NOTE: Hi guys! I'm back! Just like I promised! I'm actually very proud of myself for following my own schedule! I didn't think I could do it. I always spend a huge amount of time thinking back everything I write, editing and writing again because I'm second-guessing everything. So to be able to post this in time is a huge achievement for me!
I can't promise it will always be like that because thanks to you my wonderful readers I have a lot of changes to make to this story and it will take some time.
Speaking of you! I can't thank you enough for all the support and comments and kind words you gave me with the last chapter. I was so worried you were not going to like it, to see that you're interested in what I do and want to share with me your thought and opinion is wonderful!
Well, now I'm even more scared to disappoint xD but at least I know you liked what I did so far. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as much!
I thought a lot about everything you said, about the different points of view and everything, and I decided I will give it a try! So this chapter and the next one will still be from Kyria's perspective, but then I'll start writing from others' points of view. I have a couple of people in head already and I hope I will be able to do the end of this book with many different points of view!
Speaking of comments, here's my answer to everyone who didn't review with an account!
: Thank you, thank you;)
M: thank you so much! I'm so happy to see how much you're involving yourself in the story! It means so much! I'm relieved you don't think I go too far with Sansa it worried me as you well know ;) I'm worried about everything xD I'm happy you like the confrontation between Baelish and Kyria. I want her to be very aware of him without being able to do anything about it. I hope you'll enjoy this one!
Shade: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it! I agree about Sansa, but unfortunately, the girl is stubborn so it'll be hard for Kyria to teach her anything. It wouldn't be the same if it was easy ;). As you might have noticed I took your advice for the points of view! I'll do that in a couple of chapters! I hope you'll like this ^^
Now for this chapter, well as I said, Kyria is going to be pissed a lot from now on. She realizes she has no control over the situation and she does not know how to fix this mess. Poor girl! We also are going to deal with Ned injury and its consequences!
Hope you'll like that!
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 14: The Rolling wheel.
Year 298 after the Conquest, the eighth month.
Kingslanding.
Kyria
It was a guard that told them of the attack. Or, its details at least. The servant that informed them, one of the Stark's household, had already left, to help to attend their master. Kyria and her sisters had been left in the middle of the main room, cuddled together like puppies on the large love seat, in front of the fire. Arya was pressed against her, almost glued to her bodice, like she wanted to disappear. Sansa seemed more composed but Kyria suspected it had more to do with her desire to always be the perfect lady than a lack of feeling.
The wolves were around them in a large circle with their back on them and their attention focused on every single movement in the room. From time to time, Frost or Nymeria would let escape a low growl. A warning not to come closer.
Even though the memories of the Queen and her hate for the wolves were still fresh, Kyria was happy to have them here.
Frost growled when the guard arrived. Wearing Stark grey, he bowed to them, agitated. His face was white and sweaty and not at all comforting.
"My ladies." he started, breathless. Trembling maybe. "Your Father..."
"What happened?" asked Kyria, ignoring the trembling of his voice.
The man explained as much as he could. Kyria took it all, mouth closed and teeth pressed.
Arya protested. She screamed cried, raged with every new word coming from the man's mouth, denying half of them with a fervor truly impressive. But what could she have done?
Kyria hides her hands in her skirt, containing her anger as much as she could. Of Father...
At the mention of Father's wound, her brain had a startle. Wound, infection, disease, fever… Things were coming and going inside her head, without much of a meaning or a real sense. She knew it could be very bad. And she was useless.
Father…
She had to force Arya back on the seat at some point, for the girl looked ready to claw the guard's face out. She fought, of course, and calmed down only when the man exit the room, worn out from the trial of talking to them.
She pitied him, somehow.
Arya fell back against Kyria then, like a puppet without its strings. The new weight against her calmed Kyria and allowed her to try to gather her thought back in some kind of order.
"Oh, you poor girls!" chipped Septa Mordane, coming from the corridor with quick little steps.
For once she didn't even care about the wolves, and ran straight to them, wrapping them close to her with tenderness, not unlike a mother's.
Kyria didn't complain. As annoying as the woman sometimes was, she still raised them. And if Kyria hadn't many memories about this time, Sansa and even Arya did. She was familiar and reassuring in the sea of worries that clouded them.
"Why would Ser Jaime do such a thing!" whined Sansa on the Septa's veil.
Kyria pressed her hand. She had a bad feeling about this. Something was telling her she knew already the reason behind the knight's behavior.
"Lord Tyrion has been arrested by Lady Catelyn earlier this week."
Kyria had to stop herself from closing her eyes again. She found the man in front of Father's door, looking back at her. He looked stern. He had been the one talking.
"Mother?" asked Arya in a high pitched voice.
"But… why?" asked Sansa.
Why indeed? Because Mother didn't seem inclined to think by herself. Or thinking at all…To attack the Lions of the rock in such a way! It was stupid and dangerous! She tried to recall her discussion with her father on the matter. Someone on the Capital had told Mother that the dagger that almost killed Bran belonged to Tyrion Lannister.
But who would do such a thing? And why? Why put the country at War that way? Because that was exactly where they were going! War! How else could they call it when two of the most powerful family in all the Seven Kingdoms were at the edge of tearing each other apart?
Besides, it didn't make any sense!
From what she understood of Tyrion Lannister, he was a clever man. Father said he sends an assassin to kill Bran. He said he gave him his Valerian steel blade.
Why? Why would he do something like that? Why would a smart man give an assassin something so easily recognizable as his own? Besides, why would he want to kill Bran?
No. No, she couldn't do that. She was thinking too much. She couldn't think. Not now.
"I don't think it's something that should concern you just yet young ladies." tried Septa.
For once, she almost agreed with the old woman. Her sisters didn't need to hear that. But she was a different matter entirely. She knew it already.
Sansa didn't seem to agree also. She boldly ignored the lady. In any other circumstances, it would have amused her greatly.
"Why would Mother do something like that?" she asked, her voice as strong as she could.
"Lady Sansa-"
"I do not know why Lady Catelyn acts in such a way, my lady. I only know what I told you. That your Father and the guard had been attacked by the Kingslayer on the street. That the Kinslayer killed the guards and all the rest. And that now your Father is wounded."
Kyria closed her eyes again. Oh, gods. The guards. She didn't even start thinking about the guards! Jory! Jory had been with Father! Oh, gods Jory…
It was so much worse than she expected. Gods what a mess. How could any of this happen? Why would-
There were so many things wrong here. So many questions, so many-
Gods she couldn't do that now. She couldn't! This was too much!
"Why- Why didn't Father told us about-" tried Sansa.
She was distressed. Of course, she was. They all were. Gods they had every reason to be distressed! Even more so than what Sansa's little mind might be painting. Things were wrong, so very wrong. A wound on the thigh, a wound made by a spear in the middle of the streets with dust and dirt and- A fight and half their guards killed like pigs in the street and-
No there were too many things. Way too many. She couldn't think.
