B R E A K O F D A W N ||Game of Thrones [EDITING]

30-THE HONEST ANSWER

The setting sun bathed Starfall in a warm, golden light, casting long shadows across the stone courtyard. Dyanna Dayne stood at the edge of the high balcony, gazing out over the vast desert that stretched to the horizon. The breeze was warm, the scent of salt and earth lingering in the air. It felt strange to her—familiar, yet utterly foreign.

After a lifetime spent on the road, moving from one place to another, surviving on the fringes, she was now home. Or so they told her. Starfall. The seat of House Dayne. The ancestral home of her bloodline, but a place she had never known. She had been sent away as a baby, and her father—Ser Arthur Dayne, the legendary Sword of the Morning—had fallen in the wars. His legacy was all she had, but this was the first time she stood in the place where he had once walked, where his name had carried weight.

And now, here she was—welcomed into the halls of House Dayne by her aunt, Lady Allyria Dayne, whom she had only heard of in stories. A woman of grace, beauty, and intelligence, but one whose history was tangled in the webs of loss and betrayal. The same webs that had caught Dyanna and her loyal guards.

Behind her, the two northern men, Daryn Hornwood and Larence Snow, stood silent, their eyes scanning the surroundings as if expecting danger to spring from the stone walls themselves. They were as out of place here as she was, but they were not about to let her face this unfamiliar world alone.

"Are you well, my lady?" Daryn's voice, deep and steady, broke through her thoughts. The two men were as different as the North and Dorne itself, but their loyalty to her was unwavering. Daryn was broad-shouldered, a man of few words, while Larence, his younger brother, had a sharper wit but a quiet reserve.

"I'm still getting used to it," Dyanna admitted, her gaze lingering on the distant silhouette of the Red Mountains. "I never imagined I'd be here, in Starfall, with family."

Daryn's eyes narrowed slightly as he stepped forward, his gaze shifting to the looming structure of the castle behind them. "It's strange for us too," he murmured. "Northerners in Dorne... never thought I'd see the day."

Dyanna sighed, turning to face him. "I know. You both chose to follow me here. You didn't have to."

Larence shot her a sidelong glance, the corners of his lips twitching upward in a faint, wry smile. "We didn't have to," he said softly, "but we did. After Robb's death... there was nothing left in the North for us. And you needed us. As much as we needed you."

Daryn nodded, his gaze steady. "It's been a long road, and not an easy one, but we've all made it here together."

Dyanna smiled faintly, her heart lifting at the unspoken bond between them. "I never expected it to be easy," she admitted. "But I couldn't have asked for better company."

The brothers' presence had meant more to her than they could possibly understand. From the moment they had found her after Robb Stark's death, she had known that they were more than just her guards. They were her family now—her brothers in arms, as much a part of her as the blood of her father, Ser Arthur Dayne, that still ran in her veins.

"Will you be able to trust the people here, though?" Daryn's voice turned serious as he watched Lady Allyria enter the room with grace, her movements as fluid as the flowing fabric of her gown. "Can we trust her... and this place? Is Dyanna safe here?"

Lady Allyria stopped before them, her violet eyes scanning each of them thoughtfully before she spoke. "An honest answer?" she said softly. "No one is truly safe anywhere, not in these times. But as long as Dyanna is here in Starfall, I will do everything in my power to protect her."

Dyanna looked up at her aunt, her heart swelling with emotion. She hadn't known what to expect, but the sincerity in her aunt's words was unmistakable.

Lady Allyria sat at the head of the table, motioning for them to join her. The dining hall was large, though not as grand as those in the castles of the Seven Kingdoms. The walls were lined with the sigils of House Dayne, proud and ancient, and the scent of roasted meats and spiced wines filled the air.

As they sat, Dyanna glanced at the others before speaking. "It's strange," she said quietly, "to be here, to know that the Dayne family is still alive. That we are still here, still holding on."

Lady Allyria gave a soft smile, her eyes flickering with nostalgia. "It has been years since Northerners have come to Starfall," she said. "I'm not used to having guests in my home, but I'm glad you're here. Starfall has become... lonely, in recent years."

Daryn leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "The South... Dorne... it's nothing like the North," he murmured, almost as if trying to understand it all.

Lady Allyria laughed softly, the sound musical and light. "No, it's not. But that's why it's so beautiful. You've traveled far from your home, and I'm sure it has been a long journey for you both, but you've come to a land that's as foreign as the snow-covered mountains you call home."

Dyanna took a sip of her wine, her fingers tracing the edge of her glass. "Aunt Allyria," she began slowly, "what about Beric Dondarrion? I've heard much of him. He is... someone special to you, isn't he?"

The mention of Beric's name made the room fall silent for a moment. Lady Allyria's expression softened, a flicker of something almost painful passing through her eyes. After a moment, she spoke, her voice quieter now. "Yes, he holds something special in my heart."

Dyanna noticed the wistful tone in her aunt's voice but did not press further. Instead, she asked, "And what of my cousin, Ned Dayne?"

Lady Allyria's face brightened at the mention of her nephew. "Ned is a strong boy, full of fire. He is growing fast—he will be a fine lord one day, I have no doubt. He has much of his father in him—strong-willed and fiercely loyal. It is a relief to know he is safe in these trying times."

Dyanna smiled. "He spoke highly of you, Aunt Allyria. I met him before I came here. He seems eager to prove himself and carries your name with pride. He's well, and as sharp as ever."

Lady Allyria's eyes softened with affection. "I have not seen him in some time," she said wistfully. "I hope we can meet soon. It has been too long."

Dyanna's heart warmed at her aunt's words. The Dayne family, despite their distance and years of conflict, was still united in blood—and in spirit. She had always longed for a connection to the past, and in this room, surrounded by her aunt, her cousin, and her loyal guards, she felt it.

As the conversation drifted from family to matters of the future, Dyanna's gaze moved to the mantle above the hearth, where the legendary sword, Dawn, stood gleaming in the soft light. The great family sword, a symbol of her heritage. Her heart swelled with pride.

The Dayne family was coming together again, despite the years of separation and turmoil. And perhaps—just perhaps—there was hope for the future.

Starfall, once a distant memory, was now home.