VALE
EDDARD STARK
"Boys!" Jon Arryn Lord of the Vale, and hosts of himself and his friend Robert Baratheon in the Vale
"JON!" Robert Shouted
Jon Arryn an honourable man and a second father to myself, my father Lord Rickard Stark sent me to foster at the vale, he and Jon are good friends that went way back.
"Boys we will be moving!"
"Where will go Jon?" I asked
"Kings Landing"
"Why?" turning to my friend Robert as he asked
"A tourney in the birth of King Aerys second son, and we are invited in it."
"Gods Ned this is your time to shine you fight like a demon possessed with a sword and not too bad with jousting." Robert clapped my back.
"You know I don't like to fight in tourneys Rob!"
"Nonsense Ned, if I had half of your skill I'll bloody enter all the tournaments!" Robert Bellowed
"Please Rob I'm not that good with a sword!"
"Bwa!" You just defeated Lord Royce a moon's turn ago, and he's the best swordsman in the Vale though he can't match me with my war hammer!"
"Aye, bloody tough that knight ain't he?" Jon spoke
"Aye but Ned here defeated him soundly if I may add."
"Aye, Ned is a good swordsman Rob, and he's just 10 and 5 namedays!" Jon agreed
"Okay okay but I don't want to enter the bloody tourney!" I finalized
Robert seeing that I cannot be forced just nodded and said "Aye, suit yourself Ned, but imagine all the ladies swarming you after you win the melee!"
The look I gave him just said "Are you serious?".
Judging by his face in return he just looked sheepish, he knows that I have no care for those things, the supposed glory and the ladies swarming.
"Fine Ned but don't stop me I'm entering the melee!" he crossed his arms
"Who am I to stop you Rob?" I scrunched my brows
"HA! You are my bloody brother in all but blood as Jon is my Father!" He shouted
"Brothers" I shook his hands
"My family is going there Ned, maybe you can wed my sister and we'll be brother by blood soon!"
"We'll see" I then stood up to prepare for the trip to King's Landing.
KING'S ROAD
"Gods Ned do you remember when we his Jon's chest and we said that the mountain clansmen took it"
"Yes but he looked as if he didn't believed you Rob!"
"Cause you were looking down Ned too honourable for tricks!" Rob jested
"Well he certainly wouldn't believe you after you smuggled that barrel of ale and you said it was Denys, the thing was he saw you smuggling it!" I japed in return
Robert just laughed Harder, "Those were the days right Ned!?"
Looking around me I felt that something wasn't right, putting my hand at the hilt of my sword ready to pull it out if necessary.
Robert seemed to notice this also and he also handled his sword.
Watching my surrounding alert of any movement I focused on the foliage of trees at my right side, Mountain clansmen alerting the guards "ENEMIES! PROTECT THE BAGGAGE MEN GATHER TO ME!"
As the first man came out an archer got him in the throat, gurgling he died choking in his own blood, alert of the group of enemies before me I didn't notice another group was at our backs until a knight of the Vale's head was caved in by the enemy's hammer.
"Rob take the enemies at our rear I'll handle this!" Nodding to me he went at the rear at horseback to support it with him 30 men, looking around me 50 men were left with me, looking at my front I saw them charge in retaliation I raised my Longsword and charged at them atop a horse.
Slicing through a man I watch as the men slaughtered the enemy forces, even though the enemies outnumber us they cannot hope to beat 50 of the best knights of the vale. Focusing in the battle I kept hacking at my enemies, my sword bloodied as was my armour.
After an hour of fighting I saw Robert riding to me as he was bloodied and a smile on his face "Wasn't that fun? Nothing gets the blood flowing than a battle or whoring"
"Too easy fighting and too boring whoring."I countered
"HA! Only you Ned"
"Rob how many losses?"
At that his smile shortened and turned into a grim smile and said "20 men among them Black boar and Ser Jason"
Black boar funny lad strong as a boar too, Ser Jason the son of the master in arms in the Vale and their sparring partner
"They will be missed" I stated grimly
Robert just nodded and begun to travel ahead, he was always close with Black Boar, he was his drinking partner.
