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Eddard Stark XI

Winterfell, North, Year 281 AC

Ned was sparring with Brandon in Winterfell's courtyard, to their right was Lyanna who was fighting Benjen and a little further away was Ashara enjoying a conversation with the Cassel brothers. They still hadn't got a reply from Lord Dayne and Ashara was to leave in just a couple of days for Dragonstone in order to help Princess Elia during her childbirth so Ned was quite worried…

And because he was lost in his thoughts, his brother took the opportunity to step on his foot and tussle him to the ground promptly pointing his sword at Ned's neck. "Had this been a real fight and you would be dead, Dumb Wolf," Brandon commented with a serious expression, before offering his hand to him in order to lift him up. "You ought to be more careful, little brother."

"Aye." Ned agreed as he grabbed Brandon's hand and was quick to raise to his feet again. "Sorry."

"I know she is a vision and likely a good fuck…" Brandon began and soon chuckled upon seeing his angry reaction. "But you can't be this distracted in a fight, it can and will cost you your life."

"I'm just…worried about Lord Dayne's answer…" Ned admitted.

"Everything will be alright, brother." Brandon proclaimed while he clapped his back. "Think positively and it will work just fine."

"Aye." Ned nodded as they watched Lyanna and Benjen clash their swords for a bit. Lyanna was usually better than Ben by a large margin but his younger brother was getting better and better by each passing day so an easy win was already impossible for his sister.

But…he was not there yet…Lyanna still managed to beat him by pointing the pointy end of the sword at Ben's neck. "Not bad Ben," she said while she took her helmet off, a smirk on her lips. "But you will need a few more years of practice."

"Gods be damned." Benjen scoffed angrily.

"You are getting better Ben," Ned encouraged. "Lya is struggling more against you. Soon you will be able to defeat her."

Lyanna shook her head in disapproval. "You wish dearest Ned."

"You never know what can happen…" Ned said as he approached his sister. "Ben may just get better than the whole lot of us."

"If you say so…" Lyanna murmured rolling her eyes.

"I say he needs a few more inches of growth…" Brandon added, smirking.

"You are both too cocky!" Ben hissed while Lyanna stuck her tongue out and Brandon laughed. "Meanies…"

"Ah look at Ben imitating your lady love Ned…" Brandon laughed even more. "Best make sure he is not longing for her…"

"I'm not!" Ben hissed.

"Leave him alone, he had his fill of you both for the day," Ned said as he clapped his brother's shoulder. "They are just scared of you Ben."

"No, they are not," Benjen said as he sighed. "I'm worthless…"

"Come on Ben don't be like that, we were just teasing you," Brandon said. "Like Ned said you are getting better and better."

"Not good enough still." Benjen scoffed.

"You don't get good from one day to another, it takes constant practice Pup." Brandon added.

"Brandon is right Benjen." Ashara avowed as she joined the conversation. "It took my brother many years to be worthy of yielding Dawn let alone gain the reputation he has now."

"Cheer up brother." Ned said as he clapped his brother's shoulder once more.

"Come on Ben, I already told you fought well today." Lyanna joined in. "Give us a smile!" she insisted grinning a weird face. "Come on little brother, give me a smile!"

Ben tried to contain himself from smiling but he could not. "Gods be damned!"

"I knew you couldn't resist!" Lyanna teased, tapping his arm with hers.

"Shut up…" Ben scoffed.

"Ned, will you have a go against me?" Lyanna begged. "I want to see how much I need to improve."

"Sure." Ned nodded. "But go easy on me."

"I may think about it…" she said smirking as she placed her helmet back on.

Ned ended up winning the fight but his sister was quite good with the sword and he had to fight without holding back, if he did hold back, Lyanna would be angry. He ended up throwing her to the floor and pointing his sword at her, then he helped her get up and took his helmet only to see his father watching from afar before he walked in. "Father." Ned acknowledged as everyone glanced at the Lord of the North.

"Everyone." His father smiled a shy smile. "A letter from Starfall arrived not even ten minutes ago, you should read it, Ned." His father proclaimed as he extended the letter to him.

Ned was so nervous when he grabbed the letter than he feared fainting somehow…Without wasting more time, as his siblings and Ashara wanted to know the contents of the letter, he began reading the letter.

