Ned's arrival at Riverrun had been delayed due to the Lannister forces. They had stopped twice at towns taken by Lannister men and found themselves chased by another small group that had nearly slain Ned before Gendry knocked the man off his horse, leaving the man unconscious for one of the Fellowship to end with an arrow. The rest were swiftly slain by the Night's Watch Recruits, who had been gathering arms along with them as they moved north. Only two had to be killed when one tried to flee and another tried to slay Yoren in his sleep.
Normally Yoren might have joined Ned in entering Riverrun, but if any were in their cells they would have been prisoners of war too valuable to send to the Wall. Instead he said farewell to the lord, vowing to give his words to his brother and return with any news on his next journey south. Having already skipped many a keep while speeding south, he would take his time visiting others throughout the north, meaning he wouldn't head to Winterfell, but Ned could write there himself now he was safe.
Lothar Mallery led the group that rode with Ned and Gendry to meet with Edmure and the men of the Riverlands. Once Edmure handed him the purse of silvers, he waved a hand and Ned looked to Harwin. "Are you certain?"
"My place is here for now," Harwin nodded. "I'm certain of that at least."
"Your father would've been proud." Ned gave the man and all those who helped him a nod. "I can't thank you all enough."
When he and Gendry passed Lothor Mallery the man gave him a smile. "Be well, Lord Stark."
Edmure greeted Ned with a smile. "Welcome back, good brother. Who are your companions?"
Ned nodded. "This is Gendry. He's served as a squire of sorts during our trip." He motioned to the portly knight bound to his horse being handed to the Riverrun guards by a man of the Fellowship. "That is Amory Lorch. A prisoner I picked up along the way. I intend to keep him in the cells of Winterfell. I hoped you could hold him until then."
"Of course. We still have room in ours. Come," the Tully said turning his horse back to Riverrun, "your daughters await."
They rode into Riverrun where many had gathered to see the Stark lord's return, though Ned was sad to hear of his son and wife's departures. He'd hoped to find both when he returned, but his daughters were a relief to see safe within the walls of Riverrun. He also noticed Syrio stood beside Arya and Jeyne stood with Sansa.
Once they were inside and came to a stop, Gendry hopped from his horse and moved to help Ned down. It was mostly out of habit now, as Ned's leg hadn't been bothering him too much apart from random pains every now and then. Once he was on the ground he took a breath and looked to his daughters, smiling as he moved forward and held out his arms enough to spark them running to him. Arya was the first to reach him, leaping into his arms while Sansa stopped in front of him as though to wait her turn. Ned had none of that, grabbing her and pulling her close so he could kiss the crown of their heads.
"Thank the gods you're okay," he said before releasing them.
Arya had been so proud as they stood waiting that she hadn't started to go glassy eyed like her sister. Now that she saw her father so skinny and gaunt she found it harder, but the moment she saw a tear slip from Ned's eyes she felt herself break and shot forward again to hug him. Ned chuckled, rubbing her back while Sansa smiled at him, holding his other hand.
"Mother and Robb wanted to be here," she told him while Arya backed away and sniffled.
"I'll see them when they return," Ned said confidently. "I'm happy enough seeing you two safe." His eyes then drifted up to where he saw six wolves standing where they had been. One was unmistakably Ghost, yet the others left him confused. "Is that Nymeria?"
Arya beamed and nodded. "We found her near the Gods Eye. Her and her pack."
"Except for that one," Sansa said pointing to the small one with streaks of black in gray fur. "He returned with her a sennight back."
"Ghost returned with some of the men from the group that brought you," said Arya. "They met with Robb and left Ghost here."
Ned nodded, smiling somberly at the returned direwolf before looking to Sansa and kissing her forehead, feeling even worse for having slain Lady. "I should see the maester," Ned said standing straight. "It's been some time since one checked my leg."
They took him to Maester Vyman who checked over his leg while they told him of their trek with Dom and Syrio. The instructor had kept his role under Robb's command, teaching Arya all he could while they stayed in Riverrun. Speaking with the man, Ned found he was committed to teaching his daughter all he could, where it was mattered little.
Ned had been intending to depart for Winterfell, but Vyman seemed suspicious of the lingering pain Ned felt so asked him to stay. He's considered the possibility that Pycelle had set the leg wrong, so wrote to Bran and Rickon that he would come once he was sure his leg was fine. Vyman had mentioned the possibility they may need to re-break it, but assured Ned it would only be in the most extreme of cases.
