Dark Wings, Dark Words

To help you

Hours turned to days and the days felt like a lifetime. Ashanna couldn't take the silent panic that was escalating in Winterfell. Ashanna's Lord father had been 'honoured' with the opportunity to become The hand of the king. The Kings trusted adviser and helper.
Ashanna despised the idea. Her father would leave soon and take Sansa and Arya with him and she wouldn't see her dear sisters for a long time.
Her little brother Bran was still unconscious from his fall and was now feared to become a cripple if he was to wake.
The guilt... It was suffocating her. She knew something horrible was coming and this was just beginning. She had to warn her father.

Ashanna found him in the main hall, sorting some of the costs. Winter followed her and snapped at the skirt of her dress when she was close enough. The direwolf  was a lot bigger now.

"Father." Ashanna said strongly. Her Lord father's eyes darted to hers.

"Ashanna?" He asked. Ashanna took a few steps closer to him.

"You mustn't be the hand. Father, please." Ashanna said as calmly as she could.

"Ashanna.-" He started but Ashanna cut him off by raising her hand.

"Forgive me, father. But I can't.. I won't let you go. Bran's fall was just the beginning. I can see it. Once you go. We'll fall apart." Ashanna said quickly.

"Ashanna your visions could be wrong. And even if they aren't, I know the risk. My sweet girl, I have to find out who or what caused Jon Arryn's death." Her father said carefully.

"And if it means your death?"  Ashanna asked.

"It won't come to that, go on. We'll talk later." Her father ushered her out the door as her mother entered.
Ashanna stayed outside the door hidden from her parents' sight. 

"What did Ashanna want?" Her mother let out a chuckle.

"For me to stay at Winterfell. She said that me leaving will bring ruin to our home." Her father said with concern.

"She must be terrified since Bran's fall. She refuses to leave Robb's side. She's frightened Ned, she's scared that you leaving will harm us." She says with worry.

"Which is why she should come with me." He said finally.

"With you? Ned, she should stay here where she feels safe, where she knows she won't be judged for her abilities." Her mother said in surprise.

"She's scared Cat, where is she safer then with me.. I'll keep her with me all the time till she gets use to it. She'll be ok." Her father said slowly.

Ashanna could no longer listen to the conversation. She fled from the hall with great haste. She couldn't leave!! Her father had to see sense. Something was coming... Something awful. They had to stay together or they'd be destroyed.

Ashanna found herself walking until she stood in front of the weir wood tree. It's bark was white it's leaves as red as blood. It was said that the old gods saw through the eyes of the face that was carved into the bark. Ashanna had visions before of the children of the forest carving the faces a thousand years ago.

She heard voices urging her to break off a branch. Her body was out of her control as she soon witnessed her arms betray her as she reached up and rested her hands on the branch. Without breaking it the branch magically fell into her grasp.
The voices got softer, soothing her.
The branch began to glow in her hands and it slowly broke itself into 10 pieces. Ashanna curled her fingers around them and felt her nails etch them. When she released them each piece was carved into the shape of a wolf's head she took a closer look at one.
A whistle?
The voices started again and Ashanna had three words louder than the rest.
"To help you."
Although Ashanna was thankful for the gift she was confused. How would a whistle help her?
Then she remembered..
Robb and Jon had found a white raven in the wolfswood the year prior.  It's wing was broken and it was beyond frightened. Ashanna nursed it back to health and it chose to stay at winterfell since. Ashanna had named her Hail.

Ashanna had warged into the raven, many times. But it had a lasting effect on the raven.. It made her hearing incredibly heightened.
She'd be able to hear these whistles around winterfell. And with Ashanna's influence she'd be able to hear her father if he whistled in Kings Landing.

Ashanna found herself running back into the courtyard of Winterfell. She ran right up to Robb and Jon who were talking with some of her father's men. The men quickly left when Ashanna arrived.
Ashanna took two of the whistles and gave them one each.

"If you need me. Hail, will hear." She said proudly. Robb fought back laughter at Ashanna's words. He didn't believe her she knew that. But it gave her comfort to know that they'd be able to contact her.
Ashanna didn't give them time to reply she ran off to find her other siblings..

She found Rickon running around after Arya. Ashanna called them to her and handed Arya her whistle and she explained to them both what she believed it could do.. That they'd always be able to contact each other. 
She pulled a thread from her dress and used it to tie Rickon's round his neck.

"Ask mother later if you can tie it with something else." Ashanna said gently. Rickon beamed at her and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back and found Arya wrap her arms round her as well. After a few minutes she pulled away.
"I'll find you later." Ashanna said sweetly. She quickly walked away to search for Sansa. Winter followed her though the courtyard of Winterfell.

"Lady Ashanna?" A voice asked from behind her. Ashanna swiftly turned and came face to face with prince Joffrey. She had to contain the urge to roll her eyes. Joffrey was betrothed to her sister Sansa and yet he seemed quite taken with Ashanna. She heard that he requested for her hand and was angry to hear that she was betrothed to Jojen Reed.

"My Prince." Ashanna said as she curtsied. The Prince took after his mother when it came to looks. He had the golden hair of the Lannisters and the eyes of them as well. He was handsome and charming but Ashanna knew that was to cover his viciousness.

"Mother tells me you are coming to Kingslanding with us." Joffrey beams as he walks to her.

"It's true, my prince. But I'll be a day behind you all at most. I've a always wanted to see the wall. My brother Jon plans to join the Nights Watch so it's the perfect time to see it." Ashanna says excitedly.

"Jon? Oh yes the bastard! I can't see your attraction to the wall. There's nothing special about it." Joffrey says through laughter.

"Jon's my brother and the wall is part of our history." Ashanna said as politely as she could. Joffrey nodded slowly.
"I think my sister will make a fine wife for you." Ashanna said quickly.

"What makes you think so?" He asked curiously.

"She's kind, obedient and beautiful." She said genuinely.

"People say your beautiful as well." Joffrey said smugly. Ashanna once again tried not to roll her eyes.

"Thank you my prince but if you excuse me I need to find my mother." Ashanna said as politely as she could before curtsying. She ran towards the great hall leaving a very confused Joffrey behind her..
A/n - I love you guys!
I promise to update more this year! Please Check out my other book "surviving high school" thank you!!!
-A ❤️