The Bastard Of Winterfell.

I am a bastard, too. I love bastards! I am bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind, bastard in valor, in everything illegitimate.

--William Shakespeare

6th Month. 296AC.

Bastardy.

It was a blight on the world in Lyarra Snow's opinion.

Why she had to have been born… why she couldn't just have died while her mother survived… something she wondered about on most nights.

Lyarra Snow walked out of the great hall of Winterfell, a frown on her face as her eyes stung from unshed tears.

Dinner parties were one thing she usually avoided when her Lord Father's bannermen were in town for a visit.

She wasn't supposed to be in the hall, but Robb had convinced her of her right to be there… only for the Lady Stark to demand her absence as she moved to sit down in the Hall… where most of the visiting lords and ladies' children could hear.

Mormont, Karstark, Glover and Cerwyn.

Very embarrassing and Lyarra could only nod and walk out, after all, what could she do in the face of the Lady of Winterfell??

Lyarra Snow was but a bastard and a blight to Catelyn Stark.

Lyarra walked towards the practice yard of Winterfell, blinking desperately so her tears wouldn't fall. She'd promised herself a long time a go never to show weakness in the face of recent humiliation… except when she was perhaps alone and free to brood.

The practice yard was thankfully slightly empty and free from those she did not want to see, and so she grabbed a blunt sword, already dressed in breeches, tunic, a corset guard and protection, immediately attacking a practice dummy with vigor and frustration, even as some tears escaped down her pale face.

All her life, Lyarra had been acknowledged and given the name 'Bastard of Winterfell'.

In a way, she should be known as the bastard of Dorne, seeing as she had been born there… and secretly, she wished her Lord Father had left her in Dorne with her Dayne relatives after her mother died birthing her.

Her mother was Ashara Dayne.

One of the beauties of Dorne, from what she'd heard. A woman beautiful and fair, with haunting purple eyes and blonde hair like most Daynes.

Her Lord Father and her birth mother had actually been sweethearts, destined to be together, that is until the 'War of The Mad King' in year 279 when the then Crowned Prince, now king, Rhaegar Targaryen had gone to war against his father to dethrone him, and won the war, but at the cost of some lives, which included not only Rickard Stark, but also Brandon Stark, heir to Winterfell. And so, his betrothed passed on to the second son, Eddard Stark.

Of course, the Starks are known for their honor, and he was going to honor his father's dying wish, and so he said goodbye to the woman he loved… which included a tumble in the sheets, a month later he was married to Catelyn Tully and a moon after their marriage, Catelyn Tully was already with child.

Unknowingly, Ashara also got with child their last time together… and after a rather difficult birthing process in Dorne, Lyarra Snow, or rather yet, Sand, was born… illegitimate.

Her Lord Father though, wanting to fulfill his duties, as he should, took her home with him to the North, much to his new wife's vocal anger, though secretly, Catelyn had been happy the bastard was a girl child, even though she was about a month older than her son. She was still no heir.

It was one of those times Lyarra had wondered why her Lord Father didn't just send her off to Dorne.

He tried his best of course… she was a bastard, born out of wedlock and yet he had taken her in, but Catelyn Stark never let her rest, and with the help of her own Lord Father, Hoster Tully, Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, she was able to curb whatever excessive interest and care Ned Stark could lavish on his bastard.

As a child, Lyarra had learnt to stay away from the 'scary woman' and far from her sight, though it had taken a lot of trial, error and screaming.

Lyarra had grown to know her place in the family. Her father also distanced himself from her, as per his wife's insistence and made sure he knew never to legitimize Lyarra ever. Understandable, since it would be a slap in Catelyn's face.

At least basic amenities had been provided for her.

A good enough room located in the Steward wing, with a good enough bed, fireplace and good furniture. The people of Winterfell knew her a bastard, but they didn't treat her badly… of course there was always the bad seeds, but she never minded too much.

Her siblings also treated her well enough. Except perhaps Sansa, who Lyarra regarded as a mini Catelyn Stark.

