Eddard Stark looked up at the imposing citadel that was Moat Cailin and for a moment he let himself believe that the Rebellion and all that caused it to happen never took place and he was simply coming home. His flight of fantasy did not last long, but it was nice to enjoy such thoughts from time to time. Instead of returning to the citadel he had rebuilt for his own family to grow, he was entering the rebuilt fortress for the first time. Inside the fortress held the young man that was Ned's greatest pride as well as his most bitter regret.
Matris Stark was the younger twin of Robb and he had been born with a frightening intelligence that started showing itself at an early age. Master Luwin was stumped by many of the boy's questions by the age of five and truthfully there was something unnatural about the boy. Catelyn and Ned did not care about this and loved the boy all the same, especially when his mind turned to how he was going to better his family's lives.
Unfortunately, not everything was great within the Stark family. While Catelyn and Eddard loved each of their children just as much as the others, they were the Lord and Lady of Winterfell and their duties kept them busy most days. Children tended to be cruel to those that were different from themselves and family did not protect one from the abuse, though no one outside of the family had ever dared say something against the boy. The unnaturalness that the adults felt was far more pronounced to the likes of Robb, Jon, and Theon. It hadn't helped that Matris only went through the motions of training in the yard, his pursuits leading him more to the impressive library of Winterfell's walls rather than, in his words, 'getting the shit knocked out of him with wooden swords in the name of learning.'
Things came to a head when Rickon was born. The teasing had gotten too much for Matris and he lashed out. While he was no match for any around his age in a straight fight, Matris didn't fight fairly. Theon and Robb had left the field with serious bruising and possible fractures. Jon got the worst of it however and even Cat had been concerned for the boy and his numerous broken bones. That had been the break between the rest of Ned's kids and Matris.
Sansa, although she shared her mother's distaste for Jon and what he was, had not liked how brutal Matris had been to the three other boys. Her head was filled with the Septa's stories of knights in shining armor and a backyard brawl was something she turned her nose up at. Arya was easy to guess who she would back as Jon was easily her favorite sibling, half or otherwise. Bran and Rickon were too young to truly choose a side, but between the recluse of the North or the rest of their family, they most likely would have chosen their brothers and sisters.
While it didn't bother Matris, for Ned and Cat the division in their family tore their hearts and for a full year actively worked to mend the relationships. It wasn't to be however, so Ned broke down and offered his son a way out of Winterfell that would not take him out of the North. Moat Cailin was truthfully an integral part of the North and a garrison of Northern defenders were always present at the ruins, but the fortress had never been raised once more. There had never been the time or inclination from any of the Great Houses to raise it from its grave, but Ned knew that this was just the sort of challenge Matris would enjoy. He only wished it hadn't been brought about so early or for the reason it had been.
For two years, the Starks of Winterfell had been without face-to-face contact from Matris and the two years had allowed the children time to mature and reflect back on their actions. All of them, even Theon, knew they had done a disservice to Matris, but the young Stark made it abundantly clear without using words that he did not want them in his rebuilding citadel.
"I don't think even you could have done so well Ned," Robert observed as he sat next to his old friend. "Your boy is something else and I am a bit put out that we didn't get to see this coming to Winterfell. Thank the gods we didn't have to sail back from White Harbor as well." The Kingdom could run itself for a few months without the presence of the King as long as there was a Hand that had the authority to act in the King's name. Since Robert had taken this trip to find a new hand after his last one had passed away, the trip was not as long as the king had wanted to make it. Still though, he was able to travel over land on the way back and call upon the varying houses between the North and King's Landing. This was the first great citadel that they had reached since Winterfell.
"Aye your grace," Ned replied in his usual solemn tone, "It is impressive." In truth was beyond impressed and more than a little surprised at how Moat Cailin stood once again. Two years may have been a long time to be away from his son, whom Ned did not believe was truly a man just yet, but it was no time at all when dealing with construction. One of the towers of Winterfell, one that held no significant value and had seemingly become a part of the landscape such as a hill, had fallen into disrepair and Ned had been forced to tear the structure down to almost the base level and then build it back up had taken almost four solid months of working. Ned had been forced to take a sizeable portion of his men off of their regular duties and he knew that Matris had not had that luxury.
"Bah, you Northerners never know what is truly impressive. Too spoiled by that wall of yours!" Robert chortled and Ned could not deny his friend. When Bran the Builder was your ancestor, feats of grand building was not nearly as impressive as it was to Southerners. Not to say that the South did not hold its wonders, Harrenhall came to mind, but Robert was right in pointing out the Wall. "Come, I can see a guard forming up at the gates, I would not have your son waiting too long on us!" Robert boomed in laughter. Ned stayed stone faced, but he did urge his horse in a bit faster speed, he wanted to see his son and knew that his daughters did as well.
