++X++
Ashara Dayne III
Winterfell, North, 298 AC
Ashara opened her eyes as soon as she began feeling the sunlight touch her sleeping face. She was tired…the Northerners always woke up very early and yesterday she went to sleep very late due to the feast and having plenty of sex with Ned...It is the price of pleasure and the price to get pregnant...hopefully, I'm carrying another child so I stop making these loud moans...but...if I'm trying to get pregnant by having sex...then...am I not making those noises? Oh Gods...
While she put her wits to work, she noticed her sweet Quiet Wolf already finishing getting dressed, as always…no matter what she did…Ned would wake before her… "You are not joining my morning bath love?" she asked seductively.
Ned smiled a weak smile. "Water calms your spirit but not mine," he said. "I would much prefer to spend some time in the Godswood before Daenerys bends her knee to Robert and we have to talk with him about our decision."
She made a puppy face to see if it would change his mind but…it seems it would not happen…Ashara was nervous as well, they would pretty much refuse a King after he...magnanimously accepted a girl who was a daughter to them as his subject without demanding much in return at least in Daenerys' mind. "Then I hope you calm yourself by the Heart Tree, I do not want you worried and stressed for the rest of the day."
"Don't worry. I will manage something. Just as I always somehow do..." Her husband assured her just before he kissed her lips and left the room to go to his favorite place in Winterfell.
A little bit later came the person she was patiently waiting for, Ros, her apprentice, her Governess, her confidant, her daughter in all but name. Just like Daenerys, Jeyne...well...she had adopted plenty of girls over the years, hasn't she?
And then there were the children she brought from King's Landing to start new lives in the North too...Ashara still wrote to a bunch of them who took care of Sunshine Orphanage at both King's Landing and Dragonstone to arrange the trips, sort their needs and send money for their expenses. It had been Elia and her ladies-in-waiting, of which Ashara was included, who came up with the idea to open orphanages and to the Lady of the North, they were the best way to keep her best friend's light shining forever.
Once Ashara had used these kids to learn secrets at the Red Keep which allowed her to always be a step ahead of the vipers that would have loved to prejudice the Dornishwomen at court, most of all the Princess. It was not different from what Varys did and at times she suspected some of her friends were Varys' little birds too but ever since the Rebellion started, she stopped asking this information, and perhaps she should have not, given that Lord Arryn, for all his faults, was most likely killed and she had no idea who did the deed. This person or group was a threat to her family now that Ned was going there and put his hands on hornets' nests so she would need to write her friends to give her as much information as they could.
"Milady." Ros greeted as she entered the room. She was quite the woman too...She had long waving red hair and greyish-blue eyes, an hourglass figure, quite the sizable and round breasts...a good looking behind...a smile to die for...wits most of all. If Ashara did not consider her a daughter and she was not married to Ned, she would have tried something with Ros, after all, she liked both men and women but now it just felt wrong to even think of these things, after all, she had one of the best marriages in Westeros. "Is it the usual?"
"Indeed, you know that I cannot start my days without a bath." Ashara said and the young woman smiled brightly. Ros was a peculiar finding that she happened to come across…It happened last winter, more than a decade ago, when she went to inspect Winter Town, to see if the lack of provisions that happened during the first year of Robert's Rebellion would not happen again. At the town's brothel, she found a girl of seven working as a servant there, doing all sorts of chores except those expected in a brothel for she was too young for those. What surprised Ashara the most about the girl was the fact that she had learned to read, write and count by herself at such tender age.
She decided to ask some of the whores about the girl and so she learned her name, age, and that her mother had been a whore who died giving birth to her, Eli was the whore's name a favorite of many customers including Ned's brother, Brandon. Impressed by the girl's wits and sympathy, Ashara decided to take her to Winterfell where she trained her to be a lady-in-waiting, a much better life than what a girl could expect in the brothel, especially after flowering…
The young pretty girl grew up to be fiercely loyal to Ashara and the Starks and even though Ashara and Ned both told her to call them by their names because she was like a daughter to them, Ros refused and kept using Milord and Milady. "I will prepare it with all the haste possible." Ros proclaimed as she moved to fill the bathtub in the adjacent room with water. "Lord Eddard was not inclined on joining you today Milady?"
"No…he is troubled I'm afraid." Ashara explained.
"Is it Daenerys?"
"That and because we ought to have a conversation with the King today...he offered Ned the position of Hand of the King but of course my dear husband does not wish to go." Ashara explained.
