Ok so this is my first Fire and Ice story, I have plenty of Game of thrones stories that I have been ignoring while I worked on this. So I am not sure why I am so nervous to put this up but I AM. So please be kind! That being said I adore comments they are usually what keep me going on a story and I do not mind constructive criticisms at all infact I enjoy it, but rude comments telling me how much you hate the story, well I urge you to just stop reading it instead. Maybe it's the teacher in me but if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all.
My beta is voodoomarie she is amazing and I adore her! I owe this girl so much she seriously rocks!
I have always wanted to do a story about these two and I always want Elia's kids (If not Elia herself) to survive and I thought this was an interesting way to do that! I am going ahead and putting this in the M category for future chapters. I am not a hundred percent sure about this story so please let me know what you think! Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy it!
Ashara Dayne
My brother made a vow to serve his king and that is what lead him to the madness we were in now. Rhaegar had disgraced our princess and the best woman I knew yet Arthur's vow compelled him to stay with Rhaegar. I had never been as noble and honorable as my brother Ser Arthur Dayne the sword of the morning, but I had spoken my own vow.
Elia Martell was my princess, she was not the most beautiful woman in the world, she had much better qualities like compassion, grace, intelligence and goodness. I was with her when Aerys locked her and her children in the red keep like hostages. She showed all her skills when she sent her ladies home, but I did not want to leave her, she was surrounded by enemies in Kingslanding. I was only 16 and one of the youngest members of her household, but I would not leave her.
Our days were filled with guards spying on us for Aerys, handmaiden's spying on us for Rhaella, and servants spying on us for Varys.
We would busy ourselves with playing with the children and sewing all the while my thoughts were centered on the child in my stomach. I would make the moon tea, but never could I bring it to my lips. I couldn't kill my baby, I tried to tell myself it was mercy not to bring a bastard into this world but I could not because she was mine. I knew exactly who the baby belonged to, me. As for my child's sire I knew that too, but the truth did not keep me from longing for a different man, a man I knew better then to long for, a rebel who would soon be a dead rebel when the might of Dorne came to defend their princess which I knew they would, it was on its way this very moment.
"Ashara." Elia said snapping me out of my thoughts as I was sewing with Rhaenys on my lap.
"Yes princess?" I asked she had a distant look on her face. As I looked at her, I could never understand what Rhaegar could want for, she had beautiful olive skin dark hair, black almond shaped eyes. She was rather bone thin because of her poor health but she was still very regal and prove fertile as a flower she gave him a child every year of their marriage aside from now that he was gone. I half thought she had given him a child every time he laid with her it was a rare enough event on Dragonstone, yet she was still the ever-loyal loving wife.
"Why don't you stay here tonight, I hate the idea of you going back late to your room in this cold castle." She told me, there was something in her black eyes as she asked it but she only held my gaze a moment before going back to her embroidery.
"Yes princess." I said simply and then we talked about unimportant gossip for all their ears even the boy who brought in firewood looked at us on occasion as if intently listening.
"What are you making?" Princess Rhaenys asked softly she was a dear child.
"A puppy princess." I said quickly before throwing the bit of fabric into the fire as prying eyes tried to see before it burned. "But not a very good one I'm afraid."
It wasn't until Elia ordered them to leave us for the night and we put the children to bed in a joining room before our handmaidens helped us into our nightgowns and then I helped Elia take off her many jewels and stored them safely away.
We got into bed and I blew out the candle and only under the covers did Elia say her peace.
"Can I trust you Ashara?"
"Absolutely." I promised.
"Varys says the days to come are dark." Elia admitted.
"But Lewyn took the Dornish Army, they will destroy the rebels." I said although the idea turned by stomach.
"Hopefully, but Varys says we have under estimated Robert at every turn, soon he will bring me decoys and he wants to take my children to safety, I do not trust Varys though. I trust you Ashara." Elia said even in the dark I knew she watched and waited for my reaction.
"I will do whatever you ask of me princess I swear it."
"I know, you are a good girl." Elia said sweetly.
