NOTE: Hello guys!
I don't have much to say, I don't want to spoil anything, but let's say I'm making the first big change in the original story. And well...
I'm sorry... :/
Please don't hate me!
Chapter 8: The things you can't prevent
Year 298 after the Conquest.
Winterfell.
Kyria
During the evening that followed the King's arrival, a feast was to take place, in honor of their sovereign, and it visits. Kyria didn't like the idea of spending an entire evening in the same room as those people who seemed to wake way too many visions for her comfort. But she didn't have any choice in the matter… It was her role, to represent her family at the feast, just like it was the role of her siblings to do the same.
So, as Mother was taking care of a particularly excited Sansa, Kyria took upon herself to dress up her other little sister. Which left one important question. Why in the entire sever hells did she propose to do such a thing? Dressing Arya!
Arya who moved more than a fish out of the river. Arya who despised dressing up with more ire than almost anything else in the entire world! Why did she put herself in such a painful experience?
Why?
"I don't want to wear this pretty dress." groaned Arya, putting her head out of her sister's hand with exasperation.
Kyria bites back a moan. She ruined her hair. Again. She was going to tie her to this fucking chair she swore it. She was doing it.
"And why not?" she asked with patience she didn't feel.
"It's not easy to run with it. And the sleeve is way too long." pouted the child.
She moved her arms to demonstrate the insult this horrible piece of fabric was doing to her freedom. The movement untied another lock from her head. Kyria rolled her eyes.
"And when would you want to run? We are going to a feast in honor of the King, we won't run!"
"You never know when you need to run!" protested Arya.
…
Well, she wasn't wrong. But still…
"You'll have the entire household to protect you if someone attack, Arya. I'm sure some of them will agree to carry you as well." smiled Kyria.
She didn't have to look in the mirror to know the girl was grimacing.
"I don't want to be protected. That's for ladies."
Of course, silly her.
"I'm afraid you won't have a choice in the matter sister. Not tonight at least."
"Why?" she protested.
"Because," sighed Kyria pulling the little head back where she was supposed to be. What was that, a person or a puppy? Why did she need to move that much all the time? Was it that difficult to sit still? Really? " The King is here, with some members of the court and the Royal family. And as so, we need to make a good impression."
"Why?"
"Because Mother said so." shrugged Kyria.
"But Why?" moaned the girl.
Now that was starting to get old pretty quickly.
"That's the way of the noble families. In South, everything is about appearance. If you look like a noble, you speak like a noble and you act like a noble then you must be one. And they'll respect you."
"Just like that?"
"Well, you also have to wear the name of a noble. But either way… yes just like that. No matter how strong you are Arya, if they don't saw you as a noble girl, you are nothing."
"That's stupid."
"I agree. But it is how the world is made."
The girls stayed silent for some time. Enough for Kyria to end Arya's hair - fi-fuckin-nally- , and start with her own, with the help of Maerys, her devoted silent shadow.
"How do you know all of this?"
"I read a lot," she responded working on one bread.
"About that?"
"About everything I can find."
A loud knock stopped Arya from saying anything else. Robb passed his head in the opening of the door.
"Are you ready?"
"Almost," responded Kyria.
Just then, Maerys let go of her hair and nodded with a bow.
"We are."
The three of them went out of the room and joined the rest of their family. They entered the great hall, one after the other. Her arm wrapped around Robb's, she tried to ignore the presence of Joffrey behind her, right next to Sansa. The girl looked positively thrilled to be where she was. The prick looked bored to tears and snorted to anyone who dared look at his general direction. Stupid boy.
Kyria bites her tongue. She couldn't say anything. This was no business of her. Beside Sansa wouldn't have forgiven her.
Arya didn't seem so pleased, from what Kyria could see. She was lead to her place on the main table by the young Tommen, the poor boy looked furiously red and uncomfortable. Bran puffed his chest, proudly, his arm locked with Myrcella's. They were cute together. Like a couple of dolls, all pretty and chubby-faced, with those big innocent eyes of theirs.
Rickon wasn't present, still too young to stay in one of those feasts and was staying in his room with Old Nan and Septa Mordane. The only good point of the evening this far.
"Aren't you glad to be stuck with me sister?" whispered Robb to her ear. "You could have had the prickly little prince."
"I am glad Robb. I would be even more if he wasn't that close to Sansa."
"The girl looked over the moon."
"Of course she is. For her, it is like a dream coming true. Look at her, how she dressed up. They aren't there for more than a day and our sister looks already like those southern girls."
"What did you expect?"
"Nothing. I knew she'd act like that."
Robb looked at her, something dancing in his eyes.
"You… knew?"
Kyria sighed and restrained herself to roll her eyes.
"Not my visions Robb. I happen to know my sister."
"Oh. Yes of course," he said awkwardly.
The tip of his ears was red with embarrassment.
She smiled, amused.
"You know, I can think outside the prism of my oh so divine gift."
"I know I know but- I guess I'll always have a hard time to get used to the idea. I can't stop thinking about it."
"I understand," she said.
She was the same after all.
They stay silent just enough for Kyria to sit on her table, her hand still in her brother's. The room was fuller than anything Kyria ever saw. It was impressive, and kind of intimidating.
"Are you alright?" asked Robb as she watched Arya take her place.
She nodded without a word.
The discussion ended here. Both of them knew they couldn't keep talking about that here, so close to everyone else and potential undesired ears. Robb pressed her hand one last time, then let go of it.
Kyria's eyes derived on Petyr Baelish. He was at the main table like the rest of the important guests, which were the King and Queen and the Queen's Brothers. The heirs of the respective men sat here too, and Kyria smiled at her brother, as he took his place.
The rest of the children were placed on a table close to the main one, all of Kyria's siblings and the two other royal children. This was a good thing. At least none of her siblings were close enough to Baelish. She didn't like the man. There was something wrong with the way he was looking at her mother.
"Are you alright Kyria?" asked Sansa in a concerned voice next to her.
Kyria blinked and smile at her.
"Yes, Sansa. And you? How do you find the prince?"
She didn't want to hear that, but still, it was needed.
The smile on Sansa's face could have ripped it in half.
"Oh, he is wonderful. And so handsome don't you think?"
