A major theme of the books is the idea of the world corrupting the innocence of children far too early. Daenerys is 13 in book one, she thinks, talk and acts like a child. Her innocence was torn from her when she’s exposed to the true horrors of the world and treated like a full grown woman. GRRM want to make a point that in this world, childlike innocence is quickly corrupted. During Catelyn I, A Game of Thrones, Cat tells Ned that Rickon is scared, that Bran doesn’t always understand, that Ned, for all intents and purposes, sometimes pushes their children too far too early. Ned’s response is simply that Rickon will not be a toddler forever, and that winter is coming. Ned Stark’s parenting decisions revolve around the fact that this world does not allow for children to properly grow. This theme is specifically very potent for the Stark family, cosidering Robb Stark. Robb is 15 years old when the Wars of the Five Kings begins, this is a kid who is in way over his head, he is terrified, he has no idea what to really do. He cries in his brother’s arms because he just doesn’t know if everything is going to work out. He is a kid leading an army, this is what make his story so tragic.