Ashara

Ashara walked alongside Oberyn, the former listening in silent amazement while Oberyn spoke of what had happened so far. Their speech was quiet enough for the 'tap' of their slippers on the marble floor of the hallway drown out their voices. Taking a left into a stairwell, the two continued their walk up to another floor, and then another, and then another, and before long the two of them were walking onto the windswept roof of one of the wings that comprised the main palatial building in the Water Gardens. She felt Oberyn place his hand on the small of her back as she stepped towards the group of people – Doran, Areo Hortah, Daniel, Teal'c, and Colonel Dixon who were milling about– while she then look around for her two chests full of clothes and personal items which were nowhere to be seen. Ashara eyed her surroundings, but there was nothing there as she wondered what they were doing on the roof, and where were her clothes and other daily necessities.

"Lady Ashara Dayne," Teal'c said turning before he gave the slim dark-haired woman a nod of respect while the others from Earth turned upon noticing the two Dornish newcomers, "you have made a decision?"

Ashara stopped in front of them, with Oberyn by her side, and nodded before saying, "I have. I will leave with you to your… world…" she still found it hard to believe that these people were from another world, that their planet was not the only one full of human life. She then looked around before turning back towards Colonel Dixon, and then to Daniel and to Teal'c, "where are my clothes?"

She looked down at her curve hugging silk dress before looking back at the men, who quickly shifted their eyes away from her, and smirked. Shaking her head, Ashara formed a small smile on her lips before saying, "I suppose I would need something else to wear when I am on your world."

"We'll be providing you with some Earth wear," Daniel chimed in while rubbing the back of his head, "it would help to mesh in with the locals."

"I'm afraid where we're going, the weather is going to be slightly chilly," the Colonel said before explaining that the clothes Ashara had on now would not protect her against the cold weather Colorado Springs was expected to face for the next week or so. "We'll make you as comfortable as possible."

"Is your home as cold as the North?" Ashara asked while Doran and the other Westerosi wondered the same as they waited for the Colonel's answer.

"I have no reference when it comes to the weather in the North," this time it was the Colonel who rubbed the back of his head, "but we have our Summer, Spring, Fall, and Winter seasons." Ashara nodded her head with a small smile as Oberyn sighed.

The younger Prince looked towards his brother, "I am going to be jealous." He then turned to Ashara while Doran took in a deep breath before pressing his lips together. Oberyn then said, "you're going to be exploring a new world… well, for a day at least… but even so, it is an adventure of a lifetime."

Ashara chuckled as Doran then spoke up.

"Oberyn is the explorer in the family," Doran said before he looked back towards his brother, and then back towards Ashara, "my Lady, please confirm that the girl is indeed Rhaenys."

Ashara nodded her head before she and the other Westerosi heard a gentle hum coming towards them from the sky above. The group looked upwards a second later before their eyes went wide open in awe as a greenish cylindrical shape shimmered into view while it floated towards the ground.

Ashara couldn't believe what she was seeing, the ship… or whatever it was… was floating down as if it was being hung by unseen strings. Then there was the matter of the object simply coming into view… one moment it wasn't there, and then it was there in front of their eyes. She glanced at Doran and Oberyn, the two of them were in awe too – which meant that they hadn't seen this object. She turned her eyes back towards the object and the man sitting behind, what she assumed to be, a piece of glass.

'It is as clear as any Myrish glass I have ever seen,' Ashara thought as the object turned around before landing gently. She watched the stubby 'wings' retreat into the cylindrical body before there was the sound of a click. With another hum, she and the others watched as a small ramp started to lower from what she assumed to be the rear of the object.

As the rear ramp touched the ground, Ashara spoke with awe clearly in her voice, "I was about to ask how we will be leaving and…" she then looked towards Teal'c and Daniel while the Colonel was speaking to a stunned Doran and Oberyn. She then glanced at the stunned expression on the usually stoic Hortah, before turning her head towards Daniel and completed her sentence, "I suppose I do not have to ask anymore."

