A/N: I have quite frankly been blown away by the reception my story, "Truth and Honor" has received! I had begun this a little while ago, but let it sit for a few months. I knew how I wanted this story to go, but had no idea where to take it afterwards. I'm still really struggling to put key canon events into the storyline. Yes, it does include one very upsetting incident, but not as destructive as the books or show have it play out. So for now, I hope you enjoy this sequel.

She felt as if she could not breathe. Every step was agony, and yet, she knew she had to find Robb. Lady Catelyn Stark walked through the camp, searching among the men sworn to her son. Each bowed to her, in respect of her grief, but she ignored them all. Still searching, she reached a grove of trees and then, she fell upon one, at last unable to keep her body erect After a moment where she finally caught her breath, she heard the sound of a sword hitting against a tree. Moving closer to the sound, she saw Robb, his face wet with tears. Catelyn ran to him, enveloping him in an embrace.

In between his tears, he cursed them, cursed them all, and vowed to do to them what they had done to his father, her husband. She tried to calm him, reminding him that they still held Sansa and Arya. "But we'll get the girls back, and then we will kill them all," she assured him.

It was later that night that she began to think through just how House Stark would avenge itself on the crimes of House Lannister. She knew her counsel from earlier in the day was correct. To strike directly on King's Landing and the Lannisters was to sign the death warrants on her daughters. There had to be another way to overthrow them.

"What would you do, my husband?" she mused aloud. There had to be some way to protect her children and expose the treachery of the Lannisters. Then, for reasons unknown to her, she remembered a conversation she had with Ned years ago. "For as long as Robert and his heirs sit on the Iron Throne," he told her, when he revealed a secret to her. At first, she shook her head. Jon Snow was leagues away, by now a sworn brother of the Night's Watch. Among their vows was to hold no titles. But she knew it was vow made with incomplete knowledge. Who knew that, if knowing who he was, he would have gone to the Wall.

She stood up left her tent, heading for Robb's. Along the way, she was told by one of the knights camped with them that Howland Reed had joined the forces Robb was mustering. "House Reed arrived early this evening, my lady. I believe Lord Reed was to see Lord Stark," one informed her.

Cat made her way to the tent and, sure enough, Howland Reed was there, shaking hands with Robb. "My apologies, my lord, but it took some time to make it out of the Neck," the Lord of the Cranogmen said.

"You are here, now. That is all that matters," Robb replied. "You received the raven then, with the news of how they butchered my father?"

"No, my lord, in fact-" Lord Reed began, until he saw Catelyn. He knelt in front of her, sorrow heavy in his voice. "My Lady Stark, words fail me." He bowed his head more, not looking into her eyes. "I feel I failed him."

She could not speak for a moment, too overcome with grief. But it passed and she nodded to him, accepting his condolences. "Lord Reed, I wish we were here for better reasons," was all Cat could say at the moment. Another breath, and she felt herself more at peace. "Your journey must have been difficult, my lord. Come, I have some refreshments in my tent."

Howland Reed gave her a queer look, but then seemed to understand her. He turned back to Robb, wordlessly asking permission to leave. Robb looked to his mother, who gave him the same insistent look she had just given Reed. "There will be a council meeting soon, for any of the remaining banners who have yet to arrive," he said, then nodded his dismissal.

Catelyn and Howland made it back to her tent, where she closed the flap as soon as the man was inside. Reed looked around, unsure of why she had asked him. In truth, they had never been particularly close. She was the wife of his liege lord, the only man to return with Ned Stark from Dorne. The fact that the other man had returned with a child that was not hers, he had felt, always put him at a disadvantage with her favor.

"Lord Reed, there are matters which I need to speak with you about, yet we must be careful as we speak," she began nervously. "With my husband's death, you are now the only remaining survivor of the final battle of Robert's Rebellion, the last witness to the death of my good sister, Lyanna Stark."

Lord Reed didn't know quite what she was getting at and he was scared to continue. "My lady-" he began.

But she cut him off. "Many years ago, Ned told me about the battle, and the aftermath." She wasn't sure if she was making herself clear, but she did not want to come out and say it directly. "I know," she concluded at last, hoping she was being understood.

It was unimaginable to Howland Reed that Catelyn Stark could be speaking of what he thought she was speaking of. As far as he had even known, the only souls who knew the truth of what happened at the Tower of Joy were himself and the two Dornish handmaidens who he had found in the room when he went looking for Ned. The Kingsguards who stood as protection were long dead and none of their other companions survived. And Ned had sworn him to never speak of it.

