Dragons of Wolf and Sun
Toxicfireball
Chapter 4: The Suns,Star and Wolf.
Summary:
Ned and his companions, Elia, Jaime, and the three kingsguard arrive at Starfall with Aemon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Ashara
When she had heard that Ned had saved her best friend Elia Martell, she had been overjoyed. Yet it had come at the cost of her son, Aegon. What's more is that she feared what Ned would do next, she knew her brother had followed Rhaegar on his fool's quest to get Lyanna Stark and now Ned had apparently left his army to return to king's landing to save his sister.
Despite what Ned had done, marrying Catelyn Tully, she could not hate him for it. She knew he had no choice, especially after his father and brother were killed by the mad king. She walked up the Palestone tower of Starfall, which overlooked the summer sea.
As she sat down, overlooking the torrentine, the Dayne men at arms captain approached her, his face with a mask of worry.
"My Lady, banners of House Stark have been spotted approaching Starfall. Do we prepare for combat?"
Ned!
"Open the gates for them!" She responded immediately.
"My Lady?" The captain asked, unsure.
"My lord father put me in charge of the Starfall, did you not hear me? Open the gates!" She snapped impatiently.
"Of course My lady." The captain responded who hurried off.
She ran down the steps of the castle, running towards the courtyard of the castle as the gate creaked open. The Starfall me apprehensively opened the gates as a dozen men rode through. In front was Ned, then three distinctly white-cloaked kingsguard. Her brother, Ser Oswell, and the white bull, See Gerold Hightower, a group of Northmen also rode into the castle.
They all alighted the horses as stablemen quickly took their horses. A carriage entered the castle, when it stopped an olive-skinned woman stepped out whose eyes instantly brightened up when they saw her. Elia!
Elia ran towards her instantly and hugged her.
"Elia, i am so sorry," She said
"One day I will get my payback for what they did to my poor boy." She said, her voice filled with sorrow and anger. "I owe Ser Jamie and Lord Stark for saving me."
"Ser Jaime?" She asked, "Did he not break his oaths and kill Aerys?"
"That he did, and for a very very good reason. He fought off three people while protecting me." Her best friend replied," but there is for another time. I am sure you are happy to see your brother and….Lord Stark."
She nodded and turned to her brother. Who looked uncomfortable when she stared at him.
"Ash"
"It's good to see you in one piece." She said simply, still angry at him.
She turned to Ned, who had a face full of guilt.
"Ned, thank you for saving Elia and not killing my brother." She said
"Ashara," Ned replied "I do not deserve your thanks.I broke my oath, when we last saw you, I promised I Would marry you. I have broken this promise. I have dishonored you, your house and mine."
The first thing he does when he sees me is apologize because of his honor.
She laughed when he heard what he said, which seemed to make Ned look even more guilty.
"Oh Ned, you honorable fool, I definitely do not like the idea of you marrying that Tully girl but I know you had no choice. She was the price to pay for Hoster's swords was it not? I do not like it, but I know you had no other choice." She replied.
"Ashara I….."
"Are you going to continue apologizing until the sun sets Ned? There is nothing for me to forgive." She said which made Ned blush. She giggled at his response but then Elia interrupted.
"Ash, we need to get inside the castle. We bring dangerous news."
She nodded and told her captain to bring Ned's men into the castle.
Once inside the palestone tower, she immediately asked them the many questions she had.
"Where is Lyanna? How did you two end up not killing each other? Why did all of you come here?" She asked
Ned, Elia, and her brother stared at each other before Elia started talking.
"Lord Stark relieved the siege of the storm's end, I had told him the location of Lyanna Stark in exchange for his word that he would not harm anyone in the tower. When we arrived, your brother and he and the kingsguard nearly stopped Lord Stark from entering the tower" Of course he would. She threw her brother an angry glance which he flinched to"but my presence caused them to relent. Inside the tower, we found Lyanna Stark, dying in a pool of blood ."
"Ned I am so sorry"
Ned only nodded his head grimly while Elia continued on.
"We also found someone else, a baby, born to Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen"
"So that is why my brother kept taking away maids with experience in childbirth when he came to Starfall." She said , angry that her brother didn't tell her anything. "Is the babe a male or a female?"
"A male looks mostly Stark but with hints of Rhaegar," Her brother responded.
"What are you going to do with him?" She asked Ned "Robert would kill the babe on sight"
"I would raise the babe as my bastard" Ned said
I bet my brother loved that idea
"I strongly opposed that idea but it seems that lord Stark here is determined to keep to it." Her brother said bitterly.
