#hashara

Textual facts(this is all literally canon):

Ashara Dayne was seen in Ned Starks tent at the Tourney of Harrenhal; Howland Reed was also sharing this tent.

Howland has a daughter around the same age as Robb and Jon, which suggests she was conceived during Robert’s Rebellion; Ashara Dayne reportedly has a still born daughter towards the end of the rebellion.

Ashara’s purple eyes are described as “haunting” in every instance except through The Knight of the Laughing Tree story in which they are recalled as “laughing”.

Meera Reed is introduced in ACoK as the heir of Greywater Watch suggesting that House Reed follows absolute primogeniture, a uniquely Dornish custom; The Daynes are a Dornish house (albeit “stony Dornish” who do not always follow Dornish custom so ymmv on this point)

Reading Deeper(use critical thinking):

We are told the story of the Knight of the Laughing tree from Meera, who has heard the story many times despite her father having a rather unflattering role in said story. Howland remembers details such as the exact order of who Ashara danced with from a night over 15 years prior. Bran Stark has never heard this story despite his family playing a crucial role. Howland told this story to his children as a “how i met your mother” tale.

We’re told Ashara took her own life, throwing herself into the sea. The name Meera means sea or ocean and the Jyana, the name given for Howland’s wife, means life. The name Jyana is remarkably similar to Dyanna, one of the few historical Daynes we know of.

Making connections(take em or leave em):

It’s never actually said that Howland OR Ned killed Arthur Dayne, only that Ned would have died by Arthur’s hand “if not for Howland Reed”. Could Howland have made a marriage offer to Ashara? Could Arthur have spared Ned for the sake of his goodbrother?

Greywater Watch, the floating seat of House Reed, is an allusion to the novel Howls Moving Castle. In this novel and its later movie adaptation falling stars are a major theme. The castle of House Dayne is called Starfall.

Crannogmen of the Neck do not wear armor due to the disadvantage it would pose in their bog-like homeland. Despite this Meera has a proper plate helm that she is capable of cooking in while traveling with Bran. Could this be a gift from her mother? Perhaps her uncle Arthur’s?

Jojen Reed has the unnaturally green eyes of those gifted with greensight, but some theorize his original eyes may have been purple giving him a similar appearance to the other Dayne his age, Edric.

DISCLAIMER ZONE:

19. A theory you’ve adopted as canon

Howland Reed "dishonored" Ashara Dayne at Harrenhal

February 2024 Romance Drawing Challenge