A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, favourites and follows! Hundreds now follow this story, hundreds! That is like, many dozens, a huge lot, or lots of people.


Elia brought the silver goblet to her lips and drank, closing her eyes in bliss as the cool wine flowed down her throat. Smooth, bursting with a fruity flavour, accompanied by a subtle sweetness and maintaining a solid bite even when watered down. She had grown with Dornish Red and whatever second class pretender the Redwynes peddled could never match to the Dornish drink that embodied the very land in which its grapes and fruits were grown.

She put the goblet down, the vessel so cleanly polished she could see her own reflection staring back at her.

"Refreshing, my lady?" Ashara giggled from behind her.

Elia smiled fondly, feeling the woman's fingers weave through her dark strands of hair and the pull of a comb following. "Yes"

They fell into silence and she tapped the silver goblet with a slender finger.

Ting. Ting. Ting. Ting.

"What will you do now my lady?"

Ting.

The Princess sighed heavily and downed the goblet in one.

"That is the question, is it not? What is to be done now?" Elia lamented.

Ashara worked a stubborn knot in Elia's hair. "I am sure you are not lacking for ideas my lady"

Elia breathed a sardonic laugh "Curse and spit on the watery grave my foolish, dead husband?"

Ashara chuckled, working the knot free. "A good place to start as any. And afterwards?"

Elia beckoned with her hand and a waiting servant moved to refill her goblet, lifting a lavish silver pitched encrusted with sapphires and amethysts, shaped in the figure of a swan. From its open mouth the Dornish wine poured to her cup and once filled she waved the servant back and took another sip.

"Afterwards? Well, Lord Stark recommends I flee to Essos for King Robert's wrath is fierce indeed, not that I needed any more confirmation of that fact" Elia rubbed her shoulder, feeling the scars there. "Doubtless the Lannisters intended to murder my children and myself on his wishes"

"Mhhm" Ashara placed her hand over her lady's and gently pushed it off of her shoulder "You have considered the option then?"

The Princess looked into her cup, idly swirling the rich led liquid "Yes" her voice slipped into a whisper "I know little of military affairs but I do know that Dorne has lost its army and there are fewer men here than the last time I visited. Though, conversations with Lord Stark have been enlightening. The only armies that remain raised are those of the Stormlands and Westerlands with all others returning home. Apparently all think the war won and see no threat in Dorne"

The corner of Ashara's lips turned "Then they are blind"

Elia snorted, then sipped her wine "Only in one eye, but the fact is the war is over. The more pressing issue is the fate of my children. We may well stay safe in Dorne, but, our presence here will undoubtedly hamper any attempt to play the Game. Few will want to risk Robert's wrath and four of the Seven Kingdoms are his allies and I doubt Robert himself will rest idly on the Iron Throne while my children still live to threaten him"

Ashara finished combing Elia's hair, biting her lip is consideration. Elia turned, curious as to the silence. "Your thoughts?"

"I have an...idea" Ashara proposed carefully. Elia raised a curious brow. "Ned is an integral ally to Robert, doubtless he will have Robert's confidence and ear. If, say, I were to be his...assistant then Dorne will have a presence in court"

It took Elia a moment to think of a reply to that "Ashara...You cannot mean to be a concubine?"

Ashara blinked, then a slow smile made its way across her face but it was not one of happiness. She laughed mirthlessly "Elia, my lady, you should already know I am not exactly the 'perfect' bride"

Elia sighed, downing her drink again and turned to face Ashara "I have had my suspicions but, Ashara, he is already married"

"We promised each other under the Harrenhal Heart Tree"

Elia blinked, once again caught off guard. She could only manage an "Oh" at the sudden input.

The silence that passed between them was an awkward one as Ashara poured herself a drink, eyes watering slightly and avoiding Elia's own. "Before all this horrid business, I thought I would be with Ned going up North and being a Lady of my own keep, married to a man of honour and substance who treats me with respect, kindness and love. You and I both know the nature of men. Ned showed me there were men of honour"

Elia found it difficult to say what she wanted to in a way that did not offend her best friend. She understood Ashara, truly she did and she loved the woman as a sister but this...this was…

"And what of Lady Catelyn? You would subject the woman to this...this…"

"Disgrace?" Ashara supplied with false calm, sipping to hide her trembling lips.