"No I'm not." I muttered.
"Ashara?" Elia asked softly. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm pregnant." I admitted I was waiting for her to get angry at me for behaving in such a manner but instead she embraced me kissing my head.
"You poor child you must be so worried, but all will be well. You will care for my children and I will make sure yours is cared for all it's days." Elia promised she was free of hate or judgement she was just good. I found myself not for the first time going to sleep wishing I was Elia Martell and telling myself everything would be fine.
In a months time, Rhaegar died on the Trident, I began have our things packed for Dragonstone. My condition would be hard to conceal soon and I was grateful to be leaving court.
"We aren't going to Dragonstone, stop packing." Elia said as she burst in.
I looked at her confused.
"Aerys thinks the Dornish betrayed him, you need to leave now before it is too late." Elia warned.
I would always remember her how she looked with her black eyes and olive colored skin, she would never let them stop her from being a proud Dornish woman. I would always remember how she felt, as she took me into her arms. "I am going to ask more of you then anyone in the world." She told me quietly. "But I am going to ask you anyway." She said softly.
I nodded. I already knew what she would ask I had already been her accomplice thus far.
She looked out the window unable to meet my eyes unable to keep the proud Dornish look when she said his name. "Rhaegar did not leave us any protection, not from Robert not even from his father." She admitted out loud for the first time though I knew it was all she thought about.
"You want me to take them to Sunspear?"
"Only one." Elia promised. "You will leave now with…with my son" Elia said softly, two opportunities to get her children out safely.
"What about Rhaenys?" I asked.
"It's best you don't know in case you get…." Elia choked the idea of us getting caught had tears down her face.
"They will think it is odd I am leaving you. Running away in the middle of the night no less." I told the older woman, they may think of me as just another silly pretty girl but my devotion to Elia was true I would die for her.
"They won't." She promised she touched my stomach, my growing stomach. "They would expect you to go home. If you were expect, I now it is a lot to ask of you to admit your state but I would not ask if it were not dire." Elia told me.
"They will expect me to crawl home in shame." I realized but I shook my head, dark curls moving furiously around me. "I am not ashamed of myself or my baby." I told her honestly and she gave me a soft smile I had not seen in a while.
"Neither am I Lady Ashara I promise you that." She said she took my hands. "I am only asking this of you because I need your help." Elia admitted.
She pressed our joined hands to her chest. "Promise me Ashara, promise me you will protect my boy like he was your own."
"You trust me with your son?" I asked the little prince was far more important then any jewels or land, a royal woman had nothing more precious then her son ad heir.
"I do." She said and even though she meant it I knew she had little choice in the matter. After the war she could come to Dorne and retrieve her children nobody had to be the wiser.
"I promise you I will protect Aegon with my life." I swore.
"Promise you will be a mother to him." Elia said her voice thick with pain, my eyes flickered to hers to see tears down her brown skin.
"I promise I will be a mother to him, until I place him back into your arms." I vowed and like that she went and grabbed the most precious thing she had and put him in my arms. We stabbed holes in my trunk to sneak him out of the castle it was a good thing Aegon rarely cried, why would he? He was born a beautiful prince with a loving mother in line for the throne.
As soon as we were out of the city, I grabbed him. There was a little cap placed on his head to hide his hair, my guards and servants may have put the truth together, but they knew they were to say the baby was Lara Blackmont's baby brother who she wanted raised at Starfall as to not be a threat to Lara being the heir.
It was not until we were back in Dorne that I had heard the news, Aegon would never be back in his mothers' arms, I would never see my beloved friend again. Elia and the decoy children were dead and as I was told this I felt a horrible pain in my stomach. My large stomach at that point I was screaming as they took me into the in I watched Aegon be carried in behind me.
"Auntie auntie!" Aegon cried worried.
"It's alright Aegon!" I gritted my teeth to make words to try not to scare him.
"When this is all over we will have a new baby!" I told him as calmly as I could muster but I cried out again in pain.
