Hi, everyone.

This is the first story I decided to publish, so PLEASE be good to me :-).

I have spent many years on this site while I was writing my own stories but I never had the guts to publish anything. Until now. (Hope it won't be a complete fiasco. :-))

Just a little WARNING - English is not my native language. I'm sure there'll be mistakes but I hope it won't be THAT bad :-) ... And I don't have a Beta, so please tell me if my story sucks :-) just don't be to harsh :-). THANK YOU.

CHAPTER 4 - STARFALL

They managed to reach Starfall at record time, considering they travelled with a newborn child, midwife and a dead body of the daughter of Winterfell. Ned spent the entire journey looking behind his shoulder to reassure himself they were not followed. He was certain Robert's men are already searching throughout Dorne to find them. Ned wasn't sure what would happen if they were found. He would kill Jon, without a doubt. His obsession with dead dragons was quite consuming as Ned had observed. He would have to kill Ned as well of course, for defying the crown but what of Howland, Willam and ser Arthur? What of his wife and child in Riverrun? What of his little brother back in Winterfell?

"Are you alright?" Howland asked him when they were near the gate.

"Aye, I'm alright," Ned said. "Just deep in thought."

Ser Arthur was quite ahead of them, waiting for them to catch up with him by the gate. Willam Dustin nodded towards him. "I don't trust him, Ned. Can we truly just walk in their castle and ask for help?"

"What's wrong with that? We have their brother on our side. Why wouldn't they help us?" replied Howland.

"We know nothing of them and yet we are marching there with our lord and son of our lady."

"What other choice do we have? Besides, we know her a little bit. Ned was quite intrigued with her at Harrenhal," Howland laughed.

Ned gave him a hard look and Howland's smile died on his lips.

"I am just trying to point out that they are unlikely to hurt us even if they refuse to help," he said, feeling uncomfortable under Ned's stare.

"Alright," continued Willam. "You know Ashara Dayne but still, how do we know we can trust her brother? How do we know we can trust any of them?"

"He was prepared to die for my nephew," Ned said. "That is good enough for me."

"Aye, perhaps he is willing to die for him but what about you? You're our lord now and way too many wolves have passed recently."

"I am well aware of that fact, Willam," growled Ned.

They entered the castle only to immediately face the Lord of Starfall and his younger sister Ashara Dayne. They didn't seem very pleased to see them. Well not until they noticed Arthur dismounting his steed. He adjusted his white cloak and went to greet his siblings with a wide smile on his face. Ashara jumped in his arms and Arthur enthusiastically spun her around, her laughter filled the entire square of the castle. Ned remembered him and Lyanna acting the exact same way whenever they saw each other after even a while of separation. The thought made him feel even sicker than he already did. Lyanna will never again jump in his arms to welcome him home.

"Sister, you remember Eddard Stark of Winterfell?" Arthur said and his sister nodded, giving Ned her hand to kiss it. He took it as gracefully as he could manage after their exhausting ride and mumbled 'my lady'.

"I believe it is Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell now, Arthur," said his brother. "Lord Aaron Dayne, Lord Stark. Pleased to make your acquaintance," he bowed his head a little.

Ned followed his example. "Likewise, my lord."

"You must be tired from you journey, my friends. Our servants will lead you to our guest quarters where you can bathe, eat and drink. I will also send the maester to examine you if you wish."

"You are very kind, lord Dayne, thank you," Ned replied and followed the servants of house Dayne into the castle with his friends. He looked over his shoulder only to see ser Arthur in a heated discussion with his siblings and he prayed to all the gods that ser Arthur would show as trustworthy and knightly as the Seven Kingdoms painted him to be.

The quarters felt like a paradise to Ned. He hadn´t bathe, eaten or drank wine in such a long time that it almost felt unnatural to do those things. And by all the gods, the bed was a heaven on earth. He could count on one hand how many times he has slept in an actual bed for the last year - he never fancied himself some spoiled little lordling as some so 'affectionately' called him but a man does get tired of ground being his mattress instead of soft and warm furs.

He had a lot on his mind and his thoughts refused to leave him, no matter how hard he tried to forget them. He lay on the bed and despite the weariness he felt, he wasn´t able to fall asleep. Not that he wanted to.

Howland and Willam were snoring louder than a bear by the time ser Arthur came quietly into the room and gestured for Ned to follow him on a balcony.

"It seems your friends are more than comfortable here," he laughed a little.

"A warm bed seems to precede any doubt or worry you may have," Ned said gravely.

"Then why aren't you asleep?"

"My doubts and worries are more tempting for my mind than sleep these days."

"My brother asked if he should cremate Lyanna's body. We cannot carry her body all the way to Winterfell."

Ned closed his eyes to compose himself before answering. "You are right, ser Arthur. I would be grateful if you could arrange that. And also a wet nurse for the boy, I don't think the midwife is truly up to the task."

Ser Arthur nodded in agreement.

"My brother is finding us ship with reliable crew as we speak. We can leave in the morrow or the next day. It all depends on what maester will say of your shoulder and your friend's injuries."

"He will let us go just like that?"

"What did you think, Stark?" Arthur laughed. "That he will keep you here in prison and sell you to the highest bidder?"

"I wouldn't put it quite like that but I did expect it would take more convincing."

"Aaron trusts my judgment and thankfully for you, my opinion of you is high, Stark."

Ned looked questioningly at him. He didn't know what he did to deserve a respect from the Sword of the Morning but he was glad it was so. He sure held ser Arthur in high regard.

"Don't you want to stay here? In your home? With your family?" Ned asked.

Ser Arthur smiled sadly. "I gave up my home the second I said my vows."

"Well, you can return now. There are no more Targaryens on the Iron Throne. Nothing holds you back anymore."

Arthur gave him an unbelieving look. "My honor holds me back. My vows hold me back. My duty holds me back. No man can strip the white cloak I so proudly wear while he still breathes. I pledged my life to my king and his heirs and the only heir left is here now. I am no fool, my lord; I know the safest place for him to be right now is under your protection in Winterfell, otherwise I would never let you take him there. But where he goes, I go. And even if I could forget my vows, I would go with you still. I promised to my prince and friend I would protect the woman he so loved and the child they created together. I failed to save her but I will not fail with the boy."

Ned was truly impressed by ser Arthur's speech. "The stories of your loyalty and chivalry were not exaggerated, ser Arthur," he smiled a little. "Nor your skills in combat," he added after a while. "I am glad my nephew has someone like you to protect him."

Ser Arthur returned his smile. "Aye, he has a protector and a friend in me but he's going to need parents to guide him in order to be the best he possibly can. Can you provide him that, lord Stark?"

"I hope so."

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Author's note: Once again, thank you all for your support :) . I hope you liked the new chapter as well :)