EDDARD
WINTERFELL
Eddard Stark sits under the weir-tree in the godswood praying for Jon's safety. Part of him regrets allowing Jon to go, but Jon had other family in the world and he deserved to know them. Ned is not alone, his Dire Wolf pup Snow is with him, the red eyed albino wolf has his head resting on Ned's lap. On his last hunting trip with Robb, Theon, and Bran the Dire Wolf had stolen the deer Theon shot. The wolf had just given birth to a litter of pups and died at Theon's hand with three arrows to the head. Bran had convinced his father to allow them to keep the pups. At the last minute Robb found the youngest one and Ned took him for his own since Jon was not present to claim one. He named it Snow to honor Jon.
Snow sits up and starts wagging his tail as Catelyn nears the tree, "What is it boy?" Ned asks. He watches as the wolf stands up on all fours and runs toward Cat. "And what brings you out here?"
Cat rubs Snow on the head, "No matter how many times I come out here I feel like a stranger..."
"You are a Stark now My Lady."
"The faces in those trees still creep me out..." She hands him a raven's note, "News from the Capital my love..."
Ned takes the note and reads in silence, "No...gods no!"
"What is it Ned?"
He lowers his head and then looks at Cat, "Jon Arryn is dead..." Ned had written Jon two days after his nephew left inquiring about his health. Jon was pleased to get Ned's letter and replied that he was fine.
"How?"
"Doesn't say...Jon said this would happen."
"Aye he also said the King would come to Winterfell..."
Ned raises the note, "He is, with the Queen, their children and the King's Guard..."
"If he is coming North that means..."
"He wants me to be Hand of the King." Ned says finishing her sentence.
"Ned what will you do? Jon said the Queen was having an affair with her own brother."
He sighs, "I can't refuse him." He stands up, "Come we must get ready for the King's arrival." They return to the castle and have Ser Rodrick summon all the people of Winterfell together. "My friends...The King is coming to Winterfell and we must prepare for his arrival..."
Catelyn takes charge and assigns servants to take care of different duties around Winterfell. The castle is cleaned of all dust and cobwebs. The guest rooms are aired out and fresh sheets and linens placed. Decorations are put out; everyday from sun up to sun down Winterfell is made ready for the royal guests. "Jory I want four guards posted around the Broken Tower at all times..." Ned says to Jory as they walk through the castle grounds with Snow following.
"Yes my Lord..."
"I want men posted at the entrance to the god's wood and the crypts...Also keep at least one man by all the unused rooms..." If what Jon said about the Queen and her brother is true Ned wasn't going to give them a place to commit their incest in his home. Neither would he allow Bran to fall to his death from the Broken Tower. A week later a Raven arrives from Castle Black.
To Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell, Warden of the North
I write this letter with a heavy heart...I ask that you make all haste to Castle Black...There is something you can only see with your eyes to believe...With regards
Jeor Mormont 997th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch
"Sounds serious." Maester Luwin says in Ned's Solar.
"I can't leave...Not with the King coming..."
"Whatever the Lord Commander has to show you, he'll have to bring whatever it is here..." Ned writes the letter and has Maester Luwin send it to Castle Black. Two days before the King is to arrive a Raven arrives asking Ned to keep the King at Winterfell as he needed to see this as well. Eddard stands with his family in the courtyard. The King rides into Winterfell behind Ser Barristan Selmy Lord Commander of the King's Guard and Ser Jaime Lannister. His son Prince Joffrey enters next with Hound Sandor Clegane, The Queen follows in a wheel house and then the rest of the King's Guard.
Robert Baratheon is not the man Ned remembers. He had gotten fat and has a full beard. When he dismounts his horse Ned and his household bows. Robert signals them to stand. They stare at each other and it is Robert who breaks the silence, "You got fat..."
Ned nods at him and they start laughing. The two friends hug, "Ah Ned it has been too long my friend..."
