"My name is Samwell Tarly… my prince," The now named Samwell Tarly said. Lyonel had visited Yoren to see the criminals were bringing to the watch. He had spotted the chubby man, and to Lyonel's surprise. He was no criminal. The words didn't leave Sam's mouth but Lyonel could tell. This man was no thief, rapist nor murderer. Therefore, he had decided to ask the man questions.
Only a few seconds later did Lyonel realize the meaning of his name, 'Tarly?' Lyonel questioned in his head. Lyonel asked shortly, "Son of Randyll?" Samwell nodded shyly. Lyonel stared at Samwell for an entire minute, which unnerved Samwell greatly. "You're no volunteer." He stated, not asked.
Samwell seemed to panic slightly, "I'm no criminal, I promi-" Lyonel raised his hand to stop him from speaking any further.
"Why?" Lyonel asked after a while. Samwell looked confused. Lyonel elaborated, "Why are you here?"
"I told you, my prince. I volunteere-" He was cut short by Lyonel's intimidating stare. Samwell sighed as he knew he wouldn't be fooling the prince, "My… father. He made me." Lyonel said nothing, only stared, waiting for Sam to continue. "On the morning of my eighteenth name day, my father came to me. "You're almost a man now." he said. "But you're not worthy of my land and title. Tomorrow, you are going to take the black. Forsake all your claims to inheritance and start north. If you do not…" Samwell's lips trembled slightly. "…he said. "Then we'll have a hunt… and somewhere in these woods. Your horse will stumble… and you'll be thrown from your saddle to die. Or so I'll tell your mother. Nothing would please me more." Lyonel's expression was as empty as always.
Lyonel suddenly turned towards Yoren, who was watching from afar with slight anger on his expression. No doubt from Samwell's story. Lyonel motioned for Yoren to come closer. Yoren did so, "What do you need, my prince?"
Lyonel nodded towards Samwell, "Him."
Samwell's eyes widened in surprise, "My prince-"
"You wouldn't survive a day at Castle Black."
"He's right." Yoren said. "But… The Lord Commander will not be pleased by one man short just because I gave him away. But then again, since you've done so much for the Watch, I doubt he's going to mind."
Lyonel pulled out a pouch before handing it to Yoren, "The Watch needs all it can get. You cannot afford charity. Not even for me."
Yoren nodded in gratitude before examining the contents, to find it filled with gold dragons, "This'll buy us a lot of new blades and armor, no doubt. This is more than a fair trade for this big boy." He looks at Samwell, "No offence, lad."
"None taken," Samwell says.
Lyonel glances at Samwell, ordering him to follow, before he leaves for the Red Keep. Along the way, Samwell couldn't help but ask, "Why did you buy my freedom? You know, besides me not being able to survive for a day in that place."
Lyonel stopped walking before he turned to look at Samwell, "When I look in your eyes, I see intelligence and wit. But you lack cunning. You have no method to truly harness the gift of mind you have been given. You are not strong, nor skilled with a blade. But your mind is sharper than the edge of Valyrian steel. You will act as my advisor if you wish it so. Or you could go back home to your father."
Samwell said nothing for a while, until, "How do you know my mind is sharp?"
"Because… I know a smart man when I see one, Samwell Tarly. And I see an exceptionally smart one in front of me, whose only flaws are his weight… and his lack of use for his greatest virtue. It would be a waste of good intelligence to send you to live among those criminals."
Lyonel continued walking back to the Red Keep, with his new advisor on heel.
Lyonel's room
Lyonel looked at the new leather tunic he had bought from the tailor shop. He made a special request for the tunic. It was made from an extremely comfortable material and it was very flexible so it wouldn't hinder his combat abilities in the slightest. It was as white as snow except for the back which had a black stag on a yellow lightning bolt embroidered on it. The lightning bolt was there to signify his nickname, The Silent Storm. His gaze fell on the back of the jacket in silent approval. Lyonel finally put it on, already comfortable wearing it. He had requested for two of them, in case one got sullied with dirt… or blood.
