So no future events at the start of this one so it's a shorter chapter. There probably will be a few chapters here and there without the timeline jump. I would say it was on purpose but I'm really just too lazy to skip around in the show and the books to write a future part for this chapter.

BrittStar1199: It's definitely going to be an interesting progression. When I first started writing this story I couldn't get it started so I jumped ahead and wrote I think over 12,000 words worth of future events later on in the story just to get some momentum with it. Definitely going to be interesting getting to the point when those events start playing out.

CJPost: Thank you so much! This one will probably be slow to update cause I've got like two other stories that I'm working on at the same time and the GOT ones seem to take more effort to write cause there's a lot of researching and such that goes on. But it will be updating sporadically at least until I finish one of the other ones.

geethika98: Thank you! I'm glad you're intrigued. I originally didn't plan on doing that past the first chapter, but then I just decided it would be more interesting, but then realized I had to jump around in research as well which has proven to be a bit of a hassle, hence why this chapter I skipped out on adding a future timeline plot point. More to come though!

Guest: Ugh Robert hate is mutual here. Like, as far as characters in GOT goes, he's far from the worst but it's still so easy to hate him. And, the Jory plot will be answered in this part!


Lyra carries the plate of hot food up the stairs to Bran's room. Two days and still Bran's condition had not changed. Her mother insisted on being by his side, forgoing her duties to sit with Bran and watch over him. She understood her mother's need to be by Bran's side. She was tempted to stay with him as well, but she knew someone had to take up her mother's duties while she was neglecting them. It was a good thing she paid more attention to her mother's lessons than she did her needlework.

Lyra pushes the door open, warm air greeting her from inside. A fire was kept burning and her mother kept the shutters closed. Her mother pays her no attention as she enters the room, setting the plate down right next to the untouched one on the desk. She turns to face her mother and Bran, her mother's hands busy making a prayer wheel. Lyra moves over to her mother, sitting on the edge of Bran's bed.

"Mother, you need to eat something."

Her mother shakes her head. "I can't let anything happen to him."

"Nothing is going to happen to him. Bran is the strongest of all of us. You won't do any good wasting away."

Her mother finally looks up at her, her hands stilling. She looks tired, exhausted. She knows her mother isn't sleeping. Her mother had always been put together, always the most presentable woman in the castle. Seeing her so undone forms a lump in Lyra's throat. They were all on edge, all waiting for Bran's condition to change. The reality of how hard her mother was taking it finally hit home sitting in front of her.

"Perhaps you're right." Her mother takes her hand. Despite the warmth of the room, her hands are cold. "I'd do it for any of you."

Lyra nods. "I know." She squeezes her mother's hand. "Bran will be alright."


"He's going to die, isn't he?" Arya asks as Lyra runs a brush through her hair.

"No, little wolf. Bran is not going to die."

"Why won't he wake up? Maester Luwin says he'll wake up but he never knows when."

"Bran was hurt badly. His body needs time to heal, and so he needs plenty of rest while it happens." Lyra sets the brush down, squeezing her sister's shoulder. "He'll be alright. It will take time, but he will be alright."

Arya turns, looking up at her. "How do you know?"

Lyra kneels down in front of her sister. "Because I have faith in Bran's strength."

Arya wraps her arms around Lyra, holding onto her. Lyra holds Arya close, letting her sister draw the comfort she needs.

"Will you stay with me?" Arya asks after a few moments.

Lyra nods. "Of course."

She stands, shooing the two direwolves off the end of the bed before turning the blankets down. She climbs in first before holding an arm out to Arya. Arya climbs in beside her, snuggling close. Lyra hadn't stayed with Arya since she was much younger. Robb and Jon loved to terrorize her with scary stories until she wouldn't sleep unless someone was with her. Soon she was the one telling the scary stories to Bran and Rickon and no longer needed her older sister there to protect her.

They're silent for a while, Arya holding onto Lyra, both of them watching the light of the fire flickering on the ceiling. The door creaks as it opens, Sansa sticking her head in.

"I couldn't sleep." She whispers, Lady sticking her nose in the door as well.

Lyra holds an arm out to her, Sansa and Lady entering Arya's room. Lady joins Nymeria and Winter in front of the fire, Sansa joining her sisters in bed. Lyra pulls her close too, holding them both.

"I'm scared for Bran." Sansa says, resting her head against Lyra's shoulder.

"I know. And it's okay to be scared. But we have to be hopeful that he will wake. He's strong, but he needs us to be strong too."

It's silent for a few moments, none of them remotely tired.

"Father said you're not going South with us." Sansa finally breaks the silence.

Lyra shakes her head. "Not right away. King Robert is delaying the wedding so I can be here with mother and Bran. But I'll be there with you soon."

"And then you'll be married. A real lady, married to the King's brother." Sansa says.