"I… he is not my type sister. Did you talk to him?"
Sansa blushed.
"I showed him the keep, the sept, and the glass gardens," she said. "It was so romantic! He seemed nice and gallant, and, oh he keeps asking me questions about everything and-" she sighed dreamily.
From the corner of her eyes, Kyria noticed the little princess looking at them. Her face was surprisingly hard to read. She was paying great attention to what they were saying but, nothing on her face could sell her thought. When Sansa ended her description of the Prince's perfection, Kyria smiled at the little girl.
"Pardon my sister princess Myrcella, she is very enthusiastic with your presence."
The girl smiled. She was very pretty. Next to her, her little brother grunted.
"Joffrey is mean," he mumbled.
Kyria's attention was suddenly as sharp as a knife.
"Tommen doesn't say things like that!" said the princess.
"Why would you say that my prince? Your brother seems to be very nice to my sister."
"He killed my cat and her kitties," he said, his big green eyes full of tears.
Oh, gods… what did that mean?
"What do you mean?" asked Bran next to the boy.
"Oh it's nothing," said the princess with a quick look at the main table where her brother was.
She looked worried. Kyria quickly looked in the same direction and found the boy's gaze on them. This wasn't a good time for a discussion like that. But whatever the little boy means, it was important.
Instead of insisting like she would like to do, she smiled at the children and took the princess's hand.
"If you do not want to talk about it, you only have to say it." she said nicely. "we are not noisy, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable on your first day here."
The little girl smiled at her and looked at Sansa. Something flashed in her eyes, but Kyria didn't have time to put a name on it.
The silence was made in the room, as Father stood up, gaining everyone's attention.
"We are here tonight," he started with a strong voice, "to welcome among us our King, Robert Baratheon, First of his Name, King of the Andal the Roynars and the First Men, Lord Protector of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Oh get on with it Ned!" groaned the King's voice.
Some of the men laughed in the assembly. Kyria looked at Robb. Good gods what a King they had.
Father merely looked at his friend, before talking again.
He said something else, but Kyria didn't listen. The feast started after that, and soon the room was full of chaos.
Kyria concentrates her attention on the Royal children.
"So, Prince Tommen, you like animals?" she asked as she took a bite of her food.
The boy's face lightened up.
"I love cats!" he pipped. " I have so many of them at home! As much as I can!"
"How many do you have?" asked Arya with curiosity.
The boy thought for a second. Kyria smiled at her little sister. She didn't think the girl would have bothered to talk to any of the royal children. Seeing do that was pleasing. She was making an effort here. She looked at Sansa. The girl didn't seem to want to talk but didn't ignore them either. Her eyes keep going back to the main table, full of stars. It was almost painful to watch.
"I don't know… there is a lot of cats in the Red keep." Tommen said, bringing back Kyria's attention. "My nanny said it's because of the rats!"
"There are rats at the Red keep?" asked Sansa, her pretty nose frowned.
"There are half a million of people at Kingslanding Sansa, there must be some rats," responded Kyria before anyone else could.
"Oh… that's true… I suppose." she responded slowly, her mind processing the number of people in one single town.
It was a lot after all.
"Is there really that many people at Kingslanding?" asked Bran.
Myrcella nodded timidly.
"I think so," she said. "That's what Septa say when we talk about the city."
"That's a lot of people..." observed Sansa.
Kyria repressed a snort.
"That it is." she nodded with a smile.
Sansa frowned at her.
"Do not mock me!"
"Well you're gifted to point the evidence sister, what can I say?" she giggled.
Sansa seemed upset, for maybe one second, then she smiled too, seeing her previous comment for what it was. Arya giggled too, greatly amused by her sister's silliness.
The ice broken, they spend a good hour talking together, while eating their food. The two blond children were very sweet, to Kyria's delight. At least two members of the royal family were of good company. That was a start.
As the feast continued, the attributed place didn't stay like that for long. Soon, everyone was going everywhere they wanted. The King has deserted his place early in the night, and Father was also nowhere to be seen. The Queen and Mother were talking with Baelish, and Robb went for Theon a while ago already.
The feast was long. Longer than anything Kyria even experienced, including Robb's last name day. It was long and full of sight she'd rather have never witnessed. The King was flirting more vigorously with the maids, patting behind and eyeing blossom with the subtlety of a bear charging his prey. He laughed loudly and made crude comments about one breast or one ass. It was embarrassing for everyone looking. Or it should be, at least, in her opinion.
He wasn't the only one, of course, but he was the loudest. And the more visible of course.
Kyria held back a wince, as Robert laughed loudly again, his hand crudely massaging another maid's bottom. It was the third one at least. He was disgusting. She could almost feel pity for the Queen, forced to assist her husband's dishonorable behavior.
After a time, some people started to stand out of their table to talk to other people. Laugh and cheers resonate around her. At some point, Kyria found herself alone at her table, observing people around her enjoying the evening and the royal company.
A laugh louder than the other gathered Kyria's attention back to the King. This time she did wince. He had one girl on his lap, another one again, almost undressed while another was draped around his neck like some piece of fur. From the angle of the King's face, he was kissing her breast. Or was he eating her? She couldn't be sure.
Drooling at her maybe?
Yuck.
Deciding to ignore the ruler's comportment, she looked at the member of her family she could see. Robb and Theon were in what seemed to be like a heated conversation. About girls apparently, if she could trust Theon's luscious gaze trailed a bit too long on one maid's backside. He said something Kyria couldn't hear, too far away as she was, and Robb laughed loudly. The heir of Winterfell clapped his friend's back and pointed something in the crowd. Kyria didn't want to know what it was. The images of this infamous afternoon were still a bit to close to her memories.
Again, Yuck.
Sansa and Jeyne Poole next to her were completely bewitched by whatever the blonde Prince was telling them. The boy made great gestures around them, a smug look on his annoying face. For one second Kyria would have wanted to know what this was about. Just to laugh a little. Maybe she could talk with Sansa… There was something wrong with the Prince. She didn't like his eyes. Or his face in general. She almost felt ashamed to judge like that without knowing, something she forbade herself to do, but right now she couldn't help it. The crown prince was rubbing something the wrong way inside Kyria.
