AN- The last chapter before war kicks off, I wonder if you can see how the sides will play out from this chapter.
Elia sighed as she sat on her balcony overlooking the Torrentine river. Her marriage had been arranged and confirmed, she was to marry Prince Rhaegar within the year. It had been two years since she left her home of Sunspear to join her sister, good brother and nephew at Starfall, during that time she had continued her education from her sister and also on a rare occasion from Ayden. She missed her home, Starfall was much different to the old palace. Where Sunspear had round topped towers and sand coloured stone walls and dry and arid ground, Starfall was situated on, while still hot, fertile grasslands, with the wide Torrentine river flowing through it and it's pale whitestone walls and towers, the city of Starfall was also much larger and busier than the shadow city that was situated beneath the walls of Sunspear. It had amazed her as a child to look out from the great Palestone tower where the old Prince used to let visiting children look out upon Starfall and the surrounding lands. Ships could be seen leaving and arriving at the great port city at all times of the day with varying sizes and models. It had become a routine for her and Nym to have their lunch up there with Ashara and Ned and the new child. An absolutely beautiful girl called Dorea who was as Dayne as they come and apparently looked just like Ashara as a babe according to the staff who had seen her as one, and looking at Ashara Elia was positive, that was the greatest compliment a baby could receive. The girl had grown into a generational beauty and it was absolutely hilarious watching her realise, with Nyms help, that she could use her looks to get men to do stuff for her, only her brothers and James, who was basically a brother, was immune for obvious reasons. Ashara had become her best friend, her sarcastic and dry humour was something Elia loved about her and it had been decided, much to Ayden displeasure, that Ashara would be joining her as a handmaiden in king's landing. Ayden had battled for weeks with Ashara but in the end he was powerless to deny her anything.
She was currently having one such lunch meal while Ayden was off on his daily walk of the city. The now four year old Edric 'Ned' Dayne was sitting on her lap with Ashara beside her and Nym and Dorea across from them.
"Aunt Elia, why do you have to leave?", the heir of the Torrentine whined. He had heard from Ayden that she would be leaving soon and had not left her side since.
"I have to get Married to a handsome prince so I can give you more playmates." she said and the boy seemed to weigh up his options before nodding sternly and taking her hand and giving it a firm handshake. Nym and Ashara laughed heavily while Elia did her best not to crack up in the face of her nephew doing an impression of his father conducting a deal. Little Dorea let out a childish laugh, purple eyes shining in happiness and Elia had to smile. Her niece and nephew were her world and had made her certain she wanted children of her own in the future. Though with her health not being as strong as Nyms she was not sure how many she could have.
"When are you leaving again?" the boy asked.
"In three moons time, we're to be married in the capital, you know the big city like Starfall where the king lives?" she said and her nephew nodded.
"Yeah where the dragons come from, can I come with you?" he asked.
"We're all going, we can't have Aunt Elia alone on her wedding day can we?" said Ashara.
"Is that why you're staying with her? So she's not alone?" asked Edric.
"Of course." Ashara replied and Elia snorted, Edric would have another tantrum if he realised another of his aunts was going to be leaving him forever to get married and have children.
"Mama, we go play?" asked Dorea, or Ria as she was called.
"Of course little one, come on say bye bye to aunt Elia and Ashara." said Nym, setting the little girl down and giving Ria her pinky to hold and taking Ned in the other hand.
"Bye bye." they both said and Nym led them off to play.
"Well, any idea who's coming to the wedding?" asked Ash.
"Everyone except the Starks I think." said Elia "Except the boy who's fostering in the vale, Eddard I think, they call him the quiet wolf, he'll be goin with Jon Arryn and Robert Baratheon."
"Why?" asked Ashara.
"Well his older brother is the wild wolf, and his best friend and foster brother are Robert Baratheon and we both know what they're like, anyway Eddard is supposedly much more quiet, solemn and as honorable as any knight, more like the prince apparently." Said Elia.
"Yes he did seem quite solem and broady at my brother's wedding." said Ash, thrilling a dark curl idly "He was quite handsome though, in the way Starks are I mean." she continued now slightly blushing.
"Ohhh our star wants to catch herself a wolf." joked Elia.
"No, no, no I'm just saying." denied Ashara.
