Eddard

"It's going to be incredible," Robert said with a grin. "I'm going to win the melee, Ned, you'll see."

"I have no doubt," Ned said with a shake of his head. "Try not to get yourself too badly injured."

Robert huffed. "Of course not. I'm better than any of them."

"The best fighter in the Seven Kingdoms," Ned said with a smile. "You'll show them all."

"You're mocking me," Robert said, wagging a finger at him. "You don't think I'll win?"

"You might," Ned said. "But you know how I feel about tourneys."

"Ah, you frozen-faced Northerners and your rigid ways," Robert complained.

"It's not a Northern thing," Ned said. "Brandon will be fighting in the tourney."

"Ah, yes, Brandon," Robert said. "About time I finally meet this brother of yours. And my future bride. Is she excited?"

Ned thought about all the reservations Lyanna had spoken to him of, the low opinion she already had of Robert based on his reputation. "I can't speak for Lyanna," was all he said. "But I think you might like Brandon. He's a good fighter, too. And you'll meet Benjen as well."

"The whole Stark brood," Robert said with a smile. "But not your father?"

Ned shook his head. "No, my father is staying up North. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell."

Jon Arryn came up to them then. "You ready, boys? This tournament's a big one. Lots of important people will be there."

Ned didn't much care about important people being there, even the king. He wasn't much bothered about the jousts or the melee. But Lyanna meeting Robert, that concerned him. What if she still didn't like him?

When they saw the direwolf of Stark flapping over the pavilion, Ned bid them goodbye to head over there.

"Shouldn't I come?" Robert asked.

Ned shook his head. "Set up your place. I'll get Lyanna and bring her to you. She won't like you just dropping in without warning for your first meeting."

"Alright, then," Robert said, riding off.

When Ned pushed open the flap, Brandon and Benjen were sitting down, but they both got up to hug him. "Ned!" Brandon said with a grin. "It's been too long."

"It has," Ned agreed. "How have things been?"

"The usual," he replied. "I'll be a married man early next year, I think."

"I look forward to your wedding," Ned said with a smile. He turned to Benjen. "And how's Winterfell? How's Father?"

Ben shrugged. "Same as always. Kind of boring, really. I mean, nothing much ever happens up North. Down here, everything's happening. The festivities start tomorrow night, Jaime Lannister's getting named to the Kingsguard."

"Which is why my bride-to-be isn't here," Brandon said. "Quite a mess King Aerys has gotten himself into. You know they call him-"

"Shh," Ned said, glancing behind them at the outside. "Brandon, such things are treason. I'd like not to see your head on the walls of the Red Keep."

"That's not how the Mad King would do it," Ben said. "They say he burns people." He shuddered as he said it. Ned felt the same; the talk made him uneasy.

"Relax, would you Ned?" Brandon asked.

"Yes, fine. Where's Lya?"

"Went out for a ride," Benjen said. "She should be back soon, though."

"Good," Ned said. "Robert's here to meet her."

"She's not excited," said Brandon.

"I know."

"Is Robert as impressive as they say?" Benjen asked. "As a fighter?"

"Quite," said Ned. "I've never seen a fighter like him."

"Should I be offended?" Brandon asked.

"It wasn't a value comparison," Ned assured him. "You're just entirely different. Robert's entering the melee, he'd never be in the joust. He's large, and his weapon of choice is a hammer."

"Nice," said Benjen with a grin.

"Could I take him, though?" Brandon asked.

Ned tried to find a diplomatic way to answer that no, he did not think Brandon could beat Robert in a fight, when Lyanna saved him the trouble by entering. "Ned!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him. She was still in her riding leathers, and smelled like horse.

"It's good to see you, Lya."

"And you," she said, grinning widely. But her grin faded fast. "But I suppose I must now also see him?"

"At least try to keep an open mind?" he said. "He's not a bad man. I wouldn't have brought his proposal to Father if he was."

Lyanna sighed. "For you, Ned. Only for you. Let me change. I doubt Lord Robert will want to meet me in my riding leathers."

As he watched her go, he prayed that she would change her mind about Robert once she met him. But he had known Lyanna since she was a babe, and he was hard-pressed to remember a time she had changed her mind on anything.