And seeing him swagger like a proud peacock around her naive little sister didn't help ease her worries. She had hoped, quite naively herself that their time together, her, Sansa, and Arya had somehow healed a little her sister's fascination with the bright south, opposed to their Northern dullness and lack of activities. But seeing her dressed as a little southern girl, and giggle prettily at the Prince reminded her that dip down, Sansa still had the same dreams.
If only she could have them about someone else…
Her gaze fell on Arya then, as the girl was looking with a rare intensity at Sansa, and more importantly, Jeyne Poole. Since that day during the sewing lesson, the little girl had developed a peculiar resentment against the young brown-haired girl. And observing her ignoring Sansa for several days because she dared defend her little sister didn't help. Kyria wasn't fond of the girl either, but she could recognize that she didn't mean any harm. She was more empty-headed than anything else. Nothing a few years can't heal Kyria thought.
Gods she felt so old sometimes...Like those endless nights had aged her up earlier than others.
Anyway, the look on Arya's face didn't seem good. Maybe she could do something before Arya decided to act on what felt like a very, very bad idea.
With a smile, the girl went for her sister.
"Whatever you are thinking of doing do not," she said to the girl's ear.
"What?" spluttered the little thing, dropping her spoon. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you look suspiciously like you are scheming something. And you look at Jeyne. So whatever you are thinking in this little head of yours do not act on it." Arya frowned, clearly unhappy. "I'm right, aren't I? What do you even plan to do?"
"N-nothing."
"Arya..."
The girl sighed.
"She's so… annoying. I mean look at them! Listening to this- prince like he knew everything! How can't they see through his lies?"
"How do you know he is lying?" responded Kyria.
She was almost sure he was, of course. But she wasn't against an opportunity to make her little sister think further than what was just under her nose. Looking underneath the appearances. And to put some words in her thoughts wouldn't hurt either.
"Of course he is! Look at him! So slim he could fly if the wind is too strong! How a frail thing like him could have killed a boar as big as a horse and bring him back from the Woods to the Red Keep all by himself?"
...True.
Very true. Well, he seemed to have ambition.
"You are right, he looks quite… slight. But maybe it is only a look. You know strength isn't always visible within the eye. Maybe he did bring the thing to the keep."
"Mh…" she didn't look convinced. Kyria wasn't too. But the point here wasn't to convince Arya of Joffrey's potential strength.
"Beside, his sworn shield could have brought the thing to the Castle. Joffrey could still have killed it."
This did make sense. A bit. Even if Kyria could swear the prick never went to a single hunting trip. But even she couldn't be certain. She didn't know everything, despise what she found herself believing more often than not. Briefly, her thought went back to the holder safely hidden in the library.
"Maybe..." said the girl.
Kyria looked again at the boy prince and his little court. The dreamy sight of Sansa woke an ill feeling inside her.
"We don't know the prince enough to be able to judge him Arya," she said again.
Only she wasn't sure if it was her sister or herself she was trying to convince.
Not long after this, Arya ended her meal and with a nod from her mother, Kyria put her to bed, ignoring the girl's protestations. She could do as she pleased once in her room, but Kyria knew her enough to notice when she started to be dangerously bored. Because a bored Arya could be dangerous for her mother's vision of conveniences.
Instead of going back to the Hall, where she could hear the party way louder than what it has been when she quit it, Kyria decided to go outside for a bit. She felt restless. Something inside her, a fire she never experienced before was burning in a need to be satiated. Spend maybe. Without really thinking about it, she took the first bow she could find and started to shoot.
She keeps shooting, again and again, as if each arrow was one thought and as it left her hand, the thought left her with it. She thought of Sansa and the Prince, and shoot. She thought of Father and the question the King must already have asked him and shoot. She thought of the South and the member of her family who will probably end up going there and shoot.
She keeps shooting for what felt like hours until her fingers were as red as her blood. Until it was actual blood on some of them. She was happy to see some of her arrows hitting the target. At least she made some progress.
"Well, I wasn't expecting that."
With a jump, Kyria let go of her bow and took a step back. Behind her stood the shortest man she ever saw. She knew immediately who he was. Of course, she did. It wasn't hard to guess in fact. Dark blond hair fell on his forehead and in front of his piercing green eyes. He wasn't exactly ugly, contrary to what most people thought about him, but his face had something maybe in the shape of his nose, or the form of his eyes, that made him look… strange.
Tyrion Lannister. The imp...
"My lord," she said as politely as she could.
What was he doing here? The feast was inside!
"My lady. I'd say I'm honored to meet you but it appears that we haven't been presented yet."
"Oh, Of course" blushed Kyria. "Kyria Stark my lord. The eldest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark."
The little man bowed again.
"A pleasure to meet you I'm sure," he said with an amused smile.
"As I am my Lord." she smiled.
She liked him. It was the first time since the King put a foot on dirt of the courtyard that one of the members of his court made a good impression on her. She wasn't even sure why. But she liked him.
"So, you are practicing with a bow? Well, the North seems to be more interesting than I thought."
Kyria blushed. He wasn't supposed to see that.
"It's not that rare my Lord for women in the North. Those lands are harsh for everybody, man and woman. Some of us feel the need to know how to defend their skins."
"Clever." commented the man.
She didn't want to mention her sisters in the discussion. Him seeing her was already annoying on its own, she couldn't throw her sisters at his feet. As nice as he seemed to be, he was from the south, and Kyria couldn't be sure he was not going to talk about his little discovery. If it was just her, she could manage, but she also had to think about Sansa and Arya. Especially Sansa...
"Who taught you to shoot like that my lady?"
"My brother," she said.
"I see… The heir or the bastard?"
Kyria's smile twitched on her face.
"You don't like the word? Bastard." he continued, not missing her discomfort. "I've heard about him you know, the bastard of Winterfell. He went for the Wall didn't he?"
"Yes my lord. Almost a year ago," she said.
"Lucky boy" snorted the imp.
"My Lord?"
"I always wanted to see the Wall. The greatest construction of mankind! The top of the World!"
He made some grand gesture to follow his words, a wide smile on his face.
Kyria thought of his words. It was one of the greatest things ever done by men. By her ancestor none less.
"I supposed it is something..." she answered.