It gave Ned time to learn all he could of what had been happening from his daughters and Edmure while thinking on what he would need to do going forward.
It wasn't until they slew the Lannister guards that returned with Cleos Frey and failed to release him that Ned finally went to meet Jaime. Edmure seemed wary, afraid he may kill the Kingslayer, but Ned assured him of his desire only to speak. Edmure joined him at first, telling the guard to depart and return only when Ned left, giving him time to speak alone with Jaime.
Upon seeing him stood in the dark cell, Jaime laughed and shook his head. "Lord Stark."
"You're Joffrey's father," Ned said.
Jaime raised his chin slightly, noting it wasn't really a question. "Why ask when you've clearly decided the truth?"
"You sister told me the truth," Ned revealed, "or should I say lover."
Jaime turned his head and closed his eyes, silently cursing Cersei for her stupidity before looking to Ned. "Joffrey is mine, as are the rest of her brood, I suppose."
"And Bran's fall was your doing as well?"
Jaime simply tilted his head and smiled.
"Will you not answer?"
"Why should I answer your questions? I gain nothing from it. It's not as though you're to kill me if I don't. You'll trade me soon enough."
"For whom? The only one left at King's Landing is Jon," said Ned. He noted the flicker of concern that came to Jaime's smug face. "Robb will never trade you for him now he's betrayed us."
Jaime's brow furrowed. "He betrayed you?"
"Answer my question," said Ned, "and I will answer yours."
Jaime stared at him, laughing as he realized what the lord had done. Sinking back against the wall he nodded. "I pushed him. He came upon Cersei and I, spying through the window, so I pushed him."
Ned's hands balled tightly, wanting to beat the man until his golden hair was soaked red, but he had promised Edmure not to touch him. Instead he took a moment to calm himself. "All because he saw you?"
Jaime simply shrugged. "That was one answer, if we ignore the first."
After a moment Ned nodded. "Jon spoke to the court asking for mercy but spoke of my deserving punishment. When Joffrey ordered him to flog me, he did as commanded."
"You think because he doesn't risk his life for you he has betrayed you?" Jaime scoffed.
"He made clear where his loyalty lies," said Ned, remembering what he'd heard. "He spoke of Robert giving him what I never did by knighting him, allowing him a chance at a better life rather than one wasted in the cold at the Wall. Of how I let him suffer under a woman who made clear her dislike for him."
Jaime laughed at that. "Your wife must have been awful to make him turn on you. And yet you and every fool who followes you will still blame him, I'm sure."
"Jon is still young and doing what he thinks best," Ned said carefully. "He'll come around and return to us."
"Ah, but the North remembers," said Jaime. "What's to stop some spiteful lord wanting to grovel at your feet from running a dagger through his gut and letting him die for your sake?"
"Their loyalty to me."
"A man who failed at his coup, putting his own daughters at risk?" Jaime nodded sarcastically. "What a great man you are, Lord Stark. They should all strive to be as honorable as you, the man who threw a newly knighted boy against the Mountain. To think that boy thought of you as a father. But of course now that you say he's betrayed you, they'll ignore him just as you did." Jaime laughed bitterly. "What fools they are to think you somehow honorable. Perhaps you were meant for King's Landing after all, Lord Stark."
King's Landing had taken Ned's honor. He had lied to save Jon again and again, and would do so a thousand times more if he could. Honor mattered little to those of the south. Ned wondered if that was why Jaime had thrown his away. "Do you even regret it?"
"Regret what?" asked Jaime.
"Pushing Bran."
Jaime was quiet for a moment. "I wish he wasn't there. I wish he hadn't seen it." His gaze turned to Ned then. "But then I also wish we'd never come north. At times I wish your wife hadn't driven Jon away, and then at others I'm glad she did."
Ned knew Jon had grown close to this man for some reason. His face had grown solemn whenever Jaime was mentioned upon their return to King's Landing, but he knew from what Jon had written to his children he looked up to the Kingslayer. To think the man who had pushed Bran could speak of Jon with the tone of a friend and mentor was surprising.
"Do you care for Jon?"
"You've asked four," Jaime said, shifting uncomfortably.
"And you answered three," said Ned, moving closer. "Do care for Jon?"
Jaime winced as he looked past the lantern Ned held to find his face and met the lord's eyes. "He's a good knight. He deserves better than to suffer for your mistakes."
