Bittersweet Memories

Lyanna Stark

Lyanna smiled as she rode on her horse and ran up a hill, she gazed over the beautiful green fields of the crownlands; the North was in her in her blood and she could not deny how much she longed to see the snow but she spent seventeen years of her life in this place and every day Rhaegar had done his best to make it feel like home.

She let out a choked sob at the memory of her husband all she could think of we're all the horrible things she had said to him throughout their marriage...

14 years ago...

"I HATE YOU!" Lyanna screams throwing a plate at Rhaegar who ducks behind a chair.

"Gods woman would you calm down!" Rhaegar yells hiding being the chair.

All the yelling causes Jamie to run in with his sword at the ready but upon realising the situation a small smirk appears on his face "GET OUT" Lyanna screams at him; the satisfied look on his face is replaced by terror as he narrowly dodges a cup Lyanna flings at him.

"Good look your grace!" Jamie calls to Rhaegar while running down the hall.

Rhaegar uses the distraction to charge at his wife and grabbing her shoulders and pinning her to the wall "Lya calm down"

"Don't call me that!" Lyanna hisses "AND GET THE FUCK OFF ME!"

"It's ok my love" Rhaegar says soothingly causing stop struggling but still look at him with hate

"She's six years old Rhaegar" Lyanna croaks

"It's just a betrothal" Rhaegar says "she won't be married for seven years"

"She's my baby girl" Lyanna sobs "OUR baby girl"

"You we're that young when we got married" Rhaegar counters

"AND THOUSANDS DIED FOR IT!" Lyanna yells

The words cause a horrible silence to befall the room as if everyone in king's landing had disappeared; a deep frown appears on Rhaegar's face

I...I didn't mean-"Lyanna stutters trying to find words to say

"Mama?" a small child like voice says

Rhaegar and Lyanna turn to see their seven year old son Jon standing in the doorway his short and curly hair a mess and his brown eyes red with tiredness

"Why are fighting?" the young boy asks

Rhaegar smiles softly at his young son "come here son" he says calmly

The boy runs up to his father who picks him up in his arms and walks towards his room. Lyanna sighs and waits for a few minutes listening to the sound of her husband and son's soft voices through the door eventually Rhaegar comes back "he's waiting for you" Rhaegar says without looking at Lyanna.

Lyanna walks down the hall coming to a stop at Jon's room; she opens the door slowly smiling gently at her young son.

Upon seeing her Jon gives a cheeky grin and hides beneath the sheets; Lyanna gives a light laugh as she runs up to her son and starts tickling him through the sheets; the small child laughs uncontrollably struggling to get out of her grasp,

"Please stop!" the little boy gasps trying to stop laughing. Lyanna decides to take mercy on her son and releases him; the two continue to laugh for several moments before calming down.

"You should be asleep Jon" Lyanna says making the boy frown

"I couldn't sleep" Jon says sadly "I don't like it when you and papa fight"

Lyanna smiles and strokes her son's cheek "I'll tell you a secret" Lyanna whispers "we don't like fighting either"

Jon tilts his head in confusion "Then why do you do it?" he asks

"Because" Lyanna explains "sometime adults or more silly then children"

"So why do I have to listen to adults?" Jon asks making Lyanna laugh

"Maybe one day you can change that" Lyanna says kissing him on the forehead "but only if you sleep all night"

Jon nods with determination "good night mama" he says

Lyanna stands and walks to the doorway but turns back to her son "good night little pup".

Jon Targaryen

Present time...

"Is everything ready?" Jon asks as he and The Blackfish stroll through the court yard of Winterfell inspecting their troops.

"Yes your grace" The Blackfish says five hundred men marching with us and men from The Last Hearth, Deepwood Wood Motte and Ironrath are marching and will meet us half way"

Jon turns to The Blackfish who has a look of doubt on his face "If you have something to say my lord just say it"

"Fine" The Blackfish grumbles "This plan is idiotic we should wait until we have completely reformed the army"

"We have Reformed it" Jon says slightly harsher then he meant to; he clears his throat and continues "It's as good as it's gonna get if we wait any longer the Ironborn are going to start taking keeps from the great houses of the north and I will not allow that to happen"

The Blackfish suddenly grabs Jon's arm "If you do this we might as well be giving the Ironborn the North"

Jon stares at Brynden who realises what he's done and quickly takes his hand off Jon looking at him uncertainly. Jon sighs "I understand your worry Lord Brynden" he says "but if we do this right we can get The Ironborn out of the North then we can move to retake Riverrun"

The old Soldier's hard expression falters a bit at the mention of his home though he regains it so fast Jon wonders if he imagined it "Your grace" The Blackfish says respectfully before leaving.

Jon turns to see Yarra Greyjoy marching towards him making Jon Groan slightly "what's going on?" she asks with slightly demanding tone.

"We're heading to the Stony Shore" Jon explains "the Ironborn are using it as their base of Operations" Jon hesitates on telling her the next par "we also think Euron Greyjoy is their"

Yarra stands shocked trying to fathom words before getting a angry look on her face "Then I'm going to" Yarra states walking back to prepare.

Jon goes after her "I don't think that's good Idea" he says

"Respectfully your Grace "Yarra says not holding back any Sarcasm "I don't give a damn what you think if Euron's their then Theon might be as well and if he's not at least I can bash my uncle's head in.

"That's why it's not a good Idea" Jon hisses "your too emotional and if this mission goes any less than perfect it could cost us this whole war"

Yarra clenches her fists "If you want to stop me your gonna have to break my arm like you did your cousin"

Jon stands shocked and silent at her words how do you-"

"A lot more people know about your little outburst then you think your grace" Yarra says "so why don't you worry about that running your mission instead of me running it"

She marches off but this time Jon doesn't follow her; he just stands shocked.

That night...

"How the Hell does she know?" The Black fish exclaims

Jon sighs "maybe Illyria's guard told her over drinks" he says "or maybe Lady Stark is trying to make trouble for me"

"DAMNIT" the Blackfish yells slamming his fist on a wooden table "just when it looks like things can't get worse the gods ram their fists up our arse!"

"If our men find out I not only attacked the heir to the North but lied about it" then it's all over" Jon says.

The Blackfish rubs his hand over his face "we can fix this" he says "that guard's name was Duncan I will speak to him but you need to smooth things over with my Niece"

Jon shakes his head "I doubt a nice talk is going to fix what I did"

"No" The Blackfish says "You need to do something to make up for it"

"What about my uncle Ned?" Jon asks "If I find him then I might be able to fix this mess with Lady Stark"

Brynden shakes his head "I know Oberyn you'll never find Ned until the Red viper let's you...but Arya might not be in his hands yet" The Blackfish walks over to Jon you need to find the men who took Arya before they get to Oberyn"

Jon scoffs "you don't think I've been trying?" he demands "that's been my highest priority since she was taken"

"Try harder" The Blackfish says "because we're hanging by thread here and that little girl could be what pulls us up or cuts it.

I enjoyed writing the memory Scene and I will most likely end up doing it more often. We're at the half way point my friends so whether you love it or hate it we are approaching the finish line.