Lyonel raised his hands and stared at the scars that marred the palm of his hands. He remembered the hunt vividly.
Flashback
Lyonel breathed calmly and deeply as his eyes spotted the stag. His eyes quickly scanned area surrounding the stag to see if there were any others. He didn't need a surprise. When his eyes found none other than the first, he slowly and quietly marched forward. The stag suddenly spotted Lyonel as he accidently stepped on a twig. The stag seemed to be staring at him intently, almost as if it was glaring at him. The stag was bigger than normal. Its hide seemed to glow yellow. Lyonel's hands tightly gripped the spear he was holding.
Lyonel remembered the spectators watching him. His uncle Jaime, Ser Barristan and his father's eyes were watching intently. Yet they did not seem surprised at how it was glowing, as if Lyonel was the only one that could tell it was.
Lyonel closed his eyes before inhaling deeply through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. He opened his eyes to find himself on a field. There were no rocks, trees or even tree roots in the ground for him to have his foot stuck under. Only… snow? Lyonel breathed and saw that his breath was forming a cold cloud in front of him. yet his body was warm. There was a lone weirwood tree watching him from the side. Lyonel noticed that the stag was far off in the distance, still… glaring at him. There was nothing but Lyonel, the stag… and the old gods watching. Lyonel didn't know why he wasn't surprised to find himself in another place completely. It almost like he was used to this place. The weirwood tree calmed him. It made him feel like home.
Suddenly, the stag charged. The stomping of its hooves echoed throughout the field. Lyonel could hear nothing but the stag charging, the beating of his heart in his ears, his own deep breaths and the sound of his blood rushing through his veins. Time seemed to slow down. It was as if his senses were enhanced. Lyonel threw the spear off to the side. He couldn't stop his feet from taking a step forward, and soon, another step. And yet another step, until Lyonel suddenly found himself charging the stag. The snow was crushed beneath his feet. His breathing was still, surprisingly, steady. Lyonel was surprised to find that he was running with incredible speed, like the speed of a lion charging its prey. The distance between them got shorter and shorter.
The stag suddenly aimed its antlers at Lyonel's guts. Lyonel suddenly found himself grabbing the antlers. Lyonel's hands were pierced and he found himself being pushed backwards. His feet dug up the ground beneath him. Lyonel was pushed back a few more feet, before he stopped the stag completely. The stag shook its head to try and move, its antlers aggravated the wounds in Lyonel's hands. Lyonel was shocked to find that he felt no pain, as if his nerves had been dampened. But its head was held still by Lyonel's hands. Lyonel roared as he ripped of its right antlers with a single, powerful push. He pulled the antler down before he thrust the point into the stag's throat and out of its head.
Lyonel pulled his hand off of the spike on the antler that pierced his hand. He did so with his other hand before letting the limp corpse of the stag fall to the ground. The blood painted the snow red. Lyonel breathed calmly before he closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose, and out of his mouth.
Lyonel suddenly found himself in the forest again, with the stag dead beneath his feet.
"Lyonel!" A large hand grabbed Lyonel by the shoulder and turned him around. Lyonel saw his father's awed face. "What were you thinking, boy? We shouted for you to stop. Didn't you hear us?"
Lyonel, unsurprisingly, said nothing as he stared back at the dead stag under him.
For a second, he thought he heard a faint whisper. A whisper he had heard whenever in the presence of the old gods, "Lyonel…"
Flashback End
Lyonel curled his hand into a fist and closed his eyes.
Frantic knockings was heard on his door. "Lyonel, open up, hurry!" he heard Myrcella's panicked voice. He immediately rushed to his door before opening it to see Myrcella. She had tears in her eyes, "Jon's been attacked!"
"What." Lyonel asked with an emotionless voice.
Myrcella nodded in confirmation, her locks jumping up and down, "He was attacked in the Red Keep."
"Lead me to him."
Myrcella nodded before she started running with Lyonel on her tail. After a half minute of running, they arrived in a room where Jon was sitting on a table, his face bloodied and his cheek bruised. Thankfully, he was still recognizable. The doctor was healing Jon's wounds while Samwell was tending to his right leg. He was proving to be a good assistant for the doctor. Arya and Eddard sat next to him. They both stood up when they realized that Lyonel was in the room with them.
