Disclaimer: I do not own anything from A Song of Ice and Fire or Game of Thrones. Everything belongs to George R.R Martin

Chapter VIII - Direwolves at the Trident

Alyssa POV

The past few days at the journey to the South of the Neck has been very tiring and long. For many days, they have been in their carriages and wheelhouses. Septa Mordane and her father has forbidden them to leave the carriage. The journey down to the South of the Neck is very dangerous, and a group of guards accompanied them. Of course, Arya managed to escape the Septa's attention, coming back to the carriage, dressed in mud.

Leaving Winterfell was a hard decision for Alyssa, because she had to say good bye to many people. Her mother, Bran, Rickon, Robb, Jon, Theon, Old Nan, Hodor, Mikken at the Forge, Ser Rodrik...Only Jory Cassel, Jeyne Poole and her father travelled with them to King's Landing. Jeyne was Sansa's companion due to their age, as for Alyssa, she didn't need anyone, apart from Rhae, her silver direwolf.

It took many days for them to finally leave the Neck and arrive at the Riverlands where they could breathe the fresh air. Never before, has Alyssa seen so many green grasses and hills. At the North, there were many snow, even at the summer. Alyssa was dressed in a silk dress to suit the climate currently. She walked around the inn at the crossroad, near the Ruby Ford. Behind her was Sansa and her direwolf Lady. They were looking for Arya who was wearing the same clothes as she did yesterday, and the day before.

"Arya." Alyssa said surprised. "What are you doing here? Septa Mordane has been calling for you."

"The Queen has invited us to dine in her wheelhouse with the Princess Myrcella." Sansa added happily. Of course Sansa was happy, she loved anything that has to do with the royals.

"I'm not," Arya said, trying to brush a tangle out of Nymeria's matted grey fur. "Mycah and I are going to ride upstream and look for rubies at the ford."

Alyssa smiled, remembering how Arya had made a new friend with Mycah, the butcher boy. Sansa frowned and said, "What rubies?"

"Rhaegar rubies." Alyssa said telling Sansa. "This the place where King Robert killed Prince Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident. The rubies were on his armour, and when King Robert smashed his hammer on Rhaegar's chest-plate , the rubies scattered around the rivers."

Arya smiled at Alyssa and Alyssa knelt down to Arya's level and Rhae came and wagged her tail, next to Nymeria and they both played. Sansa then said, "We have lunch with the Queen and the Princess."

"But Nymeria can't come." Arya argued.

"Of course not sister. A royal wheelhouse is no place for direwolves and the Princess is scared of them."

"I don't like the Queen." Arya said. "And Myrcella is a baby."

Alyssa and Sansa looked at each other, wide eyed. Insulting the Royal Family is a crime and could have your tongue to be pulled out. Alyssa whispered, "Arya!" Alyssa turned to Sansa and said, "Watch Arya please, I need to go find father."

Sansa nodded and Alyssa ran back to the wheelhouse and noticed a group of tents being set up near Castle Darry. Castle Darry was the seat in House Darry, once the most powerful bannerman of House Tully, now half of their lands were confiscated for supporting the Mad King during Robert's Rebellion. She looked around confused, where was her father? Probably dining with the King.

Alyssa almost screamt seeing the Hound behind her, glaring at her along with Ser Ilyn Payne.

"I'm sorry." Alyssa said not knowing what has she done wrong.

"You don't have to be." Prince Joffrey said behind her. "Has the Hound frightened you, my betrothed?"

"No, he hasn't." Alyssa said quickly and gave a light curtsey. "Thank you, my Prince, I'll take my leave if it pleases you."

"Walk with me." Joffrey smiled and Alyssa nodded. Though she was a year older than the Prince, the Prince is an inch taller than her. He looked so gallant in his silk and with the sword, Lion Tooth, on his belt. But Alyssa remembered how Arya and Robb and Jon told her to be wary of the Prince, because of something that happened in the courtyard when they were duelling.

"Leave Dog!" Joffrey snapped at the Hound and the Hound left. Alyssa's eyes widened at the rudeness but didn't say anything. She took Joffrey's arm as they walked down to the Trident. Alyssa rode on her mare and Joffrey rode on his horse, every once in a while, he gave a fearful glance at Rhae who seemed to growl seeing Joffrey.

