InDeathWeLaugh: I didn't post the final chapter as soon as I hoped, but it's up now! Your eager anticipation urged me to finish tonight!
Kaioo: That's really interesting. I suppose it would make sense for him to hate Aerys for sending his parents away in the first place, because was it really necessary? Nope, and it resulted in their deaths. I had never thought of that before.
Ojha: I took forever, I know! But it's up now thanks for your review!
Veridissima: Thank you! I really liked writing Lyanna and Brandon, it felt so natural (unlike writing Robert/Lyanna, which has proven to be much more difficult). I've also found it odd that people don't think Robert would have heard all about Lyanna (and Ben and Bran) from Ned, like they never exchanged stories about their homes and families.
Jon Skywalker: I'm not sure that Ned would have married Ashara, though that would've been cute since he liked her. Thanks for your review!
Okay, so it's been over a week since I last posted . . . sorry! This past week was finals week and I felt like Rhaegar must have taking that war hammer to the chest. Or maybe I'll feel that way when I see my grades . . . sometimes I wonder why I don't just drop this crazy chemistry major and switch to English. Also, I'm not very good at endings (which is another reason this took so long) and I wrote it quickly without editing, so I'll probably go back through it some other day, but I didn't want to keep you all waiting in suspense. So here it is!
Ned and Ben were to remain with the newlywed couple for some days after the wedding. Robert and Ned were closer than brothers and his presence would be a comfort to Lyanna, who was being forced to move from her beloved home. It would help ease her transition, or so her father hoped. Lyanna could not fathom that anything would ease her transition, but her situation was past arguing. She was a woman wedded and bedded; there was no going back.
At the very least she was given her own chambers. As she lay in bed, looking out of her window, she thought back to her first glimpse of Storm's End. Her party had arrived two days before the wedding. Robert and a few of his men had met them at the Kingsroad to escort them the rest of the way. He was charming as ever and had Lyanna been in a better mood, she might have enjoyed his company.
"This is Storm's End," Robert had said, watching Lyanna nervously.
"It is much warmer than Winterfell," she said mildly. The castle was right on the edge of the cliff; should she desire to end her life, she need only take a few steps to do so.
"Any place is warmer than Winterfell," Robert snorted, but one look at Lyanna's solemn face quieted his joviality. "You do not like it."
"No, it is perfectly fine. I am simply tired from the journey."
"Let me show you your chambers then. The rest of the castle can wait until after you have rested."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Please, call me Robert."
"As you wish," Lyanna said without a trace of warmth. She may have left the North but she had carried the ice with her.
Five days she had spent at Storm's End, three of them as a married woman, and it already felt like an eternity. How she longed for the North, for her home.
Robert was considerate enough, she supposed, when he bedded her, but she found no pleasure in it. That she fulfilled her duty is the most that could be said on the matter for she was not an active participant. If her lack of enthusiasm bothered Robert at all, he never mentioned it. He simply bedded her, attempted conversation, and left when he realized she was not willing to speak more than in response to his queries. That night, however, rather than endure the routine, she politely turned Robert away, dismissed her maids, and gave herself over to the misery she had suppressed. Once alone, she no longer needed to play at pleasantries and spuriously smile but could instead throw herself across her bed and cry into her pillow to muffle the sounds of her broken heart. Rhaegar was the man she dreamed of but upon waking every morning she found herself married to Robert and living in his home a thousand miles away from everything and everyone she had ever known. Leaving Winterfell would have been bearable had it been her prince she was leaving with. That was not the case, though, and the tears fell harder because of it.
ooooo
The next day was better. Lyanna found Benjen in the courtyard and convinced him to walk with her in the godswood. It was the closest she would get to Winterfell and found serenity in the familiarity of the trees. The two had been walking, conversing about Lyanna's adjustment to her new home when approaching footsteps made them stop.
"Do you hear that?"
"It's Robert and Ned. Hurry, climb up before they see us!"
"Should the Lady of Storm's End really be climbing up trees?" Benjen asked in an attempt to annoy his sister, but followed her up nevertheless.
"The Lady of Storm's End will shove you off the branch if you don't shut up."