Yet here was Ned's wife, who had lived for years angered at the one blemish on the impeccable honor of Eddard Stark. How long had she known? And if so, if the stories were true, why had she acted the way he had heard of down through the years?

Cat sat down in a chair, guilt painted all over her face. "There was an incident and Ned took me away, told me everything," she began, "Or at least, as much as he knew. It has been many years that I had to be the way I was. Ned was so fearful of the slightest change in temperament, that it could raise a comment that would be pick up and carried off to the wrong people." She was near tears now, between Ned's death and seeing Howland. But she felt the gods had sent her a sign, that they were pointing the way. "I was going to Robb's tent, to tell him of my knowledge, when I was told you had arrived. So, I must ask your counsel. Should I tell Robb what I know? Is this a way to stop the Lannisters?"

Howland sat down next to her, collecting his thoughts. "My lady, Eddard made a vow to his sister. I do not think it was meant to be broken even with his death." At that, Cat's face collapsed. He saw that, but with his fingers, raised her chin up. "But he also told me the boy's true name. I have heard it said that he has joined the Night's Watch. If he took his vows as a Brother of the Night's Watch, it is as Jon Snow. But that is not who he truly is."

The light returned to Cat's eyes. She saw a way for it to possibly work. "I must tell Robb, though. His counsel on the matter is most important. It could impact him in ways that are...unexpected." She had heard talk around the encampment of where the North goes from here. From what she was hearing, the truth about Jon could be critically important.

"Aye, my lady. I think your son would want to know this about his brother."

Catelyn was ready to correct him, but stopped herself. She had always tried to look disapproving whenever one of her children, save for Sansa, referred to Jon as their brother. But she saw that he truly was, and prayed that even after the truth was revealed, they, including her elder daughter, would still hold those same feelings.

Together, they returned to Robb's tent. Greatjon Umber was with him, advising him about troop movements. At their entrance, the Greatjon bowed his head. "My lady, words have never been my strong suit, but I am certain you know the sympathies are with you." He saw Howland then. "Lord Reed, a surprise to see you here."

"When I was notified of Lord Stark's death, I knew my place was here, Lord Umber," was all he replied.

"Lord Umber, I have some things I need to discuss with my son. If you will excuse us?" she asked demurely. The older lord nodded and bowed to Robb.

Once he was gone, Robb turned his attention to the map before him. "We cannot be a part of the Seven Kingdoms any longer. Not when such monsters sit on the throne! And to think of all that Father suffered to rid us of the Targaryens. Lord Umber thinks we should declare our independence."

Catelyn came to stand beside him, gently nudging his face to look at her. "My son," she said, her smile lopsided. "You must not make any decision before you hear what I and Lord Reed are about to say." She led him to a chair, making him sit and then taking one right next to him. Lord Reed stood a few steps behind her.

Robb could not remember seeing the look his mother wore any time before, save one. That thought briefly flashed in his mind, when he was young and Jon had been deathly ill. She and Father had been away for a night. But when they returned, she wore the same expression he was seeing now. "What is the matter, Mother?"

Cat looked to Howland once, who nodded, and she began. "Do you remember the time Jon came down with the pox?" she asked.

He was astounded that he had been thinking of that very incident. "Yes. In fact, I was just remembering it."

"You remember your father and and I going away the night he recovered at last?" Again, her son nodded. "I am deeply ashamed of the reason why we went away. Earlier that day, your father...he overheard me pray to the Stranger of...peace in the next life...as I sat at Jon's bedside."

Robb jumped out of his seat immediately, pulling his hand away from his mother. "You prayed for a young boy to die!? Mother, I cannot...I know you have no love for him, but to do such a thing-"

"Is unconscionable," she concluded for him. "From the moment I arrived at Winterfell with you in my arms and Jon in his, I was jealous...jealous of a woman he would never speak of, of a look Ned would give his son. It was at times a madness, and in that moment, the madness overtook me, I admit. But your father heard me and swept me away from the keep. I thought he was putting me aside, taking me back to Riverrun, but he was not heading south. We went to a small hunting lodge your grandfather had built for he and his sons. And, after we were settled, Ned told me...told me who the mother of Jon Snow was."

Robb was thunderstruck. He knew, deep in his heart, his mother's irrational fears of Jon. He had tried to talk her out of them many times as he grew. Before the incident she was speaking of, her eyes would flash dangerously, making him back off. But after, there was another look when it was brought up. He often thought it was sadness, but he dismissed it, remembering all the times before.

