Review responses at the bottom

Title Quote:

"A woman's life is nine parts mess to one part magic, you'll learn that soon enough... and the parts that look like magic often turn out to be messiest of all."

Cersei Lannister, A Clash of Kings

The sex, as ever, was pure bliss. Still Ashara marveled at that. But right then, right there, in his arms and gloriously sore, she felt like ever after. Safe and loved. Right. Lucky dream on a falling star.

And her thoughts returned once more to the unthinkable, before she squashed them. It happened less every time. That those two could be brothers still baffled her. That there could even be a man like Ned, for once, made for just her. The monster that was his brother.

She did not like to think of him. She did not like to see him. She did not like him, though that was an understatement. Unbidden, the thoughts came once more and she nestled back into the warm and safe embrace. As always, her soulmate seemed to know what was on her mind and pulled her tighter.

"I'm here with you. He's not worthy of your fear. Today is a good day, Shara. You are to be my wife."

A soft kiss, a soothing nip on the back of her neck. The words needn't be said, but a comfort they were none the less. Wife. Husband. Lady Stark. It felt so right, now. Oh, how she loved him. At Harrenhal, ill-fated as it was then. The letters after, picking up her pieces. Seeing him on the docks, and not a day they spent apart after.

She thought back again to the first time they found themselves in bed with each other. Neither seduced the other, it somehow just happened. Mysteriously. Magical. Wonderful. They'd both been clumsy, then, but so tender.

They'd talked after. Of it. The only time. That tent. His brother's invitation, and she'd been so trusting of him. How not, the brother she'd fallen for was just all for her. How could his family not be? She'd even liked Brandon back then, he'd been their catalyst after all. And, objectively, beautiful. Not like Ned, though both Starks were a vision.

One, lithe and lean, strong and broad of back, and somehow graceful. The other was taller, broader in his shoulders but not compared to the rest of his body. Pure muscle. His betrothed, well, back then at least, as well as many other ladies at Harren's hall did obviously favor the heir. It also helped that he was more boisterous. And, well, the heir. Back then. Oh, how sweet that thought still tasted.

Ned had been at the training yard with Robert, then. Brandon had strung lie after lie, and among friends the wine flew. Among friends. Until they weren't. Until all was hazy, as her dream shattered. As it turned into a nightmare, the brother of her love turning and pawing and grasping and pawing and holding and ripping and –

She'd run.

Run, run as that infernal song rang in her ear, as her bliss turned poison. Until it wasn't.

She did not even see Ned that day. She did not open his letter until the day after, when he'd already left. Though all spoke of Lyanna Stark's crowning, the Northern host at least must have been rampant with rumor of her. She'd dreaded Ned's letter. That all had been a lie. That he was just another man, seeing her like they all did. She'd almost burned the letter unopened, if not for Elia.

It had been the balm she did not know existed. She'd cried, happy and cathartic. For days. She could not even bear the touch of most men, then, only Oby and Art. And the touch of his words, arriving every few days by raven. Seven, Ned put more words to paper in their relationship then he took into his mouth. She still kept her favorite letters with her.

And then they met again. The reunion on the docks was sweet, but the stay at the Eyrie was magical. Just them, above the world. Lord Arryn had been courteous, though some ladies at court were openly disdainful. Surprisingly, Robert had been a friend, despite his reputation. He was probably even one of the happiest to have Ashara with them, finally the other ladies around had visual proof that Ned was taken. His flirtatious ways had made Ashara uncomfortable at first, even as he solemnly kept to whores for bedmates. Some of his traits had seemed too much like Brandon's.

They'd become friends one day when Ned took Ashara with them to visit Mya Stone. Despite his affection, his friendship for Ned, Ashara had not expected Robert to be a loving father. His daughter was a delight, and another stony person around was soothing, somehow. She'd known then he was not a beast like Brandon. She could never imagine him that way.

