Lydia
Since King Robert arrived, he insisted on visiting the crypts every night and every morning to pay his respects to Lydia's beloved aunt Lyanna. Everyone could see he still missed her, and the person who saw this clearest of all was Cersei Lannister. Since the royal family arrived, Lydia couldn't seem to escape the golden haired family that called themselves lions. They weren't lions. They were more like snakes, creatures slithering around in secret and just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Lydia hated all of them.
King Robert had spoken to her father about him becoming his new hand of the king and joining their houses through a marriage between Prince Joffrey and Sansa. Lydia didn't know Joffrey very well, but something about his smashed little pug faced just rubbed her the wrong way. When Sansa caught wind of this arrangement, however, she was ecstatic.
Lady Stark combed through Sansa's long auburn locks while Sansa gazed at herself in the mirror. She's too pretty for a thirteen year old, thought Lydia. It's dangerous…
"Do you think Joffrey will like me?" Sansa asked both Lady Stark and Lydia. "What if he thinks I'm ugly?"
"If he calls you ugly, I'll rearrange his face," Lydia said coolly.
"Lydia!" Their mother snapped. Then she added kindly to Sansa: "If he thinks you're ugly, then he is the stupidest prince that ever lived."
"And he enjoys the company of men over women," Lydia just had to add.
Luckily no one seemed to hear her.
"He's so handsome," Sansa said, and Lydia saw her mother roll her eyes at the remark. "When would we be married? Soon or do we have to wait?"
"Hush now," Lady Stark said. "Your father hasn't even said yes."
"Why would he say no? He'd be the second most powerful man in the kingdoms," Sansa said, turning her head to stare at her mother.
"He'd have to leave home. He'd have to leave me. And so would you," Catelyn said.
"You left your home to come here," Sansa pointed out. "And I'd be queen someday. Please make father say yes. I'm sure I could come and visit! Lydia could even come with me to the capital! Please, mother!"
Lydia bristled, wanting nothing to do with the capital. Though she'd never say a word, she secretly hoped Sansa didn't catch Joffrey's attention.
"Sansa…" Lady Stark said.
"Please, please! It's the only thing I ever wanted!" Sansa cried.
Something stirred in Lydia's gut like she'd eaten Jon's cooking. The idea of Sansa being married into the Lannister family upset her more than she could express.
That night they had a feast. Jon wasn't invited of course, but all the Lannisters were there and King Robert as well. Sansa wore a dress she'd sewn herself just for the occasion. The place was loud and bustling with noise, and many plates of food were being hauled around by servants. Lydia sat with Arya and watched Sansa talk animatedly with her good friend, Jeyne Poole. At another table she spotted the Lannister bitch and the serving girl, Miriam. She smiled to herself. It seemed Miriam was doing what she wanted her to do. She expected a report later on everything Leila had said.
Queen Cersei and Lydia's mother sat together at the top table. Cersei looked out of her element. The two didn't speak, but both watched the King.
King Robert had found a good time with a pretty young serving girl. He put his face in her cleavage, and she giggled. Lydia frowned. Wasn't this man her father's best friend? How could he do that in front of his wife? Even though Lydia didn't like Cersei much, it still seemed harsh.
Lydia noticed that the Kingslayer wasn't at supper either, and the imp was missing too. Her father was also absent. Lydia wished at times like this the world knew she was a bastard so she could be outside with Jon.
Lydia narrowed her eyes when King Robert made his way for Leila's and Miriam's table. Leila and Miriam acknowledged the King with bows of their heads, and the King immediately sat next to Miriam and put his arm around her. Miriam seemed uncomfortable, and Lydia nearly stood up, but she was surprised when Leila actually stood up for the maid.
"Your grace," Leila said firmly. "If you would be so kind as to take your grimy hands off my friend here…"
"A girl knows when to please her king!" King Robert slurred. He was clearly drunk.
"And a good King knows when he should listen to a daughter of Tywin Lannister," Leila said, narrowing her eyes. "You have an audience here, your grace. You need loyal subjects to rule."
"Fucking Lannisters," King Robert spat, but he did leave them.
Lydia blinked, actually a little impressed with Leila's boldness. She still didn't want her to be a member of her family, but at least she got the king away from Miriam. The two went back to talking and King Robert found another girl, further away from Leila's table.
"Is this your first time in the North, your grace?" Lady Stark said awkwardly, probably out of desperation.
"Yes, lovely country," Cersei answered.
Their eyes landed on Sansa.
"I'm sure it's very grim, after King's Landing. I remember how scared I was when Ned brought me up here for the first time," Lady Stark went on.
Just then Sansa left her friend and went to Lydia's and Arya's table.
"Come with me, please," she whispered to Lydia while Arya rolled her eyes.
"Why do you want to see that hag?" Arya hissed.
"Arya!" Sansa snapped.
"Alright, you two. I'll go with you to meet the Queen, but you're doing the talking," Lydia said.
She stood up and together they went and approached their mother and the Queen. Though Lydia knew how much Sansa wanted to please the royal family, she hoped she'd mess up and not give a good impression.
