Time: End of Rebellion, Year 283
Location: Godswood, Winterfell.
POV Eddard
Ned was contemplating the face of the Hearttree when he heard a branch snap behind him and a a voice called out in icy tones, "You summoned me, my lord?"
Ned turned around and said, "Yes, my lady."
"I am here, my lord, what is required of me."
"Just your patience and time, my lady. Perhaps I can provide you with some clarity and put some of your fears to rest."
"I am yours to command, my lord", the cold in her voice is enough give Ned frostbite.
"Are you now? That's fortunate for me, isn't it?", Ned asked drily, before continuing, "No matter, come closer, my lady."
As Catelyn moved closer to Ned, Ned once again turned toward the Hearttree and unsheathed his dagger and quickly sliced through his right palm, as blood welled up, he clenched his fist ignoring the pain and startled sound Catelyn made in her throat, when all of his palm was bloody enough, he pressed his open palm on the forehead of face of the Hearttree before saying, "I, Eddard Stark, second son of Lord Rickard Stark and Lady Lyarra Stark, invoke the Gods of the Forest to witness, I claim Lady Catelyn Stark nee Tully as my lawfully wedded wife, I vow that only fruits of our union will have primary claim to the Throne of Winter and the Wardenship of the North."
After finishing his vow Ned stood facing Catelyn, she has a stunned look on her face, before she can come to herself, Ned unclasped her cloak which pooled at her feet and cloaked her with his own and smeared his blood on her forehead in a savage slash, before looking in her eyes and said softly, "You are my wife."
The silence lasted for a while, before she said as if in a trance, "I am your wife."
At her words a soft but insistent breeze rushed through the Godswood rustling the leaves of the Hearttree, that seemed to shake her out of her trance and she asked, "Why?"
"Because, this is the North, because no Stark before me has ever married in a sept, because our dynasty is eight thousand years old and blood of covenant is thicker than the water of the womb."
"I am a follower of the Seven."
"I know."
"I will not change my religion."
"I am not asking you to."
Once again the silence persisted, before Ned said, "Jon is not my bastard."
"What?", Catelyn asked incredulously.
"He is legitimate, Crown legitimized him, his name is Jon Nedson."
"What?", now fury replaced the incredulity.
"I ask that you let me finish talking before asking any questions. Jon will have last claim over Winterfell, coming after our daughters, if we have any. When he comes to his majority, he will not have even that claim. All the expenses for his upbringing will be paid through my personal coffers, not Stark treasury, his inheritance will be my arms and armor and a fief in New Gift. His house will be sworn to both Winterfell and Nights Watch. Two thirds of his taxes will be paid to the Watch, remaining one third to Winterfell, he will be required to send two thirds of his men if Winterfell ever called the banners, but he will remain with remaining third of his men in reserve, unless he is specifically called upon by the Stark who holds Winterfell, if not he will remain with his men to serve if the Nights Watch ever calls upon him.", Ned finished.
Catelyn, whose fury kept mounting as he kept talking, angrily opened her mouth and nearly shouted, "How dare you?! The bastard is a threat to Robb, its in his nature. My father will hear of this. How dare you pull this without a word to me."
Ned remained calm and said derisively, "Ah, the nature of bastards. Bastards are born of sin, hence sinful by nature. All children are innocent and beloved of The Mother. I was raised in the Vale, Catelyn. I read the Seven Pointed Star front to back, the sheer number of contradictions in it is enough to boggle my mind. It is convenient indeed that a lord can simply have as many bastards he wants but the blame will squarely fall on the shoulders of a child who can't defend himself. Before you bring up Blackfyres, I have two names for you Brynden Rivers and Aegor Rivers, both served their chosen kings with unheard loyalty. And if it wasn't Daemon Blackfyre, then something else would have caused a rebellion. Only one generation before, tens of thousands of men died conquering Dorne, only to lose it to treachery at a parley where Daeron the Young Dragon and many Nobleborn heirs were murdered under the flag of parley, then Baelor the Blessed, bent over backwards for the Dornish, Daeron the Seconds court was filled to brim with Dornish, and those Dornish flaunted their growing power indiscreetly. Daerons heir being named Baelor and to be of Dornish coloring did not help matters any. Discontent was already growing and a rebellion was inevitable, Daemon Blackfyre was a convenient figurehead, whatever fanciful stories about Blackfyres love for his sister Danaerys or Bloodraven and Bittersteels love for Shiera or nature of bastards is just that, a fancy. Its politics that caused the rebellion, politics and human nature. And the Rebellions that came after that weren't much different from usual bloodletting thats common to Seven Kingdoms. So don't speak to me of bastards natures. Aegon the Second was not a bastard yet he coveted his sisters Throne all the same, so did many second and third sons discontent with their lot in life. The boys mother is dead, I am all he has and no son of mine will ever raise a hand against his brother. I do not ask you to love him or raise him, I will do that myself, same as any other child of mine. You are free to hate me if you want. But if you can hate a blameless child, then I would have to question your character, my lady. And I am not beholden to your father, my lady, it is other way around, betrothal contract between our houses calls for substantial amounts of dowry and a reduction of grain prices for next twenty years alongside mutual defense treaty. Both of which your father has no move towards fulfilling."
Ned finished almost panting with emotion, Catelyn stared at Ned, pale faced, as if she had never seen him before and just left.