The Second Stark
Season 2 Episode 8: The Wolf, The Stag, The Lion, and The Rose
Myrcella Baratheon, Princess of the Seven Kingdoms (13 years old)
Myrcella had been left in her room for what seemed like forever now. Ever since her outburst with her mother, she had been under watch in her room day and night. She would be allowed to leave, but only with an escort of guards. She knew her mother was scared of her trying to escape the capital, which she would do in a second. She knew she only had one hope of making it out before she was shipped off to Dorne. She needed to find Varys, Lord Varys was always kind to her, and she knew he could do just about anything.
She needed to find Will, there was no question about it. He would surely keep her safe, and she could help him defeat her so called family. Listening in on small council meetings had revealed so much to her. Like the fact her brother ordered the execution of all her father's bastard, even babes who were no more than a year in age. She had heard of all the wretched things that her mother had been saying and trying to do to Will's family. If what her Uncle Stannis had told the Kingdom, her family deserved it all.
She did not know how she felt about what was being said about her birth. Part of her was disgusted, and could not look at her mother, or her Uncle Jamie, she even had a hard time looking at herself in the mirror at times. The other part of her thought that her family deserved this for being so cruel and for what they've done to the people. Her brother was no King, he was a sniveling coward, and a cruel person.
She was going to escape if it killed her. She had no desire to be shipped off to Dorne, or even be in the presence of her family anymore. Joffrey barley ever noticed her, and when he did she was cruel, Tommen clung to their mother like his life depended on it nowadays, he was a lost cause to convince.
Will had been the first person she'd met, who made her feel like she mattered. All her life the attention from her father and mother was mostly on Joffrey, and she and Tommen were always just there in the background. She was skeptical when her father informed her she had been betrothed to William Stark, while Joffrey would marry Sansa Stark so her father could join his house with the Starks. She was scared, at the time she was only twelve, being married to a fifteen year old boy, who she had never met before. However after spending time with him, she knew he was a man of honor and fell in love with him. He was sweet, kind, and gentle, and made her feel like she actually mattered.
She would not blame him if he didn't love her now after what had happened, but she still loved him. That's why she wrote a letter to his brother, Robb Stark the new King of The North. She would try to make her way to him, since Will would more than likely be with him. She needed her letter to be convincing and she hoped it was.
To his Grace Robb Stark, The King of the North and Trident.
Your Grace, I know you have no reason to trust the words I write to you. However I hope and pray that you read and consider what I have to say. It is my hope, that by this letter I can gain at least some of your trust.
When I was betrothed to you brother William Stark, I was skeptical. I had never met him before, and did not know what to think. However I soon came to realize Will is an honorable, king, and just man. I know from what he told me, that you are as well. I have realized the truth of the nature of my family. My mother is a vile women, and my brother is a cruel tyrant, he is the next Mad King.
My family plans to send me to Dorne, to marry Doran Martell's son and heir in an effort to assure Dorne's neutrality. I will not let this happen. I have begun to spy on small council meetings, and have learned some information that could be very useful to you and your campaign. The first, is that while my grandfather Tywin Lannister, sits with his army at Harrenhall, he has sent Stafford Lannister to raise a new host at Oxcross. It is his hope that this will go unnoticed to you, and he can attack you with two armies.
Also, word has reached court about your broken oath to Walder Frey. I am urging you to be careful, my mother and grandfather will surely use this in some way to strike at you. I am not sure how, however knowing my grandfather, it will not be anything less than cruel and vile.
My last proposal, is one that may help your cause. If I make it to you, I offer my hand in marriage to Will once again. Like our fathers planned. I have heard the rumors surrounding the means of my birth, and I understand why this idea may not appeal to you. However as of now I have the last name Baratheon. With my Uncle Renly now dead, my name could be used to convince some of the Stormlords to your cause.
I hope by the time this letter reaches you, I will be on my way towards Riverrun. I understand if you still choose not to trust me. However Your Grace, I urge you to use the information I've given you to your advantage. I will hopefully be meeting you soon, and seeing Will again.
