Rain fell heavily onto the walls of Winterfell and the majority of the inhabitants were inside, huddled around a toasty fire. But this was Jon Snow, and he knew nothing. The news of his father's appointment as Hand of the King had shaken him. He was a bastard and no bastards, not even acknowledged bastards, were welcome at King's Landing. Lord Stark and Arya would be leaving; two members of the family who actually treated him like a Stark. Sansa too, though he wouldn't miss her as much. Jon still loved her as a sister, but Sansa took after Lady Catelyn. To them, Jon was a product of Ned's infidelity, nothing more, nothing less.
"Jon?" An authoritative voice boomed through the misty atmosphere created by the rain. Jon hadn't realised how silent it had been until his father called his name.
"Lord Stark." Jon replied, courteously.
"Am I no longer your father, boy? You shall call me that, and nothing else. My children call me father." Ned smiled warmly, and took a seat on the wall his son was perched upon; luckily, it was sheltered and his garments didn't get wet.
"What's going to happen to me, father?"
Ned shifted awkwardly where he sat. He knew what this was about, and he had been dreading having to face this conversation ever since King Robert visited and offered him the position. He didn't want to accept it, but the alleged murder of Jon Arryn was quite intriguing and after all, he was related to the deceased Hand by marriage. "When?"
"When you leave for King's Landing. You and Arya will be thousands of miles away and Robb is your heir, he won't have time for me. We both know what Lady Catelyn thinks of me, Father, she will have me sent away quicker than you can imagine. I'm a bastard, and that's all I will ever be." Trying not to sound craven or pitying in the presence of his lord father, Jon stifled a sigh.
"You may not have my name, but you have my blood. You are still a Stark, Jon. You still love your brothers and sisters, and you make me just as proud as my other children. If I could make it so that Lady Catelyn was your true mother, I would. But we both know that can not happen. As for what will happen to you.. I know my wife will keep you safe in Winterfell out of loyalty to me and respect for you."
"Respect for.. me?"
"She may not show it, but she respects the love you have for your brothers and sisters, as do I. Gods above, sometimes you are the only one who can control that temper of Arya's. You two are very alike, she's really going to miss you when we leave."
A sudden flicker of inspiration and Jon had an important question to ask his father. He contemplated for a while, fearing he already knew the answer. The other option was staying in Winterfell with Robb, poor crippled Bran and little Rickon, enduring stares of hatred from Lady Stark and endless remarks from Theon Greyjoy. There was always the Night's Watch.. "Father, can I come with you?"
"Jon.."
"Please, just hear me out! Other than Robb, I have always gotten on best with you and Arya and I know King Robert may frown upon you bringing your bastard to King's Landing but I'll sleep anywhere and I'll work in the kitchens, or I'll teach people how to sword fight," Jon rambled with an air of naivety only a boy of his age could muster. "I could join the Kingsguard!"
Ned chuckled. "I will think about it. As for joining the Kingsguard, I don't think I would like my son turn out like Jaime Lannister. Go and get cleaned up for dinner, and I will send Maester Luwin to your quarters to tend to your arm." He said, gesturing to a particularly nasty looking cut Jon had achieved during a swordfight with Theon. When his bastard son began to walk away, Eddard shouted him back. "Jon? Remember what I said. You have my blood."
...
"No."
"Cat, it's a solution. You have never liked having Jon in Winterfell."
Catelyn Stark threw an icy look at her husband, the newly appointed Hand of the King. Not that she didn't want rid of Jon Snow, oh no, she would jump at the chance to rid Winterfell of him. The boy was a constant source of disappointment to her and not only because he symbolized the one act of distrust prominent in their otherwise solid marriage, but because she still felt immense amounts of guilt towards him. Jon was just a motherless child - he was not to blame for Ned's infidelity. She thought of little Rickon in the bastard boys position, alone in a strange castle full of frightening swordsmen and a wet nurse. It was not a fair bargain and Cat hated herself for not being able to find the courage to acknowledge him as her own son. He was nice child, an easy child to love, but she wouldn't let those feelings penetrate the barriers she had put up so long ago. "What do you think Robert will have to say about this, Ned?"
"Robert has bastards of his own, although not acknowledged. Cersei would flay the poor babes if she had half the chance. I met a little girl of his, we were only young.. not much older than Robb, in fact." Secretly, Ned had wanted Jon to join them on the road to King's Landing all along. The poor boy would be left to a life of discrimination if left alone at Winterfell. He was unsure why Catelyn was showing so much resistance.
"I do not care about Robert Baratheon's children. If all of your trueborn children children can not come to King's Landing with you, why must Jon?"
"Bran is grievously ill, Rickon is too young and Robb is my heir. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell, Cat, you know that."
She knew it almost as well as House Starks words - Winter is coming. Winter is coming, and Gods above, didn't they know it. "Fine. Take your bastard, but when Cersei refuses to let him sleep in the castle, do not say I didn't warn you. Because it will be her that shows resistance towards Jon, not Robert."
Ned moved behind his wife, entangling his arms around her waist, impressively small after birthing five children. They looked on out of the window and with the rain having held off, they watched as Rickon chased his direwolf around the yard. "l shall miss Winterfell."
"I shall miss you and the girls. I may even miss Jon.. but, I can only hope that he keeps Arya in check, for your sake, if not for Cersei Lannister's sanity."