"Wait!" Lyvia screamed breathlessly as she appeared at the entrance to the Great Keep. Her face flushed and sweat beaded along her hair line as she fought to catch her breath, while also fastening her cloak around her neck. "Wait! Stop!"
In the center of the courtyard, the guards had surrounded the young woman in the brown ragged clothing. Her hair was long, wavy and platinum blond with tiny braids that were fastened with tiny annoying bells. She stood with her head high and her back straight as she stared at the guards' faces with confidence.
"No!" Lyvia shouted as a guard drew his sword.
"I thought all the Targaryens were dead," one guard murmured to another as a crowd began to trickle out from the Great Hall.
"Out of my way!" the King roared with Lord Stark in tow. He pushed his way out into the courtyard and stood with his great belly protruding before him. Staring at Lyvia first, however, he almost seemed to forget the reason for the commotion.
Jory grasped Lyvia by the arm and pulled her out of the King's line of sight.
"I thought the Targaryen girl would be younger," he said to Lord Stark. He leaned in closer to his friend and added, "And also better looking than this."
Lord Stark stood silently beside the King.
"Where is your army, daughter of the dragon?" the King asked her.
"I do not need an army," she said calmly as she reached into her satchel. The guards closest to her drew their weapons. "When I have my dragon." She pulled forth a black dragon from her bag, holding it aloft as if it was her only salvation.
"Christ!" Lyvia cried and some people turned their heads towards her, including Robb Stark and Benjen Stark.
"What is it?" the King asked Lord Stark as he stared at the object in her hands. "It looks like a dragon."
"A very fluffy, fat dragon," Lord Stark replied as he studied it and the blond girl.
In Daenerys' hands, she held a stuffed black dragon with its mouth open, showing felt white teeth and a pink felt tongue. Its body was misshapen and a little smaller than its head, forcing it to look awkward and not at all terrifying.
"What is this?" the King asked. "Is this some sick jest?" He turned to Lord Stark. "Is this your idea? Are you trying to make me look the fool?" His voice boiled over in anger and his face turned red, though in the dark, it just looked black. His eyes found Lyvia again. "Bring her to my chambers," he growled.
Lyvia's face drained of color and she looked as pale as Ghost, who stood beside Jon Snow. She shook her head and turned to Jory. "I can't," she said in a low voice. "Jory…"
"Jory," Lord Stark said, waving his hand at him.
Jory's eyes saddened as he tightly gripped her by the arm. He pushed her towards Lord Stark as the King staggered away to the guesthouse. "My lord?" he said to Lord Stark.
Lord Stark looked grim, but he leaned in close to Jory's ear and whispered his orders.
Lyvia tugged on her arm in his vice-like grip. "Jory, you can't!" she cried. As she was led away, her eyes caught the Queen's cold expression as she stood beside Lady Stark and her daughters.
"Jory!" Arya shouted, but Jory ignored her and pulled Lyvia along through the crowd of guards.
Lyvia turned to see Septa Mordane grasp Arya by the arms as she tried to follow them. Her eyes darted to Sansa's horrified expression as she clasped her hands over her mouth and Prince Joffrey attempted to comfort her with a light pat on her shoulder. The Hound watched over the prince from a distance as Mandy swooned behind him and nearly fell atop the lute player, who came outside with a curious face. Robb watched Lyvia get pulled reluctantly towards the other side of the courtyard.
"Lyvvie!" Mandy called from behind the Hound. When she caught Lyvia's attention, however brief it was, she pointed at Sandor Clegane with an idiotic smile plastered to her lips and pretended to swoon.
Jory pulled her into the stables.
"What are you doing?" Lyvia asked once he released her.
"I'm doing what I've been ordered to do," he said.
"You're to take me to him, aren't you?" she asked, holding herself with her hands rubbing her upper arms.
"I said I'd keep you safe," he said to her as he saddled a horse. "Lord Stark will talk sense to him. The King is drunk."
"Where are you going?" she asked as she watched him.
"I'm taking you away from here," he said.
She shook her head. "I'm not going anywhere," she said, rushing back out into the courtyard, where the guards still surrounded Daenerys.
"Lyvia!" Jory called after her.
She didn't turn her head back towards him as she pushed her way through the wall of men. Most didn't budge, but stood firmly like statues. The ones that she managed to push through were obviously young and inexperienced. As she stood among the guards, she watched Lord Stark confront Daenerys.
"What is it that you seek, Daenerys Stormborn?" Lord Stark asked.
"I seek what is rightfully mine. I am the rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms!" she said in her lofty voice. "And I have come to reclaim what was wrongfully stolen from me." She lowered her dragon and cradled it in her arms like a baby.
Lord Stark shook his head. "We do not have your throne here," he said.
"Perhaps the girl would like to challenge the King for the throne," the Queen said as the sea of guards parted for her.
"The King is not fit to fight," Lord Stark said to her.
