The clear water of the small river flowed past them without much hurry. The wind blew, though not too harshly, as if mindful of present company and the fact that care was needed. Ned smiled at the thought and looked back towards Lyanna who had fallen into pace with Lady Nora Cerwyn. The daughter of Lord Dorren Cerwyn had begun the journey along the Kingsroad just a bit before them and since meeting they had come to the understanding that it would be best to keep close together, as larger parties were less exposed to danger of raiders.

Slowing the pace of his steed, Ned waited for both ladies to reach him. Lady Nora, taking notice of his behaviour flashed him a smile, her upper lip pulling back to reveal white teeth. "Ever the careful brother, are you not?" she asked him in jest, her light blue eyes shining with a playful light.

"I should think so, my lady," he answered. Ned could safely say that he liked Nora Cerwyn, she also seemed to have made fast friends with Lyanna. "It is going to be nightfall soon and we shall be making camp in not much longer. I thought to let you know."

"That is just as well," Lyanna laughed, "for I fear I may have frozen and become stuck to the saddle."

"It is nippy," Nora agreed. "And it looks like it might snow," she then commented upon looking at the sky.

Knowing his sister in good hands for the time being, Ned spurred his horse on and rode forward until he reached Ser Jonnel Frost, a man not quite young, but skilled with a sword and the keeper of Lady Nora until they reached Nightsong, where Lady Nora was to wed a member of House Caron. All that information had been relied to Ned by the lady herself in the presence of his sister. It seemed that all the young ladies of Westeros were on a journey to be wedded.

"Tired, are they?" Jonnel questioned, referring to the women.

"So it would seem." The reply produced a snort from the man. Ned gave him a questioning look.

"Women are like that," the other chuckled. "But you just wait until we place them in front of a fire. They'll not be tired then."

It seemed a cruel jest of fate that those words should prove to be prophetic, but they did. For as soon as they'd stopped and camp had been made, the men had kindling fires and all gathered round them. Ned, expecting to see the two ladies tired and perhaps even a bit sleepy, was surprised to find happy as larks, in a heated discussion about the merits and disadvantages of being the only female members of their family. It turned out that Lady Nora too had only brothers in her father's home.

Food and drink was taken out. Bread and salted meat was passed from hand to hand, each person ripping chinks and bits, some cutting with knives, other simply pulling until it came apart. Ned sat down next to Lyanna proceeding to be a shield to her against anything that might have suggested danger.

Once nourishment had been taken, it came the time to lie down in rest.

"The safest option seemed to have Lady Nora and his sister slumbering together and their tent guarded. It was happily agreed upon and no sooner that the moon shone bright in the sky that the two women hid away from the sight of all, presumably to find rest and not be disturbed by the cruder habits that men displayed when not in the company of women.

Much of the night passed uneventfully, though Ned could not seem to find sleep, no matter how he tossed and turned. It was the damndest of things. In the end he was obliged to give up and leave the comfort of his makeshift bed to go nearer to one of the fires and huddle with the rest of the men. He threw a look at Lady Nora's tent. How enviable that women were always provided protection.

He was handed a flask of ale by one of the soldiers. "You look as if you'd been staring death in face. Take heart. Drink of this."

Seeing no recourse but to accept, he took a long gulp of the liquid and thanked the gods after that he hadn't choked on it. The gods were good, at least of that particular occasion. He was filled by a pleasant sort of warmth and not even the aftertaste of ale on his tongue bother him that much in the end. Ned supposed it was the severe cold that affected him so. He placed his hands closer to the fire, rubbing them together from time to time to keep the blood flowing.

He began considering how long the journey would take if they travelled even after night had fallen. But the road was already dangerous enough without having to face beasts, fiends and robbers in the dead of the nigh when men were tired, more asleep than awake and as likely to stab each other as they were to fell the enemy. That taken into consideration, it was mayhap possible to drive their horses at a speedier pace, yet it was possible that Lyanna would have problems with keeping such a pace.

All things considered, it was best to proceed as they were. They had adequate numbers, enough food and drink and enough time also. If all went well, Arthur Dayne should meet them on the Kingsroad once they neared King's Landing. They only needed to get there first.

If he fell asleep even a bit before the morning came, Ned would never know, for it seemed to him as if the whole night thereafter had passed much like a dream. Before she knew it, it was time to break camp and being travelling once again.

Lyanna smiled at him cheerfully. It was clear that at least she had had a good night's rest. But, as if sensing his weariness, his sister touched his shoulder gently. "Brother, are you fine?"

"Aye," he answered hastily. Helping her on her horse, he checked that the saddle was secure. Once assured that no ill could befell her, he mounted his own steed.

Jonnel made sure that all else was as it should be and the travel companions were on their way before long.

