Eddard's Pov

He felt like such a mess, filled with worry and uncertainty. He had always feared for Jon's safety but so long as no one knew the truth of his parentage he was safe, they all were. Jon has been more withdrawn lately and looked at everyone with an expression Ned couldn't explain. The past three years had filled him with such worry that instead of fearing the truth of Jon's parentage, he now feared for the state of the boy's mind.

What could have possibly brought this behavior on?

Ned had never had any reason to fear the Targaryen madness would appear within Jon, but now he wasn't sure. Especially since Jon was only a child and he had always been so calm, quiet, and he had whole heartedly believed Jon was happy. But these past years Jon had practically cut everyone out of his life and taken drastic steps to push absolutely everyone away.

When he first started disappearing for hours to even days on end, he remembered sending out men to search for him only for Jon to reappear somewhere within the castle. However, no matter what he demanded or threatened Jon just refused to give any explanation as to where he had been. Jon just stayed silent with such a cold expression that confused and enraged him at the same time. He was concerned further when he was informed by Robb that Jon had stopped attending meals, his lessons with Maester Luwin, and Sir Rodrik later reported he had even quit going to sword practice which, he knew Jon loved.

He remembered how he tried having guards watch him or even having Jon locked in his room until he either explained his behavior or stopped doing it. Yet all was in vain because somehow the boy would escape every time and he couldn't explain as to how, and then he'd disappear again. Then one day he found Jon's room wasn't just vacant but completely empty. The guards had been checking places Jon might be and reported that all his things had somehow disappeared overnight.

That day he feared that Jon had truly run away for good until later that week Jon was spotted still inside the castle, but he was seen through the window inside of the old Winterfell tower. They came to realize that Jon had somehow moved himself and all his possessions into the tower when they found the door to be barred and sealed from the inside.

That had been very concerning because the tower was old, broken in several places, much colder than anywhere else in the castle, and unfit for anyone to live in, let alone a child. But again, no one had seen him, not moving his things, no one reported to have helped him. It was almost like magic, and some of the servants even whispered things like sorcery. But he put all those rumors to rest quickly, Jon was just a boy, but he still had no explanation for his actions. Jon had even withdrawn himself away from Robb who had been just as worried as Lord Stark was.

His wife did not seem to care at first, thinking that the boy had either just run away or that he was simply seeking out attention, but that was ridiculous because Jon was usually found later to be still inside the castle, as if he had never left. If anything, Jon seemed like he wanted no one's attention at all, not even his siblings or his Lord father's.

Jon wouldn't say more than a few words to anyone despite Lord Stark's attempts, and for months, this forced Lord Stark to have everyone on alert to keep an eye on him and report where he was. Ned hated having to have guards drag Jon to his lessons and practices once they found him. That is if he didn't manage to slip away from them again, but Catelyn felt the boy was showing disrespect to his lord and needed to be reminded of his place. So, for the first-time regarding Jon, she wasn't entirely wrong. But that all came to an end after the incident in the training yard.

That was one moment he could never forget, because it was the first time where instead of being afraid for Jon, Lord Stark had truly felt afraid of him.


****Flashback****

Jon had disappeared again but fortunately they found him after only a few hours rather than a few days like the last time. This all started happening right after Bran was born but he couldn't imagine why that would have anything to do with this recent behavior since Jon had been just as happy when Arya had been born the previous year. Even little Sansa had wondered why Jon hadn't been around much. His wife seemed to prefer that Jon wasn't around and she probably hoped he'd stay gone, but Ned certainly did not.

Yet again the guards had to drag Jon to his solar for another explanation that was met with only a cold stare and silence. It was already past time for his sword practice to begin and so Ned decided that he would follow along this time to observe him and the rest of the boys. This was the first time since Jon started running off that he was able to spare time from his duties to watch his son and nephew practice.

Robb was showing improvements with his technique and he was getting stronger every day. It seemed having his son spar against Theon who was a little bigger than Robb had helped in that regard. The two seemed to be getting closer and he was glad for that. But he could tell Robb clearly missed Jon who was acting as if he wanted to be anywhere else. When Ned saw the two of them together it was like looking at himself and his own brother Brandon when they were younger. Now the boys were almost like strangers.

