Don't forget this is on the same day as the last two chapters. I don't own Game of Thrones. Have fun.

Lydia

Lydia decided that she liked Miriam. She was annoyed that Leila Lannister was blessed with such a good and faithful servant. She didn't deserve her. That girl deserved better. Miriam was a good listener. She wanted her as more than just a spy. She wanted her as a friend.

Lydia wanted nothing more in that moment to have her brother wake up. Seeing her mother in such distress was exhausting. She hadn't seen Robb all day either, and she wondered what he was up to. Jon was busy practicing his fencing. She would have joined him any other day, but on that day she didn't feel up to it. She smirked; let Jon learn a few new tricks so he could have the upper hand in their next practice.

But if Lydia wasn't going to sword fight, she needed another way to relieve herself. She made absolute sure no one was looking her way and headed down the road. She pulled her cloak up over her face. If she was lucky she could get what she wanted before nightfall, and her parents would never know…

"You're out awfully late for a highborn lady."

Lydia halted and turned. At first she didn't see anyone.

"Down here."

She looked down and saw the imp standing there. He had his hands on his hips and was wearing Lannister red.

"Where do you care where I go?" Lydia snapped. "It's none of your business."

"Too true, it is none of my business," he said with a shrug. "I just saw you hurrying and I got curious. Is that such a bad thing? Haven't you ever played with curiosity before?"

"I don't have to answer that," Lydia said crossly. "And why aren't you back where it's safe? You're a Lannister…And forgive me, you don't look very strong. Someone could rob you."

"Oh, no need to worry about me. I was just on my way to a brothel over there," he said with a shrug.

Lydia had a feeling the only women he got were the ones he paid. The Lannister wasn't particularly handsome.

"There isn't much this way, though…except the brothel like I said…but you couldn't be heading that way, could you?" He questioned.

"You've barely been in Winterfell. I know this place better than you. I'm under no obligation to tell you where I'm going either," she said. Of all people to run into, why did it have to be the dwarf? "What do you want from me anyways? You telling my father that I'm not in the castle?"

"Your father? Pardon my rudeness, but I hardly go out of my way to talk to Starks," he said.

"Yet you talk to me," she rebutted.

"I merely ran into you. I wanted to talk to you in behalf of my sister," he said.

Why the hell was everybody talking about that girl?

"What of her?" Lydia asked, working hard not to roll her eyes.

"I would just like to know why you're mistreating her," Tyrion said with a little shrug. He looked like the demons from fairy tales. "She's done a lot to gain your favor, and yet you seem to hate her for no reason –"

"I dislike her because all she does is strut around like she owns the place. I know what Lannisters are capable of," Lydia snapped. Stupid imp. He was wasting her time.

"Oh yes, well that makes sense. I can see why you wouldn't like Lannisters. We're horrible people, aren't we?" Tyrion said, and she blinked. Was he seriously agreeing with her? What was the deal with the younger Lannister son? "As for sweet Leila, she's nothing like the rest of us. She possesses her mother's beauty and that's about as far as the Lannister in her goes. Oh, sure, she can be arrogant, but only because her father raised her that way. Give her a chance."

"I don't have to listen to you," Lydia whispered.

"No, but I'm looking out for my sister; just like you're looking out for Robb. You and I are alike, wouldn't you say? Of course, I hear tell that your father is actually proud of your accomplishments. Mine likes to ignore mine and focus on my weaknesses. I guess no one is perfect, though," he responded.

"Did you just come by here to complain about your life?" Lydia asked.

"Gods, no. I only wanted to make conversation. Your sister is to marry my sweet nephew, and my sister is to marry your dashing brother. That would make us brother and sister by law, and that would also make you my niece by marriage," he replied.

"We'll see about that," Lydia breathed.

"Yes, we will, won't we?" The imp said. "It was a pleasure talking with you. Again, I do ask that you give my sister a chance. Not Cersei…she's a bitch, but Leila really is a good person." He grinned an impish smirk.

