"I honour you Ned," the king had said gruffly, his blue eyes sparkling like the sapphires in Lady Catelyn Tully's auburn hair, "with the gift of two Targaryen dragonspawn. You will have the honour of killing them in any manner you find fit." Ashara felt her husband tense up. Killing Targaryens is the last thing Ned will want to do, she thought, squeezing his hand again.
"No," Ned said coldly. "I will not kill innocent children."
"Ned! Your father, brother and sister are dead at the hands of all those dragon bastards! I'm giving you the chance for revenge!"
"I will never forget their deaths, but there has been far too much bloodshed. It is time for peace. Killing two Targaryen children will not bring them back. What of all the men that fought for us? Will killing Targaryens bring them back too? Killing foes in war is necessary; killing for fun is despicable, but killing children is bloody barbaric. No, Your Grace. I will not kill Targaryens for you."
The king's face reddened. "It is not for me! It is for your family!"
Ned shook his head flatly. "No, Your Grace. There is no honour in killing little children. Would you kill them yourself?"
"That is a-"
"Will you kill them yourself, Your Grace?"
"Give me the honour, Your Grace." A portly man of average height with a piggy face and small pig-like eyes stepped forward. In a high, thin voice, the man said again, "Give me the honour, Your Grace. I am more than willing to kill Targaryen dragonspawn for you."
"Ser Amory Lorch." Disgust entered Ned's voice. "Do you enjoy killing babes and young children?"
"Only those traitorous to His Grace, Lord Stark."
"Only those – are you mad, Lorch? How are children traitorous?"
"Enough!" The king's eyes blazed with irritation. "Ned, I understand you had a long journey. Go and rest. Chambers have been prepared for you and your wife. Lorch, go and make yourself useful somewhere. Lord Lannister! Send your man back to Casterly Rock or somewhere. I do not have the time to deal with him at the moment. Ned, go and rest. Now. Take your lady wife with you." Ned bowed and Ashara curtsied. King Robert Baratheon was not what she had expected. She had never thought a king would keep child killers in his court. Perhaps Robert did not have the chance to sentence Lorch yet.
"Ned?" ventured Ashara cautiously.
"I will not see more children dead," her husband muttered, clenching his fists with anger. "So many little ones have died already – does Robert not see it, or does he simply not care? I thought he would be a better man than this. I will not kill the last two Targaryen children."
"Give him a week. He has not been on the throne for long. All new rulers feel uneasy with potential claimants alive."
"I fear what the Lannisters and Tyrells are whispering in his ear. Especially the Lannisters. They murdered Rhaenys, Aegon and Elia and will not be afraid to get their hands stained with more Targaryen blood. Once Robert weds Catelyn Tully, I will confront him. He must rid the land of Lorch and Clegane. Even the Wall is too good for them. It is dishonourable if he allows them to live. I hope he sees sense quickly."
"Ned…rest. We travelled for weeks and you are exhausted. We need you in better spirits tomorrow." She smiled encouragingly at him. "How else will you survive this pit of snakes?"
Ned said dryly. "The stags are surrounded by a growing pride of lions in a field of growing roses with hidden thorns. The falcons hover over the stags, but how long will they be able to protect them? The trouts splash and swim in the rivers, helplessly unable to help as the lions rip the stags into shreds. Then there is the pack of wolves on the other side of the river bank. I won't be surprised if there are serpents hidden in the grass, ready to strike when the time is ripe. I will be happier when he leave for Winterfell."
"King Robert is your childhood friend. He will be a fool to abandon you. Lord Arryn will never have your friendship dissolved."
"If Robert decides to banish me, there is little Lord Arryn can do. Robert is the king; no longer the headstrong boy he fostered at the Eyrie." He sounded sad. "I found our time together in the Eyrie to be filled with the most joyful memories. I hope Robert thinks it too."
Ashara patted his hand dutifully. I should not act this way to my brother's killer. I should be spitting at him like a hissing cat, not calming him with soothing words. By the gods, will I allow love to overcome the fact he killed Arthur? I am a terrible sister. As she went with Ned to their chambers, she felt her emotions twist themselves in a knot. In the span of a few weeks, her brother had died, she met his killer and then married him. When did she speak kindly to him? Was it before or after he swore a number of vows regarding his faithfulness and honour she vaguely remembered? This is for peace, she reminded herself. Even if I yearn him dead, it is far too late. The king will have my head if he discovers his best friend dead at the hands of a spiteful and avenging wife.
"I will have a servant bring us food," said Ned, breaking the few minutes of silence. "You must rest too."
