Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones or else, the Starks and their kids would have survived !

Summary: Lyarra Stark, born during King Robert's rebellion, is Lord Rickard Stark's youngest daughter, raised by her brother Ned as the oldest of his own children. She will find herself in the heart of Westeros' political intrigues. Will she be able to save herself without too much damage?

Author's note : A huge thank you to House of the lion for translating my story, originally posted in French ! Another thank you to my friend LightDreamer who drew the cover of this fiction which represents my OC : Lyarra Stark. You can find LightDreamer on Instagram as kittehsakura.
Second author's note: I'd like to apologize for the delay between this chapter and the previous ones, unexpected events caused it, thanks for your patience!

CHAPTER 3 : Marital discussion

Standing in my room, I made the final touches to my appearance. I put on a silver pendant that represented a wolf. It had taken me several hours to get ready for the reception given in honor of the king and his retinue. Another reason to hate their presence. Normally, one outfit all day was necessary. Here I had spent more time in one day doing my hair, dressing, perfuming, choosing my outfit and jewellery, than I had in my entire week. At least I had a pleasant surprise with Tyrion Lannister. He was charming and had an interesting conversation. I had gotten along with him and also Hiver, judging by the games she had played with the dwarf. So much so that I had asked the queen's brother to be my date for the evening. It would be fun to shock the king's wife. She already hated me because I reminded her of Lyanna Stark, I could see it in her eyes. I had originally intended to diplomatically make the queen understand that I was not her rival, but what her brother had told me about her and her reaction to our wolves had taken away my desire to make any effort to make peace with her. Besides, I also had another motivation. If the king ever wanted to marry his son off to one of Winterfell's daughters, I was going to do everything in my power to make sure it wasn't me. Anyway, it was Sansa who dreamed of being queen, of going south. I was too complicated and independent for a man. I was probably going to be an old maid. At the same time, the Stark succession was well assured. There was Robb, Bran, Rickon, Arya and Sansa. Jon too, although he was a bastard, but if he was legitimized... No, I had no obligation to make little wolves for the North. Being the old aunt of the family from whom one would come to take advice, to learn from this knowledge, suited me perfectly. A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts and I went to open it. It was not Tyrion who had already arrived, but Father.

-Good evening, Lyarra. I won't take up much of your time before the reception. I need to talk to you for a moment.

-Yes, come in. I nodded, stepping aside to let him into my room.

Lord Stark looked at my possessions for a moment and then turned to me with a serious look on his face.

-King Robert has asked for your hand in marriage for his son Joffrey. he began, confirming my worst fears.

This was a nightmare. He couldn't do this to me, could he? He must have known the hell I was going to live in the capital if I became Joffrey Baratheon's wife.

-No way! I will not go south! I refuse, Father, I refuse! I exclaimed with the energy of desperation.

He had to see reason, he couldn't do that to me.

-It is time to marry Lyarra. You can't keep turning down men who want to marry you.

I knew he was right, sooner or later he couldn't say no to a lord, let alone the king, however, it was so far from my aspirations.

-I will not go south. I don't want to. Tell the king that... I'm promised to Theon Greyjoy.

Was it really me who just suggested lying to Robert Baratheon? And to be betrothed to my worst enemy on top of it all? Judging by the look of total surprise, even Lord Stark hadn't expected such a proposal.

-With Theon Greyjoy... he repeated.

First victory, he was undoubtedly convinced of my repulsion to King's Landing. I had to find other arguments to support my opposition. Just saying I didn't want to wasn't enough.

- Father, Sansa wants to be queen, to be Prince Joffrey's wife. Why not accept for her? I suggested after a second's thought. The king would be happy with the marriage between his family and the Starks, I wouldn't have to go south and Sansa's dream would come true. Everyone would win.

