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Brandon Stark IV

Barrowton, North, Year 282 AC

Brandon and Ned were now trotting through the streets of Barrowton on their way to Barrow Hall, the seat of House Dustin. The reason was simple, Brandon's best friend Willam was getting married to Barbrey Ryswell and they were representing House Stark in the ceremonies.

Barrowton was a small town, about the size of Winter Town during Winter, but it was definitely smaller than White Harbor. Most of its houses were made of wood and low-quality stone, the streets were straight and board, enough to let two horse wagons pass through without much problem and some of them were paved.

Barrow Hall wasn't such a big and intimidating castle as other northern castles were. Its walls were made of wood just as the square towers in which sentries stood in vigil. The Great Keep was made of hard stone though, squared as well with the austerity of the North written all over it. The catch of House Dustin's holdfast was that it was built on the Great Barrow, the largest hill in the zone. Cavalry was useless against it for obvious reasons, the top of the hill allowed for a good vantage point and one should not forget that House Dustin was amongst the five strongest houses of the North, they could field some three to four thousand men and hold the castle for a year or two if not even more.

Inside the walls, he and Ned met some of the stewards who lead them to the stables to let the horses rest from the hard trip, said stables were full of horses due to the wedding. House Dustin was a family that praised all horses since they were a livelihood for the family. They were constantly competing against House Ryswell to see who had the better ones and while Brandon was a ward here, he learned everything he knew about horses.

Brandon then led Ned through the wood stairs that allowed one to reach the Great Hall. He knew every bit of Barrow Hall, even hidden passages and all that nonsense. As he and his brother walked around, memories from his times as a kid came back, playing around with Willam, Jeffory, and Kyle...good times...

They found Willam by the entrance, greeting the guests and he was certainly happy to see them approach. "Bran and Ned!" he said proudly. "It's good that you came!"

"It's good to be here Willam." Brandon replied as they both embraced in a brotherly hug. Willam was Brandon's best friend which was why everything was being so hard for him…

"Congratulations Willam," Ned said as they embraced into a brotherly hug as well. "You are a lucky man, Barbrey is a beauty."

"Thank you, Ned," Willam said with an amusing smile. "She is indeed a beauty, but…I bet you will marry one yourself heh?" Willam was giving Ned an elbow touch as he said this, to tease the Dumb Wolf. Brandon and Willam began laughing at Ned's flushed face.

"My father accepted our proposal and so did her father," Ned explained. "Now we are waiting for everything to be fully ready and for the special day to arrive."

"That's good Quiet Wolf!" Willam while clapping Ned's back. "Soon we will see an army of brooding Neds hunting you down, heh Bran?"

"Why does everyone keep bringing that to the talk?" Brandon chuckled.

"Because it's amusing." Willam replied laughing.

"By the way," Brandon began. "The rest of House Stark sends their regards for a happy and prosperous marriage, may it be blessed by lots of children."

"And House Dustin thanks it of course." Willam nodded. "Tell your father that."

"Will do." Brandon nodded.

"How is Lord Dustin?" Ned inquired. "I heard he is not well…"

"He is not well at all…" Willam confessed with an uneasy look that made Brandon shiver. Lord Garth Dustin wasn't that old of a man, but he hadn't been that healthy ever since Brandon was fourteen and it seemed his health deteriorated by each passing month…Last time Brandon saw the Old Dustin, the man could barely leave his bed…Lord Dustin had been like a second father to Brandon, teaching him many things about life, so this pained him dearly. "Sharley and I think he might die soon, yet he insists on seeing my marriage…and would have loved to see her marriage as well but…there is no proposal for her hand yet."

"It's sad…" Brandon murmured. It could have been Ned had things gone differently…but Sharley was comely and would definitely attract suitors in no time.

"Aye…" Willam agreed. "But he wouldn't want for us to talk about it would he?"

