To be Lady Stark

by Crlss

"It was a tragedy meeting you, Catelyn Tully."

Ashara walked through the long halls of Winterfell with a smile on her face and a set destination in mind. One would think that her being from the deserts of Dorne, she would hate the cold and harsh atmosphere of the northern seat of power, but it was quite the opposite. She had gotten accustomed to the gray walls, old paintings that hung on the wall and the thick wooden floor of the place that had been her home for the last decade and had been the Lady of in all but name for some years now. She thanked every god out there that even after the rebellion, her dreams and hopes hadn't been completely squashed. Ashara sighed, thinking about when it all began.

For Ashara, it had all started at the tourney of Harrenhal where she had met the love of her life, Ned Stark. They first danced at the opening feast where she had been asked by his older brother to dance with him because he was too shy. The ordeal amused her well enough, so she agreed to the dance which ended up being well more than one. The quiet and serious spare heir to Winterfell intrigued Ashara for most men came to her with their intentions showing up their sleeves and the lust painted all over their face while Ned Stark didn't. He didn't stare at her cleavage neither were his hands to down her waist nearing her ass. He looked at her as if he had been blessed by some deity to be graced by her presence and listened to every word she had to say. It also didn't hurt that his eyes were probably the most beautiful she had seen and how she loved the way he held her when they danced or the way that he complimented her smile. He had been quiet at first, probably due to his nerves but Ashara managed to spur the conversation on and found out Ned Stark had a weird but not unwelcome sense of dry humor. They shared every dance that night, both of them lost in their own little world.

It was then when Ashara had decided to spend more time with him to unravel the mystery that was Ned Stark. She had invited him to a walk around the lands in Harrenhal with the hopes of getting to know him better, which he accepted. That had proven to be the best decision she could have taken because Ashara discovered she wanted to spend more and more time with him. Little by little, Ashara was unraveling the mystery that was Ned. She found out that behind the harsh, and quiet exterior was a sweet, loving, kind man who would ravage land and sea if people he loved where put in harm. She saw the way he looked at her, not as a thing to calm his carnal desires but as if she were the most precious thing he had ever set his eyes on. Without even trying, Ned Stark found his way to her heart. The truth was that he was a man easy to love and by the end of the tourney, she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, bear his children and be his Lady Stark.

The gods had decided to mock them.

The rebellion had begun because Aerys Targaryen had cruelly murdered Ned's father and brother after Brandon had stormed the Red Keep and called for the head of the Crown Prince, Rhaegar Targaryen for supposedly kidnapping their younger sister, Lyanna Stark. Ashara had been there on the day of the trial when Aerys had them cruelly murdered. The smell of Rickard Stark's charred skin and the lifeless face of Brandon Stark still haunted her dreams. Ashara watched in horror as the men who were supposed to be their family died painfully. Furthermore, Aerys ordered Jon Arryn to personally deliver him the heads of Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark. Ashara remembered how she had gone numb, the idea of Ned getting killed terrified to her core. Luckily, Jon Arryn refused and called his banners and rose in rebellion with his foster sons. Her pain did not end there though. Ned was the new Lord of Winterfell and with a war being waged, he needed new allies and Lord Tully was just the ally he needed. News arrived at court that Ned Stark had been married to Catelyn Tully a fortnight ago and Ashara's hopes and dreams died the moment the messenger finished his sentence. It was Elia who held her close as she wept for the love of her life was given to another and their dreams of a future together had been crushed.

After having the riverlands against him, the king's madness grew day by day and Elia deemed the court no longer safe for her ladies and from a favor with Varys, Ashara and their friends were sneaked out from the city. They were meant to ride for Duskendale where one of Varys' friends would take them to Planky Town. Their plans were foiled, however. A group of four men had raided their camp had raided their camp at night and had kidnapped them. Ashara and her friends thought they were about to get raped, but they were safe… for now at least. The men were planning on taking them further west where the armies were to sell them as whores to brothels and 'spoiled goods' decrease in value.

It had been noon when they were tightly tied up to a great oak tree and their captors were too drunk to even walk when their throats got slit. A group of armed men had found them in the woods and freed them from his captors, killing them in the process. They revealed themselves as men of one of the rebel armies and offered to take them to their encampment. Ashara's heart skipped at the possibility and had asked which army and when they answered that they served Lord Stark, Ashara had demanded to meet with him. It took a little of convincing but soon enough they were taken to Ned. The moment Ned saw her, they were given shelter at the local inn of Tumbler's Falls. Ned visited her that night and without noticing, their clothes were on the floor and ended up making love until their bodies gave up.

When Ashara turned around a corner, two little bodies crashed against her, bringing her out of her thoughts. Ashara looked down and a wide smile appeared on her face seeing just who they were.

