Eddard Stark

The Bite, 282 AC

They had been sailing for almost two days and according to the old man, they still needed three more to reach White Harbor, if the winds were good to them of course…

He was still shaken by the way he had to separate from Brooding but he couldn't bring his trusty horse with him anymore…at least Brooding would help the old man's family.

Ashara's company was the only thing that seemed to hold him together in those dark times…his father unjustly killed, his brother a prisoner in the Red Keep, his sister held somewhere, his younger brother alone at Winterfell calling the banners for him to lead into a war…he was never meant for this…Brandon should be the one leading the banners to rescue Ned and not the other way around…

So he held her tightly in his embrace every chance he got so at least he could forget all these worries for just a little bit. She always smiled to him when he embraced her, that lovely smile of hers.

"Ya two are highborn aren't ya?" Asked the old man with a smile but none of them gave him an answer. "Come on fellas, I ain't telling to no one."

"We are." Ned finally replied not without receiving an angry glance from Ashara.

"I figured as much." Said the old man. "A Northmen's look, a Northmen's horse and a Northmen's accent…you are Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell aren't ya?"

"How did you know?" he questioned surprised at the old man's words.

"Everyone knows that Milord was a ward at Lord Arryn's." Explained the old man. "Even if it forces most of us smallfolk to go to war, I do feel sorry for ya father and siblings."

"I did not wish for this war," Ned confessed with a deep sigh. "I don't want to waste innocent lives but my own is at risk and it isn't just highborn Aerys is burning and killing unfairly, the smallfolk suffer the most."

"All m' life I have lived under Targaryen rule and never saw a King as mad as this one, I will give ya that." Avowed the old man. "I was born in the reign of King Aerys the First, I was six when he died, I saw the reigns of King Maekar, his son Aegon the Fifth and the father of the current King, Jaehaerys the Second." Explained the old man. "I have lived almost seventy namesdays and I don't think I have many more to spare, so it doesn't mean much to me if this is one is deposed or not."

"Seventy namesdays is very long life…" Ashara murmured.

"I wish m' daughter, her husband, m' grandson and both of ya as well to live as much if not more." The old man said with a smile. "Are you two perhaps husband and wife?"

"Unfortunately no…" Ashara replied saddened. "We are just betrothed..."

"Ya both look good together." The old man said amused. "Milady is beautiful and Milord Stark seems like a nice lad for a maid such as yourself."

"He is my sweet Quiet Wolf," Ashara explained to the man while patting Ned's cheek. "I love him very much."

"I have always heard the highborn don't marry for love but for alliances." Said the old man. "It's nice ya two prove me wrong."

"I thought I would someday be sold as a broodmare to some lord but I'm glad it all turned up well and I will be more than that." Ashara further elaborated, seemingly to lose her initial distrust for the old man.

"I'm glad too, no woman deserves to be just a broodmare." The old man nodded with a smile. "I ain't so glad about those black clouds coming in our way though…"

Ned glanced said clouds and Gods they were pure black…he immediately got a bad feeling emanating from them going down his spine…

"Let's hope they don't come in our direction…" Ashara muttered while glancing the clouds too…

Her wishes were not heard though…

The clouds came in their direction and a huge storm hit them hard right after. The waves became gigantic monsters and the winds very strong and unstable, it was pouring with rain too. The boat was still sailing but the waves were way too large.

"Seven take me!" Muttered the old man worried. "This ain't going to end prettily…"

"There must be something we can do?" Ashara asked concerned.

"Stay down milady." The old man commanded. "I just need to shift the ship's direction to get the winds to blow on its sail."

"Isn't that risky?" Ned asked concerned with the old man's safety.

"Aye, I might die while at it," he said. "But another moon or not doesn't really matter by now, I'm ready to go and meet ma Betha again."

"But…"

"Stay down ya two!" The old man commanded of them both. "If I don't make it, it was nice to meet ya both and I hope ya both manage to escape and live long." he said smiling apparently ready to die...

The old man moved towards the rudder of the boat and began stirring it, however, the sudden movement of the boat when a huge wave was ready to hit them made the fisherman fall in the water and disappear in a blink of an eye…Rest in peace, old man…

"By the Seven!" Ashara screamed in agony as she saw the old man disappear. "By the Seven…"

"We need to stir the boat as he said." Ned told her.

"You can't be serious Ned!" she screamed in utter agony. "You can be taken as well!"

"I know but if I don't do it, we both died anyway." he protested. "But if I succeed we can both live some more!"

"Ned…" she began to cry but he had to do it…I'm sorry Ashara…

So he stood up and crouched as he walked as safely as he could, holding to the side of the boat, he managed to get hold of the rudder and began turning the ship's direction to be received the wind from behind as the old man wanted.

