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.

CHAPTER 6 : SENTENCE AND CONSEQUENCE

I was waiting in my father's study. It seemed like ages ago that he had told me I was marrying Trystane Martell. Was it only one day since I had thrown a fit in front of him? A hypothetical marriage seemed so unimportant now that I was waiting to hear from Maester Luwin. I felt locked in a cell waiting for his lord to decide his fate. On the faith of gods old and new, yes I had sinned, I confessed. What a nightmare! Events had both rushed and stretched since Jaime Lannister had dragged me away from Bran and into the great hall. Tyrion had come to calm me down after Cersei had gone to fetch him. Ironically, it was the knight who ordered his queen around. She had a new look on me as she watched me being tended to and Tyrion curbed my hysteria. However, I would have been hard pressed to say how the King's wife looked at me differently. Things had continued to spiral as the men returned from the hunt, and I had been escorted to Father's study to wait for him. I would have to tell him what had happened. Since then I had been waiting completely alone, my mind going in all directions. The sound of the door opening was a relief and another reason to be anxious. The wait was over and what I had been dreading so much was about to begin:

Explaining myself to Lord Stark.

Correction,

Explain myself to Lord and Lady Stark.

Catelyn's eyes were flushed and her look was less than kind. I think at this point I would have preferred to be alone with Cersei Lannister. Father, on the other hand, showed no emotion. He walked around his desk and sat down. Crossing his hands on the table, he looked into my grey eyes.

-Before we start, I want you to know that Bran is going to be all right. He's regained consciousness, but he was given milk of the poppy because of the pain in his legs.

-He's going to make a full recovery, are you sure? I asked, immensely relieved.

-No, he's not going to make a full recovery. Both his legs are broken. He will never be able to be a knight like he always dreamed of being. He'll have trouble walking. Mother replied in a broken tone.

-Lyarra, you said he fell because of you. You told the Lannisters. What happened? Father asked.

-I was in a state after our conversation this morning. I began hesitantly.

I turned my head to Mother with a bitter look

- I went to the sacred grove to pay my respects and when I came out, I decided to go to the crypt to say goodbye to the Starks. I saw Bran on the tower. I was furious, upset. I lost my temper and yelled at him to come down. He was afraid. He slipped and fell. I rushed to his aid... I shouted for help.

-You stupid little girl! You could have killed him! Don't you ever think before you open your mouth? It's a good thing you're leaving, you won't endanger the lives of my children! exclaimed Mother, furious.

-Catelyn! snapped my father.

I didn't give him a chance to speak.

-A good thing I'm leaving? I repeated as I stood up.

I wanted to burst into tears again, but I swallowed them. A pain in my ankle reminded me to be careful, so I put my hands on the desk to bend and hold on.

- But I'm just leaving, Lady Stark. Jon is leaving for the Wall, too. Are you pleased with yourself? You've managed to drive us from Winterfell. You were never able to be kind to him, though you were more cordial after I told you not to. Me? I thought I meant something to you. But I don't. Surely not, since not only am I promised to a lord, I am exiled from the North to Dorne! Tomorrow I'll go south. I'll leave and perhaps never return. Never to see Winterfell, Robb, Sansa, Arya, Bran, Rickon, Jon or even you two again. Who will have the time and energy to visit me in Sunspear? Will I be free enough to come here? You have won Lady Stark, you have taken everything from Jon and me! I finished with a heartfelt cry.

-Lyarra... my brother's wife stammered, her face flushed.

I didn't let her finish. I wanted to get out of here. This was as close as I was going to get to an affront. I turned on my heel and, holding back a cry of pain, pushed open the office door and left with my head held high and my face cold like the statues of the ancient winter kings. I didn't look back when they called me. I had said what I wanted to say, nor did I have the strength to hear them lecture me on my impertinence. I went to my room where the prospect of packing all my things took my legs away for a moment. It was going to be a long and arduous process. I called a maid to bring me some trunks and once this was done, I began the very long and arduous ordeal of removing all my possessions from my room and carefully packing them inside the boxes. My books, my clothes, my jewelry, bottles containing tree essence and dried herbs. I also put in most of the paintings that I had been given. The only one I didn't take down from the wall was my favorite. The one that showed us all together in front of the castle. Even Theon and Jon were painted there with Septa Mordane, old Nan, Hodor, Rodrik Cassel... I wanted to leave a part of myself here, in the house where I was born. So that the others would have one last image of me. The picture already showed a bygone era... A time that I already regretted. After a painful sigh, I turned away and closed my trunks firmly. I called the maid back and asked her to get my things and bring them down to the main hall. I had only kept my overnight kit and my travel clothes with me, which I would wear the next day.

-Is this true? Arya asked as she stormed into my room unannounced.

-What is it? I asked with a sigh.

-You're leaving and never coming back?

-Lord Stark has decided to marry me off to the heir to Dorne, yes. It's unlikely I'll be able to return to the North.

-That is out of the question. You're a Northern girl, Lyarra. I'll talk to Father. she exclaimed as she rushed out the door.

-Arya, no!

I cried out in pain as I scrambled to hold her back. It was effective, she came back to my side at once.

-Are you hurt? She asked me worried.

-Just my ankle. Don't worry about it. Come here, sit by my side.

