Chapter 6
Eddard Stark POV
The cool breeze of the sea hit Eddard's face as the fishing boat slowly made its way across the Bite. He sat in the worn wooden fishing boat of a fisherman who agreed to take him across. He could only stare at its worn and old wooden hull as the boat cut through the swaying waves. Eddard could still remember the last day of the tourney before everything went to the seven hells. He could remember the sweet memories of the woman who wormed her way into his heart. Eddard feared he could never hold Ashara in his arms or gaze into her warm amethyst eyes after what Prince Rhaegar had done. They were now on two different sides of the upcoming war and all Eddard could wish was that their love would stay strong. His grey eyes grew misty as he recalled the last meeting he had of his sweet Ash.
Eddard's Memory
Eddard had been called to the solar of Lord Jon Arryn. He has been fostering in the Vale for the last few years as part of his father's plan to seek new allies with the Southern Paramounts. Eddard climbed the winding steps of the Lord's Tower as he thought what he was called for, 'I have not done anything wrong to have been called prior to my lessons with the Maester. Has Robert fathered another bastard or is there news of home?'. Eddard could only feel a longing for Winterfell which will always be his home. He truly missed the grey stone walls of the keep that overlooked the new city of Wintertown. He missed feeling the light cold of snow falling onto his skin as he prayed or explored the Godswood. He could sometimes even hear the light, chiming laugh of his sister as she played with Benjen. It had been a long time since he saw his family till the Tourney of Harrenhall. That tourney had been a magical experience though it had also been one of shock. Eddard had met the love of his life Ashara Dayne there. Yet the shock was from Prince Rhaegar crowning his sister as the Queen of Love and Beauty. He still felt a weight in his gut whenever he thought of that. He could remember his father's face growing cold as his eyes turned to steel never leaving the form of the Prince. His brother Brandon's face grew crimson with barely contained rage at the sight the whole Seven Kingdoms just witnessed. He could feel his own face still grow cold in fear as he had assumed the Prince would crown his wife. The worst thing of all was to see the adoring look on Lyanna's young face as she smiled and accepted the crown from the lance. He could feel a white, hot rage building up in him as he gazed upon the silver prince as he trotted off from the tourney grounds. His cold grey eyes turned to look at both his father and brother and they seemed to be just as furious as he was.
He turned to look at Robert and it seemed the Lord of Storm's End was just as enraged since his muscled form was shaking in rage as his face turned a startling crimson hue. Robert was breathing in and out rapidly as if this exercise would reduce his anger, but Eddard could tell it did not as his brother in all but blood grip on his tankard finally reduced itself to pieces of wood as it splintered into a thousand pieces. Seeking to minimize the outrage about to happen Eddard motioned to the nearest servant to bring more ale and tankards for everyone gathered. His actions seemed to stem the building anger of those gathered till later. His father and brother had consumed copious amounts of ale as they matched Robert. Eddard soon decided to leave them to go see his sweet Ashara.
Eddard made his way through the outer ruins of Harrenhall. He could see the blackened stone of the outer walls of the castle as he made his way from the tourney grounds to the castle. It still amazed him that a dragon could bring a strong castle to such ruin though he could not argue that Harren deserved it. Still, it would give him a feeling of unease thinking that if the Targaryens still had dragons they could bring Winterfell itself to a smoldering ruin. He continued to walk at a brisk pace through the gate of the castle hoping to see those amethyst eyes that captured his heart. He could imagine feeling her soft lips against his as he imagined feeling her press her body against his begging him to kiss her more. His cheeks soon turned red remembering the night of passion they shared after the dance they had. He would forever be indebted to Brandon for pushing him to talk to her. If his brother had not he would never have had the courage to talk with Lady Ashara.
