So welcome to my first story ever with this account and on this site. It's been years since I last wrote something, and I hope you guys will like it.

Before getting to the story, I'd like to thank Oumaima, my dear friend, who's helping with this.

Let the show begin.

Eddard

Well, this was definitely the last thing I imagined would happen. I was not very satisfied with being a 23 years old man who freshly graduated from college, yet still has no idea what to with his life and is struggling to find a job. However, waking up as a fictional character inside a medieval castle, in a universe where you could easily die (from drinking wine or going to a wedding), was truly the last thing I expected.

At first, I thought it was a dream. I spent days in my apartment telling my… wife, yes,she's definitely my wife, and my children (oh God, I have children, four of them, and my « wife » is carrying the fifth) that I am sick, trying to figure out what to do.

For three days, I refused the entry to anyone in my apartment. For three days, I tried to think the situation through, until I finally realized that there's no way back. I had to come to terms with the truth, and in order to do that, I had to drink a lot, lot, lot of ale (I hated wine in my « original » world, why should I start to like it here ?).

Anyways, ladies and gentleman, behold, a slightly modified Lord Stark!

I got out of my room, reached out to the Maester to get ahold of the current situation of the kingdom. My knowledge came in handy; my academic background in politics would serve me right. Moreover,I was aware of how things would end up should I make the same choice the "real" Eddard Stark had made. I knew there are things I must avoid at all cost. It was 294 after the conquest, and I still had time before the saga started. Good, I thought to myself.

For starters, I had to strengthen my family's name. Not only in the North,but in the continent as well. I had to make sure the Wall is well garrisoned, I had to try to avoid a war in the South, but I most importantly had to keep my head on my shoulders.

Needless to say that there was nothing Lord Stark couldn't do. I mean, what the worse could happen? It's not as if a sadistic little bastard born out of incest will cut my head and put in a pike… right? RIGHT?

Ok Ned, you must calm down (betterget used to call myself this way). There were many things ahead of me to do, and I better start now.

The Maester arrived finally to my solar, good time Luwin, very good time.

"My Lord, it's a pleasure to see you back on your feet, however, I must admit I'm a little disappointed for not being the one to cure you of this mysterious illness."

I fact that Ned trusted Luwin had almost escaped my mind, but I couldn't risk telling Luwin I wasn't Ned « I'm not actually your Lord I'm just a spirit from another universe that is taking control of…. »… ok I stop here.

"My apologies, dear friend, it wasn't truly a sickness, I was a bit troubled, and I had a lot of thinking to do. I came to various conclusions."

"My Lord, you called for me?"

Catelyn entered the room. I better have this talk with the both of them.

"Yes Cat, please Maester, Catelyn, take a seat, there's a lot to discuss."

"As I was saying, I wasn't really sick, but I needed time alone to think through our current situation, and I wanted you to be the first one with whom I'm sharing these thoughts."

Catelyn's face couldn't hide that she wasn't pleased with my « sickness », nonetheless, she shrugged it off, and went right to the matter at hand.

"My Lord, our situation is just fine, you have the loyalty of the northern houses, you are part of the alliance that put the actual King on the throne and you are a close friend of his."

I nodded. Catelyn was right, but she had no idea of what fate had planned for her.

"My lady, our situation is not as good as it seems, while we have our bannermen's loyalty, we still need to bind them closer to us, the Boltons are close to lady Dustin and the Ryswell, with whom we have had a bad relationship since… "I paused. Should I remind them of what my « brother » did?

However, the slow nod of understanding coming from my wife and the Maester was enough understanding for me.

"So what do you propose my love?"

"Marriages, and lot of them, I think it would be good to marry Sansa to the heir of the Dreadfort, Lord Domeric, it is said that his aunt, the Lady Dustin loves him a great deal, and it would be enough to placate both the Boltons and Barrowtown. "

"But Sansa is just a child!"

"She won't be so for long, and I will offer Lord Bolton to foster his son here, in Winterfell, so our daughter might learn to know him, from what I hear, he's a good lad, lacking his house's famous cruelty, and has a strong sense of honor."

"I think it's a great idea my Lord, the Maester finally spoke, but what about house Ryswell ? While placating the Boltons and Dustins would be good, house Ryswell is still a powerful house."

I smiled, and it seemed as if I had an answer to that, while actually, I had none. Inside I was panicking, it was true that the Ryswell needed placating too, but it was out of the question that I marry Arya, I had other plans for the girl… but what if ?

"Well, I might have a suggestion for that…"

"Ned, you can't seriously think of betrothing Arya, she's way to young.."

"Not right away. I do have a good plan for one of Lord Ryswell's sons and Arya."

"And what would that be?"

The way she was holding her temper was admirable. However,I could see her anger rising. I was not ready to handle what she was about to unleash…

Catelyn was never one of my favorite characters, and I was wondering how I would learn to love her…

"Ned?" Her cold voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Yes. Yes, I was thinking that we could send Arya and Rodrick, Lord Ryswell's second son, to foster at Bear Island."

"Ned you can't mean for our girl to become a…"

"Yes, I do my lady. My voice was cold like steel, in the North, women fight alongside men in the battlefield, and while it's too late for our Sansa to train in arms, I plan to give the rest of my children a full northern education. "

Catelyn sat back, glaring daggers at me, unlike Luwin who seemed happy as a smile crossed his face.

"That seems like an excellent plan my Lord. What about the other houses? We can betroth Robb to Lord's Karstark daughter and…"

"I have other plans for Robb my Lord, I also plan on creating a branch of our house in White Harbor, and I think of betrothing Brandon to one of Lord Manderly's granddaughters."

"You are marrying all of our children, but your eldest who's your heir…"

"I'm looking for alliances outside the North, my Lady, for Robb."

I've had enough, I think it's time for some serious explanations with my wife, or else, I might find myself inneed of another Lady of Winterfell soon.

"This meeting is over, I , send ravens to all the lords of the North, inviting them to the harvest feast. I will come to you later with additional letters to be sent. "

"Right away my Lord." Luwin bowed before excusing himself from the room.

Catelyn was about to follow when I stopped her, it was time for a very important talk that I sincerely wished I wouldn't regret later on…