Lyanna Stark

Somewhere in the Neck, North, Year 281 AC

In their trip of almost three moons, the cold returned twice as hard as it was before spring, as the smallfolk believed, began. But every lord knew that it was still Winter as the Citadel did not send a white raven announcing the coming of Spring.

Since the Northmen left Harrenhal, they made quite a lot of ground. They entered the Neck two days ago and according to her estimations, they would be leaving it in another two.

Lyanna's mood changed quite a bit since then, she was now happy after leaving the bloody cursed castle, hoping to never to return or see Targaryens for the rest of her life, she was done with all of it.

When she told the Prince about Lord Arryn and Lord Tully's plan to betray him, never in her wildest dreams did she expect him to crown her…The smallfolk at Wintertown remarked on how smart the Prince was but to her, he was nothing but plain stupid. Handsome, yes, talented with the harp, at singing and at jousting yes, but stupid.

Why in the Seven Hells did he crown her? She expected for him to just let Ser Barristan win or something of that sort, that certainly wasn't so difficult to do, was it? It was Ser Barristan the Bold, a man who slew Maelys the Monstrous in single combat and rescued the Mad King from Duskendale alone, how hard would it be to lose against the man?

Because of the Prince, she was now considered a whore. Her virtue was being questioned by the smallfolk and highborn alike. The only good thing about the Prince's stupid action was that at least she wouldn't be a Queen.

She was certainly relieved that she regained some of her previous confidence back. Riding in the northern soil made her feel safer, especially amongst her brothers and friends. Just the cold northern winds blowing in her face and making her long hair fly while she rode her dear horse, Winterstorm at full speed made smile.

But arriving at the Neck also meant one less happy thing…Howland was leaving…

Denying that she grew fond of Howland would be lying and she knew quite well that all of her brothers grew the same feelings as her, especially Ben. Meeting Howland was one of the few good things that happen Harrenhal.

Brandon called for the retinue to stop near what seemed like a river or perhaps a lake, she couldn't really distinguish it due to the cold fog that covered the bogs. It seems it was Howland himself who told them to stop there.

There, they waited for a bit before another crannogman appeared from nowhere in a little boat, dark haired and dark eyed unlike Howland's dirty blond hair and bright green eyes.

Howland then turned to them with a sad look in his face, just as she and her siblings'. "This is the boat I'm meant to catch to arrive at my home, My Lords and My Ladies." he explained.

"You are going to be missed, Howland." Said, Ned, as he extended his hand for Howland to shake. "It was a pleasure to meet you and have you with us in these past moons."

"Thank you, Lord Eddard." Howland thanked with a smile.

"You are going to be missed." Brandon said next extending his hand to him as well.

"I will try to visit Winterfell once in a while." Assured Howland.

"Promise?" Asked Benjen concerned.

"Yes, Lord Benjen."

Ben looked at him weary but then went in for a hug to his new friend. "I will miss you, Howland…"

"Me too," Howland replied, patting Ben's back. Then Howland looked at her just as she was looking at him. "Lady Lyanna, I can never forget what you did for me and my people, I'm in a debt to you."

"Nonsense." she scoffed. "I always help my friends without expecting anything in return and it's not going to be this time that it changes."

"Even if My Lady says that…one day I shall repay my debt." Howland insisted.

She went in for a hug as well, she would miss the little crannogman dearly. "Don't be stupid Howland, visit me at Winterfell some time and the debt will be paid."

"I will try My Lady." Was his answer.

"It's Lyanna." she corrected him.

"Lyanna…"

Afterward, Howland jumped into the little boat and disappeared in the shallow waters, whilst they resumed their journey along the Kingsroad.

A little further up the road, it was Willam and Mark's turn to leave, than the Manderlys', a little further still, the Hornwoods, followed by the Mormonts. When they arrived at Castle Cerwyn, seven days later, it was just her, her brothers, Lady Ashara, and Martyn Cassel who lead some thirty household guards that father had sent south with them.

Lady Ashara amused her a lot, besides being funny and retorting Brandon's japes with a sharp tongue, putting Brandon's wolf tail between his legs multiple times, she was also fearlessly protective of Ned but at the same time, teasing him nonstop and making him laugh quite often, which Lyanna certainly loved to see.

