AN: here comes chapter 7 I hope you all enjoy

Chase Manaena: thanks once again for the constant support

Xbolt51: first off good catch on the Maester I corrected it. And I'm glad you like Ned/Ashara they are a very central part of this fic. Can't answer about Brandon and Catelyn you will just have to read

Kaiser Chris: thanks for the comments the whole ASOIAF landscape will be changed by the time of the sequel I have planned. Sorry not much Robert/Lyanna plenty of Lyanna if that's a consolation I think this is my longest chapter yet.

Lyanna II

Lyanna looked up as the doors to the Sept opened. Ned entered followed closely by her betrothed: Robert Baratheon. Lyanna knew that she was meant to be getting to know her future husband during the tourney, yet she had not found it in herself to try to make a connection. She was not entirely at fault however as Robert had failed to reach out as well, Robert seemed more inclined to spend his time with his best friend, Ned, or drinking and feasting than pursuing Lyanna. Robert seemed to want to marry her as a way of reinforcing his connection to Ned. A part of Lyanna loathed Robert for this. She was reduced to a symbol of friendship rather than being her own person. Lyanna knew though, that such was the way of life for highborn women and had begun to make peace that fact, however that did not stop the jealousy she felt when she looked at Ned.

Her brother was conversing with Ashara Dayne. The two had spent a lot of time together over the past week and she wondered whether Ned might begin courting the Lady Ashara or at least start a correspondence with her after the tourney was over. The thought of that was what caused Lyanna's jealousy, while Ned was free to pursue Ashara someone who he had formed a connection with, Lyanna was in a forced relationship.

While Lyanna was brooding Brandon took his place by the septon in between the statues of the Mother and the Father. He had trimmed his hair and his beard and changed into a grey silk doublet with a personalized snarling direwolf to match his moniker of the wild wolf. On his back was the House Stark cloak that would soon be draped over Catelyn Tully's shoulders. It was grey with a white fur mantle and silver thread embroidering that Lyanna had spent the past two days working on since she had found out about Brandon's impending nuptials.

The Sept began to fill as the ceremony was to start soon. Lyanna looked around at all those in attendance. Elbert Arryn the heir of the Vale had come along with Lord Yohn Royce and some other nobles from the Vale. Oberyn Martell was there in his brother's stead as Doran had been recently diagnosed with gout and such a long journey would have been difficult for him. The pompous Lord Mace Tyrell along with his beautiful wife Alerie Tyrell née Hightower, according to rumor he had become lord of Highgarden when his father went out falconing and steered his horse off a cliff while watching the skies. The crown prince was there alongside his wife Princess Elia, Lyanna saw everything that she feared in an arranged marriage when watching the royal couple. Neither seemed attached to each other, only together because King Aerys had decreed it. She then turned towards where Robert was standing his brother Stannis was absent for some reason. Also absent was anyone from house Lannister, after Jaime's injury Cersei had not left her brothers side.

Finally the doors of the sept opened as Lord Hoster Tully entered with his daughter on his arm She wore a white dress as was customary in marriages before the seven. Over her shoulders was a long cloak with red and blue stripes and embroidered trout. Lyanna had to admit that she was quite beautiful. She turned towards Brandon who was smiling at the sight of his bride and came to a realization. Brandon and Catelyn had not chosen each other, if rumors were to be believed Brandon would have chosen his foster brothers betrothed Barbrey Ryswell, yet the two seemed happy with their marriage. Perhaps Lyanna could have the same. She needed to create her own happiness with Robert because she was not foolish enough to believe that there was any other destiny for her.

Catelyn Tully made it to where Brandon and the septon were waiting at the wedding alter. "Who gives this woman to be Wed?" The Septon began

"I do, her lord father," Hoster Tully said in response.

"And who claims her?"

"I do, to make her my lady wife," Brandon said. The two then knelt before the altar where they made their seven vows, seven promises , and seven blessings. Brandon and Catelyn recited their lines and the septon turned towards Hoster Tully "You may remove the cloak of her childhood house that she might be welcomed into her new house." Hoster did as instructed and the septon turned Brandon, "You may now cloak this woman as symbol of accepting her into your house and a guarantee of all the rights and protections that entails." Brandon removed the cloak from his shoulders and placed it over Catelyn's shoulders.

Brandon and Catelyn then turned to each other and in unison declared, "With this kiss I pledge my love and take you..."

"...for my lady and my wife," Brandon finished.

"...for my lord and my husband," Catelyn said at the same time. The newly married couple leaned in and gave each other a chaste kiss.

The ceremony was finished by the septon, "I now declare you man and wife. In the light of The Seven you are now one flesh, one heart, one soul now and forever."