"No, I don't think so…" Brandon agreed. Lord Dustin had always been a jovial man who made everyone laugh with his japes, he hated to see serious faces in his presence. He always said if you don't smile then best not live as life is hard but one should not let it defeat him. Brandon always took this advice to the heart and made it his way of life.

Willam gestured for a servant to come. "Take them to the guys' table." Willam commanded.

"The guys are here?" Brandon inquired with a smile. "This ought to be fun."

"All of them except Elbert." Willam said.

"Did something bad happen to Elbert?" Ned asked concerned and so was Brandon.

"He apparently got sick after Harrenhal…flu it seems..." Willam explained whilst rubbing his chin. "Lord Arryn sent a letter saying he was too weak to attend the wedding but that he was recovering slowly."

"Hopefully he recovers quickly without permanent damage." Brandon muttered. Sometimes flu meant death and others it left nasty scars in one's voice and whatnot. Elbert was his former squire and a good friend so he hoped everything would be alright with him.

"Aye." Agreed Willam.

"Anyway, we look forward to seeing you getting pledged." Said Brandon with a shy smile.

"Me too." Said Willam with an uneasy smile. He was nervous…I will likely be as well when I marry…

The servant brought them to where Jon Umber, Ethan Glover, Jeffory Mallister, Kyle Royce and Edrick Tallhart were having a merry time. "Look!" Jon Umber shouted happily. "The Starks grace us, everyone!"

"Jon!" Brandon shouted when he felt his back being crushed... "How long has it been?"

"Far too long Bran!" Jon Umber began laughing a booming laugh. "And Gods Ned is here too!" Jon went on to crush Ned.

"Aye…nice to see you, Jon..." Ned murmured with an uncomfortable expression. "Please…mercy…"

"Oh…sorry…I got…carried away…" Jon muttered before beginning his laugh again. "It has been a while since we last saw each other I got excited."

"Thank you for the consideration, Jon." Ned muttered as he recomposed himself for the bear hug.

Brandon and Ned went to greet the others with handshakes. While enjoying a pleasant conversation with his friends, Brandon saw Lord Rodrik Ryswell speaking with Lord Roose Bolton. Seems Lord Ryswell fully turned his eyes to House Bolton now...He also noticed Bethany, Barbrey's sister and Roose's wife having a pleasant talk with her brother Mark while holding her baby in her hands. Not too far were their younger siblings fighting each other…as always…bloody kids…

Finally, after a while, everyone was called to the Godswood. Brandon and Ned took a seat next to Jeffory and watched as Old Lord Dustin was brought in by both Willam and Sharley in some sort of wheelchair…he looked awful…pale as snow, gaunt and agonized…it hurt Brandon quite a lot to see the man like that…Gods…

William then moved to the front of the Heart Tree, waiting for Barbrey to arrive. He didn't wait long, Barbrey came embraced in her father's arm who moved with pride. She wore a sky blue kirtle, followed by a surcoat made of white wool with very long sleeves, she had a vair to complement her dress and cloak of furs with her house's sigil on top because it was very cold outside.

Barbrey was definitely beautiful, no one could deny that. She had crystal-like blue eyes, brown hair, a beautiful face with a few freckles around the nose, her body shape was very womanly and proud, unlike the wenches he usually found in brothels. And…it had been Brandon the one who took her maidenhead…He had been young and drunk that day, none of them were pledged to anyone and frankly, he did not regret that well passed night, she wasn't his first and certainly wasn't his last. She had been attracted to him for quite some time, he knew that much, and her father did nothing to stop her advances, hoping to have her married to either him or Ned. But of course, father had other plans for him…and so he was betrothed to Catelyn. Not that he had any wish of marrying Barbrey in the first place…

He still remembered when he first met her again after the announcement, how she cried in his arms and begged him to run away with her to be married, but Brandon wasn't that stupid, how would they live if they did run away? And why should he do that with a woman he didn't love? She was just a conquest…

"Who comes before the Gods tonight?" Mark Ryswell asked.

