Not long after Lyanna had left, Robert told Eddard to go get some rest. Ned had apparently spent the entire night watching over him, and the dark bags under his friend's eyes told Robert could tell that he needed rest now. For some time, Robert laid in silence letting his thoughts wander. So much had happened in such a short time, he hadn't really had much time to process it all. Everything he experienced in the past few days fought for attention in his mind. Images of His arrival at Winterfell, the fight with Brandon, and his rides with Lyanna all blurred together into a knot that needed to be untangled. Not to mention the supernatural experience he had just lived through, it all made his head throb. He already had more than enough things to occupy his mind as travelled south and right now he would be happy drowning it all with several pitchers of wine and sleeping for another day.
His thoughts were interrupted by knocking on the door to his chamber. After inquiring who it was, Robert was informed that the boy and his parents were here to see him. He quickly gave them permission to enter and watched as they humbly approached his bed. Robert instantly recognized the giant of a man who he had sparred not but two days ago. Next to him was a plain looking woman with her hair up in the northern style who must have been the boy's mother, her face betrayed her worry. And finally, there was the boy. Walder seemed to stand straighter than Robert had ever seen him, and there was a fire in the boy's eyes that surprised him.
"Apologies m'lord, we tried to tell 'im tha you'd not want to be bothered, but the boy wouldn't let it rest till he could give you his thanks." The woman said apologetically. The man bowed his head as if silently agreeing, his hand gripping his son's shoulder tightly.
"Lady Lyanna said he wouldn't mind ma." Walder said in protest.
"Walder, mind your manners." Walder's mother chastised, her voice nearly cracking.
"I take no offence, and Lady Lyanna is right, I am happy to see you. How are you feeling?" Robert said with a dismissive wave of his hand and a reassuring smile.
"I'm well thanks to you m'lord. You fought monsters for me m'lord, I'll never forget what you did." Walder paused, looking as if he was gathering his courage to say or ask something. His mother however took the pause as an opportunity to extricate their family from an uncomfortable situation.
"You've said your peace Walder, let's let Lord Baratheon get his rest. Thank you m'lord for taking your time to humor the boy." She said grabbing her son's arm and pulling him towards the door.
"Ma!" The boy cried in protest, but she was determined to end the meeting.
"Hold there!" Robert bellowed, causing the boy's parents to flinch. "It looks like he has more to say, and I'd like to hear it."
"Thank you m'lord." Walder said pulling his arm from his mother's grasp and stepping up to Robert's bed before taking a knee. "Please let me serve you m'lord. I saw you fight monsters for me, and I want to learn to fight them like you did." His voice was trembling but his eyes were resolute.
"Walder!" His mother screamed in protest to her son's request. His father simply looked on in silence as if he had known this was what his son had wanted.
"You and your kin are sworn to the Starks." Robert replied slowly ignoring the mother. "If they agree to it, I would be glad to take you into my service. I'm sure there is a place for a stableboy at Storm's End, and I would be happy to train you as well."
"Thank you!" The boy exclaimed as he stood, practically radiating with determination.
"You can't…" The mother began, but she was cut off by Walder's father.
"That's enough dear." The father finally spoke in his deep baritone voice. It seemed as if he had known this was coming. "The boy has made his choice and Lord Baratheon has accepted. It's up to the Lord Stark now. Please excuse us m'lord." The giant bowed his head again in respect and ushered his protesting wife and excited son out of the room.
Robert was more than surprised by the outcome of the meeting. He like the boy, and he definitely didn't have it in his heart to say no after seeing the steely determination in the boy's eyes. If he saw those monsters and decided that he wanted to fight them, then by the gods Robert would train him to do it. If the boy grew up to look like his father, then he might even rival the Mountain one day. After the family had left, he was able to rest and recover from his ordeal. Both Eddard and Lyanna visited him regularly to make sure he was recuperating, and he asked them to help arrange travel to Storm's End. During their visits, they informed him that Lord Stark had given his consent to young Walder serving Robert, the news put a smile on Robert's face.
The next few days were a blur of activity as he and Lord Arryn's men prepared to leave Winterfell again. They would ride to white harbor where they would board a ship of House Manderly that frequently traded in the Stormlands. It would first take them to Gulltown to drop off his escorts before continuing on to Strom's End. With the arrangements made, he took as much time as he could to spend time with Lyanna, and actually managed to improve his jousting with her help. She apparently was quite talented herself and was a sight to behold as she effortlessly snagged ring after ring with her lance. She might be a woman, but Robert reckoned she would be more than a match for most southern knights. There was actually something familiar about the way she rode, but he couldn't quite place it. It was like he had seen her joust before, but that didn't make any sense, so he shook off the feeling and focused on his own practice.
