The outside of Winterfell looked just as nice as it did within its walls. At least, Marya thought so. The wooded area just near the gates provided excellent cover and her horse was busy pulling grass from the still soft ground. It wouldn't be long until even the grass was covered by the coming winter. Marya sighed from her spot against a tree. They had stopped just moments before entering so Tyrion could look over his design for the boy once more. He had been working on it since the moment they left Castle Black. The nights had been filled with drinking and merry storytelling, but during the day, Tyrion worked on his design.
"I'm sure it won't get any better," Marya told him as she watched him carefully.
Yoren wasn't the only one in their company and she had no intention of losing sight of Tyrion on the offhand there was trouble. The Lord nodded and rolled up the design and placing it back within its holder. He handed it over to one of the guards before walking over to his horse again.
"Are you sure you want to stay out here?" Tyrion asked her as he managed to climb on top of the beast.
"Rather out here then have the boy following me like a dog in heat," she scoffed at him and borrowed further into her cloak. They both knew the moment she stepped through those gates that Theon would be after her even more intensely than their last visit. Last time the King had been with them and all his guards. This time it was only Tyrion and that made foolish men brave. "I'll come in at nightfall. Don't get drunk enough that you forget to meet me at the gate."
"I'd never be drunk enough to forget that," he told her.
"You sure you don't want me to stay with you girl?" Yoren asked, squinting down at her.
Marya shook her head and then closed her eyes fully, "Don't you lot worry about me. I can handle my own for a few hours. Besides, no one would be stupid enough to attack so close to Winterfell."
Yoren took another moment to look at her, but once he saw that Tyrion was riding away without another look back, the man of the night's watch shrugged his shoulders and got up on his own horse. The group of them trailed away, leaving Marya alone with nothing but her own horse for company. The truth was, since the moment the little lord had fallen from the window, she knew that things would remain tense in Winterfell. Even if the boy was awake now, he would never be able to walk again. It was luck that he came from a great house.
Another sigh escaped her lips. She had hoped the further south they got, the warmer the weather would be and while it wasn't as cold as the wall, Marya still wasn't pleased with it. It would take them months to reach Kings Landing, maybe even a little longer if Tyrion intended on 'seeing the sights'. Hopefully Yoren's patience would cause the little Lannister to make his stops quick. While Marya wouldn't have minded seeing the sights, an uncomfortable feeling deep in her gut told her that they should make haste to the capitol.
In the last two years, Marya had only been to Kings Landing a handful of times, and it was usually to celebrate the princes and princess name day. Tyrion always brought her along with him, but besides the couple of towns between the capitol and Casterly Rock, Marya hadn't been able to see much of Westeros. Sure, she had learned plenty from Tyrion's books and maps, but they didn't compare to the real thing. It was good timing that they had been at Kings Landing when King Robert decided to ride north. Tyrion had not even hesitated when he told her to pack their bags. Marya was sure the Queen hadn't been too pleased with them joining, but they had managed to stay out of her sight most of the journey.
She hoped that one day she would be able to explore every part of this country. Her own mother had managed to sneak her on a boat across the narrow sea when she had been young. While she remembered some details of the place she grew up in, Marya knew she would never be able to place her finger on a map and say for certain where she had been born. The country of Westeros hadn't been kind to her mother. She hadn't lasted the year once they had made shore. Marya was suddenly alone in a foreign country with no idea what to do next. One of the best things her mother had ever done for her was teach her to speak the common tongue and she had lost her accent quickly in those early years. Though one look at her and people could tell right away that she wasn't from anywhere in the seven kingdoms.
Her skin was dark enough to be thought as Dornish, but her face wasn't. Her eyes were just a little too large and her cheeks would never be able to cut stone. Marya also didn't have the popular accent to go along with her barely passable features. Not that it mattered much. The people in this country knew who their neighbors were and what they all looked like; northerners, southerners, east of west. It didn't matter. Marya wasn't sure how any of them could do it. Tyrion was especially good at looking at someone and being able to tell where they came from immediately. It seemed that most of the Lannister's were that way. Or they all had such extensive lessons that they knew what every bloodline looked like in the seven kingdoms. She wouldn't put it past them.
Northerners looked like southerners to her and vice versa. When she had told Tyrion one night, Jaime had overheard and laughed as if she had said the greatest of all jokes.
"Don't let anyone hear you say that. We'll have a war on our hands because of it," he had said.
Marya hadn't understood the joke, but even Tyrion had smiled. It was then that he brought her to the library in King's Landing and eventually Casterly Rock. Even if she wouldn't be able to tell the differences by features among the people, she would at least understand why it was so important to all to them.
"It's like if you mistake a Lady for a whore?" Marya had considered out loud that day.
It was that moment that probably made Jaime Lannister like her. He had been amused by her naivety and had teased her constantly since then. There were still some things that she didn't completely understand, but now she kept her thoughts to herself and usually managed to find the answers within books, or just from listening to others stories. Marya had managed to come a long way in the last two years.
