POV Eddard
Ned ended up sitting next to Lady Ashara in the stands of tourney ground due to Rhaegar and Ser Arthur, the duo who somehow ended up in a conversation with Robert and Prince Oberyn, so it fell to Ned to entertain the Lady in question.
"A good morning to you my lady", Ned said as a greeting.
"The same to you, my lord. Are you enjoying the festivities, Lord Stark?", the lady asked in her beautiful lilting voice.
" Please, my lady, Lord Eddard is enough and Ned if you are willing, Lord Stark is my father. Yes, my lady I am enjoying the festivities. Marriages in the North are a bit simpler so I am a bit overwhelmed at the grandeur, I admit, but an enjoyable experience still.", Ned replied.
"Oh, I don't know about Northern customs, Lord Eddard, would you indulge me and educate me?", the lady sounded genuine in her curiosity and she was feeling curious too, Ned has Awareness Web running since the started the conversation.
"Of course my lady, the person with the highest authority in the vicinity, be it village chief or lord presides over the ceremony, the ceremony itself takes place in the Godswood in front of Hearttree so that the Gods may witness and give their blessing and the ceremony occurs just after dusk, the Groom waits in front of the Hearttree and the Bride walks down a torchlit walkway escorted by the closest and highest ranking male relative present, the presiding authority asks who comes before the gods and why. And inquires whether are bride and groom are willing to take each other, if both say yes, the groom may cloak the bride and ask for Gods blessing. And that's it.", Ned answered.
"Really, that's it? Even with noble marriages?", Lady Ashara asked with a hint of bewilderment.
"Yes, my lady, even for noble marriages. The Ceremony rarely lasts longer than a quarter hour, the feasting, dancing and bedding last much longer, well into the night even. And that's it.", Ned replied with a hint of a smile.
"That seems very direct and brief, my lord", the lady replied still with a hint of astonishment.
"We Northerners are a people who appreciate brevity and directness my lady"
"I will take your word for it, my lord. So, Lord Eddard are you participating in any of the events, Lord Robert told me that he is taking part in melee and jousting, what about you my lord?", the lady asked
"No, my lady, I won't to taking part in any of the events. I never have before and I probably never will", Ned answered honestly.
"Why, Lord Eddard, do you want to conceal your skills? Or perhaps you find tourneys to be playacting instead of the real thing?", Lady Ashara asked still curious, if with a teasing smile at the edge of her lips.
"Hah, no my lady, its for neither of those reasons and Tourneys are real enough in their dangers and winning them takes real skills too. It always seemed a needless risk to me. Even training with all possible precautions lead to broken bones and cracked skulls often enough and there is no shortage of necessity for life and death combat in the world, why risk blood and bone for momentary glory and a bit of coin. For some tourneys are their only opportunities for recognition and chance for climbing up the social ladder, I concede. But I am comfortable with who I am and what I have. I would wager, there will be at least two deaths in the tourney before its done", Ned explained.
" Thats very mature and prudent of you my lord"
"Thank you, my lady, you are very kind", Ned replied and the conversation went on about, the lady asking to know more about The North and Ned himself asking some small questions about Dorne. All the while a part of Ned, a small suppressed part enjoying the company of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Ned had lunch in Lady Asharas company too, he found the lady charming, witty and perceptive, well versed in politics if some of her cutting remarks and sly insinuations are anything to go by, entirety of the time in his company the Lady did seem to be genuinely interested in Neds own opinions, which Ned kept carefully neutral, there was some gentle teasing and perhaps even flirtatiousness in her words, which Ned feared he didn't handle very gracefully. Ned did not have much experience in banter, particularly with women. Oh, he could carry a conversation well enough, could even deliver compliments with some sincerity, for the lady in question there was no effort for that sincerity, yet he never had Brans or Robs bold confidence or charm in pursuing in women. Perhaps Ned had come across as broody and reticent to lady Ashara, he couldn't tell, even with Awareness Web running there was only ever curiosity from the lady.
There was no need for charming Lady Ashara anyway, Ned has no intention of wooing the lady, at least not yet, there was something else that was preoccupying Neds attention, which distracted Ned from making any decision about his bride to be.
Yesterday night, when Ned saw Lady Ashara for the first time, Ned drew so much on his bond with Ironeyes that somehow, Ned dragged the direwolf into himself, like warging only in the other direction. That is something that Ned did even know was possible, even Berek with his wild theories on Warging and magic never even thought of such a thing. Something more astonishing was that just how natural it felt, Ironeyes just slid into his mind, like there was a hole that Ned didn't know about in his mind, shaped exactly like Ironeyes. The direwolf wasn't even startled at the development, just vaguely curious. Ned was itching to start experimenting with this new development.
Already the first benefit of this evolution in their bond made itself known. Ned doesn't need to drop into meditation and achieve balance to warg into Ironeyes anymore, Ned just has to will it and he can start seeing through Ironeyes, it was same with the direwolf, Ned felt Ironeyes looking through Ned and rummaging in his memories a few times since he woke up. The direwolf was just looking around, like exploring a newfound clearing or a cave, only curious, it wasn't even discomfiting, just a feeling like a wind on the face. Ned's bond with Northwind didn't change any way, there has never been an option to draw anything from the falcon, Neds bond with Ironeyes is somehow deeper, stronger, of course Ned and Berek already theorized that this was due to magical nature of Direwolves, but Ned has a feeling that there is even more to this. Ned can't wait to start experimenting.