"No," the Queen said. "But a champion can be chosen for him, if this girl so chooses to challenge him for the throne." She stood beside Lord Stark, tall and graceful with her blond hair tied up in elaborate knots and braids that probably took several handmaidens and several hours to fix for her. Her green eyes looked the Targaryen girl over with a courteous smile, but her face had small lines that appeared around her eyes as she worried. "So, this is the little girl that ruffles my King's feathers…" As the words trickled from her pink lips, her eyes darted immediately to Lyvia's face.
Lyvia froze as though the Queen's gaze had some unexplainable power over her. Her heart raced as she stood by the Lannister guards, exposed and vulnerable. She bit her lip and turned her head back to the Targaryen girl and took a step forward. When her foot moved, she saw Lord Stark turn his attention to her with a cold stare. He looked around for Jory, but returned his attention to her as she walked up to Daenerys.
"Maureen," she whispered.
She turned her head to Lyvia with a cold stare. "You!" she hissed. "Where have you been?"
"Take off the wig," she whispered.
"What? No! I'm Daenerys Stormborn," she said.
"Take off the wig, Maureen. I mean it."
She ignored Lyvia with a calm face.
Lord Stark had no words, but Lyvia could tell he was troubled. When he finally managed a question, he asked, "Do you know this woman?" He stared at Lyvia intensely, the lines in his forehead darkening.
Lyvia lowered her head. "May we speak in private, my lord?"
Maureen shoved Lyvia with a growl. "You're ruining my moment," she hissed.
Lyvia's face turned red. She spun to face Maureen and grabbed her into a headlock, desperately yanking her blond hair from her head. "I'm taking that damn thing off your head, you lunatic!" she said.
"Get off me!" Maureen screamed as Lyvia pulled on her hair.
Lyvia pulled and yanked, tearing some of the hair out by the roots. When she found the tufts of hair tangled in between her fingers, she released Maureen from her headlock with a questioning expression. "You dyed your hair, really?"
"I don't like wigs," she said, tossing her hair. Her hands fixed her tresses so that the bald patch on the back of her head was covered.
"She's as wild as that sister of yours," the Queen said to Lord Stark. "No wonder my husband was so captivated by her. He loves wild things, you know. He loves to hunt them… and when he catches them, he becomes bored and moves on to the next one…" She pursed her lips together and walked towards the guesthouse.
Lord Stark bowed as she walked away. When he straightened back up, he whispered to Ser Rodrik, who stood and silently judged the situation. He ordered Robb to escort his sisters to their chambers with Theon Greyjoy. Sansa, of course, was horrified by the unladylike display and was on the verge of tears when Robb took her away. Prince Joffrey followed his mother with the Hound behind him. Mandy started to cry when the Hound walked away without even glancing her way.
"Lyvia," Lord Stark said with a quick movement of his hand.
Lyvia joined him by his guards and Benjen Stark. She lowered her eyes when she finally stood still. "My lord?"
"I thought I told Jory to take you out of here. What are you still doing here?" his voice was low.
Lyvia shook her head. "I couldn't let anything happen to her," she replied.
"Is she another one of your companions?" he asked.
Lyvia nodded. "Yes, my lord."
"For tonight, she may be safer in one of the cells in the dungeon," he said to her, turning to his brother.
Benjen nodded. "There's no great sentiment for a Targaryen, especially in these parts. Even if she's not a real one," he said in agreement. His eyes narrowed at Lyvia for a second and he moved her chin up with the tips of his fingers.
She lifted her eyes to meet his.
"She reminds me of Lyanna," he said with a twist of his lips. "Not identical, but there's something about her… I just can't seem to put my finger on it, but there's some resemblance."
"It's in her eyes," Lord Stark said without looking at Lyvia.
"And your name is Lyvia?" Benjen asked. "Remarkable." His lips widened into a smile.
"Is there anything else, my lord?" she asked Lord Stark.
"Stay with Jory," Lord Stark commanded.
"And Maureen?" she asked, pointing at the blond girl behind her.
"She will be fine… We'll see to her comfort," Lord Stark said. He motioned for his guards to take custody of Maureen when she screamed.
"Take your hands off me! I am a khaleesi! You cannot treat the dragon's daughter this way!" She protested and struggled valiantly, but the guards overpowered her and took hold of her wrists.
"I shall save you, my lady!" a voice cried from the darkness.
Lyvia squeezed her eyes together when she heard the voice. "Shit," she muttered under her breath. Her eyes opened to see Benjen's curious stare and Lord Stark scanning the darkness for the source of the voice. She turned towards Maureen, who also looked confused.
"Who dare interferes with the Lord of Winterfell?" Lord Stark declared.
The first sound was a hollow crash as one of the armored guards fell to his knees. The second was more grated and harsh like the scratching of metal upon metal. From the darkness, the gleam of a sword swished through the air and fell upon the plated arm of another guard, forcing him to release Maureen.
The other guards around them drew their swords.
"No!" Lyvia said, moving forward. She didn't travel far with Benjen's hands upon her shoulders. "Please! Lord Stark, please don't!"
"My name is Jon Snow!" Peter declared as he emerged from the shadows.
Lyvia became lightheaded and she toppled to the ground in a heap. As everything went black, she heard the sounds of screams and swords clashing.