"Jon the Mountain Tribesmen are getting bolder and bolder." I stated
"No they must have gotten word that I will be travelling here and they decided to attack hoping to kill me, Thanks to you Ned they were stopped"
"Aye, but I got Ser Flynn and Ser Horas killed!" I looked down
"Look up Ned those losses are big, though they did not die for anything, they died for an honourable cause and that means everything to a true Knight."
"But I can't help but think that I may get everybody killed"
"Yes fear is a good thing young Ned"
"Why?"
"Because the only time you can be brave is when you are scared" he mumbled
Silence took over that, Jon is a wise Lord and I thank my Father that he sent me here to be fostered
"Thank you Jon I needed that" I smiled at him
"None needed my goals is just to see you and Robert to grow as men I will be proud of"
"Well I will be don't know about Rob" I japed
"OH I will be NED!" I didn't notice that Robert came back
"When will that be Rob?" I asked
Robert just laughed, Jon looking at us was also chuckling albeit silently but you can see the pride in his eyes.
"ALRIGHT GO BACK TO YOUR FORMATIONS, WE WON'T ARRIVE IN KINGS LANDING LIKE WE'RE TRIBESMEN YOU LADS!" Jon shouted
Going back to my place at the front I can't help but wonder if my time in Kings Landing is eventful as this.
KINGS LANDING
"Look Ned the Kingsguard maybe you can challenge any one of them?"
"As if I can beat the White Bull Rob"
But Robert just went ahead and talked to the Kingsguard and he pointed to me and then talked some more, he then went back to me.
"Ned Ser Jonathan will spar with you after their shift on the training grounds near the red castle!"
"WHAT!"
"Too late to argue I already said you challenged them or does the Honourable Ned Stark breaks his promise" he mischievously smiled
"Fine you win this round Rob"
Rob then clasped my shoulders "You'll do great against him Ned"
"Well I wouldn't worry about losing if you didn't do that"
"Well you'll just have to win or you'll be humiliated!"
I nodded "Of course my Father said if I have to fight then win"
He laughed and then walked forward to see different stalls in the area, following him I felt the Kingsguard looking at me 6 pairs of eyes following me, Ser Gerold "The White Bull" High Tower, Ser Arthur "The Sword of the Morning" Dayne, Ser Oswell Whent, Ser Jonothor Darry, Prince Lewyn Martell, and Ser Barristan "The Bold" Selmy.
All 6 of them noted for their fighting prowess, each one has their fair share of glory, Ser Barristan known for defeating Maelys the monstrous in single combat, Ser Arthur Dayne for being the Sword of the Morning and being knighted for unhorsing Prince Duncan and Ser Duncan the Tall the predecessor of Ser Gerold.
Just walking forward I then felt their eyes leave me, exhaling in relief I then followed Robert to find some exciting stall or watch a funny Mummers show.
TRAING GROUND
Walking to the training ground I saw 3 of the Kingsguard there, Ser Jonothor, Ser Arthur, and Prince Lewyn Martell
"Are you Eddard Stark?" Prince Lewyn asked
"Aye I am"
"Your friend Robert Baratheon said that you can beat anyone of the Kingsguard anyday" Ser Arthur said while handling his sword
"No he just said that"
"Well he also said that you might say that, so who are we to believe?" Ser Jonothor asked while standing up
"Whoever you want to" I fingered the handle of my sword ready to attack at any moments notice.
Then the 3 of them laughed "That Baratheon was really right he is funny"
I just stood there looking like a fish and they laughed even harder
"Cheer up kid!" Prince Lewyn drawled in that southern accent of his
"HA! NED IF YOU JUST SAW YOUR REACTION!" Looking at the bushes I saw Robert there hiding.
The look at my face said I was angry and Robert knew that so he raised up his arms "Just playing a trick on you Ned!"
