Eddard

He tried his best not to stumble. He had never been the best dancer, and neither Winterfell nor the Eyrie had been known to hold frequent large balls. But Lady Ashara was so beautiful and graceful, he couldn't embarrass himself in front of her. He could hardly believe that this was really happening, that Brandon had done this for him. He would have to thank him later.

She was smiling. He should say something to her, but he couldn't think what. Finally, she broke the silence. "Are you entering the jousts?"

"No," he said. "My brother Brandon is the jouster, I'm just here to watch."

"And to dance?" she asked.

He blushed. "And to dance, yes."

"The music is lovely."

"Indeed it is. And the prince is as wonderful a singer as I heard."

Ashara smiled. "He is very good, isn't he?"

"You've heard him before?"

"From time to time. I'm a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elia, though I've not been at the position long."

"Ah." Ned was running out of things to say, and felt the thrill of the moment wear off, and the awkwardness start to return. "Do you enjoy your position?" he managed finally.

"I do. The princess is a good friend."

The song ended not long after that, and she curtsied. "Nice meeting you, Eddard Stark."

"You as well, my lady. And you can just call me Ned."

She smiled and walked off, and he stood there awkwardly for a moment before he heard, "I guess I was wrong. You do talk to girls. Just not well."

"Lya!" He turned around to see her grinning at him, Benjen tagging awkwardly along behind, still drunk.

"Care to dance, Ned?"

He smiled and took her hand with a small shake of the head. "How did you even find me?"

"You were dancing with the most beautiful woman here. Lots of people were watching."

The thought didn't please Ned. At least dancing with Lyanna was easy, no pressure, nobody watching. She smiled as they danced, and gave a little laugh when he spun her around. But then she stopped short. "There."

Ned looked where she was looking. Howland Reed, standing a few feet away, was looking in the same direction. Three squires sat together, drinking. "Is that them?" Ned asked.

Lyanna nodded. They walked over to Lord Howland, Benjen following behind. "Well," Lord Howland said. "There they are."

"You should avenge what they did to you," Benjen said. "Beat them in the joust. I can find you a horse and armor, if you want."

There was a long silence. Howland looked nervous.

When he had still not replied, Ned said, "You can decide later. Why don't you stay in our tent tonight?"

"Oh," he said. "I don't know if-if that would be-"

Ned smiled a little. "Come on."

"Alright, then," Howland said. "But I ought to go pray first."

"Think about what I said," Benjen remarked. "You should fight them."

As Howland walked away, Ned looked at his brother. "Just how drunk are you, Ben?"

"Only a little. I-" He swayed slightly, and Ned caught him. "Alright, then."

Lyanna laughed. "I guess you two are retiring for the night, then?"

"I think I ought to get him back," Ned confirmed. "You're staying?"

"Until the night is through. This is where the excitement is."

Ned smiled. "Be safe. Come back with Brandon, not alone. You never know who might be-"

"I can handle myself, Ned," she said with a little smile. She kissed him on the cheek and ruffled Ben's hair. "Good night, then."

When they had gotten back to the tent and Ben was snoring (which did not take long at all), Ned pulled out a book to do some reading. It was a while later before Howland Reed arrived. "Were you sure about inviting me to stay with you?"

"Quite sure. Come on in."

He looked at Benjen. "He's asleep already?"

"He's thirteen and never been drunk before," Ned said with a wry smile. "I imagine tomorrow morning he'll be paying quite a price for his night of fun."

Howland chuckled lightly. "It really is lucky for me I met all of you."

"What are liege lords and their children for, if not to protect their bannermen?" Ned replied.

Howland smiled. "I'm not sure they all see it that way."

"Well, the Southron lords may see things as they wish," Ned said, wondering how seriously Robert took his duties as liege lord of the Stormlands. "But we are of the North."

"So we are," he replied with a smile.