"Of course, anyway, have you got any more letters from Arthur?" As part of the deal with her brother, Ayden had insisted Arthur and Uncle Lewyn give them regular updates on the prince and King's landing. So far Lewyns ravens had detailed a king going mad and a melancholy prince obsessed with a proficy of some sort and Arthur's had detailed a temperamental king and a great prince with brilliant visions of the future. Elia was not sure who to believe though she knew Ayden thought his brother had gotten too caught up in his white cloak and that her brother thought Lewyn was just trying to keep his favourite niece away from the snakepit of kings landing. She really hoped Ayden was wrong but she had never known that to be the case. Either way the matter was out of their hands now as to go back on their word to the king, who at best was extremely temperamental, was the height of stupidity. She shook those thoughts out of her head as Ayden walked out onto the balcony and answered the question before Ashara could.
"More of the same, honestly if I didn't know better I would think the man has a crush on the prince." laughed Ayden, Arthur's last week of 'freedom' had been a week of pure practise with a blade and debauchery with women. Elia laughed as well though not fully as she knew Ayden was just trying to take her mind off Kings Landing. It wasn't working and Ayden must have seen this.
"Listen Elia, you know neither me or Nym wanted this for you, I would have much rathered you married A Stark or one of my or Dorans lords, gods even a Lannister or Tyrell would be better, but your brother thinks otherwise and I trust his judgement, Prince Doran is a smart man and loves you to death, he would never do anything that would end up with you hurt." he said trying to reassure her.
"I know Ayden, I trust you both to have my health and best interests at heart." she said. "That doesn't stop me from being nervous."
"I'm nervous as well, fist Arthur now you and Ash are leaving here." said Ayden and for the first time Elia thought about the effect this would have on Ayden, being left alone without either of his siblings who where his rock, of course he still had Nym and little Ned and Dorea but she knew he would miss them all the same, she gave him a small smile and the three of them continued talking for another while before they all went about their respective days.
The wedding had been a huge affair with thousands of attendees and a huge tourney, which Arthur had won of course. It was not the first time that Ayden had met the royal family but he was extremely observant of them this time, especially the crown prince. Prince Rhaegar was only about a year or so younger than him yet the prince struck him as mature and quiet, Ayden knew that while the prince was not yet the ruler of anything other than Dragonstone the weight of the realm was still on his shoulders with his father being a madman. Doran had been there to give his sister away in the sept of Baelor despite him being stricken by illness and their had been talk of it being Oberyn instead who would lead her down but the always stubborn Doran had not let that happen and had grit his teeth and walked proudly with no sign of a limp. As much as he had dreaded the thing Ayden had to say that the ceremony was a great morale booster for a realm that had high tensions, representatives of all the major houses along with most of their vessels and it had helped ease the tensions.
Ayden had not been idle in his time there, he had first sought out Lord Stark, the somewhat aging Lord of the North was a trusted ally of his and the two discussed trade as well as observations they had made, such as Lord Tyrell marrying his sister to a lowly Knight rather than a Lord Paramount or even one of their vessels as had been expected.
"Thats a good thing for us I suppose, how the Andals place so much regard in their knights I will never know, I have seen all too many flee before many of the levys under them do." Ayden said as he shared a drink with Lord Stark and his heir Brandon.
"Aye, at least the Manderly ones have some backbone, the summer knights of the Reach wouldn't know a warrior if they saw one." Lord Stark replied.
"And what of the Riverlander ones Lord Bradon." Ayden said with a grin, knowing well from the letter the two exchanged that Brandon dested his betrotheds homeland.
"Well when they can stop bloody fighting each other they might be decent." Brandon replied.
"What's this I hear of a betrothal between your daughter and Lord Baratheon?" Ayden asked.
"It's true Prince Ayden, but that goes no further than here until it's announced." Lord Rickard said.
"Of course not, I suppose Eddard will marry in the North then." Ayden guessed.
"Most likely, we already have alliances with the Vale, Riverlands, Stormlands and yourself, and through you Dorne and the Iron throne."
"True, and I don't doubt your Lords have been annoying you about all these southern dealings, the same way mine would if I was to deal with the Andals, excluding the Dornish if one was desperate enough to call them Andals."
"Aye you have the right of it, though Brandons fostering does help and Benjen and Ned still being eligible also does."
"True, enough… listen Rickard i've come here with a proposition, and trust me absolutely no offence would be taken if you reject it. My sister is about a year or so older than Eddard, and I'm aware that she holds some affection for your son. Now I don't necessarily want a betrothal straight away but I ask that you keep an open mind to it." Ayden said. Both Brandon and Rickard looked at him for a bit.