"You're too young to deal with those things my girls." started the Septa. "It is no business for-"
"OH BY THE GODS SEPTA, IT'S OUR FATHER!" snapped Kyria. "Our Father that was attacked on the street like a common thief. Our Father now wounded in this chamber because of a stupid mistake our Mother did. This is about our Family, and what they do! Of course, it's our business!"
Her outburst was met with silent stares and surprised gasp.
She couldn't. She couldn't deal with all of this. She couldn't deal with it. She couldn't think. She needed to get out of here. She couldn't breathe here.
Without anything else in her mind, Kyria dropped Arya's hand, and flee, right out of the room.
"Kyria!" someone said behind her.
She didn't care. She just had to run. Away from there. She needed time. She needed to think. She needed to understand.
It was no mystery why she ended up in the library.
She leaned against one of the enormous bookcases, just the time for her to take her breath.
Why? Why? She should have done more. Why her Father had to ignore her. She tried to warn him, to protect him. He didn't listen. Why didn't he listen? Why couldn't he listen to her? Robb did, Jon did! Why not Father?
You are his child.
That was it? Was it all she was? A child? A child trying to play a game she didn't even understand?
Losing is so easy.
Littlefinger had said something like that… But lose what? His life? No that was too obvious. This couldn't be. She didn't understand. None of it. She could only ask herself, again and again. Why? Why him? Why them?
Why all of this? Why was this happening?
"I would like to say it's a pleasure to see you again my lady, but it seemed like I arrived at the wrong time." said a voice behind her.
She turned around in a jump, quickly erasing all trace of tears in her cheeks. She hadn't even noticed she was crying.
Varys. Of course, it was Varys. The spider knew when to make an entrance. She tried to make herself presentable, as much as she could, with her puffed eyes and hairs.
"Pardon me, my Lord, what can I do for you?" she asked politely.
Manners, courtesy. Courtesy is a lady's armor Septa has said. Even with the Spider.
She had met the man - or… well, how was she even supposed to named someone without… man parts? - and as much as their short discussion about lies and court in the Throne Room had been interesting back then, it didn't explain why he would want to discuss with her in the middle of the library.
He wanted something. For what else would he come to her? Especially now, with Father attacked and cared for by the great Maester. She didn't believe in coincidences. Not here. Not with someone like Varys. Everyone knew of Varys.
She wasn't naive enough to think he didn't choose this exact instant to come to her. When she was vulnerable. With her father's attack, she couldn't have been more vulnerable.
Or maybe she could….
No. No, she couldn't think about this now. She couldn't allow herself to do that now. Not while-
No. This wasn't a good idea to think about that now. Thinking the worse would only make her feel worse.
The man looked at her, for a long minute.
"The question I think, is what can I do for you, my dear?"
Kyria blinked, taken aback. What? What did that mean? What he could do for her? But- why would he want to do anything for her? They only spoke once to one another. For a mere handful of seconds! Not even enough to comprehend their mutual characters, way of thinking or-
She was thinking this way too much. And in the wrong way.
She needed to calm down. She couldn't let her emotions overwhelm her. Not now. Not while he was in front of her talking in riddles like he likes too much to do. No, no she needed control. Control!
Think Kyria, think!
Why would a man like Varys do something like offering his help to someone like her?
Yes. Why? What could he gain from this? What could she offer him?
It didn't make any sense. He wanted something, he had too. But what? She needed more. She needed to think.
What could he want from someone like her?
Favor. Or course. He wanted favors. He collected them. How could this be otherwise? With how powerful he was in there? With all those little birds who whispered in his ears? Yes, it made sense. That was how he did it. Favors. Kindness to hide demands. Clever.
But dangerous. He couldn't be sure that she had what he wanted, whatever it was. Why would he take such a risk?
Again there was a matter of her position in this city. Currently: nothing. She was the daughter of a major house with minor influence. Nothing else.
She needed more information. She needed to concentrate. She could still cry later. Or think, or.. whatever she might want to do then. All of it could come later. Not now. Now she needed her mind and her brain. She had to put her head on this conversation. And nothing else.
Control. Deep breath Kyria. And a clear mind.
"Why would you do such a thing?" she asked slowly.
"From the kindness of my heart?" proposed the man.
She blinked. And she was supposed to believe that? Not a chance. Something must have betrayed her, her face maybe, for the man suddenly broke in a smile, clearly amused. Was he- did he just made a joke? And something she might have found funny with that!
Nothing made sense today...
"You are a smart young person, my Lady. I can see that," he said, his voice suddenly more serious. "The rest of the players in this giant board we dare calling capital knows it too."
Board? Why a board? She was missing something here. Was it about a game? Was it linked to Baelish strange words? But what game? What game could be played in the capital? Politics? Was it about politics? It had to be yes...For what else could it be when everything around here was intrigue and stab in the back.
"A board my Lord?"
He blinked.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot where you were from," he said, something in his voice almost patronizing, that made her frown. Pompous man. "A board yes. For the great game that had been played here ever since Balerion the black dread had forged the Iron Throne on Aegon's wish."
The beginning of the Seven Kingdoms then… So she had been right. Power play. The game that determined who had the power behind the Iron Throne. Or in it, depending on who sat on the bloody thing.
"A game for the Iron Throne," she said slowly.
Varys smiled. He looked like a snake.
"Precisely my Lady." he praised.
Kyria blinked. He sounded disturbingly proud. Why? Why was he happy to see her understand such a thing? He was confusing. What was his purpose?
"It does not explain why you would want to help me. I have no interest in the Iron Throne, or who might want to sit on it."
Promise me…
She blinked. She couldn't get lost now.
"Yes, I get this is no interest of yours. Not now, at least. But you are a clever young lady, a very clever one." he nodded softly. "And I am sure given the chance you could be one of the fiercest players in this game."
"I do not want to be a part of this game," she said firmly.
She wanted her family to survive. That was all that mattered for her. Family.
His face morphed into a soft, almost caring expression, not unlike the way one would look at a baby. All full of pity for the innocent child about to suffer the dark cruel world. She frowned again.
"Ah but I'm afraid you won't have a choice, my dear. When one lives in the Seven Kingdom, one is part of this game, was it as a pawn or a player." he smiled and add slowly "and I don't think someone as clever as you would be content to be treated as a pawn."
No. No, she wouldn't indeed. No one played her.
"I'd rather have nothing to do with this," she said again. "I only wish for my family to stay safe and hole."
Varys nodded with comprehension.
"While I understand the feeling, you may not have a choice in this matter."
"I had," she said back. "I had a choice. I could have stayed home. I just chose not too."
"And why is that?" he asked.
"I thought I could help my Father. I thought I could protect my sisters somehow."
"Do you still think so?"
"No. Not anymore."
Varys nodded.
"Are you sure about this?"
"What do you mean?"
"If you had no hope at all, wouldn't you be back to your home already?"
"I would never abandon my family." she snared, with a new rage she hadn't been sure to possess.
Varys hummed, rolling on the ball of his feet. He bowed to her like he wanted to share a secret. His face was still the same, but his eyes held a new expression. Something was happening in this bald head of his.
