A Fork in the River
Lyanna 1
Lyanna Stark pulled the reigns of her horse to stop, and frowned as she brushed the light snow off of her grey riding gown. It was her own fault she was in this position, out alone in the dusk and hopelessly lost. She should have been with her travel companions helping set up their camp for the night. Only the other women would no longer let her help. It was fine for Lyanna Stark to help pitch tents in the North but the closer they got to Riverrun the more they urged her to let them do it. She was a future Southron lady after all and wasn't supposed to get dirt under her nails. Her soon to be sister-in-law certainly would not. As if wolves care what trouts think she fumed to herself. She had only meant to go for a short ride to clear her head but her horse had spooked and now she was playing the part of the simpering Southron lady who needed saving perfectly. She would have much preferred to travel alone with Brandon to his wedding but he had a whole party of men with him and everyone knew Brandon was not a suitable chaperone. In fact he was not chaperoning her at all as he had stopped for some unknown reason along the Green Fork and had yet to catch up. She would no doubt have that particular affliction in common with her sister in law.
The only consolation to her current situation was that they had received a raven before leaving the inn this morning that indicated Ned and Robert were not going to leave the Eyrie for another fortnight. If she was lucky perhaps neither of her brothers or her betrothed would find out about this moment of idiocy. Pushing the thoughts out of her head she instead tried to concentrate on listening for the soft rushing sounds of the Red Fork by which her party was camped. She heard nothing, but judging by the moss patterns on the trees she must have gone too far south. Towards Harrenhall a stray thought reminded her. Goosebumps ran down her arms and memories flooded her. Her betrothed stealing her first kiss with a hint of ale on his breath. Feeling like she was at the whim of powerful men - seeing her own feelings reflected in the abused crannogman. All to be contrasted with the freedom of the Dornish women, of riding strong on her horse. Only to be found out - that had been true fear. Thankfully the prince had been kind to her then. He had likened her to Visenya and how proud she was until he ruined it later by embarrassing her with that crown.
"My lady are you lost?"
Broken from her reverie she stared in amazement at the man in front of her. She tried to find words but they seemed to escape her. Had she inadvertently entered a story of Nan's where the loyal knight arrives just in time to save the damsel in distress? For surely judging by the sword the man held he could be no other than the Sword of the Morning. He most have recognized her too because the next words of out his mouth were her own name though she swore she had never met him personally. He seemed to be as shocked to see her as she was to see him.
"I think she must be the one we seek Arthur," a melodious voice replied, and she felt a shiver run up her spine as if she had conjured the man from her memories. "Just when I thought your wood's witch had set us on a wild goose chase," replied the knight. "But I would still rather have her brother."
Their words halted her pending request for assistance and Lyanna looked stricken between them, trying to conjure the meaning of their words and what possible reason the sword of the morning had for wanting Brandon. Unfortunately her confusion left her vulnerable when two other men came up behind her and grabbed the reigns of her horse. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked, finally finding her voice as she tried to pull the reigns back into her own hands. Prince Rhaegar and Arthur Dayne shared a look, then Rhaegar answered. "I think it should be obvious that we are taking you into custody Lady Lyanna," he informed her. Lyanna looked at him in irritation, surely he was kidding? This must be some sort of joke of Brandon's. But the crown prince had the kind of face that made you ponder if he had ever played a prank in his lifetime. "But why?" she asked in confusion.
"King's orders," replied Rhaegar evasively.
"But you didn't follow them at Harrenhall," she retorted earning a few startled looks and smirks from the prince's men. "Why now?"
"You do not question your prince," spat out one of the men holding her horse and she bit any further retorts on her lips realizing with a sinking feeling that she was alone in the woods with the enemy now. Rhaegar smiled sadly. "I'm sorry my Lady but I know what you are capable of and we are going to have to restrain you."