A/N: I changed the color of Lya's hair to being black originally. I went and changed it in the chapter but I'm not entirely sure if it worked. Anyway her hair is black, for now.
Thwack! I close my eyes tighter against the noise. Thwack! I groan and shift. Thwack! I open my eyes, and see Arya standing with my bow at the end of my bed, shooting sticks at the wall. "What are you doing?" I ask struggling to get my hand out from under the blankets so I can itch my eyes.
Arya jumps and looks at me, lowering the bow, "you're awake?"
"Of course I'm awake. You're making all that noise. What are you doing?"
"I get the bow if you die. Well, you're not going to die now," she says blushing.
"What do you mean if I die?" I finally get my hand out and rub my eye roughly.
"You've been sleeping with a fever for two weeks now."
I glance around the room and see Catelyn in a chair her head thrown back snoring slightly. "How the hell is she sleeping through your noise?"
"Maester Luwin gave her some sleepy tea. She refuses to sleep or leave your side. We all thought you were going to die."
"Well I didn't."
"Arya! Mum is trying to sleep!" Robb declares barging in.
"But Robb she's awake," his eyes find mine.
"Go get Maester Luwin," he orders. She puts the bow down and runs out. He comes around to the side of the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine, like I need a bath."
"You've had some fever."
"So I've heard. How'd you find me?"
"Bran saw you climbing the wall. That's impressive you know?"
"I was scared to death the whole time."
"What were you doing out there? That water was freezing, and you were half dead."
"There was a light, and I wanted it. I'm not really sure I remember," I say shaking my head.
He nods sitting on the bed, "about what I said before at dinner, about your father. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."
"It's OK. Really. I- I understand where you're coming from. How long will she sleep for?" I look over at Catelyn trying to change the subject.
"I'm not entirely sure. She's barely slept at all worrying over you. I'm not sure she would have made it if you hadn't."
"What about Bran and Rickon, they need her more?"
"You're her baby now. We missed out on years of your life, important years, and it would destroy her to lose you again," a confused look passes across his face.
"What?" he reaches out and puts a hand on my cheek. I look at it but he tilts my face up so I'm looking at him.
"Nothing, I thought, never mind."
"Lord Robert, I wish to speak with Lady Lya alone."
"Yes Maester. I'll go tell Father."
"Good, I wish to speak with him," I say.
"How are you feeling?"
"Perfectly fine. Can I take a bath?"
"As soon as I'm done. Nothing hurts?"
"No, I want to get up and do something."
"And you can move everything?"
I wiggle my fingers for him, doing the same with my toes under the blankets, "yes, everything is working fine." He peers into my eyes, the same confused look Robb wore passing through it. "What?" I ask.
"A moment," he picks up a candle and holds it closer to my face. I flinch slightly but his hand is steady and I relax watching him. "You're eyes, they're changing color," he grabs my hand gentle in his firm grip and examines the skin. He lets it fall, and then fingers my dark locks, eyeing them. I do the same and he moves up looking at the top of my head. "You're roots, they look lighter," he sits down next to me. "What do you remember about the other night?"
I shrug, "some light, climbing, wanting the light from the water. I don't really know Maester Luwin is it?"
"Yes. Well, no following any lights. No over exerting yourself. I shall call up the maids to run you a bath."
"What about Catelyn?"
"She'll be awake for a good surprise by supper. I promise."
I reach up fixing my hair into a simple braid down my back. I tilt my head down and see golden blonde roots beginning to show on my head. "Robb was telling the truth!" Bran cries running in startling me and jumping on me. Rickon follows him and wraps his little body around my legs.
"Hi guys."
"You're awake!" Rickon says.
"Of course I'm awake," I smile at them.
"I saw you," Bran whispers into my ear. I gently put him down and move back to sit on the bed. They sit on the floor at my feet.
"Mama was sad."
"Well, she'll be happy now. Right Bran?"
"Yes Rickon she will be so happy."
"I'm going to go tell Arya!" he gets up and runs out. I can't help but smile after him.
"I saw you," Bran says a little louder. "Climbing the walls I mean. It scared me at first, I didn't think you were human, but then I saw you stand at the top and I knew it was you."
"Yes, well it was extremely high, and I hope I never do it again." He lets out a sigh and collapses back onto the floor. "What?"
"Well I was hoping you could be my…"
"You're what?"
"Climbing buddy. It's so much fun, and I could help you get down and everything."
"I don't know Bran, it was terrifying."