"This choice you had my dear, this is between being the pawn or the player. You chose to come into this place, knowingly I assume. Or to a certain extent at least." she nodded weakly. "this is the first step in playing the game, my dear."
She didn't answer. Her voice stuck in her throat like a bad cough.
"My offer still stands," he said, putting his hands back in his large sleeves. "If you ever need my help, I'd be happy to assist you."
"If I assist you in return." she guessed.
"Well you could say that." he smiled. "now I am not going to ask you to do some dirty task for me, my dear. I'll only ask you for a small service."
"And what would that be?" she asked.
Varys seemed to think about it.
"I guess it'll depend on the service you'll ask me."
Of course…
"I'm afraid your father engaged a really dangerous path in his quest of truth and justice. Honor can only lead him so far in places like this." said the spider, apparently eager to continue their conversation.
She could have guessed that by herself. Her father locked in a room with the Grand Maester was a pretty good clue on the matter.
"In any case, I'm afraid he could end up in a very difficult situation. I hope you'll be able to, at least protect your dear sisters."
"I'll try."
Varys nodded. The glint in his eyes was back.
Kyria felt numb. Too much was happening. Too much too fast. She needed to think. To think and to act. She couldn't wait for the next thing to happen.
Lord Varys looked at her for a moment longer, bowed politely and disappeared. In a blink, she was alone again.
Kyria stayed in the library. She couldn't say how long. When her thought traveled to her Father, still locked in his room with the Maester -or so she guessed - she went for something that might help. His or her worries, it didn't matter. She read about plants.
Medicines came form plants. Maester Luwin had told her so once. Those books didn't have much information about it, of course not. But she did learn how to stop the blood of a wound with some herbs. Or how to reduce fever. There were so many things that could help so much if one knew where to look...
She could have learned more, but the majority of her time was spent looking numbly at the tiny words on the old pages, or the drawings of the plants she was looking at.
What now?
She thought about it with the intensity of a desperate mind. But nothing came. How to deal with this mess? She had no idea. She was scared. She wanted to go home. She knew she couldn't do that. But oh how she wanted to. Just go home and forget everything.
After what felt like an eternity, Kyria went back to the Tower. She found her sisters cuddled in front of the fireplace, Lady and Nymeria wrapped around them. Without a word, Kyria took place next to them and wrapped her arms around both of their shoulders. Her head resting against Sansa's bright hair. Frost came along, nudging her elbow comfortingly.
They didn't talk. They just stayed here, worrying about their father. For hours. Septa joined them, at some point. She sat on a chair, not far. She didn't talk for once. She looked at them with her old eyes.
Kyria thought about Jory Cassel, the kind man always in her father's shadow. Sansa cried against her neck. Kyria stroked her hair gently, her eyes glued on the fire.
When you play the game of thrones, you win, or you die.
She didn't even try to blink away the words. What was the point?
They stayed here for a long time. Enough to see the night falling slowly in the sky. Arya fell asleep first. Then Sansa. She couldn't say when exactly. They just fade away like the sun in the sky. Their soft breath answering the wolves who hadn't left them one single moment.
She stayed awake though. Her eyes on the flames. Listening to the soft noises around her.
What was she supposed to do now?
Somehow, her thought stopped to be so confused. Like the cloud shadowing her mind had disappeared.
As Septa was falling asleep on her sit, behind them, Kyria's mind worked.
She already tried to warn her Father. He almost listened. Almost. That was the problem. In the end, his desire to find the truth had won the battle. If only they had just left when Father said they would. Everything would have been so much better.
But she couldn't cry on spoiled milk all her life. She needed to think. What to do now? Warning Father may work this time. Or not. He was already in deep deep troubles. And she wasn't sure that the King may let him go now. If only to rule his kingdom while he enjoyed his life. They weren't safe here, and things could only get worse now. With, the Lannister now clearly hostile, they couldn't just stay here.
They needed to go.
Biting her lip, Kyria looked down at her sleeping redhead sister. There was one problem with this plan...
Sansa was still the prince's betrothed. The King or even the Queen would never let her go.
As the night slowly progressed, Kyria wondered if the had lost their chance to escape when Father accepted to follow Baelish…
Gods she hoped not.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
She didn't sleep that night.
When the sun pierced through the night, behind the dark line that Kyria guessed was Essos, she asked one of the guards to help her put her sisters in her room.
Thanks to the gods for small mercies. One short hour later, the Queen and the King entered their apartments. She didn't even try. She stayed on the floor, her back against the door, and she listened to the voices. The Queen's was harsh and slow. The King was loud and angry. She heard Sara too, and Jenny. Maerys and Septa Mordane. She heard one of the guards. Then a door opened. Father room she guessed.
Her eyes stayed on her sisters, curled on the bed, Lady's large form displayed around them. Her flank serving as a soft pillow for their head. Nymeria and Frost were on the floor, their head low. She wondered if they could feel the vibration of the foot walking around the rooms.
Was it why they stayed like that? They looked attentive. On their guards.
Maybe he felt her gaze, for Frost looked at her, his eyes bright and smart. She smiled at him.
"Good boy," she said softly.
His tail twitched on his back. He wiggled a little, turning his body so he could look at her. Kyria's smile grew. She held a hand.
One heartbeat later, he had his head against her belly, whining softly for her affection. She hushed him sweetly.
"Yes, yes you're my good boy." she said. "you're protecting your back. That's good, that's my boy."
He whined again and licked her fingers.
Both Sansa and Arya stayed blissfully asleep, unaware of what was happening around them. Both girls stayed blissfully asleep all the way through. Nymeria climbed her bed and wrapped herself around little Arya. Her fur seemed to swallow her whole.
"Your grace-"
"It doesn't matter. Where are those girls?"
"They are sleeping, your grace. Their Father-"
"Attacked my brother. Their family attacked my brothers. I don't care if they are sleeping or not, where are they?!"
The Queen…
On her knee, Frost growled slowly.
"Shh, it's alright, boy. It's alright," she whispered.
She wanted to see them. Why?
For one wonderful second, Kyria portrayed herself running to the bed and burying herself under the bedsheet and hope to disappear. But it would have been properly ridiculous to do so. For once it would have woken her sisters who needed their rest. And even so, by the time she would have reached the bed, the Queen would have seen her move.
No, the idea was stupid.
Besides, Cersei didn't seem to be the kind of women to just let go if she found them asleep. She would wake them up. The three of them.
No, she didn't want her sisters confronted with her. She had to do this alone.
Don't talk angry Kyria. Don't talk angry.
Kyria took a deep breath and removed herself from the door. Frost followed her, his flank glued to her hip, head low, ears straight on his head, listening. She took a step back, then another. One of her hand nervously went through her hair, in a vain attempt to smooth the mess of her sleepless night.
She didn't dare turn to the mirror, to scared of what she might see in it. She couldn't in any way form or shape look even slightly presentable.
But she didn't have time to do anything about it. Already the door was opening on the soft green sleeve of the Queen's dress.
