A/N: So I'll be taking suggestions on the naming of Lyanna's new sword. Hopefully when I post this, it will actually say that I updated my story. I tried to figure out enough for this chapter to go with Episode 4, but honestly I couldn't find enough substance. So we'll be breaking away from King's Landing this chapter. Well, enjoy
When Lyanna finally finished thanking her father for a gift that she would never forget, she was told to take the next few days off. Deciding that now would be the perfect opportunity, she ran down to a secluded spot in the gardens to practice. It was a bit unnerving that so many people would walk through her little private area. They didn't do much, just walked through and watched her practice.
Her father had started to take Jory, captain of the guard, with him lately. When she had asked him of this, he had simply said that it would be safer this way. She shook herself of those thoughts and focused more on her new weapon. It was heavier than she was used to, but with time she would perfect it. The longer grip afforded her the use of either one-handed or a two-handed swing for extra strength. She could hack and slash as well as a long sword or she could thrust and enemy straight through like a lance or rapier.
Sansa and Arya came to her the next day to see if she would be accompany them to the tourney in honor of their father. Lyanna smiled at her two sisters and shook her head.
"Father has made it quite clear that he does not wish to indulge this expensive waste of money. As his squire, it is my job to support him until he releases me to watch them myself. However, you can do me a favor little sisters." Lyanna pulled out a small purse, it contained her last 5 golden dragons. "Take this with you to the gamblers tent and tell him that I wish to bet on Ser Loras Tyrell to beat Ser Gregor Clegane. I saw the official registry and if both win their first bouts, they will face each other." She purposely ignored the look that the Septa was giving her. Handing the pouch to Sansa, she sent them all on their way.
It was strange to her that they had been in the capital a month already. The tourney had been delayed a day due to the untimely death of a new knight, Ser Hugh if she wasn't mistaken. She watched the rest of her family seated along the first row of the arena and choose to instead stand next to a man that she had been curious about for quite some time. Ser Barristan Selmy had been somewhat of a hero to her and to be this close she had to talk to him.
"Excuse me, Ser Barristan?" Lyanna asked quietly as to not disrupt the king from his pastime "I was wondering if I could ask for a favor? My father tells me that grandfather quoted you as the best he had ever seen."
Barristan Selmy looked down and smiled at Lyanna. He could see the relation to Lord Stark and nodded at the compliment. Being in the Kingsguard did not afford him much opportunity to talk with young ladies. He spoke with a deep and wise voice, yet just a quiet as her.
"Your grandfather was a good man, what happened to him and your uncle was a true cruelty. What can I do for you young Lady Stark?"
"If you have time in the morning, I was wondering if you could help me with my sword training. I can practice from sun up to sun down, but unless I have an opponent to spar with, I'm afraid I'll never be as good as I could be. I seem to be unable to find anyone else who would spar with me for fear of injuring the Hand's daughter." Lyanna told him honestly.
Ser Barristan thought for a few minutes before looking back down at her. He seemed to be looking for something in her. Placing his hand on her shoulder he bent down and finally spoke again.
"As it happens, I am in charge of the morning sparring for half of the current Kingsguard. My second in command takes charge of the evening sparring. Come to the White Sword Tower half past sunrise everyday and I shall have you spar with the others. But be warned, I will not tolerate laziness or aloofness while we train. We are training to guard the king from all threats, it will be serious work. Do you understand?" Lyanna could not nod quickly enough in reply.
The crowd was extremely loud at that moment and it drew both of their attention to the arena. Ser Loras had unseated The Mountain, and now The Mountain was attacking him. The Hound was quick to jump in and defend the Knight of the Flowers. With 20 to 1 odds that The Mountain would remain undefeated, Ser Loras has just earned Lyanna 100 gold dragons.
"Thank you Ser Barristan. I shall see you tomorrow morning. I had better go collect my winnings before The Mountain comes back to finish off Ser Loras." She took a step back and bowed her head to him. Making her way to collect her money, she stopped and made sure her father or sister didn't need anything. Eddard only asked her to make sure that Arya's dancing lesson was going alright. Well watching her sister 'dance' couldn't be any more boring than full grown men trying to unseat the other.
Lyanna limped back to her room slowly the following morning. Ser Barristan had not lied when he said that it would be serious work to train with the Kingsguard. She was bruised in several places, but she had learned that she needed to be quicker with defense. She had asked that a bath be drawn so that she could ease her aching body before lunch.
Stripping off her dirtied clothes, Lyanna walked past a mirror and looked at her own reflection. She didn't consider herself a great beauty, this was her body and she had kept it well. It would still be years before she was finished growing, she didn't know what the end result would be. She sighed in bliss as she lowered herself into the bath. The water a perfect solution for her, luckily for her, she was not the only one who left the morning sparring with bruises.
A handmaiden came over to her to explain that lunch was ready and waiting in the next room and that she would have clothes laid out for her. Lyanna smiled and thanked the young lady. She was still not used to such glamorous surrounding. They had had servants at Winterfell, but Eddard had taught his children the value of doing things for themselves. Making their own fires to stay warm, drawing their own baths, and fetching their own food. In truth, she felt a little spoiled by the attention. But she promised herself to never take it for granted. She should have known that this small peace wouldn't last.