Ned knelt to be near a level with Jaime, still just out of range for him to attack. "Do you ever regret what you did?"
"What I did?" Jaime asked confused. "I never did anything to the boy."
"Do you ever regret slaying Aerys?"
"The Mad King?" Jaime scoffed. He shook his head and looked away for a moment, then saw Ned kept his gaze on him, looking sincere in his question. "No. Never. He was…" Jaime paused, shaking his head and sighing. "Would you regret slaying a man who burned others alive? Cooked them in their armor, and then would go to take his wife as she screamed for help you couldn't give because it is your duty to guard a king from enemies and not his family from him? To slay a man who hoped to burn the city rather than let Robert have it? He ordered Rossart to ignite the wildfire he had stashed to destroy the city and every life within, then ordered me to bring him the head of my father. Instead I slew his pyromancer, slit his throat and handed over the throne to someone I hoped might be better, but proved to be as much a fool as Aerys was mad."
"And what of Elia Martell and her children?" Ned asked grimly.
"I had no hand in that," Jaime said firmly, sitting forward, unwilling to accept the blame for that. "I never wanted them hurt. I… They never deserved that."
His desperate tone surprised Ned, but gave him hope. "That's what you regret, isn't it? Their deaths."
Jaime's brow knit, shaking his head as he slid back. "What of it? What would that matter?"
"It would mean you're not a soulless monster," said Ned. It meant he might be of use.
Moments passed in silence before Jaime looked to him. "I never thought he'd hurt them."
"Yet you say you saw such horrors."
"Aerys' horrors," said Jaime, "but it wasn't him who killed them, he only kept them prisoner."
"Would you have stopped Clegane if you had been there? Would you have killed Lorch if you saw him drag the princess from her bed? Would you slay your father had you heard him give the command?"
Jaime stared at Ned as the lord rose and left the cell, leaving Jaime to think alone. That night he couldn't stop the nightmares from coming, nor any of the nights to follow.
Ned hated the man for what he'd done to Bran, but he had cast aside his honor for Jon's survival and bore shame for Jon's cause. Perhaps he was strong enough to cast aside vengeance as well, if Jaime could help him survive where Ned couldn't.
As much as he wanted to go be with his sons in Winterfell, the more he began to look and feel like his old self the more he wanted to ride alongside Robb. Robb may have been crowned King in the North, but Ned would still be Lord of Winterfell, making it his duty to lead the northern forces for his son.
Perhaps it was that desire to be of use that made it so frustrating watching Edmure try to lead. He wanted to include himself more, but knew so little of their plans he might be a hindrance. He couldn't know the blunder it was sending Roose Bolton to join Helman Tallhart in heading south to retake Harrenhal.
Catelyn returned before Robb, her grim expression giving way to tears as she saw him and dismounted to embrace her husband. "Ned," she wept into his shoulder as he rubbed her back. Finally she stepped back and wiped her eyes, turning to greet her daughters.
Ned found some solace in Catelyn that night, but that strained as they spoke of all they'd been through since seeing one another.
"I never thought Petyr would lie to me," Catelyn said frowning. "I just don't understand why he would."
"To have you do as you did," said Ned. "He knew how Tywin would react if we went after Tyrion. Whatever his game, you played into it by taking him."
Catelyn sat up beside him grimacing. "It must be King's Landing. It's changed them."
"Maybe," Ned said seeing she needed to believe that. "Either way, you can't trust him or your sister. We need to at least consider them as potnetial enemies."
"Lysa wouldn't go against us or Robb."
"If Robb decided he needed the Vale and went to siege the Eyrie to get it, would you go against him?" Ned asked turning to look at his wife, seeing her lower her gaze, he sighed. "She is your sister, but you no longer know her, Cat."
"So I've lost a sister and a friend?"
"A sister and an admirer," Ned said bitterly. "Or have you forgotten how he challenged Brandon for your hand?" Catelyn hadn't, but she didn't like to think on it. "Whatever he felt for you lingers."
"But you say he is likely with Lysa?"
"To have one sister when he can't have the other," said Ned. "It wouldn't be hard to convince her to lay with him. The way Jon described her she seemed obsessed with him."
Catelyn let out a small snort. "And you trust his word so readily?"
"No more than you ignore what you know," Ned said firmly. "You know your sister mad, you know Baelish a liar, and yet you think Jon lies? Do you hate him so much you would step into flames if he warned you they burned?"