As Stony Dornish herself, though bastardy and wedlock were a bigger taint then for her Sandy and Salty compatriots, natural children were not nearly as reviled as north of the Marches. And then, she did grow up under Mariah in the Water Gardens from her twelfth name day along Elia and Oberyn. If you could say that Oberyn ever grew up, that is. He'd probably make great friends with Robert, though.

Ned's rustling pulled her back to their room as he made to stand. They had excused themselves from Rickard's, from father's company earlier to celebrate. And they did, until the savage had come. He'd become less now, she had not feared him since a good half year after the incident. She had been afraid it would bubble up when they faced each other at Darry, but a letter from Elia had her hopeful.

And then her new father had slapped him like a bitch for even just bothering her. She'd loved him a little, then, and more for his words and every day she heard Brandon's confession at dusk before their whole company. Oh, how sweet that tune had turned, honey on her soul. The men had taken it up already, and while some still looked at her lustfully, more were respectful and deferent. She'd get the whole North to love her, and all of Westeros sing to her happiness. Dorne, for sure, would.

Brandon still looked at her with a glimmer of that lust he'd had, though subdued now. He'd been reduced to a more familiar, more pathetic monster than she had remembered him on bad days. Not worthy of her fear. Not worthy of her attention. Not worthy, even, of ever her barest acknowledgement to his presence.

She'd dealt with lust. Always, ever present around her. It had been her shield and her companion since she was three and ten. It was a familiar shield. A familiar weapon. Turning cravens onto themselves and beasts leashed or ravenous. They were not special. Brandon was not special. It had been time to reconquer her weapon against the shadowy vestige of her nightmare. And her arsenal had only grown with Ned on her side.

Lady Stark. Ethan had been the first to call her that, not three days after they'd met at Darry. Ashara suspected that it had happened at Lord Stark's directive, for everything seemed to happen for that cause. It had caught on quickly, and Rhaenys had started sleeping in her foster father's tent the day after.

Yes, her Dornish reputation was a weapon. 'They danced through the night, both entranced.' The day after, the song was on everyone's lips. And now, it had come true. Lady Stark. Her future husband was putting his breeches on, but oh how his chiseled abs glistened. Ripples on the flesh, whispers of promise. Sore, and happy for it. The fog was on fire in his eyes, and her Ned did not have his mind on his doublet as he tried to tie it.

She rose, too, to tie it for him. His hands stilled immediately as she stepped up to him, his eyes hungry. As she took care of the strings they grasped her face, after each knot she was rewarded with a deep, lingering kiss, burning and melting. Gods, she had half a mind to undress him instead of the other right then.

She finished lacing him up and turned for her own dress, taking a seat on the couch to more comfortably complete the complicate bindings. He sat down behind her, reeving her raven tresses down before taking out her ivory comb he'd taken possession of. Like each morning, before they joined he took care of her, complicated knots or beautifully elaborate hairdos, then changing it up with wonderfully simple Northern styles.

He'd told her how he'd taken care of his sister that way in the aftermath of their mother's death. The memories he'd told her of Lady Lyarra were all so familial, so precious. She could almost picture it, his mother singing songs to him and his sister while she braided her daughter's hair. The picture even left her yearning a little.

Today, though, he seemed to leave it unbraided. She was surprised when he took out a small pitcher and started softening her locks with olive oil. Where had he gotten it? It smelled of home. She loved his hands. Leaning back, minutes passed them in contented silence. She was most reluctant when he got slower and slower, before stopping to kiss the top of her head before turning to almost all parts of her face.

She did not know what the catalyst was. It wasn't anything fun, for their laughter was one of pure happiness. No words were needed as they rose, almost in unison. She just felt, in these moments, that they were complete.

They kept with each other today, they had discussed yesterday what they would do. First they made for Lord Arryn's quarters who readily let them in. Elbert and Kyle were both standing in front of his desk and all three of them were pouring over a map of the eastern Riverlands. The talk seemed to be on economics, Runestone's trade capacity through Gulltown and by road being the focus. The conversation stopped as Ned cleared his throat.

