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Ashara Dayne IV
Somewhere by the Barrowlands, North, 298 AC
They had stopped somewhere in the Barrowlands to stretch their legs and have some rest after hours of riding.
Princess Myrcella had come to with them once more and once more Queen Cersei politely tried to stop it from happening but to no avail as Robert himself encouraged his daughter to join Ashara's daughters. Brandon and Tommen were also getting friendlier towards each other. It seemed only Joffrey wasn't much interested in them…except for Elianna and that worried Ashara…
"The Princess is quite happy with the girls," Ros stated. "I think our girls have made a friend."
"I'm actually quite surprised that Arya has warmed up for her," Ashara admitted as she glimpsed the girls playing catch me if you can while Bran read some book about some Kings in the North. "It's some progress made."
"Indeed…I'm quite surprised myself but then again Arya just wants to feel loved." Ros said with a warm smile.
"It's more complicated than that but not entirely false." Ashara nodded, recalling her memories of Lyanna, the person Arya resembles the most…and how sadly her sister-in-law's life ended…At least she died in Ned's arms…the person she loved the most…
"Yes I do know Milady but when Jeyne called her horseface a few years ago and they all laughed at her…she was heartbroken…I found her crying on her room not long after…she in her innocence of five or six years old asked me why she wasn't pretty as her sister, or me, or you Milady." Ros said with a plain face than soon turned to a smile. "I told her that she was the one who resembled her aunt Lyanna the most and as because of it, she would be a great beauty when older putting her sister and friends to shame. At that was when I gained her trust, she just needed someone else besides you to tell her what I told her."
"And I, of course, was thankful for your deed, my dear," Ashara said whilst patting her companion's cheek. "Fortunately it didn't take long for Elianna to understand that shameful act she and her friends had and apologize to Arya, making everything go smoother between them all." They were a pack and had to behave as such.
"Has Milady seen the murderous looks the Queen has been giving us?" Ros asked. "She does not seem very happy that her cubs are playing with our pups…"
"Let her look at me as I will keep looking at her as well." Ashara proclaimed. "I will be waiting for her move. That is if she is stupid enough to try anything."
"Four eyes are better than just two Milady…" Ros laughed. "And mine are sharp and trained."
"Oh, I know that much, love." Ashara laughed as well. "You were a wonderful apprentice."
"I appreciate the compliment Milady." Ros smiled. "May I ask where Lord Eddard is? I haven't seen him yet…"
"Robert came by to have a talk with him when he brought Myrcella," Ashara explained. "Alyn told me the King came very early but decided against bothering us so early and came an hour or two later."
"Talk about matters of state I presume?"
"Most certainly." Ashara agreed. "Or something that should not fall in the wrong ears…"
"I wonder in which state the realm really is…the North has been prospering for more than a decade but…"
"I must admit I'm quite clueless in the matter as well," Ashara confessed. "But no doubt Ned will elucidate me."
"No doubts indeed Milady," Ros said. "The day our kind Lord Eddard does not tell you something is the day we ought to be extra careful."
"Wise words my friend, wise words." Ashara agreed. "By the way, I would like your opinion on a particular matter…I was thinking of inviting my friends from Dorne for a meetup in the capital so we can introduce each other's children to each other and a pleasant conversation."
"The ladies Jasline, Nysah, and Emyly?" Ros questioned.
"Them exactly. It has been fifteen years since I saw them…we have not talked beside letters too, I need to share some words with them."
"While I certainly don't disagree, I believe we should be settled properly in the capital before we attempt such a thing," Ros explained her point of view. "I don't believe the Queen who already has her eyes set on us or the courtiers will appreciate a sudden increase of Dornish blood in the capital."
"Yes…You do have a point…" she admitted a little saddened but this was something she really wanted to do so she would falter at it… "I do have a full year in the capital…so I can wait a few months more."
"That sound like a wonderful plan, Milady," Ros said. "I must say I do look forward to meeting them."
