I feel like this chapter is a little…blegh…but enjoy regardless!
Lydia
Lydia had plenty of things on her mind, and all she wanted to do was shoot an arrow, but unfortunately that wasn't an option. She was careful with Winter Wind, only bringing her out some of the time because she didn't want an excuse for someone to harm her. All she could think about was her mother's visit and what she had said. Tyrion Lannister, the imp, had tried to kill her brother, a boy of ten.
She remembered meeting the imp at Winterfell. He was a bit annoying and sounded like he was talking down to her, but she never expected murder from him. He didn't seem the type. Something wasn't adding up, but, like her mother, she felt like it was the Lannisters that had done it.
On top of that Lydia had become weary of the Mountain. She asked her father about him, and he didn't wish to go into detail. Then she asked about Petyr Baelish, and her father didn't want to go into that either. At the tourneys, Lord Baelish had kept his eye on Sansa the entire time. It never went by Lydia just how pretty Sansa was, and for being a girl of only thirteen, she was blooming quite quickly. A beautiful face and an ancient last name, add in Sansa's ignorance and naivety, and it was not a good combination. Though Sansa was still upset about Lady, Lydia knew she had to protect her.
While Lydia sat inside her room, scratching behind Winter's ears, the door opened up.
"Lydia," Lord Stark said.
"Father," Lydia replied. "Can I help you with something?"
"I'm looking for Arya. No one has seen her all day. She had her dancing lesson in the morning and no one has seen her since then," he explained. "Has she talked to you at all today?"
"She hasn't," Lydia said.
Her father reached inside a bag and pulled a large slab of meat, which he threw handed to Winter. She took it in her jaws and gleefully chewed on it.
"Leftovers Robert didn't want," Eddard said. "Damn it, Lydia, I'm worried! This isn't the sort of place for Arya to be runnin' around. She could get hurt. I'm sending men out to find her."
"I'll go look for her," Lydia volunteered. "I know her better than any of the guards. I will be able to find her."
"Lydia," Ned said sternly. "I don't want you getting lost in the capital. I don't want you hurt."
"I won't be hurt. I'm catching on to things much quicker here than Sansa or Arya. Winter will be able to smell Arya out anyways," she said. "I'll bring her back by evening, I swear it." She stood up and motioned at Winter. "Come on, Winter. Good day, father."
Outside, Lydia ordered Winter Wind to find Arya. She trusted her direwolf and followed her. Winter put her nose to the cobblestone and led Lydia through the gardens, then through the courtyard, and finally, they started leaving the Keep. Lydia glanced around nervously. She hadn't left the Keep, but if Arya was out in the city, she could be in danger.
Her thoughts darkened, imagining each and every scenario that could have occurred. She forgot where her feet were taking her, but after sometime, Winter Wind halted abruptly right at the gate separating them from Flea Bottom.
Just when Lydia was about to groan, wondering how in Westeros she'd find Arya in Flea Bottom, she spotted a familiar child with tangled hair and a dirty face. She let out a sigh of relief and stroked Winter's ears, grateful that Arya was unharmed.
There were two guards standing there, and when Arya approached them, one snapped: "Off with you. No begging."
Lydia clenched her fists and almost moved forward, but she paused when Arya spoke up.
"I'm not a beggar. I live here," she snapped.
"D'ya want a smack on your ear to help you with your hearing?" The other guard asked her.
"I want to see my father," said Arya indignantly.
"I want to fuck the Queen –or her sister –for all the good it does me," the guard who had spoken previously snickered.
"You want your father, boy? He's lying on the floor of some tavern, getting pissed on by his friends," the first guard said.
Lydia's ears rang. How dare they insult her lord father? She took a step forward, but Arya, even covered in dirt, came alive with the pride of a noble.
"My father is Hand of the King! I'm not a boy. I'm Arya Stark of Winterfell and if you lay a hand on me, my father will have both your heads on spikes! Now are you going to let me by or do I need to smack you on your ear to help with your hearing?" Arya's clear eyes bore straight into the guards'.