Lyonel said nothing to either of them but instead walked up to Jon, "Who did this to you?" his face betrayed no emotion yet again.
Jon shrugged with a painful expression on his face and spoke with a raspy voice, "I don't know. I was walking in the castle when suddenly; three men appeared and called me a bastard. Said I had it coming and that I should stay away from people above me. They then tried to beat me senseless. Guess they didn't know I could fight back since one of them had their nose broken and another, his hand." Jon was silent before he said, "Lyonel, can I talk to you alone?"
Myrcella, Arya and Eddard all immediately left the room, along with the doctor and Samwell, leaving the two alone.
Jon motioned for him to come closer, and Lyonel complied until his face was right in front of Jon's. Jon leaned forward to whisper in Lyonel's ear, "I didn't want to say this in front of Myrcella but… one of the men. Before they all attacked me, said "With love from the queen"." Lyonel quickly pulled back from shock and surprise.
"She knows."
Jon looked at him in confusion, "Sorry?"
"My mother… She knows about you and Myrcella."
Jon's eyes widened, "Is that why?"
Lyonel nodded. The room fell into an eerie silence. It was an entire minute before Lyonel asked, "Anything else?"
Jon nodded slowly, "One of them called the other by Damien… and one of them dropped this." he pulled out a small, golden coin that had a small carving of a Lannister lion on it. Lyonel inspected it before he pocketed it.
Lyonel nodded before letting the others in. Arya sat down on her previous seat as did Lord Stark.
Eddard spoke with passionate anger in his voice, "I'm going to find who did this to you, Jon. I'll send out guards to find them."
"No, you won't" Lyonel said, surprising everyone.
"My prince-"
"We don't know anything about them. We don't know if they acted alone, or who sent them." Lyonel's eyes met Jon's at the last part. "It would be nothing more than a waste of energy for the men, and a waste of time for us."
Lyonel didn't stay for a second longer as he marched out of the room.
Arya
Goddamn that bloody idiot! How could Lyonel abandon Jon, his friend, just like that? He left the room after demanding they do nothing when one of them was attacked. It was as if Jon meant nothing to him, as if what happened had no consequence for him.
"Arya, what's wrong?" Jon asks, breaking Arya out of her thoughts, apparently realizing that she is upset.
"Lyonel."
"What's wrong with Lyonel?"
"That idiot just left you like you mean nothing to him!"
Jon's eyes widened, "Arya, you can't say that about the prince!" the doctor just glanced at Arya briefly before continuing. Arya was fortunate that the room was absent of Eddard.
"Why not?! He just came here, asked what happened, and then just left! After everything you've done for him and he's just going to ignore what happened? How can you be so calm about it!? You're his friend!"
Jon was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "He's done more for me than anyone else ever has, next to Lord Stark. I can't be mad at him. And it's not like he can do anything. Besides… he may be my friend but…" Jon couldn't help but feel slightly betrayed that Lyonel would do nothing, but couldn't bring himself to be angry at him. It was Lyonel's own mother, after all.
Arya inquired, "But what?"
Jon sighed, "That doesn't mean I'm his."
Arya looked even more angered by this, "Well, it should!"
Jon was silent before he spoke quietly, "I think he's done more than enough for me, Arya."
Arya just huffed before she went back to her angry line of thought.
Half an hour later, they both made their way outside of the room and went about their business. But Arya insisted to stay with Jon to protect him. Jon chuckled quietly at his little sister's antics and fierce protectiveness. Jon had dismissed her, telling her he would be fine by himself, when she walked by Lyonel's room.
Arya was immediately angered by the sight of it and angrily stomped towards his room, an entire speech prepared for him. She arrived at the door and knocked on it loudly, "Open up!"
A calm voice that belonged to Lyonel was heard, "It is unlocked."
