Winterfell

Lysara Stark

"Don't cry," Rickon whimpered as he wiped her tears away with his soft hands. "Please, don't cry."

He's gone. Lysara could not help but let silent tears fall down her face as she stared down at the small fire. It had hurt her more than she could have ever imagined and couldn't help but weep for him. They had received the news that Jaime Lannister and his men had attacked her father and had killed several Stark soldiers, among them, was Jory. The Kingslayer had killed him.

It hurt her when she heard of his death but her fears and paranoia were spiralling out of her control, everything she had seen in the fires was coming true. A lion lunging at wolves. Her eyes flickered to Rickon and she lifted him up onto her lap, letting his head rest on her chest as she let out a shaky breath. She placed her hand on the back of his head and held him gently to her.

He's gone.

Her heart was vengeful as she stared on at the fire that was slowly dimming but it roared with life once more the moment her eyes had landed on the dying fire. After hearing about his death and her injured father, she had decided to take Rickon and Brandon into the woods, which also allowed Bran to have the use of his new saddle. Her younger brothers did not know of the situation and she hoped they would never be caught within the game. As she occupied herself staring at the fire and rocking Rickon back and forth, she listened to Bran's voice his joy and happiness.

"Do not wander off, Brandon," Lysara voiced softly as she heard footsteps approaching and looked over her shoulder to see Robb and Theon.

"Robb!" Rickon pleaded, squirming away from her hold to look up at their older brother. "Lysara is sad, why is she sad?"

"She just misses mother and father, that's all," Robb sighed, her pained downcast eyes looked up to meet his own. "She will be alright."

No, I won't be, Lysara inwardly responds as she eyes her older brother before turning her attention back down to her youngest. She gifted him a small, false smile as he took to resting his head on her chest once more. Robb and Theon began to murmur and mutter to each other, no doubt wondering if they should tell Bran and Rickon what has happened in King's Landing.

"I say, blood for blood," Theon spat as Bran sped passed them on his horse. "You need to make them pay for what they have done to us."

"Your words are harsh as is your soul," Lysara spoke up turning to face him as the fire died down. "You are speaking of war. Besides, only the Lord of Winterfell may call the bannermen and raise an army. And as far as I'm concerned, the likes of Jaime Lannister will be sorted out. No doubt Robert Baratheon will have something to say about it. Our father is his dearest friend. I do not want lions and wolves coming to blow. It will end in nothing but red."

"The Lannister's put a sword through your father's leg. He killed Jory! The Kingslayer is riding for Casterly Rock!" Theon seethed, then he nodded to her. "Look at the state of your sister!"

"You want my brother to march on Casterly Rock?" Lysara asked coldly. "Need I remind you what happened to the last house that turned on the Lannister's."

"You aren't a boy anymore, Robb! They attacked your father, the moment they did that they started a war!" Theon argued, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face Robb, who held a thoughtful look. "It is your duty to represent your house in place of your father when he is in King's Landing. You are Lord of Winterfell! You will one day be Warden of the North."

A sudden shiver racked her body, goose flesh slowly appeared on her skin. She stilled, Robb and Theon's voices fading into the background as powerful whispers picked up with the wind. Lysara heard an echoing caw of the familiar bird and her eyes darted up to the tree, she saw the three eyed raven watching her with a pointed expression and once the whispers became clearer, her eyes widened. Lysara hurriedly placed Rickon the ground, despite his protests and stood up, turning to face Robb and Theon with a fearful expression.

"Where's Brandon?" Lysara asked, her heart quickening.

"I told him not to wander off," Robb said vaguely, her hand twitched, wanting to slap him.

"I'm going to find him!" She hissed, her eyes ablaze as she picked up a torch from the fire.

Lysara descended into the woods, the further she walked, the harsher the voices. They were so harsh she was tempted to grip and cover her ears, to try and ignore them. R'hllor, let me walk in the light to find my brother. She prayed for her brother's safety while she walked through bushes and brushing passed trees. A twig scratched her cheek as she made her way towards the voices but she found herself uncaring for the sting. As she was about to enter a clearing, she stilled coming across Bran atop of his horse with two men and a woman surrounding him. Wildlings.

