Leve angrily slashed the dummy, letting out her frustration and anger. Nearby, Lady and Moon rested at the root of a tree in the shade. The reason she was angry was because Edric went with Beric Dondarrion to execute Ser Gregor Clegane for murder and treason, on orders of her uncle, the Hand of the King, and had left her behind. Leve wanted to go to see Eddard and the girls but everyone protested and stopped her from leaving.
So that was why she was attacking the dummy furiously, even more so than Jon. Her wolf pendant bounced off her chest as she practiced her sword playing. She wore a pale-yellow thin-strapped top with chiffon roses sewn on, long matching pale-yellow pants with a sheer sparkling fabric overlay and light-brown leather sandals. Her dark hair was gathered back with a single summer rose woven in.
"Milady, your aunt Allyria wishes a word with you." Wylla spoke from the door to inside the kitchen, afraid of Leve's swinging sword and violent mood. "And she requests you to dress like a lady."
Leve let out a groan just before she slashed the dummy's head right off.
As requested, Leve came to Allyria dressed beautifully. She looked so much older and graceful. She wore a plum-coloured dress that clung to her body so nicely, it gave her a slim appearance. The dress was tight, with long sleeves and an off-shoulder style that bared her shoulders almost entirely and the plum dress reached her thighs with a slit on the side. Under the short skirt flowed a long peach chiffon skirt with summer roses sewn on. She walked in on purple flats studded with tiny crystals. Her hair was combed more nicely in an updo with a summer rose still there and she replaced her summer roses crown with one that looked like a branch with silver leaves, tiny crystal flowers along and white flowers at a side. Silver earrings with teardrop-shaped amethysts hung from her ears, framing her face.
With her pale skin, violet eyes, dark hair and curves in the right places, she was the perfect Dayne lady just as her mother was. But her strong face, broad shoulders, her pale skin as white as snow, 'wolf blood' and the wolf's head pendant she refused to part from said 'Stark'.
The Daynes kept her hidden since her birth and Ashara's death. To keep her safe. But she didn't want to be safe. She wanted to live.
"Yes, aunt Allyria?"
Allyria looked fearful as she looked to her niece. "Leve…there has been a proposal…"
To say the least, Leve was surprised. "A proposal? From who?"
"Ser Gerold Dayne."
"Darkstar?" Her distant cousin wanted to marry her?
"Gerold Dayne," Allyria corrected in a proper, stern tone. "Wishes to have you as his wife and mother of his children."
"Have me?" Leve growled. "What am I, an object? He asked you, not me, as if you could give me to him!"
"This is an honour for any woman."
"He is a cruel man who bedded over dozens of women and you expect me to marry him? Not long after you rejected his proposal?" Her wolf's anger quickly took over. "You think a knight isn't good enough for you but your bastard niece is!"
"Leve-"
But Leve had already angrily left with a twirl of her skirt. She was running down the hall when a man blocked her way, allowing her to crash into her and got caught in strong arms.
She looked up to a cruel smirk. "Milady."
"Darkstar." She deadpanned.
"You don't seem happy."
She glared at him. "Of course I'm not happy. You really think weaselling will help things fall to your favour?"
He chuckled darkly. "My dear, you are exaggerating this too much."
"Your proposal is more like a death sentence. You like my face and body, not my mind."
"Your beauty is enough for me." He grabbed her roughly before she could escape. His hands harshly run over her body. "Hmm…the beauty of the seven kingdoms in my hands…"
"Your princess wouldn't like to hear that." She sneered, struggling to break free. She knew that the Princess Arianne Martell held special affection for the cruel Dayne. "Anyway…" She finally broke free from his iron grip and lifted her skirt to swing her leg and kicked him where all men were vulnerable. "I will never marry you! I won't let you let have me if we were the last two people alive!"
Darkstar groaned, holding his sore balls. His face was angry and his eyes darkened even more. "You should be thanking me for even considering you! You're nothing but a bastard and that's what you ever will be!"
She gave him a slap so powerful, he was thrown back. She ran up the tower to her room, slamming the door behind, almost knocking it off its hinges. Then she screamed out her anger and frustration. She howled like a wolf before dropping to her knees and wept.
Moon and Lady were on her bed. They hopped down and came over. Moon nuzzled her, his thick, long fur soft to the touch, and Lady licked her face. Leve hugged them with her arms around their big necks.
She was sick and tired of being a star kept in the dark.
The next howl she gave was when she received word of her dear uncle's execution. She had fell where she stood, Allyria and Wylla rushing to her sides as she broke down, crying herself to exhaustion.
She didn't have much remorse for the death of the king. He wasn't family. And she hated his son for sentencing Ned for treason against him. She didn't believe Ned would do such a thing. He was too loyal for his own good.
"That monster!" She screamed. "He's probably torturing Sansa and Arya right now!"
If Robert was an irresponsible drunken fool and a horrible king to boot, then his spoiled, ill-tempered son would be much worse.