"It has...Winterfell is yours your grace..." After the King greets everyone he and Ned to the Queen's dismay and objections go down the crypts. "What happened with Jon Arryn? I wrote him and he said his health was fine..."
"I don't know what to tell you Ned...Jon was a health conscience man..."
"Not like some people..."
Robert stops and looks at Ned, "Who are you and what have you done with my friend Eddard Stark..."
They laugh and keep walking, "I know why you are here."
"Do you now? Tell me something...How did you convince Cat to go along with legitimizing your bastard?"
"It wasn't easy...Jon wanted to leave and go see the world..."
They stop in front of Lyanna's statue. "I envy him then...If I were younger and didn't have seven kingdoms to rule..."
Robert looks at Lyanna's statue and his mood changes, "Why in the name of the seven did you have bury here down here?"
"She was my sister and a Stark..."
"She should be out under the sun under a tree...Remember how she loved flowers..."
"Aye I remember..."
"I wish that bastard was alive so I can kill him all over again..."
Ned sighs, "Don't bring up the past...It's over and we won."
Robert turns to face Ned, "I have three brothers, but you were the brother I chose...We would be family now if not for...Anyway...You know why I am here...Eddard Stark I name thee Hand of the King."
Ned takes a knee, "You honor me Your Grace..."
"Get up you idiot...I want you at my side to rule as it always should have been. You have a daughter and I have a son. We marry our children and unite our houses..."
Ned smiles and they start walking again, "A Raven came from Castle Black...Lord Mormont needs to show us something..."
"What?"
"He didn't say...He is on his way here..."
Later a rider arrives from the Vale with a message from Lysa for Catelyn. She claims the Lannisters had Jon Arryn killed. "We need proof." Ned says.
"Ned be careful in King's Landing...I fear for you."
"I kinda wish Jon was here...He could tell us what would happen."
"How many men are you bringing with you?" Luwin asks.
"A hundred..."
"Maybe you should increase it to three hundred..."
"I will have some men sent to Harrenhal I don't want my actions to alarm anyone..."
The next day there is a feast in the main hall. There is singing, eating, drinking, and conversation. The King flirts with many women. Arya throws food at her sister and Cat has Robb remove her from the main hall. The next day Ned is up early to hunting with the King. The hunt is successful, but when he returns to Winterfell Lord Commander Mormont is present with fifty men of the Watch and Benjen Stark. They all gather in the main hall so that Mormont can show them what they bought. "My Lord King may you reign be long..." Mormont acknowledges the Queen, Eddard and Catelyn Stark.
"Your Grace the Night's Watch is not what it use to be...And I'm afraid that when the Long Night comes we will not be ready for it..." He signals WIll and he comes forward. "This is Will a Ranger of the Watch...It was he who captured what we are about to show you...Look and may all men take stalk..."
Four men carry a crate into the hall then they open it and flip it over. The Wight runs out of the Crate whaling and screeching, but they have it chained. The men yank on the chain as Ser Barristan and the King's Guard draw their swords. The Wight falls and looks at the men holding his chain. It rushes them and that is when Benjen jabs it with a torch; it bursts into flames and stops moving.
No one says a word, "Your Grace...We need oil, food, arrows, and Dragonglass which can be mined on Dragonstone. Maester Aemon discovered in our records that Dragonglass can kill them and White Walkers..."
Robert stands up and walks toward Will, "You captured this thing?"
"Yes Your Grace."
"Take a knee..." He obeys, "I Robert of the House Baratheon. First of his name, King of the Andels, the Roynar, and the First Men, Portector of the Realm knight thee Ser Will..."
"Masen My King..."
"Ser Will Masen of the Night's Watch arise and be recognized…" Then Robert looks at Mormont, "You shall everything you need Lord Mormont and more...These things will not get pass the wall...Ned!"
He runs up, "Your Grace...Our priority is rebuilding the Night's Watch...Spread the word throughout the Seven Kingdoms..."