"And just where are you going with so much hurry?" Ashara asked with a smile while she bent down to take a good look at them. In front of her were two of her sons: Robb, and Jon Stark. Both had little sparring swords in their hands and were wearing a white shirt and a pair of breeches.

"We were going to the godswood, Aunt Ashara." Robb said with a cheeky smile. His blue eyes shone in the light and his auburn hair fell on his forehead.

Named after Robert Baratheon, Robb was a boy of ten years old with straight, auburn hair and dark, blue eyes. He was a tall, charming, and energetic boy with a curiosity for the world that Ashara hadn't seen in a long time. He loved exploring all areas of the castle and the ever-growing Wintertown and excelled in both his studies and in the courtyard. Ashara was proud in the man and Lord of Winterfell that he would one become. In truth, Robb wasn't her son. No, Robb was born to Ned and his wife, Catelyn Tully. When Ashara rode north with Ned and learnt of the existence of the boy, she thought she would never be able to love him. That was until she saw him for the first time and instead of seeing Tully's hair color and eyes, she saw Ned's nose and chin. Ashara remembered how she slowly caressed his cheek and with his tiny hand he grabbed her finger. She melted at the adorable sight. Moreover, when she saw Ned holding Robb and the love he held for him, Ashara knew that sooner rather than later she would love Robb for he was a part of Ned and Ashara loved him.

Robb had taken to call her 'Aunt Ashara' since she was Jon's mother and like a second mother to him. Wherever Catelyn failed Robb, Ashara made sure to be there for him like when he was struggling with his reading lessons or when he asked her to take him to Wintertown. Even before Catelyn's… disappearance, Ashara already considered herself Robb's mother in some way and ever since Catelyn was out of the picture, Ashara had taken the full mantle of Robb's mother.

Ashara smiled at the pair. "Are you now? And what are you going to do at the godswood?" She said, already knowing the answer.

"Uncle Arthur promised to show us some tricks with the sword, mamá." Jon answered, his curls falling on his forehead.

Ashara smiled fondly at her firstborn. Jon was the result of that night Ned and Ashara shared at the inn at Tumbler's Falls. The next day they had arrived at camp, Ned had secured them an escort to take them to Duskendale where they would finally be able to arrive at Dorne. With a heavy heart, Ashara and Ned said their goodbyes that morning, fully embracing the fact that they may not see each other again, living on different sides of the continent. It took them three weeks to arrive at Dorne and Ashara had been nauseous all throughout the journey, but she had blamed it on the rocky waters of the Narrow Sea. It had been when she arrived at Starfall that her suspicions were confirmed. It was her father himself who received her which she found strange but of course the old cunt had a reason to. Her father had learnt of her affair with Ned and after calling her all the way you could call a woman a 'whore', he not so subtly threatened to kill any child that may have come from their union. Her father left the next day and the day after that, Maester Lomas – who at times was more of a father than her own father – confirmed her pregnancy.

Rather than scared, Ashara had been over the moon. Back then, she had seen it as Ned's last and eternal demonstration of love. A piece of him and a piece of her, together. As if their love took the shape of a baby that the gods blessed them with. It had been an easy pregnancy, overall. Aside from the nausea and the radical shift in her mood, nothing had been out of what is considered normal or so Lomas had said. Ashara feared childbirth, she knew of all the women that died… her own mother had been left bedridden and died a month after birthing her younger sister, Allyria. All her worries were worth it when it had ended, and she held her son in her arms. A little and beautiful thing he was, with a tuft of dark brown hair and flawless, pale skin.

It had been a decade since that day and Ashara could only admire how much has her baby grown. He was a little shorter than Robb, and where Robb was day – sharing his mother's coloring, Jon was night looking exactly like Ned. He shared his father's long face and steely, gray eyes. His hair was of the same shade as Ned's though Ned's hair was straight, Jon had inherited Ashara's curly hair. Though hers was only curly at the tips where Jon's hair was a beautiful mess of shiny curls that she loved to play with. Jon shared her nose and her chin. He was also a little skinnier than Robb and more than one lord has compared the two with Brandon and Ned. The older brother being more energetic and bigger while the younger one was quieter and skinnier. Ashara didn't like those comparisons since most often than not when Ned was compared to Brandon was to make less of him and he wanted that for neither of her children. They were perfect just the way they are.

"I figured. Is anyone else going with you?" She asked them.

"We invited the girls to come but they may take a while to come." Robb answered.

"I see. Well, I won't take more of your time. Give mamá a hug and a kiss and off you go." She said and quickly both boys gave her a hug. Ashara held them close, relishing the warmth and love a single hug could hold.