The waves were strong in their decision to force them to drown but he was determinate on fooling their plans. I'm not dying here.

Finally, after much struggle, he managed to fully change the ship's direction and now they were finally sailing at full speed out of the bloody storm. At least he hoped they were…

He then turned to Ashara who was terrified and gave her a smile of assurance. It was then he noticed a huge wave coming in her way, he spared no expenses and ran towards her and managed to pull her away from the huge wave's path and brought her back to the rudder and the sail.

Where she had stood, the boat was full of water and was damaged…a few more like that one and the ship would definitely sink…

He couldn't even think what would happen if he didn't grab her in time…she would be dead by now…drowned in the bloody sea…Gods I should never have brought her with me…

He saw her completely terrified, shaking from the cold, the wetness and the fear…they said nothing but he embraced her from behind, covering her back with his body and made effort to cover both of them with the wet and ruined cloaks he had in his back. Her braid was ruined and her large hair was now a mess, he shouldn't be too different either…

He hugged her as much as he could and did not let go of her, he prayed for the Gods to have mercy on them, to spare them…or at least her…while they endured the storm…

A few minutes later, he was barely able to stay awake…he was still tired from the lack of sleep in the previous days before embarking and even knowing he couldn't sleep in the middle of a storm, he couldn't stop it in the end…

The next thing he remembered was that he was somehow at Winterfell's Godswood, near the Heart Tree. How the hell did I get here? He asked himself. Where is Ashara?

"Ashara is safe, dearest Ned." A feminine voice said. "You don't need to worry about her."

Ned turned towards the woman who was speaking and saw what at first glance he thought was Lya, but older and a little bit taller…he had seen her somewhere…but where? That was a good question…

The woman got visually pissed most likely because he failed to recognize her. "So you don't recognize me, Ned?"

"My Lady I…"

"Take a good look." she insisted. "Take a very good look."

He tried to remember who she was because apparently, they had met…she looked like Lya with a similar face and hair but her eyes were icy blue like Benjen's, her voice even when seemingly pissed was calm and sweet…the dearest, Ned…no…it couldn't be her… "Mother?"

When he saw that smile he remembered, he knew he was right. "It's indeed me dearest Ned," she commented. "I'm your mother."

He forgot everything and just ran towards her to embrace the mother he didn't see for years. "Mother…" he said while tears began falling from his eyes. "I missed you so much…"

"I know sweetheart, I know…" she cooed. "I have been watching you ever since I closed my eyes for the final time…"

"You have?" he asked as if he turned into the five-year child he was when she died.

"Yes I have," she assured him while she patted his cheek before she eyed him from up and down. "I have been meaning to tell you for a long time…that you look like a true handsome Northmen!"

"You think so?" he asked, doubting her a bit. "I don't think I'm handsome but…"

"I know so!" she interrupted him. "And don't you dare contradict me!" she insisted while she continued patting his cheek. "I would have messed your hair like I used to do but you are way too big for that now…"

He smiled at the comment. "Aye…I did get big…" he agreed. "I hope that…that I have grown into…what you imagine I would…"

"Oh yes you did and more," she assured. "A responsible, kind, sweet and honorable man, all the qualities a mother wishes in her son."

"I'm too quiet still."

"Not too quiet…" she said with a smirk while patting his shoulder with hers. "To find yourself such a pretty bride, heh?"

"Mother!"

"You have my permission to marry her." Said his mother with a big smirk. "She makes you bolder and I love that. You need a woman like that in your life, she isn't just a beauty to be contemplated, but I know you already know that."

"She is gorgeous indeed…" he agreed. "But she is smart, resourceful and kind…she is perfect."

"You both make a wonderful couple together." His mother nodded in approval. "And once you arrive at Winterfell, I want you to marry her right here in this very spot." she was pointing towards the Heart Tree.

"But mother…"

"No buts Ned!" His mother hissed at him. "She came with you to be with you and you almost lost her in the storm, marry the girl already!"

"But what if I die during the war?" he asked. "She will be branded as a traitor…"

"If she feared to be branded as a traitor, she wouldn't have followed you, would she? And why in the Seven Hells did you brought her otherwise?" His mother dismissed. "It pains me to see you all be branded as traitors when you all did nothing bad, but I know none of you is going to die, I know so."

"I…"

"Every Stark has the wolf blood within them. Some like me, Bran and Lya show it more often but others like you, your father and Ben let it out in certain times when they need it, so I want you to free the wolf blood you have in you and marry her to make me a proud mother."

He gave it some thought and really…why not? He was betrothed with her already, she was with him, by the looks of it when the official date of their marriage arrived, they would certainly be in the war…if he wasn't dead by then already…so at least if he did…they were married…

"See?" His mother questioned with a smile while she clapped his back. "You have to enjoy life, live before you die, dearest Ned."