Cautiously, Ashara walked up to the end of the ramp where the edge met the floor and she leaned forward to look into the lit chamber. She glanced towards her left as Oberyn stopped speaking to the Colonel, stepped alongside her and then leaned forward while placing his hand on the edge of the doorway. He felt the greenish surface while his eyes narrowed in thought and his lips parted. Ashara reached out and felt the cool metallic surface as well. It was very smooth. Even as Ashara leaned closer towards the metal surface, she could see how smooth it was to her eyes. It was very unlike Dawn – the Dayne's ancestral sword – which despite being smooth to the touch, there were starches on the surface if one looked close.

'This metal is smooth, there are no marks,' she thought to herself.

Oberyn asked, "What is this thing?" while taking a few steps forward up the ramp to the entrance while Doran, whose toes were flaring up due to his gout, limped over to the edge of the ramp with the aid of Hortah and stared into the brightly lit object. Oberyn turned his head towards Doran, both faces etched in surprise when the Colonel said that it was a ship.

"A ship." Oberyn repeated in awe as he walked into the beginning of a small room that was divided into two sections. Ashara stood next to Oberyn as she took in the greyish colored walls and then at the packs hanging on the walls and off to the sides just above what looked like chairs. She then looked straight ahead past the entryway into the other section where there were four chairs that were grey in colour and highlighted with red lines.

The man who had been seated in the front left section swiveled on his chair and then stood up. He walked over to the entryway and placed his hands behind him just as Colonel Dixon, with Doran and Hortah behind him, stopped next to Ashara.

"This ship is what we call a Puddle Jumper," Colonel Dixon said while the pilot, a dark-skinned man, nodded his head as he was then introduced, "this is Captain Holland, he'll be taking us back to our ship, the Phoenix."

"I would so like to see how this vessel operates," Oberyn said as he looked around before turning his head towards the Colonel and shrugged, "but I suppose there would be another time."

"I'm afraid so," Colonel Dixon said before turning to nod at Daniel and Teal'c who were standing at the bottom of the ramp, "it's time we left. Dr. Jackson, Teal'c, prepare for departure." He then turned to Ashara and said, "Lady Dayne, it's time we left."

Ashara nodded her head before she looked around at her surroundings again. She turned towards Oberyn and Doran with the latter then saying, "if you have any doubts about leaving, my Lady, this is the time."

Where she was contemplating suicide two nights ago in Starfall, the thought that she would be able to see someone who could very well be Elia's daughter bought her some strength. With the loss of her own child, the loss of whatever love that could have been with Eddard Stark, and the loss of her brother, Ashara was at the end of her rope. She felt as if everything that was good was snatched away from her.

'I would have jumped if my sister had not come,' she thought to herself before a small smile formed on her face, 'and now there is the possibility of Elia's daughter alive.' She stared at Oberyn before thinking to herself, 'and I am travelling to another world; a place much, much further than Oberyn could ever imagine. I suppose that is something to celebrate as well… as long as I know Rhaenys is alive and well.'

"My Prince," Ashara said as she locked eyes with Doran, "the chance to see my good friend's daughter has brought some life and light back into me. I will not want to walk away. Not now."

"You will have to return," Doran said, the look in his eyes telling Ashara he understood the pain she was in, "any longer than two days away from the Water Gardens could very well grab notice from the Spider's birds."

Ashara nodded her head while Doran explained to the Colonel and the Earthers that the Spider was Varys, the Master of Whispers for the new king. Doran turned back towards Ashara and continued, "I am certain that his birds have already reported on your journey to the Water Gardens, just as I am certain they will report on the fact that you have not left your chambers for the next two days due to your grief."

Ashara understood what Doran meant. She was going to be away for a day, and then when she returned, she would be in her chambers for another day in grief over the losses she had to go through. It wasn't going to be hard to pretend to grieve for her child and her brother, but she guessed that the two Princes wanted any little birds to report the reason she was in the Water Gardens was for alleviating her hurt; and not for travelling to another world, 'not that anyone would believe such a thing.'

It was a few minutes later, after saying their farewells, that Oberyn, Hotah, and Doran walked down the ramp. Once they reached the bottom and stepped onto the marble roof, they turned and walked a few steps backwards before stopping. Ashara was now standing in the middle of the two rows of seats on either side in the rear section of the Puddle Jumper as the ramp was pulled up. And just before the ramp was about to obstruct their faces, Ashara gave the two Princes a small smile and a nod – she was hopeful that she managed to relay some assurance to them. However, once the ramp was closed shut, she suddenly felt nervous. She jumped slightly as the Colonel tapped her on the shoulder before motioning toward a chair behind the co-pilot chair on the port side of the Jumper.