"Where is Lord Reed?"
"I think Robert did not see him. Howland had always been good at hiding and blending when he is not wanted."
"You and Lord Reed are good friends?"
Ned opened the door and gazed at her reminiscently. "Without Howland Reed, it would've been your brother returning to you in blazing glory."
Two servants brought in breakfast the next morning with a message notifying Ned and Ashara of Stannis Baratheon's arrival and their presence required in the Great Hall in half an hour. Ashara had never set foot outside Dorne except for the tourney at Harrenhal and even then, found the cuisine slightly odd to her usual Dornish food. Today, she was served a fresh loaf of bread with cream stew and a cup of sweet plum wine. Delicious.
On a full stomach, Ashara left for the Great Hall with Ned, who hardly touched his stew or wine. She made him eat two slices of bread at least. Upon arrival, she immediately noticed a larger crowd of lords and ladies. Making their way to the front, Ashara caught a glimpse of a silver-blonde haired boy holding a sleeping babe swaddled in rags. Standing at the foot of the throne with his arms crossed was a large, sinewy man of looming height and broad shoulders. His dark blue eyes bore at certain lords as he kept a grim expression. Ashara noted he only had a fringe of black hair and his beard was close-cropped across his large jaw. That must be Lord Stannis Baratheon; only he would be grim at a time when victory was his. Beside him was a man with brown hair and eyes and a beard peppered with grey. If the first joints of the fingers of his left hand were not missing, she would not have recognised him as the former smuggler and infamous Onion Knight, Ser Davos Seaworth.
"Lord Stark." Stannis had noticed Ned. "I take your mission to Dorne was more than successful?" His gaze shifted to Ashara. "His Grace did tell me you wedded a Dornish noblewoman. He neglected to mention it was Ser Arthur Dayne's sister. My lady." He nodded at her.
Ashara nodded back. "Lord Stannis."
"His Grace King Robert Baratheon the First of His Name!"
Ashara curtsied with the other ladies as the king marched to the throne, his lips curved in a grin. He slapped his brother on the shoulder. "Well done," he said jovially. "I am proud to call you my brother. Only you would bring them back to my alive. If I sent Ned, he would've freed them or even helped them escape. If I ordered one of Lord Tywin's men, they would butcher them to death. Well done, my brother. You've done your duty well."
Stannis nodded, as serious as ever. "Thank you, Your Grace."
"Now…who do we have here?" He glared down at the scowling boy. "Where is that Targaryen bitch queen? I had hoped to fuck her before burning her at the stake or removing her head."
"She died, Your Grace."
"Eh? You killed her? I didn't think you had it in you!" He snorted.
Stannis stared at him and said sombrely. "Rhaella Targaryen died of childbed fever, Your Grace. She died giving birth to her daughter."
"How unfortunate. One dragon bitch dead after giving birth a dragon whelp. If only you killed her before she gave birth, Brother."
Stannis looked appalled. "I will never kill a pregnant woman."
"More's the pity. Ser Gregor would do it, Perhaps Lorch would too. Ned!" The king turned to Ashara's silent husband. "My gifts to you! Kill the dragonspawn in any manner you find fit. Burn them, stab them, hang them, I don't care. I expect to see them dead by the evening. Guards! Take the dragonspawn to the black cells. Perhaps after a night there they will show fear. Get them out of my sight! Now, to business!" He settled on the throne and waited for the lords and ladies to cease whispering. "For his loyalty and aid in securing Dragonstone and capturing the last of the dragonspawn, I name my brother Stannis Baratheon the Lord of Storm's End," he decided, "he will also have a place in my small council as the Master of Ships. Well done brother. I hope to see you at my wedding." A few of the courtiers snickered. Lord Stannis at a wedding? Ashara thought, watching Stannis Baratheon grind his teeth and thank his brother. I wager a hundred gold dragons to see him laugh.
"Furthermore," the king continued, "he will be Lord Protector of Dragonstone until a suitable lord can be found, and our brother Renly will be the Lord of the Rainwood once he is of age. I have also elected to forgive House Connington for siding with the dragonspawn and Ser Ronald Connington will keep his lands on the condition nine tenths of them are given to the crown. Ser Ronald will further lose the lordship of Griffin's Roost but will be the first Knight of Griffin's Roost instead.