They were stunned into silence, but the effect didn't last long. Lydia sensed one getting ready to attack. Bloody cowards, she's a child! Lydia jumped in front of them, understanding that she wasn't armed, but it didn't matter. Winter would protect them.
"Touch her and I will decorate my windowsill with your heads," Lydia hissed. In her dress with her hair piled on top of her head, it was clear that she was a noble. The men backed off and stared. "Good work, boys. You're smarter than you look. I am Lydia Stark of Winterfell and I don't take well to lowly guards threatening my blood."
"Starks?" One gasped.
"Just like she said," Lydia growled. "Come on, Arya. Father has been looking for you like crazy."
She took Arya by the hand, and the two pushed by the stunned guards.
"Gods, Arya," Lydia said when they were out of earshot of the guards. "Why did you run away? What were you thinking? This place isn't safe, and you're filthy. I don't care if you roll around with the pigs, but you must realize you don't look like a Stark of Winterfell right now!"
"It wasn't my plan to get so dirty!" Arya snapped. "I was hiding!"
"Hiding from what?" Lydia asked.
"From some men I overheard. I heard them talk about father. They said they meant to kill him. I didn't want to be caught, so I ran away and hid, but I knew I'd have to tell father," she explained.
"Arya, who were those men?" Lydia asked, dropping her voice down low.
"I'm not sure, but I want to see father," she said.
Lydia's eyes widened for a moment, but then she picked up her pace, practically dragging Arya along with her. Who was threatening her father? The Lannisters? No, she thought. The imp had tried to kill Bran, but he wasn't acting on Lord Tywin's orders. Tywin was famed for his gold and his wits –he'd never start such a war. A war with the North would even harm the Lannister treasury. Then who wanted Eddard dead?
They ignored everyone around them and found themselves outside of their father's office. They knocked, and Jory was there, looking very relieved.
"Arya! Lydia! Thank the gods!" Jory said.
Lord Stark arose from his seat and crushed them both into hugs. He fretted over them and dismissed Jory. Lydia could see that her father was much stressed. He'd been through a lot since arriving in King's Landing. He sat down in his seat and peered at them over his desk.
"You know I had half my guard out searching for you? Even Lydia left the safety of the Keep to find you! You promised me this would stop," he said.
"They said they were going to kill you!" Arya piped up.
Ned raised an eyebrow at Lydia. "Who did?"
"I didn't see them, but I think one was fat," Arya insisted.
"Oh, Arya…" Eddard began.
"I'm not lying! They said you found the bastard and the wolves are fighting the lions and the savage…something about the savage…" she trailed off, clearly trying to remember what was said.
"Where did you hear this?" Eddard asked.
"In the dungeons, near the dragon skulls," she responded.
Both Lydia and Lord Stark cocked their eyebrows. Then Eddard asked her: "What were you doing in the dungeons?"
At this Arya looked down at her toes. She really did look like a beggar boy, Lydia thought.
"Chasing a cat," she said, slowly bringing her eyes back up to stare into her father's.
Lord Stark opened his mouth to speak, to probably tell Arya off, but before he could get a word out, they heard a loud knock at the door. All of them jumped, not having expected it. Then Jory pushed the door open, looking apologetic.
"Pardon, my Lord. There's a Night's Watchman here begging a word. He says it's urgent," said Jory.
Ned nodded his head approvingly, and a man entered the room.
"Your name, friend?" Eddard asked.
The man's hair was knotted and pinned back. His face was lined and partially covered by a black and grey beard.
"Yoren, if it pleases," the Night's Watchman said. "These must be your children. You have a lovely daughter. This must be your son. He has the look."
While he peered down at Arya, who had moved to her father's side, Lydia itched to ask him how Jon was doing. She stopped herself, though, because she knew that Jon had given up his family to serve. Technically, he was no longer her brother, even bastard brother.
"I'm a girl!" Arya piped up and knocked Lydia from her thoughts.
"Did Benjen send you?" Lord Stark asked.