When Sansa smiled shyly at Cersei, Cersei said: "Hello, little dove. But you are a beauty. How old are you?"
"Thirteen, your grace," Sansa answered.
Too young to marry your ugly boy.
"You're tall," the Queen said kindly. "Still growing?"
"I think so, your grace."
"And have you bled yet?"
"No, your grace."
Lydia smiled to herself. She'd forgotten that little detail. As long as Sansa couldn't bear children, she wouldn't be marrying Prince Joffrey.
"And your dress…did you make it?" Queen Cersei asked.
Sansa nodded vigorously.
"Such talent. You must make something for me," Queen Cersei said.
Sansa's eyes lit up and she departed. Lydia didn't go back to Arya's table for a moment. Cersei turned to Catelyn.
"I hear we might share a grandchild someday," she said.
"I hear the same," said Lady Stark.
"Your daughter will do well in the capital. Such a beauty shouldn't stay hidden up here forever," said Cersei, watching as Joffrey smiled across the room at a shy Sansa.
The Queen glanced over at Lydia.
"My, you're a pretty one too," she mentioned. "Robert said you looked just like Lyanna. A compliment! I hear Lady Lyanna was very, very beautiful."
"I've heard that too," Lydia replied. She didn't feel shy like Sansa had. "I hear she was also a huntress and that men didn't mess with her."
"Yes, she was certainly a wild thing," Cersei agreed. "'Tis a shame what became of her. She was so young."
Though the Queen smiled nicely, Lydia felt a shiver pass up her spine. All of a sudden they heard a gasp, and they all turned to see Sansa with food dripping off her face. A grinning Arya held up a dirtied but empty spoon like a catapult.
"Oh no," Catelyn muttered.
Lydia did feel bad for Sansa, but she was more impressed with Arya's prank to really be too mad about it. Her mother caught Robb's eyes in the crowd and glared at him. He'd been laughing, but he sobered when he saw Lady Stark's cold glare. He then went over and picked up Arya and took her outside.
"I don't know what to do with them," Lady Stark said to Queen Cersei and Lydia.
"Children can difficult at times," Cersei said consolingly.
"Lydia," Lady Stark said. "Would you be so kind as to make sure Sansa's alright? Tell her that her sister meant no harm. Robb shall deal with Arya."
"Yes, mother," Lydia said obediently and left their presence to help out her sister.
It took a while to calm down Sansa and wash her dress off, but the evening finished with no major tragedies. Lydia kept an eye on Leila and was confused by how well she seemed to get along with and treat her serving girl. The Kingslayer and the imp never showed up either for the feast.
The following day, Lydia woke bright and early and left her room. She hoped to find Miriam to ask her what she and Leila talked about during supper. When she went outside, she saw her father and Robert walking together. King Robert actually looked sober for once and the two laughed.
It's like he's two people at the same time.
Lydia passed by a pig pin and had to take a double take when she saw Joffrey's guard, the hideously burned "Hound" talking to the pigs. That can't be right. She got closer and saw that he was actually talking with the imp Lannister. The imp's clothes were stained with wine, and he smiled a toothy smile at the Hound, who didn't seem all that impressed with him.
Lydia didn't know Tyrion Lannister very well, but she automatically didn't think much of him as he too was a Lannister. Finding him hung over and in a pig pen didn't do much for his image either. What an ugly little man, she thought to herself. She walked away from the scene, deciding that if she really wanted to get to know Tyrion that she'd do it when he was sober.
As she walked, she berated herself. She should have given Miriam a meeting place. Now she had no idea where to actually find her. She could have been anywhere.
Just then a loud howl reached Lydia's ears. She spun on the spot and saw Bran's direwolf, Summer, running toward her and howling. She automatically took a step back. She'd never seen a wolf so insane before. Winter Wind burst out of nowhere and jumped in front of Lydia and growled threateningly at Summer. Lydia thought it strange that Summer wasn't with Bran. He was always with Bran…
Summer looked at Lydia and howled loudly again. Winter snarled, but Lydia put a hand on her head. She walked over to Summer, and he licked her hand. The wolf whimpered and turned to leave. Lydia and Winter followed after him. An unsettling feeling overcame Lydia as she followed Bran's wolf.
The wolf stopped abruptly and moaned. Lydia and Winter also stopped, and her eyes widened. She ran forward and panicked.
Bran was lying on the ground at the base of the highest tower. His legs were sprawled in a funny position and he was unconscious. Blood leaked from his ears onto the ground. Lydia rushed to his side and propped his head up.
"Bran!" She cried.
There was no answer. She checked for a pulse but found nothing.
"Bran! Wake up!" She cried desperately. The blood from his ears drained out onto her hands. She bit her lip and tried waking Bran again, but he didn't move. "Oh gods…he fell from the tower…" Lydia looked up at it and realized how foreboding it looked. "Bran! Damn it all! Open your eyes!"
When he still didn't move an inch, she turned to Winter and Summer.
"Get my parents now!" She cried. "Now!"
The wolves ran off together and Lydia tried in vain to help Bran once more.
