Edderion Stark

Edderion Stark is the son of Jon II Stark and his first wife, Sarra Mormont. As his late brother Eon had been, he is a fearsome opponent in combat - credited, also, to his great size.

He serves Winterfell as its Castellan, and is considered a very close and loyal conciliator of his niece, Berena Stark, the Lady of Winterfell.

Apperance and Character
Edderion Stark had always been a big and stocky person, even in his youth. Growing up, his impressive size and courage combined with training made him a fearsome opponent in combat when paired with his warhammer. Long, kempt pale brown hair sat on his head, often tied back in a ponytail of sorts, and he grew a braided beard of similar color. With sharp facial features, and the grey eyes so typical of House Stark, Edderion was generally known to be a handsome man. He dressed in the humble furs and thick cloaks that many Northmen did, preferring to wear a plain, dark grey cloak when he can.

As a kid, many of those in Winterfell observed that despite his great size and impressive skills with the hammer, Edderion was a gentle giant at heart. He was friendly and polite with the other children and adults around him, seemed to be very bright, and took to both his studies and training very well. One might have been forgiven for thinking that Edderion would become a lord in his own right one day. Yet, it never once seemed throughout his entire life that Edderion sought power for himself, and he has remained steadfast and loyal to House Stark.

Early Life
Edderion was born in Winterfell in 403 AC. He is the second son and third child of Lord Jon II Stark with his first wife, Sarra Mormont. The Maester of Winterfell was almost surprised at how large the babe was. Though born in the midst of the Scarlet Winter, Edderion was still too young to remember the worst of it. The loss of his mother early in his life meant that he would grow up without any memories of his mother.

Early on in life, Edderion formed a strong relationship with his much older brother, Eon, their father's heir, who looked out for the boy and assisted in his training. He was about as gentle as a parent could ask for, and Lord Stark took pride in his son's kind and polite nature. Edderion had many friends among his peers in Winterfell, and several nobles at court thought the boy would make a name for himself one day.

Edderion was only eight years old when he became an uncle, to Eon's firstborn, Berena. Eon and his wife, Alys Arryn, would continue to have more children. He continued to excel in his combat training, and the maester reported that the boy was doing well in his studies and that he had even found Edderion reading and studying on his own several times.

By 418 AC, Edderion was nearly a man grown at five-and-ten. After having an encounter with Arya Tallhart, she became with child, and married her so as not to sully her honor. Edderion did not get to witness his new wife giving birth to Arsa, however, as a much bigger matter appearered before them.

War Beyond the Wall
Many wildling clans beyond the wall had once more united into one. With the threat of Ekkill Crowsbane, the King-Beyond-the-Wall, too great to let lie, a host of 25,000 northern men marched north to Last Hearth to assist the Night's Watch in defending the Wall. Edderion accompanied his father and brother as they rode north. While gone, his nephew, Rodwell, passed from a sudden illness.

Raiding parties hit the host day and night, but the hardy northerners continued their push to Hardhome, where the army of the wildlings was gathered. The Battle of Hardhome was won easily, but at a cost. Edderion's dear brother, Eon, had caught an arrow to the throat, and died in his arms. Jon and Edderion were both stricken with grief.

The Battle of the Milkwater resolved the War Beyond the Wall, and the battered northern host began their mournful march home in 419. Edderion was still deeply upset over his brother's death, but as the months passed, the grief started to clear from his mind.

Home
Arya gave birth once more in late 419, to another girl, who Edd named Mariah. The love he bore for his daughters helped him to heal as his life returned to normalility. Only a couple years later, Arya would give birth to Gilliane, but unfortunately passed a couple days after, due to complications. As she lied on her deathbed, Arya asked Edderion to burn her body and scatter her ashes in the Wolfswood. It had been a very dark day in Winterfell, and Edd rode into the Wolfswood the next day, not emerging until nearly two months later. He returned home with a much clearer mind, and had seemingly accepted the loss of his wife.

Two short years after Arya's death, Edderion would remarry to Meera Hornwood, a dear friend from his childhood. They both opted for a private wedding at the godswood of Winterfell, with only their immediate families attending. Meera would give birth to Lyra later within the year, and then to a son, Jojen, in 425. Meera became a mother not only to Lyra and Jojen, but to Edd's other daughters as well, who needed a motherly figure now more than ever.

