Chapter 15: Important Discussions

Summary:

A stag confronts a star, and a pack of wolves comes together.

Notes:

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone! We hope you enjoy!

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Chapter Text

Robert III

Stark Camp

"I didn't think it would be so enjoyable to go for an early swim," Robert said with a smile as he got dressed within Ned's tent.

"Well, I remember a Robert who would have fallen deeply into his cup the previous night and still need a few more hours before getting up, so you simply never know," came an amused reply from Ned who was just fastening his belt.

"Thank you," blue eyes looked into grey ones as Robert said that. "For talking with me and not holding back: I needed that," now Ned laughed and simply walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't thank me for being honest Robert," his friend said in his deep voice. "I should have talked with you a lot earlier. I was worried I might lose my best friend and chosen brother," a smile came to Robert's lips when Ned said that.

"Well, never fear that. You will never lose me," and with those words Robert simply gave Ned a hug — a hug that was tightly returned by his best friend. For a moment they stood like this before letting go and laughing again.

"Ned," Lady Lyarra suddenly called. "Would you please join me and your father," even if it had been a request Robert knew Ned would have hurried to comply, and so he just nodded.

"Let's talk later," he said as Ned pulled on his tunic and a vest before he hurried to his parents.

With a smile Robert pulled on his own tunic and a vest in the colors of his House over his head. He thought he should perhaps go to his vassals and talk with them for a bit, to show them their liege cared about them and they don't need Connington.

Robert had just left Ned's tent and was walking towards the path out of the Stark Camp when he spotted her. Tall, raven-black hair and fair skin combined with purple eyes: this could only be Ashara Dayne, one of the two women Ned had talked about until they had fallen asleep the previous night.

After shortly checking his surroundings he approached her.

"Lady Dayne," he greeted with a small smile. "I'm sure you wish to visit Ned, but mayhaps you could spare me a moment to talk in private first?" Robert didn't wait for her answer as he offered his arm.

"Lord Baratheon," the woman said with a surprised tone, but she still took the offered arm.

"It seems the weather will be fine today, don't you agree?" Robert asked as he led her a bit away from the tent towards the trees that were close to the Gods Eye.

"It seems so; the temperature is already nice and it surely will get warmer as the sun rises," the lady answered with a small smile on her lips.

"Perfect to make new friends, or get to know the friends of people you've just met," it was hard to keep his words in a nonchalant tone as he spoke to the woman.

"What do you mean my lord?" she asked him, and Robert had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting at her.

"That it's a perfect day to meet the people you actually want to meet through the man you met yesterday," the words came harsher than he had wanted, and Robert scolded himself within his mind.

"Lord Baratheon, I really don't know what you mean, and I would prefer to go back to the camp," Ashara said and wanted to leave, but Robert stopped her.

Without a thought he had taken a hold of the woman and pushed her against the next tree, his face only inches away from hers as blue eyes looked into purple ones.

"You know what I mean," he gritted out between his teeth, his arms positioned so she couldn't get away.

"NO!" She answered loudly and shook her head. "I don't know what you're talking about Lord Baratheon," and Robert saw how her eyes moved, searching for someone who would be able to help her, some way to get out of the situation.

"Ned," as soon as Robert had said it the eyes of the lady got wide and a smirk came to his lips. "He is my best friend, the brother I chose, and who I would follow anywhere — even into death," it was hard to not just shout at Ashara now that she looked at him with wide eyes, trying to act all innocent.

"Last night he talked about you, the time you two spent together and how nice the walk with you had been," Robert shook his head. "Ned might be a second son, but he doesn't deserve you using him just to get closer to me and Brandon," he took a deep breath, trying to hold his anger back.

"Lord Baratheon, I can assure you—" but Ashara couldn't say anything else as Robert interrupted her.

"Stop it," he growled. "I don't want to hear any lies or I might snap," and Robert meant it, he was already on edge. "Ned is a good and honorable man — a man who deserves to be loved and not used."

"But Lord Bara-" again Robert interrupted her.

"I won't watch you use and hurt him," Robert then thundered loudly, unable to contain his anger. "What do you want from Ned?! What?! I'm very happy to be engaged to his sister! And if it's his brother… I wish you a lot of luck with the biggest asshole I've met in my life: he will fuck you and throw you away like a toy he doesn't want anymore," once Robert had been the same, but Ned had changed him.

"I don't want you or Ned's brother," Ashara suddenly growled back, and she looked into his eyes with a new fire in her purple ones.

"Then what do you want from him?!" came Robert's immediate answer.

"I WANT NED!" The young woman shouted at him before her eyes got wide for a second before they returned to normal, a fire still in them. "It might sound odd to you, but I don't care about him being a second son. What I care about is him: I want to see him happy, to make him happy," Ashara mumbled with a sigh.

Robert stood silently, waiting for her to continue.

"I've never felt something like this before Lord Baratheon," she finally admitted. "From the moment I met Ned I felt drawn to him, and with every moment we spent together… those feelings only grew stronger."

