Dark Wings, Dark Words

The man who passes the sentance should swing the sword. (Part 1)

Authors note
I would like to thank enchantedshades for the amazing cover. Who is absolutely gifted by the way. enchantedshades  this chapter is dedicated to you.
-A

Edited on 01/06/2019 for character development. 

Ashanna Stark was not as perfect as she led people to believe. She liked to pretend she could master the skills her siblings possessed. In truth she'd never be able to sew like Sansa or fight like Robb and Jon. She admired her siblings, all of them. Ashanna wanted to be gifted like them. She wanted to possess some talent that didn't involve her curse of precognition. Archery was the soil that filled the gap in her life. Her mother disapproved of her training, but Ashanna needed this. She needed something she could master. Her inability to control her visions wounded her spirit, controlling her talent made her feel powerful. She was lucky that her father agreed. 

She wasn't afraid when she had her bow in hand. 

She was strong now, like Jon and Robb. 

Graceful, like Sansa. 

Fast like Bran and Arya. 

And fierce like Rickon. 

Ashanna liked being brave, she was too used to being coddled by her family. A little glass doll that could break. She always felt the need to prove herself useful. She felt overwhelmingly insecure. Her visions were common knowledge in Winterfell. Outside the castle walls however, her gift was just a mere rumour. That didn't stop the curious stares that pierced her skin and left her feeling utterly exposed. That's why she trailed after her older brothers constantly. Ashanna knew they'd look after her without suffocating her with their presence. She felt comfortable with them, safe. 

Ashanna was beloved by her family, despite her being a disobedient demon towards her mother. It infuriated Lady Stark that Ashanna preferred to hold a sword in her hand than a needle. Her older brothers Robb and Jon would train with her when ever they could. But when they couldn't her mother would drag her back to her septa so she could learn how to act like a 'proper lady'. 

Ashanna was the younger twin of her sister Sansa. However, Ashanna matured faster than her sister. Ashanna found a wicked sense of enjoyment when she proclaimed that. It always stirred her sister Sansa's face to dark crimson with rage.  

Ashanna hid behind her mischievous deeds. It helped her forget her fear of her gift. It made her smile. Unsurprisingly her antics were often lost on Sansa. Her sweet sister regularly criticized her for not being the lady she was 'meant to be.' 

Ashanna was their younger sister Arya's hero. 
Unlike Ashanna, Arya didn't have much of a say in joining her older brothers in the courtyard. She was forced to listen to their septa tell Sansa how brilliant she was. When Lady Catelyn forced Ashanna to go to her lessons, she would entertain Arya by imitating well known lords. She often lifted her finger to her nose in jest to make it look like a pigs nose, whenever the septa wasn't looking.
And other times Ashanna would set up her targets near Arya's lessons. She narrated what she was doing when she loosed arrows, her stance an how she held herself. Ashanna did this under the guise that she was teaching her younger brothers. In reality she was teaching her Arya as well. One day Ashanna would teach her to loose an arrow, how to never miss. 

Ashanna rolled her eyes as Robb and Jon tried yet again to encourage their younger brother Bran to shoot another arrow.
After the next two failed tries Ashanna walked to a target made of sheep's skin. Notched her arrow onto her bow. Aimed for the centre of the target.