Chapter 3

This chapter is only for 18+. Mention of violence.

King's Landing, Crownlands

The ship docked at King's Landing, its hull groaning as ropes secured it against the pier. The air reeked of sweat, rot, and old blood. The streets, still stained from the Lannisters' sack of the city, were a grim reminder of the war's cost.

Ned Stark led his party through the Red Keep, his boots echoing in the long, scorched halls. Ashara walked beside him, her violet eyes cold and unreadable. Aryan, her son, followed, his small hand held tightly in hers. They entered the throne room, where Robert Baratheon sat on the Iron Throne, a goblet of wine already in hand. Beside him stood Jon Arryn, his face lined with exhaustion.

At Robert's side, Tywin Lannister stood with his daughter, Cersei.

Ned barely had time to bow before Robert's booming voice filled the hall.

"Where is she? Where is Lyanna?"

The words struck like a hammer.

"She is gone, Robert. We were too late," Ned said quietly.

The throne room fell silent.

Robert's face twisted, rage flickering beneath his grief. He slammed his goblet down, wine splattering onto his tunic.

"Targaryen filth!" he roared. "That fucking dragonspawn stole her from me! I'll burn every last one of them from the world!"

Ned felt Ashara tense beside him. He saw how her fingers clenched into fists, her knuckles white.

She had told him of her close friendship with Elia Martell, of the laughter they once shared. Now Elia was gone, butchered like an animal.

Her voice, though soft, cut through the room like a blade.

"You already have, Your Grace."

Robert blinked, as if seeing her for the first time.

"Ashara Dayne," he muttered.

She met his gaze without flinching.

"Yes," she said. "And I have heard how Lannister men murdered my dearest friend. How they crushed her son's skull against a wall while she screamed. How they raped her after killing her son. How they tore her in two after raping her. How they butchered her daughter."

A tense silence filled the chamber.

Robert looked away.

Ashara's lip curled in disgust. "Tell me, King Robert, did your war taste as sweet as you imagined?"

Robert said nothing.

Jon Arryn cleared his throat, changing the subject.

"Who is the boy?"

Ned turned to Aryan, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"This is Aryan Stark, the trueborn son of my brother Brandon and Lady Ashara. He is the rightful heir of Winterfell."

A murmur spread through the chamber.

Jon said, "Hoster Tully will not be pleased. He expected his blood to rule the North."

Robert roared with wine spitting out of his mouth, "Tell Hoster he'll deal with me if he objects. He can have a taste of my hammer."

Ned smiled faintly. "Thank you, Robert, but I can handle him."

Tywin Lannister studied Aryan for a long moment, his calculating gaze flickering to Ashara. He was already thinking of the future ramifications of this revelation.

Robert requested Ned to stay at King's Landing and offered him a position in his small council, but Ned declined. He wanted to settle many affairs in the North as well as to make sure Aryan had a proper upbringing.

So when he was taking his leave, Robert surprised him by saying, "I want you closer to me, Ned. You can rebuild the Moat Cailin and make it your holdfast. That way you can be closer to both Winterfell as well as King's Landing. For that, I am giving you five million dragons."

Everyone in the room looked surprised. Tywin's face was unreadable, but his eyes showed his surprise. Ned told Robert it was not needed. Even Jon tried to discourage Robert, but Robert was insistent. He said, "We have our coffers full. Ned has lost so much of his family. It's the least I can do for him. Consider this as the King's order."

Ned knew how difficult it was to change Robert's mind. So he reluctantly accepted Robert's gift and then he bid their leave, promising to bring Aryan to swear to Robert when he reached 17 to take up the title of Lord Paramount of the North.

Ned was eager to leave King's Landing. He could not bear the stench of the city, also he could see the blood around at some places after the Lannister army had sacked the city. So by the next morning, he and his party set their journey towards Riverrun to meet his wife Catelyn and then finally return to Winterfell. He had enough of this war. Now, he wanted peace and rest.

Ashara rode beside Ned, her face unreadable.

"You should have let me speak my mind," she finally said.

Ned sighed. "It would have done no good. Robert would not have listened. I am afraid it may have made things worse."

Ashara's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Perhaps. But I would have enjoyed watching him squirm."

She looked down at Aryan, running her fingers through his dark hair.

"The Baratheons and Lannisters destroyed my friend," she whispered. "I will never forget that. And neither will my son."

Ned felt a chill run through him.

Riverlands

On the way, he saw burnt fields, rotting dead bodies, burnt holdings, and many places ravaged by war—a grim reminder of the lives lost. During the journey, he interacted with Aryan and showed him the places on their way. He could see the boy was very attentive and could also identify the sigils of many houses. Ashara was right, the boy was very intelligent and he could make a very good Lord of the North.

They passed Harrenhal, and Ned told Aryan about how this was the largest castle in all of Westeros and how it was burned during Aegon's conquest. Aryan seemed to listen very attentively. Soon after half a month's journey, they had reached near the castle Riverrun. They could see the red sandstone castle, and so Ned decided to camp for the night and enter the castle the next morning. They set a camp nearby and promptly fell asleep.

Riverrun, Riverlands

As they entered the castle, he saw his wife and his good father there to welcome him. His wife came to him and placed a bundle into his hands and said, "My lord, this is your son, Robb Stark." Ned looked at the child and saw that he had blue eyes and red hair, and smiled at the baby. He then hugged his wife and exchanged greetings with his good father. He then introduced his companions Howland and William to them.

And finally, he introduced Aryan, and as expected, Hoster became angry. Hoster was angry that Catelyn's children would never inherit the North. Hoster immediately started convincing Ned to leave Aryan aside and take the title as the Lord of Winterfell. He tried to convince Ned that Aryan might be a bastard and Ashara may have been lying to him, that she had no proof and he would be raising a bastard.

Ned became angry when he heard that and shouted at Hoster for making false accusations and decided to cut short his stay at Riverrun. After two days, they started their journey to Winterfell.

Homecoming

They quickly passed the Twins and were hosted by Lord Walder Frey but did not stay there much longer as the 'late' Walder Frey used the occasion to subtly insult the Northerners and at the same time tried to set up marriage alliances for his extended family.

From there, after a few weeks' journey, they reached Moat Cailin. They set a camp and stayed there for a few days. Benjen had already sent mason and stone workers there as per Ned's letter from King's Landing. Ned met them, and they discussed the plans on how to renovate the great castle. After giving them the necessary instructions, they continued their journey to Winterfell.

Howland and William parted ways to their respective castles. On the way, they stayed at Castle Cerwyn, and from there, after a few days, they finally reached Winterfell.

Ned looked at Aryan and said, "We are home," and both smiled at each other. Both for different reasons.

But while Ned saw warmth in his nephew's eyes, Ashara saw something else.

Fire. Calculation. A hunger for power.

She had no intention of letting him be a soft, honorable Northern lord.

Her son was Dornish too.

And he would be raised to survive.

No matter the cost.