The ride to the capital is a long and arduous one. Lyvia hadn't realized how much riding she would have to endure in a dress and constantly wished that she had changed into her jeans before she had left Winterfell.
"What are you going to tell him?" Lady Stark asked Lyvia as she rode closely beside her. Her voice was low as Ser Rodrik led them down the Kingsroad.
Lyvia's cheeks burned brightly. "I don't know yet, my lady," she replied. "I want to tell him what's in my heart… but… it may distract him. But I suppose I want to tell him how important he is to me."
Lady Stark nodded. "Jory's a very special man to us," she said. "He is one of the family. And I've seen how he looks at you and he adores you. I hope you have enough respect for him to treat his love with kindness and dignity."
"I'd never hurt him," she replied. "Despite what people may think." She lowered her eyes as Ser Rodrik slowed his horse and rode on the other side of Lady Stark.
"We are close, my lady," he said.
Lady Stark nodded and draped a scarf over her head to cover her vibrant red hair, the distinct trait of a Tully. She had also loaned a scarf to Lyvia to wear to keep her identity hidden from the wary eyes of King's Landing. "They are certain to spot an outsider," she said, swinging the tail of her scarf over her shoulder. "And there are whisperers everywhere. We must be very cautious."
Lyvia wore the scarf over her head and covered her mouth and nose so that only her eyes were visible. She felt rather silly, however, since she was still wearing a thick wool cloak with fur trim. People will know she's not from King's Landing and they will guess immediately that she's from the north. "Lady Stark, perhaps, it would be best if I trail behind you," she said. "I know you want to see Lord Stark as quickly as possible and the fewer you have in your party, the less you have to worry."
Ser Rodrik looked grim as he glanced at Lady Stark.
"If you wish," Lady Stark said. "But be careful…"
Lyvia nodded and stopped her horse as the others continued into King's Landing. She watched Lady Stark disappear in through the gates. With a breath, she followed, knowing that Jory was possibly around the Red Keep or the Tower of the Hand. During this part of the series, she could only remember watching Lord Stark come to the brothel with Lord Baelish. Was Jory with him? She couldn't remember. Should she have gone with Lady Stark? She sighed and cursed for not thinking this through.
She pushed her horse, hoping to catch Lady Stark. She rushed in through the gates, passing the peasants and guards, finding Ser Rodrik as he rode behind Lady Stark. "Ser Rodrik!" she called.
"I thought you were going to find my nephew," he said in a low voice.
"I realized I wouldn't know where to find him…" she replied breathlessly. She pushed passed some of the mounted city guards in their worn armor as they escorted Lady Stark to the brothel. With a deep breath, she followed Lady Stark and Ser Rodrik as they dismounted from their horses and climbed the steps into a dimly lit salon.
Lyvia had never seen Lady Stark so angry as she stormed through the curtains and threw his letter back at him. She stood behind Ser Rodrik, meekly observing the interaction between the man they called "Littlefinger", who looked more like a mouse to her. Maybe a rat, she thought as she eyed the handsome man with his whores.
"And who is this?" he asked, giving Lyvia a casual, interested glance.
"This must be the girl," a bald man said from behind a beaded curtain. The Spider.
"Lord Varys," Lady Stark was surprised.
"Yes," Lord Varys entered and stared at Lyvia closely. "I can see where she may be mistaken for the Stark girl. It's all in the eyes."
"How did you know, Lord Varys, that we were coming?" Lady Stark asked.
"Knowledge is my trade, my dear lady. Did you bring the dagger with you by any chance?"
Lyvia took a step away from the bald man and lowered her eyes from him. He wore moss-colored robes of silk and brocade, which looked awkward for such a plump man. But when she lifted her eyes, he had shifted to another part of the salon without a sound as he examined the dagger in the light by window.
They discussed the dagger and its owner in great length as Lyvia continued to tiptoe around Ser Rodrik and keep out of everyone's way. She paced nervously behind Ser Rodrik, not even aware that her actions were drawing their attention her way.
"Petyr," Lady Stark said. "Could you please make sure that Lord Stark brings his captain of the guards with him?"
