EDDARD STARK
Before the Andels and the First Men, the old gods held sway over all of Westeros. Then came the First Men who respected the old gods and lived peacefully with Giants, the Children of the Forest and the Free Folk. Then came the Andels with the Faith of the Seven and the new gods. The Andels spread throughout the south influencing people to follow the new gods and the faith of the seven. In the North the blood of the First Men still flowed and the people of the North kept to the old gods.
While the new gods require adherence to the faith and restraint from certain vices the old gods do not place such restrictions on their followers. And so Eddard Stark sits under the Weir-Tree or Face Tree as it is sometimes called in silent reflection and prayer. Lord Eddard Stark had come into his power early in life. A second son the titles, land, and power that went along with Winterfell passed to him after his father and elder brother died.
Eddard Stark Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North sits under the Weir-tree reflecting on his life and praying silently to the old gods. When he is done he goes to the main hall to break his fast with his family. There is Lady Catelyn Stark nee' Tully his wife, his eldest son and heir Robb Stark, Sansa, Arya, Brandon or Bran as everyone calls him, and Rickon. After morning meal Eddard goes to the crypts to visit his sister's tomb. A statue had been erected for her and beside it a plaque honoring her dead son.
The next day Eddard is standing on the porch with his wife watching as Robb teaches Bran the bow. "Begging your pardon My Lord…" Rodrick Cassel says walking up.
"What is it?"
"We caught a deserter from the Night's Watch…"
"Get my horse ready and saddle Bran's horse as well." As Warden of the North it is Eddard Stark's duty to keep the King's Peace in the North.
Cat grabs his arm, "Ned…He's too young…"
"He's getting older Cat…Winter is Coming…and he needs to face the realities and hardness of life." He can see that she is not pleased, but it had to be done. Bran accompanies Eddard, Robb, Rodrick, and Jorey Cassel, the deserter is held by ten Stark men on a hill. "What's your name?" Eddard asks after dismounting his horse.
"Will…Will Freelyn m'lord…"
"Why did you desert the Night's Watch…"
"I know it was wrong…I'm sorry, but I saw them…"
"You saw what?" Ser Rodrick asks.
"I saw…White Walkers…I should have told my brothers, but I was afraid…"
White Walkers were the things of legend, stories told to frighten children. Eddard didn't know whether or not to believe him, but something spooked the boy enough to break his oath. "Do you have any last words?"
"Tell my family in Torrhen Square…I am sorry I dishonored them…" Ned nods and Will is forced to his knees. Jorey Cassel hands Eddard his great Valyrian sword Ice. "Old gods take me into your embrace…" Will whispers.
"In the name of Robert of the House Baratheon first of his name…King of the Andels and the First Men…Lord of the Seven Kingdoms…Protector of the Realm…I Lord Eddard of House Stark…Lord of Winterfell…Warden of the North do hereby sentence you to die…" He beheads the man in one swing. As the men bury Will Eddard questions Bran and asks if understands why he executed the man. Satisfied with his son's answer they start back for Winterfell.
On the way home they come upon a dead Direwolf and her pups. Brandon begs his father to spare them. Jorey speaks up and convinces Eddard to give the pups to his children. There are six in all and Eddard decides to keep the last one for himself. He names him Snow, because of his white fur. A few days later a Raven arrives from King's Landing.
"Are you alright?" Catelyn asks in the godswood.
As usual Eddard is sitting on the root of the weir-tree. He is thinking on what Will said about the White Walkers. "The man I beheaded…" He looks at Cat, "…He mentioned White Walkers…"
"Do you believe him?"
He sighs, "I have seen fear in a man's eyes before…I saw it plenty of times on the battlefield…Yes I think he was telling the truth…" He looks at Cat and notices she is carrying a Raven message. "What do you have there?"
She sighs, "A message from King's Landing…Ned I am so sorry…" She hands him the letter.
"Jon was like a father to me…And now he is dead…" He says after reading in silence.
"I am so sorry Ned…" She kneels down beside him and wraps her arms around his shoulders.
He sighs, "There is more…Robert is coming to Winterfell…with his entire House…"
She frowns, "But why?"
He looks at her, "If he is coming all the way North then there is only one thing he wants…"
"He wants you to be Hand of the King…"
"Aye."