"How about your daughter?" She asked Elia
"She will be sent to Winterfell once she reaches an age to be decided to be under Lord Stark's care. In the meantime, she will stay in Dorne." Elia responded. That's far better than I expected from Robert.
"How did Robert allow that?"
"I threatened him with war," Ned said simply
That stunned her quite a bit, for years she had heard of the friendship between Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark but now that Ned had threatened Robert with war was certainly quite surprising.
"You did?"
"He did indeed" her best friend responded "Something to do with Robert wanting her dead I suppose"
"How about you?" She asked her brother
"I would guard Aemon Targaryen and so would my fellow kingsguard." He replied
"Which includes traveling to Winterfell?" She asked
"If I have to," He replied simply.
"I could make you the Master-at-arms at Winterfell," Ned said
"No, It would be too suspicious," Elia said
"A household knight perhaps?" She said
"I would accept anything." Ser Arthur responded "Anything to guard my King's son"
"Is he legitimized?" She asked her brother
"He is," Elia said, " though behind Aegon and Rhaneys in the line of succession"
"I have said this before, I will not take up arms against Robert despite his actions. The realm has bled enough" Ned said
"I expected nothing less from you, Lord Stark." Elia said, "I cannot fault you, not after what happened to your father and brother."
"What do we do know?" Asked Elia.
"I will travel to Sunspear with you, Princess Rhaneys and Ser Jaime." Lord Stark said "Then I will go back to king's landing to report to Robert about my inability to save Lyanna. Then I will head back to Winterfell with Lyanna's son and Ser Arthur and his kingsguard if he wishes."
"Is that all? We should get some rest, we will set up for Sunspear tomorrow" Elia said
"That is indeed all, Arthur, stay I want to talk to you"
Ashara waited until everyone else had left the room and the door was closed when she slapped her brother.
"I guess I deserve that"
"You deserve more than that!" She shrieked "You betrayed Elia for your all so precious Rhaegar! Because of that, you sparked a war!"
"I tried to stop him…"
"You tried and failed Arthur! Because of that, how many thousands are dead! You betrayed Elia! Were you not sworn to protect her?" She yelled
"After Rhaegar left, Ser Oswell and I considered bringing Lyanna to Ned Stark, but the Lord Commander refused. We are kingsguard and we obey that was what Ser Gerold told us" Her brother said.
"What was Lyanna like? In the tower?" She asked angrily.
"She initially was swooning over Rhaegar, but then when news came of her father's and brother's death and when the rebellion began to start she demanded to go back. Rhaegar refused and forced her to remain at the tower when he realized she was pregnant. I told him he had screwed up, but he refused to see reason and said, The dragon has three heads, the child will be Visenya reborn again, I will not lose this war, the prophecy has made that clear. "
"So he forced us to stay there, even Ser Gerold. I tried convincing the Lord Commander to let Lyanna go but he threatened me that I would have to kill him to get Lyanna out of there. Me and Ser Oswell were planning to sneak Lyanna to Ned Stark when news came of Rhaegar's defeat and the sack of King's Landing, furthermore Lyanna was in her late stage of pregnancy and we didn't there move her and instead I tried and get some maids from Starfall to help,"
Upon hearing what her brother said, she let go of some of her anger, yet some remained. She said "You nearly fought Ned because of your oaths"
"I feared what Stark might do, I had not heard his part in saving Elia and Rhaneys, I had only heard of the murder of Aegon. I feared Stark might give the baby up to Robert and would not fight him over it. Of course, I am wrong." He said before adding on "You still love him don't you? Why? He betrayed you."
"He did betray me but I understand why he did it, he had no choice. Save his sister, avenge his father and brother as well as make sure he honor the betrothal between Brandon Stark and Catelyn Tully." She said "I do not know what to do now, if not for the fact you and Elia are alive, I might have killed myself, but now I feel empty and lost"
"Do not say that, I can tell Stark still loves you" Arthur said
"I am sure he does, but he is too honorable for that. I will travel with you to Winterfell. Father would also hate to have you here, lest it brings Robert wrath here. He cares more about his legacy than us. So similar to Tywin Lannister." She said bitterly, making up her mind. "How about evidence of the tower?"
Her brother looked uneasy "I brought the maids back to Starfall where we can swear them to secrecy. As for the tower...it's been destroyed."
"Destroyed?How?"
