An Ashara Dayne Epilogue, Dragons Hunt Run 2

Ashara thought she had known exhaustion when she had returned to Starfall three years prior, in the wake of her Lord Father’s death, and had borne the full weight of House Dayne’s legacy. In the wake of the Ascension Hunt, she found the weariness to go bone deep. But this time, she was not alone. Through all the tragedy, there was one relief, her brother had come home. The only other person in the world who understood the weight of the Dayne name.

A quiet part of her, a part she had only ever dared to share with one, carried guilt that she had ever wished for Arthur to return to Starfall. She could not quiet the doubt that her wish had somehow been the cause for all that followed.

Their duty required that they travel directly to Starfall. Ashara had made arrangements to send her newly betrothed straight to Sunspear with Elaenor Targaryen, and ensure through Prince Oberyn that the princess would never visit the halls of Starfall. 

Tucked safely within Ashara’s personal belongings, three dragon eggs laid nestled amongst the silks of her dresses. She had dared not send them ahead with the rest of her things, and kept them close throughout the journey. These eggs had to remain lost, a secret both Daynes would protect to their dying days. 

‘Bury them in the warm sands of Dorne,’ Ser Barristen had said. ‘Make no maps, and tell not a soul what you have done. Hide them in legend, so that they remain hidden until the gods find the time right.’

Arthur needed time to recover, and Prince Lewyn time to reach Starfall, and so the care of the eggs fell to her in the weeks that followed. She kept the chest they were nestled within hidden in her rooms, and she checked on them often. As much as Ashara had grown accustomed to bearing the weight of duty on her own, she found relief in once again being able to share the burden with Arthur. 

While she wished to let Arthur rest for longer, she knew that the eggs would remain at risk so long as they were within the halls of Starfall. Over dinner one evening, without a word spoken, she and Arthur exchanged a look that said all that was needed. It was time. She packed the eggs carefully, and saw Arthur off from the stables. When he returned, they would have to commit the location of the eggs to a story, and hide it well. But for now, she could do nothing but wait. 

She found time amidst her duties to spar with Ethan Glover, the nephew of her newfound friend in Lady Morement who had taught him well. There was a quiet joy in watching Arthur train Ser Glover, and reminded her of when they were younger and would train together in these very yards.

She wrote letters as she always had, and found both comfort and sorrow in equal measure. Some were answered, her betrothed wrote in turn until it was time for him to join her in Starfall, and letters to Elia, Lewyn and Ellaria were oft replied to. Jon had not yet answered any she had sent him, and yet she had not given up hope that one might reach him.

Others she committed to the fire. She had written to Ned Stark more times than she would ever admit, letters she knew she would never send. It would be pointless, she told herself. Selfish. He had found his path, and she would not intrude upon it, not even with words he would never read.

Ashara knew that both Prince Doran and Ellaria wanted her to return to King’s Landing and resume her seat on the small council. She told them she would if the time were ever right, but knew that it would not be. Her place was here now. She would guard the secret hidden within story, and someday pass that burden to her heir. 

Her conviction of this path almost wavered when it was time for Arthur to return to his duties. She felt as she had all those years ago when he first told her of his intention to join the Kingsguard. Unmoored, adrift beneath a sky full of stars that no longer felt like hers. But just as she had then, she would have to remain while he left, their duties once again setting them on different paths. 

Perhaps this time they would not let the distance grow beyond the miles between them.