The idea has a pit forming in Lyra's stomach. She hadn't thought about the true meaning of her engagement since the night she overheard her father and the king speaking. She would be forced to go South, get married and it would be a long time before she got to see her family again. Everything her life had been leading up to, everything she'd been trained for growing up and now it was looming ever closer.

Lyra squeezes her sisters closer for a moment. "That's right. But no matter what happens, I'll still be your big sister."


Lyra jolts awake as the door to Arya's room opens. She blinks back the bleariness from her eyes, turning to the doorway.

"There you three are. Two beds empty and no sign of any of you." Septa Mordane makes her way into the room, both Arya and Sansa groaning next to her. "Breakfast is already being served in the hall. You need to eat and then pack your things."

Lyra sits up as Arya and Sansa rise at Septa Mordane's orders. She groans, stretching her sore shoulders. She hadn't moved at all last night, and wasn't even sure when she'd fallen asleep, but she knows it couldn't have been long before the rude awakening.

Lyra hurries to her room to change, Winter at her heels as she makes her way down to breakfast. Robb is trying to coax Rickon to eat anything as she arrives, her father and most of the normal company that were at their table were gone. It was going to be the norm for them now, once everyone left for King's Landing.

"Rickon, you have to eat something." Robb lets out an exasperated breath, looking up to her for help.

Rickon pouts, mumbling under his breath.

Lyra sits down at the table on Rickon's other side, running a hand through his hair. "Rickon, dear, you have to eat something."

"I don't want them to leave."

"I know. None of us do. But sometimes we have to do things we don't want."

He looks up at her, tears in his eyes. "I don't want you to leave either."

She smiles down at him. "I'm not going anywhere. Not until Bran gets better." She grabs a piece of sweetbread, putting it on his plate. "But then, you can come and visit whenever you want. But you have to eat so the next time I see you, you'll be all big and strong."

Rickon smiles, grabbing the sweetbread and taking a bite. Robb gives her a grateful look over his head, finishing his own breakfast. Lyra finds she doesn't have much of an appetite either. She had managed to put off meeting her fate for a bit longer, but she knew she was running on borrowed time. Eventually she would have to go South and get married, leave the North and her family forever. At least marrying Renly she would be in King's Landing with her father and sisters.

But the thought of being in King's Landing has a pit forming in her stomach.

Lyra isn't stupid. She knows what her father accepting the King's proposition means. She knows the gravity of his decision. Something was stirring, and Bran's fall only added to the foreboding feeling she hadn't been able to shake since the day the King arrived. Perhaps it was the stress she found herself under. Her sudden engagement and Bran's situation, her family splitting itself apart. Lyra feels as if her entire world has been turned on its head, but at least she had delayed her own departure, if only for a few weeks. She had more time to prepare herself for the reality of the new life facing her. More time to prepare herself to say goodbye to Robb.

Lyra shoves her looming thoughts aside, grabbing a piece of sweetbread before leaving the hall. She had someone she had to say goodbye to.


Lyra pants softly, her back damp from the dew in the grass she was laying on. He had been waiting for her in the far corner of the Godswood, a common place they met. His lips are on her neck, body pressed against hers.

"Gods I'm going to miss you." She breathes, moaning softly as Jory nips at the junction of her neck and shoulder. The cold air is making goosebumps form on her skin, the top few clasps of her dress undone, revealing the milky skin underneath.

"You'll see me again." He says, lips tracing the line of her collarbone.

"It'll be more dangerous, then." She wraps her arms around his neck. "Not to mention I'll be married shortly after I arrive."

Jory grins up at her. "Plenty of lords and ladies have lovers."

Lyra can't help but smile. "And you think you're worthy of that honor?"

He stares at her for a moment before shaking his head. "No. I never was, I knew that from the start. You were supposed to be entirely untouchable to someone like me."

"But still it happened. Do you regret it?"

He shakes his head. "Not for a moment."

He kisses her again, but there's a finality to this kiss. Lyra knows even though she'll be reunited with him in a matter of weeks, their relationship could not continue. Not in as dangerous a place as King's Landing. Not when she was now betrothed.

"I am going to miss you." Lyra whispers, feeling tears prick behind her eyes despite everything she'd told herself on her walk to the Godswood.

Jory rests his forehead against hers, both of them breathing in each other for possibly the last time. "As will I."

He helps her stand, Lyra reclasping her dress and smoothing out her skirts. Jory takes her hand, bowing to place a kiss on her knuckles. "I will see you again."

He turns to leave, but Lyra stops him. "Jory?" He turns to face her. "Watch after my father. And my sisters."

He gives her a small bow. "Of course, my lady." He turns his back, making his way out of the Godswood for the last time.

Lyra watches him disappear among the trees, a stray tear sliding down her cheek.