Finally 13

- 273 AC - 

(3rd Person POV)

After their initial walk, Cersei went to visit Robert a few more times. She was not allowed much freedom, since Tywin had a firm grasp of both her and Jamie's lives. But since Robert was the saviour of Joanna, he gave her a bit of leeway. But the tourney eventually ended and Robert had to leave with his group. It was clear that some kind of bond, whatever it may be, had been formed between the two. However, Robert still saw Cersei as a 7 name day old girl. A clever and rather mature 7 name day old girl, but 7 name days nonetheless. So he wasn't interested ... at all. 

When Jon Arryn's group finally left and went back to the Eyrie, life returned to normalcy, somewhat in Casterly Rock. But the arrival of Robert and his actions had left permanent marks, of which the results would be seen in the future. The future of House Lannister was unclear. 

The education of both Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon continued under the guidance of Jon Arryn and he taught them everything he could during that time. After returning from Casterly Rock, Jon thought it best to increase the load of physical training and fighting with different weapons. He saw that Robert was getting very bored in the Eyrie and decided a change of pace would be for the best. But Robert's skill and talent for the art of fighting left him clueless about why he ever agreed to foster the boy. 

So Jon decided to allow Robert more freedom to pursue his interests and guide him when Robert himself asked for it. Due to this, Robert started to take Ned with him on his 'excursions' through the town and 'was a bad influence' on the young Stark, much to the distress of Jon. He was slowly going insane, Robert saw to that. 

Robert continued to take care of the smallfolk and their health and started to make some real friends there. He had a good eye for talent and using his other talents, he managed to procure some loyal subjects while he was in the Vale of Arryn. But no one knew about it. There is little more thankful than a man or a woman whose life you saved. Robert was not actively looking for it, but he never turned someone down who swore their lives to Robert's cause...

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~2 years later

- 275 AC - 

- The Eyrie, Vale -

A three and ten name days Robert Baratheon was standing next to his horse and was embracing his foster brother, Ned Stark. The two had grown even closer during this time together. Robert had turned 13 a few moons ago and it was now finally time for him to return to Storm's End after over 3 years of fosterage. The ridiculous punishment turned into a godsent opportunity for Robert. He pulled a reverse-uno card on the situation and profited from it. But it was now time to return. He had just gotten a coded letter from Stannis a few days ago. Delivered by Stannis' goshawk, Proudwing. 

| اون موقعي که بهم گفتي رسيده انجمن ها الان آماده هستن اندازه آنها باید کنترل شود و شما می دانید چگونه. سه سال گذشته ، برگرد من از کار کردن تنها اينجا خسته و خسته شدم |

(The time you told me about has come. The Guilds are ready now. Their size has to be controlled and you know how. It's been over three years, come back. I am sick and tired of working alone here, for f*cks sake.)

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Seeing the contents of the letter, Robert knew he had to return. His work in the Eyrie was finished momentarily anyway, so there was no reason not to return. If Stannis' letter is true, then he needed to return, since the Guilds was their most ambitious project and would yield the biggest rewards, IF it was done correctly. Otherwise, it was the biggest threat to their rule. 

"Take care here without me Ned. After I return, I'll come visit you in Winterfell.", Robert says to Ned. 

"Or we could go there together. Lyanna has already asked to come visit, so she could see you and Brandon is also curious who this 'mysterious' healer I apparently live with and the 7 Kingdoms are talking about. I'll be of age in a few moons.", Ned replies. 

"Ah, that's right. I do desperately want to meet your family. Very well, I will return in a few moon's time and then we'll go to the North together."

"Aye, that's good. Take care Robert and don't do anything stupid ... or nothing even more stupid than you already do."

"Bahahaha, you know me Ned. I can't help it.", Robert says and then turns to Jon. 

"Take care on the road, Robert. The Mountain Clans have started acting up as of late. I fear they might try and kidnap you to have you act as a healer for them.", Jon says. 

"Eh, let them dream. I have this overly large group of Arryn knights you forced me to take with me. Nothing will happen, I'm sure. I'll return anyway and then, I'll help you deal with the problem of the Mountain Clans. It's the least I could do after you endured my presence for over three years."

"Aye, it was hard. But I took up the responsibility to foster you and that won't stop until you are the Lord of Storm's End. Take care, Robert."

"Aye, I will. Farewell, everyone. I'll see you in a few moons.", Robert says and then finally starts riding away.

On his way through the small town, many people said goodbye to Robert and some were even crying. Mostly the prostitutes as Robert used to sing to them and tend to their diseases and injuries. He was a breath of fresh air to everyone and they couldn't help but appreciate his presence. It was not just his charisma, which we know is sky-high, but also his actions that managed to capture the hearts of everyone. 

