Though Dorne was mostly desert, the eastern region boasted numerous rivers, fertile lands, and coconut trees.
The caravan stopped at Planky Town for the night. With Ashara, who was pregnant, and no pressing need to rush, everyone was taking their time.
Now that the war was over, and Dorne had made peace with King's Landing through marriage, Ashara Dayne's guards and Witt's guards were in the hall, eating, drinking, and laughing together. Ashara, along with her handmaidens and the two children, Witt and Renly, sat at a separate table. The food wasn't as lavish as what they'd have in a noble's home, but there was bread and meat.
The inn was bustling. Being close to Sunspear, the capital of Dorne, the area was safe, free of bandits and mercenaries. Mostly, the guests were passing merchant caravans.
While they were eating, a minstrel entered the inn's hall. He spoke with the innkeeper at the bar for a moment, and the innkeeper gave him a drink. Then, the minstrel took a stool and sat in the middle of the hall, beginning to sing.
Minstrels traveled everywhere, singing, reciting poetry, or telling stories at inns. Many heroes gained fame through the minstrels, who spread their tales. Talented minstrels would even compose poems or songs about these heroes. They were among the most well-informed and knowledgeable people.
In this world, there were no dedicated bars or restaurants. Wherever there was food, there was also drink. The innkeeper welcomed minstrels; the better the songs and stories, the more people would drink, and the more money he'd make. The minstrels got free lodging. If their songs and stories in the hall were good, guests would pay them to sing at their tables or sit and tell stories – this was their income.
A traveling bard arrived. The innkeeper didn't have to pay, but he did have to provide lodging. The bard simply introduced himself, and if the innkeeper offered him a drink, it meant he agreed to perform. Of course, famous bards still required payment.
After one song, the bard announced he would tell the story of Eddard Stark and Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning.
Witt immediately had a guard bring the bard over to their table. Ashara, clutching the hand of a handmaiden, was visibly nervous. One was the father of her child, the other was her brother. The guards nearby also gathered, waiting for the story to begin.
"The story of these two begins with Prince Rhaegar's participation in the tourney several years ago."
"Just the story of Eddard and Arthur," Witt interrupted.
The bard wasn't bothered; a longer story meant more coin. But he'd seen plenty of impatient people. He'd just earn a little less this time. He took a sip to moisten his throat. "Very well, I'll begin with how the two met."
"In the war, Robert became king and sent Eddard Stark south to relieve the siege of Storm's End. Highgarden and Dorne's armies hadn't taken Storm's End in a year. Seeing the situation was hopeless, Highgarden and Dorne separately reached peace agreements with the king and began to withdraw."
"Robert learned from the surrendered army in King's Landing that Prince Rhaegar had the Kingsguard take Lyanna Stark to Highgarden. He then sent Eddard, who was already in the south, to pursue them. They finally caught up to them at the border between Dorne and the Stormlands. The Kingsguard didn't have many troops, and only three of them, along with Lyanna, had fled into the Tower of Joy. The Tower of Joy belonged to Dorne. Eddard left the army behind and, with seven Northern nobles, went to the Kingsguard to demand Lyanna. The Kingsguard refused to surrender, and a battle began."
"Seven against three, a duel fought under the rules of knighthood. On Eddard's side, Lord William Dustin, Ser Ethan Glover, Ser Martyn Cassel, Ser Theo Wull, and Ser Mark Ryswell were all killed. Howland Reed was severely wounded."
Hearing that Eddard hadn't died, Ashara breathed a sigh of relief, then listened for news of her brother.
"On the Kingsguard's side, Ser Gerold Hightower, the captain, and Ser Oswell Whent both died. In the final battle, Eddard Stark defeated Ser Arthur Dayne. The three Kingsguard refused to surrender and were ultimately killed, upholding their honor.
After Arthur died, Eddard himself went to House Dayne and returned Dawn to Arthur's family."
Betrayed by her lover and the father of her unborn child, who had killed her own brother, Ashara was overwhelmed with grief.
Witt, seeing her distress, gave the bard a silver moon to leave. He truly didn't know how to comfort her.
They set off at dawn. Ashara began refusing food and spent her days weeping.
When they were still a day's journey from Godsgrace, Ashara began to feel abdominal pains. Her handmaidens said she was probably going into premature labor. Witt ordered two of the guards to ride ahead to Godsgrace to book rooms at an inn and call for a doctor, while the rest of the party accelerated their pace.
Before the caravan reached Godsgrace, a handmaid shouted that Ashara's water had broken and she was bleeding badly, that she was in dire straits. Witt could only order the caravan to stop. Even though it was the dead of night and there was no village or shop in sight, they couldn't continue. The carriages had no shock absorbers, and the road was uneven, making for a very bumpy ride.
Renly didn't understand what was happening, only that everyone was tense. Witt had the other carriages surround Ashara's, with the guards forming a perimeter. The mounted guards spread out to drive away any wild beasts attracted by the scent of blood.
There were only two women here: Ashara and the handmaid. Witt and Renly were both five years old, and the rest of the guards were all men. Before his transmigration, Witt had watched some educational videos, and he possessed healing magic. He could only disregard etiquette and offer to help. The handmaid was young and didn't know how to deliver a baby. She was frantic and, figuring Witt was just a child, agreed.
Entering the carriage, Witt saw Ashara's lower body was covered in blood. He told the guards outside to find water and start a fire, and instructed the handmaid to find some soft clothes to wipe the blood. The handmaid hurried out. The light of the Healing Hand magic shone, and Ashara stopped bleeding. She hadn't eaten for days and was filled with despair, wanting to die. As a pregnant woman, death was already near, and even the strongest magic couldn't save someone who wanted to die.
The handmaid brought clothes into the carriage. Witt stood behind Ashara's head and, drawing on his limited knowledge, began to guide the handmaid in delivering the baby.
Soon after, a cry was heard. Ashara weakly embraced the infant before her arms fell limp. It was a baby girl.
The handmaid, holding the baby, looked at Witt and said they needed to give the child a name. In this world, children were named at birth; their birthday was their naming day. Only the wildlings beyond the Wall named their children two years after birth. Among this group, Witt and Renly were of the highest status, being the two younger brothers of the King of the Seven Kingdoms. Renly stood by, looking clueless. The handmaid had been Witt's neighbor in Sunspear for half a year and knew he was very knowledgeable.
Ashara and Eddard weren't married. According to Dorne's tradition, a bastard daughter took the Sand surname.
"Let's call her Ashara Sand, using her mother's name," Witt said, gently touching Ashara's eyes.
\n\nThe caravan arrived at Godsgrace. Ashara was dead, and the Dayne guards were at a loss. Witt told them to stay at the inn. He instructed a handmaid and a guard to find a wet nurse, and another to ride to Starfall to inform the Daynes. The rest were to stay and protect the child. Witt also intended to stay for a few days; after all, he knew Ashara, and he couldn't just abandon the situation.