As she stepped into the cockpit with her heart racing in her chest, the Colonel asked her to take a seat before he took the seat next to the Pilot. After taking her seat, Ashara turned towards the object to her left and leaned towards the mirror-like reflection on the dark screen staring back at her. However, it wasn't a mirror… that was something she guessed for herself from the lines of texts and numbers that formed on the screen just as the overhead lights turned on.

Ashara looked up in surprise before noting that the interior was brighter than before. She then looked towards the front and gasped at the lit console in front of the pilot just as random shimmers of light simply appeared out of nowhere before making up lines, texts, and numbers that were floating over the console. The first thought going through her mind was, 'is this magic?' It certainly looked like magic to her – she even believed the Maester in Starfall would say the same as well.

She was certain the surprise was visible on her face for all to see since Teal'c said, "Do not be concerned, Ashara Dayne." Ashara turned towards him as he took the seat across from her while Daniel stood at the entryway to the cockpit.

"You won't feel a thing," the Colonel said looking back at Ashara while the Captain pulled back in the handles. Suddenly, Ashara grabbed armrests on either side of her seat and straightened up with eyes wide open as the vessel lifted up off the ground with a slight shudder thanks to the wings extending from either side.

She then looked over at Daniel who sheepishly said, "you won't feel a thing starting from now."

"Engaging cloak," the Captain said while the Colonel nodded his head.

Ashara glanced at Daniel and then shifted her eyes back towards the front window as the vessel flew over the Water Gardens.

"No one on the ground can see us," Teal'c said as Ashara looked back towards him, "this vessel is invisible to the naked eye." The vessel then angled upwards as it raced into the clear sky over Dorne.

"Is this magic?" Ashara verbalized what she was thinking before looking back at the 'magical screens' over the console, and then back to Teal'c and Daniel while her hands were still gripping the front edges of the armrest. She nodded at the holographic screens over the console before saying, "what is…"

"As we explained," Daniel began as Ashara, who was trying to control the lump in her throat from spilling out through her mouth, looked way from the window in front of her and turned towards him, "our's is a technologically advanced civilization. Many of what we have on this ship, on the Phoenix, and on Earth would seem like magic to you. But all these things are simply advanced technology."

"There is nothing magical, Ashara Dayne," Teal'c said as Ashara looked over at the man before she looked back towards the floor.

She then glanced at the Colonel looking back at her. She felt sick whenever she looked out the window in front of her. Even though she couldn't feel the Jumper flying, seeing the clouds rush past reminded her that she was high up in the air… and moving higher up every single moment. And Ashara was doing everything she could not to vomit.

"The feeling of nausea will go away soon," the Colonel said before Ashara looked away in embarrassment as he continued, "close your eyes, and take in slow deep breaths. Trust me, it will help with the nausea." Ashara nodded her head before she closed her eyes and took in deep breaths while the Jumper shot higher and higher into the sky. Breathing in and out deeply, Ashara willed her mind to think about something else, or rather someone else. Her mind went to the memories of her brother and sister. She latched onto those memories of their childhood at Starfall and held on tight.

After a minute or so, she continued breathing slowly and deeply while opening her eyes and glancing at Teal'c who was looking out the front window – the sunlight from outside filtering into the cockpit; the light being reflected against the gold tattoo on his forehead.

Ashara was curious about him and what the tattoo represented ever since she was introduced to these people from Earth back at the Water Gardens. However, it was her disbelief in their story… followed by her storming away from them at hearing the, what she thought at the time, ridiculous notion that Rhaenys was still alive and well on another world. And so she could not ask the questions that were swimming in her head.

And she still wouldn't get to ask questions. At least not now. Not as she turned towards the window to watch the light slowly fade away. Ashara was awestruck as the blue sky slowly vanished to blackness with pinpricks of light in the distance.

'What are those lights… are they the…,' her jaw hung open as she found herself staring at the stars before she whispered, "by the gods. Those are the stars."

