Chapter Text
Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell had arrived with his brother in all but blood Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn to the Capital of King's Landing for the Royal Wedding of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen to Princess Elia Martell. He didn't want to be there. Not only was the South uncomfortably hot, but the city smelled of shit. He didn't understand how these Southerners could stand living in a city so crowded and smelly. Eddard longed to go back to the North and back to Winterfell when his fostering was complete. He only needed one more year, and he could go home.
The celebration for the blessed event would be lasting more than a month. At which time, Ned would spend his time between taking care of Robert and visiting with his father Rickard Stark and brother Brandon. He would also try to avoid the other nobles as much as possible without seeming rude. Ned didn't like the political dance that went on in King's Landing. He was an honest and direct person; such intrigues didn't appeal to him.
On the first night of the celebration for Prince Rhaegar and Princess Elia, Ned watched from the sidelines as the Lords and Ladies danced. Off to his right, he could hear Robert's booming laughter carrying through the halls. Ned sighed and continued to watch the festivities, but as his eyes wandered, they suddenly fell upon the most beautiful violet eyes Ned had ever seen. Ned's heart raced when he noticed the lovely young lady that was looking at him.
It was Ashara Dayne, Princess Elia's Lady in Waiting. Lady Ashara smiled at Eddard who's face began to turn red, he gave her a shy smile in return and averted his eyes. The sound of her laughter reached his ears; it was the most beautiful sound Ned had ever heard. It sounded like the tinkling of bells. Ned turned around and noticed that his brother Brandon was talking to Ashara Dayne.
Ned frowned when his brother walked over to him, “Why the long face, Ned?”
“Why were you talking to Lady Dayne, Brandon,” Ned asked.
“I was doing you a favor,” Brandon said with a smirk.
At that moment Ashara walked over towards the two men, she smiled at Brandon but beamed at Ned. Ned's heart skipped a beat when Ashara came up to him and curtsied, “Lord Stark, would you care to dance,” Ashara asked.
Ned's face flushed with embarrassment, but he cleared his throat, “I would be delighted, Lady Dayne.” And so for the rest of the evening, Ned and Ashara danced every dance together.
For the remainder of Ned's time there in the Capital whenever Ashara could get away, she would spend with Lord Stark's second son. It didn't take long for the young couple to become close, and soon they declared their love for each other. The night of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Elia's wedding feast, Eddard Stark and Ashara Dayne made love.
After the wedding, Lord Jon Arryn stayed in King's Landing for another two months to tie up some business he had with the king. A few days before Eddard was to return to the Eyrie, he was walking with Ashara through the garden. They made their way towards the Godswood so that Eddard could say his goodbyes. But Ashara had a secret to tell him.
“You're very quiet, My Lady. Is something the matter?”
Ashara wrung her hands in anxiety; her violet eyes looked into Eddard's grey eyes. Ashara took Eddard's hand, “Ned, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it, Ashara?”
Ashara took a deep breath and closed her eyes, “Ned, I'm with child, and I'm going back to Starfall to have the baby. I do not expect anything from you. Bastards are treated better in Dorne, Ned, so you don't have to worry about your child.”
Eddard stared at Ashara, stunned. He didn't know what to feel when she told him that she was having his child. As the realization slowly began to sink into the Quiet Wolf's mind, a rare smile began to spread across his lips. The thought of having a child with Ashara filled Ned with a joy he had never known before, and the last thing Ned wanted was for his child to be born a bastard. The only solution was for him to marry Ashara.
While these thoughts are going through Ned's head, Ashara stands there playing with the sleeve of her silk dress. She wasn't expecting a big reaction from Ned, but he was quieter than usual. Ashara assumed that he was angry.
“Forgive me, My Lord, for telling you this a few days before you leave for the Eyrie, but I thought you had a right to know. As I said, you have nothing to worry about; I will take care of my child.” Ashara said then turned to leave.
“Our child,” Ned said.
“I beg your pardon,” Ashara asked then turned to face Ned.
“That is our child, My Lady. And I will not have our child grow up a bastard.”
Ashara stared up at Ned with a confused look on her face, “What are you saying, Ned?”
“I'm saying that I want you to marry me.”
“Ned, you don't have to do that.”
“It isn't only about the child, Ashara, I love you, and I want to be with you always. Please, I know that this is unorthodox and completely out of character for me, but for the first time in my life, I know what I want, and I want you. Will you marry me?”
Ashara stared up into Ned's eyes. She searched his grey eyes for any hesitation or deception. All she found was unconditional love. Her eyes began to well up with tears, “Yes, Ned, I will marry you.”
Ned smiled brightly and kissed his betrothed, “I know I don't have anything to offer you right now, Ashara, but I will talk to my father, and I am sure he'll give me a keep somewhere in the North.”
“That doesn't matter to me, Ned, as long as we are together.”
Ned happily smiled down at Ashara. He leaned down and kissed her again. Feeling impetuous, Ned took Ashara's hand and led her over to the Godswood, “Let's get married now, in the eyes of the Old gods.”
“You want to get married now?”
“Yes, Ashara, I do not have much time, I must return to the Eyrie, and you are leaving for Dorne. I do not want us to separated without being joined as man and wife.”
Ashara's heart started beating faster at the thought of marrying Ned. Her palms started sweating, and her mouth went dry. But Ashara couldn't think of anything that would make her happier than being married to Eddard Stark.
Ashara kissed Eddard on the lips, “As long as we can get married in the Sept, so Arthur can give me away.”