When it was all over we did not have a new baby. I had a stillborn, I had been right though it was the girl I had always wanted but she was blue and lifeless and I cried at her loss, I thought I could lose no more tears.
We stayed at the inn for the next few days while I regained the strength to travel. Aegon laid in my arms as I slept but I woke to the sound of foots coming through the halls I heard my guards yelling.
"You may not enter! Have you know honor! A nobleborn girl sleeps in there!" One yelled.
"We know." A think accent told. "We've come for her." The voice said and a fight began. I pulled Aegon out of bed as I looked for a way out but that was the only door I pulled him to the little window when they burst into the room 6 men.
I held Aegon to my hip, holding onto him for dear life he let out a low wine as a short odd man came near us I looked for something to defend us with.
"It is not her." The man declared to the others.
"But she sure is pretty Reed." Another man said. "Such beauty need not be wasted." The man continued and I saw him lick his lips.
"Stay away from us!" I demanded he only laughed.
"We are not animals!" A man farther back declared he had a soft voice. "I do not want anything to happen to this woman!" He demanded.
"Nothing will happen to this woman that is an order!" I heard and I knew that voice immediately before he pushed aside his men.
"Lady Ashara?" Ned said he was just as surprised to see me which was odd because I was from Dorne he was the outsider not me, this desert was my home. It always tickled me how Ned said my name. Even now.
I was so happy to see him I could have dried, Ned was a man of the utmost honor he would not let us come to any harm's way.
"Ned thank the gods you're here." I said jumping into his arms I didn't realize I was trembling until I was in his strong arms. "They were they were going to-" I almost cried he held me for a moment to comfort me.
"Nobody is going to hurt you, I will not anyone hurt you." He promised but I realized how tense he was to my touch, then I remembered. He was married to some Tully girl for an alliance. When I found out I had let myself...well I had gotten myself pregnant hadn't I?
I noticed the short man had herded the rest of them out of the room so we could have a moment alone.
I pulled back from him deciding not to be any more of a burden.
His eyes followed my stomach it was not flat as it had once been at Harrenhall my belly still hung freely in my nightgown showing the bump that remained there.
"Are you-"
"I am not having a baby." I told him softly it was true he hadn't asked if I had just had a baby after all.
He just nodded I saw him look at little Aegon his cap must've fallen off in his sleep.
"Will you return me safely to Starfall?" I asked softly making those grey eyes snap back to me he nodded.
"Of course, and I will take the boy safely into Roberts custody." Eddard said his since of duty intact.
"What is safe about that?!" I asked.
"I cannot let him get to his uncles so they start another war and the streets again will be filled with the dead." Eddard said simply. There was sympathy in his voice but he thought this was the lesser of two evils.
"He won't hurt the boy." Eddard assured himself more than me.
"He let the Lannisters go free." I told him.
"I had no part of that!" Eddard reminded.
"HE LET HER MURDERERS GO FREE!" I cried.
Eddard just gave me a soft look. "I will make sure you get home." He said softly turning to leave.
I put Aegon down following him and pulling him to face me and getting down on my knees in my nightgown.
"Please Ned, don't do this! I promised I would raise her son should anything happen to her I won't leave him!" I cried.
Eddard was silent but he helped me to my feet. "Go to sleep Asha, we ride in the morning." He told me softly.
"Eddard don't leave!" I asked him and he looked at me with the saddest look in his grey eyes. "I am married now Asha." He said softly.
I gave him a furious look. He was going to hand over a boy I loved, the last living part of Elia, to Robert Baratheon, the boy I swore to keep safe. I was angry for it and the last thing I wanted was a night of passion. "I am not asking you to share my bed nor would I allow you to under present circumstance. But that man of yours disgust me and I think we would be safer with you here." I told him.
He nodded he took the chair from by the fire and pushed it over to the door. I gathered up little Aegon and took him back to bed. Still in the dark of the night I could hear Eddard's breath and for some odd reason it comforted me as much as I wished it did not.
It brought back thought of Harrenhal,we had met the first night after all.