She saw the stars move as the Jumper slightly angled to starboard before making its way towards a shiny object nearby. She watched with bated breath as the object grew larger in size the closer they got to it before she turned her head towards Teal'c.

"That is the Phoenix," Teal'c said after sensing that Ashara looking at him, "it will take us to Earth."

At that answer, Ashara turned back towards what she could clearly say was not a ship she had ever seen before. This was a ship that sailed in the emptiness all around her, and the one that would take her to Earth and back, 'this ship will bring me to Rhaenys.' And at that thought, her nervousness was slightly abated.

At the thought of the alleged little Targeryan Princess hidden away on another world, Ashara's mind travelled to the past. To the first sight of a dark-haired babe in the arms of Ned Stark; a babe who, she knew in her heart, would have been a brother to the Princess of the Seven Kingdoms if things had turned out differently.

Starfall, a few months ago.

Ned arrived at Starfall with not just House Dayne's ancestral sword, Dawn, but also he arrived alongside his bannerman, Howland Reed, and a babe in his arms. It was hours later, when Ned was in the guest chambers in Starfall with the babe in his arms that Ashara brought with her a wet-nurse named Wylla. The wet-nurse would look after the babe - in fact she would later travel with them to Winterfell - while the two adults went to another chamber to speak about what happened at the isolated outpost the Dornish called the Tower of Joy.

Upon closing the door to the other chambers, Ashara whispered, "That child is…"

"My bastard son," Ned spoke as he looked out a window towards the fast-flowing Torentine river just below, "he is my bastard son Jon. Jon Snow."

Ashara stared at him in disbelief for a few moments before steeling her features and looking away. She knew how everyone spoke of Ned as the most honourable person in Westeros, and shook her head. Ashara turned her head towards the nearly twenty-year-old and just stared at him as he looked out the window, 'Brandon told me you are an honourable and deeply shy man, Ned. You could not even approach me in Harrenhal without Brandon's intervention.' She took small steps towards Ned before placing a hand on his shoulder, 'And you approach a stranger for a night of passion after you were wed? No. That is not your child. And I can guess to whom that child belongs.'

"You are an honourable man, Ned," Ashara spoke gently as he looked over his shoulder into her purple eyes, "a very honourable man." And Ashara finished there before she leaned forward and kissed his cheek and then stepped back. While she cared for Ned, this was a time for mourning. And, no matter what she thought of Ned Stark, a part of her could not stand talking to the man who killed her brother.

Ashara then steeled her facial features and said, "have some rest, Ned. But I have to ask you and Lord Reed to ride out on the 'morrow."

"I understand," Ned whispered after turning around to face her. Before long, Ashara turned around and walked towards the door. She opened it before stopping and then turning around once again.

"Take Wylla with you to Winterfell," Ashara said as she eased her expression before continuing, "I am sorry about the Lady Lyanna, Ned. And you have my condolences for the loss of your father and Brandon."

Ned nodded his head, "thank you, my Lady," he said before he turned back towards the window while Ashara closed the door and walked away. As Ashara walked down the hallway, she recalled what happened after the Tourney at Harrenhall.

Red Keep, two weeks after the Tourney at Harrenhall.

It was right after the controversy at Harrenhal, once the Royal Family returned to the Red Keep, where Ashara had made it known to Elia that Rhaegar had wronged her greatly. It would be in the privacy of Princess Elia's chambers that Ashara would sit next to her childhood friend. Then, Ashara exclaimed that the crowning of Lyanna Stark as the Queen of Love and Beauty was insulting to Elia, as well as to Robert Baratheon, to the Starks. Finally, it was an act that was insulting to Dorne.

Ashara asked Elia, who looked so tired all of a sudden, what Rhaegar was thinking. But before Ashara could say anything else, Elia turned her head to stare back at her. Elia then reminded Ashara in a stern tone of voice that Rhaegar was the Crown Prince and he could do as he liked. Ashara had so much more to say, but the look of sudden anger on Elia's face was enough to keep herself silent.

"I will be sending you away, Ash," Elia said a few seconds later. Ashara looked at Elia in surprise, "your words were bordering on treason."

"Ash…"

"You are my Lady-in-waiting," Elia said sternly, her voice echoing in her room as Ashara stared at her friend in disbelief, "do not presume you can demand explanations of why a dragon takes and does what he likes. And lest you forget, I am a dragon now as well."

