Fosterage I

A/N This is Robert telling about his fosterage in the form of a flashback.

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- 276 AC -

(Robert POV)

3 years have passed since we came back from the Anniversary Tourney in Kings Landing. And it was not very nice, to be honest. Father decided to 'punish' me and sent me away to be fostered. Me being 10-name days old was considered 'old' for fostering. Be that as it may, I was sent to be fostered by Lord Jon Arryn at the Eyrie. I was unhappy with the decision but understood his reasoning. 

It was meant to be this way and since I am not only a noble of House Baratheon, I was also the Heir of the Stormlands. I gave Stannis some instructions on continuing with our 'Projects' since he wasn't sent off to be fostered. It seems Father understood what would happen with our Project, should Stannis also have to leave. I thought that was very thoughtful of him.

But it was the logical choice to make for my father. I had spent a lot of time explaining our plans to him while we sailed back to Storm's End. So he understood the importance of everything and since he decided this way, he must see the merit in having us continue with our plans. The Guilds took the most work, that much was obvious to Stannis and me. So when my father told me I would be sent to the Eyrie for fostering, I talked with Stannis to talk about what he should do in my absence. We decided to communicate through ravens using our 'secret' code and language, I had been teaching Stannis. In my past life, I had been a history enthusiast and learned Persian just for the fun of it. It started out as a hobby but later turned into a serious ambition. 

The reason, why I chose to use an Arabic language, was because it was so different to any language used in this world. Imagine seeing Arabic for the first time. It would take quite a genius to find out that you read it from right to left and not the other way around. Stannis hated learning another language, but after I explained it to him, he agreed to do that. Thankfully. I taught him a few code words that we could use in our messages, to make it easier. 

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A few weeks later, Jon Arryn came with a group of Vale knights and his young ward, Eddard Stark to Storm's End. It was a big occasion when they arrived, while I was just trying to find out what sort of man Jon Arryn was to plan out my stay in the Eyrie. 

The custom of fosterage is common among the nobility of Westeros. It is seen as a way of establishing friendships and alliances. Additionally, fosterage is seen as a means of education. For example, boys can be fostered out as squires, training for knighthood. Most commonly the fostered child is male, although it is not unheard of for females to be fostered. The fostered child can be trueborn or bastard born. 

According to Father, a child whom a lord or lady fosters can make visits home during the years of his fosterage, although these visits would be minimal while the child is still young. After reaching the age of majority, the fostered child is free to come and go as he or she likes. Meaning, I was to stay in the Eyrie basically for three years without being able to come home. The reason for this was my age. I was considered two years too late. So no visits home for me. 

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(Flashback)

- 272 AC -

The knights had arrived and Father was holding a feast for our guests. Since Stannis and I took over the betterment of Storm's End, House Baratheon's coffers were filling up nicely, so the food was rich and diverse. I sat at the table next to my brother and young Eddard Stark. I wanted to get a feel of my 'foster brother' and wanted to find out what character he had. Spending such a long time away from home, with someone as old as my brother, would either be easy and enjoyable or very hard. 

Eddard has a long face and keeps his brown hair long. His dark grey eyes seemed to reflect his moods as they were speaking volumes of his nervousness and interest as he looks over the rich food on the table. 

"Do you like what you see?" I asked him.

"Aye, there are so many different foods I have never seen," the nine-name-day-old boy nodded his head.

"Don't you get enough food in the Eyrie? Or the North?" Stannis asked, trying to make small talk and break the ice. He does that for me, I could tell. He changed... a little.

"No, we have enough food, just not so many different kinds of food," Eddard Stark said, looking a bit ashamed.

"That's nothing to be ashamed about, you know. We were just lucky in the last months, that's all. Tell me a bit about yourself, Eddard," I asked him.

"About me? Like what?"

"Anything. About the North, your customs, the climate, your family, hopes, dreams... anything."

"Oh, well ...", Eddard started to talk about the North and his family. I could see that he was starting to loosen up and open up to me and Stannis. That was what I wanted primarily, but the extra information was well appreciated. 

While some say the vast north is nearly as large as the rest of the Seven Kingdoms combined, in actuality it is roughly a third of the landmass controlled by the Iron Throne. The region is sparsely populated, with vast wilderness, rising moorlands, high plains, forests, pine-covered hills and snow-capped mountains, speckled with tiny villages and holdfasts.

The cold north is much less fertile than the provinces in southern Westeros. Its harsh climate is deadly in winter and occasionally it will snow even in summer. The north has two major land barriers, the Wall to the north and the Neck to the south. The north is bound on each side by major seas, the Shivering Sea to the east and the Sunset Sea to the west.