"I love you so much. You have no idea." She said to them and squeezed them tighter.

"We love you too." They both said. Ashara kissed their forehead and then their cheeks.

"Have fun!" She said and it earned her a kiss on both cheeks from her boys before they left for the godswood.

Ashara laughed at seeing the pair run down the halls of their home. Robb and Jon have been inseparable since the crib… quite literally. The brother would go as far as making a giant fuss when sleeping in different ones. It did not stop there. When they transitioned from the crib to beds, the boys insisted on sharing a room and to this day both boys still slept in the same room. They would play, train, explore and learn together ever since they had use of reason. Both would grow to be strong, capable men that would lead the north together. Ashara will be the happiest mother for it.

"Aunt Ashara!" A melodic, female voice called her from behind.

Ashara turned around to see Rhaenys walking towards her alongside Allyria and little Sansa who was holding the older girl's hand. When the Lannisters sacked King's Landing after Rhaegar was defeated at the Trident, Tywin Lannister had given orders to have every Targaryen in King's Landing killed. His order was only half fulfilled. Ser Amory Loch had been sent to end with the life of a three-year-old Rhaenys but Ser Jaime Lannister after slaying Aerys had gone in protection of the little princess. The young knight had killed Loch after he refused to stand down and killed another two of his father's men that had accompanied Loch. Rhaenys had been fortunate… her younger brother wasn't.

Ser Gregor Clegane had been that had ended up in Elia's rooms on the Red Keep. The monster of seven feet of height had snatched away little Aegon from Elia's hands and had smashed him against the wall, killing him in a moment. Fortunately or unfortunately, Ned arrived just in time to Elia's room and him along with another two men – the Greatjon among them – managed to kill Gregor Clegane. According to Ned, Elia had not uttered a word and was just trembling in fear after her son's murder had been put to death. It was until mother and daughter reunited when a trembling Elia finally cried in pain, agony, and joy at having her only living child between her arms. Much to Tywin's chagrin, Ned had put Elia and Rhaenys into his custody which later earned him an argument with Robert Baratheon who wanted Rhaenys dead. Ned still hadn't told her how, but he left King's Landing that day with Elia and Rhaenys under his and the north's permanent protection.

Ten year have gone by and now Rhaenys was almost a woman of thirteen years old. Being some inches shorter than Allyria, Rhaenys inherited her mother's sun kissed skin though Rhaenys' was a little bit paler. When Ashara looked into her eyes, it was like looking into a mirror. Rhaenys' eyes were of a vibrant violet that looked almost exactly like hers. She had a slender figure and a modest bust for a thirteen-year-old. She was wearing a pair of breeches and a gray shirt with a sparring sword strapped to her hips.

"Rhae!" She said to a girl that she considered family. She embraced her in a tight hug. Since Rhaenys was a late raiser and she wasn't there for breakfast, Ashara hadn't seen her in all day.

"Oh, I hope I also get a warm greeting, Ash." Allyria said with a slight dornish drawl. Allyria had had a very big fight with their father some moons ago and as punishment, Allyria had been sent to 'the wasteland' as their father called it, where Ashara lived. Little did her father know that Allyria had wished to come to Winterfell ever since she was a child.

"You can be quite annoying. You knew that, Ally?" Ashara asked her in a teasing tone.

Allyria smirked. "I know, you should ask father." She answered and the two sisters embraced.

"Aunty! Aunty! Aunty! Up! Up!" Sansa said with a pout and her little arms extended in the air.

Ashara laughed. "Come here sweetling." She said bending down to Sansa's level and she ran into her arms where Ashara picked her up.

Sansa was Ned's second child with Catelyn Tully. If Jon was Ned came again, Sansa would be Catelyn. At the age of seven, Sansa had Catelyn's same high cheekbones, same color of eyes and even the same shade of auburn red hair. Sansa also inherited her mother's slightly freckled face and pale skin. Thank the gods that Sansa inherited none of her sourness, bitterness, or annoying character. Unlike Septa Trout, Sansa knew how to be happy. She loved dresses and tea parties and tales of the tales of southern knights. They may be as real as Ashara's love for Septa Trout, but Sansa was still a child. Ashara would eventually make sure her daughter knew there were nothing but lies in those tales.

Ashara kissed Sansa's cheek multiple times which made the little girl giggle. "Hello love!" She said while looking into Sansa's eyes.

"Aunty Ashara we just had a tea party!" Sansa said with excitement, her clear blue eyes sparkling in joy.

"Really?! And how was it?!" She asked her.

"Beautiful! Ally was there and Rhae and Aunty Elia and Lady Cella and Lord Elrond and Ser Egg and…" Sansa answered with the names of her dolls.

