Year 276 AC
News of Prince Viserys birth reached Ned at Eeyrie and that got Ned thinking, new addition to the Royal Family meant celebrations and sooner or later a tourney, while Wintersteel has gotten some recognition in the Vale and Stormlands due to Ned, it hasn't sold any in the South, with the exception of Robert placing his order for it. What better place to gain greater exposure for it if not a tourney held in honor of the Prince of the Realm. Present two swords and a dagger made out of Wintersteel to the King saying that they were a gift for the King, the Crown Prince and the newborn Prince, if the gift got Royal Familys approval Wintersteel would be the talk of the Realm. A chance for a private audience with the King may present itself, which could be used to bring Nights Watch's deplorable condition to the King's attention. But it is widely known that the King is unstable and mercurial, is it wise to bring the North to the King's attention? Ned didn't know, so he wrote of his idea to Lord Father and left the decision upto him. After all Ned didn't have his Lord Fathers wisdom or experience.
As Ned turned thirteen, Robert turned fourteen, it seemed like Robert has gained another few inches in height overnight and discovered women and whores, while Ned is shy around them, Robert has some strong opinions and reactions on both in a direction different from Ned. Robert flirted with any girl or woman in their age group, either lowborn or highborn, visited brothels whenever he could get away with it, since Robert drags Ned wherever he went, that meant Ned being a red faced, embarrassed, shy stuttering mess a lot of the time. While Ned struggled valiantly in the throes of puberty the World went on and Ned got a reply from his Father.
His Lord Father approved of the idea, and said that, while he already sent the customary gift expected to the King's Landing, some finely made jewelry made from silver and gems mined from the new mines near Long Lake, gifting new swords made out of steel second only to Valyrian Steel directly from the hands of member of House Stark should at least grant a private audience with the King to ask aid for the Nights Watch, who knows with how relations between the King and the Hand have deteriorated, if the Hand opposed the notion, the King might even enthusiastically support it.
His Lord Father also made a minor change to the proposed gifts, instead of a dagger he decided on an Arming Sword, since House Targaryen already has a Valyrian Steel dagger as a heirloom in their possession. The swords will be done in a two months and reach Ned in three . Sent to Ned via White Harbor and Gulltown by ship with an escort of Winterfells guards who will stay with Ned until the anticipated tourney is over. He also informed Ned that Winterfells forges have freed up enough to work on Roberts Longsword and War hammer, but advised to wait on the armour as Robert is a growing lad still. When he shared that specific news with Robert he was wise enough to accept the advice and immediately set out to consult the smith about measurements for Longsword and War hammer.
As his Father said gifts for Royal family and Roberts Longsword and War hammer have arrived with a twenty strong escort of Winterfells guards in three months. In another month Ravens flew over Westeros informing that Lord Tywin Lannister is throwing a tourney in honor of Prince Viserys at Lannisport in a month's time.
So it came to be that Ned will have to enter the seat of power of one person Ned decided House Stark should steer clear of. Ned prayed to Old Gods that Tywin Lannister will not take too great a interest in a 'Northern Barbarian' .