Blood and Shadows (Game of Thrones)

Alys

Winterfell was a much bigger castle than Karhold. That much was for sure. Where Karhold had been a strong fortified but small castle, Winterfell seemed like a behemoth in comparison. And even with the large part of the household having gone south with Lord Eddard, there were still plenty of people to fill out the vacant jobs that had been left, there were still plenty of people to till the fields, see to the stores and to make steel in the forge. There were times of course, where Alys missed Karhold. When the stress of being the lady of Winterfell got too much she would often think of her mother and her siblings back home in Karhold, and the easy life she had had back then.

Of course her husband did much to ease her home sickness and tiredness. Many a night once Bran and Rickon had been put to bed they would talk to one another in their chambers and would often end the night making love, finishing sprawled out on the bed their clothes a jumble of disarray. She knew Robb was doing his best to manage as Lord of Winterfell in his father's absence. He was working so hard that sometimes he would not come to bed till the early hours of the morning, the first rays of sunlight beginning to creep through. She knew that when his mother- Lady Catelyn- had kept her vigil beside Bran's bedside, Robb had shouldered all the responsibility and the burden, and it had started to get to him, there were lines and creases forming on his handsome face, and there were worry lines constantly present as well.

Then the assassin had come, and tried to kill Bran and Lady Catelyn, and then everything had gone mad. Lady Catelyn had told them how she had received a letter from her sister blaming the Lannisters- especially the Queen- for her husband, Jon Arryn's death, and she believed that the Lannisters had been behind this attack as well, and so she had set off for King's Landing to speak with Lord Eddard, and seek justice. Whilst they waited to receive word from either Lady Catelyn or Lord Eddard, Tyrion Lannister had come to Winterfell. Now with the whole of Winterfell having heard of the attack on their lady and their lady's son, and with Robb having taken his mother's warnings of the Lannisters to heart, it was no surprise that that the Lannister's reception on his way back to King's Landing had been a cold one.

She could have cut the tension in the room with a knife, and still had some left over. Oh Lord Tyrion was polite enough, but she could see the way his eyes were sizing Robb up, the way they were analyzing his every word and action, it was almost as if he was plotting something, something that might explain why the Lannisters were behind Bran's attack. And then he had gone and surprised them all by giving Bran a saddle to allow him to ride again. That had completely stumped all of them, though Lord Tyrion had claimed that he was merely doing Robb's cousin Jon a favour. After they had retired, she could tell that Robb was beginning to have his doubts about the Lannisters being involved- well perhaps not all the Lannisters maybe just Lord Tyrion- and she also knew that the golden curl they had found in the Broken Tower must have come from a Lannister. So she was not surprised when Robb had asked her whether or not he should ask Tyrion to make some enquiries about the curl. She had told him to sleep on it and decided in the morning, for she had had more important news to tell him, she was pregnant.

Robb's face had changed then. It had gone from being completely somber and serious to complete joy, he had smiled and kissed her and kissed her till they were both breathless, and then had asked, "Are you sure?"

She had laughed then and smiled. "Of course I'm sure Robb. I haven't bled for two moons now."

He had smiled then, not the lord's smile he often used in court, but a true and proper smile, the smile he had had on the day of their wedding.

Letters had been sent to Karhold and King's Landing to inform their parents about the good news. Letters of congratulations had been received from both locations, though the letter from King's Landing had come with a curious note from Lord Eddard. He wrote that the girls were well but that they had met misfortune on the road, and that the hammer would soon be striking the anvil. She had not been able to make sense of what he had written and had for one moment thought that perhaps the stress of being Hand was getting to her good father. When she had turned to voice her doubts to Robb, she had been taken aback to see a look of deep concentration on his face, she asked what the matter was and his answer surprised her.

"Something must be going on in King's Landing, something bad. Father never speaks about the hammer unless something bad's happening."

Alys had been intrigued. "How so?"