"But the King is Lord Eddard's best friend so he does not wish to leave him alone like this." Ros finished.
"Precisely, so I tried to find a compromise with it, Ned will be Hand for a year, we will find a proper replacement and return to where we belong, here," Ashara explained. "He is nervous because he has to tell this to the King whose temper is well known and the Daenerys affair will cause even more damage."
"And if the King has been so lenient because he wanted Lord Eddard's help...it might end if he is refused what he wishes..." Ros pushed forward. "Ah Gods, these Southrons are too much for me poor little head!"
Ashara chuckled at that. "Make it two of us, I have been away from these pesky games for so long that I feel rusty."
"That is not true. One does not forget something one learned." Ros said. "But now that I recall it...Milady kept saying we, so I must assume Milady is joining him?" Ros asked as she motioned Ashara that her bath was ready.
"We means you as well," Ashara said as she dived under the warm water for a while, then she emerged to catch her breath again, rinsing her face before looking back to the surprised Northerner. "I would appreciate a friend to talk to and I do not think I will have many friends in the capital."
Ros seemed happy with it, at least someone is. "Really? Milady wishes for me to go?"
"Yes Ros, I need someone else I can trust my children with, someone competent. Fortunately for me, you are all that and more." Ros was perfect at managing things and people. "Could you be a dear and help me wash my hair?"
"Certainly Milady." Ros picked the Dornish and Lyseni fragrances and began to gently wash Ashara's hair. "Even with everything Milady told me about the capital, I must confess I'm rather excited to pay it a visit."
"The capital does have that effect on people." Ashara proclaimed. "I still remember the anticipation I had when I was traveling there…with Elia and my friends…" Thinking of her deceased friend again quickly brought tears to Ashara's eyes…She did not deserve it…Elia was a wonderful person just as her children.
"Milady please don't cry…the Gods are just, they will bring justice for Princess Elia and her children, I'm sure of it." Ros proclaimed sadly. "Please don't cry…"
"The Gods are not just Ros because if they were, Elia and her children would not be dead now." she dismissed. "Yet we still need something to pray to I'm afraid."
"I was just trying to cheer Milady up…" Ros said as she tried to clean Ashara's tears. "I hate to see Milady like this…"
"I know love." Ashara smiled as she patted the girl's arm. "But there is nothing that...can make me forget her..." she inhaled some air and let it out. "Anyway...I also wanted to ask you if any of the servants were molested during the feast yesterday."
"There were a bunch of indiscreet fools and the King was paramount among them," Ros confessed. "When I was serving him at the table, he always looked at my breasts with water in his mouth, and although I'm somewhat used to it and most of the time do not mind it...it kind of...set me up. Other servants felt the same way. It's just unsettling."
Nothing of what Ros said was news to Ashara... "He always seemed to have big appetites…When I first met him he was trying his best to contain himself for Lyanna's sake but once she died…it seems he went downhill," Ashara said. "At Harrenhal he was very handsome but now…he is nothing but a shadow of what he once was. Honestly, I still prefer my sweet Quiet Wolf. In my humble opinion, Ned is the most handsome man."
Ros smiled at that. "Lord Stark is handsome indeed and Jon is going by the same path as his father, the Princess was giving him the looks. To Brandon as well but that foolish boy always knew he looks good."
Ashara laughed with it, she had seen it too. "The girl's first crushes…She does seem like a nice girl at first glance, unlike her older brother and mother."
"The Prince didn't even try to hide his disdain of everything." Ros elaborated. "Though the looks he gave to Daenerys and Elianna were unsettling...the looks most of them gave Daenerys be it lust, disdain or whatever it was they were trying to convey were unsettling."
"True." Ashara admitted after having noticed some of it too. The Northerners besides a handful of them were easy to read and decipher but those from the south...
"The Queen…is another story altogether when compared with her son…her fake smile is trained, she can fool many with it."
"Not us I'm afraid." Ashara smirked.
"Not us indeed Milady." Ros laughed too.
"So…I also know you and Theon were rather close yesterday…" Ashara began as she recalled seeing them both leave at the same time. "And left nearly at the same time too..."
Ros looked towards her with a surprised look but then she smiled. "He is handsome, but I'm nothing more than a servant to him, yesterday with all the stress and worry I accumulated, I was feeling quite in the mood so I did what I had to do."
