Just for reference: Ashara is 21 and Ned is 20.
Tower of Joy
One Moon Later
"Ash? Where are you going?"
Lyanna's voice echoed in the cavernous entry hall, and Ashara turned her head in the tower's doorway. The girl was standing on the stone staircase, her hair still mussed from her nap. One hand gripped the railing, and the other supported her belly.
Gods have mercy, she looked as if she'd run down the stairs alone. Ashara felt her own stomach drop, and cold sweat broke out on her neck.
She rushed up to meet her, the swooping fear clinging until she had carefully helped Lyanna down the steps and into one of the chairs beside the doorway. It was only then that she began scolding.
"Gods Lya, you're going to make my heart give out. If you stumbled on the stairs you'd fall all the way down! And you were running?"
Lyanna shook her head, dismissing the danger.
"I saw you from my window, putting a bed roll on Flea. I didn't want to miss you before you left."
"Silly, I would have come up to take my leave. I just didn't want to disturb your sleep. Still, why didn't Old Yli help you? I cannot believe she let you come down yourself."
Lyanna raised a dark brow at her, and Ashara was glad to see a bit of her humour returning.
"Who would be helping who down the stairs then? Besides, she was napping so peacefully."
"Oh, Lyanna, you make me scared to leave you."
This made the girl's expression darken, and she bit her lip, suddenly hesitant.
"Why…why are you leaving? I thought—I mean, I'm grateful you've been with me until now but—I just thought you said you'd—"
Ashara reached for her hands at once and stopped her words.
"I shan't be long. Likely no more than ten days. My little sister has taken ill—nothing serious, but we've found she behaves best if I am there."
"Oh." She saw Lyanna's shoulder sag a little in relief, and something clenched in her chest—regret for making the girl think she was abandoning her.
Since Rhaegar had left Dorne, Ashara had come to the tower to keep Lyanna company. She had promised she'd see her through this pregnancy—how could she not promise this to a girl alone in an unknown land, having her first child among strangers?—and as Lyanna was only seven moons gone, Ashara was not worried for time.
Lyanna frowned again.
"Never say you're going alone. Through those mountains?"
Ashara smiled. When she'd come up to the tower, she had travelled most of the way with Dayne banner men as they rode to join Lewyn Martell, heading north for the Trident. Lyanna couldn't know that, for her, these mountains were as familiar as the back of her hand.
"Don't worry about me," she said. "It's only two nights' journey, and I've ridden through the Red Mountains half my life. I'll follow the Torrentine for most of it, anyway, and let Flea stretch his legs on level ground for once."
Something like longing flashed in Lyanna's eyes.
"But it must be dangerous. Surely there are…bandits? Or wild animals?"
The Lyanna that Ashara had met at Harrenhal would not have even asked such questions; would not have cared about the danger. Even the Lyanna who had greeted her moons ago would not have been so nervous for her. But that girl was gone now, and this Lyanna was still frowning with concern.
Ashara only waved her hand and gave her a sideways look, trying to convey her nonchalance.
"My lord brother and Larra Blackmont are not so incompetent as to allow bandits to roam these lands. Besides, I did promise to teach you how to throw blades. I wouldn't be much of a teacher if I could not even defend myself."
Lyanna broke into a little smile then, and Ashara grinned back, patting her hand.
"Yes, you did promise. I'm holding you to that, as soon as I don't have the balance of an old cow anymore."
Something frightened but determined flickered under her attempt at a jest, and again Ashara felt her heart tug, all the uncertainties of the future hanging in the air between them. How very, very brave was Lyanna Stark.
It had been a poisonously hot afternoon when they received news of Rhaegar's fall at the Trident. No matter her personal thoughts on the man, for a moment Ashara had felt her vision go dark and her head swim with the heat.
Arthur and his sworn brothers had not been able to keep the grief from their faces, but Lyanna had simply nodded and thanked him, face still as ice.
Ashara understood. They were kind and attentive to her, but Lyanna would not cry in front of men she barely knew. And sure enough, the girl had kept her composure the rest of the day.
Only until late at night did Ashara hear her bitter weeping through the wall. For what seemed like hours, Ashara had paced her own room, wondering if her presence would be unwelcome, but in the end, she'd decided no one should have to grieve alone.