Her brother looked even more uneasy then "Magic" He said, barely a whisper.
"Magic?" She repeated.
"Yes, the Crannogmen, Howland Reed." He shook his head "Some time of ritual where he took the tower down."
Ashara studied her brother and found uneasiness and no trace of a lie, Magic, they used magic? Ashara had never really believed it existed but now...Magic by a Crannogmen could tear a tower down. Ashara wondered with a shiver what else it could do...
Eddard
The sun rose over Starfall which gave the palestone tower a unique shiny golden glow. He imagined a world where he and Ashara were together, they could have a castle, perhaps moat Cailin or a small keep would be good enough. But those were dreams and dreams were never a reality.
The weather at Dorne was blistering hot, the sun was as merciless as the winds during winter in the North. Yet at Starfall, the location of the castle gave it a cooling sea breeze making the castle feel warm yet cooling at the same time.
He gathered his things as the party began to gather around. Ser Arthur and the other two kingsguard were standing around, discussing something. Howland looked much better now, as he entered the small galley that would take them to sunspear. The northerners all looked as uncomfortable as him in the sweltering Dornish sun.
Than, Ashara walked out in a purple dress that made, Ned felt his mouth go dry and suddenly he felt like the "shy wolf" he was at Harrenhal but that was only for a short while, the "shy wolf" was no longer shy and quiet, almost two years of war have changed him.
"Ned"
"Lady Ashara, will you be sailing with us to Sunspear?" He asked.
"I will be traveling with you and my brother to Winterfell." She would?
"Ashara, I…., I am married now, as much as I love you, you know I cannot—" He responded
To his surprise, Ashara laughed.
"Oh Ned, don't worry, I would not try to do anything. You are even too honorable to my charms." She said in an amused tone, Ned felt himself blush at the night at Harrenhal where he refused to bed her. "I have nothing left in Dorne, I will go to Winterfell to look after my best friend's daughter and to go with my brother."
"I am glad to hear that as Rhaenys would need a mother figure so far up North. My wife would not be, unfortunately, I am already bringing home a "bastard", there might be rumors." He said. I can't have Ashara and Catelyn together, god knows what might happen
"Oh Ned, aren't rumors a good thing? Fewer people will suspect Aemons's true parentage. Don't worry I will stay out of your wife's way" Ashara said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
"Ashara…."
"Don't worry Ned." She said before turning away and saying "On our way to Sunspear, you might want to think of a cover story"
They left Sunspear as the sun rose, him, Ser Jamie, Ser Arthur, Ser Oswell, and Ser Gerold as well as his northern companions.
The boat to Sunspear was relatively quiet. The kingsguard was up all knight what was to be done. Ser Jaime had said he had been dismissed of his oath but would guard princess Rhaenys. Ser Arthur was focused on guarding Aemon, Ser Oswell was considering many options while Ser Gerold was determined to sail to the Targaryen occupied Dragonstone.
He spent lots of time mostly with Howland, discussing what could be done to keep Aemons's identity secret. He spent quite some time with Ashara though she spent the most time with Elia. He tried his very best to keep himself from doing anything that would dishonor her and Catelyn.
A few days later, they arrived at Sunspear and the Shadow city amid massive crowds. Ashara had sent a raven to Sunspear before they left. The sun and spear banner of House Nymores Martell was everywhere. Rowdy crowds were present at every corner with Dornish soldiers keeping them back. Along the dock, he spied on olive-skinned men. Who Ashara pointed to as Oberyn Martell. Elia had told them to keep Aemon's identity a secret, fearing what Oberyn might do in his justified rage.
Ned had to admire Elia Martell who despite all that she had gone through, held no grudge against Aemon, saying "The child didn't start this war". She along with Ashara had been the main people taking care of Aemon.
As they approached Sunspears dock, cheers of "Justice for Elia" "Vengeance for Aegon!" "Dorne stands with the Targaryens" "Death to Robert the usurper" could be heard. The moment they docked, Ned instructed the northerners to stay behind and guard Aemon. He would handle the dornish alone.
When they reached the dock, he was the first to step of the ship, amid massive angry yells from the crowd. Oberyn Martell was the first person he greeted.
"Prince Oberyn," He said as he bowed his head in respect.
"Lord Stark," Oberyn Martell said "I am finally glad to meet the men who saved my sweet sister and her daughter from the Lannisters"
"Is that why so many of your smallfolk look ready to kill him?" Asked Elia as she stepped off the galley.
