Chapter 10

Eddard arose from the bed that had been his prison, haven been checked over by Maester Warrick and cleared of any infection or grieves injuries he donned on his leathers and chainmail there was a knock at the door ''enter'' he called and in came Ellaria.

'Lord stark it good to see you no longer abed' Ellaria said, ''it is good to be out of it'' Eddard replied. As Eddard went for Ice he turned to see Ellaria stair at him, ''is there anything else'' he asked her.

'Yes My Father wishes to host you and you lords the great hall' Ellaria replied. Eddard and made his way to the door but stopped, ''perhaps it would be better for you to lead the way'' he said turning round to face a smirking Ellaria 'yes perhaps I should' she replied walking past him.

As the two made the way through Hellholt, Eddard observed the castle having grown up in both the Vale and the North he knew that no one castle was the same. Winterfell was the center of the north and the first men made from grey stone and warm, the Eyrie made of white stone and cold but Hellholt was something else.

Ellaria lead Eddard to the great looking back at him from time to time to make sure he was still following, her father was going to announce his price to Lord stark as they reached courtyard Eddard spoke ''you have a beautiful castle my lady'' 'it is not my castle my lord it is my fathers' she said ''but still your home none the less'' Eddard said.

Crossing the courtyard Eddard saw his lord enter the grounds, 'lord Stark' they called ''my lords'' he replied ''how go preparation for our departure'' Eddard asked 'preparations are nearing completion we are just waiting on Wyman to return' Rickard said ''and how long till he returns'' Eddard replied 'he should back within the hour' Medgar answered, Eddard nodded and moved to Ellaria.

''Is something wrong'' he asked her as they stood at the front of the doors of the great hall, 'no let us enter' she replied entering the hall Eddard sighed and followed her in with his bannermen coming after him. Making his way down the hall Eddard observed the design of the great hall, like the rest of Hellholt it was open and cool as he made his way to the high table he stopped for mounted on the back wall was a skull a skull that Eddard had only seen once a skull of a dragon.

'Is something wrong lord Stark' Harmen called who was seated in the middle of the table with Ellaria at his left and Lord Quentyn Qorgyle on his right. 'No lord Uller there is not Eddard replied taking the seat in front of lord Harmen followed by lord Umber, KarStark, Bolton, Cerwyn, Hornwood and Ser Cassel seated around him.

'let us begin with bread salt and wine' Harmen said and with the click of his finger servants began to bring chalices of wine and bread dipped in salt a sign of the scared guest right, 'Now that has been takin care of lets us begin' Lord Harmen said.

''Yes lets'' Eddard replied ''I am prepared to offer the aid of house Stark in the rebuilding of Hellholt as well as food stuffs for the smallfolk and coin'' Eddard said, Eddard watched Lords Harmen and Quentyn wish to each other, Eddard had no doubt in his mind that this alliance would cost much in turn for their aid against the ironborn.

As the lords continued to talk to each other Eddard noticed Ellaria had not said anything and appeared sad, Eddard went to say something to her Harmen spoke 'house Uller and Qorgyle will give you 500 spearmen and 500 cavalry commanded by Ser Arron to aid you in this war in turn we would ask for half of what are you offering know and half after you are victories against the ironborn but in order for this alliance to be cemented it must be sealed'

''Sealed how'' Eddard asked 'in marriage' Harmen replied before Eddard could respond Medgar rose table yelling 'now see you snake we did not have to come here to help but we will not be walled by some weak man and his whore'

Before Eddard could do anything Harmen punched Medgar out, ''if you wish to have our aid you will agree to this seal alliance if not I bid you good day and good luck in your war' Harmen said before rising from the table and exiting the hall with Lord Quentyn and Ellaria following him .

Eddard watched them leave and left his anger rise against Lord Medgar ''pick him up'' growled Eddard to GreatJon and Roose, pick up a chalices Eddard splashed some wine on Medgar face to wake him. Medgar awoke with a coughing fit he looked up to Eddard 'lord star' Medgar was unable to finish as Eddard had knocked him down.

''You will not speak Lord Medgar you have spoken enough this day your action this day goes against myself and house Stark'' Eddard said, 'I spoke for the north' Medgar argued ''you spoke for yourself'' Eddard yelled 'the lady of the north should just that a lady of the north not some southern tart' Medgar said.

''And is this how you all feel'' Eddard asked his bannermen. 'House Umber will support you no matter your decision Lord Stark' GreatJon said with Halys and Ser Rodrick nodding in agreement

''Now that is taken care of I will seek out Lord Harmen is there anything else we have to discuss'' Eddard said his bannermen shock their heads ''good'' Eddard replied exiting the hall to find lord Harmen and Quentyn, Eddard didn't need to go far as in the center of the courtyard stood both lords 'well lord have you decision' asked Harmen ''yes I have house stark and house Uller will join in marriage'' as Eddard said that he noticed that Ellaria leaving the courtyard.