[Picture]

Winterfell, the ancestral seat of House Stark, is a large castle at the centre of the north. Nearby is the winter town. The vast Wolfswood, the largest forest of the Seven Kingdoms, extends northwest to the Bay of Ice and Sea Dragon Point. Deepwood Motte, the seat of House Glover, lies in the western wolfswood. House Mormont rules Bear Island in the Bay of Ice. The northern mountains extend from the Wolfswood to the Wall and are inhabited by northern mountain clans.

"I was born in Winterfell, as the second son of Lord Rickard Stark and Lady Lyarra Stark. I have one older brother, Brandon, and two younger siblings, my sister Lyanna and brother Benjen. There is always something going on," Eddard began to tell us more about himself. This was what I wanted in the first place.

"So, three siblings. Tell me about them. It must be exciting to have so many people your age living together," I said.

"Aye, but it can also be tiring at times. My brother Brandon is tall and strong for his age, but he is also wilder than me and a bit hot-blooded. Father says it's 'the wolf blood' we have in our family. Brandon shares this trait with my sister Lyanna. She has a touch of wildness that gives my father headaches," Eddard said, smiling unknowingly.

"You hold your family in high regard. That's good. We also value our family that way," I said, smiling. I could tell that I would get along well with Eddard.

.

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(Jon Arryn POV)

"This is an impressive assortment of food you have prepared for us, Lord Baratheon. I am thankful that you honour us with it," I told our host. I had been thinking a lot about this first meeting, and so far, it had been going better than I expected. Steffon Baratheon was as the rumours said: tall, a bit rough around the edges, but a good man at heart. I enjoyed his company, unlike other lords and ladies.

"Think nothing of it. The fact that you are willing to foster Robert, even though he is two years too late for it, more than makes up for it. We were worried you wouldn't accept our proposal," he replied. I could tell he was used to speaking in this manner, even though he was a Baratheon, known for their straightforwardness.

"I was surprised to hear about your request and was eager to get to know Robert personally. Now that I have seen him, I can say that I am pleasantly surprised. From what I can tell, he is a bright and well-mannered young man."

"Hahaha, you honour me, but we can speak truthfully to one another. Robert is indeed intelligent, but he is also far too honest for his own good. He has learned to hold his opinion to himself mostly, but he still needs a lot of education in many fields. I am sure you will do a marvellous job," Lord Baratheon said cryptically. His words seemed mysterious to me, but I could tell he wouldn't say more.

"May I know the reason why you didn't send Robert to be fostered sooner?" I asked him.

"Well, Robert was always a bit special, so finding the best place for him to be fostered was not easy. I was going to give it up, but something made me reconsider."

"And what made you ask me if you don't mind my asking?"

"I heard that you were fostering the young Eddard Stark. That, combined with your honourable reputation, made me think you were the best choice for Robert."

He isn't telling me everything, I can tell. But it doesn't matter. I will see what I can do with Robert and whether he can still be taught.

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"Goodbye, Mother, Father. I'll write as often as I can," Robert said as we were about to leave. I observed their interactions. Robert seemed to love his family dearly, and there was a reluctance I felt from him about leaving. It might have been an annoyance as well, but I'm not sure. Robert is not as easy for me to read as I expected of a boy of ten name days.

"Make sure you do, or I'll have to send Stannis away for fostering as well," Lord Steffon said. I didn't understand what he meant.

"Stannis, make sure to learn about the words I gave you and then burn them after you're done. I trust you in this. You'll make the right decisions, I'm sure."

"If there's something I'm unsure about, I'll write," Stannis Baratheon said. The second son of House Baratheon had a stone mask for a face. I hadn't seen him change his expression much, but he seemed to be the most relaxed around Robert.

"Take care of yourself, Robert. And make sure to write," Cassana Baratheon said as she hugged her son. She whispered something into his ear that made him laugh.

Finally, we set off towards the Vale and the Eyrie.

As we rode back to the Eyrie, I took the time to talk with Robert more. I wanted to know more about him. As the future Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, he would hold a powerful position, and fostering him would give me the chance to bring our houses closer together.

"So, Robert, your father told me about the plans you have for Storm's End and the town surrounding it. Can you tell me more about them?", I ask. 

I noticed the changes done in the town of Storm's End as we rode through it. When asked, Lord Baratheon told me about the plans and projects of Robert and Stannis. The improvements were already noticeable, but if his words were to be believed, there would be major changes in the coming years. Lord Baratheon had hinted at Robert's intelligence, but if this was truly his idea, then I might have to reevaluate the lad.

"Sure. I was strolling through the town with Jorry when..."

I listened to his tale for a long time. He is truly much more mature than any other lad his age. From what I heard, he was purposefully keeping things vague in order to not have me take his ideas for myself. If he grows into a man I can respect, which I will work towards, I will also try to have him involved in improving the Eyrie. What better way to bring our houses closer together than to start a business with your foster son?

I can see good things in the future.