As the day of his departure neared, Robert received a very unexpected visitor. He had just finished bathing and dressing after a particularly long practice session when a servant announced that Brandon Stark was there to see him. Surprised and quite a bit warry he asked the servant to see him in. Brandon entered the chamber with all the pride and confidence expected of the Heir of Winterfell.
"Lord Robert." He said with a curt nod.
"Lord Brandon, to what do I owe the honor?" Robert replied in a guarded tone.
"You'll be leaving soon." Brandan stated in an even tone with his arms crossed.
"Yes, I'm sure you're excited to see me go." Robert said in a dry tone.
"I wanted to apologize before you left." Brandon said casually. It took a moment or two for Robert to process what had just been said.
"You already apologized if I remember correctly."
"You and I both know that wasn't an apology, it was a show for the household." Brandon snarled, before he reined in his emotions and walked over to the small window overlooking the godswood. He stood for a moment gazing out the thick lead paned glass that helped keep the winter cold at bay. "My entire family has come around to tell me how stupid I was being when I confronted you. Hell, even Old Nan chastised me in her own way."
Robert didn't want things to escalate so he stayed silent, it seemed like letting Brandon talk was probably the wisest move.
"They all seem to like you for some gods forsaken reason, and most surprisingly of all, Lyanna is actually warming up to the idea of getting married." His voice held a tone of incredulity. He finally turned around and looked Robert in the eyes. "I doubt that we will be fast friends, but with everything that has happened I can at least trust you to take care of my sister, and that's good enough."
"I will do everything I can to protect her and make sure she is happy." Robert said sincerely, matching Brandon's steely gaze. Brandon simply nodded his head and moved to leave the chamber, hesitating a moment as he reached the door.
"See that you do, safe travels Lord Baratheon." With that the Heir of Winterfell was gone.
Robert had to admit that he didn't expect to hear from Brandon again given how they had not seen hide or hair of each other since his staged apology. He wasn't sure what to make of it though, he highly doubted that a man as proud as Brandon would have made a complete turnaround in just a few days. Though thinking about it, he couldn't exactly help but laugh as he realized the irony of that thought. Unless there was some unknown divine interference in Brandon's life, he would tread carefully there. In the meantime, he would continue his preparations for his trip home.
Inevitably, the day of his departure arrived and the whole Stark Family had gathered to see him off. Off to the side he saw Walder's family exchanging their final farewells, his mother was in tears. Robert exchanged a cordial goodbye with the ever-stoic Lord Stark, received a cool nod from Brandon, gave Ned a fond farewell, and even made good on his promise to give Benjen a gift by presenting him a small hunting knife he had commissioned from Mikken the smith. Finally, he approached Lyanna.
"Well, my lady, I am off to prepare my keep for its future lady." He said with a charming smile and an overly formal tone. Lyanna rolled her eyes, but the slight blush on her cheeks betrayed her growing feelings for Robert. It had become a sort of fun dance for them. He would be romantic and she would pretend to not care.
"Yes, good, off with you then." She replied with a wry smile.
"Next time we meet, will be at the great tourney at Harrenhal. I will win you a crown of winter roses." He said confidently.
"Maybe, you know Brandon will be riding too, I'm sure he'll knock you on your ass and crown Lady Catelyn." Lyanna teased. Robert laughed, enjoying the rapport he had built with Lyanna.
"But he's not riding for the most beautiful woman in the north." Robert was purposefully laying it on thick now. Lyanna blushed heavily and slapped him in the arm in protest.
"Would you just leave already." A frustrated Brandon called out. Robert beamed before giving his final farewells and riding out of Winterfell. After passing through the gatehouse, he looked back at the ancient castle fondly. It had been an eventful stay to say the least, and he hoped to return one day. But now he had to focus on becoming a proper lord and brother and make up for all those wasted years.
