“Doran smiled as he watched Arianne bite into a blood orange”
The fates of Doran and his children in this story are not going to be the same as their ones in ASOIAF-Canon. In fact, I’d say it’s possible that Arianne may be NEGATIVELY affected by hearing of and/or seeing the relationship between her Aunt Elia and GoodUncle Eddard.
“He was certain that if Mellario was here”
Having to grow up with their mother being absent for most of their lives took a psychological toll on all of Doran’s children. Perhaps it contributed to Arianne becoming so attached to her Uncle Oberyn.
“one day she would make a great ruler”
In Canon, Doran schemes to secretly betroth Arianne to Viserys which would make her Queen of the realm and thus must relinquish rulership of Dorne to Quentyn. But after Viserys was killed by Khal Drogo, Doran decided instead to betroth Quentyn to Daenerys…but of course that one ended up for naught as well. As of The Winds of Winter, Doran has sent Arianne to confirm if the young man invading the Stormlands with the Golden Company is indeed his long-lost nephew Aegon VI.
But that is all in Canon, and Aegon VI is never born in this story. In my opinion, there is no telling what fate lies in store for Arianne, Quentyn and Doran.
“That he had just one more day when he didn’t have to worry about Dorne and how best to protect it”
If only Doran had met Robert Baratheon. I’m certain the two would have a most interesting conversation; Robert has no interest in ruling, governing or administrating.
“Why isn’t mama here?”
I wonder what it was like for the people of Winterfell, taking care of Mors and Torrhen while knowing very well that both lads may never see their father alive again. Also, how many of them disapprove of Elia travelling across war-torn Westeros to be with Eddard?
“She had few friends here”
Theirs was an impulsive marriage that was based on passion. Neither of them stopped to think about the long-term consequences. I wonder if it was the knowledge of what being the ruler of Dorne would demand of him that caused Doran to make such a spur-of-the-moment decision in marrying her.
“She resented him for not being able to do anything”
I wonder if Mellario, in her darker moments, wishes that Doran had abused his authority and power for her sake. (looks at Ned and Elia) …hmm. There may come a day in which Ned is forced to make a choice, and honestly I think he would choose Elia every time. He really does love her too much. The Ned in this story is most definitely not the same one in ASOIAF-Canon.
“He was unhappy as well”
Honestly, perhaps it would be best if Doran and Mellario put a permanent end to their marriage and seek other people. Remaining as they are now would do both of them no good.
“she had little patience”
Oh man, is that true; Arianne in Canon grew so frustrated with her father that she labelled him a fence-sitter and even a coward for his inaction and cautiousness. (looks at this story in which Dorne’s armies were involved in the rebellion from beginning to end) So many Butterfly Effects…I love it.
“and by a small host of Dornishmen from other houses”
Oberyn intends to put pressure on Doran. If Doran had conceded, how many Dornishmen and women would have grown to believe that Oberyn is the dominant one of the two despite not being the ruling Prince?
“his anger can get the best of him and make him do things without thinking”
Oberyn is a fascinating character.
“never let anger get the best of you”
Eddard Stark: ‘I am going to kill (Hoster Tully)’.
“but perhaps even angrier”
She doesn’t show as much affection as her sisters, but Obara clearly cares greatly for her Aunt Elia.
