A/N: Yay! Two chapters in a row! Though don't get used to it, for those who know me well enough I don't update very often.

This chapter introduces Lyra as a 10-year-old child and also her Snow Bear, Ursa, and yes they do exist in Westeros only they are found Beyond the Wall like the Direwolves are. Also with her first meeting the Stark family and her thoughts on them as well. The second half of the chapter is in Jon's point of view so we'll get a better look at his inner thoughts as well.

Now keep in mind that Lyra is only 10 and hasn't left Bear Island at all until they made the trip to Winterfell. So, she's only following the rules and expectations towards those of the Southern houses. She's more curious about those of the Northern houses like the Starks because they are all that she's known and the Tully looks of Catelyn, Robb, Sansa, Bran, and Rickon are unknown to her and makes her wary of them. Which is why she finds it a relief to see that Arya and Jon have the traditional Stark looks because they are familiar to her.

She'll eventually learn to appreciate the other siblings and their personalities, but for now, she's looking for familiarity in such a strange place outside of Bear Island.

Hope you all enjoy reading the first chapter to Here We Stand :D!

Chapter I

"Why do I have to go?! Why can't Jorelle go instead of me?"

"Because Lyra it would do you some good to learn more about the world you have grown up in versus the solitude of Bear Island."

"Ughhh! Can I at least bring Ursa with me?"

Maege gave her third eldest daughter an accepting nod as the young girl beamed at the aspect of her companion going with her to Winterfell. The infamous She-Bear had always considered having one of her children fostered under Lord Stark's tutelage. However, she waited patiently for a sign from the gods to say that it was time. Lyra had just turned 10 years old when the sign came in the form of a letter. They had accepted Lyra as a foster and had also accepted a proposal for her to marry one of the Stark children when she came of age. Maege had only asked for one condition in the matter: that Lyra was the one who chose her husband when the time came for her to do so. The girl was too stubborn and picky for her own good, but it also helped keep unwanted suitors away.

The She-bear took in the sight of her wild child that was Lyra as her snow bear cub came running in her characteristic ursine lumber. The white fur blended in well into the snowy atmosphere. Her dark brown eyes are filled with child-like innocence yet there's a maturity in them as well. That cub had nearly cost Maege her life trying to save it from a male snow bear wanting to eat it alive. Seeing her daughter's face lit up seeing the cub with a wide smile, she knew it had been worth it.

Lyra had done a fine job taking care of Ursa ever since she came to Bear Island. She knew that coming from the Far North, snow bears were enormous in size and strength. Much, much bigger then direwolves and far more vicious. Maege was hesitant and very afraid of how the cub would grow up. So, far her worries and fears were somewhat sedated. Lyra would not ever consent to be separated from her snow bear. Not now, not ever. She was too much of a Mormont in that regard and saw Ursa as one of the family.

"Our sigil is that of a bear. Ursa being a snow bear means that I was meant to have her as my companion and friend."

Maege smiled out of pride at how far her willful, stubborn daughter had come since her early years. She could only hope that it wouldn't go away as she grew older and married one of the Stark boys. She knew that Ned's trueborn and bastard son are the same age, and while she wouldn't mind of Lyra choosing either one, she knew that Lady Stark would most definitely will. She was fickle and too much of a Southern lady in that regard.

It took quite a while to reach Winterfell. The frigid cold nipped at their faces, but it was nothing new. Lyra was small enough to ride Ursa without causing the cub any harm and they stood at the same height as well. The cub was as big as a small pony by now. Which wasn't much of a surprise considering the stories of female snow bears growing as big as 13 feet in height once standing up.

Lyra looked at the ancient fortress in awe and wonder getting an amused expression out of her mother. Ursa's ears perked up at the sight as well and cooed out her curiosity too. She couldn't blame her cub whatsoever because she too was very curious about the fortress that she was told about.

She rode up front with her mother through the gates of this large place. Lyra received many shocked looks because of her riding Ursa instead of an actual pony. A minor, barely noticeable shrug was given to such notions. Lyra gently dismounted Ursa with ease and scratched her snow bear behind her ears. The coo and playful growl she got as Ursa gently started tickling her with her nose made her giggle softly. Lyra gently removed the thin but durable harness that was on her cub's back just before one of their soldiers took it himself.

Lyra looked up as her mother gently pushed her towards the Stark family. She took in their appearances with curiosity as Ursa followed behind her with equal curiosity. Lord Eddard Stark was a tall man with a long Northern face, dark hair tied back out of his bearded face and trademark Stark gray eyes. Lady Catelyn Stark, formerly Tully, was also a tall woman with red hair that reminded her of roses and bright water blue eyes. Honestly, she was beautiful but seemed more modestly comely in Lyra's opinion. The eldest Stark boy, Robb, was the spitting image of his mother with his auburn curls and blue eyes. Handsome yes, but he was still not her taste even with him only being 12. The eldest Stark girl, Sansa, was a beauty herself, but she was so demure and disgustingly polite that it sickened her. Such traits were of those who lived South of the Neck. No doubt that her dear mother had placed the Southern ways on her eldest daughter even at only eight years old. Arya Stark was the total opposite of Sansa and was more of a wolf than a lady including with the trademark Stark looks. This made Lyra happy because she had someone to share her interests with. Then she saw the two youngest boys who had taken after their mother just like their two eldest siblings. The only one who seemed to take after her father was Arya, which was both surprising and disappointing.