She squeezes him tighter, "Ned you don't have to go…You fought Robert's war…"
He looks at her, "It wasn't just his war Cat…With or without Robert I would have fought the Targaryens…The Mad King murdered my Father and brother…Rhaegar…He…he…kidnapped my sister and raped her…"
"I know forgive me…I…I just don't want to lose you…"
He returns her hug, "You won't lose me Cat…" He stands up and offers her his hand, "Come we should prepare for the King's arrival…" For the next three weeks Winterfell is made ready for the King and his household. Fresh sheets are placed in guest rooms, new candles, wine is bought up from the cellars.
"My Lord we have eight barrels of Arbor Gold and ten of Dornish red wine…Also white wine from Qarth…About six barrels…The rest is rum, ale, and berry wines…" Maester Luwin says walking up to Eddard.
"Take five of the Arbor for the King and his men…Serve the Dornish and White wine to the rest…" Preparing for a royal visit was a costly affair and every day the servants worked from sunrise to sunset to get everything ready. The day finally came when the King and his entourage ride through the main gates.
Eddard stands with his family, household servants and guards. When Robert dismounts his horse and walks up to them, Eddard drops to one knee. The rest follow his lead, "Your Grace…Winterfell is yours…" Eddard says with his head low.
Robert signals them to rise, the two friends stare at each other. "You got fat!" Robert says causing Ned to nod at him. They both burst into laughter and hug like brothers. Their friendship started in the Eyrie as Jon Arryn's Wards. Then it forged into a bond on the battlefield. "It's good to see you Ned…"
"Aye and you…"
"Why haven't been down to see me?"
"I've been ruling the North in your name…"
"Ha…You been staying beside your beautiful wife…Cat…"
"My King…"
He hugs her, "Don't my King me woman…" The Queen comes forward and she is greeted by the Starks and finally Robert introduces his son Prince Joffrey, his daughter Princess Myrcella, and youngest son Prince Tommen. "Ned I want to see her…"
"It has been a long journey Robert…" Cersei says speaking up, "Leave the dead to rest…"
"Ned now!" Robert commands.
He looks at Catelyn, "Cat please see to the Queen and her children…"
"Aye."
Eddard walks off with Robert to the family crypts, "Tell me about Jon Arryn…"
"He was strong man…His death was so sudden…Then his damned wife runs off before his body is even cold…"
"Why?"
"She was never right in the head…Forgive me for saying…She being your wife's sister and all…"
"Cat once told me that she was in love with Petyr Baelish…"
"Yes…you have the right of it…It was she who convinced Poor Jon to make him Master of Coin…"
They stop before Lyanna's statue, "Why in the name of the seven did you have bury her down here? She belongs under a tree in the open sky…"
"She was my sister…She belongs with her family…"
Eddard can here the anger rising in his friend, "That bastard took her from me…She was mine and he took her…"
"Leave the past in the past…It is over we won…"
Robert grunts, "Every night I see his face…And every night I get to kill that shit over and over again…" The two friends face each other, "I'm sorry for dredging up the past…Ned I need you in King's Landing…Not here in the North where you are of no use to anyone…Eddard Stark I name thee Hand of the King…"
Eddard immediately drops to one knee, "You honor me your Grace…"
"Get up. I don't want to honor you…I want you to rule at my side as it always should have been…I have a son and you a daughter…We'll betroth them and unite our houses the way we always wanted…" He nods and offers his hand. They interlock arms, "My brother in everything but blood…"
"Aye." Later the Great Hall is filled with people as the King announces the betrothal of Prince Joffrey Baratheon to Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell. Eddard mingles with as many people as he can. Jon Umber is present and he along with the King and Tyrion Lannister get into a drinking contest. To everyone's surprise Tyrion Lannister wins out drinking the King and Great Jon Umber.
Eddard prefers those quiet moments, but he must mingle and circulate to be host to his guests. When his brother Benjen arrives from the Night's Watch he finds an excuse to leave the feast. As he makes his way across the room he is stopped by Ser Jaime Lannister. "Lord Stark…"
"Ser Jaime…What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping to spar with the man who defeated the Sword of the Morning Ser Author Dayne…At the Tourney the King is hosting in your name…"
Eddard smiles, "I don't fight in tournaments…Because when I fight a man for real…I don't want him to know what I can do…"
"Well said Lord Stark or perhaps you getting to old for Tournaments…"
"If you will excuse me…" He walks pass Jaime Lannister and finds his younger brother Benjen Stark speaking with Tyrion Lannister. "Ben!" They hug.