"They will love you," Ashara said. "A friend of mine is a friend of theirs," Ashara said as she rested her hand on Ros' shoulder. "Now shall we join our girls and have some fun while we wait for my dearest husband to arrive? Or that cursed wheelhouse of the Queen…if it ever gets here that is…"
Ros broke into laughter and Ashara did so too… "Let's do this."
Eddard Stark IV
Somewhere by the Barrowlands, North, 298 AC
The sun was high in the sky while they crested a low ridge when Robert finally pulled up his horse. They seemed to be miles away from the main party and Ned was, of course, worried for his family.
Robert was flushed and exhilarated… "Gods!" he proclaimed laughing. "It feels good to get out and ride the way a man was meant to ride! I swear Ned, this creeping along is enough to drive a man mad. That damnable wheelhouse…the way it creaks and groans, climbing every bump in the road as if it were a mountain…no wonder my daughter prefers to ride on your wife's wheelhouse…" he roared in laughter. "I swear to you if that wretched thing breaks another axle, I'm going to burn it and Cersei can bloody walk to the capital on her pristine feet!"
Ned laughed. "I will gladly light the torch for you."
Robert laughed will clapping him on the shoulder. "I have half a mind to leave them all behind and just keep going." he proclaimed. "What do you say, Ned? Just you and me as two vagabond knights on the Kingsroad, our swords at our sides and the Gods know what in front of us. Maybe a farmer's daughter or a tavern wench to warm our beds tonight."
"I have a wife." Ned quickly dismissed, he was well enough with his wife to look for a tavern wench. Who needs a tavern wench you have Ashara Dayne? "And we have our duties now."
Robert laughed yet again. "Bring the woman along for all I care, as long as she makes you happy I will not object." His friend's expression turned somber. "Well, I did not bring you here for some foolish dreams of mine. There came a rider in the night, from Lord Varys in King's Landing, I better just show you the bloody message." At with that he pulled a paper from his belt and handed it to Ned.
Ned unrolled the paper with trepidation to see what the eunuch had to say…
Your Grace, May this letter inform you that Daenerys Targaryen has married the great Khal Drogo and by now she most likely rides in the Dothraki Sea in Khal Drogo's huge khalasar. We will be expecting Your Grace's command on how to deal with this situation. Lord Varys.
"What is the source of this information?" Ned asked. "Where did Varys learned of this?"
"Do you remember Ser Jorah Mormont?"
"Would that I might forget him." Ned said bluntly. Jorah had tried to swell the family coffers by selling some poachers to a Tyroshi slaver because his lands were cold and poor and he had a Hightower wife to satisfy…The crime dishonored the north and before Ned could apply justice, Jorah had taken a ship to Essos with his expensive wife.
"He was in Pentos at the time of this marriage, anxious to earn a royal pardon that would allow him to return from exile," Robert explained. "Lord Varys makes good use of him."
"So the slaver has become a spy…" Ned said with distaste. Jorah had been a great man and now he is but a mere shadow of that man. He handed the letter back.
"Jorah aside, what do you make of his report?" Robert inquired.
"Daenerys Targaryen has wed some Dothraki horse lord. What of it?" Ned asked. "Shall we send her a wedding gift?"
Robert frowned. "A knife perhaps. A good sharp one and a bold man to wield it."
Ned tried his best to keep his temper this time. "Your Grace, the girl is scarcely more than a child and you are no Tywin Lannister to slaughter innocent children…"
"And how long will she remain an innocent?" Robert's mouth grew hard. "This child of yours will soon enough spread her legs and start breeding more dragonspawn to plague me."
"Nonetheless…" Ned sighed as he thought about his promise. "The murder of children…it would be vile…unspeakable…"
"Unspeakable?" The King roared. "What Aerys did to your brother Brandon was unspeakable. The way your father died…that was unspeakable! And Rhaegar…how many times do you think he raped your sister? How many hundreds of times?" His voice had grown so loud that his horse whinnied nervously beneath him.