“a bright smile on his face”
It’s an interesting subject; Oberyn raising his first four daughters. He took them away from their mothers, not all of whom relinquished them willingly. Obara has issues and personal problems that stem from her relationship with her mother. If she were to become crippled and unable to continue to be a warrior…
“her viper’s eyes burned with a cruel rage”
I still love so much that of all people, the one who succeeded in stopping her cold is Eddard. Doran and Elia could not extinguish Obara’s rage. Eddard did. That is certainly going to be a memory that Obara would never forget. People may say within earshot of her that Eddard is a quiet and gentle person, or even a push-over or softy, and Obara would strongly disagree. The ONLY THING that kept Eddard from executing Obara himself (‘He who passes the sentence must swing the sword’) is that she is his wife’s niece.
“I found out six days ago”
I can only imagine Doran’s reaction…
“his voice was nothing short of courteous”
Areo is a very dangerous man. He would not hesitate for even a second to kill Oberyn or Obara if Doran were to give him the order.
“catching the light of the sun”
Bronn Disapproves.
“I will save Elia and…send her back to her husband”
I’ll bet that statement surprised Oberyn himself; that instead of spiriting Elia back to Dorne and vowing to never leave her side ever again, he subconsciously believes that she would be safer with Eddard.
“they will go to the Westerlands and get Elia”
Oberyn has NOT considered other important factors; that the Game never, ever stops or pauses. Had Dorne raised its banners for Elia Martell, how many would have seen an opportunity to gain more power, riches and influence for themselves?
“Doran closed his eyes and took a deep breath”
…it’s a terrible and at the same time a beautiful thing; that Doran will not sacrifice his nation nor his people for his family. He would put them at risk for his family, but to throw them into near-certain doom is something he would never do.
Eddard on the other hand, in my opinion, has reached a point where he would do things that would make the Rains of Castamere seem trivial for Elia’s sake. Gods help anybody who so much as harms one hair on her head.
“speak to me that way again, scare my children like that again”
Love or Fear…Doran tries to maintain both in his relationships with Oberyn and Obara. But if he can choose only one, he would choose Fear.
“a weary sigh that seemed to make his bones shake”
He clearly did not enjoy his decision to turn Ashara into collateral damage in his scheme to have Eddard and Elia installed as Lord and Lady of Winterfell. I wonder what it would be like if Doran were to step down from rulership and hand his title over to Arianne.
“How did his mother ever do this, day in and day out?”
(looks at Rickard Stark and Hoster Tully) …
“he was half expecting to see Oberyn standing there”
Christ, this chapter is terrifying. It could have just as easily been Oberyn instead of Areo.
“Your brother killed two of the guards, Obara stabbed another’s eye out but he’ll live”
That is not something that the Dornish would forget; that Oberyn and Obara resisted arrest and used deadly force. Opinions would likely differ; some would state that Oberyn is an unstable, violent and psychotic individual, while others would state that Oberyn was rightfully enraged that his brother would commit such a betrayal on his own kin.
“Let the king know what a loyal ally he has in the Prince of Dorne”
DiscordantSymphony, stop making me wish/hope that there would be a scene in which Doran and Cersei meet and interact with each other.