Jon's movements were slow, sluggish, and his every match was a loss. He could tell the reason was that he was not even trying, so instead of just letting him go this time, Ned decided to have Sir Rodrik push him harder. He had Jon matched with Theon who kept not only beating him but each time he taunted Jon for each loss, but every time Rodrik just made the boys go again. With every round Theon got more frustrated with Jon despite the fact he was winning.

"Well I have to say I was expecting more from you bastard, or do you prefer ghost now?" Theon continued as he struck Jon in the leg with his wooden sword. "Well that's what they call you now, 'Ghost of Winterfell', but all I see is a weak little bastard." Theon struck at Jon again and he barely raised his own sword to block and so Theon got him right in the side and Jon dropped to a knee. The whole thing was difficult for Ned to watch but it had been months now and nothing was working. He had to try something, anything that might get through to him.

Jon was still down on his knee when Theon walked away from him, sighing at Sir Rodrik and asking to be given someone else to spar with, but Rodrik refused and kept them together.

"You know, some people here actually think you've got some kind of special power that allows you to keep escaping and moving about the castle without anyone seeing you bastard." Theon scuffed at his own comments as he continued while Jon just stayed silent. "Well I don't buy that at all. But I think I know the truth about where it is you go when you pull your little vanishing acts." Jon raised his head, looking at Theon but still said nothing.

Theon's taunts continued. "That's right, it wasn't too hard to figure out. You found your whore mother out in Wintertown's brothel didn't you, and this whole time you've just been sneaking off to go to visit her haven't ya?" Jon's expression was different now and as Lord Stark looked at him, he could describe Jon's expression in only one word, murderous. He decided that enough was enough and he started moving down from the balcony toward the yard to put an end to this folly. But as he did, he noticed Jon was moving toward Theon as well.

Jon moved quickly and attacked Theon raising his blade over his head and bringing it down on Theon, but while still smirking at Jon, Theon brought his own sword up to block. But then as Jon's blade came down, he swiftly shifted his strike from Theon's blade to Theon's sword hand. It struck Theon right in his knuckles and Eddard heard a slight crunch as the wooden blade made contact. Theon yelled in pain as his own sword fell right out of his hand and after stumbling back a few steps he struck back at Jon with his other hand balled into a fist.

"You damned Bastard!" Theon yelled as he swung but he hit nothing but air. Jon sidestepped just out of range but stayed close enough to counter Theon again, this time with a swing right to his stomach. Theon gasped for air as Jon knocked the wind right out of him. Jon spun around hitting him from behind which made Theon arch his back. Spinning again Jon got Theon in the side of his knee, and Theon started to collapse. But before Theon even touched the dirt Jon struck again, a hard blow right across Theon's face. Ned saw blood spew from the boy's mouth as his head twisted away from the force of the blow. He also heard an unmistakably loud snap which he was certain came from Theon's now broken jaw.

Ned quickened his pace as Jon continued his assault, each hit was strong and precise and yet Jon kept moving faster and faster as Theon rolled on the ground just trying to cradle himself into a ball. Theon was trying to protect himself as best as he could with his arms. But every time Theon moved to shield one part of himself Jon standing over him quickly shifted to strike another exposed area.

Sir Rodrik was yelling at Jon, "Jon stop!"

"That's enough!" "Stop!" Rodrik continued as he moved forward to stop Jon.

But Jon just kept hitting Theon without mercy. Ned was running to the yard as fast as he could, and he saw others trying to intervene as well. First, was Robb who attempted to grab Jon by the shoulder, but Jon snapped his sword at Robb's wrist and with a strong kick knocked Robb down a good three feet away on his back. The next to jump in was Jory who drew his own steel broadsword and yelled at Jon,

"Sir Rodrik said that's enough Snow, now drop it!" But Jon didn't listen to Jory's warning at all, he just came at him. Jory was on the defensive as Jon struck at him forcing him back. If Jory managed to block a strike from Jon, he was hit by a kick to the knee or an elbow under the jaw. Each hit enraged Jory so that when he went on the offensive he was swinging wildly at Jon, which if connected could have killed him.

Jory lunged at Jon but at the last second Jon parried, and then brought his left arm under the blade and grabbed Jory's sword guard wrenching the weapon right out of Jory's hand in one fluid motion. Jon's wooden sword quickly connected with Jory's exposed neck and the lad fell to his knees grabbing his neck coughing violently.

