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Jon Stark I

Winterfell, North, 297 AC

The moon was appearing in the afternoon sky when his father's party entered Winterfell through the Hunter's Gate with a slow pace so the injured and pregnant direwolf could follow them properly. The creature left Jon a bit uneasy to say the very least…he wondered how mother and the girls would react to her…

There hadn't been direwolves south of the Wall for two centuries and soon, there would be at least two or three more. He was excited for that but also somewhat scared…just one was already threatening enough to the point that both he and his brother Brandon stayed petrified for a while that imagining perhaps five beasts of her size roaming around Winterfell was scary…but the Starks of old did it somehow so…they'd manage it as well…

They unhorsed by the stables and walked to the Great Keep…the direwolf scared every soul that laid eyes on her…even poor Hodor was scared and he was a giant of a man…the dogs in the kennels were barking as loudly as they could but the beast paid them no mind and limbed behind father. At the entrance of the Great Keep, Jon saw all of his sisters, Jeyne Poole, Beth Cassel, his mother, and Ros waiting for them as they always did. Their gentle and bright smiles always warmed their days after the grimness of the executions. Who wouldn't find welcome by it?

"Boys." Mother began with her melodic tone before all the eyes began bulging at the sight of the direwolf. "Ned! What in Seven Hells is that?" His mother asked aghast, the children, including Arya, hid behind her and Ros who was also frightened. "Oh Seven Hells…is that a direwolf?"

"Yes…" Father replied shyly, definitely worried by their reaction. "Jon and Brandon found her near here…she has a nasty wound and…"

"Is pregnant isn't she?" Mother questioned, still frightened. She had the sharpest eyes Jon had ever seen and then there was that pinky finger that told her things…no matter how foolish and superstitious it sounded, he always failed to disprove the pinky finger because it was always correct… "Do I have to tell you how dangerous she is? Look at her! She is taller than Arthur for the Gods' sake."

"But she is not dangerous Ash…she is nice and…"

"How do you know she is nice Ned?" Mother insisted worriedly. "Ned we have children here!" At that moment the direwolf began limping towards his mother, instinctively all the men in the area unsheathed their swords ready to kill the beast if need be, even his father who had been the most adamant on bringing her home…but there was no need…mother stood where she had been, shaking of fear and sweating but the beast gently rubbed her head on mother's thighs and then began licking the gloves. Mother calmed down and indulged the beast by gently bringing her other hand which the direwolf licked as well. The fear diluted in the air as it seemed father was right for the beginning… "I'm so scared and yet…it seems…that…you are not wrong…"

"I'm sorry for scaring you all…something told me I couldn't kill her and somehow I just knew I had to bring her home…" Father explained worriedly, his smaller sword at hand and Ice at his back given that it was extremely hard to fight. "I'm sorry Ash…"

"I should have known that nothing is ever as it seems in the North…" His mother murmured as she began patting the direwolf some more. "For some reason…I'm also having a feeling that I'm safe around her…"

Arya who had been behind Ros despite her usual fearless attitude began peeking out and then slowly walking towards the direwolf. "Can I pat her?" His skinny sister asked as she eyed them quickly and then the direwolf.

"I don't know…" His mother whispered as she rubbed the direwolf's chin. "Can she?" The direwolf turned around and allowed Arya to pat her, his sister smiled as she held the shaggy fur. Soon Elianna was coming out of mother's back too and began patting the direwolf's fur, Jeyne Poole joined in and soon all the women were patting the wolf with cues and awe…even shy Lyra was patting the direwolf's head as she felt secure in Ros' hold.

"I guess father was right all along…" Bran murmured beside him. "Perhaps, it's not just mother who has that pinky finger that tells her things…"

Jon chuckled at that and went on to pat the direwolf too…as he touched its fur, he got that same feeling his parents were describing…a feeling of safety…all the remaining fear he had dissipated. What is this?

Father sent for Maester Yolan and Farlen as he had meant to and the two men almost jumped back upon seeing the direwolf but quickly were assured of the beast's good behavior and thus they inspected the wounds and took the direwolf to the kennels to be treated without any major problems.

His father had disappeared quickly after the direwolf was gone…He was going to clean his mind as he always did when he took a man's life…maybe in a few years he and Rob would join him there too…when they took their first lives away…the thought made him feel worried as ending a man's life was tough. Even his boisterous brother felt the same way.

His siblings began dispersing and he was going to do the same but his mother prevented him from doing so. "I need a word with you both, my loves," she explained as she prevented Dany from leaving as well and with her hands in their backs began moving them to a nearby courtyard. "But let us go to a quieter place first."