"You can read my mind?" he asked aghast.

"Oh I can do all sorts of creepy things now," she said smirking. "Like appearing behind you when you least expect it…" she murmured in his hear after disappearing and getting behind him.

"Okay…" he murmured shaken by this…

"Don't worry, I didn't watch you making love to her…" she murmured. "I left after the kisses and…"

"Mother!"

"I'm sorry!" she pleaded. "It's not my fault…"

"Gods…I can't make love to her again without thinking about you being there…staring…" he confessed as he began imagining the whole scene.

"Anyway…you got my point now…" His mother said. "And whatever happens afterward dearest Ned, stay true to your word." For some reason, she stressed the word your…but why?

"I will…" he assured her.

"I guess my job is done here son." she said with a sad smile.

"Wait!" he begged. "What about Brandon and Lyanna?"

"They are alive." she sighed. "I would tell you everything if I could, but I'm already pushing my boundaries here…"

"I…understand…" he sighed, at least he knew his siblings were alive. "It was wonderful to see you again mother…"

She smiled a big smile and came towards him with her arms opened to embrace him. "Oh my dearest Ned, it's was wonderful to speak to you again my wonderful son," she said while tears fell from her eyes. "It saddens me that I can't see you saying the marriage vows in person, but know that I will be there watching and your father too."

"I know mother." he nodded as his tears were falling too. "Tell father I'm going to avenge him and save Bran and Lya."

"I will son," she assured him by kissing his cheeks. "Take care."

"Before you go…are you a ghost or just my conscience?"

"I'm whatever you think I am," she replied smiling. "Goodbye, my dearest Ned…take care, my love."

"Goodbye, mother…"

He woke up...around him was only water but the sky was bright blue in contrast with the dark sky he remembered, there were no signs of the terrible storm…Thank the Gods…

He felt movement in his arms…it was his Shining Star…she was alive just as he…Thank the Gods…

"Ned?" she called.

"Yes?"

"Are we alive?"

"We are," he assured her by planting a kiss on her cheek. "We survived…"

She let out a big sigh. "Thank the Gods for their mercy."

"Thank the Gods indeed."

"I was so worried when I saw the old man be thrown away…" she confessed. "When you got up I thought the same would happen to you."

"When I saw that wave coming for you…I almost had a stroke…"

"We could have died from heart attacks it seemed…" she said smiling a weak smile. "Gods I must look like a bloody mess…"

She did look like a bloody mess…her hair was worse than Lya's when she was a child her clothes were ruined by the wetness and her face looked like she went to the Seven Hells and returned…still…Ashara Dayne wasn't made to be anything less than beautiful. "You do…" he agreed. "But so do I."

"Yes, you look like you into the Seven Hells and returned."

"Can you read my mind too?" he asked surprised.

"No," she asked confused. "Why?"

"I had a weird dream…where I somehow met my mother in Winterfell's Godswood…"

"Really?"

"Yes…she said she was proud of what I became…"

"She should be." she assured him while patting his cheek just his mother and he in his turn grabbed her hand.

"She also said…she liked you and give us her blessing to marry…"

"Really?" she asked as if somehow she didn't believe it but still liked it. "That's certainly nice to hear."

"She wants us to marry as soon as we arrived at Winterfell, in the Godswood." he further explained. "She thinks that because we are in war…that we will not be able to marry when it was planned and it would be better if we do when we arrive."

Her expression got much brighter and her smile grew bigger. "If it is your mother's wish then who am I to refuse?" Ashara stated excitedly. "I would marry you here if she wished."

"I don't think that marrying in a boat is a good idea…" he laughed.

"I was just joking Ned." she laughed too. "Wait…is that land?" she began pointing at a black spot in the horizon. "There is land there Ned!"

"It must be land…" Ned nodded, certainly happy with the sight. "Though it's still far away…we might only get there by tomorrow…"

"As long as we make it land…" she began. "I don't care when."

"I would want to reach land before we starve…" he pointed out.

"Well, that too." she nodded in agreement. "It would suck if we died from starvation or thirst after what we just survived…"

"It would…"

She hugged him tightly and didn't let him go and he hugged her back for they had survived, they would endure it somehow…he knew they would.

By the afternoon of the next day, they moored the boat in a rocky shore. Their time alone was brought to an end when a group of armed men came in their direction. He brought Ashara closer to him just in case something bad was to happen…he still had a dagger if things turned south…

"Is there a problem Sers?" he asked with a considerable distance between them.

"Who are ya?" Asked one of the soldiers.

"A traveler." Ashara replied.

"And you woman?" They quickly turned to her.

"We came in me Pa's fishing boat," she said in a weird accent, trying to imitate the old man's daughter. "But me Pa was taken by the waves of a bloody storm that hit us."

