Editing House Stark (section)

===Robert's Rebellion===
Lord [[Rickard Stark]], urged on by his [[maester]], [[Walys Flowers|Walys]], allegedly sought to further [[southron]] alliances.{{Ref|ADWD|37}} He sent his second son, [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], to be fostered with Lord [[Jon Arryn]] at the [[Eyrie]] at the age of eight. There, Eddard befriended fellow ward [[Robert I Baratheon|Robert Baratheon]].{{ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|AGOT|6}} Rickard betrothed his heir, [[Brandon Stark|Brandon]], to [[Catelyn Stark|Catelyn Tully]], the daughter of [[Hoster Tully]], [[Lord of Riverrun]],{{ref|AGOT|6}} and his only daughter, [[Lyanna Stark|Lyanna]], to Robert, [[Lord of Storm's End]].{{Ref|AGOT|4}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} Rickard's four children attended the [[tourney at Harrenhal]] in {{Date|281}}, where they met [[Howland Reed]]. After winning the jousting competition at the tourney, Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]] crowned Lyanna as his [[queen of love and beauty]], passing over his own wife, Princess [[Elia Martell]].{{ref|AGOT|58}}

In {{Date|282}}, Brandon Stark was at [[Riverrun]] when the date of his wedding to Catelyn Tully was announced. [[Petyr Baelish]], Lord Hoster's ward, had been in love with Catelyn for years, and challenged Brandon to a duel for Catelyn's hand. Brandon won.{{Ref|AGOT|29}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Petyr Baelish}}{{Ref|AGOT|18}}{{Ref|AGOT|40}} After the duel, Brandon left Riverrun, promising his bride-to-be that he would return soon.{{Ref|AGOT|40}} On his way back to Riverrun, however, Brandon heard about Lyanna's abduction by Prince Rhaegar, and rode for King's Landing, where he was arrested by Aerys II for threatening the life of the crown prince. Rickard, who had been on his way to Riverrun with the wedding party, was summoned to court to answer for Brandon's crime. Brandon and Rickard were executed by Aerys II; Rickard was burned alive, while Brandon strangled himself in his attempt to rescue his father.{{Ref|ACOK|5}}{{Ref|AGOT|53}}{{ref|AWOIAF|Catelyn Tully}} After the executions, King Aerys demanded the heads of Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon from their former foster father, Jon Arryn. The Lord of the Eyrie refused, however, and raised his banners in revolt.{{Ref|AGOT|2}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}} This act is seen as the start of [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: Robert's Rebellion}}

[[File:T Jedruszek EddardStarkCommand.jpg|thumb|350px|Lord [[Eddard Stark]] with [[Ice]], by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games]] 

Eddard made an arduous journey through the [[Mountains of the Moon]] and the [[Bite]] to call his banners in the north.{{Ref|ADWD|9}} The new lord then marched south and won an important victory during the [[Battle of the Bells]], rescuing his friend Robert with the aid of Hoster Tully.{{Ref|ASOS|29}} Next, he went to Riverrun, where he honored his late brother Brandon's betrothal by marrying Catelyn as part of the alliance to bring [[House Tully]] into the rebel fold.{{Ref|ASOS|2}}{{Ref|AGOT|6}}

One of the principal commanders in the war, Eddard took command of the rebel army after the [[Battle of the Trident]], following the remnants of Rhaegar's army to [[King's Landing]].{{ref|AGOT|12}} Ned arrived at the capital after the [[Sack of King's Landing]] by Lord [[Tywin Lannister]], however, and Lord Stark found Aerys II dead and Ser [[Jaime Lannister]] sitting on the [[Iron Throne]].{{Ref|AGOT|12}} He had a falling out with Robert when Robert accepted the aid of [[House Lannister]] and condoned the murders of Rhaegar's [[Elia Martell|wife]], [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|young daughter]], and [[Aegon Targaryen (son of Rhaegar)|infant son]]. Eddard rode south the next day to relieve the [[siege of Storm's End]].{{Ref|AGOT|12}}

After Storm's End, Eddard and six companions went to retrieve Lyanna at the building Rhaegar had named the [[tower of joy]], finding it defended by three knights of the [[Kingsguard]]. Eddard and Howland Reed were the only survivors of the ensuing [[combat at the tower of joy]].{{Ref|AGOT|39}} Eddard found Lyanna dying in a bed of blood, clutching rose petals, dead and black, in her palm.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} She forced him to make a promise to her, the contents of which are unknown, but which have haunted Eddard since. Eddard and Robert were reconciled in their shared grief over Lyanna's death.{{Ref|AGOT|12}}

Eddard returned from the war with his [[bastard]] son, [[Jon Snow]],{{Ref|AGOT|6}} said to have been birthed by [[Wylla]],{{ref|AGOT|12}} and Ned was presented with his trueborn son, [[Robb Stark|Robb]], by Catelyn when she arrived from Riverrun. Ned buried Lyanna's body in the [[crypt of Winterfell]] beside her father and brother.{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Eddard's younger brother, [[Benjen Stark|Benjen]], joined the [[Night's Watch]] within a few months of Eddard's return from the war.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/ConQuest_Kansas_City_MO_May_27_294 ConQuest (Kansas City, MO; May 27-29)], May 27, 2005</ref> A skilled [[ranger]],<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Benjen_Stark About Benjen Stark], December 15, 2000</ref> Benjen eventually became [[First Ranger]].{{Ref|AGOT|19}}

Lord Stark fought in [[Greyjoy's Rebellion]] in {{Date|289}}, and he took [[Balon Greyjoy]]'s son [[Theon Greyjoy|Theon]] with him to Winterfell, a hostage to ensure the loyalty of the [[Lord of the Iron Islands]].{{Ref|AGOT|4}} Eddard has ruled the [[north]] in Robert's name, keeping a distance from the intrigue-ridden politics of King's Landing.{{Ref|AGOT|8}}