By Amal Prashanth Charles
- Eddard Stark to Robert Baratheon
After many years of continued warfare the Children and the First Men decided to sign a pact. This peace treaty ensured that the continued fighting would stop and the Children and the First Men will peacefully co-exist as long as the First Men stop harming any more weirwood trees. This pact signalled the start of an era of peace and prosperity that lasted for nearly 4000 years known as the Age of Heroes. It is during this Era that most of the northern houses of Westeros were founded. The Children and the First Men grew very close and eventually most of the First Men took up the religion of the Children as their own. House Stark was also founded during this Age of Heroes by Brandon the Builder, and this is the reason they even now worship the weirwood trees just like their ancestors and the Children. A lot more events take place during the Age of Heroes such as the Long Night and the Invasion of the Others (White Walkers), but more on that later.
The Boltons of the Dreadfort were bitter rivals to the Starks and have at many occasions flayed Stark lords and displayed their bodies at the Dreadfort. But they could never over power the Starks and so they swore fealty to the Starks promising to end the flaying. But it is believed that they actually never stopped their torturous methods and continue on in secret. The Starks continued to grow in strength through conquest as well as through alliances through marriage. Lord Rickard Stark (Ned’s Father) sought to further alliances with the Tullys of Riverrun by betrothing his son and heir, Brandon Stark to Catelyn Tully. Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) who was in love with Catelyn challenged Brandon to a duel for her hand in marriage. Brandon defeated Petyr and only spared his life because Catelyn intervened and pleaded.
Following the deaths of Rickard and Brandon Stark, Eddard Stark (Ned) honoured his brother’s betrothal to Catelyn and married her in order to gain the support of House Tully for the rebel’s cause. He was infuriated when he found out that Robert had accepted the aid of House Lannister and had agreed to the murders of Rhaegar’s Children and wife. Though this anger didn’t last long, as they both mourned the death of Lyanna and were reconciled in their shared grief. Ned though still didn’t join the small council as he didn’t agree with Robert’s marriage with Cersei Lannister and he also thought that Jaime Lannister shouldn’t be allowed to continue on as a Kingsguard as he was the one who killed the Mad King. He returned to Winterfell and was presented with his First born son Robb Stark. Ned Stark was the warden of the North and ruled the northern lands in King Robert’s place. He took Theon Greyjoy as his ward after he crushed Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion and he further had more children of his own, whom we are familiar with from the TV show.