Robb had turned from the letter and looked at her, his Tully blue eyes fixed. "When we were little, that is I and Sansa and later Jon, father always used to tell us about the hammer and the anvil, you know the story of Prince Maekar and Prince Baelor."

Alys nodded, every child in the seven kingdoms knew that song.

Robb went on. "Well father always used to say to us, that the hammer was the striking point, the weapon that could cause all matter of chaos should it strike the right point. The anvil was that point, should it be struck all matter of problems would occur."

"So you or your father believes that something is in the offing. Something big. Something chaotic?" Alys asked curious.

Her husband had put on his "Robb the lord face" as Theon had taken to calling it and said solemnly. "Aye, I do, and my father must do. With the attack on Bran and the golden hair we find in the broken tower, something must be stirring. And you know our house words?"

She nodded. "Winter is coming." Robb nodded.

That had been nigh on two weeks ago, and still they had heard not a word from Lady Catelyn, and Alys knew her husband was worried. In fact she knew that the whole of Winterfell was worried. She desperately hoped that her good mother had done nothing rash on her way down to or back from King's Landing. She knew that the Tully Words were Family, Duty, and Honour and in that order, she only hoped that Lady Catelyn knew when they were applicable and when they were not.

But of course there was very little point worrying over that now, life had to go on. Robb had decided to take Bran riding on his new horse Dancer riding on the saddle made from Lord Tyrion's instructions. With Robb and Bran would be Theon and several guards from Winterfell, for they would be venturing into the Wolfswood to hunt. Alys was staying behind, not out of choice though, Maester Luwin had told her that riding during a pregnancy could be very damaging for the babe, or babes and thus she was confined to simply walking around the yard.

That didn't stop her coming to the courtyard to see Robb, Bran and Theon off though. She smiled when she saw how happy Bran was on Dancer, and how he was riding the horse up and down the courtyard, it was nice seeing a smile on his face for a change. Robb and Theon were trading japes, and Rickon was stood beside her, Shaggydog on his other side holding her hand and begging to go as well.

"When you're older Rickon, maybe then and besides don't you want to sword fight with Ser Rodrik?" Alys asked.

Rickon nodded enthusiastically, he was a sweet kid, always tailing after Bran and Robb and wanting to do whatever they wished to do. So she took his hand said goodbye to Robb and Bran, and then walked with him to the main yard where Rickon ran off to get fitted up with pads and a sword for a practice bout with wooden swords with Ser Rodrik.

As she watched Rickon practice with his wooden sword, she remembered times at Karhold when she would watch Torr and Ed and even sometimes Harrion practice in the yard. She remembered that Harrion was always the fiercest of her three brothers, and often fought against three opponents at once, supposedly to be ready for any battle that he had to fight but Alys suspected that perhaps it was because he simply wished to show off for the gaggle of girls that often followed him around. Torr was the quickest of her three brothers when it came to sword fighting and apparently had what Karhold master of arms Denys Locke has termed a cat 's eye. Ed was neither the quickest nor the fiercest, but he had the most skill, if it could be termed that. He never truly lost a bout against anyone other than their two brothers and even then she suspected that it was to boost their egos more than anything else.

She watched Rickon for about an hour before she decided to get up and take a look at the accounts. There was not much for her to actually look at but she thought she might as well do something rather than just sit around doing nothing. She found Maester Luwin in the main castle hustling and bustling about with the usual variety of things in his pockets and sleeves, it was a wonder he could move his arms at all.

"Ah my lady," the maester said when he saw her. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if we could take a look at the accounts Maester Luwin. There was something I just wanted to double check." Alys replied.

"The accounts?" Luwin asked. "Certainly, follow me."

And so Alys followed Maester Luwin from the main hall of the main castle in Winterfell and to his tower and there they poured over the accounts from the last few months including the King's visit. Alys was astounded by how much one simple visit- albeit a royal visit- had cost. She was surprised that Winterfell was still standing and financially capable after having had to pay for such a visit without raising taxes, if Karhold had had to host the King and his entourage they likely would have gone broke.

