She didn't see much of the king or any of the royal family after the incident, twice the King had asked Lyra to eat with him and twice she had refused despite her Aunt Cats warning about refusing a King. The Starks and the Lannisters made sure to keep well out of each other's way.
Then finally after a long and tiring final few days of non stop riding they reached King Landing.
Lyra could feel a single bead of sweat run down from her hair and down the back of her neck. She was glad she'd put her hair up into a braid or else no doubt it would have been soaked. Sweat stung her eyes and made her clothing uncomfortable as it stuck to her.
She had only been in the deep South a few days and she already hated the stuffiness of the city. It made her itchy and irritable. She was made for the harsh rain and cold winds of the North, not the sweltering humidity and foul-smelling stench of the South.
She rode alongside Jory, behind her Uncle Ned as they reached the Red Keep. It was not as big as she thought it was going to be, but it was still twice the size of Winterfell.
Her Uncle dismounted as one of the servants walked towards him.
"Welcome Lord Stark, Grand Maester Pycelle has called a meeting of the small counsel. The honour of your presence is requested and Lord Renly has also requested the presence of his niece Lady Stark" the servant said looking at where Lyra sat upon Frost, her eyes shining with excitement at the mention of her Uncle Renly.
Eddard turned back to face her and sighed as he nodded to her. "Lyra, you come in with me. Septa, see the girls to their rooms. We'll be back in time for supper" Eddard said. "Jory you go with them"
Lyra only nodded as she dismounted her horse, giving the reins to one of the stable boys. She walked forward to stand beside her Uncle.
She followed him as he made his way into the Red Keep. Guards opened the double doors that she knew lead into the throne room. A twinge of fear mixed with excitement as the guards began to push the doors open. Lyra's breath caught in her throat when her eyes finally fell upon it.
The Iron Throne.
It looked smaller than she imagined but was no less terrifying without anyone sitting on it.
It was then she remembered that this is the place where her Grandfather, her parents and both her brothers were killed for their previous kings amusement.
A sense of dread washed over her, no Stark that walked into this room had ever walked out alive, except her Uncle Ned.
"About time we had some stern northern leadership" she jumped when she heard the voice of Jaime Lannister speak up. She'd been so distracted by seeing the throne for the first time she hadn't even noticed him as he made his way towards them.
"Glad to see you're protecting the throne" Her uncle said.
"It's a sturdy old thing" Jaime shrugged. "How many kings arses have polished it I wonder. And what's the line, the king shits and the hand wipes" a smug smirk tugged at the Lannisters lips. A smirk Lyra would have happily slapped off if they were still in the north, but they weren't so she knew to keep her hands by her sides.
"Very handsome armour" her uncle Ned said. "Not a scratch on it"
"I know, people have been swinging at me for years they always seem to miss" Jaime grinned.
'Bet I wouldn't' Lyra thought as she glared towards the Lannister.
"You've chosen your opponents wisely then" Her uncle replied.
"I have a knack for it" Jaime said before his mood turned. "Must be strange for you coming into this room, I was standing right here when it happened" Lyra's stomach twisted with rage. "He was very brave your brother, your father too. They didn't deserve to die like that, no one deserves to die like that especially no one as young as little Landor and Steffon" Lyra felt herself shaking with anger as he mentioned her brother's names. The Kingslayer pointed to the middle pillar that was to the right of Lyra, his focus was now entirely on her. "That's where the cord was tied to, the one that strangled your father...he tried so hard to reach his boys, I actually wanted to run over and help him"
As much as she wanted to punch his face into a bloody pulp, Lyra kept any emotion that was burning inside her from flickering across her face, a talent she had quickly grown to learn being a high-born lady.
"But you just stood there and watched?" Eddard hissed, his own anger seething.