Myrcella Baratheon,
The letter would have to be good enough. She knew not what she would so if he rejected her. Would he have her killed for her family's crimes? No, she remembered meeting Robb Stark for a mere few moments at Winterfell, she would not believe that he would do anything of that nature. Now, she needed to leave her room. She had a meeting with Lord Varys, who would also be sending the letter for Riverrun for her. She peered outside her door, and sure enough, two Lannister guardsmen still stood outside her door. She needed to think of a way to get them to move.
She looked over at the mirror which she had broken in a rage after learning of her mother lying to her about Will's death. She carefully picked up a piece of the broken glass, and an idea came into her head. She snuck the piece of glass under her sleeve, and walked towards the door.
She exited and as per normal, the two men stood in her way. "You know the deal princess, we're under orders for you not to leave without an escort." He said.
Myrcella held her head high and tried to speak with confidence. "I wish to go to the gardens. Alone. I will be back before dark." She said.
The other guard shook his head. "I'm sorry princess but we must accompany you. We're under orders from the Queen." He said.
When they tried to come closer, Myrcella took out the piece of glass she had hidden and held it closely to her cheek. Both men stepped back in shock, and looked at her with wide eyes.
"Princess what are you-."
Myrcella held the glass closer to her cheek, and this time spoke in a more demanding voice. "NOW, what do you think my dear mother would say, if I ran to her with blood trickling down my cheek!?" She demanded from the two men.
They shook their heads to indicate they didn't know. All the pent up anger Myrcella had from her mother the last few days was all coming out now.
She smiled slyly and spoke again. "Well, what do you think she would say if I went to her, crying with blood on my cheek. 'Oh mother the guardsmen struck me.' How do you think she'd react then?" She asked.
When the men looked at her, scared and praying she didn't do anything. Myrcella smiled and placed the piece of glass under her sleeve again. She smiled sweetly at the two men then bowed her head mockingly.
"Well, if that's the case then my Lords, I will be back before dark." She said with a smile, before turning and leaving down the halls of the Red Keep.
Myrcella left with a smile on her face. She liked not being a defenseless little girl anymore. She couldn't swing a sword, or fight, but she knew now just how much power she had around the Red Keep. It was like Will had told her on the Kings Road, when she told him how she felt powerless in her family.
"You're far from powerless Myrcella. You're the daughter of the mighty Robert Baratheon! Your words holds power!" He told her.
She smiled at the memory. That was back when things were so simple. Nowadays she was fighting every second to stay alive. She was going to find Will, and help the Stark cause. Or she would die trying.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
William Stark, Second Born Son of Eddard Stark, Prince of the North. (15 years old)
Will and his group were quiet as they quietly made their way towards the famous room with the painted table. The people of Dragonstone thought not much of them. Will, Gendry, Smalljon and Domeric were now in guardsmen armor. The emblem Stannis had created sent chills down his spine. A stag in a burning heart for the new Lord of Light Stannis worshipped. He himself followed the Old Gods and The New. Looking at Lyra's burnt left arm only made him burn with rage as they snuck towards Stannis. There was no way Will was going to let him live after what he had done.
It killed him having Lyra in chains in front of him. However she knew as well as he that it was needed if they were going to survive. He heard talking from soldiers around him, that Stannis was in the room with the painted table, going over plans for attacking Blackwater Bay. It would be a shame that Will would have to ruin his planning. The tower to the room was high, but soon they reached the top.
Gendry leaned over to him. "Are you sure this is a smart idea Will? We have no idea how many soldiers he has with him." He asked.
Will nodded his head as they reached the door. "Yes, I'm sure. Do you think we should just let them get away with what they did to Lyra?" He questioned Gendry.
He shook his head, as the rest of the group all undid the chains on Lyra and Dacey.
"No, he doesn't deserved to get away with it. However, it may be smart to leave him be. He's going to sack King's Landing and has the men to do it. Why not let him hit the Lannister's!?" He urged Will.