The surprise must have shown on her face, for she heard Maester Luwin chuckle. "Winter is not the only thing that the Starks are sure about. Winterfell knows how to get gold and pay its dues."

"How?" Alys asked.

Maester Luwin gave her a cheeky grin and said "With many mystical and magical things my lady, as well as from the taxes and trade that come through the north."

Alys was about to ask what mystical and magical things Winterfell had when she heard the sound of voices in the courtyard followed by growling, the growling of direwolves. "It must be Robb and Bran." She said, Maester Luwin merely nodded and then followed her out of the room as she made her way down from the Maester's tower and into the main courtyard.

Where she found her husband and good brother and Theon dismounting with a wildling hostage in chains walking behind her. Alys looked at Robb with her eyebrows raised questioningly.

Robb sighed and as he helped Bran onto Hodor's back said. "We were attacked by wildlings in the wood."

Alys felt her heart tighten at his words.

"One of them threatened Bran; we killed him and the others. There was only this one left." He nodded to the woman who was in chains.

She began begging for mercy. "Please my lord, my lady. Please mercy, I'll be good I'll do whatever you want of me, I promise."

Robb looked at her and she could see just how tired he was, but before she could say anything he spoke, with his 'lord's voice'. "You want mercy, very well then," he looked to one of the guardsmen. "Take her to the maester's tower for questioning."

The guard hastened to obey. Soon the rest of the people gathered in the yard dispersed back to do their own jobs. Bran had Hodor carry him back to his room, summer trailing hot on his heels. Theon muttered something about going to see a lady friend of his. That just left herself, Robb and Greywind in the courtyard.

Robb sighed, as he watched Theon leave. "He's not very happy with me I fear." He sounded sad.

"Why, what happened in the woods?" Alys asked.

Robb sighed again. "Come walk with me back to our rooms and I'll tell you," and so they did as they walked Robb told her about the events of the Wolfswood and the hunt. "So you see one of the wildlings had his dagger to Bran's throat. I couldn't do anything otherwise Bran'd be dead. But Theon shot the arrow that killed the man, and I flipped out on him, because I was worried about Bran." He sounded so sad, it was all Alys could do to comfort him that she squeezed his hand.

"You were right to be worried, but I think you should apologise to Theon, he was only doing his duty." She said.

"I suppose you're right." Robb said wanly.

As they entered their rooms they found Maester Luwin and Theon standing by the doorway. Both with differing expressions on their faces, the old maester looked worried, Theon on the other hand looked angry.

"What seems to be the problem, Maester?" Robb asked.

"A raven came this morning my lord." Luwin replied.

"Oh?" Robb asked holding out his hand for the raven so that he could read it.

He read it once, then twice, then thrice, each time his expression became more and more dire.

"What is it my lord?" Alys asked concerned.

Robb stopped looking at the letter and looked at her, "My mother's taken Tyrion Lannister captive. She's taken him to my aunt in the Vale for questioning. The Kingslayer attacked my father in the streets and killed his men in retaliation. My father lies injured and unconscious on a bed in King's Landing."

She was shocked, she knew not what to say. But it seemed Theon did. "You must make them pay for this Robb. Blood for Blood."

Robb merely looked at Theon then at Maester Luwin, and then at her and their babe who was growing in her stomach. And she felt her heart beginning to pound. Winter was truly coming.

Catelyn

It had been pure coincidence she realised now that her path back to Winterfell, back home had brought her into contact with Tyrion Lannister. Her sojourn to King's Landing had been fruitful to say the least. She had come with Ser Rodrik just as the sun was beginning to set and darkness was about to take hold, and yet she had been welcomed by a man in Petyr's service. How Petyr had come to know of her visit still confused her and worried her slightly, were there spies in Winterfell working for him as there surely were working for the Spider.