"Isn't it?" nodded the man excitingly. "I think I would like to see that! Maybe I will take a little trip up there before coming back to the capital. I'm curious about it."
Kyria blinked. Bastard in his father's eyes whispered her mind.
Listen to the bastard in his father's eyes.
Tyrion Lannister… Was he going to meet Jon at some point?
"If you want to my lord," she said carefully.
"Oh, I do. Don't you want to witness such a thing? I think the Wall is one of those things everyone should see once in their life. Don't you agree?"
"Maybe I will someday..." she confessed, looking away. "But the Wall is no place for women my Lord."
"Not even for the Sister of one of the Brothers of the night watch?"
Her gaze went right back to him, sharp and alert.
Lord Tyrion hummed, his eyes traveling on her silhouette.
"They talk a lot, your people."
"Do they?" she asked back, her own eyes narrowing slightly on the man's face.
"They do. About their precious Lord, and his children. They say you were close to your bastard brother." he noticed. "You used to spend entire afternoons riding in the wild with the Heir of Winterfell and your bastard brother."
Kyria bites the inside of her cheek, convinced the man was going somewhere with this discussion. The entire question was where. What did he want? Why was he talking about this?
"I've always been close to my family my lord. Jon is no exception."
"And how is the great Lady Catelyn fairing the idea of her precious wolflings close to the greatest disgrace ever made to her name?" asked Tyrion Lannister a smug smile on his face.
Kyria almost groaned. Why was he so curious about her family suddenly?
Anger never win a fight, was hit with a weapon, or an argument. Listen if you want to know how to talk.
"You seem to be very curious about my family my Lord. Do you want to know something in particular?" she asked, with all the calm she could display.
Tyrion laughed bright and happy.
"Oh don't mind me, my lady. I am only a curious little man, greedy of all the things I could learn from this new region I never visited before. And you never know what piece of information can be useful in the future! Maybe it will play in my favor to be on friendly terms with the sister of a Brother of the night watch. I am sure he will be pleased to hear about you wereabout!" he said jovially.
"I see," she said with a smile, as true as she could be in front of a man she didn't know what to think of. "Then, if it pleases you, please, learn my Lord. I won't judge you for it."
"Ah, yes, I've heard you are rather fond of knowledge yourself. Another strange occurrence of the North I suppose. Ladies of the south do not display their knowledge to the court."
"There are some subjects on which a lady can not display too much science. It is not proper for a lady to know of the affair of men. Like politics, war, or anything else that could give some power to the fair sex isn't it?"
"A beautiful way to say girls must appear stupid to survive in our world." responded the man with a snort.
As they do.
Kyria smiled, the man was clever, that was said.
"And you know I suppose, the weigh the ignorance of others on your potential, don't you, Lord Imp?"
"That I do my lady," he responded with a smile.
"All dwarves are bastard to their father's eyes," he said.
Kyria blinked, chasing away a sentence too similar to something she said a while ago, in her brother's ear.
Before she could say anything else, a familiar giggle erupted from a corner of the courtyard. A giggle that shouldn't be heard at this time of the night. Kyria sighed, and excuse herself from the company.
As expected, she found her little brother, hidden in the kennels, his little form half hidden against the large shape of his wolf.
"Rickon! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, arm crossed. "Mother will be furious if she finds you here! And she'll kill me if I don't bring you back to your chambers right now!"
"But Kyria! Mother doesn't want Shaggy in my room! I can't sleep without Shaggy!" the boy responded, showing his little head from the fur surrounding it.
"And how were you sleeping before Shaggy then?"
"I didn't know anything else!" the boy responded smartly.
Kyria snorted, and roll her eyes. Smartass.
"Well, you'll have to do like before for a time brother. The wolves are not allowed in the castle while the king and his court are here."
"But why?"
"Not everyone is used to giant beast strolling in the keep as if they belonged here."
"But they do! Jon said they belonged with us!" protested the little boy.
"I know little Lord," she sighed. "But we have to do as Mother said. And it will only last while the King is here. He won't stay forever."
Rickon sighed, a pout forming on his face.
"I wished he wasn't here."
"I thought you liked him enough earlier. You seemed happy when he rubs your head."
"I don't like him if he steals Shaggy from me." he decided with all the finality of a boy of six.
Kyria chuckled.
"Very well, but you still have to come with me, little Lord."
He protested for some time again, but in the end, Kyria had the last word. She took him in her arms, noting his gain of height and weight, and brought him out of the kennels. Shaggydog protested when they reached the door, whining pitifully to have his master back.
"No Shaggy," she said firmly. "You stay."
The wolf whined again, tail between his legs, but didn't take another step.
"That's impressive, the control you seem to have on those beasts." said Tyrion's voice, from behind her.
"It is isn't it brother? I thought only the oldest boy could make them obey. It seems I was wrong." said another voice.
Kyria winced. And she thought she had been freed from the noisy little lord when she heard Rickon. He was even more curious than she thought.
Annoying little Lord.
When Kyria turned around, her little brother still in her arms, she found next to the said man a silhouette in golden armor. A silhouette easily recognizable.
"Ser Jaime." she bowed.
"Lady… Kyria is it?"
"It is Ser." she didn't say anything else, waiting for the knight to talk first.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what Ser?"
"Tame those beasts!" he said jovially, pointing the kennels with a negligent hand.
"Shaggy is no beast!" protested the boy still in her arms.
She hushed him without letting go of Ser Jaime's gaze.
"Aren't they?" he said back. "Giant wolves coming right from the other side of the Wall? This sound suspiciously like a beast to me little Lord," he said.
"I'm not your little lord! I'm Kyria's! Nobody calls me that!" protested the boy.
"Rickon enough." chastised Kyria with a bounce of the boy on her hip.
"But it's true!"
"I said enough! Don't you think you're in enough trouble as it is?"
That cut him right out of any protestation he could have. Rickon blushed and looked down. That done, Kyria concentrates her attention back on the knight.
"We didn't tame then Ser, as it was your question," she said. "They chose us."
"They chose you?" he repeated.
She nodded, bow to both the Lannister brothers and went to put her little brother to bed. All the way through his room she keeps thinking of the way she took her leave of those lords. They chose us… for gods sake couldn't she have found anything less cheesy than that? That was ridiculous!