This is so great I love it so far

Thank God Elia and Rohanne are okay! I bet Elia will figure it out. Why didn't Ned consider telling her, even knowing she'd realise something was off about his story? I mean, in canon, not telling Catelyn made sense because he didn't know her (and she's a Grade-A bitch), but he's been with Elia for several years now and loves her. Why not tell her the truth?

Well that's the end of Robert

“the wedding feast of Prince Rhaegar and the now Princess Cersei”
Dammit, I hate and at the same time love that the story skips over this event.
“any message sent by a raven would be read”
I thought of Grand Maester Pycelle being an absolute Lannister stooge.
“only to tell him that he would not be able to return as soon as they’d expected”
I’m guessing that as soon as he read that, Rickard knew that something bad had happened.
“he had been outvoted”
Would there be a time in which Oberyn sides with Eddard against Elia?
“of everyone in King’s Landing it was the eunuch who had the king’s ear”
I wonder where Varys is now as of Chapter 100.
“they were never going to leave the North ever again”
…
“The farthest south they would ever go”
Ned and Elia love each other too much. Anyone with any sense can see that.
“Would they be calling Jaime Lannister father”
It really, REALLY doesn’t help that Jaime now fantasizes often of being the father of Elia’s children. The guy is messed up.
“it had sort of been forced on to him”
Not to mention being a constant companion to Robert Baratheon who tends to leap before he looks.
“after he had left for the Eyrie it had become poor Benjen’s role”
If Lysa Tully does marry Benjen Stark, I’d wager that the latter may surprise her. He strikes me as being mature and wise for his age.
“he wanted to slice the Mad King’s head from his shoulders”
Instead, it is Jaime who kills Aerys…and Elia has already stated that she would do all she can to ensure that his life as well as that of Cersei and her children would be spared.
“he wanted to tear this stinking city apart”
Being forcibly separated from Elia has awoken a fury in Ned that the man himself never knew he had.
“he had learned how to die a very long time ago”
Wait, what?
“He could control himself, he would wait until the time was right”
As it turns out, Elia couldn’t. Being away from her husband became nothing short of unbearable torture for her. And it happens in this story not once but twice.
“The only decoration were two broaches…a direwolf…a speared sun”
Elia is making it very clear without having to speak that no matter what the King decrees, she still sees herself as a Lady of House Stark of Winterfell.
“Ned wanted to strangle them all for being so cowardly”
I thought of Varys’ riddle to Tyrion, of the King, the Priest and the Rich Man.
“she was marked by being the only one who didn’t look miserable, disapproving or furious about what was happening all around her”
Her stupidity knows no bounds. I love it.
“She did seem more suited in Targaryen colours, he had to admit”
I’m still smiling. Cersei marrying into House Targaryen is the best.
“as if she enjoyed reminding everyone that it was she who had married the dragon prince and not any of them”
It would stay with her forever; the humiliation of not only her brother but her husband riding past her to crown another woman the Queen of Love and Beauty. Seriously, in this story it happens to her TWICE.
“not that he deserved any less”
Eddard is a VERY jealous man by this point. In my opinion, it’s an ugly and unlikable trait, not an endearing one. To be fair, Ned IS right to be suspicious of Rhaegar; the latter tried to seduce Ned’s wife.
“that was unworthy of him”
I love that being with Elia has caused Ned to develop an incredible level of rage that is only unlocked when she is hurt.
“he could not help but hope that the kind woman was well”
What if Ned were to learn that Rhaella wishes that Rhaegar had married Elia instead of Cersei?
“Ned noticed that Jaime Lannister’s face had grown pale”
Ned has not yet figured it out, and it seems neither has Elia.
“He’s a monster”
He truly is. But in the end he is only human, falling at the Battle of the Trident.
“dozens of women raped and vast cruelty inflicted on to the lowborn”
Tywin and Stannis are grim, humorless people. The difference is that Tywin rewards people like Gregor, while Stannis rewards people like Davos.
“I will deal with him”
Oberyn in Canon is one hell of a fearsome warrior, able to face Gregor without any hint of fear or hesitation and even defeat the man one-on-one…but this is not Canon, and Oberyn’s fighting skills are unlikely to be as good as they were before.
“do nothing that he does not command”
I wonder…if Elia had remained trapped in Casterly Rock, what would Doran have done? Eddard may had become crazed and set out with a band of loyal followers to infiltrate Casterly Rock and take Elia away from it and out of the Westerlands.
“he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight to him”
Bet Tyrion wishes that he had a sister who cares for him as much as Elia cares for Oberyn.
“the sound of her cries pierced his heart like a knife”
Eddard now cares for Oberyn’s daughters. They are like family to him now.
“almost as if he expected that he would have to fight his way out of the keep”
Can’t blame Tywin for being paranoid that the Starks or the Martells may decide to use force to get Elia back once they are out of King’s Landing.
“The Lannister wheelhouse…it looked ridiculously large”
You have a lot of fun writing the Lannisters, don’t you?
“there was a small smile on her face”
Genna was betrothed to a man she did not want to marry, and to this day she openly mocks and ridicules her husband Emmon Frey. She even refuses to take the name ‘Frey’, insisting on remaining a Lannister.
“she turned to look at Ned with eyes full of sympathy”
Genna may understand just how much Eddard and Elia mean to each other…which means if she gets wind of Cersei OR Jaime intending to do something colossally stupid, she may do her utmost to stop them.
“Oberyn who had dismounted his horse and was staring firmly into his eyes”
The dynamic and relationship between Eddard and Oberyn in this story is just so good. I love the writing that Eddard had Obara imprisoned after she murdered Kevan Lannister in a psychotic rage.
“It seemed like something out of a nightmare”
And it only gets worse for him from here…
“this was not a nightmare, it was his life”
Win or Die, Ned. If you want a world in which you and Elia could live together in peace, you WILL have to hurt people.