Will had no intention of letting Stannis live throughout the night. He did not care how many men he had, he didn't care if Stannis was going to put Joffrey's head on a pike at that exact moment. He had burned Lyra, and treated her like a caged animal for more than a month. Will looked over at her. Norvern, who had been silently sneak through the castle was helping her stand. She looked so weak, like she could barely stand on her own. Her skin was mattered with dirt and blood, her feet were red from sores and bleeding. Before she always walked, and carried herself with such confidence. Now she looked almost broken. Almost. He knew she still had spirit in her, Stannis could never fully break her. He was going to kill him for what he did for her.
He looked at Gendry angrily. "I don't care! He's going to die tonight, I swear it. Now everyone get ready to move in." He whispered to them.
Gendry sighed and shook his head. "You're thinking with your heart and not your head Will." He told him.
Will ignored him, and walked over to Lyra. She had not been listening to their conversation, she was leaning her hand on Norvern's back for support. They had found her some clothes, so she wasn't wearing a sack anymore. She smiled slightly at him, and he put an arm around her waist.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asked her.
She nodded her head and leaned it on his shoulder. "Yeah, i… I'll be alright. Please, let's… let's just go back." She said weakly.
Will nodded his head. "We will, don't worry. This will be fast, just stay with Norvern. He'll keep you safe." He said assuring her.
She nodded her head, and then looked at him with a smile. It was a small smile, and her blue eyes seemed to glow. She kissed him, and he almost collapsed himself. He had kissed a women before of course, Dacey had kissed him once when she was drunk, a few serving girls had taken a liking to him and kissed, and he had kissed Myrcella once in King's Landing. However none had ever felt like the kiss Lyra gave him. He loved her, more than he could say with words. So he kissed her with as much as he could. It was over in a few seconds, but it felt like it was a day.
When she pulled back, she smiled at him again. "Don't die on me William Stark." She said.
He was stunned for a second, but shook his head and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." He said.
He turned to his men. Domeric was at the lock of the door, ready to break it. Gendry was behind him, watching his back. Smalljon was look right at him, with his eyes scrunched. He smirked at Will, who shook his head at him.
"Oh don't give me that look. Are you and Dacey ready?" He asked her.
Dacey who was next to him, pulled out an axe. "You know I am Will. Come on, let's get going." She said.
Smalljon drew his giant broadsword. Will pulled 'Frozen Wind' from its sheath and looked to Domeric. Who was waiting with his blade out and ready. I nodded to him.
"Go on, do it." He told him.
Gendry was behind him, with a blade at the ready. Domeric smashed at the lock with the pommel of his blade. The rest of us waited anxiously as he knocked the lock open, and kicked the door in. What happened in the room felt like a blur to Will. He remembered yelling to Gendry to keep watch at the door. The room contained at least 8 other Dragonstone soldiers, then Stannis himself. Will remembered the absolutely shocked face of the man near the door, as Smalljon pierced his blade through the man's stomach. After this the fight was on.
A man rushed at Will from a side room. He ducked a swing from his sword and slammed the hilt of his blade into the back of his head. Gendry finished him with a swipe of his blade. He heard Dacey yelling a battle cry while fighting off three other men with Domeric. Will found Stannis near the front of the painted table. He found himself with tunnel vision. He rushed towards the Baratheon and swung his sword with everything he had. Stannis blocked at the two fought.
"AHHHHH!" Will yelled thinking of the pained look on Lyra's face.
Stannis blocked his strikes, Will could see the veins popping out on the angered face of the proclaimed King of the Seven Kingdoms. He struck out at Will, but the raw fury Will was fighting with was too much for the man. He kept advancing swinging his sword overhead with a fury. He heard the clanging of swords behind him stop. As soon as Stannis went for another swing towards him, he locked his blade with his, and in one swift movement he ducked down, and swung his blade across the back of his leg.
The Baratheon King fell to one knee. "AHH GODS!" He shouted using his sword to hold himself up.
Will held his sword to his throat. "Lord Stannis, how very good to see you again." He said looking at him.
