Warden of the North

From Asoiaf

The Warden of the North guards the north of the Seven Kingdoms. The position is traditionally held by the Lord of Winterfell. The current Warden is Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell.

262 AL Brandon of House Stark, first child of Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, was born.

Eddard Stark, second child of Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell was born.

267 AL Lord Rickard's third child and first daughter Lyanna, was born.

Lyanna was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End

Hoster Tully promised his twelve year old daughter Catelyn to Brandon Stark

Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell was summoned south by King Aerys II.

Brandon Stark was strangled on the order of Aerys II Targaryen, King of the Seven Kingdoms a few days before his wedding to Catelyn Tully. His father Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell was forced to watch.

Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell was succeeded by his second son, Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell.

281 AL Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, in his brother Brandon's stead, and Jon Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie married Catelyn and Lysa daughters of Lord Hoster Tully at Riverrun.

282 AL Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell rode forth to win the throne.

Eddard's first son Robb Stark was born.

283 AL

Eddard and Catelyn spent the first year of their marriage apart with Eddard off at war in the south while Catelyn remained in Riverrun with their infant son Robb. During that year Eddard fathered a bastard son, Jon Snow.

During the Battle of the Trident Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End fought Prince Rhaegar Targaryen at the ford. In the end Robert's warhammer smashed the chest of Prince Rhaegar. When Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell came to the scene men from both sides were scrabbling for rubies knocked of Rhaegar's armor.

Eddard took part in the Sack of King's Landing together with Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock. Prince Aegon Targaryen was ripped from the breats of his mother Princess Elia and killed before her eyes. Ser Jaime Lannister killed Aerys II Targaryen, King of the Seven Kingdoms in the throne room. Aerys' pregnant queen Rhaella and their son Viserys III Targaryen fled to Dragonstone.

Ser Athur Dayne, the Sword of Morning, was the deadliest in King Aerys' Kingsguard. Eddard Stark killed him in single combat and brought Ser Arthur's sword back to his sister Ashara Dayne, who was waiting in the castle Starfall on the shores of the Summer Sea.

Lyanna died of fever in the mountains of Dorne, Eddard holding her hand. He promised to bury her at Winterfell. He held her hand until others found him. Howland Reed removed his hand.

Lyanna was buried in the crypt of Winterfell besides Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Brandon Stark.

Eddard Stark brought his bastard son back home with him. When Catelyn rode to Winterfell, Jon and his wet nurse had already taken up residence. Eddard would not speak about the mother. Rumours in the castle said she was Lady Ashara Dayne. When Catelyn confronted Eddard about these rumours he told her never to ask about Jon again and put an end to the whispers about Ashara Dayne. Nothing Catelyn said could persuade Eddard to send Jon Snow away.

Eddard built a sept for Lady Catelyn at Winterfell.

Eddard joined forces with Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms to defeat Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands during Greyjoy's Rebellion.

289 AL At night in the castle of Pyke Balon Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands surrendered to Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms. Balon's son Theon Greyjoy became the hostage and ward of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell.

290 AL Eddard's second son Brandon was born.

294 AL Eddard's third trueborn son Rickon was born.

Eddard executed three deserters of the Night's Watch.

Gared, a deserter from the Night's Watch, was captured outside a small holdfast near Winterfell. Lord Eddard rode out with Robb Stark, Brandon Stark, Jon Snow, Theon Greyjoy, Jory Cassel, Hullen and Harwin and 12 others to see justice done. Eddard condemned Gared to death and beheaded him with Ice. Jon and Robb raced to the bridge on the way back. There they found a dead direwolf, killed by a broken antler, and her five pups. Eddard allowed each of his trueborn chidren to keep a pup each. As they were leaving Jon discovered a sixth pup, an albino, which he keept as his own.

Returning home Eddard went to the goodswood to cleanse himself and his sword. Catelyn came to see him with news of Jon Arryn's death and that King Robert was coming to Winterfell with the royal family.

Eddard Stark sent his captain of guards, Jory Cassel, south with an honorguard to meet the king. He also sent an invitation to his brother Benjen Stark of the Night's Watch.

Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms arrived at Winterfell. Among the three hundred travelling with him were Queen Cersei, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, Prince Tommen Baratheon, Ser Jaime Lannister, two other knights of the Kingsguard, Tyrion Lannister and Sandor Clegane. They were met at the gates by Lord Eddard, Lady Catelyn and their children, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Brandon and Rickon. On Robert's request he and Eddard left the others and went down to the crypt. They visited the graves of Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Brandon Stark and Lyanna Stark. They talked of the recent death of Jon Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie. Eddard offered to take Robert Arryn, Lord of the Eyrie as his ward. King Robert refused as Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock had already accepted, but was refused by Lady Lysa. King Robert admitted he will not appoint Robert Arryn as Warden of the East as long as he is just a child. Robert offered Eddard the office of Hand of the King and to betroth Sansa to Joffrey. Eddard asked for time to consider.

A feast was held in the Great Hall of Winterfell. Jon Snow was seated among the younger squires, Lady Stark thinking it would insult the royal family to seat a bastard among them. The royal family entered the hall in procession not a foot from the place Jon Snow had been given. Lord Stark entered first escorting the queen followed by King Robert and Lady Stark. Then came the children, Rickon, Robb and Myrcella, Arya and Tommen and Sansa and Joffrey. After them came Ser Jaime and Tyrion Lannister. Last came Benjen Stark and Theon Greyjoy. Lord and Lady Stark hosted the king and queen on a raised platform beneath which sat the Stark and royal children. The children were not permitted to bring their wolves. During the feast Lord Stark was in a tense mood while King Robert drank all night.

Ser Rodrik Cassel told Lord Eddard Stark that there were bad feeling between Robb Stark and Prince Joffrey.

After they have had sex in Catelyn's bedchambers, Eddard told her he had decided to refuse King Robert's offer to become the King's Hand. Catelyn disagreed and argueed Eddard had to accept. Someone left the box from Lysa Arryn in Maester Luwin's observatory. The box contained a lens of Myr and beneath a false bottom a message from Lysa inside addressed to Catelyn. Desmond escorted Maester Luwin to see Lord and Lady Stark. Maester Luwin was allowed to enter Catelyn's bedchamber and handed the message from Lysa to her. The message had been hidden beneath a false bottom in a box delivered unseen to Maester Luwin's chambers. The message was written in a secret language Catelyn and Lysa had made when they were little. In the message Lysa says that Jon Arryn was murdered by the queen and the Lannisters. Having read and burning the letter, Catelyn told Eddard that he now must become King Robert's Hand. Maester Luwin agreed. Eddard reluctantly accepted. He decided that Catelyn would have to stay in Winterfell to help Robb rule. Rickon will also stay, buth the other children he will bring south. Catelyn refused to let Jon Snow stay at Winterfell. Maester Luwin told them that Jon aspired to join the Night's Watch. They agree this was the best solution. Eddard would speak to his brother Benjen and later Jon.