"Five hundred men just stood there and watched, sure some turned when the boys started to burn, not everyone could bear to see the skin burning from a childs body" Lyra felt sick at the thought of what her brothers went through. "All the great nights of the seven kingdoms you think anyone said a word, lifted a finger. No lord Stark, five hundred men and this room was silent as a crypt" Jaime Lannister sneered. "Except for the screams of course, and the mad king laughing. And then later, when I watched the mad king died, I remembered him laughing as those little boys burned, it felt like justice."
"Is that what you tell yourself at night? You're a servant of Justice" Ned sneered. "That you were avenging my family when you shoved your sword in Aerys Targaryens back"
"Tell me, if I stabbed the mad king in the belly instead of the back, would you admire me more?" Jaime asked.
"You served him well, when serving was safe" Ned replied before he took Lyra's hand and began to lead her away from Jaime. The moment they were out of the Kingslayers sight Ned grabbed hold of Lyras shoulders and turned her to face him "Are you alright?" He asked noticing his niece had gone incredibly pale.
"I just don't like being in here" she breathed out trying to keep her nausea at bay as she stared back at the third pillar on the right hand side of the room.
"Well don't worry, hopefully you won't have to sit through the full meeting and can retire to your chambers" Ned smiled continuing to lead her to where the small council was being held.
They turned into a room where she saw a bald man wearing peculiar, brightly coloured clothing made from fabric she had never seen before, the man spoke to her uncle instantly. Then she noticed the familiar blue eyes that were identical to hers and a warm smile that made her face light up instantly.
"Uncle Renly" Lyra grinned letting go of her Uncle Neds hand as she rushed towards her uncle who stood from his chair with his arms open waiting for her embrace which she gave to him gladly. His hair was as dark as hers, although his beard held a lighter shade.
"My beautiful niece, how you've grown" Renly smiled, he may have only been 7 years older than her, but he acted much older and took his role as her uncle very seriously. "I cannot believe it has been almost seven years since I last saw you, you're practically a woman now"
"Isn't she just" another voice called from the other side of the table. Lyra looked over to see a man she did not recognize. "Hello Lady Stark, I am Lord Baelish. I knew your mother when she was young. You are the image of her when she was your age"
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't remember you" she smiled apologetically.
"It's alright. The last time I saw your mother, you were still growing in her womb, only before..." She knew what he meant the moment Renly and the bald man whose name she discovered was Varys shot glares towards him. "Well it's nice to see you're well"
"Thank you lord Baelish" she smiled a little uncomfortable with how the man grinned towards her.
"You look tired from the road" Renly said towards her uncle Ned. "I told them this meeting could wait another day but..." Renly sighed before Baelish cut him off.
"But we have a kingdom to look after" her uncle Ned looked towards the smaller man in curiosity. "I've hope to meet you for some time lord stark, no doubt Lady Catelyn has mentioned me" Lyra reeled back in shock, this man knew her aunt.
"She has Lord Baelish, I understand you knew my brother Brandon as well" How did so many members of her family know this man yet she had never heard of him? Even her own father knew him. Lord Baelish gave a small chuckle.
"All too well, I still carry a token of his esteem from navel to collar bone" Lyra winced she had never heard of anyone being sliced so badly and live to tell the tale. She wondered what he had done to cause her father to give him such a horrendous scar whatever it was he must have angered her father greatly. She smiled in thanks as Renly pulled out a chair for her to sit down.
"Perhaps you chose the wrong man to duel with" Ned smirked. She had heard of her fathers talents on the training yard, but why would this man be duelling him? Her father was said to be a good head taller than her Uncle Ned who already towered over the smaller man by a head and shoulders
"Well it wasn't the man that I chose my lord. It was Catelyn Tully" Lyra felt the room grow tense as she stared up at her Uncle. "A woman worth fighting for, I'm sure you'll agree"
Her aunts past betrothal to her father had never really been discussed around her, she hadn't even known about it till she was twelve. All she knew was that her mother caught her fathers eye and he begged and pleaded with her Grandfather until he ended it, so to keep the alliance her Grandfather had her uncle Eddard take her fathers place as her aunt Catelyns betrothed. Lyra shifted her eyes to her Uncle Renly who just looked towards her with raised eyebrows almost causing her to start laughing.