"That's because it was night time. Come here I'll show you," he takes my hand dragging me after him. I follow him down the stairs and out to the courtyard. "Stay here," he says. He begins to pull himself up and watching him sends chills through me, my heart starting to race.
It takes me a moment to realize it is a thrill not fear that is effecting me. He seems extremely confident, and knows what he's doing. And I want to follow him. "What are you doing?" I turn to see Jon. The sight of him makes me remember my fear and I firmly decide that I will not be leaving the ground for such heights for a long time.
"Watching Bran."
"Lady Catelyn is going to have a hemorrhage."
"She's sleeping. Maester Luwin gave her some sleepy tea or something. He said she won't wake 'til dinner time."
"You scared us you know?"
"Oh even you Jon Snow?"
"Oh, I'm not afraid of anything."
"I think you're lying," I look back up at Bran who is nearing the top. "I think you're afraid of Lady Catelyn. Whooo!" I cheer up at him. "You made it."
"Of course I did." he says standing up to face us, looking down.
"Hey Lord Bran get down from there right now!" a stable hand orders rushing over.
"You'll have to catch me first!" he calls down.
"I swear, that boy is going to fall and break his neck."
"Bran, come down here right now!" Ned says startling me by yelling from right behind me.
"Yes, Father," he says getting down.
"Thanks for the help you two."
"He's an excellent climber."
"I hear you are two."
I blush, "yes, well I didn't really enjoy that all too much. I don't think I like the openness of it. Trees, are so much easier."
"I think Bran would agree. He's always had a knack for climbing. Maybe it runs in the family," I look down.
"Maybe," I nod.
"Something seems different about you Lya."
"Her eyes, they are turning a purplish color," Jon Snow says.
"And my hair, it's turning blonde."
"What was in the water?" he asks.
"A light."
"We'll have to go out and see it together. C'mon, get Silver."
"NIce talking with you Jon," I say walking towards the stables, as Bran lands next to Ned.
"Not again today Bran, please. I don't think your mother can take much more stress. What with Lya and the-," I don't hear anymore as I enter the stables and find Silver.
I pat her nose and feed her some hay out of my hand talking to her. I tell her about the odd occurrence at the pond, and how my features seemed to be changing. "Lord Ned, is looking for you Lya," a stable boy says.
"Thank you," I gently rub down Silver's nose as I put her reigns on and then lead her out to the courtyard.
"Do you know how to ride with a saddle?" Ned asks from a top his own horse.
"Yes."
"Then how about you do that? I'm sure it'll be more comfortable."
"Not really. I feel better this way."
"It's up to you," he says. I climb up and follow him out past the gate. "Now, show me where you remember going." I leave the path and find where I had came down from the wall.
"I landed here," I say. "And then I went straight," I direct Silver the way I had gone, and Ned follows wordlessly. "The light was in that pond there," I motion to it. I slip down off of Silver, and go and kneel by it, but there is nothing. I'm tempted to dive in and look for something, anything that may remain of what I had seen. I'm about to when I'm brought back to being here with Ned.
"I come here to pray," he says. "It's comforting. I come here after executions. I came here when we got back." I look over at Ned who is sitting in front of the Heart tree, the same eyes watching me as the night I had came.
"I've met the family now," I say.
"That you have. I have come here many times but I have never seen the pond glowing."
"I haven't ever seen a pond glow until then either," I wait.
"Do you wish to stay with us?"
"I wish to see the inn. I wish to go back."
"I understand. I made a deal with you."
"I didn't say I wasn't coming back. Ned, I feel like I belong here. I guess in some way. I only wish to search the house again. Look for any clues." I trace the face on the Heart tree feeling the hardened sap bumpy under my fingers.
"We'll try to find a time. After the King leaves."
"The King leaves? What do you mean after the King leaves?"
"The King is coming here. I think to ask me to be his Hand. I am not entirely sure. Anyway, he has to have a reason for coming. Once he's gone, I will take you to explore the inn."
"So you're going to say no? To King Robert?"
"I have to deal with everything here."
"But it is a great honor."
"And one I don't really want. Come we should go back before Catelyn wakes up. I'm glad that you wish to stay with us," Ned says. I give him a small smile and nod and start to turn.
I am no longer in the woods, but instead standing on the ground watching Bran fall. Then I am in his room looking down on him, and he is lying there a deathly look about him. I blink and I am staring at the face of the Heart tree.
"Are you coming?" Ned asks. I blink furiously and reach up massaging my temples before shrugging it off and climbing back up onto my horse and following Ned along the path to get home.