Arya opened the door quickly before barging in with a furious expression, "What is wrong with you, you selfish-"She suddenly stopped at the sight of Lyonel cleaning his face from a bowl of water. What made her stop with shock was the bowl. The water inside of it was tainted with red.
Blood red.
Lyonel's hands shook back and forth, launching the water drops off, before he turned to look at Arya. He stared at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Lyonel… what happened?"
Lyonel sighed before he spoke, "I found the men responsible for attacking Jon. I took care of them."
Arya stared at him with wide eyes for several seconds. She would have asked why he killed them instead of bringing them to the authorities, but couldn't blame him. But she couldn't help but be curious as to why he did it, instead of thinking how he knew, "Why?"
Lyonel stared at the ground for a while before he looked up and walked towards the window and looking out, speaking in a calm voice, "You are to be my wife soon. And Jon, my brother. Your family shall become mine. And I shall treat you as such. If anyone lays a single harmful finger on your family, they will be repaid in kind." He turned to look at her, "The day you were announced to be my betrothed, is the day you and your family came under my protection."
Arya looked at the ground. She knew she should be thankful, but couldn't help but ask, "Is that the only reason you protect my family? Because we are to be married?"
Lyonel was quiet before he slowly walked towards her. He arrived in front of her before speaking in a soft voice, "No. Not the only reason. I do it because Jon is my friend, and Myrcella is infatuated with him. I do it because your family is one of honor, not deserving of such assaults, which is more than I can say for most Houses." Lyonel's hand gently cupped Arya's cheek before he lifted her head to look at him, her own hand grazing the back of his, "I do it because I want to protect you. And everyone you love and hold dear."
Arya felt her heartbeat hasten along with her breathing as blood ran up her neck and to her cheeks. Arya realized she was blushing. But failed to realize the true reason why her heartbeat had been quickened. Her mouth opened but couldn't blurt out any words. She finally settled for a whisper, "Thank you."
Lyonel nodded with a small smile before he removed his hand from her cheek. Arya instantly missed the warmth of his hand on her cheek. She couldn't believe she blushed like a foolish lady. Like Sansa. But how could she not?
He was her hero, someone she looked up to. Even before she met him, she would often pretend to be the Silent Storm, roaming the streets, bringing any rapists and murderers to justice. She would love hearing tales of him from the locals in the streets. But she was angered every time someone spoke ill of him. Calling him a murderer, no better than the criminal he killed at the age of three and ten. She would sometimes shout at them angrily before storming off, leaving most people who saw her temper laugh. Her father would often speak to her gently about her temper, and not to mind the others
Even after meeting him, she only began liking him more and more. She was extremely excited to meet him, and was not disappointed by him. She was not only more excited when she found out he would train her in swordsmanship. She was immensely thankful for it. To allow her such freedom, with no one to object the commands of a second born prince, not even her mother… it seemed like she could breathe freely. Like a bird that had just been freed from its cage. For that is what was granted to her the day Lyonel, The Silent Storm… and her betrothed, had arrived that day in Winterfell.
Freedom.
And for that she would be eternally grateful. She realized now her impulsive mistake.
'What an idiot I was. Speaking ill about Lyonel. Shouting at him.' Her thoughts state in disappointment of herself. Once she got over her disappointment, and her blush had faded, she asked, "How did you find them?"
Lyonel's mind swiftly came up with a lie. He walked over to his table before leaning with his back against it, his arms crossed against his chest, "Jon remembered one of the men say the name Damien. I asked around the streets. I heard he had two other henchmen with him at all times. And since Jon was attacked by three men, it only made sense to follow my only lead. I heard he was at Baelish's brothel and…"
An hour before
Lyonel walked through the Streets of Silk, his hands in the pockets of his leather tunic. He arrived in front of Baelish's brothel. He remembered sneaking into the brothel at the age of two-and-ten. His mother, unsurprisingly, had an entire scolding speech prepared for him. While his father had praised his actions, something Lyonel was disappointed of. His disappointment was only furthered once Robert's respect had faded after Lyonel said he hadn't slept with a whore, nor had any intentions to.