"Is it because of the direwolf?" he asked worriedly. "She doesn't seem like she is aggressive…"

"It's not because of that." His mother said while softly pinching his cheek much to Dany's amusement. Finally, she stopped them and made them turn to her. "It's something else, the King…rides to Winterfell as we speak…"

Jon immediately turned to Dany and found her sighing and compose herself. The King's distaste for Targaryens was well known through the realm. "Whatever for?" Jon asked. If the lessons he took with Maester Yolan meant anything the last King to visit the North was Jaehaerys the First. "And why now?"

"Your namesake Lord Jon Arryn has died…" His mother replied sadly.

Jon knew well how much his father loved the man…he had been fostered by Lord Arryn at Eyrie and thus the man was like a second father to him. And Jon was named after the man so he also felt sad albeit not as much as father would be. "Father will be crushed…" Dany said with a sad expression. "Lord Arryn was like a second father to him…"

"He will…" Mother agreed with a sad expression as well. "But I will talk to him…I'm sure I can make him feel better."

"I'm sure you can…if the noises we hear at night are to be trusted." That earned a raised eyebrow from his mother and a what are you doing from Dany. It was then he realized what he had said…You are not speaking with Brandon you bloody fool! "I mean…hum…the laughter…and…" I spend too much time with him that I become just as foolish as he is…

"What are you speaking of young man?" His mother slowly walked towards him with her serious expression which sent shivers down his spine.

"Mother…I meant no harm but Gods do you scream loud…when you…and father…make love…" Jon murmured embracing himself to receive a slap while Dany hid her face with her hands…

His mother simply blushed red like a little girl caught stealing candy… "I…is it true Dany?" Dany did not say a word and simply looked at the floor with her hands still covering her head, just like he was doing now… "I'm speechless…" His mother confessed. "For how long has this been? How long have you been hearing us?"

"Ever since I can remember…" His mother's eyes bulged widely when Dany confirmed his words.

"Oh Gods…" Mother covered her face in shame. "This was not supposed to happen…Oh Gods…what kind of mother am I?"

"It's okay mother we are all used to it, even Arya and Lyra…" Jon assured but saw Dany slap her forehead so he understood he screwed up…again…speaking of such matters always left him a fool…Curse you, Brandon!

"Oh Gods…I'm supposed to set an example…not make my poor and sweet children hear me…Lyra is two…and you all were two as well…Oh Gods…I'm a mess of a mother…"

"That's not true mother, we all look at you and father as examples, you are both the role models we wish to emulate," Daenerys explained, trying to save the ambiance that he somehow ruined. "You are both smart, kind, funny, loved, industrious, with a perfect marriage to make everyone jealous…all of us wish for the same…the screaming part is…well a part of Winterfell as we know it so it would be wrong to not…hear you scream when father does the thing…"

"I'm so ashamed..." His mother confessed as she hid her red face in her hands still. His mother was a tough woman, even the likes of Greatjon Umber and Maege Mormont thought so but sometimes she had these…expressions and fits…well…that was what made her special at the end of the day.

"Don't worry mother." Jon smiled as he patted his mother's back. "Dany speaks true words, Winterfell to us is all this, the people and your screaming…we love you so much…"

"Give us a hug mother." Dany pleaded while pulling him to force said hug. He did it without hesitation because this was his mess…

"Forgive this naughty mother of yours…but…I can't help it…" Mother laughed a little. "Your uncle Brandon said I was Dothraki screamer due to your father's descriptions of our first night…he wasn't wrong…" Both he and Dany struggled not to laugh…everyone kept saying Bran was like uncle Brandon hence why his name fitted so well and if this statement is true, then he understood why…because his brother would certainly say something like that… "Let me compose myself…" she inhaled some air and let it out, then she made some weird gestures with her arms and hands. "I'm ready! I'm going to speak to your father now!"

"Do not be too hard on yourself mother." Dany pleaded as she kissed mother's cheek. He did the same.

"Now…I told you this because I'm counting on your help to prepare everything, a King's visit is no small affair and we must be prepared. You are my eldest children and your father and I need to start delegating some affairs to you so you can get used to adulthood and running a household as is expected of you."

Both he and Dany nodded a bit overwhelmed with the responsibility they were receiving but certainly set on not disappointing any of their parents. "We are ready to help." Jon avowed. "Give us the word and we do our best mother."

"My good children…come here so I can kiss you both." No Stark child no matter how wild he or she was could resist those kisses from the Lady Ashara…he did not know why, and neither did his siblings…but there was something in those kisses…like a blessing from the Gods…His mother's kiss on the cheek left him with all the energy he needed for the rest of the day.

