act i . chapter xviii

SEEN IN THE ACT
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THE AIR AROUND THEM WAS WARM AND SOFT. The man under her was gentle and sweet. Every time he entered was like the crashing of the waves beneath her tower at home. As she moved with him, the tall grasses tickled her forehead. Ned's kisses were like new life within her and his strong arms had become her second home.

When they both came to their release, Ashara carefully rolled off him into the crook of his arm, snuggling into him. They didn't say anything for a long time. They just laid quietly on the tall grass and watched the sky as the blue faded to a deep purple. Everything seemed at peace. Ashara has found where she wanted to be. That place was Lord Eddard Stark and she never wanted to leave.

After the interesting jousts were over, Ashara found him and dragged away from the castle grounds and into the meadows near the woods. She wanted to have all the time she could with with when no one else was watched. Of course the playing and cuddling frolicking would lead to other things, but no one would ever find them out here. If she could forget what was waiting for them back at Harrenhal or Kings Landing or Winterfell, then it was like they were free.

The night wasn't cold. It wasn't hot. It was perfect. Ashara laid her head on Ned's chest, listing to his rhythmic heartbeat and the way it was synchronized with hers. Like it was the same heartbeat, but stronger. She moved her hand off his chest and laced her fingers into his and began to think about all the reasons she loved this man. He was blindly compassionate, trusting, honorable, and humble. He was gentle and kind and strong. That was plenty reason for anyone to love anyone though.

Ashara loved Ned because he didn't see her as another pretty face. She loved him for his optimism and innocence. She loved how he smiled every time she spoke to him. How his eyes lit up when she entered the room. Ashara loved how he didn't care that she was a second born of a lesser house. And all that was all about her.

She loved the way walked with determination. The way he fought with diligence. The way he tried to hold back his laugher when he found something funny. She loved him because of his unwavering faith in people. She loved him for his optimism and innocence. She loved the way that he wrung his hands when he was worried. She loved his way of fierce love for his sister and brother and friends. She... she loved him.

Ashara could finally admit it to herself. Her heard started to beat out of her chest as she realized what this would mean. She could certainly not tell him. But the would be cheating both of them. It would be unfair. Ned must have felt her panic because he gently squeezed her hand and asked her what was the matter, like the sweet man he was.

"I love you, Eddard Stark ," she said flatly, not moving from her position. "I think I loved you from the first." She could feel his heartbeat flutter and speed up. He unwrapped his hand from hers and moved it up to hold on to forearm. He sat up, pushing Ashara off him. Looking into his timid, gray eyes, Ashara felt certain that he loved her too. Ned took her head in his hand and pulled her closer until their foreheads rested on each other. She took in his sweet must. The smell of hard work and winter was Ned.

"I love you too, Ashara Dayne," he told her without wavering.

"What are we going to do?" she asked, afraid of what might come next. A Martell of Sunspear was never a match made by a Stark, let alone a Dayne of Starfall. "When we all go home, what do you do?"

"I want to be yours," said he with a silent fervor that could only be heard by people who truly knew him. "I want you to be mine."

"Are you saying that we should marry?" Ashara asked, surprised by the weight of his words. Ned nodded.

"I'll go to my Lord Father with the proposal if you agree. Then I'll go to yours," he said with excitement laced in his voice. A wide smile erupted erupted over her beautiful face. The prospect of marrying Ned kept the happiness on her face, but there was still the underlying fear of their father's saying no.

"Lord Solomon's been holding on to me. I don't know who he's waiting for," Ashara said darkly, doubtful that her father would agree to a Northern Union.

"Would he still hold back from Paramount Lord of the North, Rickard Stark?" Ashara frowned.

"I don't know," she said quietly. "There is still Aerys and Doran." Ned didn't say anything. He wasn't a man of many words. Once he got his point across, he would say no more. She loved that about him also. Her brothers were such talkers. Oberyn Martell loved to talk about anything. Doran did too, only it always seemed to be sensible things coming out of his mouth. Elia once was the same. And her baby sister, Allyria seemed to never close her mouth.

