Lyra grinned ferally as she swiped the sword in her right hand in a wide arc towards Theon who quickly dodged backwards weary of the live steel they were using, Jon tried to take advantage by swinging his sword at her exposed left side but her twin Robb quickly intercepted and blocked the attack, the twins stood back to back as Jon and Theon circled them, panting heavily with exertion they engaged the twins again, trying to separate the two to place them on equal footing but they stayed close together, moving as one, as they covered each other, Robb with a shield and sword, NightHowl, mostly playing the defensive while Lyra lashed out with her twin swords, fang and claw, playing the offensive. Lyra spotted an opening and quickly swiped her foot behind Theon's ankle, swiftly hooking it and dragging it upwards causing him to lose his balance, she pounced quickly placing the sword to the apple of his throat. Robb similarly used his shield to bash against Jon's chest knocking the wind out of him and causing him to bend double, before swiftly bringing his knee up and crashing it against his face, Jon fell backwards as the pain over took him and Robb placed his sword against the hollow of his throat.
"yield" they spoke in perfect unison
"I yield" Theon muttered petulantly from the ground and Lyra smirked triumphantly
"aye" Jon agreed eyeing the sword at his throat until Robb pulled it back helping Jon up
"don't worry Jon if it was one on one you would have us all in the dirt" Robb bolstered him, winning a small smile for his efforts
"true, and Theon you're the best marksman in all the North, personally I demand more lessons but you're a secretive bastard and speaking of lessons Bran's going to be annoyed if we're late" Lyra grinned at the three, her wild black hair had escaped from the tight braid and was curling around her head, her grey eyes were shining in mirth as she spun and began to run towards the archery posts.
"I have to have something I'm better at you than" Theon called out at her retreating back and the boys laughed together before following.
Lyra swung herself up onto a fence as Robb leant against the post next to her, the pair watching as Jon and Theon set up the archery practice for Bran who was hurrying down a staircase. Lyra had to smile at the enthusiasm that her little brother showed, it seemed the scholarly wolf had a taste for archery.
"he's worse than you were Ly" Robb leant over and muttered into her ear as Bran started throwing questions out.
"Well father did step in and speak about his father's mistakes with his sister he always thought if she was given more slack, to give the horse it's head, maybe things wouldn't have turned out the way they did plus with Jorah Mormont backing me up about how the ladies of bear island learned the argument was nigh on won" Lyra grinned happily at her brother, it had been one of the few times their father had overruled their mother or spoken of their aunt.
"about the only useful thing that man ever did" a sneer crossed her brothers usually solemn features, the betrayal still stung after the years, Robb had worshipped Jorah Mormont.
"come on Robbie, contempt doesn't suit your features" she playfully tugged on his auburn curls and he swatted at her. Successfully distracted.
The pair settled down leaning comfortably against each other as Bran shot arrow after arrow, the pair shouting encouragement and different tricks to use, usually confusing their little brother as the advice was contradictive and they fell into bickering about who the superior marksman was out of the pair.
They both roared with laughter as Bran widely missed the target causing him to turn and scowl at them while Robb winked and Lyra grinned unrepentant.
"and which one of you was a marksman at ten?" their lord father's voice rang out over the courtyard and Lyra glanced up to see her father's solemn face staring down at them, but the twinkling of his grey eyes gave him away.
"I don't know father dearest, Theon has quite the natural talent" Lyra tossed back at her father, cheekily waving at her mother who rolled her eyes in exasperation. Lyra spotted her youngest sister Arya who had snuck out of her sewing lessons and had a bow gripped tightly in her hands, Lyra released a throaty chuckle as she knocked the bow and released it, hitting the bullseye of the target causing Bran, Jon and Theon to spin in shock, Arya quickly gave a lady like curtsy which seemed to snap Bran out of his shock and he gave chase after his sister.
"Lyra, Robb, Saddle the horses we have a deserter, Bran your coming along, Jon and Theon attend to me" the stoic but warm Ned Stark had been replaced by the cold and unforgiving warden of the north.
"as our lord father commands- "Robb started
"so, do we obey" Lyra finished and the two hurried over to the stables to saddle the horses. Lyra grinned as she placed the saddle on her horse, Traveller, he had been a gift from Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon, a smaller house in the north that were renowned for their breeding of horses having intermingled with dorthraki riders and the dornish so they had extensive knowledge often being called half-horse themselves which they took good naturedly but preferred being around their animals, Traveller was solidly built, having a long head, with a straight profile. His jaw was deep, his ears small, and eyes large and expressive, and the nostrils flared. He has a neck that is sturdy, yet arched and withers that are low, muscular, and broad. With a wide, deep chest, broad croup, and muscular shoulder, He was considered rather intimidating. His tail was always carried high and well set. His legs are well-muscled and strong, with broad joints and well-defined tendons, perfect for carrying her quickly for long distances. The feet tend to be small, but are tough, and he was capable of moving gracefully.
