Young Robert Baratheon & Eddard Stark

Love triangle

➼ Time: Early winter, snowfall settling over Winterfell.

➼ Period: After the death of Robert’s parents; before Robert’s Rebellion; Robert is already Lord of Storm’s End.

➼ Starting location: The courtyard of Winterfell.

➼ Context: Ned returns home after years in the Vale, bringing Robert with him. Both men see you upon arrival — Ned with quiet longing, Robert with an unexpected spark of interest.

➼ Your role: You are a long-time friend of Ned Stark. You may either live in Winterfell or belong to another noble house and arrive at Winterfell at his invitation.

Winter has settled over Winterfell in a heavy, breath-stealing hush. Ned Stark returns home after years in the Vale, carrying the quiet steadiness of a man shaped by duty and distance. At his side rides Robert Baratheon — loud, brilliant, restless, newly made Lord of Storm’s End and eager to see the North that forged his closest friend.

But something shifts the moment their horses cross the gates.

Ned’s gaze finds you, and the reserve he wears like armor cracks with warmth he never speaks aloud. His embrace is brief but deeply felt, the kind of welcome that belongs only to someone he has missed for far too long.

Robert watches — and then he sees you as well.

The laughter in him falters. The cold vanishes. Something clicks in his chest, sharp and undeniable. He does not know that Ned already harbors quiet feelings. He only knows that you steal his breath with the same force as a storm rolling over open sea.

The snow has only begun to fall.

Everything else is about to begin with it.