Elia grit her teeth "...Yes"

"What of her? We both have known mistresses, she would expect her husband to have his dalliances"

Elia palmed her face, a cocktail of emotions brewing within her "You say this after you just extolled Lord Stark's virtues?"

Ashara looked out towards the flowers in the garden they occupied "She does not know him as I do, will not love him as I did"

"So you just...brush her aside then? You expect Lord Stark to just do that as well?"

Amethyst eyes narrowed down on her as Ashara turned her head quickly, her expression breaking down from the cool mask she had barely kept going "I gave him my virtue" her voice was low but the intensity rippled out "I gave him my love, I bore him a child and I told him where Arthur was. I will NOT be cast aside"

Her hands trembled, shudders traveling up her arms to her shoulders as tears slowly fell but yet she kept her voice low and intense, speaking through gritted teeth.

"If I remain here I will have nothing. You yourself said, with your children alive associating with Dorne will not be looked upon favourably. With my virtue gone so does the chance for a good match. At best, Dorren will have to pay a handsome dowry as an enticement, one we cannot afford and likely to a family that will bring him little of value"

"But you are the most beautiful woman in the whole of the Seven Kingdoms! Men still fawn over you, loss of virtue be damned" Elia argued.

"Beauty fades" Ashara said with stone cold certainty "What will happen then? I will be cast aside in my own keep, my husband finding someone younger while I sit, doing nothing but rotting away"

Elia sucked in a breath, had more wine poured and drank from the cup to stifle her groan.

"Why do you defend her anyway?" Ashara pressed "She was technically your enemy and you hardly know the woman, while I have served as your lady in waiting for many years"

Elia groaned anyway "I defend her because I do not wish for you to be the 'second woman'. That marriage will not be annulled, Hoster Tully is enough of a grump to make certain it was consummated before allowing them to go to war. I do not want to imagine you in the North lonely and freezing as you go to a cold bed every night hoping for a visit. You will have little station in the North and you will live in Winterfell with a Lady of the Keep that will likely wish your death and may want to expedite the process!"

Elia let out a shaky breath, massaging her temples but her features softened as drew her hand away and looked at Ashara's eyes "When Rhaegar gave those blue roses to Lyanna Stark I have never felt so humiliated in my entire life. Our marriage was not one of love at that point that much you know but when he did that, so openly, I felt as if I had been nothing more than refuse, thrown and discarded without care. Even worse when he left me and the children alone in the capital." She shuddered at the memory "If, and that is a big If, Lord Stark even decides to bring you along ONE of you will feel as I did. I do not wish that on Catelyn Tully for she has done nothing wrong and especially not on you"

Ashara sniffled, wiping a tear away and doing her best to regain her composure "Thank you for your concern" she gently took hold of Elia's hand "But what you say will happen if I do not go. At least with Ned, I know he will love me and provide however much he can. Besides, he will hardly return to Winterfell now. Doubtless Robert will give him a position in the Small Council, they are so close perhaps even he will even make him Hand so in all likelihood he will remain in the capital. You have journeyed with him here, spoken with him. Do you honestly think he can survive that snake pit?"

Elia sighed and shook her head. "He would be eaten alive"

Ashara nodded "He will need an experienced hand to guide him"

"You"

"Indeed. With me being close I will have a chance to observe the goings of the court and act as an ambassador for Dorne"

"And you will be suspected of being a spy and a sympathiser"

She shrugged "I will be under Lord Stark's protection in a place I know very well"

Elia enclosed Ashara's hands in hers "You will not budge from this course?"

Ashra nodded, expression resolute. A contrast to Elia's worry "My future, the one I can make something of, is by Ned's side. Besides" she softened her voice, expression kindly "I...can also claim to be Jaehaerys' mother"

Elia slumped at the mention of the baby, a breath escaping her. Ashara offered a comforting squeeze with her hand. "Only a handful know of his existence. The Northmen are loyal to Ned. If I go with Ned and claim Jaehaerys as my own Dorren will be silent on the matter and Arthur will as well. Rumours already abound before I left the capital, there would be no suspicion by anyone on the matter of Jaehaerys' heritage if I claimed him. I can even take the nursemaid as my own"