"It wasn't Elia's children not Daenerys Targaryen those who committed the atrocities," Ned said without blinking. "I hold no hate towards them."
Robert jerked the reins hard, quieting the animal and pointed an angry finger at Ned. "I will kill every Targaryen I can get my hands on until they are as dead as their dragons! And then I will piss on their graves! And you better not be against me, Ned! Don't you dare be against me!"
Ned knew better than to defy him further. "You can't get your hands on this one, can you?"
Robert's mouth twisted in a bitter grimace. "Some pox-ridden Pentoshi cheesemonger had her brother and her walled up on his estate with pointy-hatted eunuchs all around them and now he handed them over to the Dothraki…I should have killed her years ago, when it was easy to get them, but Jon was as bad as you…More fool was I for listening to him."
"Jon Arryn was a wise man and a good Hand." Ned said.
Robert snorted. The anger seemed to be leaving him now. "This Khal Drogo is said to have a hundred thousand large horde. What would Jon say to that?"
"He would say that even a million Dothraki are no threat to the realm, so long as they remain on the other side of the narrow sea," Ned replied calmly. "They have no ships and hate the sea."
Robert shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. "There are ships to be had in the Free Cities, Ned! I do not like this marriage!" he hissed. "There are still those who call me Usurper. Did you forget how many fought for the Targaryens? They bide their time for now but give them half a chance and they will murder me and my own. If the Beggar King crosses with a Dothraki horde at his back the traitors will join him."
"He will not cross," Ned promised. "And if by some chance he does, we will throw him back into the sea. Once a Warden of the East is…"
"For the last time, I will not name Jon's son as Warden!" Robert groaned. "With the Targaryens climbing in bed with the Dothraki, I would be mad to rest one-quarter of the realm on the shoulders of a sickly child!"
Ned was already prepared for this. "Yet we still must have a Warden of the East. If the boy will not do, name your brother Stannis. He has proved himself countless times."
He let the name hang there for a moment. Robert merely frowned and said nothing as he looked uncomfortable. Then it came to him…
"That is…unless you have promised the honor to another…" Ned murmured quietly.
For a moment Robert had the grace to look startled and just as quickly it turned into annoyance. "What if I have?"
"You named Jaime Lannister did you not?"
Robert kicked his horse back into motion and started down the ridge toward the barrows. Ned kept pace with him, he was not letting him go without an answer. "I did."
No matter how much Ashara told him that the man did a great thing, he still didn't see it as such. "An able and courageous man, no doubt." Ned proclaimed. "But his father is Warden of the West. No family should hold both the East and West. That will place half the armies of the realm into the hands of Lannisters."
"I will fight that battle when the enemy appears on the field, make no mistake of it." Robert proclaimed stubbornly. "Don't vex me about this, Ned, the stone has been set."
"May I speak frankly?" Ned asked.
"I seem unable to stop you." Robert grumbled while they rode through tall brown grasses.
"You are drowning yourself in a Lannister sea. You have given them far too much power for such a treacherous house." Ned plainly stated. "When I entered King's Landing after the Trident, the city had been sacked through treachery, just as they killed Aerys."
"Treachery was a coin the Targaryens knew well!" Robert dismissed as the anger was building up again. "The Lannisters paid them back in kind. It was no less than what they deserved. I have no troubles sleeping at night. And someone had to kill Aerys anyway."
"You were not there to see the people being raped and murdered," Ned said with bitterness in his voice as he recalled some of those horrific scenes. "There was no honor in that conquest."
"The Others take your bloody honor!" Robert barked. "What did Targaryens ever know about honor? Go down into your crypts and ask Lyanna about it!"
"You avenged Lyanna at the Trident!" Ned said halting beside the King.
"That did not bring her back." Robert looked away, off into the distance.
"Nor did killing Elia Martell and her children." Ned insisted.