After a while, Ashara began to fall asleep. She was too comfortable out here under the dark sky and in the arms of someone she loved. Ned craned his neck to place a passionate kiss on her lips, reawakening her. "Don't fall asleep, Shara," Ned told her, his own voice groggy also.

With a sharp intake of air, Ashara rolled away from Ned as stretched out over the group, yawning. "We should get back."

"It's late enough for no one to see us, right?" Ned asked her, getting to his feet. Ned held his hand out to his partner in crime. Ashara took it and let Ned help her to her feet. "Late enough that we absolutely should not be seen."

They began to walk back aways, talking about little things. Little things like their families. Their favorite memories. The beauty in nature. The path they took back was slow and meandering. They took their time, savoring the possible few moments they would ever have with each other. When Ashara made a remark that she was tired, Ned let her ride on his back since they weren't too far away. Ashara loved his gentleness. He was unlike most the battle and sex thirsty Dornish men she was so used to.

The entered the front gates of the castle, unnoticed. The gates were open because of the sheer amount of people going in and out so continuously. "Where am I taking you, my Lady?" Ned asked the the woman atop his back. Resting her head on his shoulder, she responded, "To my room please, my Lord."

And with the quiet, smooth, strong walk of a wolf, he did as he was bid and took her towards the hall with most of the King's court and retainers. The halls were quiet and remorseful. The history of the ancient house could be felt in their bones. When Ashara closed her eyes, she could see the massive black flames licking away at the towers as if it were iced cream. Sometimes- and she was not the only one- if you walked in certain areas, the air would be so hot, it burned the skin.

But now, everything was quiet and still. The only sound Ashara could strain to hear was the soft pats of Ned's feet on the floor. He was so warm and smelled so good. Slowly, Ashara began to fall asleep on his back, too comfortable and too tired to stay awake. That was until they rounded the stone corner to see two young knights of a House Ashara couldn't see because Ned shimmied her off his back in a frozen panic.

The knights looked up at Ashara first. Thinking quickly, Ashara ripped the direwolf emblazoned cape of Ned's back and and threw it over his face, saving his reputation, knowing it was already too late to hide her face. "Lady Dayne!" one of them said, smiling smugly, standing up to greet her.

"I can't let you any further unless you show the face of the man who is accompanying you," he slurred, breath stinking of wine. Ashara walked passed him anyway, Ned struggling under the heavy cape. She wouldn't let any dishonor come to him. The drunken watch knight looked after her as she passed him in the hall and pushed Ned into her room so that he wouldn't take the cape off and let his face be shown before the two men who were sure to spread the rumor. He waved them off, assuming what anyone else would assume and say back at his post, taking another sip.

Ashara slammed the door behind them and latched it tightly, taking a deep breath. "They didn't see you," she said thankfully. Ned ripped the cape of his head. "They saw you, Ashara," he fumed. He held up his the blue-gray silk cloak. "They saw the direwolf." Softly, Ashara took the fabric out of his hands.

"There are four Stark boys," Ashara said. "No one will guess you, the Quiet Wolf."

Ned scowled. "That's why it's so wrong. I've got to take responsibility for my actions. If I let this happen, you and Brandon will be talked about to the moon and back."

Ashara stepped on front of Ned and put her hands on his chest as a barrier between him and the door. "You're not about to go out there and show your face. Brandon already has that reputation. I will be a victim."

"But that's wrong. I should take responsibility," Ned protested groggily. Ashara shushed him, putting her finger over his lips. "Stop," she whispered.

"It's alright to a bit of a rebel every now and then."

"It's the only way we live," she followed up as she planted a sleepy kiss on his lips. He continued to be stiff and guilty, not kissing her back.

"We shouldn't have done that," he said quietly. "He could have waited. Then there would be nothing to be guilty about, no matter how late we had returned." Ashara sighed and sat down to the man she had found recent company with, now knowing this was probably not going away.

She rubbed his arm lovingly and leaned into his gaze. "You don't have to feel guilty. I love you and you love me. We said yes and we are going to marry each other."

Ned smiled, his anger sliping away from him. "I should be agry about this. I shouldnt be doing what youve suggested," he said quietly, shakig his head. "But I just cant help myself. You have me whipped."