Stannis grinded his teeth and snarled at him. "You will pay for this William Stark. Mark my words, you will pay." He said, quieting when pressed his sword closer to his throat.
Will turned back to his companions. "Is everyone alright!?" He yelled back.
He turned his head quickly to see a slew of dead bodies around the painted table. Each of his companions came to him, their blades and axes dripping with the blood of Stannis's guardsmen. Smalljon, Domeric, Dacey and Gendry all joined him, in surrounding Stannis. Stannis looked at them all with distain.
He scoffed. "Bah, attack a man in his home. Have you no honor in the North? I thought your father would have taught you better William Stark-." He was cut off by a punch from Smalljon.
Will shook his head. "Ha, we are barely guest here Lord Stannis. We came to rescue Lyra, guest rights do not apply here." He said as he heard the patter of Norven's feet come up behind him.
Lyra looked at the room, and Will could have sworn she wanted to smile. However she looked at him with concern. Like it wasn't him who was standing there but someone else. Will did not think anything of it at the moment. He looked at Stannis then to Smalljon.
"Bind him, and do it fast," He ordered.
While Smalljon binded Stannis, everyone put away their blades and started moving bodies. They would need to be out soon, before more men showed up. Soon Stannis was before Will, on his knees with his hands tied behind his back. Gendry was helping Lyra stand, while Norvern stood at Will's side. Smalljon held Stannis to his knees, while Dacey and Domeric watched the door.
Will took in a deep breath and pulled his sword. "In the name of Robb of the House Stark, first of his name, King of the North and the Trident, I William of the House Stark, herby sentence you to die. Would you speak a final word?" Reciting the words his father used to use, before executing a man.
He remembered what his father always said. The one who passes the sentence should be the one to swing the sword. It was his decision that Stannis should die, he owed it to hear his final words.
The man grunted. "Ba, go on do it then William Stark. When I die my followers will make sure you and your usurper brother die a slow painful death." He spat before looking down at the ground.
Will took in a deep breath and held his sword to Stannis's neck. Was he really going to do this? He never thought he would ever have to murder someone in the King's name. He shook the doubt from his head. Stannis deserved to die. He kidnapped and burned Lyra. He assassinated his own brother with blood magic.
He looked over at Lyra, who looked at him with a distressed look. He sighed and looked back down at him. He lifted his sword above his head, and was ready to bring it down to end his life.
"NOOOOO PLEASE STOP!" A loud young voice shouted.
Every member of Will's group turned and saw a young girl who had come down from the tower. Half her face was covered in grey scale, and Will almost fell to the ground right there. It was Shireen Baratheon, Stannis's daughter.
"Shireen leave now, return to you room." Stannis demanded of her in a stern loud voice.
Will couldn't take his eyes off the young girl. She couldn't be older than ten, she was even younger then Arya. She looked so innocent, she was crying, looking at her father lovingly. It was the same way Will used to look at his own father.
She cried and looked at Will as if he was a three headed dragon. "Please, please don't kill my father. I'm begging you please don't kill him, I don't want him to die!" She cried.
Will was almost in tears himself. Something Gendry said earlier went through his head. You're thinking with you heart not you head Will. Will realized now how right Gendry was. He had been so blinded by saving Lyra that he had completely forgot to think. If Stannis attacked the Blackwater the Lannister's would be pre-occupied which would give them a huge advantage.
What made him feel the worse was… if he killed Stannis right now, he would be killing this little girl's father. He recalled how Arya and Sansa had to watch their father be killed. They were at the Sept of Bealor when he was beheaded. He was fatherless and he decided that there was no worse feeling in the world, then knowing that your father was gone, and would never return. He would never be able to teach you to wield a sword, or if you're a daughter walk you down an isle in marriage. Will swore to himself when he had children, he would do everything in his power to see them all married off.