"You thought that was funny huh?" I grabbed the handle of my sword and the Kingsguard handled theirs also
As I was about to draw my sword, Robert then scrambled to run, and he fell on the bushes that made me laugh
"HA! ROB I GOT YOU" then the Kingsguard also laughed the moment before forgotten
Robert just looked at me and laughed "Didn't know you had it in you Ned!"
"So Eddard Stark came here to spar your friend there says you're good with a sword?" Ser Arthur looks at me
"Good with a Sword? He's a demon with a sword!" Robert shouts
"I'm not that good, and please call me Ned that's what everyone calls me" I then shook each of the members of the Kingsguards Hand.
"We'll just have to see right?" Ser Jonothor said while drawing his sword.
"Aye" I replied also drawing my sword
Circling each other, I watched his movements and see if any weaknesses were to be spotted. He attacked first with a thrust at my left side but I dodged in time, seeing a hole in his form I thrusted my sword at his chest but he blocked it in strides, this man clearly is a skilled swordsman but I may beat him just yet.
Slashing at my head I parried it with my own sword, breaking off "You are good with a sword Ned but not better than me!"
As he slashed at me again I grunted out "We'll see about that"
Circling each other again I watched if he will make the first move, seeing that he won't I attacked first, maybe it was the wolf blood in me or just the heat of the moment but I found myself growling and attacking with a force I didn't have before. Ser Jonothor Darry was shocked as I attacked faster and stronger.
But in this moment I knew that I commonly made mistakes but the wolf blood was overpowering but not as strong as Bran's or Lyanna's, and found a mistake Ser Jonothor did, as I did an overhead slash that was over extended he kicked me in the stomach and picked up my sword which I accidentally released when he kicked me.
"I yield!"
"Match well fought Stark"
"Indeed Ser" I then shook his arms
"Ned Stark you are an impressive swordsman as your friend says if you didn't over extend that one attack you would have won that match" Ser Arthur Dayne pointed out
"Yes we Starks have wolf blood in our veins and if it is triggered our temper grows fast but for me I become stronger and faster but the temper is still there, no one can explain how that happens in our family"
"Ahh yes the wolf blood I have read some of those in some textbooks in Dorne written by Maester Kael, the Stark temper they called it but going stronger and faster they never mentioned it there, interesting indeed" Prince Lewyn stated while rubbing his chin
"If you would like you could squire anyone of us here?" offered Ser Jonothor
"Ha! That was a match well fought" as I looked at my back Ser Gerold was there as was Ser Barristan.
"A fine afternoon Lord Commander" I bowed in front of him
"No need to bow Eddard Stark, you are a fine swordsman, say would you like to squire under Ser Barristan or I, we are short of a member this time and if you are knighted you can become part of the Kingsguard"
To say I was shocked was an understatement, here was ser Gerold Lord Commander of the Kingsguard offering me a place in the Kingsguard once I become knighted.
"It's an honour Lord Commander, but I would like to contact my father first"
"None of that Lord Commander bullshit, call me Ser Gerold or Gerold for that matter!"
"Well call me Ned then Ser"
I then shook his hands and he said, "If you have decided just come to the White Tower, we need honourable men like you here Ned"
"Of course Ser"
Nodding to me he shouted to the others "OKAY BREAK TIME IS OVER GO TO YOUR POST NOW "
Bowing the other Kingsguard members left until only Robert, Ser Barristan and Ser Gerold and I was left.
Nodding at me Ser Gerold then left probably to the white tower, leaving Ser Barristan Robert and I.
"Ned Stark would you accompany this old man would you?" Ser Barristan smiled
"Old man? You're just 30" I stated
"Ahh yes but being a Kingsguard makes you feel a whole lot older"
And then the three of us laughed
"Being in the Kingsguard is a great Honour Ned, but once you are sworn in you will never inherit anything, nor marry anyone, but you would be our Brother, think of it Ned you are still just a boy now you have a whole life in front of you, a wife to take care of you and guards to protect you."