The slow pace of the story and slow update rate means i am out .

I cannot wait to see what is going to happen now. This is getting great!

Listening to this as I start the review:

Game of Thrones Music & Ambience Winterfell Snowfall at Dusk (by Ambient Worlds on Youtube)

“Obara had not been far behind him…her younger sisters had simply been quiet”
The Sand Snakes in this story are not going to be the exact same people that they are in Canon.
“which seemed to be finding any way it could to blame her for the mess”
Elia is an interesting person.
“she was the one who had wanted to come to King’s Landing”
Eddard being crowned King and Elia Queen wouldn’t be a blessing. It would be a curse. For Ned, it would only be even more torment after everything else that he has been through. The last thing he wants is to live in the Red Keep sitting on the Iron Throne.
“Obara had taken Nymeria and Tyene back to Oberyn’s room”
Robert Baratheon spent much of his childhood in the Vale, growing up with Eddard Stark. As a result, he was like a stranger to Stannis and Renly. Also in Canon, Sansa and Arya found it practically impossible to get along with each other.
“she always thought that her husband would’ve been Rhaegar”
Elia isn’t stupid. In my opinion, she may put two and two together and correctly deduce the parentage of the infant that Ned brought with him back from Dorne to King’s Landing.
“Who would ever guess that such a beautiful thing would cause such anguish?”
In my opinion, this could apply to Elia as well. She is responsible for the death and suffering of many people…but that is the way it is. In Canon, Eddard’s attempt to spare the lives of Cersei’s children led to his own death and those of his bannermen.
“Who would ever know that a northern barbarian could have such a gentle touch?”
I suspect that thanks to Ned and Elia’s marriage, there may be an increase in number of marriages between Northern and Dornish families.
“Oberyn was pacing up and down the room”
As of Chapter 100, the personal consequences of his experiences in the rebellion are severe indeed; Oberyn was very badly wounded and may never fully recover, and he also murdered an innocent boy…on Elia’s orders.
In my opinion, Elia would never, ever tell her husband of what she has done; she would deny it to the very end.
“and she was going to be married to Ned instead”
I’d love to know what that scene was like from Oberyn’s perspective; news reaching Sunspear that Aerys had decreed that his son Prince Rhaegar will marry Cersei Lannister instead of Elia…and then the second punch when Prince Doran announced that he has betrothed Elia to Eddard Stark, the second son of Lord Rickard of Winterfell.
Knowing Oberyn, he probably knew about Eddard and was flummoxed as to why Doran would agree to such a match. Seriously, I’m really, really hoping that there would be a future scene in which the Martell siblings speak to each other.
Honestly, if Eddard were to discover or suspect that Renly was murdered by Oberyn, he may decide that it had to be Doran who gave the order, not Elia.
“her heart was actually breaking into a thousand pieces”
After everything that has happened in this story, all 100 chapters of it, Elia is a changed and hardened person. This is not the Elia Martell in Canon who married Rhaegar Targaryen, bore him two children, spent much of her life living in fear of Aerys in the Red Keep, and suffered under a marriage in which her husband became more distant from her as his obsession with prophecies and legends grew and grew.
In my opinion, Elia in this story is both better AND worse than she is in Canon. I love it.
“She shut her eyes tight and tried to will her tears away”
…it’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked or undermined; Elia, Oberyn, Eddard…they are all SO YOUNG at this point.
“a dark rage with which Elia was quite familiar with”
WHY is Oberyn so psychotic? He carries a fury in him that to my knowledge has never been explained in ASOIAF-Canon. It isn’t just the horrific murders of Elia, Rhaenys and Aegon VI; Oberyn was like this BEFORE their deaths. Just ask Lord Yronwood. Because of Oberyn’s actions, Doran was forced to send his second child and first son Quentyn to live away from Sunspear for years, which put tremendous strain on his relationship with his wife Mellario.
