Less than two weeks into her forced return to the keep Lyanna found herself sitting next to a wounded and delirious monarch as he drew his last breath shortly after a hunting accident. And as she did so she could not help but pity the Queen. Even as the King had known he was dying it had not been her, nor their children, he had summoned to his bedside. No, those summonses had gone to Lord Stark and Lyanna. And as his last breath was drawn it had not been his wife's name on his lips, but her aunt's. Lyanna's. But the pity soon transformed to fear as she thought of what the Queen's reaction to such a slight might be, without the King's protection she would be fair game. She should run, the queen bore her no love. Neither did her husband, and as of late she had even begun to doubt her father.

As the last thought went though her mind she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her middle section and cried out as she fell to the floor. Never had she felt anything like it, it was excruciating. She could not even explain the pain, she had nothing to liken it to, but she imagined it felt similar too if someone would repeatedly stabbed her with a dagger. And if it did not stop soon she might very well ask someone to do just that and kill her. No more had she thought it before the world around her turned dark.

When the world once again came into focus Lyanna found she was lying in her bed, her sisters restlessly moving about the room, while a maid genteelly cleaning away sweat from her forehead with a wet cloth. As she watched silently she could not help but wonder what was going on. But she had barely enough time to register the maid's soft smile before Arya cried out that she had woken. Her cry was shrill and it made Lyanna wish she had never opened her eyes. However Sansa's reaction was much different.

"The healer thinks you are with child." She told her bluntly, her tone pleased, not even asking about her elder sister's condition or waiting for her to speak. "After your chambermaid here said you hadn't bled since you became her charge the Queen sent for your chambermaid at the Lannister townhouse to ask when you last bled. She in turn contacted-" Sansa continued, but Lyanna wasn't listening. She had stopped listening after the first sentence.

With child… The words seemed to echo within Lyanna's mind. None of the words that followed had even registered. Could she really… could she be carrying a little boy or girl within her? Yes, she had felt ill and even occasionally gotten sick since Jaime left, but she had written it off as a consequence to her current situation. Never had any other possibilities even crossed her mind… it was too soon. She had not even been married a month. Her husband wasn't even with her. No, it was not right, it could not be.

Yet, absent-mindedly, her hands went to rest on her flat stomach. Her dress had been removed, and it was only the flimsy fabric of her nightgown that separated her hand from her stomach. Was there really a life in there? A life that she and Jaime had created during their brief time together? She knew how babies were made, but the thought that they could be… it had never… She was a little late, but her bleeds had never been regular. It might still just be worry that had caused her ailments. It was still too early to tell to be sure. For now she would simply try to take things a little easier, just in case. Also, there could be no running away. She had never run from her problems before, and she was almost ashamed that such a thought had even surfaced in her mind earlier that day. It was not who she was. She would simply have to make the best of her situation, as she had always done. It had served her well in the past.

With the decision made Lyanna ended up spending most of what remained of the day with her sisters, trying to explain to the elder of the two that it was indeed to early to be sure of pregnancies and such things. She however would not listen. Instead Sansa was imagining how the child would look, and wondering if her and the prince's children would look similar to hers and Jaime's (since both the princes took after Jamie's twin far more than the late King).

No more than an hour after her sisters had left Prince Joffery came rushing in to her chambers without any preamble, not even a knock. He looked upset, she noted. But who would not after loosing a father? The real question was what brought him barging into her chambers at such a late hour. He had never done so before, he had always 'happened' to cross path with her in the gardens, by the fighting range, or somewhere else within the castle grounds. Never had he appeared like this, never.

"Lady Lyanna." He said as the door swung closed behind him, "Are you well? I was just told… My mother tells me you are carrying my cousin."

"I-" She was not sure what to say or do in the situation. If it had happened only a day earlier she would have demand he leave. It was most improper to have him barging as he had. But the Prince was to be King now, and she feared such action would not be wise. He certainly had his father's temper, and would not take well to anything he regarded an offence against his person. Though unlike his father he did not forgive such slights at a later date, nor did he hesitate to deliver his punishments. But she did not want this to become a habit. She had to be most cautious while she made her desire for him to leave clear.

"I am well. I thank you for your concern, my prince. Especially at a time like this, you must have much more important affairs to deal with then see to your ill aunt. But at the very least your visit gives me the opportunity to give my condolences in person. Your father was a great man."

"Thank you. You were very dear to him, as you are to me. You have my word that you still have the King's protection. You are still a ward of the crown. You and the child you carry."

