A/N: I would like to say that the song used here is not written by me at all.
On the first day of the tournament, Eddard instead of watching his brother joust chose to practice for his first melee fight of the tournament. He always thought jousting was pointless. No commander should charge cavalry with cavalry.
So instead he was warming up his body, with a few light practice swings. He was going to have to go fight as soon as the jousting was over and he would need to go up against Jaime Lannister, the Young Lion. The other Kingsguard and Prince Rhaegar were competing in the next rounds.
As Eddard went through his motions, swinging at invisible enemies and shadows, a lady slowly walked up towards him. When Eddard heard the light footsteps, he quickly spun his blade around towards her neck, almost attacking her. Eddard, recognizing that saw that she meant no harm and stopped the blade from cutting her throat open.
He quickly took in her features as she took in his. She was taller than most ladies, with long smooth dark hair and haunting yet beautiful violet eyes. It was lighter purple than the Stark left eye. Prince Eddard would later find out that she had a reputation amongst the Southerners for her great beauty.
"That was a very dangerous thing to do, my lady."
"I knew you would stop, Prince Eddard."
"You seem to have me at a disadvantage. May I know your name, my lady?"
"I am Lady Ashara of House Dayne."
"Ah House Dayne, my family often trades with your family from what I recall. A tradition we have kept since House Dayne was the King of Dorne, I believe."
"Yes, in fact it is widely recognized that the relationship between our houses allowed House Dayne to grow so powerful and prestigious."
"I am sure my ancestors saw great potential within your house."
"Ah such a polite man. Seeing you practice, I assume that you will be competing in the melee?"
"I will be."
"Very well, may I give you my favor?"
"You would give your favor to me?" asked Eddard with a surprised look.
"Don't be surprised. The ladies of the south play our own game in tourneys. Giving you my favor just means that nobody else can make bets on you." said Ashara while holding out a piece of cloth with the Dayne sigil.
Chuckling, Eddard took the cloth and wrapped it around his arm before, saying "Thank you my lady. I hope that I will live up to your expectations"
"You better, Prince Eddard, I have 5 dragons and my pride on this bet."
"I will do my best to please."
"Very good, I expect you to make it onto the next rounds."
Eddard was in the courtyard while the people took their seats as the melee was about to start. He could see Ser Jaime on the other side of the courtyard with his golden lion armour, instead of the classic white Kingsguard armor. Eddard was dressed in his steel and leather armour, which were adorned with simplistic designs of wolves, with the favor of Ashara tucked underneath the armour to prevent any damage to the material.
Eddard quickly shook his head clear as the horn signifying the start of the battle was about to be blown. As soon as it was, the courtyard became a mess of men and steel. Eddard's training immediately kicked in as he could hear the footsteps of a knight approaching his back. He spun around and used his greatsword to knock the approaching sword, before swinging the pommel of his blade into the jaw of the knight, knocking him out.
He quickly moved on, knocking out another man just as quickly as the first. While normal knights only practiced against one opponent, the Starks were forced to fight multiple at once for battlefield training. It allows them to learn to always be aware of their surroundings and be better prepared should they ever be in a battlefield. None of the fighters that he had to fight were very capable, nor were they as well trained as he was.
With only a few men left Eddard made eye contact with Ser Jamie. They locked eyes and began to slowly walk to each other. The other fighters got out of the way, not wanting to face the two people who in total knocked out 55 people in the 100 men competition.
Their slow walk became faster and faster and faster, until they were right on top of each other. Jaime struck first due to his slightly faster speed, jabbing straight with his longsword. Anticipating such an attack, Eddard quickly deflected without breaking his stride and kicked Jaime in the chest pushing him back.
Eddard kept up the offensive, leaving Jaime no time to respond, until Jaime used his slight speed advantage to press a counter attack. Eddard, refusing to get engaged in close quarter combat, just stepped back and used his superior reach to hold Jaime back. While Jaime had the slight edge in speed, Eddard made it up with his superior reach and slight advantage in strength. The fight continued like this for 10 minute, a constant back and forth between the two highly skilled fighters. Fast attacks after one and other, the dance of steel was a skillful sight. However, Jaime began to lose on the endurance front as he wore the heavier plate armour. Jaime's moves became slightly slower, forcing him to lose the speed advantage. Eddard sensing his opponents slow exhaustion, was just about to rip Jaime's extravagant blade out of his hand.
