When Lion's Roar and Wolves Bite

Plot: When Lady Fallyn Estermont is left ruined through Cersei and Jaime Lannister's revenge, she is no longer a worthy candidate for marriage. However, her twin Layah has been set to marry Robb Stark, and join their houses in alliance. The wedding is set to be a small affair, but not if Cersei has her way. Fallyn will encounter the Queen and her brother again, with disastrous consequences. However, a certain bastard is familiar with being wronged and whispered about, and finds he is unable to stand by and watch the girl with the emerald eyes get hurt.

So this is a story with some dark themes. But as we all know, Game of Thrones is pretty bleak! There will be no blushing virgins or sweet stories of a perfect life. The true nature of the Lannisters will really be shown in this story. It's pretty AU – the boys are older, in their early twenties cas I don't really fancy 14 year olds getting married in my story... Both been in many battles, but the war has not yet fully broken out. Jon/OC, Robb/OC.

Notes: The house Estermont is a real house – Roert Baratheon's mother was part of this house and this is where my O/C characters fit in.

P.S. The main character, Fallyn, her name is pronounced Fell-in. Reviews much appreciated

Hi guys, I know I should only write one story at a time but I just have so many ideas running round in my head. Plus I received my first ever flames on two of my stories, one because she didn't agree with my characters, MY characters! Argh, anyway, the other was for not updating every five minutes. I think people forget I am not constantly writing I do have other stuff on! Anyway, rant over. I just thought, well why not start new stories! I have this idea and I really like it so hope you do too

Chapter One: New Alliances

She knew the rumours. She knew what they would whisper when she slipped back her hood. It was nothing she hadn't heard before. Sometimes she liked to pretend that she was covered in armour, that the words slipped off the cold metal without reaching her heart. But the reality was, every word pierced through her like a burning arrow. It had always been like this, since the day she was old enough to understand. With every whisper, every stare, her chin had lifted higher against them. So high, that she often found herself staring at the bright blue above her. She found that the looking to the sky was better than looking into a whirlwind of expressions. Judgement, confusion, anger, now laced with disapproval.

Betrayal and desolate gossip really did spread faster than a raven. She always thought it bleak of how one would always hear of other's demise rather than their successes. No one cared to hear of other's happiness. They did not want to think of other's being accompanied by bliss. They would rather hear about their faults, anything to whisper behind someone's back to make them feel better about their own life. It used to be somewhat easier, when the gossipers were limited to her own people at Greenstone. When she could place some of the blame on her mother and father. People never forgot who she was, but slowly, more interesting talk emerged. Of the wars, the scandals of the Kings and eventually, the imminent arrival of one particular King to Greenstone shores. She clenched her jaw against the reminder and hastened her horse forward.

Pushing the memory back into the depths of her mind, a flash of white sped before her and she felt some of the weight of the past lessen on her shoulders. Taking a deep breath she forced a small smile as her twin sister Layah turned slightly on her horse towards her. Her normally pale skin was slightly flushed and she had obviously ridden hard to catch up with her.

'Are you more eager to meet my husband than I, sweet sister?' Layah puffed, her ruby lips drawing up in a slight smile. They had been riding for weeks; the journey from Greenstone to Winterfell was seemingly never-ending road. 'Or are you so eager to get rid of me Fallyn?'

Layah's face dropped considerably as she watched her often solemn twin, wondering if she truly would be happier at Greenstone without the burden of looking after her. Struggling not to roll her eyes at the naivety of her sister, Fallyn shook her head and her smile became genuine. Her innocent appearance really did follow Layah right through to the bone. Her golden blonde hair was dead straight, even as it flew about her face in the lifting wind. It was the envy of many on their home island, and it mirrored her mother's. Fallyn could remember her mother's long hair would cover her like a veil when she would embrace her. Layah's face, however, reflected her father's considerably. That striking blue gaze and slender cheekbones were a direct opposite of her twin sister. Often Fallyn had wondered whether the only thing they shared was the womb. Her own wild, dark hair reached the middle of her back in curling masses, while her deep green eyes were more hardened than her doe-eyed sister. She looked like no one in the House of Estermont. Some had grown to call her the lone turtle, a name which she hated more than she cared to admit. A turtle was such a pathetic animal to have on a coat of arms.

Running a calloused finger across the leather of her horse's reins, Fallyn sighed and pushed her thick mane of hair over her shoulder. It had long escaped the bonds that Layah had attempted to restrain it with. If they hurried, they would reach Winterfell before night fall. She did not want to spend another night with their small party of knights from Greenstone, whom she knew was here purely out of duty rather than love for the orphan twins. As soon as they reached the gates, Fallyn had no doubt they would only stay long enough for the feast, a night's sleep in a warm bed and then they would head straight back to Greenstone. The only interest the island had of the marriage of Layah Estermont and Robb Stark was of pity for the poor man who had to marry a woman who had a deserter for a mother, a drunkard for a father and a ruined sister.

