Ned knows that Robb's indignant attitude comes from his love and protectiveness over Jon, who Ned suspects will always be considered a brother, instead of a cousin. Similarly, Ned will always think of Jon as his own, though he'll know when and how to bow out of the light of fatherhood, now that his sister has a chance to make up for lost time. He lingers, wondering whether to end the conversation here, when his son continues speaking.

The sight of the defeat in Robb's eyes makes Ned's heart ache, and he feels his expression softening as he listens.

He knows Robb has a point, that he speaks truth. Retrospectively, Ned would have, more than likely, broken many of the vows that he'd kept to if it meant keeping his family safe. He'd have never agreed to be Robert's Hand, not even in light of the claims from Lysa that Jon Arryn had been poisoned by the Lannisters. He'd have listened to his wife, who pleaded with him to turn the offer down and stay home with his family. He'd have never held his feelings of responsibility, duty, and obligation to his friend override the same feelings he had toward his family.

But, of course, things always appear with greater clarity after the moment's over.

"Aye," he responds, voice heavy and laden with the same sort of resignation as his son. "I suppose it makes little sense to adhere to them now, so far outside of home."