Except Ned has been raised in the south. It's like you're forgetting his fostering in the Vale.

And he wouldn't have stood in the way of Brandon's trueborn son, he's just not that kind of guy.

 

This. Ned wouldn't do anything to hurt Jon, so the better pick for an antagonist would be Catelyn. I could easily see her get played like a fiddle by Roose Bolton--Catelyn would believe that Roose is helping her put Robb in charge of Winterfell (petty revenge against Brandon for breaking their betrothal), but Roose would be doing it to undermine the Starks as a whole so he could take over.

 

In the Vale by "honorable" Lord Arryn.

That's what fanfiction is for. Give him to another lord for fostering, say Tyrell, or give him some other experience that influences his character. Ned Stark wasn't born honorable. Nurture made it so.

Also, add an ambitious Catelyn who he is in love with and perhaps a fight with his brother Brandon before everything went to hell, and I'm sure he could rationalize his way to the conclusion that he is the best Warden of the North and not a little baby.

It all depends at what point you change things from canon.

 

Or, there's always the scenario that Catelyn's bitterness causes Jon to resent his siblings.

 

You're forgetting how little honor actually mattered to Jon Arryn.

Need I remind you of Elia and her children laid out before Robert and how he conveniently swept that aside, whereas Ned didn't stand for it and had a major falling out with Robert overt it? Or the fact that Robert had also been raised by Jon Arryn, yet distinctly lacks the brand of honor that Ned practices?

In any case, you'd have to make a valid reason for fostering Ned with anyone different. Why would the Tyrells take in the second son of a lord, even that of a Lord Paramount, with whom they have little to no connections/contact with?

And if he was given to Tywin, he'd still not look to usurp his brother's children.

Honestly, I think it's fair to assume that this is what Ned Stark is like by nature rather than nurture.

 

Ned works better as the target of the plot.

His position as the Lord Paramount is rather secure. Marriage alliance with the closest neighbor, Just returned as the victor of a major and morally just war, alliance with the Vale and one of his closest friends is the King.

So the plotters would have more to overcome for their plot to be successful.

The other way around it would pretty much be a southern invasion of the north.

 

Yes, Jon Arryn wasn't really honorable. That doesn't mean that he didn't project that image to his foster children and everyone else who didn't look closer.

You could always find reasons to foster Ned somewhere. Though if you really want to put him through hell, then just have Aerys' paranoia make him a hostage to his father's good behavior in KL. Then, let him go home after Harrenhal for whatever reason and let canon events sweep over the world. Perhaps make Ned resent Brandon for his time in KL, say because Brandon was the one who made Aerys mad enough to demand a hostage.

Even if Ned is by nature a kind and noble guy, nurture will still win out. You've got the same thing with Sansa in canon.

Yes, sure Ned has many things going for him. And, no doubt, lots of lords would follow that exact reasoning. But if there was a trueborn heir to Brandon Stark born before Ned was proclaimed Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell? A lot of them would still see him as an usurper.

 

Why not? Isn't conflict more interesting when both sides are likeable characters that the reader empathizes with? Or do you prefer your antagonists more of the boring Sauron variety.

 

I wonder if there are any fics where Ned and Robert lead a sell-sword company, with Jon as Ned's adopted son.
I did find a VERY SHORT one with Ned and Robert in Essos, and Brandon as Warden of the North.
It would be interesting having one similar where Brandon's family is wiped out and 'Winter is Coming' Ned Stark returns to Westeros.

 

I always prefer characters to be interesting...which might be the reason why I think a Ned who's not the typical "honorable and noble" type he is in canon would be interesting.

Which reminds me: anyone know stories like that?

 

Of course, the somewhat crackish "The Honorable Lord Hand."

 

...

Well. That was...something.

 

I read Dragons of Ice and Fire last night, what an amazing fic. Other than some HP crossovers I haven't read in this fandom before. Are there are other fics of this quality?

 

I think I might have hit on the strangest HP cross with GoT I've ever seen in Song of Endings.
Harry is reborn as Drogon. You guys can rest easy, there's no suddenly talking dragons or such shenanigans. There's also some sort of strange change in Sansa, but I'll leave you guys to read it and take a look.

Spoiler

Best part so far is that during the riot, Sansa goes a little crazy and bites a dudes threat out when he tries to rape her.

The writing quality is decent, and the author has a decent hand for style and prose. Enjoy.

 

Lol, that sounds like something I should read, will comment in a bit on the experience.

 

Both Sansa chapters are largely rehashes and Harry is HINO atm, though that will likely change. That said, I am enjoying it. Definitely guilty pleasure, though.

 

I agree with Telrath that the Sansa chapters are mostly rehashes, and actually so are the other chapters, but the perspective is interesting, the interactions are well done and the prose is quite good. Ima keep following this and have high hopes for it!

 

Yeah. The Sansa chapters start deviating in the most recent chapter, and even then it's character change rather than any change in events. We might see something, but who knows.

 

What the fuck is HINO?

 

It probaply means Harry In Name Only.