DISLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GAME OF THRONES OR A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE THEY BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS!

A/N: Ok go easy on me ok this is my first time writing in this section, so yeah. Well I read a whole bunch of AU fanfics about what if this happened to Ned Stark instead of the fate he suffered. Well ok I figured I'd have a go but with a different twist.

First off this is what happens when you watch too many Kung Fu Movies, read too many fanfics and watched Game of Thrones at the same time.

Well this was the result an AU that is as weird and strange as it is a festering worm. It is like a case of the runs that just wont go away until you write something down. So while I was working on my art project for work this idea came into the light. Then I went to my In Laws and watched a whole bunch of Kung Fu movies with my nephew and then Game of Thrones at home. So while it was festering I was reading a ton of fanfics and writing down a few ideas and then.

Why not write one of my own!

So I have done so and in this case Ned is still alive and refused King Robert's offer to go to King's Landing. So the beheading does not take place. He and Robert Baratheon were at odds since Lyanna Stark's death. So things in this story are a bit different then the cannon so lots of AU and OCC's going on. So if you like this sort of thing then keep reading but if not then just flip that back switch and go back to the main page. Now I wont bother you any further with my crazy plotting so I will leave the rest to you. Just remember to leave a review and no FLAMES, BASHINGS OR LORE MONGERS thanks.

SUMMARY: For thousands of years the people of the North had been known as barbarians and savages. People who know nothing of the culture and traditions of the south. But what if they are not as dumb or naive as you think? What if they are only hiding their true resourcefulness? Major AU you have been warned.

THE WARRIORS OF WINTERFELL

Chapter 1: The Dragon and the Wolf

"Again!"

The voice was hard and seemingly unforgiving but for Sansa Stark it was the daily occurrence. Thrusting her fan and then opening it in a sweeping motion she did the steps the Septa ordered of her. Her hand ached, her face was sweating and her arm was ready to fall off but she did the maneuver none the less.

"Your hand is shaking Sansa and your thrust is weak. Remember flick the wrist in a snapping motion. A lady must be poised but ready for combat at the same time. It is a show of grace as well as an adamant warning." The Septa said.

Sansa's hands were tired, and her arms about to fall off but she once again repeated the same snapping motion as she was told to do. The fan came out and she slowly brought it back to her.

"Much better," said the Septa.

Just then a servant came and bowed to the Septa, "Lady Stark requests her children make dinner,"

"Very well get washed and report to the kitchen," she said. Sansa bowed low to her Septa while she, her sister Arya, their female ward Daenerys Targaryen and the rest of the female bastard children of the North headed towards the kitchens. It was tradition that the children of Winterfell know how to cook, clean and work like the servants and lowborn do. It is was a show of humility amongst the people and if the highborn can do it so can they. So Lord Stark as his father and grandfather before him as well as generations of Starks had done. Made his children do the servants work along with the bastards of all the major and minor lords of the North.

"So Danny what do you think we should make tonight?" asked Sansa as they entered the room that leads to the kitchens. It was here that the girls changed out of their practice clothes and put on the clothes of the servants. Going into the kitchen they were met with the males of the household. All of them either cutting vegetables, skinning an animal for meat or chopping something.

"I think a venison stew with some roasted rabbit served with some bread and roasted leek sounds nice," said Daenerys.

"Alright I will get the vegetables while you and Arya start on the meat and deserts," Sansa said.

Both of them went over to the table where the boys were busy preparing the meat to either be salted or chilled. Taking some rabbit from one of the tables and a good heaping of venison from another the girls got to work.

Once dinner was set and done they then set the tables in the main hall and prepared the drinks for everyone. Lord Eddard Stark sat on his chair waiting for dinner to be fixed while his wife Lady Catelyn Stark sat beside him. Catelyn came from the south from house Tully and in order for her house to form an alliance with the North had married her off to Lord Stark. Catelyn had a culture shock when she discovered that her children had to work like servants. Once the history and explanations came around she had no choice but to comply. The only one who was not fully working was young Rickon Stark who was only six years old.

The youngest of the Stark children is just starting to learn how to do chores and so only sweep and mops the floors, feeds the horses and tends to the hounds. The hounds are loyal and obedient because they are well cared for. Rickon demanded of it as he brushed each horse down on a specially made stool for him.