"We cannot stay much longer," he spoke softly in her ear, hand touching her shoulder. "I know you do not wish to leave Lady Nora here on her own, but we do have to move on. Come, Lyanna. You know I am right," Ned coaxed.

His sister sighed deeply. "I know your meaning."

"You might fall ill as well if we do not depart." He was truly regretful that the circumstances were such, yet Ned knew that it was best they left. "Soon enough we shall be entering the kingswood and from there on, King's Landing is a stone's throw away. We are so very close."

"You speak true," she agreed. For all the mercy in her heart, Lyanna had never truly been driven by pity. Ned had needed some time to understand, but once he'd figured out that detail, it became much easier to understand his dear sister.

Lyanna was a strange creature, she truly was. For someone who seemed soft and kind there was beneath that first layer of benevolence a coat of steel, rather reminiscent of Brandon's obstinacy. Ned had heard that very hastiness called the wolf's blood more than once, thought what that had to do with wolves, he would never know. From his observation the wolves were careful beasts, almost wise in their own way.

But as he had observed before, Lyanna youth made her prone towards rather reckless behaviour from time to tome. The consequences were made more frightening by the fact that she was truly important in the fate of the world, if the gods were to be believed.

"Sister, the gods may offer only so much protection. If you shan't care for yourself, do not expect others to." The warning had her standing to her feet, mouth twisting in displeasure. "A maester has already been engaged for Lady Nora. There is no more that you can do for her."

To be entirely fair, Lyanna had thought that the strange illness may be driven away by a touch of hers. Of course, she had been much disappointed when it was not so. The maester they had found in the house of a nearby lord had agreed to aid the young lady in exchange for some coin, which Lyanna had insisted that she should pay for some reason. Ned had allowed it only because he knew how obstinate his sister could be when it served her purpose.

"Do you truly think this situation pleases me?" she demanded, fury colouring her words. Tired and worried, Lyanna was not the best of companions. "I wish but for this to be over as soon as possible, but I cannot leave until I am assured that Lady Nora's health shall be restored."

"Will nothing induce you to change your mind?" At the shake of her head, Ned could not help but slap his hand against the wooden table she occupied. "You will end up driving me insane."

"I did not demand your presence," she reminded him, crossing her arms over her chest.

The illness had struck out of nowhere, falling upon their group as they rested at an inn. No one could find any explanation for it, as they had eaten the same meals and travelled the same roads, yet some of them had succumbed to it and others carried on without trouble. It had started with mild discomfort and then a fever followed. Lady Nora could not even leave her bed.

It was a strange thing by all accounts. But as much as Ned wished to stray and find out the cause behind it, they had delayed leaving quite enough.

"Very well. I shall prove to you that you needn't fear for her." His words prompted a smile from his sister. "Now where is that maester?"

He walked away in search of the man, hoping that hearing from his own lips the state Lady Nora found herself in, his sister would agree that it was time to leave.

The young maester proved himself quite an intelligent man. Ned did not even have to explain to him the reason for which he was sought out. He came down from Lady Nora's bedchamber and walked towards Lyanna with an easy step and an air of confidence that Ned almost envied. There was a certain charm about him, but one that he had not until that point dared utilise against Lyanna.

"Lady Stark, you wished to speak to me?" he asked, accepting Lyanna's silent invitation that he should sit down next to her.

"Indeed, I should like to know how Lady Cerwyn fares. She was my travel companion from very early into this journey and I should feel rather put out to have left her without knowing her state." For good measure, his sister added a smile at the end of her statement. Ned quite understood the game she played.

Lyanna had been told in no uncertain terms by good old Nan that she should make good use of the gifts the gods had given her. What Nan had been speaking of, without trying to hide from him, Brandon and Benjen, was that Lyanna possessed a very charming smile that could sway more than a few wits. And of course his sister gaining the knowledge, surprised and more than a little intrigued, used her weapon from time to time, more to test it than with any other intention.

Amused, Ned leaned against the wall and listened to the explanation offered by the maester. It seemed that there was a very good change that all Lady Nora needed was a few weeks of rest and plenty of food for her recovery. But she could not be moved for some time and it would be best if she went on with the journey, else she wished to wait more.

"I thank you," Lyanna ended the interview with a wave of her hand. "I now see there is nothing more I can do."

Ned felt the words were more for him than for the maester, but he led he man away, allowing Lyanna whatever time she thought necessary to gather her trunks and speak whatever farewells she thought necessary to be spoken at the bed of the suffering Lady Cerwyn. For his part, he had to check upon the men and see how many of them could travel. The others, Ned decided, would be left at the inn and after their recovery they could go wherever they thought best.

When there was nothing more to be done, he returned inside the inn and walked up the stairs to the upper level. Lyanna was just then coming out of her bedchamber, one of the men walking behind her, carrying a trunk in his arms.

"This is the last of them, I reckon," she was saying.

"Aye, m'lady," was the reply she received.

