6 Chapter 6: Ned Stark

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The Eyrie, the 16th of the third moon, 274 AC. Nearly a year and a half passed since Robert and Edward's talk with Lord Arryn. Robert and Edward passed their twelfth name day. They were twelve now.

Lord Arryn took really good care of his two foster sons. He trained them to the best he could. He supervised Robert's training and even gave him the hunting knife, it was literally the only blade that Robert held in the past two years. he held it dearly near his heart. He gave Edward all the knowledge he had about ruling and made him lead a small army of the soldiers of the vale to clean up some of the mountain tribes' raiders. He gave Edward A precious light sword he specifically ordered for Edward. Edward started training with dual sword arts from his previous life.

Robert and Edward regarded Jon as their second father, well at least Robert did. Edward really respected the man but that wouldn't make him divert from his plans. Jon Arryn's death was the trigger to the war of the five kings. He had an ambition and wouldn't curb this ambition of his for anyone.

While they were training on their own, a ten-year-old boy with black hair and nice features was riding on his horse towards the Eyrie. That boy was Ned stark, the second son of Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. when he reached the gate he was greeted the same way Robert and Edward were treated.

He was first greeted by Lord Arryn and was told to go to his bed to have a bath and to come later for the dinner. But before he went to his room, he was told by the servant that the firstborns of the lord paramount of storms lands were also training there as wards.

Ned decided to greet them before going to his room. He asked the servant and was told that Robert was likely in the training yard but he wasn't sure where Edward was. When he asked for the reason, the servant started talking with enthusiasm about how capable the young Edward and the lot of duties and achievements he had.

Ned was now very interested in meeting the sons of storms lands. When he asked the servant again about the most likely place that Edward would be at the moment, he was told that Edward was either in the training yard or the High Hall with Lord Arryn meeting some guests.

Net nodded his head and started making his way towards the training yard. When he reached there, he saw a huge twelve years or so swinging his hammer left and right and smashing a training doll. He shifted his eyes trying to locate the other one but he was nowhere to be found. He decided to greet the one who was training.

When he came near Robert, Robert noticed him as well.

"Oh, another challenger came to face my hammer." Said Robert with his loud voice.

The servant ran in front of Robert to make introductions.

"This is Eddard Stark, the second son of Lord Stark, my lord. He was sent here to be the ward for Lord Arryn." Introduced the servant.

Robert nodded his head and stretched his hand to greet him.

"Robert Baratheon." Said, Robert.

"Eddard Stark, but you can call me Ned." Said Ned while holding Robert's hand.

"Then, Robert will be fine as well, my friend. Come, let us fill our stomach." Said Robert with a smile.

"Sorry, I still need to take a bath before I join you. I had a long journey." Said Ned.

Robert nodded his head and said that was okay and he would him any way later.

Ned, then, took his way to his room but while he was passing by a corridor. The servant stopped him while pointing to a twelve-year-old boy walking while holding a document and a servant following him. The servant told him that the boy was Edward Baratheon and he was likely assigned by Lord Arryn to solve some problem outside seeing his hurry.

Ned took long strides towards Edward. When he was close, Edward noticed him and he initiated the greeting knowing about the Ned Stark awkwardness.

"Hey, there. You must be Eddard Stark, second son of Lord Rickard Stark. Lord Arryn has just mentioned your arriving" said Edward while examining the honorable Net Stark.

"You can call me Ned and I also heard a lot about you lord Baratheon." Said Ned greeting Edward back.

"Hope good things you heard about me. And you can me Edward as well." Said, Edward.

"Well, Ned. I hope to see you at dinner. I need to finish this task." Said Edward while nodding at Ned.

"No problem at all. Well, see you at dinner." Said Ned.

Seeing Edward passing silhouette, Net turned his head and headed towards his room.

A few hours later, Edward finished his task and returned. They were all now sitting at the dining table around Lord Arryn.

"When your fathers told me that they would send you here as my wards. I waited for the three of you here to start this conversation. Since wards are sent usually for them to learn about different regions' customs and cultures, then let's start with our houses' mottos. Since I am the host let's start with my house motto 'As High As Honor'. So let me hear your views about honor? And Does the vale achieve this honor?" asked Arryn trying to start the conversation.

Robert grumbled. He hated such conversations. All he could think about was fighting and fighting.

Ned thought for a moment before starting to speak again.

"I think the meaning of honor reflects on everything we do in our life from our speech, behavior, good deeds, even when handling war prisoners or even the war itself. Everything in life circles the word honor. And forgive me my Lord but from what I have seen and heard about the vale and its knights, although they speak about honor they are proud and arrogant." Said ned with some hesitation.