Lyanna could only stare, no expression on her face, as she rejoined her guards after leaving her father's tower. She was barely aware of them as she made her way into the carriage. For the first time in her life she felt it was a good thing she had listened to society's rules and used a carriage to go to the keep and tower. For at that moment she much preferred the enclosed space, away from prying eyes, to riding in the open. She probably wouldn't have been able to ride even if she had wanted to…. Riding had always come natural to her; it was something she did when she was upset to calm down. But now… she wasn't sad or angry, or even hurt. She didn't know what she felt… disbelief perhaps?
When she had delivered the Lannister ultimatum, three days to release Lord Tyrion or the Lannisters would take him back by force, she had seen the accusation clear as day in her father's face. He didn't trust her motives… But why? Did he think she was getting her revenge on Lady Stark? Did he think she told her husband and his sister the news to gain their favor? Did he really think she would turn her back on her family? No doubt Sansa would think the same when she heard the news from their father… Perhaps her attempt to help them had finally made her a true Lannister in their eyes… At least Arya wouldn't believe it. Though that brought her some comfort she still felt numb as she left, it felt like she was walking in a cocoon of some sort and when night fell and her husband did not come to join her in bed she did something no proper lady ever should. She went to him.
She needed an escape and if there was something her new husband was good for it was making her forget everything for a few moments every night. When she had tried and failed to seduce Jon that night before they left Winterfell she would never have imagined coupling would feel anything like…. like it did. She had feared Jaime's touch, even sought out her twin so that she would love her first lover, thinking it would make the pain and horror easier. Never would she had believed the act would bring her such pleasure… and from what she heard it was all Jaime's doing. She had often her tales of the pain, the need to just lie and suffer though… that was what the servants at home often told her, though they had advised that she pretend to enjoy it. Apparently it tended to please the man. There was no need to pretend with Jaime. No, not at all.
He looked surprised to see her in the doorway to his bedchamber, but not displeased. In fact his emotion seemed to go in the opposite direction as she hesitantly made her way to his bed. She was fairly certain her attempt to appear seductive was weak and almost laughable but her husband didn't seem to mind. No, his familiar smirk had even made its way to his lips when he spoke.
"And here I thought you would be angry with me this night. Never would I have imagined you to be such a insatiable wife…" He told her with a teasing edge.
"I am, angry that is, but you have your uses." She told him, an unwilling smile threatening to form on her lips.
"Do I now?" He asked amused. "And what pray tell would these uses be?"
"I want to forget, forget everything." She told him, sounding far more serious than she had intended. And she didn't like the brief look of anger that flashed on her husband's face, though she was fairly certain it was aimed at her family, not her. But it disappeared as quickly as it came and a smile took its place.
When she tried to go back to her own chambers after they finished, as Jaime tended to do after their love making, she was surprised to have him pull her back into his bed, telling her to stay the night. She had not done so since the wedding night… it felt like years had passed since then, not just days. It already felt like she and Jaime had fallen into a routine… it was almost funny to think that not even a week had passed...
As she played chess with Ser Barristan the next day he, as mildly as he could, informed her that the King had asked her father to resign from his post as the King's hand. And at his words Lyanna's thoughts had immediately gone to the Queen and wondered what words she had whispered in the King's ear to make him turn on his oldest friend. Surely lady Stark's imprisonment of her brother could not have been enough to make the King turn on her father, not even for a second. The King cared little for his wife and her family. But any thoughts she had in that direction had quickly been quieted as Ser Barristan continued, telling her that the cause was the youngest daughter of the Mad King, the last dragon; the King wanted her killed, her father had disagreed. And while Ser Barristan admitted he had done the same, her father had been more vocal and angered the King in the process.
She couldn't help but feel guilty at that. If she hadn't presented her father with the Lannister ultimatum, then surely he would not have acted so thoughtlessly… it was not like him. And now she would be left alone in the capital while her father and sisters make their way back to the North… But then again, she doubted the King would actually let him leave the post, he would take his words back when he had calmed down. If there was anything Lyanna had learned about her late aunt's betrothed it during their journey to King's Landing it was that he was quick to loose his temper… and make things right after he had calmed down... She hoped this wouldn't be any different.
It soon proved that she had been right in her assumption. The King had sought her father out less than a day later, taking his words back. She had not gotten any more detailed reports than that, from either her father or anyone else. News that however did surprise her was her husband's declaration that he would be leaving to join his father in the preparation that needed to be made, should Lord Stark fail to talk sense into his wife. Something it turned out he could not, and as the hour of the Lannister ultimatum past and Lord Tyrion's release did not come to pass Lyanna's heart sank.
