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Rickard Stark
Red Keep, King's Landing, Crownlands, Year 278 AC
If there was one thing that Rickard hated, it was to leave Winterfell, but he hated even more, leaving the North. The last time he had ridden south was the year after his son Ned was born, when King Aerys, two years into his reign's start, called him to swear his and the North's loyalty to him as expected of a new King.
The talk with King Aerys had gone pretty well, much to Rickard's own surprise considering how shy he always was in meetings and by the fact that he didn't have his Lyarra with him at that moment...to save his sorry arse from shame…
During the many conversations he shared with Aerys, the King had gotten fascinated with his tales of the North, especially with the Wall, so much that instead of formulating a plan to man the Wall as Rickard wished, he insisted on building another one further north and claim land from the Wildlings. It was then that Rickard understood that Aerys wasn't fully sane...By that time, Rickard had already turned his eyes south, in order to secure alliances to protect and improve the North. He had befriended many lords during his time fighting in the War of the Ninepenny Kings such as Lord Jon Arryn, Steffon Baratheon and Hoster Tully just to name a few, it was an enriching experience for him.
But Aerys was now dead, killed by a shot of an arrow to the chest in what was now called Defiance of Duskendale. Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard managed to free his King from captivity in a monumental feat, and yet he was powerless to stop that arrow from hitting its target in the run they made to escape the castle walls.
Rickard had seen the knight in question that very day and felt pity for him of course…Ser Barristan was so disappointed with himself that he only gazed the floor in shame, despite his sworn brother of the Kingsguard attempting to lift his mood and telling it was not his fault, the knight paid them little mind and brooded alone.
Aerys' oldest son Rhaegar was crowned King Rhaegar Targaryen the First of His Name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm in this very same day at the Great Sept of Baelor in a gigantic ceremony like those Rickard hated so much and yet those southrons loved.
"I knew you would be brooding alone somewhere far away from everyone."
Rickard spared a shy smile at Steffon Baratheon's words. "Well…it wouldn't be me if I didn't brood alone somewhere far away from everyone's eyes, would it?" Rickard retorted as the Baratheon lord took a seat in front of him, in one of the many balconies of the castle, that Rickard was using to catch some fresh air or try to since it smelled like shit outside…
Steffon quickly laughed with his booming laugh at Rickard's poor attempt at a jape. "No it wouldn't be." he agreed. "And neither would it be King's Landing if it didn't smell like shit."
"I never understood how people live here…" Rickard admitted. "I'm constantly with the urge to puke…it's utterly disgusting."
"Maybe because only shits can take the smell of shit?" Steffon japed and Rickard laughed.
"I wouldn't go that far, but…"
"I have a question for you my friend," Steffon said with a more serious face. "Are you still angered with Hoster because of that affair?"
"Angered? I'm more than angry with that ambitious cunt!" Rickard hissed. Normally he didn't get this angry with people but Hoster had managed to make him. "We have been brooding this plan of ours for years and as soon as he sees an opening, he just breaks the betrothal between my son and his oldest daughter in a futile attempt to betrothal her with the King." Rickard kept ranting. "And he offers his other daughter as compensation? Who in Seven Hells does he think I am? I should have called my banners against such insult!"
"But that wouldn't be the cunning Rickard I know," Steffon remarked laughing again. "And would your Lyarra approve of this war?"
"It would be a civil war in Winterfell before I could lead my men to Riverrun…and besides she never liked the betrothal." Rickard chuckled. "I'm done with the plan anyway, we have a new King that doesn't seem to be mad, at least at first glance. I hope you don't take offense in it."
"Far from it Rickard, I just want to go back to Storm's End and lay with my Cass," Steffon said. "I miss her, and her you know...wild sex…"
"And I miss my Wild She Wolf…" he confessed as Steffon went on laughing again.
"She is a true beast isn't she?" Steffon asked amused. "The Wild She Wolf of Winterfell."
"She calmed down a bit after having my youngest son…the pregnancy took a heavy toll on her…she…almost died and was bedridden for months…It also made her barren afterward but at least, she is alive to see…our children grow..." Rickard explained still remembering his willful Lyarra almost dying on his arms, crying, luckily the Gods allowed her to live. "My oldest son and my daughter take it after her and give us enough trouble to compensate for it." Rickard chuckled as he remembered the many mischiefs his children committed. "It's her wolf blood running in them."
"My Robert's descriptions of your middle son remind me of you though." Steffon laughed yet again. "A young Rickard in the making."