Lydia's uncle Benjen was in the Night's Watch, but he'd gone on a journey and no one had heard from him for a while. He was in high standing as a ranger, so he could still visit them in Winterfell from time to time. That was rare for a man of the Night's Watch, though.
"No one sent me, my lord. But that's not why I disturb you now. Your brother, Benjen…his blood runs black, makes him as much my brother as yours. It's for his sake I rode here so hard I damn near killed my horse! There are others riding too. The whole city will know by tomorrow…" Yoren answered.
"Know what?" Lord Stark asked.
Yoren's eyes fell upon Lydia and Arya.
"Best said in private, my lord," Yoren said.
Ned glanced at his daughters. He nodded to Jory.
"Jory, take them safely to their rooms," Eddard said.
Lydia stepped forward and glared up at her father. He turned his back on her, and Jory escorted them toward the door.
"Father! I should hear!" Lydia hissed.
"You will go to your room! I will decide if this is something you should hear about later or not!" Lord Stark said.
Then Lydia was taken from the room. She could just barely hear Jory tell Arya: "Come along, my lady. You heard you father."
Outside Lord Stark's office, Arya looked up at Jory.
"How many guards does my father have?" She asked.
"Here in King's Landing? Fifty," he answered, grinning at her confidently.
"You wouldn't let anyone kill him, would you?" She asked.
"No fear on that count, little lady," Jory said. "Now, you two, off to your rooms."
Lydia scowled on the inside and went to her room just as Jory said, but when she was inside, she could hardly sit still. Her father had a lot of explaining to do. She couldn't believe that he had just kicked her out of the meeting. While she waited, Winter sensed her frustration and licked her hand. Did her father make her leave because he didn't think she could handle the truth? She wasn't some sheet of glass like Leila Lannister –she was a Stark of Winterfell!
But you should have been a Snow…
She pushed aside the very idea. Then she glared at the wall, losing track of the time.
After the gods only knew how long, there was a knock at the door. She jumped up, answered it, and then she glared at her father.
"You finally remembered me?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Lydia, please. That man may not have told me everything he did with your presence in the room," he said. "Let me in."
"Should I?" She mused.
"Lydia," her father said dangerously.
She wanted to make him suffer, but she was also curious, so she allowed him to enter her bedroom. Though it hadn't been too long since she saw her father, he looked like he'd aged in the last hours. He plopped down in her chair while she took to sitting on the bed.
"What's going on?" She asked. "Did he bring news of Jon?"
"No, it wasn't news of Jon; it was news of your mother. My wife has done some…things…not in our best interest," he answered.
"Mother? But what could she have done?" She asked.
Eddard lifted is head.
"Do you remember when we spoke in Lord Baelish's brothel? Do you remember when we spoke of the dagger that was used to try to kill Bran?" He began.
"Yes. It was the imp's dagger," Lydia said.
"Your mother met Tyrion Lannister at an inn on her way back to Winterfell. Seizing the opportunity for justice, she captured him and is now fighting to make him answer for his crimes," he said.
"But if he's guilty –" Lydia began.
"If he's guilty doesn't matter! He is Tywin Lannister's son! This could be very dangerous!" Eddard cried. "If only I could be there to protect her! I want him to be punished for his crimes just as much as she does, but it wasn't smart of her… We can't be fighting a war with Tywin Lannister! Things would get too complicated, especially since his daughter is to marry my son."
Lydia's heart raced, but she knew her father was right. This really had nothing to do with Robb and Leila. Tywin Lannister commanded many men. If someone hurt Tyrion, then, as they said, Tywin would repay his debts and come at them. Lydia got off the bed and went to her father, to rub his shoulders to help with the stress.
"Gods, what do I do? I'd send a raven, but I don't know where they are now," he moaned.
"Maybe you could explain to Lord Tywin," Lydia said. "Mother didn't understand the consequences of her actions. You could help him to know that. He wouldn't want a war either."
"I will have to think of something," he said. "In the meantime, I have a council meeting to get to. Thank you for finding your sister today and listening to me. Don't tell Arya or Sansa what you have heard."
"I won't," she said.