The Princess of Dorne gave a sound that was crossed between a sigh and groan "Jaehaerys...Jaehaerys...Jaehaerys...Why, Rhaegar? Even from the grave you give me grief" She growled, taking a deep breath and recollecting herself with more wine. "To be honest Ashara, I do not know what to do with Jaehaerys. If things were as they should be he would be a potential threat to Aegon's claim. A Blackfyre reborn"

"Yet things are not as they should be"

"No" Elia shook her head "No they are not. A part of me thinks that this was a ploy by Lord Stark, why he insisted so strongly that I disinherit my children and leave for Essos"

Elia cut off Ashara as the latter was about to say something "But he could not have known this and he is entirely too...honest in his countenance for such plotting. No, as it stands I can hardly think about Jaehaerys' potential as a threat when my own children are in danger and..." She paused, hesitant for a moment but pressed on "...and...I may even follow Lord Stark's advice"

Ashara blinked, now the one caught off guard. Elia managed a smile at that "The board has been cleared and Dorne stands alone. This is not the time to press claims, it is the time to rest, recover, to hide and watch the shadows for a flash of steel. As it stands Suspear has more ties to to the Free Cities than to any of the Kingdoms. Our friends there can care for me without burdening Dorne. My concern now is my children's safety"

She breathed a sigh. "Besides, though it is unfair of me to judge that babe I would rather not think of him. He reminds me of Harrenhal and all the mistakes in that gods damned tourney"

Ashara rubbed her shoulder comfortingly "Ned will never let his heritage be known, especially not to Robert. You have seen him, he hardly leaves Jaehaerys' side. Better he be known a Stark born of a Dayne and have a mother that whatever Ned is thinking of using as an excuse"

"You would so readily adopt this boy that is not your own?" Elia said after a long moment of silence passed.

Ashara put a hand to her stomach "Yes"

Elia looked towards the blooming flowers.

"I will bring this up with Doran, when I get to Sunspear" she said eventually, turning to look at the great beauty "Since you so insist"

They both gave a small, tired smile.


Ashara breathed a heavy sigh as she left the garden, feeling very drained and tired after the emotional conversation. A large part of her felt incredibly guilty in exploiting her dearest friend so, while Elia was a turbulent ball of emotion and hardly rested but the part of her that played the Game noted it only as a pragmatic move, something that needed to be done to secure her place in the order of things. It would only have been a harder struggle if Elia was hale and hearty and not dealing with a cartload of stress.

At least, that was what she told herself as she stalked off to find the other piece to the puzzle she was completing.

She found him easily enough, resting in the nursery next to a finely crafted crib with dazzling designs carved into the wood of stars and wolves. She smiled at the sight of it.

"Ashara" He said tiredly, roused from his light slumber. "Er, sorry. My Lady"

Ashara giggled, approaching him with a slight more sway to her hips that normal. She pulled up a seat next to him and placed a hand on his "Ned, I would have thought we knew each other well enough to be past formalities"

"Ah" She was a little happy when he was slow to move his hand from hers "I...Yes, of course Ashara"

She smiled at him, then turned to look at the crib where, through the dark redwood bars, Jaehaerys slept soundly on after having his meal from the nursemaid.

"He is a quiet child?" She asked with fondness in her tone.

Ned nodded with smile of his own. "Well behaved for a babe that has only recently been born" Then his face fell as he likely remembered his dear sister.

Ashara put her hand on his knee "I am truly sorry for your loss Ned. I regret I never spoke to her when I had the chance, I would have loved to meet her"

There was clear pain in his Stark grey eyes. He has aged so much since we last met Ashara noted with sadness as she watched him closely.

"She said the same of you" He said eventually, doing an impressive job of keeping it together.

She squeezed his knee "Do you know much about caring for babes Ned?"

He blinked at the change in conversation, then shook his head "Uh, no. I cannot say I do"

"Well, then let me tell you..."


Conversing with Ashara did much to lighten Eddard's mood though the topic of conversation was one which Eddard was not well versed in. They chatted for a long length of time in the nursery, mostly Ashara telling him of pregnancy, a woman's pains and experiences, things he did not know and really would rather not know but also of caring for children. She was well informed it appeared to his inexperienced mind which he was thankful for. Jahaerys' care was to be his responsibility now, he was too important to leave entirely to the care of nursemaids as any normal noble born child would be.