"I won't promise I'll like her…but I will do what I can," Lydia said.

The dwarf did a little bow and went on his way. Lydia focused on his bowed legs for a moment. She wasn't sure if she liked him. He was a Lannister and acted like he was her superior, but at least he wasn't so prickish that he couldn't spend time in a whorehouse. He was loyal too, and her father taught her that loyalty was an admirable quality.

If the dwarf was heading to the brothel, that meant she couldn't head there either. She groaned, angry that her plan had been ruined. She turned around and headed back toward the castle to her room. The Lannisters were ruining her life even when they weren't trying.

When Lydia returned to her room, she found Jon waiting by the door.

"How long have you been here?" She asked.

"Not long," he answered. "I needed to talk to you about something important."

"Well if it's so important let's not speak out here," Lydia said and opened her door. "Come in."

Jon followed her inside and sat down. He was pale.

"What's the deal?" She asked him.

"I'll be leaving for the Wall soon. I just wanted to remind you. I'm going to make my vows. I've been spending lots of time with Uncle Benjen," he said.

"Do you really want to go there?" Lydia asked.

"There's nothing for me here. Unlike you, I've been raised as a bastard. I'm a hindrance more than anything, and with Bran's fall…I don't want to add any more stress to Lady Stark's life," he mumbled.

"Forget Lady Stark," Lydia snapped. She loved her adopted mother, but she wasn't always quick to forgive the way she treated Jon. "Your family is here. You have brothers and sisters, even half ones, that love you. And did you ever stop and think of me? We're twins! We can't be apart!"

"One day you'll marry some lord and we'll be separated anyways," Jon said.

"I will not marry some lord. I refuse to," she snapped.

"You're a highborn lady. You have to do what you're told. As for me, I don't have a place, so I want to serve in the Night's Watch. I'm good with a sword…I may as well use that talent to protect others," said Jon.

"The Night's Watch is for life, though," complained Lydia. "I can't deal with that."

"I know, but thanks to brave men who are willing to sacrifice, others will be able to sleep soundly in their beds. One day you'll have children of your own, and I want to make sure they are safe. I want to make sure Bran and Rickon and Arya and Sansa are safe. I want to serve my family and make them proud, especially you," he explained.

"So when do you leave?"

"Soon. I'll be gone before the royal family heads back to King's Landing."

Lydia chewed her lip. Jon had always been a constant in her life, and the idea of him not being with her pained her too much for words.

"Do you ever wonder who our mother is?" Jon asked suddenly. He clenched his fists and stared at his knees. "Do you think she was just a whore? It's hard to believe that Father was ever unfaithful to Lady Stark…"

"Father made a mistake years ago. If our mother was important, he would have told us already about her," Lydia said stiffly. She forced herself to pretend it didn't matter to her. Though Catelyn was a mother to her, having claimed her as her own, she often thought about just who the mysterious woman was that caused Eddard Stark to break his vows. "Father loves Lady Stark. He loves his family. He'd never betray them."

"I believe you," Jon muttered. They were silent for a moment, and he said: "I have things to get ready. I need to see the blacksmith too."

"For a sword?" She asked.

"Yes, but not for me. For Arya," Jon said.

Lydia snickered. "I don't think Lady Stark will like that at all."

"Throw the dog a bone, give her a sword," Jon said.

Lydia knew her sister would be overjoyed to get a sword from Jon. She'd always been close to him. Jon stood up and headed for the door.

"See me again before you leave," Lydia ordered.

"Of course, sister," Jon said and bowed. He opened the door and stepped out, leaving Lydia alone.

With Jon gone, Lydia threw her pillow across the room. She began pacing the room, cursing everything. Jon going to the Wall, the Lannisters, the King's arrival, the Lannisters, Sansa who could possibly be marrying Prince Joffrey, the Lannisters… Lydia stomped over to her closet and pulled out her own sword. She swung it once and imagined what it would be like to take it to battle. If women were allowed to go the Wall, she'd consider going to be with Jon. Then again…she couldn't abandon her family. She loved them too much.

