Lyanna Stark was young, beautiful and wild. She was sister to Brandon, Benjen and Eddard Stark, daughter to Lord Rickard Stark. She had never known her mother and her father would never speak a word about her, not even her name. Her older brother Brandon was tall, strong and wild just as she was. Her brother Eddard was strong, shy and honourable, often called the shy wolf. Her younger brother Benjen was tall, strong and honourable but not as much as Ned.
Lyanna was wild. She loved to ride her horses, go hunting and fight. She was not a girl to be messed with. She lived in Winterfell with the rest of the Starks (except Ned who was a ward at the Eyrie) , her older brother Brandon was soon to be married to Catelyn Tully and her younger brother was talking of joining the Nights Watch. Lyanna was the only girl of the Stark household. Her father had arranged for her to be married to Robert Baratheon but after she discovered his true nature she made her father cancel the engagement. Robert was furious but then married Cersei Lannister who was already with child.
Her father told her she had to be married and after the tragic loss of Elia of Dorne, Rhaegar Targaryen's wife, she was betrothed to the next ruler of the seven kingdoms. She had heard stories about the dragon knight, she heard of how gentle he was and what a great musician he was. He was the son of Aerys Targaryen often known as the mad king. Lyanna had never met him but was going to soon at a tournament at Harrenhal, she was going with Benjen.
It was the morning of the day of departure to travel to Harrenhal, Lyanna had gotten some clothes ready but for now she was wearing her travelling clothes as she was obviously going by horseback. She got her large woollen cloak and prepared her beautiful mount to ride. Her horse was a stunning chestnut mare called Nymeria, like the warrior. Once she was ready she got on Nymeria and travelled to the front of the leaving party with her brother Benjen, she knew her betrothed and her brother Brandon were riding in the tournament. Brandon had already departed to visit his soon to be wife before the tourney.
"I think this will be the last tournament I go to before I take the black" Benjen said trying to spark conversation with Lyanna
"Do you really want to take the black?, it means you will never marry or father any children. Doesn't that make you sad" Lyanna said gracefully in reply
"The Starks have defended the Wall for thousands of years" Benjen said coldly
"Oh dearest brother this doesn't mean you have to go, it isn't your duty. I am sure the nights watch wouldn't mind if the Starks missed a generation" Lyanna said trying to change his stubborn mind
"It isnt about duty, what is the youngest child of a family supposed to do, I will never be the lord of Winterfell and I will never earn any glory from just travelling around Westeros but the nights watch is the place for me" Benjen said and rode further ahead so Lyanna couldn't respond
She watched Benjen ride ahead of her, she didn't want her baby brother to leave her. She always remembered playing swords with Benjen and beating him, she was never known as a typical lady. If Benjen left all she would have was Brandon and his wife until Lyanna herself got married and would have to move to the capital. She was kind of scared of the aspect of leaving home, leaving her family behind. The South wasn't as nice as the north, it was full of liars and deceitful people. In the future Lyanna would be queen, that was the aspect that scared her even more than leaving home.
It had been a full day ride until they stop to make camp. Lyanna had talked to some guards and some of her fathers bannerman the way to the camp as her brother rode off and didnt come back in to her view until they stopped. Once Lyanna had gotten in her tent her brother Benjen joined her. He had a letter in his hand.
"Good news, Ned will be attending the tourney so we will get to see him again after all this time" Benjen said joyfully
"That is good news, I have missed him dearly also I would like to hear what his friend Robert Baratheon had to say of me after I broke off the engagement"
"That will be interesting" Benjen said with a deep chuckle " I will leave you to sleep and eat now sister" Benjen said and left her tent.
Lyanna sat at her table and ate some warm food before retiring to her bed as it was going to be another full days ride tomorrow if they were going to get to Harrenhal in time for the tourney. She got dressed into just her shift and went to bed to get warm underneath the furs.
She was briskly woken up by the sound of men talking and horses moving near her tent. She felt as if she had only just gotten to sleep but it was morning. She drearily got dressed into some rough leather riding trousers and an large, woollen tunic, she also had her cloak on as they were still in the North. She got on Nymeria and galloped until she reached Benjen, she decided not to talk about his decision to join the nights watch today.
