During his stay at Winterfell, Ned explored the First Keep and Broken Tower with Ironeyes, sparred with his siblings and Robert, even Father sparred with Ned in a private setting in Godswood. Lya warmed up to Robert a little, while Rob didn't know how to interact with her in the beginning, he decided to treat her as he treats Benjen and that seemed to work for both of them. Ned discovered that he is Brans equal now with the blade and that made him puff up a bit.

But most surprising thing to happen during his stay was something Robert confessed, the day before Robert and Neds departure from Winterfell, Ned and Robert went out to Wintertown to get shit faced drunk, Robert even forwent whores and just stayed up late with Ned just drinking.

While they were returning to the keep in drunken stumbling, leaning against each other, Robert started talking with a slur, " Ya know, Ned, I envy you, you have great siblings, when you got home they were all, like, hugs and kisses, wanting to spend all the time with you, Brandon is fun and even Lyanna and Benjen are always following around. When I get home all I have to look forward to is Stannis, the Stone face, and baby Renly who is just born. Of course even baby Renly won't be there, he, mother and father are in Kings Landing, so its only Stannis, Stannis who never smiles or laughs, Stannis who sucks the joy out of a room, but Stannis who will always do everything I tell him to, even if he doesn't like it, Stannis who will always have my back because it's his duty. Hmmm, maybe I am I shit brother eh? Because I couldn't make him ever laugh, ahh, you are lucky Ned for having such good relationship with your siblings"

Ned a bit stunned at the surprise turn in the conversation keeps silent for a bit before saying, " You are a good brother to me Rob, and we will be going to Stromlands soon enough, you have a chance to be a good brother to Stannis soon."

" Ehh, I don't know Ned, I don't understand what he thinks you know, whenever I tried to do something fun, he keeps complaining about it ", Robert muttered sourly.

" You just need to reach out to him Rob, you will have the chance to do so soon enough", Ned replied.

Then they reached the Keep and stumbled into their beds.

While Robert drifted of to sleep, Ned thought of Stannis for a bit more. Ned has never met him but he had decided to marry off Stannis for Roberts sake. Ned wondered how he got to this position, deciding on others lives and deaths and marriages, he hasn't even even reached his majority yet and he is playing with fate of Westeros, do I have the right to make these decisions? does anyone??

"Promise me, Ned, promise me..." to those haunting words Ned drifted off to sleep.