She went to bed that night, ashamed of her stupidity and persuaded to have appeared as silly as her last sentence had sounded to those men. And the worst of it was that she didn't even know why it bothered her so much.
And to think she had expected that visit...
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
On the morrow, the Keep was just as agitated as if the feast was still going on. Without laughers. And the grabby hands on handmaiden's bottoms. Or at least she hoped so…
Yuck!
Lord Stark had organized a great hunt in honor of his King. All the keep wanted to participate. Hunt wasn't rare at Winterfell, but this one seemed bigger than anything ever organized. Or at least from what Kyria could remember.
They left early. The King and his heir were there, with their rich looking cloaks that seemed to be only good to slow them down. Not that she knew anything about hunts…
Also, she did know a couple of things about riding a horse with heavy fabric around her legs.
Robb, of course, came with Father, letting the rest of them entertain the two remaining royal children. It wasn't a problem, they were sweet and more agreeable than their older brother.
The hunt wasn't gone for more than a minute when both Tommen and Myrcella asked to see the wolves. Their mother wasn't anywhere to see and their assigned Kingsguard, Ser Oakhart didn't seem to mind. So Kyria and her sisters took upon themselves to show them their friends.
Rickon was with Mother, and she had no idea where Bran was.
The first step in the kennels, where the wolves were temporary kept was welcomed with five massive head excitingly turned in their direction, tails wagging and tongues rolling out of equally massive jaws.
The treat of all those small hands eager to pet them was enough to convince the five wolves to come around them in a giant puppy pile warm and lively.
"They are huge!" said Myrcella, her eyes wide open as Lady was sweetly letting her pet her soft fur.
"They are all brothers and sisters?" asked Tommen as Frost was nuzzling the hand he held for him.
The soft hair of his muzzle made the boy giggle in delight.
"They are," responded Arya proudly. "It's our brothers Robb and Jon and Bran who find them! They were tiny at first! Their eyes weren't even open."
"Were they?" asked the boy with huge eyes.
"Hum hum" nodded Arya.
She couldn't be more proud if this was about her own children…
"And were is their mother?" asked the little boy.
Kyria looked up.
"We find them against their mother's corpse," she said.
"Kyria!" protested Sansa. "this is not something you are supposed to say to a prince!"
"Why not? It is not necessary to cover the truth with a more soft thing just to prevent sensible ears. The truth will still be the truth."
"But-"
"I know death." said the little boy with a serious voice.
"Tommen," said Myrcella, like a warning.
"Joffrey killed my cat."
His words were followed by silence. Sansa looked pale. Arya frowned. And Kyria was curious. He said that before. But what did he mean?
"What do you mean my prince?" she asked softly.
Tommen looked at her when he talked. His innocent eyes were full of tears.
"He said he wanted to see the kitten inside. Before they were born. He said he was curious. So he took my cat and… he cut it. He cut her belly to look at the kitten inside. They were so small… They didn't have eyes either." explained the little boy, words strange when spoken with a voice so young. "He killed them. The mama and her babies."
"By the gods..." mumbled a voice.
Kyria barely recognized it as her own.
They didn't talk about it. After a second or two, Myrcella asked another question about the wolves, and the subject was closed.
But Kyria didn't regret asking the question. If anything else, it helped sketch Joffrey's character a bit more. Enough for Kyria to be comforted in her opinion. The boy was bad news. Bad enough to be… dangerous for the unfortunate lady who'll have to marry him.
The problem was… as things were going, this unfortunate lady was probably going to be her sweet sister, who dreams of princes and happily ever after.
If you thought this had a happy ending you've haven't been paying attention.
No, she had to do something. She had to act. She couldn't let Sansa marry this boy… The children around her continued their talk for a long time, but Kyria couldn't remember much of it.
She had too many things in her mind.
Finally, after a pointed look from Sansa, Kyria shacked her head and try to grip the conversation where it was. She had a lot of things to think of yes but now was not the time.
The afternoon could have been as nice as that, if not for Kyria's gift.
She was enjoying the princess's conversation when a cold chill run right through her back. She stopped mid-sentence.
"Kyria?"
The wolves, all rolled together in a corner were suddenly agitated.
"Kyria? Are you alright?"
She found Frost looking at her, his eyes yellow and almost knowing.
One of the wolves whined. Behind her. She looked and found Summer, looking at her with his eyes huge, white visible. There was only one reason for the white of the eyes of a wolf to be visible. He was scared.
"Summer?"
The wolf whined again. He looked behind him, then at her, and whined. Kyria blinked and heard it.
The things we do for love.
He saw us!
For Love-
I'm sorry for what I did to you
Why did you do it?
I protected my family
The things I do for love. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love.
You can't change it Kyria.
"Kyria?"
"I have to-" she said suddenly, already up on her legs.
"Kyria! Where are you going?!"
She didn't answer, she runs as fast as she could, holding awkwardly her dress up enough not to hinder her steps. One thing clear on her mind. Bran. Bran. Bran.
She had to find Bran. Little brother. Bran.
I'd rather have you walk like a wolf than fly like a bird little brother.
Bran!
Behind her, she could hear the paws of Summer, and maybe Frost too, as the wolves followed her. But she didn't turn to see them. She didn't have time. The run was long. Long and hard with her dress slipping between her hands, her lungs protesting against the effort and the cold air, her heart beating too strong, to fast. But she couldn't stop.
She had to save her brother. She had to prevent it. She could see it. As clearly as she saw the path in front of her. His little body floating in the air. Alone. Slowly falling from the high tower. Oh so high. Falling.
Bran was going to fall. She couldn't let that happen. She had to save her brother.
She could see him. So small in his large bed.
I'd rather be dead.
You can't prevent it.
Watch me she thought furiously. Watch me preventing it. I won't let my little brother suffer. Not if I have something to say about it.
I'd rather have you walk like a wolf than fly like a bird little brother.
No, he won't. You won't take him from us. You won't. I won't let you. I can't. He won't fall. He'll stay as he is, Bran, Bran Bran!
He won't fall!
Finally, she saw him. Climbing at the Broken Tower, his little members quick and agile. He was close to the top. Close to the window, attached to the piece of wood that helped build the tower so many centuries ago.
He was close, and Kyria's heart stopped. Close to the window.