In 427 AC, tragedy struck the Starks once more as Ellard, Eon's only surviving son, and the Heir of Winterfell, passed away. Edderion had a fairly strong relationship with the boy, and though he was deeply saddened by his passing, he did not suffer the way he had before with previous loss. Ellard's death meant that Berena, who was in King's Landing, would become the Heir of Winterfell, who only a year later would mysteriously disappear. The Starks quietly grieved once more as Berena was presumed dead.

Though Lord Jon Stark would begin to groom Eon's remaining child, the deaf girl Jocelyn, as the new heir, there were many that spoke in the shadows, believing that Edderion should have been named heir instead. Yet, when such suggestions were heard by him, Edd insisted that he did not wish to be the Lord of Winterfell, and he was speaking the truth. He was a happy man, content with his lot in life, and did not wish to carry the weight that being the Lord of House Stark carries.

By 430 AC, upon being one of the riders sent to meet three arrivals at Winterfell, Edderion recognized Berena among them. He reunited with his niece with a hug, and sent riders back to Winterfell to inform Jon that the heir had reutrned. As she acclimated to life at court again, she proved to all that she was not the same angry girl she had been when she left, and very quickly formed a bond of friendship with Edderion, earning the latter's support and trust.

The Bleeding
As the Second Hammer Uprising spread turmoil throughout the southern kingdoms, the North was initially untouched. As autumn encumbered the north however, House Tully, allies of the Starks, called for their aid. As much as Edderion wanted to aid in the fight, as the saying goes, there must always be a Stark in Winterfell, and thus he was to look after Winterfell while the war raged on.

Before having left however, Lord Stark arranged the marriage between Edderion's eldest daughter, Arsa, and the Chieftain of the Mountain Clans, a Wull, to help further unify the outlying vassals with Winterfell.

Dark wings bring dark words, more so specifically the death of Edd's father, Jon, during the Siege of Oldstones. Similar to the passing of Ellard, Jon's death brought Edderion sadness, but he remained strong, more so for his children, who mourned the loss of their grandfather. When the host returned north two years later, Berena had become the Lady of Winterfell and Warden of the North. Edderion supported her just as strongly as he had before Jon's death, and continued to counsel her as a castellan, a position he assumed while serving as regent.

The Four Year Winter had been tough upon the North, but they stood as strong as they ever had. Edd's second daughter, Mariah, married the Heir to Barrowton in 436, and as a corrective gesture after House Frey's absurd toll, Gilliane was betrothed to Lord Paramount Androw Tully of the Riverlands, whom she wed in 438. Now in his 30s, Edderion was finally allowed to relax and watch as his beloved children blossomed into their own lives. He was, if nothing else, a simple and content man.

Castellan of Winterfell
Though it would not be long until Edderion's parental duties lessened, he was kept occupied with his duties as the Castellan of Winterfell. As had happened in the past, some had whispered upon Lord Jon Stark's death that Edderion had the better claim to Winterfell, as he was a man, but as before, Edd did not care for the Throne of Winter, and remained steadfast in his support for Berena.

As winter began it's retreat and spring came upon the world, a new threat loomed Beyond-the-Wall. While a force led by Lord Consort Domeric Umber departed from Winterfell to investigate, they were ambushed while ranging with the Night's Watch, leading to Domeric's death. While Berena marched north to deal with the Crippled King, Edderion was the Stark in Winterfell, as he typically had been as of the past several years. His niece returned successful from the campaign.

With civil war seemingly about to erupt soon in the Seven Kingdoms, Edderion's future was unlikely...

Family
Descendants of Jon II Stark and his first wife, Sarra Mormont:
 * Eon Stark (389-419)
 * m. Alys Arryn b. 390
 * Berena Stark b. 411, Lady of Winterfell, Warden of the North
 * m. Domeric Umber (402-438)
 * Artos Stark b. 430
 * Alaric Stark b. 430
 * Eddara Stark b. 436
 * Ellard Stark (414-427)
 * Rodwell Stark (416-418)
 * Jocelyn Stark b. 417
 * Dacey Glover b. 392
 * m. Damion Blackwood b. 388, a. 426 AC
 * Lucas Blackwood (410-426)
 * Sybelle Blackwood (414-426)
 * m. Jojen Glover
 * Edmund Glover b. 427
 * Edderion Stark b. 403, Castellan of Winterfell
 * m. Arya Tallhart (402-421)
 * Arsa Wull b. 418
 * Mariah Dustin b. 419
 * Gilliane Stark b. 421
 * m. Meera Hornwood b. 405
 * Lyra Stark b. 423
 * Jojen Stark b. 425