But it didn't stop from hurting…now…

"Lady Barbrey of House Ryswell comes here to be wed, a noblewoman, trueborn and flowered." Said Lord Ryswell with a proud smile. "Who claims her?"

Was it jealously? Mayhaps…

"I, Lord Willam of House Dustin." Replied Willam with a strong voice. "Who gives her?"

"I, Lord Rodrik of House Ryswell, Lord of the Rills."

But most likely…

"Barbrey do you take this man?" Asked Mark.

"I do."

"Willam do you take this woman?"

"I do."

It was the shame for feeling nothing for women except a will to put a cock onto them. It was stupid really…women were more than that…

Lord Ryswell let go of his daughter, allowing Willam to switch her cloak to House Dustin's cloak. Then, both of them knelt to pray for a full minute, before rising again and sealing their union with a kiss on the lips.

They then led the guests inside so the feast could start. Brandon felt a little happy because he knew Willam loved Barbrey and she would be happy with him. Hopefully forgetting Brandon forever…that was his wish…

Inside they had some fun with Jon's japes because he particularly wasn't too excited that night. Sharley, Willam's sister came in to ask Ned for a dance, which his brother accepted. Brandon wondered how Ashara would react to one of Ned's former crushes stealing him away for a dance…Especially knowing that Sharley did have a slight attraction towards Ned as he heard Willam say once. Would Ashara show the strong personality the Dornishwomen were famous for? Probably yes…she was a willful woman…with a very sharp tongue too…

He took interest in Ned and Sharley's dance, Ned still sucked at dancing…a hopeless Dumb Wolf in that regard…He then noticed Sharley whispering some words to Ned's ear and then Ned whispering some to hers…then they both smiled and she whispered some more and then the music ended with both of them nodding in respect. What just happen there? Ned returned and took a seat next to him again, likely ready to hear some japes from Jon. "What happened there?" Brandon inquired, grabbing his brother's attention.

"Willam is apparently like Ben and told Sharley I found a beautiful woman that I expected to marry and she asked if it was true, which I said it was and that my father had given me permission to marry her," Ned said. "She then congratulated me and I ask for her to keep it a secret and she replied that she wasn't William with a smile." Sharley must have either lost interest in him or just saw she had no chance with Ned now…She was beautiful but Ned only had eyes for Ashara…

Jon Umber got up from his seat, all of a sudden. "My Lords!" he roared. "I say it's time for the bedding!"

"BEDDING! BEDDING!" The male guests shouted.

In less than a brief moment, a huge crowd of men circled Barbrey while Jon Umber picked her up as if she a dead squirrel or something of the sort, the females were less in number and just led Willam around while undressing him and making bold comments while giggling. Both Ned and he remained seated where they were and this, of course, made Ned worried, because this wasn't the way Brandon usually was. "Bran?" Ned asked.

"What?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" His brother insisted.

"Yes."

"Aren't you partaking in the bedding?" Ned inquired. "You usually like to…"

"Do you think it would be a wise idea for the man who took Barbrey's maidenhead to join in her bedding?" Brandon retorted. "I think not."

"Yes…you are right…it would be a bit…awkward…" Ned admitted.

"Besides I'm rather depressed today." he confessed. Ned was good at listening, maybe he could make him feel a little better?

"Why?" Came the question.

"It's just…why can't I feel anything for women except that I want to fuck them?" Brandon questioned confused. "Am I a cunt?"

"I doubt that you are a cunt Bran," Ned dismissed. "I just think that you haven't tried to love a woman before."

Well, Ned was indeed right in that regard…he never tried to love a woman…maybe that was the problem, maybe this all was unnecessary thoughts… "I guess you are right…" he sighed. "I'm to marry Catelyn…she is beautiful and kind, maybe I can grow to love her…the way you love Ashara…"

"Since you will have to marry her, you should indeed try to make it more bearable." Ned agreed. "By your words, it doesn't seem too hard to love her."