"Jon tells me the very same thing and so do the letters Eddard sends to us," Rickard replied, Ned had been the only one that did no mischief and even tried to take the blame so his siblings wouldn't be punished...it had been a while since he last saw him and Rickard missed him… "A young Rickard indeed."
"Robert calls him more of a brother than Stannis…" Steffon murmured disappointed. "It's not that I disapprove Robert and Eddard's friendship but I don't know what to do to make my sons like each other better especially now that there is Renly as well…"
"Just try to bond with them somehow, something they both can share with you and both like," Rickard suggested. "I'm not really that good with these sort of things…my children just love each other."
"The wolf pack right?" Steffon said. "I guess I will give it a try and find something both of them like to do as you just suggested…" Steffon decided. "Anyway, I must congratulate Tywin for convincing Rhaegar, if you get my meaning, on marrying his daughter, see you around Silent Wolf."
"Aye, see you around Steffon." Rickard politely replied as Steffon left. He was left alone for a bit until someone else interrupted him yet again…
"I wasn't expecting to see you again after so many years Rickard Stark!" Rickard turned his head to the female who spoke and was clearly surprised by the woman of greying hair and black eyes, olive of skin, slender and despite the age still comely.
"Princess Doriah!" Rickard proclaimed proudly as he stood up from his seat to embrace his long-term friend. "Seven Hells! It has been more than a decade hasn't it?"
"Yes, it has." The Dornish Princess nodded. "You were a handsome young man back then and now you are an imposing lord of the North that makes the Andals scared!"
Rickard laughed. "I doubt I can do that..."
"You always sold yourself too short Rickard Stark, many of these weasels would run away in fear of your stare." The Princess said chuckling. "The cold Stark stare."
"They would be more afraid of my wife's stare if they ever met her…" Rickard chuckled as well.
"The Wild She Wolf of Winterfell?" she smiled. "That skinny woman who wanted to fight in the war as the rest of you and so disguised herself as a man?"
Rickard laughed aloud as he remembered his Lyarra riding south with the rest of the North retinue and no one finding her disguise but Princess Doriah when they were received in Sunspear after the war…The surprise looks in everyone's faces and the many laughs that soon followed, including his own when Lyarren Snow as she called herself, one of the many heroes of the war, turned out to be his cousin Lyarra who he had a crush on before riding south and fell in love with after leaving Sunspear, the woman who gave him four beautiful and strong children…Many people who partook in the war, never actually got to know the truth about Lyarren Snow, not even his children...Lyanna would certainly try something similar if she knew of it…so better keep it quiet…lest to put some weird ideas in that daughter of his' head. "That very one." he finally replied.
"She was a dangerous one…" The Princess said amused. "How is she now?"
"Still dangerous despite almost dying in childbirth..." Rickard said. "I fail to know how I have been alive for all these years…"
"She loves you, that's why." The Princess plainly stated. "A woman's love is a very powerful thing, dear Rickard."
"I believe it is…" he agreed, at that moment he couldn't think of anything else but embrace his Lyarra…
"So the new King didn't approve of your daughter either did he?" The Princess suddenly asked.
"Approve my daughter?" he asked back, confused. "Whatever for?"
"Well didn't you offer her hand to him?" she inquired surprised. "Like every lord and lady in Westeros?"
"No."
"No?" she remarked aloud, surprised, but soon that surprised turned into a laugh. "Only you Rickard Stark to surprise me in such way, you must have been the only lord not doing it."
"I don't want my daughter near Targaryens and besides she is way too young to be promised to anyone," he explained. "And don't even try to say otherwise or a wolf will come running from Winterfell to hunt down whoever said such thing, and I'm afraid it's not me..."
"Well at least you weren't disappointed with all of it," she muttered quite bitterly. "My Elia was perfect to be the new Queen but the Lion cunt and his daughter won in the end."
He still remembered the little premature baby the Princess had just given birth, everyone seemed to think the baby would die in no time like two of her older brothers...it certainly brought some happiness to his mind, knowing that the little baby girl survived all those years. "My condolences upon the loss." he said.
"Condolences upon the loss?" The Princess barked indignantly. "My daughter might be fragile but she is still very much alive!"
"I didn't mean it like that…I…" Rickard quickly tried to apologize…
"I know I was just teasing you, Rickard!" Doriah said laughing rather loud for a Princess. "Such fun times your wife and I had teasing you at Sunspear…you are such an appetizing target."