At first, Lyanna was quite concerned with Ned bedding her, it meant he got very intimate with her and even if they loved each other…well…she was no maiden…she had been with more men before dearest Ned…

Lyanna had been taught since she was a little child that her maidenhead was something sacred and she was expected to have it still when her marriage was to be consummated, less to make her future husband angry with her and her family…at least it was what that old weasel Walys said multiple times…

Since father said the very same thing to her, she did obey them in that regard. Conserving her maidenhead almost cost her favorite activities such as riding Winterstorm and occasionally practicing with sword and bow, but in the end, father did allow her to do what she loved. Somehow she thought her siblings had something to do with it…

And then, Lady Ashara also had spies…which made her uneased, to say the least…

After nearly three moons with the Dornishwoman, Lyanna's opinion of her changed quite a lot, she now saw that the woman was a good influence in all of them, Ned, Bran, Ben and even her. She enjoyed talks with all of them and they never were bored in her presence.

Even though anyone could see that Ashara was struggling with the cold, as of course she was not used to it, even with multiple layers of clothes on top of her, she seemed impressed by everything in the North. Things like the Neck, pinewood trees, the White Knife, frozen lakes and rivers and even snow and the tiny snowflakes left the Dornish woman open-mouthed on many occasions.

Finally, after almost another midday of ride, they spotted their home in the distance, getting bigger and bigger by the minute. In these first few days at Winterfell, she would sleep in her comfortable bed that she missed a lot and then she would ride Winterstorm into the Wolfswood nonstop just as she loved to.

What she was not so keen on, was the fact that father would want to have a conversation with her about what went down at Harrenhal.

An hour into the afternoon and they were entering the castle walls, the servants and passing smallfolk began waving at them, greeting them happily. Their father stood in the middle of the courtyard with Ser Rodrik and of course, the old weasel…Father was clearly waiting for them as Brandon had sent him a raven from Castle Cerwyn the day before. As he saw them, a big smile formed into his long stern face.

They dismounted their horses, giving their reins to the servants, she gave Winterstorm to Walder and formed in a horizontal line along with her siblings in front of their father. Brandon, like always took the initiative and went for an embrace with father. "Father." he said.

"My children, it's good to have you back in one piece." Her father said as he clapped Brandon's back "How do you all fare?"

"Better now that we are home, father." she said as she hugged him too, not missing his rather serious face.

"I thought as much, sweet Lyanna," he said chuckling, whilst squeezing her tight and turning to Ben. "Ben the Wolf how are you?"

"Stronger!" Ben replied confidently as he embraced their father.

"I bet you are and that's what we want, don't we?" Father smiled at her youngest brother.

"Aye!" Ben beamed.

Finally, their father turned to Ned, and none of them could hide their smiles due to their facial expressions and looks being so similar, Ned was a copy of their father. "Ned…" Father began. "It has been quite some time since we last saw each other, hasn't it?"

"Aye, father," Ned replied with the same smile as father whilst embracing him. "I have missed you, father."

"Me too, son." Their father began glancing Ned with a proud smile. "You have grown."

"Maybe a little bit…" Ned replied chuckling. "Listen…we…we brought…someone…with…with us…"

Father looked at him with weary eyes and a raised eyebrow. "Someone, you say?" And with this, their father, turned around until he finally focused his eyes in Lady Ashara who quickly smiled when her father's gaze fell upon her.

"Lord Stark, it's a pleasure to finally get acquainted with My Lord." she began with a respectful nod. "My name is Ashara Dayne, daughter of Lord Solomon Dayne of Starfall and his late wife Lady Elayna Blackmont."

"It's certainly a pleasure to meet Lady," Father said with an uneasy smile. "Welcome to Winterfell."

"Thank you for the warm welcome My Lord." she replied with another nod.

"We hope My Lady's stay in Winterfell is pleasurable enough."

"It's being wonderful so far, My Lord." Lady Ashara replied with a bright smile. "I'm sure it will remain as such."

"I'm sure too," Father said. "Lyanna, would you mind having Lady Dayne acquainted with Winterfell, whilst I have a talk with your older brothers in the Great Hall?" Father asked of her, and she couldn't say no even if she wanted.

"Of course father," she replied. "Lady Ashara would you care to follow me, we will find you a room for you to say."

"Do lead the way, Lady Lyanna." Ashara said.

"What about me?" Ben hissed.

"You will practice with Ser Rodrik as he misses sparing with you." Father said whilst turning to a smiling Ser Rodrik.

"Okay…"

Eddard Stark

Winterfell, North, Year 281 AC

Ned was shaking a lot, not because of the cold but because of how nervous he actually was, he and Brandon were following their father to the Great Hall, the reason was quite obvious to him, they were to talk about Ashara…

As soon as they entered said division, their father took a seat in the Lord's chair and began looking at Brandon, then to him, then to Brandon once more and then him again and repeating this for quite some time, making him even more nervous.

