The morning Ned was to leave for Eeyrie dawned bright and cheery, but his siblings faces didn't match it. After washing up, Ned visited his Mother's completed statue in Godswood to pay his respects and to reaffirm his promise that he will always protect his siblings and strive for their happiness. On return the family had a subdued breakfast.
As his things are already packed and ready, his family came to see him off in the courtyard, Lya and Ben had already cried rivers and begged Ned to not to go, even Ned and Bran had tears in their eyes. He hugged them tightly and promised to write regularly, once he came to his Father, uncharacteristically Father to gave him a hug and said, " Remember, Eddard, you are a Wolf of Winterfell"
On that note, Ned got on his horse with Ironeyes in a saddlebag and rode out of the East Gate followed by twenty guards who accompanied him from Eeyrie. Now he couldn't hold back tears any longer, and glanced back at Winterfell as long as he could see it on the horizon.
Even riding at a good pace and minimal breaks, return to Eeyrie took a month, during that time Eddard practiced his meditation, sparred with his guards and wrote down any ideas he had about strengthening the North and Nights Watch, so he can research feasibility of his ideas once he reached Eeyrie. One particular idea that he had was easily implementable but it needed Ned to do something he wasn't really comfortable with. He has to socialize. He has to make connections with his fellow lordlings and show off his Wolf's Fang, and extol them with virtues of Wintersteel. Usually Lords and Ladies of Westeros gather either at tourneys or weddings, that means Ned has to attend these events, Ned was going to hate it, he can already tell. Maybe Robert can help him there, after all Robert is great at making friends. If Ned can advertise Wintersteel to Southron Lords, (he is sure Brandon and Father will take care of it with Northern Lords) and they buy it, it means gold for House Stark and that means strengthening the North. For North he will do it, Ned avows.
After their month long journey along Kingsroad Ned and his guards reached the Bloody Gate during midday, with Ironeyes trotting beside Neds horse, Ironeyes had already grown to the size of a hound and reached Neds thigh when on all fours. After hailing the gate and entering it's courtyard, Ned has a surprise waiting for him, Robert and Lord Arryn were there to wecome him. As soon as Ned got off his horse Robert swept him up in a bear hug and said, " It's good to see you, Ned, I am sorry about your Lady Mother's passing, I was at Storm's End when I got the raven, if not I would have come to you".
Only a year older than Ned, Robert is already half a foot taller with broad shoulders, coal black hair ,bright blue eyes and handsome face. Returning Roberts hug, Ned replied, " It's good to see you too, my friend and thank you for your condolences."
After disengaging from Robert Ned turned to Lord Arryn, bowed and said, " It is good to see you too, my Lord."
" You are a sight for sore eyes, my boy, I am sorry at your Mother's passing, I have met her once, she was a remarkable woman, my duties as Lord Paramount stopped me from attending the funeral, you have my sincerest apologies, I hope your Family are coping well?", Lord Jon asked in kindly voice.
"Thank you for your kind words, my lord, We miss her but we are managing", Ned replied in a solemn voice.
" Come, your rooms are prepared, you have had a long tiring journey, we will rest the day here and journey to Eeyrie in the morrow, we can talk more at supper", Lord Arryn said and ushered them inside.
With Robert chattering mile a minute in his ear with a hand over his shoulder, and Ironeyes on his heels, Ned retired to his rooms.