What if Stannis Was Fostered in The Vale With Robert and Ned?

Three Eyed Theorist Podcast: https://pod.link/6780952710 Darth Theorist:    / @darththeorist   Half Blood Theorist:    / @halfbloodtheorist   Discord:   / discord   YT:    / @threeeyedtheorist   Voice Acting & Narration: Steven Waters @bobablackfly602 Writers: Myself, @quadeong7453 , @lordinquisitordunn336, @cdsflash7420, @Goldking_Productions99, & @Hockeygater Dunn's Amazon Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/... Stannis and Robert look up at the Eyrie, wondering how the ancient Arryns had raised it. Storm's End at least was on the ground. Jon Arryn welcomes them warmly, ushering them to their rooms. Stannis stares at the ceiling, wishing he were anywhere but here. He hated Robert. Well, that wasn't fair, he hated being forced to spend time with his bullish and stupid older brother. This was going to be a very, very long few years. Jon Arryn does his best to make Stannis feel welcome, but Robert is Robert. Stannis would never like his brother. A few days later, a new face comes to the Eyrie. At first Stannis is wary of the new arrival, but then he actually meets Ned Stark. Something about the other boy makes Stannis feel at ease when Ned offers his hand. Robert and Ned become fast friends, and Stannis is initially resentful, until Ned deliberately has Robert include him in whatever they do. Ned advocates for him, and for the first time, Stannis feels like he has an actual friend. When he takes the goshawk Proudwing out and lets her fly, he's disappointed when she doesn't fly as high as Robert's Thunder. When Robert teases him, Stannis slumps in disappointment. Seeing the other lad's dismay, Ned puts his hand on Stannis’ shoulder. Young Ned: What's bothering you, Stannis? Young Stannis: It's just, why won't she fly higher? I don't understand. I put all this work into nursing her to health but she's not going above the trees. Young Ned: Well, is the point to have her fly high, or to have her hunt? Let's see who has the most game by the end and then we’ll know whose bird is better. Stannis pauses, then nods. At the end of the hunt, Proudwing has brought back five rabbits to Thunder's three. Robert's eyebrows rise, but he makes no comment. Stannis grins and strokes Proudwing's feathers as the goshawk preens. Young Stannis: How did you know? Young Ned: My father’s favorite bird is a goshawk. He has a similar hunting pattern to Proudwing. I'm honestly impressed that you trained one. My father talks about how much trouble training Winter was, and he was quite a bit older than you when he got the bird to follow his instructions. You shouldn't be disappointed just because it might not be as flashy as Thunder. So long as it gets the job done, that's what matters. Anyone can get a bird that flies high, but if you can get a good hunter, that’s something you should hang onto. Stannis slowly nods, taking in the lesson. At that moment, he determines that Ned Stark would be his friend for life. The years roll by, and Robert is betrothed to Ned's sister. Stannis feels disappointed, since he thinks he and Ned are better suited to being brothers. But he didn't have any control over it. When his parents die in a shipwreck just outside of Storm's End, Stannis writes to Ned telling him about how this is hurting him. Ned writes back expressing his condolences. Eventually, the tourney at Harrenhal comes, and Stannis is reunited with his friend. He also gets to meet Lyanna for the first time. As soon as Stannis sees the Northern girl, he is smitten with her. But when he remembers she's going to marry his brother, Stannis grows more resentful of Robert and stalks off to be alone with Proudwing. Lyanna sees the strange behavior and asks Ned if Stannis might be sick. Knowing his friend, Ned explains the rather rocky relationship between the two brothers and how Stannis feels more like he's overlooked. Feeling sympathy for the younger Baratheon brother, Lyanna follows him to the woods where Proudwing is flying through the branches. Lyanna (casual): That's a good bird you got there. Did you train her yourself? Young Stannis (curt): Aye, I did. Lyanna (casual): Sooo, have you gotten anything good? Young Stannis: Not really. Lyanna (slightly frustrated): Then what exactly is the point? And stop giving me short answers. It's not good manners. Young Stannis: I… don't want to say, my lady. I just… need to be alone with my hawk sometimes. #gameofthrones #gameofthroneswhatif #whatif