Lyarra regard her cousin; Edric, with a raised eyebrow as she paused in her training as Edric bend over panting with his hands on his knees.
"Y-You have been chosen by Dawn to participate in the Trials." Edric wheezed out as Lyarra handed him a goblet of water before the woman crossed her arms.
"Are you serious?" Lyarra inquired with suspicious tone as she wiped her forehead with a rag to remove her sweat. "Dayne women don't wield Dawn."
"Dawn has chosen you," Edric frowned at her but Lyarra ruffled his hair fondly. "Why are you not rejoicing?"
Lyarra brushed her dark hair out of her eyes as she stared at Edric, "The reason is that I don't think I'm capable of wielding Dawn like Uncle Arthur did. I'm not a legendary swordswoman and I'm baseborn." Lyarra walked away as she loosen her braid.
"Dawn doesn't care if you are a bastard, Lya." Edric started after her. "I think Father believes you can do it but why can't you? I believe you can do it."
"It's not about my confidence about winning or whatever just that I don't believe that I should have been chosen."
"You are a warrior just like Uncle Arthur." Edric protested as he tugged on her sleeve. "Everytime we practice you beat me."
"That's cause you're just starting out and I have more experience than you do, Ned." Edric frowned as he grabbed Lyarra's hand to drag her with him looking for her father. The two entered Starfall's courtyard where servants smiled at the Starfall's heir and bastard. The two climbed the spiral staircase up to the Great Hall. Entering the Great Hall, Edric release Lyarra's hand to run to his father who smiled at the two.
"Lyarra," Allryia hugged her ward tightly as Lyarra hugged her aunt just as tight. "I wish you good fortune in the battles to come."
"My Lord," Maester Rolan staggered in, his chain clanking together as the elderly man entered the hall. "News from King's Landing." The maester handed the note to Lord Williem who quickly slide open the letter. Lyarra watched as her uncle took a shaky inhale as he gripped the letter with one hand.
"Lord Eddard Stark has been beheaded by the orders of Prince Joffrey Baratheon." Williem announced to them. Edric looked down at his shoes as Allyria hugged Lyarra tightly. "Please, sit down, Lya. We have some important news to inform you of before you enter the trials."
Edric sat in front of his father and Lyarra sat in front of Allyria. Williem sighed heavily, "My sister, Ashara is your biological mother and Brandon Stark is your biological father."
Lyarra inhaled sharply as she stared at Williem in shock, "I…"
"You are still my niece. I love you as my own, Lyarra." Williem reach for Lyarra's hand to hold it with his larger hand. "Ashara would be so proud of you, Lya."
Lyarra covered her mouth as her eyes watered as Edric wrapped his skinny arm around her to hug her. Allyria smiled sadly at Lyarra, "This won't change anything, Lyarra. You are still our family."
Lyarra closed her eyes to collect herself before opening them, a beautiful shade of midnight blue eyes sang with determination as she stood. "I accept the challenge of the Trials of Dawn."
"Good," Williem smiled. "Go prepare for the other chosen and Prince Doran to arrive in Starfall in the late evening or tomorrow morning."
Lyarra watched as her cousin left the room as she looked at her uncle and aunt. Williem raised his eyebrows as Lyarra's nails bite into the palm of her hand.
"Why did you keep this away from me?" Lyarra managed out as she sat back in the chair.
"Lord Eddard Stark requested for us to. He had loved your mother but Brandon got to her first." Allyria explained. "I believe he said that he wanted to keep Ashara's and Brandon's reputation stay in a positive light and to keep you safe."
"From whom?" Lyarra furrowed her eyebrow. "Why should I be in danger?"
"You were born out of wedlock and… your father was betrothed to Catelyn Tully before his death." Williem leaned forward to rest his arms on the table. "As you know, Lord Stark has a bastard son named Jon who stayed at Winterfell raised along with his trueborn children and Lady Stark… was not happy about this."
"So if he took me with him when Lord Stark gave Dawn back then I would be treated with disdain?" Lyarra supplied as she looked at the table. "..."
Lyarra was at lost for words as she thought about Lady Ashara and Lord Brandon. During the Tourney of Harrenhal, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen had crowned Lady Lyanna Stark as the Queen of Love and Beauty and scorning his wife, Princess Elia Martell. Her father was supposedly red with fury saying the prince had dishonored her aunt. During one of the days that the dancing happened, her lady mother had danced with her brother, Barristan Selmy, Prince Oberyn Martell, Lord Jon Connington and finally with Eddard Stark after her father talked to her. That tourney caused Robert's Rebellion; a pretty name for a war of the usurper, when the Mad King called for the heads of Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark when her father demanded justice as the prince kidnapped Lyanna. In the end, the usurper won the war and Eddard went to get his sister from the Tower of Joy. Her uncles fought leaving only Eddard Stark and Howland Reed as the survivors of the fight.
"Go prepare, Lyarra." Her uncle's voice took her out of her thoughts. Lyarra nodded as she rose out of her seat.
Lyarra exit the Great Hall and stopped to look up at Palestone Sword where her mother jumped from and into the sea. Lyarra turned away from the tower and headed towards the Moon Gate where the chosen and the prince would arrive to Starfall.