The Second Stark
Season 2 Episode 5: A Pack of Wolves
William Stark, Second born son of Eddard Stark, Prince of the North. (15 years old)
When Will awoke, he felt searing pain coursing through his stomach. He was getting tired of things piercing his stomach. He was covered in a blanket, in a musty room where it was lit by some candles. He saw his grey Stark armor on an armor stand in the corner of the room. He could see the splotch of dried blood where he had been stabbed. He reached down to his stomach, and winced when he felt the stab wound. He flipped the blankets off him and started to breathe heavily, his skin felt cold. He felt a cold sweat come over him, he shakily swung his legs over the side of the bed.
As soon as his legs touched the stones on the floor he felt his feet go cold and his legs began to shake. He pulled the blanket over his shoulders, and rubbed his arms, trying without success to get himself warmer. The scene kept playing over and over again inside his head. The ghostly image of Stannis was burned into his head, and probably would remain there for the rest of his life.
If he had been quicker to react Lyra would still be here now. She had been alert, and ready to fight at a moment's notice, if he hadn't been so wrapped up by their conversation, he could have probably fought off the creature and saved her from being taken. He couldn't power himself onto his feet. He needed more than anything to find Robb, and tell him what happened. He needed to save Lyra, it was not even in question. He couldn't imagine the horrors she was suffering on Dragonstone. He had heard Stannis burned his prisoners to honor the Lord of Light. No, Lyra would not be some sacrifice to some crazy religious zealots.
Before he could try to stand, the door swung open. It was his brother, the King in the North himself. He was wearing a leather tunic, with a sword on his belt. He was surprised to see Will up, but managed a smile.
He poured Will a glass of water from a flagon on the table to his right and handed it to him. "You are tough as ice little brother. How are you feeling?" He asked him.
Will downed the cup in a second before answering, "I'm cold, but I'm alive and that's what matters. How did I get back here?" He asked his older brother.
Robb folded his arms, he looked like the crown on his head was perfectly natural. "According to your men, after Renly was killed the Reach and Storm Lords kicked you out. They carried you on a mule cart back here, you've been unconscious in that bed for about three days." He explained to his younger brother.
Will looked up at him, he knew he needed to tell him about Lyra. "Robb, Lyra… she-."
His brother cut him off, "About her… I don't want to believe it Will, but some of your men think Lyra was the one who stabbed you. I don't want to believe it, tell me what happened Will." He said in a serious tone.
Will shook his head violently, "No it wasn't Lyra. It was Stannis, he and his red women used some dark magic, and sent demons after us. One stabbed me then took Lyra, she's… gone Robb. No doubt Stannis has her captive on Dragonstone right now." He told his older brother.
Stannis wanting to capture Lyra made sense. She was a bastard of his brother, and from the way the two interacted he clearly knew it. If he were to legitimize her, he would have a way of convincing more of the Storm Lords to rally around him. With word continuing to spread about the Queen and her brother, more and more lords are starting to question Joffrey, which was good. However it was unclear what the Reach would do now since Renly was dead.
Robb however, was furious. "Stannis tried to kill you!? I swear as soon as the Lannister's are dealt with, I will burn his rock to the ground. Why did he kidnap Lyra however? Do you have any idea why he would want her as a captive?" The King of the North asked his younger brother.
Will knew he would need to tell Robb about Lyra's father being the dead King Robert. That was the only way he could justify going after her on Dragonstone. He himself wanted to go save Lyra for personal reasons, however he knew that he was Robb's heir currently, so he would not risk him dying, not again. Not to mention the fact Robb probably wouldn't want his little brother assaulting an armed, walled island fortress.
'Sorry Lyra, but I have to.' He thought to himself before shaking the blanket off, finally the cold had ceased. "Robb, Lyra told me who her father was. She isn't just Lyra… she's a bastard. Her father was Robert Baratheon." He told his older brother.
Robb's jaw didn't hit the ground, but he was still very surprised. He got up and paced for a few moments, then turned back to him. "Will do you realize what this means? If I were to legitimize her, it could help convince Storm lords, or Reacher Lords to join our cause against the Lannister's." He said, seemingly impressed with his idea.