"Are you all alone?" The woman taunted, her eyes became ablaze as her grip tightened on the torch.

"No. He is not," Lysara voiced, emerging from behind the tree startling the three Wildlings.

"Lysara!" Bran breathed, his chest rising and falling quicker.

"It's alright, Brandon," She assured him, taking another slow step towards them. "I'm here now."

"Oh, look." The eldest man lisped, a lecherous grin crossing his features. "It's one of those what do you call them...those Red people."

"That's a pretty necklace you have there," The second man said, pointing to the ruby that was glowing dimly from the fire. The man's eyes flickered back to Brandon and the horse, as she took a few more steps forward. "We won't hurt your boy but we will hurt you if you don't give us that pretty necklace of yours and the horse! Get off the horse boy!"

"He cannot," Lysara said calmly.

"Then get him to be quick about it!" The woman snapped but Lysara merely shook her head.

"I-I can't...the straps..." Bran protested weakly, as they shuffled around the horse with impatience.

The eldest of the three pulled away Bran's cloak to reveal that his ankles, knees and thighs were strapped to the saddle of the horse with brown leather which matched the colouring of the saddle. She took this as an opportunity to move swiftly forward. Lysara looked into the eyes of the horse and watched with triumph as its eyes widened with fright causing it to take a few steps back from them. They whirled around and faced her, jumping back as she had appeared nearer them and drew out their weapons.

"If you come any closer, we'll cut off the boy's little cock and-"

"Not if I castrate you first," Lysara interrupted lowly. "Do you know who we are? Do you know what us Stark's do to Wildlings?"

The eldest man made his way for her and once he was close enough, a small smirk slowly appeared on her face and with a quick movement of her arm, she thrust the fiery flames of the torch into his face. He screamed, clutching and clawing at his face as he collapsed to the ground, letting out agonised moans. She threw the torch down near him, so the fire caught onto his cloak and watched as he was set alight. Lysara let the fire consume him before she looked up blankly towards the remaining man and the woman, who looked on in horror.

"You want warmth. I have given you warmth," Lysara said softly, her voice barely heard above the man's screams.

"You little bitch!" The man seethed, he approached her quickly with his knife drawn.

"Drop the knife!"

Lysara looked over her shoulder to see Robb emerge from the woods, taking his sword out from his sheath and Theon with his bow and arrow readied. The man averted his attention from her to her older brother and made his way over to attack him. The woman made her way towards Robb as well. Lysara hurried over to the horse and her brother and began to unstrap Bran from the saddle, her eyes kept flickering towards Robb and Theon who were getting attacked by the woman and the man. Once Brandon was released from the straps, he had no other option but to slump in her hold as he fell sideways from the horse. She caught him in her arms and lifted him up, looking over with impassive eyes as Theon landed an arrow in the man's throat and Robb forced the woman to her knees.

"Do it, Robb," Lysara said fiercely, as she held Bran tightly in her hold. "Kill her."

Robb's panicked blue eyes met Lysara's cold grey ones. The woman began to whimper and pleaded softly, but her pleas fell silent to her as did the burning man's screams. Lysara hoisted Bran up further, not minding how he weighed as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders tightly and they both looked over at the burnt man, the fire dying down.

"Are you alright?" Theon asked, causing her to nod.

"I'm fine," Bran replied with a soft shrug of his shoulders.

"Tough little lad," Theon grinned, before turning his attention back to the woman, who was kneeling before them and Robb, who held a look of confliction on his hardened face. Although he mostly took after their mother in looks, she couldn't help but see her father in him then. "You're finally a man, Robb. On the Iron Islands, you aren't a man until you have killed your first enemy."

"Kill her, Robb." Lysara orders, causing the woman to look over to her in panic. "They were going to kill our brother."

"Spare me, mi'lady. Don't take me life...have mercy!" The woman begged, crawling towards her.

Theon followed the woman who sat beside her feet with an arrow pointed at her back, aiming for her. Lysara met the woman's desperate eyes and stared at her, holding her gaze for a long time before she looked back to Robb and nodded. Bran's nails dug into her bare shoulders as he too was staring down towards the woman. Lysara merely held the woman's fearful stare with a blank one.

