280 AC – After the Tourney at Harrenhall

"Father, please…" Lyanna pleaded as she stood before her father. "I don't want to marry a man that I hardly know."

"You must, Lyanna." Her Lord father said, folding his hands in front of his desk. "The betrothal has been formalized already. Both Lord Steffon Baratheon and I have agreed upon it. You no longer have no say on the matter."

"But – "

"No more, Lyanna!" Her father interrupted before she could convince him otherwise. "Robert Baratheon is now your betrothed and you must accept the fact."

Lyanna simply bit her lip while a great lump has gathered in her throat. She was terribly upset. True. However, she wasn't going to cry about her current predicament like a child.

"I understand, father." She said, sounding meek, but deep down she was already trying to find a solution to her problem. "I apologize father if I seem so…annoyingly persistent. I only want to have a choice when it comes to my marriage, especially choosing a husband whom I love. But it seems that it is out of my hand."

"Dear child, you are of noble birth, and not some common tavern girl who has more freedom to choose whom she loves and marry. Most girls your age and station doesn't have a choice in husbands, Lyanna. Forming alliances amongst great Houses has become common and important than love for us nobility. Do you not see what I intend to do with this betrothal?"

"I do see it, father, but I still don't understand why you choose to use me as a sacrificial lamb to forge an alliance with the Baratheon House."

"I choose to betrothed you to Lord Robert because you are my only daughter, and Lord Robert Baratheon has express interest in you."

"I haven't even met the man yet. Why would he want to marry me?" She asked in confusion.

"Perhaps your brother Ned has to be blame for that. Ned has probably spoken of you to Lord Robert."

She already suspected it after Ned had become close friends with Robert Baratheon during his years in the Vale as a ward to Lord Jon Arryn. However, hearing it from her father was the confirmation that she didn't want to hear.

"Well, I have no desire to marry him at all." Lyanna stated determinedly.

Her father let out a sigh at her statement before he said to her, "Nothing can persuade me to withdraw the betrothal, Lyanna. So you better accept your fate."

Lyanna pursed her lips and looked at her father contemplatively.

"Alright, father." She said after a short while, pretending to look dejected, but inwardly she hadn't given up yet. "I'll accept the betrothal."

That was a lie of course, but her father didn't need to know that.

"Good," was Rickard Stark's response. "As you should."

There was a pause as the two regarded each other in tensed silence.

"May I be dismissed then?" Lyanna asked.

Lord Rickard Stark stared at her with his cool grey eyes before nodding his head.

Lyanna curtsied and then left her father's solar.

She instantly headed back to her room, where she proceeded to lie down in bed to contact the three-eyed-raven for advice about this latest development.

It didn't take long for Lyanna to drift off into a trance-like state as she made contact with the old man.

"I assume that you already know the news," She asked the moment she made the connection as she lay comfortably in bed.

The three-eyed-raven's response was immediate.

"Yes, I do." He said to her in that familiar whispering voice.

"Then, what is your advice on the matter?" She inquired. "Should I let my father marry me off to the Baratheon oaf?"

"The choice is really up to you, child." The old man said, "However, I have already foreseen a path set for you."

"What path?"

"A path you already know may lead to your accomplishment of the task."

"Stop being cryptic and tell me what you mean, old man." She said in an exasperated voice.

"You already know what you need to do to have your betrothal withdrawn." He told her, "I believe you know a certain kind of magic to persuade a person."

It did crosses Lyanna's mind, but she had no heart to use it on her unsuspecting father.

"You mean the Imperius Curse," she said in a quiet voice.

"Yes," came the old man's response.

"But I don't want to use it on my father," Lyanna stated, looking outrage at the thought.

"I'm not speaking of your father, dear child." The three-eyed-raven remarked. "I'm speaking of someone else that you need to use the Imperius curse on."

"Who then?"

"Robert Baratheon."

"You know, Brynden," she began slowly, appearing perplexed. "I can hardly use the Imperius curse on a person who lives a thousand of leagues away."

"You need not worry about that child, for I have foreseen Lord Robert coming to Winterfell a few moons from now."

"Oh, why is he coming here for?" Lyanna asked.

"I believe his reason is to meet you, Lyanna Stark."

"I see," she muttered. "When he comes here, then I can use the Imperius curse on him to change his mind about the betrothal."

Then, she lapsed into a thoughtful silence.

"I sense that you seem averse to the idea of using the spell on him," came the three-eyed-raven's remark.

"I do," She admitted, "But if that's the only way for me to break my betrothal, then I will do it."

"There's always another option, dear child."

"What's the other option?" She inquired, frowning.

"You can always run away from home and be free of this engagement."

"And then where do I go?"

"To Kingslanding, where you may be able to change the future greatly."