Will simply nodded his head, he knew Robb was right, but he couldn't care less if getting Lyra back helped the fight against the Lannister's. He knew it made him sound selfish, but it was the truth that was in his head. He struggled up to his feet, wincing at the pain in his ribcage as he stretched his arms. He slowly walked towards his armor, as soon as he took a few steps he almost toppled over. Robb rushed over to help him back to his feet.
He straightened Will on his feet and looked at him, "And what do you think you're doing?" He asked his younger brother.
Will settled himself, and used his armor stand to hold himself up. He started to slide the mail up, with the Stark sigil still bloody. "I'm going to go and save her of course." He told his brother.
Robb chuckled, thinking he wasn't serious, but then hardened when he saw Will was indeed serious. "Will you can barely stand up, and you think you're going to storm Dragonstone by yourself?" He asked.
Will shook his head, "No, I have a few people in mind to help me. I'll leave tonight, and be back by the end of the month." He said, trying to slide his mail over his shoulders.
Robb shook his head and walked over to help his brother, he helped him strap on his armor. "Will, you realize you can barely stand? You're in no condition to do any fighting, besides Mother would have my head if I let you go off again. Besides, I can't spare men to help you assault Dragonstone." He tried reasoning with his younger brother.
Will shook his head, putting on his two armored gauntlets, "I don't need many men, I have three other people, personal friends, who I know will help me." Will told his brother, strapping on his gauntlet, his strength was slowly coming back to him.
Robb handed him 'Frozen Wind' from besides the dresser. "Will it's a suicide mission. Dragonstone is almost impossible to assault, even with an army." He said, still trying to reason with his brother.
Will slipped into his boots, and turned to his older brother, "A few men can do and move where an army can't! Robb she's saved my life to many times, I'd be craven if I wouldn't do the same." He said to him.
Robb sighed and ran a hand through his auburn locks. He shook his head, "And who do you think will come help you Will? Who are these friends you know who will come with you?" He asked, as Will left his sick room.
The two brothers walked towards the camp outside to the commander's tents, where everything was bustling with activity. "Do you remember the tourney held on Bear Island, in celebration for their youngest daughter Lyanna Mormont's nameday?" Will asked his brother, as they dodged a man carrying a rack of swords.
Robb nodded his head, and Will continued carefully, "Contrary to what you believe Robb I DO actually have friends. Smalljon Umber, Dacey Mormont, Domeric Bolton, we became great friends that day, I know they'd help me." He explained to Robb, remembering his old friends fondly.
Robb shook his head as they stopped out of the Mormont tent. He put his arms on his brother's shoulders. He looked defeated. "Alright Will, I can see now you're not going to see reason, and not go. I'll make you a deal, if you can get four other, talented fighters, good men or women to go with you… I'll give you my blessing to go." He relented to him.
Will never thought Robb would give up the argument this easily. He nodded his head and hugged his older brother. "Thank you Robb, I promise I'll be just fine. I'll make it back." He promised.
Robb chuckled, "Ha, you better, or else mother will kill me. Like I said however, you must have five people including yourself, no less." He stressed.
Will nodded his head, "Understood, your Grace." He said bowing mockingly.
Robb gave him a hard shove, which made Will laugh, "Oh and make sure to see Sansa and Arya sometime soon, the two have been worried sick about you." He told him, before walking back towards Riverrun, people bowing as he walked by.
Will would never get used to the sight of him like that. He always knew his brother would be a great Warden of the North, and Lord of Winterfell, but he never in all his fifteen years, thought his brother would be a king. Now he needed only the best fighters the North had to help him get Lyra from Dragonstone. He knew Lyra was tough, but he heard that the prisons on Dragonstone would break even the toughest souls. He needed to leave within a day so he needed to find his group now.
He stopped in front of the Mormont tent. While the Lords of Bear Island didn't have in army size, they made up for in loyalty, and skill in battle. "Every man from Bear Island fights with the strength of 10 main landers." Is what his friend Dacey Mormont would tell him. He remembered meeting her at her youngest sister Lyanna's nameday tournament and feast. He was thirteen at the time and actually lost to Dacey in the melee. That was his first taste of the skill of Bear Island fighters. She was currently the heir to Bear Island, so naturally the two danced at the feast, and got to know each other. They had been loyal friends ever since, and she was one of the finest warriors he knew.
He walked into the tent, bowing his head to a guard. At their war table was Dacey, looking down at a map of the region. She looked up, and managed a huge smile.