"Ned!" He steps to the side, "You know Lord Tyrion…"
Tyrion Lannister or the imp as many people call him. He was born a dwarf and is the bane of his father Lord Tywin Lannister's existence. "Lord Tyrion…Is your room adequate?"
"Very…I may have take your bed dressings with me back to the wall Lord Stark…"
"Consider them a gift My Lord…"
"Lord Tyrion is thinking about joining the Night's Watch…"
"The whores and barmaids from the North to south would drown the realm in tears if I did that…Ben here jests I merely mentioned that I wish to return with him to the wall to see it…"
"The words he used were piss off the top of the wall…"
"Noble venture…Don't tell anyone but when I visited the wall I pissed off the top of it as well…"
They all laugh then Eddard leads his brother to his Solar, "What brings you to Winterfell…" Eddard asks after they lock the door.
"News from the beyond the wall…and the deserter…"
"We caught him and dispensed the King's justice…"
"Good! Did he say why he deserted…"
"White Walkers…He said he saw White Walkers…"
"He's not the only one…"
"You have seen them…"
"No, but entire Wildling villages have been abandoned…The Wildlings are gathering under the banner of another deserter…Mance Rayder…"
Ned frowns as he tries to remember where he heard the name before, "Sounds familiar…"
"It should…Mance was with me the last time I visited Winterfell…They call him the King beyond the wall…Dark times are coming Ned…Winter is coming…"
"I hear that…Do you need anything?" They discuss new recruits for the wall and Eddard's appointment as Hand of the King. Later Eddard lies in bed next to his wife Catelyn Stark.
"How did he get so fat?"
They laugh, "Drinking…Eating…Robert always loved drinking, eating, and fighting…"
"His son looks nothing like him…" Eddard nods, "Tomorrow I going to walk right up to him and say…Look fat man…My husband belongs home with his family…"
She always knew how to make Eddard laugh and she enjoyed his laugh. "By the gods I'm going to miss you…"
She kisses him on the cheek, "I intend to give a night unlike any you have had before…Then you will stay home…"
There is a knock at the door, "Go away no one is in here…"
"Ned!" Catelyn gets up and unlocks the door.
"Forgive me My Lord…My Lady…" Its Maester Luwin.
"What is it old friend?"
"A rider arrived from the Vale and delivered this message…for Lady Catelyn…"
Eddard watches as his wife breaks the seal unfolds the letter. She reads in silence, "Cat what is it?"
"It's from Lysa…" She gasps and throws the letter in the fire.
"What did it say?"
"Maester Luwin close the door…" He obeys, "She says the Lannisters killed Jon Arryn…She says the King's life is in danger…"
Eddard sits up, "What proof does she offer?"
"Why would she lie…"
"If the wrong people saw that letter it could lead to war…You did the right thing My Lady…"
"Ned?"
He sits on the bed thinking in silence. Then he shakes his head and looks at them, "Makes no sense…The Lannisters gain nothing by killing Jon Arryn…"
"Perhaps Jon Arryn learned something about the Lannisters…a secret that caused his death…"
Eddard looks at Maester Luwin, "Yeah but what?"
"A plot to remove the King by Tywin Lannister or someone in his family…"
"The Lannisters claim to power rests with Robert…If they plot against him the Storm Lords would rise up against them…"
"Perhaps as Hand of the King you can learn the truth of this…"
Eventually Maester Luwin is sworn to secrecy and dismissed. Sleep does not come easy as Cat expresses her concerns to Ned. The next morning Eddard meets Robert at the hunting gate. "I'm sorry Ned to take you away from your family but I need you…"
"I have a question…about Jon. Who examined his body…"
"The Grand Maester of course…"
"Why?"
"I have been thinking about what you said yesterday…Lysa Arryn's departure before Jon's body is cold…"
"You suspect foul play in his death?"
"I will learn more when I reach the Capitol…" The hunting dogs are holwing and barking anxious to get on with the hunt. Robert and Eddard leave with fifty men into the Wolf's Wood. They had not gone a half a mile when a rider approaches.
"My Lord…My Lord they need you back at Winterfell…"
"Why what's wrong?"
"Your son Brandon…He fell from the Broken Tower…"
"Bran!"
"Go Ned…I'll call off the hunt."