The greatest tournament had yet to be gone but you would not know it by the excitement of the feast in the hall of a thousand hearths, their was dancing and laughter and fools dressed in costumes. I was laughing with Oberyn and Jon Connington when Lord Brandon walked up to me tapping on my shoulder, I turned to see him, he towered uncomfortably over me but I looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"Apologize my lady for interrupting, but you see my brother has been starring at you all night. He swears you're the most beautiful woman he has ever seen." Brandon said with a toothy grin, this wolf seemed to have a silver tongue.
"Which one is your brother my lord?" I asked decidedly and he turned back to his table. "Do you see the one there who just turned white as a ghost? His name is Ned." Brandon told me. It was true when we turned to him at once his skin paled and his eyes widened. It was those grey eyes that sent waves crashing through the core of my body. He nervously brushed back his shaggy brown hair, but his eyes never broke mine and I smiled.
The music started a new dance and I nodded to this Ned, assuming the white faced boy wouldn't dare move from his seat. To his credit he got up and came towards me.
"Would you like to dance Ned?" I asked. He nodded and we began to dance. Brandon seemed happy with himself and quickly found a girl to dance with. I was wondering if he would say a word out of all the men I had danced with only three others stuck out and they had all been very different men but they had all talked to me.
"So Eddard….your brother tells me you think I'm a great beauty?" I asked I was just starting to enjoy the attentions of men and I thought the shy northern lord was not giving me enough of it. Although those eyes I enjoyed took my breath away with his powerful gaze, he stared at me as though he loved me, as though his world rose and fell at my command and I had never seen anything as lovely him looking at me like that.
"You are a great beauty, but I was first impressed with you when I saw you getting onto some young lords for being rude to a maid, anyone can be pretty, but you choose to be kind Lady Ashara, and when you laugh…." He trailed off, not finding the right words and he looked embarrassed but for the first time tonight I blushed. Although so many men better with their words had been comparing me to summer time and flowers and the maiden herself Ned saw something good in me besides my looks which I was born with them I did not earn them, and when he complimented me he was struck wordless and I was not sure my heart could feel so stricken but everything sounded wonderful in his thick manly northern accent.
"It is the duty of the strong to care for the weak." I told him. "Arthur, my brother always says that. And between you and me I never really fancied myself the damsel." I told him curtly with a devious smile.
His smile was pure joy and good. "No, I would say you're as strong as they come…. My lady."
"Aren't you the chivalrous knight." I teased.
"Not a knight."
"A poet?" I asked and he laughed this wonderful warm laugh.
"Definitely not."
"Well are you going to keep me guessing?" I asked with a smirk.
"I'm the second son of Winterfell, I'm a solider."
"I should have known." She said decidedly. He suddenly felt the movement of her slender fingers in their joined hands. "Rough hands."
"And yours are soft."
"You have called my bluff I am not a solider." I teased and he laughed again. I could hear Robert Baratheon's loud drunk voice over all the others in the merry hall shouting to the people right next to him "Ned is laughing! Ned is laughing at a ball!" Like it was a rarity? Why was it then I could imaging him laughing and merry in my arms perhaps in my bed.
"I am sorry about my brother, he never knows when he over steps, or if he does it never stops him."
"I am glad he was bold, we would have never properly met otherwise." I told him.
"So you prefer bold men?" Eddard asked.
"There is something to be said for more reserved men but-" I started and he scoffed.
"What!" I asked insistently.
"I cannot say it in front of a lady." He admitted.
"Make an exception." I demanded with a devious smirk. "I am like no lady you have ever met before." I told him his eyes seemed to devour me as he hummed his agreement.
"Fine, I have noticed that anything a person says before the word but his horse shit." The northern lord said and she couldn't contain her laughter.
"I must say I have under estimated you." I told him I could almost feel myself falling for him.
"You still haven't told me what kind of men you prefer Lady Ashara." He told me moved in as though it was a secret, a chose I soon regretted because being slightly closer to him seemed to make him all the more intoxicating.