The men Petyr had sent for her, had led her to one of the many brothels that her childhood friend had owned, and there she had found him waiting for her a friendly smile on his lips. They had reminisced about old times and talked about various news, if there was one thing that Peytr had always been good at, it was talking and knowing things that perhaps he shouldn't have known. Like the fact that he knew why she was here in King's Landing and even asked to see the knife that the assassin had been used. He had told her that he had once owned the knife but had lost it in a bet during Joffrey's name day tournament to the Imp.

She had been baffled and confused, why would the Imp want Bran dead? What could he possibly hope to gain from seeing her little boy dead? Of course she had kept such questions to herself, until Ned had come. Ned had nearly throttled Petyr to death when he had seen where she was staying it had taken her several long moments to calm him down once she had popped her head outside the window. That had stirred forth an old memory, one she had long thought she had forgotten, of another Stark, a wilder Stark duelling Petyr and nearly killing him until she had begged him to spare her friend's life.

She had quickly tried to shake the memory away as Ned entered the establishment and walked to her room and into her arms. Oh it had felt so good to hold him again, it had been far too long, and she missed him terribly still. Of course they had little time to reconnect; she had very little time to spare in King's Landing if she did not wish to draw the Lannisters' attention. And so she had told Ned everything that had happened since he had left all those moons ago, she spoke of the attack and the assassin and the blade he carried. When Petyr told Ned how he had lost the dagger to Lord Tyrion, Ned's face had changed from confusion to anger, back to confusion again. The change was so quick that unless you knew how to spot it, it would go unnoticed. But Catelyn had been married to Ned for fifteen years now, she knew how to read him.

He had been cautious in his response to Petyr's claims and had asked her to be most careful on her return north; she had asked the same of him. Petyr had promised to help Ned in his investigations of Jon Arryn's death as well as the attempt on their Bran's life. Varys had been present during the discussion and yet had remained oddly silent throughout it, and yet she had not missed the knowing glint in his eyes when Petyr had said goodbye to her, his hands lingering longer than was strictly appropriate. Ned had seen too, but she had eased any worries he might have had by kissing him squarely on the mouth in front of everyone and saying she loved him, only him before she said goodbye and rode away on her horse, Ser Rodrik as her companion.

She had not meant to linger long in the inn where they had set up for the night. It was meant only for the night and then they would ride back through the Neck and on to Winterfell. But something about her was it her movements or was it something else, had given her away to Lord Tyrion who had entered the inn at the most inconvenient of times, with a group of men from the Night's Watch. He had recognised her and had begun speaking to her, blowing her and Ser Rodrik's cover, and possibly giving him something to be suspicious about to report back to his sister, which could have caused Ned no round of trouble in King's Landing.

And besides Petyr had said the dagger belonged to Tyrion now, and so she had done what the Tully family words said, she took Tyrion Lannister a hostage for the good of her family, with the help of men sworn to her father, to fulfil her duty. She had taken him captive and despite his protests that he had had nothing to do with the attempt on Bran's life, she had taken him to the Vale, to the Eyrie, where she was convinced her sister Lysa would help bring him to justice. She had been sorely mistaken. They were first assaulted by men of the mountain clans on their way to the Vale, and only saved by some rogue sellsword who had happened to be in the inn the same time as them. And then when they got to the Eyrie, she was not greeted warmly nor was she thanked by her sister for bringing one of the people she had accused of killing her lord husband here for justice. Her sister accused her of committing a grievous folly.

Lysa herself was not what Catelyn was expecting. Gone was the carefree girl she remembered from her youth. In her place, it seemed was a woman, who looked and acted older than she was, hell she acted older than even Catelyn herself was, she seemed to see shadows and knives everywhere. Her son eight year old Robert was a sickly little boy, and still at his mother's breast, much to Catelyn's horror. The imp had been right, her sister was much changed, and not for the better.

After accusing her of folly, Lysa began conducting her own trial of Tyrion Lannister. She accused him of killing her lord husband, and of several other crimes. The imp played her for a fool, using that gilded tongue of his to worm and slither his way out of many a tight spot. And then when he demanded trial by combat, her fool of a sister granted it to him.