Benjen stifled his snicker as the two men approached.
"That's strange. I thought I saw Lyanna walk this way. Perhaps she returned to the castle."
Robert stopped searching and turned to his friend. "She hates me, Ned."
"Nonsense, she is 16 and is attempting to cope with such great a change. Winterfell is the only home she has ever known and she had to move leagues away to marry a near stranger. Once she grows accustomed to her new home and becomes familiar with you, it'll be better."
"Is there naught I can do to help her?"
"Talk to her. Make an effort to get to know her."
"I try, Ned, but she doesn't care for conversation. She replies with short answers and hardly looks at me when she does."
"Be patient- and faithful. If you bed another woman, she will never forgive you, I can assure you of that. She knows about Mya."
"That was before any of this. We weren't even betrothed at the time."
"I explained that to her, this is simply some advice. Come, let us search in the castle."
Robert, still looking dejected, followed Ned. Benjen and Lyanna climbed down from their tree once the two men were out of sight. "See, he's not that bad. He's trying."
"They'll be looking for us. Let's go." She felt a twinge of regret for hurting Robert, but only a twinge.
ooooo
Little Renly Baratheon brought her some measure of joy. The six-year-old boy was full of life and energy. He never ceased running around wreaking havoc; he reminded her of Benjen at that age. Renly took to her quickly enough for though she was but sixteen, she was motherly to him, something he never had. Stannis thought she was too soft with the boy, but Robert appreciated it.
"Renly likes you," he told her.
"He is a sweet boy."
"Rowdy too, though I suspect I was the same at his age. Ned is looking for you in the godswood."
"Thank you, Robert. I shall go to him now. Is Ben still in the training grounds?"
"Aye, he is waiting for me to show him how to fight with a war hammer. He is eager to learn, your brother."
"Forgive me, I assured him you would not mind in the least teaching him. He admires you, says he should like to be as great and fearless a warrior as you," Lyanna said, one of her few attempts at kindness.
"Nay, Lyanna, it is no bother at all. In fact, I will enjoy this immensely."
"Well I thank you for your kindness to my family. I should go see what Ned wants."
She left Robert to find her brother. He was standing before the heart tree, as she knew he would be.
"Ben and I leave on the morrow, Lya," he said upon her arrival.
"I will miss you dearly."
"As will I, but you have your lord husband to keep you company now."
"Yes, such lovely company it is, too."
"Stop it, Lyanna, now. You will never be happy if you do not give yourself the opportunity. Robert is trying his hardest to please you but you stubbornly refuse to even let yourself try. He's a good man and he loves you, what more could you ask for?"
"I do not love him!"
Eddard huffed in frustration. "Let go of the little girl notions of love that you have in your head. Just because you did not fall in love with him upon your first encounter does not mean that you cannot grow to love him."
"Stop lecturing me as if I were a child, Eddard."
"Then stop behaving like one, Lyanna," he said, copying her sharp tone. His voice softened when he saw the despondency in her eyes. "You have always had a rebellious and wild nature; you dreamt of freedom and you feel like you received fetters instead. It pains me to see your spirit so broken by this marriage. I miss seeing that fire in your eyes, I miss hearing your laughter and seeing your smile. You were so full of life, and I see none of that now. It breaks my heart, Lya."
"I never wanted to marry Robert."
"No, what you did not want was to be robbed of your choice. Your reaction would have been the same had it been any other man not of your choosing. Your hand was promised to Robert without your consent and because of that, your proclivity was disfavor towards him. I am sure that if circumstances had been different, you would not have taken an instant dislike of him."
"You don't know that."
"I grew up with the man, of course I know because I know him and I know you. Lyanna, if you want to be miserable for the rest of your life then continue living as you have. But think on this: you can do naught to change the past. The choices that were made are irreversible but your future need not be so bleak. Stop being so stubborn and give Robert a chance, not only for his sake but for yours as well. Give yourself a chance."
Lyanna spent much more time pondering his words than she would have liked. The next morning, she and her lord husband rode with her brothers to the Kingsroad where they parted. The four dismounted their horses and Ned embraced Robert while she held on fiercely to Benjen. "This is the first time we will be separated. You have always been my closest friend, Ben. I love you."