"It was quite a busy party." Rhaenys interrupted her, seeing that Sansa would probably never stop listing her dolls.

"I see. Where are you girls going?" Ashara asked them.

"Jon and Robb invited us to watch them train sword with Artie at the godswood." Ally answered.

Ashara raised an eyebrow. "Only watching?" She said while eyeing Rhaenys' sword.

A look of determination flashed on Rhaenys' face. "Ally and Sansa will be watching but I will be beating Jon in combat. I can't let him win again. I will get him to spend an entire day as my servant!" She said with conviction. Ashara looked at her nervously. Throughout the year Rhaenys has developed a… weird obsession over her son. She was very possessive and protective of Jon which they thought was that Rhaenys didn't want to lose another brother. That was until Rhaenys was seven and started proclaiming that she and Jon would marry and have fifteen babies with an iron look. Over the years her proclamation had ceased but her look hasn't.

Allyria looked annoyed at Rhaenys. "No, you won't!" She spoke. "Jon won't let you." She then huffed while looking at the side. Her sister had also developed this weird crush on her ten-year-old.

"Ok, that's enough." She said, ending the discussion. "Jon and Robb are already on their way, so you better get going." She gave a kiss to Sansa's cheek and placed her on the floor.

"You are right." Allyria said, taking Sansa's hand. "Let's go." She said and started walking, Rhaenys following her.

"Bye bye, Aunty!" Sansa said while looking back at her and waving her free hand.

"Bye bye!" Ashara said waving hers.

"Lady Ashara." Someone called her from behind, frightening her. At this pace, she'll miss her meal.

Ashara looked back to see Jory looking at her sheepishly. "By the gods, Jory! You'll make me have a heart attack!" She falsely berated him.

"I'm sorry, my lady but Lord Stark requested your presence. Said it was urgent." Jory said.

"I see. Let's go then. If Ned says it is urgent then it must be." She said; her mood changing at learning that Ned had called for her.

Jory led Ashara down the hallways to Ned's solar. If Ned sent for Jory, then it must truly be urgent. Jory was the captain of Winterfell's household guard and Ned's personal shadow. It was rare to see Ned without Jory shadowing him in some way. He was a little similar to Arthur back in his kingsguard days. Always silent, always observant, and always loyal. It gladden her heart to know that Ned had loyal men around him and them.

Soon enough, they were outside the thick, oak door of Ned's solar. "Thank you, Jory." She spoke.

"It is no problem, my lady." He said but suddenly his tone turned a little bit shy. "If you… you know… do it… could you and Lord Stark please be more silent. I'm obliged to stand outside the door, and I cannot move unless Lord Stark tells me to."

Ashara's smile dropped and she blushed. "Sure." She said. It was not uncommon for her and Ned to use his solar for… other things. Jory nodded and opened the door for her, allowing her entry.

When Ashara entered the large solar, the figure of her loved one sitting on his large chair going through some papers received them. His eyebrows were furrowed in deep concentration and his lips were pressed in a thin line. He probably didn't even notice that she had entered the room. When Ned concentrated on his work as Lord of Winterfell, he barely noticed his surroundings. So, taking advantage of this Ashara sneaked through the solar and got behind Ned.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her head on top of his shoulder. "You called for me?" She said and kissed his cheek.

Ned jumped a little in surprise after sighing. "One day that is going to get me killed." He said with a chuckle.

Ashara broke the lock on his neck, and surrounded him, sitting on his lap. "You get invested in your work. There is nothing wrong with that." She said while placing herself comfortably on his lap and placing a hand on his cheek.

Even after twelve years, Ned still made her feel like a maiden that had just found her valiant, handsome knight. His beard was thicker and his hair longer with little evidence of aging and stress due to running the North showing in the white specks of hair he had begun to collect. He may have also grown a little, one or two inches and he now collected a number of scars after fighting in two wars. While his appearance has changed throughout the years, he still remained her Ned. His gray eyes still turned as soft as fog when looking at her and he still treated her as if she were a queen.

"It deprives me from my family." Ned answered while leaning into her touch.

"Your family love you and know you are a very busy man." Ashara said and leaned down and captured his lips in a kiss. It was slow and passionate, like most of the kisses they shared. They broke the kiss and Ashara relished in the loving gaze Ned sent her.

"How are the kids?" Ned asked her.

"Jon and Robb will be practicing sword with my brother at the godswood. Sansa, Rhaenys and Allyria are also going, and I imagine Elia will go as well. Arya and Bran are at their toy's room where Lyanna and I were teaching how to draw before I left. I imagine they are still there, your sister got quite invested with a drawing of a wolf." Ashara explained.

