A Brave Step
She had expected the King to be long asleep but he was sitting silently by a lone fire. Ser Gerold ever the silent sentinel stood behind his liege. As she came running towards the scene the White Cloak drew his sword in alarm at her sudden appearance.
Lyanna made to stop a few feet from the King, Ser Rodrik was not far behind if the thumps of his armoured boots were any indication, she had not noticed when the tears had started falling in earnest but by the time she had made it to the King she was bawling, hardly a prim proper lady.
The sight of her would've made her Lord Father furious at her actions. Lord Rickard would have thought of the events as meddling in petty matters, he would've ignored the matter altogether, deeming it well below his concerns.
Aghast at seeing her state His Grace was expectedly shocked at her appearance but quickly made to run around his Kingsguard to her side. A moment later Ser Gerold had lent his white cloak to the King to be placed around her shoulders.
As the shroud of the cloak fell around her she was overcome by this feeling of safety she couldn't quite describe, a memory of a distant father who was once caring.
A waterskin was shoved in her hands by the King, a momentary solace she was glad for. She took a moment to collect herself, seeing a crowd slowly forming around them in the dark of the night. She took a peer behind her to see Rodrik and other Stark guardsmen not far behind forming a protective arch around her.
"My Lady?"
She focused on the voice speaking to her, the momentary relief not enough to drone out the increasing trepidation that her actions had started realizing to her.
Perhaps noticing her fear, His Grace beckoned her to sit by him. A crowd had started to form around them. She peered at the King only to receive a questioning gaze in return. Slowly, she mustered up the courage to start speaking.
"Your Grace, I must bring to light a great depravity visited upon a woman of my retinue, a crime so foul that it's retelling brings tears to my eyes."
Upon further prodding, she impassionedly retold the entire events as best as she could, when the crime itself was divulged she saw the King's eyes narrowing. There was a shuffle of mail in the back as Ser Gerold's grip on the hilt tightened, it was clear that the Knight was barely keeping his emotions in check, the fact that such grievous crimes could happen with the King in proximity was an offense to the royal image. If a woman was powerless in even a King's camp, could she truly be safe anywhere else?
Just as she had finished her plea, they all heard the hooves of several horses pounding toward them. It was Robert, someone had alerted him.
"Lya!" he called out to her in concern before making a few big strides to engulf her in his arms. She didn't protest the sudden intimate action. Welcoming the warmth her betrothed brought she put her head against his shoulder, uncaring of who saw.
Her tears were distressing him, "I heard something had happened, I couldn't bear the thought of you coming to hurt," Robert turned her face gently so it peered at him. He was angry, it was clear to see the intent of vengeance in his eyes, "Who did this to you?"
"I'm not hurt Robert, I came seeking justice for my retainer, she was grievously wronged," she wondered if the matter could be solved by Robert since the alleged criminal was a Knight in his retinue.
"Oh."
The warmth left her, to her disappointment. Robert calmed down as if his actions a while ago were mummery. He left the embrace to stand beside her, greeting the king and awkwardly waiting for further developments.
The sudden change hurt her greatly, did he not care for a woman of her household?
"Lord Baratheon," the King affirmed without the familiarity, "Lady Stark accuses a Knight in your retinue of rape of a woman belonging to her household servants, she speaks of a Meryn Trant being the accused. What would you opine of his character?"
Robert simply stood there as if he wasn't sure of what he was to do, "Your Grace I must confess to not knowing much about the Ser, but I would at the very least ask for proof before allowing accusations against my bannermen," he gave her a pleading side look.
'He doubts my words?', was the man who'd courted her these past days but a facade?
As if sensing her thoughts, he leaned towards her, muttering in hushed words as the King deliberated, "Lya, you must understand, the Trants are one of my principal bannermen, I can't accuse a man of such stature without inciting my bannermen to revolt."
She faced him furiously, glaring at him, "You would not trust my word? Your Bannerman mocked the assurance the Starks provide to the people of their safety, no, if I let this go I would not be able to live with myself!"
"Lya, I would recompense for the damage the lady has gone through for her troubles, but I cannot accuse an anointed Knight over the words of a smallfolk woman!"
He placed his arm on her shoulder in what he thought was a reassuring gesture but she shook him off, when he tried again Ser Rodrik made to stand between them, an unspoken warning not to advance. Robert recoiled as if she had pushed him away.
"I thought you were a better man than this Lord Baratheon," she refused to acknowledge his spirited protests in return and turned her gaze away from him, battling the anger, frustration and regret pooling in her in a chaotic mix.
The King seemed mute, lost in his thoughts, Ser Gerold was faintly advising him, she could hear parts of it clearly.
"Your Grace, we cannot let this ignominy pass!"
The King beckoned Robert forth. Her betrothed stepped forward with a stagger and came to stop a respectful distance away from his gaze. Under the eyes of the gathered people His Grace declared, "Lord Baratheon, I command you to summon this Meryn Trant to defend himself."
Robert hesitated some more, looking anything but the confident young leader he often portrayed himself to be, before asking the King's leave to carry out his commands. As he retreated she could feel his gaze imploring her to forgive him however she fought the urge to give in. His indecision had hurt her greatly.
A voice spoke in her head, 'What would Prince Rhaegar have done in a situation such as this,' she pushed the intrusive unbidden feeling aside, not knowing why such a strange thought had invaded her so suddenly.
It was not long after that the false knight showed up behind the returning Baratheon, taking off his helmet with urgency and taking a knee in front of His Grace. Her first look upon him confirmed all her suspicions that they had not mistaken their accusation, Trant had droopy eyes, the look of a brute and as he rose up after the King's acknowledgment she spotted a sly smirk on his face.
"Ser Meryn," the King began, "A woman from Lady Stark's retinue here levies a grave accusation of rape and battery upon you. When I voiced this accusation to your Liege he raised his concerns about the authenticity of the claims and I am of a mind to agree with him, I cannot let any crime pass by the eyes of justice, but I cannot judge a man without hearing what he has to say for himself either. So, here in the midst of this gathered crowd, I would implore you to say your defense. I assure you, no action should be taken till I have heard from both sides of this heinous accusation."
"The woman lies Your Grace," roared the false knight, "Lady Stark seems to be a fine leader of her people but I'm afraid she has been laid astray in her accusation. His Grace can't simply believe, that I a Knight would go seeking out some lowborn whore in the dark of the night like a base criminal? No, Your Grace, the woman lies, I suspect her to be an opportunistic chit looking for some gold in return for these accusations but I won't part with nary a dime, my fellow Sers would vouch for my character!"
Loud voices of assent from the Stormlands bunch only made him smile brighter.
Her desperation made her lose control of herself, turning towards the King, she pleaded, "I only ask for a fair trial, Your Grace, a chance to protect those I am supposed to."
Robert wouldn't look her in the eyes, Rodrik seemed resigned.
It seemed as if there was no justice in the world.
And then, a regal voice spoke through the darkness,
"There will be a trail."
As all the chaos unfolded around her, Robert stood mute and disheartened as he helplessly watched his Knights openly yell their discontent at the unthinkable thought that the King would believe the words of a commoner against the firm conviction of their fellow knight. Meryn Trant stood shocked on the spot before turning around to converse with his Liege in hushed yet furious words.
As Lyanna took a while to gather herself she felt the tears flow again, but this time with happiness.
Slowly she triumphantly turned to look towards her retinue. Newfound looks of respect gazed back at her.
