Chapter Text
283 AC-Tower of Joy, Dorne
Ned Stark practically clawed his way up the stairs towards his sister’s prison. Lyanna was up there alone and afraid, so despite his weary legs and the blood oozing from his wounds Ned made his way up towards her. When finally he reached her room Ned cried out in horror, for there on a bed of blood dying was his baby sister.
“Lyanna!”
He rushed to her side distraught. He had seen much throughout this godsforsaken war, and despite his best wishes he knew in his heart of hearts that Lyanna would not survive. The sheer amount of blood drenching her bedsheets was unsurvivable. Gently he cradled his little sister’s head in his arms, loathe to look anywhere except for her face, as pale as snow, lest he see more of her suffering.
“Ned” Glistening eyes met his own
“Oh Lyanna”
“I’m sorry Ned. I know I shouldn’t have. But I couldn’t bear to marry him.”
“I know that now Lyanna. I never should have supported father’s decision.”
Lyanna gasped for breathe and with a voice which sounded more like a whine she said “My husband’s dead Rhaegar. My silver prince. He’s left me.” Tears fell from despondent eyes as Ned started.
She’d married him he realised. She’d done all of this willingly.
“Why did you have to do this Ly.”
“I loved Rhae. I hated Robert.”
Sometimes Ned forgot that Ly had only been five and ten when this miserable business begun. A woman grown according to all who mattered but still a little she-wolf in Ned’s eyes.
“Oh Lyanna.”
“Ned. I have to ask something of you.”
“What Lyanna? Tell me and I’ll deliver it.”
“Take my Visenya and Alysanne with you. Protect them, care for them, love them. Please Ned.”
With a great deal of effort she turned her head over to the side to look away from him. It was only then that Ned noticed the two cradles on one side of the room. Childbed.
“I will” for what else could he possibly say?
“Promise me Ned. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Lyanna gave one last smile before she closed her eyes for the last time.
Ned spent a few minutes cradling her tears leaking from his eyes against his will before he gently set her back down and made his way across the room to her daughters. In the cradles were two little girls, as opposite as night and day. One with wisps of dark brown, almost black hair, the other strands of silver white. The silver haired babe stared up at him smiling with lilac eyes. It enraged him to see that man’s face on his sister’s babe. Ly was still a child, Rhaegar was a man grown with a wife and two children already. He ought to have known better. The other babe he was sure was all Stark, though her eyes were closed.
“Which one is which?”
The midwife came over to answer him.
“The living child is Princess Alysanne my lord. We hadn’t the heart to tell her that the Princess Visenya was stillborn.”
Ned closed his eyes pained.
“You made the right decision. They are together now at least.”
He reached his arms into the crib to pick the little drake up.
“Hello Alys. I’m your Uncle Ned. I promise you’ll be safe now. No matter what.”