"I love you too. It may not seem like it now, but you made the right choice. We'll see each other again, Lya."
Then it was Ned's turn. She liked to think she was ice but her tears proved otherwise. Ned promised to write to her often. "Remember what I said," he whispered as he held her in a tight embrace. "Give yourself a chance, Lya."
"I'll try," she said through her tears. "For your sake."
"Do it for yours," he said, pulling away and placing a light kiss on her forehead. "I love you, sister."
"I love you too," she said hoarsely. Lyanna stared after them until they were out of sight, and only then did she return to the confines of the castle with Robert.
ooooo
"How are you, Lyanna?"
Lyanna looked up at her lord husband, and though her first instinct was to excuse herself, she remembered her promise to Ned and forced herself to attempt a conversation. "I miss my brothers. I am accustomed to being away from Ned and Bran, but I have never been separated from Ben for more than a day."
"I felt the same when I was first sent to foster in the Vale. Stannis and I were probably not as close as you and Benjen, but I had never been away from him or my parents or Storm's End."
"Were you afraid?"
"I was excited, at first. It was an adventure I was undertaking alone where I would make new friends and fight dangerous foes. Reality turned out to be less exciting. I had an escort to the Eyrie and we encountered no foes, but I did make a new friend."
"Ned."
"Yes. Even at eight your brother was, ah, shall we say stringent? He reminded me of Stannis a little, but he loosened up in time. My adventure lasted all of a week before I began to long for home, my brother, and my parents."
"Did it ever go away?"
"For the most part, yes. Certainly there were times when I wanted to see my family, but I had a new family I did not want to leave either. Jon became my surrogate father and Ned is as much my brother as Stannis and Renly, perhaps more so. The trouble he and I would get in to!"
"I cannot imagine that Ned would do anything to warrant trouble."
"You would be surprised. Granted, many times he got involved in an attempt to stop me, but your brother knows how to have fun when he wants to."
Robert regaled Lyanna with stories of the mischief he and Ned caused, and Lyanna shared stories of the antics she and Ben, and on occasion Bran, took part of in Winterfell. It was the first enjoyable moment she had with Robert, and she found that at the very least she could get along with the man.
ooooo
"I don't think Stannis likes me," Lyanna mentioned to Robert one day. She tried to sound insouciant about it, but it bothered her. What could he possibly have against her? She had done nothing to him.
"Stannis doesn't like anyone. Don't let it trouble you."
"But he behaves as if I have personally affronted him. I've done nothing to warrant his disdain."
"Does it truly bother you?"
"No," Lyanna scoffed. She did not want to sound petty and regretted ever mentioning anything.
"I will have a word with him," he said resolutely.
"No, please, it isn't necessary."
"This is your home now. I want you to be as comfortable as you were at Winterfell and if speaking to Stannis is a step closer to achieving that, then I will not hesitate to do so."
"But then he will think me weak for running to you and crying about this instead of fighting my own battles."
"There are no battles for you to be fighting. We are all family now and he will respect you as my wife and as the Lady of Storm's End."
"I cannot steer you from this course, can I?"
"No. Lya, I promised your father and brothers I would protect you. Would you let me?"
"I don't need anyone's protection."
"No, but you have it."
"Very well."
Robert sighed but did not push the matter. "There is something I wanted to discuss with you."
"What is it?" Lyanna asked, her heart racing. Could it be about her duty to produce an heir? She allowed him access to her chambers most nights he asked, which wasn't often, but it still had not resulted in her pregnancy.
"Lord Tyrell of Highgarden has offered to foster Renly with his son, Garlan. Stannis thinks it would do Renly good to grow up with another boy his age, much like Ned and I did."
Lyanna's face falls. It was worse than the news she had expected. "Oh, that would be nice."
Robert studied her for a minute before responding. "You would miss him terribly. He will remain here."
"But Lord Tyrell-"
"-can wait. Both boys are but six; we shall revisit the offer in a few years."
"I . . . thank you, Robert."