"I'm second born so I would not inherit anything, I was thinking to join the Night's Watch but maybe this is the one for me"
"Ned this is perfect for you, The Honourable Ned Stark of the Kingsguard!" Robert laughed
"Aye that maybe true, but I still have to tell my Father"
"Aye Lord Rickard? He'll accept that we also go way back, we fought side by side in one battle, and he's good with that Greatsword of his too" Ice the Stark ancestral sword given to Torrhen Stark after he knelt.
"But not as good as you" I countered
"Yes but he can challenge me mind you not a lot of men can say that" Ser Barristan said
"Aye he taught me all he knew of the blade but he was always amazed on how good I am everytime we spar, last time we sparred, we were a draw."
"A good and honourable man your father, need more men like you Starks in the world" he laughed
"Aye then there would be no wars."
After arriving at the great sept of baelor we split up after saying farewells.
"So Ned would you squire?"
"Don't know if my father would approve I'll have to write to him first"
"But will you join the tourney?"
"We'll see it's still 2 weeks away"
"Aye Ned, I'll just go to that girl over there" watching Robert I shook my head as he buried his face in the tits of the service girl.
After arriving in the apartment, I quickly wrote a letter to my father explaining what Ser Gerold told me and if he would agree, after letting the ink dry I poured wax over it and stamped it, after giving it to a servant to send it through a raven I willed myself to bed and found myself asleep.
1 WEEK LATER
"Lord Eddard a letter has arrived for you" a servant spoke
"Give it to me please"
After he handed me the letter he bowed and left the room, opening the letter, I read its contents
Eddard Stark
Eddard if the bull offered you that, then accept it, it's a great honour to serve in the Kingsguard
Become a knight and join them so you can bring glory to our family, and tell the Bull to mind his
shit, it gets everywhere.
Your Father
Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, head of House Stark and Warden of the North
Feeling glad that my father agreed, I stood up to go to the White tower to tell them the good news, this week I spent fighting and sparring with the Kingsguard so far I can beat Ser Jonothor Darry and match blades with Prince Lewyn.
WHITE TOWER
"Ser Gerold!"
"Ned is that you"
"Aye!"
"Alright"
After opening the door Ser Gerold hugged me, during the 1 week I have stayed here he was like a third father to me second after Jon of course.
"Ser Gerold, good news, my Lord Father approved of squiring under anyone of the Kingsguard in hopes that I may be sworn into your group in the future"
"That's fantastic Ned soon I'll call you brother, after the King approves of course, say who would you like to squire under? I myself is in need of a squire"
Thinking of who can I squire under "Can I squire under Ser Barristan?"
"Of course Lad you'd do well under him" he clasped my shoulders "Strive Hard Ned and maybe the next few months you'll be knighted and you can join us" then he smiled
"Of course I will, Gerold, it's an honour to squire under one of the best Knights in the realm"}
"I know you'll do well Ned, go to Selmy and give him this letter that I will write"
After writing and stamping the letter, he gave it to me nodding I went and leave.
"And Ned stop by the grounds later afternoon alright? I have something to give to you!" Ser Gerold shouted
"Aye!"
Walking around the red keep I saw Ser Barristan walking with the crown prince Rhaegar.
"Ser Barristan, Prince Rhaegar" Bowinging in front of them
"And who is this Ser Barristan?" the Prince asked
"This is Eddard Stark second son of Rickard Stark"
"A fine day to you Eddard Stark"
"A fine day indeed my Prince and please call me Ned!"
"Call me Rhaegar then Ned"
I smiled at the Prince, he unlike any others in this viper pit was kind and honourable.
"Ser Barristan! Ser Gerold told me to give this letter to you"
After Ser Barristan read the letter he smiled at me "So decided to say yes then Ned?"
"Aye Ser, tis a great honour to squire under one of the greatest knights in the realm"
"So Barristan this one hopes to fill the missing spot left in the Kingsguard?