"Let me think about it," She told him after a while, "It won't be easy for me to leave my family behind and make them worry."

"I understand, Lyanna." The three-eyed-raven said, "Family is important to you, but I hope you will soon see that the world is at stake here too, and it all depends on your choice."

"I know…and I'm going to try my best to make the right choices," She replied, "But I don't see that leaving my family is the right choice at this time."

"You will see soon enough. A few moons from now, that choice will be taken from you." The old man said cryptically.

At his foreboding words, Lyanna became concerned.

"How?" came her demand. "How will it be taken from me?"

"I will not say anything more on the matter. All I can say is that you will soon have no choice but to leave your home a few moons from now." Her mentor said evasively.

"But –" she began to say but the three-eyed-raven stopped her.

"Lyanna, let us change the subject and discuss more of your plans to kill the Mad King."

Lyanna let out an aggravated sound but complied nonetheless.

"So tell me what you have decided to do," came the old man's remark.

"Yes, I've decided that I will cast an illusion on a straw dummy to make my family and the rest of Winterfell see that I have acquired some contagious illness. An illness where I shall be bedridden for the rest of the week."

"That's a good idea, and I have also foreseen that you will use a spell to cast on your room. It is some kind of spell to ward off other people except the Maester, who needs to tend to you while you are 'ill'."

"The spell is called an anti-muggle ward, but I can make some adjustment to it and allow the Maester to enter my room while I'm 'sick'." She replied, "But I will also add a strong notice-me-not charm on the straw dummy as an extra precaution to keep people from noticing something amiss."

"Good, then you will have a full week to do what you must and change everything in the allotted time."

"Yes," she responded, "And will it really take me more than a day to travel to Kingslanding?"

"Yes, travelling to Kingslanding will take you four days if you travel like an ordinary person. However, since you will be using magic to help you – and with me as your guide - I think it will take you two days and a half for you to reach the Capital."

"That much of a difference, huh?" She remarked, "I think I will be using the notice-me-not charm on myself to ward off bandits on the road, and prevent unwanted attention from the unsavory sorts."

"And perhaps another spell to speed up your horse," was the old man's suggestion. "Although you will need to change horses once you reach the Neck. We can't really use one horse for such long-distance journey."

"Alright."

There's another pause as the two continued to scheme.

"Do you have any more questions for me, Lyanna?" the three-eyed-raven inquired shortly.

"Yes, I do indeed."

"Ask away, child."

"Will I be able to come back in time before the week is done?" came her worried query.

"Yes, you will be able to come back home even before five days has passed."

"Have you foreseen anything that could happen to my family while I leave for a short while?"

"You need not worry, Lyanna Stark. Your family will be safe while you leave to do your mission." Brynden Rivers assured her.

Lyanna sighed in relief.

"Thank you for telling me that," She said.

"You are very welcome, but are you certain you are ready to kill the Mad King within three days?"

"Yes, I think I'm ready to kill the Mad King." She said, trying to sound confident, but failing.

"Lyanna, stop doubting yourself. I have already foreseen you do the deed. I know what happens when you reach the Capital."

"What happens to me in the Capital then?"

"If I tell you, it won't happen at all." The old man replied. "And remember Lyanna Stark, you must avoid being seen by any members of the court. Cast an illusion on yourself if you must."

"I will do that once I sneak into the Red Keep."

"Good," the three-eyed raven said, "Now, that we are done planning, perhaps it's time for me to rest for a while."

"Alright," Lyanna agreed, noticing the tiredness in the old man's voice. "I will speak to you another day, Brynden. You have a good rest."

"Thank you, Lyanna." Brynden Rivers responded, "I will see you after three days."

Afterward, the connection broke off and Lyanna became aware of her surroundings once more.

"I think I will start packing," She muttered underneath her breath as she stood up from her bed and moved towards her dresser.

She opened her dresser and took out a small shabby pack which was transformed after she had casted an undetectable extension charm on it.

She then began to mentally list down the things she needed to bring.

I need seven days' worth of food, some clothes and perhaps a med-aid kit in case I become injured on my mission, plus a sword for my defense. She thought as she looked into her dresser for clothes. She then realized that she only had dresses in there.

I think I will have to steal some clothes from Ned. She decided. Thankfully, her brother is still in the Vale that he won't notice that some of his clothes will be missing for a week.


"Are you nervous?" the three-eyed-raven asked her the night before she leaves.

"A little bit," Lyanna said.

"You should not be, child." The old man said, "For I have foreseen your future unfold and I assure you that your mission will be successful."

"Well, I can't help it." She expressed defensively, "Not when I'm about to go against the most protected man in all the Seven Kingdoms."

"If you are worried about facing the Kingsguards, then your fears are unfounded." Her mentor said, "You have magic that can help you sneak through the protective circle of the White brotherhood. You should use those spells to your advantage."

