Surprise! Another new chapter!

As always, I don't own A Song of Ice and Fire books and GOT show, except for my OCs and part of the story. English is my second (foreign) language, Spanish is my first. Sorry for the typos.

Enjoy!


Chapter 7

JOANNA

September, 2017

My name is Joanna Madeline Novak. I was born in July 22nd, 1992; if you take counts, you will notice that I have twenty-five years old. I'm a college student, I'm studying Arts, and right now I'm finishing; as a way to pay my studies I have several jobs: librarian at the university library where I study, independent photographer and painter. I live in a small apartment near the college in California, United States; I live there since 2010, when I started college.

My family, Benjamin and Rose Novak, both died in the same car accident I had. I'm the youngest of three: Robert with 39 years old, Daniel with 35 years old, and me.

I had a boyfriend… my fiancée, Peter Russo, he died too in the car accident, and he was the driver. I have a best-friend, Emma Graham, she studies Arts too, and she was with me in the car accident. Emma and I, were the only survivors in that car accident.

When I woke up and saw my brothers, their faces were familiar to me, but I couldn't remember them, nor my parents or any member of my family. I feel again like the first time I woke up in that medieval and magical world. With the difference that, it was too noisy around me, the hospital machines, people walking outside the room I was, the traffic… everything gave me headaches and small jumps of surprise because of the strong noises. I was almost two years without hearing these type of strong and annoying noises.

One day, I asked to… my brothers a mirror, I wanted to see my face. When they gave me one, I was expecting my dark brown hair, grey eyes and long face, but I found on the reflection a very different face. Besides the fact that my hair was shaved and covered by bandages, I noticed that I was blonde because of the color of my brows and eyelashes, my eyes were an intense blue like the color of the ocean, and my face looked rounded and smaller.

I'm not Lylian Stark anymore…

Days after I woke up and a never-ending exams to check if I was out of danger, I could receive visits besides of my brothers. My best friend, Emma, was the first come; Emma was few centimeters taller than me, red-haired, green eyes and freckled-face. I could understand several memories I had about her, she was really beautiful and outgoing, free-spirited with a bit of sassiness.

She come visit me when she can, her casted leg and arm make it difficult for her to move around, and most of the times she needs help. My brothers and Emma wanted to call all my family (from both sides), my friends and co-workers, but I wasn't ready for that, I wanted to go slow on my recovery, both physical and mental.

Talking about recovery, physically I was improving very fast. My ribs were the first to recover completely; next the wounds in my arm and thigh, leaving me awful scars (exactly the same scars I had on Westeros); I didn't have any more the bandage over my head (it cause me shock seeing myself without hair, but it was refreshing), and I didn't have any more stitches in the back of my head; my legs are improving faster, in two months and a half approximately I will be free of the casts.

My mental recovery, was another story. I don't know if I can be capable of being inside a car (I will found out this when I can be out of the hospital), and I'm remembering slowly things about me in this world. However… I'm starting to forget quickly my memories as Lylian Stark and Westeros, the more I know about Joanna Madeline Novak, the more I forget my life as Lylian Stark.

As a way to not forget at least the people I love in Westeros, I began to drawing their faces with pencils and color pencils in my drawing notebook. I did my best effort to remember their faces and have them on paper. Mother, Father, Jon, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon, Tyrion, Luna, and Jaime. But… No matter how I draw their faces, with colors, black and white, in grey colors… I was forgetting all the people had I known in that world.

I was drawing my sister Arya, when I noticed that I had doubts if that is her face of not.

Arya…

My sad thoughts were interrupted when I heard the voice of a man. "Hey!" I turned where the voice came, it was a tall man, but smaller than Daniel, lean and slightly tanned, short and untidy blond hair, a full light brown beard and grey-bluish eyes. He was my older brother, Robert.

"HI!" I greeted as I closed my drawing notebook. I saw my brother with a backpack. "What do you bring this time?"

"Our dinner, and something for you while Daniel and I are not here." He answered as he leave carefully the backpack on the couch near my bed.

He took out first my pink mp3 player. "This is yours. I almost forgot to bring it to you today." Robert said while he gave it to me, I checked if it was fully charged. Technology objects are still for me very strange, I was almost a year without it- well… a year in Westeros, but here has passed only three months. Anyway… I'm getting used to have technology around me.

Then, he took out two food containers and cutlery. He gave me first my food container and cutlery. I opened fast the lid of the container, immediately my mouth began to water when the smell fill my nose and see the food.

"Spaghetti and meatballs!" I said excited before eating so eagerly my food.

"Hey! Don't choke yourself." Robert scolded me with his 'big brother' tone. He served me a cup of water and leave it over the portable table.

After I woke up, I ate hospital food, and it was disgusting. My two older brothers spoke with the doctor to ask him if I can eat homemade food, and the doctor approved that.

Definitely, I missed this kind of food here…

"'is is goo…" I tried to say with my mouth full of spaghetti.

"Swallow first, would you?" Robert scold me again, but this time I could see the corners of his lips get curved.

I washed down the food with water and speak again. "This is good!" I said excited.