"Don't mind Rhae." Alyssa assured. "She's just being protective."

"My betrothed shall have a lot of protection once we marry." Joffrey said and Alyssa smiled at that, though the thought of having dozens of guards surrounding her didn't seem appealing. "This is the place where my father killed Prince Rhaegar and became King, and then my uncle killed the Mad King, doesn't that sound good?"

It's sounds horrible! That was what Alyssa wanted say, how could anyone take joy in killing? Alyssa however said, "Yes, Your Grace, the Mad King burnt-"

Suddenly Alyssa stopped hearing the noise, clack, clack, clack, along with hearing Sansa yelling, "Arya!" Not wanting to drag Prince Joffrey to a private family matter, Alyssa immediately said, "We should go back."

"I want to see what it is." Joffrey turned his horse in the direction of the sound, Alyssa had no choice but to follow, especially since Rhae started to run towards the noise. The noises grew louder and more distinct, the clack of wood on wood, and as they grew closer they heard heavy breathing as well, and now and then a grunt. Alyssa's eyes widened seeing Sansa trying to rebuke Arya and Arya duelling with Mycah with swords. Suddenly, Mycah's wooden branch hit Arya's wrist who gasped.

"Arya!" Alyssa said shocked and quickly dismounted from her mare. She rushed to Arya who looked surprised with angry tears in her eyes. Alyssa looked behind seeing Joffrey laughing. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." Arya sniffed. "Tell him to go away."

"Your sisters?" Joffrey asked gesturing to Sansa and Arya. Sansa who immediately curtsied and Arya who glared at the Prince. Joffrey walked towards Mycah who took a step back and faltered and said, "And who are you?"

"Mycah," the boy muttered. He recognized the prince and averted his eyes. "M'lord."

"He's the butcher's boy," Sansa said.

"He's my friend," Arya said sharply. "You leave him alone."

"A butcher's boy who wants to be a knight, is it?" Joffrey swung down from his mount, sword in hand. "Pick up your sword, butcher's boy," he said, his eyes bright with amusement. "Let us see how good you are."

Mycah stood there, frozen with fear. Joffrey walked toward him. "Go on, pick it up. Or do you only fight little girls?"

"Prince Joffrey, perhaps we should leave now." Alyssa said panicking as Sansa immediately went behind her. They watched cautiously seeing Joffrey using Lion Tooth to cut Mycah's cheek.

"Stop it!" Arya screamt grabbing her fallen stick.

"No." Alyssa gasped realizing what Arya was about to do. She was about to hit the Prince, hitting a member of the Royal Family could result in loosing your hand.

"Stay out of this Arya." Sansa said sternly but even she looked a bit fearful. Alyssa gave Sansa a glare and than grabbed Arya's wrist. It turned out to be the one that was injured and Arya gasped at the pain and Alyssa immediately let go.

"I won't hurt him." Joffrey smirked, drawing blood from Mycah's cheek. "Much."

Arya charged and Alyssa tried to stop her. Rhae and Nymeria and Lady immediately howled. Sansa yelled to tell them stop. So did Alyssa, saying how they could settle this. As Joffrey begun to swing his sword at Arya, suddenly Nymeria charged and bit Joffrey who let out a high pitched scream that made Alyssa cringe. Arya grabbed Joffrey's sword and pointed at the Prince.

"Please." Joffrey whimpered. "Please don't."

"Arya." Alyssa whispered and Arya realized what she had done threw the sword into the rivers. Alyssa didn't bother to help the Prince who was the ground, she, Rhae and Nymeria rushed after Arya.

oOoOo

Castle Darry

Both Alyssa and Arya has been hiding in the forest. They managed to have Rhae and Nymeria run away together. Alyssa hoped that these two direwolves could be safe. The Lannister guards found them and brought them into Castle Darry. At Castle Darry, they've earnt loathing looks not from the guards or the royals, but from the servants. House Darry fought for House Targaryen during the Rebellion. Alyssa could've sworn hearing one of the servants said, "The Dragon Banners are below."

