Eddard II

For months, Eddard Stark rode beside his king, his friend. They scoured the Kingsroad and the Barrowlands before turning north to root the wildlings out of the Wolfswood. They swept the shores of Long Lake and the Lonely Hills before turning north to the Gift itself.

"There's...just nothing," Bran said at his side. The boy, terribly jealous of his brothers' exploits in the war, had begged Ned to go. The mighty direwolf Charger was an asset without compare, so Ned agreed, as long as his son was kept well back from any actual fighting. It was a good experience for a boy to serve as a squire. The time in the field, caring for Eddard's horse and armor, seemed to mature his son by years.

They're growing up, all of them.

"Aye," Eddard agreed. "The wildlings were merciless after they made it through the wall. These lands were never populous at the best of times, Bran, but now they are truly desolate. To tell it true, I have no notion how we might restore the Watch."

The loss of Jeor Mormont would be keenly felt, along with all the best rangers. His own brother Benjen, Eddard feared, was numbered among the slain. Mance Rayder had left none alive when he smashed through Castle Black.

The weather held for the nonce, thank the gods. After the heavy rains and sleets at autumn's outset, they'd had good, clear sun for most of this campaign. If they were very fortunate, all would be resolved ere true winter came at last. Such wildlings as escaped the noose would starve or freeze, with not the strength to attack his people in their holdfasts. It gratified Ned's heart that Robert and his valiant son accompanied them in setting the North to rights.

"Ah, I had missed real fights," Robert said upon riding up to him. "Yet these wild folk are not what I'd call real fighters, starving poachers, more like."

"Most of their warriors fell in the Weeping Water, Your Grace," Ned pointed out from atop his own horse. Since passing the hills, they could spread out and ride swiftly upon the Gift's even plains. It was a fine, open country, though frigid and lonely now. It was the North, as north as the North got.

"Would that I were there with you, my friend. I should like to have slain a giant!" There was merriment in the king's deep blue eyes. You know, Eddard didn't doubt Robert's hammer would do for a giant.

"Would that you were." Ned smiled placidly and ruffled Bran's hair. It was terribly dirty after a long campaign, but what of it? "Our boys get along well," he said after a short silence.

"Aye. Joff has nothing but good things to say about your people, and he's not an easy one to impress, I tell you. When he looked upon King's Landing outside his bedchamber window, he thought it terribly lacking, made it the mission of his life to fix the pigsty. Well, he might manage it in the end. The boy left detailed instructions for the imp. Who knows how it looks now?"

Joffrey's friendship with Tyrion Lannister was the only thing he misliked about the boy. Elsewise, there was much to praise. He fought like a demon with that black axe of his, small wonder, considering his sire. He was friendly with Robb, polite to Jon, and courtly and kind to Sansa.

My Sansa, a queen.

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What father had the strength to deny his daughter her heart's desire? She was young yet, but could Ned imagine a better match? Not likely. Robb was growing into a man before his eyes, might be his son was ready to hold Winterfell for him.

"Have you any thoughts behind that frozen face of yours, Stark?" the king demanded. "It seems you're far away."

"Just thinking, Robert," he answered. "Castle Black will have to be repaired and manned. I worry over the realm."

"Then let's ride on! I should like to see the Wall. Once we know how things stand, we can decide what to do together."

"Together." Ned nodded. Then a new worry sprang up in his heart. "But won't the realm miss you, Your Grace? Who governs?"

"Stannis is castellan of the Red Keep, and acting Hand, at Joffrey's suggestion. A hard man, Stannis. Important court business is postponed until my return. The realm will keep, Ned. You needn't fear. We sent a raven, telling them of the wildling onslaught. They know this isn't something a king can ignore."

Eddard sighed in relief. The boy had thought of everything, it seemed. He would consider his course for a while longer.

***

When they made it to the ruins of Castle Black, Bran had a queer expression upon his face. Fey, and remote he looked.

"I'm here," he said. The wolf beside him behaved just as strangely, sniffing and pawing at the base of the wall, almost as if searching for a way to dig under it.

Bran had been having nightmares. Though the boy denied it, they shared a tent. It was plain that something tormented him in his sleep. Bran had seen much on this campaign, much death, much cruelty. Ned considered whether he'd made the right decision after all. Even if he hadn't fought himself, Bran had witnessed quite a lot of death these past moons. The closer they approached the shattered outbuildings which had once been the heart of the Watch, the worse his son became, hardly speaking, save to himself. Even Robert seemed to notice something was wrong. Bran was quiet now, withdrawn and suffering in silence.

They spent some time clearing away debris and taking stock. Joffrey had a plan for securing the tunnels. After hearing Robert's bragging about the boy's virtues as a builder, Eddard agreed to leave charge of it to the prince.

It was the tunnels where the main blow fell. Most who marched with Mance Rayder passed under the wall, rather than over it. If they remained in their present state, there would be no stopping future raids. Securing the gates took many men working together, but they managed it at the boy's instruction. Eddard supposed he should've brought smiths and carpenters with him on campaign. Well, a temporary solution would suffice for now.

Two weeks they spent at Castle Black getting it ready to be reoccupied. He would have to leave some of his men behind on a temporary basis until the Watch could restore their strength, but bless him if he knew how.

Once they had done all that could be done and made ready to depart for Winterfell, Bran and Charger disappeared beyond the wall. Eddard and Robert both sent riders after him, searching desperately, but to no avail. All the other wolves absolutely refused to cross into the land beyond. It was maddening. What would he tell Cat?