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Ned would never understand why he always agrees to this kind of thing. Really, he does not like gatherings besides a good concert, and most of the time, he does not stay longer than the time the band is playing. But he also couldn’t say no when Robert and Lya asked him to accompany them to a bar.
Nobody had told him that it would be a Karaoke-Bar!
He had hoped for some simple and small pub, just drinking a few cups of ale while talking and laughing. But now he was sitting here, Brandon to his left with Barbrey and Robert and Lya opposite to them. At least he does not need to sing anything. He would simply enjoy his whisky and ale while trying to ignore the fact that the beautiful Ashara Dayne — his crush since elementary school — is here with Elia and Oberyn Martell.
“I really don’t know what you like so much about karaoke, Robert.” His brother said suddenly and Ned looked towards Robert.
“Sometimes, my dear Brandon, you find talents here that are better than the original. I once was so lucky.” With that, Robert took his glass of lemonade again and sipped from it. “Maybe you will understand someday.”
Ned just wanted to ignore the topic and looked through the bar. Automatically his eyes first went to Ashara. She looked gorgeous tonight… just like any other day. She was wearing a beautiful summer dress, the color close to the purple of her eyes while the red lipstick was a strong contrast, clearly challenging her eyes for the attention of men. Her lips were full and looked so soft. The things he would do to feel them on his.
In a different corner, he could see Cersei Lannister with Rhaegar Targaryen and some of her friends. Had he known that nearly everyone from university is here… his head snapped around and his grey eyes looked into Robert's blue ones, challenging him to admit that he had planned this.
All his best friend did was push the whisky towards him and order a new round. Ned grumbled but he kept drinking. He would simply ignore everything. Opposite to what he thought the evening had gotten funny, the ale was flowing just like the whisky and Brandon even sang an old northern song.
Even though Brandon had no talent for singing, the song did not need it. They simply joined in. Nearly everyone in the bar sang along with Brandon to the old song from their home. Ned downed another whisky when the memories of his home welled up.
It was maybe an hour after Brandon, night already had won his battle against the sun, when Rhaegar went to the stage. Everyone at University knows that Rhaegar has a beautiful voice, so it did not surprise him when most of the girls looked at the stage with a dreamy look when the silver-haired man started to sing. And just like always it was a sad love song. It seemed as if the man could not sing anything happy. Fucking depressed ass pussy.
Robert had drunk a few mugs of ale at this point, since Lya had accepted to be in a relationship with him he was drinking a lot less. A side effect of that was that he needed less to get drunk. And so he got up when Rhaegar was done singing and went to the stage, talking to the guy who managed the Karaoke stage.
“You guys think this was good?” Robert slurred. “You never heard Ned! Come on Ned! Come up here.” Robert was bellowing and Ned noticed how all eyes were on him.
“Robert…” Ned just grumbled as he got up and walked towards the stage, hearing how Lya and Brandon started to whisper. He had never liked to sing as a child.
“Oh come on Ned! Put this behavior aside. I know you have an amazing voice.” Robert gave him a clap on his back while thrusting the microphone in his hand.
Ned just sighed as he did sit down on the bar chair, looking at the monitor. The slow country music started and Ned couldn’t stop his foot from tapping in rhythm. A deep breath and then he started, eyes closed to block out all the eyes that looked at him.
He did not notice how Cersei Lannister ignored Rhaegar Targaryen mid-talk and slowly approached the stage, green eyes only on him. The way Elia Martell had turned towards the stage and nearly pushed Oberyn out of her way as she got up and took the hand of Ashara Dayne, who was looking dreamily at the Northman.
What Ned had not noticed was that while he was having drinks at the bar, purple eyes followed his every move, the way he gulped the drink down and how his shirt clung tightly to his biceps. But now when he opened his eyes, grey met purple and he did not once break the contact. Everything was forgotten as he sang the song, only looking into her beautiful eyes while other women also approached, swooning over the deep and warm voice he had.
Not even the way his siblings looked at him in shock while Robert laughed made him look away from her. At this moment, it was just the two of them, and the thought about having the love the song spoke of.
Just the two of them, alone in a room with no other place to go.