"Kyle, Elbert. Jon. Allow me to reintroduce my future wife, Lady Ashara", Ned said, his tone quiet as ever but laden with emotion. Gods, her future husband and his penchant for the power of words. Her future husband.

There was silence for a second, before Jon was the first to step closer and envelop his foster son in a tight hug. He did not need to say a word as Ned returned the gesture. When they released each other and the elder lord turned towards her, Ashara almost believed to see a slight shimmer to his eyes.

"I am beyond words and know you two will find happiness together, Lady Ashara, you and my son."

Ashara had never expected to gain two new fathers through a single marriage, but she could not be happier. She felt the moisture in her eyes, then, too, and saw it reflected in Ned's eyes. Elbert congratulated Ned in silence as Kyle came to her first.

"'And now the Maid'll be the Quiet Wolf's wife.'"

Gods. He stepped away humming after a kiss to the back of her hand and a whispered 'Lady Stark', a smile playing on his lips. She did not even hear Elbert's congratulation properly, though he must have spotted the happiness in her eyes as he stepped away after.

"There is no question, then, that Lord Dayne will consent to the match?" Jon asked.

Ned looked at her in askance. He did not doubt the answer, he only kept quiet for her to speak. Gods, how she loved him in these moments. She'd only ever stand at his side. At his side, she'd only ever stand. There was even a trace of mirth to his quiet smile as she spoke to his foster father.

"When I entered the capital as my princess lady-in-waiting, my lord father transferred to her the right to arrange a suitable marriage for me in his name as long as it proved fruitful for Starfall's trade. Sunspear might even offer to add to the dowry the usage of its own ports so as to not lose control of the timber market in Dorne entirely."

She turned to Kyle after a second, the lay of the Vale in her mind. She tried to keep her voice innocent, though a small chuckle by both Ned and Jon belied her.

"Tell me, Ser Kyle, do you not think Runestone might serve a faster relay point than Gulltown for some ships of that increased ship traffic to stop on their way from White Harbor to Sunspear? The ships could circumvent the Bay of Crabs entirely in that case…"

She could see the wheels turning in Kyle's eyes. He was just a distant cousin of the main branch, but it was not difficult to contemplate. Ashara knew of the fondness between Ned and Bronze Yohn as well. It was well known in the Vale. Still, the knight did not have the necessary authority, so he only promised to bring the matter to his lord cousin's attention as quickly as possible. They left the three Valemen, after. Ashara liked to believe they continued talking on the economics of Runestone, after. The word of increased trade alone would benefit them in the lordly circles soon.

They made their rounds together through camp. Speaking of the confirmed betrothal, painting pictures of a wedding in Winterfell, dreaming of children. Not loudly, but loud enough. The guards picked up on it, of course they did. Lady Stark. A promise fulfilled. Maybe Ethan Glover would receive a station at Winterfell come time.

The Tumblestone was where they ended up. Rickard knew, but left them to their devices. For half an hour they were alone, talking up the future amongst themselves, not as a way to spread information, just them. However, not long after came an old woman to the river, ancient even. There was an indignity to leaving a woman of her age to wander here by herself. She did not look comfortable in her bones.

At Ashara's urging Ned did notice her as well. He'd not noticed before, attention all on her. Together they approached her, and ancient did not begin to describe her. Rheumy eyes almost overgrown. Not a single tooth left in her mouth. Warts, thick and swarthy, marred her aged face. Was green a skin tone one aquiered with age? She turned towards them, a scowl on her face even as her eyes seemed to remain unseeing. A woman of such appearance rarely invited kindness, Ashara knew. It was a pity, for kindness was free yet ever in short supply.

"Grandmother, where did you leave your family? Can we help you in any way?"

Ned's words must have struck a chord with her, for as much as her face displayed astonishment and joy, it showed disbelief. Ashara's heart went out to her. Did she not have anyone?