Now he was possibly going to deny a crying 9 year old girl this. Even if Stannis was a hard man, who rarely showed emotion other than annoyance. Every man loved his children that was something his mother had told him. Will suddenly looked over at Lyra, who like him was staring between Shireen and Stannis. He imagined the two of them, growing old, having children. He would love them, no matter what. He looked over at the crying Shireen Baratheon, he looked at the grey scale on her face. She had surely had a hard life already. Will couldn't bring himself to take the girl's father away from her.
"Will what are we doing!? You need to kill him, or let him go but we need to leave!" Domeric urged him waiting at the door with his blade out.
He looked at Lyra, who slowly nodded her head at him. He pulled his blade back from Stannis's neck. He looked to Smalljon. "Tie him to the table and gag him. We're leaving, gather your things." He told everyone else.
Stannis struggled and let out a few curses. Will grabbed a dagger from one of the dead bodies and moved slowly over to Shireen. He placed the dagger at her feet.
"Wait until we are all gone, and then take this dagger and cut your father lose, but NOT until you see a ship sailing from the balcony. Do you understand?" He asked the younger girl.
She nodded her head quickly. "Yes, I will. Thank you, thank you for sparing my father." She pleaded with him.
Will sighed and nodded his head. "You're welcome. I want you to remember something. Cherish your family, because you never know when they can be taken away from you." He said, before turning to find Dacey in front of him.
She looked at him and nodded. "We're all set to leave Will. That was a good thing you did." She told him.
He smiled grimly and nodded. He looked over at Stannis who was now thrashing about in his binds.
"Aye, let's just hope that the decision doesn't come back to haunt me." He said.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
The way back to Robb and his army was almost completely silent. The journey took another month, but with the silence it felt like longer. Nobody wanted to talk about what had happened on Dragonstone. Nobody dared question Will about it. Should he have killed Stannis? Would it all have been worth it? He didn't know the answer, all he knew was he couldn't bring himself to deprive a little girl of her father. If he had killed him that was another enemy of Robb's that would be off the map. He didn't know if he was going to tell him, he was leaning towards just telling him he rescued Lyra and got out of there.
The group neared Riverrun, about a day's ride from the castle, they decided to rest for the night. "We'll reach Riverrun tomorrow. I want to thank you guys for what you did again." Will said to his group from atop his horse.
Dacey waved it off. "Ba, don't worry about it Will. I'd follow you through worse, and I'm sure they would as well." She said gesturing towards the other members of the group.
Smalljon, Domeric, and Gendry all gave nods of approval and the group left to set up a camp. Will sighed, Lyra was riding his horse with him. She had spent most of the ride behind him with her arms around his stomach. She was getting better, but not by much. Her burnt arm was started to heal itself, but she would need a maester soon. She was far from ready to be the old Lyra again, but she assured Will she was ready to take up the mantle of his sworn shield again soon.
The night came, and it was a cold one despite the roaring fire. Everyone was asleep, except for Will. Who was staring into the flames of the fire, with Norvern lying next to him. He looked at his wolf and scratched his ears.
"At least I know you'll always be by my side." He said grimly, which his wolf responded by licking his hand.
"You'll always have me as well." Someone said from behind him.
It was of course Lyra. She looked like the old Lyra again. We were able to find her new clothes in Duskendale after we landed from Dragonstone. She wore a brown doublet, with hunting pants and boots. She may look like the old Lyra from how she was dressed, but her face was still pale. Scars were over her arms and she still looked like she hadn't slept decently in months. She needed a full meal and a bed in Riverrun, and she needed it soon.
However despite that, she still looked beautiful. She was the only women he knew who could wear a doublet and still look beautiful. Her black hair was down her back, and her blue eyes could somehow still be seen in the dark. She sat next to him, and took one of his hand with her right one. Her left arm was moveable, but she had seemed scared to use it since she was burned.
Will sighed and looked back at her. "Lyra… did I do the right thing? Should I have let Stannis go?" He asked her.
To his surprise she smiled at him. "Of course I think you did. The others may not know what it's like, but you and me? We know what it's like to feel a fathers love and have him taken away from us." She said looking down into the flames.