A knock sounded at her door. It was late, and curiously she went to answer it.

"Lady Stark?" A man asked.

There was a handsome man standing in her doorway.

"Yes?" Lydia said carefully.

"My name is Tom. I was asked to come here to…relieve your stress…" he narrowed his eyes.

"Well I've certainly got lots of it. Come in," she said and allowed him to enter.

The man, Tom, would be considered good looking for most women, but for Lydia, he was average. He was slim and tightly muscled. His hair was dirty blonde and hung around his face in curls. His part was obnoxiously straight.

"Who sent you?" Lydia asked.

"They didn't leave their names," answered Tom. "You're beautiful."

"I don't need you to tell me that," she said. "You're a whore, aren't you?"

"Well…yes…but I came to pleasure you –" Tom began and Lydia burst into laughter.

"Pleasure me? How? I do hope they paid you first!" Lydia couldn't stop laughing. She collapsed on her bed and roared with mirth.

At first Tom frowned, but then he smiled slyly and slipped out of his shirt. Lydia stopped laughing as he pulled off his pants and flashed his manhood at her.

"Do you want to touch it?" He licked his lips.

She raised her eyebrows. "If I were to touch it, it would be with a knife."

Tom halted entirely and then took a step back. He laughed highly and nervously.

"No one told me you were a jokester, Lady Stark!" He giggled.

"They didn't tell you that, because I'm not a jokester," she said and sprung up from the bed. She planted a foot firmly in his diaphragm and kicked him to the floor. He gasped and sputtered, and Lydia pushed her foot deeper into his body. "How far do I have to go down before I break one of your brittle ribs?"

"Please! I didn't mean to offend!" He sobbed.

Lydia removed her foot and he curled up into a ball and cried.

"You call yourself a man?" Lydia asked.

He didn't say another word to her. He grabbed his clothes, yanked them on backwards and ran from the room as fast as he could. Lydia glowered at the door for a moment, but then she started laughing again. Who was the idiot that bought her a male prostitute? Whoever it was clearly didn't know her very well. Men were so boring to her.

The whore was right about one thing, though. She did need some relief. Lydia grabbed her cloak once again and left her room. She made sure to be quiet so she wouldn't be caught. She left the castle and went out into the streets, heading back to where she had previously spoken with the imp Lannister.

She arrived at a large door and pushed it open. The establishment was large and hidden, but Lydia had been there many times. She walked straight across the room, many eyes on her. The women strutted around without clothing. Lydia said nothing to them and went to the back. She knocked on another door.

"I'm done for the night," said a red head opening the door.

"Done?" Lydia smirked.

The whore also smirked. She let her inside.

"Lydia Stark… A pleasure to see you," the red head said.

"It's been a while, Ros. With the arrival of the Lannisters, things have been…difficult," Lydia said. "Forgive me. I didn't bring your gold, but I'll get it to you as soon as possible."

"Since when did I accept pay from you?" Ros snorted. "I don't mind your company. I don't mind your company one bit…"

Lydia stepped inside and Ros shut the door. Ros was older than Lydia by about seven years. She was a beautiful woman and had gained a reputation in Winterfell for activities her parents didn't approve of. She had thick red hair and misty eyes. She was curvy with great tits that always seemed to bounce just right. She was dressed in a low cut robe.

"Disrobe," Ros said.

"Excuse me, but I'm a lady," Lydia said.

"Not in here. I am your lady now," Ros said. "Now disrobe…unless you want me to disrobe you."

Lydia didn't move.

"Is that a threat?" Lydia snickered.

Ros pounced on her and tore her dress from her body. Ros's hands found Lydia's breasts, and the two fell upon the bed, legs wrapping around one another and tongues exploring every inch of skin. Lydia gasped in pleasure and for the first time since the royal family arrived, she felt relieved of all stress.