He opened the door and saw the inside of the building. Most of the courtesans were eyeing Lyonel with lustful eyes. The walls were red with several patterns on it, depicting roses and vines. There was a stair on the opposite end of the room that split into two different directions halfway up. The stairs had a red carpet with the same pattern on it. Someone was playing a lute, but Lyonel couldn't see who it was. Nor did he care.
One of the whores approached Lyonel, she spoke in a sultry voice, "Why, hello there, handsome. Have you been here before? I swear I've seen your handsome face. I wonder… who are you?"
Lyonel stared at the woman, "No one important."
The woman's eyes widened before she smiled, as if she recognized him. She approached him before gently pushing her body against his side and whispering in his ear, "My, you've grown. I remember seeing you when you were just a child. How quickly you've grown up into a man. So strong…" Her hand grazed his torso, gently, through his jacket. Her hand finally arrived at his manhood before she suddenly cupped Lyonel's groin through his pants. "…and big."
Lyonel was silent before his hand wandered down to her wrist. He grabbed her by the wrist before lifting her hand of his manhood. He glared at her, "I am already betrothed. Even before I was, I had never lain with a whore, and I don't intend to start now. So I would rather you not have me tempt infidelity. Your advances insult my betrothed and her honor." The woman stared at him with slightly fearful eyes. He released her wrist from his iron grip before walking past her.
Lyonel spotted a Lannister soldier burying his face between a whore's tits. He walked over to him before pulled the whore off, who yelped loudly. Lyonel looked at the soldier. The soldier had a broken nose.
The Lannister soldier glared at him, "What the fuck is your problem!?
"Where is Lucan?" Lyonel asked with an almost growling voice.
"Who?"
Lyonel just glared at him before speaking in an almost beast-like voice, "Where is Lucan?"
The soldier pointed to a hallway with an open door at the end of it. Lyonel said nothing as he put his pulled out a tiny blade that had been coated with altered Sweetsleep. He slid the blade into the man's axillary vein, but masking it as him putting his hand on the man's shoulder in gratitude before he pulled out the blade and put his hands in his pockets and walked down the hallway. Halfway there, he revealed a hammer he had put in the waistline of his pants. He reached behind himself before pulling it out with his right hand. He arrived into the room to see a man flirting with a courtesan; his hand was on the table next to him. What caught Lyonel's eye about it was that his hand was bandaged, as if it had been broken. There were several other whores in the room who seemed to be doing very inappropriate things to Lyonel with their eyes.
His eyes landed on the man. He recognized him as Lucan. Lyonel switched the hammer to his other hand before approaching Lucan. His right hand grabbed Lucan's arm before his other hand tightly gripped the handle of the hammer before raising it and bringing it down on his hand, three times. The whores gasped while Lucan screamed in pain. After the third smash, he pushed Lucan off of his chair, making him fall down on the ground. The courtesan who Lucan was flirting with ran by them. Lyonel kicked the chair out of the way as if it was nothing as it flew into the wall and broke one of its legs off. Lyonel slowly walked to Lucan's side before switching the hammer to his other hand and crouching down and pulling out the golden coin. He put the coin on Lucan's forehead and put the hammerhead on the coin. Lucan himself was crying in pain as he held his hand.
"Where is Damien?"
Lucan laughed but was clearly still terrified of Lyonel, "Don't worry, he's going to come and get you."
Lyonel raised the hammer furiously, Lucan cried out pathetically, "No… no."
"Bring him here."
Lyonel was filled with fury as he breathed heavily and quickly through his nose while resisting the urge to smash the coin into his skull. Lucan cried out loudly, "Someone, get Damien!" One of the whores got up before she ran out of the room. Lyonel suddenly calmed down as he brought the small golden coin to his face, "Remember this?" Lucan stared at him with horror marring his expression. Lyonel turned the hammer around and put the pointed end into Lucan's mouth. Lucan's lower lip was trembling as Lyonel put the golden coin with lion carvings into his mouth before pulling out the hammer and covering Lucan's mouth with his hand. Lucan coughed into his hand as he struggled to not swallow the coin.
