Author's Note

I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire.

His children are happy and Ned can feel their glee. It hums at the back of his mind, and if he reaches enough he can touch it, but he doesn't want to do that yet. That would solidify all this and turn him into the wolf with fangs, and Ned doesn't yet want to look at his reflection that way.

The boy King invites them to stay at the Red Keep, at least overnight until they can prepare again to return North, but his advisors and the usual limpets to the crown are less accepting of the idea. Jory remains of his household, as does Vayon and a handful of guards, but many were killed during his arrest, while others continued North with the rest of the Northern entourage he'd brought. Ned can find somewhere else to stay. The main problem is the wolves. Only highborn could keep giant wolves as pets; the lowborn have no money and, more importantly, no space for them.

They leave the city on horseback with several carts of supplies. King Joffrey is even so kind as to send three of the remaining Baratheon knights with them as an escort.

"My father would have wished you to return home safely," he says.

The former Queen Cersei and her brother spoke to him alone in his rooms before he left, though the Kingslayer's hand never strayed from his sword pommel.

"Whatever enchantment you cast on my son to save your son, I want it reversed when you leave," Cersei demanded.

"I'll admit it's an interesting change in attitude, but I'm afraid I can bear no responsibility," Ned replied. His fangs cut his tongue as he spoke.

"Joffrey might have pardoned you–"

"And broken Sansa's betrothal," Ned said. The boy had been sweetly chivalrous about that, explaining to his lords that although he had pardoned Ned, he still couldn't be seen to reward his family by marrying his daughter.

"That does not make our families friends!"

"Your son the King appears to see things differently."

"My son is a child–"

"I'm glad we all agree." Ned curled his lip, displaying one of his fangs as felt natural, and rumbled deep in his chest.

Jaime Lannister took his sister's arm. "May your return home be swift, Stark."

They put distance between them and King's Landing as quickly as they could, travelling through the night on that first day. On the morning of the second, however, they have to stop to rest the horses, let them eat of the grass and drink of the water.

"We could move faster without them," Bran suggests.

"Jory and Vayon can't," Ned replies. Perhaps it's because he was once human while they never were that he thinks of it while his son does not.

"I could make them keep moving," Sansa suggests, and Jory's face turns pale.

"Lord Stark?"

"We won't be doing that," Ned says, even as something whispers at the back of his mind, it would be easier; it would be practical; they needn't be hurt. Sansa would just force them to continue onwards–

But what was he thinking? He'd not be putting Jory and Vayon through that, especially not when Vayon looks weak and Jory looks exhausted.

"We ride for Maidenpool," Ned says.

"We're going to take a ship?" asks Bran. He sounds disgusted.

"It's the fastest way to return North," replies Jory.

Jory tells him later that he had tried to talk the children into finding a boat after they fled King's Landing. Sansa and Bran had refused, declaring that their father needed them and they just had to wait.

This was always how it had to go.

King Joffrey had to be neutralised, so he did not distract Westeros from the true threat. He dances to Sansa's tune now, and he may never be a great King, but he will be a sufficient one, and that is good enough.

This was always how it had to go.

Ned had to come south so King Joffrey could be neutralised, and when the children felt his blood stirring it had been an unknown thing to them, but he was their father and they loved him; they wanted him to see the world through their eyes.

This was always how it had to go.

Jon Arryn had to die and Robert had to die and winter was coming with the enemy from beyond the Wall, but maybe Something Else is beyond the Wall too because they can feel it but they can't touch it.

Ned cannot name it, but he knows it.

And he worries.

And he wonders.

Because he and his children are not the only ones with Stark blood in their veins.

Author's Note

Next chapter will be yet another non-Ned pov chapter, and titled The Blood in Their Veins (which may be a giveaway as to who it is.)