Ned Stark's POV & Arya's Rescue)**
The TV show timeline has officially begun.
Ned Stark — The Name That Should Not Exist
Ned Stark stood beside his king in the courtyard, snow drifting around them like pale ash. Robert Baratheon laughed, drank, complained, and hugged him like a brother.
But Ned's mind was not on the king.
It was on a name.
Pendragon.
The old stories whispered of that name.
Not Valyrian.
Older.
Darker.
Stronger.
A house said to ride red dragons, born before the Doom, perhaps before recorded history.
A house said to have vanished because even Valyrians feared them.
But that was myth.
Nothing more than tales buried in cracked old scrolls.
And yet…
Jon had told him the shadow's name: Leo Pendragon.
Ned's blood had gone cold.
If the shadow was truly of such a lineage…
If such a house still walked the earth…
It changed everything.
Everything.
Robert's Request
In the crypts beneath Winterfell, Robert's voice echoed in the cold stone chamber.
"Ned… I need your help."
Ned said nothing.
Robert swallowed.
His voice cracked—rare for the king.
"I'm not a leader. I'm not a ruler. I'm just a man who lost the woman he loved."
Ned's chest tightened. Lyanna. Always Lyanna.
"Be my Hand," Robert said.
"Help me keep this kingdom from falling apart."
Ned bowed his head.
"If it is your wish, my king… I accept."
Robert exhaled in relief—but he wasn't done.
"And another thing. Our houses should join in blood. Your daughter. My son. A marriage."
Ned froze.
His first instinct was no—but he forced himself to breathe.
"I must speak with Catelyn and Sansa first."
Robert grunted, waving it off.
"Fine, fine. Do what you must. Just let me stay here a while… Let me look upon your sister, Ned. Let me remember her."
For the first time in years, Ned saw the man beneath the crown—a man broken by loss.
Stark Family Reactions
Catelyn Stark
She was almost joyful.
Jon Snow leaving for the Night's Watch meant her children's inheritance was secure.
A marriage between Sansa and Joffrey meant her daughter would be queen.
Her smile was small—and it made Ned's stomach twist.
Robb Stark
Robb blamed himself.
He apologized to Jon, voice cracking.
"I'm sorry… I should have defended you more. Don't go."
But Jon only smiled that sad smile of his.
"It's alright, Robb. The Watch is where I'm meant to be."
Sansa Stark
Raised on her mother's bitterness, she didn't understand Jon.
But she felt a strange sadness anyway.
"I hope you… find honor there."
It was awkward, but honest.
Bran & Rickon
They simply hugged Jon, confused but upset.
Arya Stark
Arya tried to act strong.
But when Jon gave her the thin blade—
"Stick them with the pointy end,"
—she broke.
Later, she ran into the forest, tears blurring her sight.
Arya Stark — Lost in the Woods
The woods grew darker.
Colder.
The wind hissed through the trees.
Then—
ROOOOAAAR.
The ground trembled beneath her.
A huge bear lumbered into view, drool steaming on its jaws, eyes fixed on her.
Arya froze.
Move, she told herself.
MOVE.
But her legs wouldn't obey.
Only when the bear lunged—
when its claws tore through a fallen tree—
did Arya finally break free and run.
She didn't get far.
Her foot caught a root.
She fell hard.
The bear's shadow covered her.
Its jaws opened—
Arya squeezed her eyes shut.
Leo Pendragon — The Shadow Returns
Leo had been back in his Winterfell campsite, cooking a rare meal from the system store, trying to relax.
Then he heard crying.
Then a roar.
He moved instantly.
When he arrived, the bear was already descending on Arya.
He didn't think.
He reacted.
One arm swept the girl up—effortless.
His metal arm caught the bear's jaws mid-lunge.
Teeth shattered like glass.
The bear recoiled, roaring in pain—
Leo ended it with a brutal strike.
Arya's Realization
She opened her eyes.
She was being held against a broad chest.
The bear lay dead.
She looked up…
Into the face she had only heard whispers about.
The man of shadows.
The ghost in Winterfell.
His metal arm gleamed in the pale forest light.
Arya gasped.
"Y-You… you're the shadow."
Leo looked down at her with calm, steady eyes.
"And you," he said softly, "shouldn't run so far from home."