The Great Hall was filled with what felt like a thousand people-the roar of many voices and laughter alone made Lyanna feel as if she were lost in a great sea. Her family was seated at a long wooden table and Lyanna was seated between Ned and Benjen, with Brandon on the other side of Ned beside their father and then Howland Reed, the man she had saved earlier that day, was sitting on the other side of Benjen.
Even though it was her family, in some ways Lyanna felt very trapped and caged in in that moment.
The feast had begun with Jaime Lannister being knighted, his father Tywin and twin sister Cersei standing by proudly as he was given a golden cloak of the King's Guard and then sent on his way, surprisingly back to King's Landing. Most had thought the young knight would stay and compete in the Tourney, but it seemed as if the King had other plans. Now they were all seated, enjoying the last remnants of the feast before small groupings would form and people would either chat or dance.
Lyanna knew she would be forced in to a dance with Robert, who was seated at the table right in front of them and kept looking at her from over his shoulder. They had only a few moments together without her brother's or father hovering and Lyanna had held her tongue through all of it. Robert was nice and he seemed to genuinely have feelings for her, but Lyanna found his talk of battles, horses and his prowess dull. Perhaps that sort of chatter worked on the barmaids and wenches in the taverns along the King's Road, but for Lyanna it was pathetic and boastful.
Breathing deep-for she had to take as few breaths as possible as Lyanna had been strapped in to a beautiful but very tight dress that made it very hard to breathe. Her dress was of a dark grey material-almost so dark that she imagined if she wanted to vanish all she need do would be to stand in front of the stone walls of the castle and it was embellished with a dark blue pattern that many stated complimented her eyes.
Lyanna was miserable, bored and feeling sluggish after all of the food and the single glass of wine that her father had allowed her to sip on through the evening. Benjen had also been given a glass, but he took one sip, scrunched his nose and refused to touch the remainder of it. Lyanna was tempted to sneak his glass and replace it with her empty one so that she could drink until she felt numb, but too many eyes were watching. Including a pair of deep indigo ones that she had not expected.
The Royal Family-which only consisted of the King and his eldest son Rhaegar-were seated at the highest table, overlooking them all as they supped and talked amongst themselves. The first time she had caught his eye Rhaegar seemed to be observing her shyly, almost as if he didn't want her to catch him at it. Lyanna thought little of it, until she happened to glance up and caught him openly staring at her. His long nearly white blonde hair was pushed back, the ends of it curling down towards his shoulders and when she caught him he only smiled, nodded his head and looked away from her.
Why would he stare at her? Lyanna couldn't help but wonder this throughout the evening, but she knew that her silent question should remain that way-silent and unanswered.
Finally it seemed as if everyone had finished eating and Lyanna sighed with happiness as that meant she could soon vanish back in to her chamber. However just when she thought all was said and done, Lyanna looked up to see that Rhaegar had left his seat beside his father and was now sitting on the ledge of the platform his table was on with a small golden harp in hand.
Was the Prince going to perform for them?
Lyanna felt herself sit up straighter in her seat and soon enough her ears were filled with a soft melody that made her heart ache just a fraction. Rhaegar sat there, strumming the strings of his harp as his voice rang out in the now silent hall and Lyanna felt herself captured by the sincere heartbreak in his voice. The song was one of his own writing-at least that she could tell-and it quickly brought a tear to her grey eyes.
The Prince sang of a woman, so beautiful that she was desired by many and yet that very woman felt trapped by all of the things given to her in life. As Rhaegar sang and he sang very well, Lyanna felt a connection form between them and she felt in her heart that if anyone in this room understood her-even just a little bit-it seemed that the Prince was that one soul among many. Too soon for her liking the song was over and Lyanna reached in to her sleeve to pull out her handkerchief to dab at her eyes.
"Lya please tell me you aren't blubbering like a babe at that stupid song." A voice spoke out from beside her and Lyanna whipped her head to find Benjen rubbing at his eyes and laughing at her tears.
"Oh shut up Ben!" Lyanna whispered harshly, hoping that no one had heard her brother's teasing.
"Typical...Lyanna you'll cry at anything!" Ben said more loudly this time and Lyanna felt her temper flare. She said nothing as she reached for Ben's still full glass of wine and then swiftly turned it upside over top his head and smirked at the red liquid splashed down his face and on to his lap.
"Lyanna!" She heard her brother Ned say and Lyanna only smiled unashamed as she rose and then looked ahead of her. She wasn't sure, but Lyanna could of sworn that Prince Rhaegar had seen the entire exchange and was now smirking at her besting her younger brother.
Soon enough the dancing began and Lyanna found herself being swept in to the arms of her betrothed Robert Baratheon. He spun her around, her dress swirling around her ankles as the lively tune played on from a small dais on the right of the King's platform. Lyanna looked around her, Robert's words drowning in her ears as she tried to see where the Prince was. He couldn't be spotted and with disappointment Lyanna tried to tune back in to the man holding her a little too tightly.
"I really do think you'll love Storm's End my lady-it's a bit cold at night but we'll have plenty of time to warm eachother up." He was saying and Lyanna jumped at his loud laughter to his own crude joke. Robert was a lot of things, but being a gentlemen wasn't among those attributes.