Taking a deep breath, Kyria went to the door, one of her hand anxiously grabbing the fur on Frost's back.
Nothing happened. At first. She stood here, glorious and magnificent in the light of the day glowing on her back. An angry mark was slowly spreading on her cheek, vivid and painful.
Kyria's eyes stayed on it, not sure what to think of it. Did someone hit the queen? But who would-
Green eyes burned against her skin and Kyria stopped her thought. Whoever did that, it would do her no good to think of it now.
"Your grace" she bowed.
The woman didn't talk. Her eyes traveled on her face, her dress, the wolf next to her. There was anger in them. Cold anger, that chilled her to her bones. Kyria's heart was beating fast inside her chest, like a drum, that shacked all her body with apprehension.
It was impressive, to look at this woman, so soft and beautiful looking, and to feel so small. She wasn't even taller than Kyria herself. Or maybe of an inch. But there was something in the way she stood, the angle of her chin, the curve of her shoulders, sprayed back behind her. Bosom blooming with all the grace of a woman aware of her beauty.
She would have been a wonder if not for those eyes. Kyria was terrified by those green eyes. Of course, she knew she had to be careful around her. She was Cersei Lannister. The last name by itself was a good reason to be careful. Everyone knew about Tywin Lannister and his power on the entire Kingdoms. But there was something with the woman herself, that made her want to shrink in a corner and pray she might forget her presence. This woman terrified her.
The Queen's cold gaze traveled from her to the bed where her sisters were still sound asleep, surrounded by their wolves.
Then, she opened her mouth.
"You have fierce protectors here." she contemplated. Her soft voice caressing the air around her. "those wolves seemed devoted to you in particular. Have you asked them to protect your sisters from anyone entering this room?"
Kyria blinked. She didn't expect that. She took her time to answer.
"Lady and Nymeria are my sisters' familiars," she said softly.
"Are they?" said back the queen. "But they obey you too don't they?"
"They listen to every Stark child your grace." said Kyria. "we trained them together."
The Queen hummed pensively. She looked from the bed to Kyria, passing everything on the way, examining it. Her gaze was intense, and burning with a fire Kyria couldn't name. How could something so cold burn so high?
"Do you know what your father did little girl?" she asked, her voice syrupy.
Again, Kyria took her time to answer. The tone in the Queen's voice had changed. She was getting to the point. She was there for what she was about to say.
"My father doesn't tell me much about what he does your grace."
"Yes… Yes, I suppose he does." concede the Queen. "Why would he after all? You are his little girl."
Her eyes felt heavy on her, and Kyria would have loved to be able to hide behind her wolf. The tension was growing in the room. The air, difficult to breathe, suffocating.
She had to be careful. To think carefully every single word she spoke to this woman.
My sister won't forget what happened.
She could still hear Ser Jaime's voice in her mind. How serious he had sounded that day, displayed on his fallen tree like the golden beast he was.
He had been right of course. Cersei didn't like people to talk back to her or her precious son. And Kyria had done both back then. But she didn't think about it until now. The queen liked to pay her debts like every other Lannister.
"You think you are so very smart aren't you?"
Kyria blinked. The woman didn't seem bothered with her confused look. She wasn't even really looking at her. It didn't feel like it. Her eyes traveled past her. Like she wasn't even there to begin with. What a strange sensation…
And that voice… Soft and incredibly threatening.
"You and your family. You think you are so clever, so brave, so… honorable. Aren't you?" her nose twisted in an ugly frown, erasing for a second the beauty of her face. "So arrogant. All of you. Judging us with your perfect family, perfect life, perfect moral."
There was something twisted inside the Queen. It seemed to be more torn and changed with every word.
"Your grace?" tried Kyria.
The queen didn't let her talk. Her eyes snapped back at Kyria with all her intensity. The girl jumped. The green eyes blinked and her face was smooth again.
"Perfection..." she said again. "What a strange thing it is. Everyone is after it. kings knight, Lords. They are all looking for perfection. In their wives, their keeps, their lands. But no one can obtain it." The Queen's hand twitched. "Perfection is a vain quest for everyone who does not already have it."
Kyria blinked. This was a strange speech. She didn't have time to think about it. Already, the queen was talking again.
"I don't like you," she said, shrugging like it was no big deal.
Maybe for her, it wasn't. Kyria wouldn't have cared if she was anyone else. But form the queen, it couldn't be good. Something felt wrong in the way she said it.
"You and your family. You have this terrible habit to judge your betters. I feel it every time your little eyes look at me. You don't like us, and you don't even care to hide it. Your little savage of a sister is the same. Dear Sansa seems to be the only one smart enough to know who to bow to." she smiled. "but then again, maybe it is because she does not fancy herself smart."
Kyria gritter her teeth, hearing the insults where they were.
"I don't like you," said the Queen again, "And I know you are aware of that. You may not be as smart as you think you are, but you're not stupid either. I won't bother trying to convince you otherwise. You're an arrogant little girl. So sure of her cleverness, of the superiority of her mind. Just because no one ever told you otherwise in this cold land of yours." she snared "My brother is like that too, the little beast." her poisoned green eyes went back on her. "You remind me of him. You're not as ugly of course, it would be difficult to achieve. But you have the same way of observing everyone around you like you were better." she frowned. The expression of her face was almost caring. Completely different from the light in her eyes, full of wrath. "But you're not. I want you to know that."
If she didn't know better, Kyria would have thought this was a bit of advice, rather than the threat she could hear under the calm surface of the queen's even voice. She observed her again for a long minute. Kyria's hand pressed again on Frost's fur. The wolf nudged her thigh in response. The gods blessed Frost. Her faithful friend.
"I could almost admire you. You're a brave little girl." said the Queen. "It was a bold move to come to the tourney with blue flowers in your hair. You do know what happened to the last Stark girl with blue flowers in her hair."
Kyria frowned. Something with the way she was saying it wasn't right. The words and the tone of the voice. It felt like… she couldn't say how it felt she didn't know how. But there was something here.
The only thing she knew for sure, was the words that came out of the Queen's mouth, and the quick beat of her heart. She didn't talk. She couldn't. Even if she had something to say she couldn't have talked.
Power… Power is power. Power is everything. Whispered her mind.
Power… The queen had power now. Kyria did not. That was it. That was what was truly dangerous. For her, for her family. Power.
"I don't like being mocked. Especially by a little girl like you. And you seem to enjoy doing just that." Cersei said finally. Kyria had to blink the panic away. Lady... "And I don't like being mocked by your father either. A man who attacks my brother in front of a brothel is useless in this city. Tell your father to watch his steps from now on, will you little girl?"
Kyria's mouth tasted like ashes. She nodded, numbly.
Finally, the queen smiled. It was scarier than anything else she might have said in this instant.
"Perfect. Good day then, little girl."
Then she was gone, leaving Kyria alone with her fears. Her leg gave up. Frost came to her immediately, like the always faithful guardian he was. She curled around his head, trying desperately to remain calm. Trying to ignore the erratic beat of her heart.