Once again Lyanna had found herself in the hall of a hundred hearths. While only members of major houses had been invited to the actual wedding ceremony, all the nobility at the tourney had been invited to the feast. The wedding feast was almost as grand as the opening feast. Instead of being seated at the second table as she was in the opening feast she was now seated at the head table along with her family, the Tullys, Princess Elia, and finally Prince Rhaegar who was seated on her left.

"Forgive me my lady but I do not believe that we have been properly introduced," Rhaegar said to Lyanna with a smile. Lyanna was not a girl to swoon over a prince like, but she was still struck dumb for a fraction of a second at being addressed by the beautiful prince.

"Your grace my apologies I am Lyanna Stark only daughter of Lord Rickard Stark. It is a great pleasure to keep you company during this feast," Lyanna humbly responded.

"The pleasure is all mine my lady I am sure," The silver haired prince assured her. "Allow me to introduce my wife Princess Elia of Dorne." Prince Rhaegar motioned to the delicate olive skinned woman on his other side.

"It is a pleasure your grace," Lyanna said with a quick bow of her head, to which the Princess acknowledged with a nod before returning to a conversation with her uncle Ser Lewyn Martell of the kingsguard.

"So tell me Lady Lyanna are there certain topics of conversation that I should avoid if I wish to remain dry throughout the feast?" the prince asked.

Lyanna's eyes widened and her face paled, she was mortified that the crowned prince remembered her brash act. "Your grace I assure you I would never purposely pour wine on you," she hurriedly reassured the prince.

Rhaegar had an easy smile on his face, "There is no cause for alarm my lady, I was merely jesting. In hindsight I admit that it was in poor taste," Rhaegar said hoping to alleviate her embarrassment.

"No your grace I am the one who should apologise for distracting everyone from your song with my actions," she responded emphatically.

Rhaegar smiled and waved off the apology, "I think that your actions were quite timely as it made the crowd laugh after my melancholy song. Might I inquire as to why you poured a cup of wine over your brothers head?"

"He was teasing me for tearing up during your song your grace," Lyanna admitted reluctantly, realizing how silly she would come off to the prince.

"I am honored that my song was able to move you so my lady," Rhaegar told her sincerely. "Have you enjoyed the tourney so far?"

"Yes your grace immensely, I have never seen anything quite like it. I was quite impressed by your skill in the lists, you are sure to be the champion in my opinion."

"I am quite honored by your observation my lady but are you not disregarding your own brother as well as fourteen other accomplished knights?" Rhaegar asked.

"Brandon is an excellent rider, but he is not very experienced at tourney's. Beside Ser Arthur Dayne and perhaps Ser Barristan Selmy who could compare to your skill?" Lyanna answered confidently. "If it is not an imposition your grace," Lyanna continued, "might I inquire as to what inspired you to be a champion knight?"

Rhaegar had a distant look in his eyes, "I was quite bookish as a child," he started, "and I had no interest in martial pursuits. However when I was reading I came across a prophecy that told of a promised prince born amidst smoke and salt. I thought I was the promised prince and as such I needed to be a great warrior."

Lyanna was taken aback by how candid Prince Rhaegar was being. "Are you the Prince who was promised?" She inquired in an awestruck voice.

"Alas no," he answered good naturedly, "at least I no longer believe I am, but that is the reason I first became interested in the sword and lance. Now I compete in tournaments because it inspired the small folk. Helps them to feel connected to me. Something that is necessary of a good king in my own opinion."

Before Lyanna could continue the conversation, music began playing and the dancing began. Ned approached her, "Would you care for a dance with your brother Lyanna?" he asked. Lyanna was enjoying her conversation with Prince Rhaegar and wanted to snap, 'Ask Lady Ashara to dance instead' at Ned, but she thought better of it not wanting the prince to see yet another outburst by her.

She turned to Rhaegar, "With your permission your grace," she almost hoped he would not grant it.

"Of course," Lyanna refrained from sighing, "I did not mean to keep you from your family at your brother's wedding feast no less, you have my apologies."

With that Lyanna went off to dance with her brother. "You seemed to enjoy keeping Prince Rhaegar company Lyanna," Ned commented.

"He is charming, and he is a man who thinks of things other than how hard he can hit someone else with his hammer," she bit back.

Ned frowned at the poorly disguised attack on Robert's character. "You know so little of Robert, yet you assume to know his character," Ned told her in defense of Robert. "He does love to fight and drink, but that is not all he is. He is the most fiercely loyal man I have ever met. He will make a good husband for you if you will just show him loyalty in return."

Lyanna trusted that Ned would not lie to her. If he promised that Robert would be good to her she would take his advice and seek out a connection with her betrothed sooner rather than later. When the song had ended Ned asked Lyanna to excuse him that he might go ask a certain Dornish woman to dance.

