"No one in the seven kingdoms, saved for the North, has ever heard of Duncan Idaho until the Tourney at Harrenhal. Long afterwards, he committed achievements that ranked him alongside the likes of Arthur Dayne, Barristan the Bold, Aemon Targaryen, and Duncan the Tall. While he has the heart of a True Knight, he also has the soul of a demon...an eight Devil so savage and ruthless in battle that even the Seven Devils of Hells would do anything to avoid." - Archmaester Marwyn.
Chapter 3: Lyanna
Harrenhal was known to be the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms
Located on the northern shore of the Gods Eye lake at the heart of the Riverlands, south of the River Trident and northwest of King's Landing, Harrenhal was build by Harwyn Hoare of House Hoare, after he conquered the riverlands and became the first King of the Isles and the Rivers. His aim was to consolidate the Ironmen's hold on the Riverlands, with the construction of a great fortress on the northern shore of the Gods Eye lake, in the very heart of the region.
The ironborn cared nothing for the inhabitants of the mainland, and their rule was brutal and tyrannical, breaking the backs of the Rivermen in forced labor to complete an instrument for their own domination. The great castle was finally finished in Harwyn's grandson's time, Harren Hoare, the third and last of the Kings of the Isles and the Rivers, and he arrogantly named it "Harrenhal" after himself. Yet, on the very same day that the last brick was laid, however, Aegon Targaryen and his sisters landed with their army from Dragonstone at the mouth of the Blackwater river, along with their three dragons, beginning the War of Conquest.
The Ironmen's tyrannical rule over the riverlands earned them little love from the people they trested with cruelty, and as the Targaryen n advanced many of the river lords, led by Lord Edmyn Tully, revolted against Harren to support the Aegon Targaryen. Harren thought the walls of his massive castle could withstand any assault, but he did not realize that dragons could simply fly over them. In the Burning of Harrenhal, Aegon used his dragon Balerion to roast King Harren and all of his sons alive within their own tower. Harrenhal was blasted with dragonfire and left half-ruined.
The moment the Stark party arrived at Harrenhal, Lyanna Stark realized that it must be the greatest castle in the entire world. Black Harren's castle was deceptive from afar: its colossal curtain walls rose beside the God's Eye lake, sheer and sudden as mountain cliffs topped for five immense towers, and the shortest of them was half again as tall as the highest tower in Winterfell… But those towers didn't soar the way a proper tower should: it seemed like a hand molded and distorted the stone, and each tower was more grotesque and misshapen than the last.
"Look what dragon fire did to these stones!" Ned said "Harrenhal is the largest castle in the Seven Kingdoms, build of a man's greed and the blood of his slaves. Aegon the Conqueror rode Balerion the Dread, and burned Harren the Black and his sons alive in the Kingspyre Tower."
"Are you a maester now, brother?" Brandon jested. "Or a septa?"
"Some say this castle is haunted by ghosts and bats." Benjen said.
"It's why the castle is cursed Benjen," Brandon tease his brother.
"Quit trying to scare our little brother." Ned said to Brandon "There are no ghosts, Ben. People of Westeros still fear Harren Hoare, King of the Iron Islands and the Riverlands, whose cruelty became legendary over the years, that's all."
"But is it true that the Castle is curse?" Benjen asked. "I heard that every time a House is reward ownership of Harrenhal, they become extinct."
"Yes it's true Benjen," Lyanna says, smiling a evil tease. "After Black Harren's House was wiped out, Aegon the Conqueror granted Harrenhal to his bannermen of House Qoherys, which eventually became extinct. They were followed by Houses Towers, Harroway, Strong, and Lothston. All of them, like the Hoares and Qoherys before them, died out, leading to the castle to be considered a cursed place. Several tales are told of Harrenhal, including the tale of Mad Lady Lothston, the flaming ghosts of Harren and his sons, and of servants who go to sleep and are found turned to ashes the following day."
"That's enough Lya," Ned says to his sister. "Now you're scarying Benjen."
"I'm not scared Ned!" Benjen protest fiercely. "I'll be four and ten within a couple of months, an adult.
"You're still a kid to me Benjen?" a voice speaks from out of no where.
All heads turn and horses stop as they see Ser Duncan Idaho, Commander of the Stark House Guards, appearing out of no where, from the deep bushes. Since their father a accepted him, the Stark children become aware of how quiet Duncan moves and go. He would appear right behind them without warning. Other than sneaking around quietly, without begin seen, Duncan has also proved to be a capable leader and commander amongst men, not to mention a superior fighter and trainer. But above all, he was the closest thing for a family to the Starks...especially to Benjen and Lyanna.
"Duncan," Benjen says happily. "It's great to see you."