And this was why. She was sad because she knew a truth. He never thought it was this truth, but she knew something more. And she had kept silent. "You knew who his mother is, yet denied him that knowledge? You and Father?" That was the galling part. He knew how his brother had always begged for the woman's name, where she was from even. Yet it went unsaid.

Cat felt a strength with her next words. No, they did not absolve her of anything, but she hoped it would comfort Robb. "I could not tell because I made a vow before the Old Gods and the New I would not say a word. I made that vow because of a vow your father made to the boy's mother. He swore he would always protect Jon...from those who may want harm to come to the boy."

It wasn't making any sense. Who would want to harm the bastard son of the Lord of the North. He had an heir by that point, and even if he didn't Ned and Cat were still very young. More children were sure to come. "Protect Jon from whom?" Robb asked.

"From King Robert Baratheon and Lord Tywin Lannister," Howland said at last, relieving Catelyn of the burden of the story. When he had Robb's focus, he explained further. "When we arrived at the tower we had been directed to, before us stood three of the Kingsguard; Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Ser Oswell Whent and Ser Arthur Dayne."

"Father told me that, told me that he defeated Ser Arthur in single combat," Robb said.

At that, Howland grimaced. "To my shame, that was not the way it went. I was injured early in the fight, not being any great warrior, but between the two parties, Hightower and Whent were cut down, yet so was everyone besides Ned. So, it was left to him to face Dayne, but the Sword of the Morning had knocked Ice out of your father's hand. He was about to kill Ned when I, from behind, stabbed Dayne in the neck. He dropped to his knees, Ned staring at me in shock. But then your father slashed his throat, killing the great knight. Not a moment later, a scream could be heard from atop the tower. Without saying a word, Ned rushed to the sound."

Robb thought he knew the story, but it had been a lie. Another lie his father had told. There was more of the story, however, that Robb remembered. "Aunt Lyanna?"

Catelyn nodded. "Yes, your father found his sister in the tower in a room that smelled of blood...and winter roses." She paused to gather herself for the rest of the story. "She was dying, but it was of no fever. She had given birth, but it had difficult and it was realized she would not make it."

"Aunt Lyanna gave birth to that dragonspawn's bastard? That is who Jon is, Rhaegar Targaryen's bastard?" Robb's face grew stormier with each reveal, Catelyn could see. She knew she had to quell it before it grew uncontrollable.

"Not Rhaegar's bastard. His trueborn son," she said with a calmness she never expected.

Her son's eyes narrowed in disbelief until Lord Reed spoke up again. "By the time I at last reached them, Lyanna was dead, her brother holding her hand in his and her son in his arms. When I came to them, he looked at me and said simply, 'My nephew, Aegon, son of Rhaegar of House Targaryen and Lyanna of House Stark...King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men'."

"Lyanna was never kidnapped, never raped. They were in love, so much, he annulled his marriage to Elia Martell and married her. She died giving birth to their son," Catelyn said.

It was shock after shock to Robb. Jon was not a bastard, not even his brother. He was the true heir to the Iron Throne, with a claim that would have superseded Robert Baratheon and any of his alleged children, surpassing the Beggar King in Essos and his sister, surpassing any others coming for the throne. And that was when he saw it. The reason it was such a secret, the reason why the lie was so meticulously laid, the reason Baratheon and Lannister would come after a newborn boy.

Cat saw the dawning of the news on her son, and helped it along. "If it was known that Lyanna had given birth to Rhaegar's son, Tywin Lannister would have never let the boy live. He would have sent assassins to kill him, same as he did to Elia's children. And the boy was Ned's blood. He would go to any lengths to ensure Lyanna's son lived."

"Even sully his own honor," Robb whispered.

Howland and Catelyn nodded. "And when I found out, by then it was known what my opinion of the boy, of the whole situation was. Ned feared that if I changed my attitude towards him, it would be noted and maybe even heard by Varys' little birds. So I lived the lie. But now, Lyanna is gone, and Ned is gone-"

"And Jon is a Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch by now," Robb shot back.

"Yes," Howland replied, "but as Jon Snow. An alias created to protect a prince. But if his true name is spoken, he could be, in all likelihood, absolved from his oaths."

Robb looked to his mother, as any child would look for guidance from his mother. "What are we to do? This changes everything. Father...vowed to protect a baby, but he is a man grown, and a great swordsman."

"Yet the lions are still out there," Catelyn said, nodding her chin in the general direction of where Jaime Lannister sat encaged. "And Jon has no inkling of any of this. There is still great danger about us."