The queen had been clear. Kyria was nothing here. She had no power. Cersei had power. She had had all the time in the world to place her pawns on the board. Father had not.
When one lives in the Seven Kingdom, one is part of this game, was it as a pawn or a player.
She had no pawns, no power, nothing. The Queen wanted her father gone. Kyria was scared she might want him gone for good. One way or another.
This was bad. Oh, this was so so bad. Even worse than she first thought.
"Kyria?" called a sleepy voice.
Immediately, she straightened her back, looking at the puffed face of Arya, still confused by sleep. Kyria tried to smile.
"It's alright Arya, go back to sleep."
"How is Father?" she asked instead.
Stubborn little thing.
"I don't know," she answered because she did.
There was so much to think about.
"Do you… do you think he'll be alright?" she asked still.
"I don't know Arya."
What else could she say?
She knew nothing.
Oh, this is so bad...
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
It took a couple of days for Father to even walk out of his bed. Sansa and Arya both went to see him several times. They were worried. For him mostly. But the sadness of Jory's loss was heavy on their shoulders.
Kyria didn't come with them. She couldn't face her father now. She was too angry.
She warned him, begged him to leave, to ignore Baelish and whatever it was he had to show him. But Father didn't listen. And now he was hurt.
She was afraid of what she might say once in front of her father. There were so many things she wanted to say, none of them were nice.
She blamed him. She blamed him for getting hurt and she couldn't deny that. As bad as it sounded she blamed him. She was still enough in control of herself and her emotions to know that she needed to seriously think about all of this before she could even think about talking to Father.
Unfortunately, she didn't have the time for that.
A couple of small days after Father's attack, the King went to a hunt that was supposed to last for days. He asked Father to rule in his place for the time of the hunt.
Kyria cried that night, her last hope of leaving the place soon slipped out of her hands with the King's hunt. She wondered, on the morrow if he had planned it this way so Father couldn't leave him.
It didn't matter. Not healed, and still, in pain, Father sat on the Iron throne and ruled his friend Kingdom.
Sansa, Arya and herself went to court one afternoon, to see it happening. For the first time in her life, Kyria saw weakness when looking at her Father. He seemed small, unease and painfully awkward, as he sat on the Iron Throne. The bloody thing seemed ready to swallow him all with one swing of her still so sharp teeth.
She didn't like seeing him on it. The large shadow of the swords made her shiver for a long moment after she left the room.
She dreamed of the rolling head again that day. The swing of the sword made her scream for the first time since she arrived at court, scaring Maerys and a couple of guards to death.
Sansa and Arya's eyes followed her all day. She didn't even try to talk about it. Words turned ashes in her mouth.
It made her realized, that for some of the nights she spent here, she hadn't dream. She wondered why. Part of her hoped it was because her presence South was changing things, but she wasn't so hopeful anymore. It had probably more to do with the absence of the old Gods that far south. She spends a long time thinking about it in the Godswood of the Keep.
"Are you alright Kyria?" asked Sansa softly.
One of Kyria's hands caressed her cheek without answering. Her smile tight and sad. They hugged for a moment, but Kyria never answered. She didn't want to lie to her. She couldn't.
Because she didn't know what else to do, she spends more and more time in the Library. Every day she would lock herself in a book, and swallow every information she could find that could potentially be useful. Anything she could think of. She was out of ideas, out of time and she needed to do something. So she tried to prepare.
But what could she prepare herself for now?
The Library had the advantage to be deserted by… unwanted presence most of the time.
She did cross Varys once or twice in a corridor. He bowed politely every time they did. She didn't like it, but at least he hadn't tried to speak to her again.
Maybe he was waiting? Waiting for her to come to him. She didn't like the idea that she might do just so someday. Sooner or later.
She was buried in a book when it happened.
"Kyria..."
There. Now she had to deal with her repressed emotions. Of course, she had. Why would she be able to think by herself for more than a couple of days when her father stupidly went and had himself stabbed in the leg? Because he was stupid. Or prideful. Or whatever.
Being stupid was another privilege of the male population.
Everything she had tried to lock up inside her, all her anger, her frustration at the situation, her fear at what might happen to them now, it all popped in her belly, like soap bubbles, liberating a fury she didn't know how to contain. Her fingers were trembling against the book when she spoke.
"Father..."
She didn't remember having ever talked to someone with such a cold voice. Even when she was angry at her brothers back home. She didn't remember having ever been that angry in her life.
Father sighed. He carefully sat in front of her and waited for her attention. She lasted two full minutes before the man's gaze became too much for her, and she had to abandon her book.
"Would you come with me back in the tower?" he asked, his voice soft.
"Why?"
"I want to talk to my daughter without the risk of people eavesdropping," he said easily.
Oh. So he could learn. She was impressed. Better late then never she supposed.
Maybe this was unfair to her oh so honorable father, but she was pissed. She had every right to be unfair. Particularly in her thoughts.
With a repressed sigh blocked in her throat, she nodded and followed him out of the library. On the way to the Tower of the Hand, she looked at the cane in his hand and his painful face. Part of her was tempted to let him suffer his slow walk, but in the end, she couldn't. He was still Father. And he was hurt. So she grabbed his harm, allowing him to support himself with her help. He smiled, tensed and pressed her arm. She tried to ignore her need to drop him. She couldn't be that cruel.
Could she?
They didn't talk on the way to the tower. There was something heavy in the air around them. It made her heart beat faster. She could almost taste it.
The sight of Frost, lazily displayed in the main room warmed her heart. At least she could still count on him.
"Good boy," she breathed, scratching his massive head.
"Kyria."
Kyria sighed and looked back at her Father's face. He sat in the large chair close to the fireplace and motioned her to come closer. She did it reluctantly.
"You are angry with me," he said, more a statement than a question.
Well, well Father, aren't you clever? She thought spitefully.
"I am," she said coolly.
"Would you explain to me why?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
Her voice broke on the last word.
Even weak and tired by his leg, he was intimidating. If not for those lines on his face, Kyria could have portrayed him back home, in the main Hall of Winterfell, lecturing Robb on something. Or talking with them in the Godswood.
She closed her eyes, aware of the moisture building itself inside them. Oh, how she missed those times. And to think she used to be impatient for things to change back home…
Foolish child.
"Tell me. What troubles you."
" Why should I even try to?" Gods she was so angry! " It's not like you listen what I have to say." she spat. It was impolite and very unladylike to speak to her Father that way but she couldn't help herself.
He didn't listen. He didn't listen and now he was hurt the stupid fool! Stupid stubborn man!
"I told you to be careful. I told you not to go, not to trust Littlefinger. I told you you could talk to me, to share your burden with me. And you didn't listen. You didn't listen and you- you could have been killed, Father! What would have happened then? To Mother, to Robb, to us?!"