Will was silent. He never really had the chance to speak to Lyra about her father. Her father was the King, and if Stannis knew about her then the King must have acknowledged her. He spoke carefully to her, the subject of her father obviously wasn't one of her favorites to talk about.
"So… what was your father like? For Stannis to know who you are, he must have thought highly of you. With good reason." He asked her, making sure to add the last part.
She chuckled silently and laughed, gripping his hands tighter. "So many people say he was nothing but a drunk, who liked to do nothing but fuck, drink and hunt. Well… most of that's true, but… he was a kind man." She said sadly.
"He had lost the one women he ever TRULY loved in Lyanna Stark. He and my mother never really talked, it was obvious him bedding her was only a result of his drinking. However he told me that… when he saw how much I looked like Lyanna Stark, he couldn't ignore me." She said smiling lightly, but still looking sad.
Will looked at her curiously. He had always seen the statue of Lyanna Stark down in the crypts of Winterfell. She had always intrigued him, her story, her bravery, the way her father and Uncle Benjen spoke of her. He wished she was alive today for him to speak to, and learn from. He had never thought of it, but Lyra did capture her likeness.
Lyra took his silence as cue to continue. "When I turned 7 it was the first time he came and visited me. He was kind, and funny. As I kept growing up, he would start spending even more time with me. He taught me the basics of fighting. 'I won't have another women I care about abducted without knowing how to defend herself.' He would tell me."
Will laughed and smiled lightly. "Well, his lessons certainly paid off." He said.
She chuckled and smiled lightly. "Well he eventually started bringing me to the Red Keep for visits. Even let me sit in on small council meetings a few times. I was happy, really happy. However… the queen started to take notice of me as well. Eventually she thought that I would be a threat to her children. When I was thirteen, she had my mother killed. For a year I wondered around almost dying more times than I could count. I found that cabin around the time I turned 14, and I lived there until… I found this handsome boy, my age being attacked by Lannister soldiers. I recognized him as Eddard Stark's son. So I saved him, and the rest… you know." She said looking back at him now.
Will felt touched that she would share this with him. He remembered when he first met her how secretive she was, and how hurt he was that she didn't tell him. Now here she was, telling him everything. When she kissed him back on Dragonstone, he didn't know if it was possible for him to love her more. However, he was proven wrong at that moment.
"I love you. If there's anything in this damn world that I'm certain about… it's that." He belted out without even thinking.
His face went crimson red right away. He had never really been the expert in wooing women. With Myrcella it came easy, with Lyra it came even easier for the first time in his life. However, now he found himself tongue tied, not exactly knowing what to say. He was in love for the first time in his life, he had no idea how to express it. So he said what came to his mind.
"From the second I woke up in that cabin, until right now. I… I've never felt like this before in my life. I just can't stop-."
When she kissed him this time there was more to it. She pressed him with more passion and force then the last time. He responded with the same amount of passion and kept his lips pressed against her, moving them in motion with hers. He had never kissed, or been kissed anyone like this before. The first time he ever kissed a girl it was a serving girl, and it was just to prove to Robb and Theon that he actually could. This was the first true kiss he was having with someone he loved, and at the moment nothing else mattered to him in the world.
When they finally broke apart, Will almost tipped over. Lyra smiled at him, the funny part Will thought, was that she normally looked even MORE beautiful when she was healthy.
She smiled and leaned her forehead against his. "I love you, William Stark. Now, stop talking and just… just hold me. You're terrible at the talking part." She said leaning her head against his shoulder.
Will did exactly what she said. He didn't talk. He just held onto the women he loved.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Will loved traveling on the road, and riding through the Riverlands and the Crownlands. However after his journey to and from Dragonstone, he was glad to be back at a castle like Riverrun. Dacey had taken Lyra straight to a maester after they arrived. Gendry, and Smalljon both needed to return to the GreatJon who would soon have need of them. Domeric went back to join his father, which left Will alone to go and find his brother, who was in the throne room in the castle. Will had changed into a leather jerkin and boots, with 'Frozen Wind' at his waist his walked towards the castle, and through the great doors to the throne room. His brother wasn't there, only a women in a blue gown, who was gazing out the windows at the great river.