By sunrise the next morning five men from the King's guard appeared on her doorstep informing her that she was moving into the King's castle for the duration of the disagreement between her married and birth families to insure that neither would use her as a pawn. Though she was fairly sure such a thought would not even have crossed her father's mind. The Queen's or Lord Tywin on the other hand… she was not so sure. Never the less the thought of her return to court brought her no comfort; in fact she would rather have stayed hidden in the Lannister residence in King's Landing until further notice. But as fate would have it, once again the choice was taken out of her hands.
Her return to the castle was quickly followed by gossip, and, on her part, worry. Additionally her father did not come to speak with her after her return. Sansa and Arya had however come on multiple occasions, even within the first day. Those were perhaps the only visits Lyanna truly enjoyed. The Queen would also come, or call her too her, though Lyanna did not doubt that it was only for appearances sake the Queen did so. After all, they were sisters now as well. But it was not the Queen's visits and summons she dreaded the most, no that honor befell King's summons and the prince's visits.
During the week she had been back at the castle the King had ordered her presence at every meal he attended, and many an afternoon he requested her presence as well. Though the later in the day the summons, the less he expected her to participate in his conversations or activities. Yet it was the later summonings and evening meals she dreaded the most. Those were the times he would simply stare at her, imagining her aunt in her place. Lyanna feared that one day he would have too much to drink and forget who she was, who her father was, and order her to his bedchamber. She lived in fear for such a day, for now she was without both her father's and husband's direct protection. Until the rift between her two families was mended the King had named her his ward. A fact that had blown new life into the old rumors from when she first came to King's Landing.
Once again people were whispering about her behind her back, naming her the King's favored mistress. Before it had only been whispers, but now she was even received gifts and requests for meetings with her as they were hoping she would be willing to whisper their tales in the King's ears at night. It was humiliating to say the least. But it was understandable. If she saw the King's eyes on her, surely others did as well. And regardless of who she was married to now, she was still a bastard, and, as everyone knew, bastards had little honor and so they had no doubt she was welcoming the powerful man into her bed regardless of how handsome and powerful her husband and his family was.
As if the King's eyes were not enough for her to deal with, the prince's previous interest in her was becoming a borderline obsession. He came to see her in a private setting almost daily. Like his father he spent much of their time together staring at her, though what he saw when he looked at her she was not sure. But it seemed to be something utterly fascinating.
At the moment however she was trying to convince her maid not to worry about the prince's attention. Though the fear and worry she felt regarding the two royals had literally made her sick on a few occasions, she also knew it was better if her maid did not share her worries.
"His interest in me is merely due to my sister, I am sure. He wishes to have a good relation with her family, especially considering how things are between our families at this moment. That is all."
"If you say so, my lady." The maid immediately agreed, hearing the hint of warning in her mistress's voice. "Lady Sansa is very beautiful, I admit, she takes after her mother and does not seem to have much of the north in her."
"That is because you have not seen her angry. There is no doubt she has the blood of a wolf in her then." Lyanna said amused, then as her thoughts wandered to Lady Stark she added. "It is her mother who taught her to hide her northern ancestry, taught her how to be a southern lady. As she had been taught by her mother."
"She does not seem to succeed very well with Lady Arya then." The maid said with a smile before a horrified expression swept over her face. "I mean-"
"Exactly what you said." Lyanna laughed. "And believe me, my sister takes great pride in her ability to ignore all her mother's teachings. Perhaps if she had found any of the boys at hom-, I mean at Winterfell, attractive in the least she might have ended up like Sansa in a year or two. Though I doubt it, and she seems to have little interest in marriage. She wants to be a knight, not marry one. I think, much to her mother's horror, Arya is more like I was at that age than Sansa."
"Yet you made a fine match. If I may be so bold. I am sure Lady Arya will as well, after all she will be the sister of the queen one day."
"If she doesn't run away first." Lyanna said, amusement coloring her tone.
"Don't say such things, my Lady!" The maid said, sounding genuinely horrified.
"Surely she would not do such a thing."
"Oh she would, though I would know just were to find her. On her way to our brother on the wall."
"One of your brother took the Black?"
"Yes, my twin brother, Jon."
"I did not know you had a twin, just like Ser Jamie."
"I suppose."
"Do you look alike?"
"Yes… though not as much as the Queen and my husband."
TBC…