Ned nodded. "At the godswood you say. I will be going after I finish this. Haven't spent much time with the children lately." He lamented.

Seeing that Ned's mood was going down, she decided to change the topic. "And why is it that you called for me?" Ashara said.

Ned smirked. "I just wanted to see you." He said and placed a hand on her ass while kissing down her neck to her cleavage.

Ashara moaned. "As much as I would enjoy this. You do not send Jory for whenever you want your cock sucked." They better stop before there was a point of no returning. Ned was kissing her cleavage and she could feel his cock hardening.

Ned groaned. "Fine. Two things. First and this includes Elia and Rhaenys as well, the Martells have confirmed their assistance to the wedding."

"Really?! Elia will be so happy and so will Rhaenys!" She squealed and hugged Ned tightly. After twelve long years, Ned and Ashara were finally getting married. Her dreams were finally becoming a reality and on a moon Ashara would finally be Ned's wife in front of all the northern lords who had confirmed their assistance. The household loved her, the lords loved her, and Ned's family loved her; there was nothing stopping them this time. Well, there is… that, but I'll deal with it later today.

"Yes. Prince Doran will not attend unfortunately because of his gout but Prince Oberyn and his daughters will attend and so will Princess Arianne." Ned told her.

"Rhaenys and Allyria will be happy to have more people their age around the castle, even for a while." Ashara said.

"Yes," Ned said and picked up a letter with the royal seal. "Finally, this. The crown has finally given permission for the full reconstruction of Moat Cailin."

Ashara's eyes shone at the news. "Really?!" She said and snatched the letter from Ned and read its contents. Indeed, signed by the king himself, the crown had finally given them permission to the North to rebuild one of its oldest fortresses. The fortress was meant for Jon. That he grew up as a bastard for most of his life and that he wasn't set to inherit anything saddened their little boy. Added to Ned's fear of the North being invaded, both decided to have Moat Cailin reconstructed and make Jon its Lord.

Ned chuckled at her reaction. "Yes. All the preparations had been made previously as you know, and we were only waiting for the crown's permission. I already sent the raven to start the construction of it. It should be ready by Jon's 16th birthday."

Ashara kissed his cheek. "You are the best father in the world." She said and hugged him.

"I try my best." Ned said and took her hand and kissed it. They stayed in that position for a while until Ashara just remembered what her original plan for the day was.

"Now, if that is everything I have things to do and places to be." Ashara said and stood up at Ned's nod. Ashara bent down and gave Ned a kiss on the lips. "I'll see you at lunch." She said and left the room. Now, completely alone and hoping there would be no further interruptions, Ashara set path to her original destiny.

Ashara walked through the halls of the main keep, seeing maids, guards, and stewards along her way. The main keep was by far Winterfell's biggest building ever since it was built thousands of years ago. Counting with three stories filled with multiple rooms and never-ending hallways, the main keep acted as a labyrinth of sorts for people that do not know Winterfell. Thankfully for her, she had a good memory and a wish to adapt and had memorized every room, story, and hallways in all of Winterfell along with some secret passages.

Arriving at a little room that had been mostly used by the maids for storage but had been emptied and abandoned ever since Ashara ordered it, she closed the door making sure no one caught sight of her but not before taking a torch that rested upon a sconce. She walked to the corner of the room and placed the torch on a sconce. She bent down to move a piece of floor out of the way and a set of never-ending stairs was revealed to her. Ashara took back the torch and walked down the stairs after closing the secret entrance and went on her way. This path had been discovered by Jon and Robb about three years ago when they were discovering all of Winterfell's secret passages. Ashara allowed them to keep exploring and use the passages at their will while they behave themselves but after she started putting this one to use, Ashara had prohibited her boys from using it, less they discover what she was up to.

At the bottom of the stairs, there was a dark and long hallway which Ashara had gone through countless times by now. She walked silently through the hallway, lighting her way with the torch she had taken. After some solid five minutes walking, Ashara had reached the door which would take her to her destination.

The dungeons.

Winterfell's dungeons were built thousands of years ago beneath the first keep by old Kings of Winter. They could normally be accessed by a long, spiral stair in the first keep but the first keep wasn't a concurrent location and Ashara could not allow any suspicions towards her. That stairs took you to the same place where Ashara was standing dungeons had four levels, one darker and more horrid than the last. Ashara's destination was the fourth level.