Yes…Rickard did remember the teasing the two of them made towards him…and the endless teasing his wife did to him ever since they married…
"Come to think of it…wasn't your oldest son's betrothal ruined by Hoster Tully's ambitions of having a Tully queen?" Doriah asked with a rather serious look. "I heard some rumors about you almost challenging Hoster Tully for a duel for the shame he brought upon you and your house…"
"I don't go that far…" Rickard explained, not knowing what sort of spies would say such nonsense. "But yes it was ruined even he desperately tried to revive the damn thing a while ago, during the Coronation Feast as if nothing happened." he continued. "But I tell you this much Doriah, until I draw my last breath, no Stark shall marry a Tully, I swear it upon the Old Gods and the New!"
"He really angered you didn't he?"
"He did," Rickard assured. "If it was me doing it, I would never hear the end of it."
"And do you have any marriage prospects in mind?" she inquired. "For your older son who lost his betrothal?"
"As of now, not really." he confessed, no doubt Lord Ryswell and many other lords would be on the hunt for Brandon now.
"Then…perhaps…we can arrange something amongst ourselves…" she said very slowly as she leaned closer to him.
"What do you mean?" he asked confused.
"My Elia for your heir." she elaborated. "My daughter is very sweet, raised to be a proper wife, she might appear fragile and weak but she is a fighter, Rickard. You saw her when she was nothing but a premature baby and by the Seven did she came a long way from that."
"Are you sure? I mean the North is thousands of miles away from Dorne and Winter is Coming." Rickard explained. "Northern Winters, not mild southron ones where there is no snow at all."
"If your son is half as good as you are, then I'm sure it's worth it," Doriah dismissed. "My daughter deserves some happiness in her life, not sadness and I think a Stark might very well be the solution."
"My son is…he likes to go to brothels and as far I know, he has taken a few maidenheads…" Rickard informed her, ashamed of course…he did scold Brandon many times and so did Lyarra. He didn't take more maidenheads after the conversation but he was still a regular in the brothels…
"I said half as good as you is enough and I'm pretty sure my daughter can tame that bad wolf of yours," she assured with a smirk. "But let's inquire her, shall we?"
"Inquire her?" Rickard asked confused. "Is she here?"
"Mother, I wish to retire…" a young woman that resembled Doriah in everything stated with a saddened face. She did not appear to notice him as she went to hug her mother.
"And why is that sweetheart?" Doriah questioned. "Are you ill again?"
"No, I'm just tired of seeing King Rhaegar with Cersei Lannister!" The young Princess said irritated. "I'm disappointed with him not choosing me of course but Cersei Lannister is just bragging about it and humiliating the rest of us in front of many lords, I'm tired of her bullshit and lack of decency."
"Our new to be Queen looks like her mother but behaves like her father…" Doriah commented with a sigh. "Anyway…we ought to think about your future, my love." she said patting her daughter's cheek.
"And who will wish me, mother?" Young Elia asked. "I'm fragile and delicate, eighteen namesdays old and still unmarried, spurned by the King himself…I doubt I will have possible betrothals…"
"You weren't the only one spurned by the King, sweetling," Doriah dismissed. "Plus I have been talking with someone…" Doriah directed her daughter's look towards Rickard himself, showing that they weren't alone.
The young Dornishwoman flushed upon noticing him. "Oh My Lord my deepest apologies for failing to notice you sooner and for My Lord to witness such childish behavior of me. I'm truly, truly sorry…"
He gave her a shy smile, how could he not smile anyway? "I have taken no offense, My Princess," he assured her. "It's very frustrating when things don't go our way, I understand it fully."
"Sweetling," Doriah cut in. "Lord Stark has an heir who lost his betrothal with this whole new King affair and I was asking Lord Stark if a marriage between you and his heir could be arranged, what do you say of it?"
"Does My Lord accept me for your son?" Young Elia asked with a concerned face, likely that her previous words were coming to her mind. "Me a fragile woman?"
"I can certainly accept you," he said. "If of course, you are willing to ride to the North when Winter is Coming." Rickard made sure to stress the word Winter as a warning.
"Then I will accept the proposal," she said confidently. "A Stark is still advantageous for House Martell."
"Darling, I asked your opinion and not if this marriage was advantageous." Doriah quickly said. "This is about your happiness, sweetling."
"I'm quite sure I can love the man in question in due time," Elia informed her mother. "A marriage opportunity may never come again if I keep refusing proposals such as this one and honestly I'm tired of waiting."
"Well if you have decided to accept." Rickard began. "Might as well discuss the terms of the marriage, what do you say Doriah?"
