Edric was just finishing up in the forge, gathering his tools and preparing to close for the night, when he heard the soft sound of boots on stone behind him.
Turning, he saw Ned Stark standing in the doorway. There was no urgency in his stride, but something about his presence felt weighted—like he was carrying a thought too heavy for his usual stoicism.
"Didn't expect you back so soon, Ned," Edric said, running a hand over his brow, wiping away the last of the sweat from the day's work. "The Eyrie's got more important matters than a blacksmith at this hour. Specifically, a good night's sleep." he grunted while putting down a dozen armors and tools.
Ned offered a brief, rueful smile, his voice steady. "Aye, but I came to see how you were holdin' up."
Edric didn't stop what he was doing, his movements slow but deliberate as he set the tools back in their places.
"I've been keepin' busy," he said, his tone a little too light. "The work's enough to keep me mind off everything else."
Ned didn't say anything for a moment, his gaze following Edric's movements. Finally, he stepped forward, his voice softer than usual. "I heard what happened in Stonehaven. I'm sorry for your loss."
Edric paused, his hand hovering over the tools. He didn't speak immediately—sometimes silence said more than words. Instead, he gave a single nod.
"I haven't lost me father," Ned continued, his northern accent sharper now, "so I can't say I understand what it's like. Unlike Robert."
Edric turned away briefly, his eyes catching the faint glow of the coals in the forge. Ned's words were simple, and conveyed his empathy for him clearly.
The silence stretched for a moment, then Edric spoke, his voice a little more grounded than before. "I won't forget what's been lost... but I've got a life to live still. Got work to do. I have to move on."
Ned gave him a small, approving nod, his gaze steady. "Aye. And there's always more to do. For what's ahead."
Edric's throat tightened slightly, but he didn't let the weight of it show. "Thanks, Ned. I'll keep that in mind."
"If ya want to talk about anything then you can find me, more than you already do at least."
Edric let out a small laugh. "Why thank you Ned, your words have warmed my cold heart. Well—I'll see you in the training yard tomorrow, as always?"
Ned gave him one last look, as if weighing something unspoken, before turning and leaving the forge.
"Tomorrow, then." His footsteps echoed through the empty hall, leaving Edric alone in the dimming light.
___
A week had passed since Edric had returned to the Eyrie.
It hadn't been long since Lord Arryn had ordered those fifty sets of dark steel armor.
While working on a second suit, a certain Baratheon entered the smithy without even knocking on the door—almost breaking it down— and by extension scaring the other smiths as his towering frame entered the area. He walked towards Edric with a laugh.
"Seven hells, Edric!" Robert said, striding over. "You're even bigger than before! I have to crane my head to look at you now haha! You're lucky my growing days are over!"
Edric wiped the soot from his hands and smiled. "I reckon the mountain air's been good to me."
Robert clapped him hard on the back. "Hahaha! I talked with Jon when I arrived. I heard what you did down there — Mountainsbane, they're calling you now."
"Bards like their songs, and men their titles. I'm no exception." Edric announced, displaying his growing attachment to the name.
"Everyone out!" He yelled.
The smaller apprentices, especially without a Morden or the others to rein them in left hurriedly.
Robert grinned wider and tossed him a heavy leather purse.
"Eight gold dragons and five-and-fifty silver stags. I'm more generous than Jon aren't I," he chuckled. "It's payment for my new armor. Black and golden, and built for a skull breaker... YES, FINALLY! I'll call my hammer Skullbreaker, Haha! My days of dry inspiration have come to an end!
Though you've always been the better artist— so don't mind if I let you handle the design."
"Don't you worry about your armor. You know its in capable hands." Edric replied cooly. "I'll put the qohorik smiths works to shame with it," he boasted, weighing the purse.
"That's the spirit," Robert laughed. "But before that comes. We're drinking tonight."
"Already?" Edric raised his eyebrow.
"Why of course! Life is always better with a little wine. Helps us forget. And we can catch up."
He came closer. "Sorry about your father." he whispered. "He died a good death, a heroic one. I guess that's better than drowning in ship breaker bay with his wife infront of his children like mine, don't you think?"
"Oh?"
"Never heard? That's why I became lord paramount at such a young age. Storm's End is hardly likeable though. There is no Ned or Edric to cheer me up is there!"
"Hmm, I guess not."
___
They ended up descending from the castle towards the brothel in the city below—a half-hidden place of warm women and colder wine.
Edric was surprised, after just a few words like that he hardly felt a thing.
It was like Robert's sheer charisma was so great he could make others forget their grief after exchanging a few minor words.
After a few jugs, Robert leaned in, elbow on the table.
"Did Ned tell you yet?"
"Tell me what?"
"You're my squire now."
Edric smirked. "Ahh that? Yes, he mentioned. Said it'd be particularly painful."
Robert barked a laugh. "Aye, I'll whip you into a proper knight. Or kill you trying. That Stonehaven affair should have had you knighted. But since I talked with Jon a few moons ago about you squiring under me, he might have not done so to allow me to teach you. The Mountainsbane as my squire haha, a fitting reward for man with your bravery."
Edric took a long drink. "You'll find I'm no good with a bow."
Robert waved that off. "Piss on bows! Throw an axe or a spear. Good steel and strong arms do the same work no matter. Only the range might change a but. Bows have their uses in war, but you're not the one using them!!"