"It reminds me of that time I crossed the Bite with Ned and we almost drowned...I had promised him I would not force him anything before we married but that day...well none of us really opposed it." Ashara had some fond memories of that night, she did not recall if they were in an inn or at the castle there but she remembered the coupling pretty well, in fact, she knew for a fact that Jon was conceived in that night because he was born a couple of months earlier than he would if he was conceived in their marriage night. This made the Lady of the North remember something important. "Have you taken Moon Tea?"
"I have Milady, found the woods witch at Winter Town as usual and bought it," Ros admitted as she helped Ashara out of the water. "Perhaps I shouldn't have done what I did yesterday, I'm so very tired now…the pleasure then was a need but now...huff..."
"That makes the two of us." Ashara smiled while Ros dried her out. "Since you seem closer than I am with Theon, can you tell me why he seems so lost? I would ask Bran but the boy is so oblivious to things at times…"
"For what I could gather from my interactions with him, Theon seems conflicted about something…he gets angry when someone brings the Greyjoy Rebellion, unfortunately, I had the dreadful idea of bringing it once and he almost gave me a beating for it." Ros confessed.
"And why didn't you tell me this?" Ashara asked aghast. "I will not tolerate any of my children or wards doing such a thing!"
"He didn't do it and frankly I was teasing him a bit too far that day," Ros admitted. "He is very prideful of his origins but seeks approval from Lord Stark…at least that is what I got from it." Interesting…
"Do you like him?" Ashara asked, going straight to the point that had been concerning her for a while.
"Not quite and even if I did, he wouldn't want me anyway," Ros said while drying Ashara's breasts. "I'm but a mere servant and he is still the heir to the great Balon Greyjoy as he puts it sometimes. I'm not the only servant he has sex with either." Ros smiled. "I have no wish to be a salt wife or anything of the sort, my loyalty is to you and House Stark alone, not House Greyjoy. I have everything I could ask for right now, I do not need more."
"And your loyalty and friendship are much appreciated." Ashara assured. This woman was truly a find, it was hard to find a person content with her status, usually, the people who ascended in life wanted more and more but not Ros. She just wished for food on her plate, clothes to dress with some decency and a place to sleep, the rest is just an add-on.
"I know so Milady." Ros placed the towels in their place and moved to Ashara's wardrobe, opening it to reveal the many gowns and other dresses of Ashara's possession. "What color would you like to wear today Milady?"
"Let's see…I wore grey yesterday…I'm feeling light blue today…what do you think?"
"Milady is the most gorgeous woman I ever laid my eyes on, anything goes well with you, I'm sure Lord Eddard will agree with me in this regard."
"He said so many times." Ashara laughed. "You are learning something with him too."
"I did learn quite a lot from your Lord husband Milady…" Ros declared while she helped Ashara dress the gown. "That you can scream oh so very loudly…"
Ashara tried to slap Ros' shoulder but the woman knew it was coming and so she evaded the hit, giggling in the process. "You naughty one!" Ashara barked. "I will have my revenge!"
"I'm sorry Milady…" she was laughing so much now. "I couldn't resist…"
"Meanie…"
"Anyway…" Ros walked slowly towards Ashara, a smirk was still on her face. "I believe…Milady is ready to go and shine like the star you are." The redhead woman said as she made some minor adjustments on Ashara's gown.
"I'm sad…" she said but Ros giggled and kissed her cheek. "Now that's much better…I accept your apologies."
"Thank you, Milady."
"Time to face these guests." she proclaimed all energetic as she slapped her cheeks. "The Dawn Arises!"
Eddard Stark IV
Winterfell, North, 298 AC
Daenerys was on her knees in front of the Heart Tree and Robert stood impatiently in front of the face carved thousands of years before that day. The Queen was by their left and behind her were two Kingsguards knights one of which was Ser Jaime Lannister the Kingslayer. Both Lannisters seemed somewhat unsettled inside the dark and primordial forest just like everyone of the King's party which was expected. Ned had Ashara by his left and Maester Yolan further to her left. This was a small and somewhat private ceremony and Ned was thankful for it.
"I Daenerys of House Targaryen swear for all eternity to never rise against His Grace, King Robert the First of His Name of House Baratheon, the legitimate King of the Andals, Rhoynar and First Men, or against his descendants for all time to come. I shall take no husband or birth children, I shall not leave the North, incite or sponsor rebellions in my name or of House Targaryen." she then looked straight to the Heart Tree as if she was ignoring Robert's presence. "May the Old Gods, spirits of nature witness this contract and hold it sacred for all eternity."