The day of the trial, she learnt from Ser Rodrik that Tywin Lannister had amassed a host at Casterly Rock and was not replying to any of her brother Edmure's ravens. She learnt that Ned had been attacked in the streets of King's Landing by the Kingslayer because she had taken the Imp. She thought with some horror about what her actions had caused, then she thought back to the Imps adamant denial of having any involvement in the attempt on Bran's life or the murder of Jon Arryn, and how when she had told him that Petyr had told her where the dagger had come from, when she had seen the look in the Imp's mismatched eyes, she had felt a sliver of doubt begin to creep into her system. Could it be possible that the Imp spoke true and that Petyr had lied to her, and Ned? She did not know what to believe, but she had hoped to convince Lysa to abandon the foolish trial, and yet her sister would not relent.

And so she had watched unable to do anything as Ser Varis Edgen one of the men parts of the guard at the Eyrie had fought in her sister and nephew's name, and as the sellsword Bronn fought for the Imp. And she watched as Bronn killed Ser Varis with a thrust to the throat, and then to the heart. She watched rooted to the spot, as Tyrion Lannister was declared innocent of the crimes laid before him, by the laws of gods and men he was innocent, and her sister was not happy. Lysa screamed and yelled at the injustice of it all, Robert Lysa's sickly son cried and cried that he wanted the 'bad man' to fly. Amongst it all Tyrion Lannister stood, triumphant, a smirk on his ugly face, triumph written in his mismatched eyes.

He left the Vale that same day, likely to head back to Casterly Rock or perhaps to the Golden Tooth, where it was rumoured Lord Tywin's' army was marching to now. Wherever he went to Catelyn cared not, her actions had been folly, taking Tyrion Lannister had been folly, bringing him to the Vale had been folly. It had brought her nothing, Ned had been hurt because of her actions, and her girls' lives put in danger now. All she wished to do now was to go home, back to Winterfell and her boys and her good daughter, and welcome her grandchild into the world.

Then word had come of the battle of the Golden Tooth, the smashing of the forces under Lord Vance and Piper's command. The Kingslayer was marching on Riverrun, as vengeance for an act Catelyn had committed. She felt horrible, she felt like a foolish girl. To make matters worse, relations between herself and her sister were strained, more so than they had ever been when they were girls. Lysa was scared, scared that she had incurred the wrath of Tywin Lannister, scared that the might of House Lannister was going to march down upon them at any moment.

It was because of this Catelyn told herself, that when she offered to foster Robert Arryn in Winterfell, that her sister replied "If you ever, every suggest that or try to make it happen, I will throw you out of the moon door. Kin or no." Catelyn tried not to think that her sister had become as mad as King Aerys, that there was something of the innocent girl who had ridden south to King's Landing all those years ago, that there was still something of the girl she had grown up with who liked songs and knights, almost as her own Sansa did. Worryingly, she found herself coming up short, and vastly so.

They left for Gulltown three days after the raven came bearing news of the battle of the Golden Tooth. Catelyn's Uncle Ser Brynden the blackfish accompanied her and Ser Rodrik. He said that he was fed up with Lysa's petulant displays, that her father and her mother would be ashamed of her. He decided he wished to come north with her, to meet the great nephews he had heard so much about. It was whilst they were at Gulltown that they learnt of Ned's arrest. The talk in the streets was that he had killed Robert, to claim the throne for himself, or that he had conspired with Lord Stannis to take the throne and denounce Joffrey Both explanations sounded farfetched and untrue to Cat's ears, her Ned was not like that. He hated trickery and deceit. At Gulltown they heard of the battle of Mummer's Ford of how Gregor Clegane had killed the men Ned had sent out to bring him to justice. They learnt of the battle of Riverrun, of her brother Edmure's capture.