"Very well my Lord." I told him looking up into his eyes he was a little taller then me just enough for me to have to tilt my head up to look at those icy grey eyes as we danced this close and although I could hear the loud festivities it all could not mean less to me during this dance. "I like men who are…." My next word was chosen based on how I would describe how he danced and talked, how I would describe him. "Steady." I said as the instruments stopped the people soon cheered and I curtseyed, and he bowed.
Before I left him to watch me walk away as I went to go tell Elia everything about my northern man.
When I woke Eddard was gone. I tried the door but it was locked. There was food on the table. I ran to the window I saw no horses out front.
Aegon was sitting up in bed and I went to stick his little hat on his head.
"Baby?" He asked he was still only a bit more than a baby himself.
"No baby." I told him softly.
I went to the tray of food grabbing some things I knew he liked before bringing them to him.
"Eat my love. You will need to be so very strong on our journey." I told him kissing his head as I watched him happily grab for a grape.
I grabbed a spare piece of parchment I may not be able to reach Sunspear on my own but if I got word to Doran he would have an army march to us. If I got word to Oberyn he would kill any man between him and his sister's orphaned son and her loyal friend.
I looked in vain for ink, but I could find none in the small shabby room.
I heard a horse and ran back to the window. There was Eddard, the lone rider. I looked past him to the sun high enough in the sky to have me wonder, how long we had been asleep?
"Did you drug me?" I asked as soon as he opened the door? He through down something heavy that went to the ground with a thud but I knew not what as it was wrapped in leather, I was more focused on Eddard who moved quickly past me without even a glance.
"I did not have to you and the boy were out like a light the moment you laid down." He said he seemed to avoid my gaze like it was poison. He had something he in his arms he huddled close to his chest. I wondered what he was hiding and why he was working so hard not to look at me.
"Where did you go? Where are all your men?" I asked but he stayed turned away looking around the room. Looking for something? Whatever he was doing he was obviously avoiding me and it made me angry. "Just because you have someone else now does not mean you can be rude to me!" I told him sternly trying to not to sound as close to tears as I was, it was not my fault I had been an emotional wreck since my birth, well since before it but that was more due to all the good people dying. Eddard stopped moving but he did not turn to face me like a man. He didn't even respond to me , I wasn't even worth wasting words on anymore I supposed. "LOOK AT ME EDDARAD I AM TALKING TO YOU!" I yelled and an infants started balling oddly even though he was to old for it I looked to where Aegon was happily eating on the bed he looked up to see why his auntie had yelled but he was not scared of me he had no reason to be and he knew that.
I realized after a moment of stupidity that from where the screaming came from it was the bundle in Eddards arms he confirmed this when he started to shush the bundle.
I went over to see it for myself. A pale little baby with a little dark hair.
"W-whose baby do you have." I whispered when it started to set in how odd this was.
"It's mine." He said not looking at me. He seemed ashamed.
I laughed an ugly angry short laugh. "No it is not!" I told him.
He looked up at me now I was starting to annoy him. "Ashara I told you he's mine now I don't want to hear another word about it!" He demanded in that northern voice of his I was sure if he barked an order at another girl, his tully girl perphaps she would be scared and do as her lord husband bid her without ever another fuss. I was never good at being a good timid girl.
"So…..you had a bastard?" I asked not believing it for a moment.
"Things happen in war." He said still avoiding my purple eyes.
"Yes they certainly due. You got married during a war. Because your honor compelled you to for the good of your family." I spat I could feel the tears on my face. "Even though-" I started but it was to hard.
"Even though I loved another." Eddard finished the first time since we were united at least that he admitted he did love me.
"And although you did your duty to her, though you loved me, you turned around and abandoned that duty?" I asked he better be lying because I was getting very angry at the thought of this.
"Its complicated!" He said as the baby screamed.
"Make it simple!" I demanded.
"I can't!" Eddard said.
"Fine, ill bite." I said trying to keep a civil tone but my anger sang through the lace colored words.