“The faith won’t stand for it, Dorne will not stand for it”
Dorne has bled much in the rebellion, even more so than in Robert’s Rebellion. The people of Dorne would not want to just slink back to their homes afterward; they fought and bled and died for their Princess and for her husband. The nobles are not the only people who have lost loved ones in this war. Eddard is hardly anything special…and that’s the worst thing about it. War is truly Hell. (looks at Tywin Lannister sacking King’s Landing) …he is a despicable, disgusting person. Seizing the capital city and establishing a foothold was one thing, but Tywin went way beyond necessity by ordering the city to be sacked. There was absolutely no need to do that. Tywin is obsessed with his reputation and image; to be feared and ‘respected’ above all else.
“it did not seem to effect him at all”
Elia would have to step up if she needs to rein in Oberyn’s temper. The man is now still recovering from severe wounds and becoming angry and pent-up may re-open them. That does not mean that Oberyn has become any less dangerous, though. Just ask Renly…
“the City Watch and the guards inside the keep”
In Canon, following Robert’s Rebellion, Tywin spent years making move to bring as many City Watch and Red Keep guardsmen into his pocket as he could. By 298 AC, the Gold Cloaks and the guardsmen of the Red Keep are almost all Lannister stooges.
“Who had been given a crown simply due to who his father was”
It seems that there is no other man in Westeros whom Elia sees as more fit to rule the realm than her own husband.
“Ser Jaime can not marry or have any true born children”
As of Chapter 100, Jaime is still technically a member of the Kingsguard. I wonder what it would have been like if he had travelled with Eddard to find Lyanna…but I’m guessing that Tywin wouldn’t have allowed it even if other people would.
“he barely even seemed to notice that he was there most of the time”
Honestly, Tyrion deserves all the credit in the world. As an unloved and shunned second son afflicted with dwarfism, he made the most of his situation, becoming one of the keenest minds and sharpest tongues of his generation. By trying to keep him down and deny him any future in House Lannister, Tywin only managed to contribute to Tyrion becoming an incredibly capable and dangerous individual.
“no joy in his eyes, no love”
After Joanna died due to complications from birthing Tyrion, Tywin never, ever smiled again.
Also in Canon, Catelyn Stark (nee Tully) grew to hate herself for mistreating and shunning Jon Snow all his life. She KNEW that he is an innocent lad who did nothing to deserve such treatment, yet she still could not stop herself. Honestly? I blame Ned. THIS is what happens when you marry Ned Stark. Said it before, will say it again; Catelyn could have endured a dozen infidelities from Brandon far better than one from Eddard.
Another reason to blame Ned; something clearly happened between him and Ashara Dayne, and Ned – for the first and only time that Catelyn had ever known to – became enraged when she confronted him about her and subsequently put a stop to anyone even so much as mentioning Ashara’s name in Winterfell ever again. It should be noted that in Canon, after the events at the Tower of Joy, Eddard travelled to Starfall to return the greatsword Dawn to the Daynes. He stayed there for an undetermined amount of time, and either during or after his visit, Ashara threw herself from the castle’s highest tower into the sea. Because of this, many throughout Westeros believe that Jon Snow is Eddard and Ashara’s child, and that Ashara was Ned’s ‘true love’.
(looks at this story) …Elia’s relationship with Ned in this story is not the same as that of Catelyn and Ned. If it becomes public knowledge that Eddard Stark sired a bastard child despite clearly being deeply (and madly) in love with Elia…
“hidden poor Tyrion away in the darkest corner of Casterly Rock”
Are there any ASOIAF fanfics in which Tyrion meets Ramsay Snow/Bolton?
…if you are going to become the Lady of Winterfell, Lysa Tully, I have one thing to say; beware of Roose Bolton.
