Summary: "A lions still has claws" With rebellion brewing in the kingdom of Westeros, where will Thea find herself when the fighting does begin? A lion of House Lannister, Thea is young and troublesome. She is brave, and stupid, enough to do whatever she pleases, without a thought about the consequences. That has gotten her into trouble enough times, and it isn't about to end yet. OC.
Disclaimer: I do not own A Game Of Thrones or A Song Of Fire And Ice. All rights go to their respective owners. The only thing I own is Thea.
Authors Note: If there has been any confusion, I know people may pronounce it differently in different places or whatever. Thea's name is pronounced Thay-Ah not Thee-Ah, as it looks. I even do that. I pronounce names at how they look. I pronounced Catelyn's name CATCH-LIN, the entire time I read the book because I'm Irish and it's the Irish pronunciation. It only makes it worse that I grew up in an entirely Irish speaking part of Ireland, and I'd say about a good 70% of names are Irish names like Séan or Áisling or Patrick or Clodagh. You know what I mean. I'll stop rambling now.
And before you begin, yes, this is a pretty shit chapter (excuse my french). It's very AU. I did as in some of my own stuff, but a lot of it is true to the scenes. I'm sorry. I'm still trying to grasp how to write in a medieval style. I'm weally weally sworry.
two
The final preparations for the King's arrivals were being organised as quickly as possible. They were due to arrive this afternoon and everything had to be finished on time. In the banquet hall, Catelyn was finalized all decisions and overseeing everything.
"We need plenty of candle for Lord Tyrion's chamber," She spoke, striding through the hall quickly "I'm told he reads all night."
"I'm told he drinks all night," Maester Luwin stated, following the Ladyship through the room.
"How much could he possibly drink, a man of his..." Catelyn pausing as she thought of an appropriate word "...stature?"
"We've brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar," Maester Luwin informed her "Perhaps we'll find out."
"In any case, candles," Catelyn said "And Lady Thea's room should be prepared last. I'm told she is travelling from Casterly Rock to join us, and not King's Landing. But, I am also told she is a fast riding and will be here before the day is out."
"I didn't know Lady Thea was joining us?" Maester Luwin asked.
"Yes," Catelyn told him, pausing for a moment. Robert had asked to meet with Robb after his arrival. Catelyn knew straight away what he was planning for her son and the youngest Lannister. A marriage between the two houses.
"I hear stories of Lady Thea, my lady," Maester Luwin began "A beautiful girl that refuses to marry as of yet, if I am correct. She is of eighteen name days and hasn't been betrothed." She will soon, Catelyn thought If the King has his way.
Catelyn had been sure to send Robb along with Theon and Jon to get their hair and beards tended to for the King's arrival. She couldn't have them looking unruly when they arrive, or the Queen wouldn't be happy. Theon was the first to sit in the Barbour seat, followed by Robb.
"Why is your mother so dead set on us getting pretty for the king?" Jon asked.
"It's for the Queen, I bet," Theon stated "I hear she's a sleek bit of mink."
"I hear the Prince is a right royal prick."
"Think of all those southern girls he gets to stab with his right royal prick," Theon replied quickly.
"I hear that Lady Thea Lannister is following them from Casterly Rock," Jon began "At the King's orders."
"And the King has ordered to meet with you?" Theon asked, looking to Robb, who nodded "A lion for a wife, I'm jealous."
"No," Robb stated. He hasn't given idea of the King arranging a marriage between the two any thought. Yes, it had crossed his mind, but he tossed it away. Lannister's and Stark's don't have good history. He was sure a marriage would not solve the conflict.
"Why else would he have the Lady travel north?" Theon asked.
"Because she is the Queen's younger sister," Jon stated. Both Tyrion and Jaime lived in King's Landing, leaving Thea the only Lannister child to still live in the Westerlands.
"Everyone know's that she resides in Casterly Rock," Theon said "Why would they have her make the journey, if it wasn't for a good cause?"
"Sheer him good, Tommy," Robb said, getting away from the subject. He took up and pushed his anxious brother into it "He's never met a girl he likes better than his own hair."
"I hear she received a mountain lion for her names day," Theon informed them.
"A mountain lion?" Jon asked, curious as the Barbour clipped at his hair.
"Only a cub," Theon said "I wonder if she is as much as lioness as they say she is? They don't call her the Lady Lion for nothing."
"She can't be that bad," Robb stated.
"You never know," Theon began "I bet you would like a Lioness in your bed."
The Kings cavalry stormed through the gate of Winterfell. There had to be at almost one hundred of them. Men on horses carried the black and gold, stag embezzled Baratheon banners at the front, followed by the red and gold, lions of House Lannister, the Queens house. The Stark family stood in the courtyard awaiting the immanent arrival of their monarch. Catelyn stood by Eddard's side and Robb was too the other. The rest of the children lined out by age, apart from the youngest Rickon, who stood by his mother. Robb, Sansa, Ary- It was then Catelyn noticed that was Arya wasn't present between Sansa and Bran.
"Where's Arya?" She looked around, trying to locate her youngest daughter "Sansa, where is your sister?" Sansa shrugged in response. It was when the Kings cavalry were beginning to enter the courtyard that Arya came running over, a helmet resting on her head.
"Hey, hey, hey," Eddard stopped his daughter and took the helmet from her head "What are you doing with that on?" Robb and Jon sniggered at their younger sister. Arya had always protested against doing her lessons in music, etiquette and sewing, while the boys learned archery "Go on."
