady Alys has reached sixteen years of age."

The response was enormous, as all the Northmen in the hall started hitting their mugs on the table in approval. Torrhen Karstark also stood up from further at the high table and his voice filled the hall. "In the absence of my father and sister, it falls to me to say how honored House Karstark is with this marriage. We have always been loyal vassals of Winterfell, and we greatly appreciate that it is recognized as such with this marriage. Alys is completely smitten with Robb and she will make a fine Lady of Winterfell, of that I have no doubt. Besides that, I am also personally honored to be soon able to officially call Lord Robb my brother, as I have seen him like that for years now." With these last words he raised his glass towards his son, who raised it back, although his cheeks were flaming pink.

He smiled towards the young Karstark before again turning towards the hall. "Thank you for the kind words Torrhen. House Stark is looking forward to joining its House with House Karstark once more. Now besides that, there is more joyous news concerning my eldest daughter Sansa." He said, pausing for a moment, as he took the time to look to his girl.

"The king has seen it fit to award us the honor to betroth Sansa to Crown Prince Joffrey. They will marry in the Sept of Baelor, once my daughter turns sixteen. For now, she will accompany me to the capital, so she gets accustomed to the social life there. My daughter and my proud wife couldn't be happier with this honor." He said as he looked to the two redheaded beauties of his family.

Another roar of approval went up. Now most of the sound was made by the men Robert brought with him, as they followed the Northmen's earlier outbursts. When he looked around, he saw some of his Northmen looked happy, while others looked questioningly at the Crown Prince. They probably heard some stories about the boy too.

Now Robert stood up. "Bah, honor, it's bloody well time our Houses were united. I was denied the Stark bride I was always promised. My son will not befall the same fate. There is no girl more suitable to be my son's future queen than the daughter of Ned Stark. Even so, I'm still very happy for Joff that she looks more like her mother." As he said this Robert started laughing. He was soon joined by the whole hall, Northmen and Southron alike.

He nodded to Robert, who pinked away a tear from laughter, as he sat back down. He looked towards the hall again. "Now, I invite you to take part in this small feast in name of the King and myself. Drink and be merry and join me in a toast towards the future unions of House Stark with Houses Baratheon and Karstark." He said loudly, as he held his glass of wine high. At this, the whole hall stood up and raised their glasses and mugs, before draining their cups and starting the feast in earnest.

The first hours of the feast went by as expected. Halfway into the feast, Benjen came to him. He was dressed all in black, as per usual. He looked good, although he had a strange look in his eyes. "Ned, can we talk?"

"Sure, Ben." He said, as he stood up and walked with Benjen to a remote table that was empty. As he said down on the wooden chair, he looked over the half empty mugs and plates the former occupants of this table had left behind. He looked up at his brother. "So, what's this about?"

"I wanted to talk to you about what you've been doing for the North in recent years." His brother said, his face betraying no emotions.

"Sure Ben, what do you want to know?" He said, thinking to himself if there was something, he had missed, that could have affected his brother.

"Well, I have seen a distinct change with you over the years. Since the Greyjoy rebellion you have sent all your children out to every corner of the North and Bran is soon to go beyond that. The one child who stayed home got a lot of friends here, all kin of important bannermen which I don't think is by accident. Now I hear that both my eldest nephew and niece are to be married, one to Rickard's daughter and the other to be the next Queen. Why this change and since when do you use your children as political pawns?" His brother said, furrowing his brows.

"Is that all Ben? You are concerned for my children and you want to know? Sure, you're my brother after all." He said, relieved it was nothing more important.

"So, five years back I had a talk with Rickard, the Greatjon, Wyman and Maege. They wanted to talk to me about my dealings with the North and why House Stark wasn't mingling in the North like it used to. This made me think and I read some of our father and even our grandfather's old journals, which gave me some insights too. Since then I have tried to strengthen the North and It's been going reasonably well, I must say."

"Are you really turning into father, Ned? Robb is only fourteen and Sansa twelve! You know the pain father's marriage ideas brought our house. Brandon never wanted to marry Catelyn and Lyanna would have been happier as a silent sister than ending up with the King. You are going to do the same to your children? Those betrothals tore our whole family apart!"

"Ben, I think you're going all wrong about this. First of all, Robb's fostering was a huge success. You heard Torrhen Karstark just a while ago and Robb thinks much the same of it. He is like brothers with all Rickard's sons and he enjoys his time there very much. Besides, the marriage idea between Alys and Robb isn't mine." He said with a smirk.

