1 – A Mysterious Package

Ned Stark stared blankly at the paperwork that littered the desk in front of him. After the day he had just had he didn't know how he was meant to concentrate on his work. First had been the deserter from the Night's Watch – he had never enjoyed executions, never enjoyed taking a life. Then had been the direwolf corpse they had come upon on their way back to Winterfell. The way it had been killed with the broken antler in its throat seemed almost like a sign to him, if only in the way it had unnerved him. Last of all had come the news of Jon Arryn's sudden and unexpected death.

The Lord of the Vale had been like a second father to Ned during his youth. He could barely believe that he was gone from this world. This was turning out to be one of the worst days of his life. The only positive was that Robert was coming to Winterfell. It would be good to see his old friend again. It had been far too long since they had last seen each other.

Ned was pulled out of his musings by a knock on his solar door. Calling for the knocker to enter, Ned was somewhat startled to see Maester Luwin. Ned immediately jumped to his feet, horror growing. Maester Luwin would only interrupt him this late if one of the children were either seriously ill or injured. "Catelyn," he gasped out, "the children—"

"Your children are well, my lord," Maester Luwin said calmly, "as is your wife."

Ned sank back into his seat, relieved. Then a thought suddenly occurred to him. "Young Jon—"

"I believe that I said that your children are well, my lord," Maester Luwin firmly interrupted him, perhaps for the time. "Jon Snow may not bear the Stark name, but he is still your child. A fact that you are very well aware of."

"Right, of course." Ned was chagrined. "If it's not the children, then may I ask why you are here so late? Is there something that you feel I need to know about?"

Maester Luwin paused slightly before speaking. "When I returned to my study after dinner I found that I had a rather unusual parcel awaiting me."

"What's so unusual about a parcel?" Ned frowned. "You often receive parcels, Maester."

"You misunderstand me my Lord, this was not the regular sort of parcel. The parcel was not there before I went to dinner, and as far as I have been able to tell there have been no ravens. We have had no visitors. How this parcel arrived appears to be a complete mystery."

That did sound like a puzzle, but one he was sure that Maester Luwin would be able to figure out. For some reason he wasn't that interested in mysterious arrival of the parcel, or the potential breach in their security. Ned didn't feel that he was in the right frame of mind for such a cryptic conversation with his Maester. He wondered why Maester Luwin had brought this to him now instead of waiting until morning. He would have been in a better place, would have time to come to terms with the shocks of the day, his mind clearer.

For the first time, Ned noticed the large and somewhat bulky parcel that Maester Luwin was clutching. It was large, and clearly heavy. It was wrapped not in the usual plain brown paper that one might have expected, but a rather garish bright red and green paper. It hurt the eyes to look out. With a sigh, Ned indicated that Maester Luwin should put the parcel on his desk.

Once he had done so, Ned reached out and opened the parcel. He did not know what he was expecting, but it was not the pile of books that fell out of the wrappings. Even Maester Luwin appeared to be rather taken aback. That surprised him a somewhat, he had almost thought that the Maester was behind this strange incident.

These books were not like the books that he was used to. They were smaller and heavier, each several centimetres thick, and bound in what appeared to be a papery substance instead of the familiar dry and cracked leather. Each book had a large number on it from one to five, and the title was in a script he did not recognise. Crowning the stack of books was a letter. Ned reached out to pick the letter. Whatever this was had better be important. For if it was not... Ned shook his head attempting in vain to clear it. He needed to focus on the here and now.

Dear Lord Stark,

You do not know me, but I know of you. It is because I know you that I was compelled to send these books to you and your family. I realise you have no reason to trust me, I simply ask you to hear me out before destroying them in any way.

These books contain the knowledge of your family's immediate future. The information they contain is vital to the survival of your family over the coming months and years. If you wish for your family to survive the wars that will soon plague Westeros, sit down and read them with your wife and your five oldest children, Robb, Jon, Sansa, Arya and Bran, as well as Maester Luwin. Do not let anyone else know about these books.

I will understand if you do not trust Maester Luwin or myself at the moment, but I implore you to at least trust Luwin, as he is utterly trustworthy. He has proved himself time and time again. Trust him, even if you do not trust me.

A friend.

"What are you going to do with this information, my Lord?" Maester Luwin asked after reading the letter.

Ned sighed. He may not trust this letter. He wasn't even sure if he could even trust the books, but the letter was ominous. If even half of it was true and war was about to return to Westeros and his family's very survival, their future, was at stake, then there was only one thing he could do. Even if finding out what the future had in store for them was the very last thing he wished to do.

"I am going to do what the letter says Maester Luwin," Ned said. "After all, what else can I do? Please ensure that my family is in this solar after breakfast tomorrow."

He did not know whether to be relieved or terrified as Maester Luwin nodded. After all he had endured in his lifetime, all that he had seen, the possibility of another war breaking out was horrifying. The idea that his family might finally be entirely decimated in it was completely and utterly terrifying.

Maester Luwin was as good as his word. The next morning after breakfast his entire family was in his solar, along with the Maester himself.

"What is this about, Father?" Robb asked. His son and heir was sitting close, eager to learn what it was that had happened.

Taking a deep breath to study himself, Ned explained about both the parcel and the letter to mixed reactions.

"How can you trust this package, the letter?" his wife accused. "If this person really wanted to help our family, then why did they remain in the shadows? Why not be open about their support? If the help is meant for just our family, then why is—"

"Do not finish that sentence," Ned snapped at Catelyn. "If you value our lives, do not say another word against my son. And as for why I am trusting this person, it is because I do not have any other choice. We may not have any other choice if we wish to survive whatever is coming."

Maester Luwin nodded his approval at Ned's words, as Jon himself attempted to melt into the wall behind him. Long had he disapproved of the way Lady Stark had treated Jon Snow, and he thought that it was long past time that Ned stood up for the boy.

"I would suggest that we read the first chapter or two of the first book before deciding whether or not to continue with the rest of them," Luwin suggested to general agreement and Catelyn's indignation.

Ned ignored his wife's annoyance as he picked up the first book and opened it to the first page.