"She won't do anything, I think. The others are dead," Robb voiced, causing her to nod slowly.

"You may live, for now," Lysara said icily. The woman began to paw at her red skirts in what she deemed was partly out of gratefulness and desperation. The woman's murmurs were all she heard other than her own and her brother's breaths. "I may forgive, but I will never forget. You have a debt to pay, Osha."

The woman stilled, her entire body freezing until she could only see her chest and back rising and falling with each slow breath she took. The woman's eyes downcast eyes slowly flickered up and once their eyes met, the woman's eyes widened significantly as she nodded slowly in fright. Theon pulled the woman up, grasping onto her arms tightly as he looked towards her strangely before turning to look at Robb, for what it seemed was final confirmation on the woman's fate.

"She lives," Robb confirms. "For now."

"Thank you, mi'lady...mi'lord..." Osha said, breathing out in relief.

Lysara was currently in her father's study with Robb and Theon. Her dreams that night were not pleasant, they were warning. She did not dream of the silver, purple eyed boy that she frequently saw. Nor did she dream of Jory Cassel, telling her she was meant to be kissed well. No, she dreamt of a caged bird in a lion's den and couldn't help but compare it to Sansa and the Lannister's. She dreamt of a dying stag and she dreamt of a wolf losing its head...and she knew then it was father. Lysara was exhausted and had barely slept, it did not help the fact she had Osha looming over her, claiming her to be some for of witch or god. She scoffed at the latter.

I am no witch nor god, I am a servant of the light.

"Lord Stark," Maester Luwin said urgently, his old voice holding panic as he entered the study. "A raven from King's Landing. It's from your sister."

Lysara felt dread pool within her belly. She watched intently as Robb was passed the letter and looked on as his relaxed face contorted into a fearful and then a panicked one. Her eyes widened, every feeling she felt at this moment was not good as she shared a look with Theon while they waited for Robb to finish reading the letter. The silence was tense and she knew that if she had a dagger on her, she could cut through it.

"Treason!" Robb roared, causing her to look on.

"Father," Lysara concluded, causing Robb to nod. "What have they accused him of?"

"It's father. He's been arrested by the Lannister's for treason," Her brother answered. "King Robert is dead."

"Let me see the letter," She demanded. He nodded and he passed it over to her, she gripped it with her sharp nails, her mind comprehending the words before she looked back up to Robb, Theon and Maester Luwin. "These are not Sansa's words. The words may be from her hand but it is Queen Cersei who has truly written this...And what of Arya? Where is she? The letter does not mention her."

"I do not know, my Lady," Maester Luwin said softly, before turning to Robb. "I'm sure if they cannot find her, that means she cannot be caught. My Lord, you have been summoned to King's Landing to swear fealty to the new King, Joffrey Baratheon."

"He wants his arse kissed?" Robb spat, slamming his hands on the table, causing it to shake as his words created thunder in her ears.

"I should have told you sooner," Lysara murmured as she sipped at her tea.

"Told us what?" Robb asked, but she remained silent keeping her eyes downcast. "Told us what, Lysara?"

"I told mother, she did not believe me..." She trailed off, setting her tea back down on the table and looked up to her brother hesitantly. "I should have come to you instead. It seems I have made a fatal mistake. Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen. They are not Robert Baratheon's children. They are bastards. Jaime and Cersei Lannister's bastards, to be more precise. They were the ones to push Brandon from the tower, not Tyrion."

"You're lying," Robb said, shaking his head in denial.

"How on earth would you know that?" Theon asked, looking as if he was about to burst into laughter if the situation wasn't serious.

"I got to the tower first...I did not find the strand of long, blonde hair that our mother found. Instead, I found a necklace. A lion. I confronted the Kingslayer and he admitted it. He did not outright admit but he did not deny the claims I made." Lysara admitted but continued so that Robb couldn't interrupt her angrily. "Father was attacked outside a brothel, the Mockingbird's brothel. The Kingslayer attacked our father outside of it and killed...killed his men. Why would the Kingslayer attack our father without provocation? Besides, our father would never approach a brothel much less go in one. He was looking for something...he turned to a man who knew everything when he knew nothing...Petyr Baelish."