He stood up and went to the door, leaving her behind. She felt like she could be sick. Her father was tired. Didn't he ever get a break as the King had his fun? Her father had said the King never attended the meetings. Her father was taking care of everything. On top of that, how could her mother have captured Tyrion Lannister? Was she insane? Lydia bore no love for the dwarf after what she'd learned from Baelish, but she knew her mother was no match for the Lannisters! The single act could lead them into a war, and no one was prepared for one of those.
The next morning, Lydia was awoken by a commotion outside her bedroom. She pulled on a robe and swung open the door to find several guards stationed around her door.
"What is the meaning of this?" She asked.
"Your Lord father commanded it, milady," one answered.
"Let me by. I want to see him," she said.
"We cannot," he said. "There are men around your sisters' rooms as well."
Lydia frowned. "Where is my father? Send him here at once."
"He is busy, but he will come as soon as possible. For now, you're safest in your room, milady," he told her.
She looked over at Winter Wind and knew that no one could touch her with a direwolf by her side. She wished to argue further, but she shut the door and walked over to the bed. She kicked the bedframe and quickly regretted it.
There was another knock at the door and she hoped it was her father with some answers. Instead, Jory stood there. Though she would have rather seen Eddard, she still let out a sigh of relief.
"Jory, what is going on?" She asked.
"Your father sent me to prepare you and your sisters to go back to Winterfell," he said.
"Winterfell?" She stared. "But why?"
"My lady, you mustn't say a word… Your father is no longer the King's Hand," Jory said.
"How come?" She asked without thinking.
"He had a disagreement with the King. King Robert is frightened that the Targaryens could rise in power once again and threaten his rule," he explained. "Now's not the time, though. You need to get ready. How can I help you?"
"Hold it, Jory," Lydia cut him off. "Why is King Robert scared of the Targaryens? Their house is in ruins!"
"My lady, I shouldn't have said anything," he said.
"No, you said enough. I just don't get it. Since Ser Jaime slayed the Mad King and Prince Rhaegar was killed, there hasn't been an heir. Viserys and Daenerys are living in exile across the sea, so they're not threats –"
"Daenerys is now married to the powerful Khal of a Dothraki tribe, and she is with child. Robert wanted your father to kill her and the babe," Jory said quickly. "Oh gods, why did I say that? Listen, Lydia, this isn't something to talk about –"
"My father lost his title because he refused to slaughter a child?" She blinked. The Targaryens had brought her father nothing but grief, killing his father and his brother and sister, and yet he still went out of his way to protect them. "He could never hurt a child. My father is too honorable for that. If King Robert requests those sort of things of his Hand, it's probably better that my father not be his advisor."
She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about this Targaryen girl being pregnant, though. Lydia had studied House Targaryen with Septa Mordane and Maester Luwin before. She knew a lot about them, because their house had wiped out half of her house. The Targaryens ruled the Seven Kingdoms for many years, creating one of the most famous dynasties in history. What aided them in their conquest? Dragons. It was said they each had and even rode upon dragons…
"Get your things ready, my lady," Jory begged her.
She felt she'd gotten enough answers from the servant so she took to folding her dresses up and putting them out on the bed. Just then –
"My lord!" Jory gasped.
"Father!" Lydia said, whipping around.
"Jory, I need you to come with me," Lord Stark said urgently. "Lydia, you should stay here –"
"No, I want to go too," she said. "Please, father! I want to help you! You can't take this burden on alone! Wherever you're going, take me!"
Lord Stark rubbed his temples. "Lydia, it's not appropriate…"
"What's not appropriate? Father, you said you were happy when I decided to come to King's Landing because you needed the help! I am trying to help you now! Take me, and I'll get Sansa and Arya packed up for the road with no problems!" She said.
"Lord Stark, if I may be so bold…" Jory began. "Lydia isn't like other girls. She should know what's happening…"
Lydia could have hugged Jory. She always liked him.
"And her safety?" Eddard asked.
"And yours?" Lydia challenged. "Father, please…"
At last Eddard sighed and waved his hand.