"Lord Stark, may I introduce my third-born daughter, Lyra Mormont."

"Mother, you forgot to introduce Ursa too! She's a Mormont too despite being a snow bear!"

If that didn't shock and scandalize them, then Maege would have laughed her ass off at her daughter's boldness. However, she nodded a highly amused look on her face.

"Aye. And this is Ursa, Lyra's snow bear cub and the youngest of House Mormont."

Lyra stood with her back straight and puffed out her chest out of pride and happiness before Ursa rubbed her side against the girl causing her to giggle. She scratched her cub behind her ears. This caused the big cub to plop on the ground and roll over onto her stomach like a dog would. Her mother had to laugh heartily at the sight. Lyra looked up as she heard Lord Stark laugh a bit too leaving his lady wife to look at him as if he had gone mad. She could honestly care less, but it was exciting to get a laugh out of the grim-looking Warden of the North.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, dear girl. Let me introduce you to my family."

He moved onto his wife introducing her first before moving down the line towards the children.

"This is my eldest son Robb, my eldest daughter Sansa, and my youngest children Arya, Bran, and Rickon."

Lyra took in their curt and polite nods from the Tully look-a-likes and got a smirk from Arya as a greeting. However, she was confused. Wasn't there supposed to be his other son too? Jon? Her mother saw the look on her face and shook her head causing her to pout, but using her manners, she asked:

"My Lord? If I may ask out of respect, but where is the other one? Jon?"

She could feel the displeasure and bafflement that radiated from Lady Catelyn as she took in the surprised look in Lord Eddard's gray eyes. He gave a small but warm smile as he motioned behind him to a boy with thick raven black curls and gray eyes. He looked so much like Lord Stark that there was no mistaking that he was his son, bastard or not. Her own brown eyes widened in her shock and awe at the sight of the awfully shy boy. His body language screamed shame as if he was expecting a reprimand just by being placed with his family. "Who would dare do such a thing?!"

To be honest, Lyra was expecting Jon Snow to be the ugliest thing in existence because of the grief she keeps hearing of him being Lord Stark's bastard son. Oh, gods, she had hoped that was true because he was nowhere near ugly whatsoever. He was handsome. Almost too handsome and his shy demeanor only served to intrigue her more because most boys his age are the total opposite where she lived on Bear Island.

He would glance up at her and blush looking away as a look of confusion ran rampant in his dark gray eyes. Lyra couldn't look away from him even as she saw Ursa sniffing the air as she got closer to the boy. Seeing her approach him without hostility struck a cord in her knowing that he was most definitely trustworthy. Ursa sniffed at Robb and pretty much ignored him to both his relief and chagrin. Jon looked at Ursa as she stared at him back before sitting down in front of him. Lyra couldn't help but bellow in laughter at the sight of Ursa licking Jon in the face making a bigger mess of his unruly curls.

He was the picture of annoyance and amusement even as the others laughed at the situation. Especially Robb and Arya. Jon tried fixing his hair back but Ursa pretty much made that impossible with her playful behavior. Lyra had stopped laughing at the sight of disdain and disgust that Lady Stark directed at Jon. Her blood started boiling at that very moment. Ursa, who became much more aware of her mood, began looking around for what had angered her mistress.

It was not fair! House Tully's words are Family, Duty, Honor. Her family is supposed to come first and Jon was supposed to be family by extension of her husband! It was not fair in any way whatsoever. Lyra took a deep breath willing that her anger didn't overpower her as she stood tall and smiled warmly at the older boy.

"It was nice to meet you, Jon Snow."

He looked up at her for the first time since she asked to where he was. Admittedly, this has never happened before. It was always the girls asking for Robb instead. She was a beautiful girl even at 10 years old. She had squared yet soft features that defined her as a Northern girl with big brown eyes and thick brown tresses the fell down her shoulders in curls. She was small and slender, but somehow he knew it would change drastically once she got older and grow into a woman. Jon berated himself for having such thoughts for he knew that she was Robb's for the taken. Just like everything was. Jon may have been older than Robb by a few months, but the eldest legitimate son was the one who would get first pickings, not the bastard son. Lady Stark would sooner kill him in his sleep if he ever so much as had an equal standing with her precious firstborn son.

To hear her say that it was nice to see him when she hadn't given Robb the same courtesy, it was mind-blowing. So unbelievable that he couldn't fathom why she would do such a thing. Jon could feel the disdain and disgust coming off of Lady Stark in waves but first time in his life, it didn't seem as though it mattered all that much. The blow wasn't as harsh either. He gave her a bow as was expected of him and saw how her face lit up in her amazement. Which once again confused him greatly.

"Thank you, my lady. Though I'm sure I'm not worthy of your company."

Jon expected her to either blush demurely or even tilt her chin in a haughty manner. She did neither one. In her brown eyes, she had a deep-seated anger as she directed them at Lady Stark before turning to him with a more or less playful look.

"I'll decide that for myself thank you very much but I think Ursa had already done that for the both of us."

This got a giggle out of her as her snow bear cub grunted in agreement. Jon knew in that very moment that life in Winterfell was going to be far more interesting than it ever was before.