But before he could, the horn shattered their concentration and both Eddard and Jaime looked around to see another knight standing over a downed knight. With only three people left, there was no need to continue the melee.
"That was a good fight, Ser Jaime." said Eddard, while sheathing his blade.
Jaime looking annoyed said "We will see who is better next time Prince Eddard. I did have to fight other people to get to you after all."
With that Jaime left the courtyard with the cheering Northern man screaming their prince's name.
Eddard found himself in the same clearing looking up at the sky and sighing.
"Why the sigh, Prince Eddard?"
"Please Eddard if you must, Ned if you are feeling more comfortable. And I am feeling a little sad."
"I got that from you sigh. Why is my question."
"Many of my favorite stars and constellations are not visible here. Too far down south I suppose, my lady."
"Please call me Ashara or Asha would work just as well."
"I can't do that to you, that would be great disrespect for me to call you by your first name only, my lady."
"You are of a higher status then me, so would you like me to go back to calling you Prince Eddard?"
"You twist my arm, my lady. But very well, I shall call you Ashara."
They sat together looking up into the sky watching the vast amount of stars that littered the sky.
After a moment of silence, Ashara spoke "Tell me of the constellations of the North. It must be beautiful."
"Well there is the Direwolf constellation, you can always find it leading you to the North. It is right near the Little Kraken. The northern night sky is beautiful and if you go towards the Wall, you can see the most beautiful thing in the world, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights…."
Eddard and Ashara would spend their night together speaking of the stars in the Southern and Northern lands.
On the third day of the tournament, Howland and Tristifer were with Lyanna helping her put on armour that would cover her body and head.
"Princess Lyanna, I am fine. I don't need you to get revenge for me. You already beat them up. You don't need to beat their knights in the melee as well." said Howland desperately trying to stop Lyanna.
"No, those squires jumped you with numbers and surprise. You are a heir to a High Magnar position, your line carries the blood of Kings, I will punish them in my father's place and of the love of the Old Gods, I told you to call me Lyanna"
"Lya, I know that you just want an excuse to participate." said Tristifer.
"Oh shush you."
"If you wanted retribution you could have gotten Brandon to do it, I am sure that he is more than willing to oblige. Howland did make friends with him after all and if not Brandon, Eddard."
"Tris, if you don't want to sleep on the floor when we get married, I suggest that you shut your mouth and help me with this armour."
Tristifer quickly paled and immediately began to help her tie all of the straps. She turned to glare at Howland, shut his mouth, and quickly began to help Tristifer.
King Aerys was bored as the second day's melee drew to a close with no major events. He was now waiting for the jousting to start. A man with an armor made up of mismatched armor bits and pieces that appeared ill-fitting on him appear in front of him. His shield was blazoned with the image of a white weirwood with a laughing red face.
The mystery knight, with a voice that could be barely heard, challenged the knights of House Vance, House Blount, House Bracken, House Piper and House Haigh, to a jousting match. The man declared that the winner would receive the other's armour and horse. The knights overconfident in their abilities all agreed. The King, in his boredom, allowed the joust to continue.
So the match began and on the first tilt the knight of House Blount was unhorsed in a spectacular fashion, flying away off his horse and landing on his ass. The smallfolk were shocked as the seemingly weak knight won. The knight of House Haigh took to the field next, and the jousting once again began. This second knight fared no better and was also sent flying off on the first tilt. By now the smallfolk were cheering for the unknown knight to win, as the other knights were not very popular. The knight of House Vance stepped up to face the mystery knight, now dubbed the knight of the Laughing Tree. The knight of House Vance fared slightly better, lasting two tilts before flying off his horse and landing on his side. The knight of House Bracken fared just as well as House Vance, lasting only two tilts. By now, King Aerys' paranoid mind began to scream at the supposed danger the mystery knight posed. When the knight of House Piper only lasted a single tilt, King Aerys was furious.