The other guards had seen enough and all of them moved in as Jon discarded his practice sword and brought Jory's blade up taking a defensive stance as if he was about to fight the lot of 'em with live steel.

"Stand down!" Ned shouted as he entered the yard. "All of you stand down! They'll be no live steel used here!"

"But my lord, the bastard's gone mad." One of his guards stated.

'No', he thought, 'Jon is not going mad.' Ned wouldn't allow Jon to become anything like Aerys. He promised Lyanna to protect her son and he would.

"I said, stand down, now." Ned said, firmly as he glared at his men. He then turned to Jon who was still standing with his blade pointed at the guards. "Jon, drop the sword son." He said, calmly hoping Jon wouldn't try anything stupid like fighting a handful of armed guards more than twice his size, until he saw Jon point the blade right at him. The guards raised their own weapons to protect their lord in response, but Lord Stark just raised his hand to halt them.

"Jon, please, put down the sword." He pleaded, but Jon's eyes were fixed on him and he could see the boy wasn't confused or frightened, he still had that same murderous look on his face. Lord Stark felt frozen in shock wondering how this could have gotten this far with the boy he'd raised as a son for these past years, now pointing a sword right at him. He saw Jon slowly turning the blade in his hands, aligning its edge with his cold dark eyes, like Jon was aiming the blade to strike Ned right in the heart.

Everyone was silent and still as they watched if Jon was really going to attack. The boy's eyes were fierce and narrow and his brow and jaw both tense with his sword grip held firm. His knees bent and his feet were slightly grinding into the dirt. Jon looked like a predator staring down his prey and with every small movement he looked like he was about to strike at any moment.

Then suddenly Robb came running up to his father's side. He had tried to wave him off, but his son was almost as determined as Jon seemed right now.

"Stop it right now Jon." Robb said as he came next to his father with his practice sword in hand prepared to fight his brother, despite Jon holding live steel, but Robb wasn't going to let Jon fight their father.

For the first time since this whole disaster started Jon seemed to relax if only a little and he slowly started to lower his blade.

"Stay away from me." Jon almost whispered.

"Stop sending your dogs after me."

"Stop having your servants spy on me."

"All of you."

"LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE !" Jon yelled at them all as he threw the sword to the ground before his feet.

The most words Jon had spoken to anyone in the past months and they were filled with such anger and rage that it made even Robert's own fury back during the rebellion pale by comparison.

Lord Stark was filled yet again with shock, wondering where this was all coming from. 'What had happened to bring such a change in him?' he wondered. He wanted to understand why Jon was being this way. But the more he'd pushed the worse it got, until now here they were, with Jon surrounded by his own household guard with all their weapons drawn.

He realized now that he had been treating Jon like a prisoner more so than even Theon who was an actual hostage of war. This had to end now, or it might only get worse.

"You have my leave to go Jon." Eddard said suddenly. "Everyone put away your blades. This is over." Everyone was surprised at Lord Stark's words. If it were anyone else who had just done what Jon did, they would be in the dungeon by now. But Jon just walked away toward the Godswood with everyone watching him as he left.

"My Lord," Sir Rodrik began, "I know he's your son, but something must be done about him. Someone could have been seriously injured or worse."

"I know Sir. But this was my doing and therefore all fault lies with me. I pushed him and this is what happened." Lord Stark spoke as he waved his hand around the yard. Theon was bloody, groaning on the ground while Luwin was attending him and Jory was standing now, but still rubbing his neck.

"From now on everyone is to keep their distance from Jon." Lord Stark stated. Sir Rodrik was about to protest but Eddard raised his hand to silence him. "That is my command Sir. Perhaps if we give the lad some time, he might come out of this state he is in now."

He later was in his solar with his wife who had returned from tending to Arya and Bran, after hearing about the incident, and they were accompanied by both Sir Rodrik and Maester Luwin. His wife was furious while the others seemed more concerned.

"Absolutely unforgivable Ned! He should be chained up in the dungeon like the wild beast that he is. What if he attacks one of the other children Ned? I can't believe you just let him walk away. I always knew this would happen and now that bastard has shown his true colors." Catelyn shouted, barely letting anyone else get a word in.

