298 AC
"Where's Arya? Sansa, where's your sister?"
As if to answer that question a young girl pushed her way forward, a helm on her head. Her father quickly swiped it off of her and she stood beside her second oldest brother.
The prince rode in first on horseback, his golden hair swaying in the winter wind. He smiled at Sansa, who smiled back shyly. The Hound was next, followed by the coach carrying The Queen and her other two children. And finally, the King comes in and all kneel for him. Ned was saddened to see that his friend had not tried to remain fit. But he couldn't be too hard on the man for that. He was stuck in a place doing work he did not like. The depression of losing his love and being stuck had done it to him. Ned hadn't actively played a part in keeping the man fit. He'd have to work a little harder to help him shed it. Robert got off his horse and signalled for all to rise.
"Your Grace," Ned spoke respectfully.
"You've got fat" Robert stated bluntly. Ned gave his King and old friend a look before they both burst into laughter. "Cat!" the King moved to Catelyn, who greeted the man with a small smile and respectful tilt of her head. She got a hug in return. "Nine years. Why haven't I seen you? Where the hell have you been?" he asked his friend.
"Guarding the North for you, Your Grace. Winterfell is yours" Ned answered his King.
Robert then moved on to the children while The Queen approached. Ned and Cat both greeted her with courtesy and respect. Robert then wanted to visit the Crypts. Ned led him there after words were passed between King and Queen. Ned led the King to The Crypts.
"Tell me about Jon Arryn" Ned spoke once they were descending the steps to the crypts.
"One minute he was fine, and then … Burned right through him, whatever it was. I loved that man" Robert muttered, the pain and sadness clear in his tone. The man was a second father to him. Robert had already lost a father, losing another was just as painful as the first time. "He never had to teach you much, but me … You remember me at 16? All I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls. He showed me what was what."
"Aye," Ned nodded, throwing a sly look at his friend that made Robert snort.
"Don't look at me like that. Not his fault I didn't listen" They share a laugh before Robert sighed. "I need you, Ned. Down at Kings Landing. Not up here, where you're no damn use to anybody. Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the king."
"I'd be honoured to accept, Your Grace" Ned went to his knees at once. Robert looked a little confused, but he was happy as well.
"I expected you to put up a little more fight," Robert said with a grin.
"I don't have a reason to deny your offer" Ned smiled and stood. "All those years ago when you offered me a seat on your council, I had said no because I was needed here. Now? I have trained my sons, all three of them, to run business in my absence. All the projects that I had planned for the North have started producing great results. I can move to the capital and help you run things now without worrying about my home."
"I've heard" Robert nodded his head, feeling pride at his friend's achievement. The North had rallied and improved. A new port, Minerals up in the mountains, Skagos integrating more with The North than they had in a long time. The Gift was being utilized and The Watch was receiving produce in plenty to remain self-sufficient in terms of food. Even the military had improved. The Northern army was being trained to use Pikes, Halberds and crossbows in compact formations to wear down enemy infantry. There were heavy infantry units wielding heavy melee weapons and shields and those wielding double-handed blades. The heavier infantry was equipped with shields and heavy axes, maces, hammers or flails. Robert had heard of this from Varys first and then from Ned himself who had written to him about it in many of his letters to Robert. "I expect nothing less from the man that helped me win the Iron Throne. And now I need you to help me keep the damn thing. If your sister had lived, we'd have been bound by blood. Well, it's not too late. I have a son, you have a daughter. We'll join our houses."
"No" Ned's blunt reply stunned Robert into silence. "Sansa is betrothed already, she is not an option. Neither is Rob who is betrothed to Lord Rickard's daughter."
"Betrothed? To who? How have I not heard of this?!" Robert almost roared. Ned put a calming hand on his friend's shoulder.
"It is a very recent one so I have not been able to write about it to you since you were on your way here by then. It is to Harrold Hardyng of The Vale" Ned explained.
"The boy who was Jon's heir until Robert was born?" Robert asked and Ned nodded. "Not a bad choice I suppose. A Valeman and that to of Jon's blood" Robert muttered. But that was not the only reason Ned had sought out the hand of Harrold Hardyng, writing to Anya Waynwood, to who Harrold was a ward.
"But not all hope is lost in joining our houses. I have another son and you a daughter" Ned suggested and Robert's face seemed to lift. "Myrcella is young still, so it would have to be once she flowers or when she reaches her majority" Ned added.
"Your son Brynden does seem a strong lad" Robert nodded. The only thing wrong with the boy that Robert could think of was the wine-stain birthmark on his face. But that's a small thing.
"I'll take that as a yes" Ned chuckled. The two friends continued their walk to Lyanna's grave, passing by the statues of The Winter Kings and past Lords of Winterfell.
"Her statue has a bow and a sword?" Robert questioned once they had reached the grave, looking at his friend.