The Usurper's son usurped him. That was the way she saw it.
She wanted to take King's Landing by herself, rescue her cousins and overthrow Joffery, but the Daynes had predicted her recklessness given to her by her father and had her carried off to her room. Darkstar threw her in quite roughly and bolted the door. The windows were sealed with metal.
A caged wolf was a dangerous thing.
She went wild, trying to escape, to break free. She banged on the door, screaming to release her. She didn't cry. She was too strong for that.
She succeeded. By throwing herself at the door and knocking it down.
Since King's Landing was too dangerous even for her, she was going to the North for her cousin Robb. Apparently he was King of the North.
Leve stared herself in the mirror. Her hair was in a bun with a summer rose pinned in it. Her left ear showed a gold earcuff curled in ear with dangling gold threads with tiny charms of moons and stars. She wore a mauve strapless jumpsuit with harem legs and golden trimmed flowers sewn on the strapless bodice, along with light-brown boots going only to her ankles with brown high heels and tan fur at the front under dark-brown leather straps, and a spotless white fur cape tied at the collar with thick furry flaps. Her wolf pendant peeped out from underneath the thick furry ties. She finished in putting on thick brown leather gloves on her hands. In her bag, she had her 'shooting stars', actually shuriken, and her morning star weapon.
She took a deep breath. "I am the Shooting Star. A rose with thorns, a shooting star with a trail of fire." She said her warrior words determinedly.
"And the Sword of the Morning."
Startled, she turned around. Her aunt Allyria was at her door, holding a sword in her delicate lady's hands. The blade of the sword was milky white, pale as milkglass and the handle was solid strong silver. She recognized it as Dawn, Ser Arthur's greatsword, passed down through House Dayne for centuries. The sword was said to be forged from the heart of a fallen star thousands of years ago with a star in the centre.
Allyria approached her, holding out the greatsword. "Brandon wouldn't want his pretty little girl go unarmed in this dangerous world." She smiled kindly, allowing her niece to reach out and take the sword. "I was planning on giving it to Edric…but you need it more."
Leve couldn't find the words to describe her overwhelming excitement and gratitude at the honour of wielding Dawn. "I…I…"
"We only want you to be safe. It's not like our house to keep a star in the dark, especially one who burns ever so brightly."
"I always thought you were ashamed of me."
"No, of course not." Allyria touched her cheek. "We believe you are the star that was prophesied to shine in a time of darkness and bring light. If anything, we are proud."
Whatever resentment she has to her family, it washed away when it was deemed she, not her trueborn cousin, worthy to bear famed uncle Arthur's sword, and even more, she has a prophesy about her.
So she hugged Allyria tightly. Her aunt hugged back, hiding her falling tears. They shared a friendly Dornish kiss, a brush like feathery touch.
Then Leve ran out of Starfall with Moon and Lady running alongside her as she ran to the nearest port and took a ship to the North.
It took at least weeks to reach North. But she made it just like last time.
She found a camp with banners. Banners of Karstark, Umber, Glover, Stark and others. It was Robb's camp.
The men stared at her as she rode in. Not a lady riding side-saddle on a horse with a lady-in-waiting at her side, but a warrior woman riding one leg at each side on a large wolf with a pretty she-wolf named Lady at her side instead. But at least they found that she was the most beautiful woman they ever saw.
A woman bravely approached her. Her beauty was dark, dark-haired, dark-eyed and dark-skinned, and looked exotic even by her half-Dornish standards.
Leve got down from Moon. "I'm looking for King Robb."
"Who should I ask his grace is looking for him?" The dark beauty questioned.
"His cousin."
The woman walked away and went into a tent. Leve waited for a second to pass and then she heard a shout of joy from inside and Robb ran out, shouting her name.
"Leve!" He scooped her up into his arms and spun her around as she laughed. Grey Wind rejoiced with his sister and cousin.
The dark beauty watched the cousins, smiling. But Lady Stark wasn't smiling. She was frowning.
Leve looked to Robb once he set her down, eyes piercing sadly into his'.
"I heard about Ned."
His happiness melted away to sadness. He hugged her and she hugged him back, both embraced in remorse.
"The girls are still in King's Landing." She told him, pulling back.
He caressed her face. "We'll talk tonight."
They let go of each other, Robb taking her hand. The dark beauty walked passed them and Robb watched her leave with a soft, dazed look on his face.
Leve smirked, knowingly just what was wrong with him. "Who is she, dear cousin?"
"Talisa. She's a healer from across the sea."
"I thought so. She's darker than typical Dornish."
But then Catelyn came over and frowned at them. "Remember, Robb, you are not to love where you will."
Leve made a face at her behind her back.
"What's that woman doing with a sword?" Greatjon demanded, the first thing that happened the minute Leve entered in the tent with Robb for a meeting.