"You should go tell father what happened with Lord Arryn and what is coming," Jon suggested. "He is the Lord of Winterfell and needs to be informed."

"Oh, I will, do not worry." Mother avowed. "But I'm afraid of what the King might want…I fear he might wish for your father to become Hand…King Robert is quite easy to predict in this matter…"

Hand of the King was the second most important position in the realm, only the King was above it. Any man would gladly take such position but not his father of that Jon knew and his mother's words of the south made him shudder if his father was to accept such position… "Father will not accept…" Dany whispered. "And the King might take it as slight…especially when I'm here…he might think father has converted to…the Targaryen cause…because of me…"

"Nothing will happen to you, your father, or any of us." Mother assured. "We will figure something up, we always do. I'm more than sure that a war will be avoided, for all the faults King Robert has, his love for your father is too strong for him to turn against us in such a way. Anyway…go help Ros, she might be in need of some help with a…certain someone..."

"Arya…" They both said laughing. "Take as much time as you wish father, mother." Dany added.

Mother nodded and left and two of them made way to the Great Keep. He could see that Daenerys was tense so he placed his hand on her shoulder. "You are protected here, no harm will come to you," he assured. "You don't have to fear King Robert."

"It's not me I'm worried about Jon…it's you all…I wouldn't bare it if any of you died because of me…" Dany said with almost tears in her eyes. "Anyway…let's not speak of this, for now, let's enjoy ourselves and work hard in the tasks we were given."

"Aye."

Ashara Dayne I

Winterfell, North, 297 AC

Ashara knew she would find her husband in the Godswood. Her Ned always went to the Godswood when he was conflicted with something or took a man's life. She learned that very fast.

House Dayne followed the Old Gods thousands of years ago but they converted to the Faith during the Andal Invasion to avoid unnecessary bloodshed but nevertheless, they kept many of the Old Ways such as the Guest Right which was sacred for House Dayne.

Starfall still had a beautiful Godswood where a weirwood Heart Tree still thrived, some Daynes also prayed to the Old Gods besides to the Seven on a variety of occasions. Her late mother, Elyana Blackmont, taught all her children how to pray to the Old Gods and frankly, Ashara always found it much easier to worship the Old Gods than the Seven.

When she first came to Winterfell all those years ago, when Ned's father was still alive and his siblings too, she who had been indifferent to religion but even her quickly felt a strong connection to the Old Gods in the Godswood. It was an imposing sight, three acres of old forest untouched for thousands of years with the castle raising around it. Its trees were strong, mighty oaks and ironwoods that reached unbearable heights. It was the same at Starfall but here there were no animals, only silence, peace, quietness, calmness…It all had a mystic to it…so when she took her sweet Ned for a husband, she took his Gods too, just as the Daynes of old.

And the Godswood also held one of her favorite parts of Winterfell…the hot springs…Ashara loved the water, it was in her being. Her late mother and her brothers called her a mermaid for she had to take a swim every day, to feel her muscles stretch, the wetness around her body…and when she convinced her Sweet Quiet Wolf into joining her morning routine…it was just perfect…

He was so kind to her that he had an inside pool built for her, so they could have more privacy together…she blushed again as she thought about the conversation she just had with Jon and Daenerys about her moans…it was so shameful…all their children hearing their mother moan from pleasure…Gods I'm a mess…no matter what they say…no wonder some people say I betray my husband…

She found Ned, her husband and lover, beneath the Heart Tree as she expected of him, seated on a moss-covered stone. Ice, his beautiful and monstrous sword across his lap while he cleaned it with the help of the nearby waters that were as black as the night. The humus of the floor swallowed the sound of her feet and so she tried a little play of her own…she got right next to him without him noticing… "Ned." she called softly prompting him to turn her way and place his lips right where she wished, hers, so she planted a big passionate kiss on the man she loved the most.

They stayed like that for a little while…their marriage was one of love, approved by everyone in his family and hers before everything went to chaos fifteen years ago, when Ned lost so many unjustly… "Ash," he said with a shy smile when they broke the kiss. "Where are the children?"

He would always ask her that, he loved their children so much just as she did. They were the product of their love and countless nights of pleasure too…pleasure that apparently was well known in the family…I'm such a mess… "Ros has taken them somewhere…perhaps the boys will be training in the yard too."

"Again I'm sorry for bringing the direwolf…I don't know what happened with me…"

"Don't worry about that, my love," she said while she wrapped her arms around him. "I don't believe she will hurt us…not after…touching her and get a weird feeling she meant no harm to us. But Gods wasn't I scared when I saw her…"

"I felt the same way and it just leaves me worried and confused…" Ned told her as he looked at the canopies of the trees. "And that female voice…I just don't understand it…"

"A female voice?"