"Shall we ride together today brother as yesterday it was a rather boring ride" Lyanna suggested
"If you want" Benjen simply said
Lyanna rode by his side, Benjen seemed quiet today. Lyanna tried to start a conversation today but every time he just either ignored her or said something she couldnt properly respond to. He also didnt look at her, it was like she was one of the Others.
"Benjen why wont you talk to me?" Lyanna finally asked
"I dont want to get too attached or it will be harder for me to leave" Benjen said coldly
"How could you get anymore attached than you already are? you have a simple mind brother" Lyanna said mocking her brother
"I am not simple" Benjen said in his defence
"Someone who thinks like that must be"
"I also dont talk to you because you always seem to get the better of me, you are too smart for your own good" Benjen said and they both laughed
They rode until it got dark and then they made camp for the night. They repeated this schedule until they finally reached Harrenhal in time for the tourney.
They enjoyed the tourney as a family until it was the final round, Lyanna's brother had already been unseated by Rhaegar Targaryen. Before Rhaegar rode he got out his harp. He hadn't notice Lyanna yet but as soon as he started playing it was as if the song was just for her. She started to weep and she heard her younger brother laugh at her. She thought of the only way to make him stop so she poured a cup of wine over his head. He looked uncomfortable the whole way through the joust. In the end Rhaegar won which meant he had to crown the queen of love and beauty. She had never met Rhaegar and he didnt know who she was so she would be very surprised if he crowned her as there were many other beautiful women here including Cersei Lannister.
He rode over to her and to her shock he crowned her the queen of love and beauty, he placed a beautiful crown of winter roses on her head to signify who he had chosen. She clutched it tight when they all left. Rhaegar was incredibly handsome, he had deep violet eyes and long silver hair like all Targaryens. He was tall and muscular. The armour he wore was black and red like the Targaryen colours and on the front it had a red dragon encrusted with rubies.
That night there was a great feast in Harrenhal. Lyanna wore a light blue silk dress whilst her brothers all wore dark colours, Lyanna wanted to have a brighter presence. She also knew she would be properly meeting Rhaegar at the meal so she had to look her best. She walked into the room and saw Rhaegar immediately at the main table as he had won the tourney he had an empty seat beside him, Lyanna wondered of it was for her. She was about to sit at the table where her brothers were sat but she heard a voice calling her name. She saw Rhaegar get up and walk over to her, he looked even taller now.
"My Lady would you like to sit with me this night" Rhaegar said offering his hand out for her to hold it.
"Of course my prince" she simply replied
He led her to the table at the head of the feast. He even pulled her chair out for her.
"You look beautiful today my lady" Rhaegar complimented
"You also look very handsome and you jousted bravely today" Lyanna returned
"Thank you my lady, I did so well because your beauty urged me on because I wanted to crown you so you truly know and everyone else knows how beautiful you are" Rhaegar said
"You are too kind my prince" Lyanna said blushing
Rhaegar smiled and started to eat, Lyanna followed and ate her meal. Once they had both done Rhaegar held out his hand for Lyanna to hold once again.
"My lady I would like to talk to you in a more private place, can we leave this busy hall?" Rhaegar asked
"Of course my prince" She said as he led her out the hall, as she was leaving she saw her brothers watching her carefully but she smiled to tell them it was alright
Once outside Rhaegar grabbed Lyanna's other hand so she would face him. He looked into her grey eyes with his violet ones. He just looked at her for a while until he grabbed her chin and slowly pressed his lips against her. It was a tender and lovely kiss, Lyanna didn't want it to end. Rhaegar backed away from her lips but still held her hands.
"I cannot wait until we are wed my lady, my last wife was a lovely women and I did her no harm but I didn't love her like I love you" Rhaegar said and gave her another tender kiss. "Would you like me to escort you back to your chambers my lady?" Rhaegar asked
"Yes please my prince" Lyanna said and smiled. He led her back to her chambers and left her. All that night all she could think of was him, his violet eyes and silver hair, his tender soft lips. Gods she loved him.