The trip to White Harbor was uneventful, and his party enjoyed a rousing greeting from Lord Manderly. The feast held in his honor was spectacular, and he and his men were able to laugh and enjoy the night after a few days of travelling through the northern winter. Walder, who was in awe of the 'big city', was staying with the servants of House Manderly. Robert made it clear that he was to be well looked after as a member of his household, and Lord Wyman was more than happy to oblige. Before they left the city behind, Robert took the opportunity to pray in the Sept. It had been far too long, and he had missed the peace that it brought him. He had prayed in the Winterfell godswood a few more times before he left, but he always felt like an outsider there, not unwelcome, just out of place. Now he prayed for protection on the sea, and for wisdom in taking up his position as Lord Paramount of the Stormlands.
He was glad for the mild weather as the ship sailed south. The gods may have called him the Storm King, but he definitely didn't have any fondness for Storms. He occupied himself by beginning to teach Walder some basic wrestling and sparing. The boy took to it with great determination, eagerly soaking up everything he was taught. Robert even took to the oars when the wind was down, seeing it as a good chance to stay active to help the keep the ship moving. Half a moon passed before Gulltown came in to view. When they pulled into dock Lord Marq Grafton was there to greet him, yet another ghost from a past now wiped away. Robert could still remember the sound of the loyalist's steel great helm being crushed beneath his hammer. This was one man's fate he did not care to fix if things came down to it. Robert put on his most charming smile and greeted the man who as of now was a loyal vasal of House Arryn. He attended yet another feast in his honor, but he couldn't quite enjoy it as much as the last. He was preoccupied with thoughts of home, not only that, but he couldn't help but look around and see faces of men he had killed or seen struck down the last time he was here. His travelling companions at least were in good spirits, so he made an effort to celebrate on their behalf. In truth however he was eager to be gone from this place.
With Gulltown behind him he was on the final leg of his journey home. He was full of nervous energy and had a difficult time relaxing. As a result, he spent much more of his time working with Walder, continuing his martial training. Naturally, he got to know the boy more. The former stableboy of Winterfell had been a pretty solitary kid as the other children in the keep often mocked him for his size or because he smelled of horse all the time. He had always been a gentle soul and would almost never stand up to the cruel words young children often sling. It went without saying that the harrowing experience he had gone through had caused a profound shift in the young man's attitude.
While they trained, Robert would think to share some of his accomplishments, but caught himself realizing that eight and ten Robert had seen far less war than six and thirty Robert. As a result, he shifted his stories to those he grew up on. Over the several days of the journey their talks naturally shifted to that of knighthood. This was an interesting new topic for Walder as knights were generally a southern tradition.
"Excuse me m'lord, is it true that even smallfolk can be knights?" Walder asked curiously after they finished another round of martial training.
"It's true, Duncan the Tall was born and raised in Flea Bottom." A blank stare from Walder told Robert that he didn't know where or what Flea Bottom was. "That's the poorest part of King's Landing." As the boy nodded in understanding, his face became more contemplative eventually shifting into a determined smile.
"I'm going to become a knight." He said, with a fire in his eyes.
"Oh?" Robert replied surprised.
"Yes m'lord, I want to be a knight like the ones in your stories. I'll help the smallfolk and fight against the monsters for all the people of the realm." Walder said with conviction. Robert smiled and let out a booming laugh.
"Well then, it's decided. I needed a squire anyway." Robert said still chuckling a little.
"You mean it? M'lord" He added the honorific on hastily almost forgetting his place.
"Yes, I mean it. Now let's talk about what that means."
Robert spent a fair amount of time explaining what was expected of a squire. For the most part it was things that Walder had already expected to take care of such as minding the horses, helping the knight don and doff their armor, and other little errands. What the young man didn't expect were the social aspects of it. Proper manners when dealing with nobles of varying importance, recognizing hundreds of banners, and even learning to read and write, though many knights would dispute the last one, were all important parts of becoming a good knight. Robert knew that he would raise some eyebrows by coming home with some no name peasant as a squire, but he decided that he didn't really care. This was one of those situations that he appreciated the position he inherited since he could tell everyone who said anything about it to just piss off.
Regardless of how others might perceive his new squire, he threw himself even more into his instruction as it proved to be a good distraction from the anxiety that was slowly building as they approached the choppy waves and familiar rocky coastline of Shipbreaker Bay. Robert was reassured by the captain of the vessel that they had sailed these waters many times and assured him that they would deliver he and his young squire safely to their destination. Robert said nothing at the time but bitterly thought that the captain of the Windproud probably said the same thing to his parents. He would be far happier when he had solid stone beneath his feet again.
