Ned and Cat

[Modelex]

Because Ned had a dead person's promise to consider over making things better for living, breathing people

[Rhaenys_Targaryen]

I'd like to think he would have tried to stop Brandon? Obviously communication logistics could have been problematic and once Arys had killed Rickon and Brandon there might have been no stopping the war.

Benjen never had a chance of stopping Brandon. When Brandon heard about Lyanna, he was on his way to Riverrun, and it seems that Benjen was not (since Benjen was the Stark in Winterfell during the war, and we know that when Brandon was racing to KL, Rickard was not in Winterfell and Ned was but in Winterfell. Lyanna obviously wasn't there either, leaving only Benjen).

[SeanF]

Is there a reason Ned never told the truth about Jon to Cat. I understand its not something you would tell people but she was his wife and they had a very strong relationship. It seems like he could have told her the truth at any point and Jon would have had a better life as would Cat. thoughts?

If Jon is who we think he is, then Ned is committing high treason, by sheltering the boy, rather than surrendering him to Robert's "justice."

If he tells Catelyn, he makes her his accomplice to high treason. If the truth is revealed, then she faces execution along with him. If the truth is suspected, then she'll be put to the question, in the Black Cells. Even if Catelyn were willing to endure torture, rather than reveal Jon's identity, she'd surely swap Jon's life for the lives of her own children.

So, by keeping the secret to himself, he helps to protect both Jon and Catelyn.

[Mikkel]

So, by keeping the secret to himself, he helps to protect both Jon and Catelyn.

This, Ned does noone any favors by revealing the truth to Catelyn. She might be a little less frosty towards Jon, but not much:

• She distrusts bastards on principle, it's part of the prejudice she's brought up to believe
• Officially Jon (and any children he might have) would be as much a potential threat to her children/grandchildren as ever, as he'd still be considered Ned's bastard son even if she knew he wasn't

The only one who was likely to gain from it was Ned himself, but as we see Cat forgives him anyway (good for him), but Ned is not the sort to break his word for his own comfort

[SeanF]

This, Ned does noone any favors by revealing the truth to Catelyn. She might be a little less frosty towards Jon, but not much:

• She distrusts bastards on principle, it's part of the prejudice she's brought up to believe

Officially Jon (and any children he might have) would be as much a potential threat to her children/grandchildren as ever, as he'd still be considered Ned's bastard son even if she knew he wasn't

The only one who was likely to gain from it was Ned himself, but as we see Cat forgives him anyway (good for him), but Ned is not the sort to break his word for his own comfort

And, Catelyn herself might be very angry that her own children are being placed in potential danger.