She turned and saw him. Will was anxious to see Robb, so he walked to her. "Ah, hello. I'm looking for my brother the King." He asked the women, who seemed to be a few years older than he.
She tilted her head. "So you are Robb's brother? He's spoken very highly of you." She told him kindly.
The women was very beautiful, with dark hair and eyes, with a thick accent that sounded like the accent of someone from the Free Cities of Essos. However Will raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes when she heard him speak her brother's actual name.
"Um yes, I'm Will. My brother doesn't really let other people call him Robb, he doesn't like being called 'Your Grace' but only his family calls him Robb." He told them women.
She looked confused for a moment then seemed to come to a realization. "Oh yes, I forgot. He told me you were traveling to Dragonstone to save a women you loved." She said
Gods did everyone realize except me? Will thought to himself ironically. Will was confused with the girl now.
"I don't mean to be rude but, do I know you? Are you a friend of Sansa's or my mother's? You sound like you're from Essos." Will asked her.
She bit her lip, and seemed nervous, but answered. "Yes I'm originally from Volantis. I came here to be a nurse in the war. My name is Talisa, I… I'm actually your brother's-."
"WILL! You're back!" A voice from behind him said.
He turned and everything was better when he saw his brother. He was in a blue doublet wearing his crown as King of the North. He engulfed Will in a hug so tight he felt like he'd snap. He didn't care, he hugged his brother back with just as much force. He needed to talk to someone about what had happened on Dragonstone, and about his feelings for Lyra. He always counted on his brother for that.
His brother looked at him smiling. "It's so good to see you alive little brother. Mother, Arya and Sansa have been worried out their minds. So, how did it go?" He asked him.
Will smiled and nodded his head. "It went as planned. Lyra's back, she was in pretty bad shape. She told me 'I have Baratheon blood in me, it'll take more than this to knock me down.'" He said smiling.
Robb nodded his head. "Good, I'm glad she's alright. Now… you and I have some important matters to discuss little brother." He said in a serious tone.
Will nodded his head, he assumed Robb needed to speak about the war and do more planning. Will subtly gestured his head towards Talisa. Robb looked at her and bit his lip like he did when he was worried.
He smiled warmly at the women. "Love, can you please give me and my brother some time to talk?" He asked her.
Will's eyebrows scrunched and he looked incredulously between Robb and Talisa. He knew Robb was supposed to marry a daughter of Walder Frey. Will knew he was not a man that would take kindly to such an insult. Before Will could say anything Talisa nodded, and gave Will a kind smile.
"It was nice meeting you William." She said before smiling at Robb and walking from the throne room.
Will smiled back, and as soon as he heard the door to the throne room close, he turned to his brother.
"Robb… I have been gone for two and a half months, what happened?" He asked his brother very carefully.
Robb sighed and answered. "It was after we clashed with a Lannister army. She was tending wounded on both sides. I… I saw her trying to amputate the leg of a Lannister soldier, just a boy perhaps a year old then you. I helped her, and… I just fell in love with her. I fell in love with her Will. I… I bedded her one night, and married her the next day." He confessed to his younger brother.
Will sighed, was he really going to get upset with Robb for this? He tried to imagine himself in Robb's situation, and realized that he in a way was.
Will took in a deep breath. "Robb, the Frey army made up a lot of your forces. I'm sure Walder Frey didn't take to kindly to this?" He asked.
Robb shook his head. "No, he's withdrawn his forces from our cause. Without his forces, we number around 20,000. I'm going to attempt to broker a deal with him, I was hoping that you'd agree to help me with it." He asked, with a tone of desperation in his voice.
It was true, Will probably could help a lot. Robb was always the expert on military strategies and army tactics. Will always excelled at aspects of politics and how to talk to Lords. Hopefully he would be able help convince Lord Walder to bring his men back. Will also did not want to be angry with his brother. Robb married for love, and Will knew that with everything that was happening, his brother deserved it.