"Right away Ricky boy." Gods…he had forgotten that Princess Doriah also called him that nickname…it only made him miss his Lyarra even more…and shame…
Lyarra Stark
Winterfell, North, Year 278 AC
"Lyarra please stop this madness!" Her husband shouted from behind a table in the Great Hall of Winterfell, the place in which he had taken refuge while Lyarra threw him multiple objects and curses at him.
"You should have thought about this before you arranged another bloody betrothal to our son without asking for my consent, you stupid!" she screamed as yet another plate flew in his direction. "I hate you!"
"No, you don't!" Her husband shouted back and yes…she did not hate him, but she was very angry with him! "Lyarra for the Gods' mercy stop this!"
"No!" she barked throwing him two more plates.
"At least hear who it is!" he begged.
"Some southern harlot I'm sure!" she barked throwing him another plate. "It will not make me stop Rickard Stark!"
"It's Princess Doriah's daughter!" he shouted.
Doriah's daughter? That premature baby girl? "I'm listening Ricky boy." she said as she stopped throwing things at him.
She watched him take a peek from the other side of the table. "You won't kill me?" he asked.
"No." she replied. "Not yet at least."
"Okay…I will move very slowly so you…"
"Just get out of there already!" she hissed and he obeyed, promptly leaving his hiding spot and presenting himself in front of her like a soldier ready for war.
"I'm sure you remember Elia, Doriah's premature baby?" Her husband inquired, calmer and more comfortable.
"I do remember the poor little thing…" Lyarra replied as she remembered holding little Elia in her hands when she stayed at Sunspear. The young Martell had been such a small baby…everyone said she would not survive and she felt so much pity for the little girl…it was that baby girl that made Lyarra more interested in having babies…and perhaps to Ricky boy as well…for he became adamant on courting her…a year after, they married and yet another year later they had their first baby, Brandon.
"Well little Elia is now a woman grow and fancies Doriah in looks, she is a copy of her actually." Her Ricky explained to her and a big smile came to her lips. The Gods had been merciful with that little girl. "She does seem to favor Doriah in personality as well even if she…"
"If she what Rickard?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow. "I hope you don't hide anything else from me!"
"If not a bit too sweet…" he murmured. "Brandon might not like her for…"
"Brandon has been fucking whores which, with all respect I have for them, couldn't appeal to even the ugliest man!" she ranted. "Our son will be a good boy to her I'm sure, if not, well he knows what will come to him." Her wild son would have to settle down either way and if the girl was Doriah's daughter than she was no flower. "When will she arrive?"
"Most likely by the end of the year."
"Then we shall welcome her here with open arms," she concluded. "But I swear to the Gods Rickard, if you do this to me again…if you marry another of my precious children without me having a word in it…I swear to you that I will…I will…"
"I promise I won't make such important decisions without your consent," he said looking at her with those grey eyes she loved so much, those puppy eyes. "I thought she would be a good match considering our history with Doriah…"
"Now…" she said seductively as she let her hand loose around his long face. "I believe…you must compensate me somehow…"
"You tried to kill me just now…" he scoffed.
"I did not!" she dismissed by kissing him in his rough lips. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so, but you are my husband and I love you so very much!"
"Gods damn you Lyarra Stark, you know I can't resist you," he said before kissing her deeply. "But please…don't throw our favorite plates at me…"
"I will not if you consult me when deciding the fate of our children." Lyarra countered. "I love them as much as I love you so please understand..."
"Then we give each other mutual assurances of keeping up with our deal here?"
"Yes, my love." she nodded. "Now come along with me, we ought to make you throw something too…Ricky boy…"
This is a result of multiple ideas I had in my mind that produce some writings that I decided to share now. This story will mostly take place in the North, with the dramas of our favorite family and their closest friends. It doesn't mean that some other people can be brought into the spotlight now and then.
Some things to take in consideration:
-Elia in this story was born in the year 260 AC so she is 18 years old.
-Oberyn in this story was born in the year 261 AC so he is 17 years old.
-Obara Sand was born in 274 AC so she is 4 years old.
-Nymeria Sand was born in 275 AC so she is 3 years old.
-Tyene Sand was born in 276 AC so she is 2 years old.
Updates to the story will be sporadic unlike my other story, but it won't die, I can assure that.
NOTE: I try to write everything as close to "old vocabulary" as I can and I try to make the least of spelling mistakes but I'm not perfect so if you can't read this story because it has too "much modern language" or too obscene vocabulary, then don't do it, I'm not forcing anyone to read.
And without further ado...I would like to thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.