As she continued her explanation, the puzzle began to weave and piece together. Lysara watched carefully as Robb, Theon and the Maester's faces changed drastically. She straightened her back, taking a long sip of her cooling tea before looking back up towards Robb and eyed him intensely. They believe me, it seems. Lysara lay her hands across her red skirts.

"You will not go to King's Landing," Lysara said firmly. "You will not swear fealty."

"Lady Lysara, it is a royal command. He has been crowned King nonetheless. If one were to disobey-" Maester Luwin began, but Robb interrupted him.

"I won't refuse," Robb said coldly, taking the letter from her hands and clenched it in his hand. "If His Grace summons me to King's Landing to swear fealty, then I will go to King's Landing. Although...I will not be alone in my march on the South," Robb turned to Luwin, holding a fierce look in his eyes. "Call on the banners."

"All of them, my Lord?" Maester Luwin inquired. He too was just as angry at the Lannister's.

"They have all sworn to defend my father, their liege Lord, have they not?" Robb demanded, causing her to raise an eyebrow.

"They have," Maester Luwin confirmed.

"Let us see what their words are worth," Robb said icily, staring into the candle light.

Maester Luwin nodded vigorously, briskly leaving the study. Lysara stared on at her older brother and noticed the drastic changes within him. Robb took a seat beside her and the Kraken followed shortly after. Lysara looked on at her brother and saw fear in his eyes. To her, he was no man. To her, he was just a frightened little boy that was going to play war. To her, he was just a boy who wants to save his sisters and father. To her, he was her older brother.

"If you are going to do war..." Lysara began. Robb's head snapped towards her as she held a firm but pained expression. "If you lose. Father dies. Our sister's...they will die. You hesitated to kill those Wildlings that attacked our brother. You hesitated. Your hesitation may be the death of you. You must kill our enemies, every one of them. Kill them all. Do not hold back, brother. We will show them what winter truly means when we are done with them. I promise you."

"You're afraid," Theon observed, causing her to nod as she observed his shaking body.

"I must be," Robb tells them and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Good," Theon replied. "It means your not stupid."

"You will not be coming with us, Lysara," Robb said, causing her eyes to avert back to him quickly as she stood. "I believe every word that passes from your lips. Every word you have spoken has come true, hasn't it? I do not want you by my side when I leave Winterfell. You don't belong on the battlefield. You belong in Winterfell. You must stay here and protect our younger brothers."

"What are you suggesting?" Lysara asked carefully, her face growing hard.

"You must run Winterfell."

Author's Note: Hey, hopefully you like this chapter. I hope it didn't disappoint. I'd like to thank everyone for reading my story, for putting it as one of your favourites and for following it. And I would like to give a massive thanks to everyone who left a review!

Reviews-

ladyres: Melisandre will be included in later chapter's but unfortunately she won't be encountering Thoros and Lady Stoneheart (although I haven't really decided if I should include her or not.)

unk: Thank you! Hopefully you like this chapter.

ATP: Thank you for reviewing, but I won't be skipping to season 6 though I will get to a chapter where it will be a year later or so. I'm not fully the script entirely, I'm following the plot though but unfortunately I have to follow the plot until a certain thing happens, without giving anything away.

Guest 1: I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint and thank you! I'm glad you think so.

celticank: Thank you! I'm really glad you think so.

Guest 2: It is just 6 pups. Lysara doesn't have a pup, so it's just 6 pups. No you aren't being a wench, I accidentally put him as Ser Rodrick's son instead of his nephew, so I'm sorry for that mistake. I'm not really going to include Arya in this story as much, she won't appear for a long while but there will be a slow burn resentment. And thank you for reviewing and for pointing that out.

Lyanna: Thank you for reviewing. Lysara will be mostly an anti-hero, she will do good things but she will do bad things as well. She won't really become a hero. I consider her more to be a chaotic good character. She won't end up with Jon at all. It will just be a brother-sister relationship and nothing more.

Ly: Without giving the plot away (Jon and Daenerys will be involved in way later chapter's with it) but it is Rhaegar's son, Aegon. It is to do with the three headed dragon. It isn't stated in the books that he is a fake Targaryen although it's heavily implied but for this fanfiction I've made him out to be the true son of Rhaegar.