He had finally made it through the halls and to the chambers of the visiting nobles. He must have been lost in his thoughts as his body remembered the way to Ashara's chambers. With a look to the guards posted at her door he gave a nod to them and knocked on the heavy wooden door twice. He heard shuffling of sheets as he heard three quick knocks in succession and with one last look at the guards he entered her chambers. He would forever be stunned by her beauty as he could see the dark brown almost black hair cascading down her shoulders. Her fair skin which was lightly tanned from the sun of Dorne. He could see her dark amethyst eyes gazing at him through her dark hair. The familiar smirk of her full lips continued to haunt his dreams as he could not get her out of his mind. She moved from the bed to him with a grace that would put many to shame. He could only gasp as she moved to him and slowly took his hand in hers as she brought it to her lips and left a searing kiss on the back of his hand. Eddard could only quiver slightly looking into her hauntingly passionate eyes as she drew closer to him.
Just as he lost himself in the memory of the woman who he loved. Eddard was brought back to the present by the voice of the fisherman. "Milord we are close to the Three Sisters. It should not be more than a few more minutes", said the elderly man with his dry worn voice.
Eddard could only sigh as he responded to the man, "Thank you again ser for doing this. I have no idea how I could have gotten here without you. House Stark will remember this I promise I will repay you".
"It was no trouble at all, milord. We on the Bite owe a lot to the trade we receive from the North and even the Three Sisters. If you need anything milord you'd find many people along the Bite who'd help out kin to Greystarks", said the elderly man joyously as he seemed to gain some energy back into his voice.
His grey eyes gazed at the outline of the islands that were growing closer. The boat continued to sway with each row of the oars as Eddard turned his thoughts of the Three Sisters. While the islands themselves were a part of the Vale the Sistermen begrudgingly paid fealty to the Arryn's. He had learned much of them from his lessons with Lord Jon as they were one of his most troublesome vassals. Around two thousand years ago the Kingdoms of the North and Vale of Arryn fought a bloody war called the War Across the Water. The War Across the Water, known to some as the Worthless War, was the war between the Arryn Kings of Mountain and Vale and the Stark Kings in the North over the rule of the Three Sisters in the Bite. The war took a toll on both kingdoms but not as much as the Three Sisters. The war resulted in one of the worst atrocities the North had ever performed. The Rape of the Three Sisters as it would be known had the northmen slaughtered many inhabitants of the islands and sacking many settlements throughout the islands. While some later maesters would paint the Northmen as demons they did not mention the piracy and atrocities the sistermen performed on the Northerns along the western coast which sparked the war. Though the North would not rule the islands themselves as they would fall under the rule of the Arryns. There had been large amends made to the Sistermen as House Greystark upon being uplifted to High Lords of the Western Coast had made inroads with the Sistermen. The Greystarks had large amounts of trade with the islands and helped the Three Sisters to recover and even expand their fleets and population through trade in timber, fish, and other goods. Relations between the houses of the western coast under House Greystark and the sistermen under House Sunderland were very positive due to the trade and even alliances between both houses.
While Eddard did not dream to delude himself that they would help any Northmen they may make an exception for him since he is kin to the Greystarks. As his thoughts of the bloody history between his ancestors and the sistermen ended he saw that they were close to the dock of the settlement that was owned by House Sunderland. The dock was almost filled to the brim with ships of all kinds. There were Northern trading cogs, Sistermen warships, Bravosi trading ships, and even trading ships from across the western coast of Westeros. With a dull thud the fishing ship hit the nearest dock. With a deep breath Eddard stepped off the fishing vessel and thanked the elderly fisherman. With purpose in his step Eddard started out on the beaten dirt road and headed into the settlement.
Jon Arryn POV
The aging Lord of the Vale could only feel a sense of growing dread as he sat in his solar. House Arryn alongside Houses Stark and Baratheon had raised their banners in rebellion. This choice was not taken lightly as they were rebelling against the rule of the Mad King Aerys and the actions of Prince Rhaegar. Jon could only feel dread about what they would be doing since they would face off against the might of the other kingdoms. Jon could feel his age as he would once again be going to war. He had sent his ward Eddard to the Three Sisters to get transportation to White Harbor and from there to rally the Northern lords to war. Meanwhile Robert and he were planning on how to respond to House Grafton's joining the crown. Jon could only feel an icy anger in him as he thought of his rebellious vassal. Gulltown was the largest port in the Vale and them joining the crown had made things troublesome. His original plan was to send Robert on a ship from Gulltown to Tarth then to Storm's End to rally the Stormlords.
