Characters: Arya, Jon, Gendry, Lyanna, Ned, Rickard, Bran, Rickon, Sansa, Catelyn, Elmar, Mikken

Summary: Lyanna makes a discovery.

Moth to a Flame

Arya

The sky was grey and overcast, the low cloud covering the North in a white mist. She had woken to the sound of laughter, the clang of swords, the woosh of arrows as her brothers practised in the courtyard. Bran had been chided for climbing yet again by their mother and she for not attending her sewing lessons by her father. For Arya, it was just a normal day in Winterfell. This was the part of the day she enjoyed the most, spending time with her aunt Lyanna. Sometimes they would go for a ride, like today. Arya turned in the saddle to regard her aunt once more. There was a brightness to her eyes that could only be described as excitement. She was happy to finally have her son coming home, as was Arya. She couldn't wait to see her favourite cousin after so long. She had missed him fiercely. In truth he was more like an older brother to Arya rather than a cousin. He used to finish sentences with her, encourage her sword practise, sneak out to go riding with her. Even the smallest things she missed like how he used to muss up her hair.

"I can't wait to see Jon again." Lyanna said softly as she turned the steed back in the direction of the fortress.

"When will they arrive?"

"Soon I should have thought. The last raven I received told me they had left the capital weeks ago. So they should be here within a day or two." Her aunt answered, bringing her horse to a stop. Her son, Jon Snow had lived for over eight years in Kings Landing, but now he was returning to Winterfell. However he wasn't alone.

"Aunt Lyanna, why is Prince Gendry coming back with him?" She asked, puzzled to her very core.

"Because they are best friends and Jon has told him many stories of the North." Her aunt explained, trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm sure he's curious to see what all the fuss is about."

"Is that all?"

"Of course, why else would he be coming all this way?" Lyanna climbed off of her horse and Arya did the same before pulling the animal back into the stables. No matter how hard she tried she still couldn't defeat her aunt in a race. The Braavos Water Dance was a different matter however. She always managed to beat her aunt in her sword practice. Lyanna turned to her and Arya saw regret in her dark grey eyes.

"I cannot dance with you today Arya, I need to speak with your father." Arya tried not to be disappointed by her words. If Lyanna needed to talk to her lord father then she wouldn't stop her. It was probably important. She walked over and kissed her niece on the forehead before heading off towards the library tower.

Lyanna

Lyanna pushed open the door to the library knowing that she would find her brother inside. The room was always warm and bright. Even in the depths of winter it kept the spirit of summer alive. Eddard Stark was in a corner, again reading the raven's letter as if the words were going to change under more scrutiny.

"They will be here soon Ned." Lyanna said to him, breaking the silence.

"I know… Cat isn't very pleased. She didn't want to lose Arya so soon after Sansa married." He replied, his voice a sigh. Though she was referring to Jon and the Prince, Ned was not.

"Has father demanded it?"

"Not yet, but I know he will. He feels that a marriage between the Starks and Freys is the only way to end the conflict between our houses."

"Could he have found someone less worthy of her?" Lyanna asked, her own anger bubbling. She hated that her niece was going to be wed, but she despised the fact that her beloved Arya was being sent off to someone so callus and cold. Even her marriage had been kinder than that. Though she had only been with her husband for a year it had been a relatively happy one; before he had been killed. At least she still had Jon.

"Elmar Waldron Frey isn't all that bad."

"Oh yes he is." Lyanna argued, leaning over the table to stare into her older brother's eyes. "You know what he's done… he's even worse than his depraved father. Ned I beg you, do not make her marry him."

"It has already been arranged."

"Doesn't Arya at least deserve a choice? Even I had that." Her eyes pleaded and she saw the discomfort in his face. He looked up at her and searched her face for a long time. Eventually he sighed. "I will talk to father and ensure that he gives her a choice of suitors."

"That wasn't what I meant."

"Arya will learn to do her duty, for her honour."

"There is no honour to be found in making an alliance with that house." Lyanna spat, her control slipping away as her anger rose. Ned didn't say anything else and she knew she had said enough. He would either listen or he wouldn't and only time could tell.