"It told me to not kill the direwolf and somehow planted the idea of bringing her home in my head." Her husband explained. "What could this be?"

"Perhaps we will never know, my love…" she said grimly. She had not heard this mysterious voice to provide a solid opinion on the matter… "By the way…what will you name the direwolf?"

"Name?"

"Yes, Eddard Stark, she is to live with us isn't she?"

"Yes…I believe so…"

"Then she can't remain as direwolf or beast, she needs something better." she insisted. "She deserves to be called something nice."

"How about…Winter?"

Ashara began giggling before she kissed his cheek. "Sounds like a good name…you love to say Winter is Coming don't you?"

"I do." Ned chuckled too. "And how is my Shining Star doing today?"

She loved it when he called her that, it was his invention during their first night of love and after fifteen years it still had a charm to it. "It depends…how is my Sweet Quiet Wolf doing today? Specifically…how did the execution go?"

"The man died well, I will give him that." Her husband said as he ran a swatch of oiled leather up Ice, polishing the metal until it gleamed.

"This man was the fourth one this year right?" she asked worried, watching as he stroked the sword. Ashara knew how to use a dagger if need be and when she was younger she practiced some with swords but it was never her thing. She tried to yield Dawn once but it burned her hands when she tried to swing it, she was not deemed worthy enough of such honor by the sword itself. Dawn allowed everyone to carry it around but not everyone could yield it, only the chosen ones. Now the sword remained in Starfall as her brother could no longer use it…she missed him dearly but she knew he was well in his new place.

Dawn and Ice were also as different as day and night. Dawn was pale as milkglass while Ice was dark, shaped in Old Valyria before the Doom took nearly all Valyrians to the grave. Yet its name was older still as she came to learn, perhaps as old as Dawn, thousands of years old. She did not quite know what happened to the previous sword though. Little Artie was trying to uncover clues on the old books of the library but he wasn't yet able to read Old Tongue to read the most ancient ones and since Maester Yolan could not read it either, her youngest had been bothering her and Ned to let him go to Skagos to learn it but they simply did not want him to go as the Skagosi were not too friendly with Starks and besides he was still too young. "Indeed..." Ned stated grimly. "He was half-mad…something had put a fear in him so deep that no words could reach him…" Her husband sighed next.

"And the Watch's numbers are dwindling by the month…like Ben says..." Ashara added. "Is it the wildlings?"

"Who else could it be?" Ned lifted Ice and looked down at the cool steel of it. "And it will only grow worse," he warned. "The day may come when I will have no choice but to call the banners and ride north to deal with this King-Beyond-the-Wall for good and for all."

"I fear for that day love." Ashara shuddered with the thought of it, hugging her husband tighter. "Going beyond the Wall to fight wildlings…"

"Mance Rayder is nothing for us to fear, Ash," Ned assured with a smile. "I shall be careful."

"I hope so, I don't want to be a widow at five and thirty."

"And you won't." Ned assured as he kissed her forehead. "Is there something else you wish to talk about?" he inquired as he slid Ice back into its sheath ready for the next execution.

The news…Ashara took her husband's hand. "A raven from King's Landing came, love," she explained. "Jon Arryn is dead…"

His beautiful eyes found hers and they got darker, the grief was taking him already…Jon Arryn was like a second father to him and she still had very fond memories of the kind old man too, before the deaths of Elia and her children…She too grieved his death at the end of the day.

"Jon…" he murmured. "Is it true? Please tell me it's not…"

"The letter had the King's seal…I saved it for you in case you wanted to read it yourself," she explained as she passed him the letter and he took a quick peek at it. "I did not wish to bother you while your conscience was still heavy…and then there was the whole direwolf affair and I lost notion of things."

"You did well love and don't be sorry for feeling scared with Winter." Ned smiled at her planting a kiss on her lips this time. "If it wasn't for you…I don't know where I would be by now…"

"I know..." she cooed while patting his cheek once more. "The letter did have some other interesting information…I believe it was Robert himself who wrote it judging by the messy letters…he said Lord Arryn was taken quickly, Grand Maester Pycelle was helpless…so helpless that only Milk of the Poppy was advisable."

"A small mercy I suppose…" Ned muttered.

"Indeed…but…"

"But what Ashara?" Ned asked concerned.

"You know how Oberyn is a friend of mine…he knows how to use poisons and showed me some…" she explained remembering how scared she had been when she first milked a snake for her venom. "Some poisons make death seem natural but…the signs are still there if one takes close attention…"

"You think Jon was poisoned?" Ned asked aghast.