Throughout it all she could only berate herself for her foolish actions. She had taken Tyrion, and was the reason behind this chain of events. Had she not taken Tyrion, then none of this would have happened. It made her once again begin to doubt the words Petyr had told her, the sincerity in his eyes when he had told her that the dagger she held was Tyrion Lannister's. She remembered how when they were children, Petyr would always tag along after her like a lost puppy and how Lysa would tag along after him. She remembered how when Brandon Stark had come visiting before Harrenhal, how Petyr had challenged him for her hand in marriage, and how after Brandon had beaten him bloody he had been sent away by her lord father. She thought about all of this and shuddered. She had been a fool.

When they got to White Harbour, she found out that Robb had called the banners. The North had woken from its slumber, with vengeance in its heart. Winter was coming and war was upon Westeros.

Ashara

Dorne was always hot during the summer. It was something that had both frustrated and delighted Ashara throughout her life. It was why when she had thought herself and Ned were to be married, she had been slightly sad that she would have to leave it, it had been her home for many a year. But then Ned had married Catelyn Tully in his brother's place, and she had been left behind in Starfall, with a bastard daughter and a boy she claimed and came to love as her son. Her marriage prospects became fewer once it became common knowledge that she had not one but two bastard children, but she didn't mind, she didn't care. With Ned gone, she no longer had any desire to leave Starfall let alone Dorne, which was why she rejected every suitor that came wanting to claim her hand, be they from Dorne or from anywhere else in the Seven Kingdoms, she had heard all they had to say and she had rejected them all.

Besides it was a full time job she had at Starfall. Allem's wife had died giving birth to Edric, so it had fallen to her to play both the mother to her own children and Edric and Allyria. She simply had not had the time to consider a life away from Starfall, not that she would have anyway. She liked it at Starfall, after so many years in King's Landing and the stuffiness and the intrigues of the court, and the constant worry that Aerys would turn his mad lust or attentions to her or her friends; she was quite relieved by the normality that Starfall offered her.

Her children were her sole poles to life and normalcy. Jon was a quiet baby, so much so that he reminded her of Ned, there seemed not to be a hint of Targaryen in his features nor his personality as he grew up into the fine young man he was today. In fact Allem had even joked that there seemed to be more of her in him than the north, especially when it came to Jeyne. She had hoped and prayed that the two of them would get along as they grew, and they had. In fact Jon and Jeyne's relationship reminded her lot of Oberyn and Elia's relationship, or even her and Arthur's relationship. Jon played the protective brother and would always, always pick a fight with anyone who dared challenge or question Jeyne's integrity or even her right to life. Though of course there were few of such people in Dorne, though from what Jeyne had told her, there had been quite a few in the north.

Of course she had been there when Jon had been brought before the king and Ned to answer for the 'crime' of punching the crown prince. She knew that Jon did not like Prince Joffrey, neither did Jeyne. But of course Joffrey was the prince, and was also the son of Ned's oldest friend, and so whilst Jon spoke the truth about what had happened, Joffrey spun some atrocious lie about her boy being a savage- if he wanted to see real savages, or real anger, he need only say more, she had thought- Jon had had to at the end of it take the black. She had been seething with anger over that decision. She knew that Jon had been in two minds over his own decision over whether or not to join the Night's Watch. It seemed that little ploy Jeyne had used back in Winterfell had created enough doubt in his mind. But then Robert Baratheon, the child killer king had had the nerve to tell Jon that he had to go to the wall or face even more dire consequences. All the while Prince Joffrey stood next to his slut of a mother and grinned wickedly, like he had got away with some big crime- in fact he had gotten away with a big crime- afterwards, it had fallen to Ashara to comfort Jeyne, whilst she cried and cried. Jon had had to talk with Ned about whatever it was men talked about in situations like this.