The first thing Ned noticed of his son after being escorted through the streets of Moat Cailin, was the snow leopard calmly resting near his feet. While not as rare as the Direwolves that his other children claimed as their own, a Snow Leopard was perhaps more deadly and had never been known to tolerate the presence of a man. To have one calmly lay at his son's feet was astounding and yet another piece of Ned broke as he saw yet another way his second oldest differed from his siblings.
"My gods Ned," Breathed Robert in a near whisper, "That thing frightens me from here. What are you Northerners made of?"
Before Eddard could reply, Matris descended the few steps that separated him from the King and his father. "King Robert, I welcome you to my home. Moat Cailin is yours." Matris finished with a small bow. "And father, it is good to see you again. Welcome to the North's newest defense."
Ned took the opportunity to truly look at his son and was curious of the changes he saw in the young man. Where once Matris' hair was as red as Robb's or Catelyn's, now it was much darker as if he was trying to blend his parent's colors together. His eyes, whose color he had once shared with Robb, were now as black as the night and it was barely discernible where the iris met the pupil. He was much lither than either Jon or Robb were and the unnatural aura around him seemed to be even more pronounced. Still, it was good to see his son. It was then that he noticed the beautiful young woman beside his son, close enough and in the right position to be considered the lady of the house.
"Who is this?" Ned gestured to the young woman and bringing all attention to rest on her. She was a rather beautiful young woman with pale skin and blonde hair that was almost white. Her eyes were blue and reminded Ned of the sky on those crystal clear days during the cold mornings of winter. While she shared no characteristics with the Starks, she looked like she belonged to the North just as much as the family.
"Ah yes," And for the first time in quite a number of years, Ned saw a genuine smile on his son's face. "Father, King Robert, I would like to introduce you to Alyss Zeterich, my betrothed." All the Starks that had journeyed South had their eyes wide open and their mouths had dropped in surprise. Betrothal had yet to be discussed for any children other than Sansa and that was more forced on Robert's part than anything. It was a father's duty to find a match for their child, but Eddard couldn't bring himself to be mad at his second oldest. The fact that this young woman had brought a smile to his son's face and the love was easily visible between the two sealed his approval on such a match.
"And where do you hail from Lady Alyss?" Ned asked, unable to smile even with such a scene before him. Perhaps it was true about laughter freezing in the North.
"I come from Braavos, Lord Eddard," Alyss answered with a confidence that he thought had been reserved for his sister and youngest daughter. Her voice was soft and light and held a musical quality that had captured the attention of all within the confines of the courtyard. "In truth it is a smaller nation connected with the large city called Isencroft, but most people do not know of it."
Ned and Robert could not deny her words for they would not be able to place Isencroft on a map if they were asked. They had heard of the small kingdom, but knew little about such a place. Arya was far more interested in the slim sword that Alyss wore on her waist, something that had been missed by the older men of the group.
"Why do you wear a sword?" Arya asked, and Matris smiled in amusement. Something that was returned hesitantly by Arya. It was good that she was curious and not shy about asking questions. Most young girls were taught that this was a bad thing and Matris had strong feelings against this.
Alyss smiled as well and answered, "My mother taught me. She came from a nation where sword fighting was encouraged to be learned by all and I grew up in a kingdom where it didn't matter if you learned or not. My mother wanted me to be able to protect myself."
"You are so lucky," Arya pouted, looking like the ten-year-old that she was.
Alyss chuckled, "Well I would have no problem teaching you how to fight with a sword and the rest of what you needed to know. Of course, that would be purely up to your brother and father." Arya instantly looked to the two male family members near her.
"Alyss would not have suggested the arrangement if she had not wanted to. I certainly have no problems with her teaching you or you staying here. Father?"
Three sets of eyes turned to look at Ned and even Robert made his curiosity known as he made an attempt at seeming to help the procession move into the courtyard. Ned was of two minds on the subject. On one hand, Cat and he had really wanted Arya to come South in the hopes that the child would calm down. Every time he looked at Arya and witnessed her unladylike behavior, he was reminded of Lyanna and while he had loved Lyanna's free spirit, it had ended up getting her killed. However, she was being given the opportunity to learn both what she wanted and what she needed by his son's betrothed. This would also give at least one family member the chance to connect with Matris and perhaps bring him into the fold once more.
Making his decision, the Lord of Winterfell nodded once. Arya squealed in delight as she launched herself at her father in a tight hug. She soon left his side to hug Alyss as well as Matris. "Yes well," Matris cleared his throat to hide his laughter, "Let's get you all settled in your rooms for tonight. While we have time before tonight's dinner, I offer a tour of the North's newest city to any who wish to join me."
A/N: I got this idea after re-reading Gail Martin's Summoner chronicles. Basically, he is going to be able to battle the wights' magic in raising the dead. The uneasy feeling that he gives off is his connection to death and animals and younger children are more susceptible to the feelings.