Ned took her by the arm gently. "All is ready."

As had been promised in the message that came from the crown, Arthur Dayne was waiting for them just before the entrance of the kingswood, but to Ned's utter surprise, not one, nor two, but three Kingsguards had been brought along. But before he could pose any questions at the sound of Arthur's voice, his sister abruptly stopped her horse, deeming it quite natural to stop in the middle of the road and demand to be helped down, which wish was fulfilled.

When she had first arrived in Winterfell, Arthur Dayne had been with her, on the word of the King, to act as guardian to her. Their father had protested his presence, taking it as an affront. Lyanna had attempted to intervene in the ensuing dispute, but once she became convinced it would do no good to further tolerate the frustration, least they break into something monstrous, wrote to the King that as she was well cared for in the home of her father, she wished Arthur released from the duty assigned to him. Aerys had seemed to understand all too well her meaning and for some reason relented to her plea.

It was likely that her move had saved not only the life of Arthur Dayne but also the dignity of House Stark. Arthur had returned to King's Landing, though he'd not been too pleased when the order had come. Still, that had been the best possible outcome.

That aside it seemed that distance and time had not lessened the friendship that had been very much apparent to Ned when his sister yet lived in King's Landing. Released from the saddle, Lyanna smoothed over the creases of her dress and stepped forward, holding one hand out in a friendly gesture.

Arthur bowed over it and took the opportunity to reintroduce the present Kingsguards to her. Ser Harlan Grandison had aged some, in a very striking manner since last Ned had seen him, but he'd kept the same face about him, which was recognisable even with the added wrinkles. Jonothor Darry was busy yawning for which his esteem brother, Barristan Selmy gave him a more or less frightening glare. Ned watched the three for some time as they greeted Lyanna.

"They shall make sure that you will be safely led into King's Landing," Arthur was saying. That caught Ned's attention.

"What mean you?" he could not help masking his unease. "Why should the portion of the road be less safe through the Kingswood?"

"Recently we have had some trouble with a group of rouges," Arthur answered. "The King has dispatched men to find then and end their reign of terror, however, we thought it best to be safe."

Nodding his head, Ned finally had all the information he needed to piece together the pieces in his head. The King had not called Lyanna to King's Landing at an earlier time because the danger had likely been to great for her to travel from Winterfell along the route.

Lyanna too had paid attention to that explanation and likely she'd reached a similar conclusion for her face adopted a thoughtful cast. "And have these men yet been apprehended or is the hunt still on?"

"The King has declared the outlaws, my lady," Ser Darry replied, "and bounties have been set upon their heads, but they are yet free."

"Fear not, Lady Stark," Ser Grandison cut in. "These foul men will not dare cast greedy eyes upon our party."

Hoping that the man would not be proven wrong, Ned waited for Arthur to restore Lyanna to her proper place atop her steed.

They entered the Kingswood as a merry company, quiet conversation breaking out among them. Ned kept close to Lyanna, unwilling to let her out of his sight knowing what he knew about these roads. He wished the King had seen fit to give a clearer warning. He would have taken more men had he known. Yet it was futile to think upon that.

After travelling for some time without even a hint of danger along the way, Ned finally relaxed, his attention shifting to the conversation Lyanna was having with Arthur.

"I tell you, Arthur, had you remained in Winterfell, that Dornish blood of yours would have frozen in your veins," his sister laughed, though not cruelly. Lyanna had been known to jest every now and again if her mood was a bright one.

"You say that as if it were an insult and not a normal state all but you Northernmen find yourselves in," the young man quipped without much restraint. But he too sported a look of amusement upon his face.

"Very well then," Lyanna allowed that he might be right with accustomed grace. Ned rather thought all those arguments she'd had with him and Benjen might have taught her something of true patience in the end.

Whatever else she might have wished to say was interrupted by a sudden cry coming from behind them. Ned's head whipped around, eyes searching for the disturbance. To his utter horror one of his father's men had been struck down from his horse, an arrow sticking out of his chest.

"Halt!" a voice yelled out from ahead.

They had been caught in a trap. Ned cursed harshly and unsheathed his sword. Arthur did the same. But it was much too late. Arrows flew all around them. One of them struck Lyanna's horse, narrowly missing the rider. Ned jumped from his horse and pulled Lyanna down with him, trapping her body to the ground with his.

"Ned, what is happening?" his sister cried out, no doubt frightened.

"We are under attack," he replied softly. "Keep still and let us protect you." Pulling away from her, Ned stood up and charged into attack against one of the assailants.

In the confusion, however, one of the outlaws managed to grab Lyanna. Her loud yell alerted him, but there was nothing to be done. The man that held her put a sharp blade to her neck and though she tried to fight his hold off that only earned her a brutal shake from her captor.

"Good sers and kind lady, be not alarmed," the leader spoke, "we only seek a donation."