"Thank you." Robert said with a smile before continue eating.

"You made it?" I asked surprised. And Robert nodded. "You're a good cooker."

"Mom taught us how to do it and is your favorite food." Robert said with a smile. Both of us noticed what Robert said and stopped eating. I look my older brother and he had a sorrowful face.

"I wish… I could remember our parents clearly. Their voice and faces." I told him sincere, in the same mood as him. "Not through photos and videos. But clearly in my head."

Robert sigh. "I missed them."

"Believe it or not, me too." I said with a sad smile. I wish I could remember them more…

To release the sad atmosphere of my room, I spoke again. "So… You are a lawyer, right?"

"Yeah that's right." Robert nodded.

The subject was forget quickly when I ask him about his life and memories with me. My brother was outgoing, persuasive and stubborn; according to Robert, our parents always said that the both of us are similar in personality (I will check this over the time). Also, he's living in California too, but far from the hospital; meaning that he's staying on my apartment since it was close, just until my release from here (it can be said that it's his apartment, he pays part of the rent and my studies).

I knew the hour visit ended when a nurse came to my room and announce it. Robert left near me more paper for me to draw with more pencil colors. "I will come early tomorrow." Robert told, and I nodded. He kissed my cheek before leaving, leaving me alone with the nurse.

I didn't fill tired or sleepy. I feel like I've been sleeping for so long, and all I want is being awake. In addition to this, I feel kind of nervous because once I close my eyes, I can awake again in Westeros, and find…

"Need help for sleep?" The nurse asked, noticing that I still wasn't tired.

"I don't want to sleep. I'm not tired."

"You need to rest in order to help the body for your recovery." The nurse explained. "I will bring to you a pill to help you sleep-"

"There's no need, thank you. I'm going to make a try to sleep on my own."

"Well…" The nurse got close to my bed and grab something at one side of my bed, above my head. It was control with one button. "I will give you this. In case you have problems for sleeping, push the button and I will come." I nodded to her instructions. "I will turn off the lights. Sleep well." I gave her a smirk and a nod.

The nurse turned off all the lights, including the soft light above my head, leaving me in the dark with the lights of the streets from the window of my room.

From where I am, I could see other buildings, some with the lights on and others not. Also, the sky was clear of clouds. I think, for the first time since I woke up, tonight was a quiet one, but not that quiet like in Westeros.

Westeros…

I begged and begged to return, and now that I'm here… I have the desire to return, but…

I've lost my whole family, my baby, my husband and the man I'm still loving…

I grabbed my mp3 player and my earplugs, and turn it on. The first song sounded, it was a rock song. I passed to the next one. It was rock too, and I passed it again. This time it was a pop song, it had the same effect, and I passed it. I wasn't in humor for a noisy or catchy song, I wanted a slow but happy song. Then, it sounded a classical song, Waltz of the Flowers from Tchaikovsky.

It could be said that I hear every type of music, music that sound nice or catchy in my ears, especially rock and classical music. However, since I woke up, I like more classical, like the one I'm hearing.

I remembered that I made a painting based on that song. A woman dressed like a princess ballerina, dancing in the middle of a forest full of cherry trees; and those were dropping their flowers like pink snow. All the painting was full in pink from all tones, the dress of the ballerina, the ground, the trees… everything, and with a pinch of green, brown and baby blue.

Then, I imagine myself being that ballerina, dancing in the middle of a forest full of cherry trees and the rain from those flowers.

But suddenly, I had a partner. A partner with blond hair and green eyes, dressed like a prince, dancing at the rhythm of the song.

Jaime…

His face was blurry in my memories, I couldn't distinguish and detail his face.

I am losing all my memories from there…

Once the song finished, it sounded another rock song, making me stop thinking on those things. This time I didn't change the song, I just concentrate to relax myself for sleeping.

I didn't know when I fall asleep, but the light above my head wake me up. One of the things I've noticed was the absence of the earplugs in my ears. Once my eyes adapt to the light, I finally opened my eyes and look for the one who turned the light. When my eyes look a figure sat in a chair near me, for a moment I was going to scream, but I look what was that figure.

It was the woman in my dreams… in my memories…

"You…" I whispered shocked. "Who are you? What are you? How-?"

"Yes, Joanna Novak. I'm the same woman you rescued, the same woman who take you to a book and guide you there." The woman answered. I didn't say anything, I was just in shock. "I think you want an explanation, about everything."

"Now." I ordered to her.

"Let's start from the beginning. My name is Kyra as you well know, and I'm a witch from Westeros. The world that you consider a book or a play in that magic box." The woman said. "You must be asking how I pull out myself from that fictional world, my answer is… I'm not a usual witch." She explained. I feel from her that she isn't belong to this world, she's not a usual person, and she was telling the truth.

"Why me?" I asked. "I didn't ask you to take me there. I wanted to return home." I told her.

"And now you want to stay in Westeros, right?" the woman asked. I didn't want to admit that, so I just simply maintain my mouth shut. "That's what I thought."

"I didn't say anything."

"But you know you want to stay there than here." The woman said.