"It's not hard to conceive, I mean he was the Hand of the King and such position attracts the hate of many…" she pointed out. "You know how I have always said King's Landing is a nest of vipers? Well here is your proof. If it's true that is."

"Gods…" Ned sighed. "He didn't deserve such dishonorable dead…he was a great man…"

"Great men are always targeted love, you ought to know by now."

"I guess so…" Ned sighed once more. "Gods be damned if it happened..."

"The message explained that Lysa Arryn took his son back to the Eyrie and seemed fine but grieving for her husband's death." she continued, knowing fully well that only one bit of information remained. "And there was something else too…"

"Better or worse?"

"It depends on what you consider better or worse," she said before she revealed the information. "Robert is coming to Winterfell."

It took some time for Ned to comprehend her words, but when he did, she noticed his grey eyes getting brighter again. "Robert is coming here?" When she nodded, a smile broke across his face, a shy one of course…

Ashara wished she could feel the same way as her Ned but…she could not. Her best friend and her children's deaths were left unanswered after fifteen years. She knew Ned had no part in it, she made him promise he would keep them alive but the Lannisters had taken them before he could even lift a finger…and Robert did nothing either just as Jon Arryn…she tolerated the man for he was her husband's best friend and unfortunately for her, the King but she held no love for him anymore. "I knew you would be happier…" she said with a small smile. "Ben should know as well I believe?"

"Yes." Ned nodded. "I know you don't like Robert much anymore…"

"It is okay Ned…" she assured him, not wishing to sadden him further on such a joyful moment for him especially considering the news he had received. "I know how to control my feelings and impulses, besides…it wasn't he who committed the atrocity..."

"I know but…" After all these years she loved the way he cared for her…none knew about how happy their life was at Winterfell…they lived on their own little world away from the vipers and she loved it all. And caring for their children was also marvelous but she was making sure they knew that Winterfell was not the rest of the world.

"We shall send the swiftest bird to Castle Black so your brother can be present," Ashara explained. "And we shall prepare ourselves in the meantime."

Ned rose and pulled her to her feet making her giggle. "I don't wish to force you anything…"

"Ned…you cannot refuse the King can you?" she dismissed as she kissed him. "I will be fine."

"Unless he asks me to harm Dany…" Ned murmured grimly.

"He will not." she tried to assure but even her did not know if Robert would actually be so foolish as to ask Ned to kill Daenerys in his home…when she has done nothing against him. Only time would tell…

"How many years has it been since I last saw him?" Her husband asked. "And he gives us no more notice than this?"

"It seems so…your friend never struck me as a person who gives it much thought if the matter is not war."

"I…cannot deny that…" Ned laughed. "How many in his party, did the message say?"

"If I'm to use the measurements of Aerys' reign then we should be looking at three hundred people at the very least." she deduced. "Cersei Lannister and her children travel with him of course, just like almost every Lannister..."

Ned did not like Lannisters either. Who would after witnessing such horrendous crimes? She could not even imagine the sight that Ned had to witness back then…and the awful messages she got from her friends at Sunshine Orphanage in King's Landing…some girls who came to start a new life at Winter Town and Direwolf Harbor carried scars that even her or time could not ease. It truly angered her the state some of them were…broken…

"They are everywhere it seems…and it does sound as if Robert is bringing half his court here…Well…I'm sure the children will like some playmates…" Ned smiled. "I also hope you don't end up in a verbal war with the Queen for some reason…I fail to know what would happen afterward…especially with our concerns…"

"With me arrested and dead for destroying her ego?" Ashara laughed quite loudly and bitterly. "Would you like that? Dornishwoman destroys the Queen's ego…the Ballad of the Noisy Star…"

Ned laughed loudly. "I would much prefer if such ballad would not be written…" Then he kissed her on the lips. "I do wonder how we will feed all these people…and in such short notice…Gods he never learns…"

"This is a good time to see how well our reforms have gone." Ashara pointed out. "I'm sure we will surprise some of them…and keep our trump cards still hidden…for any future trouble…"

"Indeed…" Robert will want you to be his Hand, but I'm sure even you have deduced as much my Sweet Quiet Wolf…I will be there for you.

Radomir's Renegades: Thanks for the review! I think I explained in the Author's Note in the beginning that this is a rewrite of A Happy Marriage and Scars of Robert's Rebellion, meaning the King is good old Bobby B, Stannis is the Lord of Dragonstone and Catelyn is Stannis' wife. To understand some events you can read A Wolf That Met A Star and A Troubled Regency but it's not mandatory.

Anyway, thank you for sparing time reading, I hope everyone has a nice day and stays safe.