Ned

The sun was shining bright overhead, despite it being late in the day. Eddard Stark wiped the sweat from his brow as he looked around the godswood, immune to his little sister's constant stream of talking. It felt so good to be home, yet he could not help but feel something was amiss. His Lord Father and his surrogate father had been exchanging fervent glances since the moment they had arrived in Winterfell, seemingly desperate to go somewhere private to speak. His father had been so eager to speak with Jon Arryn that he had not protested Ned and Lyanna going off alone merely hours before the feast, despite the number of guests currently taking residence in his home. He had even allowed Lyanna to forgoe showing Robert around, allowing Brandon and Elbert Arryn to take him on a tour of the grounds.

"-and Brandon marrying the Tully girl? I'm sure she's lovely but you know as well as I the reputation Hoster Tully has. He is all about honor and duty, and I'm sure his daughter is quiet and complacent and everything that Brandon loathes. I cannot imagine her being able to keep up with him. Ned. Ned are you even listening to me?" Her tone had become sharp and annoyed by his lack of attentiveness.

"Lya, give me a moment to breathe. I've scarce seen my home in years." She grinned at him, her joy of having her brother home radiating off her.

"I know, Ned, I'm well aware. I just wish you had come without him," Lyanna replied, making no effort to hide her distaste of her betrothed, "Father means to ship me off to Storms End to pretend I'm some southron lady while my family his hundreds of leagues away. He wants me to bear his children while he runs around with whores."

"You would do well to watch your tongue when talking about Robert. You're safe with me but if word got back to father that you're saying such things he would be furious. Robert is my best friend, Lya, he's like a brother to me."

"Robert will never keep to one bed. I hear he's gotten a child on some girl in the Vale," she responded, sounding dejected. Ned winced. He had held the babe in his arms, he could not deny it, nor would he lie to his sister.

"What he did before the betrothal is of no consequence. He is a good man, and true. He will love you with all his heart," he tried to assure her. He had doubts of his own but had faith that Robert would be a good husband if for no other reason than his love for Ned. He felt deflated as he watched his sister smile sadly.

"Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man's nature." Ned had to agree with her there. But he knew Robert, better than anyone else. They were more brothers than any of his kin, as much as he loved them. He had hope that Robert would do right by her, and if he couldn't, he prayed that Lyanna would find strength to be happy regardless.

"Lya, there's no use in discussing it. It's father's decision. Would if I could change it but I cannot. You may find love for him, only the gods know for certain. But lets not talk of uncertain futures and outcomes. It isn't every day I get to see my sister." That statement had the affect he had hoped it would. She linked her arm in his and put her head on his shoulder and ceased her chatter. They sat there side by side in the godswood silent but together. After a time, they made their way back to the gates for the feast, in mostly silence. As happy as he was to be with his family, the palpable tension between Lord Rickard and Jon Arryn had Ned feeling uneasy. Though he would never ask his father outright, it did seem strange that he was sending his only daughter so far off into the world. He was bringing Catelyn Tully all the way from Riverrun to wed Brandon and Lyanna would be half a world away in the south with Robert. There had been talks of a betrothal for him as well, though nothing set in stone. Marriage pacts were not uncommon. What was uncommon, however, was marriage pacts so far from their home regions. Two from the same family was even more strange. Growing up, he had always thought Lyanna would be wed to a Northern Lord, a Karstark or an Umber perhaps. As future warden of the North, it had not seemed too atypical for Brandon to be married to the daughter of a powerful Lord. Eddard might've been the quiet wolf, but he was no fool. He had spent enough time around Jon Arryn and Rickard Stark to know that there was something bigger at play. He just could not be sure what.

Lost in thought, Eddard had not noticed Robert Baratheon come up behind him and jumped slightly when the Lord of Storm's End clapped him on the shoulder.

"Seven Hells Ned, for all the talk of coming home you look as though someone died."

"It must be the hunger," Ned replied, forcing a grin, "The smells from the hall have me starving half to death."

"I don't know about hunger, but I do have a thirst. Your stewards said your Father is providing the best wine in the North for the occasion."

"Remember what Jon said to you, Robert. My father will not take kindly to foolish drunkenness and whoring while you're here to court his daughter."

"Ah, Jon Arryn be dammed Ned, I don't need to get drunk to enjoy wine with my feast," Robert replied, laughing, although it quickly turned sour. "And I don't think your sister is too interested in being courted."

"Give her time to warm up to you. Although she will not stand for drunkenness and whoring either, that may be the one thing she and my father can agree on." He knew warning his friend would be no good. He had known it when Jon Arryn had warned him. Ned had a feeling that in their time in Winterfell, Robert would get a taste of the Northern girls one way or another.

"Not you as well! I can bloody control myself," Robert retorted angrily and Ned decided to drop the matter.

As they made their way to the feast, Ned couldn't help but notice Lord Rickard and Jon speaking quietly at the high table, away from other ears. When they saw Ned looking they quickly broke apart, which did not escape his attention. He looked around and saw banners from all the great Northern houses. The heads of the houses were all at the high table, along with his father and Lord Arryn, with two spaces left for Ned and Robert. Seated nearest to the high table were Brandon and Elbert Arryn, getting along like brothers as they always had, Lyanna, Benjen, and several of the daughters of the Northern Lords including Barbrey Ryswell, who was shooting furtive glances at Brandon who responded in kind. Next to him, Robert was gazing intently at the more comely of the girls seated near Lyanna. Ned sighed.

Lets get this over with.