"What? Whose is it? I can't imagine Catelyn pushing this?" His brother asked, completely stunned.

"No, it wasn't Catelyn either." He said, as his smirk grew a little wider when he thought about the blush on his lovesick son's face that day.

"What? Did Rickard strongarm you or something with the fostering?" Benjen asked, not getting his point at all.

"Robb. It was Robb, Ben. The boy is completely in love with the girl. They had been having secret meetings in the Godswood for weeks, before any of this. When he heard he was going to have to stay in Winterfell and wasn't going back to Karhold, he was distraught. Not, like I thought, because of his friends there or the duties he would need to take up, but because he wouldn't see the girl anymore. He looked like a lost lovesick puppy when he finally spoke about the girl." He said, his smirk still evident on his face.

His brother looked at him in complete and utter shock, before he started to laugh so hard tears started forming in his eyes. It took a while, but when Benjen finally got back to his senses he said, while pinking back a tear "I'm sorry, for doubting you Ned. This is not what I expected, and it is a great political move besides. Oh boy, I'm going straight to the boy, after this. I can't miss this one opportunity I have to pester him now."

"It's alright Ben, father was a great man, but those Southron betrothals were a mistake. Anyway, Robb is getting what Brandon and Lyanna always wanted, a love marriage. One with some good political prospects as well so I'm very happy with it."

"Are the other stories similar in mindset?" His brother asked.

"The fosterings were mostly political, but always considering my children too. Jon is glad to be away from Winterfell and Catelyn sadly, but he is learning a lot which could give him a much brighter future in life. Bran is in awe of his great-uncle and wants to become a knight under his guidance, so he is very happy with the decision. Arya is Lya come again and I gave her what our sister never had, a loyal group of noble friends who could roughhouse with her all day. No way I will be arranging a betrothal for her soon, as it could only turn out bad anyway." He said, his voice turning sad at the end, as he thought about his little sister's fate in a room full of blood.

"And Sansa?" Benjen asked, the same sadness that he felt was obvious in his brother's voice.

"Sansa is the sad exception I'm afraid. Her fostering was mostly political, although I stayed in Barrowhall for weeks to make sure she was fine. It turned out amazingly, and in some strange twist of fate, she and Lady Barbrey became very fond of each other. So good, she is very mad she won't be coming back." He said, composing himself again.

"That sounds great, so what's bothering you then? Is it the betrothal?" Benjen said, recognizing he wasn't entirely happy immediately. He had always been able to tell his feelings, even when they were children.

"Yes, she'll be queen one day so that's great for our house and the North, but I'm not sure about her being sent so far south. I like Robert and the idea of our lines joining is a nice one, but I also don't know about the boy. I'm having a lot of questions and I don't want to make father's mistakes once more." He said, honestly to his brother. For the first time showing this fear to anyone, as Benjen was the only one that could ever really understand.

The man, who had made it to the First Ranger of the Night's Watch, stood up and walked over to him. His little brother sat down on the bench next to him and put his arm around him. "You won't Ned, you have already done more for your children's happiness than father ever did. He was a great man and a great lord and I miss him every day, but after mother died he was way too concerned about our future and our safety and not enough about our happiness. That is something that will never happen to you Ned, not when I hear you talk like this."

He looked his brother in the eyes. He saw the blue-grey eyed orbs that had also belonged to his mother and he knew his brother meant what he said. He nodded appreciatively, as he pushed his ale against his brother's raised cup. After drinking deeply and talking some more about the Wall and his plans to strengthen the Night's Watch in the South, they were interrupted by a white direwolf. Without making a sound the pup started snuffling both their feet, before settling itself lazily between his legs.

The owner of the direwolf wasn't far behind, as Jon appeared from the crowd. "Come here Jon, sit with us." Benjen said, as he ordered a servant to bring them three fresh ales. As the boy sat down happily, Ben continued. "Tell me what you've been up to Jon, tell us of your travels and what you have seen and learned on them."

He spent a lot of time talking and drinking with Jon and Benjen. Thank the gods for his little brother sometimes, as that night was one of the better memories he had ever had with Jon. He vowed to himself to spend more time with the boy, when he got back North. He would also start to take a look at the boy's future. He still wanted him to be Robb's right hand, but maybe he deserved some small place of his own too. He could find a holdfast that he could restore, some place directly sworn to Winterfell which could produce a modest income for him and keep him close.

