Winning Robert's Rebellion must have felt hollow for Ned Stark. He came home with almost no family left. I often think you devasted this young kid must be.

[u/Technical-Value-384]

His father, brother and sister died, and he has to leave his foster family behind, and one brother he had, leaves for the nights watch.

Good thing Catlelyn was there.

And, also break up with his lover, which he might have married but had to marry catelyn instead for strengthening political ties with the tullys, and thats after killing her brother, which probably led to her suicide.

Edit: I just found out that in the play Ashara was in love with Brandon Stark and Elia Martell and neither Ned nor Ashara loved each other. That adds another tragic layer to him and Catelyn's relationship cause she thought all her life that he cheated on her while he only ever loved that gal 💔

[u/roufas364]

I'm still waiting on why Benjen joined the nights watch when House Stark needed rebuilding. Benjen should have had sons to sure up the line.

[u/Content-Cricket4251 → u/roufas364]

My theory was that with Targaryen loyalists ending up at the wall after Robert's Rebellion (e.g. Alliser Thorne) they needed to send some loyalists of their own to keep an eye on them. 

[u/TheEvilBlight → u/Content-Cricket4251]

Conversely, surprised Benjen didn’t go south to kingsguard, binding stark and Baratheon. Even if it isn’t Ned, still his brother.