Ahhh. A friendship that starts on a fluke, begins with a kindness, and brings too lives together that otherwise would not have touched. Lives they think will always be wound together until fate rips them apart.

I head canon that Ned's afraid going up the Eyrie the first time, but Bobby's not afraid of heights and he helps Ned. (Without it being overt, you know. He's not trying to embarrass him. Not like Brandon does.)

Maybe it's one of Brandon's old cloaks so it's too big for Ned. An item he packed for comfort. And then Robert needs it, fits it. What matters is Bobby in Ned's House colours, big ol' wolf on his back.

They're the same age when they meet. Bobby's taller than Ned, but way more sensitive to the cold. So Ned (slighter, shorter) lends him his cloak.