"I Robert Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men accept this oath and sanction it for all eternity in the eyes of the Gods." Then he motioned for Daenerys to rise but did not help her stand. "Maester I command you to produce two or three copies of what was said here to be signed by all those present, one to be sent to my chancellery and one to be held here. I dismiss everyone."
Maester Yolan was the first to leave after bowing to Robert, then the Queen left escorted by the other Kingsguard and when Robert was to leave as well, Ned felt Ashara's elbow touch his. "You need to do it, love, might as well be now," she said. "I will be by your side, so you ought to not be afraid."
Ned nodded and tried to give her an assuring smile but he knew she saw through it…she knew how to read his eyes…Turning to Robert, Ned gulped and braced himself. "Robert, me and Ashara need a word with you if you will."
Robert looked at him weirdly but then smiled. "Sure, go ahead."
Ashara silently told Daenerys to leave and the girl did as she was told. Once they were only the three of them and the Kingslayer much to Ned's dismay, the Lord of the North inhaled some air and let it all out. "I'm inclined to accept your offer of being Hand of the King." Remember what Ashara told you…Good news first, then the bad news.
Robert smiled at it. "I knew I could count on you, my friend…"
"However." Ned interrupted before Robert jumped into all sorts of wrong conclusions. "I will only be Hand for a year."
Robert's joyful face quickly turned into a confused one. "What do you mean?"
"My place is here Robert, Starks don't do well in the south but I'm not going to leave you because we are like brothers," Ned explained. "I shall go with Ashara and together we will look for a more competent man for the job, a man that will, of course, be of your trusting and serve you far better than me."
Ned could see Robert becoming redder with anger... "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WILL FIND A PROPER REPLACEMENT FOR THE JOB? THERE IS NO PROPER REPLACEMENT BUT YOU!"
"Your Grace, we understand your position but you ought to understand ours as well." Ashara intervened ignoring Robert's outburst. "The North stays out of southern politics for a reason, even I, born and proudly raised in Dorne know so. House Stark needs to prepare for when winter comes."
"WE ARE AT SUMMER FOR FUCK SAKE!" Robert shouted angrily. "I WILL NOT HAVE THIS RIDICULOUS AFFRONT…"
"Then I'm afraid you ought to look for a different person for I will not go." Ned plainly stated, the words hurt him but this was the right thing to do, for his family at least.
Robert looked towards him with aghast eyes. "You will do this to me?"
"Robert, me and Ashara offered you a compromise that suits us all and it's worth taking and if you refuse to do so and shout at my wife, then I must decline it altogether." Ned insisted.
"You will make me nominate Tywin Lannister like Cersei has been pestering me about?" Robert tried to blackmail Ned. "Is that what you want?"
It will not work with me, Robert... "If that is your choice, then let it be so."
"I COULD HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A SPIKE FOR THIS INSULT!" Robert shouted angrily.
"THEN DO IT AND PROVE YOU ARE NO BETTER THAN AERYS!" Ned shouted back, catching but Robert, Ashara, and the Kingslayer by surprise. "BECOME WHAT YOU SWORE YOU WOULD NOT!" Robert was caught completely off guard with this, he wasn't expecting a shout from Ned and so he needed some time to compose himself and more, to see the grave words he was telling his best friend. "The offer is on the table Robert, take it or leave it but don't threaten me or my own in such a way again."
Robert simply hustled out of the Godswood, angrily. The Kingslayer looked at him from up and down and then left as well. Alone with Ashara, he finally let out a sigh of relief. "He will accept, once he calms down," Ashara whispered in his ear. "He needs you. Now calm down love." she cooed while planting many kisses on his cheek. "Everything will be ok."
"I'm afraid he doesn't look like my best friend anymore." Ned admitted as he brought his wife closer to his chest.
"People change love…" Ashara said while patting his cheek. "When we are at King's Landing, we can't count on him. His help will be appreciated, but we cannot depend on him."
"Seems as much…" What have you turned into Robert? Will...I end up like you somehow? I sure hope not...
Had this written for a week but was lazy to edit it...anyway it's here, not many things as this was in the first draft of the story, the Daenerys parts are the new things. Do tell me what you think about it.
Anyway, thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day and stays safe.