She walked over towards him, "Will! You're awake, it's good to see you again!" She said pulling him into a tight hug.
He winced a little bit, but managed to hug her back. Dacey was older than him by two years, and a few inches taller than him. She was a beauty, Will would not lie. However she didn't have the elegant beauty Myrcella did, she had a more rugged beauty to her. Thinking of that made him think of Lyra, who had the perfect amount of elegance and rugged beauty to her. That only made him even more determined to save her.
She looked down and saw the stain of dark blood on his armor. She let out a short laugh and smiled at him, "Ha it'll take more than a few stabs to kill William Stark eh? I haven't seen you in almost a year, how the hell have you been?" She asked gesturing for him to sit down.
He took the chair gratefully, he was still having a slightly moving a lot. He managed a smile at his old friend, "It's good to see you as well I'm fine all things considered. Where's your mother?" He asked her.
She moved a strand of her brown hair from her eyes, "She's at the war council with your brother we're moving out to take the fight to the Lannister's soon. We have them on the run since we capture Jamie Lannister." She explained pouring the two of them wine.
Will drank his gratefully, Dacey continued on asking another question. "So what do you need Will? You got that look on your face, the look when you need something but don't want to ask." She said laughing at herself slightly.
Will chuckled at his friend knowing him so well. He knew he was asking a lot of Dacey to do this for him, but he had confidence in his friend. In the letters the two exchanged he knew that she was never one to back down from a rough fight. Her loyalty to Will and his family was also unwavering. He would not force her to do anything, but he desperately needed her help.
He sighed and looked over at his friend, "Now Dacey, before I tell you what it is, I want you to know I'm not forcing you to do anything." He stressed to her.
She scrunched her eyebrows at him, "Ha, no need to be so damned dramatic Will, what is it?" She asked him.
He managed a laugh, but continued. "Have you heard about Lyra? The girl who saved me, Sansa, and Arya? She's saved my life more times in the last few months than I could count. When we were at Renly's camp, and we got attacked, she was… kidnapped, by Stannis Baratheon. He more than likely has her on Dragonstone… and I need help to get her back." He explained to her, paining to remember the experience.
Dacey took it all in and nodded her head, to his surprise she smiled. She got up and clapped her hands, "Haha yes! Finally something exciting. So do you have anyone else that's coming with us yet?" She asked smiling.
Will was beyond shocked. He never expected her to say yes so easily. She got up and looked at her incredulously. "Dacey, do you realize what I'm asking you to do?" He asked her again.
Dacey nodded her head, "Of course I do, now do you have anyone that's going?" She asked again.
Will shook his head in confusion, "I'm asking you to help me assault a maned, nearly impenetrable island, to rescue a girl you've never met! We could die at any moment? And you're just saying yes?" He asked her.
She laughed and nodded her head again. "Of course I'm saying yes Will." She said as if it was no big deal.
Will scoffed and shook his head, "Why?" He asked her.
Dacey sighed and put a hand on Will's shoulder, "I'm saying yes because your brother is my King and you're my prince. More importantly than that Will, you're my friend I'd die for you, just like I know you would for me. So if you need help saving this Lyra girl, then of course I'll help you." She said to him.
Will was touched by the loyalty he had in his friend. He hugged her, and pulled back with a smile. He knew he needed three more people to do this with him.
He looked back to Dacey, "Thank you Dacey, I just hope that I'm deserving of your loyalty." He told her.
She waved off the idea, "Oh you've already proven it Will. Now, again, have any idea who else is coming with us?" She asked.
Will racked through his brain to who the fifth and final person of his little squad would be. He smiled when he got the idea, he looked back at Dacey, "Go find me Smalljon, and Domeric. Let them know what I told you, we leave at first light tomorrow morning." He said to her smiling, knowing he had a chance to save Lyra now.
Dacey nodded and picked up an axe from the table. "Alright I'll gather them up. Oh I've been so bored Will, this is going to be fun." She said happily.
Will laughed, "Haha good, I'll see you in the morning, meet at you tent." He said before leaving the Mormont tent.