(a few days later)

He was sitting on his horse next to Robert, as he looked over the hills of the Barrowlands. He was thinking about all that had transpired these last few days. Both his children were betrothed now. The North's future looked very safe. Robb was to be married to a strong Northern family, ensuring him of a family's support that hadn't been seen since the day of his grandfather's marriage to Marna Locke. It would do a lot of good for the North, he was sure.

He still didn't know what to say about Sansa's betrothal. He was looking forward to his line joining with Robert's and the fact Robb's children would be cousins to the future king would do wonders for the North. However, he didn't like for his daughter to have to spend her life in the capital. He didn't trust those people and his pretty naive daughter deserved more. Her naivety had been getting better though, he had realized. It must be some of Lady Barbrey's influence on her.

He didn't love it, as he wanted his daughter to enjoy her childhood some more, but maybe it was for the best. Where they were going it might proof useful for her. Speaking of Lady Barbrey though, the news of the betrothal had done a lot of damage. He had gotten the approval of Robert to send a message early towards them, before announcing the news. As such, he could better prepare for her reaction.

She had been wroth when she found out, saying "it was a breach of trust between our houses". She had been so mad she had ridden out and met with him yesterday evening. They were crossing her lands anyway, so it wasn't that much of a surprise. She first talked to Sansa and after that sat down with him.

He managed to calm her somewhat, as it was even clear to her that he didn't have much of a choice. Even so she did want some compensation. She stated for the first time that her intent was for Sansa to eventually marry Domeric. Her nephew apparently liked Sansa and Sansa looked up to the older Bolton boy. Whatever may have been the idea, it was impossible now.

He managed to placate her personally with a promise that he would help some Southern trade flow in to Barrowtown. It already had been his intent to stimulate the Western trade and Barrowton was the most prominent town that could connect to the western trade route, albeit indirectly through the river systems.

The promise of making extra coin helped, but it wasn't enough. Both she and her Ryswell kin saw an opportunity, it was clear. The problem was that he needed them on side, if he wanted them to join the fold again openly. Having the Ryswells and Dustins on side, also helped alienate them from the Boltons, which after the debacle with Roose's bastard, seemed like a safe bet to make.

He still didn't trust that Ramsay Snow had escaped just like that, although he couldn't be found. Roose had clearly punished most of his associates and managed to bring peace to his lands again. There was also no prove that Roose had anything to do with it from the start, so he could and would do nothing more. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't diminish the Boltons' power in the North by gaining their allies the Ryswells and Dustins to his side, which he wanted to do anyway to unite the North under his rule.

All of this meant he had to give Lady Barbrey and her family something. For a while they sat at an impasse. They were willing to talk to each other, but they had nothing to make a deal with. The road network had diminished House Stark's coffers substantially. So, he couldn't afford to lower their taxes temporarily and he didn't know what else to do, until it hit him. He could offer them Rickon's fostering in a few years.

It was ingenious if he thought about it now. Rickon would have gone fostering to a bannermen to strengthen ties anyway, so why not the Dustins and Ryswells? It would also be at least five years before it came to fruition, thereby allowing him to keep them in hand for a lot longer. They wouldn't want to waste the opportunity of fosterage if they insulted him, would they? That was the best part about it, if they did anything, he could just cancel it and be without blame.

Rickon's absence by then, would not be a problem anymore either. In five years, Robb would be married for three. He would probably have children of his own by then, thereby making the family and inheritance very safe. If his third son was to go away to a vassal then, nobody would think twice about it and Cat would have her hands full taking care of their grandchildren to mind.

It also was the perfect peace offer. One fostering went wrong, for things out of his control. To smoothen things over, he just offered them another one. It also helped that the Ryswells did not have any direct female relations close to Rickon's age, so no marriages would ever be expected.

Lady Barbrey was surprised with the offer, to say the least. This didn't stop her from taking it and so an hour later she left his tent again, looking somewhat pleased. House Dustin and House Ryswell were promised some form of connection to extra trade, Rickon would be moving to the Rills when he was eight years old, Lady Barbrey was allowed to stay in contact with Sansa for as long as she was in his care still and surprisingly, Barbrey Ryswell was allowed to go South with Sansa.

It seemed like the girl had begged Lady Barbrey for it and the latter was probably keen on keeping an eye on Sansa and himself in the South. As such the little girl joined his column together with a guard. He placed her in the carriage next to Jeyne Poole, hopefully his daughter's friends got along together.