The five knights were shocked. They knew that they were now honour bound to hand their horses and armour to this mysterious knight. But not a single one of them could afford to buy another one, so with a quick look to one another then quickly got on their knees and begged the mysterious knight. They begged the mysterious knight to let them keep their armour and horse. After a tense moment the mystery knight laughed, mirroring the Weirwood on his shield, the sound of which boomed and grew within his helmet.
After calming himself down, he declared, "Your squires attacked Magnar Howland, through an ambush and using superior numbers. This is not proper behavior for a squire. I demand that you punish your squires harshly and only then will you receive your belongings back."
The knights quickly moved to discipline their squires, setting out very harsh punishments for them.
The mystery knight actions attracted unwanted attention. Robert Baratheon and Richard Lonmouth were determined to unmask him in the competition. However, most dangerous of all King Aerys was paranoid that the knight was his enemy. As soon as the knight left, King Aerys furiously commanded his own knights to defeat the knight of the Laughing Tree when the jousts resumed the next morning, to unmask and expose him.
The next morning came and the tourney began and the knight of the Laughing Tree was called forward, but no man came to accept the challenge. Beyond furious, King Aerys, believing himself to be mocked, ordered the tournament to stop and order a search for the knight of the Laughing Tree, commanding the Kingsguard and his son Rhaegar to look for him.
An hour passed before Rhaegar approached King Aerys.
A very eager King Aery's asked his son "So did you find him?! Where is he?! Take me to him!"
"Follow me father and I will show you what I found."
Aerys quickly got up and followed him, his mind clouded by the sadistic thought of the dead knight. He didn't even notice what direction he was moving, until his son stopped. He looked up to see that they had stopped in front of the sept.
"Why have you brought me here?! Is the knight in here?! He better be fucking dead by now!"
He pushes past Rhaegar and steps inside the sept, only to scream in pure rage. For the knight wasn't dead, nor was he even in the sept. Instead, in the very center of the room was the shield of the Laughing Tree. The very shield mocking his family's religion and in his paranoid mind, himself.
The knight would never be found again, nor would the armour pieces that he wore and King Aerys could do nothing and punish nobody.
"You shouldn't have done that Lyanna." said Eddard.
"Do what?"
"Attack the five knights."
"Why do you think that was me?" asked Lyanna with a very picturesque innocent voice.
"I know how you ride and I also know that the shield came from the North. I can put the two and two together."
"You're no fun, you know that?"
"Lyanna, what you did was very dangerous and you must swear to me that you won't do something so dangerous again. King Aerys was furious and he looked like he wanted to kill someone."
"I didn't get caught though did I?"
"No, I suppose that you didn't."
"Then don't worry about it, Ned. You know you worry too much."
"How can I not? I have to worry more, to make up for the amount that you and Brandon don't worry. Our House is a very precarious situation with the south. A single mistake that our family makes could lead to the death of thousands. Actions have consequences, especially ours. It is the price we pay for the benefits the Old Gods gave us in allowing us to be born into the Stark family."
"I swear that I won't do it again. Happy?"
"Very. Now let's go back to the tournament."
The tournament passed relatively normally after the knight of the Laughing Tree incident. Brandon won the second day of the jousting competition, complaining about the lack of good fighters. Eddard had yet to be forced to join the singing competition, something which Lyanna was dying for. Prince Rhaegar had already participated in his part of the singing competition, clearly earning himself a spot on the finals, against five other undecided people.
Even Lyanna had to admit that Prince Rhaegar's skill with a harp was undeniable. She slowly listened to every cord, appreciating every sound, every vibration, and the slight tonal shifts within Prince Rhaegar's voice.
Prince Rhaegar saw Princess Lyanna enjoy his musical talents. Rhaegar's lust for Lyanna grew, fueled by his obsession with the prophecy. He thought by marrying and having a child with Lyanna, the prophecy would be true. She would be the ice, whilst he would be the fire. It completely slipped his mind that House Stark was already the ice and fire, the fire coming from their Valyrian heritage. The dragon needed three heads, after all.
Brandon once again saw Prince Rhaegar look at Lyanna with pure lust in his eyes. In his fury his hand went to Titan's Bite strapped to his side, but before the situation could escalate, Eddard put his hand atop the blade.
