[Chapter Size: 3400 Words.]
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Third Person POV
North, 297 AC.
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"You did this..." Ned could barely speak upon hearing all of it. Robb had recounted everything that had happened a decade ago, revealing the truth about what really happened with Jon.
'Promise me, Ned!' Lyanna's voice struck him like a blow as he heard it in his mind.
He couldn't believe how blind and foolish he had been. He had spent the past year investigating something about his wife, but in the end, he hadn't come close to uncovering what his son had just told him. Despite the storm of confusion in his mind, he turned to his son with a complicated gaze.
"Do you have any idea what you've done, Robb?" Ned asked in a stern tone. Robb lowered his head at the question.
"I... I'm sorry..." was all Robb could muster.
"Do you have any idea what you've done, Robb?" Ned repeated, raising his voice louder than he intended as his emotions surged uncontrollably.
"..." Robb couldn't respond.
At that moment, the door opened, and Jory entered cautiously. Ned was staring at his son with an intense gaze, but then turned to Jory.
"Return to the guard. I'm speaking with my son," he said in a dry tone.
Jory simply nodded and closed the door without saying another word, having noticed the fury radiating from the Lord of Winterfell.
Ned then turned back to his son. Now it was just the two of them. "I can understand that you were just a child back then. And, though I'm deeply disappointed, I'm still trying to understand. But you hid this for all these years! That anger you had toward Jon... I remember the times you insulted him. You refused his gift so long ago, you avoided speaking about him in recent years! And all this while you carried this guilt? I thought you were a man, a Stark of Winterfell!" Ned declared with frustration.
Robb, once again, said nothing. His father's last words felt like a dagger to his heart. But Ned was right, and Robb knew it. He felt ashamed, unable to meet his father's gaze.
"You know you not only committed a crime against your own blood but also a grave political offense! A crime against a king, Robb. A king of a realm beyond the Wall who could easily invade us. You're well aware of what they did to the royal fleet and the Redwyne fleet. And now the storm rests with me and with you, Robb. Do you understand how this could harm all of the North? Especially with you as its heir!" Ned said, his voice laden with frustration. It wasn't just Robb who would face Jon's wrath—Ned feared he might be a target as well.
"But he wouldn't do anything with you here... right?" Robb murmured cautiously.
"I won't be here forever, Robb. And I'm not even sure I can hold him back now. You should have told me this years ago! What was it? Jealousy? Resentment? What caused this in you?" Ned asked, his eyes piercing into his son, waiting for an answer.
"I..." Robb murmured. "I was ashamed. I'm sorry..." he muttered again, his tone bitter.
"You're aware that no one in the North insults Jon anymore as they did many years ago, aren't you? After what happened in the southern seas? After he defeated Robert Baratheon? After 16,000 men vanished beyond the Wall, with none returning for over a year? Everyone fears him! And people know it. Do you understand that no one in the North would accept you as Lord of Winterfell if they discovered you committed a grave crime against a king of a foreign power, already at war with Westeros? If Jon wanted war against the King, we'd be the first ones struck. Is that what you want, Robb?" Ned concluded, his voice thick with indignation and anger.
"Father, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for this... I don't know what else to say. What should I do?" Robb murmured after spending a week haunted by his sister's words. He was lost.
"We'll deal with this first." Ned seemed to exhale slightly, though his inner turmoil was still evident.
'Don't touch me, you bastard!'
'You lied to me my entire life.'
'I was condemned to a life of ostracism by your wife and everyone in this castle, thanks to your lie.'
'And even if you wanted to hide me, you could have sent me to another house. But you kept me here, knowing what I endured within these walls.'
Jon's memories in the crypt began to flood Lord Stark's mind, as Jon's words struck him like a bolt of lightning.
The Lord of Winterfell sighed before turning back to his son and raising his voice again. "I want to know every single name of the guards and servants who were complicit in this," he demanded.
Despite the rare fury in his father's eyes, Robb swallowed hard and began to speak, listing the names.
Ned listened attentively to each name before heading to the door as soon as his son finished.
"Jory." Ned called his guard, who had been waiting outside and entered cautiously, having heard the shouting from earlier. Lord Stark looked at his son one last time before addressing Jory.