"It does not…" Brandon agreed. And it came to him…if he fucked so many women, did by any chance one of them gave birth to a child of his? So far none came forward, but maybe they were afraid…he was the heir to the North after all…he never raped a woman, he didn't need to do that, but still… "Still…it sounds weird…getting married…"

"If I'm to be honest…even if I love Ashara with all of my heart…I'm still afraid of life after the marriage…worried if I will be a good and worthy husband, a good father if the Gods bless us with children…" His brother confessed. "But then again…I'm sure Ashara and Catelyn feel the same way as us."

"None of us has ever been married before so yes..." Brandon chuckled. "You know what? We are different from each other in many regards and yet by the end of the day, we aren't that much…"

"Perhaps not…"

"I'm a better horse rider though." Brandon quickly said.

"Lyanna is better than you." Ned murmured with a smirk.

"She is not!" he hissed. "She never won a race against me!"

"She did…"

"Okay…maybe once or twice…" Brandon admitted while rolling his eyes. "Perhaps thrice…maybe four…seven…ten…but I still won more times than her!"

"Yes, Brandon…" Ned was showing him a smirk, the bastard! "I know, I know…"

"Dumb Wolf…"

"It doesn't change what I just said…" That made Brandon laugh loudly and Ned soon followed as they began patting each other's backs. Whatever happens, I still have Ned with me, Ned, Lya and Ben, the Pack.

Rhaegar Targaryen II

Summerhall, Stormlands, Year 282 AC

Summerhall's reconstruction was going smoothly even when he had cut its budget to pay for part of the tourney. The left building was mostly rebuilt and had some bedrooms available if one wished to spend the night in the castle, a kitchen area was also improvised in that same building and servants were working there already albeit very few.

Rhaegar had first visited the castle where he was born when he was twelve. He loved to lay down by the grass and just stare at the sky for hours both at day and night, he had some weird attraction to it that he could not really explain. At times he thought it could be magic lurking around but it was unlikely. A few years later he met Jenny's Wood Witch as Ser Gerold called her, an albino and dwarf woman with red eyes who had been a very good friend of the late Jenny of Oldstones. The Lord Commander had thought her dead in the Tragedy yet she had survived somehow and was grieving her friend Jenny.

From Ser Gerold's account, his Lord father the King had little love for the woman as it had been her who made grandfather Jaehaerys marry both of his children, Rhaegar's parents to each other after she prophesied that the Prince who was Promised from the legends would come from both of their lines, so they kept her survival a secret lest to provoke the anger of the King. The Witch remained by Summerhall, she built a small hut of her own and every day she paid her respects to her fallen friend. Rhaegar did not know her name even after this time…

Because Rhaegar always felt the muse to write ballads when he was at Summerhall he would always sing there to see if the melodies and lyrics worked properly together or if he had to adjust it. It seemed the Witch liked his voice just as many other females did and listened to every song he sang, begging him to write a song for her Jenny which Rhaegar promised he would once inspiration came to him.

But then one day she began babbling some weird sentences of a dragon being kidnapped and another agreeing to his demise with a proud golden lion only to have their plans foiled by a white wheat that flew high with the wind…Then she spoke of the kidnapped dragon's revenge where thousands perished…At first, Rhaegar dismissed it all as babbling, he had heard of witches who could predict the future and somehow he thought himself to be the Prince That Was Promised just like his great-uncle Aemon said to him in letters but he did not believe her words. But when the Duskendale affair happened he noticed and decoded everything she said to be true. Everything happened just as she said it would…

From that moment forward he sought the Witch for her prophecies, she correctly predicted his marriage to Elia and that Ser Jaime would join the Kingsguard and last time he was here at Summerhall she made some predictions about wolves, brothers and of a huge battle…the closest things to wolves were the Starks so perhaps it had something to do with them…she said something of fighting for what was right and causing the dragon's wrath…the closest thing to it was what Lyanna Stark did…so she did predict that…

As both he and Ser Jonothor unhorsed and began walking towards the castle, he could properly see how well the reconstruction was faring. Rhaegar had begun the reconstruction the year in which he was formally betrothed to Elia. He had spent quite some time in Dorne courting her as expected of him and thought it could be interesting to do as King Daeron the Second did and spent the summers in Summerhall, perhaps if the Gods were merciful even grant the castle to a second or third son.