"What do you mean you weren't welcomed?" Marya asked as she pulled her horse by the reins and followed Tyrion. She didn't plan on riding her mare anytime soon. She was tired of riding horseback and she was sure the walk would be good on her legs.
"We weren't welcomed if we're going to be specific," Tyrion muttered underneath his breath. His brain was turning around and around within his head as he thought about what could possibly make Lady Stark leave Winterfell.
"That doesn't make any sense. They welcomed us just fine a weeks ago," Marya commented.
"We were in the company of the King. The Starks wouldn't turn away the Kings family, even if they had some sort of grudge against us. Now it's just the two of us."
Marya looked up at him and caught his eyes for a moment. Something was troubling him and she knew that if he had wanted her to know he would have told her already. Although, she didn't know how likely he would have said anything in front of the others. She bit her lip and focused on the road instead. If it came down to it, she would just wait until tonight when she was sure they would be able to find some sort of privacy to talk.
They came upon an inn just a few miles down the road. They led their horses over to the stables and began getting them settled. There were a couple stable boys who were quick to help when Tyrion pulled out a shiny coin from his purse.
"See that they're fed and watered," he told them, his word and coin a promise of more to come if the excelled at their task.
"Dangerous to go around flashing your coins like that in these parts," Yoren said as they turned away from the stable and walked to the inn.
"Don't be silly. These people are doing well living in the shadow of Winterfell. I'm sure they aren't even in need of coin," Tyrion said.
"Everyone everywhere is always in need of coin," Marya said softly, but even Yoren agreed with her. No matter how much a man had, he would always want more. It was the way of life, and something most people who didn't have enough learned early on.
A woman met them at the door, her eyes traveling down towards Tyrion's purse, that hung a little to easily within view.
"Welcome, m'Lord and Lady," she said, her turn clipped, but her nod towards Yoren and the other was warmer than her tone, "Do you plan on sharing a meal with us today?"
"A meal, drink and rooms," Tyrion told her and followed her inside.
The place was packed with people. Almost every table and chair was occupied and Marya suddenly wondered if Tyrion's words had been true and this place wasn't in need of extra coin. Her eyes slowly trailed over every person. Some bore weapons out in the open, some had them hidden. They met her eyes, before glancing away and going back to their own business; no longer interested in them.
"I'm sorry m'Lord, but we don't have any rooms available," the woman told him, "We're filled up."
"My men can sleep in the stables," Tyrion commented lightly as he looked around, "As for myself and the Lady, we don't require a large room."
Marya couldn't have agreed with him more. After sleeping on the hard ground and the beds inside of Castle Black, she was sure that whatever the woman was able to find for them couldn't be any worse. She stayed slightly behind Tyrion, but a slow movement to their right caught her eyes. She frowned, as she met the eyes of an older man and she could have sworn he looked familiar, but for some reason she couldn't place him.
"Truly m'Lord, we have nothing," the woman said again, dragging Marya's attention away from the man and back over to Tyrion.
"We can just sleep in the stables," Marya said quietly to Tyrion, not wanting to drag this out any further. In truth, she was tired from their journey and hungry. All she wanted to do was sit down and get some hot food inside her belly.
Tyrion rolled his eyes and didn't look back at her. Instead he reached inside his purse and pulled out a coin. He held it up to make sure everyone was able to see it. "Is there nothing I can do to remedy this?" he asked loudly.
He walked further into the room, tapping the coin on a table along the way. Marya winced as the sound echoed inside the inn. He was drawing entirely too much attention to himself. She took a quick glance back at Yoren and saw that he thought the same.
"You can have my room," a man said, leaning forward slightly.
"Now there's a clever man," Tyrion grinned and tossed his coin through the air.
The man caught it easily and Marya had her full attention on him. He had a blade strapped to his side and she had no doubt that he knew how to use it. She became more aware of her own dagger strapped to her leg, the steel cool against her skin. Marya kept her distance however, giving Tyrion his space.
"You can manage food at the very least, I trust?" Tyrion asked the woman before he dismissed her in his next breath, "Come Yoren, dine with us."
"Aye, m'Lord," Yoren said almost sarcastically.
Marya smirked at the member of the night's watch and raised her brow. She knew he liked Tyrion just fine, but taking orders from hi was another matter entirely.
"My Lord of Lannister!" a man suddenly cried out as he stood up, "Might I entertain you while you eat. I can sing your father's victory at King's Landing."
"Nothing would more likely ruin my supper," Tyrion told the man.
This time Marya didn't bother to hide the laugh the fell from her lips. Tyrion glanced back at her with his own smirk spreading across his face. Marya walked over to them, her feet light as she came to stand next to Tyrion, just slightly behind him.
"We thank you kindly, but perhaps you can sing us something else? It's been a long journey and I rather hear something more cheerful," Marya suggested. Her eyes finally caught sight of the old man's companion and the humor was wiped from her face quickly, "Lady Stark."
Tyrion snapped back around to stare at the woman, "What an unexpected pleasure," he mumbled, slightly confused. "We were sorry to have missed you at Winterfell."
