The cry of a baby startled her awake. It had been the cry that had woken her up a lot the last couple of nights. Ashara immediately leapt up from her bed and walked into the room, connecting hers. She insisted upon this while plans were made.
It gave the baby a safe place to sleep where he could be quickly cared for if the need arose, and such need arose constantly. It was a welcome distraction from what had happened and what she knew would come.
She reached down into the crib and picked up the crying babe. She pressed him against her body and he seemed to mold against her. Like he was made for it, but Ashara knew he wasn't. She still held him however. Whispering sweet words into his ears as she rocked him up and down in an attempt to soothe him while cooing gentle words.
The door behind her opened and her handmaiden Wylla appeared. She was a young woman, much like Ashara herself. With long brown hair and green eyes. Along her cheeks were many freckles that one could trace with a paintbrush if they so chose.
"My Lady." She said. "You don't need to do that. I can take care of the boy."
"It's fine Wylla." Ashara sighed as she kept rocking the babe. "He just needs a little comfort right now."
The babe in her arms soon began to quiet down. Closing his eyes and going back to sleep. Yet Ashara didn't let go, she held the child closer to her and kept rocking.
Wylla didn't say a word, and neither did Ashara. Both women merely stood in silence as Ashara coddled the baby for a few more minutes before laying him back in the crib.
She bit her bottom lip and held back tears as this crib was not supposed to be his. It was meant for someone else, but now it was being used for him.
"He looks so peaceful," Ashara whispered. "So unaware of what's been going on and what's happening."
"He does, my Lady," Wylla replied.
Ashara stood over the crib. Resting her hand on the small baby's chest. Her chest felt tight looking down at him. So much tragedy had happened, and yet despite that he was still born. A small, innocent baby whose life would always be in danger.
Ashara sighed. "I am at a loss as to what to do Wylla."
"My Lady?"
"He's so small, for a babe. And has such an innocence that will soon be taken away from him. The Tullys, they're so devout to the Seven. That woman, she'll hate him for what he represents. Is that truly the life for such an innocent boy?"
Ashara could not understand how one could hate a child for the circumstances of their birth. The child did not ask to be born.
"My Lady, won't her…dislike of him help keep him safe?"
Ashara's face fell. "Will it truly?" She whispered. "Could you and I both live with ourselves knowing we condemned a child to spend his life growing up hated for something he couldn't control?"
She looked at the babe's face, the small tuft of dark hair that would one day grow longer. It was soft, he was soft. Would he remain soft like this if he were to go North with Ned? Or would he become a scared and quiet child to avoid the wrath of the wife? Brought low to keep himself safe. Forced to grow up fast because a woman could not separate the child and father.
Ashara once more felt her heart clench at the thought.
She didn't sleep much that night. Not after the babe had woken up two more times in the middle of the night. Not with the thoughts that currently swam in her head. About herself, the babe she lost, the babe who currently slept in the room next to hers. About the truth on who he really was.
He should be safe in the North. As far away from King's Landing as possible. But that also meant Ned had to pass by King's Landing first, and if someone put two and two together.
Ashara shuddered at the thought. Those who murdered babes were monsters and there were plenty of those in King's Landing. She felt her mind wander to her dear friend and the death of her children. How baby Aegon was smashed against a wall in front of his Mother. How little Rhaenys was stabbed half a hundred times.
Did Ashara really want to risk that when Ned went back North to pledge his fealty to Robert? Could she stomach the thought of sending an innocent babe into that den of snakes?
Lyanna and Rhaegar's babe.
Ashara hadn't known the girl long but Wylla had tended to her before her death and Rhaegar had been a good friend while Ashara served as Elia's handmaiden in the Red Keep.
Could she truly let their child be at risk of discovery? Could she steel her heart and take such a risk? When Ashara thought about it a second longer she had made her choice. It was a simple one, but one that she would not come to regret.
….
Ashara found little comfort in her brother's solar. The Lord of Starfall was at Sunspear, no doubt being counsel to Doran Martell on what moves to make next. The rebellion was over, the Targaryens deposed and all those remaining would soon be dead.
Well not all if Ashara had anything to say about it.
Ned entered a few seconds after that thought. Tall, rugged-looking with a sunburned face as he was not used to the Dornish sun. His eyes were a dark gray filled with sadness and his dark hair went down to his neck. He was taller than her by a good few inches yet he looked so small compared to when she had seen him at Harrenhall.
Compared to that night they shared together. What a wonderful and passionate night that was, she had fallen with child and they had plans to marry. But all those plans came crashing down when the war broke out. Now Ned was married to a Tully and the babe she had growing in her belly was lost.
Everything now seemed so bleak.
"I am to leave soon." Ned's gruff voice broke her from her thoughts. The sound of which nearly stole the breath from her lungs as he was no older than twenty and yet he sounded as if he were twice that age.
"I'm aware," Ashara responded though her voice did not feel like her own. She steeled herself however, she knew she'd need her strength. "But before you left I had hoped there were words we could speak."
"What more is there to be said?" Ned somberly asked. His face seemed to fall even more as he looked away. "What we had can never be and what happened is now a distant memory."