Lord Stark knew Jon's actions were wrong and shocking, to say the least but he couldn't help feeling they were also provoked. Theon's insult about Jon's mother was the last straw for him and Ned understood that. Theon didn't know what he was talking about but still Ned couldn't stand the remark any more than Jon could.

After Catelyn started to calm, he started, "I understand what happen Cat, and that's why we are here but first, Luwin, how are the other boys?"

"Robb is just fine." Luwin began. "He was just knocked down. Jory has a nasty bruise on his neck, but he'll be fine. Theon is the worst, two broken fingers, broken jaw, a couple of cracked ribs I believe, and more than a few bruises of his own, but he will recover."

"Thank you Luwin. Rodrik what do you have to say?" Sir Rodrik seemed deep in thought before he spoke.

"My Lord, I agree with the lady that Snow should be punished firmly for his actions but, what's most concerning to me isn't why he did what he did, but how." That made Ned curious.

"Go on." Ned replied.

Rodrik sighed, "To be frank my Lord, Jon should not have been able to do what he did today…"

"Of course, he shouldn't have! We should have dealt with him long before today!" Catelyn interrupted.

"That isn't what I meant my Lady." Rodrik quickly responded. "Jon is just a boy and I have only trained him in basic forms so far. Yet from the moment Jon first attacked Theon out there, he displayed a level of skill I have never seen in him. The way he moved, his speed, how he anticipated Theon and Robb, or the way he disarmed Jory. What I just saw was nothing like the boy I know. He was like a completely different kind of fighter out there. He was stronger, faster, and fiercer than I have ever seen him before."

That gave Ned pause. He had been so consumed with the reason behind Jon's actions he hadn't considered the actions themselves. But now that he thought about it, it did seem quite impossible considering Robb, Theon, and Jory were all older and especially Jory were much bigger than Jon was, yet none of them seemed to be able to stop him. Jory was practically a man grown, and had even drawn a real sword on him, yet Jon just took it out of his hands like it was nothing.

Then he realized something else when he thought of the standoff between Jon and himself.

"He wasn't even winded." Ned said suddenly. Everyone turned to him as he spoke. "Afterwards, when he came to a halt, I hadn't noticed before, but his breathing was completely steady, and I didn't see a drop of sweat on him. It was like he wasn't the least bit fatigued after beating three older boys, even though he hasn't done any real training in the yard for these past few months. How is that possible?"

"Ned", Catelyn said, "You've heard the rumors about the boy. Disturbing to say the least, how he comes and goes throughout the castle like a ghost despite no one seeing him and staying up in that broken tower in the cold. Who knows what vile things the boy has been getting into?"

Lord Stark turned away at that, refusing to believe any of the ridiculous rumors about Jon. Ned responded. "Jon is not dabbling in any kind of magic or sorcery, he is not possessed or mad, and I will not hear of anyone else speaking otherwise. Is that understood?" They all nodded in understanding, but he could tell from the way they looked, some of them either believed these rumors, or they were starting to. Luckily Maester Luwin chose to be the voice of reason and voiced his own advice.

"My Lord, I agree with you that these rumors are not to be believed. It is likely that the answer to everything may be simpler than we think. Someone within the castle must be assisting the boy, although I can't imagine whom or to what purpose. But the way the boy comes and goes so easily, his indifference towards, well everyone it appears, even his sudden increase in skill. Perhaps someone has taken Jon under their wing, like a friend, or a mentor perhaps."

"You believe someone within my own household is teaching Jon to be this way?" asked Lord Stark.

The Maester simply shrugged as if he could not think of any way to respond.

"It would explain of few things my Lord." Rodrik said. "Jon couldn't have kept escaping from his chambers if someone wasn't helping him, as well as relocating his belongings to the tower, they might be bringing him food, so he doesn't have to attend meals, and it definitely explains his new found ability. Skills like that could only have been taught, not self-learned. It also explains where he's been going when he disappears. It must be to meet with this person, friend, whoever they are."

Cat had such a horrified look on her face as she spoke. "Someone is training him to under mind you Ned. Some enemy or traitor. They must be trying to use him to get to you or maybe even Robb."

"We don't know anything for sure Cat." Ned reassured her. "But still we have been watching Jon for months with no answers. Just so long as he is alive and well, inform everyone to stay away from him and give him space. If someone is training him or influencing him in any way, then I want them found."