Lady Stark was away from Winterfell and only with one guard. Marya felt a stone settle in her stomach and her heart began racing against her rib cage. Something was very wrong with this picture. The people around the room whispered excitedly as they recognized the Lady within in their presence. Quietly, Marya reached her hand out and grabbed ahold of Tyrion's sleeve. She gave him a firm tug and pulled him away from the table, her eyes darting around the inn. Yoren and the other guards were still near the door, while her and Tyrion were in the center. Easy to grab, she thought bitterly and wanted to slap herself for letting her guard down.
The woman in front of them slowly rose from her seat and glanced around, "I was still Catelyn Tully last time I stayed here." She moved away from the table calling out to people by their house names and banners.
Marya tensed and dragged Tyrion even further away from the woman. He seemed to realize that something wasn't quite right with the situation and didn't resist to her pulls. Unfortunately, Lady Stark blocked their entrance to the exit. Marya watched as men stood from their chairs and got closer to Lady Stark, forming an almost circle around the woman. Her voice only grew louder with her confidence.
"I envy your father and his many loyal friends, Lady Stark. However, I don't see the point in all of this," Tyrion spoke softly, words always being his weapon of choice.
It might have work anywhere else. The Lannister's were a powerful family; a feared family, but the north was large and loyal to their own. At least that was the way Marya had come to learn from her readings. Even if she wasn't sure on what was going on, she realized that her and Tryon weren't going to leave this inn of their own free will. Lady Stark was calling her banner men to her and there would be nothing Tyrion Lannister could say to stop her.
Lady Stark turned back to Tyrion then and stepped close to him. Marya reached her free arm down to her side, but Tyrion quickly stopped her with a small shake of his head.
"These two came into my house as guest and there conspired to murder my son; a boy of ten. In the name of King Robert and the good Lords you serve, I call upon you to seize them and help me return them to Winterfell to await the King's justice."
Swords were drawn from their sheaths and the whistling of steel echoed throughout the room. Marya lost the breath she had been holding and looked at Lady Stark with wide eyes. The Swords were just inches away from them and surrounded them with no escape. Marya looked down at Tyrion, surely he would never have done such a thing and even if he had, he would have never let the stay in the North. They would have fled back to the safety of Casterly Rock long ago. The only thing she could think of was that someone was framing him. Or rather them, it would seem. There were times when she was grateful for the stories of how close she was to the smallest lion. This wasn't one of those times.
"Lady Marya has nothing to do with this. I demand you leave her be and I will come with you without protest," Tyrion said loudly enough for everyone to hear. Even with the swords leveled with his face, his gaze never broke from Lady Starks.
"Everyone with ears knows that everywhere Tyrion Lannister goes, the maid follows him. She followed you in your interest to try and kill my son, and now she will follow you to justice," Lady Stark said stiffly, her eyes moving to Marya for a moment.
The girl didn't even flinch away from the woman's gaze. Marya had stared into much colder eyes than Lady Starks. If she could withstand keeping contact with Tywin Lannister when he had questioned her for hours on end, then she had no problem facing this Lady.
"Search him and disarm him," Lady Stark ordered.
"Do I really look like the type of person that would go around with a sword?" Tyrion asked, his eyes looking around.
Lady Stark thought for a moment. No, he didn't see the type at all, but either way. She wouldn't put it past a Lannister to be dishonest. "Search him," she said again, "and her."
Marya breath quickened as the men put down their swords, but didn't put them away. The stepped closer to them, with their hands already reaching out and almost grasping her cloak.
"Anyone touches her, and I swear I'll have all your hands taken from you," Tyrion glared at them, turning around to face Marya.
A couple of men around them laughed and sniggered to themselves. Yoren was no longer inside the inn, probably had snuck off when the swords were drawn, and Tyrion also noticed that his guards were missing as well. If they didn't die before he did, he would make sure to pay them back in kind.
"A Lannister always pays his debts," he said loudly, his eyes meeting everyone single persons inside the in, "lay a hand on my maid and I'll make sure to never forget your faces." Tyrion shrugged and turned back around to face Lady Stark, "I'll also say the same to anyone who protects her as well."
Lady Stark almost looked worry for a moment, until she realized no one was moving closer to the girl. They searched Tyrion just fine, but they left his maid alone. Neither protecting her or touching her. Catelyn pursed her lips in discontent. Had she been her father, or Ned, then they wouldn't have even hesitated. Those two would have struck more fear than the Lannisters words. Not that it mattered much, the girl would be unarmed just like the imp seemed to be. Out of the corner of her eye, Catelyn saw the man who had taken the imps coin stand up and join their group. She didn't recognize him and he wore no sigils or markings to indicate which house he fought for, but being this far north meant he would come to her cause.
"They would have come with horses," she said, mostly talking to Ser Rodrik.
"They did m'Lady," the innkeeper's wife said, interrupting them, "They put them in the stables."
Catelyn smiled at her and nodded, "Thank you my Lady, you have been a great help to me and my family. I shall not forget it," she turned away from the woman and saw that the men had finished searching the imp.
"Bind them and let us go," she commanded.