"Kyria-"
"No! I tried! I tried to talk to you, for days. To make you listen. To- Why am I the only one here who seems to truly feel the danger of this place! I'm the only one who can see how bad it could turn, how hostile everyone is around us, and had been since the minute we left Winterfell! And every day it becomes worse! Our handmaidens are spying on us! You've been attacked! Half the guards we brought here are dead! Jory is dead! And you still don't listen!"
Why can't he listen to her?
She didn't notice she was crying until her father drags her closer to him, to wrap her arm around her. She wept a moment against his shoulder, not hearing what he was saying against the crown of her head.
It was almost too easy for him. He held her a moment, and she felt the anger disappear. She took a deep breath and lost herself in the warmth of his embrace, the closeness she felt with him. It was just like at home. Just like that day. The first day of her life.
If she closed her eyes, she could almost see the grey walls of her room, the cold air of the North, the warmth of the fur in her bed. Like this night, so long ago, the night she dreamed for the first time.
Maybe that was what she had to do. Maybe that was what she needed to do. Maybe she still had a card in her game. Maybe then he would listen. Maybe then he would start to be careful.
Maybe…
"It's going to be alright my girl..." shushed Father.
She sniffed, her eyes closed against the fabric of his tunic. He wasn't wearing his leather one today. Something rare enough to be mentioned recently… He must feel threatened since the attack after all.
"Father..." she mumbled. "do you remember? The night after my fall?"
"Yes." he nodded softly, his chin against her head. She felt some of her hair scratching against his beard.
"Do you remember? My nightmare… you came to comfort me."
"Yes, I remember."
"I remember it too," she said. Of course, she did.
"I never told you what was my dream," she whispered.
"You didn't have to."
"I do now," she said.
She did if that could make him listen. It was the only thing she could do now. She took a deep breath.
"I'm in the middle of a crowd. Full of white silhouette, faceless. Like sheep. All around me. All blinds, voiceless. But they scream." she started.
"What did they scream?" he asked softly.
"Traitor."
His arms around her stiffed. Good. She had his attention now. Ignoring the harsh beat of her heart inside her chest, she continued.
"They don't see me. They don't hear me. But when they start moving, they push me with them. They push and push and push until I'm thrown into something. A platform. A rock. Stairs. I don't know what it is. But I fall against it. There are other people. Silhouettes. There is color in them. And in the middle of it, there's someone on their knees. One of the silhouettes talk. I don't hear everything. But I hear some of it,"
"What do you hear?"
"Bring me his head."
He didn't say anything. Kyria took a deep breath.
"Then," she continued. "someone cut a head. And it roll, and roll, and roll, again and again. And the sun is burning my eyes but I can still see it rolling. Until it stops. Right on my feet. And the features are facing me. And I can see his face."
Her hand gripped his shoulder.
"It's your face," she concludes.
She waited for his reaction.
Father kept holding her without a word, not caring to hold the majority of her weight in his legs, the good one as the injured.
"It was only a dream," he said finally.
The tone of his voice was different. She couldn't say how. Frightened maybe… Or was she overthinking this…? She couldn't say. But she knew what to answer her father.
"I thought so too, at first. But then I had other dreams. Of other scenes, places, words… things I couldn't know, words I couldn't guess. And then, the King went to Winterfell. And I knew." she took the time to breathe before she continued. "I knew what he was going to ask you, the day you announced the King's arrival."
"There wasn't any reason for the King to come so far North, especially with the previous Hand dead," he answered.
It was pointless. But she had to keep going.
"Aye. But how could I know Bran was going to fall from the Broken Tower? How could I know he was about to see something he shouldn't see."
He stopped breathing then. For one moment, Lord Stark sat completely still.
"What do you mean?"
Kyria sighed and left her father's arms. The position was uncomfortable, for her and certainly for him too.
She sat on the chair next to him, her hand still in his large palm. Like this time, so long ago, her eyes found the tip of his fingers, flat and short, as someone cut them as they grew. The skin was hard and thick. From years and years yielding a long sword.
"Kyria, what do you mean by that?"
"A couple of days before… before the fire, Bran was climbing the broken Tower." she started. "I was in the kennels, with Sansa, Arya, and the royal children, and I knew. I knew something was about to happen. So I ran. I ran as fast as I could, toward the broken tower. Bran was climbing. He was close to the window, and I knew I had to stop him. He couldn't reach the window. He had to climb down before. I can't- I don't even know how I knew, but I did. I called everyone. Mother punished Bran, and for a second, I saw something on the window of the broken tower. White fabric. A shirt. Moving out of my sight before I could see the face attached to it."
Ned didn't talk. He looked at her hand, so small in his large palm. He gently stroke her knuckle, watching the thin skin move with the hard skin of his thumb.
Finally, he opened his mouth.
"How can you be so sure that what you see, what you dream, are not just dreams? They could be dreams. Nothing else."
"Dreams that I make every single night since this first one. Some I made for weeks, every night, the exact same. I knew Littlefinger's voice, the Queen's voice, Ser Jaime's voice before I even met them because I dreamed about it. I knew we were going to have wolves before Robb put Frost in my arms."
She could continue like that, but Father pressed her fingers.
"Kyria," he said carefully "I understand that you think those things are true. But Kyria, you can't be sure. Maybe they are just that: dreams."
"If they were just dreams Bran would have fallen from the broken tower and lost his legs! Both of them!" she snapped back, suddenly standing. "Father you have to listen to me! I tried to talk to you, several times, Baelish came to threaten us, the Queen threatened me! Varys came to me to warn us! People keep coming to me to ask me to talk to you."
"It is not your place to deal with those people."
"Even if it's not, that's what I'm doing! I beg you Father, listen to me this time."
Lord Stark sighed.
"I'm not even sure what you are saying."
She kneels at her father's feet, ready to beg, as she said she was doing. She grabbed both his hands and brought them close to her. Anything to catch his attention. Anything to make him understand how serious was the situation.
"Father, I beg you, whatever you are doing, whatever you are searching around the Lannister's business, stop it. Stop it and bring us back home. Where we're safe."
"Kyria..."
"Please Father." she cut him. "Please, listen to me. I never asked you anything. Not once. But now, I ask you. I beg you. Take us home. Take us all back home and leave the Lannister at their business."
"Kyria." he stopped her this time, his voice louder. "I can't do that. I am the Hand of the King. I need to assist the King in every way I know. I can't just leave."
"You can! You can if you want too!"
"No, Kyria, I can't. Listen to me," he asked. "The King is at away hunting. It is my duty as Hand of the King to rule in his place while he is away. Do you understand that? I can't leave now. Besides, Sansa is betrothed to the Prince. And no matter what I think of him, I can't just break a contract like that with no reason whatsoever."
"But-"
"No, Kyria, I can't do that. I gave my word to the King, to help him in this dreadful place. I won't go back on my word of honor. Especially when I gave it to my King and oldest friend."
"Father I beg you-"
"I will," he cut her, "however, try to be more careful. If it can ease your worries. But I won't give up my word, my honor for this place. It's too important."