The architects Rhaegar hired from Tyrosh to rebuild the castle estimated the rebuild to take close to a decade, meaning it would be finished by 288 After the Conquest, but that was before he cut down the budget, now it would likely take a year or two more.

Just standing there appreciating everything made him realize that in his last visit he was in such a hurry and nervousness that he spent little attention to details…now he was still nervous as his plan to oust his father failed and he caused a mess with Lyanna Stark that he did not intend to cause even if the lady in question was interesting and quite pretty, he had no interest in having affairs outside of marriage the way his father did.

"My Prince." The old lady spoke emerging for her wooded hut. "Will you sing the song of my friend Jenny?"

"Of course," he replied with a shy smile as he picked his harp. "But only if you tell me what I wish to hear."

"Then I can tell you everything because that is what My Prince wishes to hear." The old lady said and he couldn't help but chuckle at it, it was quite right. He sang her the Ballad of Jenny as she liked and she began weeping. "My poor Jenny…"

"Will you tell me of the future now?" Rhaegar inquired. "Will I have a son or a daughter?"

"A son will outlive his father." That is understandable and quite normal, a son he is always younger than his father, therefore, he was more likely to live longer…on another note, he would have a son…an Aegon so only his Visenya would be missing… "A mockingbird will learn the song of chaos, a viper will seem to lose her fangs but only because she ate a poisonous rat and oh may the Gods be merciful I see the grave mistake and huge battle getting closer and closer, may they be merciful." That was bit was unsettling…who was the one would do the grave mistake? At first, he thought it could have been him when he foolishly crowned Lyanna Stark but it seemed it was not…and who was the viper? A Martell perhaps? And a mockingbird?

"Can you be more specific?" he begged.

"About what?"

"What you just said."

"I don't remember My Prince…did I say anything?"

She doesn't remember…this happened more often than not. "Forget about it, I will remain here for the night and leave at dawn so I can be with My Lady wife at Dragonstone," he stated as he eyed the castle. "If you wish to have a more comfortable room, I assume one must be ready to have someone use it."

"I like my hut, My Prince but I thank you all the same."

"Very well." If did not wish it, he would not insist on it. "The sunset is on the horizon, I will go inside and rest. Have a good day goodwoman."

"The same for you My Prince."

Ashara Dayne X

Dragonstone, Narrow Sea, Year 282 AC

Starlight was quite agitated so Ashara patted his neck and gently stroke his mane, she loved her horse and she felt bad for forcing him to travel by ship yet again but it had to be done. On the other hand just as Lord Manderly had promised, it was a pleasant sailing without any major problems to note, the crew was kind to her apart from the usual hungry looks of some of the sailors towards her and her looks…

With Starlight calmer, she jumped onto its back and galloped towards the castle of Dragonstone. Normally the walk was hard since it was a huge spiral of basalt stairs one had to climb but if one had a horse it was much simpler and easier. Once she entered the castle premises her first destination was the stables so that Starlight could properly rest after his very long journey.

Once down with and after getting reacquainted with some of the servants she strode as quickly as her feet allowed into the Great Keep inquiring some servants she knew where her dear friends were. Their answers were the little Princess' room and so she went there. Ashara found the red door to the room opened and just before she could enter Emyly exited with a basket in her arm, they quickly saw each other and Ashara went straight for a big hug.

"Oh, it's so good to see you, my friend," Emyly commented with a huge smile. "How was the North? Cold?"

"It's wonderful to see you too, my dear friend," Ashara responded with a smile of her own. "As for the North, it was cold but very enjoyable."

"That is great!" Her blonde friend said. "Do come inside, we were playing with little Rhaenys, she has grown quite a lot as you will see."