"It's great to see you too Benjen," Duncan reply happily before he teases. "Look at you. You grown some muscle?"
"What?" Benjen react, looking confuse, looking at his arms. "I did?"
"No you don't," Duncan snigger.
Facing the rest, Duncan greets "It's nice to see you all as well. And as for my report, I detect no signs of any attempt to entrap you all."
"Don't you think you're getting a little paranoia Duncan?" Brandon question him, looking annoyed. "Just because father promoted you to commander of the Stark House Guards does not mean you have to be zealous."
"Duncan is just doing his duty Brandon," Lyanna defends him. "Just as you should know your duty as Heir to House Stark."
"You want to talk Lya," Brandon counter. "Your duty is to do lady things like music, poetry, singing, dancing, embroidery, and other traditional feminine activities. Not to mention begin good wife to Robert baratheon"
"In a pig's eye!" Lyanna sharply retort.
Robert Baratheon was the young heir to House Baratheon of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, who was serving as ward to Lord Jon Arryn at the Eyrie in the Vale of Arryn. It was how he met Ned, who was also fostered by Lord Arryn, which the two inevitably became fast friends. Ned brought Robert to Winterfell, which their father approved o betroth his daughter to the young Lord of Storm's End.
Lyanna on the other hand disapproved it. She once told Ned and Duncan that she believed Robert would never be able to keep to one bed. She had heard that Robert had an illegitimate daughter in the Vale, which Ned could not deny. He attempted to persuade her that what Robert had done before their betrothal was insignificant and that he would love her, but Lyanna informed him that love could not change a man's nature.
Watching Duncan, Lyanna wish father betroth her to him. Duncan proved to be very handsome with his black, curly hair, a dark complexion, and green or blue eyes. Also, he was one of the few people in Winterfell that respect her spirit other than hunger for her beauty. Benjen teases that Lyanna wants to bed Duncan ever since she found him naked in the woods those years ago, and Lyanna response by spanking him with a wooden sword.
However, the problem was that Duncan was just a low ranking knight, despite begin a head of the Stark House Guards. Lyanna was the daughter of Warden of the North, meant to be betroth to another Lord. She wish she express her feelings to Duncan. Yet she knew Duncan was too modest and humble as a gentleman to try an illicit relationship with Lyanna. Not to mention earning father's trust and respect.
"She's still brooding because she has to wed Robert Baratheon." Brandon said "It's been two years, sister. Aren't you eager to enjoy ten days in your betrothal's company?"
"No." Lyanna snapped.
"Shouldn't you change for something more appropriate, Lya?" Ned remarked frowning upon her riding gear "We are arriving at Harrenhal. Why won't you join the other ladies in the wheelhouse and dress a beautiful gown?"
"Aye, you must be presentable for Lord Robert." Brandon nodded.
Lyanna though she didn't give a damn about Lord Robert Baratheon nor had any wish to be his wife, no matter how long it has been since Ned brought her the sad news. But she chose to remain silent and ignore the observations her brothers have been doing since they've left the North. When they've departed from Winterfell, Lyanna was wearing a grey wool gown with silver rose-like embroidery, but halfway on the road she decided to change to her boiled leather riding gear for it was more comfortable to ride a horse. She still smiles when remembering the fright on the other ladies's faces when they've saw her. Following the Starks, there were lords and ladies from House Hornwood, House Mormont, House Dustin and House Manderly.
"I'll put on a dress in our tent." Lyanna said. "We are almost at Harrenhal... stopping this parade now is about as useful as nipples on a breastplate."
"I pity Lord Robert more than I do you, sister." Brandon jested "You'll give the poor lad a headache!"
"I can say the same about you, Brandon." Lyanna said ""Sneaking around and spying people is not a good thing."
"How do you…?" Brandon's face turned into stone remembering the night he took Lady Barbrey Ryswell's maidenhead. "You should not be concern with servant talk Lyanna.
"And you should hold on to your vow to Lady Catelyn." Lyanna said "And I'll find out if my betrothal has been doing to same."
Harrenhal's gatehouse was larger than Winterfell's Great Keep and was scarred as it was massive, its stones fissured and discolored. Beneath its massive and tunnel-like halls Lyanna saw tents of many colors, bright banners cracking in the wind, and knights in ringmail and plate on barded horses. The air smelled of roasting meats, and was filled with the sound of laughter and the blare of heralds' trumpets. A great tourney was about to commence, and champions from all over Westeros had come to contest it. The northerners were heading towards Harrenhal's outer ward, where the Lord's camp has been mounted. Each tent displayed the sigil of its owner. There were more banners than Lyanna could recognize.
