The year is 286 AC. King Jaehaerys II has just passed, leaving the throne without a rightful ruler. While his three children fight for the crown, Winter creeps closer, and unimaginable darkness looms.
Not all alliances will be so typical this time. In fact, many people have a crucial effect on the way this story is told. As for the ending, we only hope there are enough people left alive to tell it after its passed.
Events
Join us for our first event, the wake of recently deceased King Jaehaerys II.
Updates
AUG. 19: So we are now officially open to the public. We have a mini-event flashback thread going on, and our main event just began. Feel free to make a second canon if you can keep both of them active enough.
Don't hesitate in pestering staff with questions; it's what we're here for! Let's raise a glass and make a cheer toward a successful launch of Winds of Winter.
Fourteen years. Fourteen years she knew nothing but the barren lands surrounding Winterfell. The cold touch of the summer breeze and the beautiful snow fall of winter days. Never once had she stepped foot outside this wintry landscape, and never once did she imagine she will... until now.
"I'm going to miss you a lot..." She whispered softly as she reached out to touch the beautiful alabaster mane of the resting direwolf who paid no mind as slender digits ran through her fur. In truth, there was not many Ashe would even miss. Of course there were her brothers. Jeren, the kind and caring brother whom she admired yet felt sorely detached from after his responsibilities pulled him away far too often. There was Ayden, the loving and precious brother whom she loved deeply and whom she spent the most time with over the past few years. Among her cousins, stood out her dearest Ysera, the young pup who looked over her when her brothers weren't near, and who she'd call to mind when asked what she thought a knight was. And then, there was Scarlet, who watched the young Stark from the corner of her eye. The beast which Ashe could only dream of being as beautiful and as strong as, but could never be.
Ashe thought about her parents. She loved them both, but didn't feel as compelled to miss them as she would her siblings and cousin. One would be forgiven to think that Ashe would grow attached to her mother Alira, the lioness that bored the pup, and raised her carefully giving her the love that only a mother could give. She received it true, but at the same time, Ashe was scared of her mother, though she would never admit that to the woman herself. Instead, the runt would grow attached to her sire, Cassius. Despite his rough and towering exterior and gruff mannerisms, the young Stark would find herself treasuring the precious moments spent with him more than most. A father's girl if you will.
That was until he'd told her of her marriage to a man she'd never met. At first, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, but she knew well enough to know her father was not one to jest. And so asked herself why? How? She knew it would happen eventually... but so soon? Right after she'd first bled? It seemed too good of a coincidence.
After being given the details by the elder Stark, Ashe did not ask any questions. Never had she raised her voice in protest and never will she think to question her father's decision. Instead she'd simply nod to him and give him a few simple words of acknowledgment to the fate she was given, and turned to lock herself in her room for a few days.
Was it Ayden? Or Ysera who'd coaxed her out of her room on the sixth day when a raven fled from her room? She couldn't remember, not like it was important anymore.
As Ashe pulled away from the beast, it's nose followed after her hand, the direwolf's warm breath unfurling over her skin as once more, Ashe moved to stroke it's muzzle. She'd spent the remaining time she had with the people she cared about, a day each should time have allowed it, and today, it was Scarlet's turn. Not one of those days were spent with Cassius however as Ashe went out of her way to avoid him unless it was important. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever. The man was bound to see her off on this journey to her new home, but the gods knew she'll make it as brief as possible so long as she could help it.
With one final farewell to the great direwolf, she rose to her feet, and stalked off to say good bye to Winterfell.
While today was hard on everyone, it was perhaps the most difficult for Cassius. He often put up a wall, shielding those - even his family - from his true emotions, his true feelings. It was a necessary burden as Lord of the North. He had to look strong for his people, even stronger for his family. If he was weak the entire city of Winterfell would know, and while it was usually easy balancing the facade of Cassius, Lord Paramount, with Cassius, devoted Father, it was never an easy decision when it came to Ashe. It could be said that she was his greatest strength; there was nothing quite like seeing your youngest no longer be young.
But where she gave him strength, she also gave him weakness.
He had never asked her what her thoughts were on her impending marriage, nor had the thought ever reached his mind. Why would it? He knew how she felt, even though she fought him little and disagreed with him even less. She was always respectful of his decisions, good or bad. Jeren was always the first one to question anything, a byproduct of his naturally curious nature. He was not afraid to call Cassius out on his bad decisions, but would always be the first one to defend them. As his eldest, Cassius couldn't ask for much more. Ayden, on the other hand, was a handful. Always quick to be combative, he reminded his father most of himself. Right or wrong he would put up a fight, rebelling was in his nature. But Ashe... she was different. Perhaps it was because she was his only daughter, or because her condition made her different, but she was his weak spot.
He would go to war against anyone that harmed her. No matter how small or insignificant it was.
To that end he sought her out, at first checking her room. No luck. From there he moved to check her favorite spots, still no luck. It was only upon noticing Scarlett that he headed into the heart of Winterfell, his dear direwolf always the first sign that Ashe was around. Scar was always the fondest of his youngest child, maybe she thought she needed the most protection, Cassius could never tell. But he was grateful nevertheless, and with his wolf by his side he finally managed to catch up to her. It was no secret to him that she had been carefully avoiding him for the last couple days, but he had respected her wishes by not intruding where he was not wanted. Still, he could only wait so long.
"Goodbyes are always the hardest." He called out from behind, Scarlett trailing to his side. "Winterfell will miss you my dear."
She'd just barely left the direwolf's side when she heard her father's voice. Far from missing the echo of his heavy gait, it was only until he spoke that she stopped, turned, and faced him, bowing her head in greeting.
"I'm sure it will father." She knew well enough to stand tall before him, hiding the sorrow she felt at the mere thought of leaving the home she knew behind. She trusted his decision. For better or for worse, she wanted to do him proud. "But... not as strongly as you and mother will..." She added almost betraying her mask. In truth, Ash cared less about leaving Winterfell, and more the thought of leaving her family.
She didn't really want to say goodbye. It felt too final. As though she'd never see their faces again. Her mother at least expressed her plans in staying by the young girl's side once she'd carry the lord a child, though what about the rest of her family? In the girl's young mind, it really felt as though she'd never see them ever again. Not her father, not her brothers, no one.
The thought of it made her ache, squeezing one hand over the other, she sought to hide the trembling that would easily turn into tears if the younger Stark ever allowed it.
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