33. JON XIV

I woke to this blissful content of a good fuck. It have been a while since I felt so, but everything was hazy in my mind, how I came to sleep with Lya was a mystery. I tried to remember, We were at the feast and I was drinking this fine southern wine, we danced and….….gods, I kissed her in front of the whole gathering, I felt ashamed of my attitude, I hope I didn't embarrass her in any other way. She was resting her head on my chest and sleeping peacefully, I didn't want to disturb her so I patted her hair and stayed quiet.

I had this little fear that she might not took kindly to what happened yesterday. She had been quite amiable lately but still I should brace myself for her wrath just in case. I sighed heavily, wishing from the bottom of my heart, it won't come to that but I was shocked to feel her stir, reached for my face and kissed me softly. I turned to fully face her and kissed her back tenderly "Did you like it last night?" she blushed and nodded shyly. I could devour her in this moment but I refrained, I didn't want to scare her off

She stretched lazily and whispered "It was a nice wedding, so grand. I guess we could get used to that, and have Bran's wedding in another couple of month!"

"I doubt it will be such a grand celebration as this, the Manderlys can't pay half what the Tyrrells did"

"But he is the crown prince?"

"It's only temporary, you know"

I played with her hair absent mindedly, the prospect of Bran's marriage was strange to me, my little brother is getting married, the new aloof boy is getting married. Life is changing with such a rapid pace, I hardly can follow. Some knocking on the door took me from my thoughts. It was Wex telling me the king wanted me immediately.

What now? What have I done? Was it about Arya?

It was still so early. Even the breakfast wasn't set yet. I changed and hurried to Robb

He was reclining on a plush chair with a wine cup in his hand, so early in the morning!

Still in his velvet robes and there was dark circles under his eyes. He must have little sleep yesterday. The solar was empty, the queen wasn't there

I made a stiff small bow and stood waiting. It was a little awkward, we didn't talk since I was here last time. It didn't help either that it didn't bring any good memories. He looked intently at me and said with a raised brow "I can see you had a nice night!"

What? Surly he didn't drag me here to talk about my marital bed! I blushed and didn't know what to say to that and finally settled on a lame "Thank you, your grace"

He smirked and said "Whatever, I summoned you here to advise you about Tyrion Lannister trial, I decided to hold it this week, in the presence of all the lords and I warn you against behaving recklessly during it. I will not show any mercy"

"If you are already decided, why are you holding the trial in the first place?" I asked incredulously

"Because of someone's unwanted interference which I won't allow again" he answered with hint of anger in his voice

"Who are the judges then?"

"It's none of your business, you can go now" and he waved his hand in dismissal

Shit shit shit, this was not promising, it will hardly be a real trial. I must think beyond it now, how can I get him out. Where to? And how? The consequence will be dire anyway. Life was getting harder and harder with every passing day.

I went to breakfast, everyone was starting to gather already. Lya was having a good bite of an egg while conversing with Arya who was again sitting at our table. Both looked the farthest thing to princesses with their manner and language. They showered me with questions, the minute I sat down

"If you are really worried Arya, why don't you go to your table and make our life easier"

She just popped her tongue out to me!

"You are really in a bad mood, did you talk about the name again" Lya asked with some worry

"What name?" Arya asked in confusion

"The baby's name Arya and no Lya we didn't"

Arya was still not comprehending but Ser Davos looked to me in understanding despite not being privy of the dilemma. After a few moments of thinking, he even offered to "adopt" the baby and said he will be honored

"Robb will definitely insist on a real adoption just to spite me and he is against our leaving Winterfell under any circumstances, we won't be able to accompany the child. There is no way out" I whispered back to Ser Davos and he seemed to contemplate my answer.

The rest thought that Robb was just angry about Arya's sharing our table and started to talk her to return to the main table, she fought them back and it was such a noise but Lya looked to me with knowing eyes and whispered

"So what was it then?"

"It's your uncle, the trial will be held this week" I didn't have the heart to tell her the rest. She mumbled some of those low insults of the flea bottom, no one else heard her but I decided to know the origin of this bad habit "where did you learn those words?"

"What?"

"Those insults, you were supposed to be raised in the red keep!"

She blushed a little and answered in low voice "It was father, he said them in so loud a voice, I could hear them all the time and he was bringing small folks and whores to the red keep on regular basis"

So she wasn't as sheltered as I once thought!

In the next few days, more information was announced, the trial will be held by the end of the week after the festivities, the southern lords were invited to extend their stay for another week, the judges were the black fish, Lord Glover and prince Trystane. All of them hate the Lannister more than death itself. I only hoped Lord Glover may remember what Tyrion did for the north once.

The trial was in three days, I was sitting at the heart tree with ghost, thinking of the upcoming ordeal. I have a vague plan of how to sneak Tyrion out of Winterfell but I couldn't decide on the right timing. I kept hoping for a miracle, mayhap the trial had a different outcome!

I was weighting the risk of waiting for the verdict against proceeding at once when I heard an approaching steps, it was little finger!

What was he doing here?

He kept a wary eye on Ghost but tried to hide his fear and said in mock cheerfulness "How are you my lord?"

"I am not a lord, my lord" I answered smugly

"Aha, but you could be, the king is very generous to his loyal subjects"

"This is even a stretch for you, Petyr"

He hissed in my ears "The king only asks for your support and maybe then we could celebrate another Stark!"

What is this supposed to mean, my heart raced and I looked puzzled to him "What are you talking about?"

"I heard about your little problem and I can solve it for you if you wish"

"What do you want?" I said in annoyance

"The king will appreciate a united northern front. If you were cooperative at the trial, maybe I can convince him then to grant you your wish"

"You can't do that!" no one can as long as Lady Stark is here. And as if he could read my mind, he added hastily

"Of course I can, Lady Stark hear from me and the king from her" he whispered

This was disgusting, I felt anger flared inside me and I stood to leave but he caught my arm "Just think about it, my lord" and he stressed on my lord with a smirk on his face

I left him with my head pounding from thinking, so if I want to have a Stark name for my child, I will have to sacrifice Tyrion…. and Lya. She will never forgive me if I did it. Not only that but my honor. I will be a real traitor, a scum no better than little finger himself. The Stark name was the only thing I ever wanted but I can't have it like this, never like this, I can't. Why it was always proposed to me with such a high price. First Stannis wanted me to cut all the sacred trees, denounce my gods and now Robb wanted me to betray a friend and lose my wife. Nothing comes for free, Snow!

I sighed heavily, little finger might be manipulating me, it could be a trap. Mostly it was!

What he said about Lady Stark was outrageous, I hated the women more than anything but she was father's wife. It hurt me to hear her spoken about like this. That snake, if I can just put my hand on him, and get Westeros free of his evil