Will knew Dacey, Smalljon and Domeric plus himself only made four. He knew exactly who he was going to make the fifth member. He headed off, towards the forges.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Lyra Waters (15 years old)
In her year alone, Lyra had spent her fair share of time in some uncomfortable places. The cells in Dragonstone had to take the prize for the worst place she had ever had to spend time in. The fact she had been beaten for escape attempts several times now was not helping her condition. Her hair was a complete mess, smeared with blood dirt and rocks, her feet were bare and covered in a bloody mess of rock and dirt. She had large bruises and lumps all over her face, she barely looked like herself anymore. She was wearing nothing now except what was basically an old sack that smelled like potatoes had been kept in it.
"Will is going to come for you, he will. He'd never let you rot in here." One voice in her head chirped up.
"You idiot. You don't even know if Will is alive. He could be dead for all you know, some sworn shield you are." Another chimed in after that one.
She shook her head at the voices, she had to believe. She had to believe that Will was going to be coming to save her. At any moment he could bust into the dungeons with a group of Northmen, knock open her cell door, and carry her out of this place. A part of her felt foolish, she was waiting for a literal prince to come and save her from the dungeons and clutches of an evil man. However, everything had been stripped from her when she arrived, and that silly hope was all she had left to help her.
"Will, Will, please… hurry." She muttered weakly leaning against the brick wall.
She tried to jump to her feet like her instincts wanted her to do when she heard the door open, but she couldn't will herself to leave the ground. The same rough looking captain came to the front of her cell, and pulled key from his belt. He held it up for her to see. She suddenly straightened up, mustering what little strength she had left to look the man in the eye.
He showed the key to her, and she almost got sick when she saw his smirk. "His Grace wants you brought to him. I want no funny business do you understand?" He said in a gruff voice.
If it had been a few weeks prior she more than likely would have come up with some smart remark, something to make her sound smart, and embarrass the other man. However when she tried, the sound came out more of an irritated grumble. The man laughed at her misfortune and called over two guards, who lifted her up by her arms from the floor of the cell. Her body felt almost completely lifeless, the two men had to literally drag her across the floor through the castle.
It felt like forever until they came to a door and stopped. When they all entered, Lyra knew that it must be the famous, 'Room with the painted table'. That had an entire map of Westeros painted onto the table with mountain ranges and all. She was propped into a chair, and her arms were tied down to her sides and she was forced to her knees. She was placed looking out over Dragonstone at the surrounding water, with her arms bound to the floor down on her knees.
It felt like forever that she sat there. She was on her knees looking out at the blue sea, she almost didn't hear the door open. Soon a cup of water was being forced to her lips, as soon as she looked up to see the one who fed it to her, she spit it out. She spit it out right onto Stannis Baratheon's shoes. The claimed 'King' of Westeros did not look surprised, he merely looked down at Lyra with a stone calm face.
Rage came over her, this was the man that kidnapped her and tried to kill Will. She tried to lounge, and smash her long dirty fingernails into the man's eyes, but the ropes restricted her.
"I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL YOU!" She screamed with the last bit of breath she had.
He had tried to take the throne before her father's body was even cold. The man simply looked at her.
He shook his head, "As wild spirited as ever Lyra. I searched for you first when I learned the Queen and her brother's bastard. You would have helped me prove my claim. However, I must let you know, you are very important to my plans." He said, as if she should take this as a complement.
"You… have a… very weird fucking way of showing it you damn cunt." She managed to speak out.
He nodded his head sternly, "Hmmm. Lyra, do you remember Lady Melisandre?" He asked.
The red women stepped in front of her, and she struggled to get loose even more. She was trying to rip the stone eight out from under her to strangle the women. She was the one who specifically made the demons who came after her. Will could be dead right now because of her, and she wanted to tear her eyes out, and drown her in the river.
She gently touched Lyra's face and stroked it. "Ahhh Lyra Waters. The famous bastard daughter of King Robert Baratheon." She said, emphasizing the word 'King'.
Stannis spoke up next, "You say her blood holds power?" Stannis asked her, as if she wasn't right in front of him.
She nodded her head curtly, "Yes your Grace. With her blood we can curse the false Kings, to help bring you victory." She said, as if Stannis was the voice of the Gods themselves.
Stannis nodded, "Good, see to it." He said before leaving the room.
The feeling of being alone with the Red Woman in a room sent chills down Lyra's spine. The way she talked about her blood made her shiver. She looked up at the woman, trying to get over her fear.