They were all silent now, thinking of the ramifications of it all. That was when Lady Mormont came calling outside the tent. Robb let her in. "My Lord, we must discuss how to answer this grievous crime committed against House Stark. All the lords are gathered, all their banners. Will you be joining us?" she asked, her rough voice not any gentler.

"I will be there, after I finish matters here." The woman bowed and left. "What do we do?" he asked.

"I advise caution, my lord. Let us see what the others have to say. There are three kings running around the Seven Kingdoms, let us learn where everyone falls," Howland suggested.

"I think that would be wise as well. We do not have to come up with an answer immediately," Cat agreed.

With that consensus, they walked to the fire, where the Lords of the North greeted them. They began speaking out against Joffrey Baratheon, for Renly Baratheon, about Stannis Baratheon.

Then Greatjon stood. "My lords. MY LORDS! Here's what I say to these two kings." He spit to make his point, garnering cheers from various corners. "Renly Baratheon is nothing to me, nor Stannis neither. Why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in the south? What do they know of the Wall or the Wolfswood? Even their gods are wrong." A few peals of laughter sounded out, making even Catelyn, devout daughter of the Seven, smirk. "Why shouldn't we rule ourselves again?"

That made Cat's eyes fly open. She looked to Howland, who was equally nervous. Robb sat quiet, hearing the man out.

"It was the dragons we bowed to and now the dragons are dead." Umber pulled his sword, pointing it to Robb. "There sits the only king I mean to bend my knee to." Then he knelt, shouting "The King in the North!"

Robb stood slowly with his mother watching him. Just a short time ago, he had learned the boy he thought his brother was in fact a king. Now he himself was being proclaimed one, being given a seat three hundred years unoccupied.

"I'll have peace on those term. They can keep their red castle and their iron chair too," another lord added, following Greatjon Umber's gesture.

Finally Theon Greyjoy stood, asking Robb, "Am I your brother now and always?"

"Now and always," Robb replied.

Theon followed suit, swearing his sword to Robb. All the others followed, shouting "THE KING IN THE NORTH!" many times. Robb turned to her, as if asking silent permission. She did nothing but blink and Robb turned back to his banners.

He held his hand, silencing them all. "My lords, I thank you for your words," he began, slowly, thinking of the words he needed to speak. He looked down at Lord Umber. "Lord Umber is right. We did bow before the dragons. King Torrhen Stark looked across the Trident, and saw Aegon with Balerion the Black Dread, and bent the knee." He moved away from where he had sat, walking to stand before the all. "But what if I were to tell you, that one dragon still lives?"

Looks of shock swept the assembled. "The Mad King's son and daughter, yes," Galber Glover said. "You mean to swear us to the Beggar King?"

Robb shook his head. "No, not those dragons. They spring from a seed of madness. This dragon," he continued. "This dragon is a Northerner, raised amongst us. And though dragonblood may be in his veins, it is a white wolf he is more likened to."

Murmurs and looks of confusion ran rampant through the crowd. No one seemed to understand him. No one, but Theon. "You cannot mean?"

After a single nod, Rob explained himself. "My lords, I apologize, for I have just heard the tale myself. You all know my father to be a man of the utmost honor, so great, it was said he could never tell a lie. And he never would, but for it to save the life of his blood. When he returned from Dorne, at the end of a rebellion, he brought back with him two things. One was the bones of his beloved sister, taken, allegedly, by the Dragon Prince. The other was a small babe he claimed as his own." Then he dropped his tone, his volume as he admitted the truth. "But it was not true." Then he looked to Howland Reed.

"I was with Ned, and found him just after we fought three Kingsguard. He found his sister, just passed from childbirth. In his arms was a newborn boy, one it's mother swore Ned to protect. And for sixteen years, he did as he swore, protected the child, by claiming him as his own bastard," he said to the hush that had settled in.

"Jon Snow is my brother in everyway that matters. I grew up with him, learned with him." He looked to Ser Rodrik Cassel, who caught on as well, and smiled broadly with Robb. "Trained with him. I was proud to call him brother...but he is not. He is the trueborn son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and the Princess Lyanna Targaryen of House Stark."

"How do you know this to be true?" Lady Maege Mormont asked, her eyes narrowing at Robb and Howland.

It was then that Catelyn stood. "Because of a shame of mine that forced the truth from my husband." Then she recounted the story she had just told Robb.

"There is also evidence," Howland said. "With the princess' bone, Ned placed in her tomb a box given to him by the handmaidens in Lyanna's service. It contained letters and the binding cloth from their wedding, with the three-headed dragon and wolf sigils. Thus, it is proven that no kidnapping occurred, no rape. They were wed in the eyes of the Old Gods and the Faith, by the High Septon himself."