"You act as if he is you, but he lies to a court of liars and goes unnoticed."
Ned threw their furs aside and grabbed his clothes. "I thought I had wed a woman, not a petulant girl."
"Ned," she started, wincing as he left wearing his small clothes, slamming the door behind him.
That wasn't the last time he found himself fed up with her and leaving to get air, but after each they would make up. He couldn't bear a grudge against her. Being with her was too much a relief for him after so long apart.
Dom was the first to tell Ned the truth of what happened to Jon when he rode against Gregor Clegane. Ned had been regretting the choice ever since he heard what happened from Varys, even before that in moments, but now he wasn't sure. Jon had suffered surely, but had also done the impossible twice over. He still wished Jon hadn't died, but was glad he had so many witness the truth of him now that his own word was lesser.
Ned decided he would stay in Riverrun to await Robb's return while Catelyn took their daughters back to Winterfell. He was a day from seeing them off when Vyman came to them with the grim news of not only the loss of Winterfell but of their sons as well. He had grown so used to pretending one betrayal mattered it felt odd to have another that did.
"I'll leave for the Dreadfort by nightfall," Dom told them, rising from his seat as Catelyn wept into Ned's chest.
"Ser Domeric-"
"I will avenge your sons, my lord," Dom said, his fist pressed into the table.
Ned smiled and shook his head. "No." He looked to Catelyn and his girls. "You three will stay here while I ride north with Ser Domeric."
"Ned-"
"I am the Lord of Winterfell," Ned said firmly. "My son is the King in the North. I will rally any who remain and reclaim our son's kingdom, and see Theon and all who aided him meet justice."
Robb felt like the gods were on their side as he swept into the Westerlands, taking castles and gold mines. He was sure Tywin would come for him, allowing them to surround him in his own lands and end the war. Taking the Crag was just another step, one he did with Grey Wind and his personal guard at his side when he came through the gates while Smalljon Umber and Black Walder Frey led the men who scaled the walls.
An arrow had nearly hit his arm, but Torrhen Karstark had stepped in the way, crying out in pain as it pierced his side. Having his brother guard him, Robb led the charge with Grey Wind tearing through the Westerling men until they surrendered to the might of the North and Riverlands.
Torrhen laughed off the wound despite needing to stay off his feet for a time. It seemed all felt invincible until news came of Theon taking Winterfell and mounting the heads of Bran and Rickon on it's walls.
When he heard it Robb excused himself, storming through the castle until he found a secluded place within the godswood of the castle. Grey Wind kept a distance as Robb drew his sword and slashed at one of the trees as hard as he could. He did it again and again, until his hand was numb and then kept hitting it.
Finally it was too much and he dropped the sword, holding his hand open now that it hurt near as much as his chest. The sword was chipped and twisted into uselessness, but he picked it up once it no longer felt like a thousand needles pierced his hand. When he went to leave the woods he found the tall, dark haired Dacey Mormont leaning against a tree with her head down, clearly left to guard him despite Grey Wind being there. He could understand it though, they were in an enemy castle.
Seeing his battered sword, Dacey offered him a sympathetic smile. "I imagine you'll need a new sword, your grace?"
Robb snorted. "Depends on who I'm meant to face. Theon would deserve the pain of a beheading by this blade."
"Then shall we keep it for that day?" Dacey asked, holding out her hand to take it from him.
Robb nodded, handing it off as he made his way to the chambers he'd commandeered. "Did I miss anything else?"
"No, that was all of import."
"Stannis, Balon and now this," Robb sighed. "Will Robert Arryn claim for king next?"
"Would they call him the Suckling King?"
Robb chuckled, shaking his head as his smile quickly faded. Arriving at his room he noticed the guards kept their distance to give him space to grieve, allowing only he and his companions to pass.
"I trusted him as much as any I fought beside," Robb told her. "I thought him a brother. We all did, making him as much a kinslayer as he is a turncoat."
Looking to her king, Dacey wore a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry you've had to face such tragedy, losing your brothers one after the other, two in betrayal and two in blood. It's awful."
Robb turned to her as he opened his door. "No. I still have one."
Dacey arched her brow, then frowned. "Snow? Robb, you've heard-"
"It's a lie," Robb told her firmly. "Jon isn't like that, he's not a turncoat. He's always been loyal to us. He's not like Theon. He never was. He told me to be careful around him." Robb turned and punched the threshold of his room, "I should have taken his head the day Jon told me not to trust him."