Ashara had her eyes widened in surprise as Elia stood up off her bed.

"You will leave on the 'morrow," Elia whispered before turning away and walking into the other room. She had left a confused and upset Ashara in the room who, sensing that Elia didn't want to speak any longer, left for her own champers with a pained heart.

It would be that Ashara did not hear or talk to Elia again after their talk. Elia hadn't even seen off Ashara when the latter left with her retinue; the only one who saw her off to the gates was her brother, Arthur. Throughout the entire journey back to Starfall, Ashara was in complete disbelief at Elia's attitude. Ashara was Elia's lady-in-waiting, that was true; but they had always shared each other's secrets even as lady-in-waiting and the wife of the Crown Prince.

Her heart broke every day while she and her retinue travelled towards Starfall. A part of her even felt betrayed at how Elia acted towards her. However, It would be once she reached Starfall that she received the awaiting missive sent by raven from Elia; it was sent almost immediately after Ashara left Kings Landing.

After having been given the scroll by her Maester upon reaching the main courtyard, Ashara caught sight of the coded lettering on the scroll next to Elia's unbroken personal seal. The code was something that she and the Princess had come up with in their childhood; a way to write their secrets, wishes, and even desires to each other without anyone else understanding what was being written. To anyone else, the message would make absolutely no sense… it would be gibberish.

And so, Ashara was surprised at the words – all coded – which said, "For your eyes only, Ash." After visiting her sister and her sick father, Ashara returned to her chambers. Once her chests of clothes and jewellery were placed against the walls, she closed the door and sat down on her silk covered bed. Ashara unfurled the scroll and then began reading; every word causing surprise and disbelief on her face as she discovered the truth.

The message, in three scrolls, read as;

My dearest Ashara,

This missive has been written quickly and coded to the letter play we created as children. I ask that you keep everything in this missive silent, for if it is discovered what Rhaegar had planned, then we will all be dead at the hands of the Mad King.

First let me apologize. I did not mean what I said in my chambers; in fact, you are my best friend and my closest confidant. I value your input and would seek your judgement before making decisions. However, the Spider's little birds have been listening to words being spoken and plans being made. So, I could not risk you being in danger with your words, Ashara.

'What danger?" Ashara thought to herself as she continued reading.

The Tourney at Harrenhal was meant to be the calling of a Great Council in secret; a way to remove the Mad King and put Rhaegar on the throne. However, Rhaegar suspects the secret was discovered by the Spider since, as you know, the Mad King himself arrived to the Tourney with the Spider and his Kingsguard.

'By the gods,' Ashara thought to herself as she looked up from the scroll and shook her head. Her friend was pretending, and it uplifted Ashara slightly. But she then almost immediately started worrying about Elia and the children while repeating to herself that the Mad King suspected Rhaegar was trying to unseat him from the throne. Pressing her lips together in worry, Ashara looked back down and continued reading silently.

I was upset when Rhaegar handed Lyanna Stark the crown of blue roses; I could not show it publicly of course. And I cannot be angry at the Stark girl since she is just a child of fifteen namedays. But I was, or rather am, still angered at Rhaegar's actions. During our shared time in the carriage, I demanded an explanation. And so, he wrote down on a scroll, which has already been burnt, that the crown of roses was given to Lady Lyanna to honour her; you see, she was the Knight of the Laughing Tree.

Ashara had been surprised at that revelation. She was there in the crowds when the mystery knight, who had been wearing pieces of mismatched armour on what was obviously a smaller frame, took down three knights and ransomed their horses and armour.

"Teach your squires honour, only then with you have your armour and horses returned!" the Knight yelled out at the three fallen knights before their armour and horses could be released. The crowd was impressed and so they cheered for the brave mystery knight. Ashara was one of the people cheering – cheering which faded when the Mad King demanded that the Knight be brought to him as a traitor.

"He would kill me!" the Mad King yelled, "Rhaegar! Kingsguard! Bring him to me!"

But the mystery knight was gone; Ashara was one of the many people who saw him rush away on his horse.

'But it wasn't a he… it was Lyanna Stark.'