"Elia! You are safe" Oberyn yelled as he rushed forward and hugged Elia. The two embraced for a while as Ser Jaime stepped off the ship, which might have caused a full-scale riot right then and there.
"Death to Lannisters!" Cheers could be heard everywhere which seemed to unfaze Jamie.
" I apologize to Lord Stark, Ser Jaime. Word has not spread here of both of your deeds in king's landing. I must say, Ser Jaime, you are quite the opposite of your father." Prince Oberyn replied with a smile on his face.
"I shall take that as a compliment" Ser Jamie replied which made Oberyn Martell laugh as Ashara stepped off the ship.
"Lady Ashara" Oberyn replied "I see you are still as beautiful as ever. May I ask what you are doing here?"
"All shall be explained once we reach a more suitable location," He told the Martell prince.
"Of course," Oberyn said to a large man "Areo, tell your men to ready the horses. Get each of them a horse, get the carriage ready for my sister and her daughter."
"Wait, Oberyn, let me talk to the smallfolk. I do not want a full-blown riot here." Elia said as she walked towards the crowds of smallfolk who were held back by dozens of dornish men. The smallfolk who seemed to calm down slightly at her presence.
"People of Sunspear! I have heard you! You call for justice! vengeance!" Elia Martell said in a booming voice. Loud cheers could be heard. "But these men, Eddard Stark of Winterfell and Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard have done no wrong! They in fact have saved my life from the monsters Tywin Lannister sent after me and my children as well as defended my honor from Robert Baratheon. Without them, I will not be standing here!"
There was silence then loud cheers of "Ser Jamie the white lion!" as well as "Hail the Starks!" was heard.
"Thank you, princess, I do not really deserve such a crowd" Ser Jaime told Elia. He still is unsure of himself While he only lowered his head in gratitude for the Princess statement.
"Don't thank me Ser, you deserve it. Plus, enjoy the cheering crowd. Sadly, many other places outside of Dorne will not cheer you." Elia said to Ser Jaime, "Cheer up Lord Stark, don't look so grim all the time, maybe that's why Ashara fell for you, she needed some grimness"
Brandon used to call me "shy wolf". Now I am a "grim wolf?"
They then got onto their horses and rode for the castle of Sunspear amidst the cheering crowd.
Elia
It felt good to be back at Sunspear again after all those years at King's Landing. Here, life was much more enjoyable, there weren't the countless backstabbers that plagued King's Landing, no false smiles and people speaking and scheming behind her back and none of the disgusting smell King's Landing had. At Sunspear she was loved, she had her brothers. Compared to King's Landing, Sunspear was a paradise.
The crowd continued cheering and howling as she made her way to Sunspear. Cheers for her, Eddard Stark, and Ser Jaime were a constant along the howls for vengeance for her son and for Robert and Tywin's death.
Finally, they reached Sunspear, passing through the heavily defended Threefold gate which passed through the three winding walls. Sunspear was exactly as how she remembered it, with its majestic Rhoynar towers. As they rode through the gate, she spotted her older brother, Doran.
She got out of her carriage and rushed to hug him.
"It's good to see you inside Sunspear walls again. When we heard the sack of King's Landing, we had only heard of your son's death and nothing else. We feared the worst" Her oldest brother said
"I am well big brother, thanks to Ser Jaime and Lord Stark." She replied "Rhaneys is excited to meet her cousin. How are you faring?"
"I am sure Arianne and Quentyn would be happy to meet her. I am sorry about your son. I am fine, the gout has taken its toll though I am still able to walk though I can no longer fight like I once could. Thank goodness you are here. Your brother wanted to raise Dorne banners to support Viserys Targaryen or your daughter" Doran replied
Of course, my hot-headed brother would do that.
"I hope he isn't planning to crown Rhaneys now. To crown someone now is to kill them" She said
"Oberyn said that he will do whatever you wish," Doran said with a smile.
Doran then moved on to greet Ser Jamie.
"It is good to see a Lannister who isn't a child murderer," Doran told Ser Jamie as he dismounted "Dorne owes you a debt Ser Jaime"
"I only did what was required of me" Ser Jaime replied
"So humble?" Doran smiled "It's rare to see a Lannister that isn't arrogant."
No one will have a sense of arrogance after what Ser Jaime has seen.
Doran then turned to Eddard Stark.
