DYANNA I
King's Landing wasn't what she always dreamed of,unless she took into account her worst nightmares. The capital of the Seven Kingdoms was a dirty and disgusting place, even compared to the poorer villages on Kingsroad. The Red Keep was not a dream castle either, although it was monumental, it did not compare with the splendor of Winterfell, which despite its gray and austere atmosphere gave a sense of calm. Red Keep was ugly in many ways and until now, her favorite castle was still New Castle in White Harbor.
She felt embarrassed for envying her brother. While Prince Joffrey was handsome, he was a bit mushy for her taste. Even little Bran before his accident would be able to defeat him. Her dream was always to marry a Southern lord, or a Northerner of Southern tastes, such as Domeric Bolton or a Manderly. Now she was engaged to the prince, the dream of any lady, although unfortunately for her, the prince was a spoiled child.
"My cousins", announced a young man accompanied by a handsome gentleman. He had indigo eyes and blond hair, the boy could not be other than her cousin, Lord Edric Dayne.
"Who are you?" asked Arya recklessly.
"Arya!" complained Dyanna. "Don't you recognize it? He is our cousin, Lord Edric Dayne, Lord of Starfall."
"Sorry, cousin", said Arya.
"Call me Ned," he said.
"Just like my father?" little Edwyn interjected.
"Yes, cousin, in Starfall they call me Ned in honor of my uncle."
"Great!" added Edwyn. "There are two Neds in the world."
They then formally introduced themselves, as Edric still confused the names of his cousins and did not know their ladies-in-waiting. In turn, he introduced the knight who accompanied him, Lord Beric Dondarrion, who would soon become the husband of aunt Allyria.
"Then Cousin Arthur didn't come", Edric lamented.
"It wasn't convenient", Dyanna replied. "Although someday you can visit it in the North."
"That's a good idea, don't you think, Lord Beric?"
"I think the cold can be a good workout for you", replied the lightning lord.
"Let me accompany you to the Tower of the Hand. Your father will be busy the rest of the day, so if you get bored, you can count on me."
"Great!" replied little Edwyn.
"By the way, your Rogers cousins will arrive soon. My uncle told me."
"Rogers? Branda Stark's grandchildren?" asked Tytos Redstark.
"I'm not sure", Edric Dayne admitted. "I find the history of House Stark somewhat confusing, I know that Lord Beron had many sons and daughters."
"Tytos", Dyanna interjected. "Indeed, my great-aunt Branda married Harrold Rogers. It can be confusing because she was young when all her cousins were mature adults."
Branda and Lyarra Stark were the daughters of Rodrik Stark, the Wandering Wolf, and therefore granddaughters of Lord Beron Stark. Her paternal grandfather, Lord Rickard, was Lord Beron's great-grandson, causing her genealogy to become a bit confused. At the time it was difficult for her to learn it, but Vorian taught her a trick to remember it.
In any case, she was pleased to know that he had more cousins south of the Wall, even if not all of them were close. The Blackwoods had more ties to the Redstarks, while the Rogers had ties to all the recent cadet branches of the Starks.
Winterfell's courtiers sometimes commented that Lord Eddard was the new Beron, because of his numerous children. Dyanna couldn't imagine the lessons Vorian's grandchildren would receive, tracing their multiple family and cousin connections throughout Westeros.
"Thank you, Dyanna" Tytos replied.
"Anyway, the Rogers will arrive in a week to participate in the Hand's Tourney.
The tournament in honor of her father excited her. It could be an opportunity for Prince Joffrey to crown her queen of love and beauty, if at least she participated. Joffrey was only fourteen years old, one younger than her, and while he knew how to use a sword, he was not a knight, not even a squire. She did not understand how the son of a notable warrior like King Robert was not a regular participant in the tournament.
…
The Tower of the Hand was decorated with the grey colours of her house. The word that would best define them was solemn, giving an atmosphere of tranquility, but also the feeling that disturbing the peace would bring dire consequences. Her cousin Shyra used to say that the Starks were like snow, cruel despite their beauty. Dyanna didn't feel cruel, even though she knew that if someone harmed her family, the consequences wouldn't be pretty.
"Who do you think will win the tournament?" asked Jeyne Poole.
"My brother Tytos, of course", Shyra Redstark boasted. "He's the living image of Artos the Relentless.
"I think Ser Loras will win", Berena Hoastark intervened. "He is quite a knight, it would be a dream to marry him."
"Berena, you know you will not marry him", Shyra replied with some disdain. The Redstarks never forgave Errold's descendants for their ties to merchants.
At the comment, Berena restrained herself so as not to be sad.
"I think Lord Dondarrion will win", added Jeyne Poole. "After all, Ser Arthur is not here."
Dyanna laughed, as did Shyra and Berena. The three of them knew how in love Jeyne was.
"Jeyne is right", Dyanna admitted. "My cousin Arthur is a great knight; he has the best of Dorne and the best of the North."
"By the way, cousin, who is Arthur's mother?" Berena asked recklessly.
"She was a Flint clan woman", Dyanna said. "When my father traveled to Starfall to get married, he took with him some companions, including a wet nurse named Wylla. The legendary Ser Arthur Dayne fell in love with her and fathered my cousin, but she died shortly after Robert's Rebellion, so Arthur Sand grew up in Winterfell and not among the Flints."
Berena thanked and did not say much more, she felt ashamed of her recklessness. Despite having a Whitehill mother, their customs were those of merchants, which is why the Hoarstarks were ignored by most noble families in the North, even by the masterly houses. Even so, her father had decided to approach them.