Ashara, it was Rhaegar who found her discarding her armour into a river. And instead of being grateful that it was the Prince who discovered her, the Lady of the North punched him. It was quite funny when Rhaegar pointed at the small bruise on his lip. The girl is of the North; she is steel and ice with moments of fire within her.

I suppose I can understand the desire to honour the Lady Lyanna. However, if it was discovered that she was the mystery Knight, then the Mad King would send for her, and then kill her. And this would start a war… I can feel it, Ash. So, I implore you, keep this secret hidden away from everyone. I suspect that Varys' little birds are following me, Rhaegar, and many others… even you.

I knew you would get angry at Rhaegar, and I knew that you would be very animated. So, I had to let you go to protect you. I have a bad feeling, Ash. I have a feeling that horrors are coming for us. I feel it in my bones. Perhaps it is only I, but I do desire your companionship once again. I swear that I will send for you in six months. And until then, I will miss you.

Present Day, Puddle Jumper.

As the Jumper neared the ship hanging in space, Ashara thought back to the subsequent messages from Elia of Rhaegar's prophesy of the Three Headed Dragon, the Long Night, the Prince that was Promised, and how Ice and Fire could bring back the dawn. Ashara knew of Rhaegar's proclivity for strange prophesies from Elia, and how the latter indulged him greatly.

'Elia told me in later missives that Rhaegar believed Aegon was the Prince that was Promised, and that he needed a third head of the dragon.'

Another letter spoke of how Rhaegar admired Lyanna.

'Elia said that Rhaegar thought the Stark girl was brave and that she could be the Ice to his Fire,' Ashara thought as the Jumper spun horizontally. Ashara immediately looked away from the ever-growing size of the Phoenix while remembering, 'Elia said that she had come to understand Rhaegar's need to follow such prophecies. She said that there was something in his eyes… she mentioned fear and sorrow at the mention of the Long Night and how the Others… the White Walkers of myth and legend… were coming back to claim the land of the living.'

And then the scrolls from Elia stopped. Months went by without any news from the Red Keep. And in the meantime, Ashara's belly grew… she had discovered she was carrying Brandon's bastard.

Then the news came that Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna and that the Mad King burned Brandon and Rickard Stark in the Red Keep. Ashara's heart broke as tears streamed down her cheeks at the death of the Wild Wolf; the death caused her so much pain in her heart that she miscarried. And the death of her own baby girl broke Ashara's heart even more.

Ashara sent messages to Kings Landing, but she never knew if Elia received them; rumours were that Elia and the children were locked away. Seemingly, they were not even allowed to communicate with the outside world. She knew that Rhaegar had his faults, but there was no way that he would kidnap Lyanna Stark.

But there were no confirmations of what happened. Only rumours. And then news came hard and fast; Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark began a rebellion, in fact, the majority of the Kingdoms rose up against the Targaryens; the Dornish mobilized spearmen who would be led by Rhaegar. Even then, there still was no word of Lyanna or Elia.

During her pregnancy in Starfall, all Ashara heard was rumours; the rebels were winning. The rebels were losing. The King was dead. The King turned into a dragon and was flying towards the Trident. Rhaegar lost. Rhaegar won and beheaded Robert.

And then there was confirmation. Devastating confirmation. Rhaegar died at the Trident, killed by Robert Baratheon; Elia and the Royal children were murdered by the Mountain at the orders of Tywin Lannister. There was no news of Lyanna Stark still.

'Then Ned came to Starfall with the Babe, Lord Reed, and Dawn… one look at the Babe and I could tell it was not Ned's,' Ashara thought to herself, 'he was Lyanna's… and they had her body with them, she died too. Poor child.'

As the Jumper neared the Phoenix, Ashara turned her head towards the front window and gawked in awe. As she stood up in surprise at the size the vessel they were approaching. At the same time Ashara wondered what the truth was; did Rhaegar really go against his morals and abduct Lyanna, or did she go willingly with him? Did the Mad King somehow discover Lyanna was the Knight of the Laughing Tree and demanded that she be retrieved? Could that be why Rhaegar took her and then hid her away? If so, why would anyone think she was abducted? Why did she not tell anyone?

'There are so many questions, but I doubt they will ever be answered,,' Ashara thought to herself as the Jumper turned and entered the hanger.

TBC.