The gaze of his dull blue eyes turned to his raging ward as Robert continued to rant about the madness of the Targaryen's especially the actions of Prince Rhaegar. Robert Baratheon was a handsome young lord with muscles like the Warrior himself, short black hair that was closely cropped to his head, the start of a small beard shaped to his face, and usually joyful blue eyes that were filled with life. Ever since the actions of the tourney and the kidnapping of Lyanna Stark Robert had been consumed with a deep seated anger towards House Targaryen which only grew into a firestorm of rage after learning the fates of Rickard and Brandon Stark.
"Jon, we must march right away to Gulltown. We'll breach the walls and slaughter our way to the Graftons. Those blasted dragon lovers deserve that much at least. We have to move fast to punish those traitors", screamed Robert. Robert's face twisted into a raging visage as soon as those words left his mouth which only caused Jon more grief.
"Aye I agree with you Robert, but we must use caution. I have always told you this. We cannot act with haste since we are rebelling against the crown. If we move too hastily we may have more than one enemy surface here in the Vale. Though I doubt there are any more of my vassals who will side with the Targaryens we must act with caution", said Jon tiredly as he rubbed his face. He had grown tired of Robert's ranting.
"I know that Jon, but we must avenge Eddard's family. Those treacherous dragons are more snake than man. They burned his father and brother for God's sake", said Robert as he grew a little calmer. His blue eyes grew last wrathful as he thought of Eddard's family.
"Aye I know you feel such great pain and worry for Eddard, but we must act carefully if we are to win. Do you not want Lyanna back Robert? We must be careful since she is still missing", said Jon. Jon got up from his chair and moved towards Robert as his ward grew less angry at the mention of his betrothed.
Jon placed a calming hand onto Robert's shoulder and grasped it firmly. He calmly said to someone he considered a son, "Eddard will bring the levies of the North with him. You will muster the might of the Stormlands. And I will call upon the full strength of the Vale. We need time to muster our strengths and see if we have more allies who'll join our cause. Aerys the Mad has made many enemies over his reign and the actions of Rhaegar have made many lose faith in House Targaryen. We must act when the time is perfect and then we will bring House Targaryen low".
With a deep breath the tension and anger that was present in Robert faded as he looked into the confident blue eyes of his father in all but name. "Aye you are right Jon we must act carefully", said Robert agreeing with Jon.
"We will bring justice to the Targaryens, my boy. We just need to think things through. Do not worry you have Eddard and myself to help you", said Jon with a smile. Jon could only hope Eddard was not delayed in his mission to return home. Though it seemed he would have nothing to worry about as unknown to most the Greystark's were rallying to support their kin and would meet their Lord Paramount with the full strength of their fleet and army.
Author's Note: Hey guys sorry for the long wait of Chapter 6. Woohoo finally around 20,000 words. I want to apologize too for not posting it sooner since I had some health issues, and I had some bad writer's block regarding this fanfic. I never would have guessed I would write this much since I started this fanfiction. On to other news I have rewritten this chapter a few times and I never seemed to be happy with it. I am happy with how it came out so far. I decided this chapter would be shorter than what I planned since I wanted to focus on Eddard and even switch to Jon Arryn since I wanted to expand into some other perspectives besides the mostly Northman ones I've been doing. I am pushing back the battle one more chapter since I want to have the chance to go into more depth of the Greystark's preparation before they set sail and work on a more in-depth interaction with the vassal houses and the Greystarks. I also plan on including more of Torrhen Greystark and Benjen Stark since I haven't written a lot from their perspectives, and they are a big part of the story. I also plan on going into more depth of the changes in the North since there are a few more cities in it. Just a heads up this story will have a stronger House Stark and sadly a stronger House Bolton as well. I also want to include a section of the next chapter to the Bolton's since that section will be from the perspective of Thorkell Woolford. Please leave a review too since hearing your feedback has helped me grow as an author and helped make this story even better. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and is safe during the Fourth of July. Stay chilly and have fun this weekend.