Sample Chapter: Only the Regretful Chapter 4: Memories

Winterfell, Lord Stark, Warden of the North

Staring down at the letter in his hand, unable to believe his eyes, wondering if this was some sort of trick, a wonderous wishful trick, Lord Eddard reread it again, this time more slowly, as he tried to process what it was saying. 

“My lord”, his Stewart, Rodrik Cassel inquired. “Your lady wife wishes to see you.”  

Lifting his head to look at the other man, Ned said simply, “Tell her not right now, Rodrik. I am busy…”

Bowing to his lord, his Stewart murmured, “Yes, my lord, of course.”

Striding away, he left Ned to once more stare down at the letter on his desk. 

Then, picking it up again, he hungrily scanned the content that had both shaken him to the core and at the same time, filled him with a painful surge of hope…

It is with much joy to announce to all the People of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, that Her Royal Highness, Princess Hermione, of House Martell has returned home. Thus in celebration, the Princes of Dorne shall throw a tourney in 6 moons time at their vacation home in the Water Gardens. All Great and Minor Houses are invited.

After all those name days, 7 name days of nothing but horrible silence on her end, she was alive and by some miracle, here in his world. But what was this about her being a Princess? Of her being a Martell of all things? Was it even really her or someone who shared the same name as her, rare as the name was…After all, if he recalled his history, there had once been a Hermione in both Stark and Martell history. This Princess could simply be named for her and not be his Hermione…He had to be sure…

So even though part of him was rebelling, not wanting to open himself up to pain if it wasn’t true but another part needing to know, Ned opened himself up for the first time in over 7 name days. He reached out through the connection, the link he had once shared with Hermione. Although it was easier to access when they were sleeping, over time the two of them had learned to access it when awake.  They had discovered that it acted as a kind of map, a way to locate one another, to assure each other of the other’s well being.

 Ned tentatively prodded the mental cord he saw in his mind. For a moment there was nothing and he sagged, disappointment and anguish crashing through him. But then suddenly he felt it. To his astonishment the cord began to tingle and to his wonder, it started to glow a soft golden light that pulsed with life and at the end of it, he received a mental picture. It showed a place that he had only been once before, a long time ago, Dorne but it was the face that held his attention. For there, laughing, looking like she belonged, was his Hermione. Before he could get a better look, the image vanished and tried as he might, he couldn’t bring it back. Still, it was enough. He had his answer. This Princess was his Hermione!

Without being aware, Lord Stark traced Hermione’s name with a shaking finger, his mind drifting, as old memories he had long suppressed came flooding out. 

“Who are you,” a young Ned asked, as he stared at a little girl who looked to be about 5, two name days younger than himself.

“I’m Hermione. Who are you and what is this place?”

“I’m Eddard, son of Lord Rickard Stark, Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell and this is the Godswood, in my home.”

“It looks angry,” Hermione said in response, as she looked curiously at the Godstree.

“No it isn’t. Father said it’s simply a representation of the Old Gods and apparently that’s how they always look…”

Making a small humming sound which Ned decided to take for her agreeing with him, he then added, “How are you here anyways? This is my dream and I’ve never dreamed of you before…”

Wrinkling her small nose, Hermione huffed, “Well, I never dreamed of you or this place before either so how should I know why am I now? For all I know, you could be the one disturbing my dream.”

Taken aback by her slight accusation, Ned then scowled. “I did not! I was here first so I believe you are the intruder.”

Both children glaring at each other, eventually Hermione’s eyes softened and she said almost shyly, “How about we share then? As we are both here anyways and neither one of us apparently broke into one another’s dream, we could perhaps share this one together?”

Seeing the hope in her eyes and realizing then that she seemed rather lonely, Ned felt himself soften as well.

Smiling down at her, he said kindly, “I would like that, actually. My siblings aren’t one to sit about here, too much of the wolf in them, Father says and Ben is only a baby so he doesn’t count. It’s nice to have someone to share this with, for once…”

So with a happy smile for him, Hermione then sat down on the rock next to him and together they looked into the godspool, enjoying the feeling of being at peace.

Another flashback…

“I’ll be going to foster at the Vale,” an older Ned said softly, looking across at the equally older girl laying beside him on the grass under the Godswood.

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to see each other in our dreams or not…Maybe it’s simply because there’s old magic here, in these Godswoods…Old Nan said Winterfell was built by the first Stark, Bran the Builder and he was the First of Men and they were said to have magic, as their people mixed with the Children of the Forest.”

“Children,” Hermione questioned, curiously.

“Small magical beings, tree spirits who once hated the First Men and warred with them. Then Bran the Builder came along and brokered peace between their peoples when he married one of their kind, a female.”

“Oh, how incredible,” Hermione breathed, her otherworldly amber eyes sparkling in delight at Ned’s retelling his people’s history.