He saw us!
The things I do for Love
No! Not on my watch!
She acted. Without thinking.
"BRANDON STARK!" she called with her most angry voice. "What in the Seven hells do you think you are doing!?"
The boy stilled, his hand on the plant growing through the window. Kyria's heart was almost too loud for her to hear what he was to say.
"Kyria! Don't scream like that!" he responded without looking at her.
"I scream if I want! Now answer me! What do you think you are doing up there!? Get down this instant!"
"But I almost reached the top!"
"I don't care! You promised Brandon! No more climbing! So Get. Down. Here!"
"But-"
"Now! Or I ask Frost to call the household!"
"No! If mother sees me!"
"Oh, I know! You should have thought about it before!"
Gods he was so close. He could surely hear them. Hear what she had no idea, or she didn't took time to think about it. She'll think later. About the voices, the words. Now she needed him to do as she said. He needed to go down right now.
"Please, Kyria! I'm almost at the top!"
"Don't make me say it again Bran!"
The boy looked at her then. His eyes were defiant. She challenged him with her own. Whatever it was going to take he was going to climb down this tower. Even if she had to drag him herself.
"Last chance Brandon!" she threatened.
"You won't!" he said back.
His hand moved to the window. Again, she reacted.
"Frost. Call."
"No! No, I stop! Kyria!" said the boy immediately.
But it was too late. Frost throws his head back and howled. Of course, his brother soon followed him. And the others, at the kennels.
Soon, everyone knew something was happening.
"Why did you do that!" protested the boy.
"I told you I was going to do it. Now get down, before mother see how high you are!"
"She is going to ground me anyway..." mumbled the boy.
"Because you think she couldn't have discovered it?" she responded. "Now get down!"
He didn't have a choice this time, so he starts climbing down. Once low enough not to hear whatever was happening inside the broken tower, Kyria allows herself to look up to the window.
It was quick, but something moved from it. She could have sworn for a minute she saw a white shirt.
Her heart was still beating fast when people start arriving around her. There was Ser Rodrick, and Nan, and Mother. Hodor was there too, good giant.
"Hodor!" he called, trotting to them on his thick legs.
She couldn't stop a smile from flowering on her lips. The sight of his tall silhouette eased her heart immediately. He was strong, whispered her mind, he could catch Bran if ever-
No. It wasn't happening.
Not on my watch. Not on my watch...
"Kyria what-" Mother's sentence stopped when her eyes fell on her son, still attached to the rock of the tower.
"Brandon Stark!" she exclaimed scandalized. "What do you think you are doing here?"
Oh, she could have cried her relief. He was climbing down now, he couldn't do otherwise. It was over. He didn't see, he didn't see...
What followed was to be expected. Kyria looked absent-mindedly as her mother was scolding the boy. She couldn't have been more relieved.
"What happened Kyria?" asked Sansa from behind her.
"Bran didn't keep his word," she said simply.
"What did he do?" asked the sweet voice of the princess.
Kyria smiled at her.
"He climbed the broken tower," she said.
"The tower? How did he do that?"
"He always does that," said Arya from behind them. "He climbs from every tower of the keep. The walls, the gate. Everything he can find."
"And did he ever fell?" questioned Tommen next to his sister.
"Not once," responded Kyria pride in her voice and relief in her heart. "Bran never fell. Though the wind, the rain, the storm… anything. Bran never falls."
"Impressive!" mumbled the little princess.
"It is, isn't it." smiled Sansa.
Once Bran correctly chastised by Mother and safety back in the Keep, Kyria falls against the closest wall. Her heart strong between her lungs. She did it. She prevented it. Bran didn't fall. The smile on her face was so big, for a moment he hurt her cheeks.
The things I do for love.
She did it!
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
The Hunt came back at the end of the day. Like the majority of the keep, she was there to see them coming from the gate.
Robb, proud of the game he was bringing back from the day, found his sister in the middle of the crowd, a wide smile on her face. He knew, immediately that something happened.
He waited 'til the library's door was closed to ask his question.
"What the matter?"
"I think I just prevent something to happen," she said excitingly.
Robb blinked, a shy, confused smile on the corner of his mouth.
"What do you mean? What did you-"
"Bran!" she cut him. "Bran was supposed to fall from the Broken tower today," she revealed. "Or- or be pushed I think. And I prevented it. He didn't fall."
"What?" he breathed. "Who would have pushed him? Why? He's just a little boy!"
"I'm not sure about that part," she said with hesitation. " I think… maybe he saw something he wasn't supposed to see. Something dangerous, at least for him." she said.
"But what?"
"I have no idea..." she said.
Robb sighed and looked at the holder. Kyria bites her lip.
"There was something though..." she said. "Something I've heard. While I was trying to save Bran. Something familiar."
"What is it?"
"The things I do for Love."
Robb blinked.
"Jaime Lannister?"
"I don't know. Maybe," she responded.
"But… why?"
"I don't know."
Robb sighed. She felt bad, not to be able to help more than that. But she didn't choose what to see or not. They had to deal with what they had.
Which wasn't much, unfortunately.
Anyway, that was not the subject they needed to focus on.
"But Robb, the thing is… I prevented it," she said again, smiling. "Whatever Bran was about to see, he didn't. Because I stopped him from doing so!"
"Aye… Aye, you did." he smiled too. He didn't look as happy as she was.
Maybe he didn't get it. Maybe he didn't get the situation as she did.
"Robb..." she said again, pressing her hand in his arm. "if I could do something about Bran, then maybe I can also change something else..."
"Aye, maybe..." he said. "But what if someone still wanted to harm him?"
"Why would they? He didn't see anything," she said dismissively.
She felt powerful, for the first time in her life. She could do something. She could act against those dreams, and the destiny they were caring.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Bran wasn't allowed to leave his room for the rest of the day. He was grounded. Father didn't say anything to prevent it, as he sometimes did when Mother was disciplining them. Kyria felt bad, as everybody was eating in the great hall. But in the end, she had saved her brother from a fall that could have cost him everything. If not his life, at least his dreams.
She went to see him later in the evening and found him curled under his furs. And some that didn't completely belonged to him.
"How did Summer end up here?" she asked.
Bran didn't answer. He hides his face against Summer's flank.