She had been so angry with the king, with the prince, with Ned! How could he not speak sense to his oaf of a friend, when it was clear the boy was lying! The Eddard Stark she had known would never have tolerated such trickery to go on, especially when it was one of his own blood- or in this case, two of his own blood- involved! But he had meekly stood to the side as Robert Baratheon had sentenced Jon to the Night's Watch. Later he had come and spoken to her, had pleaded with her that Jon joining the Watch was a good thing, that it would help protect him even more than he would be at Winterfell, or even Starfall! He said that there was a storm coming, that the Lannisters had killed Jon Arryn, and that they might have tried to kill his son. She had felt sympathetic toward him, this man she had given her heart to, but she could not, would not forgive him for allowing her son to be sent to the Wall simply because the king was too much of a coward to stand up to the slut he called his wife.

Eventually, her temper had cooled down enough that she had agreed to ride with the Starks as far as the Twins, where she and Jeyne would then take a ship from to reach Starfall. Before she had left Winterfell she and her daughter had said a tearful farewell to Jon, Jeyne clinging to him sobbing her apologies into his tunic, Jon had comforted her, reassured her it was not her fault, keeping his voice calm as he so often was when speaking with Jeyne, but then he had said goodbye to Ashara, and he had broken down then, cried tears and sobbed into her hair. She had whispered promises to him then, promises that she would do all she could to free him of the Night's Watch, for she had friends in the Watch, friends in high places, and she would call in many a favour to have her boy back with her, where he belonged.

Jeyne had fallen in on the ship from Seagard; something about the air had caused her to take a chill. Her direwolf, Sandy had howled and howled into the early hours of the morning, each day they had been on the ship, much to the other crew members and passengers distress, it was almost as if she could sense that something bad was about to hit them. As it turned out something bad did hit them, pirates from the Stepstones had ventured north in search of loot and plunder, attacked the crew and killed most of the members, and would have tried to attack Ashara and a bed ridden Jeyne had it not been for Sandy, who had torn the throats out of three of the pirates before the remaining three had been killed by Ironborn. Ironborn aid was unexpected, Ashara knew they tended to stick to their own lands and only traded, especially since the failed Greyjoy rebellion. But the captain of the Ironborn that helped them went by the name of Asha Greyjoy, and told her that she did not want to see pirates hurt more innocent women and children. Asha helped Ashara and Jeyne onto her own ship and transported them to Starfall.

Jeyne was still ill upon their arrival to Starfall, though she was less ill than she had been aboard their ship from Seagard. Most days since they had returned she was abed, asleep with help from the milk of the poppy, when she was awake her daughter spent most of her time coughing up food or even more frighteningly blood. Jeyne had always had a frail health, but she was strong of mind and spirit if not of body, and had lived longer than the maesters had thought she had any right to. There were times when her daughter reminded her so much of Elia, it hurt. She prayed and prayed that her daughter would find the happy ending that her friend could not, she prayed that her son would come back home, she prayed they could be a family again.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. She called for whoever it was to enter and found her looking and her daughter' sworn sword. Ser Arthur was a tall man, with a sturdy build; his hands were lined with calluses from years of sword practice. He had blond almost silver hair and violet eyes, and had been her daughter's sworn sword since Jeyne had been three, before that he had served as the master of arms for Starfall. He was a serious man, with a handsome face, but more often than not that face was lined with thought, he had been the one to train her son the finer arts of sword fighting, when Jon had still been a child.

 "My lady forgive me for the interruption," Ser Arthur began as he closed the door. "I only meant to come and ask you, how is the Lady Jeyne doing?"

"It is no bother Ser Arthur, I was not doing anything. Jeyne is doing well, better than she has been for the last few days. Maester Berwick says that the fever should break soon." She smiled up at him, this man she had known her whole life.

Ser Arthur gave her an uneasy smile then. "That is good my lady," he hesitated.

"What is wrong Ser Arthur? Does something trouble you?" she asked, as always able to figure out if something was wrong with him without him having to ever say a word.