"If you hurt him—" this time it was Robert who was interrupted by her.

"I will never hurt Ned," Robert saw the determination that had joined the fire in her eyes when she said that.

"If you do, I will make your life worse than the seven hells," he answered in a hard tone.

"When will you understand it?! Before I hurt Ned, I would jump from the Palestone Sword Tower in Starfall," Ashara gritted out. "I. WILL. NEVER. HURT. HIM!" she shouted, putting special emphasis on every single word. "I love him," she suddenly followed in a low mumble, and Robert's eyes got wide for a moment before he nodded.

"I believe you," he said, and tried to hold back a smile. "But," he forced himself to keep from smiling now, "you've been warned, and this warning will never be over: If you hurt him, you will feel my wrath."

"He should be happy to have a friend like you," Ashara answered, and Robert was surprised, now a small blush coming to his cheeks, unable to hold back the smile anymore.

"Thank you Lady Dayne," he answered as he finally moved to the side. "Would you allow me to escort you back to Ned's tent?" This time he didn't offer his arm, but was surprised when Ashara simply placed her hand on his with a small smile.

"I'm sorry for my outburst, and for scaring you," Robert said as they were slowly walking back towards the camp.

"I meant what I said Lord Baratheon," she answered with a smile. "Ned should be happy to have a friend like you: not many men would make sure a woman wasn't just using their friend."

"Robert," he said as he looked at her and returned her smile. "My friends call me Robert, and I hope you and I will become friends," his other hand moved to the back of his head as he scratched it. "I wouldn't want to be enemies with the woman my best friend might marry someday," he admitted.

"I would like that, Robert," Ashara said, and he saw how a small blush covered her cheeks, and somehow Robert had a feeling she didn't just mean them becoming friends, but also the thought of becoming Ned's wife.

"If I can ever help you with anything involving Ned," Robert said in a quiet tone. "I will be happy to help you the best I can: he deserves happiness." Ned's tent came into view, and he saw how Ashara nodded.

"I wish you a pleasant day, Lady Dayne; I will return to my bannermen," Robert made to leave when she stopped him.

"Ashara; my friends call me Ashara," she said with a smile. "And I wish you a pleasant day as well, Robert."

Robert smiled and gave a nod before finally leaving the Stark Camp.

Lyarra II

Stark Camp

She had been furious at her husband at first, but as time passed her anger cooled and she understood why he had kept it a secret. It was not about not trusting her: it was about keeping her safe in case anyone found out.

If she had known it earlier she might not have become such a fierce supporter of Lady Ashara, but now that she knew the young lady and had seen how she interacted with her son… there was simply no way she would deny her son the happiness of that match with Lady Ashara.

She would make sure that nobody took her from him: not even her husband and Tywin Lannister with their secret deals.

"I asked Ned to join us," she told her husband. "And you will stay here with me; don't you even dare to think of some problem that urgently needs your attention," a low growl came with the words, making sure Rickard understood it as a warning.

"Lyar—" her husband had started, but shut up as soon as he saw the way she looked at him.

"Think well about what you're saying," she said in a quiet tone. "Because one wrong word, and you won't share a bed with me for quite some time," her husband's eyes widened, and she had to hold back a smirk.

As hard and rough as her husband might seem, he hated it if he couldn't hold her during the night. He always hated if they couldn't sleep together, but since Benjen's birth he simply wouldn't accept it anymore.

Lyarra knew this was caused by the issues she'd had after the birth. Rickard and her children had been worried she wouldn't survive. Even she thought she might be dead by now if a crannogman hadn't come to Winterfell and taken care of her.

After the passing of Maester Walys — he had sadly slipped on the frozen stairs that led to his solar — they hadn't requested a new Maester from the Citadel. Instead, a crannogman had taken over the position in Winterfell, and her husband seemed more than happy with the work the man did.

"I'm sorry," her husband said and walked towards her. "The only thing I thought about was your safety and that of our children," a sigh followed the words. "I know I wronged you, and that I should've told you," he slowly wrapped his arms around her, and Lyarra didn't protest, but she also didn't return the gesture. "All I can do is promise you that something like this will never happen again," his grey eyes were soft, showing that he really felt guilty about what he had done.

"Fool," Lyarra muttered and then simply kissed her husband and wrapped her arms around him. "You're lucky I really do love you and because of that I'll forgive you. But only this once: I won't forgive something like this again," she whispered before kissing him once.

"Ahem," could be heard from the entrance, and Lyarra let go of her husband. "Mother, father," Ned said with a small smile on his lips. "You requested my presence?" Their son slowly approached them.

"Ned," the smile on her lips just got bigger upon seeing what a fine man her son had become. "I should've expected you wouldn't keep us waiting long, unlike your siblings," a laugh escaped her lips and she even saw a small smirk come to her husband's lips.

"I know you wouldn't come and ask me to join you if it wasn't important," her son answered, but she also saw the small smirk on his lips. It was an open secret that Ned was the most serious and dutiful of the Stark siblings, something that Lyarra and Rickard were very proud of.