Ashara closed her eyes and took a moment to compose her thoughts before shaking her head. "That is not what I mean, Ned."
Ned's face scrunched in confusion as his brow furrowed. "Then what is it you would wish to discuss?"
"The child…I want him to stay here."
"Ashara-
"No Ned." She cut him off. "I've thought about it. You'll take the child back to King's Landing, pledge your fealty to Robert, and then go North. But what if someone were to recognize the child for who he is? What if Robert orders you to kill it? I know you've sent most of your host home and you will be surrounded by vipers, cutthroats, and honorable fools who'll heed their King's word. Do you truly believe taking Lyanna's child into the heart of all those who would see him dead is a good idea?"
"He's kin!" Ned nearly shouted. "Would you have me leave him away from family? Leave the last vestige of my sister away from my eyes? I promised her I would look after Jon, that I would protect him."
"I understand that. But do you truly want to risk Tywin Lannister catching a glimpse of the boy? Or anyone who may have even the faintest clue about who his parents actually are? You want to claim him as your bastard but you and I both know that bastards aren't treated as well as they are in Dorne. Do you truly want to subject a child to that? What would your wife think about you bringing a bastard home? Your Tully wife." Ashara nearly spat the name out.
Ned turned his head and huffed. "You speak her name with distaste. How do I know this desire does not come from a more selfish reason? Do you truly wish to protect this babe or is this some ploy to hurt me by pulling on strings still yet raw?"
Ashara widened her eyes and scoffed. "Do you truly think so little of me?" Her voice began to rise in pitch as she threw her hand to the side. "You kill my brother, bring his sword back, and ask me to help you care for a babe! Did I turn my back on you? Did I send you on your way to let the child die in blistering heat? No, I welcomed you into my home and cared for the child. And you would dare accuse me of trying to hurt you!"
Her hand slammed down on the desk. "How dare you Ned!"
The man at least had the decency to look ashamed as he turned his head away. "And what would you have me think? With heart heavy over the loss of Lyanna-" Ned's voice choked. "Over Lyanna and our child." Ashara felt herself choke up as well but Ned pushed on. "You speak my wife's name with such distaste that it leaves me ill at ease, and you speak true with Arthur being dead because of me. So why, why take on the responsibility of watching over the last vestige of Lyanna when it is not something you have to do?"
Ashara sighed and turned her gaze to the window. She bit the nail of her thumb, not breaking it but chewing. "Because it's the last thing left of Rhaegar, my friend. Because this war has taken so much from us that I do not wish to see the boy taken as well. I do not wish for him to have the stigma of bastardry take away the light and curiosity that is already in his eyes."
"You've only just met him, Ash."
"And yet I fear he has taken what remains of my heart, Ned." Her hand went back to her side and she turned her head. "If he remains here he can thrive. Dorne doesn't care for bastards, he won't grow up ashamed of who he is."
Ned sighed as he stepped forward. His frame covering the sun from the window. Ned was quiet, as if he seemed to be weighing his options. "You make a good argument." He finally said. His voice was soft as he gazed out the window. "But he will be so far away."
"He will be safe here. Away from Kings Landing, away from the watchful eyes of those who might chance a guess at his birth."
"But he'll be away from me." Ned sighed. His hand came to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Yet Catelyn will not love him." He shook his head and stood up straight. "I would hear of your plan."
Ashara swallowed roughly and braced herself for the words about to spill from her lips. "He's our bastard. One convinced during the tourney of Harenhall."
Ned's eyes widened. "You would allow such a stain on your reputation?" He gasped.
"No one would question it," Ashara answered. "A bastard born in Dorne to the great and honorable Ned Stark." Ashara chuckled. "Some won't even believe the rumors that he exists. A perfect cover story for a Prince no one knows exists."
At least that was the hope. With Varys still alive there was always a possibility the truth could come out. Or it already had come out. If that were the case Starfall was lucky to have sea access so she could ferry them away.
"If you do this there's no going back," Ned whispered. "You'd be branded a traitor if discovered."
"I'm aware of the risks, Ned. I wouldn't be offering otherwise."
Ned hummed, a low deep sound in his voice. "By the Old Gods. Even considering this it feels like I'm abandoning him."
"You're not abandoning him, Ned," Ashara reassured, resting her hand on his forearm.
"It feels like it," Ned replied, glancing down briefly at her hand.
A war of emotions marred Ned's face and he bit the inside of his cheek. She could see the thought rolling around in his head as he weighed the options. Both held equal risk of danger for them both. But Ashara did truly believe her option was the safer of the two.
A rumored bastard of Eddard Stark far in the south in the deserts of Dorne. Here he was already safe and would not have to risk the long journey North through multiple kingdoms. Now the more Ashara thought about it there was a high chance the boy could fall ill with the amount of travel required to go North. Something else she could bring up if Ned needed more convincing.
"He'll be safe?" Ned finally said after minutes of silence. "He'll be cared for?"
"He'll thrive, I'll make sure of it."
Ned sighed and hung his head. "Then I leave him in your care."