Ashara could help but grin and she pressed her forehead against Ned's. "Good. I'm glad you're wrapped so tight around my finger."

"I still can't believe I got you to ride a horse," Ned told her, smiling all the same, their eyes only inches away. Ashara could help but giggle at the fact that he did, in fact, get her to ride a horse.

Leaning closer to him until their noses touched, Ashara whispered to him, "I'd rather ride the wolf."

Ned's jaw dropped at comment. "You're so filthy."

Smirking, Ashara crashed her lips onto his and pushed him back into the bed. Ned kissed her back gently and wrapped his hands around her waist. "So are you, Lord Eddard Stark."

He gave a big hearty laugh and turned her over to where he was on top in one fluid motion, and continued to kiss her. Ashara was in complete bliss.

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Ashara would have done anything to keep sleeping that morning, but she could here the bustle of waking up in the hall outside her door. She could feel the warm, spring light drift from the slit in the curtain and fall on her calm face. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and looked over at her the man beside her, who was also doing his best attempt to awaken.

"Good morning," Ned told her, his eyes still closed.

"Good morning, sweet man," Ashara said as she stretched her arms up into the air.

"How am I going to get out of here?" he asked with a voice thick with sleep. He rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes and stretched. Ashara stood up out of bed and put her handmaiden gown on. That was what she wore in the mornings because there was really no way to put a corset on without help. The handmaiden gown easily went over her heard and hand loosely over her shoulders and barely brushed against her breasts and hips. It reached all the way to the ground, covering her feet.

"You're going to have to wait. It won't take long for us all to get out. We've all got to be with the family at the tourney quite early," Ashara told him straight. "I'll come back when everyone's gone so that you can leave."

"What if it's already gotten out. You brother and the prince know," he said. "Those men saw us. What if the connection is made? If Ser Arthur finds out that I did do to you this dishonor-"

"He will have to get over it. It doesn't matter anyway. I know that our fathers will allow us to marry. What on this earth could make that a bad decision?"

Ned frowned, but he went on with getting dressed, nonetheless. "You're not alright with any of this are you?" Ashara asked him. Ned frowned and crossed the room to stand near the woman he wished he could call wife and put his hand on her face.

"No. I hate this. I hate all this sneaking around and doing things we shouldn't. I hate that we are lying. It's killing me. And the thing I hate the most about it is that I absolutely can't help myself. Ashara Dayne, I can't stay away from you. I love you to the stars and back and you don't make it any easier for me by just being who you are," he told her truly. Ashara frowned. It had been wrong of her to influences him into such deed. He was younger than her and his personality rested on the honor she had stripped from him.

"It's my fault, isn't it," Ashara said sadly, her eyes falling to the her feet. Ned sighed and stood up straight. "It's our fault. We both acted on our impulses. Today may be that day we pay for them. Nevertheless, I will go along with the hiding, it it makes you feel better about it, and I will ask Lord Rickard if I can ask Lord Solomon for you hand. Today, I promise you."

A warmth spread over Ashara's body as she wrapped him in a hug. "I'll see you after while, my wolf." Ned smiled at her as she backed away toward the door and headed out to do her duty.

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A/N: Happy Friday with a full chapter of romance. I didn't actually mean for this chapter to turn out the way it did. This part was only supposed to be a thousand words and we were supposed to get the tourney rolling and see about the betrothal. I wanted to see Ashara reaction to the coming rumors, but I wasn't going to be able to fit it in AND publish it today.

So if you want to put your input, I'll give Elia Martell her very own POV chapter, then go back to Ashara, or do something I don't really like which is doing two of the same POV's back to back.

So it's your pick for the next chapter. Ashara again or Elia's debut? If no one answers(which they probably won't) then I'll just do Elia, then Ashara.

I really want to know if anyone is actually reading. Am I alone on this journey or are there some silent readers out there that could be helping me out?

ANYWAY... if you think I'm doing something wrong with Ashara/Ned, then let me know. Who should be the next chapter? Do you like it at all? Don't forget to vote/comment.

God Bless and goodbye from the Lannister Twins!