"Wind & Words"

Dragon Fire

The story of Ashara Blackfyre Martell

"Ashara, yes that will be your name. I shall call you after Ashara Dayne of Starfall, she was my handmaiden but one of my dearest friends. You remind me of her, your features are exactly as hers." Said the dornish princess Elia Martell to the baby in her arms, as if she understood. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes as she recalled the face of her dearly departed friend. 'I could kill Ned Stark for breaking Ashara's heart!' Elia thought to herself but quickly let her anger go, it wasn't truly his fault Ashara killed herself, Ned was a man of honor and he loved her but everyone knew that man always chose duty and honor over anything, even love. When Ned broke the news to Ashara about his betrothal to Catelyn Tully something died inside of her dear friend. Ser Arthur Dayne was Rhaegar's best friend, The Sword Of the Morning was a legend as was his sister's unique beauty. Ser Arthur Dayne wanted to hate Eddard Stark but he couldn't because he was the brother of Lyanna. Rhaegar's true love who he was sworn to protect because she was carrying his unborn child, Stark's nephew. Every man knew that the Stark's are honorable men and do as they're told, no matter their emotions. So Ser Arthur couldn't blame Ned Stark, he knew he loved Ashara but once his brother Brandon was burned alive by Mad King Aery's he knew Ned would have to marry Catelyn for alliance in his stead. Still because of the turn of events Ashara was no longer living and that burned a hole in Ned, Elia and Ser Arthur's heart. She would never be forgotten and now as Elia stared at the small replica of Ashara she smiled. Now her friend could live on through this child as her namesake.
Elia thought of Rhaegar, her now annulled husband, she was glad to keep him as her friend. He was a wonderful father to their two children and a kind man to her all their years of marriage. But they were never in love, they were joined for alliance and they both did their duty for their Houses. They both later fell in love with different people and they agreed to be friends and co-parent, so they annulled their marriage in secret so the Mad King wouldn't find out. However, peace never lasts the Mad King heard murmurings of his son kidnapping the Stark girl and now Rhaegar has brought her to Dorne to the tower of Joy. Lyanna Stark is a sweet girl and Elia was very fond of her, in fact they had become fast friends. Lyanna was seven months pregnant when Rhaegar left for Essos, he had just returned this early morning and when he visited Elia he handed her a small bundle. He then departed to visit his beloved nine month pregnant Lyanna before he departed for the Trident in a few days.
Rhaegar was the one who encountered baby Ashara. He had come back from Essos with the Golden Company to help assist him in the war against Robert Baratheon. He met a man who came from the long line of House Blackfyre. Fascinated by the new found friend of a lost House, who had a little Targaryen blood. Rhaegar promised that once he was on the throne he'd restore the man's title and House Blackfyre would exist once again. The man's name was Daemon Blackfyre he came from the line of Aenys Blackfyre. Aenys was the fifth son of Daemon I Blackfyre and Rohanne of Tyrosh. Rhaegar's new friend and ally told him he'd fight for him as long as he could bring his child with him to Westeros. She had no one but her father to care for her because her mother passed while giving birth to her. Rhaegar agreed without hesitation but on the long journey back to Westeros Ashara's father became ill with a fever and it took his life.
Rhaegar was devastated that this new life had already been orphaned and he couldn't help but think of his and Lyanna's child. If this were his child he'd want a kind individual to take responsibility and care for them. The Targaryen Prince scanned the baby girl's pale face, "You're a pretty little thing aren't you? Perhaps one day you will be my children's friend or Daenerys' friend. I know exactly who'd love and adore you as her own."
When Rhaegar finally stepped foot in Dorne he took the child straight to Elia who had just lost her best friend. Rhaegar knocked on her lavish chamber door and Elia answered. He entered and handed her the baby while he lifted his daughter Rhaenys and kissed the forehead of his infant son.
"Rhaegar, where did you find this baby?" Elia asked already in love with the bundle in her arms. "Her father was from the Blackfyre bloodline, she's now the last one and I promised him I'd look after her. When I saw her I knew you'd love her because she resembles your friend Ashara." Elia walked over to her used to be husband and gave him a hug, Rhaegar returned the gesture.
"Elia..." He began, she looked up to him and disconnected their hug waiting for him to continue, "My father has heard the rumors of our annulment I don't want him to find Lyanna and my unborn child yet. But I'm afraid for Viserys and my mother who is almost going to have Daenerys. I got word from the Maester at Dragonstone that my mother has arrived, she wants to give birth to my little sister there in our ancestral home, away from my horrible father. Since the Queen is now at Dragonstone my father has no one to torture so he is listening intently on the rumors of us. Elia I need you to put a hush to the murmurs while I'm fighting the usurper, if you and the children could return to the Red Keep to pretend that we are still married, at least for now. Once I return victorious from the Trident you can return here to Dorne and I will tell him of our annulment and Lyanna. But you cannot take the baby because if my father finds out she's a Blackfyre he will have her killed. Ask your brothers to take care of her while you're in King's Landing, until your return." Elia sighed, she hated King's Landing, she constantly lived in fear but Rhaegar was right, in order for them to living peacefully after the war they'd have to put the mad Kings mind at ease. Elia nuzzled the baby in her arms and answered her best friend, "I'll do as you wish Rhaegar, please just hurry and come back to Lyanna so that I may return to my home here in Dorne. You know I hate living in the Red Keep but I will do it for a better future for our children and for us. After all we've been put through, we deserve to be happy with the ones we love, so I will do it. I'll depart with our children a day before you leave for the Trident." Rhaegar smiled at Elia and sighed in relief, "There is no way I can ever repay you Elia, thank you." Rhaegar left her chambers to see his love Lyanna to spend all the time he had left with her before he left to war.