Rickard

The air was cold, the grass white under the frost. He had lived in the North all his life, scarcely leaving, yet Rickard Stark would never understand the weather in Winterfell. Dawn was breaking as Rickard mounted his horse, Ice firmly sheathed at his left hip. As he road north, his sons and future good son behind him, he could not help but think of Lyanna. She would be there had he allowed her.

She is her mother's daughter.

Lyarra had passed a fortnight after Benjen's birth, taking ill while delivering the child without recovering. She had been a daughter of the wolves and mountain clans, wild and unruly but with a tender heart. She was fierce and loyal, everything wonderful he saw in his daughter. He had loved Lyarra as he loved his daughter but dammed if he understood them.

He rode ahead, wanting to make the encounter quick. Although he was a just an honorable man, he always had a heavy heart when it came to dispensing justice. As they rode up to their destination, he felt sorrow for the boy, for the family that would lose a son.

He was a deserter. He swore a vow.

The boy was there, standing between Martyn Cassel and his son Jory. He told of the Wildlings, raiding near Mole's Town, killing three of his black brothers. Lord Rickard could imagine the fear and understood his decision to flee. He had sworn a vow, however, and must face the consequences of his actions. He looked a Benjen, who seemed smaller than he had before.

"The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. One day you may know this burden. You must understand the weight of it." He then looked at the boy, who was no older than Brandon. "Do you have any last words?" The boy was shaking but he shook his head.

"Tell my family I'm sorry and that I wish I had not been a craven."

"In the name of Aerys Targaryen, second of his name, king of the Andals and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, by word of Rickard of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, I do sentence you to die." He lifted Ice and in one clean stroke the boy's head fell from his body. He waited a moment to turn around, unsure how Benjen handled his first taste of justice, allowing him a moment to collect himself if necessary. He ordered Martyn and Jory to take care of the body while he mounted his horse again. Benjen was calm, his face expressionless.

He did well.

He addressed Brandon, Ned, and Robert.

"Take Ben back to the grounds. Work on his swordplay and archery. He has witnessed the King's justice today like a true Stark." He nodded approvingly at his youngest son. "I business to attend to today with Lord Arryn. Try not to get into any trouble."

With that, he turned his horse and rode back alone. The boy's death was weighing on him more heavily than any before him. Lord Rickard's duties had been taking their toll on him as of late and having to behead a boy while guests were in Winterfell seemed a bad omen. Although things had seemed to be looking better, he could not help but feel that there were more treacherous things in the future. For now though, he should have been happy. Lyanna had been spending great deals of time with Robert Baratheon. They spent a great deal of time together on horseback and he had seen them shooting arrows at birds together. He had hoped that Robert might have been able to calm his wild daughter, but she seemed to be growing less and less weary of the marriage and it was more than he could have hoped for. Brandon was growing anxious to meet Catelyn Tully, although that arrangement left something to be desired. Hoster Tully was a man of great honor and Rickard was worried how they would take to Brandon, who also greatly resembled his mother in demeanor and attitude. He wished that Lyarra were still here. Much as he loved Brandon and Lyanna, he could not understand their nature as she would have. His two youngest sons were much like him, quiet and thoughtful. The thoughts of his children carried him as he approached the castle and again as he walked to Jon Arryn's chambers.

"There are more whispers coming in, fervent whispers of Rhaegar Targaryen," Lord Arryn said, almost immediately.

"And what news do these whispers bring?"

"There is to be a tourney, within the coming year. It is said that the dragon prince will want to confer with the Lords of the major houses regarding some changes on the small council. With the talk of Aerys' madness…" Jon Arryn did not have to finish his thought. It seemed as though the prince meant to dispose the king.

"We may have to hurry the marriages. Brandon and Catelyn Tully will be married within the year. Lyanna and Robert soon after."

"We also need plans for Ned. He will be Brandon's bannerman, his right hand. Under the right circumstances, we may be able to broker a marriage with a major house. We cannot allow him any ideas of knighthood or taking the black," Jon Arryn stated. "We must keep him close. If I know him, knighthood would never suit. He has never been one to look for glory. He is honorable, however, and he knows there is honor in taking the black, especially for a second son."

"Perhaps we can form an alliance with the Daynes. The Martells would never go against the Targaryens, nor the Tyrells. Mace Tyrell is too ambitious for such a gamble. Tywin Lannister would never think to marry his daughter to a second son. The Daynes are a large enough house that would wield power yet not large enough that it would look suspicious," Rickard said, contemplating his options.

"Aye, but the Martells would never go against Rhaegar Targaryen. As of now, there is no harm or threat with having Rhaegar on the throne, if we are able to place him there. By all accounts he is a smart, contemplative, just warrior. His father, however, may burn the realm to the ground if nothing is done, and in a timely manner." Jon Arryn sounded as exhausted as Rickard felt.

"Have you given any thought to a marriage between Elbert and Lysa Tully?" Rickard asked his old friend.

"It seems as though that may be the surest path, despite Elbert's objections."

Four of the major houses, Baratheon, Stark, Tully, and Arryn, would then be bound by blood. By adding the Daynes, they would receive support from the southron most part of the realm.

"We must speak with Hoster Tully at once regarding Catelyn and Brandon. At their wedding, we may be able to discuss a marriage between Lysa and Elbert. When Edmure comes of age, perhaps we can even form an alliance by marrying him to the Greyjoy girl," he said, exhausted of the plans that had been in motion for years.

"The likelihood of Balon Greyjoy joining our alliance is about as likely as Tywin Lannister actually shitting gold." Rickard had to laugh at that, if for no other reason than laughing felt good.

"Write to Riverrun at once. Also find out what you can of this Tourney being planned." With that, Rickard took his leave. He went outside and heard his children laughing. Although it was still cold, the sun had lit up the grounds and the chill did not seem so bad. He saw Brandon with Benjen, trying to help him steady his bow to get his arrow to the target. Robert and Ned were sparring, Robert trying to show off for Lyanna while she laughed as Ned disarmed him. He felt a sense of calm as he saw them all, unsure of how long this peace would last. For now, he would enjoy it and let them enjoy their fun. Their childhoods would end soon. Winter was coming.