"I'm sorry, my Lady, but she was quite insistent to see you now." That was all the words that she was able to say before the Queen walked in right behind the handmaiden. She looked smug as usual, as if she had just made some joke that only she found funny. Lyanna asked for a towel and then told the girl to wait for her in the other room.
"It seems I caught you at a most inopportune time, little wolf." Cersei sat down on a chair that would leave Lyanna in full view from her spot. "I thought I might come back so that we may put this ugliness that happened on the Kingsroad behind us. I admit that my demand to kill your stag was a bit extreme. But sometimes we go to extremes to protect our children, maybe when you have some of your own you will understand this. I've come to collect on that favor you owe me."
Lyanna looked at the Queen with narrow eyes. Last time she was alone with the Queen it hadn't ended that well. Now Cersei had an even bigger advantage to using her nakedness against her. It was best to get this out of the way now and not prolong it. Lyanna grabbed her towel and stood up, she was quick to wrap it around her body, but she knew. The Queen had looked at her body without shame, the slim yet toned body, the budding breast, even the bruises that were beginning to fade were a delight in Cersei's eyes. The desire to take this little wolf and throw her onto the bed before ravaging her was a surprise to the Queen. Maybe it was because Lyanna didn't fear her, the thought of taking her and making her submit, to dominate her as only she could. But that wouldn't do with company right in the next room.
Lyanna felt uncomfortable with the Queen's shameless looking. But there was something else in her discomfort that she had not expected. She turned her head away from the Queen and blushed in realization. She was excited that the Queen looked, men had looked at her before but none like this. There was a hunger in the Queen's eyes and Lyanna didn't know what to make of it. Moving behind a divider, she quickly dressed so she could just hear what the Queen wanted and be on her way.
"I need you to ask your father to stop looking into Jon Arryn's passing. He is trying to find an answer to something that has no answer. Would you do this for me, little wolf?" Cersei had come over to her when she walked out from behind the divider fully dress and gently caressed her cheek. Lyanna blushed but didn't move away, she was losing against the Queen again.
"I'm afraid," she told the Queen before backing away "that would a wasted favor, Your Grace. You see my father believes that something happened. He will be duty bound to follow this trail until he is satisfied. And truthfully, nothing I can say or do will dissuade him from this path. I am sorry." She led the Queen into the other room and quietly waited to see what would next happen.
"Well then, I guess I shall have to hold onto this debt just a little longer. You know what they say about Lannisters and debts, I should hope you mean not to slip from this. I'll leave you to your lunch" Cersei walked out of the chambers both angry and happy. Anger from the continued annoyance that was Eddard Stark looking into Jon Arryn's death. Yet the view of the young wolf was almost enough to wash it away. You slipped out of the trap this time, little wolf, but only by a hairs breadth Cersei thought to herself ruefully. That little wolf was truly making Cersei work hard for something.
After her lunch, Lyanna had decided that a nap was in order. Dealing with Cersei had taken more out of her than she had anticipated, more so than Ser Barristan sparring with her. Whistling softly, three sets of feet came running to her. Shadow, Nymeria and Lady all bounded over and onto her bed with her. The direwolves had not had a pleasant time in King's Landing. Lady was almost in exile as Prince Joffery would not even talk to Sansa while Lady was present. Nymeria was too likely to attack and defend Arya from her dancing master. Poor Shadow was forced to stay in her chambers as her father wouldn't allow her into the small council meetings.
All three wolves had taken to sticking together and right now, Lyanna needed that closeness. Her nap didn't last long as a handmaiden knocked on the door and quickly told her that her father needed her at once. Lyanna got up and scratched all three companions on the head in thanks and promised a treat for each of them. They curled up into each other and proceeded to resume their nap without the heiress.
Walking to her father's chambers, she could see the look of absolute seriousness. She hadn't seen him look this grim since he had brought Theon Greyjoy to their home and told each of them that he was his new ward and that should his father rebel, Theon would lose his life. Whatever he had for her, he felt it was his duty and would not be swayed.
"I've just come from a small council meeting. Daenerys Targaryen is pregnant," Lyanna quickly schooled her face to cover her shock "the King had ordered me to send assassin's after this girl. My job as Hand of the King is to protect the realm but also to protect the King, even from himself. I have turned in my badge and we shall be leaving for Winterfell soon. However, I cannot in good conscience leave this to Robert and the nest of vipers." He turned to her and made sure he had her complete attention. To everyone else, these words would be treasonous. But to the Starks of Winterfell, this was Duty and Honor, things that were worth dying for.
"I shall be taking Sansa and Arya home. In a few months, Sansa will be back to marry the Prince. However, I need you, my eldest to carry out a mission of great importance. You are the only one I can trust and on your shoulders it will fall to carry this out until the end." Eddard put his hands on her shoulders and looked directly into her eyes. So that she would know the seriousness of this.
"Whatever you ask of me father, I am ready to serve." Eddard smiled and knew that his children would truly make this world a better place.
"To save the King from this dishonor on himself and from dishonoring us all. You shall cross the Narrow Sea and save the life of Daenerys Targaryen." This time, Lyanna couldn't stop her mouth from dropping open in disbelief.
A/N: Well what do you think? Review please