"And where did y'all wish to go?"

"White Harbor," Ashara replied. "We mean no harm, we just aren't able to use the boat anymore…"

"Every traveler has to see Lord Borrell." Informed another soldier as Ned quickly got worried after hearing the name Borrell, they were in the Three Sisters…they made a huge turn east… "He will decide if allows ya both to leave or not."

"Certainly." Ned replied as the soldiers began escorting them to meet their lord.

Ashara came by his ear and whispered something. "Isn't House Borrell…one of the former pirate lords of the Vale?"

"Aye."

"Gods…" she murmured worried and he couldn't agree more with her. Their trip began so well and now…now it was getting worse and worse by the second...

They were brought to Breakwater the castle of House Borrell, a medium sized castle partially built on huge stone arches that stood proudly against the waves of the Bite. They crossed a bridge built on a black rock that Ned thought was basalt with an iron portcullis that seemed to be in need of being replaced sometime soon…

The Great Hall of the castle was dark…there were few torches and a feeling of unease fell through Ned's spine. A white spider crab on a grey-green field, the sigil of House Borrell, was embroidered on a large banner above the hall's hearth while seated in a stone chair was who he thought to be Lord Garibald Borrell.

Lord Borrell was a large man with massive shoulders and white hair in his cheeks and chin but bald where the hair should be, the man wasn't such a pleasure to glance upon and beside him, his son Godric as Ned believed the man was called, wasn't much better either.

"Who are these two?" Asked Lord Borrel while he glanced them both but Ashara he glanced more…

"A traveler and fisherman's daughter who apparently lost her father in the storm that passed." Explained one of the soldiers.

"What's your name traveler?" Asked Lord Borrell.

He hesitated to reply but he had too. "A traveler Milord." Ashara insisted.

"I asked him and not you woman!" Barked Lord Borrell. "You better watch your tone!"

"Eddard Stark…" Ned replied as he didn't wish for anything to happen to her.

"I thought as much…" Said Lord Borrell with an angry look. "The colors you wear…the look you have…it screamed Stark to me and I hate Starks…"

"I understand My Lord's people have no love for House Stark," Ned said as he remembered the version that circulated in the Vale of King Theon the First's conquest of the Three Sisters. "But I beg you to let us go White Harbor, we aren't King Theon's men."

"Milord." Called the Maester while looking towards him with sneaky eyes. "King Aerys demanded his head and I believe we should deliver it to earn His Grace's favor and payment."

"However." Lord Borrell stopped the Maester from talking. "The Rebels took Gulltown with minimum casualties as the raven that Lord Arryn sent said."

Hearing that Jon managed to score a victory made his heart jump with happiness if not for just a single moment.

"I don't know who is going to win Lord Stark…but I want you out of here by this time tomorrow." Lord Borrell commanded and frankly, he didn't wish to spend any more than the absolute necessary time there. "There is a Pentoshi merchant with a decently large ship that intends to sail to White Harbor tomorrow." Lord Borrell explained. "Godric here will take you there."

"Thank you My Lord…" he nodded in respect.

"Don't thank me Stark." The lord dismissed. "I said and I shall say it again, I hate Starks and Northmen."

"Of course My Lord…"

"I also trust you shall remain quiet about your staying here in case the Rebellion fails." Lord Borrell pointed out.

"I swear it by the Old Gods and the New that I will not say anything about this day." Ned bowed in respect.

"Godric, go on with it." Lord Borrell commanded.

"Aye father." Godric Borrell said. "Follow me, Northerner."

He managed to meet the Pentoshi captain in a local tavern later that night and said captain agreed on sailing them to White Harbor in his ship.

In the meantime, Ashara secured a room, food, and drinks with the little money they had brought and some servants prepared them two baths so they could wash all their filth from their huge trip.

When he got out of his bath and cleaned himself from the water, he laid down next to Ashara who was already in bed, and as he did, she wrapped herself around him.

"Ned…don't leave me…" she begged. "Don't leave me…"

He gave her an assuring smile. "I won't leave you, my Shining Star, my soon to be wife."

She smiled and they kissed each other, allowing their foreheads to touch each other and fell asleep like little babies.

The next morning, they rose early and boarded the ship, a much larger ship compared to the old man's and began their way to White Harbor…hopefully without more problems now…hopefully…

So I mixed the entire "Trip on the Bite" together in a rather big chapter, the next Ned and Ashara scene will be happening in White Harbor. I hope the scenes were enjoyable.

Also, I wanted to include Lyarra the Mother of the Wolves in this story in some scenes and she might return...

The next chapter will be happening between the days that this one happens to explain what is happening in some other areas with some other characters, including Lyanna.

Like always thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.