"Your wife is surely whispering in your ear about it isn't she?" Robert asked. "She is Dornish and a former lady-in-waiting to that…"
"I do not need Ashara whispering in my ear to know it was wrong." Ned dismissed. "What did the woman and her babes do to us?"
"Enough of talking about Targaryen whelp!" he roared.
"I agree. I must return to my wife and children." Ned said as he felt a vast sense of helplessness as Robert was still haunted by Targaryens while he was being encircled by Lannisters...This is going to be way more difficult than what I thought… "They should be worried about me by now."
"It's better indeed." Robert agreed. "Let us return, I have said everything I needed to."
Ned was simply no Jon Arryn to curb Robert's wildness, Robert would do what he pleased as he always had and there was nothing that Ned do to change that. He hoped he and Ashara would be able to at least make everything better before their term ends…
Artos Dawnbright I
Myr, Free Cities, Year 298 AC
The inn was bloody loud and overcrowded with people celebrating an important victory of Myr over Tyrosh. Women roamed around the tables, trying to get some extra coin with the victory, there would be more potential clients than usual.
The Myrish wine taste like piss, nothing could surpass Dornish vintage but ever since that day in Dorne all those years ago, he refused to drink Dornish wine even if there was plenty of it in the Free Cities.
"Hey, handsome." A slender woman of olive skin, curly black hair and a small chest said with a bright smile directed at him. Her looks reminded him of the only woman he ever loved…a woman who he did nothing to save and let die. "Would you join me for a ride upstairs?"
"I'm afraid not." he replied with a polite smile.
"Why not handsome?" she asked curiously. "Do you not find me attractive enough?"
"I do." he dismissed. "I'd be a fool if I said otherwise."
"Then why won't you have me Ser?" she asked rather disheartened.
"You remind me of the only woman I ever loved," he confessed. "I failed her and allowed her and her children to die…I'm not worthy enough of bedding someone who looks so much like her."
The whore eyed him with a confused and yet compassionate look as it seemed...Those expressions reminded him of her… "Ser, allow this woman some boldness but I'm quite sure the woman you loved so much would not like to see you depressed," she said and Artos smiled at that. She wouldn't but I would. "But I must respect your decision, I'm sorry to have bothered you. Do have a pleasant evening and may you find some peace in your soul." She bowed and began walking away.
"Wait!" he called and she returned confused. "How much do you cost?"
"Twenty four barges, Ser," she replied. "Why have you changed your mind?"
Artos picked his coin bag in which he held the many different coins of the many different places and picked the currency of Myr, the barge. "Here you go," he said as he dropped them on her small palm. "For your understanding of my situation."
The woman smiled. "I should have known…Thank you so much, Ser. Really thank you…"
"Please do not call me Ser." he begged. "I'm not worthy of such a title."
"Can I have another name to call you then?" she asked.
"Artos," he replied. "Artos Dawnbright."
She once more smiled a bright smile... "Well Artos Dawnbright, if you ever find yourself with your mood changed, just ask for Nella."
"I will keep that in mind," he said as he drank more of his wine. "But you know that is not going to happen."
"Never hurts to try…See you around, handsome." And with that, she left, to find another client or do something else entirely. Her life was hers to live and not his but Gods did she look so much like her…
He stayed there for a while more, drinking and when he was done with that, he simply stared at his empty cup…This sort of thing does remind me of someone I know…the thought alone made him smile. I wonder how they are now…I hope they are well, I would hate to have her sad…but I know she is not.
"There you are." The voice of the boy he was now sworn to protect made him look towards the direction it came from.
The boy painted his silver-blond hair with blue dye to conceal his identity though his eyebrows remained in their natural color. He was a rather tall handsome boy that resembled his father in looks and voice but his mother in personality. Next to him was the lad's friend, Ser Rolly Duckfield, this one a man grown already, broad-shouldered and tall, with orange hair and beard and brown eyes. "Here I am indeed."
"We always find you drinking at some inn Artos," Rolly commented. "That is not very healthy is it?"