Will sighed and nodded his head. "Of course I will. Also I wanted to talk to you about Lyra… you see I… I-."
Robb laughed dryly. "Baha I know already Will. You're in love with her, I know that."
Will nodded his head. "Aye, I do love her. A lot. We kissed last night and then we slept together-."
Robb suddenly looked like someone smacked him with a Warhammer. "You took her maidenhood Will!? I never thought you'd have it in you, I thought you'd wait till-."
Will's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, no, no I didn't take her maidenhood. I… we just slept in the same bedroll together." Will said regretting his choice of words.
Robb's eyes settled and he looked down. "Oh well good because that's… Lyra is actually what I wanted to talk to you about Will." He said.
Will nodded his head, trying to appear calm, when his insides were secretly turning to mush. "I wanted to talk to you about her as well. Robb…. I don't care if you legitimize her or not. I… I want to marry her, when we both come of age. We both want this. I want to marry her Robb." He asked, in a pleading voice.
Robb looked down, clearly distraught. A stroke of fear ran through Will. Robb bit his lip and pulled two rolled up letters from his pocket.
He sighed and looked at his brother with apologetic eyes. "It seems little brother, your hand in marriage is wanted by more than just Lyra." He said tossing two letters onto the windowsill.
Robb noticed one letter had the seal of a spider on it. The seal of Varys the master of whisperers in King's Landing, and the other was the rose seal of house Tyrell. Will almost fell to the ground from shock. He looked at Robb waiting for an explanation, not wanting to say what he knew was true out loud.
Robb looked just as upset as he. "We received the letter from the spider first. It was… written by Myrcella. She says she has been spying on small council meetings, even gave us some very important information on Lannister troop movements." He explained.
Will pained a little at the thought of Myrcella. He did not love her like he loved Lyra, but he cared for her. She was kind, and sweet and so innocent. Now she was risking her life to help them.
"She says she knows what her brother and mother are and wants to help us. She offers her hand in marriage, her name on our side would help convince Storm lords to our cause." He informed him, before lifting up the second letter with the Tyrell seal.
"This, is from Margaery Tyrell herself. She offers you her hand in marriage as well. She says that her father agrees to offer us the full strength of the Reach, in exchange we help them capture King's Landing." He told will in a solemn voice. He knew this news was crushing his brother.
Will was silent. He didn't know what to say. He didn't love Myrcella, and he didn't particularly like Margaery Tyrell. He loved Lyra more than anyone could fathom. However, if he accepted one of these marriages, it could single handedly win them the War.
Robb put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Will, I won't force you to accept any of these marriage offers. I have no right to force you into any marriage after what I did… the choice is yours little brother. However, you need to make it soon." He said solemnly.
Will now was tasked with the hardest decision of his life. Would he choose love, or duty to his family? He had the choice of the Stag, in Lyra, the Lion, in Myrcella, or the Rose in Margaery Tyrell. What was he going to do? He knew one thing was certain.
It was he needed to talk to Lyra.
A:N) Okay so some really big announcements for this Fic.
I have decided this story will end the same way Game of Thrones in real life will. After 8 seasons, with season 7 having 7 episodes, and season 8 having 6.
I'm really sorry that I took so long to update this. It took so long because… I wrote the epilogue for this story. That's right, I wrote the last chapter of this book.
I knew exactly how I wanted this story to end when I started writing it. However I thought if I wrote down the epilogue now, it would help me write the story more smoothly, so I can get to that epilogue.
So as for this chapter, I hope you guys liked it, because it was probably my favorite chapter to write. I wasn't exactly sure when Robb married Talisa, I knew it was either late season 2 or early season 3, however it felt right here.
Also guys, please take a few seconds to answer the poll question on my profile for which OC game of thrones story you want to read next. All you have to do is click on my profile and the poll is right at the top.
As usual guys thank you so much for reading. Please review, the more reviews mean a faster update. Well this AN is to long cya! "Winter is Coming" –domgk115