"Bran?"
"Go away," he responded, his face hidden.
"Bran..."
"I said go away."
She sighed. He was pissed at her.
"You're angry."
"Why did you have to call them!?" he exploded, pulling his face out of his hiding place.
"Because you weren't listening! I warned you several times to come down and you refused!"
"I was going to!"
"When? Once you reached the top?"
He blushed and looked down. She was right then. Kyria sighed again and took a careful step into the room.
"Why does that even bother you?" asked her brother. "I do it all the time! I've never fallen!"
"That's not the question Bran!"
"Then what?"
"You-" she stopped and took a deep breath. She needed to calm down. She couldn't talk while angry. "You promised Mother, remember? No more climbing while the King is here. And yet, you climb!"
"But Mother know I was lying when I promised!"
"And that makes it better?"
The boy blushed and looked down. At least he had the decency to look ashamed. Kyria hesitated, before saying the other thins she had in mind.
"Besides… Bran while you were climbing, did you hear… something inside the tower?"
He immediately looked up.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"I… Well I saw someone."
"In the tower?"
"Yes. Tell me, what did you hear?"
Bran frowned and took his time to think.
"I'm not sure what it was...I heard… I don't know whimper maybe. Like someone was hurt. And then- Breath? Like someone was running a lot."
Oh my…
"And- Did you recognize the voice maybe?"
Bran shacked his head. "No… But I'm sure one of them was a woman."
"One of them?"
He nodded again.
"There were two different breaths."
Kyria nodded. She could have bet those weren't in pain while Bran heard them. The young girl smiled at him, rub the hair from his face and told him to sleep. She arranged the fur around him and exit the room.
"Goodnight Bran."
"Goodnight sister!"
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
For a couple of days, Kyria didn't think about the incident. She was confident and with the new knowledge of her ability to change things, she starts planning. Life went on, with the King and his court, apparently determined to stay at least a fortnight. Kyria took the opportunity for what it was, an occasion to observe those new people on a place they were not familiar with. She liked to sit on a corner of the room, to look at the Queen or Baelish, or even the King or Ser Jaime. She tried to guess what was happening inside their heads. Knowledge was essential if she wanted to protect her family.
The queen was easy enough. She hated the North. She hated their castle and their wolves. Everything. More then that, she seemed to despise them. She wasn't a good queen Kyria decided as she saw her acting the way she was around her people. The northerner was not very warm to strangers. But even so, their beloved queen wasn't helping her cause. She stayed most of the time with her people. Her brothers, her children, the ladies in waiting that accompanied her everywhere and Baelish.
She found them talking several times. But never thought much of it. She wanted to look at the behaviors, not the discussions.
A mistake, she learned later.
Ser Jaime was interesting. There was something about him that bothered her. Like a mistake in his song. He often looked like he didn't care about anything. He seemed arrogant, full of himself and selfish like she rarely saw. But sometimes, when he was with his brother, or on the courtyard with the soldiers… Or every time someone was calling him Kingslayer, there was something. A tic on the jaw, a stiffness on his shoulders that made Kyria think he may care more than he wanted everyone to believe.
The King was an oaf. And a fool. He looked just as ridiculous as she thought he was the first time she saw her. There wasn't much to think of him in her opinion, also she didn't lose much time studying him. Besides she didn't want to see anything of his… daily activities.
She saw enough the night of the feast.
Baelish was the more complicated. For all the time she spends looking at him, studying his manners and the way he was behaving, she could say only one thing about him: he was in love with her mother. Or at least he was lusting after her. He was looking at her like the most delicious cake he ever saw in his life. Sometimes she was afraid to see him drooling.
Disgusting snake.
Maybe she was becoming arrogant. She thought the Old Gods might found her so. For what other reason could they have done what they did that afternoon?
Or maybe they only wanted to teach her a lesson. If so, a cruel one.
She couldn't act against destiny.
In any way, things couldn't continue like they were. She thought she was in control.
Control. Ha.
The afternoon was nice. At first. She was in the glass gardens with her sisters and their wolves. They were talking about Sansa's new favorite subject, her newfound betrothal to the crown prince and Kyria was patiently listening to her daydreaming, not without a frequent look at Arya who's patience seemed less and less able to deal with it. Then, she felt it.
This familiar cold chill that ran all through her back. She stopped right in the middle of her steps.
"Why would you even marry a boy that kills kitten Sansa!?" asked Arya with disbelief to her right.
"It's not- it doesn't mean anything about his character..." protested the redhead girl.
"Oh don't be stupid! Of course, it means something!"
"If he can kill a small animal who didn't do anything to him just so he can see what's inside, what do you think he can do to someone who angered him?" said Kyria, distracted by her pulse.
Something was wrong. She felt cold like she never did before. It wasn't that cold outside. The day was smooth like it rarely was in the North. They could even see the blue sky, without a single cloud. A beautiful day indeed. Besides, they were in the glass gardens, and those things were designed to keep the warmth inside. But still, something was wrong.
"Are you listening Kyria?" asked Sansa with something like exasperation.
"Excuse me, Sansa, I-" she sighed. "I feel strange."
"Strange? Are you ill?"
"No, I-"
Two things happened at the same time. The cold inside her was replaced by a burning heat that almost made her choke on her tongue. A heat that she had to cough out of her lungs.
And the second was a howl.
"Kyria!" exclaimed Sansa, her small hand immediately coming to support her back.
"What is it?" asked Arya behind them.
Something was wrong. Something was happening. Something wrong.
You can't prevent it, Sister.
No… No no no. She did. She prevented it. She prevented Bran from falling. She did. This couldn't happen. This couldn't be happening. She stopped it! She saved Bran! He couldn't- No no this wasn't happening. It was not possible.
This-
But she felt wrong. There was something seriously wrong happening right now!
You can't prevent it…
But I did! Screamed a part of her, in the chaos of her mind.
"Kyria?" asked Sansa again. "Kyria are you alright?"
"I- Something is wrong." she breathed.
Around them, the wolves seemed agitated. They looked around them like tracked beasts. The howl was heard again, and Nymeria responded to it.
"Nymeria!" called Arya. "Stop it!"
No. No no no no no. This couldn't happen. She refused it. It wasn't right! No! It couldn't!