"Life is not healthy and is full of sorrows and you ought to drink them away somehow." The boy said with his own smile. "That's what he always says isn't it?"
"Indeed lad." Artos said while pointing the empty cup towards the boy. "You better remember that till your last breath. Now, why have you both came here?"
"Griff says we are leaving by the morrow, to Pentos I believe." The boy explained. "It has been a while since we have been there…"
Indeed it has…perhaps now Artos could demand that fat fuck some explanations on why Daenerys Targaryen was sent off to marry a Khal of all people…This is why they should have never trusted Varys because now he was turning everyone into his own pawns for something he did not know… "Indeed it has…" Artos admitted.
"Well, you know Griff, Artos," Rolly said smirking before he began imitating Griff's voice. "We ought to rise early to catch the better breezes!"
Artos couldn't but smile and the boy was laughing. "That is a Griff for you." Artos said. "He never gets tired of being a killjoy. The older he gets, the worse he gets as well."
"We are off to bed Artos." The boy said. "Lest to make him angry and rant us…Are you staying for a while more?"
"I am." Artos admitted.
"Then you better pour some more wine in that empty cup or you look stupid." The lad murmured as he clapped his shoulder just before leaving with Rolly. Perhaps I gave him way too much freedom with me…but he does have a point…I do look stupid with an empty cup on my hand…
Half an hour later, he had finished the fifth cup of Myrish water…thanks to Dornish wines he had a strong stomach to wine so he wasn't too drunk yet as some people would be, but he was bored and tired and for that, he decided to go to his room upstairs and sleep as he was not interested in hearing Connington or Griff or whatever fake names they went on by, rant him.
When he was at the door of his room, he began hearing some voices down the hall. "Let me go!" This one was a female's voice.
"Oh come on gorgeous." And this one was a male… "I want to have a good time with you…"
"Then pay for it!" Artos went on to see what was happening and saw that whore from earlier…Nella was being harassed by a huge man, much taller than Artos himself.
"I don't think I will." The man said as he pushed her against the wall in a brutish way. "I'm just going to shove my cock up your cunt whore, and for free." And with that, he began tearing up Nella's silks while she tried her best to free herself from his grip while she screamed in agony. And no one gave a shit about her…
The words he heard fifteen years ago came to his mind… She was raped and murdered…I almost puked with the sight…it was a terrible sight and sin…
Without any more thought, Artos unsheathed his sword out. It was nothing like that blade he yielded years ago which certainly would reject him now, for he was a sinner. The huge man was already naked below his waist when his head went flying in a single slash as it hit the wall and gave its final breath.
Nella fell to the floor, shocked with everything she had seen. Her clothes were completely tarnished…her womanhood and breasts were displayed for anyone to see and tears were on her eyes and face…Was this how Elia looked before she was raped and murdered? To his own surprise, Artos began to drop tears as well, he gently grabbed her hand and brought her along to his room.
"You can have the bed, I shall sleep in the floor." he told her as soon as the door was closed, failing to hide his own tears.
"You are crying…" she whispered confused and worried.
"Something got into my eyes…that is all…" Artos dismissed. "I don't cry."
"But…"
"Go to sleep." he commanded her. "Whoever asks, you were with me the whole night, pleasuring me."
Nella looked wary of it but she finally laid down on the bed. "Thank you Artos…"
"Don't mention it," he said. "Sleep well and forget what happened."
After that, they remained in silence. Artos spent quite a while cleaning his sword for the cunt's blood had stained it and when he was done he took a glance at the woman…she was sleeping peacefully in the bed…and he wondered if it was like this that Elia slept…he never had the chance to see…
Artos decided to not think about it further as he would likely break down in tears once more…and on the floor, he slept.
When dawn came, he was already wakened up. He slept for some five or six hours at most and so he was tired but that was not new anyway…his nights had been shit for fifteen years...He glanced Nella once more and she was still sleeping peacefully…I did the right thing for once…
As he predicted, people had found the body but none could know who did it. Artos had done the deed without making any noise and there was no one but Nella around then and even if she were to somehow tell about to someone, it mattered not for he was not returning to this inn.
