298 AC, Winterfell…
Eddard Stark, Lord of the Winterfell and the Lord Paramount of the North was standing in front of the castle's gates with his family and servants. Even from here, he could see the proud banner of the crowned stag but to his dismay, there were more lion banners then of a stag.
Today, his king and the man he knew as a brother, Robert Baratheon were coming for a visit. However, he was aware of the reason for this visit. Robert was going to offer him the position of the hand. Though the king's words were law and they were not to be refused, Robert was his friend so he thought he could reject this opportunity for the sake of his family.
Robert's entourage poured through the castle gates as the man in red and golden armours marched in. The first one he noticed was the man with hair as bright as the golden sun, Jaime Lannister.
Truthfully, he did not like the man even a bit as the scene of him sitting on the throne while the king he swore an oath lying before him in a puddle of blood was vivid in his mind. The constant smirk on his face like he owned everything was sore to the eyes.
Eddard was thought of honour by the man he considered his second father, Jon Arryn and everything he learned was going against what the man represented. If it was up to him, his head would have been buried underground and a more honourable man would have filled his position. However, it was no avail as he was not the one to decide but the king. He knew the reason for this blonde still roaming around was none other than the golds of his family.
After him came a tall boy that could only be the crown prince and beside him was riding a man with a terrible buried face, Sandor Clegane. Then an ugly little dwarf with mismatched eyes was seen, surely this was the Imp, Tyrion Lannister.
Nevertheless, the one that shocked him was none other than the huge man riding at the head of the convoy with two white-cloaked knights. His belly was matching his height and his royal double chin was showing the pit he has fallen. The last time Eddard saw him was during Balon Greyjoy's rebellion and even then he was able to see muscles on his arms but now, all that was left was fat.
Eddard knelt when he saw his friend and his family and servants followed him in kneeling. Robert's big voice boomed in the square as he crushed Eddard into a hug. "Ned! It is good to see that frozen face of yours."
A smile blossomed on Eddard's face as he reminisced of his old days in the Vale. Sometimes, he was still wishing to live those days again. However, life was cruel and he had to endure and continue to live. And the only thing he said to Robert was, "Your Grace, Winterfell is yours."
While Robert embraced Catelyn and the children were introduced to him, Robert's queen, Cersei Lannister, entered through the gates walking as the wheelhouse she was riding was too wide to pass through the gates. Ned bowed to kiss her ring and as soon as the formalities of greeting were done, the king said to Eddard, "Ned, take me down to crypts. I would like to pay my respects."
The queen frowned upon hearing those words and begun protesting, "We had been riding since dawn, surely the dead would wait."
Robert looked at her sternly and followed Ned without saying anything. Eddard was happy as his friend was still remembering her after all those years.
They went down to the crypt. Stark ancestors' cold statues were lined on both sides as they descended from stairs.
"I thought we would never reach Winterfell. When in the south, you tend to forget that the north is as big as the six combined." Robert was already beginning to sweat, "What was that snow anyway, it's damn summer!"
"Summer snow is common enough, however, they have their own beauty," said Eddard.
As they conversed, It did not take long for them to reach before the statue they were seeking. Eddard lifted the oil lantern and hanged to the holder on the wall.
There were three tombs side by side and all of them were his family. His father's old and stern face was carved from a single white stone. There was no smile on his brother's face as the statue was the shadow of his former self. He was still remembering the joyful and warming smile on his face when he was watching them in the square.
The last one standing was a young woman, long forgotten in the south but still remembered in the north. Lyanna had only been sixteen. Eddard loved her with all his heart but Robert loved more and even now he was estranged by her ghost.
"Did you have to bury her in a place like this? She was meant to be by my side, not in this horrid darkness…"
"She was a Stark," Ned looked at her sister's statue with mournful eyes, "This is her place."
"She should be on somewhere beautiful, maybe under a fruit tree with white sun and clouds," Robert said bitterly.
"Her wish was to come home and rest beside her family."
Robert touched her stone face with anger and sadness, "I still kill him in my dreams, every night. He deserved a more horrible death…"
Eddard saw the words going bad way so he said, "Your Grace, we should return, your wife will be waiting for you."
"Others take her," Robert muttered, "And I don't want to hear 'Your Grace' anymore, I had enough of my fill in the south. You will call me 'Robert' or the consequences will be severe. We are more than a king and a servant"
Eddard nodded his head quietly and seeing the silence falling between them he asked, "Did you hear any news about the Vale?"
"Others take them all!" Robert roar sounded in the whole crypt, "If I had known the problem was this big, I would have sent my own men with him. Those prickly barbarians should be wiped out. Though I already sent a thousand men to help, I don't think they will be enough."
Eddard approved thoughtfully, "I will also send three hundred men. That all we can do after all he has done for us. At least, his son will be safe in Eyrie."
"Six years old, sickly and Lord of the Eyrie, gods have mercy on his people. I offered to foster him with Stannis so at least he could have some decent head on his body." Robert snorted, "Guess what, his mother refused outright and took his son and left at night. The boy is my namesake. I ought to protect him but how can I do that while his mother escape?"
Eddard put his hand on Robert's shoulder and said, "I will have Catelyn sent a letter to her. I'm sure she can handle it."
"Well, if we are talking about serious matters then I won't wait for a few days to talk. You are my only friend" Robert straightened and spoke seriously, "Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the King."
Eddard knew this was coming but still dropped to one knee. The position would have been a boon to House Stark as it was the second-most powerful position after the king. His words would have been law and he could have commanded the king's armies, even sit on the Iron Throne to give judgement when the king was away but the Starks were not of the South and the North needed him especially in these hard times.
"Your Grace, "he said. "I am not worthy of the honour."
Robert snorted with impatience, "If I wanted to honour you, I would not have come here. You will run my kingdom while I eat and drink and fuck." He laughed while holding his belly, "You know the saying, the king eats and the Hand takes the shit."
However, Robert's face quickly went serious, "There is trouble everywhere, Ned. The only good thing is those golds the believers are giving. I was wrong to give them too much power. I thought them like Faith but their hands are long and poisonous. Can you believe it, they even demanded from me to convert when little Tommen was fallen ill. The guts of them!" Robert's face went red from anger, "Indeed, I would have done what they wanted from me if not for those rats in the Citadel. The cure they have found have worked and Tommen recovered."
"However, they still continue to plot and I smell the war coming from their hands." Robert looked at his hands, "Jon was doing everything he can to stop their influence but they grew so quickly because of the plague. I need your help, Ned, I need you…"
"Robert, the North needs me, there is already a word that wildlings rallying before the Wall and after the famine and plague, I need to lead my people lest they get wrong ideas."
"Damn, those fuckin' wildlings. First, in the Vale and now in the North. If I had not been the king, I would have slaughtered those fuckers myself. You helped me win that throne and now help me hold it. Our houses were meant to be together. However, it is not too late. I have a son and you have a daughter at his age. Our houses can joint together just like Lyanna and I might once have done. Besides, if you come to South with me and become the Hand of the King, I will double… no, triple the amount of food sent to the north for five years."
Eddard was surprised at these offers as both of them were something that could benefit his house greatly. After the famine, the North's food stocks were depleted and long summer meant long winter so he needed to fill them quickly lest he found himself in another famine. And the offer for Sansa would be great for North when the winter came so he said, "Nothing would give me more pleasure, Your Grace but may I have some time to consider and talk with my wife…"
"Yes, yes, of course… go and tell Catelyn but I will be expecting an answer by the morning. I am not the most patient man."