Travellers breed tended to mature slowly, so despite him being nine years old he was still very foal like However, they live and are active longer than many other breeds, with horses performing the difficult exercises, whether for war or for entertainment well into their 20s and living into their 30s
Grey was the usually preferred colour in Traveller's breed and as it was dominant it worked out well, the foals are usually born a solid black or deep brown colour and lighten as they mature but Traveller never did, and she loved that unique feature about him.
She soothed his neck as he chomped on the bit, excited for the ride to come and Lyra shared in his adventuring spirit, she swung herself onto his back beaming over at Robb who had mounted his own storm-coloured stallion, Temper, named for his aggressive attitude to anyone other than Robb, another gift from the Earl Herbert they both got them on their ninth nameday. The pair swiftly followed their father who was locked down like a fortress, with a glance towards Robb she found him attempting to emulate their father.
They quickly rode out to the executioner's block and there was a mixed group waiting for them, a few soldiers from the karstarks, a contingent from the Umbers and a small amount of Glover soldiers were surrounding a man who was dressed in all black.
"you ran him down I assume?" Lord Stark spoke from on top of his horse
"aye, my lord he was hiding out at the cub's inn and we spotted him" a solider dressed in Karstark uniform informed her Lord father, and the mumbling of the man was cut off as he spotted her father. The soldiers either side of him swiftly moved him onto his knees and kept him there as her father unsheathed Ice, Theon holding onto the leather scabbard.
"Don't look away, father will know if you do" Lyra heard her half-brother warn Bran and she nodded to him discreetly.
"do you have any last words?" Her father asked, his voice was cold, and his eyes were harsh, a man without honour was one of the worsts in the opinion of her father.
"I know I deserted my duty, I know what I did was wrong, but I saw them, I swear by the old Gods and the new, the white walkers are real! They're alive and their coming for us all! If you can warn my family" The man spoke rapidly, and Lyra's eyes sharpened and focused firmly onto the man's face, he seemed desperate, malnourished and afraid but his eyes gleamed with intelligence not a drop of insanity to be seen.
"In the name of His Grace, Robert of Houses Baratheon, First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, I Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell Lord Paramount of the North and Warden of the North sentence you to die" he spoke gravely his hands loosely resting on the pommel of the sword, before in one smooth motion bringing the sword up and swiftly down. Decapitating the deserter in an instant.
"well done Bran" Jon murmured into the ear of their brother before moving towards his steed, Bran quickly span on his heel and moved towards his own horse Dancer and pretending to check on the tack. Lyra spotted her father going over to speak with Bran and with a sigh moved over to Traveller, lightly petting his velveteen nose as he snorted into her cupped hand.
"-of the white walkers?" Bran's question pulled Lyra out of her stupor and she frowned, the news was disconcerting, if they were truly back…
"the ramblings of a mad man, nothing more Bran" her father quickly assured him and moved past towards Lyra.
"they're not, though are they?" Lyra questioned softly glancing towards her father whose eyes had turned as soft as the grey morning fog.
"Perhaps not, little wolf, but it's best not to scare Bran with a story that could turn out to be false" Her father tried to reassure Lyra, but she wasn't buying it.
"my…talents have been manifesting more father I know all starks have gifts to a certain extent but this warging is getting so strong, I've bonded with Traveller and the things I see, it's terrible we both know that the dragons aren't extinct and according to old Nan's stories so long as the dragons exist, magic exists and the night king will come for his vengeance, Winter is coming father and soon" Lyra's eyes had drifted off to a point in the distance, she could remember the dreams that she had been having and the thrumming, like the drum of war becoming louder "Robb hears the drums too father he mentioned it last week" Lyra muttered quietly but agitatedly casting her eyes to Traveller's saddle unable to meet his eyes.
"the wolfsblood is strong in you two, aye I admit it and winter is coming and we must prepare but if my beguiling and young wolf hear the drums then we must be more vigilant" Her father mused as he swung himself onto his chestnut horse "it'll be alright little wolf, I'll ensure it"
Lyra looked up at her father, sitting so proudly on his mount, shoulders thrown back and benevolent smile on his lips, she felt as if she was seeing the kings of winter in her father and like he would be able to shield her from all the bad in the world, smiling up at her father she quickly swung herself onto Traveller and chased after her twin.