Lord Baelish shook his head. "The things I do for you, Cat," he sighed. "I'll see what I can do. But there's no promise. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves." He gave Lyvia a curious glance and smiled wryly.
Lyvia watched him leave and turned back to Lady Stark. "Perhaps, it wasn't a good idea for me to come here," she said.
Ser Rodrik scoffed and grunted. "I could have saved you the trip and had you kept at Winterfell."
Lyvia lowered her eyes. "Ser Rodrik, I happen to love your nephew. I know it may be a little too late to tell him now, but I want him to know. I want to look into his eyes and tell him. And if it's too late, I will return to Winterfell and not interfere in his life." She took a deep breath. The waiting felt like days.
With every sound of a horse, she jumped up and rushed out to the balcony to look down onto the street, hoping to see him on his white destrier. She would return with a frown each time and sit on the pillows beside Lady Stark.
Finally, when some of the ladies of the pleasure house gathered outside with interest, Lady Stark rushed to the balcony to call her husband inside. Lyvia followed her out to look down onto the street. Her eyes found Lord Stark's white horse, tied beside Lord Baelish's horse. On the other side of them, another white horse stood with a tall man in leather armor beside it.
She stared intently at him, hoping he would turn his head up at her. Would he see her if she didn't speak a word to him? Her teeth grazed over her bottom lip as she watched him.
"Handsome one, isn't he?" one of the other girls commented with a wide grin.
Lyvia drew in a deep breath and sighed.
"I hear he hasn't had a woman before," another one giggled. "Such a shame… handsome one like that should be with as many girls as he can."
She wanted to call out to him or grab his attention in some way, but he seemed to be purposefully avoiding the girls on the balcony. Her mouth twisted into a frown as he continued to keep his back to her. I should throw a rock at him, she thought. Her temper started to flare as she looked around for something to toss down to him to get his attention. But as she found a pebble in a planter, she heard Lord Stark's voice call him in from the doorway below.
Lyvia popped her head over the edge of the wall and looked down onto the street. Her eyes locked with Jory's as he casually glanced up at the girls, eyeing them all one at a time with disinterest, until he caught her.
His lips turned from a disinterested line across his face into a toothless grin. His pace quickened when he entered.
Lyvia returned into the salon where Lord Stark and Lady Stark were in a deep conversation with Lord Baelish and Ser Rodrik. Her eyes watched the curtains and waited impatiently. She trembled with anticipation, her heart pounding so loudly in her ears that she couldn't hear them talking anymore.
Jory burst into the salon and looked around. "Uncle, Lady Stark," he said politely. His eyes found her. Without a word, he took two large steps towards Lyvia and grasped her by the arms. He didn't say a word to her, but his eyes watered and his lip trembled.
"Hello," she finally said to him.
"Come," Lord Baelish said to them. He led them into a private room and closed the door behind him, leaving them alone.
"Can't you say some-…" Lyvia started when he kissed her. She had missed his touch and his smell so much that the warmth of his skin against hers and the scent of his sweat and armor overloaded her senses. She snaked her arms around him and held him close as she returned his kiss with one of her own.
His hands removed the scarf around her hair and untied the cloak, dropping it down to the floor. "What are you doing here?" he finally asked.
She looked into his brown eyes with a smile. "I wanted to tell you something," she replied.
Jory furrowed his eyebrows and stared into her face. "And you came all this way?"
She nodded. "I thought it'd be more appropriate to say it to you personally than to send it by raven or with your uncle." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out as Jory's face morphed from pleased to concerned.
"What is it?"
"I love you," she replied, lowering her eyes. With a short breath, she lifted her lashes and looked into his face.
Jory tried to hide his tears, but she saw them well in his eyes. He pulled his gloves off his hands and threw them to the floor. "I love you," he repeated her words as he cupped her face. "I've waited so long to hear those words from you."
Her lips curved into a smile. "I know… I'm sorry." Her hand stroked his hair and ran down his cheek. "I've always loved you," she said. But as she stared into his face and his loving eyes, she couldn't help but stifle a sob that was churning in her soul. She squeezed her eyes together and lowered her head as the first of many sobs shook her shoulders.