"I need you to find two guards in particular: Ronan and Darric. They've been working at Winterfell for a long time. I remember Darric being transferred to Riverrun, but I need confirmation on that. As for Ronan, I don't recall him clearly," Ned murmured.
"Yes, Lord Stark. I can confirm Darric was transferred over five years ago. Ronan, however, is still serving in the guard, patrolling the walls," Jory informed him.
"Good. I want you to place him in the dungeons immediately," Ned ordered flatly.
"Hm?!" Jory seemed surprised by the command. For a moment, he hesitated, but he saw that Ned was serious. "May I know the charge, Lord Stark?"
"Not yet, but they will be judged fairly soon. For now, just do as I say. Understood?" Ned stared at him firmly, and the man immediately nodded and left.
After Jory departed, Ned looked at Robb again. "What angers me the most is your mother's behavior. How could she treat a child like that?" he said, frustrated.
"What will happen to her, Father?" Robb murmured, feeling a pang of guilt for what his mother might face now that his father knew the truth.
"I don't know yet, son. But she'll have to answer for what happened," he said sternly. Turning back to his son, he continued, "It's better for us to handle this justly than to face a king seeking vengeance and marching on the North in the coming years. Tell me, Robb... do you want to face Jon's wrath?" Ned asked, nearly spitting the words in his son's face.
'Your nephew has a giant dragon, and not even the Wall could stop him.'
Robb lowered his head, frustrated by the gravity of the consequences.
"Now, I want you to leave. But before you go, do something for me," Ned said seriously.
Meanwhile, Arya was sewing with Mearin, her sister, her mother, and her friends in their usual place. She had promised to do so earlier that morning after bathing Nymeria.
Now she sat there, her expression showing her boredom as she stitched beside Mearin. She limited herself to listening to the frivolous chatter as Sansa and her friends gossiped about the Seven Kingdoms, knights, and tournaments. The girls spoke of heroic deeds, oblivious to the bloodshed that underpinned each of the battles they romanticized so unrealistically.
"I saw the dress you wore when you bathed that wolf. It was so beautiful! How could you do that, Lady Arya?" Jenny Poole suddenly asked, her curiosity piqued as she tried to start a conversation.
Arya turned her attention to her without hesitation. "I have plenty of dresses like that. I don't care. I wear them, get them dirty, sometimes even burn or tear them. It doesn't matter when they're endless," Arya replied bluntly.
The girls around her fell silent, shocked by the harshness of her words. They exchanged glances, trying to comprehend how she could speak so plainly and, to them, so insensitively.
"Arya, stop speaking about your clothes like that! That's not how a lady should behave!" her mother exclaimed immediately.
"A Lady of Winterfell can be delicate and sharp, like a winter rose," Arya responded calmly.
"You are not a Lady of Artica! I've told you that all week!" Suddenly, Catelyn Stark snapped, her patience reaching its limit after hearing the same words day after day. Even Sansa and her friends stopped their activities, staring at the Lady of Winterfell in surprise.
But Arya did not lower her head at her mother's words. "That's who I am, Mother. You can't change that," Arya replied calmly, as though unaffected by her mother's irritation.
Catelyn knew she was at her breaking point. All week, she had tried to remain patient with her daughter, who had spent so much time away from home. She had tolerated the dismissal of Septa Mordane, avoided discussing Ned's bastard, and endured Arya's daily fighting, training with men outside the castle, and carrying a sword at her waist. But it seemed her tolerance was nearing its end. After the argument the day before, Catelyn felt as though she was on the verge of losing control.
"I've sent a letter to your grandfather. You will spend a few years in Riverrun under my father's and brother's care. There, you will learn to be a lady," Catelyn said firmly, causing Arya to look at her in rare surprise. Even Sansa glanced at their mother, equally astonished.
"What are you saying, Mother? Where did this come from?" Arya didn't explode but asked calmly, though her incredulity was evident. She struggled to maintain control over herself. Even Sansa seemed confused by their mother's declaration.
Neither Arya nor Sansa knew that Catelyn had been exchanging letters with a 'friend' in King's Landing. This friend had suggested that Arya be sent to the Vale, to live under the care of Lysa Arryn, Catelyn's sister. The idea was that this might nurture Arya's femininity and curb the wildness she had acquired while living among the "savages."