Rickon was still a child though and didn't really understand his mother always dragging him away from Lyarra's direction, and so, whenever that happened, the boy would howl out in anger and tears like the wolf he was.

Reminding some Winterfell servants and Old Nan of Brandon Stark before he died apparently.

Lyarra recently turned 16 some days back and she had no idea what to do with her life. Perhaps become an independent female knight?

But she'd have to head South and somehow end up knighted…

With a tired sigh, she dropped the blunted sword, wincing a bit at the slight pain she felt in her arms.

Perhaps she'd worked herself too much, but at least now she wasn't feeling down and pitying herself. All she had to do for the next few days was avoid Lady Catelyn and the visiting Northern houses and she was good.

Now though, she needed a bath… and to lay down as well… she was totally exhausted.

Lyarra began her journey towards her room when she saw the reddish brown hair of her brother, Robb and Theon walking towards her, both laughing at something the other had said.

Robb who looked so much like his mother spotted her first.

"Lyarra. I wondered if you'd headed to the practice yard as usual."

The bastard forced a smile on her face as she shrugged.

"I wasn't exactly wanted in the hall, Robb."

Her brother smiles sadly at her.

"I'm really sorry, Lyarra. Truly. I hadn't expected mother to say that."

Lyarra smiled softly at her beloved brother.

"It wasn't your fault. You don't need to apologize."

"Lady Stark was right though, you are a bastard. There's no need to deny it."

Theon cut in, like the asshole he was, shrugging unapologetically and Lyarra glares harshly at him before walking right past the boys.

She ignored Robb chiding an helplessly confused Theon who saw no wrong in what he'd said.

Perhaps because he wasn't a bastard, he didn't understand the plague the name had on the heads of said bastards.

Perhaps if he understood… if he understood, he'd know the pain and stigma of being labelled one.

Lyarra settles down next to the fire in her room as she finished weaving her hair, preparing for bed. She welcomed the heat.

She was used to the cold of the North due to her Stark blood, but Lyarra also had a thing for the heat too which she put down to her Dornish blood and probably the very diluted Targaryen blood flowing through her veins.

After all, just like most people knew, Lyarra was a mix of those three bloodlines. Perhaps it was some sort of inheritance popping out after a while, but Lyarra was born with the silvery blonde hair of a Targaryen, not the normal light blonde of the Daynes or the usual dark brown/black of Starks. Her eyes were also almost a mixture of her Dayne and Stark blood. A light purple that sometimes almost seemed grey when the right light hit. But from the little she'd talked with her father when she was younger, and the one time she met with her nuncle Arthur when she was a child, she apparently had her mother's look, though coupled with the long face and paleness of the Starks.

All in all, it gave her an exotic and foreign look that stuck out like a sore thumb in the North, much to a certain Lady's consternation.

She did like her features though. She was very proud of them in fact, and it made her feel closer to her Dornish ancestors and family while she was all the way in the North.

The fire flickered and wood popped occasionally and she felt herself fall into its reddish ember gaze.

On some nights, Lyarra dreamt that she was different… special. Sometimes, she dreamt about walking through an inferno… and being unburnt.

She's hear the flapping of wings an sometimes… she'd see cold blue eyes that horrified her into waking up. Sometimes three eyed crows… even a silver haired man holding a sword that shone like the golden sun, bringing her some form of needed warmth from just her dream alone.

As the fire crackled, Lyarra slowly raised her fingers towards the burning flames and she welcomed the warmth it brought. Just a little more, she dazedly thought, but before she could deep her fingers into the fire, the sound or laughter and footsteps passing by her door snapped her out of her reverie and she withdrew he hand, looking away from the fire and climbing into bed, preparing to sleep.

It was one of those nights.

Closing her eyes, she strained her ears and listened to whatever noise was around her. She heard some guards from outside the window of her room, clanking of swords and some chatter coming from not just the castle, but Wintertown as well.

This was certainly not the way she wanted to live the rest of her life.

Would she end up like old nan, living in Winterfell and babysitting generations upon generations of Starks? Knowing no other life but the life her bastardry had more or less set her up for?