To the noble and honorable Lord Paramount Rickard Stark of Winterfell, I must express the surprise I felt upon hearing a proposal for my daughter's hand coming from a lord from such a distant land, truly I am mesmerized but by it. Given the prestige of House Stark and how ancient it's line goes in time, I believe that such a marriage is in the best interests of House Dayne as it is from House Stark and as such I give a positive response for it to happen. I would solemnly suggest for the marriage to be consummated at Winterfell as I believe it would make it better for my daughter to adapt to her new residence. Let her also marry by the Old Gods and may they give their blessing. House Dayne will, of course, provide for part of the cost of the wedding feast and with the dowry that we have to decide the value of. I'm much attentive to the date in which My Lord intends the marriage to occur but I must say that I would prefer it to happen after the seventh moon of the next year so I can have everything ready on my part done, so I must ask My Lord to ponder it. I look forward to more news My Lord, Best Regards, Lord Solomon Dayne of Starfall

After finishing reading the letter the first thing he did was to look towards Ashara and then to his father and then to Ashara again. "Ned?" she inquired once she noticed his eyes onto hers. "Did he accept?"

"He did." Ned replied, anticipating Ashara to jump onto him again but this time she simply celebrated by hugging him, likely because his father was there as well and she had to look presentable

"I'm so happy!" Ashara confessed. "We are getting married!"

"We are." Ned celebrated as well.

"Congratulations you two." Lyanna wished and Benjen repeated it soon enough.

"See brother? Didn't I tell you that everything would be fine?" Brandon asked as he clapped his back. "Congratulations to you both."

"Thank you, everyone." Both he and his newly made betrothed wished.

"I suppose I should go write another letter to Lord Dayne so we can set Lady Dayne's dowry and begin planning everything for the big day." His father concluded while he patted Ned's shoulder. "Feel free to continue your practicing in the meantime."

"We will don't worry about it," Brandon assured as he picked Ned's arm. "Let us go for another round, Ned." Their father smiled and left their presence. "I want you more focused this time, I don't want it too easy."

"I will try." Ned avowed. "But you must understand that…"

"Yes, yes…I do understand, Dumb Wolf."

"Wait." Lyanna pleaded. "I…I have something I wish to talk with all of you…" His sister said as she inhaled some air and let it out. "It took some time to gather the courage but…I need this off my head." His sister's expression was grim so he was quite worried. "Your presence would be much appreciated Lady Ashara."

"Of course." Ashara nodded.

Lyanna led them to the Godswood, where there was no one but them. They stood by the Heart Tree, all feeling some sort of anticipation as to what Lyanna wished to talk about. "What is it that you wish to speak about that needs us to be away from everyone?" Asked Brandon. "Lya…what have you done now?"

"I have done nothing!" she quickly barked. "But what I'm about to tell you must not leave the five of us, am I clear Ben?"

"I won't tell it anyone…" Ben assured bitterly. "Don't worry."

"Just tell us whatever you want to tell us!" Brandon barked.

"Fine!" she scoffed. "Have you ever considered why father decided to have you married to Catelyn Tully, brother?"

"Because she is the daughter of a Lord Paramount whose lands border ours." Brandon replied.

"I want you to give some more thought about the Lord Paramount part," Lyanna suggested just as she turned to Ashara. "Perhaps Lady Ashara can help…"

They all looked towards Ashara who simply sighed as if defeated. "Your father is marrying you with Lady Catelyn for an alliance with House Tully."

"What about it?" Brandon asked just as confused as Ned was. "That is why marriages happen most of the time."

"Yes but you must see the bigger picture," Ashara insisted. "Your marriage makes House Stark and House Tully be allies, Lyanna's marriage to Robert Baratheon makes House Stark and House Baratheon allies, and both Ned and Robert were wards of Lord Arryn which means House Arryn is tied to House Stark and Baratheon this way."

"In other words." Lyanna joined in. "There is a big alliance between House Stark, Tully, Baratheon, and Arryn."

"If someone was to declare war on House Stark for example, then all the others would have to join it to fight whoever threatened House Stark." Ashara concluded.