"I would do anything for you, Lyanna. I only wish you would see that."
ooooo
The raging storm kept her awake. More than that, it had her heart racing and her eyes seeing things that were not really there. Or, at least she hoped that shadow she saw by her window was imagined. And that voice she heard was nothing more than the howling wind . . .
When the next lightning struck and illuminated her room, she saw shadows in every corner. At the clap of thunder that followed, she jumped out of bed and slipped into her robe. She would go mad if she did not find company. The only problem was that at that hour there was no company to be found lest she would like to keep watch at the gates with the guards. Her feet led her to Robert's chamber and she knocked before her nerves got the best of her. Now that she was standing at his door, her fears seemed childish but it was too late to turn back.
The door swung open as Robert rubbed sleep out of his eyes. Seeing his wife standing there alarmed him. "Lyanna, has something happened?"
"No, my lord, it is only-" she jumped at the sound of thunder.
Robert's eyes widened with understanding. "This is your first thunderstorm."
"Yes," she said, feeling foolish.
Her embarrassment must have shown on her face because Robert gently pulled her chin up so he could see her face. "It is nothing to be embarrassed about. Thunderstorms are frightening, particularly if you have never experienced one before. Would you like to sleep here?"
"If it isn't any trouble."
"Of course it isn't. Come, I will keep you safe."
She spent that night wrapped in Robert's strong arms, and she did feel safe. The storm raged outside, but with Robert by her side it no longer filled her with fear.
"Do you think Renly is alright?" Lyanna murmured.
"Renly is accustomed to storms. Besides, he can sleep through anything. He's fine."
It was nearly a moon's turn since her brothers left, and in that short time Lyanna had started to see different sides of Robert that surprised her. Though she would never admit it aloud, she was beginning to think that perhaps Ned knew what he was talking about after all.
ooooo
"Robert, what is it?" Lyanna was still getting to know her husband, but she had learned enough by then to see that he was unsettled.
Robert looked up at his wife, surprised to see her in his solar. "It is a raven from Prince Rhaegar."
Lyanna's heart raced. Neither had ever so much as spoken the prince's name to each other. "What does it say?"
Robert rose to close the door firmly and turned back to Lyanna. "Are you acquainted with the prince?"
"No," she lied, nervous. What could the letter possibly say?
"He crowned you his Queen of Love and Beauty at the tourney."
"I had no control over that. I was as surprised as everyone else."
He stared at her for what felt like an eternity before slowly nodding, accepting her words. "That tourney was supposed to be a secret gathering of the Lords Paramount and the prince to plan a coup but it was thwarted by Aery's decision to attend. Now Rhaegar writes in code to plan another meeting. It seems the situation grows increasingly desperate."
"This is treason, Robert. If you should be caught, the king will take your heads, all of you, the prince included."
"The king is mad. Treason or not, he must be stopped."
"But how? What kind of plan could the prince have contrived that would possibly work, other than killing the king?"
"He is still working on that and welcomes any designs we may have."
"I don't like this."
"You will be safe. I'll make sure to keep you out of harm's way."
"It is your safety I am worried about," Lyanna said, finally realizing what perturbed her most about this news. She was afraid for her father and her husband. There was some concern for Rhaegar as well, but it was surprisingly enough, overshadowed by her concern for Robert.
"You worry for my safety?"
"Why do you sound so surprised? Of course I worry."
"I meant no offense, Lyanna. It is only, well, I didn't think my well-being concerned you at all."
Lyanna looked properly ashamed. "I know I have been an indifferent wife, but that was when you were a stranger to me. Now that I know you, it has changed."
"You care about me," Robert said, his voice betraying how much that meant to him.
Lyanna saw Robert's beaming face and was remorseful for how cold she had behaved towards him since their marriage. Ned was right, he adored her and she took that for granted. What she felt wasn't love, and maybe it never would be, but she owed it to herself and to Robert to try.
"I do," she said.
Robert stepped forward and embraced her. "I love you, Lyanna. Whatever happens, we will make it through together."
That thought would have once made her cringe, but it now filled her with comfort and just a twinge of happiness- or maybe a little more.
The End
So what do you think?
I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read this. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this. You all rock!