Alyssa and Arya stood together, intimidated by the Lannisters. Suddenly, their father came in and Alyssa immediately launched into him, and gave a light sob. Her father merely patted her and yelled at the King, "What is going on? Why are my daughters not brought to me?"

Alyssa would've been surprised how Ned yelled at the King, but she held her father's hand, not looking at Joffrey.

"How dare you speak to the King in this manner?" Cersei hissed.

"Quiet, woman," Robert ordered and then sighed. "Sorry, Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. But we need to get this business done quickly."

"Your girl and that butcher's boy attacked my son." Cersei said, "That animal of hers nearly tore his arm off."

"That's not true." Both Alyssa and Arya yelled.

"It was just a small nip." Alyssa said glaring at the Queen for making false stories. Not, it's probably Joffrey.

"He was hurting Mycah." Arya mumbled.

"Joff told us what happened. You and that boy beat him with clubs while you set your wolf on him."

"That's not what happened!" Arya yelled stamping her foot onto the ground and many gasped.

"Yes, it is!" Joffrey claimed. "They all attacked me, and she threw my sword in the river."

"Liar!" Arya argued and Alyssa glared at the Prince.

"Shut up!" Joffrey countered.

"Enough!" Robert bellowed. "He tells me one thing; she tells me another. Seven Hells! What am I to make of this?"

Ned sighed taking the information in. No one knows what indeed happened except for Joffrey, Arya, Alyssa and Sansa. The boy Arya claimed his name was Mycah is absent, and Sansa was in her room resting.

"Where's your other daughter, Ned?" Robert demanded.

"In bed asleep," Lord Stark answered.

"She's not," Cersei injected. "Sansa, come here, darling."

Murmuring spawned as Sansa entered in her blue cloak. She looked hesitant and Alyssa looked at her, knowing all answers would be resolved by her testimony.

"Now, child… tell me what happened." Robert said calmly. "Tell it all and tell it true. It's a great crime to lie to a king."

Sansa stared at their lord father who assured her. She then looked at Cersei and Joffrey; hesitation could be noticed.

"I don't know. I don't remember. Everything happened so fast. I didn't see."

"Liar!" Arya shouted, grabbing her sister by the hair and yanking it down. Alyssa also felt the immediate urge to kick her sister but her father kept a firm grip on her.

"Hey, stop it!" Lord Stark said, trying to stop his daughters from fighting.

"She's as wild as that animal of her's. I want her punished." Cersei sneered.

"What would you have me do, whip her through the streets?" Robert asked. Cersei's expression looked like she wanted that to happen. "Damn it, children fight. It's over."

"Joffrey will bear these scars for the rest of his life." Cersei pointed out.

"Ned, see to it that your daughter is disciplined. I'll do the same with my son."

"Gladly, your grace." Ned agreed, placing his hands on both his daughters' shoulders.

"And what of the direwolf?" Cersei asked. "What of the beast that savaged your son?"

The room was engrossed in silence. Persistent bitch! Alyssa thought furiously.

"I'd forget the damned wolf," Robert muttered and looked at the Lannister guard.

"We found no trace of any of the direwolves, Your Grace." The guard said.

"So be it," Robert said.

"We have another wolf." Cersei injected. Robert stared at Cersei and nodded, "As you will."

Realization dawned into Alyssa and she looked at her father who looked at his friend in disbelief. "You can't mean it."

"A direwolf's no pet." Robert replied "Get her a dog. She'll be happier for it."

"Excuse me?" Alyssa asked but the King left the room.

"He doesn't mean lady, does he?" Sansa asked in fear. "No, no, not Lady! Lady didn't bite anyone! She's good!"

"Lady wasn't there!" Arya defended. "You leave her alone!"

"She didn't even come with us." Alyssa protested.

Sansa grabbed her father's arm, "Stop them. Don't let them do it! Please, please, it wasn't Lady!"

"Is this your Command –You Grace?" Their father demanded and Robert nodded and said, "Damn you woman!"

Alyssa stared at Sansa dissapointed, their father said when Winter comes, the pack must unite. Their mother's words were Family, Duty, Honor. Sansa has betrayed their family.