They talked, or more appropriately, Ashara lectured, until the sun began to set and the sky turned from clear blue to a beautiful, misty orange. Ashara seemed surprised that they had been speaking that long and, with a request he could not deny (and after making sure Jaehaerys was attended to by one of his men and Wylla) she asked him to accompany her to a place within Starfall.

They weaved through the castle's beautiful halls, the heat cooled by the setting sun and the sea air that flowed in, guided by well designed architecture that funneled it through the corridors. Starfall was so different from Winterfell in this regard and many others, so...opposite. Open and airy to Winterfell's closed and airless corridors. Bright, almost shining, white sandstone to Winterfell's solid gray rock. Freezing cold to stifling heat.

It made him feel all the more out of his depth, more homesick. He missed Winterfell's closeness, it's great roaring hearthfires and the people that huddled together in its great halls. The servants here had not stopped staring at him, whispering quietly when they thought he did not notice. Even now as they walked some were openly surprised.

But he could not return just yet. He needed to stay and get answers to pressing questions, he had a certain Warden to thank and frankly awe over and a thousand other conversations that needed to happen. He was no longer the spare, a little lordling free to do as he wished. He was the Warden of the North and within these halls was the last of the Targaryens, a Princess of Dorne and an illustrious noble House, all of which needed to be courted.

He felt the weight press on his shoulders even thinking about his title and the responsibilities it conveyed.

Thankfully, following Ashara, feeling her soft hand in his and smelling the hint of perfume helped him push such heavy thoughts way, for now.

They eventually reached their destination, the Godswood of Starfall. Ned could not help but be surprised. He eyed the great tree in the center of the small garden. Like most heart tree's south of the Neck the one in Starfall was an old oak. Strong, tall and healthy with a carved face but it was not a true heart tree, the title was reserved for the Weirwood's who had their faces carved by the Children of the Forest, not by men imitating their form. However he was still glad to find a little something that reminded him of home.

Ashara bid him to come sit with her at the base of the oak and he did so, leaning back against the trunk. Ashara did likewise, lifting her chin and taking a deep breath, coincidentally exposing her slender neck. Ned turned away, trying and failing to purge the memory of kissing that very same neck under a different heart tree.

"I came here often, after Harrenhal" Ashara began, looking up at the oak's leaves as the last rays of sun pierced through. "It gave me peace, hope. Reminded me of you" she smiled at him and Ned's heart clenched even as he tried to give a smile back.

"I also came here to relax after a long day. You can only stand on aching feet and feel bloated for so long before you go mad" she laughed.

Ned chuckled. He remembered, before his fostering, his father doing the same, spending long hours praying and contemplating in the godswood of Winterfell beneath the white branches and red leaves of the weirwood heart tree. He always said it helped him focus.

"I remember laying down on the soft grass and falling asleep. I napped here so often the maids prepared blankets and pillows!"

Ned could imagine the sight. Ashara on a blanket, eyes closed and expression relaxed as the sun shined overhead and the wind swept a cool breeze with her long, luscious black hair splayed out. Her lips would be parted, just the slightest, and curved into a hint of a smile. A true Princess, elegant even in sleep.

He swallowed and cleared his throat, and his thoughts, before the latter strayed further.

You are married you fool, to a woman who has beauty in her own right. He reminded himself.

"Ned?"

Ned shook his head "Sorry, my mind wandered"

She smiled knowingly and he blushed. "Do you pray to the Old Gods?" He asked, eager to move the conversation onwards to any other topic.

Ashara's expression was complicated, a slight smile and pained eyes. "No, though I am not much of an ardent follower of the Faith either. I know only that gods can bless as much as they curse though we feel the latter far more than the former it seems, especially given events as of late"

Ned nodded, mood sombering quickly. "Indeed. Many prayers have been said the past year. I wonder how many were listened to?"

"What one prayer did you wish answered?" She asked suddenly, looking at him with focused interest.

It took him a while to reply "...That I could go back to Harrenhal, do things differently"

He felt her hand on his shoulder "Hopefully not too differently?" she whispered, drawing close.