"Lyanna could use a bow and a sword. I've seen her do both" Ned explained. "She could also ride a horse as good as any man in The North. People used to say she was half a horse herself. But I couldn't exactly add that part to the statue. I wanted her to be remembered for both her grace and beauty and her indomitable will."
Robert nods, moving forward and places a feather at her feet. Then he cups her face. "Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her."
"She is my sister and a Stark of Winterfell" Ned stated easily, "This is where she belongs."
"She belonged with me" Robert grunted and Ned held back a sigh. He knew Robert would never be truly over Lyanna, but it still made him sigh listening to Robert confirm it. "In my dreams, I kill him every night" he muttered in anger.
"It is done, Your Grace. Rhaegar is nothing but ash now" Ned reasoned. Rhaegar's body had been burned, as had been those of Aerys and Rhaella. Ned had made sure of it himself. Even if Robert had been against showing them a modicum of respect.
"Not all of them" the King muttered and Ned frowned. Daenerys Targaryen, she would be an issue in the times to come. Ned needed to deal with her as soon as possible. And he had a plan for it. "Before I forget" the King suddenly spoke, pulling out a letter from his belt. He held it out to Ned, who accepted it with a curious look. "The official decree to naturalize your bastard" Robert clarified and Ned's eyes widened slightly in realization. He had written to The King about this in his last letter. "Are you sure Catelyn is okay with this? Women of The Seven do not look too kindly to bastards" he asked.
"She is. She was the one to suggest it actually. On the condition that he be at the very last in the line of inheritance, after all our children" Ned explained. The idea was Catelyn's, not that Ned hadn't thought of it. Nor that was the condition Catelyn had put forward. "Thank you, Your Grace."
"You can thank me by calling for the feast to begin. I'm bloody hungry" the fat King grumbled and Ned laughed, Robert joining him not long after.
The day had gone on with people settling into their allocated places, and soon night came and with it came the start of the feast. Laughter and music rang through the great hall. King Robert was getting bawdy with a wench while Catelyn and Cersei were watching. Catelyn looked embarrassed while Cersei looked with a steely gaze. Ned tended to his guests and eventually met up with Jaime Lannister.
"I hear we might be neighbours soon. I hope it's true." Jaime asked. There was no animosity between them, not this time. Ned had not expressed any dislike for the method The Lannisters had employed to sack Kings Landing. They played neutral and only took sides when the victor was certain. The only thing that Ned had an issue with was the murder of the children and Elia Martell. But he kept that to himself.
"Aye, the king has honoured me with his decision" Ned nodded.
"I'm sure we'll have a tournament to celebrate the new title. It would be good to have you in the field. The competition has become a bit stale" Jaime added.
Not if I have something to do with that, Ned thought. But externally he just smiled. "I don't fight in tourneys. Too much attention for my liking."
"You'll be having more as The Hand" Jaime pointed out with an amused smile. The two parted ways after, Ned moving to see if his guests were well attended to. He then excused himself for a moment.
Outside it was a cool night, not cold but cool. Ned enjoyed this weather more than anything and knew he'd miss it at the capital. He made his way to The Crypts where he saw a figure, looking around in the dark. As he had expected.
"A long way from home, aren't you?" Ned called and the man jumped, turned and drew a blade from his waist. Ned held up a hand and smiled. "I'm not your enemy. Put that thing away. We have things to discuss."
"I'll say, 'Listen, fat man, you are not taking my husband anywhere. He belongs to be now" Catelyn stated and Ned laughed. It was much later in the night, the feast over and the castle falling asleep. The two had just finished their hour of intimacy and were now relaxing, the wife laying on her husband's chest.
"I'm sure he'd love to hear that" Ned chuckled. "But you saw the state of him. He would need all the help he can get" he added. Catelyn looked up at him and pouted, making Ned laugh and kiss her pout. "You can be such a child sometimes" he teased.
A knock on the door interrupted whatever Catelyn was about to say. She quickly grabbed a robe to drape over her nude body while Ned put on a pair of pants. A voice from the other side of the door informed them that it was Maester Luwin. Ned told him to send the Maester in.
"Pardon, my lord, my lady. A rider in the night from your sister" the old man handed a sealed note to Catelyn. Ned asked The Maester to stay while Catelyn looked over the letter curiously.
"This was sent from the Eyrie. What's she doing at the Eyrie? She hasn't been back there since her wedding" she asked no one in particular. She reads the note and looks up in alarm. Ned asked for the note but Catelyn burned it quickly. "She's fled the capital. She says Jon Arryn was murdered. By the Lannisters. She says the king is in danger."
"The Lannisters, hm?" Ned mused out loud. And so it begins, he remembered the words of Ser Arthur Dayne.
[I would like to thank Captain Fuckew McHugerage for the idea that he provided for The Northern Army!]