The Castle was, as it has been since the arrival of the King, bustling with life and movement. After visiting the seamstress, and listening to Sansa order them around as colors, designs, and pattern were chosen, Lyanna was all too happy to let her younger sister choose for her. She didn't know the first thing about southern fashion, but Arya was not as easy to please as she desperately tried to stop her sister from 'trying to make her into a lady', a phrase she spat with such venom Lyanna had to stiffen a laugh. Arya wanted to be a knight, much like Lyanna had at her age, though she dared to wager that her sister was more set in her ways that Lyanna had been. She had never had to bend before, unlike Lyanna. It was something she would have to learn if she wanted to survive in King's Landing. If she didn't she would break under the restrictions of the royal court.

Tired from her sisters' bickering Lyanna had taken Lady Stark's arrival as a blessing, as it allowed her to flee the seamstress, dresses, and petty squabbles regarding Sansa's prince. A prince she dared say, if only to her twin, would be the death of the Kingdom if he was left to rule. But Sansa seemed to see none of his faults, and perhaps Lyanna had been to quick to judge, though both Jon and Arya seemed to agree with her assessment.

The younger prince and princess were however nice enough as far as she could tell, though she had seen even less of them than the former. However the princess had joined their lessons with Septa Mordane the day before. She hadn't said a word the entire time, too shy it seemed, but Lyanna found she much preferred her to her older brother.

Walking out on the covered bridge between the armory and the great keep from where she intended to watch the boys' practice in the yard she arrived to find Jon seated on the sill, one leg drawn up languidly to his chin. He was watching the action, so absorbed that he seemed unaware of her approach until his white wolf moved to meet them. Night stalked closer on wary feet as his albino giant Ghost, already larger than his litter mates, smelled her, gave her ear a careful nip, and settled back down.

Jon gave her a curious look. "Shouldn't you be with the seamstress?"

"I gave Sansa free range." She replied with a smile.

He grinned. "You are a brave woman."

"So it's been said. Who is fighting who?"

"See for yourself."

To her disappointment, it was the younger boys drilling. Bran was so heavily padded he looked as though he had belted on a featherbed, and Prince Tommen was no different. They were huffing and puffing and hitting at each other with padded wooden swords under the watchful eye of old Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms, a great stout keg of a man with magnificent white cheek whiskers. A dozen spectators, men and boys, were calling out encouragement, Robb's voice the loudest among them. She spotted Theon Greyjoy beside him, his black doublet emblazoned with the golden kraken of his House, a look of wry contempt on his face. Both of the combatants were staggering. Lyanna judged that they had been at it awhile.

"A shade more exhausting than needlework," Jon observed teasingly as he glanced over at her.

"A shade more fun than needlework," His twin gave back at him. Jon grinned, pulling her to his side, his arm never falling from her waist.

"I will miss you, dearest sister."

"Of course you will. We are two halves of one, but we will make do until I am widowed and can flee back to you and the North. Now, why aren't you down in the yard?" Lyanna asked him jokingly, but a soft smile had spread on her lips.

He gave her a half smile. "Bastards are not allowed to damage young princes," he said. "Any bruises they take in the practice yard must come from trueborn swords."

"Yet they want to bring another bastard with them to court and marry her off so the King has something to look at." She said dryly, all softness gone from her features.

"If it was like that father would never let you go." Jon insisted, and she nodded reluctantly, not sure she believed him, before leaning further into her brother as they watched Bran and Tommen circle each other. She wasn't sure how she would survive without him.

She had not gotten far from the training site, watching the Prince and the Lannisters, before another one fell into steps with her. This one, unlike the one whose throat she had pressed a blade against, was tall, dressed in white, with green eyes and a golden head. Looking up at him she could not help but think there might be some truth to the gossip her brother had told her. He might very well be the most beautiful man in the seven kingdoms, despite being twice her age.

"Lady Lyanna." He greeted. She would have corrected him, said that she was no Lady, but after the king had taken to refer to her as such so had all who had arrived in his company.

"Ser Jaime." She simply replied in return. "To what do I owe the honor of your company?"

"My brother has taken quite a liking to you, I thought I should see what sparked his interest."

"I am pleased to learn I have earned his good opinion." She smiled politely.

"I have never seen him taking such an interest in one he wasn't trying to bed. He is even trying to get you ready for court, giving away gossip he could sell for a pretty sum if he chose to. I believe you are the first to gain such favor from him, even our sister have difficulties getting him to share."

"Then I am all the more grateful for his friendship." She said, and she meant it. "Lord Tyrion is an interesting man."

"He is also a very valuable ally to have. As is any Lannister."

"I do not doubt it." She agreed. "You are the guards, advisors, and even wives of Kings."

"From the way you speak, I would never have guessed you to be a bastard." He commented so calmly one would think he was talking about the weather. "You speak as if you were a proper lady."

"Then perhaps I shall dumb down my vocabulary so that I do not offend your senses." She replied too calmly, too politely. He laughed.

"I meant no offence. It will aid you in King's Landing. You speak as though you belong."

"I do belong. To paraphrase your brother. 'As the king deems it, so shall it be.' He has deemed me a Stark, equal to my namesake. While he deemed you Kingslayer. I believe that put us both in our places." That wiped the smile of his lips. "Good day, Ser Jaime. I believe I have to join my sisters."