Leve instantly flew into a rage, waving Dawn around expertly. "I am the Sword of the Morning! If I hear any more sexism from you, I will cut off your manhood and we'll see who has a place in war!"
"Oh hells," Robb groaned, beginning to feel like Ned and Jon dealing with Leve.
But the Greatjon flew into a hearty laugh. "A wild lass, you are. I like you."
"Keep your liking to yourself. I am Lady Leve Dayne, King Robb's cousin."
"Dayne?"
"I heard rumours of Ashara Dayne sleeping with the Stark brothers." Roose Bolton, his calculating eyes studying her.
"No, only Brandon slept with Ashara and he married her. Shortly later, I was born."
"A bastard then." He scoffed and waved a hand as if she was a dish not to his liking.
"Oh for gods' sake, grow up, will you all! Bastardy is just a status, just like nobility and royalty. You just need a piece of paper to change everything." She pointed her sword to the men in the tent. "A piece of paper can take everything you have away. But if you try to do anything with me, I'll cut you as easily as paper!"
The room went silent…until the Greatjon boomed, "You are most certainly Brandon's child! Queen in the North!"
"Queen in the North!"
"Queen in the North!"
Leve actually blushed at the hailing and turned to Robb, finding him smiling.
"My lords listen to you better than they do to me." Robb said to her as they walked through camp, their three wolves following at behind.
"You need to show them the wolf you are." Leve nudged him playfully.
And then Catelyn came hurrying looking pale, accompanied by the woman who looked like a man, Brienne Tarth.
"Mother?" Robb asked, concerned.
Catelyn only passed him, surprising him and Leve. Brienne swiftly turned her head back to a tent, bearing a strange, soft gaze and quickly turned back, following her lady.
No one saw it. No one but Leve.
Curious, Leve entered the tent and found Jaime Lannister in a cell.
He looked up with a charming smirk. "Ah…the wolf from the south. You're beautiful as a warrior as a lady I saw you last."
"Save your sweet-talking for the real ladies." Sheremembered Jaime from her short visit. All her time was devoted to her cousins so she never paid much notice to him or the Lannisters and Joffery was an annoyance the whole time. "Lady Stark came out of here looking pale. Explain why."
The arrogant knight was oddly coordinative. "She asked me questions and she didn't like the answers."
"What you tell her?"
"I pushed Bran."
There was a deadly silence.
"So…it was you!" She slammed on the bars, viciously snarling at him. Truth be told, she scared him.
"Anything else?" She hissed, seething with anger.
"I am the true father of Cersei's three children."
That threw her off. "You are?"
"Yes. Don't you remember? They all have golden hair and green eyes of the Lannisters and all of Robert's bastards have the looks of Baratheon."
Leve thought about it, shocked by the secret. Robert practically had thousands of bastards all over the seven kingdoms. And he wasn't the father of his trueborn children? If this gets out, then Joffery would lose the throne. But that would mean another Game of Thrones.
"But what about Brienne? What does she have anything to do with this?"
"She's my wife of course."
She practically tripped in shock. "You…and Brienne…are…married?" She stared at him, disbelieved. "How do I know this is not a lie?"
"Ask Brienne yourself."
She pressed her lips in a thin line. Her eyes haunted him. "When a woman fucks two men, people call her a whore. You're fucking your twin sister and secret wife and they call you a man. I call you a man-whore."
Jaime chuckled at her feistiness. "Is that what you call Robert?"
"You and the old drunk. Now…why did you marry Brienne in the first place?"
"We met through Robert and his brother Renly. We fell in love. We married in secret. My father will want me to marry to gain money and influence. He tried many times but Cersei prevented every betrothal attempt. She wants me for herself, even when she's fucking several other men. She's just as bad as Robert." His eyes were begging her. "Cersei is poison. She poisoned me and I fear she'll poison my true love and our child."
"Your child? You have a fourth?"
"Lorwyn, for Loren Lannister and Selwyn Tarth. He's hidden as a bastard for safety, but his grandfather adores him."
She stared at him for a long time, making a difficult decision. Then, she spoke. "That better be the truth or else I will rip you apart for lying and crippling Bran."
"I know it is."
As she walked through camp at night, she wasn't sure whenever or not to tell Robb what Jaime told her. Catelyn clearly hadn't since Robb hadn't changed from earlier. If the kingdoms knew Joffery wasn't anyway a Baratheon, he would be gladly booted off the Iron Throne. But that would threaten his innocent, younger and truly nicer siblings.
Decisions, decisions.
But her cousin was distracted by fury of the escape of Jaime, not to mention Theon had took Winterfell and killed Bran and Rickon. It got worse when Catelyn confessed it was she who freed him in order to trade her daughters.
"Oh hells." Leve muttered, watching her cousin loose his fury even more, ordering his own mother's imprisonment.
Leve tried to see Robb afterwards to comfort him, only to find him being 'comforted' by Talisa.
"Seven hells…" She swore again.