Line break

Ellaria turned to leave the courtyard the alliance of house Uller and Stark would go ahead, she would marry a stranger, a northern stranger bear his children and bring justice to dorne. But she didn't see justice in her father plan she saw war and bloodshed for her people and the northern.

Of course she knew many people in dorne blamed the Starks the war of the Usurper and viewed the Martells as upstarts who once served as bannermen to house Jordanye than married into an army of conquers that took control of Dorne.

As she made her way to her quarters Ellaria heard her name called 'Ellaria' she turned to find her husband-to-be coming after her, Ellaria did not know what to expect from him all she knew of him is that he was head of House Stark, as he a porched Her Ellaria a fire within her to burn if he expected her to a timed women he had another thing coming.

'May I please walk with you' Eddard asked Ellaria looked up that like a mad man e had asked her to walk with her ''yes'' Ellaria answered they both walked in silence for some time before Eddard spoke 'you did not seem surprised' ''what'' Ellaria replied 'I said you didn't seem surprised by what your father said' ''no I wasn't'' Ellaria said 'why' Eddard asked.

''he came to me and told me his plans last night'' Ellaria answered 'you don't sound too happy about his plans' he said ''either be sold to you or be sold to Volantis'' have realized what she said Ellaria turned to face Eddard 'what do you mean by sold to Volantis' he growled at her ''like it sounds he told if I didn't agree to the marriage he would personal see me to the Slave market of Volantis'' Ellaria cried as she did that she released that she began to cry as she did she felt arms enclose her 'that isn't going to happen Ellaria I won't let it' Eddard said ''thank you'' she said 'you are welcome' he said ''come'' Ellaria said taking Eddard's hand leading him to the gardens.

''dose it look like the wierwood of Winterfell'' Ellaria asked entering the gardens 'no it doesn't no two wierwood are the same' Eddard replied 'how did become like this' he asked ''long ago a member of my family invited his rivals to a feast but it was a trap he locked them in and burnt his holdfast down with them inside that is how hellholt got its name and how this wierwood was burnt'' Ellaria replied as watched Eddard take a knee ''I will leave you to your pears'' she said leaving the gardens 'I thank you Ellaria for bring me hear' Eddard ''you are welcome'' she replied

Ellaria stood in front of the gardens entries dressed for her wedding waiting for her father, as she waited her mind began to wonder to his plan she did not know if she could go through with it because what she had seen of eddard was a kind man not a savage that most people thought norther's were.

As she continued to wait her train of though was interrupted by someone calling her name 'Ellaria' she turned to face her caller to Ser Arron standing beside her, 'you look beautiful' Ser Arron said ''thank you'' she replied as her father arrived 'I will see you soon' Ser Arron said leaving them alone

'Ellaria come' her father called, moved to his side and then turned as he place the banner of House Uller over her shoulder 'remember your duty Ellaria and who you serve' Harmen said take her hand and leading her to the gardens

Eddard stood at the wierwood tree, once again he is to wed and once again it was in a time of war the only difference between the two one was in a sept the other is in front of a wierwood and his bannermen were present with the exception of Lord Medgar Cerwyn they were all present Lords Umber, Hornwood, KarStark, Manderly and Bolton.

As Eddard waited he chose to talk to Wyman ''Lord Manderly were you successful in your mission '' he said 'yes Lord Stark I was we able to find a safe place to unload troops and supplies' Wyman answered ''were might that be'' Eddard asked 'the Upperlands of House Cuy in the foothills of red mountains at the mouth of the Torrentine' Wyman replied 'but I was able to make contact with lords from the Reach' 'who' Eddard asked 'Randyll Tarly' Wyman replied.

Eddard nodded ''that is good for our war effort what of the ironborn'' he asked, before Wyman could answer Harmen and Ellaria appeared he to the front of the Wierwood ''who comes before the gods'' Eddard called 'Ellaria Sand of Uller' Harmen replied ''and who gives her away'' Eddard called again 'Harmen lord of Hellholt and head of house Uller who takes her' ''Eddard Stark lord of Winterfell and head of House Stark'' 'Ellaria do you take this man' Harmen asked 'I take this man' undoing the banner of House Uller from her shoulder before moving to Eddard Stark put on a much heavier grey cloak. She looked to his cold grey eyes as he fastened the cloak on her shoulders. They looked at each other in the eyes for the first time. Her husband kissed her gently.