"I humbly beg your pardon my lord Stark" Another voice caught her attention. She looked over to see an older man sitting at the opposite end of the table.
"Grand Maester" her Uncle Eddard smile giving a small bow to respect.
"How many years has it been?" The old man smiled. "You were a young man"
"And you served another king" Eddard smiled.
"Oh how forgetful of me" the old maester said as he reached into the pockets on his robes and pulled out something that Lyra raised herself to see until her Uncle placed it on the table and she saw it was the Hand of the King pin. "So should we begin?"
"Without the king?" Eddard questioned.
"Winter may be coming but I'm afraid the same cannot be said for my brother" Renly smiled apologetically.
"His grace has many cares, he entrusts some small matters to us that we might lighten the load" Varys explained
"We are the lords of small matters here" Baelish smirked.
"Am I allowed to be here for this?" She asked her eyes glancing between Ned and Renly.
"Of course you are" Renly smiled as he handed her Uncle Ned a sealed parchment. "I wouldn't have sent for you if you weren't" She carefully read over her Uncles shoulder as he opened the parchment.
"My brother instructs us to stage a tournament in honour of Lord Starks appointment as hand of the king" Renly explain. Lyra suddenly perked up with excitement. She had never been to a southern tournament before, not like Robb who had attended one of Ser Loras Tyrells name day tournaments.
"How much?" Lord Baelish asked.
"40 thousand gold dragons to the champion" Lyras eyes widened in shock as her Uncle Ned read a loud the prizes for the tournament. "20 thousand to the runner up, 20 thousand to the winning archer"
"80 thousand gold dragons" Lyra exclaimed loudly. She had never heard of anyone using such a mass sum of money so freely. Renly chuckled softly at his nieces reaction.
"Can the treasury bear such expense?" Maester asked looking towards lord Baelish.
"I'll have to borrow but the Lannisters will accommodate I expect, although we already owe Lord Tywin 3 millions gold, what's another eighty thousand" Baelish replied The name Tywin Lannister made Lyra's blood curdle in fear, she had heard stories about the Lord of Casterly rock and knew he was not a man to anger.
"Are you telling me the crown is in three million debt?" Her Uncle Eddard snapped.
"I'm telling you the crown is six million in debt" Lord Baelish replied.
"How could he let this happen?" Ned asked.
"The master of coin finds the money and the King and the hand spend it" Baelish shrugged.
"I will not believe that Jon Arryn allowed Robert to bankrupt the realm" Ned said.
"Lord Arryn gave wise and fruitful advice but I'm afraid his grace doesn't always listen" Grand Maester explained.
'Now I know where I get it from' Lyra thought with an amused smile.
"Counting coppers, he called it" Renly added.
"I'll speak with the King tomorrow, this tournament is an extravagance we cannot afford" Ned said rolling the scroll back up.
"As you will but still, we'd best make our plans" Baelish said.
"There will be no plans, until I speak with the King" Eddard replied using his 'Lord of Winterfell' voice that made Lyra wince as it echoed around the small room. He leaned forward and ran his hands down his face. "Forgive me my lords, I had a long ride"
'That's one reason' Lyra thought as she placed a comforting hand upon her Uncle's shoulder. He turned his head to offer her a grateful smile.
"You are the Kings hand Lord Stark, we serve at your pleasure" Varys smiled kindly Lyra did not know why but there was something about that man that she did not like, the way he watched her every move as she turned from her Uncle Ned to speak to her Uncle Renly. Every time her eyes met with his, it was as if he was trying to get inside her thoughts.
"Lyra, go up to our chambers, make sure Sansa and Arya have settled in. I'll go and try to speak with the King" Her Uncle Ned replied.