"Don't do it Brandon, it isn't worth it. As long as he doesn't start anything, we can let this go. It isn't the first time Lyanna has been stared at like that."
"Fine, but I am going to pummel his shitty face in the melee."
"Not if I beat him first."
"Ha, unlikely brother. Just take care of the Young Lion and let the Wild Wolf take care of Dragon Prince."
Prince Rhaegar won his jousts very easily, as did Ser Jaime, Ser Barristan, Ser Arthur and the rest of the King's Guard with the exception of Ser Oswell, who unfortunately had to face Ser Arthur early. The Winter Guard did not participate as they didn't want the enemy to know of their ability.
The wrestling match began on the fourth day and Brandon couldn't have been more excited.
"Finally! I can wrestle and destroy those pansy little southerners."
"Brother, could you perhaps use more elevated language? You are the Crowned Prince of the North."
"Hahahahaha, no Ned. I don't want to sound like a big headed aristocrat."
"I do not sound like a big headed aristocrat!"
"You do sometimes, Ned." said Lyanna "But Ned is right, Brandon. You could use work on using more advanced vocabulary."
Brandon rolled his eyes before replying, "Whatever, let's go Ned, Ben."
The three brothers walked toward the arena ground, for the wrestling match. The wrestling matches would take the course of two days. You would win by pinning your opponent for three second or by pushing them out of the arena circle. You were forbidden from carrying any weapons or wearing any armour.
The three brothers all took off their shirts, to remove something their opponent could grab. Brandon was the most well built out of the three brothers with eight perfectly formed abs with a well developed seratis, broad shoulders and strong back. He was built for strength and speed, shooting out strong fast blows. Eddard was not as built as broadly as him, his body type favoring the lean rather than the broad. His regerious training with Brandon, has led him to have six well developed abs, a strong back, and well developed shoulders. Eddard favored speed and accuracy over speed and strength. When he fought he aimed from places that would hurt the most, placing fast blows all over their critical points, rather than waste his energy on hitting other places. Benjen had the beginnings of abs forming on his body, but being fourteen his muscles wasn't as developed as his brothers.
The wrestling portion of the tourney, an abnormality within most southern tourneys used mostly to lure the Northerner, were mostly composed of Northerners with a few brave southern souls. Brandon favored overpowering his enemy, pushing and lifting his enemy. Eddard instead aims to push his enemies off balance by attacking exposed weak points. He would aim for the knee, tripping them or pushing them whilst they were off balance. Benjen adopted a style similar to Eddard, but due to his age and less experience lost his match on his third game.
Brandon fought a Southerner, who tried to enrage Brandon. It had well worked, but his plan had backfired, as Brandon went into the berserker state. The berserker state is a state of rage, in which their physical abilities are greatly increased, but their mental capacity is lowered. So when his opponent was unable to trip Brandon, the southerner was most certainly unable to stop Brandon lifting him over his head and throwing him out of the ring.
Eddard used masterful technique to wrestle his enemies, his favorite move being to move his leg behind his opponents leg and pushing him forward to trip. Both Brandon and Eddard, already having participated in the proving day tournament, had no problem making it to the second day.
On the seventh day, the day which the archery competition took place, Eddard came into the great hall with Ashara after spending time together, out in the forest. He knew that the singing competition took place at dinner to provide entertainment for the guest, so it was no surprise to him when there was a band playing a Bear Maiden Fair. He just took a seat next to his family before a man called for his name.
"Prince Eddard Stark?" said the announcer.
All heads turned to look at him and in confusion Eddard spoke up "Yes?"
"You signed up to participate in the singing competition…. It is your turn to sing."
At this Lyanna burst out laughing, howling through the night, quickly joined by Brandon, Benjen and the rest of the Northerners.
"I do believe there is a mistake. I never signed up to sing."
"But your name was within the rooster, your grace…."
As Eddard went to deny everything, he turned to see Ashara's hopeful face.
Sighing deeply he said "I did not sign up to sing. But seeing as though it will be too much trouble for you to fix it, I will just sing."
"Thank you, your grace."
"Just give me five minutes." Eddard quickly turned to glare at Lyanna, and said "You signed me up for this didn't you!"