Lyanna sat out the next few songs and instead contemplated her situation. She wondered to herself how much of her negative perception of Robert was caused by her desire to choose her own path in life and his role in obstructing just that. She watched the festivities from her vantage at the head table. Brandon was sitting next to his new bride smiling and laughing at their shared conversation. Benjen was seated next to Lord Hoster's brother the Blackfish hanging on to every word of the knights adventures. Ned was still dancing with the Lady Ashara.

Lyanna then caught sight of something that was quite off, Robert Baratheon sitting alone at his table with a sullen look on his face. As she watched Robert downed his cup of wine before gesturing for it to be refilled. While the drinking was not at odds with what she had gleaned of Robert's personality, his solitude was certainly off-putting. Robert was almost always socializing at these feasts. She decided now would be as good a time as any to get acquainted with the heir of Storm's end and find what had caused his strange disposition. Lyanna was half way to Robert when hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned to face the person and was greeted by the smiling face of Prince Rhaegar. "May I have this dance my lady?" he asked.

Lyanna glanced back at where Robert was sitting, he will still be there after one dance she reasoned to herself. "Of course your grace," she responded with a demure bow of her head. She accepted Rhaegar's hand and he led her to the dance floor.

"I must say you are quite an accomplished dancer my lady," Rhaegar complimented her as he spun her around the dance floor. "Do you have many occasions for dancing in the North? I am loathe to admit it but I know little of the customs of the North besides what I have read. I have never set foot north of the Neck."

Lyanna visibly brightened at the mention of her homeland, "There are feasts, though not nearly as many as in the south," she answered. "The North is a hard place your grace and we cannot be as wasteful with food as the south because of the harshness of our winters."

"Such practicality is to be expected of a house whose words are 'Winter is coming'. How can such a harsh land bring forth a lady as beautiful as you."

Lyanna was sure she must be as red as a Lannisters cloak from the prince's flattery, "You are too kind your grace, but I never said the north was not beautiful your grace. The wide open moors, the dark pines of the wolfswood, or the Northern mountains that are snow capped even in the most mild of summers all make the North a harsh but strikingly beautiful place."

Rhaegar grinned seeing how adamant Lyanna was in defense of her homeland. "I apologise if I have slighted your homeland, I am woefully ignorant I meant no offense by it.

"No offense was taken your grace, I simply enjoy talking about the North. My excitement might have been construed as being defensive but I assure you it was not." The song was ending and Rhaegar was about to ask Lyanna something when Lord Whent who was hosting the feast stood up from his seat next to Hoster Tully.

"I trust we have all drunk, ate, and danced our fill," There were shouts of confirmation from some of the more lubricated guests. "Now it is time for the bride and groom to perform there sacred duty. To bed with them," Lord Whent ordered too cheers from the guest. A group of men led by Brandon's foster brother Willam Dustin picked up Catelyn and carried her off beginning to strip her down to her small clothes. The ladies at the feast quickly followed suit with Brandon, who seemed to enjoy this more than his embarrassed bride.

Lyanna noticed the grimace that had formed on the prince's face, "You do not like the bedding ceremony your grace?" Lyanna questioned him?

"I understand the point of making sure the marriage is consummated, yet I will always think stripping the poor bride in public on her wedding night seems quite barbaric to me." Rhaegar elucidated.

With the newest couple off to their bed many at the feast began to follow suit. The hall was emptying quickly and Lyanna realized she had yet to even talk with her betrothed. Silently berating herself for being so easily distracted she asked Rhaegar, "Would you excuse me your grace it is getting late and there are still some that I have yet to talk to at this feast that I really must."

"Of course," Rhaegar answered understandingly, "I never meant to take so much of your time you have my apologies." Rhaegar gave a quick bow of his head before he headed of in the direction of his closest friend Arthur Dayne. Lyanna set off to find her betrothed who she had to admit she had neglected during the tourney. Her father had sent her here with the intent of her being introduced to Robert and hopefully getting to know him better. She had only seen him when they say together during the jousting and had spoken nary a word to him.

Lyanna scanned the hall but caught no sight of Robert. Determining that he must have already left she hurried out of the hall towards the tents set up for the great houses. As she entered the common area she caught sight of something that made her blood boil. Robert was escorting a giggling half undressed girl into his tent. Lyanna had been told by Ned that Robert had a weakness for women, but to see him have the audacity to take a woman into his tent when Lyanna's tent was only a stone's throw away was like a slap in her face. If Ned had seen what Lyanna just witnessed it would most likely cost Robert their friendship.