"Come with me, but if anything happens, Jory, you get her out!" He said.
Lydia broke into a grin and nodded her thanks at Jory when her father turned his head. The three left her room and headed outside. Lydia left Winter behind, but she wondered if that was the best idea. On their way to wherever they were going, some extra men surrounded them for protection. Lydia recognized the path they were walking, and confusion swept over her.
"Are we going to Lord Baelish's brothel?" She asked.
Her father didn't say a word, but he just nodded. She couldn't think up a possible explanation to go there.
They arrived at the brothel and went inside. Lord Baelish was waiting for them, and he looked surprised to see Lydia with Ned.
"Ah, you came," Baelish said. "Wonderful."
"I want to meet the woman you told me about," Lord Stark said, getting to business.
The woman? Why did her father wish to see a whore?
"Yes, of course," Baelish said, bowing. "Mhaegen! Come, dear! You're needed!"
They heard from another room.
"But the baby –"
"Bring the child! It's better you do!" Baelish hollered back.
Lydia gaped at her father, but suddenly a sense of relief flooded through her. You haven't even been in the capitol for nine months! She let out a sigh. Then this Mhaegen woman came rushing from another room, clutching an infant in her arms. She was clearly a prostitute and her dress straps were falling down. When she saw the party, though, she moved her shoulders to get her dress all the way up again. She seemed tired to Lydia.
"Lord Stark, meet one of my girls, Mhaegen, and her child, Barra," Lord Baelish said. "Mhaegen, I want you to tell Lord Stark everything. He already knows about Barra's father. Give him your testimony."
She nodded, but she seemed scared. Lord Baelish took a step back as did Jory.
"She's lovely," Eddard said.
When he complimented the child, her face lit up.
"I know she's King Robert's daughter," Eddard went on. "I can see it in her face."
Lydia felt her blood stream freeze. Robert's daughter? King Robert had one daughter, the Princess Myrcella. Did this mean he hadn't been faithful to Cersei Lannister? If Tywin knew, it would cause nothing but problems for the realm…
"She looks like him, don't she, my lord? She has his nose, his black hair," Mhaegen said breathlessly.
She passed the child over to Eddard, who took it.
"Aye," he agreed.
"Tell him when you see him, my lord. If it pleases you… Tell him how beautiful she is," Mhaegen said.
Lydia stepped forward and stared down at the babe.
"You had a daughter with the King?" She asked Mhaegen.
"I couldn't refuse him. He's the King, you see. But I have no regrets. The King has always treated me with respect," she answered.
Respect? He's a married man!
Mhaegen turned to Lord Stark. "And tell him I've been with no one else. I swear it, my lord, by the old gods and the new. I don't want no jewels or nothing, just him. The King was always good to me."
Eddard passed the baby back to her mother. "When Jon Arryn came to visit you, what did he want?"
"He wasn't that sort of man, my lord. He just wanted to know if the child was happy, healthy," she answered.
"She looks healthy enough to me. The girl shall want for nothing," Eddard said.
Lydia's father gave her a look that said it was time to leave the prostitute. Lydia then noticed that Lord Baelish and Jory had gone to a different chamber. She followed her father to the room they were in. When they entered, Lydia spotted many women peeking their heads in through the other doors and smiling at them. Lord Stark ignored them, but Jory was having difficulties. Lydia found she was having difficulties as well… Then her heart panged. They made her think of Ros.
"Brothels make a much better investment than ship, I've found. Whores rarely sink," said Lord Baelish.
"What do you know of King Robert's bastards?" Eddard asked.
"Well, he has more than you, for a start," Baelish said, his eyes lit. "And tell me, Ned, why bring your daughter here? Is that really all that wise?"
Lydia bristled. She couldn't tell why, but Lord Baelish was beginning to rub her the wrong way…
"Because she is my blood and I trust her," Eddard said. "Now, about the bastards… How many?"
"Does it matter? If you fuck enough women, some of them will give you presents," Baelish answered.
"And Jon Arryn tracked them all down. Why?" Lord Stark asked.