Kyria opened her mouth, to protest, to try to change his mind. To do anything! But he was decided. He was decided to stay and to fulfill his duties. Anger grows inside her chest, hot and painful. Her eyes were burning with hot tears, of powerlessness, helplessness.
He wasn't listening. Foolish stupid man! Why couldn't he listen to her? Just once! Once!
" Damned your bloody honor! It didn't prevent Jon! It didn't stop me from falling! It didn't save Bran! Why do you chose to be honorable when we are in danger?! Why do you choose it over us?! What do you want to prove?!"
"Kyria!"
"No! You'll lose your head if you keep doing what you do here father!" she cried finally, found her words.
"Kyria, as hard as it is, I am doing the right thing. It is what matters the most."
"We should be what matters the most! Me, Arya, Sansa! We should be your priority! Not this place, not your friend! Not this stupid quest of- whatever it is you are doing. Us! Your honor won't keep your head on your shoulders! Not here! We are not in the North! It's not because you are honorable that everyone else is going to do you the same courtesy!"
"Kyria doesn't talk to me like that I am still your Father," he growled.
"For how long? How long until you do the next stupid thing and get yourself killed?!"
"Kyria no one is going to kill me."
"If you think that then you are the biggest fool than what I thought. And you are damning us all."
"Kyria-"
She left before he could finish. She didn't want to hear it make his excuses. Her heart fast and painful in her chest. He didn't listen. She tried, she tried again, and again. But he still didn't listen! Why? What was the point in all this? Why was she the only one who saw, who saw how dangerous this place was for them? She could feel it, taste it. Behind the smell, behind the silk of the dresses, behind the gardens, the tall rooms, the even taller towers, and the majesty of the keep, she could feel it. The danger.
It made her sick.
And Father knew, she told him! He knew! And he didn't listen. He ignored it, dismissed it! He wanted to stay, to help his big oaf of a friend and for what?! What was so important that made him put them all in danger?! He said it himself! Family first! Always first! But he still didn't listen!
Stupid man! Stupid stubborn prideful man!
Gods, why couldn't he listen to her? Why couldn't she do anything? Why did she have to see her father make all those mistakes without being able to act on it… If only she was born a boy. If only she was like Robb. Then maybe Father would have taken her words more seriously.
Stupid man...
"Kyria? Is everything alright? Why does Father look so upset?"
Kyria sighed, a hand against her eyes. With a movement from her other hand, she allowed her sister to enter her room. The little girl climbed in the large bed, in front of her big sister, twisting her head to try to catch her eyes.
"What is it? Are you alright?" she asked again.
Kyria sighed and dropped her hand.
"I'm tired, Arya."
"Of what? Is it because of your fight with Father?"
She wanted to be surprised the girl knew that. But Arya had become very good at sneaking behind peoples. She was walking more silently every day. She sighed again.
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Kyria only hesitated a minute before answering.
"He refused to listen to me. I warned him, several times, about this place and the Queen, the Prince, everything. But he doesn't listen. He wants to stay here, even though he knows how dangerous it is."
"You want to go home?" asked Arya.
"And you don't?" she asked back.
Arya shrugged her nose twisted.
"I liked it here. We can spend our days together, training with Syrio without Mother's disapproval. And the place is big enough to help us with our training. I spend a lot of time chasing the cats around the keep."
"The prince's cats?" asked Kyria with interest.
Arya thought about it.
"I don't think so… I think they are wild. They don't like it when I catch them."
"You do?"
Arya nodded proudly.
"You should try too. Catching cats help a lot if you want to be silent and quick. It's essential for a water dancer. Syrio said so."
Kyria huffed a smile, a part of her seriously considering the option. Maybe that could help. If they were about to meet the queen's anger or the lion's fury, then stealth may be of help.
Maybe.
Suddenly, an idea pierced her mind.
"Arya… you've become very silent aren't you?" she asked softly.
Arya nodded. Kyria pulled herself up with her elbows.
"I need your help then."
"For what?"
"Father refuses to talk to me. He doesn't want to say what is so important for him here that keep him from going home." she started. " He had been attacked already, and other people came to me -to me!- to threatened us."
"What? Why? Who?"
"The Queen, Littlefinger, Varys..."
"Who's Varys?" frowned the girl.
"The Master of Whispers."
The little nose wrinkled without recognition. Kyria snorted and brushed her hair out of her face. She needed to tie them back up...
"Why would someone like that threaten you? You didn't do a thing!"
"Because they have spies everywhere." she said with exasperation. "the three of them. They have ears in all the rooms, with everyone and everything. Why do you think we had new handmaidens when we arrived here? Who do you think they report to?"
Arya frowned, thinking carefully at all this information.
"They are spying on us?"
"They are spying on everyone," answered Kyria.
"But why?"
Kyria sighed.
"Do you remember what I said on the road? And the night of the feast?"
"About Kingslanding being different from home, yes I know." Arya rolled her eyes.
Kyria had spent a lot of time reminding her that. Maybe too much?
"That was what I talked about," she said seriously. "Father is looking at something he shouldn't. Something dangerous. For the Crown, for the Queen...Something he shouldn't be looking at. Everyone knows what he is doing because everyone is spying on everyone else."
"That's why you are asking me to spy on others..." said Arya slowly.
Kyria nodded. She couldn't deny it after all.
"I don't like it." said the little girl.
Kyria winced.
"I don't want to spy on people. It's not right."
"Because you never spied back home? When Robb and Jon were training Bran?"
She was manipulating her little sister and she knew it. But she desperately needed more information. It was the only way she knew. She didn't trust anyone else.
"Father doesn't want to go home, even though he knows this place is dangerous for us. I have to find a way to protect us all." she tried to explain.
"Why do you want to protect us? Father is protecting us."
"Not as much as we need to."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know Arya!" she said pressing her hand on her forehead.
She was tired of all of this.
Arya's frown, of course, didn't ease up. With another sigh, she grabbed the girl's hand.
"I don't like this place." she confessed softly. "it does strange things to everyone around."
"What things ?"
"Look at Father's sister… I don't like what this place is doing to him."
Arya didn't answer. She seemed pensive, her eyes on their joined hands.
"Will you help me?"
She kept frowning, not convinced. Kyria bites her lips.
"I don't like it."
"I know. I wouldn't ask this to you if I had another choice. I don't trust anyone else with this Arya."
She thought about it a moment longer. Kyria anxiously waited.
"Alright. If I hear something, I'll tell you".
"Thank you, Arya. That's all I ask."
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-GOT-oOoOoOoOoOoOoO
The following days, Kyria tried to be patient. She knew her little sister didn't like her idea. She had agreed only for her. If she even started harassing her for answer Arya would close up to anything coming from Kyria. She knew it.
So she waited.
Until one afternoon, as she was slowly walking in the Godswood, watching the wolves as they took their daily breath of fresh-ish- air. Arya silently sneaked up right behind her sister, scaring her nearly to an early grave.
"Kyria," she said softly.
Kyria jumped.
"Arya! Don't do that to me!" she chastised a hand on her heart.
"You asked me to be discreet!" protested the little girl.
