Hoax // Benjen Stark

6. Baratheon

"I came to say goodbye to Bran.' Jon said coming in, seeing Catelyn crying over Bran. She barely left his side.

'You've said it.' Catelyn said annoyed as Jon approached the bed

'I wish I could be here when you wake up.' he told a sleeping bran 'I'm going north with uncle Benjen I'm taking the black...' Catelyn looked up to him with teary eyes not for Jon but for her son. Jon knelt before Bran, 'I know we always talked about seeing the wall together but you will be able to come and visit me at Castle Black when you're better I'll know my way around by then I will be a sworn brother of the nights watch. We can go out walking beyond the wall if you're not afraid.' Jon added.

'I want you to leave.' Catelyn said through clenched teeth they both looked at the door to see Ned. Jon got up and pressed a kiss to Brans forehead before heading out Ned close the door behind Jon. Ned approached Catelyn's taking slow steps before sitting down next to her.

'17 years ago you rode off with Robert Baratheon, you came back a year later with another woman's son and now you're leaving again!' cat told him exasperatedly.

'I am going. I can't refuse the king.' Ned reminded her.

'That's what they always say, all our goals but that's what you tell your family,' Catelyn shouted.

'I don't have a choice.' He reminded her.

'tell that to your son... you do have a choice.' cat told him 'and you've made it... I cant go on like this.' She murmured.

'You can and you must."

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'You said goodbye to Bran?' robb questioned coming up to Jon, they were headed out, Robb was to be the new lord of winterfell in his fathers absence.  'He's not going to die I know it.' Robb told him

'You starks are hard to kill.' Jon remarked

'My mother?'

'She was very kind.' Jon lied.

'I'm sure she was... Next time I see you you'll be all in black.' Robb remarked as Jon saddled his horse

'It was always my color.' Jon added,

'Farewell snow.'

'And you Stark.' they shared a warm embrace before Robb headed off.

+

'It is a great honor to be in the nights watch the starks have served it for thousands of years and you are a stark.' ned told Jon, 'you might not have my name but you have my blood.'

'Is my mother alive? Does she know about me? Where I am where I'm going? Does she care?' jon questioned hopelessly.

'Next time we see each other we will talk about your mother.' Ned promised before riding off.

"You can change your mind." Benjen reminded him.

"Not a chance." Jon assured.

"Wait til we get there." Benjen chuckled. "You will be wishing for your cushy beds and the sight of a women within 50 miles."

"No women at all?"

"Not a one." Benjen confirmed. "You have to go far and you wont be allowed to leave that far if you want some female companionship."

"Oh. I don't..." jon shook his head.

"Good for you." Benjen told him as they rode. "i will tell you what. Im glad to be having some of my own blood at the wall."
+

'This is country' Robert said happily 'who am I to leave them all behind?'

'I have half a mind to go with you' ned informed him as they eat out in the open air.

'What do you say just you and me on the Kings Road... you and me a couple of whores at are sides and Tavern winches... something to warm our beds tonight!' Robert informed him jollily.

'If you would've asked me 20 years ago,' Ned joked

'There were wars to fight and women to marry,' Robert said begrudgingly 'I never had the chance to be young.'

'What were your chances?'

'Oh there was that one,' Robert chuckled 'what was her name Becca? With the great big tits you could bury your face in,' Robert remembered happily.

'Bessie,' ned corrected 'she was one of yours.'

'Bessie thank God for Bessie and her tits!'

'Yours was Eliana, meriyln, no the bastards mother...' Robert began.

'Lila.' Ned lied.

'That's right must've been a rare wench to make Lord Eddard stark forget his honor. You never told me what she looked like.' Robert remarked.

'Nor will I' ned said softly.

'We were at war,' Robert reminded him 'we didn't know we were gonna go back home again don't be so hard on yourself you always have been. I swear if I weren't your king you would've hit me already.' Robert told him.

'Worst thing about your coronation, is I'll never get to hit you again.' Ned joked

'Trust me that's not the worst thing.' He handed him over a scroll 'there's a rider in the night.' Ned read it over

'Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki soldier...'

'what of it?' Ned read it over again 'Did you send her a wedding gift?' ned questioned.

'A knife perhaps, a sharp one and a bold man to wield it.' Robert said taking along drink from his glass

'She is barely a child' Robert reminded him.

'Soon enough that child will spread her legs and start breeding,' Robert reminded him

'Tell me we are not speaking of this?' Ned began

'Oh is it unspeakable to you?' Robert countered 'What happened to your family was unspeakable what Rhaegar Targaryen did to your sister, the woman I loved, I will kill every Targaryen I get my hands on.' Robert threatened

'You can't get your hands on this one' Ned noted.

'This Khal Drogo says he has 100,000 men in his hold.' Robert sneered.

'Even 1 million Dothraki has no threat as long as they were to remain on the other side of the narrow see, they have no ships.' Ned reminded him.

'There are still those in the seven kingdoms that call me the user per usurper. The Targaryen and Dothraki whore is back and the scum will join them.' Robert informed him.

'They will not cross' ned assured him 'and if by chance he does we will throw him back into the sea.' Ned said nonchalantly.

'There's a war coming Ned. I don't know when and I don't know who will be fighting but it is coming.'

'They've been scared of water for generations... Maybe we just let her be.'

'Let her be?' Robert questioned 'You know what is to happen. You know what is to come if she crosses!' Ned shook his head he would have no part in the massacre of a child.