However, Catelyn hadn't thought that was the best option. She believed Arya would be better raised far from the North's influences, so she chose Riverrun instead. Under her father's and brother's tutelage and by visiting the castles of the Riverlands, Arya could become a true lady of Westeros.
"Does Father know about this?" Arya asked, maintaining her composure. Her question made Catelyn flinch slightly. Jill and Buri, standing outside the room guarding the door, weren't present to witness this. Otherwise, they might have taken Catelyn's words as a direct insult to the honor of the Princess of Artica, by trying to take her away from Winterfell against her will.
"I will speak to him later. The decision is made. You will become an extraordinary lady, more than you already are," Catelyn said firmly. However, Arya's stunned expression did not go unnoticed by anyone.
Mearin, sitting beside Arya, was equally shocked, awaiting her friend's response. Sansa and the other girls also remained silent, observing the scene. Arya, however, merely sighed, shook her head, and looked at her mother seriously.
"You can't control me, Mother. I'm not your Sansa, someone you can easily manipulate," Arya said, her voice calm and controlled.
Sansa turned, shocked by the comment, while Arya continued, turning toward her sister: "Don't take offense, but it's true. You act foolishly sometimes. Good luck trying to become Queen of Westeros."
Arya shrugged and turned her gaze back to her mother. "My answer is no. And if you insist on this, Jon will invade the North — even Riverrun — to come for me. Do you doubt that?" she challenged, her gaze firm.
"Don't speak as if those bast—" Catelyn began, but she couldn't finish her sentence as the door opened, revealing Buri.
"Is there a problem here? I thought I heard someone about to insult my king. That would be... unfortunate," he remarked calmly, while Catelyn seemed to tremble with a spasm of rage at his words.
"You have no right to enter!" she began to say, but the man interrupted her.
"Before your little show, Lady Catelyn, your son is here to see you, Lady of Winterfell. It seems rather urgent," he said with a hint of mockery, something he always did subtly. Catelyn held her gaze on him for a moment before turning away. She approached the door and saw Robb standing before Arya's guards, his expression weary and cautious. This immediately concerned Catelyn.
"Is something wrong, son?" she murmured, momentarily forgetting the earlier commotion as she moved closer, instinctively checking to see if he was hurt or otherwise unwell.
Robb shook his head. "No, but Father wants to speak with you in his solar," he said as Catelyn studied him for a moment.
"Does it have to be now?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yes, it's quite serious."
With that, Catelyn agreed. "Tell my daughters I'll be back shortly," she instructed Jill, as Robb turned to leave.
"Mother..." Robb began, but before she could go, he looked at her with a mix of pity and caution. He still loved her, despite everything. Catelyn looked at him, confused.
"I'm sorry," was all he said before disappearing from view, leaving Catelyn uneasy. Without another word, she made her way to her husband's solar.
Upon arrival, she saw only one guard at the door, who promptly opened it for her. As she entered the solar, she found Ned writing a letter. Her eyes, however, were drawn immediately to the wine glass on the table.
"Ned, what is this? Are you drinking?" she murmured, stunned. For a moment, she thought she was dreaming; her husband never drank.
"The situation is complicated. Perhaps a drink will help me stay steady in the coming minutes, Catelyn. I'm not one to drink, but maybe I need it right now," he said simply, as Catelyn trembled at his words, unable to believe how strange her husband was acting or what might be happening.
"What is this, Ned? What does this mean?" she asked, clearly seeking answers, feeling that something very serious was about to unfold. He sighed, writing one more line on the letter before turning his attention to her.
"This is a letter for your father. You'll be returning to Riverrun." As he said this, Catelyn stood in shock, unable to speak. But Ned wasn't finished. He picked up another letter and placed it on the table.
"This is a letter I wrote while you were on your way here. It's a letter that finalizes our divorce. I'll be sending it to the king and the High Septon, now located in King's Landing, so that we no longer have anything binding us together."
"Ned, what is this? What does this mean? Why are you doing this?" she repeated, tears beginning to stream down her face. Her world felt like it was crumbling beneath her feet. Shock after shock, each word from her husband struck her like a hammer, and she couldn't comprehend what was happening or the reasons behind his actions.