Inside the Starks tent, Lyanna was assisted by a lowborn servant girl named Bersa, while the twins Edda and Edel were supporting the Stark's vassals, in their own tents. Bersa was a redheaded young woman, with large breasts and freckled skin, who was in charge of helping Lyanna getting dressed, making her bed, preparing her bath and emptying her chamber pot. Lyanna said she had no need for a handmaiden in a tourney but her father commanded because all southron ladies have at least one.
"M'lady looks very beautiful." Bersa said once she finished with Lyanna's hair "Like a silver princess!" The Riverlands were no place for furs and wools, therefore Lyanna choose a pale blue silk gown, with long sleeves that left her neck and shoulders exposed. Bersa combed her hair into a southron hairstyle, with twisted braids on the top of her head instead of a braid falling down like she wears them in the North. In her neck, Lyanna used a simple silver necklace that belonged to her mother, Lyarra.
"Isn't it too much?" Lyanna asked trailing her hands towards her bare neck and shoulders.
"No, M'lady." Bersa said "All highborn maidens in the South use this fashion."
"Thank you, Bersa." Lyanna smiled "Go on and enjoy yourself. I shall join my brothers for the opening ceremony."
"M'lady doesn't want me to come along?" the servant girl asked "Your brothers won't like that M'lady Lyanna goes all by herself."
"They won't mind." she says. "We all deserve to have a delightful time in this tourney."
Lyanna walked towards the outside of the tent and breathed in the fresh air of the Riverlands. In spite of being full of life and color, there was still something about Harrenhal that inspired dread: not all the banners in the known world could mask the darkness of those stones. The weather of Harrenhal wasn't as cold or as dark as in Winterfell, but the castle breathed ghostly and foggy. Above her head, in the upper galleries on the walls, she could distinguish small groups that belonged to the royal court.
As she was walking, she felt a cold wind in the back of her neck that made her shiver, like unseen fingers were touching her skin, and look back. And when she did a scene captured her attention: three boys, no older than fifteen, in armor, were surrounding a petite young man, with bright green eyes and brown hair: "You have no right to be here, frogeater!" And then they knocked the boy to the ground and shoved him down every time he tried to rise, and kicked him when he curled up on the ground "This is our world, mud man!"
"That's my father's man you're kicking!" Lyanna said heading towards them and grabbing two tourney swords in each hand. She had recognized the small lad as an inhabitant of the North, of the crannogmen from the swamps of the Neck. "Leave him alone!" Lyanna held the tourney sword against the boys.
"Oh… What do we have here? The damsel came to rescue the mud man!" One squire jested.
"My name is Lyanna Stark of Winterfell and you are attacking an unarmed man from the North."
"Lower that sword, dear. You probably don't even know how to use it." The other squire laughed.
"Do you want me to prove you otherwise, squire?" Lyanna pointed the sword to the second's squire throat.
"Get out of here, girl. I don't use my weapons on women but you're getting on my nerves!" The third squire spoke.
"You don't fight women?" Lyanna taunt them. "Why? Are you afraid?"
The third squire drew his sword and launched it on Lyanna. Yet Lyanna block it with with one tourney sword and use the other to strike his wrist, forcing him to let go of the sword in pain. The other two react, but Lyanna was fast enough to blocked their attacks with ease. Lyanna managed to disarm and defeat the other two squires before turning her attention to the first one. The she-wolf kick the first squire she defeat in the chest and the boy fell back onto the stone floor, and Lyanna pointed the blade at the second squire's throat.
"Leave. And if you bother this man ever again, I shall not let you go unharmed." she warned.
The squire stood up with dread upon his face and was joined by the other two while they run back to the Lord's Camp. Once they disappear from sight, she mumbles "Cowards."
"Lady Lyanna." The crannogman said and he was bruised and bloodied "I'm so grateful, my Lady."
"You are hurt." Lyanna said "What's your name?"
"Howland of House Reed." he told his name.
"I've recognized you as a northerner," she says. "From the region of the Neck, am I right?"
"Yes," Reed reply. "House Reed from Greywater Watch, southwest of Moat Caillin. We are indeed sworn to House Stark of Winterfell."
The crannogman's eyes left Lyanna's face and stare to a group of people that crossed the yard. The she-wolf turned and saw four men and a group of thirteen ladies. The young man who leaded the group was tall and handsome, with long golden-silver hair and indigo eyes, dressed in black and carried a heavy book. Beside him there was a White Sword with bright purple eyes. Two men with dark hair and olive skin escorted a woman with the same features; while one was dressing in white the other one wore a blood-orange tunic with golden embroidery. The woman wore a golden tiara in her black hair but the woman beside her had a beauty that blinded all the jewelry the princess carried, and had the same purple eyes as the Kingsguard. Behind them, a flock of a dozen maids followed.
"It's something we don't see everyday up in the North, aye, my Lady?" Reed suggest.