Ned and his brothers were left open-mouthed with what Lyanna and Ashara just said…and the thing was that everything had fundament and made sense…A huge alliance…but what are they planning? "How…" Brandon murmured a bit overwhelmed. "How did you both found this?"

"In Harrenhal…" Lyanna said.

"Harrenhal?" Questioned Ben.

"Yes, Harrenhal which was nothing but folly for Rhaegar Targaryen to gather the support of the lords to call a Great Council to depose his mad father," Lyanna said. "Isn't it right My Lady?"

Once again they turned to Ashara who sighed yet again. "It is…" she agreed. "We were supposed to have a King Rhaegar by now if everything went accordingly to the plan."

"And what was the plan?" Ned asked curiously.

"Rhaegar was to meet the lords, get their support and then win the jousts and crown Elia the Queen of Love and Beauty which was the signal that the council was to be convened." Ashara explained.

"If that was his plan…" Brandon questioned. "Then why the fuck did he crown Lyanna? It makes no sense!"

"I…I heard him speak to Lord Tully and Lord Arryn about his plan in the Godswood two days before the final joust and then when he was gone…" Lyanna began explaining. "I heard Lord Tully suggest to Lord Arryn that they should press Robert's claim to the Iron Throne." she murmured weakly. "I…I panicked…I didn't wish to be Queen…I…"

"Robert?" Ned asked surprised and if he was to confess a bit skeptical of it. "Jon wished to push forward Robert's claim to become King?"

"Yes!" Lyanna insisted. "He is the fourth or fifth in the line of sucession..."

"Are you certain Lya?" Ned insisted as well, it felt really odd that Jon wished Robert of all people to be the King…the same Jon who told Ned many times that he feared the state of the Stormlands in a few years with Robert leading them… "I don't think Jon would want something like that…he knows of Robert's strengths and vices very well and reigning is certainly not one of Robert's qualities…" Ned glanced Ashara for her version since she seemed quite informed. "Do you have anything to add?"

"When Elia demanded an explanation after that…deed…" His betrothed began. "Rhaegar said the exact same thing."

"So you told this to Rhaegar but not to us?" Brandon asked Lyanna angrily. "Us your bloody fucking family?"

"I thought if I told the Prince about it, he would simply lose to Ser Barristan and I wouldn't need to tell you or worry you at all," Lyanna said. "I didn't think that he would still win and crown me!"

"We are your brothers Lya!" Brandon yelled even more. "I might be an arse, aye, but I'm not dumb, Ned is not dumb and neither is Ben. Four bloody heads think better than one! Gods I'm tired of being left in the dark!"

"Calm down Brandon." Ned placed his hand on Brandon's shoulder in hopes to calm him down. "There is no point on ranting her now, the deed is long done."

"Gods be damned!" Brandon roared, before calming down a bit. "I'm sorry Lya…I got…I'm sorry…"

Lyanna sighed and then spared a shy smile. "I would have reacted the same way as you…" she confessed. "I'm sorry for not telling you all anything."

"We are even it seems." Brandon smiled as he called his sister for a hug which she accepted.

"Is there anything you wish to add Ash?" Ned asked, his tone a little defensive for obvious reasons.

"None of us could ever predict such an outcome." Ashara quickly said. "Rhaegar said he was nervous and wasn't thinking properly and because of it he could think about Lyanna and Elia…since he couldn't crown his wife when he won he crowned Lyanna…"

"And you believe him?" Brandon questioned. "It sounds like…I don't know…bullshit?"

"If it's true or not I can't say." Ashara insisted. "I'm just telling you what he told Elia and I heard."

"All the same…" Brandon was not giving up it seemed, it almost seemed as if he wanted Ashara to take the blame or something…

"Even if my opinion of him decreased after Harrenhal for obvious reasons, I still believe he is the best suited to be King and the faster he sits in the throne the better." His betrothed said without flinching. "Aerys is mad, he burns people without a fair trial, he sees enemies in every corner, the atmosphere in the Red Keep is horrible and there are people who expand their influence by exploiting the King's madness, like his Small Council…I honestly don't think the Seven Kingdoms are safe in his or his Small Council's hands." she then moved towards Ned as if she knew he was wary. "You all must understand that this affair had to be a secret and secrets only work when just a small group of people know of it."