Everyone sat at their assigned tables the lord and lady with their true born children sat at the top. The highborn bastards sat at the right while the bastards from minor houses and the true servants sat at the left. Everyone eats together and everyone works together. So with both running the North and working with the farmers in the fields the Lord Stark was a very busy but humble man. Everyone in the North respects their lord and everyone loves their lord for working alongside them. It was a well balanced display of power and humility to the people of the Northern Kingdom.

Catelyn Tully on the other hand was never raised in the North so the customs are new to her. Because she was born from the Riverlands she was used to being pampered on by servants and never worked a day in her life. So when she married Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell in place of his brother Brandon Stark she was surprised to see that she had to get her hands dirty in order to be respected in the North.

So because she did not work most of her life Ned made her the house Steward. She was the one who insured that everyone's jobs were done and to watch the accounting of the hold and realm of the North. She would be working the books all day as well as do her stitching of new clothes for her children. Making cloth for the stitching, learning how to create her own yarn and string from the Septa as well as running the castle. For Catelyn it was hard work and often times she found herself to be too exhausted to do anything else. Her hands were blistered from all that writing her feet ached from all the walking and she had muscle pain all over her body.

No wonder the Starks normally married only nobles from the North till her introduction.

The only thing she enjoyed about all the work was the fact she got to participate with her daughters in the daily routines of fighting in the morning.

Every morning the girls of the castle would report to the Grand Septa. She was the one who was the Master of Arms for all the women in Winterfell. She trained all the girls in the arts of combat and defending the castle and Catelyn was no exception to the rule. So every morning she rose at dawn with her daughters and report to the courtyard. She would then train in the morning before breaking her fast and caring for her other duties.

So Catelyn had learned a lot while in the North. Humility for one and hard work for another. She now understood why her husband had not spoken to Robert Baratheon in many years.

The King as he is now was not a favorable to Eddard's eyes. This much Catelyn could tell for his whoring ways and his drunkeness since Lyanna's death had turned him into a very fat and very lazy king. Her husband had seen as such and had shut the doors to the South for a long time. The only places he would trade with is the Riverlands and Dorne. Currently he is in negotiation with the Westerlands and the Iron Islands. Already trade is doing well with the Free Cities in the East. This much has surprised Catelyn when she started working with the books in her study.

What she had found out was that Lyanna Stark had not been kidnapped and raped as many would have believed. Robert had lied to Ned on that one and told him that Lyanna was kidnapped and he believed that Rhaegar Targaryen had raped her. So Ned had gone out of his way to find his sister and even helped Robert in his war to avenge both his father and his brother.

Well when he found the queen in Dragonstone things were a lot different since then.

She remembered reading her husband's journal while he was asleep. It told of how the Queen was giving birth and while she was birthing her daughter had explained that Robert lied to him. Lyanna had in fact chosen to be with the prince because she was in love with him. The prince had fallen in love with her and they had been meeting in secret since the tourney in Harrenhall. It was not till Lyanna became pregnant that Rhaegar had swept her away. Hoping to hide her till she gave birth and then finding a family to take care of the baby.

But Robert found out and was very angry. He then called a rebellion in revenge for Rhaegar defiling Lyanna. The war had started because of the act of a woman in love. Lyanna chose to start the war when she became with child. Catelyn had envied her that day since reading that passage. And she still envied her now for her courage into bringing the child into the world.

Catelyn knows all too well how most women avoid being punished by their husbands or their betrothed for defiling themselves. Drinking the moon tea that is brewed with special contraceptive herbs helps prevent pregnancy but there is another tea usually found in brothels that helps women eject the baby before their husband finds out. This tea is usually taken when a woman finds out she is pregnant and it kills the baby forcing the woman to eject it. Catelyn put her hands to her belly below the table. No woman should be able to go through that. The joys of motherhood are one of the few things that she had looked forward to since marrying her husband.

Now she could not think of anything else especially her daughters and extended daughters. The girls she had taken in and take cared of in the hold had taught her that the women of the North are a strong breed. They have to be if they are to defend their land against Wildlings and the dangers of the North.

After reading about the queen and about her Sister in Law she began to resent the things that Robert did. She started to hear rumors too when she heard them and they were terrible. The king is a drunk, the queen sleeping with her brother and worse the crown owes a lot of money to both the Lannisters and the Iron Bank in Braavos. It was terrible and thankfully Ned was good at keeping all of them at bay for the North. The Iron Bank in fact had a good relationship with house Stark and through them house Lannister. Tyrion Lannister who studied with the Maesters of Old Town is the North's consultant and scholar. Having left home he wanted to explore his possibilities. And so he became a scholar and a master accountant and librarian loyal to the North. For the Northern Library under Winter Town is the oldest in the seven kingdoms. Even older then Old Town and Maesters have to ask special permission from Tyrion its librarian before entering.