Man, I don’t think Lysa has any idea of what is in store for her. She’s going to marry into the ruling family of the freaking North. Would she be able to handle it, or would she falter under the duty and the stress? Not to mention that Benjen is much younger than her, which means Lysa may be perceived by some to be an attempt by House Tully to control House Stark as its puppet and essentially rule the North in all but name, like how Tywin ruled the realm in all but name when he was Hand of the King to Aerys.
“he will send guards to make sure that I go there”
Aerys is SO spiteful and bitter towards Tywin that he infuriated not one but TWO ruling families of kingdoms just to hurt Tywin a little bit more.
“we simply attack the Lannisters and take you back”
Unlike in Canon where Tywin was able to simply sit out most of Robert’s Rebellion until after the Battle of the Trident which ensured who the winners of the war would be, Tywin in this story may now have a convenient excuse to present to all in Westeros; that he had little choice but to obey the Mad King as his children and grandchildren were being kept in the Red Keep.
…and yet he turned on Aerys anyway. Had Jaime not killed Aerys, everybody in King’s Landing including Cersei and her children would have been burnt alive.
“We can not do that!”
In my opinion, as much as he may not want to, Eddard would need to rely on Prince Doran’s counsel in the near (and far) future. To me, Doran is responsible for so many events and developments in this story, including many of the most important ones, not least of which was Elia’s betrothal to Ned and Brandon abandoning his heirdom to live in Essos with Ashara.
“I will not risk her or our child for anything in this world”
In the Bible, Jacob heavily favors Joseph over all his other children for one reason; Joseph is one of only two children whom Jacon sired with Rachel, the wife that he loves. (looks at Aegon the Conqueror and at Visenya and Rhaenys) Huh.
“Prince Rhaegar had come to see me”
…honestly, if Elia HAD started an affair with Rhaegar, what would Oberyn’s reaction be if he were to learn of it?
“he saw that Oberyn was already reading the letter for Doran”
Ha!
“I promised Rhaegar that I would get these to Doran and your Father”
I don’t anyone saw it coming…not Rickard, not Doran, not even the Kingsguard who assisted in abducting Lyanna; nobody realized just how insane and delusional Rhaegar had become until it was far too late.
If Rhaegar had wanted to have a child with Lyanna to fulfill the prophecy, there are other ways he could have done it in my opinion without having to resort to what he did. Seriously, his actions in Canon singlehandedly set off the war; regardless of what Brandon, Rickard and Aerys did, war became inevitable the instant Rhaegar abducted Lyanna, whether or not the latter went willingly. I wouldn’t be surprised if – in Canon – upon learning of what happened to her father and her eldest brother, Lyanna went insane and Rhaegar was forced to have her restrained to stop her from doing something crazy.
“A deep sense of satisfaction, of approval”
Doran trusts Elia more than he trusts Oberyn…but that’s probably not saying much since he didn’t tell Elia of his intentions regarding Ashara and Brandon.
“Elia did not know if anything ever unsettled her more”
This is my favorite line of the chapter.
“he wants her to be the queen”
Not anymore, not after realizing that Cersei is responsible for Jaime joining the Kingsguard. That, or Tywin WOULD want Cersei to become Queen, but would remain very close to her to ensure that she never does anything to disrupt his own will ever again.
“a…’guest’ at Casterly Rock”
Man, Elia’s stay in Casterly Rock…God damn it, the rumors that would have developed as a result of that. I’m certain that there are already rumors of Elia (she is a DORNISHWOMAN, you know what they are like!, say the prejudiced Westerland servants) seducing Jaime, or Tyrion, or Tywin, or Kevan or even Genna…
I’ll be honest, in-universe rumors, speculations and theories is one of my absolute favorite elements of the ASOIAF series. It’s one of the main reasons that the series is so damn compelling; every single scene is told from the perspective of a character, which means NOBODY’S narrative is one hundred percent reliable or accurate.
“he wanted you to be rid of the child”