Edric chuckled before remembering the skirmish on the road to his home village a moon ago. He recalled the battle — axes spinning from his hand into mountain man's back.
"I'll have a bit more of that wine."
Robert cheered. "Yes! That's the spirit! A barrel a day keeps sad memories away!" he avised before grabbing one of the giggling serving girls arses and pulling them onto his lap.
"Aren't you a pretty one?"
___
The last rivet sank into place with a satisfying clink.
Edric stepped back, wiping sweat from his brow, and there it stood — the full suit of black steel and gold, fierce and heavy, like something torn from an old song.
Robert circled it slowly, broad hands stroking the polished breastplate, the heavy vambraces, the snarling gorget. His grin grew wider with each step.
"Gods!" Robert said, voice thick with pleasure. "This a masterpiece. What else could I possibly ask of ya, aye!?"
Edric chuckled under his breath, pride warm in his chest. He hesitated, then spoke.
"Robert... About your armor?"
Robert raised an eyebrow, still half-lost in admiring the armor. "Well? Spit it out!"
"Lord Arryn's called half the Vale to the Eyrie. Talks of the hand of the king, Lord Tywin Lannister resigning." Edric paused, choosing his words carefully. "While they are there, allow me to use your armor — just for a showing, while the lords are gathering?"
"You have your own don't you?"
"I made yours better, the brass and other embellishments will do a better promoting."
Robert barked a laugh. "Asking me if you can peddle your meddle!? Ya don't need to ask my permission for that nonsense."
Robert clapped him hard on the shoulder, strong enough to make lesser men stumble. "Take it, parade it, let 'em all drool over it! Hells, I'd wager they'll be fighting each other to buy a set by nightfall."
"You already bought it so I had to ask." the smith chuckled.
"Let's go train." Robert proposed. "When your business is done, tell me about it
___
The next week, the Vale lords began to arrive.
After finishing their discussions, a part of there retinue headed towards the courtyard to meet the famous smith they'd been hearing about.
Jon led them to the smithy himself, proud of having the best smith in the world at his service.
They circled Robert's new armor, polished to perfection and catching the light beautifully despite it's blackness—dark steel trimmed with brass, fierce as a storm.
On the breast plate was the signature Stag of House Baratheon, along with brass used to form lightning bolts covering the surroundings.
And its helm—A magnificent Sallet with steel stag antlers that had been layered with brass to form as golden finish that shone exquisitely in the sun.
Jon Arryn stood above, impassive.
Lord Redfort tapped a gauntlet against the breastplate, frowning. "Strong work," he admitted. "Even for a boy."
Lord Templeton ran a finger along the brass inlay, whistling low. "Pretty work too. Suits Robert perfectly.
"Lord Arryn, how much must we pay to have a suit of this caliber?"
Jon Arryn folded his hands behind his back. "You'll have to speak to Edric, if you wish to wear his work."
Redfort grunted. "And what's the cost?"
Edric stepped forward, wiping his hands on a rag.
"It's fifty gold dragons for the armor, my lords," he stated respectfully. "Two more for a sword to match."
"..."
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Even lord Arryn had been slightly surprised.
Lord Redfort's face twisted into outrage. "Fifty dragons? For the hammer work of a boy not yet grown to manhood? This is robbery."
A few lords muttered agreement.
Templeton just laughed. "Its better than any armor I've ever seen, and I've seen quite a few armors."
Redfort scowled. "I'll will not be robbed by a boy who has barely reached eight-and-ten namedays."
Templeton suddenly became curious.
"Lord Arryn ordered fifty suits of dark steel plate armor as you call it, if my memory doesn't fail me. For seven gold dragons each. Along with half a dragon if you added his sigil. Aye, lord Jon?"
"True."
"While he indeed is our liege lord, pray tell why the price difference is so vast." He inquired.
"Lord Arryn is my liege lord, and master of this castle. If he commanded it, I would make his armors for no coin at all."
"And the right to squire under Lord Robert Baratheon, and the friendships I have gained here, are rewards no purse could buy. These prices, my lords, are lowered in respect to your names, not raised."
Templeton chuckled, a discreet smile appearing on his face. "Well said."
Redfort glared, drawing his dagger and tapped the armor hard— testing. No scratch.
"I promise you will find nothing like it. Only Valyrian steel armor could outclass it."
Another lord — old, heavyset, red-faced — jabbed at a pauldron with the point of his sword. It rang true, clean, solid.
"Bold words," another lord muttered.
Redfort grimaced. "Hells. Fine. Fifty dragons it is, but if I find armors as good as this for less, I will ask for my coin back."
Edric agreed instantly., "Of course my lord."
Templeton smiled, easy as ever. "One for me too, boy. And a matching sword. Add my house sigil to the armor's breastplate."
The other lord, who had struck the armor with his sword seeing them buy the armor hastily added. "I'll take one as well."
He dropped a two bags of gold and silver
"I'll pay when it arrives." Redfort said.
Others sneered but said nothing — pride too great, or pockets too thin, though it was mostly the former.
Jon Arryn's mouth twitched upward, just slightly. Surprise adorned his face. His lips failed to part however.
Edric stood taller than ever, happy at the the weight of gold warm against his palm.
___
A/N: This is short compared to other stories sure bu it is still the longest chapter I have ever written. And it the last time too lol