Winterfell
Solar
Lady Catelyn Stark nee Tully entered her husband's office, being one of the few people allowed to do it freely. She entered and saw Ned's eyes brighten at seeing her face..
'focus' she reminded herself.
"Lord Stark" she said.
Ned's eyes dimmed, though his expression betrayed nothing.
"How may I help you Cat?" he tried to defuse.
"Ned, have you ever thought about what would have been? if we weren't together? If all that never happened, happened?" she asked vaguely.
Ned was surprised by her words, a million thoughts swirled on his head and finally answered with the truth.
"Sometimes Cat" he sighed, for he knew that he may be many things but he was never meant to be a lord.
She nodded and continued.
"At first, I also wondered what if, what if I married Brandon? What would my life be like? And then-" she paused, recomposing herself "-then we had rob. And I never ever thought of the 'what ifs' ever again" she looked at him in the eyes, love overflowing from her, for her family, for her dear husband and she could see a small smile on her husband's face.
what a beautiful smile she let herself enjoy for a moment and then continued.
"And then… and then you brought jon" she said, feeling how the warm room felt cold, she pushed anyway.
"I tolerated, the Seven know that I endured and then-" now her words were laced with ice "-you brought them here" she looked at her husband's face, tired for what he saw coming.
"The Greyjoy kid I could understand and just barely, but the masked kid? another bastard? I confronted you then, I told you that Jon's existence was a risk, that true born children had been killed for less. I would have been okay if you fostered him far away from my sight. And then you brought two new problems at our door" she said, voice tired, as they had been having the same argument for years.
"Cat…"
"No Ned, let me finish. You told me that Sebastian wasn't your son, a poor boy who did not know how to speak or write the common tongue. And then… then he started working, he learned faster than normal kids, self-assigning himself as our butler, then he became our warden, Jon Poole resigned willingly to leave the kid the post. The negotiations, the deals, the money, the prestige, the small folk's love, half of the houses in the north had met him and had benefitted themselves for the things that he brought forth. The other half is waiting patiently for his visit."
She paused
"Now, look at me in the eyes and tell me-" she asked with tears in her eyes, aware that Ned's defences lowered whenever she cried "-Is he your son?".
"No" answered Ned, in the same way that he answered those years before
"Then prove it, let me see his face" she pleaded.
Ned shook his face "It's not my place to ask him that" he sighed, aware of the implications that Sebastian had with his own face.
Catelyn looked disappointed, knowing that a denial would be everything she would receive as an answer.
She got up, and looked him in the eyes.
"A letter from my family" she passed him a letter.
Ned looked at the letter and read it in silence.
Ned's brows creased.
"This is not true" he said
"Does it matter?" she asked and they both knew that in fact, it didn't.
Ned looked at her, and couldn't ask her, to deny the claims, for he had not been able to provide evidence for her, that sebastian was not his bastard.
Catelyn looked at her husband and said
"Put him on a leash" with venom on her mouth and leaving the room leaving ned alone in the solar
knock knock
"Come in"
Master ludwig entered the solar with letters on his hand
'By the old gods' ned thought
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Lord Stark,
I hear whispers and smell southern nonsense riding on them.
The boy has brought coin, grain, and work where there was little. Any lord who fears that should look to his own hall before questioning another man's worth.
If that is not enough, then we are all fools.
— Maege Mormont
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Lord Stark,
Rumor speaks of your warden taking a bride of Gerion Lannister's blood.
If false, it should be crushed. If true, it proves the danger of allowing a man of uncertain birth and face to grow unchecked.
Either way, the North should not be made to wonder.
— Rickard Karstark
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Lord Stark,
If the butler's is not your blood, then his choice of bride is poor judgment.
If he is, then the rumors were inevitable.
Either way, this union weakens the north.
— Barbrey Dustin
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Ned ,
Either your man is wedding a lion's kin or someone wants us thinking he is.
Both are problems.
Decide which it is. Either way, the Umber will stand by you.
— Greatjon Umber
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LordStark,
Masks are useful things. They allow men to be more than they seem.
Or less.
Stability is maintained when every man knows his place and face. I trust Winterfell will ensure this continues to be so.
— Roose Bolton
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Catelyn got back to her room and dried her tears.She looked at herself in the mirror, a beautiful red haired woman looked back, but all she could feel about her reflection was disgust.
"Family, Duty, Honor" she repeated while confirming in her mind that her silence was needed for the leash to be put on Sebastian's neck. For while useful, Rob needed a capable subordinate, not a dividing factor.
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A/N: I am not writing from my computer (sighes), mom tempted me with raviolis, and well, I couldnt say no (so i am writing/posting from the tabltet). Also, while I know that the previous chapter can be annoying, for me it was necessary: to flesh sansa more, not as stupid but not taught well. And to unmask sebastian a little bit, the fucker is not perfect and the only semblance of stability that he had for a while were the starks. This one I liked, because while I dont like catelyn, i can understand where she is coming from. She could easily quiet everything down with s letter to the tullys, but she wont, not for a while at least, or so she wants to think. Too much rant, sorry for that, like, review, send s stone, and yeah. And if you dont, thats totally fine, see ya!