Eddard

           Thevisitorspouredthroughthecastlegatesinariverofgoldandsilverandpolishedsteel,threehundredstrong,aprideofbannermenandknights,ofswornswordsandfreeriders.Overtheirheadsadozengoldenbannerswhippedbackandforthinthenorthernwind,emblazonedwiththecrownedstagofBaratheon.

           Nedknewmanyoftheriders.TherecameSerJaimeLannisterwithhairasbrightasbeatengold,andthereSandorCleganewithhisterribleburnedface.Thetallboybesidehimcouldonlybethecrownprince,andthatstuntedlittlemanbehindthemwassurelytheImp,TyrionLannister.

           Yetthehugemanattheheadofthecolumn,flankedbytwoknightsinthesnow-whitecloaksoftheKingsguard,seemedalmostastrangertoNed...untilhevaultedoffthebackofhiswarhorsewithafamiliarroar,andcrushedhiminabone-crunchinghug."Ned!Ah,butitisgoodtoseethatfrozenfaceofyours."Thekinglookedhimovertoptobottom,andlaughed."Youhavenotchangedatall."

           WouldthatNedhadbeenabletosaythesame.Fifteenyearspast,whentheyhadriddenforthtowinathrone,theLordofStorm’sEndhadbeenclean-shaven,clear-eyed,andmuscledlikeamaiden’sfantasy.Sixandahalffeettall,hetoweredoverlessermen,andwhenhedonnedhisarmorandthegreatantleredhelmetofhisHouse,hebecameaveritablegiant.He’dhadagiant’sstrengthtoo,hisweaponofchoiceaspikedironwarhammerthatNedcouldscarcelylift.Inthosedays,thesmellofleatherandbloodhadclungtohimlikeperfume.