"I'm sure she did." Ashara couldn't hide that she was excited to see the little Princess and how much she changed since that tiny baby she had seen last time.

Both she and Emy entered the room with haste. Inside, there was little Rhaenys with a short messy curly black hair with a few strands of silver-blonde, walking happily with her little kitten in her tiny little hands much to the delight of Elia, Jas, Nysah and Baela the wetnurse. "Everyone look who I just found!" Exclaimed Emyly. "A Star has come to brighten Dragonstone once again."

"Look how big our little Princess has gotten!" Ashara exclaimed at a curious Rhaenys who was no doubt wondering who in Seven Hells was this stranger. "How are you darling?"

"Wo to?" Rhaenys stammered as a question, her speech wasn't properly developed yet, she was still young. She deduced her question was who are you?

"I'm Ashara Dayne, little dragoness." Replied Ashara with a big smile. "I'm one of your mother's friends and ladies-in-waiting darling, just like the rest of these fine women here. Nice to meet you."

She extended her hand to the girl who was still wary of her but soon gave it a handshake. "I Raenis."

"It's a wonderful name!" Ashara avowed as she began tickling the little girl into laughter.

"And where is my handshake?" Elia asked indignantly but with a smirk. "I thought we were friends Ash…"

"Someone seems to be jealous…" Ashara teased.

"I might be." Elia laughed as Ashara embraced her the best she could. Her dearest friend was seated on a chair with a very big belly already. "How are you, my friend? How was Winterfell? Was it good or was it too cold for you?"

"So many questions!" Ashara exclaimed but she had anticipated it. "Outside the castles and buildings it was very cold even with layers of furs," she confessed. "But inside, especially in Winterfell, it was very warm, in fact, there were times I wished to go around naked."

"I doubt it would make a good impression on Lord Stark if that were to happen…" Jas commented with a smirk. "Not that Eddard would mind…or maybe he would if…"

"Jas…" They all scolded will using their eyes to show the boldest Dornish around that there was a child present, a child who seemed to be more interested in her kitten than their talk about being naked but was a child nevertheless.

"I'm sorry…" Jasline said blushing. "I forgot we had company…but was Winterfell as hot as Dorne?" Her friend asked intrigued.

"My room was as hot as a summer day in your family's castle." It was a bit of an overstatement but…it was hot.

"That's certainly interesting…" Emy said surprised. "Maybe it won't be so unpleasant for you to live up there…and for us to visit sometime of course…"

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Ashara exclaimed. "I have some interesting news to share with you all…Ned and I are…officially betrothed…" After her words, she noticed her friends cheering and jumping like little girls which made Rhaenys look at them weirdly…oh nice that the most behaved of them was a girl of barely more than a nameday old… "And you are all invited, of course, even you Baela if you wish to come."

The girls began encircling her and embracing her in a big hug, Elia and Baela joined in as well and little Rhaenys too since she did not wish to be left out of it even if she knew not was happening… "Oh Ash we are so very proud and happy for you, my friend!" Jasline said beaming. "And of course we will all watch you pledge yourself to the man you love, won't we?"

"We are." Emy quickly nodded.

"Without hesitating." Nysah joined in as well. "But will it be in the North or Starfall?"

"Or somewhere else?" Added Emy.

"Yes or somewhere else."

"I think it will be at Winterfell's Godswood," Ashara explained. "We are marrying by his Gods." And she had decided while sailing to Dragonstone that she would fully forsake the Seven for the Old Gods.

"In the Godswood you say? It will be interesting then…I never witness a marriage by the Old Gods…" Jasline said.

"Me neither…" Emy agreed. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it…I can't wait already!"

"Me neither." Nysah agreed.

Elia brought Ashara closer. "I'm so very happy for you my friend. I wish every bit of luck in what will certainly be one of the happiest moments of your life."

"Thank you, Elia." I can't wait for it to happen though…I'm so excited…


mlkoolc86: Yes Jon Connington's POV is new just as the Rhaegar one in this one. I wanted to give a better insight into them.

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