"It is very important," her husband answered in his lord voice and then nodded towards his desk. "Let's take a seat," and Lyarra felt how he laid his arm around her waist and led her to his desk. Rickard surprised her when he took one of the chairs and placed it on his side of the desk, right next to his. Her husband even pulled the chair out for her before he sat down himself. Ned was the last of them to sit down, waiting for a nod from Rickard.

For a moment it was silent. Lyarra saw how Ned's eyes moved between her and Rickard, waiting for one of them to speak and tell him why they wanted to talk with him.

"Ned," Lyarra finally began when her husband stayed silent. "As you know you're not yet betrothed," Ned only nodded at her words.

"Yes," her son replied before he continued. "I was a bit surprised there has thus far been no announcement, but I'm sure you and father had your reasons," her son shortly looked down at his lap. "And I know the interest in a second son isn't as high as it would be for a firstborn son or a daughter," he mumbled before he looked up again.

Lyarra's heart broke when she realized her sweet Ned really thought that he was worth less than Brandon and Lyanna because he was a second son. A rough and calloused hand wrapped around hers and gave it a squeeze: she knew her husband had noticed how much that sentence had hurt her.

"That isn't the reason Ned," Rickard said. "I have to admit that there is actually more interest in you than there has been in Brandon," Lyarra saw Ned's eyes widen in surprise when his father said that.

"And that is why we asked you to come here today," she quickly added before Ned could say anything. "You might hear rumors about your father and me being in talks for your betrothal, so don't worry about not being betrothed thus far. We all know you'll do your duty to House Stark when the time comes," Lyarra said and smiled at her son.

"Are you okay, son?" Rickard asked next to her when Ned had not responded in any way.

"I…" Ned looked at them both again, his eyes suddenly hiding any emotion or traces of thoughts. "As you said I will do my duty to House Stark," he answered in a calm and neutral tone. "I thank you for informing me that you're in talks about my betrothal; I will patiently await your decision," the way Ned reacted gave Lyarra the feeling he might be interested in a lady already.

"Mayhaps Lady Ashara has already claimed his heart as hers?"Lyarra thought while she watched her son silently."Or perhaps Lady Cersei?"She looked towards her husband for a second."Or maybe a girl from the Vale? He has lived there for so long. Things can happen if you think you're just an uninteresting second son,"the thought that Ned thought so little of himself again tore at her heart, a sigh escaping her lips as her husband squeezed her hand gently.

"Ned," Lyarra stood up and let go of Rickard's hand before walking to her son. "We wanted to inform you earlier," she said as she knelt down in front of him and took one of his hands, looking into his eyes.

"But we thought it would be better if we told you personally instead of sending a raven," she looked up and saw Rickard standing behind their son, his hands on Ned's shoulders.

"And I'm thankful you told me in person," Ned finally said, and his eyes got soft again, a small smile coming to his lips. "I'm just…" he looked at her and then turned to look at his father. "I'm just surprised that anyone has expressed interest in me," Ned finally admitted.

Lyarra looked at Rickard and she saw sadness in his eyes when their son said that.

"Ned," her husband said in his deep voice that suddenly showed so many of the emotions he normally hid. "You need to stop thinking you're worth less than Brandon because you're my second son," her husband let go of Ned's shoulders and moved around, kneeling next to her and taking Ned's other hand into his. "Jon regularly sent me letters about you and your progress, how you simply excelled in everything the maester taught you, and later in the things Jon taught you himself. Let's also not forget the advanced lessons Jon arranged for you on top of those," her husband's voice showed pride while his eyes were locked on Ned's.

Lyarra didn't dare say a thing, the way father and son looked at each other: she knew they were having a silent talk. It was a thing between her husband and Ned. They didn't need words if they could look into one another's eyes.

"You can't imagine how proud I am of you, my son," Rickard said and ruffled Ned's haid which earned him a small smile from Ned.

"Don't forget me," Lyarra interfered with a small smirk. "I'm also proud ofourson," she put a special emphasis on the word 'our' before she ruffled Ned's hair. Ned simply laughed and Lyarra joined in, Rickard following a moment later.

"I love you both," Ned said with a smile on his face.

"And we love you," she replied in the same moment as her husband and then pulled Ned up with them before simply hugging him.

"Now off you go and enjoy your time here; I'm sure your friends are already waiting for you," Lyarra said as she let go of Ned and Rickard followed her example, giving a nod.

"Thank you for talking with me father, mother," Ned said with a smile. "I wish you both a wonderful day," a small bow followed before Ned turned around and left their tent.

As soon as Ned was outside she felt how her husband pulled her against him, hugging her and placing gentle kisses on her lips.

"You don't know how much I love you," he whispered against her lips and Lyarra laughed.

"I do, and I love you just as much my sweet fool of a husband," she whispered before she kissed him more passionately, pushing him towards the back of their tent where their bed was looking rather inviting.