"You are kind", the crone chuckled, though here voice was still laced with an undertone of derision, "but you will find no purchase with my family when you return me to them. I have served my purpose. The one that makes decisions for us, my granddaughter, decided I had no more use to them since the same day my last fellow wayfarer on this western shore died, bout twenty days past."

While Ned did keep a reluctant distance before, he now closed it to the old woman without a second thought. Looking at her with a mixture of compassion and pity, Ashara almost thought he meant to give the old lady alms. She knew that would have been displaced, because for all her wretched appearance, the woman wore clothing of fine make. She was not a beggar. Instead, her man put a hand on the shoulder of the old woman, protecting without appearing to be patronizing.

"My lady, tell us. Can we help you seek comfort? Just say the word."

Ned did regard all women as 'my ladies', regardless of station. A good notion, one that spoke of humility. That might have been one of the traits that pulled Ashara towards him, she though as she looked on him fondly.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." A throaty, hacked laugh escaped a withered throat. "A family man, I can tell. I am not for long, I have known since my last friend died, though that expression does not capture what we were to each other. Only the last two in Westeros who understood. But then, she's been a Ghost for years."

Ashara knew they were missing a joke in that statement. There was an accent to her voice, but it was old and washed out. The old lady once more turned to Ashara to speak, and something in here voice might have been frightening once, though Ashara felt the woman was well disposed towards them.

"You are lucky, star child. And truly beautiful, inside."

Suddenly, unseeing eyes turned seeing, blank grey turned fel yellow, hugging the blackest night in a pupil Ashara had ever seen.

"And outside, too, just as beautiful. You two deserve each other, not the fall of swords. Your quiet wolf and you have the gift of choice now. You will not understand, no one ever will again. The web I saw is unwoven. No rubies will litter the fords and no beds will be made of blue roses and blood. You have escaped from the edge of your family's highest Sword, but I do not know anymore what the future will bring, star child. Now, I can only see the past."

There was something unholy in the wind just then, but the crone only caught a shiver and it had passed.

"I have only seen a beauty like you once, you know, but only on the outside. Young man. I believe this will be of import to the Starks of Winterfell, so listen. I am dying, I know, but I have never not returned a kindness."

There was something to Ned at that moment. A belief, of a way. Ashara did not know why, but even she felt the crone's words pulling her into a spell.

"A queen that was to be came before me once, the beauty I spoke of. Her future is, as all, now unwritten. Will her children bear crowns; will her children bear shrouds? I do not know. She had it in her to be great, but she shackled herself when she asked for her morrows. That all has returned to uncertainty, and I know not why. What I know is this: Cersei Lannister has potential great and terrible, and I was the one to set her on a doomed path once."

Ned stirred, his eyes tight at Cersei's name. Why did this old crone talk of her, and why was it important for Ned? Her betrothed, though, was visibly unsettled as he spoke.

"My lady. What are you talking of?"

It seemed as if Ned wanted to deny a truth neither of them could see, even as it was unveiled in front of them. The woman spoke on, silencing both Ashara and Ned.

"Six years past, when Cersei Lannister was ten, she came to me. That same night, she left her friend Melara Heatherspoon to drown in a well and to be devoured by worms. She knows little of kindness since her mother has died. If you see her, tell her Maggy the Frog releases her from her burden."

The crone seemed spent, her eyes turned blind once more. When she said her last words, the weight of her words was lifted and all Ashara could hear was boundless fatigue, though her mind seemed clear as water.

"Do not leave my bones for Sybell Westerling and my other grandchildren to find. Give me to the Tumblestone, let the fishes clean my remains. Give me a last kindness, please. I am tired. Quiet wolf. Give my regards to Howland Reed. His great-grandfather knew me."

