Rebirth of the Wolf
When Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Lord Paramount of the North, and Warden of the North opened his eyes, it was not an action that he thought would ever do again.
The last thing that he remembered as his own sword was used to decapitate him was the cry of his daughter Sansa, begging for Joffrey to spare him. As the blade fell to his neck, he could only hope that Sansa would be spared, Arya could escape with the Night's Watch, and Robb and Catelyn could…
By the gods, Robb and Catelyn. After his execution, the two of them would raise the banners of North and Riverlands, rebelling against the Crown for his unjust murder. He also feared how his vassals would react to it. A generation ago, his father and brother were killed by the Mad King. And now, history was repeating itself.
Whatever thought that he had in his mind was soon dashed as light entered his eyes and air into his lungs.
"I am…alive…?" That was the first thought in his mind as he tried to move his body.
He immediately became warry upon noticing just how weak it was. Moving his right arm slowly, he found the answer for his predicament; his arm – instead of a man – was that of a babe.
The realization slowly came to his mind as he noticed how very big…everything was and how himself was…very small. Thus, despite it being against everything that had been taught to him, Eddard Stark – also known as Ned to those close to him – came to one conclusion: through some method, he had been returned to the state of infancy.
Not even a moment later, he cried, like a babe he was.
That was a surprise, he admitted. Not that he couldn't cry – he certainly did upon hearing the deaths of his father and older brother – but it would take more than this to make the Lord of Winterfell shed tears.
"Must be because I am a baby once more." He thought as his mind went to his five children during their infancy. "Babies are prone to cry, after all."
"Oh, dear! Is everything alright?"
His cry lessened a bit upon hearing the voice of a female. A moment later, he was picked up from his cot and found himself in the hands of an aged lady. Mayhap she was a midwife?
"Hmm, you don't smell. And it's only a while ago that you were fed." The lady said before chuckling. "You silly boy, you just want some attention, aren't you? I suppose in that regards, a prince and a peasant aren't that different."
"Prince."
Ned immediately focused his attention on that word. Looking a bit at his surrounding, he noticed that the quality of the room was not something that smallfolk could afford. Ergo, he was now a baby of a noble house. A very high-ranking one.
He let out something that could pass as a grumbling. Depending on the culture of this…new home of his…he might have to get himself involved in King's Landing-style court politic once he was old enough. Again.
Still, it didn't answer the biggest question that he had in his mind, one that he kept as the old lady put him back into the cot.
"How did I end up here? Restarting my life from the beginning?"
One thing that Ned noticed growing up was that – despite having the mind of a man grown – the state of his body affected it. As a babe, it was quite hard for him to perform a complex thought. It was more complicated than that though; when it was about something related to being the Lord of Winterfell, his mind was as clear as day. Anything else, however, and it would be as if he was just a normal baby.
Even remembering that 1+1=2 took quite an effort for him! He was not a prideful-type of a person, but that was shameful!
His fortune changed upon becoming a boy as his body became more capable of handling his mind, allowing him to realize the kind of world that he had found himself in. And by the Old Gods and the New, he was definitely very far away from the Seven Kingdoms!
Lands floating in the sky with nothing to support them! Ships sailing through the air rather than water! Giant armors capable of flight as if they were dragons! Magic being commonplace! It was as if he was reborn in the Age of Heroes, where figures such as Bran the Builder and Lann the Clever walked among the people!
Ned shook his head. He admitted that the problem was not completely gone; being in the body of a boy meant that it was quite easy for him to get excited…just like a boy.
"Your Highness, there you are."
The former Lord of Winterfell turned his head and saw a maid – the term used for female servants in this kingdom – approaching him.
"You are looking for me?" He said, putting on a friendly face.
"Your Highness," She curtsied before continuing. "Her Majesty asks if you are willing to join her at the dinner table."
"I will be there shortly." The answer was given. "Would my lord father be joining us as well?"
At that, the maid's face became more gloom. Without it being spoken, Eddard already knew the answer.
The marriage between his second parents, Roland of the House Holfort and Mylene of the House Gotha, was a political one. Unfortunately, unlike the one that he had with Catelyn, love did not grow in their union. It was more like the marriage between Robert and Cersei; a very fitting comparison, he acknowledged.
Just like his best friend, King Roland loved to whore around. Somehow, he managed to do it worse than his foster brother by often picking up maidens barely reaching their sixteenth name day. At the very least, his second father didn't drink around and plunge the realm into debts.
He couldn't help but wonder the reason for him being reborn here.