When the lookout had signaled that Storm's End was in sight, Robert couldn't help but run to the front of the ship to watch as the keep's single tower rose over the horizon like a mailed fist striking up towards the sky. The captain ordered signal flags to be raised so that lookouts on the walls would know of their intent to dock in the watery tunnel beneath the keep, the only 'safe' anchorage for miles around. As they sailed closer, the keen-eyed man who had first spotted the keep reported answering signal flags acknowledging their approach. Robert smiled, but behind the smile was a host of conflicting emotions. He was truly excited to be home as fond memories of growing up here filled him with a sense of nostalgia. At the same time, he was nervous about truly stepping into the role of Lord Paramount. He took out a deep breath and readied himself, he was literally born for this, and he would be damned if he screwed it all up a second time.
Robert's lingering fears were found to be unwarranted as the crew expertly navigated their ship into the heavily guarded tunnel beneath Storm's End. Robert felt a sense of protection and safety wash over him as the ship slipped beneath the walls of his ancestral home. He looked out and saw a party coming down to meet them as the sailors busied themselves about the task of securing the ship. The group included both of his brothers, his great-uncle Ser Harbert Estermont castellan of Storm's End, and finally Ser Cortney Penrose, a close friend of Robert's who had been fostered under his father. Robert appreciated that the older knight had stayed in the keep to help watch over his brothers. When he was younger, Ser Penrose some times took the role of older brother to Robert when he needed it. If he remembered correctly, Cortney was already helping Ser Harbert run the keep even now. Penrose was holding onto the three-year-old Renly's hand as the young boy confidently jumped down each of the slick stone steps leading to the dock. Robert was eager to start the process of piecing his broken family back together and stood impatiently as the crew lowered the gang plank. As soon as it was down, he hurried over to meet them.
"Brother," A stiff and formal Stannis spoke as Robert approached. "Storm's End is yo…" He was cut off by a bone crushing hug and slap on the back from Robert.
"It's good to see you Stannis. Thank you for keeping the old castle from falling into the sea." Robert bellowed releasing his brother who had gone stiff in surprise.
"Welcome back Nephew, it will be good for the Storm Lords for their liege lord to truly take up his seat." Ser Harbert said with a stiff smile. The last time he had seen the old man it was just after his parents had died and he decided to return to the Vale rather than stay and truly take on his role. They had a shouting match when Robert first told him of the decision to return to the Eyrie, but the the old man eventually relented and simply asked that he not stay gone too long.
"You look like brother Stannis" Renly boldly cut in with remarkable diction for a three year old and pointed at Robert. Robert couldn't help but feel a little hurt that his youngest brother couldn't remember him, but he understood that he had been absent for most of the boy's life. Robert put on a winning smile and knelt down to get closer to the boy's level. The resemblance between Renly and little Mya was difficult to miss. It seemed that Baratheon seed was strong indeed. Why didn't his kids with Cersei look more like this? The stray thought was quickly pushed aside as the more pressing issue of reintroducing himself to his youngest brother took precedence
"Of Course, I look like Stannis, He's my brother, which makes you my brother as well." Robert replied laughing, patting the boy's head.
"Where did you go?" Renly replied while trying to fend off Robert's head pats.
"I've been away learning how to be a good brother and good lord. But I think I've been gone to long." Robert said with a sigh before scooping his little brother up and placing him on his broad shoulders. "Come on, let's get out of this cold damp place and go somewhere warm." He said looking back at Stannis. Robert noticed that his brother was now grinding his teeth obviously furious with something. Robert knew that patching things up with brothers wouldn't be easy, but apparently, he had already angered his younger brother. Perhaps it would be even harder than he could imagine.
A/N Hurray! Brother bonding time, I wonder what's got Stannis grinding his teeth. I considered writing out Renly's speech more like what a 3 yo would sound like. I have a 3 year old and find the way she talks very cute and endearing, but trying to write it out just didn't look right. Plus with the charming young man he grew up to be, I can see Renly learning to speak well quickly. The plan is for Robert to spend the next few months in Storm's End really establishing himself there before taking his brothers with him to the Tourney. I don't expect this to take more than 1 or 2 chapters so the wait for the big tourney will soon be over.
A/N2: While researching for chapter 16 I realized I had left out the current (at this point in the timeline at least) Castellan of Storm's End, Robert's great uncle Harbert Estermont (or Possibly Baratheon as the books never gave the last name). Anyway, I have updated this chapter and will make sure to include him going forward.