"Yes my Prince, he's good with a sword too, in a year he might best me after all" The Prince then laughed
"It will be an honour to have you serve under the Kingsguard Ned Stark"
"Of course my Prince –after a pointed look- I mean Rhaegar"
Smiling "Please call me Rhaegar and none of that Prince business all my friends call me Rhaegar"
"Of course Rhaegar, I'm not used to speaking to royal people like you"
"Well then you'll be used to it, Ser Barristan if you're not offended I'll make him my squire"
Shock followed that sentence but Ser Barristan recovered and said "I'm not offended my Prince, you can have him as a squire"
"Say what now Ned would you like to squire under a Prince?" Rhaegar smiled at me
"O-of course my Pri- I mean Rhaegar I would be honoured to squire under you!" kneeling in front of him
"No need to kneel my friend, stand up and come with us"
After standing up I walked with them around the Red keep with Prince Rhaegar touring me so I will not get lost if he asked me to fetch something.
After the tour I said my farewells to them as I was not needed by the Prince as I would begin my squiring days tomorrow, but now I was to meet Ser Gerold.
TRAINING GROUNDS
After arriving there was nobody there so I just sat on the ground and thought of the events that unfolded today.
A loud cough brought me out of my musing, looking at the source of the sound I saw Ser Gerold, standing up "Ser Gerold! Prince Rhaegar took me as a squire himself"
"Aye I heard that form Selmy he was quite schocked himself when that happened"
"Yes It's a great honour to squire under the Prince"
"Ned I called you here because I want to give something to you!"
"What is your gift Ser?"
He walked out of the grounds and after a few seconds He brought in a sword a greatsword to be exact.
"What is that?"
"Open it Ned, someone gave it to me" He said smiling
After giving the sword to me I noticed that for a greatsword this was light "Valyrian Steel?"
"Aye"
Removing the cloth around the blade, the sheath was familiar, excitement rushed through my veins, removing the sword form the sheath I was correct, it was Ice the Stark ancestral sword but why was it here.
"This is Ice why is it here it should be with my father or my brother?"
"You're Father gave that to you because he said that you may need it, and your Brother approved saying that you'll need it more than him here"
Feeling tears in my eyes I looked at the blade in my hands, Ice the sword of every Head of the House Stark given to me by my father.
"You'll have no problems taking care of that blade Ned, Valyrian Steel doesn't rust and it doesn't dull"
Remembering my father as he oils this sword everyday to maintain its prestige look and to make it look new even if it was more than a hundred years old
"I will take care of this, it is given to me by my family and I swear that I will bring back my glory to them by using this!"
Looking at Ser Gerold you can see the pride in his eyes, "I know you will Ned, so how about a spar?" he unsheathed his blade and motioned with his fingers to come.
Handling Ice, it is a double handed Greatsword no doubt it is lighter than my own sword but not light enough that I can wield it single handed.
After half an hour of sparring he called the match "Impressive Ned, you fight with that like you were born to wield it after a few more training no doubt you can defeat me"
Blushing as I never received such praise from anyone "But you were still better than me and stronger too"
"Experience Ned, that's my advantage to you at the age of 50 I took part in many battles, and I was Famed for my strength in my prime, not that that strength has gone but I was stronger than I used to be"
Amazed at his strength and wondering at how I can fight him at his prime, when we were sparring every hit that I blocked made my hand go numb with the force of his strength.
"Aye but even now you're still strong"
"Yes because even now I still train, train from the morning and everytime I don't have any shifts in guarding the royal family."
"Then I will be like you Ser Gerold, I will train hard so I can bring honour to my family!"
"And Bring peace to the realm don't forget that"
Nodding at his words I take them to my mind as these words of wisdom will be important during the time I serve the Kingsguard.
"And Ned Go to to Prince Rhaegar at first light on the morrow!" Ser Gerold Said while leaving
"Aye"
Going back to the Apartment I find myself excited about what will happen during my stay here in Kingslanding.
A/N: I got this Idea thinking if ned was an awesome swordsman what will happen, this is just before the Kingswood Brotherhood battle arc so expect what will happen during that part.
Please Review so I can have many Ideas but the final decision is still mine but if I used your Idea I'll be sure to give you credits :)