That had been a moon's turn ago, and in the past weeks Ashara had watched Lyanna lose the last bit of naive idealism young girls clung to.
Before, in the moments when she could forget that her brother and father had died for her, forget that a war was being waged in her name, Lyanna could still laugh and joke and smile, and Ashara had been glad for it.
After Rhaegar's death, she grew quiet, and did not laugh any more. It took her a fortnight to regain some of the life she had exuded in such abundance once, but some nights, still, she would knock on Ashara's door and ask for her company, her voice thick and hoarse.
Ashara had asked Arthur more than once what they were to do now, especially after news had come that Robert's army had taken King's Landing. Yet Arthur had just shaken his head.
"We remain as we were. Keep the princess safe. Once she gives birth, we keep the child safe as well."
"They would both be safer at home instead of here, in some tower in the mountains with only a maid and a healer to attend them.
"The babe must be born here," her brother had said, sounding so certain. "Afterwards, we'll see."
There was something he was not telling her, Ashara was sure. But while she could win any verbal spar against the Sword of the Morning, Arthur guarded his secrets as a dragon guards its eggs.
She had thought to ask Lyanna if Rhaegar had left instructions or plans, but did not want to upset her farther. What if the prince had simply promised he would return before the babe was born? Best not to bring it up if Lyanna said nothing.
That was the way she spoke with the girl about the events after Harrenhal. Ashara never asked about the previous, tumultuous year. If Lyanna wanted to confide in her, she would. If not, it was best to keep silent.
When she'd kissed Lyanna and her brother goodbye, packed the rest of her provisions, and tightened Flea's girth a second time, Ashara wrapped her riding scarves securely around her head and mounted her horse. The sun was just beginning its descent, and she meant to chase it to the Red Mountains so she would have some light when she began on the mountain path.
She was just beginning to pick up a canter when she heard a shout from behind her. There was not mistaking the voice. She couldn't help rolling her eyes, but eased Flea back into a walk.
It took Arthur a few moments to catch up.
"You couldn't stop for two seconds?" he asked as he pulled up beside her, slowing his own steed from its gallop.
She rolled her eyes again, and did not dignify him with an answer.
"Arthur, what are you doing?"
"I'd ride with you."
Ashara shot him a perplexed look. Arthur had always been more protective than their older brother Dev, but even he had never shown concern about her riding in the mountains.
"Just a couple of miles," he clarified. "I wanted to speak with you."
She kept her eyes on him, waiting as they both picked up a trot.
Finally, he spoke again.
"Ash, when you get to Starfall, stay put. Don't come back here."
She frowned, but did not answer right away. Arthur sighed.
'We're at war, Ashara, and the fighting is not so far away anymore. The rebels have King's Landing. Prince Lewyn is dead. The king is dead. Rhaegar is…" His lips thinned, and he swallowed before continuing.
"Stay at Starfall. It isn't safe here."
"Arthur, we've spoken of this. If it's so dangerous, then bring Lyanna back to Starfall. It will be so easy to hide her in one of the guests' courtyards and have the same people attend her. Surely your duty is to keep her and the babe safe by any means possible."
For some reason unknown to her, the prince had insisted that the existence of this child be kept secret, but it still did not explain why they must all melt here in the desert.
He shook his head.
"No, the child must be born here."
Ashara closed her eyes in frustration.
"Well, if it's safe enough for a woman seven moons gone with child, it's safe enough for me. I promised I'd stay with her."
"Ash—"
"What are you expecting to happen, Arthur? That Robert Baratheon will march an army of five thousand up to the tower's gates? That Tywin Lannister will? They have no idea we are here. Besides, neither are fools. They would not dare invade Dorne now."
"I—as usual, I cannot argue with your logic. Still, I have a terrible feeling about it."
Ashara turned her head sharply. Had he had another of those chilling dreams?
She did not fully understand this, either: for years now, Arthur had told her of occasional dreams that seemed not of his own mind; dreams filled with all manner of the extraordinary, like Starfall encrusted in ice, and wild beasts caught in golden cages.
At first they had paid them little heed, but right before Harrenhal, Arthur had dreamt of riding through the Seven Kingdoms while his horse shone with green flames.
And then rebellion had broken out after the mad king burned Rickard Stark alive.