Upon arriving at the dining room, just as he had been told, there was only his mother on the table. The Queen appeared to have her mind on another matter when she noticed him, changing her face into that with a smile.
"Julius, you're here!" She greeted her with a hint of excitement in her tone.
When he first saw her, a part of him wondered if his second mother had the Blood of Old Valyria. After thinking about it for a while, he decided that it was unlikely since he doubted that Valyria even existed here.
"Greetings to you as well, my lady mother." Ned replied with a nod.
Julius Rapha Holfort. That was the name bestowed upon him as the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Holfort. More than once, the former Warden of the North wondered about the ego of his ancestor in his second life; to name the kingdom after himself…
"How many times I've told you, Julius? There's no need for formality when it's only between us." The white-haired woman shook her head in amusement. "Anyway, take a seat. The meal is about to come."
He took the seat on the other side of the table. As if on cue, as soon as he did it, the servants arrived carrying the food and drink. They placed them in front of him and his mother before walking toward where they came from.
It was a simple chopped meat – most likely rabbit - marinated in some kind of sauce. Alongside it was slices of roasted potato, a root vegetable that didn't exist in either the North or the rest of the Seven Kingdoms, and pieces of carrot and beans mixed together.
The drink was red wine that appeared to have been watered down. Taking a sip of the beverage, Ned chuckled at the fact that it was to the point of being a wine-tasted water. Robert would throw a tantrum if anyone dared to give him this.
"Um, Julius?" Mylene suddenly spoke up. "There's…something that I want to tell you."
"What is it, m-mother?" He replied, catching himself from being "too formal."
"The Crown is going to foster a boy of your age." She cut straight to the heart of matter. "Jilk Fia Marmoria, the heir of House Marmoria."
House Marmoria…Ned's mind went to the lessons that had been given to him in order to prepare him for his role as the heir of the royal family.
House Marmoria was a close ally to House Holfort. Their founder worked alongside the would-be First King to establish the realm that would later become the kingdom. He was still rather unfamiliar with how ranks work in here, but considering their history along with the close relationship with the royal family, House Marmoria could be considered an equivalent of a Lord Paramount.
His mind then went to the most important part of his mother's words: foster. The moment he realized it, memories started to flood his head. Of the time of his boyhood, of the time when he was fostered under Jon Arryn, of the time that he and Robert became brothers in all but blood.
He had never met Jilk Fia Marmoria before and the boy would certainly not be Robert. Yet nevertheless, he couldn't help but find himself…fascinated by the idea. To once more had a foster brother. To once more had someone that he could truly call his brother.
"When would this happen?" Ned asked, not bothering to hide his excitement.
"It should be a month from now on." The Queen replied, happy to saw his reception.
Once he was finished with the meal, the Crown Prince decided to head towards a certain room. Upon opening the door, a small figure immediately beset him.
"Jul, you're here!" The little girl with a familiar white hair hugged him. "I have been waiting for you!"
"Eri." Ned warmly spoke before giving the hug back.
Eri – full name Erica Rapha Holfort – was the second child of King Roland and Queen Mylene…and would also likely be the last since their parents' relationship had now broken down. The two of them sleep in separate bedrooms and the husband no longer wanted to even touch his wife.
Since the kingdom allowed female to inherit, that meant his sister was the spare with him being the heir. The heir and the spare. That must be the catalyst for the breakdown due to the duty had been fulfilled.
"Hey, Jul." Erica suddenly pulled his shirt. "Do you have another story to tell?"
"Hmm, let me think." He said as the two of them walked towards the bed.
It all started a year ago when Ned found his sister complaining of how there was no more story to read. There were actually more, but the former Lord of Winterfell doubted that those books were something that Erica would be able to read. Nevertheless, wanting to cheer her up, he decided to tell her about some tales that Old Nan used to tell.
Fortunately, his sister liked the tales and calmed down. Unfortunately, she wanted to hear yet more tales. Thus, that was how the prince found himself being a storyteller to the princess.
It wasn't an entirely bad experience.
"Have I ever told you about a…conquering dragon lord?" Ned said as both of them took a seat on the bed.
"No. You never tell anything with dragon in it." His sister reminded him with excitement. "So, this would be the first!"
"Alright, that would be the one then." He smiled for a bit before telling the story. "Once upon the time, there was a land of seven kingdoms…"
And prologue's done.
So, yeah, not sure what exactly is that inspired me to write this, but here it is. Eddard "Ned" Stark being reincarnated in MobuSeka.
If you have a question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.
Review, please!