Hesitantly, she perched on the edge of my bed staring at me with her gray eyes. Eyes that looked a lot like mine. By the gods of the forest, my little sister looked so much like me. I was aware that she had taken after me more than Sansa. She wasn't my double, but we were both too tongue-tied and freedom-loving. Arya didn't want to be a lady, she wanted to fight. I didn't want to be a lady, I wanted to learn. How ironic. At Winterfell, we had the lady, the warrior and the woman of science, or at least what we aspired to among the Stark girls.

-As Father reminded me, sooner or later we must leave home to found our own pack. I should have been married to a lord long ago. Father refused under various pretexts, but also because I didn't want to. Now I have my duty to do. And don't worry either, Trystane Martell is still young. As you're coming with us, I won't be getting married for a few years. I have time to prepare myself.

-You're a northern girl, not a southern one. she insisted. Why don't you marry Jon? You could stay at Winterfell and be free.

-For one thing, because Jon is not a legitimate child, and as long as Father doesn't ask the king...

I bit my tongue hard. Please don't let her rush to Robert Baratheon to ask him, or I'm done for!

- Anyway, Jon won't take a wife and the second and most important reason is that I'm Jon's aunt. It's not a good idea to marry such a close family member.

-The Targaryens did it between brother and sister. Arya reminded me.

Damn. She wasn't good at history lessons, but she had to remember that very detail?

-It's not been a good look since the end of the Targaryens. I corrected her.

-That would be the ideal solution.

-Maybe, but life isn't ideal. Now, I ask you not to go bothering anyone with this. You've finished packing, haven't you?

-Yes, I did. My little sister grumbled. Septa Mordane asked me to do it again. It's useless, my things will be messy, no matter how well I pack them.

This made me laugh. By the gods of the forest, it was only children who could cheer me up!

-You just wanted to ask me that? I replied.

-No, Mother sent me to get you, the meal is served. Everyone's presence is greatly desired as we leave tomorrow. Well, except Bran. Old Nan will stay with him.

-Thank you, but tell Lady Stark I'm not coming down. I'm too tired and need a rest. I'll just visit Bran and then go to bed.

-She won't be happy. Arya said as she stood up.

-If you only knew how little I care. I whispered.

-I whispered. "What?

-No, nothing. She should understand, I'm hurt.

I got up and followed Arya out of my room. I leaned on a stick that had been sent to me to rest on while walking. It was a gift from Tyrion. I loved that dwarf. Too bad my father hated the Lannisters so much, I could have seen myself as Tyrion's wife. We would have shocked the court and with him, I'm sure I could have gone anywhere I wanted when I wanted. At least it wasn't Joffrey Baratheon... I knocked on the door when I got there and entered when old Nan opened it for me.

-Lady Lyarra?

-Good evening. Is my brother awake?

-Yes, just now. I was going to get his dinner.

-Well, I'll stay with him for a while.

The Stark housekeeper nodded and left. I took the chair she had occupied at Bran's bedside, not even batting an eyelid when I saw Summer and Winter standing guard at the foot of the bed.

-Mother told me I couldn't go with you tomorrow. the boy began.

-No. You won't be able to. You'll have to wait for your legs to heal. By the way, I wanted to apologize. It's partly my fault you're hurt.

-You and Mother told me over and over not to climb. That it was dangerous. he said sheepishly.

-Yes, it's dangerous. I hope you understand this time, little cub.

-I won't climb anymore. I promise.

-Good. I came to see if you were all right, but also to say goodbye. I don't know if you'll be able to come down tomorrow or if I'll have time. Well, I...

-Aren't you staying? Bran protested vehemently.

-No, I can't stay. Father insisted I go south with Sansa and Arya. You know how Arya is, there aren't too many of us to watch her. I smiled, trying to amuse him.

-But... What if I have nightmares? Who's going to reassure me? How will I be able to talk to you if you go away? he asked in a small voice.

-You can always write me. It will take a little longer with the distance, but you can always write me and I'll answer you as soon as possible. For your nightmares, you will have Mother and old Nan.

-It won't be the same. Bran insisted. And is it true about the rumor about your marriage?

I didn't know what to say. I didn't really want to add anything... The wedding wouldn't take place for several months, even years, I thought I could have told him later, but he had heard about it. Hadn't my little brother had enough bad news for one day? Sadly, I reached over and took his hand in mine.

-Yes, it's true. Father offered my hand to a lord. But he is young, an heir of great lineage. So I won't have to stay by his side for the time being. In the meantime, when you're well, perhaps you can come and visit us and stay in King's Landing. And if Father lets me, I can come to the North for a while. Come on, cub, it'll be all right.

He nodded, looking downcast and grimacing with pain. Old Nan would be back soon and I decided to get up and let him rest. Lady Stark had said that Bran was taking milk of the poppy because of the pain. He was to arrive with his meal. My poor little brother couldn't just take the drink, he had to take food too. I leaned over and kissed Bran on the forehead.

-Rest, and get well soon. I can't wait to show you the Red Keep. And why not show you the Knights of the Guard?

I got a bright smile, which made me feel better. I took a few steps toward the door and turned to Hiver who had also raised her muzzle to look at me.

-My beautiful one, I ask you to stay here at Winterfell. Look after Rickon and Bran, okay?

She gave a squeak that I took as a yes.

Affectionately, I stroked her ears and head before leaving the room.