Chapter 4

The journey proved challenging but rewarding. They faced dangers of wildings as expected along the way. Still, with all his experience in dealing in wilding raids in recent years with his friends Ser Garlan and Ser Raymun by his side, Eldric was able to arrive at Winterfell without too much trouble.

The gates of Winterfell loomed before them, massive and imposing, but Eldric felt ready to face whatever lay beyond them. He rode up to the gate, his bannermen flanking him, and called out to the guards.

"Hail, men of Winterfell!" he shouted, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. "I am Ser Eldric Everwinter, here to welcome King Robert as one of House Stark's loyal bannermen!"

The guards eyed him warily, their hands on their weapons. Eldric knew that they were not fond of outsiders, especially those from House Everwinter in recent years.

The guards exchanged a few words before one of them nodded and motioned for them to enter. Eldric felt a sense of relief wash over him as they rode through the gates and made their way into the courtyard.

The sight of the ancient castle, with its towering walls and imposing gates, filled Eldric with a sense of awe and reverence. He knew that this was where the great lords of the North had gathered for centuries to make decisions that would shape the fate of the realm. The castle only seemed even more expansive once he entered the courtyard, seeming to stretch on for miles, with countless towers and battlements rising high into the sky.

At the entrance to the great hall, they were met by a group of heavily armed guards, their faces stern and unyielding. Eldric recognised the sigil of House Stark on their armor and knew that he was about to meet with the Lord of Winterfell himself.

The doors to the great hall creaked open, revealing a massive room filled with nobles and soldiers of all kinds. He recognised the banners of various prominent bannermen, such as Houses Dustin, Flint, Glover, Hornwood and Manderly being present. Representatives of other houses were likely still on their way.

At the head of the room sat Lord Eddard Stark, flanked by his wife and children. He was a tall man with a serious demeanour, his face lined with the weight of his responsibilities. Eldric knew that Lord Stark was a man of honour, respected throughout the Seven Kingdoms for his fairness.

He was determined to show Lord Eddard that House Everwinter was a loyal and steadfast ally, worthy of his trust and respect. He must show that he was not his father's son, but a loyal vassal of the North.

He bowed deeply, his eyes fixed on the lord's face.

"My lord," he said, his voice respectful. "I am Eldric Everwinter, here to pledge our house's loyalty to House Stark and to join you in welcoming King Robert to the North."

Lord Eddard regarded him with a steely gaze, his eyes softening upon recognition. "Eldric," he said, his voice firm but warm. "You have grown much since I last saw you as a babe in your father's arms."

Eldric was surprised by the tone of Lord Eddard's words. He expected the Lord of Winterfell to despise him for being the son of the only Northern lord who followed Rhaegar.

Meanwhile, the Lady of Winterfell acted much more as Eldric had anticipated, her face unable to hide her scowl at the sight of House Everwinter's silver snowflake sigil on banners gracing the Winterfell halls.

Eldric straightened up, his face calm and composed before turning to bow to Lady Catelyn Stark, "My lady."

Lady Catelyn Stark's icy gaze met Eldric's for a moment before she looked away, her attention focused on her lord husband. Eldric felt a pang of disappointment, but he knew that winning her over would take time and effort.

"Your father was a brave man," Lord Stark said, his voice reverent. "He fought for what he believed was right, even when it meant going against his fellow lords. I have no doubt that he would be proud of you, Eldric."

Eldric felt a lump form in his throat at Lord Stark's words. He had always felt like he had to prove himself, to make up for his father's mistakes. But hearing that his father was still respected and remembered for his bravery gave him a sense of hope and purpose.

"I will do everything in my power to uphold the history of House Everwinter as a vassal of the North and to serve House Stark with all my heart and strength," Eldric said, his voice determined.

Lord Stark nodded, his eyes now fixed upon Eldric's bannermen, who also paid their respects to the Lord Paramount of the North. A servant came over and offered Eldric's party salt and bread and led them to the side as more lords and knights began to enter.

As the meeting of the Lords continued, Eldric found himself studying the faces of Lord Stark's five children. They were all so different from one another. The eldest, Robb, had the same sense of duty and responsibility that Eldric had always felt towards House Everwinter. He saw a bit of himself in the young wolf with fiery red hair. Theon Greyjoy, their ward who was raised as a hostage by the Starks, seemed to be struggling with his place in the world. Eldric could tell he had a lot of anger and resentment pent up within him even though he was putting on a wry smile. Sansa was the epitome of a lady, with her delicate features and carefully coifed hair. He noticed Lady Sansa Stark looking his way a few times curiously.

Arya, on the other hand, seemed to be wild and free-spirited, with her hair pulled back in a messy braid and dirt smudged on her face. Eldric could see a glimmer of his own sister's adventurous spirit in her eyes. Arya caught his gaze and narrowed her eyes in suspicion before turning away. Eldric could not help but smile at her spunk. And then there was Bran and Rickon, the two youngest boys, their eyes wandering around, fascinated by the diverse group of people in front of them.

Lastly, in the far corner stood Jon, the bastard of Winterfell. Eldric could not help but notice the way Jon stood apart from the others, even though he was standing right next to them. There was something about the way he held himself, something in the set of his shoulders that spoke of a life of hardship and adversity. Eldric could tell that the other lords and ladies of Winterfell looked down upon him for his bastard status, but Eldric felt a sense of kinship with the young man. He knew what it was like to be judged and looked down upon for something that was not his fault. But he could also see the strength and determination in Jon's eyes, a fierce loyalty to his family and his home that Eldric admired.

As the meeting drew to a close, Lord Stark stood and addressed the gathered lords and knights. "My servants shall lead you to your rooms. We shall prepare for the King's impending arrival in the next few days."

Eldric followed the other lords and knights as they were led to their respective chambers. As he walked, he could not shake the sense of unease that lingered within him. He knew that this would be a critical moment for House Everwinter, a chance to prove their loyalty to the North and to show that they were worthy of King Robert's trust and favour. But he also knew that there were those who would try to sabotage their efforts, who would seek to use House Everwinter as a pawn in their own schemes and power plays.

He needed to be vigilant, to keep his guard up at all times. He could not afford to let his guard down, not even for a moment. The stakes were simply too high.

As he settled into his room, he could not help but think about Lady Sansa Stark, the way she had looked at him during the meeting. He wondered what she was thinking, what her true intentions were. Was she genuinely curious about him, or was she trying to gauge his loyalty to her family? He could not be certain.