"After my wedding, my Hand, Lord Arryn, will leave for Dorne to return the bones of Lewyn Martell and broker peace with Dorne's prince." He paused and shot a meaningful look at his old Hand. "The last we want is more war," he added grudgingly. "Lord Varys will maintain his position as the Master of Whispers as Pycelle will as the Grand Maester. Despite fighting on the side of the Mad King, Ser Barristan Selmy will remain in my Kingsguard and will be Lord Commander. For Lord Stark's benefit, I will say again that Ser Jaime Lannister will continue as a member of the Kingsguard as he had committed no crime warranting death or the Wall." Ashara glanced at Ned. He had closed his eyes for a moment, revealing nothing. She was glad he did not argue or raise his voice with protest.
"Lady Stark." Ashara turned as she saw Catelyn Tully approach. She smiled and nodded. "Lady Catelyn."
The future queen nodded back and beamed warmly. "How are you finding your married life, Lady Stark?" she asked, her sapphire blue eyes sparkling with sincerity. "You are fortunate to have Lord Stark as husband."
"I did not expect to be Lord Stark's wife," said Ashara honestly, immediately taking a liking to Lady Catelyn Tully. "I always thought I would be wedded to some Dornish lord my brother or father wishes to ally himself with, not the great Lord of Winterfell!"
Catelyn laughed like a lark. "I too am betrothed to a man I did not expect," she said agreeably. "Firstly to Lord Brandon Stark, then to your husband – when he was unmarried of course – and finally to the king. I remember you from the feast at the tourney at Harrenhal, Lady Stark. You danced with Lord Stark, did you not?" She thought for a moment. "And Ser Barristan the Bold."
"You have an excellent memory Lady Catelyn. The tourney at Harrenhal seems nothing but a speck in the past."
Catelyn darkened. "A memorable speck."
Ashara nodded in agreement. "Every girl must be envious of you. The great Robert Baratheon is king and you will be his queen! You must be counting down the days till the wedding."
"Yes." She sounded strained, "though my father seems to look forward to it more than I do."
"If I may be bold, you will be a wonderful queen, Lady Catelyn."
Catelyn Tully smiled at her. "Thank you Lady Stark." She hesitated. "I know this may be too soon, but I will be honoured if you will serve – even for a short time – as one of my ladies. I wish for us to be…friends. I am asking you this as a bewildered woman, not a future queen."
"I am honoured to be your friend, Lady Catelyn. However, my husband is more keen on returning to Winterfell. If the king was not his friend, he wouldn't stay here longer than he desires – he might not have even stopped here."
"Do not fret about Lord Stark. The king will convince him to stay here for a few more months, I'm certain of it. What is the Stark saying again? There must always be a Stark in Winterfell? Lord Stark's younger brother still remains in Winterfell. There is no hurry for Lord Stark to return."
"It sounds as if you find King's Landing your home already!"
"My home is with my family." It echoed eerily like the words a child would learn from a tutor. Ashara faintly remembered the Tully words. Something to do with family…"Family, Duty, Honour," Catelyn said, as if reading her thoughts. "I do not know how to stay by them once I wed the king. Lady Stark, you probably heard of the king's numerous…natural children. What if he decides on a whim to bring them here? I cannot possibly be a mother to them!" Ashara listened and sympathised with her. On the way to King's Landing, Ned had told her of Robert's large appetite for women. She felt sorry for the kind-hearted Catelyn Tully and prayed the Seven will be kind to her.
"You will be queen," said Ashara helpfully.
"Queen," said Catelyn bitterly. "Being queen means naught to me. Oh, it is a great prize for those like Cersei Lannister, but to me, it is nothing. I still marry a great lord; I will still bear him his sons; I will still be mistress of a castle. Married to King Robert only means I will have to tolerate his womanising ways. If Cersei Lannister yearns to be queen so much, I would gladly give it to her…my father will never allow that."
"You will be a fairer queen than Cersei Lannister." Ashara had glimpsed the strikingly beautiful Cersei Lannister yesterday and instantly disliked her. Cersei's brilliant green eyes held nothing but contempt and her lips were curved in either a sneer or a scowl. She felt sorry for whoever was chosen to be Cersei Lannister's husband. The poor man would no doubt die from her sharp words mere minutes after wedding her.
"Thank you Lady Stark."
"Call me Ashara please. We are friends, are we not?"
Catelyn smiled. "If that is the case, then call me Catelyn. I always thought I was destined for the cold North, not King's Landing."
"You will be the leading lady at court, Catelyn. Do not think of the future. Enjoy the present. Nobles and commoners alike will clamber to you as their queen-to-be. No one will object to you as queen…except one."
"Cersei Lannister."
The two of them laughed like young maidens rather than a wife and a future queen – that was how Stannis Baratheon found them.