"I have no idea what you are talking about brother." said Lyanna, barely able to talk through her laughter.
"How did you even find out that I could sing?"
"Please Ned, even I have heard you sing!" said Brandon, who was still laughing. "You are good at many things, but sneaking around is not one of them! Especially when you are singing!"
"Be quiet!" snapped Eddard as he made his way to the opening for him to sing, having asked a northerner to grab his lute from earlier.
Eddard sat on a stool, with Ashara in the front of the crowd. He looked on to see the crowd quieting down. Once the crowd was quiet, Eddard strummed his lute a little, checking its tune, before he opened his mouth, with a slight cough to test his voice, and started to sing.
High in the halls of the kings who are gone
Jenny would dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones who had loved her the most
The ones who'd been gone for so very long
She couldn't remember their names
They spun her around on the damp old stones
Spun away all her sorrow and pain
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
They danced through the day and into the night
Through the snow that swept through the hall
From winter to summer then winter again
Til the walls did crumble and fall
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
And she never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
Never wanted to leave
High in the halls of the kings who are gone
Jenny would dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones who had loved her the most
His deep voice rang through the night sky, clear and true, to all of the audience. Like the North, his voice's beauty came from the somewhat amateurish untamed singing style. It was comparable to a untouched mountain, raw and unfiltered within its beauty. The crowd remained dead silent, and Eddard was getting nervous, even Ashara looked shocked. Taking this as a bad sign, Eddard moved to leave until Lyanna began to clap. She was soon followed by the rest of the crowd and soon everybody was clapping. Eddard was able to hear small whispers saying things like, Northerners can sing that well? Eddard with all of his etiquette training, gave a small bow and made his way back to the table.
Ashara found Eddard late in the night waiting for her in his usual spot.
"Why didn't you tell me that you could sing?"
"Well because I didn't think it was worth mentioning. I am not that good anyway."
"Please I will be the judge of that. For punishment, from now on you are to sing to me whenever I want!"
"What?! How is that fair?"
"Who said anything about being fair?"
"Fine, as long as you don't force me to do it in public,"
"Yes! Now how about you sing me one right now?"
Eddard sighed, but he was used to her antics by now. So he picked up his lute, slowly strummed it, before going into another song.
Omake: Jon and Dany's conversation (My version)
Jon made his way into the Dragonstone throne room with Ser Davos. There he saw a beautiful woman of silver hair and violet eyes sat upon her throne. She could have only been Queen Daenerys "Stormborn" Targaryen, however, her herald decided to list out her numerous titles.
Missandei spoke "You stand in the presence of Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, rightful heir to the Iron Throne, rightful Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, The Unburnt, Protector of the Realm, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons".
Jon rolled his eyes in annoyance at all of the unnecessary titles and glanced towards Ser Davos.
He looked confused for a second saying "This is Jon Snow. …. He's King in the North."
"Thank you for traveling so far, My Lords. I hope the seas weren't too rough."
"Apologies. I have a Flea Bottom accent, I know. But Jon Snow is King in the North, Your Grace. He's not a lord."
"Forgive me-"
Tyrion helpfully jumps in "Your Grace, this is Ser Davos Seaworth."
"Forgive me, Ser Davos. I never did receive a formal education, but I could have sworn the last King in the North was Torrhen Stark, who bent the knee to my ancestor Aegon Targaryen in exchange for his life and the lives of the Northmen. Torrhen Stark swore fealty to House Targaryen in perpetuity. But do I have my facts wrong?"
"I wasn't there, Your Grace."
"No. Of course not. But still, an oath is an oath. In perpetuity means - what does perpetuity mean, Lord Tyrion?"
"Forever."
"Forever. So I assume, My Lord, that you're here to bend the knee."
"I am not."
"Oh. Well, that is unfortunate. You've travelled all this way to break faith with House Targaryen?"
"Hahahahahaha. You think you're some important shit don't you? Please, House Stark did not break faith with House Targaryen first. House Stark ruled the North for 8000 years or more before your fucking incest loving ancestors came. Aegon Targaryen threatened King Torrhen to not burn Winterfell but all surrounding lands so he may watch his lands in ruins. King Torrhen, horrified by your great ancestor's threat, bent the knee and removed the crown for his love of his people. If only he knew how terrible House Targaryen would have been as a ruler."