Lady Barbrey left on the morrow back to Barrowhall and all was well as he marched South. He sighed, thinking again at the burden that had fallen of his shoulders.

Hearing his sigh, Robert looked at him and shook his head. "You really need to stop being so sullen, Ned. Half the time you're more in your own head than here with me."

"Sorry, Robert. Just thinking of the North and my duties here that I'm leaving to my son. I just hope I managed to get everything in order, so there won't be any problems. He is still very young, and I don't want him to have to deal with anything." He said honestly, while looking in his friend's bright blue eyes.

"I heard you had some kind of visitor last night, no? Some Northern noble or what not?" His friend asked understandingly.

"Yes, Lady Barbrey Dustin, the one that had been fostering Sansa. She was really mad about her going South, as she wanted her betrothed to her nephew Domeric Bolton." He explained.

"Ha, a Bolton for Lady Sansa? No Ned, that wouldn't do. That freak Roose Bolton gives even me the creeps. You remember when he proposed we execute Ser Barristan after the battle of the Trident? Looked like he wanted to slit his throat himself." The King bellowed.

"Yes, I wasn't too keen on it either. She was though, so I had to calm things down. I managed to do just that. I'm sending Rickon to her eldest brother to foster in a few years to mend things over. It'll be fine, I think." He replied honestly.

"Good, then that's settled. Now enough of all this serious nonsense! I want to have some fun, let's go for a ride Ned, like we used to do in the Vale when we were younger." Robert said as he looked in front of him with anticipation. His hands closing on the reigns. In his mind, he was already racing through all the hills, streams and plains that the Barrowlands had to offer."

"Robert we're already riding. Besides, we can't really leave the column, can we? We're leading this whole thing after all." He said as he looked questioningly at his former foster-brother.

His friend just smirked at him before pushing his heels in the flanks of his black warhorse. "Hiyaa", he said as the horse sped forward. He looked over his shoulder and yelled back at him "Try to follow me Ned, just like the old days. You'll lose just the same."

With a disappointed sigh he shook his head, before locking eyes with Ser Boros Blount as he signaled him to follow the king. He himself pushed his heels into the flanks of his own horse as he started to race after the king himself with Ser Boros and half a dozen guards just behind him.

Bran

He was talking to Sansa, while their direwolves were running along the river in sight of them. He had named his wolf Summer, as the pup soon had started to mean home and family for him. If his house's words were anything to go by, winter was a place of hardships and cold. So, he called his wolf Summer, as it made him feel happy and gave him warmth and just made him feel exactly opposite of everything, he imagined winter to be like.

He would soon have to wave his sister and father goodbye, as he and his uncle would leave the Kingsroad for Riverrun. His uncle managed to procure a boat from a friendly vassal so they could cross somewhere below the Twins, which they had passed two days ago. As such he could stay with his family for a while longer and they wouldn't have to put up with Lord Walder Frey, whom Ser Brynden said you should try to avoid in life. They would then ride to Fairmarket and from there on to Riverrun.

Soon he saw his uncle and father coming towards him and he could see three men with a large boat standing in the riverbed. "It is time Bran." His father said, when he reached him. He nodded dutifully while all four of them guided their horses towards the boat, silently followed by their guards.

As he and Ser Brynden descended from their horse so did his sister and father. Immediately two of the man came and after greeting Ser Brynden, they let the horses on the boat. To his surprise Desmond and four other guardsmen also descended and let their horses on. His father saw him looking and said. "Desmond will accompany you with four guards to make sure you stay safe. When you reach Riverrun, they will turn around and join my guard in King's Landing. You are my son, Bran. I will make sure nothing ever happens to you."

His father stood in front of him, before kneeling down to his height. "You are a Stark of Winterfell Bran, never forget that. You are my second son and after Robb the heir to our house. I have all confidence you will make me, your mother and her family proud in Riverrun. Your grandfather made sure there will be boys of your age for you to play with like Arya does with her friends. As such, you will have an amazing time in Riverrun. Never forget that you are allowed, by my agreement with Hoster, to use the Rookery whenever you want. You can send every message you want, be it to me and Sansa in King's Landing, your mother and other siblings in Winterfell or Jon in White Harbor."

He nodded to his father, a little tear coming in his eye, which he tried to wipe off immediately. His father looked at him and said nothing, he just enveloped him in a big hug. He completely gave himself over to the hug and felt his father's broad shoulders under his tunic and he felt safe. Soon they were interrupted by Summer jumping on them, as the wolf started to lick the tears away from his face, which made the whole company laugh.

