Dragon chapter 4

Spars? Why is it always spars?

276 AC

The fight was going to be a pain in the ass, Robert had not yet fully grown into his immense strength, he was beginning to be a monster with the war hammer. While I only stuck with swords, spears, and knives. For this fight, I think I will have to use the spear I thought to myself as I walked over to the weapons rack. I grabbed the spear and headed toward Robert.

While I was on Earth, I briefly looked at some videos on different weapon styles, and the war hammer was one I did not think I had the raw strength to wield. Robert held the training hammer like it was just a stick like he was meant to wield it. In a way, I guess he was.

I spun the spear and got into the standard stance, that was taught within these walls. Not the one I had been secretly practicing. Honor and the truth are what got the original Ned killed, I will not be killed. I will survive and win. "Well Robert, I guess it's time for our daily match, I forget who is in the lead," I smirked. "Remind me again who has more wins?"

Robert started to grind his teeth; I was reminded of his brother Stannis for a brief moment. "You currently lead by one." Came the reply through grinding teeth.

I internally rolled my eyes and asked, "why are you so angry Robert?"

"You know why I am angry. I have been trying to get the princess to notice me this whole time and then you swoop in and steal her from me?" Robert responded.

I internally rolled my eyes and thought 'Teenagers', knowing that my next words will only spur him on. "Robert, she was never yours, she has only said hello to you a few times only, and she was the one who spoke to me."

True to my thoughts, his face got only anger as his grip on the practice hammer tightened. I sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Usually, when we spar, Robert is the aggressor, and I am always the defender. Countering is more my usual style, but today...today I would be the aggressor. I started with a thrust to his face, while he was not expecting that, Robert was quick to react and moved his body back to dodge. I pulled the head of the spear back towards me while moving the butt of the spear toward his belly. Seeing that he swung his hammer towards the butt of the spear, forcing me to avert the hit unless I wanted to lose my grip. Quickly changing my grip, I swung the spearhead back towards his face while advancing my footsteps.

The match quickly devolved into me attacking and advancing, while Robert countered and tried to knock the spear out of my hands. Due to the range of the spear and my footwork, Robert was not able to get close enough to land hits on me. The tempo kept going in my favor until we were quickly reaching the end of the training yard, if Robert did not change something soon then would corner him and end this.

Unbeknownst to us, a crowd had gathered to watch the match. Most had come to catch a glimpse of the princess, but their eyes quickly went to what was becoming an intense match. Even some of the guests had heard the news of the spar and had gathered alongside the princess. Lord Arryn himself had just come into the yard as I backed Robert into a corner.

Robert, realizing what I was doing and that he was running out of space decided to make a charge at me in order to get out of the entrapment. Normally charging at an opponent that was wielding a spear was a very quick way to die, however, Robert, knowing that I would not harm him and that this was a training spear, threw all caution to the wind and ran toward me. His hammer held in front of him as some sort of battering ram.

I was caught by surprise, and that reminded me of a lesson I almost forgot. A cornered animal will always attack.

I quickly recovered and thought to myself 'I should end this now before it gets any worse.'

So, I waited until the last second to move out of the way, knowing that he would follow through with a swing to wherever I dodged. I stuck the ground with the butt of the spear where his food would hand and tripped him. Then spun the spear around and pointed the head at him.

As I went to offer him a hand, I was stopped by cheers and applause.

Nobles, guards, castle workers, and even some peasants; all of them cheered and applauded us. During my moment of hesitation, Robert got to his feet and reacted how any 13-year-old would react to embarrassment. He got angry. He huffed and got ready to storm away, but was stopped by Lord Arryn approaching us.

Jon Arryn looked quite different from what was shown in the show, this Jon was not old and borderline feeble. "He had broad shoulders, blues eyes, and an aquiline nose." He is similar in appearance to Owen Wilson. The first time I saw him, I was very surprised by his appearance. Since we are entertaining high-profile guests, He wore a stylized brown leather tunic vest with a red shirt underneath it, along with forest green trousers and a cloak of the same colour.

"Ned, Robert. That was a wonderful spar. I do believe your best one yet." He began. "Robert, your skill with the Warhammer is improving. Once you get older and are able to wield it with full strength, there will be few that could ever match you. Ned, your skill with the spear is shaping up to be something great. If I didn't know better, I would say you were from Dorne with potential like that."

"When you decided to split your time between sword, spear, and knives, I had thought that you would fall behind. Yet here you are keeping up and even winning." Lord Arryn continued and chuckled to himself. "With skills and potential like that, one of you may catch the eye of the princess."

With the piece said, he turned and walked back to the crowd to be a gracious host.

