21 LYANNA VIII

Jon went the whole day missing. At first I was angry at his rudeness then I was just worried. It was approaching midnight and I didn't know what I should do. Informing the king was out of the question. Maybe I can go to Larence Snow for help but there was so many draw backs in this plan. I don't know where his quarters were, I rarely talk to him and lastly, he even might be with Jon. I worried my lower lip then I decided to go to Gendry, he is my brother after all and he will know what to do

I vaguely knew the direction of his lodging. It was a cold and windy night. I had to hold the cloak with both my hands. One guard stopped me asking where I am going and when I told him he just raised his brows and pointed to the nearby tower "the second floor milady"

I doubt he knew who I was or else he wasn't to use such an honorary title but it was dark and he must judge me by the quality of my cloak. The tower was better kept than ours but it was crowded with all rooms filled and the place was well illuminated even for such a late night. This gave me some feeling of safety besides the sounds that rose from the different rooms. At the second floor there was three large doors and a passage that I doubted would lead to other smaller rooms. I stood in misery not knowing what to do then I heard a voice behind me "This one Milady" it was the guard who I met earlier. Apparently he followed me for unknown reason

"Thank you"

I knocked on the door with fake confidence, praying he was awake and will open the door soon. It wasn't long before he did though and his astonishment was beyond description "Milady?"

He then saw the guard and nodded to him "Thanks Jack". The guard nodded and left. "Isn't he one of the kings guard" I couldn't help but ask. Gendry looked at me in bewilderment and replied absent mindedly "No, he is one of us" he looked flustered trying to straighten his look and fix his clothes. He ushered me inside awkwardly

His room was almost the size of ours, it was even better furnished with four chair around a rounded table and a curtain on the window. Why don't we have that? I was absorbed in this little insignificance when he coughed to have my attention back. I got red, what he must think of me coming to him in the middle in the night to gawk at his table!

"Jon didn't return yet and I am worried about him"

"Where did he go? Isn't Larence with him?"

"I don't know"

"You don't know where did he go Milady or if Larence was with him?"

"Both actually, I am sorry I didn't know who else to go to"

"Its fine, don't worry"

He wore his doublet and boots in hurry and told me to stay in the room and he went out for a few moments then he returned with a disheveled Larence who was apparently not in Jon's company. They asked me if Ghost was in the kennel or in our room. When I denied, Larence face relaxed a bit saying he must be with Jon and that was a little assuring

"Why would his grace leave alone like this?"

I didn't want to tell them that his fucking grace was mourning his mad queen. Damn you Jon Snow

It might have appeared on my face and Gendry gathered his courage and asked "did you fight?"

Why do they always assume I would hurt him some way or another

I replied in venom "Nooo"

He retreated fast "Apologies milady, we can accompany you to your room with one of the soldiers and we will find him. And if you knew anything just send us Brandon" and on seeing my uncomprehending eyes, he added "the soldier!"

And we marched back; I, Gendry, Larence, Jack the guard, another guard and Brandon the soldier!

When did all this people came, what a mess!

As we approached, a groom came running to us. Come join the party, lad!

Anyway he was shouting "he is back, he is back"

And right then I saw Jon come running out of the old tower searching for me "Lya, what are you doing out in the middle of the night?"

And then he recognized the small army around me "What are you all doing?"

I couldn't believe him, as if he did nothing. I glared at him and went upstairs without one word. I didn't trust myself to speak civil with him and he wouldn't like that in front of all of them

I could hear his voice talking to them, reassuring them and finally dismissing them. In a while he returned to our room and he looked at me strangely and I just lost it

"Where have you been? How can you leave without one word like this? Don't you think you have some responsibility? That's the least a decent person would do, don't you think about anyone but yourself? What should I do when I knew no one here? Didn't it even crossed your fucking mind"

He growled in low voice "Enough"

And he took a deep breath "I didn't mean to worry any of you, I was in no danger what so ever and I am free to do what I want!" and he yelled the last sentence to my face

"Of course you are free to go and get killed by Ser Gendry! Please do and relieve me of this jail" I spat back. The moment the words came out, I knew I shouldn't have said it.

It have been a while now since I knew that Ser Gendry of the Hollow Hill was expecting to be rewarded with me. The rumor I heard on my way to Winterfell was about him, not the king, not Jon Snow. Apparently the decision to marry me to Jon was a spur of the moment thing.

I recently noticed that I happened to "accidently" meet Ser Gendry every now and then. And he kept "promising" me of our reunion as he called it. I was debating telling Jon about it for some time now but I decided against it. I kept telling myself the man was just a vulgar oaf and nothing more.

Jon said in this unnerving calm voice "what is this supposed to mean?"

I didn't answer now, I didn't want to face this or even think about it. I cursed my slip of a tongue

"Lya"

Jon called in a warning tone. He won't drop it, I knew it

I sighed "He wanted to marry me, the king promised him before you or something, I don't really know"

"And?"

I was nervous by the interrogation and I knew nothing good will come out of it. I wetted my dry lips with my tongue and gulped "He only met me few times by accident and said few nonsense"

"Like what?"

"I don't remember!"

"Lya!"

"Leave me be, it's nothing"

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" His voice was getting angrier with every word

"The same reason you didn't tell me where you were going" I challenged him

" I was in the forest for God's sake ,moving my horse a bit, not threatened by a sellsword and keeping it to myself!" he huffed in anger

"He isn't a sellsword, he is the Captain of guards now, he wo…."

Jon cut me in rage "You prefer him then?"

I couldn't believe my ears and I just yelled back at him "Fuck you Jon Snow"

As usual we slept on the same bed not bearing each other, back to back, the most miserable couple in Westeros

Anyway I found I am followed by Brendon the soldier from now on. He was a kind and polite northern fellow who treated me like a royalty. But as we are not royals, we can't be appointed a personal guard but Brendon was always there in a very informal way. Jon didn't mention it again. He started to tell me statements of nonsense like "I am going to the forest", "I am exercising my horse" and other bullshit that meant nothing if I really wanted to know where he is or reach him. He actually started to go out of the castle more and more every day and I didn't know what to think of it.