A/N: Here is it Chapter 5. In the next couple of chapters, we will probably be moving the story away from Westeros and Kings Landing and towards Daenerys. There will be loss in this chapter. Hopefully I do okay. Read on! For those who enjoy Clexa from The 100, you should check out A New Plan, A New Way by RealaCarsona. It's fantastic!


Lyanna stared up at her ceiling with tired eyes. She had no slept more than few hours last night. Everyone was too preoccupied with Bran and on top of that, her father's new position. They would all be leaving soon, her father and both sisters would follow the King and Queen south. While Jon would be going north to the Wall to take the Black. Shadow was snuggled against her side, the young companion offering her silent comfort. Lyanna got up and put on a pair of trousers and a tunic. Not fancy but functional, washing her face with some water from a basin. She had finished packing her belongings sometime in the middle of the night while sleep was elusive.

Both Lyanna and Shadow walked quietly down the stairs to the kitchen. The cooks would have already started breakfast, especially with the King and his family still in Winterfell. Grabbing a several slices of bacon and a warm loaf of bread, she left with a friendly smile to the cooks. Throwing a few slices of bacon to Shadow who ate them hurriedly, Lyanna shook her head at the young wolf.

"I hope you remember this day when I'm starving and in need of food." She leaned down and scratched Shadow's head. She walked up to one of the upper walkways. Looking out over the lands of her father, or rather her brothers as soon as they left, she couldn't help but miss this land already. Not only the land but the people as well. She could leave and travel, but this was her home. It would always be the place she longed for. Some day she would be back, but who would she be when she came home. Would she still be the same, would she even be alive?

Finishing off the last of the bacon and bread, she dusted her hands off on her pants and got up. It was time to put aside things she could not control from her mind. It was time to move forward and face the future.


"I can see why it takes him a month to get from Kings Landing to Winterfell" Lyanna muttered darkly under her breath. By all the Old Gods and the New, the King's party moved as fast as a herd of sheep. She had been sitting atop Little Warrior for more than 20 minutes while waiting to leave. Her father's first order to his new squire was to take the rear and protect all the King and Queen's stuff.

She had said goodbye to little Rickon, telling him to look after their mother. Bran was still asleep but alive, he was a clever boy and would pull through this. Her mother hugged her and told her to make sure her father didn't over do himself. She would still not leave Bran's side until he awoke from his sleep. Lyanna's parting with Robb had been quiet but heartfelt. They hugged one another, for they were twins and would always be connected.

"Don't make me come back up here and knock your head around Brother. Your Lord Stark now, please make sure I have a place to come home to." She told him quietly. He simply smiled and nodded his head. Words were never needed between them. Winterfell was in good hands.

Finally riding outside the gate, she saw Jon and her father talking before they began to separate. She had one last goodbye to give.

"Jon," she called out to him to get him to stop "wait I have something for you." He gave her a bewildered stare. Pulling up to him she pulled out a small piece of cloth. Unfolding the small parcel, he discovered a small patch of material. It was the sigil of House Stark, the Direwolf. He looked at her with wide eyes, this small piece of fabric and string was a greater symbol than any he had received since arriving at Winterfell. She had accepted him as a Stark, even when no other would.

"I know when you take the black, you renounce all previous lives, but while you forge yourself a new future Jon, never forget where you come from. You are Stark to me, little brother." She smiled at him and nudged Little Warrior after the convoy leaving south, Shadow not far behind at all. "Next time we meet Jon, let's catch up over amazing stories."


It had almost been 3 weeks of constant traveling, then stopping because the King or Queen and their children couldn't go on any longer. She had kept her word, following her father's orders as his squire, it didn't require much that they were on the road escorting the King. Thankfully, they would arrive at the Crossroad Inn tonight and then not leave again until the day after tomorrow to give the horses a break before the final crossing into the Riverlands and the last stretch of road before Kings Landing.