He walked all the way to the harbor of Myr and climbed the ropes into the Shy Maid. Once inside, he saluted Yandry and Ysilla, Haldon the Half Maester, Rolly and Young Griff as his cover name went. And then there was Griff…
"You took your time Artos," he said. "We could have left a while ago."
"I had to sleep something." Artos dismissed.
"Those who saw you and those who see you now…" Grif commented with a weak smile. "You are even worse than me."
"I failed thrice…no I failed four times by now…" Artos confessed. "How did you expect me to be?"
"You mean Princess Daenerys Targaryen?" Griff asked already knowing the answer. "That has been bothering me too…Varys and Illyrio are making moves and we don't know what purpose they have..."
"I will demand some explanations from that fat fuck once I see him." Artos proclaimed. "I'm tired of this, the girl and her brother need help and I'm tired of doing nothing for them."
"We will have to demand some explanations from him indeed," Griff admitted as he clapped Artos' shoulder. "We can't be pawns forever nor will we."
"Nor will we indeed." he agreed sighing…
He spared a glance at the sea and he began remembering those times back at Dorne where he, his sister, Elia, and Oberyn watched the seas and talked of their dreams…I failed you Elia, I failed Queen Rhaella, I failed Lyanna Stark and now I failed Rhaegar's siblings…I'm nothing but a disgraced knight…I'm nothing but a drunkard now a shameful excuse of a knight…the Sword of the Morning is dead.
Some more mysteries or not...
I don't think the Myrish coins had a name so I called them barges because of ship engraved in it and because it sounded cool to me.
So here are the results until now, the voting ends next Tuesday once I publish the chapter. Just some clarifications, the numbers between the parathesis are the max they could get with votes received but they don't fully count because these were made by people who voted on more than a character, so, for example, Margaery has 6 votes validated and two potential more from people who voted on more than one character so I would appreciate if 81, BigWilly526, trollzor69 and thetasmanian could vote for just one character.
The * means that the character still can make it round 2 depending on the votes...
I must beg forgiveness for the bad formatting...if there is any doubt please do tell me. These are the votes received from both sites.
-Wynafryd Manderly 4 votes*
-Alys Karstark 3(4) votes*
-Ygritte 2 votes
-Meera Reed 1(3) votes
-Wylla Manderly 2 votes
-An Umber daughter of Greatjon 0 votes
-A Mormont daughter of Maege 2(3) votes
-Cassana Baratheon 4(6) votes [3rd]
-Val 16 votes [1st]
-Margaery Tyrell 6(8) votes [2nd]
-Myrcella Baratheon 0(2) votes
Now I must say I was quite surprised by these results...Val dominated and I wasn't expecting it at all nor was I expecting the Northern ladies to be so low...I was expecting Wynafryd and Alys to win so yeah...I'm not sure if I will do a second round at all since Val clearly dominated and perhaps will even get a few more votes before Tuesday...
Thank you for all the reviews, I would like to answer some of them:
Prince of Petersburg: You really don't see Stannis making alliances at all. Perhaps it is why the Mannis was always against the worst odds.
DodemGM: For some reason when I wrote the chapter I was thinking about Cersei hence it came Queen's niece when it was King's niece, I corrected it right after. Though I think that Cassana is still the Queen's Niece because Cersei is Robert's wife.
C.S. Tolkien: I knew about the theory, just not by that name. Jon is Ned and Ashara's son and will not be any of those things you said because I dislike them as well, that and the harem stories. Jon has a role to play but he is not Christ.
raw66: It will depend on the circumstances, though I will keep your comment in mind.
Guest speaking of Cersei and Ned: I never thought he underistimated her because she was a woman, I think he wanted to save her children because he knew Robert would kill them hence why he offered her the chance to flee. Of course it backfired on him.
So yeah...as always thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.