Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North, and Lord Paramount of the North
Third Day of the Second Month, 298 AC
"Are there anymore petitioners?" Ned asked, his back aching from sitting in one place for so long. Even though he had been doing this for years now, the pain still took hold of him every time.
'Perhaps that was a good thing.' he mused. After all, Aegon the Conqueror had said that no king should rest easy, and though he was no King of Winter like the Starks of old, the wisdom held true.
The maester looked at his notes for a second before answering him "Yes, my lord. A man from Barrowtown I believe."
"Barrowtown?" Ned asked, his eyebrows slowly raising. "A long way for someone to travel. Especially so, when they are under their own lady's roof."
Maester Luwin looked to speak, but before he could, the doors of the Great Hall open, and the man from Barrowtown is admitted through.
"Brandon of Barrowtown, milord." the guardsman shouts through.
The man, Brandon, is young, probably around 20 name days or so. He has short, brown hair, and sea blue eyes. He's of average height, Ned notes, but is broad-shouldered, not an uncommon sight in the North.
Brandon walks down the Great Hall with confidence, though eyes flicker towards the guards, in what Ned can only assume is nervousness. He gets to the end of the hall, and looks Ned in the eye, before kneeling and saying, "My lord."
'Interesting.' Ned thinks. It's unusual to see a lowborn know how to properly greet nobility, though the kneeling is a bit much for Ned's taste.
"Rise." Ned commands, watching as the man hesitates before standing. "It's unusual for one of Lady Dustin's smallfolk to want to petition me, especially so when the man in question lives in the same town."
Brandon smiles at that "Lady Dustin cannot help me with this request, my lord."
"And what could I do that Lady Dustin cannot?" Ned asks, a bit confused.
"I want to join your guard." He answers, his voice suddenly serious.
"My guard…" Ned says slowly. "Why would one of Lady Dustin's smallfolk want to be part of my guard?"
"Your brother, Brandon, my lord." Brandon answers with enthusiasm. "He saved my father from death by Lord Dustin's hands."
"Really?" Ned asks sceptically. "I was never told this story." Which was unusual, considering Brandon had a penchant for stories, and saving the life of a man from Lord Dustin would be quite the story indeed.
"He probably didn't think much of it, my lord." Brandon replies. "All he did was realise that Lord Dustin's men had no proof. Not one for the stories, but it saved my father's life none the less, and they caught the real killer two weeks later."
That made sense at least. Brandon wouldn't have thought that story to be heroic, or interesting at all.
"And why should I let you into my guard?" Ned asks. "Most of the guard comes from Winterfell lands…have you ever even held a sword?"
"Aye, my lord." Brandon answers readily. "My father was a blacksmith, so I was able to practice with a sword. And there was a guard or two, who were willing to spar with me for a bit of coin.
"I won't be Jaime Lannister any time soon." he admits. "But I can say that I'm decent with a sword. Even got asked to join Lady Barbrey's guard but my father made a promise, and I mean to keep to it."
"A promise…" Ned asks, thinking he already knows the answer. "And what promise is that?"
"To have his firstborn protect Lord Brandon and his family." He says solemnly "And with Lord Brandon's death, that vow passes to you, and yours."
Ned pauses to think for a moment, his fingers tapping the arm of his chair. If he was telling the truth, then it would probably be advantageous to have him. But if he was lying…
"Does Lady Dustin know of this tale?" Ned asks, figuring it was only way to know for certain.
"She may do." Brandon says hesitantly. "But it was only Lords Brandon and Dustin in the room, and I don't know if they would speak to her about lowborn matters."
Ned purses his lips at that. Of course, he couldn't just ask Lady Dustin. That would make things too easy.
"Jory." Ned says, motioning for the captain of the guards to join him.
"Yes, my lord?" Jory whispers as he comes over.
"Send a man to Barrowtown." Ned murmurs "Ask Lady Dustin if she knows of this tale. If she doesn't, then ask the smallfolk."
"And Jory." He says as the man starts to leave. "Don't let him near Cat or the children alone. Not until the rider comes back, at least." It was better to be safe than sorry, after all…
"Brandon," Ned says louder. "You're to join the guards in training, though you won't be going through guard duty until they have you trained up to their standard.
"Thank you, my lord." Brandon says, almost stumbling over his words. "I'll be sure not to let you down. I promise."
"Yes, I would hope so." Ned whispers, before leaving the room without a look back.