The only wrinkle in the peaceful traveling came in the form of a small piece of parchment the King had handed to her father while they had stopped for lunch one day. Lyanna was curious about this Daenerys Targaryen, she was a survivor of King Robert's rebellion. She had married a Dothraki horselord. Her father worried that the King may lose his honor if he sent assassins. Lyanna could only hope along with her father that King Robert didn't lose his honor.

The next day after making sure her father had no more work for her to do, she left telling him that she wished to see the famous ruby ford just south of the inn. Riding Little Warrior to the ford was slow and peaceful, getting down off her mount and letting him graze. Ruby ford, named so for the rubies that fell from Prince Rhaegar Targaryen breastplate during the Battle of the Trident. Even now, folks would come to the small river and look for them. She heard splashing and laughter and looked down river to see Arya and an older boy, Mycah the butchers boy, looking closely at the river to find one.

Hearing a small bark, she looked down to see Nymeria, Arya's direwolf, she smiled and scratched her head. She sent Nymeria and Shadow off to go wander the woods and explore while she watched Arya. Apparently, they had become bored with trying to find the elusive treasure and had each grabbed a stick. No doubt about it, Arya took after her, shouting a war cry at Mycah and slashing her stick at him.

She was so distracted by watching her little sister fight, remembering to tell her how next time to find her center, not move around so much. Hearing another voice approach from behind her, she turned around and saw the Prince and Sansa walking along, and apparently sharing some wine. She didn't like that the Prince was dishonoring her father by disregarding his rules around wine, but for now she would remain silent and let him talk.

Lyanna was not the only one distracted. Looking back, Arya completely forgot to keep her stick raised and was struck in the arm. She cried out in momentary pain, causing Joffery and Sansa to look over at the pair. The look in Joffery's eyes did not sit well with Lyanna, there was something sinister and cruel in them, still small but it was enough to scare her.

Joffery pulled out his sword and began to walk towards Mycah. He was dangerous with his attitude and with wine in him. When he started to cut Mycah across his creek, she stepped out to stop him.

"My Prince, it was my idea that they practice. My sister can never be too careful out in the world. If you could release him to my care, I would be happy to explain to both of them the errors of my ways." She was patient with him, trying to reason while he had no bloodlust yet. Joffery turned back and looked at her, Sansa and Arya were quiet. Mycah was trying not to make a sound in case Joffery turned his cruelty back on him.

"Yes," Joffery replied slowly "yes see that you do teach your sister to be careful. However, this peasant boy has struck a noble and pretends he is some Knight. What good does it do anyone if we don't punish them for their wrongdoing?" He raised his sword and was about to strike when all hell broke loose.

Lyanna reached out and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him off balance. But in his wild swing, he turned around and started to swing at her. Unfortunately, with Little Warrior being so close to her, Joffery cut him, startling him enough that he screamed in fright and reared back kicking Joffery square in the chest, sending the boy flying into the ruby ford while losing his sword. Sansa was a mess, trying desperately to get to Joffery and make sure he was okay. Mycah had run at the first sign of Joffery no longer focusing on him and Arya had taken the Prince's sword and thrown it a little farther into the ford then Joffery.

Lyanna had to jump out of the way as Little Warrior was still bucking around recklessly. She couldn't get him to stop and calm down so that she could look at his wound. She was just barely aware of the Prince and her sister getting out of the water and almost running back to the inn, no doubt to tell the King and Queen what had happened. She didn't even notice Arya slip away and into the surrounding trees.

When Little Warrior had finally run out of energy and breath he finally stopped and immediately dropped onto the ground. Lyanna was close to tears, the cut had been clean but deep. But with all his thrashing about, it had ripped the wound almost down to the bone. She tried to think of anything that would be helpful but nothing would come to her. Gently cradling his head, she calmed him down as well as she could, crying freely into his fur.


Eddard Stark had been out searching for both his eldest and youngest daughter for the last several hours with no luck. Prince Joffery and Sansa had returned to the inn and immediately the Queen wanted someone to pay for the injury that her son suffered. The King had listened to his wife and son before he requested that both missing Stark girl be brought before him. He didn't like this, not only were his daughters missing and the Prince injured, a storm was also almost upon them. The wind had been picking up for the last hour, but he could smell rain coming.