Ashara still went cold thinking about it. She had coerced Arthur to tell those dreams to Old Yli, an Orphan healer who had come to Starfall with her lady mother, but Yli said she'd had no training in the interpretation of dreams. The Rhoynar wise witches kept their mysterious knowledge closely guarded. Arthur had promised he would go to the Greenblood in due time and find a wise witch to ask about the dreams, but naturally he could not leave his post now.
"You don't mean you dreamed of it, do you?" she asked carefully. "That something terrible would happen here?"
She saw his lips thin at her question, as if making a difficult decision, so already she knew the answer.
"So, no. You did not dream of this foreboding." When he gave her an exasperated look, she smirked.
"You always debate in your head, but you never can bring yourself to lie to me, so I don't know why you bother."
"No, I cannot lie to you. I've had no more dreams these two years past, truly, but I just know in my gut that there will be danger and misfortune at the tower."
"Whatever it is, Arthur, you and the other King's Guard are there, and so is Borsyo. And like I said, you won't be faced with an army." And even if you were, you would not leave. Whatever you promised the prince, you will not compromise. You will stay here, and do your duty.
For a moment he was quiet, but then he nudged his horse close and took her reins from her, pulling them both to a stop.
"Ash, they have taken King's Landing. Robert Baratheon has been crowned king. Where do you think they're marching now?"
"Storm's End, naturally." It was still besieged the last they had heard, though it was just as likely Robert's forces had already taken back the castle.
"And who do you think the new king sent? The ageing Jon Arryn? Tywin Lannister, whom he has no reason to trust?"
Ashara bit her lip, for she knew now where he was leading.
"Storm's End is not so far from here, and if Eddard Stark has half a brain in his head he will have concluded Dorne is the only place his sister can be."
She narrowed her eyes.
"So you are telling me that I should stay at Starfall to avoid seeing an old lover when he comes knocking, asking for his sister?" She tried to keep the dry edge from her voice, she really did, but from the way Arthur flinched, she knew she hadn't succeeded.
"It is not the only reason, but if it will keep you at home—"
"It will not. Surely you don't think me so cowardly. And as I said, he has no idea where Lyanna is. It will take him a long while to find out." I would tell him if I could, she thought then. If she could ensure only he saw the letter, she would no doubt send a raven, but there was no way to reach him directly, and she could not risk this secret.
Arthur only sighed again, rubbing his exposed forehead. Ashara was suddenly struck by how weathered her gallant big brother looked in that moment. There were faint lines on his forehead and between his brows now, and strain pulled at his mouth and eyes.
"We both know he is not merely 'some old lover,'" he said, meeting her eyes. "I just don't want to see you hurting again, Ahatu-i. Least of all since the whole mess started because of me."
Ahatu-i. Little sister mine.Since Father died, they rarely used such Rhoynish endearments with one another anymore, only with Allyria. Now the word made a sweet sort of ache bloom in her chest, and Ashara could not help reaching for her brother's hand.
"I agreed to nothing I did not wish, Ahu. And if you insist it was your doing, know that your plotting gave me ten glittering, magical days at Harrenhal. I did not know it was possible to fall in love so fast, but every moment of it was sweet."
"And yet, your child—"
"Please." She squeezed his hand, feeling the now-familiar stab of grief. "Only a fool would fault you for any of it. The child was simply…she was not to be mine. Nor is Ned Stark, it seems. I have made a sort of peace with it all."
A numb, unnatural sort of peace, like the stupor one drifts through after taking milk of the poppy. Yet what else could she do? Give in to the grief and bitter pain? Let her broken heart break her life apart?
No. She was a Dornishwoman, and she was a Dayne. She came from stronger stock than that.
"It distresses me to think you blame yourself," was all she said.
He gave her a small, sad smile.
"I shall endeavour not to."
They rode together for another mile or two, feeling the setting sun on their faces and the cooling wind ripple their sleeves. As the last orange rays sank beyond the mountains, Arthur pulled up beside her and embraced her, kissing her forehead as he pulled away.
"Think about staying home, please," he said. "But if you made a promise to the princess, then I suppose you must do as your honour demands."
"You would understand better than most."
"Be careful on the road, Ash. I will see you soon."
And Ashara rode west into the mountains, heading for Starfall, her brother watching her back all the while.