Robert spent the rest of the week not talking or sparing with me. I spent that week doing very shady things, like making sure another peasant did not share the secret of how to make salt. While getting my spies lined up and ready to exit when the time was right.

XXX

Blackwood and Bracken.

Two houses that are of the Riverlands and have a heated rivalry going back to the age of heroes. Every generation from a young age is taught to hate the other. It seemed even in this world the rivalry is as heated as ever, the heirs of the houses Tytos Blackwood and Jonos Bracken have had to be stopped multiple times over from coming to blows, each boasting that they could beat the other.

Personally, I think Jonos is a snake and not to be trusted by the way he has been acting. While Tytos I am still trying to get a read on. Since once again I cannot judge anyone anymore from the books and show cause the gods or George is fucking with me.

As I was walking back from the latest confrontation, I was called out by none other than Oberyn Martell along with his sister and Mother. Princess Meria Nymeros Martell stood around 5ft 10 inches(178 cm) in height, in her yellow Dronish style robes you could see her slender athletic build. Striking and intense dark brown eyes, well-defined jawline, high cheekbones, and full lips. Along with her dark hair and dusty skin, she was beauty, grace, and elegance personified. She had a strikingly similar appearance to Gal Gadot.

"Ned, come walk with us." Oberyn waved me over. I walked over to the Princess, and her children. "Let me introduce you to my mother and sister."

"No need Oberyn, after all, you have not stopped talking about your friend over here." The princess interrupted.

Oberyn now blushing slightly, continued. "This is my mother Princess Meria Martell and my sister Elia Martell."

Bowing with a deep bow I greeted the princesses. "I am Eddard Stark, Princess Meria, and Princess Elia please to meet you both face to face, I have heard much about you both from Oberyn's letters."

Elia Martell was a delicate beauty, with a slender body, and a gentle smile. She had long dark hair and black eyes. Same dusty skin tone and cheekbones as her mother. However, in a certain light, she looked quite frail.

As I was introducing myself to the Martells, others had begun to notice our interaction. Rather than be a show for the rest of the nobles, I conceded to the walk that Oberyn wanted. "Well Oberyn, where shall we walk to?"

"You live here Ned, pick us a spot." Came the answer with a grin.

"My Ladies and Oberyn, follow me then."

The walk was short, filled with small talk and catching up between myself and Oberyn. While the Princesses chimed in now and then. The stone walls of the inner castle guided me along the well-walked path toward one of my favorite places in Lord Arryn's castle. Away from the training yard and towards the back of the castle there was a small flower garden and if you climbed up the wall, you could see the beautiful forest that lay there.

As we walked about the garden and the ladies admired the flowers that Lady Arryn had cultivated, the conversation steered towards the spar between me and Robert.

"I must say Eddard, your skills with a spear are to be admired for one so young." Princess Meria began. "If Oberyn wasn't so talented with the spear, I would say you are the best spear of the new generation." As she paused to admire a violet flower, she mulled over her next words. "You, men of the North, did always favor swords over other weapons. Then again, I have heard you are practicing three weapons right now."

Oberyn spurred on by that information decided to continue the conversation.

"Say, Ned, how about a spar with me tomorrow?" He asked with a grin on his face. "Winner is the best new spear of Westeros. Of course, by the end of it that shall be me." He bragged.

An excited smirk grew on my face, I was about to spar with the future red viper himself. "Well now Oberyn, there must be stakes on such a match."

Princess Meria then rejoined the conversation. "Oh, a wager?" She said with amusement in her voice. "Colour me intrigued. What does Eddard Stark want should he win?"

I mused to myself about what I could ask for. If I wanted I could fuck myself over even more and ask for a chance to court Elia, or even ask for sand to start trying to make glass or a trade deal with the north. I stayed silent for a few moments before settling on an answer. "For now, all I would ask is the friendship of House Martell." As I said that, both princesses looked at me with renewed interest in their eyes. As if seeing me for the first time. Since this might never play out how canon went, might as well start fucking over more shit.

Then for the first time since meeting me Princess Elia spoke to me. "I didn't think you knew how to play the game Eddard. Some our age would have asked for money."

"Most our age would have asked for money, and I can assure you, Princess I am not most," I replied with what I hoped was a cocky smirk.

"Well then, it is settled. Tomorrow a friendly spar to determine who is the best young spear of the seven kingdoms." With those words from Princess Elia, our little walk through the garden ended.

XXX

That ending felt weird to write, but overall I think the chapter turned out well. I was hoping for 2,500 words but didn't want to stress or add anything unnecessarily. Anyways

Please read and review.

S95N out!