"And what about my lords?" Rickard asked. "I assume you have a solution."
"I do, a lot of my vassals have sons and daughters of a marriageable age, I would be more than happy to agree to betrothals between them and northern houses to further tie both our vassals to us and each other, along with that I will provide three quarters of the funds to completely rebuild Moat Cailin, or another keep if you so prefer, along with a years worth of the normal amount of food you buy for free." He said and as he finished both of the men stared at him like he lost his mind.
"The lord's thing I agree with but that dowry is ridiculous! I doubt the Targaryen's have ever been paid such a heavy dowry!" Rickard said aghast.
"Aye probably not, but I have my reasons, if Moat Cailin is rebuilt it will be a huge sign to the Andals that the first men are just as strong as them, if you pick another place for the keep, Sea Dragon point for example it will be boon for trade on the west coast as I would be more than happy to facilitate any action taken against the Ironborn that dare threaten my kin and its trade, our fleet is feared for a reason, the food, well I suppose a strong north helps us all, especially the first men." Ayden said.
"I am tempted to just accept this very second." Rickard said.
"Don't. I want to be sure that your son and my daughter get along before I agree to such a marriage. I just feared that if you saw them together you would stop it prematurely." Ayden said.
"I won't, we will watch and I swear not to involve myself in trying to force them together." Rickard said and Ayden repeated his vow before leaving an hour later.
Catching up his Arthur had been nice, but saying goodbye to not just Elia but also Ashara had nearly crushed him, he knew he would gravely miss his siblings, however he took great comfort in Nym and his children.
"So, did Ashara talk to you about Eddard?" Ayden asked his wife as they lay in bed on the way home from the capital.
"Yes actually, she said that they had danced at the wedding and gone on walks with each other, they even agreed to exchange letters, Ash said she found his quiet side endearing and his more relaxed self great company when she eventually broke through his shell." Nym said while smiling.
"I'm glad, Eddard is a good man by all accounts, if a little to Andal for my liking."
"Oh come off it Ayden, the mans honourable to a fault but he's no southern knight, Ash says he is as northern as his brother, just shows it less." Nym argued. "Anyway, I think it's a great thing you did for her but that dowry is quite extreme."
"Probably, but she's my sister and the northerners are our cousins, besides we can easily afford it. Daynes have never splashed all too much money on new castles or grand statues, all the money we make is either invested back into the kingdom or kept as a surplus and savings. We have accumulated a lot of it over the years."
"Im aware, you'll need to make a decision on this soon though because our vassals might begin to marry their children off sooner than we are able to convince them otherwise." Nym said.
"True enough.. I heard muttering of a huge tourney at Harrenhal next year. I shall ask the Lords to wait a year and we shall see after that."
A Year Later.
Harrenhal was huge, he had been told that since he was a boy but seeing the thing now, as an adult who had seen many a great castle Ayden was still awed by the imposing castle which had marked the oppression of the Riverlands by the Ironborn for decades. He rode at the head of a large party, though smaller in size than some other Kingdoms parties. Among his retinue was various Lords, heirs, sons and daughters, as well as prestigious warriors who had come in search of glory. Beside him on a pony was his five year old son, Edric and one of his best friends, Konnor Clyde. Heir to Oldtown. While Oldtown was not the great city it used to be, mostly due to Starfall attracting more trade it was still rich lands and the Clydes were amongst their most powerful vassals, they were actually a branch family of his own, their founder being the great grandson of the Great Dayne himself. They were very loyal and were well known for producing some great tradesmen, and Konnor was his Kingdoms Steward, a prominent position not too dissimilar to the master of coin in King's Landing. His wife was at home along with Dorea as his wife was once more pregnant and they had agreed it would be best if Dorea stayed home.
The castle was fully decorated and as some of the last to arrive they were given the lands closest to the gods eye, closest to them were the Northerners and then the Dornish. They set up their camp and as Ayden was playing with his son who was trying to land a hit on him with a wooden sword they were interrupted by a call.
"You're going to have to do better than that if you want to hit your father Ned." they turned around to see his siblings, his brother in his kingsguard armour and white cloak, Dawn on his belt and helmet in his hands along with his sister who wore a expensive gown of violet that matched her eyes, she was beautiful as ever and Ayden sent warning looks at the men around him who had looked to long at his sister.