Then it was time to say goodbye to Sansa, she also rapped him in a big hug. "Promise to write to me, Bran! Don't just send boring letters to father because you need to, send something for me too!", she said.

He smirked and agreed happily. Then his father ruffled his hair and said, "What are our words son?"

He looked to his father and puffed out his chest. "Winter is coming". His father nodded "Aye, lad, never forget it and always be prepared for it. If anything happens to you, you send a raven, understood? You are not a lone wolf, I will be with you, if need be. You are much more important than cleaning up the King's mess."

He nodded once more, and Ser Brynden put a hand on his shoulder and walked him on the boat. There he stood, watching as the boat crossed the river slowly, but surely. The same boat that took him away from his father and sister to new adventures to come.

That is it for today's chapter!

A lot of family moments happen, as Ned marches south.

Thank you for the unrelenting support on this story!

Fannic

Reviews:

- Kuman: Jon is in Winterfell the whole time, as clearly shown in this chapter. He just learned to make himself scarce with Tully's around. Besides, he spends most of his time with Ghost, Arya, Robb, the Karstarks or Wylla Manderly anyway so he is quite happy. The butterflies are picking up speed now, I'm really excited for the next parts.

- Supremus85: Thank you very much!

- Osterreicher97: Yes it is what Robert always wanted. I have to stress that Ned is way more into Northern politics, but still severely lacking in the ways of the South. He will also not have any friends in King's Landing and no more manpower than in canon. This leaves his options very limited. He trusts Baelish because of Cat, so initially that wouldn't change. However, if he was to hear things or find out about some stuff that could easily change ...

- Sparky She-Demon: The direwolves are just as in canon, although a little bit of a different backstory for the name Summer. If you don't hear much about things in this story it's mostly because they stay the same. However, I included some scenes with them here for you, those wolves would be around the Stark children anyway.

- Borg collective: You have to take into account that all the winning sides in the war probably got benefits anyway. It is safe to assume the North got tax brakes and other benefits for a serious amount of time, just like the Vale and the Stormlands would have got. He means that he can't give extra stuff fifteen years later out of nowhere. That, and the fact he is bankrupt as can be so he needs the coin. He is sympathetic with Ned as he allows for the Night's Watch aid and some light trade.

- Williams1996: Well the whole Gift would never be possible, Brandon's gift will always stay with the Night's Watch. Besides that it isn't so easy as people say it is, there need to be negotiations with the Night's Watch and local issues need to be taken account, mostly House Umber's. Robert just can't be bothered with it all as it would mean a lot of work and he doesn't want to do it. He also doesn't want to get the Lannisters or others getting annoyed at him, because it would strenghten the North long term, without giving them anything. So he leaves things open for now and hands all the work to Ned and his advisors.

- Pavook: The gift I have explained above here. You're definitely right about the trade, although all bits and pieces may help. Nothing major will come of it, but the North needs every small amount of revenue it can get.

You're right about the aid. Thinking on what you said and my own thoughts I have worked out a system that might work, you'll have to wait and see.

- Peregrine Prince: Thank you so much, it makes my day to read comments like this one! Well Ned feels exactly the same as you do about Sansa, but Robert gave him no choice.

- Fahri uchiha: Thank you! This is only the beginning, much more to come soon!

- JBean1: Thank you so much! Her training will definitely help, however she has only been there for a year and she still loves songs and poems. So she will not have changed massively, but she'll be a little more observant and critical at least. You have to remember she is only twelve in the end.

- Adventwolf: All victors would have gotten tax breaks at least, the North too. Ned got Theon after the Greyjoy rebellion, which in theory, if Balon wasn't such an ass would have meant a lot of influence in the Iron Isles. The North also didn't want more, they were pretty bloodied and wanted to go home. They got to keep House Stark and their revenge as well, which was what they were fighting for. Ned definitely got offered a position on the council, but he refused.

I imagine that Hoster Tully might have been Master of Laws for a while before and the Vale also only got the Master of Coin a lot later in 289 AC, Baelish' predecessor is unknown. The Tyrells were banished from court for 15 years, while they probably needed to pay some small extra tax, nothing serious but some token punishment.

- JAIMOL: Thank you so much!

- Guest: Yeah, I don't get why Bran should fall in every story. I even read a story where he didn't fall and than 'had to' fall of his horse to be cripple anyway ... Here he is still healthy optimistic Bran from the start.