Smiling back, pleased with her reaction, as other than Northerners, most of Westeros didn’t care much for their history, thinking it barbaric and stuff of myths. So to have Hermione take him at his word that it was all true, it did something to his 11 year old self.

Without thinking, he blurted out, “I’ll miss you…That is if we don’t share dreams while I’m in the Vale…”

Breaking off, feeling his face start to heat up at his words, he froze, when Hermione answered so softly, he almost missed it, “And I’ll miss you too, Ned.”

Both children locked eyes, studying the other as if searching for something. They must have found it, as they both then grinned at each other.

“Well, whether here or over there, I for one believe we shall still share dreams, Ned. This, this can’t end and if it does, well we will just have to try our hardest then to overcome it, won’t we?”

His heart warming to hear how determined his Hermione was to keep their connection going no matter what, he said solemnly, “No matter what happens Hermione, I will always try to find you.”

Flashback

“Oh Ned, don’t you think you are reacting just a little too much? I’m sure this will all blow over once you all go home to Winterfell. Perhaps just wait out a name day and it will all be forgotten…”

“Forgotten? Hermione, the Prince practically ruined my sister’s reputation when he gave her that bloody crown of flowers over his own wife! Lya would be lucky if somehow that is all swept over by something else more gossip worthy!”

Watching as a fuming irate Eddard stalked back and forth before her in a meadow somewhere in the Riverlands, as the Starks had taken their sister and ridden away for the homeland of Brandon’s betrothed, Hermione sighed.  

Removing bare feet from where they had been dipped into the warm water of the river, already missing the soothing warmth it had provided, the little witch stood up.

Going to Ned, she then laid a small hand on his arm, making him freeze as he looked down at it, then at her.

“Exactly my point. We just need to find or rather create something more newsworthy than your sister’s so called scandal and she’ll be yesterday’s trash.”

Although his eyebrow lifted slightly at Hermione’s strange use of words, he was quite used to them over the past years that he learned to let them go without question.

“And how, my lady do we do that?”

Becoming wary when he saw and recognized that glint in his Hermione’s eyes, he braced himself when she spoke.

“Don’t worry, I know just the thing.”

“Ha Ned! Your idea to hold a Northern Tourney was just the thing those damn vipers needed to take away from what my bastard cousin did to your sister, my betrothed! I don’t think anyone’s going to remember it when all they can talk about was the incredible feats you Northmen can do,” Robert roared, as he slapped Ned on the back so hard, the other man almost stumbled.

But recovering, the Quiet Wolf said simply, “My father’s Bannermen will be glad then that their sacrifice was worthy.”

Flashback

“It’s getting bad, Ned. Every year Harry has to fight for his life and now that He’s back, things are just getting worst…I’m scared but not of death, not since my near experience last year in 5th year.”

His hands clenching at the mention of her 5th year, still remembering the fear when he hadn’t been able to connect with her, much like in her second year, when she had been petrified, Ned spoke a bit urgently.

“You do not have to do this, Hermione. You are a lady and too young at that. Why put yourself in harm’s way when this isn’t your fight?”

Her eyes flashing, as she whirled on him, the little witch said angrily, “Not my fight? How can you say that Eddard? He and those like him are prosecuting my kind just because our parents have no magic! What makes you think He would simply leave me alone just because I decide to stay out of it, as you say I should? Not to mention my best friend is Harry Potter, the boy who is destined to destroy Him or die trying! How, after all that, can I stay out?”

Desperation filling him at the futile tone of her voice and realization that she was right, no matter what she did, she’d still be dragged into it, Ned then growled, “Then come here! Come to Westeros, to Winterfell, to me! I might be just a second son but I’d look after you Hermione. I’d keep you safe and you would never want for anything. Just leave your world and come to mine and be with me.”

Her face softening and then becoming sad, Hermione said gently, “Oh Ned, how I wish it could be so and I don’t care whether you are a second son or not! But even if I did know of a way to go to your world and be with you permanently, I couldn’t just abandon my friends, my family, my life. I’m too much of a Gryffindor to ever do that. Just as you have your honor and loyalty, I have mine and everything in me screams to stay and help Harry win this war, no matter what. I’m so sorry but my path is set.”

And despite the pain and sorrow he felt at her words, another respected them and so with a pained smile, he breathed, “Then may the Gods watch over you Hermione Granger so you may come back to me, safe and sound.”

End of flashback

“My lord? My lord? I’m sorry to bother you but you’ve been cooped up here for quite awhile and your lady wife is insisting that you join the family for dinner.”

Bewildered as surely he hadn’t been that deep in his past , when he looked out the window though and saw how dark it was, Ned said gruffly, “Tell her I’ll be down shortly, Rodrick.”

Bowing and leaving to do as his lord had commanded, Rodrick left Ned to gently trace the letter again before with a loud sigh, he rose to his feet and got ready to dine with his family. 

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