"She seemed to want to be rid of you, brother." The unmistakable voice of the Queen came behind them, and while it made her want to run, it made her twin grin.

"It would seem so, does it not?" He commented, as the Queen grew closer and Lyanna dropped into a curtsy. "It is not often a woman prefers our brother's company to mine."

The Queen ignored his comment, and simply slipped her arm though his as she turned to look Lyanna up and down. "Lady Lyanna," She finally said. "I'm afraid we have not had a chance to speak. Will you join me for a walk? That is, if your sisters can wait."

"Of course, my Queen." She replied, making the male Lannister raise his eyebrows mocking surprise.

"She is so polite to you, sister. It is rather fascinating what a title does."

Lyanna had to bite her lips from snapping something back and instead focused on the Queen when she spoke, seeming to have chosen to ignore her brother.

"I hear the heart tree of Winterfell is the most beautiful in the Seven Kingdoms. Will you show it to me?"

Days passed and with no confirmation the rumor of her pending marriage to the Lion of the Lannister died down, and with only four days left in Winterfell, Robb and their father rode out for a last hunt with the King. In the last few days Jon had begun to distance himself from the rest of the Stark family, the only one he still let in was his twin, and she made sure to spend every available minute with him. As such it was not until evening that the twins heard of little Brann's accident. One she at first refused to believe, never had she seen her brother fall while climbing, not even when she had shown him some of her favorite climbs years ago, when he was still learning. Even then he had been as limber and steadfast as a squirrel in his own tree. But despite this he had fallen, and he had not woken since. Nor did they know if he ever would. The only thing Master Luwin was certain of was that his legs had been crushed in the fall. They would never be as they were. Even if he lived he would never climb or walk again. He would be a cripple. And neither Lyanna nor Jon was allowed to see him, Lady Stark forbade it and it seemed their father was either unaware or simply did not have the heart to force her. Brann had always been her favorite, even among her own children. Lyanna had no doubt she would have offered the legs of any of her other children in exchange for his, and gladly given the gods the very lives of her and Jon for Brann to awake again as he was. And maybe she would have let her, at least her own.

Dinner that night was a somber affair; even the King drank and ate little. Lyanna would have preferred it if he had taken his usual fill, then perhaps he would not have had the ability to think that night. Yet the Gods had not listened and the very next morning her father found her to inform her that the King had made his choice, her husband had been chosen and had agreed to the match. She was to wed Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard.

"That is not possible." She insisted, her mind refusing to accept her father's words. "The kingsguards can not marry. He can not marry."

"They are Robert's guards. It is his choice."

"It has been that way for centuries! Taking the oath of the Kingsguard means having no children or wife."

"He is making an exception. It appears the Queen was most adamant in her brother keeping his position in the guard. And as there are no more dragons on the throne, Robert says if he wants to make exceptions to their laws he shall. He is the King."

"But surely Lord Lannister can not agree to such a match for his son." She tried again.

"Lord Tywin wants heirs and if this is the only way to get them, he will allow it. Also having a Lannister as your intended will make it easier for you in King's Landing. You will have the protection of not just the King, and the house of Stark, but also the Lion's house."

"You hate Jaime Lannister, he has no honor. He broke his oath!"

"But he has his pride, he will not let anything happen to you. For your safety, I will allow it."

"And what does Ser Jaime himself say?" She asked, knowing she would not win. She would be a wolf among lions. But when her father said nothing she sighed. "Surely he had something to say?"

"I have yet to see him since Robert informed me of his choice. But he assures me, it has been accepted by both father and son."

"I am half his age, I am but a child in his eyes."

"A woman grows up faster than a man. A husband is often older than his wife. My brother was nine years Catelyn's senior. I am two."

"And Ser Jamie is how many years my senior?"

"Fifteen. He will celebrate his 31st namesday this year." He admitted. "But he is strong, he has a good sword, and will live a long life. And you will one day be the Lady of Casterly Rock."

"I would rather be a bastard of Winterfell." She said. Knowing her as he did he said nothing, only kissed the top of her head and left her sitting in her room alone with her thoughts.

Moments later her sister came rushing through the door, Lyanna did not think she had ever seen such a bright smile on her sister's lips, except perhaps when she had been informed of her own pending marriage to the Prince. Unlike Lyanna Sansa had taken the latest news of her betrothal with the greatest of joys.

"Father says you are to marry the Queen's twin brother." She said, as if she was bringing her the most wonderful news. "Would you prefer that I call you aunt or sister?"

"I am not married yet, and neither are you." She said calmly.

"Perhaps, but father assured me both weddings will happened. Yours sooner than mine."

"No doubt." She agreed dully. Sansa and the prince were still too young. She was not, and her husband-to-be certainly wasn't either.

"Both of us shall stay in King's Landing, at least until you are with child. Then mother says you will probably have to move to Casterly Rock. Septa says it is a grand home, and that you must be blessed by the old Gods to gain such a fine husband, despite the circumstances of your birth." Like her mother Sansa had never had problems pointing out her bastard status, but unlike Lady Stark Lyanna did not think she meant any ill by it. To her it was merely a fact that her mother took to repeat often.

"That remains to be seen." She disagreed quietly. But she smiled at her sister who did not seem to hear her, as she continued retelling tales of King's Landing and southern customs her mother had taught and she now deemed necessary for her older sister to learn as well. Hence it was with great relief she saw her brother at her door an hour later, asking to have a word with his twin, alone.

TBC…