"After what you said, then yes the Mad King is a danger." Ned said, trying to support his future despite finding it conflicting as they were trying to depose a King, a mad King yes but a King.

"I…know I'm asking too much but…it would be very important for the realm if you all could convince the members of the alliance we just spoke about to support Rhaegar in deposing his father." Ashara pleaded. "He has his faults but he is still better than his father."

"I'm not going to support him," Brandon quickly said. "But I'm not going to oppose him either."

"That is enough." Ashara nodded. "Thank you."

"But there is something I don't understand…" Ben said. "Why wouldn't father tell us of this alliance and whatever else he is planning?"

"Clearly father doesn't trust us or see us like grown-ups," Brandon stated bitterly. "That must be the reason for it."

"I'm sure he had his reasons to not tell us anything…"

"Stop defending father, Ned." Brandon scoffed. "You know what I'm saying is true."

"But…"

"If he doesn't want to tell us anything, then let him do just that." Concluded an angry Brandon. "I say we all, including Ashara, make a pact right here and right now."

"What are you even talking about Bran?" Lyanna asked confused. "What pack?"

"From this day on, no more secrets between us! From this day on, we look for each other's backs when we are in trouble!" Exclaimed Brandon with determination. "The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives, we are the pack and the pack stays strong."

"The pack stays strong!" Benjen agreed, beaming. "Count me in!"

"See the Pup knows it," Brandon said as he clapped Benjen's shoulder. "What about the rest of you?"

"I'm in too." Lyanna decided. "There are things you can't do alone and I should have learned it sooner."

"And the lovesick birds?" Brandon teased. "Are they joining the pact or not?"

"I'm quite thankful that I'm included in this, as a member of the Pack." His future wife said. "I accept, I will make sure you all know what I know."

With everyone in this pact, Ned sort of felt the pressure to accept it as well not that he saw anything bad with it…he did, however, wish to hear his father and Jon's side of the story. "Aye, count me in."

"Wonderful!" Said Brandon happily. "When the snow falls…"

"And the white wind blows…" Ben added.

"The lone wolf dies…" Added Lyanna.

"But the pack survives." Ned concluded.

"You guys better remember this day," Bran warned. "What we did here."

"Winter is coming!" They all shouted.

Elia Martell III

Dragonstone, Narrow Sea, Year 281 AC

Elia, her ladies-in-waiting, and Baela the wetnurse were happily playing with little Rhaenys and Balerion the kitten. Said kitten was getting more and more protective towards Elia's daughter which Elia found amusing and curious.

"It's a nice and pretty doll little Princess!" Emyly exclaimed with a tiny wooden doll in her hand. "Pretty like a little Princess I know, would you like to play with her?"

Rhaenys was all gleeful as she extended her tiny arms towards the Stony Dornishwoman trying to grab the doll she had in her hands, her little mouth open with amazement and happiness. "Doll!" she muttered as she began walking towards Emy.

"Come on Rhaenys, you can do it darling!" Jasline encored. "Teach that vile Yronwood who she is messing with!"

Her daughter certainly made an effort for it, walking a few inches, but her inexperience proved far too much for her and she fell to the floor, allowing tears to form in the corner of her eyes. "Doll…"

"Oh, sweetheart!" Elia exclaimed worriedly while picking her girl up. "It's okay darling, Emy is going to give you the doll all the same, won't she?" Elia glanced the blonde Dornishwoman with a smile.

"Of course she is!" Emyly assured as she gave the little doll to Rhaenys who immediately stopped crying. "Emy is a very good girl."

"Mo-mo!" The girl shouted happily at Elia. "Mo-mo!"

"She seems to be almost there, Elia," Nysah said with a shy smile. "It's almost a mommy or a mom."

"It does seem like an improvement." Elia agreed happily. She was patiently waiting for the day her daughter would call her mother or mommy or momma or mom…honestly she cared not for which one her daughter chose, she just wanted to hear one of them. She wanted to be recognized for her effort.

A knock on the door was heard and the authorization seemed to not be needed for the person who knocked quickly entered, showing himself to be her husband. Immediately the air inside Rhaenys' room became heavier and tenser.