Wit a small sigh, she turned in bed, forcing herself into slumber. But it would be quite some time before it came.

Westeros History.

--Rhaegar Targaryen married Elia Martell and they had two children, Rhaenys and Aegon.

--Aegon was born in the year 279AC, during that year, a tourney in Harrenhal happened but this time, Aerys didn't show up. Rhaegar got most of the Lord Paramounts and Wardens on his side but Aerys ended up finding out and threw the kingdom into a war.

--Rhaegar led the war to overthrow his mad father and free Kingslanding from the tyrannical man.

--Things change further from canon.

--Rhaegar had The Reach, Dorne, The Vale and The Stormlands immediately behind him. The Riverlands were a bit slower to cooperate as Hoster wanted to deal with Catelyn's marriage to Brandon Stark before he did anything and Rickard Stark supported the prince but because the North doesn't have much in abundance like most southern kingdoms, could not put forward much aid for the Prince as 'Winter Is Coming'.

--Brandon, looking for a way to stretch his upcoming nuptials rode off to war with some friends of his without his father's knowledge, and because his heir had foolishly dropped them into the war, he followed after him with a small Army, but they both died in the war. Aerys had scattered support from the Crownlands, the Reach… and then there was Tywin Lannister.

--Tywin hated the king, but the king hated the Dornish and wasn't proud of his grandchildren either. He wrote Tywin with the promise of giving Cersei to either Rhaegar or his 7 years old son, Viserys for a bride and making her queen. Tywin saw some advantages in there, and besides, if things went the wrong way, he would divert to the prince's side.

It didn't go in his favor.

--Tywin dies in the war. Aerys too. Rhaegar becomes king. Elia queen. Queen mother Rhaella lives as she doesn't end up pregnant with Daenerys.

--Jaime Lannister doesn't end up kingslayer, but stays a member of the kingsguard. Tyrion becomes Lord of Casterly Rock as a result. Cersei is married off.

--Robert ends up with Lyanna Stark. Lord of Stormsend. Stannis and Renly are his bannermen.

--Lysa's story ends up differently as she missed her moon blood and servants knew and spread it. It didn't end the way Hoster wanted and to him, she will always be a disappointment.

--The Greyjoys still rebel. Theon is ward of the Starks.

--A lot of other things come up later. I don't want to spoil too much. If there's something to be known later on, I will bring it up.

--Basically, this is VERY canon divergent. No silly war of 5 kings. But there will still be mad Greyjoys, Varys and his Blackfyre scheme, White walkers will DEFINITELY show up, similar in appearance to rebook description of their otherworldliness.

--No Daenerys. Sorry. But Lyarra and Aegon will take care of some of the things she was capable of, so there was really no need to have her in the fic.

--The Daynes possess some Valyrian blood in my fic.

--Unlike canon and Ned having some sort of closeness for Jon, things are different and Lyarra isn't close to her Lord Father as should be.

--This isn't going to be some insta-love or love at first sight thing. Not at all. Not possible in this fic. It's more of a slight attraction at first sight and then the occasional chemistry between them. I can't do love at first sight and some weird internal monologue about how 'she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met' or how 'he blew her breath away'. Feelings will come when it comes. Of course, Valyrians are absolutely beautiful, and in my opinion I see them as having this glow to them like the elves of Lord Of The Rings, so it'll be difficult not to look at the Targaryens once or twice and not think them beautiful, especially the King and the prince. And since Lyarra's distant Valyrian blood showed up in her in bits and pieces, she is quite a beauty to behold, mixed with her Dayne and Stark blood.

--Any other questions and I'll answer if it's not going to be a spoiler.

--Its you're not happy with this divergence, I'm sorry but I can't change it. This literally came to me in my dream as I slept, lol. I played around with ignoring it and forgetting or writing it down before I decided to, so the story is all set up in my mind already.

--Hope you sit back and enjoy the fic. I'll try to make it as fun and adventure like with romance in there, of course.