"Oh Robert..." Lyanna said, plastering a small smile on her lips as she looked up at him and their eyes connected. His eyes were very blue and always crinkled in the corners from laughter, but when her grey eyes met his-nothing happened. They just stared at one another silently for a moment.
"Are you alright my lady? I didn't step on your foot did I?" Robert asked and for once Lyanna smiled a genuine smile at him.
"No-no you didn't. I only fear that my being homesick for Winterfell once I arrive at Storm's End will make you dislike me..." Lyanna said. It was only a half truth-she would be sick for Winterfell and for her brother's, but she worried not about how it would make Robert feel.
"Ah well, I'm sure with some time you'll grow to love my home at Storm's End and will make it your own." He stated simply and Lyanna bit down on her lower lip.
"Do you have a Godswood there my Lord?" She couldn't help but ask and would silently judge Robert on his answer.
"A small one left over from a time since passed. However my lady if you would like to cultivate it and make yourself a peaceful place to retreat to I would have no objections." Robert said with a sweet smile. Lyanna knew he would not deny her, but she hesitated to believe him fully-only time would tell.
"Thank you my Lord-the Godswood at Winterfell in very important to me." She stated and felt her heart beat rise to her throat as they stopped dancing and he led her over to a more quiet and secluded area.
"I'm well aware my lady-Ned spent many hours in the Godswood in the Vale when we were boys and he oft spoke of the one at your home." Robert said as he leaned up against the stone pillar behind him and crossed one arm over his massive chest while his other hand held hers tightly.
"So you're okay if I still pray and pay respects to the Old Gods-the ones who mean the most to me?" She asked, her heart beating a thunderous rhythm as she waited for his answer.
"I do not mind my love. I won't always agree with your believe in them and I will insist that our children be brought to know the Seven, but you may worship as you choose...in private." He added the last bit on quietly and Lyanna felt her heart stop.
In private-which in her mind meant that she could have a Godswood, but no one could know about it or be taken there. At the mention of children Lyanna felt her stomach turn and she could not explain why. She loved the small children that ran around Winterfell and she had adored Benjen as a small boy before he gained the ability to speak with such a sharp tongue. So why would Robert mentioning children make her feel so ill? Could it be that it was because they would be children she would have with him? Possibly.
"O-of course my Lord." Lyanna said, her face even keeled as to not reveal her true feelings. Robert disgusted her-he played the part of a great and understanding man, but she knew deep down that he was out for his own pleasures and his alone.
Robert smiled down at her-picturing her as the dutiful wife that she would one day become once he broke her of her wild nature. As a young girl it was perfectly fine for Lyanna to run about on horses and defending strangers from getting their wits beat out of them, but as a Lady of Storm's End Robert would see to it that Lyanna learned her part to play. She was beautiful and lively-his true hope was that she would be just as lively in their chambers as she was in front of a Royal Court.
"Ex-excuse me my Lady, but may I have this next dance?" Someone had walked up to him and just as Robert was about to tell the lad off, Lyanna spoke up.
"Sir Reed! Of course-I did say you owed me a dance after saving your neck today! Come, come..." She said, leaving Robert to stand there as she walked off with the Crannogman Reed. Robert felt a sour taste rise up in his throat as he watched his Lyanna swirl around in the arms of another man.
Robert crossed his large arms over his chest as he leaned back and watched Lyanna dance. She was so full of life and so joyous at every turn-a complete opposite from her elder brother and his best friend. Robert knew that Lyanna would make a good wife-dutiful and loving-and he was hoping she was just as Ned was in the ways of honor. Robert liked many things in life, but he loved only a few-his war hammer, taverns and Lyanna Stark. He would probably never give up any of those things, but he expected Lyanna to bend to his will all the same.
"Don't look so brooding-the best part of this entire event starts tomorrow." Someone said from beside him and Robert only smirked as he looked and saw that Ned had joined him.
"Watching your lovely sister dance with another man makes my blood boil Ned." Robert said as both men watched as Lyanna danced without shame-her long flowing brown hair fall down her back as her head was thrown backwards in a roar of laughter.
"You'll be the only one to dance with her soon enough Robert." Ned said, seeing that watching the dance before them really did have Robert bothered.
"Will I Ned? I know I'm not one to talk but just look at her-look at how she is..." Robert said and pointed off towards Lyanna. She was still dancing with Howland and Ned noticed that she looked much happier and at ease dancing with the Crannogman than she did with her betrothed.
"Robert I don't think you have anything to worry about...truthfully Lyanna is incredibly excited to marry you come next year." Ned said, hoping that his tone would put Robert to ease. His best friend was so hot tempered and easily riled that Ned wasn't sure how the Lord of Storm's End and his sister were going to survive a marriage to one another.
"We'll see Ned...we'll see..." Was all Robert said before storming off towards the back of the room near the door to the kitchen.
Ned watched him go, sure that Robert would take out his aggression on some poor kitchen girl and then pass out drunk until morning. Instead of following his best friend, Ned stood by and watched as Lyanna danced happily, finishing her dance with Reed before taking the hand of some knight from a small house that had been eyeing her all evening. There was no harm in it...
...at least not yet.
A/N-thanks again for all of the reviews!