"Let's start, then. After all, you accused Jon of a crime that never existed, more than ten years ago," Ned said, his voice filled with deep pain. He knew his relationship with his wife had been strained for years. They didn't even share a bed anymore, yet it was still painful to do this to the mother of his five children. However, it was something that needed to be done. He had to fix the chaos created by Catelyn and Robb, not to mention Theon, whom he would deal with later.
Meanwhile, in Wintertown, a group of men were drinking. They were Stark guards who worked night shifts patrolling the castle walls and were now enjoying their time off. The tavern was quiet this morning, a welcome break after a long night's work at the castle.
A few prostitutes from the nearby brothel were in the tavern, looking for daytime clients. The men laughed as some of the women sat on their laps, still dressed warmly against the cold weather. The mood was jovial as they drank and joked, until the tavern door swung open.
At that moment, a group of armed Winterfell guards entered the tavern, led by Jory Cassel. The lively atmosphere immediately died.
"Captain of the guard, Jory!" one of the men exclaimed, surprised.
"Hello, Larm," Jory replied, turning to one of the guards.
"Is there a problem, sir? We're on leave... We didn't expect you to show up with armed men," Larm asked cautiously, studying his superior.
"I'm here under orders from Lord Stark of Winterfell. I'm here to arrest Ronan, one of the guards," Jory declared, fixing his gaze on his target, who sat at one of the tables and immediately turned pale.
"What? What is this, sir?" Ronan asked, stunned.
"You are under arrest and must come with us to the dungeons of Winterfell until Lord Stark summons you. Don't worry, you will receive a fair trial. That said, we still don't know exactly what you've done to enrage Lord Stark. He will announce your crime soon," Jory explained.
The guards quickly moved to apprehend Ronan. The other men on leave watched the scene in stunned silence. Some protested mildly, as Ronan was still their comrade, but there was no choice. They could only watch as Jory and his men led the man away.
"I know you're angry," Jory said, addressing the remaining guards before leaving. "But this is Lord Stark's judgment, and we must respect it. Don't worry; he is fair, and soon we'll know what really happened."
With that, Jory departed with his men.
Elsewhere in the castle, some servants were working in the storerooms alongside the castle steward, Vayon Poole. Everything seemed calm until another group of guards marched into the area.
"Is something wrong? What's going on here?" Poole asked cautiously, seeing at least eight Stark guards approaching. They looked ready for a fight, their hands resting on their swords.
"We're here to arrest a servant, Tobin Greaves. Lord Stark demands he be taken to the dungeons before his trial. We don't yet know the crime, but Lord Stark will announce it in the coming days," the squad leader announced.
At this, all the servants were struck with fear. Poole watched as one of them was apprehended.
"Hey, what is this about? Why are you arresting me? What have I done?" Tobin shouted.
The servant fell into a panic, screaming and begging for help, but there was nothing anyone could do. He was dragged away to the castle dungeons, while the remaining servants looked on, terrified and confused.
The castle was abuzz with shock as yet another guard was escorted out. Jory led the group, placing the night guard into the dungeon as well. Everyone was left wondering what was happening. But what stunned them even more were the shouts echoing from the upper floors of the castle.
Catelyn was yelling at Ned, and he matched her tone with equal fury. Everyone in the castle and courtyard froze, alarmed at what could be happening. No one was allowed to enter the lord's solar, but the raised voices were audible to all, revealing a verbal confrontation between the Lord and Lady of Winterfell unlike anything they had ever witnessed.
Even the couple's children watched the scene with a mix of fear and uncertainty—except Arya, who merely sighed. She already knew exactly what was unfolding. Her gaze shifted to Robb, who stood in the courtyard looking up at the window, guilt written plainly across his face.
Arya allowed herself a small, tight smile, as if holding on to a sliver of hope that her brother's situation could still be resolved and that justice would prevail.
Meanwhile, Robb remained there, overwhelmed with guilt over everything that had transpired. He wondered if he would ever be able to forgive himself for the chaos he had caused. One thing had become clear—there was no turning back for his mother.
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Raccoon Here:
I have a strong feeling that I've dealt with this servant before... but I can't remember...
-------------Nexts Chapters ----------------
Chapter 226 - The Council in Kingslanding.
Chapter 231 - The She-Wolf of the North 01.
Chapter 241 - Vaes Dothraki.
Chapter 250 - Threat from the North.
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