Eddard Stark is one of the characters of the "Sword of Ice and Fire Song" saga by George R. R. martin. He's 35 years old and leads the Stark House, as long as the Winterfell Castle. He's the protector of the North. He has two brothers, Brandon and Benjen, and one sister, Lyanna. He's married with Lady Catelyn Tully and together they have four sons: Robb, Sansa, Arya, Brandon and Rickon. Ned has also another son, Jon Snow. The motto of his House is "Winter is coming". (From Here)
Ned Stark relucantly went to Kings Landing at King Robert Baratheon's command that he replace the late Jon Arryn as Hand of the King. His honorable nature often put him at odds with the other councilors and the King himself. Ned, determined to find the circumstances of Arryn's mysterious death, discovered more than he bargained for when he realized that the King's supposed heirs were actually the children of the Queen Cersei Lannister and her twin brother Jaime. He felt compelled by honor to warn the Queen, and tell Prince Joffrey that he is not the heir. He was thrown in prison for treason, and eventually executed.