His heart thumped a thunderous beat, body paralyzed. Ashara hovered close, so close her scent drifted to his nose. Their eyes met and he felt himself drowning in her deep, startling amethyst. He closed his eyes.

Amethyst changed to blue, dusky skin to white, deep black hair to red. Catelyn's face appeared in his mind, the day of their wedding, giving him a smile despite the nervousness she obviously felt.

He gasped, turning his head away. His lips suddenly felt very dry.

Ashara sighed and leaned her forehead on his shoulder. "You are still the man I love"

His chest tightened and he tried to quash the sudden rush of tears. "I am married, Ashara"

"It should have been me. It was going to be me"

Guilt, shame and a host of other emotions warred within him. "I am sorry"

"It is no fault of yours. You did what was asked of you. You are happy with her?"

He swallowed "...We hardly know each other, but we did our duties. Maybe, in time"

He felt her breath as she sighed, turning and laying her cheek on her shoulder as she looked at him "I envy her, marrying Eddard Stark"

He couldn't meet her eyes. After all this time he still did not know what she found in him that drew her so and he did not feel right to ask. "I am sorry" he repeated, at a loss of anything else to say.

She planted a kiss on his shoulder "I was so...excited. Even with what happened to Elia I left Harrenhal as giddy as can be. I was to be married, to a man of my own choice! Do you know how rare such a thing is?"

Ned kept silent.

"Even when Rhaegar went off being a complete and utter fool, I had reason to look forward" She placed her hand on her stomach, eyes going cloudy from tears.

Ned felt ice being dropped on him.

The conversations, Ashara's apparent knowledge of pregnancy and child rearing, her relaxing in the godswood. Even the little details like the nursemaids who gave him a curious look over their shoulders and the fully prepared nursery, ready to accept a babe.

He couldn't breath.

No…

The shock must have shown on his face for Ashara pulled him into a tight embrace.

"I...How…" He struggled to find the words. What can one even say in such a situation? She hugged him tighter, putting herself on his lap and he embraced her on instinct, seeking that warm comfort for he suddenly felt very, very cold.

"It was a girl, a daughter, with little tufts of black hair and your grey eyes" Ashara sniffed, tears flowing freely. "She was going to be so beautiful"

"What...what happened" He felt compelled to ask.

Ashara sobbed into his shoulder taking in heaving breaths. He held her tighter.

"She...She…" Ashara gulped, voice shaking but she pressed on "Her cord was...was wrapped around her neck, when I gave birth. She couldn't breathe. My baby couldn't breathe and I could do nothing to help her!" Her momentary resolve crumbled and she let out a wailing cry into his shoulder ushering in a fresh wave of tears.

Ned hardly kept it together himself. The shock of it all was too much. He was frozen, mind and body struggling. Something rose up in his throat and he pushed it down. His tears flowed as freely as Ashara's as he stared emptily into the distance, unable to comprehend what he had just heard.

"I...I didn't know. Im...I am so sorry"

"I did not know what to do. I felt so alone. Dorren helped where he could but he could not understand. Elia was so far away and Arthur was so angry at you. I was lost. I thought so often of ending it all, of following my child so at least in death she may have a mother"

"I am so sorry" He buried his nose in her hair, pulling her closer. "If I known I would have come"

"I know" Her voice was muffled as she buried her face into the crook of his neck "I know"

They held each other. For how long Ned did not know nor did he keep track. It could have been minutes or hours but they sat there, leaning on the base of the great oak until their tears dried and their shaking subsided. Until every shred of energy left their bodies and they sat there, tired and spend, holding on for comfort.

"Ned?" Ashara asked tentatively, her voice rough and hoarse from crying.

"Yes?" Ned looked at her ash she pulled back slightly to look him in the eye.

"What are we going to do now?"

He closed his eyes and sighed "I dont know"

"We could run to Essos, just leave all this behind us and start afresh?"

For a moment Ned was taken aback but looking at her mischievous smile he breathed a sigh of relief "Oh, you jest"

Ashara laughed and slapped his shoulder playfully. "Oh, Ned"

He smiled but thoughts of the future brought back sobering reality "Truly, I do not know what I can do. But I wish to make this right" He steeled himself, drawing on the determination that made him cross the entirety of Westeros to find his sister.