"Yes, no, I am not sure my lady, Ashara." He replied, it had been so long since he had called her anything but Lady Ashara, that she felt hope bloom in her chest. "Word has come from the Water Gardens, Prince Oberyn rides for Starfall with his daughters and his paramour Ellaria Sand, and some fifty armed men."

Ashara nodded and asked. "Why does this worry you Ser Arthur? Prince Oberyn is no foe to me or mine."

She saw Ser Arthur swallow nervously, "It is said he brings dire tidings Ashara. I know not what tidings he brings, but I fear it may be to do with your son."

Ashara felt her heart tighten then, what could have happened to Jon? She had been working on getting him out of the Night's Watch before he had said his vows, but that had not worked, now she was working desperately to give the Lord Commander excuse to free him without having to execute him.

Arthur knew not what news Oberyn brought, nor did Maester Berwick. Oberyn arrived three days later as the sun began to rise on the horizon, he rode a black stallion, his paramour Ellaria, and the four eldest sand snakes, Obara, Nymeria, Tyene and Sallera rode with him.

Ashara greeted them along with Allyria and Ser Arthur, Jeyne was still bed ridden but she was awake. She greeted Oberyn and Ellaria like long lost friends. "Ah Oberyn, Ellaria it has been too long. Where have you been?"

Ellaria smiled and Oberyn laughed. "Busy with my brother, keeping Dorne under control. You know my daughters I trust."Ashara nodded of course she did, the Sand Snakes were as in famous as their father, but they were all her friends and allies to her family.

Once they had all been settled in and rested Allyria led Nymeria, Sarella and Obara away from the Lord's solar, and to explore the grounds. Ashara, Ellaria, Oberyn, Ser Arthur and Tyene Sand- Oberyn's daughter- were the only ones left in the solar. Ashara cleared her throat. "I have known you for most of my life Oberyn. You do not usually move from Sunspear or the Water Gardens unless you have specific reason for doing so, not since Elia was alive have you wandered. So why are you here?"

Oberyn chuckled then. "So observant as ever Ashara. It is true what you say. I have come bearing dark words. Eddard Stark has been branded a traitor and has been locked in a black cell by the boy king and the Lannister woman."

Ashara tried to keep her face neutral but couldn't help but say. "That's a lie, Ned would never betray Robert, never."

Oberyn nodded. "I know Ashara, I know. Our sources in the city report that his youngest daughter, Arya I believe her name is, fled the city when her father was arrested. His oldest daughter Sansa remains a captive in King's Landing, her brother has called his banners and marches for war."

Ashara felt her chest tightening, she was good friends with Catelyn Tully, that Ned's wife knew nothing about her relationship with Ned didn't hurt, and she had grown fond of her children, she could not imagine how much this must be hurting her. But that could not solely explain why Oberyn was here. "So what has this to do with me?" she asked.

Oberyn snorted. "You know full well what it means. You might have fooled Doran by claiming Jon and Jeyne as that fool Brandon Stark's but I've known you for far longer, and I know what you felt for Eddard Stark. I am here to propose a solution to this problem. The Iron Throne wishes to secure our alliance, and why not they are faced with enemies on either side. Doran will propose a betrothal between Trystane and Myrcella Baratheon. That will bring us closer to the throne, and closer to justice for Elia and her children. If they have any sense in King's Landing they will agree to what my brother suggests. I will go as his representative to collect Princess Myrcella and to bring her to Dorne. Whilst there I will also try and help Ned, and his daughter escape and if I can find his little one as well."

Ashara could not speak. Oberyn went on, "I will need your assistance though. Tyene will be accompanying me, but I will need Jeyne to come as well so that they know my intentions are honourable." He stopped and looked at Ser Arthur then and said with a fierce tone in his voice, "We could not safe Elia, I will not let anymore innocents fall victim to the Lannisters nor their cruelty."

It was all Ashara could do to nod and agree, she would go as well of course, Jeyne needed her, Allyria would be left to run Starfall alone. I'll save your children Ned, I won't them meet the same fate as Elia and her babes.