"Thank you. Again, you are too kind to me." She replied dutifully. "But now I must beg your forgiveness for my rudeness, for I am very tired, and in very much in need of rest…"

It was first after her words had left her lips that the prince seemed to remember what he had done and how his action might be perceived. And if she hadn't known better she would have said the prince was embarrassed as he quickly bid her a good night and left. But she did not have the energy to care of such things, she was simple relieved he was gone.

Staring up at the ceiling her hands once again drifted down to her belly, her mind wandering back to her sisters' visit and their, and the healer's, claim. She had just but convinced herself that she could not be with child when the Prince had barged in. Surely her belly was too flat for a babe. She had seen expecting women… her flat stomach was nothing like theirs. Annoyed with her own inability to commit to a belief she snatched her hand away and balled it into a fist by her side. She needed to stop thinking about this nonsense.

She needed to plan if she wanted to survive. Her father could make his own plans. He seemed to have lost all interest and concern for his eldest daughter. It was up to her to protect herself now. A strange thought. Every plan she had ever made up until now had concerned her twin in one way or another, but not now. She was alone and at that thought her heart clenched.

She wanted Jon. He would never abandon her, yet had he not promised to always be there when she needed him? Well, she needed him now. They could go somewhere no one knew them, he would keep her safe, and if she truly was with child they could claim it was theirs, that they were wed to each other. Jon had already proven his willingness for a celibate life, and they didn't look nearly as a like as Jaime and the Queen did. People would believe it…. No, she was being silly, and she needed to stop her childish fantasies of running away. Had she not told herself that very thing earlier that day? She had a husband, and he had treated her well. Much better than she had dared to hope. If there was a child she would not take it away from him. Besides, she needed keep her wits about her, and her mind on the present. Not on impossible or uncertain futures. If her sudden marriage had taught her anything it was that one could never know the future. For now, all she knew was that the King was dead, the Prince was still too young to rule alone; there would be a power struggle in the city. And she needed to ensure her, and maybe her child's, safety.

The next day the healer had left strict instructions that Lyanna was to rest and not leave her chambers. It had taken her half a day to talk her way out of it, but she had not given up. She had remembered the decision she had come to the night before, and there was no chance that she would remain hidden away, not knowing what was happening in the castle or city around her at a time like this. She was favored by the late king, as well as his eldest son, she might as well take advantage of it. No matter how uncomfortable the two males had made her occasionally. For now she would fain ignorance to Prince Joffery's interest in her and act as if it was merely the familial interest one might have in one's aunt or sister's welfare. Maybe that was even all it was, though no matter how often she had tried to tell herself so she could not believe it.

Seeking the prince out for the first time in her life, Lyanna was not surprised to find him with his mother. The Queen did not look pleased to see her, the prince however could not have looked happier. Though the happy expression soon turned a little confused and concerned.

"Should you not be in bed, my lady? You should not exhort yourself in you condition."

"My son is right." The Queen was quick to agree. "A pregnancy can be most exhausting. Especially your first. You should rest, my dear, I will send you some herbs."

"I have never been one for resting when the sun is up. It would be a crime against the gods. I feel much rested today, do not concern yourself with my health at a time like this. I merely came to pay my respects to the new King. I am sorry to say I failed to do so properly during your visit yesterday." She continued, her eyes locking with Joffery's. He looked pleased, and she could only hope that this would not come back to haunt her. It was a dangerous game she had decided to play. She needed him, but she did not want him, and wasn't sure how to make him feel the same. For the first time she found herself thinking that being with child might not be such a bad thing after all. It might help her to keep him at arms length if she did indeed carry the Lannister heir in her womb.

"Then, if you will not rest, perhaps some fresh air would aid your recovery instead?" Prince Joffery suggested, the implication clear. "I would be honored if you allow me to accompany you."

"Joffery!" The Queen snapped before trying to placate him when he looked at her with a displeased expression of his own. "There is still much to be done for your father, and decisions to be made. You are King now."

"But there is nothing more important than family, have you not said so yourself mother?" He asked, already offering Lyanna his arm. "Come. I know you enjoy the rose garden, would you like to go there?"

As she allowed him to lead her out of the room and glanced back at the displeased queen the reality of her new game hit her hard. If she was going to use the prince as her new chess piece she would have to fight the Queen for him. And she had no idea if she even had a chance at winning.

TBC…