She was gone after another breath, lying dead on the grass. Lord Gawen Westerling and his wife Sybell had been looking for an audience with Lord Stark when they had left the inn. While Ashara felt a little shocked at what had just happened, when she looked towards Ned his face showed fear without bounds. There fulfilled the crone's last wish, still as of under a spell. Seeing Ned still perturbed, Ashara turned to ask him as she intertwined their hands.

"Beloved, what has you so distraught?"

Ned looked at her, deeply and despaired, and Ashara did not know what was to come.

"If Jaime Lannister is not released from the Kingsguard, Cersei Lannister will take up the position of Lady Paramount of the Westerland after Lord Tywin. The Great Lion will take up training her as his heir when he returns to Casterly Rock.
Benjen will be her consort, or the two of them will take up their seat in Moat Cailin if her brother returns. Father and I arranged their betrothal yesterday at dinner with Tywin."

Just a heads up, as a consequence of the last chapter I have increased the rating of the story to mature.

I don't know if there will be more smut scenes, however, I refuse to limit myself from writing them by keeping the old rating and compromise the integrity of my story.

As long as the scene has a purpose (such as evoking profound discomfort in our POV character Brandon last time), you might find yourself reading the most disturbing filth you have never imagined here. It's unlikely I will ever go there, but why would I ever rule out the posibility? Maybe someday I'll include an additional scene of Drogon mounting Daenerys instead of the other way round in this story as long as it serves apurpose. And no, that was not a promise on whether Daenerys and Balerion will ever appear in this story. No spoilers.

Notes:

Part of this chapter grew out of my discussions with belnonm, Becky_Blue_Eyes and CK2014 in the comments of chapter 13 over on AO3.
Also, this is not part of the double chapter I had announced...

I have been struggling with a way to include Maggy's scene.
I just lacked a way as to how I should include it, and a proper perspective for it.
Alone, Maggy's swan song would not have filled a chapter.

A counterbalance with Ashara to Brandon's POVs now comes earlier than I intended originally.
I am happy with the way it connects with Ash's and Ned's arc, though.
Don't get me wrong, though, I still regret nothing about yesterday's chapter.
That was painfully Brandon. If you felt uncomfortable reading it in part, I achieved my goal.

Do tell me your thoughts on seeing the world through Ashara's eyes, though.

Review responses

Nagato21: Thanks. Neddy Boy's got game. As for Lyanna, yep, child. Thing is, you cannot even fault her for that overmuch. You can even draw a connection between her and Sansa easily, even if everyone always compares her to Arya.

FuryJoe: Thanks

Julyza: It was meant to be discomforting in part cause honestly, Brandon has a lot to understand before redemption works on a personal level and forgiveness is another bitch entirely. And Lyanna, well, at least her family does care about who she marries. On AO3 someone called their behavior patronizing which I have difficulty taking as a critique when they are culturally expected to select the groom for their female family members. Is it fair? No. But what in Westeros is? Also, I learned the beautiful word ephebophile from another comment yesterday which I wish I knew when I wrote Oswell's chapter cause his snark deserves only the best of eloquence. Maybe hebephile would apply as well, but you catch my drift. I agree with your view on Lyanna.

Death Lantern: Ok, so I literally wrote almost as much in response to comments on this over on AO3, it's honestly really difficult to rephrase all that. If you are honestly interest in why I depicted Ashara as I did, had on over there and read the comment threads by belnonm, Becky_Blue_Eyes and CK2014. I honestly cannot think what else to add to that anymore. Aside from that, hey, this chapter was seen from Ashara's perspective.

Radeisth: Ned can never be to smart! No wait, wrong statement, what I mean to say is I am biasing everyone everytime through the POVs I use. Ned only talks when he has pertinent content to what is being talked about. And you know, he kinda lives silence is golden. Ashara does have her moments. Even as Brandon can't see them, Jon and Rickard already have (and through them you), it's just easy to forget when I throw in the sex part. Which always happens everywhere, so I do enjoy these reactions. As for Ned's rigid sense of honor, as much as I believe it came in large part from Jon Arryn, I believe he is so set in his stance because the many dishonorable acts and their consequences disillusioned him to no end in the rebellion. Such an event is imho just as much a contributing factor, and Rickard has already started to counter these notions since the Arryn chapter as well. Also, I always am gladdened when I see a comment that agrees that young Robert is not old Robert. And for all the comparisons between Arya and Lyanna, he potential stupid decisions in faux love (if she really ran away) for me draw a bigger line between Lyanna and Sansa.