Dacey furrowed her brow, glancing over her shoulder before looking to Robb and asking him, "Is Jon still loyal to you?" She watched his eyes widen, realizing what he'd said before turning to look at her, his expression making it clear enough she gasped. "It's a trick?"
Robb pulled her into his room, the battered sword falling from her hand as she turned to see him slam the door, leaving Grey Wind standing guard. "Dacey, you can't tell anyone," Robb said half pleading half demanding. "He's already putting himself at risk being there. Without him my father might still be in King's Landing."
She put a hand to her mouth, thinking of all the awful things she'd said of Jon along with everyone else. If he was truly on their side, working within the shadows of the lion's den, then they should all be ashamed to think such awful things of him. He wasn't some craven born of sin and given to avarice, he was risking his life in his own way.
"I didn't know," she said full of regret. "None did."
"You can't tell," said Robb. "No matter what, no one can know. The only who do are my family and those loyal to Jon."
Dacey nodded before furrowing her brow. "Loyal to him?"
Robb winced, feeling like he was losing it all. He looked at the eldest of Maege Mormont's daughters and thought that she of any would be loyal to them. She wasn't boisterous like some of the others, or like to betray them as the Freys. "The men he rode with against Gregor Clegane, the Fellowship of Fire? They're all loyal to him. They act as he told them to. As my father traveled North it was on his command they kidnapped and freed him to us. It's on his command they aid the Riverlands and rob the Lannisters."
"Why would he go back?"
"They said it was to save my father and find allies where I can't," Robb told her. "He's always been loyal to us. Even my mother, knowing he did so for us, still worried he meant to betray us. And it was Theon. The one I trusted despite everything both her and Jon said." Robb laughed bitterly. "How will any follow me when I'm such a fool to miss what they saw? If I'd listened then my brothers would still be alive."
"Robb," she said placing a hand on his shoulder and offering him a smile when he looked to her, "lord or king, you're a man. Men make mistakes. Women too. We all do, but your mistake doesn't make you the one who slew them. We all have choices, and it is our burden to bear them, but to take the burden of another is folly. You didn't make Theon a turncoat and a coward, he chose to be one. I don't think you could be a coward if you tried."
Robb kept his gaze on her, nodding as she spoke. "Maybe if I try hard enough."
Dacey laughed. "Maybe, but even then, I know it would be for a good reason. We all believe in you, Robb. Don't let a coward ruin you."
Robb nodded, his chest a swirl as he felt his eyes sting for half a second before feeling like he wanted to go ruin another sword. He reached up to pat her hand on his shoulder, his hand lingering on hers a moment, their eyes meeting before he reached for her head as she leaned in to catch his lips.
He'd always pictured himself with women shorter than him, so it was odd being with one taller than him by a bit. She was lanky, her long legs wrapping tight around him as she brought him into her. Robb felt a boy with her, figuring out things while she guided him along. His hunger and aggression was more than enough to make up for his lack of skill, which would surely come in time. It didn't hurt that he barely paused before going again, having more he needed to release.
Before long they lay together enjoyably exhausted, though that faded quickly as sense returned to Robb. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me."
"Don't be," Dacey said with a shrug. "It was enjoyable and we both needed it."
"You needed that?" Robb asked curiously. Watching her nod he sat up and looked down. "I still shouldn't have done that. I've dishonored you."
Dacey sat up with her brow arched. "Dishonored me?" Dacey laughed. "Your grace. Do you think my mother dishonored?"
Robb took a moment to put together what she meant of her unwed mother and shook his head. "No, I-"
"She would need to do what we have to give me and my sisters life," Dacey reminded. "You don't dishonor me any more than my father did my mother, and I know no more honorable a woman than her."
Robb smiled at her, nodding. "Your mother is… fierce."
Dacey laughed, slipping out of bed. "I should leave before they wonder if you've murdered me."
Robb looked panicked. "Dacey, they'll know."
"And I'll put a mace through the arse of any who speak ill of it," Dacey said pulling on her pants. "That includes you."
Robb stood, shaking his head. "I never would. It was…"
Dacey smiled, remembering it had been obvious she was his first. Still holding her tunic in hand, she held his cheek and kissed his lips. "You as well, King Robb."
"Dacey…" He felt such guilt, and yet she left with little shame. It felt odd, but he somehow felt better and worse at once. It wasn't the last time he would feel that way, nor the last he would watch her leave his chambers.