"You always did." Eddard muttered, if I wasn't so angry I would never have let go Eddard stark making a crass joke.
"What did she look like." I asked.
"STOP IT!" He demanded.
"Did she kiss better then I do?"
"Ashara!"
"Did you say the same sweet things you said to me."
"Ashara enough." He said angerly but more so tiredly eyes but I refused to let up.
"No I want to know Ned! Do you prefer her in bed then Catelyn Tully? Do you prefer her to me?"
"No one could ever compare to you! Is that what you want to hear? Because it's true and that is all I will ever think about when I am with Catelyn does that make you happy? In some sick way are we even now that you know I will never be happy with an honest good woman because I will always be thinking about Ashara Dayne!" He asked there were tears in his eyes and as horrible as I felt in my stomach the thought pushed through that he said Catelyn nobody else no bastards mother.
"I knew it wasn't true." I whispered softly though he seemed to hear me over the babies cries.
"God damit Ashara I need to find away to feed Jon! I can't do this now. I couldn't find a wetnurse all the way here!" Eddard said.
I looked at the little red faced baby accident or not I woke him. I could hear my brothers voice saying you broke it you fix it. I scoffed as I untied the top of my dress he'd be so proud when I told him this.
"What are you-"
"Give me the baby." I told him he only clutched it tighter.
"Why?"
"Because he is starving and I'm going to feed him." I told him reaching for him again.
Eddard was now focusing at looking at my eyes and not the ample cleavage hanging free.
"That isn't how it works." Eddard said.
"You could stand here and tell me how my body works or I could feed him Ned!" I told him and finally he handed him over and turned away.
Now this had to work so I could prove Ned wrong, but I didn't really now what to do. I brought the baby to my nipple and nature seemed to handle the rest he took to it immediately. "He's latching." I told Eddard who was so relieved he turned to me and then turned away I smirked I never thought I'd get to see him ghost white again.
"Up up!" Aegon said he apparently felt left out.
"Would you?" I asked Eddard nodded he went over and picked him up Eddard smiled because he wasn't cruel, he couldn't hate a baby for who it belonged to. He looked over Aegon carefully he gave the toddler a little toss catching him making him giggle. I noticed how deeply he stared at Aegon. After a few minutes I finally had to sit down with him.
"How long does this usually take!" I asked
"I am not going to try to correct you about..that again." Eddard said simply. "How." He asked softly. His gaze was kind and into my eyes.
I looked at him but only for a minute before focusing back on Jon making sure he was alright. "I lost a baby." I whispered it was the first time I said it out loud.
"When?"
"a few days ago." I said softly.
"Are you alright?" He asked but instead I answered the question his eyes asked. And you were angry at me for my bastard? Those grey eyes practically shouted.
I gave him a hard look but I looked strait into his eyes. "When I heard you married Catelyn Tully it broke me. I was heartbroken and lonely and you broke your word, I know it wasn't in the eyes of the gods or anything, but you said…..it doesn't matter I had a bastard but I never quiet had your since of honor, now can you tell me the same?" I asked.
"We have to stop fighting about that, I have to tell you something worse Ashara." Eddard said but I ignored him when a question crossed my mind.
"Why are you even in Dorne?" I thought of them saying they were looking for a lady and after the short northern man looked at me he knew it was not me.
The baby finally seemed sated Eddard moved to take him he seemed very protective of him but as I rocked him in my arms he was almost asleep and Eddard decided not to ruin that fragile peace.
"Is Lyanna in Dorne?" I asked suddenly angry at the idea Rhaegar would bring his other woman to Dorne of all places. I looked up to see his face the pain on his face. "Lyanna died." He said softly.
"Lyanna died." I repeated not believing it, it was not as though we were friends but there was a time I thought she would be my good sister, she was wild and free for the short time I knew her. I looked down at the baby who yawned softly. "And you have her baby."
"No." Eddard said but it was weak at best. "He would never live in peace being Rhaegars son." Eddard whispered softly.
I looked from him to Aegon who was looking out the window.