"Lyvia…" Jory whispered. "My love…" His arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a tight embrace as she cried.
"Jory," she sobbed. "I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," he replied, kissing her hair. "I'm right here, my lady. I'm right here."
She sobbed louder. "Come back to Winterfell with me," she said, popping her tear-stained face up from his chest. "Please, Jory."
"I cannot leave Lord Stark," he replied. "Stay here with me, Lyvia. Marry me and stay here with me."
She knew she was being selfish. "I'll marry you, Jory, if you come to Winterfell. I don't want to get married here." She sniffled and her breaths came in short uneven gasps as she looked into his sad eyes.
"We will marry when I return to Winterfell," he promised, wiping away her tears. "Don't cry, my love."
She nodded and held her head up with a weak smile. But as he took a step away from her, she held her face in her hands and couldn't control her tears.
"I wish I could understand why you're upset," he said, holding her close against him.
She shook her head. "I wish I could tell you… but I can't."
"It's not that you can't… it's that you won't," he sighed. He peeled her away from his body and stared into her face. "I've trusted you thus far with all of your secrets… that camera thing… and your metal beast. Trust me and tell me what's happening."
She sighed and looked into his eyes. "You're going to die… in King's Landing," she whispered so low that it was almost inaudible.
He laughed. "Come now, Lyvia. You must find me stupid if you think I'll believe that."
His eyes never left her face, which remained serious and red. With a sigh, her eyes saddened even further and she stifled a sob. "You wanted the truth," she said.
He stopped laughing. "You can't be serious."
She nodded. "It's true."
"Who told you this?"
"No one," she responded, taking a seat on a feathery bed covered with silken sheets and brocade pillows with fringe and tassels. "I just know…"
"How do you know? It's so absurd."
"Jaime Lannister is going to kill you," she said. "You're going to fight… and he's going to kill you."
He turned his back to her.
"Don't you see? That's why I want you to come back to Winterfell with me. I don't want to lose you."
He sighed. "I can't just run away from something that may or may not happen."
She didn't want to confuse him further by adding the reason for the attack. "I'm not asking you to run away. I'm asking you to stay alive," she replied. "I know I can't ask you to abandon Lord Stark… but I want you to be very careful."
He turned around and rubbed his temple with his fingers. "This is insanity," he stated as he thought about her words. "What you're saying is mad!"
"It's not! I came all the way down here to tell you that I love you and to try to keep you safe!" She stood up and stomped her foot in frustration.
Jory crossed his arms and shook his head. "It's insane. Jaime Lannister is not going to kill me."
"You don't know him," she said.
"I've known him longer than I have you," he narrowed his eyes at her.
Those words stabbed through her heart and made it shrink tenfold. She stared at him for minutes that felt like hours, hoping he'd say something that would defuse the situation. But the longer she waited, the angrier she became. "Maybe it was a bad idea to come to King's Landing," she said in a low voice. She walked around the bed and picked up her cloak and scarf from the floor. Without another word, she opened the door.
"Perhaps, it was," he muttered. "You're making me choose between my duty and you…I love you, Lyvia Turner, but I will not leave the Starks or my duty."
She turned her head to the side as she listened to his words, but still left him in silence. Once she was in the hallway, she threw her cloak around her shoulders and rushed into the salon where Lord and Lady Stark were still talking with Ser Rodrik and Lord Baelish. Her eyes caught the surprised expression of Lady Stark as she passed through the room and headed out onto the street.
Throwing her scarf around her hair, she mounted her horse and rode out of the city as quickly as her horse could take her. But as she reached the mouth of the Kingsroad that led back to Winterfell, she stopped. She needed to ride with Lady Stark and Ser Rodrik so she could stop them from making a grievous mistake. Damnit, she thought. She still loved Jory and she'd risk changing the story just to keep him out of harm's way.
Turning her horse around, she slowly cantered back to the gates of King's Landing with a sigh. The guards looked at her as though she was a fool for running off quickly, then having to return with her head hung low. I'm a fool for love, she thought as she dismounted and tied her horse beside Jory's.