Dyanna didn't care about her origins, after all, Berena still had Stark blood. In addition, as a future Queen of the Seven Kingdoms she had to be kind to all people, whether they were noble or not. A king distant from his people was to some extent tolerable if his wife compensated for this estrangement, but if both were alien to the common people, both would be bad rulers.
Her father always taught her to maintain closeness with his subordinates. Always being willing to address the complaints of the citizens of Wintertown or the peasants of the Stark lands. She always admired him for that.
"Although Berena is right", Dyanna admitted, "if the rumors are true, Ser Loras is a magnificent knight."
"Tytos will make it dust", Shyra said. "A northern sword is worth ten from the South, this tournament will prove it."
"Tell me Shyra", Dyanna replied defiantly, "any knight who catches your eye?"
Shyra's cheeks reddened.
"I'd rather marry a northerner", she replied.
"With Benfred Tallhart?" asked Dyanna.
"No!" she said with a laugh. "Benfred is ugly."
They spent the rest of the days joking and chatting. They hardly noticed the absence of Alys Karstark, who had recently married Daryn Hornwood. At first Dyanna was saddened to lose one of her ladies-in-waiting, but in the end, she overcame it. It was normal for friends to separate when marrying powerful men, having to settle for seeing each other once a year at a festival.
…
Days later, while taking a walk on Red Keep. Lady accompanied them so she felt safer than with any guard. Unfortunately, they encountered a group of Lannisters. Her father had warned her how little she trusted the family, so she tried not to be too friendly.
"My ladies", said one of them, "I am afraid that we do not know each other."
"I'm Lady Dyanna Stark", Dyanna replied, then introduced her friends. The young blond man did the same.
"It's a pleasure to meet the prince's fiancée," said Ser Willem Lannister. "And since the prince won't be participating in the tournament, I guess someone will have to crown you, right?"
Dyanna laughed, although she wasn't comfortable with courtship.
"And tell me, Ser Willem?" Shyra intervened, "don't youhave a wife or fiancée to crown?"
"Unfortunately not, my lady. Only my cousin Tyrek", and he pointed to another blond gentleman, "is married, he is now Lord Protector of Hayford. My twin brother Martyn and I will have to keep trying our luck."
"I'm sure there are a few single Freys", Shyra replied, causing the knights to laugh.
"Frey's women are as ugly as men," said Ser Willem. You should know my Aunt Genna's children, they have nothing from Lannister. Although it is strange, one would think that a strong woman like her would impose her appearance on her husband's, but no.
Dyanna mumbled Ser Willem's words. Usually, the children had traits of both parents, even if they were few. She herself looked like a reflection of her mother, but the color of her hair was Stark. Even Arya, the most Stark of all her siblings, had violet eyes. Although she didn't know Genna Lannister's children, would they really look so little like their cousins?
"Surely all the Lannister traits went to the princes", Shyra said, to the shocking looks of the knights. "I'm surprised you guys are still blond."
"I guess that's the blood of the wolf that they talk about so much", Ser Martyn interjected. Ser Tyrek on the other hand still didn't say a word.
"Are lions afraid of direwolves?" asked Shyra defiantly.
"Maybe Prince Tommen", replied Ser Willem, somewhat angry. "But neither I, nor Martyn nor Tyrek are afraid of anything. Tyrek is the best swordsman after my cousin Jaime, if he wasn't married, he would soon wear a white cloak."
"It's no better than Ser Arthur Sand", Jeyne Poole chimed in.
"The Sword of the Morning's bastard? Bah! If Ser Arthur Dayne was such a good legend he would not have surrendered to Lord Stark."
At Ser Willem's comment, Jeyne was offended and Lady, her direwolf, roared, although the Lannister was unfazed.
"Ser Willem", a voice echoed at the end of the hall. It was Ser Jaime Lannister.
"Cousin!" he replied in fear.
"Never call Ser Arthur Dayne a coward again", he ordered. "Just three men had the ability to kill me, The Sword of The Morning was one of them. Watch your words or a Dornish sword could send you to the gods, or, you could be that she-wolf's dinner."
Lady roared, scaring Ser Martyn this time.
"I've never seen Dayne's bastard fight", he said.
"Not me", replied Ser Jaime, shrugging his shoulders. "And it's a shame, because the only thing that excited me about going to Winterfell was seeing the son of my former brother. However, I didn't see him and was disappointed, I know he was in White Harbor for the wedding, unfortunately weddings are the ideal time to camouflage. Tell me Lady Dyanne, why didn't your cousin come to King's Landing? If he is as good as his father he should be the captain of your guard."
"My cousin is not welcome in this city", Dyanna replied, fearful.
"Lord Stark fears King Robert's wrath?"
Dyanna didn't say anything, Ser Jaime sneered.
"If Arthur Sand ever comes to the capital, tell him to look for me. For 17 years I have searched for a worthy rival and I have not found one, nor have I found any trace of the bastards of Ser Lewyn Martell or Ser Oswell Whent, which I regret, could train an elite group with the children of Aerys' former guard."
No one said anything else, not even Lady roared.
"In short, my cousins, do not disturb the she-wolfs of the North anymore. They are not like the fools you usually joke with, now, I want you away."
The three young knights then fled in terror. When they were away, Ser Jaime was about to leave when Shyra stopped him.
"To be Jaime", she shouted.
"Yes, girl?"
"You said that only three men had the ability to kill you, who are the other?
"The Black Fish and Ser Barristan Selmy, at least when they were young, today I can fight them."
And the young lion left without saying goodbye. Dyanna felt her heart pounding, regretting meeting the Lannisters, except for Ser Jaime, who wasn't as horrible as her father thought.