"But I don't know where..." She replied
"I'll take you" Renly smiled standing from his chair and offering his arm. "It would give us some time to talk"
"Thank you Uncle Renly" she smiled standing and linking her arm through his. "I hope to see you all again soon my lords" She smiled as she began to walk towards the door with her Uncle Renly.
Vary watched the young girl go with a smile. 'So this is the girl my little birds in the North warned me about'
The sounds of Lyra's laughter echoed through the halls as her Uncle Renly continued to tell her a story of the time her mother threw a bowl of broth at her older brother Stannis.
"Honestly I swear to this day, our words were invented because of your mother" Renly chuckled.
"I did something similar once" Lyra laughed. "I threw an entire roasted boar at my cousin Robb"
Renly looked at her in shock and surprise as she giggled. "Did you hit him with it?"
"No, it hit my Uncle Eddard" Lyra giggled.
"Well I think it's safe to say, you are your mothers daughter" Renly laughed.
But her Uncles words only brought the Kings words to her the night of the incident back into her mind, her smile quickly vanished from her face. "Uncle Robert doesn't seem to think so"
Renly let out a small sigh before he pulled Lyra to a stop. "He was angry, he says a lot he doesn't mean when he's angry. What really happened on the Kings road?"
"Joffrey was being a cunt" Lyra replied.
"Mind your tongue, I'm still your Uncle" Renly said with a hint of authority in his voice. "Did you really bare your steel against him?"
"If I hadn't he would have cut Arya in two" Lyra replied.
"Gods Lyra, you don't make things easy do you" Renly sighed. "You're lucky Robert is your Uncle who had a great love for his sister or your head would be on a spike right now"
"That's what he said" Lyra said. "And I think the Queen would still love to see that happen. What else do you remember about my mother?" Neiva asked changing the subject quickly as she stared up at him with a childlike innocence in her eyes.
"Oh too many stories to tell in such a short walk, but I can tell you...she was beautiful, so beautiful. Just like you" Renly smiled before he leaned down to kiss her forehead softly.
"Well isn't this touching" a voice caused both of them to jump slightly before the looked over to see Ser Jaime Lannister walking towards them.
"Shouldn't you be guarding my brother?" Renly snapped.
"Lord Stark is with him, I doubt any harm will befall him, mind you Starks may not be as loyal as they seem. After all one did attack the crowned Prince" Jaime said looking down at Lyra who only glared up towards him.
"You know that's not true" Lyra replied with a hint of a snarl.
"I don't know whose story to believe, yours or my nephews?" Jaime smirked. "But what I do know is you threatened my sisters son, a threat my sister will not take lightly. I'd watch my back if I were you"
"But you're not me Ser Jaime, and I'm not afraid of the queen" Lyra replied.
"So brave, yet so stupid" Jaime smiled.
"If you'll both excuse me, I suppose I should be getting back to my post, good day to you Lord Renly, Lady Stark" She could hear his armour clinking even as he got further and further away from them.
She looked up and noticed the worrying shade of her Uncles face and the terror in his eyes. "Uncle Renly what's wrong?" Lyra asked.
"He's right Lyra, you need to leave" Renly said. "I'll talk with your Uncle Eddard and we need to come up with a way to see you out of Kings Landing"
"What? But Uncle Renly the King has ordered me to stay with him in Kings Landing, I can't leave, I've just got here" Lyra said in sudden confusion and shock at her Uncles outburst.
"Lyra this is serious, you threatened the crowned Prince, the queen will not forget that and she will not let it go until your head is upon the walls of this city. Go up to your chambers, they're the third door on the left at the top of those stairs, I need to speak with your Uncle Ned"
"But Uncle Renly I..."
"Go Lyra!" Renly shouted as he marched back down the corridor leaving her in a dazed and confused state.
She had not realised she had caused so much trouble. She frowned as she noticed a small little boy sitting at the end of the corridor playing with small wooden toy. With huff she made her way towards the flight of stairs feeling the eyes of the little boy following her every step until she disappeared out of his sight up the stairs.