A man walked into the room. A man who Lyonel recognized as Damien, "What the fuck is-" He froze and stared at Lyonel, "My prince? What are you doing?" the sight of the prince holding Lucan's mouth while Lucan was coughing was bizarre to say the least.
Lyonel said nothing as he stared at Damien in silence. Suddenly, Lyonel raised the hammer and slammed it down on Lucan's forehead, smashing a hole in his head as blood exploded all around Lyonel and landed on his face and on the ground. This all happened so fast that Damien did not know what happened until it ended. Several of the whores screamed in terror, all while, Lyonel was staring at Damien, not flinching for a second. Lyonel stood up slowly and menacingly, leaving the hammer in Lucan's skull. Damien looked shocked and terrified. He shook himself out of his shocked stupor before swiftly drawing his sword, the blade rasping as it was unsheathed.
Lyonel nonchalantly dodged a vertical swing from his sword. His hand curled up into a fist before he hooked it into Damien's gut. Damien felt the air leave his lungs as he keeled over from the unexpected force of Lyonel's punch. He had heard that the prince was strong, but the rumors did not even come close to describing the prince's true strength. Unknown to Damien, Lyonel was just going easy on him.
The guard commander stumbled back through the hallway, while being menacingly stalked by Lyonel. Damien's stance was shaky, clumsy and unstable thanks to the punch previously delivered by Lyonel. Damien pathetically tried to swing and gut the prince but all Lyonel did was to stop walking since Damien continued to walk backwards. Lyonel suddenly stepped forward before he grabbed Damien by the neck and punched him four times, dazing him severely. He then threw Damien on the ground. But he wasn't going to kill him just yet. Damien was desperate to get away as he crawled backwards. Lyonel quickly walked over to Damien's side before he slammed his foot on the sword. He crouched down before he pulled his fist back and brought it down on Damien's torso, cracking several ribs.
Damien coughed violently as he held his torso and writhed on the floor. Lyonel grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up. He pulled Damien closer to his face, "Why did you do it?"
Damien stared at him in fear and confusion, "What?"
"Jon."
Damien looked even more confused, "Who?"
Lyonel growled out loudly, "The bastard!" before he pulled his fist back and drove it into Damien's gut. Lyonel was prepared as he sidestepped when Damien keeled over and the bile that rose from Damien's gut, into his throat and out of his mouth, landing on the floor with a disgusting splat. He pulled Damien up roughly, "Why?!"
Damien looked terrified, "Your mother told me! She said she would reward us!"
Lyonel stared at him with fury in his eyes. Damien pleaded, "Let me go, my prince! Please, by the old gods and the new, I beg of you! I answered all of your questions!"
Lyonel stared at him in slight disbelief, "I don't think you understand. This wasn't an interrogation."
Damien stared at him in dismay, "What is this then!?"
Lyonel growled, "A lion toying with his prey." Damien had a look on his face that showed he had lost all hope. "And now, it's time to feast."
Lyonel leaned down and grabbed the blade from the floor before he thrusted the sword up beneath his ribcage and pierced the man's heart. Damien's eyes widened in shock before his entire body went limp, only being held up by Lyonel's grip on his throat. He threw the dead Lannister commander on the ground.
All around him, people stared at Lyonel in shock while the young man stared at his latest victim's corpse. After a minute, Lyonel looked up the stairs to see the same former Yi Ti slave, who was motioning for the whores who witnessed the event. As if asking "Should I take care of it?" Lyonel shook his head wordlessly made his way out of the brothel. Warm blood dripped down his face as he made his way through the streets in silence.
The Present
"…And then I made my way here. I changed my tunic and cleaned my face. The rest need no explaining." The source of information might have been a lie. But the story of how he slaughtered the three men were not. Of course, he left out how he killed them, and small details such as the whore who tried to seduce him. She needn't know.
"What happened to the third man, the one with the broken nose?"
Lyonel uncrossed his arms before putting them on the edge of the table, "Probably in an eternal slumber. The sight of me killing Damien in front of him must have quickened his pulse, made his blood flow faster along with the poison in them." Lyonel was silent before he looked at Arya, "I would appreciate it if you were to stay quiet about this. None of the whores knew who I was, so no one will know it was me."