"Not with me!" she said back. "you don't want to spy on me too do you?"
Arya huffed and took a step closer. Nymeria immediately came to her, enthusiastically showing her little mistress the happiness her presence gave her. The oldest girl waited patiently for both of them to greet the other.
"I heard something today." said the little with a slow, soft voice.
"Did you?" said back Kyria, sitting on the floor.
She arranged softly her skirt around her legs while Arya gathered her thoughts.
"I was chasing cats inside the keep. Kitchen cats." she said. "and I found the Queen and Joff. They were talking."
"What were they talking about?"
"The Queen doesn't like Father. Or any of us," said Arya. "she said that to Joffrey. The Stark is the enemy."
Enemy? Seriously?
Well, they certainly weren't friendly, but to call them enemy while they didn't do anything against them was harsh…
"' Everyone who isn't us is the enemy' she said."
"What a delighted way of thinking," said Kyria with a dry voice.
Arya snorted.
"She said something else though."
Kyria blinked.
"She talked about Sansa. She said the little dove was stupid and naive. She said Joffrey needed to win her and turn her against us, so they could make Father fail."
"Fail what?"
Arya shrugged, displeased.
"I don't like how they talk about Sansa."
Kyria stayed silent, attentive.
"They call her stupid. She's not."
"You do it too. Often."
"I'm her sister!" she protested "I am allowed to call her stupid! I am allowed to call you stupid too!"
"Of course." smiled Kyria with humor.
Arya pushed her shoulder, sitting next to her.
"What do they want with us? Why the Queen wants to make Father fail?"
"I don't know Arya. That's why we need to know what the Queen thinks." said Kyria seriously.
Arya sighed and looked back at Nymeria, who, tired of her mistress's petting had gone back to chasing her sister energetically.
"I don't understand. If she doesn't like us, why won't she just let us go home?"
"Because it's not just that she doesn't like us, Arya. She sees us as an enemy. And do you know what they said about friends and enemies?"
Arya shacked her head. Kyria had to repress a moan. Why was it always her who had to teach them things? She was older yes, but still… couldn't they read from time to time?
"Keep your friend close, but your enemies closer."
Arya blinked.
"It means that the Queen wants us there, so if she has to… deal with the problem, it'll be easier for her."
Arya blinked again, her face twisted in a frown.
"She wants to kill us?"
"She might want just that someday."
Or even worse...
"Is that why you asked me to spy?" asked the girl.
Kyria smiled.
"The Queen is not the only one who can play this game."
Arya snorted.
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It didn't take more than a couple of hours for Kyria and Arya to understand what this conversation was about.
When they entered the large common room of the tower of the hand, Sansa was prettily displayed in the middle, proudly wearing a sparkling necklace, of pure gold. With a lion. Right between her clavicles.
A golden Lion on a Stark daughter. Kyria felt the blood leave her cheeks. That wasn't subtle at all. Even a collar with a leash couldn't have been more obvious.
"Kyria! Arya! Come look!" she chipped happily.
They just had the time to sit on their respective chairs, that already the girl was putting her new jewel right under their nose, singing about her betrothal, the gallant Prince, and how handsome he was, how sweet he had been when he put this on her neck.
To Kyria's sharp eyes, the thing was a collar. Something you put on a pet to keep it close. Seriously disgusting.
"When did he gave you this?"
"This afternoon, while you were away! Oh if you could have seen this Kyria! He was so sweet! He called me his lady! He said I was his lady, from this day until his last day!" she sighed dreamily. "it's just like in the songs Kyria. I couldn't be happier to marry such a man."
Arya opened her mouth, ready to protest for sure. A sharp tug on her arm stopped her. She looked indignant, but Kyria silenced her with one look. This wasn't the time. They couldn't anger Sansa against them now. They needed to stay close now more than ever.
No matter how foolish her empty-headed sister was acting right now.
She continued her happy chipping for a good part of the evening. When Father came back, however, her attention went completely on him. As it usually was since his attack. She helped him sit and stayed close. Sansa had been very affected by Father's wound. More than Arya and Kyria.
It was moments like this that helped Kyria seeing the potential of her little sister. If only someone could burst her bubble of happiness.
Later that night, when everyone was safely back into their bed, Arya slowly sneak in her big sister's room. She climbed the bed and waited for Kyria to talk first. Kyria sighed. She was tired.
"We won't be able to leave now. Not without angering Sansa," she said finally.
"Why didn't you let me talk to her? She's being stupid!"
"She is yes, but that's why she needs us."
"Then why didn't you let me tell her!"
"Because you would have vexed her, angered her, and it would have ended in a fight that would have lasted for days. We can't do that now Arya," said back Kyria with exasperation. "We can't let our wrath and hot tempers have the best of us. Don't you get what is happening? The Queen is up to something and it's against us! If we grow apart, she wins!"
Arya still frowned.
"I don' t like this. I thought she was overall this stupidity after what happened to Lady. And this fight you two had."
Kyria nodded sadly.
"I thought so too… But you and me Arya, we know who this prince is. We need to be there for her. To comfort her when she'll find out."
Arya frowned still, a stubborn line on her forehead.
"Do you remember? What Father like to say?" tried Kyria with a small smile " When the snowfall and the white wind blow, the lone wolf dies-"
"But the pack survive," they said together.
Kyria's smile grew. Father's words always worked with her little sister. Or at least, often enough.
"Maybe you're right." concede the girl.
"I hope I am little sister."
They slept together that night. Kyria dreamed of the rolling head and screaming crowd. If she screamed in her sleep, the girl next to her didn't mention it.
TBC.
AAAAAAAND CUT!
What do you think? Good? Bad? Awful?
I have mixed feelings about this chapter to be honest... I like Kyria's discussion with Varys and Ned, but I'm not sure about the last part with Arya. Arya is one of my favorites characters and I'm very scared I'm messing her up with all the changes I make in the timeline and events.
And Cersei! Cersei is just the worst! I hate her, and it's so hard for me to write her form the point of view of someone who doesn't know how evil she is. Or, well, not yet! I tried very hard to picture her from Kyria's point of view, as a young girl in front of an impressive Queen, while she's still beautiful and impressive and not the monster we know later.
Besides, I really wanted this first confrontation between them so that we have an Idea of what Cersei might think of Kyria without going into Cersei's head. That'll come later ;)
I really hope I didn't ruin the character...that's my greatest fear! That I'll ruin one of the characters because I'm biased about them!
I hope I did the right thing...
I also tried to have a shorter chapter because let's face it, I write way too long chapters it's just insane xD. It didn't work out very well for this one... But I'll try for the others!
What do you think? Next up the Last chapter in Kyria's point of view, then we will deal with the consequences of the changes she tried to make! I'm excited! :D I'll try to post around the 15th of February, but as I said, I can't promise anything...
I hope you enjoyed all of this and please please don't hesitate to tell me your thought! I love to read you and it made me feel so much better about what I try to do!
See you next time!
Please don't hesitate to share your thought!