"He was the King's Hand. Perhaps Robert wanted them looked after. He was overcome with fatherly love," Baelish said.
Lydia thought her father might say more. Robert barely even had a relationship with his trueborn heirs, let alone with his bastards. It wasn't like him to send Jon Arryn after them…
"Come!" Her father said suddenly.
She jumped at his voice and saw a whore with large tits, smiling at Jory. Then she flashed him her nipple, and he just stared at her.
"Jory!" Ned yelled.
Jory regained his composure. "My lord!"
They left the brothel, and their guards joined them. Jory was ashen faced, clearly ashamed of what he'd seen. Lydia wanted to comfort him. He was an unmarried man after all. She knew her father wouldn't be pleased with her, though, if she told Jory she thought the whore had been pretty too. She really did have nice tits…
"Such a small pack of wolves."
They halted. Lydia looked up to see Jaime Lannister standing in front of the sun. His tall body cast a shadow on them. Then, out of nowhere, Leila Lannister was walking toward him. Jaime didn't notice her, though, or he ignored her. He fixed his eyes on Lydia's father.
"Jaime?" Leila asked.
He didn't respond. Jory drew himself up and glared at Jaime.
"Stay back, Ser! This is the Hand of the King!" Jory announced bravely.
"Was the Hand of the King. Now I'm not sure what he is…Lord of somewhere very far away," Jaime said.
"Jaime! What are you doing?" Leila gasped, clearly fearful.
Again he ignored her, and then Littlefinger left the brothel.
"What's the meaning of this, Lannister?" Littlefinger demanded.
"Get back inside where it's safe!" Jaime yelled at Baelish.
Leila stepped forward, and Lydia sensed danger –for herself, for her father, for Jory, and –her stomach twisted at the thought –Leila Lannister. As much as she wasn't fond of her or her family, she was still Robb's wife-to-be.
"Leila!" Lydia yelled out. "Get out of here!"
The Lannister wouldn't move. Damn it all, Lydia thought. She left her father, who protested, and got up in Leila's face. Then she shoved Leila away. Surprisingly she thought Leila had more strength than she let on, because she wouldn't budge. When Lydia pushed her once again, she stopped when Jaime said:
"I'm looking for my brother. You remember my brother, don't you, Lord Stark?"
Lydia took her hands from Leila and they stared at Jaime and Ned.
"Blonde hair, sharp man, short man," Jaime continued.
"I remember him well," said Ned.
"It seems he had some trouble on the road. You wouldn't know what happened to him, would you?" Jaime asked.
Leila's draw dropped, and she looked suddenly very fearful. She walked toward Jaime, but Lydia grabbed her arm.
"Tyrion…" her voice broke.
Stupid girl. Your brother tried to kill my brother! Lydia gritted her teeth.
"He was taken at my command to answer for his crimes," Lord Stark said.
"What?" Leila gasped. "Let me go!"
Lydia refused to release her. She still wasn't sure why she was preventing the Lannister from getting in the way. Maybe if Jaime noticed her he would back off for her protection.
But when Jaime drew his sword, Lydia knew he was passed reason. At once everyone drew their swords, all except Eddard. Lydia wished she had a weapon or that Winter had accompanied her. Then she thought better of it. If Winter attacked Jaime, she'd be killed for sure.
"My lords! I'll bring the city watch!" Baelish cried.
"Come, Stark. I'd rather you die sword in hand," Jaime snarled.
"If you threaten my lord again…" Jory moved toward Jaime, but Eddard stopped him.
"Threaten? As in, 'I'm going to open your Lord from balls to brains and see what Starks are made of?'" Jaime said.
"J-Jaime," Leila breathed. It looked like to Lydia she was about to faint. She wished she would.
"You kill me, your brother's a dead man," Lord Stark said seriously, glaring at Jaime.
"You're right. Take him alive!" Jaime yelled to the men who were with him. "Kill his men!"
