As time went by Ned kept to his studies with a renewed vigour, knowing he will leave Eeyrie a year earlier than he first thought, Ned wanted to be certain he learnt all he could in his time here. Lord Arryn seemed to appreciate Neds effort and that was good enough.
Ned researched the Reach and the crops they harvest, since they are one of the main sources of food for Seven Kingdoms, surely they have superior farming techniques, Ned wanted those for the North. While he did learn that the Reach has some better techniques for farming, that was mostly due to better tools, a smallfolk family from Reach is inherently richer than a smallfolk family from the North. That led to the Reach farmers having better tools when compared to a Northern ones. Hmmm ,perhaps House Stark could subsidise the cost of better tools for North's smallfolk.As the end of the year approached, events began to rapidly unfold. In the tenth month of the year, the betrothal of Crown Prince Rhaegar and Lady Lyanna Stark was announced. Since Brandon's wedding is to be held in the eleventh month of the year, the King commanded Prince Rhaegar to attend his soon to be goodbrother's wedding as the Crowns representative. Later Rhaegar in a letter admitted to Ned that, attending the wedding was his idea, that Rhaegar always wanted to visit the North and the Wall at least once and he wanted to meet his great uncle Aemon in particular.
Once the news of betrothal was announced to the Realm, Ned wrote to his Father, reminding him to keep a closer eye through Shadows on Lord Tywin Lannister, what Lord Tywin does next will decide whether they should expedite his end. While contemplating the murder of a man in cold blood made something squirm in his gut, Ned pushed that down. One doesn't take risks with men such as Lord Tywin, to men like him someone is either beneath their boot or their enemy. Lord Tywin does not tolerate equals and rivals. The man would have to go, whether he gives justified reason to end him or not is irrelevant.
As Ned feared Robert didn't take the news of betrothal very well, as soon as he heard he cornered Ned and demanded, " Did you know ?! "
" About what, Rob? ", Ned asked waerily.
" Don't play dumb, Ned. About this betrothal ?", Robert nearly shouted taking Meds collar in a grip.
" I did ", Ned replied simply.
" And you didn't tell me? I was going to ask for Lyannas hand, did you know that? I thought we would be brothers in truth by that marriage. But some brother you turned out to be. Is it because he is a prince that I was passed over for? Is it ?", Roberts face was red with near rage and he is damn near shouting now.
Ned remained calm and said, " Robert look in the eyes and hear what I say. If you hear a single lie then strike me down here and now", Robert slowly released Neds collar and looked Ned in the eyes, " Robert you are a brother to me, I love you like I love all my blood born siblings, how could I not? I spent half my life in your company and since we met you stood by my side. So you do not need to marry my sister to be a brother to me you already are a brother of Eddard Stark. As your brother, I know you as much as I know myself and I know Lyanna, you would have made each other miserable, this I know with a certainty. Lyanna needs someone mild mannered and someone who can reign her in without hurting her, she is she wolf of the North and has too much Wolfsblood. And you have Fury of Durradons of Old in you, Rob. You have zest for life. You crave adventure, you want to see the World, enjoy today with no worry of tomorrow. You want to fight, fuck and feast in no particular order so that the Storm in your heart sates for awhile. And you can do none of those things if you married and had to settle down with duties and children. Marriage will make you miserable, at least for now. Did I lie to you in anything I just said?"
Robert who has been deflating bit by bit since Ned started talking, released an exasperated sigh and said, " No, you didn't. You know, if I had to marry and I had to, Father has already started talking about betrothals, I thought I would marry my best friends sister, you know".
" I know, a match between you and Lya has crossed my mind. But I couldn't make two of the people I love most in the World miserable by making such a proposal. But I do have an idea to delay your marriage. Your brother Stannis is only months younger than me, and you told me that is dutiful sort, let us, you and I search for an appropriate betrothal for him. We will present the match to your father. If your father approves, once Stannis is married, pressure on you to marry will lessen. We have had a long summer these past years, near four years of it, Winter will come as it always does and soon too, probably by the time I reach majority. Work on Moat Cailin will stall because of it. If we can get Stannis married by then, we can take a tour of Essos during Winter, maybe even join a sellsword company. Once winter is done we can return to Westeros. I will take up my duties as Lord of Moat Cailin and you can search a bride for yourself if you have a mind to it. Either way Stannis will atleast have produced a girl or boy for House Baratheon by the time we return and your Father wil be too busy with grandchildren to pester you to marry. So what do you say?", Ned asked with an uncharacteristic smirk.
Robert who had been brightening steadily as Ned spoke, gave a wordless shout of joy and hugged Ned, taking him off his feet before saying with a grin, " Ned that is an excellent plan."
With Robert placated, both foster brothers together started to look for brides for Stannis. Ned silently apologised to Stannis in his mind, to make Robert happy Ned sacrificed Stannis's choice to choose his own wife. But Ned vowed to himself that he would find a good wife for Roberts brother.