The first level consisted of normal cells, with beds and a wooden box where the prisoners could do their necessities. The walls were of stone and the bars made of strong iron. They were mostly used when it was necessary to imprison a noble or person with standing, who were to be imprisoned with a degree of comfort. Ashara took the stairs to the second level. The atmosphere was damp, so damp that it made her dress stick to her skin. This level contained a large cell, used mostly for common criminals. It has been rarely used since Ned tended to deal with them as soon as possible. On the third level was situated what could be compared to the black cells of the Red Keep. Small, narrow, and completely dark cells that were used for the worst of criminals awaiting trial. They had no commodities inside, just a wooden door with a barred window to the hallway. Finally, Ashara had reached the fourth and last level of Winterfell's dungeons. It consisted of a long, dark hallway of black stone with only two large rooms. One was the torture chambers, where the Kings of Winter and pasts Lords of Winterfell tortured criminals either as punishment or to get information or maybe for the joy the torture may bring them. Ashara had never entered there, it is said that the bodies of past hunts were still hung on the room. The other room was where prisoners were put, waiting for their turn at the chamber and just where Ashara wanted to go.

There was a single light in the room coming from a torch placed just outside the cells. There seated a large, rough man with chain mail and a sword strapped to his hip while reading a book.

"Alleras." She called the man.

Alleras looked up and his brown eyes connected with her violet ones. He placed his book on a table next to him and stood up. "My lady," He said and bowed.

She looked at the tray of food next to him. "It is past her eating hour." She told him.

"When you didn't arrive, I tried feeding her. She refused to eat." He informed her.

"I see. Please open the door for me." She ordered and Alleras quickly opened the locked door which made Ashara walk slowly towards it. Before she entered, she looked back at the man. "Your loyalty is thanked as always." She said. Alleras was the only man in Winterfell loyal to her and only her. He was an old friend of hers that after being given a new chance at life here at Winterfell, swore himself to her.

"Worry not, my lady." Alleras said.

The first thing that hit Ashara when she entered the room was the stench. Shit, piss and rotten food that has been building up for months now didn't do for a nice smell but after living in King's Landing she had gotten somehow used to it. Her torch lit the way until she reached the back of the room where she laid.

Catelyn Tully.

Naked, laying in a puddle of her own wastes and chained to the wall lay Catelyn Tully. She was far from the beauty that she had been back in the day but years of being locked in a cell would destroy anyone's body. Her once long, red hair was now short, ragged, and dirty. Her pale skin had bruises and cuts all over it and she was missing one or two fingers. No longer was she slim and curvaceous but now looked gaunt, the bones of her face and torso clearly visible. Her blue eyes… or rather her blue eye looked dim instead of the bright like Sansa's. She was trembling, probably due to the cold of the cell. Ashara placed her torch on a sconce that was placed just above Catelyn.

"Catelyn…" She sang and it had an immediate effect on the creature in front of her. Catelyn's body jerked in fear and her gaunt face looked around in alarm until her eye landed on hers. Ashara relished in the ocean of hate and fear that was her eye. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out and she started coughing. After years of screaming for help, she had all but lost her voice.

Ashara laughed. "I'm also very excited to see you. I'm sorry that I haven't been down here in… a month but I'm sure Alleras has been good company." She said. She noticed Catelyn was moving her feet with the little strength towards her legs, trying to kick her. Ashara bent down to the floor and took hold of a brick that was next to her and let it drop on Catelyn's feet. Catelyn's body shook in pain and her mouth was wide in a pain of mute agony.

"Oopsie!" Ashara said while she looked at Catelyn's feet. Almost toeless, her feet were bloody and scarred with cuts and burns and now broken if the crack she heard was anything to go by.

"Now, Septa Trout, do calm down because what I'll say is exactly what you've been waiting to hear. Why. Why are you here, Catelyn Tully? Why did you do to earn my ire that I've kept you here for the last two years depriving you of everything you have ever known?" Ashara said while taking a seat in a chair she always kept nearby. She smiled at Catelyn's trembling body.

"The answer is simple really… love." Ashara answered her with an almost maniacal smile. "Let me take you back in time, fish. Some ten years ago I understood what 'love' means. I thought I had finally understood its meaning when Ned came into my life. The way he made me feel, how he touched me… the electricity I felt all throughout my body, I was convinced I had finally found it. I was wrong. The time I knew for sure that I understood what love meant was when I held my baby in my arms. The first time I held Jon as a baby, and he looked at me with those big, gray eyes was when I finally understood. It was an explosion of emotions I could not control, and I started sobbing with my newborn in my arms. My mother before dying once told me that there is no greater love in this world than that of a mother to her child. I did not believe her until I had mine. The love I feel for them is unexplainable and immeasurable. The things I would do for them know no limits. Now… imagine how I felt when someone tried to end his life." Her tone suddenly turned dark and felt a beautiful kind of pleasure when she saw Catelyn's mortified face.