"Little brother sister, it's good to see you again, I hope you didn't miss us too much." He said as they got within normal talking range, before either could answer his son burst into a run from behind him apparently recognising his aunt and uncle.
"Hello little Ned, it's good to see you my love." Ashara said he eyes alight with laughter.
"I missed you both, oh! Did you hear? Mamas pregnant again!" Ned said excitedly.
"We did, come let's go inside and we can talk some more." Arthur said and Ayden captured his eyes and knew something had happened that Arthur was not sure about.
"The boy's fifteen Ayden, and the heir to the west besides, how can he be truly loyal to the crown?" Arthur said as they sat inside Aydens tent, as Prince of the Torrentine he had been offered rooms inside but he had declined saying he would rather camp with his men.
"Well at least we know he can wield a blade." Ashara said, trying to assuage her brother's worries.
"We can't be certain of his loyalty, but truly Arthur do you really think Tywin would use his heir and the only son he actually likes as what? An assassin? I would guess Aries is using him to piss off Tywin, and I don't doubt it's going to work." Ayden said.
"He's the king, Ayden, take care how you speak." Arthur said and Ayden did a double take.
"Bloody hell Arthur he's a madman! He burns people alive! And don't you dare fucking lie to me, while neither of you have told me, i'm not a fool. I have other informats inside that damned castle." Ayden said while glaring at them both, Ashara looked guilty while Arthur just seemed somewhat angry, gods what was wrong with him.
"We didn't want you worrying about Elia and the babe." Ashara said.
"Of course I'm going to worry about them, that's mine and Dorans job, not only is Elia and her children there, so are both my siblings. The man could decide to have you both killed and I wouldn't hear of it for another week." Ayden said.
"Ayden stop, your being over cautious, relax yourself and enjoy yourself, actually I have a better Idea, there's a sparring ring near the tourney fields, come its been years since we've spared I want to see just how good my brother still is." Arthur said. Ayden sighed but nodded and asked Ash to mind his son who was sleeping after his long journey.
They made their way through the tourney grounds and found a fairly large and empty practise field. Neither of them wanted to spar in the clothes they were wearing and Ayden took off his shirt and jacket and Arthur took off his chest plate and mail leaving him only in his under shirt.
"Come on then little brother." Ayden said drawing his sword and throwing the sheath in a pile with his clothes while Arthur did the same with his own. Arthur grinned at him and it was like as soon as he was out of that armour he was back as he always used to be as children. They did about five spars before news started to spread that the Dayne brothers were sparring. And almost instantly a crowd formed around them. Arthur had won three while Ayden had two.
"Getting slower as you age, Ayden." Arthur said grinning.
"Shut up Arthur." Ayden said only half joking. They clashed again and neither held back, they had spared enough together and both were more than skilled enough that they could be certain that they wouldn't end up killing each other with their blades. The speed they went at it must have shocked the crowd as Arthur pulled out all the stops while Ayden just defended patiently. Neither wanted to make it last too long and were not overly concerned about the result and so eventually Ayden decided to properly fight back and Ayden knew his blade was beginning to chip from the superior quality of Dawn and decided to give it one last try before surrendering. He launched a rapid series of attacks and managed to disarm his brother. By the end he was exhausted and sweat was pouring down his body, for the first time he truly noticed the size of the crowd, it seemed like most of the noble attendants were there. He merely raised an eyebrow at them before grabbing his sheath he sheathed his sword and put on his top and he could have sworn he heard a groan of annoyance from some in the crowd, he caught his brothers eye who must have also heard as he was laughing at the somewhat flustered expression on Aydens face. They left to return back to their camp and Ayden was happy that much of the tension between them was gone.
"I'll fucking slit his inbred fucking throat." Hissed and enraged Ayden Dayne to Konnor who looked to be in agreement with his liege lord, a glint of rage also present in his eyes. The crown prince, his wife's brother in law had just completely disrespected his own wife and the woman Ayden saw as a second sister by crowning Lyanna Stark the queen of love and beauty over his own wife.
"My prince you must calm down, I agree with you completely on this but we can't afford to be rash." his friend warned and after a few more minutes of pacing in his tent with a worried Konnor Clyde looking on eventually Ayden stopped. Send a message to Lord Brandon Stark, I want a meeting before nightfall." Ayden said and his friend nodded and went to do as he was asked.