"If you say so, Brynden." She said. "But I've always wondered why you didn't tell me to kill the Mad King during the Tourney at Harrenhall. That would have been the perfect timing."

"There were too many variables during that time, child." The ancient man said, "I can't risk you taking a misstep in the presence of too many Lords and Ladies of the realm, especially when our true enemy could be watching through their eyes."

"I see."

"That is the reason I have asked you to go to this mission after the Tourney instead. It is much safer for you."

"I don't see anything safe about killing a King at all," she pointed out.

"Well, it's not safe to be exact," the old man digressed, "But it's much preferable compared to the future that I have foreseen after you went to the Tourney."

"What have you seen then?"

"Your habit for bathing naked in a hot spring might have ended the world for us. It is due to your loveliness that had completely ensnared our enemy's eyes on you."

"This is not the time for jest, Brynden." She reprimanded him.

"Might I remind you of the prophetic song 'Six Maids in the Pool'?"

At his statement, Lyanna decided to end the discussion right then and there.

"Alright! I trust your word for it!" she exclaimed and left it at that.


"It's called Dragon Pox, my Lord."

Lyanna listened to the Maester say to her Lord father while the two men stood over her bed. With the anti-muggle ward not in placed yet, her Lord father was still able to enter her room.

Meanwhile, Lyanna stood in the corner of her bedroom after she had cast a disillusionment charm on herself while she listened to the Maester speak to her Lord father.

"I have never heard of this illness before." Her Lord father remarked while he stared at the straw dummy, which Lyanna had transformed into a remarkable likeness of herself and casted a strong illusion on it to make people believe that it was her lying down on the bed.

"The illness is newly discovered, my lord." Maester Walys said.

That wasn't true of course because Lyanna had cast an Imperius curse on the Maester to make him believe and say that. Until now, she still felt guilty for using the curse on the Maester. However, not as much as before after she found out that it was because of Maester Waly and Lord Steffon Baratheon's Maester – Maester Cressen – who have convinced both Lords to betrothed her to Lord Robert Baratheon in the first place. As to what their motivations were, Lyanna could only guess.

"However, there are rare cases that has been recorded in the Citadel during the reign of Jaehaerys II Targaryen about the illness." The Maester informed Lord Rickard Stark. "Her ladyship's symptoms point out that she has the contagious illness, my Lord. Her greenish skin and purple pock-marks are only a few indication of the illness."

"Is it curable?" Lyanna's father asked worriedly.

"I can't say for sure," the Maester admitted uncertainly, "However, I hear that sometimes the symptoms disappear within a week's time."

"That is good to hear," came her father's comment as he continued to gaze at the dummy with concern eyes. "Will those pock-marks leave a scar on my daughter?"

"Unfortunately, yes, my lord. Your daughter's beauty will be marred by purple blemishes on her skin once she heals."

"I had hope that doesn't happen at all," came his father's sad response. "Lyanna has always been of great beauty, like her mother. Now, I don't know what to say to Lord Robert once he comes for a visit a moons turn away. I am certain he will be disappointed once he sees her."

Lyanna scowled at her father's words.

"Let us not worry about that yet, my lord. There's still a great chance that Lady Lyanna will be left unscarred." The Maester encouraged. "However, the illness is still quite contagious at this stage. Hence, it's probably best to warn the others not to enter the Lady's room."

"I understand, Maester Walys." Rickard Stark replied, "I will warn the rest of my family about what has befallen on my daughter. And in the meantime, you take care of her."

"I will, my Lord. I will take care of your daughter and hope that she heals within the week."

"I will leave her to you then, Maester Walys." Her Lord Father said before he pivoted around and left the room.

Lyanna let out a sigh of relief when it dawned on her that her plan worked again.

It seemed like being constantly ill allowed her to do anything she wanted with her time.

.

.

.

That same day, Lyanna Stark strolled into the stables and stole a horse without being noticed by anyone due to the strong notice-me-not charm she cast on herself.

Sooner than she would expect, she rode out of Winterfell and headed towards Kingslanding with a swiftness that truly surprise her in how easy it was to leave her home.

She looked back and saw Winterfell getting smaller as she rode onwards.

"I'll be back," she whispered to the wind and heard a squawking sound above her, which indicated that the three-eyed-raven heard her statement.

The raven flew ahead of her to lead the way to the Capital. Lyanna knew that it would take a few days to reach her destination so she could only hope that her journey would remain uneventful during that time.

In a few days, she would arrive at Kingslanding and kill the King, even perhaps meet the Prince and the White Knight of whom the three-eyed-raven had talked and warned her so much about. She could only hope that she would still have the strength after a long journey to finish her mission.