InfinityMask: Honestly, we just know very little about young Robert. Everyone just wants to vilify him for the man he grew up to be. As for Brandon, he's dead in canon so people honestly just don't care about him enough.

Colshan: I actually don't dislike Brandon. However, in my story he has made choices that were stupid and that he has to account for. Now, I already started him on his road to redemption. But one, redemption is tricky, you suffer setbacks and fall backs into familiar behavior, and it just takes a really long personal journey to realize your core flaws and then right them that it would be a disservice to make take on the characters if those milestones were achieved too quickly, and two, redemption and forgiveness are two different beasts entirely. No matter how redeemed Brandon is on a personal level, he may never have the forgiveness of those he's wronged. And he's definitely on the very top of Ashara's shit list. Her wounds are still fresh. I don't even know how Brandon acted in canon, we only have scant information on him, how can I hate him? As for canon Ned not being a paragon of smart choices, I wholeheartedly agree. How lucky that I do not write canon Ned, isn't it? He's got his blinders for Robert and other things still, but he's not rigidly set in his ways yet as a traumatic event like a war on the backs of more than half of his family dying would facilitate in him. Don't view him through the lens of canon Ned of 297 AC.

JustAnotherFan217: Nobody ever asks Ned for his reasons why on that subject. He said Robert would've been good to her, who's to deny that untraumatized Robert wouldn't have? Thanks for your support.

Moshi: Ned doesn't say Robert disregarded the iron underneath, he says Robert did not see it. Semantics, yes, but important. For all we know, Robert and Lyanna had very little time to interact with one another and much of what Lyanna knows of him is based on hearsay. What we do know of young Robert is that he cared enough about his daughter to visit her daily, even after he stopped to care for the mother. How would Robert have developed as a person and as a father without the war, or with different guidance through it? Who's to say?

BattlemageABK: Imo Ned's rigid honorable views are a consequence of both his upbringing and the many dishonorable acts he witnessed during the war and their consequences. The Targ children, Ashara's dead bastard and her suicide, the Sack, Jaime's oath breaking, etc. My Ned's more malleable and he's hella into fucking Ashara because he wasn't forced to marry another, driving his lover to suicide after her baby died. So yeah, this Ned is very different from canon Ned. And I am actually not a Robert supporter. I mean, he's a horrible king and he's peaked before canon in canon (heh). I ain't promising anything on his behavior because I do so hate spoiling things and Robert will obviously become an important character.

Tian Yi: Thanks. Glad to surprise.

magnus374: I really appreciate a reader that does not agree but can see my point enough to not jump into a dogmatic defensive stance. I agree, canon Robert makes it difficult to form a positive opinion about people. But then, I went to school with nice kids who grew up to become shitty adults. It is never too late to turn into a horrible person!

JRW123: Thanks.

Guest: I've seen a few of those around. When I first picked up AGOT I was really drawn to his integrity, I mainly try to keep to that part of his persona as well as standards of honor and that he really is a genuinely good person. I am just of the opinion that the rebellion cemented his views in a very rigid and brittle form, stunting the potential of young Ned.

fan: Is it said anywhere that the bannermen see him as ineligible? Because as far as we know Mace draws little respect and everyone knows Olenna is the one with the power. And in Westeros, what is a man honorably crippled in comparison with a woman doubly as smart? Still the preferred choice.

Guest: Keanu says what?

Robin42069: Thanks.

Topone: Thanks

YungHegel: Thanks.