And instead of losing one child, Elia gave birth to healthy twins. (looks at Joanna Lannister) …huh. Well, unlike that one, Mors and Torrhen are of the same gender.
“She would burn all seven kingdoms to the ground first”
…
“you could be there for so long that your children will be born there”
In my opinion, Elia only truly learnt of how much she loves Ned when she was separated from him at Casterly Rock. It reached a point where she became half-mad, threatening suicide if she is not given immediate passage back to the North and her husband.
I wonder if Tywin would compare Eddard and Elia’s relationship to his own and Joanna’s.
“except for the Tyrells”
(sigh) There is a LOT of bad blood between Houses Tyrell and Martell.
“My father has been working towards this for years”
Rickard Stark is an interesting character. And so is Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully and Steffon Baratheon.
“The Martells have never been on the best terms with them”
If Ned becomes King, a lot would need to be done to pacify and placate the Tyrells. I wonder what Olenna Tyrell (nee Redwyne) thinks of everything that has happened in this story…and if she has questioned Mace about his meeting and words with Prince Oberyn.
“I will be glad to be rid of them”
Oberyn in Canon finds almost every Tyrell save for WIllas to be insufferable snobs. And yet I say that he and Mace Tyrell have more similarities than either man would ever want to admit.
“there was never any heat or cruelty in his voice”
What if Oberyn’s own daughters were to side with Elia against him? Hm, he’d probably compliment them.
“I’ll let them think that they’ve won for now”
At that very moment, Doran Martell suddenly felt an odd sense of kinship with his goodbrother Eddard.
Meanwhile, Cersei continues to obsess over ensuring that people always, always know that she is to be feared and respected.
“do that again or I swear to the old gods and the new that I will take Oberyn’s spear and shove it through your head if you don’t”
I hate them so much.
“Was it simply a Stark trait?”
Yes. In Canon, Ygritte probably hated and loved Jon Snow in equal measure. I like that she irritates and flusters him just as much as he does her.
“Benjen was quite sufferable”
In Canon, he becomes the First Ranger of the Night’s Watch. Benjen is a very underrated character in my opinion. What would Lysa think of his wish to take the Black?
“Elia couldn’t stop the tears”
She allows herself to be vulnerable around Ned. (looks at Cersei asking Jaime aka her Other Half to confirm that nobody is more lovely and beautiful than her) Ah, Cersei. Self-centered, narcissistic Cersei. I love her.
“She wouldn’t let anyone take this from her…She was the viper that would wait…in the end, she would kill her prey”
…yeah. Like I said; better and worse.
This story in my opinion is not like other ASOIAF fanfics that seem to just throw two characters together for the sake of pairing/shipping. It thoroughly explores and builds on Elia and Eddard’s relationship and marriage and the effects that said marriage has on everyone around them. (looks at Rhaegar and Cersei) Them too!

Nice name, you showed the aftermath so nicely

I hope Ned tells Elia the truth but who knows they are both hiding things from each other. So Ned becoming king, Elia’s reason behind killing renly?

How will Elia react to the other baby in the nursery? She doesn’t seem happy and I don’t think she will believe that the baby is Ned’s bastard for one second.

Good update

Thank You for writing this amazing story. I always look forward ro your update.

I hope Ned will tell Elia about the baby. It would be stupid if he won't because Prince Lewyn already knows the truth.

yeet

So this was the plan, kill Renly and House Baratheon is extinct and no one to claim the throne, unless Ned can get Mia legitimized but doubtful. Ned returns and Jon Arryn and other lords will choose him to be king and Neds' son will be his heir. The blood of House Stark and House Martell on the throne; that's why Renly was killed so that House Martell can have a claim to the throne. Poor Ned, always trying to do the honorable thing and that's why he was killed in canon.

Can you write out the pronunciation please for Rohanne (?) if I remembered correctly. It’s unique!

just tell Elia the truth