Ned agreed. Ned led Ashara to the Weirwood tree, where they knelt in front of it. Ned said the marriage vows of the old gods, which Ashara repeated. He cloaked her with his cloak that had Ned's house sigil on it, and they were married. Later that night, they would spend their first night as husband and wife in Ned's chambers.
The following morning, Ashara snuck out of Ned's chambers and went back to her own. She quickly bathed and made her way to Princess Elia's room to attend her duties. While she was there, Ashara told Elia what had happened and that now she was married to Eddard, but that they were still going to marry in a small Sept to make it official in front of the Seven as well, and it would give Arthur a chance to give her away.
Elia was so happy for Ashara, “You must let me attend your wedding, Ashara.”
“Your Grace, I would be honored if you would attend. We were going to be married today.”
“No, a wedding cannot be planned in a day.”
“We have no choice, Your Grace, Eddard returns to the Eyrie in a few days and wants to be married before he leaves.”
“I will talk to Rhaegar.”
And so Elia talked to Rhaegar, who spoke to Jon Arryn, who then delayed his departure by a week. That gave Elia enough time to have a cloak made for Ashara and a dress as well. Elia had the dressmakers work all night to complete it.
Meanwhile, Ned informed Robert about what was going on and asked him to be a witness at his wedding. Robert roared with laughter, “Ned, you old wolf, I never thought you had it in you to bed a woman before you were married. The Quiet Wolf, indeed. Of course, I'll attend your wedding and be a witness; nothing would bring me. greater joy.”
“Thank you, Robert; I could use you at the wedding. I don't know if Ser Arthur will kill me or not,” Ned told his best friend, causing Robert to laugh again and pat him on the back.
And so at the end of the week, Ned and Ashara were married in the Sept of Balor. It was a small wedding, but there were many Dornish guards as Princess Elia, and Prince Oberyn was in attendance. Along with Prince Rhaegar and his King's Guard and Robert Baratheon and Jon Arryn.
Ashara looked beautiful in her gold silk dress and with jewels sewn into the fabric. The dress clung to her body, accentuating her figure and breasts. Ned looked in awe at his wife as she was escorted down the aisle by her brother Ser Arthur Dayne, who had a frown on his face.
“Stop it, Brother,” Ashara whispered to Arthur, “Be happy for me.”
“I am happy for you, sister,”
“Then stop frowning.”
Arthur's expression immediately changed, and he smiled at his sister. They arrived at the alter with the Septon began the ceremony. Arthur then removed the cloak of House Dayne, and Ned cloaked Ashara in the Cloak of House Stark, “With this kiss, I pledge my love,” Ned said, then he kissed his wife.
After that, a small feast was held, and then the couple once again retired to their new chambers. They stayed together for three days; then, it was time for Eddard Stark to return to the Eyrie and Ashara to return to Starfall.
Ned kissed his wife, “I promise as soon as I finish my fostering. I will come for you and the baby.”
“I know you will, Ned. I can't wait for that day. Are you going to inform your father?”
“I already did. My father wasn't pleased, but my father accepted my decision. He told me that he already has a keep in mind for us in the North.”
Ashara smiled, “I cannot wait to see your homeland.”
“Neither can I, My love, though we will be living in Winterfell for a time.”
Ashara nodded. Ned then kissed his wife goodbye one more time before he left to join Jon and Robert for their journey. The next day Ashara went to Starfall.
The months passed slowly for Eddard Stark. He missed his wife terribly. Ned would write Ashara every week to ask how she was doing and how her pregnancy was going. She would always tell him that it was fine and that she missed him.
In 280, AC Torrhen Stark was born. Ned had been having been sparring with Robert on the training field when Jon Arryn came out to deliver a letter from Starfall, “Ned, this letter just arrived for you from Starfall.”
Ned knew that Ashara's time was close, and he knew that this could only be Ashara writing him to tell him that their child had been born. He quickly broke the seal and began to read the note. As Ned read the letter, his eyes lit up at the words that his son had been born and that Ashara had named him Torrhen.
Suddenly, the light dimmed from Ned's eyes, and he stumbled back. Robert barely caught him and help him sit down, “Ned, what's wrong? What does Ashara say, has something happened to your child?”
Ned's eyes started to water, “It's not from Ashara, it from Lord Dayne. Ashara is dead.”
“What?!”
“She died giving birth to my son.”
“Ned, I'm so sorry,” Robert said.
Ned numbly stood up and left the training yard without saying a word. Robert was going to go after him, but Jon stopped him, “He needs to be alone right now, Robert.”
Ned went to his bedroom and sat down on his bed. He reread the letter; the words on the parchment began to blur as tears started to run down his cheeks. Ned sat there for hours, mourning the loss of his wife. Ned stayed in his room for a week; he didn't eat and barely slept. And when Ned did sleep, he would have nightmares of Ashara dying, calling out for him.
After a while, Jon talked to him and told Ned that he understood how he felt. He too had lost his wife in childbirth, “Ned, you must remember, you will always have a part of Ashara with you. Your son, Torrhen.”
Nevertheless, Ned was a shell of his former self. If they thought he was quiet before, Ned was mute now. Ned continued with his studies and duties, but it was with less enthusiasm. The only thing Ned wanted to be was for his fostering to end so he could go to Dorne and be with his son. But things do not work out the way we want them to.
Everything went to shit for Ned at the Tourney at Harrenhal, when Prince Rhaegar crowned his sister, Lyanna, Queen of Love and Beauty instead of his wife, Princess Elia. That would be the spark that led to Robert's Rebellion, and it would be three long years before he laid eyes on his son Torrhen Stark.