"While the actions of one of my ancestors were not noble, it does not change the fact that he swore an oath in perpetuity for his life and the lives of his vassals!"
"Which your family did not keep! King Jaehaerys, your supposed best king, crippled and starved the North"
Tyrion attempted to interject "King Jaehaerys was the best king Westeros has ever seen. He built the very laws in which Westeros is governed. I don't know what you have read my Lord, but-"
"King Jaehaerys took the best farming lands in the North and gave them to the Night's Watch! An organization which Jaehaerys knew could not make use of their new lands."
"The New Gift?"
"Yes, the New Gift! King Jaehaerys was worried about the might of the North and decided to cripple the North to curb our growing influence! Without the food from the area, House Stark was forced to completely rely upon House Tyrell for food, who use their opportunity to raise the prices and ruin House Stark. This cut down the North's capital, as well as starved more than 10 million men in the preceding 200 years!"
"I am horrified to hear about the actions of King Jaehaerys but he constructed the Kingsroad all the way to Winterfell! And act not even the Stark Kings could manage!"
"HAHAHAHA, you believe the Kingsroad was a boon for House Stark! Please, not only is that road underdeveloped enough that it did not increase trade for the North, it increased mobility for the banditry in the North, which we were not allowed to combat efficiently as House Targaryen banded our right to a standing army!"
"Surely House Targaryen has done some good for the North!?"
"You cannot be more wrong. House Targaryen took Northern tax, and in return gave House Stark zero benefits. You denied House Stark rights to construct our own navy, a right granted to every other KINGDOM! This lack of navy not only left the North the only Kingdom truly vulnerable to the Ironborn, but also gave us no ability to mitigate the damages House Targaryen created for House Stark and our reliance upon House Tyrell! If that was not enough House Stark was dragged into every major southern conflict, which House Stark had no vested interest in. Every major rebellion and civil war, House Stark had supported the rightful line as we were honorbound to do. Yet, did we see any reward like the other southern Houses? Of course not! We were mocked, insulted and set up North as soon as the war was won without a single thank you! Oh let's not forget the insult that is the Pact of Ice and Fire. House Targaryen came to House Stark practically begging for support. Lord Cregan Stark answered the call and practically won the Dance for the Blacks, the rightful family line. Lord Cregan took hold of the position of Hand of the King, a position that granted him unlimited power with the boy king who was put on the Iron Throne, then proceeds to only punish all war criminals and traitors without seizing greater power, with the only promise of a Targaryen Princess. Was this pact followed? Of course not, why would House Targaryen do such a thing? Keeping their oaths and promises is for weaker Houses right? And your fucking father, lets talk about him. After your brother, unrightfully, kidnaps Lyanna Stark, my uncle Brandon Stark, reasonably is furious and demands her back. Is such a reasonable request met? Of course not, instead he kills Brandon's companions who were all nobles, demands my grandfather to join him in the capitol. When asked for a trial by combat, like all nobles are allowed, your father proceeds to burn Lord Rickard in front of uncle Brandon's eyes. Leaving uncle Brandon to strangle himself on a torturing device, attempting to rescue him. Then if that wasn't enough, he asked for my father and Robert Baratheon to present themselves so they may also be executed. And you dare say, House Stark broke faith first! You dare to say such lies and filth? You, whose only claim to the throne is a deranged father! You, who have never lived in this land. You, who acts like a spoilt child who isn't getting the sweets that she wishes. I served the realm by commanding the Night's Watch and forming a pact between us and the Free Folk. I then faced and killed a White Walker, one of the few to do so in 8000 years, I have returned from the dead, and I have once again united the North under the Stark Banner. What have you done, without the help of your dragons? Failed to rule a single city?"
"I AM THE RIGHTFUL QUEEN!"
"A person who is truly the rightful ruler, has no need to scream their claim on the position. I came to Dragonstone, hoping to talk to intelligent and reasonable people. But I see now, you are merely an angry spoilt child, who has done nothing to earn respect. Bran, take control of the dragons now!"