The fight erupted with no warning. The first thing to happen was Jaime's men threw spears straight into chests of two of Lord Stark's men. Jory sprang into action and rushed to Jaime, his sword out. Lydia gasped, knowing that Jory could never take on the Kingslayer. At the same time she gasped, Jaime whipped a long dagger out of his belt and shoved it right through Jory's eye.
Lydia screamed out.
"Jory! NO!"
Lydia's voice broke, and she stopped trying to fight Leila. She ran forward, but her father yelled at her to keep back. She'd never heard him so urgent before, so she obeyed, though her heart hammered like thunder. Blood poured from Jory's socket, and he just gaped at Jaime. Then Jaime pushed the blade out the back of Jory's head.
Jory fell to the ground and moved no more.
Lydia had never felt such hatred course through her veins. She ran to one of the dead men and ripped his sword from its sheath. Just as she was about to do something crazy and challenge the Kingslayer, her father pulled out his own blade.
"Stay back, Lydia!" Eddard yelled at her.
Lord Stark and Jaime Lannister circled one another. Jaime snickered, clearly on a high from the fight. He liked the challenge. Lord Stark wasn't enjoying himself, though. He didn't take pleasure in a fight. All of Jaime's men had backed off. Then the lord and the knight came at one another, and their blades met with a shower of sparks. Lydia swore, wishing she had a bow. She could get Jaime. Everyone moved out of their way, and their fight raged. Even Leila knew not to get in the way. She was muttering intelligibly something about Jaime and Tyrion.
"Father!" Lydia screamed out suddenly when she saw one of Jaime's men going toward him.
It was too late. The man jammed his spear through Eddard's calf, causing him to howl in pain. Eddard crashed to the ground, and Lydia ran to her father's side. She aided him the best she could but she glared at Jaime.
"Lannister! You dirty cunt!" She cried.
Jaime ignored her insult, however. He was glaring at the man who stabbed Eddard, clearly angry. He walked over and slammed his fist into the man's face, effectively knocking him out. Then Leila ran to Jaime.
"Not now!" he shouted at her, and she shrunk back, terrified.
Lydia wanted to kill him, but she knew her father needed help. Jaime jumped onto his horse's back.
"My brother, Lord Stark," Jaime said. "We want him back."
He rode off on horseback, and his remaining men followed suit. That left Lydia, Lord Stark, Leila, and Jory's body.
"The City Watch is coming," Baelish said, coming to them. "Oh gods –Stupid Lannisters!"
Lydia tore the bottom of her dress and began wrapping her father's leg. His blood seeped through her bandage and stained her hands. He closed his eyes and breathed shallowly. Within minutes, men arrived with a stretcher to take him away.
"Don't worry, Lady Stark," Littlefinger said. "He will be fine."
She watched father go. Then she looked down at Jory. He had been a brave man and had served them well. She refused to let Baelish see her tears.
"What about my brother?" Leila cried, rushing to Lydia. "Your father took my brother! He stole Tyrion!"
"Tyrion tried killing my brother!" Lydia snarled, unable to contain herself. "Your family is evil, Lannister! I hope they take his head for what he did –"
"How dare you?" Leila screeched.
She dove at Lydia, which was something Lydia wasn't expecting from the small girl. Leila's little fingers found Lydia's throat. She wasn't particularly powerful, but since it caught Lydia off guard, she fell to the ground beside Jory. Lydia grabbed Leila's hair and pulled hard. Her fingers let go of Lydia's neck. Just when Lydia was about to knock out Leila, Littlefinger yelled:
"Enough! More guards are coming!"
And like he said, several more men on horseback came riding to them. One of the men was the Hound. He said nothing and lifted Leila up with one hand, placing her on the back of his horse. Then he galloped away. Another man tried taking Lydia, but she smacked his hand away. She glared at the Hound and Leila.
"I can take care of myself," she growled. "Wrap up his body. We will have a proper burial."
The man nodded and hopped off his horse to drape Jory over it. Then Lydia stormed off.
Inside her chambers, she couldn't help but think of Jory. He'd died protecting her father. How could he be so stupid? Challenging Jaime Lannister like that! Her lip quivered, and she broke into tears.