"My lord, they've found Arya," Jory came shouting to Eddard "she was unharmed. She's been taken directly before the King and Queen. The Lannister guards found her."

"Everyone," Eddard shouted, barely holding the anger in his voice "get back. I said back to the Inn!" It wouldn't take long to get back to the Inn, but the rain was already starting to fall by the time he turned around.

Everyone was quiet as Eddard Stark barged into the room that held his two youngest daughters. He pushed his way through all of the Lannister guards to get to Arya, even while she apologized profusely. He looked around for Lyanna but could not see her anywhere, worried for her now with the storm already above them. He hugged both girls, asking them if they were hurt, before looking at his friend, the King.

"What's the meaning of this? Why was she not brought to me immediately?" Cersei almost sounded offended as she accused Eddard of insubordination. King Robert was not one to let a woman speak for him.

"I'm sorry if I frightened the girl Ned. But we need to get this business over with." Looking over at his son, he continued "My boy says that your daughter's steed attacked him while he was escorting Sansa on walk. Says the butcher's boy stole his sword and your youngest encouraged him further. "

"That's not true. Mycah and I were only playing, Your Grace. We didn't steal anything." Arya would not be kowtowed into submission simply by being in the King and Queen's presence. " I only wanted him to stop hurting Mycah when I took his sword and threw it away."

King Robert looked at the Prince in shock and shame. "You let this little girl disarm you?" Joffery could offer no reply that would end favorably for him and simply looked away. "Ned, you discipline your children and I'll do the same with mine. Children will be children after all." Eddard was willing to accept that judgment, the Queen was not satisfied.

"What about the beast that attacked Joffery, some men never live through being kicked by a horse, let alone someone of Joffery's size. It's a miracle he survived at all." She wanted blood, it didn't matter how, but Cersei wanted blood. King Robert sighed suddenly, as if he had aged a thousand years.

"I'm sorry Ned, I was the one who gifted her that stag. But a stag is no mount, get her a horse." The wicked smile of Queen Cersei spread like wild fire.

"Ser Ilyn, find the creature and destroy it." She ordered and the muted knight nodded his head before Eddard blocked his way.

"No, he may be your Sigil, but he is of the North. He deserves better than a butcher. Jory, take the girls to their rooms watch over them. I'll-" he was cut off by the door of the Inn banging open in protest. Lightning streaked across the entrance and illuminated a figure standing there, rain water dripping onto the floor. Lyanna Stark looked around the room as guards had swords drawn in defense of the royal family.

She walked slowly into the room and watched everyone part before her. Eddard waited patiently for her to come to him, but within arms' reach of her, he could not believe his eyes. Both of her arms and the front of her tunic were drenched in blood. Some of the blood was old, but still enough fresh blood to have him worried. She didn't look injured or afraid. Both hands were clenched tightly around objects and she was carrying a long package on her back.

"Here is the trophy of your great hunt, my Prince." She spoke without feeling, as if her soul wasn't there. She threw the objects in her right hand at his feet. Clattering against the wooden floor were the antlers of Little Warrior. Raising her left hand, she slowly unclenched it as ash began to seep through her fingers. Red and grey colored the floor next to the antlers.

"You also dropped your sword, I fished it from the river to bring it back to you." She pulled the package from her back and revealed the Prince's sword. Everyone was on edge as she held it out to him. Joffery was cautious as he approached her. When he was close enough to grab the handle, Lyanna pulled him close and whispered in his ear.

"The last Prince of King's Landing died at that river by your father's own hand. If you come after me or my family again, this wolf will tear your throat out." She let him go and couldn't stop the feral smile that adorned her face. Joffery face was pale and his eyes wide. She turned away from everyone and left the room, leaving all in silence.

"It's done then." King Robert commanded and left to retire.

A/N: Well, what do you guys think? I said there would be loss but I didn't want to lose the direwolves. I have plans for them. As always, review so I can know how I'm doing. Also, since this is a holiday weekend and I have it off, I've challenged myself to write another chapter within the next 2 days. Ja Ne.