Eddard
Eddard had been raised as the spare for his entire childhood. As such, when the pressures of ruling the largest kingdom in Westeros fell on his shoulders, he pledged he would never do that to any of his children.
As such, when his second son and child, Edwyle was born, he promised him in his cot that he would raise him alongside Robb and would never separate them.
He made that promise over a decade ago and since then, he has followed that to the letter. Currently, Eddard was standing on a balcony looking over the tiltyard, observing his two eldest as they sparred against one another.
Robb excelled in horsemanship and lancing, but Edwyle's skill with a blade almost always beat out his elder brother. The only times when the younger would lose was when Robb employed some trick. Eddard silently scolded Edwyle every time he became upset when that happened, good thing Ser Rodrik was quick to point out that on the field of battle, those who employed tricks, were those who got to travel back to their families.
"Ned?"
At the sound of his name, he turned to gaze upon his beautiful wife.
"Cat." He hugged her then held her torso. "How are the youngsters?"
"Sansa has been scolding Arya over her stitching over the last hour, I had to leave before my head would explode."
Eddard smiled at that.
"Bran is I'm sure off climbing somewhere despite what we have both told him, and Rickon is being tended to by the nurse."
"Good, that is good."
Catelyn took the time to peer down into the tiltyard. "You are aware of how much Arya wishes to join?"
"Yes I am. And when she and Sansa come of age, they will join their brothers."
Cat simply sighed before breaking herself away from him and turned to leave. "Mi' lord."
Eddard held back a sigh himself. Since he returned from the rebellion, he had told himself that all his children would be trained, that none would ever be taken advantage of. The only obstacle was his southern wife.
He loved her dearly and respected as many of her customs as he could, including building a small sept in Winterfell. But she continued to try and resist him in this matter.
'How could you think that Ned!' She had shouted at him when he first brought it up. 'They are ladies and will not pick up steel, it's barbaric! No lord would ever take them for a wife!'
He had been quick to respond.
'No southern lord would take them as a wife.'
They had many arguments since then and he explained how their own marriage, even though the first marriage with a southerner in generations, had still nearly sent some houses into near revolt. For both himself, and the future of his house, both their daughters and their eldest son must marry in the north…or not marry at all.
Please be aware my dear readers that this story is for my own pleasure really. I understand the frustration of some stories taking very long to complete but please do not contact me about when I cam coming out with the next chapter. If the next chapter comes in a week, so be it. If it comes in two years, so be it.