The chattering picked up again, leading to questions being thrown at the three. "Then why are we just hearing of this now? Why did Lord Stark not come forward sooner?"

"Because of the murders of Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon, innocent children murdered by House Lannister to attempt to destroy the Targaryen line." Cat shot back. "By the time she was to give birth, Lyanna was sure to have heard of that and when her brother found her, swore him to protect her son, for she knew he was rightful heir to the Iron Throne. Ned kept that vow, the best way he could think of." Her anger was boiling. "Would any of you do differently, should a child of your blood be placed in the same danger?"

A quiet chorus of "no" followed another question. "I heard he pledged himself to the Night's Watch. Their vows include taking no crown," Rickard Karstark pointed out.

"Jon Snow took that vow, aye," Howland admitted. "But that is not the name Lyanna told Ned, or Ned told me."

Robb spoke. "So you see, my lords, I cannot allow you to give me a crown. Yes, I am a Stark of Winterfell, a descendant of the last Kings of Winter. But Jon Snow, Aegon, Sixth of his Name, is family to those who conquered Westeros, and those who bent the knee. If any man has a right to a crown, it is him!"

And with that, they cheered. It took Catelyn by surprise how voraciously the lords reacted to Robb's words. But she was proud of him. He had stepped aside, an unspoken oath to Jon uttered by him and called on by the others. It was ironic, this moment. For years, she had feared Jon would one day try to usurp her childrens' place for Winterfell, but instead, Robb had stepped down, refused the acclamation, calling for the man who was the true king, even if he didn't know.

Silently, she prayed that Ned would forgive her for the path they were about to tread. It would be no easier for them, but all of Westeros knew, the only way to stop the lions was with a dragon.

"What do we do next, Mother?" Robb asked, thunderstruck at what had occured. He knew he had to refuse being named king. It was not his place, knowing what he knew now. But Jon was at the Wall, with no clue as to what was going on down south.

Cat thought for a moment. "First thing is we send a raven to Luwin immediately and tell him to find that box Howland mentioned. I will set out in the morning for Winterfell and go through it."

Robb agreed. "Bring another Northern Lord with you, so it can be said others with no connection to the battle in Dorne have seen it and its contents. And a raven should be sent to Castle Black to alert them, and get counsel about Jon."

"I thought I heard once the maester is a Targaryen," Catelyn said.

"If that is true, it could help us," Robb replied as Maege Mormont approached them.

"My lord, my lady," she said with a clumsy curtsy. "I heard you speak of returning to Winterfell to help prove what you have told us. Bear Island knows no king but the King in the North whose name is Stark, father or mother. We shall not break faith now. And on a personal note it is that I would like to go along with you. Lady Lyanna was a friend to me, so much I named my youngest after her."

Catelyn smiled, remembering the feast at Bear Island when the Lady of the Keep gave birth to her last child. "I should like your company, Lady Mormont."

"And I should like to come as well," Greatjon Umber offered. "It amazes me, what you have revealed, when I mentioned bending the knee to the dragons."

"A fortuitous turn of phrase, my Lord," Robb said, nodding along with his mother. "Your travel will be seen to. Lord Reed, as he can identify the box and Ser Rodrik, I believe, should accompany you as well," he added as the aforementioned men joined them. The lord and the lady excused themselves, leaving the four, along with Theon, in a huddle.

"Jon'll be right pissed at me. All these years calling him a bastard when all the while…" the Ironborn said, shaking his head.

"He'll not take it out on you, Theon," Robb tried to assure him. But a dark thought took hold. "If there is anyone who may feel the brunt of his anger, it would be Father. Even if it he did lie for a reason, Jon will take it hard. He so emulated Ned Stark, often acting more like him than his own firstborn."

"I never believed Ned, my lady," Rodrik said. "It was not in his characters, to break a sworn vow, be it marriage or protection. But you knew all these years?"

"After Ned told me, I told him I wish he hadn't. But it was my cruelty that forced the issue into the light. And it is the wrath of Cersei Lannister and Joffrey Baratheon that sets it free," Catelyn said, trying to sound confident.

Now, though, Catelyn Stark sent up another prayer, hoping it would be heard by the Old Gods, the Seven and her beloved husband. I swear Ned, we will get justice, for you, for Lyanna, for Jon, even for Rhaegar Targaryen. We will finish what the Conqueror started and end House Lannister, once and for all. I swear it, by the Old Gods and the New.