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Robert rode south towards Storm's End. He was happy to finally go back home. It has been far too long since he saw his family. He was writing to Stannis every week, but it was just not the same. Robert loved his family, as strange as that sounded. The loving mother Cassana, the stern Father Steffon, who desperately tried to stay stern in the face of Robert's chaos and the stone-faced Stannis who was a tsundere. Robert also longed to see the changes done to Storm's End. He had read in the notes from Stannis that it was going well. And if Stannis called him back, it was time to finally think bigger. The first stage had been completed. 

The way back was a calm endeavour. The small party of knights made their way through the Vale without being confronted by the Mountain Clans. Robert would sooner or later have to help take care of them. They might not like the Andals, but they couldn't just pillage and act like the Ironborn. 

Robert already had plans in motion in the Vale and the seeds of his labour just needed to bear fruit. He would keep a close eye on the situation and then judge how to proceed from there. After reaching the age of majority, the fostered child is free to come and go as he or she likes, so Robert could go back to the Eyrie and the Vale as a whole whenever he needed to and no one would find that strange. 

They passed the Bloody Gate and took the High Road until they reached Crossroads Inn. The Inn at the Crossroads or Crossroads Inn is an inn that lies at the crossroads between the kingsroad running north-south, the river road west through the Riverlands to the Westerlands, and the high road east to the Vale of Arryn.

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The inn has existed at this spot for hundreds of years. The current inn was raised during the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, who built the kingsroad. He and Queen Alysanne Targaryen stayed there, and the inn was named the Two Crowns in their honour.

They stayed there for the night and left the next day. 

The group didn't stop when they reached Darry and simply passed it. They were on the Kingsroad now, so they were bound to meet more people that way. It was the perfect chance for Robert to catch up on some gossip and find out about the state of the realm. He had long understood that King Aerys II Targaryen was not the smartest and most sane king ever. He saw it in his eyes when they were in Kings Landing for the tourney. The King had a potential for madness, should something ever happen to wake it. 

The winter, which started in 272 AC had just ended last year, allowing some respite in the harsher times. A good chance to start the plans he made with Stannis. 

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Unlike what they were told by Jon Arryn, Robert wanted to travel East towards Rook's Rest, which was the seat of House Staunton in the crownlands. It is located on the northern shore of Blackwater Bay, west of Crackclaw Point. 

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The reason for this was that Robert didn't want to waste more time than necessary. He knew that taking a boat in Rook's Rest was the fastest way to get to Strom's End. If they travelled to Kings Landing, just for show, it wouldn't help them in any way. It would only take more time, for them to sail around Massey's Hook if they did that. 

The knights weren't happy about the change of plans, but Robert was Robert ... he didn't change his plans because of the feelings of some knights. 

Buying a boat in Rook's Rest was harder than it should have been. At least at the start. After Robert showed his pouch of money, everything suddenly worked, like magic. The group managed to procure a small vessel, just big enough for everyone and their horses and then sailed away. 

They passed through the Gullet and South on the Narrow Sea. They passed the island of Tarth into the Straits of Tarth and finally reached Storm's End after too many days of sailing. Robert was a good sailor. He loved the sea for some reason. But as a Stormlander and a Baratheon at that, it wasn't that surprising. He was used to storms. 

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Robert stood on the docs of Storm's End and looked around. He had been gone for three years. That was a long time, for someone so young. He saw every minuscule change thanks to his perfect memory. He had to say, Stannis had not lied when he told him about the small changes to the docs. It was now ready for some expansion. The harsh weather in Shipbreaker Bay made building quite annoying, but Robert and Stannis had created some drafts with ideas on how to do it. And it would seem that there was potential. 

He walked along the docks and then towards the castle. He looked at all the changes around him and was impressed. It looked much better than it did when he left. The big village had turned into a town and it was much cleaner than it was before Robert started his projects. The people looked content and there was a lot of activity, compared to before. 

Quite a few new houses which looked much better than the ones before, had appeared. 

But what made Robert happy the most, was when he saw his family waiting for him at the entrance of the castle. His parents were smiling happily and Stannis also looked like there was some emotion underneath the mask. Robert approached them and his Mother was the first one to embrace him tightly. 

"Oh, my boy has grown so much. Three years and you finally return home to us. We missed you dearly.", Cassana says to Robert. 

"I missed you too Mother, Father and Stannis."

"Good to have you back, Robert. I hear you were just as much a headache to Lord Arryn as you were to me. If not more, hahaha.", Steffon says and pats Robert's shoulder. 

Robert then turns to Stannis and smiles. He embraces him as well, simply because Stannis doesn't like it very much and after three years of not doing it, he has a lot of annoying to do. It is his duty as the elder brother, after all. 

"You worked hard, Stannis. I saw some of the things you did, and I'm impressed. Very good work, brother."

"Thank you. It was hard after you dumbed everything on me.", Stannis remarks. 

"Don't blame me, blame Father for that. He was the one who thought it was smart to send me away for fostering ... two years too late."

"The world wasn't ready for you and I guess it is even less ready for you now.", Steffon says with a sigh. He knew that the headaches would return, now that Robert was back.