gray (5)
'gray' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ashen that I've seen before include "Very pale, with shock or fear" , "Grey-faced" , "Grey in colour" , "lacking in colour" , "Like bird" .)
(Other definitions for area that I've seen before include "'Tract, region (4)'" , "Geographical region" , "Surface measurement" , "Succession, order" , "Locality" .)