"You shouldn't have shielded me from anything." But she knows why he did. It would be the same reason that she would protect him from any distasteful stories or unflattering rumors. He was her brother and she loved him. It didn't change her feelings of guilt or her wish to share the same burden that Rhaegar was forced to. Though perhaps it was better that she didn't. None would know of Jon and he would be the safer if she was thought to have been abducted. Even if the idea made her stomach turn.

She shook her head, pressing his palm against her cheek. "I didn't, but I should have written. By the time we reached Dorne, father and Brandon were dead. I should have told them, I should have told you, you would have understood." At least, she prayed he would understand. She didn't know if Ned had loved anyone then, but perhaps he could imagine why she wanted Rhaegar. "Gods, Ned. Please forgive me." Someone should absolve her, if it were possible. The Old Gods were unfeeling, but her brother was not.

"How can I not carry this? I knew what I was doing, but I did it anyway. I didn't think of the consequences and everything that happened afterwards was the result of that." She took a shaky breath, pressing her brow to his shoulder. "Would I have been happy if I had accepted Robert Baratheon? Do you think I should have?" She never doubted herself before, but under the weight of her guilt, she had to wonder, she was left questioning the intelligence of her decisions. "I didn't love him."