-I turned down the king's proposal for you and offered Sansa in exchange. He confessed, much to my surprise, but mostly to my relief.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my legs shaking. My father had just given me a real scare! But why? Why didn't he tell me right away that Sansa was going to marry the prince and then tell me that my hand had been proposed to first? I wouldn't have been so frightened. It was without being able to hide a note of accusation in my voice that I opened up to my opposite.

-But... Why did you imply that I was going to marry the prince?

Lord Stark sighed and prepared to deliver the coup de grace.

-For you must now accept the fact that you will have to marry soon. If I refused the king's request for you, it's because I fear that he sees you as a reincarnation of Lyanna. You wouldn't be happy like that. he explained, looking into my eyes to illustrate the seriousness of his words.

-But I... I started to argue about my aspirations, but he cut me off with a wave of his hand.

-I know your feelings about marriage, Lyarra. I am well aware that you would prefer to stay here to take care of the younger ones and to learn. Eventually, even travel. But as the eldest of the family, make no mistake, despite the fact that you are the daughter of Rickard Stark and his wife, you are considered my eldest daughter. I am expected to give your hand. Something you don't want, but which you will have to accept. The other proposals so far have not satisfied me, but make no mistake, the day will come when you will be betrothed to an heir of Westeros. He said to me with a firmness that I didn't know him.

It was now very clear, I could not escape. I had to get used to the idea, negotiations were already in progress about my future.

-So who...? I asked, defeated.

My father approached and put a soothing hand on my shoulder to comfort me.

-We'll think about it Lyarra, we'll think about it. We've already discussed it with Catelyn, but our opinions differ.

I had no trouble guessing what their disagreement was about my future husband.

-Let me guess, she prefers a southern lord and you prefer a northern lord. I smiled a little bitterly.

-You definitely know us very well. He replied, returning my smile.

-Why does she want to marry me to a southern lord? Does she want me away from Winterfell and the family? I asked my father sadly and he shook his head.

-It's not that. She doesn't have the same reservations about you that she might have about Jon. Catelyn feels that your value would be better exploited if you married Renly Baratheon for example. One of the lords of the high crown. I rather think you're a flower of the North. You can only blossom among the Nordians. he explained.

I nodded. I understood Lady Catelyn's opinion and that of my father. If I had had a choice, I would not have taken a husband, which would have created a third possibility, or if the king had forced my father, I would have been in the fourth, as the future queen of Westeros. As the fourth would surely sign my death warrant by Queen Cersei, and as the third was impossible for me, I had to choose between the first one, which would have me marry a southern lord, or the second one, which would have me stay in the North. I had a very clear preference for my father's opinion. However, none of the northern lords, be it the Boltons, the Mormonts, the Karstarks, the Reeds and so on, had made much of an impression on me.

Maybe my mother was right to prefer the south.

Maybe there I could find someone who would understand me and share my thirst for knowledge. Besides, I also had an adventurous soul. Leaving would allow me to discover other lands outside the library books.

-I guess we'll see when the time comes. I finally said to break the silence.

-We will choose a man whom you will respect and who will treat you with honor, I give you my word. On that note, we have a reception waiting for us.

-Go ahead, I'm waiting for my date. I smiled at my father who raised his eyebrows again.

-An escort? Who's that?

-Lord Tyrion.

I couldn't help but laugh when I saw my father's dismayed look. I was definitely not sparing him. Nevertheless, he smiled at me and left, telling me that we would meet again later. Once alone, I got up and looked at myself in the mirror. Yes, my reflection was still impeccable despite the emotions I had experienced in the last few minutes. I was finally looking forward to this evening. It would allow me to take my mind off things. To forget that I was undoubtedly living my last few weeks of tranquillity. Without knowing why, Bran's dream came back to my mind when he saw everyone leaving for the south. Strangely enough, his fears were coming true. I shivered with worry, but a knock at the door pushed those dark thoughts from my mind.

Come on, it was time to party!

I smiled and went to open the door for Tyrion. The royal family had better watch out.