"Lord Stark, Dorne is in your debt. Despite the fact your father and brother were killed by the Targaryens and your friendship with the usurper, you defended my sister and her son against Tywins's dog and the Baratheon usurper." Doran said if Doran knew what happened at the Tower Of Joy he might kill Stark right now,Oberyn on the other hand might do far worse in his rage.
"Thank you My Prince" Lord Stark responded
They headed up the castle, into a large room. Ser Jaime, her, Ashara, Lord Stark, and her two brothers. Once the door was closed, Doran was the first to speak.
"Lord Stark, I assume you are here to negotiate Dorne's surrender to Robert Baratheon?"
"No I am not, Jon Arryn will be here to negotiate, I am only here to return Princess Rhaneys and Princess Elia back to Sunspear." Lord Stark replied.
"That's all?" Oberyn asked, narrowing his eyes "I cannot believe the usurper and that Lannister murderer would have allowed that?"
"No, that is not all, Princess Rhaneys will have to be fostered at Winterfell at an age to be decided while Robert decides what to do with him." She told her brothers "It was the condition Lord Stark negotiated with Jon Arryn in order to get me and my daughter away from Baratheon and Lannister forces. Though I do not wish for my daughter to be away from me, I trust Lord Stark. In addition, Ashara would go to Winterfell to help me take care of her."
"What would Robert do with Rhaneys?" Doran asked "Surely he would not let her get off"
It was Ser Jamie who spoke up next "No doubt my father and Jon Arryn want her to marry the child of my sister and Robert. However, Robert is extremely reluctant, to say the least for that to happen"
"Most likely when I get to King's Landing, they would have figured out a solution," Eddard said
"How about your sister? And how about the three kingsguard?" Doran asked suspiciously. Elia held her breath and hoped Ned Stark would keep the truth from her brothers.
To his credit, Eddard said evenly "Lyanna is dead, the Kingsguard have fled with the exception of Ser Arthur Dayne who surrendered"
She, Ashara, Eddard, Ser Jaime, and the three kingsguard had spent hours discussing what story to spin. In the end, the story they decided to spin was that Ser Oswell and Ser Gerold had fled the Tower to go to Dragonstone which Eddard had reluctantly agreed to. Ser Arthur would have surrendered to the Northerners himself. Lyanna would have died from a sickness due to the dornish weather. The moment they reached Sunspear, Eddard allowed the two Kingsguard to set sail for Dragonstone secretly.
"Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell fled?" Oberyn asked suspiciously.
"They fled after news of Rhaegar's death and headed for Dragonstone." She replied.
Her brothers seemed to have accepted the explanation, but continued asking.
"Ser Arthur?" Oberyn asked
"My brother is in the galley, unwilling to leave after what he had done. In his own words, I have dishonored myself, my vows, Dorne with my obedience of Rheager. " Ashara spoke up.
"He should feel ashamed." Oberyn spoke up angrily "He dishonored my sister, If I see him I will kill him—"
"Oberyn!" She spoke up sharply
"Oberyn, I may not like him for his actions but he is my brother and I still love him," Ashara said Oberyn gritted his teeth and nodded. .
"Lord Stark, Ser Jaime, remember, House Martell and Dorne owe you a debt. If you have anything you want, we will give" Doran said
Though what Eddard Stark wants would likely result in Oberyn stabbing him right then and there.
"My Prince, I only wish to stay in Dorne to defend Princess Rhaneys and later go to Winterfell with her." Ser Jaime said
"Elia?" Doran asked her.
"I would be glad," She said
"Anything Lord Stark?" Oberyn asked
"No my Prince, " Lord Stark said after a long pause.
"Tomorrow, you will set sail?" Doran asked, when Eddard nodded in confirmation he continued "We will provide you with Dorne's best galley to transport you to Storm's End. Getting to King's Landing is impossible with the Targaryen Fleet at Dragonstone"
"Thank you, Prince Doran," Eddard said.
The next day, Elia bid Lord Stark and the Northman farewell as they set sail.
She spoke to Ashara before they left.
"I will make sure Winterfell is ready for Rhaenys arrival" Ashara said
"Once again Ashara, thank you for doing this." She said
"Oh don't mention it. I have to do something that gets me far away from my father lest he betroths me to some old dornish lord. House Dayne has lost much of its prestige."
"Ash, you must understand, Eddard Stark would not break his vows to Catelyn Tully."
"Oh, I understand it perfectly well. I will stay out of his wife's way."
"Goodbye Ash," She said before hugging her best friend
"Goodbye Elia"
Speaking with Arthur was harder, he had apologized again for his action to which she responded.