Catelyn was amazed at how advanced the North was compared to the Southern Kingdoms. In fact they can compare them to Valyria. But unlike Valyria who chose to advance more and more and grow more powerful. The North remembers its roots and stuck to its rather humble beginnings thus making them seem like everyone here is a barbarian. When in fact it is quite the opposite and Catelyn had a hard time at first to wrap her head around it.

They even have the secrets to Valyrian Steel!

The door to the dinning room opened and Catelyn was taken from her musing by the sight of the person who seems to know all this knowledge by heart. The Septa of Ice as they call her walked in. She is the Master of Arms for all the women in Winterfell. But she is also one of the oldest people here. She carries herself with the air of someone who was clearly ancient but her long dark midnight black hair was up in her usual bun while her youthful face carried with it a weariness that showed from a soldier that had returned from war.

The Septa sat with the rest of the servants and while she sat dinner began. Lord Stark as usual began to eat his meal along with everyone else. Catelyn began hers too and was happy that her children had made it with love.

Everyone in this hold works and everyone has a job to do. As such Catelyn was just happy that her children knew what it truly means to live humbly.

MEANWHILE

"So Jon I heard you were going on your tour soon, so am I?" said a very excited voice. Jon Snow and his aunt both turned to one of the other bastards on the table. Ramsey Snow who had come from the Dreadfort was seating just across from the royal family.

Ramsey did look rather happy to be touring. It was required for all bastards at the day they reach their coming of age. So far it was Jon, Ramsey, Sansa and Danny that are going. Even though Danny and Sansa are not bastards it is required of the ladies of the North to journey with the bastards to know their kingdom better. It also helps them to be better warriors and rulers and to know what they are against.

Danny's face lit up at the sound of it and started talking adamantly about where they are going. "Oh how I wanted to see Bear Island I heard a lot about the forest there or maybe even Ironwrath I've heard that the forest there are enormous. The trees so tall that one can make their house in it," Danny said.

"You really like the forest don't you m'lady?" Ramsey said to her.

"I do, it brings me peace unlike the noise of the cities," Danny said.

"Have you been to a city?" Ramsey asked her.

"Only Wintertown and White Harbor I had not left Winterfell much," she said.

"I heard King's Landing is much noisier with the streets smelling like shit and the people begging and stealing for food," Jon replied.

"Yeah, King Robert is not much help in that part and from what I read it was not always like that," Ramsey replied while eating a roasted chicken.

"Shhh not in front of Lady Stark she respects protocol too much!" said Danny.

"Well its true!" said the other ward Theon Greyjoy as he finished his meal.

"I know it to be true for I have been to King's Landing," said another voice this one belonging to Theon's sister Asha who often visits her brother in order to teach him the ways of the sea.

"Are you going to go with us Lady Asha?" asked Danny as she took a bite from her bread.

"Yes, at least until we are on Bear Island then I have to return to Pyke to deal with some affairs with our dear loving father. And I have to take Theon with me as the man is insufferable at times he needs to be reminded that he has a son and heir," Asha said.

"Father called me a milk drinker last time and a cock sucker," Theon said as he ate some leeks.

"He always said that about his sons yet he lacks respect around the islands for leading us into ruin again," Asha replied.

"So what are we going to do about it look for Uncle Euron?" Theon asked.

"Fuck no! That bastard is as mad as the Mad King (Pardon your majesties) but he forfeited his right when he tried to lead us against the Lannisters." Asha replied before taking a drink.

"So what do you suggest?" asked Theon.

"You already have the respect of the Iron Islands and the low born. Shown them that you are one of the best sailors I dealt with and you have a good head on your hands. Perhaps you can one day lead our kingdom back to the way it was when Grandfather was alive," Asha replied.

Theon remembered the stories about his grandfather that Asha told him. How he led the Iron Islands to prosperity and independence without pirating. Perhaps when his time comes he can do so again.

"In the meantime you all have a tour to do towards the people of the North. After all you are warriors are you not?" Asha said.

"Aye we are," said Ramsey and they all cheered.

When dinner was over the sound of an arrow could be heard throughout the courtyard. Bran Stark was busy practicing with his bow as he often does before he goes to bed. Right beside him was his sister Arya who was doing the same. Though Arya was much better with the bow then him and she often times has to help him with his shooting.