"I WANT THEM FOUND NOW!" Ned shouted.

Lord Stark hardly ever raised his voice, but he was furious now.

Ned made his orders clear. "I want to begin accounting for everyone inside or even around Winterfell. The guards, the servants, travelers, the people living in Wintertown, everyone! If someone has any access to this castle or my children, I want to know who they are, where they're from, what they are doing here, everything. Go now."

Lord Stark looked out the window at the view of his castle and thought about the idea that someone could be here causing this strange behavior from Jon to occur. If that were true, all that needed to be done was to find whoever they were to make it stop. What he feared more was that Jon's own blood was influencing him to act this way. If that were the case, then he had no idea what could be done to help Jon. But no matter which he kept hearing Lyanna's words in his head.

Promise me Ned. Promise me.

****End of Flashback****


That day had never been far from his mind when he thought of Jon these past couple of years. They had strengthened security and accounted for everyone within Winterfell as well as Wintertown but in over two years they never found anyone that appeared suspicious. They certainly never found someone that might be meeting with Jon in secret. That only made the rumors about Jon grow further despite Ned's own attempts to stamp them out. Although he had to admit even though he still didn't believe them, he was starting to wonder.

In these past years things with Jon had not improved since that terrible day. Jon certainly had earned the moniker the people of Winterfell had bestowed upon him. He still disappeared without any trace for several days at a time to where and with whom even the Lord Stark himself did not know. It had happened so often that everyone simply ignored it now. But he had to admit there were many nights he stayed up wondering if Jon would return.

The only way they knew he was inside the castle anymore was when they saw light coming from the tower that Jon now resided in. Each night before he went to sleep, Ned made it a habit to go check if there was light coming from the tower to know Jon was there. The only way they had of knowing if Jon had truly left the castle was if one of the horses was missing. Which apparently Jon used to go hunting on his own, which Ned had to admit, impressed him as a father but also worried him knowing Jon was out there in the Wolfswood all alone.

A few times when a horse went missing Jon had been spotted returning with a deer, a bunch of rabbits, or whatever game he managed to catch. Ned had to admit Jon was proving to be an excellent hunter, and whenever he was spotted people gave him a wide berth, but he hadn't caused any trouble with anyone since. He always worried for Jon and had tried countless times to talk to him, but he never got many words out of Jon nor did Robb. Everyone else like Theon, just avoided him like he was some uninvited guest. Ned wished he could do something to change things, but Jon simply was unapproachable.

The whole situation made him feel like a failure as a father to Jon and as a brother to Lyanna.

"Ned", Cat brought him out of his thoughts, "supper is ready, and the children are waiting." He nodded and as they made their way toward the main hall together, he thought, not all the children.

He saw at the main table their children patiently waiting for their parents. Robb was seated to his right while Sansa was seated to the left of their mother. Arya and Bran were both seated on their mother side with their nurse. He felt bless to see them all healthy and happy, yet he also felt cursed to know that the one child in this whole castle he'd made a sacred vow to, he seemed to be failing. But at least the boy was still alive which is more than he could say for Jon's true siblings. Poor Rhaenys and Aegon, butchered in such a way had been beyond wrong, yet he had been helpless to stop it. Just as he now felt helpless now. But Ned hoped he could at least spare Jon such a fate, if the Gods will spare him his grandfathers' fate.

His thoughts were broken as one of his guards burst into the hall running up to him as he heard the bells being sounded. The alarm had been raised.

"Fire!" The guard bellowed. "The sept is burning my Lord."

"Men, outside with me." Lord Stark commanded. "Everyone else stay here."

They made their way outside into the courtyard and he saw a few men running with buckets. The sept was completely engulfed in flames. How did the fire get so big this fast? Lord Stark thought. Unless this wasn't an accident.

"Quickly men, get more buckets and water but make sure to keep the flames from spreading." Lord Stark said. Then he saw one of the guards off to the side holding Jon by the arm. He found it strange because everyone usually stayed away from Jon, but the boy wasn't resisting the guard like he usually would, he was just standing there. When the guard noticed him, he brought Jon over to him.

"My Lord." The guard began. "This is the one who started the fire."

He looked at Jon, not wanting to believe it.

"Is that true Jon?" he asked.

Jon just looked up at him smiling. "It's time, Lord Stark."