"Some four years ago, my Jon fell ill with the pox. As any mother would, I was mortified. The only reason I did not faint and have a heart attack is because I knew my baby needed me. As you may remember, I stayed with him night and day for a whole week. I barely ate, barely slept and I almost fell ill myself. Thankfully, Jon got cured and he was up and well from one day to another. That is when I thought about it. How? Jon has always been a healthy child, the only time in his life that he has been bedridden being this one. Moreover, the pox is highly contagious, and Jon was playing with Robb and Sansa when he fell ill. At least one of them should have fallen sick but neither of them did. That is when Alleras brought me something. A piece of half-eaten cake. Alleras was sent by Ned to fetch you and when he went to your rooms, he didn't find you but did find that piece of cake. Alleras is a poison master, his skill only rivaled by Prince Oberyn's and the stench that cake gave off wasn't normal. He came to me, telling me it was poisoned. Mock pox or at least that is what Alleras told me. I was confused until I remembered. It was the same cake Jon had eaten the day before and the same cake you prohibit your children from having that night. It all started to make sense, but I did not want to believe it. For the love of the gods, why would someone try to poison a child? I investigated though and found out who made the cake. It was one of the cooking girls Ned allowed you to bring from Riverrun. Typically, I had Alleras question, and I must admit, she sold you out quicker than a whore would be in Lys. Admitted to mix a poison you gave her into the cake and serve it at dinner. It wasn't pretty… what happened to her. Had Alleras whip her and then tie her naked to an oak in the middle of the wolfswood. When he came back a week later he only found a bloody rope and her ragged clothes. But that is beside the point… you tried to kill my child, Catelyn." She growled, her anger barely contained. Catelyn stared at her in complete terror, her mouth gaping like the animal in her family's banner.

"If it hadn't been because Jon and Robb had stolen pastries from the kitchens and were full, causing them not to finish their food, you could have succeeded but since the amount of poison wasn't enough it just got him ill for a week instead of killing him. I thought about having Alleras kill you right at that moment or telling Ned, but one would have been extremely problematic and the other one would have been too easy on you. No… you did not deserve anything easy. So, I decided to destroy you bit by bit. A was already an aunt to your children but I decided to take one step further. I first started overshadowing you as a mother to your children. Wherever you failed I would succeed until it was me they went to and not you. Every chance I had to break the bond between you and your children and strengthen mine to them, I would take it. I still remember your face when Sansa was crying and asked for me and not for you. It has come to a point… where they don't speak about you anymore. I also staked my claim on Ned but I'm sure you heard it. The moans and sounds of pleasure. I made sure to have Ned in every single room in this castle and make sure that every single person in the castle knew about it. The whispers of the maids of how their lord preferred his beautiful mistress over his boring wife were spread all through Winterfell. With so much free time, I convinced Ned to give me more duties around the castle and he agreed. Slowly, I started overshadowing you as the Lady of Winterfell. The people around the castle already loved me and preferred to treat me to you so it was not a hard job for them to see me as their Lady. In a year, I had stripped you of your title as mother, wife and Lady of Winterfell and I enjoyed every second of it. You were nothing but a redheaded doll with pretty dresses that had less value in this household than an old, blind maid. But I was still missing something. It all started because you tried to kill Jon and it all ended with him as well. Jon had always seen himself as less for being born a bastard, so I had spent years to convince Ned to legitimize him. It took a while, but I still remember the day the letter arrived from the capital. I remembered the smile on my sweet boy and the fury in yours. I knew that would be the last straw and true to my belief, you had packed your things by night and left by the morning. I knew your father would not have you and almost immediately sent you to 'visit' your sister at the Vale. That is where Alleras took you and here we are." Ashara finished with a smile. Catelyn was snarling at this point, showing her missing teeth while tears ran down her cheek.

Ashara laughed. "And all for what little septa? For your petty hate towards a child of six? For your jealousy towards me? Because it was me who Ned wanted all this time and not you or because your betrothed took the first chance he had to escape you even if that meant death? I guess I'll never know but I do know this. You never provoke a mother's ire… because it will cost you dearly." Ashara said and stood up, stepping on Catelyn's broken foot. "Had you not done this, things would have continued as they had been. You would have been the Lady of Winterfell, you would have your children. I'm afraid you never had Ned, I would have kept fucking him like I had been doing for those first six years, but I would have been discreet about it. Would you be happy? Probably, you wouldn't have a husband but you would have had your children but looking at the type of person you are I guess it was for the best. The point is, it would have been better than your current situation. Funny, how you are miserable and I'm living my best life. I'm respected and loved by the lord and commonfolk alike. I'm the happiest I've ever been with, and I have five beautiful children to love…" Ashara stopped when looking at Catelyn shaking her head. With what little movement she had, she moved her arm and pointed at herself several times while trying to speak. Mine, she tried to say.