Lyanna turned on her heel and left the area. She was not very sure where she was going until she caught sight of Dancer. Realizing her feet had led her to the corrals she decided to go riding. Clear her head with only her loyal mare for company. She found a groom snoring in the hay and nudged him awake with her foot. "I need my horse saddled," she informed the startled groom.

"Mi'lady it is quite dark I do not reckon that it is wise for a girl to go out riding on her own," the groom protested.

"I am in no need to be lectured by a groom," she all but growled at the poor groom.

"Yes mi'lady which horse will I be saddlin' then?" Lyanna pointed out Dancer and told the groom where her saddle should be. As the groom went to do as he was told Lyanna heard him mutter something along the lines of "...just worrying about your safety."

Lyanna regretted how she had treated the groom but her anger at Robert was all consuming at that moment. When he returned with the white mare saddled Lyanna did not waste a moment climbing into the saddle and taking off. As Lyanna took off into the night the groom muttered, "A stag says they send me to the wall if she gets hurt," to himself.

Lyanna found herself on the shores of the God's Eye a few miles from Harrenhal. She tied Dancers reins to a branch of a willow and sat down at the edge of the lake with her feet in the water. Her anger slowly dissipated and gave way to tears. Tears she had been holding in since she had first heard news of the betrothal. She did not want to live a life with a husband who had scores of natural borne children throughout the realm. She knew it was young girl's dream but she wanted what the musicians tried to capture in their songs. Seeing Robert with that girl going into his tent felt like the final nail in the coffin of the child Lyanna had once been.

Lyanna was snapped out of her reveries when she heard two sets of hooves approaching from behind. Immediately she was aware of how foolish she had been to come out there alone. She grabbed the small dagger she kept hidden in her sleeve, holding it aloft in the direction of the two approaching horsemen. "Declare yourself," she called out trying to sound braver than she felt. She prayed to the old gods that those approaching would do her no harm, all while cursing her own stupidity. Just as she was about to make a dash for Dancer and try to outrace the men back to Harrenhal she caught sight of the Platinum blonde hair of one of the riders and the pure white cape of the other.

"Lady Lyanna is that you?" Rhaegar called out. Relief flooded through Lyanna as she released her pent up breath. A cloud passed from in front of the moon and Lyanna had a clear look at Prince Rhaegar and his companion Ser Arthur Dayne.

"Your grace, Ser Arthur," she greeted them, "What are you doing out here?"

"Looking for you it would seem," Rhaegar told Lyanna. "Arthur and I were going to go out riding so we could discuss certain matters away from the prying eyes and ears that inhabit Harrenhal when a groom approached us and told us of a highborn lady who went out riding alone and had yet to return. We had no idea he was referring to you. What in the name of the seven were you doing out here alone this late at night?

Remembering what had driven her here Lyanna felt her tears well up but she refused to cry in front of the Prince. She deflected the inquiry, "Just the notion of a foolish girl your grace. I am sorry to have troubled you and Ser Arthur. I should really head back now I do not want to worry Ned."

"Hah," Ser Arthur exclaimed, "fat chance of getting his attention from my sister, besotted fool."

"Arthur you should go on ahead and tell Lyanna's brother's that we have found her so they do not worry. I will follow behind escorting the lady." Rhaegar commanded.

Ser Arthur raised a questioning eyebrow, "Aye your grace," he dutifully responded. He turned his horse around and headed back to Harrenhal at a brisk canter.

Lyanna mounted Dancer and she and Rhaegar followed Arthur at a slower pace. They rode back to the camp in silence something Lyanna was thankful for she did not wish to explain her rash decision to go riding at night by herself. After they left their horses with the grooms Rhaegar insisted on taking her to her tent. Just before they entered the common ground Rhaegar pulled her aside. "Are you going to explain what drove you out there?" Lyanna was about to refuse until she saw the look of sincere concern in Rhaegar's face and it broke through her walls.

Her eyes welled up, "I went to see Robert Baratheon, my betrothed after the feast, I saw him entering his tent with some whore," she told Rhaegar scathingly. "I know it is stupid of me to be so upset by this, I already knew he had sired a bastard in the Vale, but seeing it in front of me felt like a slap to the face."

"He is a fool," Rhaegar told her while wiping a tear from her face. Lyanna suddenly realized how close they both were. Rhaegar began to lean in and impulsively Lyanna met him halfway. As soon as their lips touched however Lyanna realized the mistake she was making and drew back from the prince.

"I am sorry… I should not have… you are married," Lyanna stumbled over her explanation for her actions before she promptly turned and fled to her tent.

AN: so that is it I think this ended up being the longest chapter yet. Only two more chapters left at Harrenhal thank you all for reading and please review I love the feedback. So long for now.