There would be no one at the wedding in support of Layah except for Fallyn. Even then she was reluctant to leave the halls of Greenstone at the inevitable onset of new whispers she knew would come with the people of Winterfell. It was not her who had been welcomed into the hall, it was her sister. The pure one who still held her innocence, both in the literal sense and in her demeanour. The hardened girl beside her had an outlook as black as her horse. She had no notions of love or a welcoming future. Fallyn could feel the smile falling from her weary face as the thoughts entered her mind. They were harder to push back now that she was not in the safety of the chambers of Greenstone. Even though she hated it more than she cared to admit, she had nowhere else to go. Shaking her head once more, she slowed her horse to stay alongside Layah. This was about her; this was going to be her fairy tale. Who was she to ruin it with memories of her bitter past? She would be the dutiful sister and be what everyone expected of a lady. She would greet her sister's new family with all the false welcoming joy she could muster. Suddenly a burning grasped Fallyn's chest as the realisation hit her. This would be Layah's new family now. She would not be returning with her to Greenstone, and she would be alone. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched the reins harder, this was no time for weakness. She was meant to be the strong one.

Turning towards Layah as she sat sulking, Fallyn knew her sister would at least be safe with the Starks.

'Of course I wish to rid of you, little sister,' Fallyn teased, knowing her twin hated being called out on her short stature. Fallyn was not tall but she stood at least a head taller than Layah, and she never let her forget it. Fallyn smiled as Layah pouted expectedly, 'The Stark boy has no idea what he has agreed to.'

Layah huffed, but was clearly relieved her sister was well enough to taunt her with childhood banter. Chewing on her bottom lip, she glanced at her hardened sister from the corner of her navy eyes. Layah knew it was going to be hard to watch her sister leave after the wedding. Go back to that island where they were both hated. Back to nothing but bitter memories and locked chambers. It should have been Fallyn who was to marry Robb Stark. She was the older of the twins, the one with brains, the one who could fight. Swallowing heavily against the nasty taste in her mouth, Layah frowned. She was also the one who had been tricked by her own cousin's brother by law. By the Queen's brother. It was something they had never spoken about, since the night that he left Fallyn, broken and ashamed. Not even Layah knew the full story, but she heard the whispers like everyone else. The Kingslayer had ruined her sister, to the point where she was no longer considered a worthy match. Layah's bottom lip trembled slightly as she remembered how damaged he had left her, body and soul. In the two years that had followed, summer had drawn slowly to a close and Fallyn had never truly recovered.

'Thank you for coming, sister,' Layah spoke quietly, knowing her twin was not one to converse anymore. A fact which saddened her greatly. Fallyn did not reply, barely acknowledged she had heard her sister speak. 'I know this is not what was supposed-'she began but was cut off by Fallyn's stony gaze as she turned towards her slowly.

'Don't,' Fallyn growled simply, 'What's done is done.'

She did not spare her sister another glance, but forced her horse into a quickened pace once again. The sooner they got to Winterfell the better. Conversation was strained between the sisters at the best of times. This was not one of them. Layah did not bother to catch up; she knew she had ruined any chance of talking further with Fallyn. It had been like this for longer than she cared to remember. Short, sharp conversations that displayed none of the former fire and passion of the dark-haired Estermont. Layah wished she could make Jaime Lannister burn for his deceit, if only to watch Cersei's face to feel the pain of losing someone you love. Even though Fallyn was still beside her, she was a shell. Back in Greenstone, she would lose herself completely.

Layah spent so long worrying about her sister that she barely noticed that they were approaching the gates. Suddenly she felt like turning and fleeing, this was not meant to be her. She won this marriage by default, not because she deserved it. She was to marry a man she had never met. She was not ready for this; she was barely twenty years old. Past marriage age according to some, but she still felt like a child. Never before had she wished her mother was by her side to help her. She would know what to say. Fallyn would be there to protect her until the wedding, but after that, she would be all alone. Layah could feel her heart beating in her chest, threatening to break out of the fragile cage. Her breathing quickened and her horse came to a stop before the gates. She could see the Stark's lined up dutifully, perfectly aligned and waiting. Waiting for her.

Tears pooled in her eyes as her trembling hands battled between turning the horse around and urging him forward. All she could think of as she saw Fallyn waiting for her was that this was not meant to be this way. Fallyn's green eyes were empty as she got her first glance at Winterfell, it was like looking at a statue in the crypts. She showed no emotion, no indication that she was scared. But that had always been her, she was the brave one. After Jaime got his hands on her, she was the brutal, hardened one.

The guards behind her began to grumble as she stalled moving forward into Winterfell. Her horses' hooves were just outside the pillars, moving restlessly as its rider shook with fear. Fallyn looked towards her twin and her eyes softened slightly. She would not hold her hand through this, Layah needed to learn. This was her family now. She would not be bottle fed by her husband. Layah did not move as Fallyn moved her horse towards her and gripped Layah's reins. The shaking girl turned wide eyes on her sister as Fallyn moved them forward into Winterfell.

'Fallyn, I can't,' she choked, fear coursing through her. Fallyn clenched her jaw, she wished she could protect her sister, but knew it was out of her hands. The only thing she knew was if the Starks did not treat her sister honourably, they would pay in blood.

'I'm right here, little sister,' Fallyn whispered, careful to keep her eyes away from the Starks. She knew the whispering would start soon. 'You are safe now.'

Fallyn's words seemed to comfort Layah slightly, enough to quell her shaking hands enough to take the guard's hand as he helped her from her horse. The guards did not bother to assist Fallyn; she had not seen such treatment in over two years. It did not bother her; she did not need anyone's help. One of the guard's stepped forward towards the Starks, and presented them briefly, before turning to the twins expectantly. Layah effectively hid behind her sister like a small child and Fallyn let out a deep sigh as she turned towards the line of Starks.

Let the whispers begin.