Ashara laughed. "Oh Catelyn, they are not your children anymore. Robb, Sansa, Arya, and even little Bran see me as their mother. I have not heard them mention you in years and neither have Lyanna or Elia. I'm their mother and they are my children and I love them as such." Catelyn kept shaking her head from side to side. "Don't believe me, well in case you wanted to know, when Bran was somewhere around a year old, he said his first word. He said 'mom' while looking at me. Not enough, I'll show you something." Ashara said and stood up from her chair and leaned down to Catelyn's level.

"Today, Arya and Bran were drawing with Lyanna and they both made this beautiful drawing of our family." She said and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from her cleavage and showed it to Catelyn, who was almost choking in silent sobs at the sight. The drawing had stick drawings of Jon and Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran and even Lyanna, Arthur, Elia, Rhaenys and Allyria while she and Ned stood at the middle, and everyone had their name written atop their heads. "See how you are not in the picture? Why that could be? Arya and Bran were nice enough to write everyone's name. See what is written above mine cause unless I forgot how to read, it doesn't say Ashara in there. Please, read it, loud and clear." She said and watched as Catelyn's tears fell from her single eye. "No? I'll help you then. Mom. It says mom." A loud thump followed, and Ashara looked at Catelyn who had hit the wall with the back of her head, her face morphed in pain and emotional agony.

"Hey, don't hurt yourself. That is my job." Ashara said with a false pout and brough Catelyn's face closer. "But I did a little modification to their drawing right here…" Ashara said pointing at the drawing of a baby standing between her and Ned. When she looked at Catelyn, her eye was wide and puffy. "Ned and I are having a baby! Isn't that great! Aren't you happy from us!" She said excitedly while folding the drawing and putting it back in her dress. "I'm hoping for girls. Jon and Robb are a handful as they are." Ashara said while rubbing her belly tenderly. "And unlike Jon, this little one won't be born a bastard. More good news! Ned and I are getting married! Sorry for not inviting you though." She said to a shocked Catelyn, who was now thrashing around. She quickly stood up, less Catelyn hurt her.

"Unfortunately, Ned and you are still technically married so we must fix that." She said, her smile turning evil and walking slowly closer to Catelyn. "I'm sorry Catelyn but what must be done must be done…" She said and kicked Catelyn in the face. "…A shame, really…" She kicked her in the abdomen this time. "…maybe in another life where magic rules…" She picked up the brick from before. "…since that is the only way this could happen…" She took the brick and hit Catelyn in the face with it, breaking her nose with a single hit. "…we were best friends and we shared Ned and fucked him together rubbing our breasts against each other…" She kicked her again. "…but that isn't happening this time." She said as she bent down to Catelyn's bloody, laying body. Her face was bloody and absolutely destroyed and you could almost see the bone of her face from the peeled off skin. Her sole eye was swollen and the empty socket of the other one was filled with blood.

"Any last words?" She asked her as she took hold of her head and pressed her against the wall.

To her surprise, Catelyn opened her eye. "I… hate… you…" She said with pain in every word.

Ashara hummed. "I'll be sure to take it into account." She said before grabbing her head and smashing against the wall. Once, twice, thrice. Blood splattered from the woman's head. Ashara rolled her head, making sure to hit her on all sides of her head. "It was a tragedy to meet you, Catelyn Tully." Ashara said and crashed Catelyn's bloody head against a spike in the wall, penetrating her skull from the side. Ashara took a deep breathe, watching her work. Catelyn's face no longer existed, only a mess of blood, flesh, hair, and bone that was spiked to the wall and attached to a broken and scarred body.

Ashara stood up and walked back to the door of the cell. She took a white handkerchief out of her dress and wiped out the blood that had splattered on her face. It hadn't been a lot thankfully. She exited the room while wiping her blood-covered hands and found Alleras waiting for her.

"It is done then?" Alleras asked her while looking at her hands and giving her a piece of cloth to wipe them.

She took and nodded in gratitude. "It is," Ashara said, wiping all the oily blood from her hands. "Dispose of the body. Make sure no one sees you." She ordered.

"It shall be done, my lady." Alleras said.

"Good," Was all she said before taking a torch and leaving from where she came from.

It was done. Catelyn Tully was dead. Dead by her own hands. There was a weird pleasure knowing that she had broken and killed the woman who almost killed her boy. Most importantly though, she and Ned were finally free. Free from that pest's shadow, free from the oaths Ned had sworn a decade ago. Now, they were ready. With Catelyn dead, she had gotten rid of her last obstacle. Her last obstacle to fulfill her purpose. To be what she was meant to be.

To be Lady Stark.