She pulled on the reins of her horse as she spotted everyone stopping ahead of her.
"what is it?" she asked curiously her hand travelling to fang hanging on her right hip, she glanced around eyeing the steep hills either side of the road.
"it's a freak" Theon called back morbid fascination in his voice, Lyra frowned and swung herself down striding over to stand next to Robb.
"it's a direwolf" Jon quietly contradicted as their father pulled a large antler out of the beast's chest.
"tough old beast" he commented idly
"Direwolves haven't been since south of the wall in a thousand years" Theon broke in as he walked around the massive wolf.
"exactly" Lyra answered casting a glance to her father and brother
"something caused it to flee south" Robb grimly summarised their thoughts.
Quite whimpering met their ears as they fell silent and Jon moved forward spotting six pups crawling over each other, he grinned and picked up one of the pups.
"here Bran want to hold one?" he placed the squirming pup into his brothers arms and Bran beamed at the little pup.
"where will they go? Their mother is dead" Bran questioned innocently
"they don't belong down here" ser Rodrick spoke up
"aye better a quick death than starvation" father agreed, and Theon quickly moved forward grabbing the pup by the scruff of his neck and pulling out his dagger.
"right give it here then" he said brusquely
"No!" Bran cried out
"put away your blade" Robb snapped from beside Lyra
"I take orders from your father not you" Theon sneered at her brother and Lyra's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"please father" Bran pleaded desperately
"I'm sorry Bran" her father seemed truly apologetic
"Lord Stark, there are six pups you have six trueborn children, the direwolf is the sigil of house Stark, you were meant to have them" Jon argued logically
"you will train them yourselves, you will feed them yourselves and if they die you will bury them yourselves" her father conceded a serious look on his face.
Theon, Robb and Lyra quickly moved forward taking the pups that Jon offered.
"what about you?" Bran asked quietly
"I'm not a stark, get on" Jon replied, and the pair started moving towards the horses, Jon stopped suddenly hearing something and Lyra cocked her head in question.
"what is it?" Robb probed Jon didn't answer merely leaning down and pulling a pure white pup from the hollow of the tree by the scruff of its neck.
"the runt of the litter, that one's yours snow" Theon jeered from beside Robb and Lyra rolled her eyes in annoyance before grinning at her half-brother's deadpan stare.
"he's cute" Lyra offered, and she stroked the head of her own pup who was black as night with curious lightening strike patterns in grey across his coat.
"what will you name yours?" Jon asked as they settled onto the horses again, setting off at a comfortable trot.
"Beowulf after Beowulf Stark the great king of winter who slayed the Grendel's and took down a dragon What about you? Snow maybe? He's as quiet as anything though" she wondered smiling softly as the pup was chewing on her fingertips
"Beowulf is a good name, and he's as quiet as a ghost, white as one as well" Jon smirked as he ran his fingers through the thick white fur of his pup who had settled in for a nap.
"Beowulf it is then, and ghost is a good name" she grinned at Jon before moving over to tease Robb on the way home.
As they clattered into the front courtyard of Winterfell, Lyra spotted her father peeling off and heading towards the Godswood, it was a ritual for her father whenever he had to take someone's life he would go and tend to Ice in front of the old gods. Lyra jumped off her horse, before handing the reigns over to a stable boy, clutching tightly to her newly named Beowulf along with another, she quickly led Robb, Theon and Jon who were all holding pups to the great hall were the rest of her family were eating their midday meal.
"Mother guess what we found" Lyra beamed at her mother who was helping Rickon cut his meat, the last incident with Rickon and a sharp knife almost ended in Jon losing fingers.
"what are those?" her mother asked sharply staring at the wolf pups that were roaming by their feet.
"direwolves mother" Robb piped up "one for all of us" Lyra spotted Jon sneaking out of a side door and she grimaced but understood, her lady mother had always been cruel to Jon, something she despised.
"wicked!" Arya cried out jumping up from her seat and racing around the table, she fell to her knees as a female pup came bounding over to her, Sansa followed sedately after her sister, breaking out a smile as the other female pup came and sat before her, Catelyn heaved a sigh recognising that she wouldn't win the argument to get rid of the creatures, helping Rickon down from the tall bench who rushed over to the remaining wolf pup.
"where is your father?" she asked a serious look on her face
"he's headed to the Godswood, why do you want to speak to him?" Lyra and Robb spoke in unison, heads tilting to the right.
Catelyn had to smile at how in sync her two oldest children were, despite their colourings, Robb being pure Tully and Lyra being completely Stark, their personalities and mannerisms were completely in sync, they were night and day, two sides of the same coin and could be confused as one being on occasions, it had been hell birthing them during the winter storm but so worth it.