"Lady Ashara Stark," the solemn Stannis grunted. "Lady Catelyn. Both of you are requested in the Great Hall." He was clearly unhappy to serve as his brother's herald. "If you will come with me." He stalked silently to the Great Hall, Catelyn and Ashara behind him. The walls were thick, but before the guards could open the doors, Ashara heard loud arguing from inside. She groaned. It was only their second day in King's Landing and Ned had struck a second quarrel about the last remaining Targaryens with the king. Glancing at Stannis, she noticed he looked more tired than sullen. "My lord," said Catelyn cautiously. "Is something amiss? I cannot help but notice-"
"Targaryens!" snapped Stannis grouchily. "Every morning and every evening, all I hear is His Grace growling about them as dragonspawn and abominations in our world! Has he forgotten our grandmother was a Targaryen?" Any other lord would apologise for his abruptness, but Stannis, a man of bluntness and honesty, said nothing more and marched into the Great Hall. Catelyn shrugged at Ashara and followed, Ashara herself trailed in, muttering a quick prayer for Ned to cease arguing. How long will the king endure Ned's obstinacy?
Ashara was not surprised as saw the Targaryen boy clutching his baby sister stand in front of the throne again. So much for keeping them in the black cells for the night, she mused. The king's face was red with fury as he roared at Ned, "I cannot allow those dragonspawn to remain alive!"
"They are children Robert!" Ned said in frustration.
"What if that bastard Rhaegar won, eh? Do you think he will spare Renly? All those fucking Targaryens think of is fire and fucking blood!"
"You are not a monster, Robert. Show them clemency. Let the people think of you as a merciful king who will not murder innocent children bearing the cursed name of Targaryen. Would you rather be remembered as Robert the Good or Robert the Child Killer?"
"For fuck's sake Ned! I am your king!"
"And I am your friend." Ned had quietened considerably. "I fought for you; my men died for you. I married Lady Ashara Dayne on your orders. I long to return home to Winterfell, but I will stay here until you deem me fit to return. I will not complain…only if you swear by the old gods and the new that you will not shed a single drop of Targaryen blood." Stannis cleared his throat.
"Long last," the king grumbled, not even bothering to greet his betrothed. He walked to Catelyn and presented her a silver bracelet. Upon closer examination, Ashara saw the silver chain connected to a small stag wrought from onyxes as black as coal, a dragon formed from rubies as red as blood, a turtle fashioned from emeralds as green as lush grass and a trout made from pearls as white as snow. "This is a family heirloom," he explained, slipping it around her wrist. "All the Baratheon Ladies of Storm's End wear it from the time of my grandmother Rhaelle. After she added her father's sigil, it became custom for wives to add theirs too. The turtle is of House Estermont, my mother's House. As we are to wed, I thought it fitting to add yours, my lady. A silver trout from House Tully. Stannis, is not Lady Catelyn beautiful with our late mother's bracelet?"
Stannis's lips tightened and he stayed silent. Robert snorted. "I hope you learn to compliment your own future wife soon enough." He glanced at the Targaryen children, turned to Ned and Ashara and sighed, defeated. "You will remain here as my Master of Laws?" he challenged. "You will not run back to Winterfell after my wedding with Lady Catelyn?"
Ashara nodded tentatively with her husband. Grumbling unhappily, Robert looked at Stannis. "Escort my betrothed back to her chambers," he ordered. "Ned, Ashara and I have matters to discuss." He waited until Stannis and Catelyn left and said promptly. "You will tell the court Ser Ilyn Payne accidently killed the boy when he wouldn't stop screaming down in the black cells and the babe was too weak to survive – no, don't interrupt me Ned – a day down there. Every lord will believe the word of the honourable Lord Stark. Do what you want with the girl; best to kill her, but if you want to keep her, ensure I never see or hear her name again. If I catch a whim of her alive, I will stab her myself. As for the boy…show me a body before I wed Catelyn Tully." He reached for his cup of wine on the table nearby. "If you don't…I have no choice but to declare you my enemy and a traitor to the realm."
Thanks for telling me in reviews and PMs that Dawn wasn't of Valyrian steel! It should be fixed by now :) There will definitely be a time skip, but I don't know when just yet... As for Jon, again, I haven't fully decided, so I guess you'll have to wait and see! As Stannis received Storm's End, I didn't know what lordship Renly will be given, so I just decided on Rainwood; he is still a child at the moment, so there's enough time for him to receive a more important lordship when he is of age. Since Ashara is only a mentioned character in ASOIAF, I wasn't too certain on how to write her in her POV, but I hope it's okay for her first POV but there'll be always room for improvement! :)