"Why? People would praise you for protecting the honor of one of the greatest houses in the seven kingdoms." Would it have been anyone else, she would have most likely accused them of being ashamed to admit protecting a bastard, but this was Lyonel Baratheon. He was nothing if not firm and determined in his beliefs of equality between all human beings, regardless of social stigmas.
Lyonel shook his head, "I do not care for praise. I serve the realm from the shadows. I always have, and always will. For I am not destined to be king. That burden will fall upon my brother's shoulder, who unfortunately, does not see it as such. He instead sees it as power to do whatever he desires."
"Then why do you help the realm if you are not going to be king?" Arya asked with genuine curiosity.
Lyonel looked her straight in the eye, "Because of Joffrey seeing the title of King as a privilege for him to do whatever he wishes. It is because of this foolish notion that Joffrey will fall as king."
Arya was silent before asking, "I heard my father say you helped the realm more than anyone else on the small council. Is it true?"
Lyonel shrugged, "I suppose. Without me, the crown would have been six million in debt instead of the three million we are in debt currently."
Arya's eyes widened, "Three million!?" She asks with disbelief evident in her voice and face. Lyonel nodded with a calm expression adorning his face. "You mean it was you who has been helping the realm all along? Not Jon Arryn?"
"The words of advice I offered were finally heard when I was at the age of nine. That was when I started to help the realm. But my father would only tell me of small matters. I was eleven when they would finally bring me news of our debts. By that time, it was at four and a half million. It only increased until I finally had enough of them and took matters into my own hand. Sending letters of my own, masking them as if they were sent by the crown. Father was furious, until he learned I had actually earned coin, instead of only digging the crown's debt deeper."
Arya had a look of wonder on her face. Her hero was truly only increasing in greatness in her eyes. "I can't believe you helped earn three million gold dragons for the crown."
"Even your father started doubting who the true Hand of The King was."
"He knows?"
Lyonel nodded, "The second day you were here in King's Landing."
Flashback
"My prince, I would have words with you." Eddard states as his path crossed with Lyonel's in the hallway to Eddard's solar.
Lyonel turned around, "In your solar, or out here?"
"Out here is fine. I only have a single question for you." Lyonel nodded. "Yesterday, you and the council told me that if not for you, the crown would be three million gold dragons deeper in debt."
"Correct." Lyonel says, not boasting, but not bothering for arse-kissery in the form of false humility and modesty.
"It raises an interesting thought. Was it truly Jon Arryn who ruled… or was it you all along?"
Lyonel stared at Eddard with, yet again, an expressionless face, "Jon Arryn was a good man, no doubt. But in truth, he was as gutless as everyone else on the council when it came to defying orders from my father. Jon Arryn is a brave and honorable man. But he makes the same mistake with the king as a parent would make with a spoiled child."
"And what is that, my prince?" Eddard asked curiously.
"He is afraid to refuse the child. Jon Arryn would not refuse my father. Neither would anyone else in the council. Stannis would rarely speak as father never listens to him. Baelish could care less as he only obtains coins, knowing he would only earn more for himself while the realm suffers. Varys could truly not care less, yet the motives for such carelessness are unknown to me. Renly agrees with the king, part of why father favors him more than Uncle Stannis. But in the end, they all took no action again and again."
Lyonel was silent for a bit as he crossed his arms across his chest, "Tell me, Lord Stark, what do you do when you find yourself in a hole you cannot get out of?"
Eddard seemed thoughtful before he gave up with a shrug, "I know not."
Lyonel uncrossed his arms, "You stop digging. By doing nothing, the council dug the crown more and more into debt. When they continued to do nothing, they continued digging."
Eddard nodded and spoke in surprise and realization, "And then you took the shovel from their hands and began filling the hole, closer to the surface, by writing your own letters to Tywin Lannister and the others your father owed coin to. By taking matters into your own hand."
Lyonel nodded. Eddard laughed, which surprised Lyonel but he didn't show. "Your wit is not of Tyrion's, but of Tyrion and Tywin's put together, my prince."