"No you go on…"
"My friend's son is in peril…I'll not go hunting…while he faces a tragedy…"
When Eddard Stark returns Cat flies into his arms, "Oh Ned!"
"I'm here now…" He looks at Maester Luwin while holding Catelyn. Robb is present as well, "How is he?"
"He's in a deep sleep My Lord…A coma…His pelvis and lower spine are shattered…If he awakens he will never walk again…Its in the hands of the gods now…"
Robert delays his departure for King's Landing for a few days. On the second day Bran's fever breaks. There is nothing else to be done so Eddard decides that is time to leave. Catelyn is not pleased, "I will write you…Every week…"
"Go! Go before I say something I have no business saying…"
He sighs, "I love you…" He says with a kiss. Then he kisses his son's forehead and leaves the room. Before joining the party Eddard pulls Robb to the side. "You are the acting Lord of Winterfell…"
"Yes sir…"
"Heed Maester Luwin's advice…Be the man I raised you to be…Be the man I know you are…"
"I will…"
He nods, "Don't be afraid to ask your Mother's advice…And keep an eye on the Boltons…They or their banners may step out of line to test you while I am away…be firm, but fair…" They hug, then Robb follows his father into the courtyard. Eddard mounts his horse and leaves with a hundred men, his daughters, a few servants, and some gold. As he rides away he prays to the gods old and new to watch over his family while he is away.
At the cross roads Benjen Stark heads back North with new recruits, Tyrion Lannister, and his men. "Be careful in King' Landing…" Benjen says to Eddard.
"You be careful as well…" After two miles they stop to make camp in the countryside. Robert and Eddard sit a table eating and drinking as they reminisce on the old days, the glory days of their youth. "Despite your merriment at the feast something is bothering you Robert…What is it?"
He sighs, "Prince Viserys and his sister are still alive…They live in a manor in Braavos…"
"How did you come to learn this?" Robert remains quiet, "Well?"
"You won't like this, but the information was passed to one of Baelish's agents by Jorah Mormont…"
Eddard sneers as his anger rises, he throws down his napkin, "Jorah Mormont! I should have placed a bounty on his head…Let me guess he wants a pardon for the information he gave you."
"Yes…He is spying on the Targaryens for me…"
Eddard leans forward, "Robert…You can't pardon him…"
"Why not? If you wanted justice…why didn't you place a bounty on his head?"
Eddard sighs, "His father asked me not to…and I consented…" Eddard regrets his decision, but he is not one to linger on past mistakes. "Is his information reliable?"
"Illyrio Mopatis didn't take kindly to me rejecting his proposal…The Fat bastard gave them a mansion, a thousand guards, servants, and enough gold to build an army with…10,000 troops trained in Astapor…They are also in negotiations to buy eight thousand Unsullied soldiers…"
Eddard shakes his head, "18,000 men are not enough to launch an invasion…"
"No but House Martell and Romyn may side with Viserys and his sister…"
"You have my House…The Stormlands, the Tullys and the Lannisters…"
Robert smiles, "You didn't mention House Arryn…"
"Well House Arryn may be a little unreliable now…"
Despite his apprehensions about going south the journey to the Capitol is mostly pleasant. Prince Joffrey and Sansa are getting along famously, a budding romance for the ages. His daughters had bought their Direwolves with them. Catelyn had suggested they leave the animals at Winterfell, but the children begged so that both Ned and Cat agreed. Eddard even bought his wolf Snow.
Many miles later they stop at the cross roads inn and the proprietor makes room for the King and his entourage on the first floor. Eddard is in his room writing a letter to send to his wife when he reaches the Capitol. As he writes the letter there is knock at his door. "My Lord you are needed there has been an incident with your daughters…"
Eddard rushes to the door to find Lady Septa with Sansa, 'What has happened? Sansa are you alright…" She is too distraught to speak.
"An incident with Prince Joffrey My Lord…Your daughter's Direwolf Nymeria attacked the Prince…The King's men are out looking for her…"
"Septa Modane take Sansa to her room and lock the door…Jorey place four guards there…" Eddard belts his sword and looks at Snow, "Come boy!" He goes to Arya's room and takes a shirt that is lying draped over a chair. He holds the shirt to Snow's nose and then he leaves with Jorey and twenty men. After several hours of searching Snow finds Arya alone.
"Father!"