"Which one of you is going to explain to me why Lady Dayne came with you?" Finally asked father.

"Father…" Ned began nervously and stammering. "I…wish…I wish to…marry her…"

His father just remained gazing him for almost a full minute, not saying a word and making Ned tremble in fear inside. Then he finally looked to Brandon in hopes of an explanation.

"You told me to find him a suitable wife." Said Brandon with an uneased smirk, he too seemed nervous... "And I found a suitable wife for him, Lady Ashara is a perfect match for Ned."

"I did ask you to find your brother a wife, but I wasn't expecting a Dornishwoman…" His father confessed. "I thought you would look in the Westerlands or the Reach…like I suggested..."

"I think Dorne is a very good place to forge an alliance, father," Brandon explained. "House Dayne is old, powerful and prestigious just as you asked and Lady Ashara is as southern as a woman can be, there is nothing south of Starfall."

"I never said she isn't all those things Brandon, but…"

"Ned laid with her," Brandon said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. WHAT THE FUCK? Was this his plan? SERIOUSLY? "And he laid with her twice."

His father turned to him with an aghast expression and because of it, Ned never felt more embarrassed in his life. So embarrassed he was, that he blushed so hard and couldn't stop staring at the floor…Thank you Brandon! Thank you so much you big genius! Seriously, why in the Seven Hells do I even trust this fool?

"Ned…" His father asked whilst his palm found his forehead in exasperation. "Is it true? Did you sleep with the woman twice? Aren't you covering one of your brother's mistakes? Please…tell me you are…"

Seeing his father so disappointed with him made Ned feel worse than shit. "I did father, I laid with her twice on my own free will," Ned explained. "Brandon by all accounts was always sleeping in his tent without any woman's company."

"Seven fucking hells…" Sighed his father in defeat, while rubbing his face. "I expect such behavior from Brandon, he had his fair share of maidenheads already, but from you?"

"I…"

"You have disappointed me, Ned."

"I'm sorry father…" Ned murmured. "I couldn't help it, I love her so much that I couldn't resist her…we love each other father…truly…"

Still with his hands covering his face, his father sighed once more before glancing them both again. "Call Maester Walys…" he commanded.

"Maester Wallis?" Ned asked confused.

"Aye, we need him to send the raven to Starfall don't we?" Father questioned without expecting an answer.

"Father does this mean…" Began Ned.

"House Dayne is a proud house from a far away Kingdom, Ned, so you will have to marry Lady Dayne to restore her honor." His father explained plainly. "Yet, in your case, I assume you like the punishment, don't you?"

Of course he liked the punishment, he loved it! It was a victory! His heartbeat just went off! He had gotten permission to marry the woman he loved! He received permission to marry Ashara! Oh Gods! I'm marrying her! Yes! Yes! He didn't even notice his inability to speak, so when he tried to answer his father, only squeals came.

"Father," Bran said laughing. "Give this Dumb Wolf some time to calm down or he might faint from joy."

Much to his relived, father began chucking as well. "Maybe I should…Gods you children grow so fast," he explained. "Just yesterday you were nothing but babes without carnal desires..."

"I-I…" Ned began stammering, still overflowed with emotions.

"Will tell the girl that a raven will be sent to her home with a marriage proposal today." Concluded his father.

"Thank you, father..." Ned said while bending his knee to his father. "Thank you so much, father."

"Gods Ned!" His father said embarrassed. "I don't want my children bowing to me, get up son, now."

"I'm sorry…"

"It's okay." His father assured him. "You are both free to do as wish now."

They nodded to their father and left the Great Hall. Ned promptly stopped Brandon as they exited and then closed the door behind them.

"That was your brilliant plan?" Ned asked angrily. "Telling father I sleep with her?"

"What about it? It worked didn't it?" Brandon retorted. "Father accepted and that's what matters."

"But now he is disappointed with me!"

"Of course he is." Said Brandon. "If you were so concerned with him being disappointed with you, then you should have kept the celibacy."

"I know but…"

"A little question brother…" Brandon interrupted. "What do you prefer, having father disappointed with you for some time or not marrying Ashara but someone else for the rest of your life?"

Gods why was Brandon so smart sometimes… "The first…"

"I thought as much," Brandon smirked as he clapped him in the back. "Smile ya fool, you getting married!"

And that he did, he smiled like never before whilst Brandon placed his arm behind him, smiling as well. "We should go for a drink of celebration!" Brandon suggested.