Lyonel nodded wordlessly in gratitude. Eddard smiled at him, "Well, I must go to my new solar. I wish you a good day." They both parted to opposite way, Eddard to his solar and Lyonel to the other end. Eddard suddenly calls out, "Oh, and Arya wanted me to remind you about practice!" Lyonel turned around and bowed his head slightly in gratitude. He proceeded to make his way to Arya's location.
Flashback end
"Lyonel?" He was shaken out of his thoughts. He looked at Arya. "What were you thinking about?"
Lyonel shook his head, "Nothing of import." He turned his head and looked down into the bowl of bloody water. 'I need to change the water before someone else enters my room.'
Lyonel quickly picks up the bowl before walking over to the window of his room and pouring out the contents of the bowl. He put the bowl back on the table before turning to Arya, "Would you care to spar?"
Arya grinned and opened her mouth but was cut off by Lyonel raising his hand, "I know not why I bother to ask."
Arya only grinned more before she eagerly ran to the quarters where they would normally train. Arya had definitely trained hard, and so did Lyonel. Arya's skill was improving by each day, and it helped that she was a quick learner, just like Lyonel was. Yet, this was unfortunately countered by her temper and impulsiveness. She would take rash action during spars which quickly lead to her downfall. Yet, in turn, her determination and unrelenting eagerness to learn the art of the sword countered her temper.
Her body was growing fit for her age and would soon grow slightly muscular. Part of this was the new diet Lyonel had recommended to help her body build muscle and for her to grow. She had the same diet as him, which led to them always eating together after training. They would often converse about different things. Arya would mostly ask about training and swordplay or stories about legendary warriors. She was pleased to hear that since Lyonel had associates from other lands in Essos, including Yi Ti, he had many legends and stories to share.
What surprised Arya was his patience. Most would grow weary of all her questions, and the questions were more than usual seeing as Arya was speaking to her hero and role model. Yet Lyonel did not mind one bit. One word to describe Lyonel perfectly would be "tolerant". In fact, at times he would seem to enjoy talking to her. Something Arya's low self-esteem did not expect to happen. Even then, unknown to Arya, the only thing that kept Lyonel from revealing more times where he enjoyed her company was his expressionless face. Had she been able to tell by seeing the looks in his eyes, she would realize this.
She couldn't help her thoughts from wandering back to when Lyonel revealed his intent to protect her family as if it was his own. She was touched and comforted by the knowledge, that her hero would be her family's guardian angel. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed to be like the story of a hero knight swearing to protect his lady and her family from any and all harm. She then thought about how the mere touch of Lyonel on her cheek had affected her. It made her heart beat faster and her breath quicker. The feeling she had was foreign. She knew not what it meant but her mind pushed those thoughts away before she put her mind to that of practice.
A/N: *Puts on shitty Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation* I'm back, Baby! *End of shitty Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation* Well, sorry for the one month wait. But as I said in one of my stories, My mother was extremely sick, and i was honestly too worried to do anything but take care of her. (No that I thin about it, I should have written a author's note on every one of my stories. But hey, look on the bright side. At least I didn't get your hopes up by making you think it was a new chapter.) You may also notice that I recreated the uh... "Hammer" scene from Drive. (Another scene recreated from Drive, I know. Hey, Lyonel's character was slightly inspired by Ryan Gosling's character in the movie.)
This chapter is my longest by 6,482 words, not counting the words of this A/N. This chapter, I wanted to portray Lyonel's intelligence slightly and more of Lyonel's ruthlessness and fierce protectiveness. You might also notice that I was a bit more archaic in this chapter. Probably because I rewatched Spartacus. Be glad (Or disappointed) I didn't include all the sex scenes or curse words.
Please review as it counts as motivation for me, even better if you can share some thoughts about the story and criticism. I would love to improve my writing, (If it needs improving, which it no doubt does)
I also want to know what you guys think about Lyonel "recruiting" Samwell? Is it a good choice or a shitty one? Let me know in the reviews.