"Arya..." He hugs her, "Don't ever run off like that again…"
"My Lord! Lannister men…" Jorey says.
"Lord Stark I see you found your daughter…Did you find the wolf…"
"Nymeria was protecting me! Joffrey attacked us…" Arya screams.
"The King and Queen require your presence…"
"In a minute…I want to speak with my daughter alone first…" They return to the inn and after Arya tells him what happened he takes his daughter before the King in the common room of the inn.
"You summoned hours ago Lord Stark…" Queen Cersei says.
"Be quiet woman…" Robert commands, "I'm sorry Ned…We need to straighten this mess out…" He looks at Arya, "Come here girl…"
Arya looks at her father and he nods, "Tell the truth Arya it will be alright…"
"Now you know it's wrong to lie to a King…Now tell me happened?"
Everyone listens as Arya starts speaking, "I was playing knights with my friend Mycah by the river…Then Joffrey…"
"He's your Prince girl." Cersei says interrupting.
Arya sneers as Cersei earns a look from Robert, "Prince Joffrey and my sister come along…I tell them to go away. Then Joffrey pulls out his sword and starts threatening Mycah…I told him to stop. Sansa yelled at me to stay out of it…When he caused Mycah to bleed I picked up a stick and hit him with it…Mycah runs off while Prince Joffrey attacks me…I fell and he called me…He called me a…"
"She's lying!" Joffrey screams.
"Be quiet boy you got to tell your side of the story without anyone interrupting you…Go on Lady Arya what did he call you…"
"He called me a cunt…Yeah that was it…Then he said he would gut me like a fish…That is when my Direwolf Nymeria attacked him…Bit him on the arm…I pulled her off him, then I picked up his sword…The Prince lie on the ground begging me not to hurt him…I threw his sword into the river and ran off with Nymeria…"
"She's lying!"
"You're the Liar! If I'm lying. Where is your sword, cry baby?"
Joffrey lunges at Arya and she at him, Cersei grabs Joffrey and Eddard grabs Arya at the last minute. "See what I have to deal with…He tells me one thing and she another…"
"Lady Sansa was there…She saw what happened let us ask her…" Cersei says.
"My daughter is shaken up by all this leave her out of it…"
"Call her…" Cersei commands. Eddard looks at Robert and nods. When Sansa is questioned she says that she saw nothing. In anger Arya attacks Sansa, "The girl is out of control…Its obvious who started it…"
"Children play…And sometimes they get hurt…" Robert says, "…Ned you deal with yours and I will deal with mine and let that be the end of it…"
"The end of it!" Cersei is angry, "Your son is bleeding…"
"Maybe the scars will make him into a man…"
"That beast must be hunted down and destroyed…"
Robert looks at one of his men, "Well?"
"It ran off My King we couldn't find it…"
Robert looks at Cersei, "There are two other wolves…Snow and Lady…One of them can pay for the blood drawn from my son…"
"No they did nothing!" Sansa screams.
"They had nothing to do with it…"
"Fine see it done…I have had enough of all this…"
"So which shall it be Lord Stark?" Cerseo smugly asks.
Both Sansa and Arya beg Eddard to stop this. He looks at Robert as he stands up to leave, "Is this your will Your Grace?" He looks at Ned before leaving.
"Well Lord Stark which shall it be?"
"Snow…"
"Ser Payne…"
"No I will take care of it…Ser Jorey, Septa Modane take my daughters to their rooms…"
"Is this some type of trick?"
He looks at her, "Snow is of the North…and in the North we follow the Old ways…He who passes the sentence swings the sword…" Eddard walks out to where the two wolves are tied up, "Lawsyne take Lady back to Winterfell…Now!"
"Yes my Lord…"
As He takes the wolf away Eddard kneels down by Snow, "I am so sorry boy…" He hugs the wolf and with a quick motion slits it's throat. "Dig a hole…We will bury him…" When they are done Eddard spots Sandor Clegane returning with a body draped over his horse. "Is that the butcher's son…"
"Yes!"
"You killed him why?"
"He ran off…He shouldn't have run…"
Eddard shakes his head, regretting more and more his decision to take up the post as Hand of the King.
AUTHOR NOTES: Hey guys I like reviews but it is really disappointing when someone types please update now, ASAP, soon post chap now...I know it needs to be updated and everyday I am working on it despite not having my laptop...So please if you leave a review...No more please update now messages