"Hum, no."

"What?" Bran barked indignantly. "Gods Ned, you are boring…"

"I like being boring to you."

"Now he japes!" Brandon smirked. "I see how it is…"

They found Lyanna and Ashara watching as Ben spared with Ser Rodrik, laughing with some talk they were having. As soon as their female eyes saw them approaching, the laughs gave way to concerned faces of much anticipation. Ben also stopped and came closer to them.

"Ned was something amiss?" Asked Ashara worriedly, as she approached him. "Did your father rant you because of me?"

Ned couldn't keep a smile away from his face, so the two of them promptly looked perplexed to Brandon who was smiling as well.

"Did he?" Ashara asked once more, while her eyes returned to him. "Ned?"

He felt a big grin form in his face, one of those Brandon usually had for sure. "My father accepted our marriage and is writing a letter to your father as we speak," Ned explained. "It shall leave Winterfell today."

Ashara's violet eyes began shining more and that bright smile of hers sculpted a magnificent look on her before she literally jumped on top of him and made him fall to the floor. "Oh my sweet Quiet Wolf, I'm so happy!" she said before kissed him deeply in the lips whilst hugging him so hard he felt her breaking his ribs with her tight grip. "I love you so much."

"Ashara…you are crushing me…" he murmured in pain.

She quickly released him. "Oh, I'm so sorry Ned!" she said concerned. "I got overexcited…I didn't mean to hurt you…"

"It's okay…" he commented. "I'm alive still…"

Brandon began laughing as loud as his usual self. "Gods, I love these two!"

"Congratulations, dearest Ned," Lyanna said with a smile. "I'm so glad father accepted."

"Yeah, brother." Ben agreed. "Can't wait for the army of brooding Neds to arrive so I can see Bran scared like he said the sight of them would make him feel."

"Shut up Pup!" Bran barked indignantly. "You need to keep that mouth closed sometimes."

They all looked at Brandon with smirks. "Afraid of little children that are yet to be born big brother?" Lyanna commented amusedly.

"I never said such thing…"

"Yes you did!" Ben insisted.

"Gods damn you Pup!"

They all broke in laughs at Brandon's newfound fear. Whilst he hugged Ashara calmly…she would be his wife, his very own life... He couldn't wait for their marriage to happen now.

Kevan Lannister

Casterly Rock, Westerlands, Year 281 AC

Kevan entered the Great Hall of the Casterly Rock, finding his brother glancing the sea. It was around these times that Kevan feared his brother the most.

"Welcome home, Kevan." Said his brother without glancing him. "Was the trip well enough?"

"It was Tywin." Kevan replied.

Tywin finally turned to face him, his expression was the same as it always has been since Joanna died all those years ago…expressionless. "Good."

"I presume you want to know what happened in Harrenhal?"

"You presume well," Tywin replied. "As far as I know Aerys was supposed to be deposed by now and yet I got no word of such thing happening."

"Prince Rhaegar didn't crown Elia Martell as he was supposed to…" Murmured Kevan. "He…he crowned Lyanna Stark, daughter of Lord Rickard Stark."

Kevan still wondered why, Lyanna Stark certainly had a beauty to her, not Cersei's beauty but a wild beauty, a northern beauty, but she was nothing special to deserve such reward…

"Is that so?" Tywin inquired with a raised eyebrow. "You are telling me that I wasted some seventy-five thousand golden dragons for Rhaegar to crown a girl that is not Elia Martell or my daughter?"

"I'm…I'm sorry Tywin…"

"I thought Rhaegar was a proper heir to the throne, but it seems I was seriously mistaken," Tywin said. "It seems his father's madness is in him as well."

"Maybe…"

"And so it seems I can't count on Rhaegar anymore." Said his brother.

"If we aren't supporting Rhaegar, Tywin, who are we supporting now?" Kevan inquired rather confused.

"Whoever wins what's coming." Was Tywin's response. "Any hopes of gathering the support of the Great Lords has been wasted in such ridiculous action. I have no doubt Lord Stark and Lord Baratheon will oppose the Targaryens now, Lord Arryn and Lord Tully will follow them as well."

"So we wait?"

"Yes…" Tywin replied. "I have no bargaining chips to ally myself with them as of now…I don't want to waste Cersei yet, she is going to be Queen, that I do know."

Tywin's obsession with having a Lannister Queen was something Kevan didn't quite agree fully but he would support his brother and family until his final breath and if Tywin's plan was to wait, then so would he.

As always thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.