"I wouldn't wish that on anyone." I admitted softly but it seemed so unfair Lyanna's son would live in relative peace and Aegon was to be hated and hunted, then I realized what peace would a bastard boy find outside of Dorne? They were brothers after all. Surely Eddard would not leave Jon's brother to rot away.
"No one can ever know Ashara!" Eddard warned. "I made a vow to Lyanna that I would protect her son." Eddard told me and I looked up at him we were the same in this. We mad vows to women we loved to protect their only son and it would shape us for the rest of our lives.
"I vowed to protect Aegon. I promise I won't tell Ned, I will even help you. If you help me." I promised.
I placed the baby in Eddards arms so I could tie the top of my dress so Eddard could stop jarring his neck to look away.
"You've seen them before." I mused.
"It would not be right." He said simply but once I was done he looked rather curious at me.
"Are you ready for a life time of hounding questions like mine or worse?"
"No." Eddard admitted he was tired upset he was probably tired from being upset.
"Well they will ask for ever, unless. Jon has a mother. I will claim him, my brother already knows I was having a bastard once we were back in favor with the crown he was going to ask for it to be legitimized. He could be a knight of house Dayne."
"Jon is a Stark he belongs in the north."
"He could live their with you half of the time when he got older he could live there all the time and he would have a house name, a place where people didn't scorn him for being a bastard."
"And in return?" Eddard sighed.
"You get Robert to Pardon Aegon, not that he should have to as Aegon is a baby." I reminded.
"That will never happen." Eddard said honestly. "But I could convince him to let me foster Aegon in the North he would never allow him to live in Dorne. Besides do you really want the Martell brothers using him as a puppet for revenge?" Eddard asked.
"Where ever Aegon goes I go. Do you really want to bring Jon and I to Winterfell?" I asked sharpily hoping he would see my way and let us stay in Dorne though the fear of Aegon being thrusted to young into battle worried me. I could care less for the throne he had lost, it was his life that mattered to me. I doubted his uncles would see things so clearly.
"More then anything." Eddard mumbled. "But you aren't going to want to help me." He told me. "Arthur was at the tower of joy Ashara." Eddard said and my heart skipped a beat Arthur would come for me. HE would not kill Eddard if I asked him not to. Poor Ned would be our prisoner soon and Aegon could live as a prince of Dorne. "I am sorry to tell you I had to killed him."
"You couldn't have." I said in disbelief Eddard could not beat Arthur nobody could when he was trying he only ever let Rhaegar beat him so the prince looked good.
He went back to where he had dropped something with a thud and my heart ached when he removed the leather showing Dawn. I was wordless as my heart broke.
"I will still take Aegon, I will return you and the sword to Starfall and I will just take Jon home a bastard of war. " He told me.
I stared at the sword not quite fathoming the loss of Arthurs light to the world.
"Get out Eddard." I finally said my voice stayed soft to keep from waking the baby. Eddard was to the door when he stopped as I spoke. "Your plain is fowl, I will not separate from Aegon. I will go with you to winterfell I will claim your bastard is Brandon and mines and I swear to all the gods I will be a good mother to him. But not for you, because it's the only way for me to keep my promise to Elia, and for you to truly keep yours to Lyaana, but don't for a second think I feel anything for you anymore." I said it felt like a stone was in my throat and hot tears ran down my face.
"We leave tomorrow." He said softly
"Leave the baby, unless you plan on feeding him when he wakes up." Eddard carefully put Jon in my arms kissing his little head before his could eyes met my own purple eyes. "Thank you Asha." He said softly before leaving Eddard would not try and remove my hate from him, he was to honorable to push of guilt he would valiantly except my distain.
I could not believe what I agreed to and with my brothers killer none the less but I had no choice. I had made a vow and seemed to now be apart of another. I looked down at Jon in my arms and Aegon as he ran to me. These sweet boys were innocent of their fathers' crimes and good and they would be mine and I would love Jon and perhaps he would heal the ache from my own lost child. But in that moment my whole body hurt all over.