"Knees slightly bent, there," she said as she helped him with his stance.

Bran was more then happy to stand and shoot.

"Much better but you have to breathe when taking aim," a new voice said and they both turned to find Sansa there with her own bow. She then strung the weapon and shot her own arrow into the target, a perfect bull's eye.

"When you aim Bran you need to breathe. Breathe in to aim, breathe out to fire," with that she shot another arrow and this one split the first one in half. Bran nodded and tried again. It was not a perfect shot but it was better then last time.

"Remember Bran you need to stand up straight to draw in air and focus your energy. When you do so you can concentrate and keep your aim true," Sansa instructed.

"Thanks sis," Bran said and let another arrow go and this time it hit its target.

"Whoa!" he said in bewilderment.

"See I told you so!" with that Sansa and Arya left Bran to himself while he practiced his shooting. The boy was more then happy to have this and it helps when he continued to hit the target.

As the girls entered their room they heard a rustling noise and a happy bark.

"Nymeria what are you doing?" Arya asked.

Her direwolf Nymeria was only a puppy but within the week that Arya had gotten her the wolf had already proved to be a pest.

"Lady!" now she knew she was not alone and that Lady her sister's direwolf was also proving to be a pest. But her father had found them in the woods a week before and now they had new pets.

As they stared in horror at what their new pets did they found that the puppies had gotten out of their puppy cages and practically destroyed the room. Not even a day with them and they are already causing mischief.

"Lady no!"

"Nymeria no!"

Both girls quickly gotten their pups and put them back in the cage. It took some effort on their part to repair the cage and when they did they reinforced it to make it stronger. Normally the hounds are kept in separate pens away from the rooms. But Lord Stark felt that the Direwolf pups who are used to seeing their mother would not fare well on their own. So he had the children take their wolves with them a sign of their house. To train to nurture and to make them their companions. The pups however are just that pups so they need to learn.

So they had to start tonight by cleaning the mess.

"I think they should learn to not trash the room," Arya said.

"My thoughts exactly," Sansa replied.

MEANWHILE

"Danny what are those?" Jon asked Daenerys as he looked at the box.

"A gift from my brother before he died. I received a raven from Braavos he said that my brother had died out in the streets. He was thrown out of the house that sheltered him over a dispute with a servant. The man who housed him didn't like it and threw him out. So he lived as a beggar on the street till he came across these," she said showing Jon the three eggs.

"Dragon Eggs," he said.

"Yes, dragon eggs and the best part about them are is that they are active," she said feeling them.

"Active? Are you sure?" Jon asked.

"Yes I can feel them. The message said that a red priest had sanctified them in Volantis and he had bought them from some merchant. But I think he stole them seeing as he has no money. Valyrians are attracted to such things dragons are one," Danny said looking at the eggs.

Jon in the meantime was petting his new direwolf pup a gift from his uncle and a symbol of his lineage to the Starks.

Danny then reached into the box and pulled out one of the eggs. She then handed it to Jon.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I am going to take care of two and you will take care of one," she said smiling.

"But….?" Jon said.

"Jon we both know that you are the son of Rhaegar Targaryen my brother and Lyanna Stark of Winterfell. You have the blood of both ice and fire in you. So it would be wise to take one of the eggs and raise it next to your direwolf. By the way did you name him yet?" Danny asked.

"I was thinking Ghost because he looks like one," Jon replied sitting on the bed.

"Ghost? That is an interesting name," Danny replied.

"Well I thought it suits him after all his fur is white as snow and he has red eyes like a ghost," Jon said smiling while holding the said pup. Suddenly he felt something warm and wet stream down onto his tunic and a curse was said as well as hard laughing. Danny could not help herself and fell on her bed. She was holding her stomach while she was doing this and Jon put Ghost back in his cage while he continued to curse.

"Danny really its not funny!" he said while trying to clean himself up. Luckily for him he managed to put the egg carefully back on the bed. Ghost was wagging his tail happily as he yipped at Danny's feet. Laughing Danny scooped up the pup who continued to lick her face.

"Oh alright you little rascal!" she said and gave him a hug. The Direwolf pup then ran up to Jon and Jon put him in his little cage bed. The pup then circled around it before settling down for the night.

While everyone was settling down another member of the family was in his solar. Ned Stark was up late once again going over the reports with both Maester Luwin and Tyrion Lannister. Both of which were in deep discussion with the financial reports that came from the south.

"The kingdom is going bankrupt what was Robert thinking with this?" said Luwin as he looked at it.