"I'm not sure if I want to return there." I told her. "Why me?" I asked her again.

"Because you saved me from being raped that night on the street. The first night we met, remember?" The woman explained.

I could remember that night, but it was blurry now. "Your name is Kyra, right?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Your courage and goodness towards me call my attention. I wanted to return the favor, but I didn't know how. Until you gave me several signs." Kyra explained.

"What signs?" I asked confused.

"First of all, your interest for our world, how you know it as if you born in there. Also, your drawings describe almost perfectly my world." Kyra explained.

"Hey! The fact that I love your world doesn't mean that I want to be so eagerly there. For me was difficult to be in that period, especially on the hygiene." I told her uncomfortable the last part. Doing your necessities, and when it comes your menstruation it was…

"But you adapted yourself to my world."

"Yes, and it was disgusting. Plus, several of the people I had around looked at me as a crazy woman or with pity. Including my adoptive family." I spat.

"Well, I apologize for that inconvenient." Kyra bowed her head.

"If there is more, better you finish." I spat angry.

The witch continue quickly. "As I said, I didn't know how to return the favor, so I wanted an encounter with you. The day we met while you were in the library, after I gave you the basket as a way of appreciation for saving me, we talked." I remember vaguely that day. I only remembered when she appeared on the library, and surprised me with her actions. Nothing more. "In our conversation, we talked about my world, that you liked the Starks, but you had sympathy for Tyrion and Jaime Lannister, especially Jaime. Also, we talked about other things. Things that you didn't want an ordinary life. That besides of exhibiting your work in galleries, you-"

Suddenly, I interrupt Kyra. "Wanted to do exciting things. Things that are not usual for the rest of the people. Using a bow and arrow, mounting a horse, fighting with a sword, feel what is being in an adventure… An adventure in a magical world." When I told those words, I remembered vaguely that moment. It was on the library where I was working, and she was there making me some company. I pushed myself to remember more of that day. And there were more words… "That's why I love adventure books, the main characters have an exciting life. Especially A Song of Ice and Fire's books." When I finished, I look at her in shock.

"Yes, you told me that." Kyra said with a nod, confirming what I've just remember.

"But that doesn't mean I wanted to go to that place!" I complaint.

"Tell me something, Joanna Novak. Based on what you remember for now, I need you to compare your both lives. Which in both worlds you lived a not ordinary life? Which was the world where you find what you want?" I didn't answer and Kyra spoke again. "Westeros.

"I'm still recovering my memories. I can't compare" I let her know that detail.

"You will see when you find out how was your life her." Kyra told me.

"I suffered in Westeros! My family got separated, my father was beheaded, and the man who I fall in love, break my heart over and over again." I spat angry.

"But still you knew that everything was part of the story. You didn't have all of your memories about my world, but you knew where you were since you woke up for the first time in Winterfell, and even more when Robert Baratheon arrived there." Kyra claimed. The worst of all is the fact that she was right, I knew it all along. "Also, whatever the world or the place you are, peace and happiness are not forever. Life is not full of roses, not completely. There's always a balance between life and death, joy and disgrace. However, it is our choice to overcome those problems, and be happy on our way."

"In Westeros never is going to be peaceful. Politics, death, mysteries, secrets and lies are going to be there." I claimed her.

"Neither the world you have here. I explored very well your world, and it's the same in Westeros, the only difference is how advance are you and the rules are slightly changed." Kyra spat. "You know it's true what I'm telling you." I look to another way, far from her strange eyes. "Definitely you're so stubborn like an old bull."

"Why me? What do you want me to change? What…? I'm just a mortal. I'm not like you." I told her sulkily. I had a lot of doubts… I was angry with myself and with that witch.

"As I told you, you know my world as if you were born in there. You wished to be there. I create and gave you a vessel based on your wishes. Also, I wanted to see if you can change greatly the course of the story. But I've learned two things… You can't change what is fated, and I thought you would love being in my world."

"I loved being there." I told her sincere. "I had an amazing adoptive family. My best friend was Jon and, in some way, Tyrion. And I never knew that I would be Jaime's wife, even I was going to have a child with him…" I whispered the last part. My baby… I shook those thoughts. "I had the feeling from the beginning that this happiness I had, was going to be short. Some events I already knew it, and others I remembered them just moments before occurring. All of this disaster began when Jon left to The Wall. The man I loved broke my heart when he attack father, and sooner my father was declared traitor and then was beheaded, all because of that incestuous love that Jaime and Cercei have, and to put the cherry on the cake, I lost my child when those Lannister's envoy kidnapped me." By this time I felt my eyes prickle and my throat began to hurting me. I didn't want to cry. "Living in Westeros is not going to be peaceful. Living in the Middle Ages is not going to be peaceful."

I don't want to return…

"You don't want to return." The witch confirmed what I was thinking. "But you miss your family in Westeros." I nodded.

"I don't want to return. Not now."

"Then, when?"

"I don't know. But I'm sure that I want to live here, recover my memories and heal. Mentally and physically." I felt sure about my words. That's what I want at the moment.

"Very well."