Later that night Ayden walked into the Stark tent where he was met by Eddard and Brandon Stark on behalf of their father. Eddards presence was a surprise though not an unwelcome one.
"Brandon, Eddard, it's good to see you both." Both Starks returned his greeting and he took the seat across from them.
"First of all I would like to say that I am just as enraged with the prince as you and the Martells are, he dishonored my sister and I have no doubt that in his incest riddled mind he thinks he honored her." Brandon said passionately.
"While I agree with you Bradon you should care how you speak, the walls have ears after all." Ayden warned in a quiet voice.
"Of course, I let my temper get away from me as usual, anyway my friend what did you wish to speak of?" Brandon asked.
"Actually I was wondering if I may speak?" Eddard cut in and Ayden looked at the younger brother of his friend and the boy, no man, his sister spoke so highly of.
"Of course Eddard." Ayden said.
"My Prince… as you may know I have been exchanging letters with your sister." Eddard began before he seemed to hesitate. "I know I can not promise her much except my love and perhaps a small holdfast but I would like to ask for her hand in marriage." Eddard said, gaining in confidence as he went on and Ayden felt his respect for the younger man soar.
After staring at Eddard for a while and seeing him begin to shift nervously Ayden broke out into a huge smirk. "I can see why she loves you Eddard." he said and Brandon chuckled "That was actually the reason for this meeting, you see at Elias wedding we noticed the closeness between you two, I was happy with the match but wanted to make sure you would love my sister as she deserves, I am satisfied that you will and I will grant your request." Ayden said with a smile that seemed tiny in comparison to eddards one.
"Ha! If you're happy now brother then I can't wait until you hear the next bit." Brandon laughed.
"What do you mean?" Eddard asked, confused.
"To assuage to worries of our vassals betrothals between them and northern houses to further tie both our vassals to us and each other will be organised, along with that I will provide three quarters of the funds to completely rebuild Moat Cailin, or another keep of your father's choice, along with a years worth of the normal amount of food the north buys buy for free." Ayden said and Eddard looked at him shocked, that was a fair bit more than the dowry for a royal match.
"Prince Ayden… that is quite generous." Eddard said seemingly lost for words.
"Aye, I can afford it and anything that benefits the north and my sister benefits me." Ayden said "The only condition is the marriage will be soon, very soon, I sense a storm brewing and I want my sister safe when it arrives." Ayden said and Brandon nodded.
"You will return to the north and father has decided to make you Lord of Moat Cailin, work has already begun with the Stark portion of the money, the wedding will be in Winterfell in 5 moons time, is that acceptable Ayden?" Brandon told his brother before aiming the last part at ayden.
"It is, I look forward to it."
Another wedding, and this time he was fucking freezing, his sister looked beautiful as always and his now brother in law cleaned up nicely in his stark armour, his sister wore a northern wedding gown and had masterfully endeared hherslef with the lords of the North already. To the mountain clans, the Umbers and the Karstarks she had long conversations in the old tongue, showing to them that she was not some andal girl as they might have thought, most south of the neck actually thought the Torrentine more barbaric than the North, in other words it was less andalised, being the only kingdom to speak the old tongue s a first language, a trait only shared with the more northern houses of the north, to the Manderlys she displayed a knowledge of trade and seafaring, to the Mormonts she showed her abilities with a blade, sparring Maege Mormont, to the Ryswells she went on horse rides with their daughters. Already many northerners seemed to like her and any bitterness that may have been there had disappeared. Marriages had been arranged between Torrentine and Northern houses and the two kingdoms had never been so close, gradually Ayden began to relax, perhaps he had been paranoid, if you where to look at it from a certain angle the realm had never been so united, The Martells linked to the throne, the Martells linked to the Daynes, the Daynes to the Starks and the Starks to the Stormlands, Riverlands and the Vale, all the excluded was the West and the Reach. Yes perhaps the realm would not go to war.
AN- Or perhaps it most definitely will, but who will side with who? A very long chapter this time but I wanted to get all the filler out of the way as promised, hope you like the Ned/Ashara pairing, but now that it's happened what's going to keep the power hungry Tully's tied down if Brandon was to... I don't know choke to death trying to save his father being burned alive... Update might take a while apologies.
Reviews.
QCoffee chapter 6 . Nov 1
A Unique take on ASOIAF Fanfic AU - Thanks, well I hope that'sa compliment, I like to think I have some good Ideas even if my writing needs some work.