"Jon Arryn has died, the king is riding north, I think he wants to name your father the hand of the king" she spoke a grim look taking over her face
"but wolves don't go south" Lyra frowned
"father won't go against the king" Robb reminded her
"your brother's right Lyra, your father won't deny him and you two will have to take on more responsibilities, your father might wish for you to go to court Lyra but Robb will have to stay, he is the heir of winterfell" Catelyn spoke hating the pained look that took over the twin's faces, the rest of the family stopped playing with the pups seeing the seriousness of the situation.
Lyra and Robb gripped tightly onto each other's hands, the fear of being separated reverting them to childish antics.
"but we are twins, we've never been separated" Lyra protested weakly "Born together…"
"die together…" Robb continued
"or live forever" the pair finished off
"I know dearests, but this might happen best prepare for that eventuality" Catelyn sighed heavily
Lyra and Robb stared at each other, silently communicating, a raised eyebrow, a twitch of the lips and a whole conversation passed before they both sighed.
"winter is coming, and a Stark must do their duty" Lyra spoke out loud as they had come to the same conclusion
"winter is coming, and a Stark must always be at Winterfell" Robb agreed his face slightly sullen at the prospect of being separated from his other half.
"our lady mother commands and so do we obey" they spoke as one, heads bowing in jest to their mother.
Catelyn heaved a sigh of relief glad that there wouldn't be another meltdown like the meltdown of ten years ago when they were being fostered away from each other, it had finally been settled when they were fostered together at house Glover for two years and then house Mormont for two years before returning to learn their duties to winterfell. She swiftly left the dining hall before heading to the Godswood not looking forward to the conversation with her Lord husband, Jon quickly moved back into the room, holding onto his pup and joining the loose circle.
"it's creepy when you do that" Sansa told them, sticking her nose in the air
"no, it's not" Arya argued always wanting to be on the other side of her sister, she'd claim the sky was green if Sansa said it was blue.
"yes, it is and don't kneel on the floor it's unladylike, you look like a dog" Sansa jeered her face twisting
Arya's face flushed red and she opened her mouth, but Lyra quickly interjected
"Sansa we are twins, we've been doing it all our life, we'll do it until the day we die and if you stick your nose any further in the air it'll fall off, don't tease your sister it's unbecoming and Arya let's not start fights when there's no need but let's try to get a tad more decorum in your mannerisms, honestly your siblings" Lyra heaved a sigh dragging her hand down her face, sometimes she felt as she was the mother in their relationship.
"Ly's right you two, despite differences your loyalty is to your family, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives" Robb lectured their younger siblings and they both flushed with shame, despite their differences the pair both worshipped the ground their elder siblings walked on "now what are you planning on naming your wolves?" he turned the subject to a lighter topic.
"shaggydog" Rickon squealed happily petting his pup
"oh, that poor wolf" Lyra muttered only to receive a jab in the ribs from Robb.
"I'm going to name mine Summer because his colours are like southern summers" Bran decided as he settled the pup onto his lap feeding him some meat the servants had brought out.
"I'm going to name mine Nymeria after the warrior Queen" Arya declared
"mine's going to be named Lady and she'll have all the manners of one" Sansa decided
"what did you name your runt then snow?" Theon asked from the bench as he had wandered over to get his lunch, Lyra swiftly moved over feeling her stomach rumble and sat herself placing Beowulf by her feet with a couple of hunks of meat and a bone to chew on, luckily the pups had just started to be weaned of their milk as he happily started chewing, the pups seemed to be about five weeks old.
"his name is ghost" Jon said as he tucked into his own simple meal
"what did you name yours Ly?" Arya asked as Robb watched his own pup race over to the table.
"Beowulf after the king of winter, what's yours named Robbie?" Lyra swiftly replied before staring at her twin who had nicked some bread of her plate.
"I've named him Greywind, he's grey and he's fast" Robb shrugged a shoulder as Lyra deadpanned him.
"so imaginative" she drawled helping Rickon onto the bench and handing him a cherry tart as she selfishly horded the lemon cakes, although she handed one over to Sansa who had pouted prettily at her, they both shared the same love for the sour treat.
"you'll get fat eating all of them" Theon snarked from across from her
"don't worry Theo dear no one could compare to your fat head nor your over inflated ego" Lyra rebutted him pretending to pat his hand consolingly. The siblings of seven roared with laughter and they all settled into their meals, jesting and joking, but Lyra could still hear the faint thrumming of the drums of war in the back of her head, she decided to ignore it for now and relax.
A/N: tell me what you think? 3