"Something is wrong," said Kyria, her voice stronger.
"What? What are you saying?" responded Sansa.
"No, no, something is wrong!"
With one push, Kyria detached herself from her sister, and run out of the gardens. The wolves on her heels. The scene was painfully familiar. Except for this time there were three wolves behind them, and she didn't know where she was going. Her heartbeat was stronger than ever. She couldn't even think clearly. She was just lucid enough to put her hand in front of her when she reached the doors.
No no no no no… keep saying the voice in her mind.
She could see him falling again. His small body alone in the air. And it burned. Her chest burned. Something was wrong. Oh, something was so so very wrong! Wrong wrong wrong!
This couldn't happen!
"Kyria! Lady!"
"Nymeria!"
She ignored them. She ignored them all, her sisters, the people around her. She couldn't deal with it. She didn't have time, all of her attention was concentrated on one single thing. This feeling burning inside her. And Bran. Bran. Bran, Bran, Bran.
Bran! Screamed the voice.
She entered the courtyard, and smell it. The smell echoed to the feeling in her chest. And saw it too. The people running around, panicked, screaming at each other one single word. Again and Again.
Kyria's mind didn't get it. She heard the voiced, the word, but she didn't get it. She couldn't understand. She couldn't deal with what was said around her.
Bran, Bran Bran whispered her mind.
Soon her sisters came behind her, looking around with big worried eyes. At her first, then at the people. They talked but Kyria didn't hear. Their voices were like… smothered. As if she was listening to them from behind a door.
Someone grabbed her hand, and Kyria looked at it. The hand was large and strong. She looked up, only to find Robb's huge eyes. He looked scared. No, not scared. Panicked. Frightened.
She didn't know. Her mind didn't get it. She didn't understand.
This wasn't happening. It couldn't be.
Kyria!
He talked to her, but she didn't hear a thing.
The wolves ran past her. They ran fast. Kyria struggled against Robb's grip to follow them. Robb talked again, but she didn't hear them. All she could hear was smothered noises.
Somehow the hand let go of her wrist.
She ran out of the keep, to the back, by the North's gate.
There, close to the glass gardens, there were some barns, where the grain was kept. Or at least part of it. A great light was coming from the place. People were screaming and running around. Kyria looked at them like she was out of her own body. Like a dream.
Like one of her visions.
She took a couple of steps, and someone grabs her again.
Kyria Wait! The fire!
Kyria!
Stop her! Kyria Stop!
Fire?
Is there a fire? Was it the reason behind this great light?
But she had to keep going. She had to stop it. Stop the heat to progress any longer. The heat that was now out of her chest. The heat that had traveled elsewhere.
She had to prevent it. She had to.
Bran. She had to save Bran.
"Bran..." she breathes.
"What?" said the voice behind.
Familiar voice. Robb?
"Kyria step back!"
"No, I-"
But already the wolves were running back, howling and barking with distress. Nymeria and Frost and Lady.
And Summer.
"No."
"Kyria step back!" said Robb again.
And she noticed then, she was still trying to walk through. To come closer.
You can't prevent it, sister. You can't change anything.
But she did. She prevented it. Why did it-
Why did that happen? What… What happened?
Fire. Yes, there was a fire. A fire in the barns. And Bran…
"There's someone in there!" screamed a man close to her.
"No..."
"Help him!"
"Kyria!" called Robb.
She screamed then. Robb grabs her in his arms and try to calm her, but she still screamed. One single word before falling silent. Painful tears falling from her eyes. Tears as sharp as blades in her soul. Poisoned blades. That hurt deep inside her, leaving a mark more profound than anything she ever felt.
Tears at the sight of the burning barn, the screaming men, the agitation of the folks. The hot breath of her brother against her skull. His arms and their iron grip on her middle, circling her arms to prevent her escape.
The wolves around her howled with her scream. Summer in the middle of his litter, looking distressed. Panicked.
As powerless as she was.
Soon, the fire burns out. The people calmed down. Her tears ran out. Robb's grip weakened. But he didn't let go of her. If he had, she would have fallen.
Someone else screamed. Behind them. A familiar voice. Mother.
Hodor came out of the smoke, holding something in his giant arms. She didn't scream this time. The word had already left her mouth.
Still, Robb whispered it for her, as the good giant ran to the keep, his precious burden safely hidden to everyone's eyes, under his arms. But Kyria knew. Robb knew. The wolves knew.
Mother knew.
She didn't prevent it. She didn't prevent anything. She made things worse, by interfering. She made everything worse.
Summer howled again, the sound was sad and heartbreaking. Broken in his oh so strong throat. His pack responded, sharing the pain.
Kyria wished she could have done the same. But her voice was shut out from her reach. She already said the word.
You can't change it, sister. I have to stop being Bran Stark.
"BRAN!"
TBC.
...
Please don't hate me!
I'm sorry but I had to do something! I know it's horrible but technically I can't change Bran's fate. I needed him to become the three-eyed-raven and for that, he had to lose something.
The way I see it, to become a seer, or in this case, the Three-eyed-raven, you have to lose part of yourself. The precedent three-eyed-raven couldn't move, stuck in a Heart tree. For Bran in the original timeline, it was his legs. In my story, Kyria lost all her memories for the first years of her life in exchange for her ability to see the future. I think everyone guessed that now ^^'.
And so, to be the Three-eyed-Raven, Bran has to lose something. I won't say precisely what was his loss, because I will talk about it later.
But anyway, this was also important for Kyria directly. It is part of a lesson she needs to learn. She is very arrogant right after the Tower, and she can't allow herself to be that way. Or, well, I can't allow that XD.
This book is a lesson for Kyria. She had to learn to control her vision and to use them wisely. She can't do nothing, but she can't do everything either.
Or, if you want, it's a way for me to send a message to you readers: she is not all-powerful, she is no god just because she had clues on what might happen to her. She's human, she makes mistakes. And those mistakes cost much more than anyone else's. Because she's supposed to know better.
I'm not sure if it is very clear what I try to do there, so don't hesitate to tell me what you think of that.
As always thank you wall for reading me, commenting, and leaving kudos, I really appreciate it. I hope you liked this chapter, and I'll see you as soon as I can ^^'