However she couldn't, and the woman just stroked her face again. "Such beautiful eyes, a shame it is covered by all this grime." She said as Lyra pulled her head away from her sharply.
The women did not show any shock and simply circled Lyra as if she was a prized animal. "What do you know of the gods Lyra?" She asked the girl.
Lyra stopped believing in the gods the day her mother died. If gods were real, then why did they let a witch like Cersei Lannister do what she did to her mother? What gods were so cruel, as to let a women as sweet, kind, and loving as her mother die in the way she did? Lyra still had not seen her dead body. The queen probably had it tossed into the Blackwater.
Lyra mustered up what energy she could and scoffed, "Ha, I stopped believing in the gods the day my mother died. Even more after my father. If any gods are real, how could they let a women as vile as Cersei Lannister roam the world?" She questioned of the Red Woman.
She stopped in front of Lyra once more, and looked down into her eyes. "The Lord of Light-."
"Fuck your Lord of Light! Fuck your Lord of Light, fuck you, fuck Stannis, if I had a sword right now I could kill everyone on this damn island!" She managed to shout through her weakness.
It really was starting to bother Lyra that this women showed no emotions to what she said. "You say you could kill them all if you had a blade. However you don't have one. Tell me Lyra, how do you plan on escaping this island?" She asked her.
Lyra shrunk at the truth of her statement, she looked up at her in the eyes, and "Will is going to come for me. He's going to burst in here with Gendry, and his friends, he's going to kill you, he'll kill Stannis, and then he'll take me from here. We'll beat the Lannister's, than he said he wants me to see Winterfell. Maybe after that I'll finally have some peace." She said, spilling her emotions out for no particular reason.
Melisandre chuckled slightly, and ran a hand down Lyra's exposed left arm. It was visible in the moonlight, she simply stroked her arm lightly, like she wanted to consume it. "Do you know, how much power your blood contains? The power of king's blood is beyond what you can fathom." She said striding over to a torch on the wall.
Lyra's blood froze like a cold dagger had been plunged into her chest. The witch strode back over to her, holding the torch in front of her face. Lyra backed her face away, a new fear coursing through her body.
She looked out the window at the sea, she then turned her torch towards Lyra again. "You know what they say, about death by fire. It is the purest death. However, for this ritual, we simply need… a part of you." She said in a voice so sweet, that it sent even more chills down Lyra's spine.
Lyra began to struggle against her binds again, "What are you doing! Stay away from me you red cunt!" She struggled backing away from the flame.
To Lyra's complete shock she pulled the torch back, and simply stared at her left arm. "Do not be afraid Lyra, the fire will cleanse you of all sins, and let you be reborn." She said not looking away from Lyra's arm.
Lyra began to look at her arm as well, waiting for something to happen. Soon she turned back to Melisandre. "What the bloody hell are you on about you red-."
She stopped when she felt a small tingling sensation starting to go up her entire arm. "Wha… what the bloody hell are you doing to me!? Stop this! What are you-. AHHHHHHHHHH STOP, NO STOP PLEASE STOP, AHHHHHHHHH." She began to scream.
She began to scream, as the entirety of her left arm burst into flames.
A/N:) Here it is everyone! I'm really sorry for the delayed update, but I've been having laptop problems, where sometimes it will crash on me without saving my work. For that reason I had to re-write this chapter multiple times.
So for all you hardcore book readers who I know are going to say something I want to say, yes I realize Domeric Bolton is only mentioned in the books. For all you people who only watch the show, as you can probably tell Domeric Bolton was the legitamite son of Roose Bolton. In the books I'm pretty sure he was killed by Ramsey so he could be heir. People who know the books by heart please help me out in a review because I'm not sure.
However I felt like it would be cool to bring him into this fic, we will still have Ramsey to deal with trust me.
So guys I'm sorry this chapter was a little short, but I hope I made up for it with how good it was. Next chapter there is going to be action I promise.
So what do you guys think of Lyra having her arm burned? How do you think that will impact her going forward? What do you think of the little Delta squadron that Will is gathering together? And before you all ask, yes he is bringing Gendry with him.
So as usual guys thanks a lot for reading, and please leave a review letting me know what you think and what questions you have! As usual guys remember 'Winter is Coming' –domgk115