"Southerns…" Lyanna said, and then turned her face to the crannogman "Come, Lord Reed. I'll attend to your wounds and introduce you to my brothers."
"You are very kind, Lady Lyanna." Reed says.
Lyanna placed her arm around the crannogman's shoulders and led him back to the Starks tent. There, she clean his cuts and bind them up with linen. They remained silent until the wolf maiden finished washing the wounds. While she was doing so, the memory of the silver-haired man came to her mind: she had never seen hair and eyes like those… It was the first time she had left the North and realized how little she knew of the world.
"I never seen anyone fought like you did," Reed says.
"It's called Sword of the Northern Wind," she told him.
"Sword of the Northern Wind?" Reed repeated.
"It's a fighting style that I learn from Duncan Idaho, the Commander of the Stark's House Guards" Lyanna told him.
Beside begin Commander of the House Stark Guard, Duncan was the founder of the Blades of the Northern Wind. It was originally known Ginaz Swordstyle, a fighting style Duncan claims to learn from House Ginaz, who is renowned as a Swordmaster School. Yet, father convinces Duncan to change the name as the name Ginaz sounds something came out of the Free cities of Essos.
The strength of the Sword of the Northern Wind was to move with almost inhuman reflexes, speed, and agility, while striking with deadly accuracy and force. It was said that to reach the Tenth Level of Sword of the Northern Wind was to be a superior warrior in every way, even more adept than knights and warriors in southern parts of the Seven Kingdoms. Anyone who graduated from the Sword of the Northern Wind was awarded the title Swordmaster of the Northern Wind.
Since becoming Commander of the House Stark Guard, Duncan had trained all the men in the Guard to become Swordmaster of the Northern Wind. Even Benjen and Lyanna were trained by this fighting style. Father really does not want Lyanna to learn swordplay, yet Duncan convince him otherwise, and to Lyanna delight her father approved it. Benjen was ranked level 4 in the style, while Lyanna was a ranked 7.
While she was not good as Duncan, it was enough to teach those snot nose squires a lesson they will not forget.
Duncan, Brandon, Ned and Benjen walked in and they were talking about something with great enthusiasm, although Ned was advising Brandon not to speak of such matters in their younger brother's presence.
"Where have you been?" Lyanna asked them.
"Where have you been, sister? You've missed the King's and the crown prince's arrival. And Lord Arryn joined us with Lord Robert. He wanted to see you." Brandon said and then noticed the hurt crannogman "What's the meaning of this? Why is this man in our tent? And where is your servant girl?"
"He was attack by three cowardly southern squires," Lyanna explained. "I manage to drive them off before they could do more harm."
"Did they hurt you?" Brandon says, looking worried.
"No," Lyanna replied. "Thanks to Duncan's training those three cowards will think twice of gang-up and attacking anothern Northern."
"Can you recall what they look like if you see them again?" Ned asked.
"I don't know their name but if I see them again, yes," Lyanna says. "But what is it that I miss that you all were talking about?"
"You've missed the oath rite of the White Swords, Lya!" Benjen told her. "Jaime Lannister received his Kingsguard white cloak from Ser Gerold Hightower, the Lord Commander himself! He's the youngster knight ever to be raised to the Kingsguard!"
"I thought it was the Hand of the King who gives the Kingsguard's cloak to the new sworn brother." The cragnoman said.
"Lord Tywin resigned as Hand of the King… he's on his way back to Casterly Rock." Duncan replied "And who are you?"
"My name is Lord Howland Reed of Greywater Watch." Reed told him.
"He is a son from the North and pays allegiance to our House." Lyanna added. "Three squires were attacking him outside the Lord's Camp. I've been taking care of his injuries. I asked Bersa to go and enjoy the tourney."
"I already know who all of you are," Benjen says. "The "quiet wolf", the "pup", the "wild wolf" and the "she-wolf"… that's how they call you in the North."
"Why am I the pup?" Benjen protested.
"Because you're the youngest of the pack." Brandon said.
Turning to Duncan, Reed reply "And you're also the "Mystery Wolf."
"It's just Duncan, that's all," Duncan reply with a smile.
"This evening there will to be a feast, to mark the opening of the tourney, Lord Reed." Lyanna said "As our father's bannerman, you should come and dine at our table."
"Oh… no… I can't attend the feast, my Lady." Reed tries to respectfully rejected
"You are of high birth, with as much a right to place on the bench as any other man." Lyanna insisted.
"I don't even have a proper garment to wear, my Lady." The crannogman frowned, grabbing his greenish and soiled tunic with dirt and blood.
"There is no need," Duncan says. "I'm sure Benjen can find you a garb suitable to a king's feast."
"Now you'll have to come with us, Lord Reed." Lyanna said and she was not easy to refuse.