Eddard spent last fortnight of his Mothers pregnancy playing with his siblings and every spare moment reading books on economy of North , and of whole Seven Kingdoms ,even though Father was busy with his duties of Lord Paramount of North and Mother staying in bed more and more , not even coming down for meals to Great Hall , those were happiest days of his life so far .
It was a revelation getting to know his siblings once again . Brandon with his never ending energy either in training yard or in mischief . Lyanna with her joy for life and love for everything unladylike , at seven namedays already asking for a horse of her own and demanding to be taught swordplay . Benjen at five following Lyanna everywhere and getting into trouble for it . Being with them filled a hole in his heart he didn't even know was there .
Finally , the day all of them are waiting for came and his Lady Mother went into labor in the evening . At first everyone waited in the hallways of Family wing , but hours went by and she was still in labor , their Lord Father ordered them to eat and retire to their rooms and that he would call them when its done . Hours later he jerked awake and was confused about why he was awake , then he heard it , his mothers scream , he scrambled out his bed and rushed to her birthing chamber , there were no more screams but the Maester was speaking to his Father in low tones , he neared his mothers birthing bed and there was blood everywhere on it and mother was insensate .
" ... this was a very difficult birth my lord , the babe hasn't cried yet , even though he was breathing , he may not last the night , even if he did he may not last the year , and Lady Stark's situation is even worse , she has lost a lot of blood and losing more still , if she lives its a miracle of the gods " Maester Walys told his Father , whose face has such anguish in it , he couldn't imagine it possible , tears poured down his face , with a start he realized he was the same , then Mother woke calling " Rickard where is our babe ? " in a weak voice .
His Lord Fathers face was a rictus of pain as he took a babe in swaddling clothes from a nurse he didn't even notice was there , " Here he is Lyarra , our Torrhen "
Mother took the babe in her arms with a shaky hold and said , " I am not going to survive the night , am I ? "
To that Father made a sound in his throat reminiscent of a dying animal , Eddard shouted and sobbed , " No , mama , please stay, please dont go , mama please "
Mother and Father turned to him , as if noticing him for the first time , " Oh my poor boy come here , mama will stay , come " , then with some steel in her voice she told , " I will see our other children too, Rickard , bring them to me yourself . "
After Father left to fetch his siblings , a midwife replaced the bloody blanket covering mother with a fresh one .
Taking his hand into hers she rubbed soothing circles on the back of it , " My Quiet Wolf , always so dutiful , mother would like you to promise me something will you ?"
With tears streaming down his face he said , " Anything ,Mama , anything "
A smile blossomed on her face that he will remember forever , " Protect your brothers and sister , Bran gets into all kinds of trouble , he makes friends easily , he will make enemies easily too , Lya and Ben will not know whats happening , be there for them , your Father loves me very much , I fear he will turn distant and cold without me , be there for him too , and never hide your own hurts , share them with your pack and I want you to be happy , and your new brother Torrhen , protect him , you are a Wolf of Winterfell , protect the Pack , promise me Ned "
" I promise , Mother "