"I can forgive you Arthur but I will never forget."
She then left the ship before it left the shadow city's port. Flying the Direwolf of House Stark.
Ashara
The ship ride to Storm's End was far rockier than the one to Sunspear from Starfall. It rained constantly with periodic storms. Nevertheless, the ship never was in real danger of sinking. Doran had indeed chosen the best ship Dorne had to offer.
On the way, Ser Arthur and her tried their best to make sure Ned knew how to craft the perfect story to avoid suspicion. She had told them not to mention any word of Aemon at King's Landing lest Varys overhear them. Ned was adamant that she and Ser Arthur travel to Moat Cailin first with Howland Reed to avoid Robert.
However, she had said that that would raise too many eyebrows and cause Varys to send spies after them, which was the last thing they needed. In the end, Ned had relented.
One night as the ship entered ship breaker bay, she found Ned on the deck of the galley. She walked up to him.
"Ned"
"Ashara," He said quietly, gone was the Ned that would stammer every time he saw her. War has changed him, then again, war has changed all of us
"How do you think things would have been different if Rhaegar didn't capture Lyanna?" She asked
"Lyanna would have hated me. Robert… Robert I suppose was a good man, but his hatred of the Targaryens changed him. Lyanna would never have liked him as his wife. I suppose it would be better as she would be alive" Ned said softly "My father would be alive, Brandon would be alive, he would be married to Catelyn Tully and I might be married to you" He said with a small smile.
"That sounds like a dream doesn't it?" She asked
Ned laughed softly. " I remember how much I hated Brandon for what he did to you at Harrenhal. I told him, I hope the gods punish you for your actions that are unworthy for any Stark not to mention you are the heir! A few weeks later he was dead, from what I heard strangled to death trying to reach for a sword he never could."
She remembered Brandon had announced to the whole camp at Harrenhal Ned had bedded her. He had yelled "My brother is a man! He bedded Ashara Dayne!l It would have been the scandal of the year if not for Rhaegar's crowning of Lyanna Stark the very same day which had caused everyone to forget about Brandon's rant.
"It wasn't your fault" She offered simply
"It wasn't but I never got to see Brandon again." Ned said, then he sighed and said dejectedly "I don't understand. You are not angry at me! I betrayed you! I swore to you yet you...you just seem to accept it! Ash, I am sorry, You deserve better"
She laughed, "Oh you honorable fool, I already told you I know you had limited choice. I loved you, but we had barely known each other. Perhaps the marriage might not have worked out or it might have. I do not know, all I know is we still have long lives to live. It's best not to waste it on grudges"
"Ashara I—"
She pulled him in for a kiss to silence him. Suddenly it felt like she was back in Harrenhal again. Ned seemed to initially resist her but when she said in between her breath "One last time Ned"
They had kissed for a long time but Ned had broken the kiss, his face flushed red.
"Ashara, I'm sorry, I can't." He stammered
She laughed at his shyness, he still has some shyness left.
"Don't worry Ned, that would be the last time." She said
In the morning, their ship reached shipbreaker bay. Storm's End was an imposing fortress especially viewed from the sea. It had massive walls facing the sea no wonder the whole Redwyne fleet could not completely crack it open . They reached the dock to be greeted by the castle's castellan. Apparently Stannis had left for King's Landing to rebuild the Royal Fleet that would attack Dragonstone. The group of them had not spent long at Storm's End and had left as soon as they were ready.
After a few days on the road, through the king's wood, King's Landing came into view. The smell was so strong she could smell it far away from the city walls. She could see the golden and red banners of House Lannister everywhere, though there were some blue and white House Arryn and the Gold and black of House Baratheon. Yet from where she was, it seemed like the city was under Lannister occupation. The Rebel Armies were camped outside the walls, with the mixed forces of House Lannister, Stark, Tully, Arryn, and Baratheon. Nevertheless, most of the troops there were under the red banner of House Lannister.
Ned seemed to have noticed the large Lannister presence and grimaced. Then they rode straight for the city, the grey Direwolf of House Stark flying in the air.
Notes:
Here's the fourth chapter, hope you will enjoy it. I would love comments and feedback as they really help in improving the quality and really motivates me to update more. I have twenty plus chapters already done and will release them twice or thrice a week.
Edit: While I really love Ashara, her involvement in the story will be relatively minor from now onwards, Catelyn and Ned will be with each other like cannon.