"Through my negligence I have done you a great injustice" He said looking her in the eye "Please, if it is within my power to do so, I wish to help you"

She appeared taken aback by the declaration but soon enough she smiled and lunged at him with a hug, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. "Ned" she breathed into his ear, relief palpable in her voice "I only want one thing, to be by your side again"

He sighed into her shoulder "My wife will not be pleased"

"Mistresses are not so unusual, she would know this. I wager she would even be prepared for it. Besides, what would she think when you came back to her with a child?"

Ned winced "She would not think highly of me"

"No, no she would not. If that is to be the case you may as well say I am the mother. No one would suspect a thing"

He was surprised "You would do that?"

She nodded "If you take me as your mistress and claim Jaehaerys your son he will be protected, as well as have a mother that will love him. I have been preparing for a child for a long time Ned. My future lies with you, ever since Harrenhal"

Ned swallowed. It was a difficult choice, the consequences harsh. On one hand take on Ashara and all but declare that Catelyn, innocent and kind Catelyn, was...inadequate. Not enough for him after they had already committed themselves to each other under the eyes of the gods. On the other hand, he would leave behind a woman that loved him and bore him a child and had suffered so much already.

Jon, what would have done? What would you say?

He did not know what his mentor and father figure would have said as an answer. In the end it had to be him, his decision as Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North.

Lyanna's face appeared in his mind, exhausted, bloody and drenched in sweat. "Take care of Jaehaerys" she said, labouring for breath "Promise me Ned. Please, promise me you will care for him"

He looked at Ashara and he saw the shadow of a child in her arms and he knew then what his decision would be.


Ash ran her hand, her left and currently only working hand, through Rhaenys' startling silver hair as the little girl snoozed by her bedside. She was a welcome sight and it lifted her heart to know that she was not alone in this foreign land after waking from that nightmare of a memory.

She could hardly remember what happened afterwards, only a robed man running around her and Elia's voice in her ear telling her to calm down. After something was forced down her throat she fell back to a thankfully dreamless sleep.

"She has not left your side since you first woke up" Elia said softly as she entered the room, a servant following behind with a tray of food. With a quick bow the servant left leaving the three of them in the room.

"She was disappointed she could not embrace me. Your...maestar was it? He expressedly forbid the action"

Elia pulled Rhaenys onto her lap as she sat on the chair "Yes, the whole castle heard I gather"

Ash smiled at that.

"Maester Daerion said your arm…"

Ash lifted her limp right arm "Is going to be disabled, for a while. He warned it may never regain feeling"

Elia swallowed, then shook her head "You are a walking miracle Ash, you will recover" she said resolutely.

Rhaenys chose that moment to stir awake, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. Then she started wriggling in Elia's lap. "Mama! Let me go! I have to-"

Ash reached out a hand to cup Rhaenys' cheek "Im here little one"

The girl's eyes widened, then watered as she buried her face into Ash' hand. "Mhmm mmm" She mumbled into Ash' palm.

Ash stroked her cheek with her fingers, ignoring the strain that was building in her shoulder just holding her arm up.

Elia gently put Rhaenys on the bed as the little girl nuzzled the Warden's palm, her eyes roving over the scars that marked Ash' exposed flesh, dressed as she was with only bandages wrapped around her breasts and a blanket covering all else.

"You will recover" Elia repeated.


A/N: Well, that was the hardest chapter to write so far. I am not entirely confident in writing good dialogue, mix this with complex relationships and drama which I don't typically read and/or watch? Blegh.

Anyway, this is essentially an Ashara chapter showing her employing her courtly skills and securing what she sees as her only bright option. It's partly a butterfly effect of Ash' actions and partly happened because I wanted it to. I only hope it wasn't too forced.

Also, I do have to say I sympathise with Catelyn in the show. Her treatment of Jon lay between the extremes of fully legitimising a very real threat to your children's future or outright killing him. Her conversation with Jeyne Westerling showed her relationship with Jon very well I feel. All of her actions were based on her devotion to her family. She really did exemplify her family's words to a fault. It's just unfortunate that the Game does not reward those values.

Saying this, now I go and put this whole headache on her lap. For there to be winners there have to be losers I suppose.

Anyway, thank you all for reading! DO let me know what you think.