Southern Comforts of Winterfell
Chapter 2
Fish and wolves
The lady Catelyn had often heard about the harshness of North, aye and she had experienced it when cold winds blew across the valleys, plains and mountains. And of course when dealing with her husbands bannermen whom unlike her father's could be polite one moment and utterly brutish the next, usually caused by too much ale during feasts. Her Lord Husband called them and all who lived in his kingdom his children no matter the number of grey hairs they had or station of their birth. Preparing her children today reminded her of dealing with said bannermen. If calm reasoning failed convince them into desired actions then stark authority must be reigned on them.
Lord Stark never failed in his duty and honour, and never did his lady. By first light her children and the castles inhabitants were waiting for the Tully retinue to arrive. No matter the grumblings and shifting they waited. They had been spotted hours ago but for some reason the party had lagged making the Starks wait for half an hour longer than they should've. The party marched in proudly on horseback with Edmure at the front her brother was near a babe when she moved to Winterfell now he was almost a man grown at ten and four years of age.
"Cat!" he shouted hastily getting off his stead and charging his sister with a fierce hug." It's been too long sister." The joy on brother and sister was infectious soothing the idle winterfites.
"I've missed you baby brother." Cat said kissing Edmure's cheeks and welcoming her brother to hone. "Come meet my family." After a moment of one last hug they broke apart and moved to rest of the gathered.
The official introduction to the starks would begin with a firm hand shake shared between the good brothers." Lord Stark it is good to see you again, my father says I should listen carefully to you and follow your every order. He insists that without your tutorship I would lead the Tully house to ruin. The way he says it you would think he wasn't the one who taught me everything I know." Edmure said with a smirk on his lips.
Ned looked down at the boy with a smile knowing indeed those were probably his good fathers words indeed but probably with more colourful words and in a long drawn out sequence to boot. Hoster Tully was a man whom often had something to say and an endless supply of words to push his point. "Fear not Edmure I shall pass to you all the wisdom I have in all aspects, you need not share your fathers fears." Lord Eddard answered.
Edmures introduction to the Stark children was limited to polite hello's from the young children and a tap on the head of the nephew he'd met eight years ago. The introduction was cut short by the fussing of baby Arya forcing the stewards to lead them to their respective rooms.
The rest of Edmure's day was spent with Cat and her daughter's. He'd entertained little Sansa her mother with tales of Riverrun with dramatic exaggerations to entertain the little princess while Cat was happy to get news of her birth home. "So when was the last time you saw Lysa, Teddy." Cat asked as Edmure finished telling the story of Jenna, Cats old friend marrying a Tully knight ser Boswick who had a nose as long as the shoes on his feet.
"argh! Don't call me that Cat. I'm not a little boy anymore." He complained
"Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!" Gleefully shouted Sansa.
"Argh." Edmure sulked. "I haven't seen her since last Jon Arryn went home that must have been four years ago now father and I met them at the cross roads she wasn't very happy she and father had a loud argument before we left."
Catelyn was surprised she had thought that Lysa would have frequented their home more often being much closer to Riverrun than herself. She was also worried about Edmure who was left alone by Lysa.
Catelyn and Edmure enjoyed their day together reacquainting with one another until dinner where a small feast had been prepared for Edmure. Ned told tales of his youth with Jon Arryn some of them washed out tales for the children yet to them it was as if it was the first time telling them. All in all it was a good dinner to end a good day.
Ned stood up as he always did at the end of dinner and thanked the cooks for the meal as well as the household for the days work before making an announcement. "As you all know soon the men of Riverrun will be leaving their lord in our care and in exchange my son and heir Robb will be leaving with them. To represent house Stark and prorect our boy two more of our own will be escorting young Robb. Bergen, Jurgen the twin terrors of our guard will now be sworn to his side. Gentlemen I give you the hall to swear your oaths."
The twins moved to the front of the hall were they kneeled. Two identically curled brown haired heads of Old Nans grandchildren spoke. "By fire I give my blood to yours. By Ice I give my duty to yours. Your enemies are mine and may my enemies perish by your will." They swore. Two if winterfells best warriors swore themselves to the service of Young Robb to protect him from whatever threats may come to his body.