"My Ladies." Rhaegar politely said with a shy smile. "I came to see my daughter and have a conversation with my lady wife."

The girls and Baela looked at Elia warily but she spared them an assuring smile. "It's okay everyone, we just a need a small family moment." Soon after her words, the room had no one but her, her husband and their daughter. Oh, and of course Balerion…she almost forgot the cute kitten…

"May I hold her?" he asked.

"Of course." Elia nodded as she placed her daughter in her father's arms. "She is your daughter after all."

"How is my little dragon doing?" Rhaegar inquired with a shy smile on his face but their daughter looked at him with wary eyes. "It seems she does not remember me…"

"She is but one nameday old Rhaegar, she doesn't remember half the things." Elia dismissed. "And we have been away from her for almost four moons because of Harrenhal."

"You are right…" Rhaegar admitted while giving Rhaenys back to her. "Maybe in due time, she will recognize us better."

"I do hope so." Elia nodded.

"And how is the pregnancy going?" he asked. "Is everything alright with you?"

"It is," Elia replied. "The pregnancy is going as well as it can go. Dragonstone is calmer than King's Landing so I'm calmer too."

"Wonderful."

"I imagine you have something else to talk about…" Elia questioned.

"I do." he nodded as he took a seat in a chair. "I…I wish to know what do you think we should do to regain the lords' support after Harrenhal."

"That is a very good question." Elia murmured as she placed down Rhaenys on her crib. Had you lost to Ser Barristan and we would not be in this situation. "Ashara had a very interesting idea." Elia said as she cooed Rhaenys' little belly, prompting the girl to giggle.

"And what would that idea be?" Her husband asked.

"She intends to marry Lord Stark's second son, Eddard," Elia explained. "She fell in love with him at Harrenhal."

"I'm aware of it," Rhaegar said. "I found it strange when she was not with us during our return to King's Landing so I inquired Arthur about it and so I learned everything. I must confess that I did notice how much she fancied the Stark at Harrenhal."

"Such marriage can very well be the key to what you seek." Elia proclaimed. "I'm sure you know why."

"Eddard Stark is a son of Lord Stark, a foster son of Lord Arryn, from what I have seen a friend of my cousin Robert and also future son-in-law to Lord Tully." Rhaegar listed and she nodded. "A key piece indeed…four kingdoms we lost and can regain…"

"It is a simple but efficient plan I must say," Elia said. "And Ashara is more than willing to help in this case."

"It certainly seems to be…" Rhaegar admitted. "Lady Ashara's cunning never ceases to amaze me."

Elia felt the same way about her friend. Ashara always had a very sharp mind that most didn't bother to see, most just cared about her god-like beauty, but below the pretty face was a big brain…The fact that she came with such a simple yet efficient solution whilst everyone was still shocked by Rhaegar's deed, proved this. And of course, one can't forget the spy network she built in less than three years, it wasn't large but it was trustworthy, allowing her to be a step ahead of schemes.

"So what do you make of the plan?" Elia questioned curiously. "Does it suit you?"

"It's going to take quite some time to be enforced, that is if assume both Lord Stark and Lord Dayne accept it..." Rhaegar said. "But I guess it will have to do."

"We can always begin doing something else in the meantime," Elia suggested. "You could write to Lord Stark apologizing about your deed and explaining the situation…I'm sure he will understand…"

"That may be necessary." he agreed. "But I also intend to make a quick trip to Summerhall…I shall leave in the morrow."

Had she not known that Summerhall was still little more than ruins with just a hand full of servants working to restore it she would certainly feel threatened by her husband's obsession with it but alas she was not. "What about our child's birth?"

"You don't need to worry about it Elia, I will be here before it begins, I promise you." he insisted.

"I hope so…" she whispered. "Be careful…"

"I will," he assured with a nod. "I shall see you later then."

ms ladyaries08: It seems I did a good job with the characters since you have interpreted everything the way I intended.

I decided to have the confirmation of the marriage in just one POV so it doesn't get too repetitive. This Ned's POV already existed but I fixed the dialogues, added Ashara to said dialogues and the Stark pact.

Elia's POV is not new either, the dialogue was fixed just as some plot-holes that existed.

Thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.