"From what my sources tell me he owes a lot of money to the Lannisters, the Tyrells, the Iron Bank and various houses throughout the kingdom," Tyrion replied.

"So basically the King has been drinking and whoring himself into nothing," said Luwin.

"Yep that is what they told me," Tyrion replied.

Tyrion Lannister came to Winterfell to hopefully make a living with the Starks. Having done extensive research into the family and the people of the North he wanted to explore it himself. And found that he was of great use up here in the colder North then he ever could down south. So he became the children's teacher relieving Maester Luwin of those duties as he was getting on with age.

As it was the Lord of Winterfell had to bargain with the Lord of Casterly Rock for his son. Tyrion came on his own much to his father's fury and Tywin threatened to send his entire army up North. Something that Eddard Stark can't afford not with winter coming. So the two leaders met a few years ago to discuss Tyrion's transgression. It was agreed that the Imp can stay but Tywin made it clear that even though he detested his son it was better he were far away from him then causing trouble in the west.

Tyrion not only became the master Librarian for the North but the main informant. He and the old Maester would talk about the happenings with the South as well as the North. And as such would discuss the matters with Lord Stark keeping the lord informed of the things that happened in the South.

"So the last turney that they did that we once again failed to show up for how much did that cost?" Ned asked Tyrion.

"Around five million dragons," Tyrion said.

"That much? Why so much?" asked Ned.

"From what we gathered the money it costs to make it grand plus all the servants and the people attending for the feasts afterwards were too much. Plus the wasted food that was brought out and wasted for the crows to eat. Ned that was more the the crown could afford," said Maester Luwin.

"You said that the Master of Coin Little Finger was it is able to magically bring up money. Do you know how he does it?" Ned asked.

"Loans my Lord. Petyr Baelish uses loans that he has gotten from other holds that is why he is in such debt." Luwin said as he showed Ned a report from the South.

"So Little Finger thinks he can somehow take loans from other kingdoms to benefit the people of King's Landing?" Ned said and snorted.

"It would appear so my Lord," Luwin said.

"What about the reports I've been hearing lately about the dead rising?" asked Lord Stark.

"We've been hearing many stories sir from both the Free Folk and the Night's Watch. There have been many more reports afterward of things happening beyond the wall. And we had a long summer which does not make things look good," said Maester Luwin.

"No it does not. In fact the Long Night is nearly upon us again," said Lord Stark.

"The Long Night? Like in the legends?" Tyrion replied.

"Yes, just like in the legends. Only here in the North the Long Night is real. Every ten thousand years or so the Long Night comes. And every time this happens the dead rise up from the lands of always winter to fight." Lord Stark said.

"So is that why you are sending your bastards towards the wall along with your daughters?" Tyrion asked.

"They were always sent to the wall to spend some time with the Night's Watch and the Free Folk. It is what helps keeps the peace to show our strength and to show that we still care. Those bastards down south send ups criminals but here in the North every man has to spend sometime at the wall. It is tradition and no matter what anyone believes it happens." Lord Stark said.

"Who is leading the wall now?" Tyrion asked.

"Lord Jeor Mormont of Bear Island," Luwin replied.

"The 'Old Bear'?" Tyrion asked.

"Yes the 'Old Bear' he has served me well as Lord Commander at Castle Black and will be the one who will let the others know that my children are coming. For now I will let them practice some more. Within the week they will travel towards the South towards the neck and the Barrowlands to start their tour. They will even make a trip to the Iron Islands for over seas training with Yara," Lord Stark replied.

"But sir what about the Targaryens?" asked Luwin.

"What about them?" asked Lord Stark.

"Aren't you afraid that Robert will try to murder them away from Winterfell?" he has done it before?" ask Luwin.

"I am not worried any more. I was when they were children but they are members of my house by marriage. And should Robert attack them again then he would face the whole might of the North the same as Ageon the Conqueror. Now if you will excuse me my lords it is time to retire," with that all three men got up to excuse themselves before going to bed. It was another long day for them.

TBC

a/n: Ok I will admit it is kind of confusing but bare with me after all. Since I did say it is an AU and this is my first time writing in this section. So I will admit that this is only a small plot bunny and I don't know how far this will go but I will try to make it work. I will be however basing this mainly on the T.V. series since I am not familiar with the books. So if there is anything that is related to the books it most likely will not be here. As for the Septa she is my OC and will have a larger role to play in the future. So remember no FLAMES BASHINGS OR LORE MONGERS PLEASE!