"Move," Arya hold her year younger brother, and took her place in the line-up. The whole cavalry entered the courtyard, and when King Robert's face was first seen, everyone dropped down to their knee. Helped off his horse, Robert made his way over to the Lord of Winterfell and his family. He gestured for him to stand, and everyone else followed the movement.
"Your grace," Eddard bowed his head. The King stayed silent and ran his eyes over his old friend.
"You've got fat," Robert stated. Eddard look down the obviously round stomach of the King and cocked his eyebrow. Both the men started laughing, breaking the awkward silence. Robert hugged his old war friend, before turning to his wife "Cat."
"Your grace," Catelyn greeted him, also sharing a hug. He tousled the hair of Rickon, who seemed tiny next to the huge man.
"Nine years, why have I not seen you?" Robert asked "Where the hell have you been?"
"Guarding the North for you, your grace," Eddard replied, as he noticed the Queen and her two younger children exiting the royal carriage "Winterfell is yours." Cersei made her way over to the Stark family, turning her lip at her surrounding. She obviously wasn't happy, but then again, when was she?
"Who have we here?" Robert said moving over to the tall young man that stood by his father "You must be Robb." Robert looked at the boy, while shaking his hand "I'll speak to you later, before the Lady Lannister arrives. You don't know how she can be. My, aren't you a pretty one. You're name is?"
"Arya," She spoke, as the King moved down the line to her.
"Oh, show us your muscles," Robert said, reaching Bran. The 10-year old flexed his arm "You'll be a soldier." Cersei gave one final look to her surrounding before joining the Stark family.
"That's Jaime Lannister," Arya standing, seeing the handsome knight remove his helmet, letting his blonde hair cascade around his face "The Queens twin brother."
"Will you please shut up," Sansa told her, as the Queen approached.
"My Queen," He said, gently kissing her hand.
"My Queen," Catelyn copied, curtsying.
"Take me to your crypt, I want to pay my respects," Robert demanded. The Queens smug expression fell when she realized his intention. Lyanna.
"We have been riding for a month, my love," Cersei stated "Surely, the dead can wait."
"Ned," The King demanded and moved on. Eddard followed behind, the guards moving out of the way.
"Where's the Imp?" Arya asked, just a little too loud. The Queen heard and approached her brother.
"Where is our brother?" She asked Jaime, "Go and find the little beast." Jaime walk off and the Queen returned to the family who has welcomed her into their home as their guest "I do apologize. My little brother can be rude at times. I'm sure he will be here shortly. Him and my sister."
Just outside of the city walls, another fleet was arriving. Much smaller, two banner men carried the Lannister sigil as the hooded Thea followed. Along with her were ten guards and her handmaiden, Carys. It had been a long journey. Almost a month, but they rode fast enough. All the men and women rode horses to the North, speeding up their journey. Thea wasn't a slow rider either. She loved riding fast through the forests of Westerlands. But, of course, her father would always make sure she was accompanied by at least three guards. The walls of Winterfell were in sight. Thea clipped her heels into her horses sides to make him run faster. The banner men and guards sped up around her, as they galloped down the hill to Winterfell.
As they reached the gates of the town, the people had returned to their work. The blacksmith was hammering at a helmet. The stonemason was carving a new statue for the Banquet hall. They all stopped their work when they saw the party arrive. As they made their way into the courtyard, she found a lot of the men and women still in place from the King's arrival. Cersei turned too see her sister stop her horse in the middle of the courtyard and dismount it with ease. Although Thea's hood was draped over her head, her long blonde hair peaked out of it. Robb watched as the girl turned. No doubt it was the Lady Lannister. Small slender hands rose from her side and pulled the hood of her cloak off her head. Blonde hair, of course. Robb thought. The girl turned and her blue eyes scanned the Kings guards, her family and residents of Winterfell. She had a small oval face and her blonde hair hung loosely around her face. Elaborate hairstyles were never something Thea agreed with, especially those from the capital.
"Sister," Cersei said seeing the girl. She was merely a girl. Only eighteen. She had grown a lot since Cersei had last saw her sister, she was a young woman, yes, but she was still a girl. She hadn't married, nor been betrothed. Cersei fears she'll soon become the talk of the Realm if she doesn't become betrothed soon. And personally, she'd rather she be betrothed to anyone than the Stark boy behind her.
"Cersei, my queen," Thea hugged her sister "It has been too long, sister."
"Yes, it has," Cersei stated.
"Now, where are these brothers of mine?" Thea asked, looking for them.
"Jaime has just gone to fetch the little beast," Cersei told her, escorting her over to the Starks "Guards, make sure that Robert knows of Thea's arrival once he is finished."
"I know rightly where Tyrion has gone," Thea whispered to her sister. A whorehouse, no doubt "Lady Stark, thank you for having me. The North is beautiful."
"It is, isn't it, Lady Lannister?" Catelyn asked, rhetorically "And the pleasure is all mine."
"And who is this?" Thea said, keeping her straight back, but looking down at the little boy by Catelyn Starks side "Tell me your name, boy?"
"Rickon, my lady," He said politely.
"Adorable," Thea smiled, revealing her straight wide grin "A little lord to guard the keep." Thea walked on towards the man that no doubt was Robb Stark. She curtsied in front of his, resting her hand in his. She did not bow her head neither, with the smug Lannister expression, she kept eye contact with the boy who the King was trying to marry her off to. She couldn't deny that he is handsome, but she had no intention to marry him "My Lord."
"Lady Lannister," Robb said, with a nod of his head. Thea quickly looked away and continued her introduction to the rest of the Stark children. The youngest girl, Arya, seemed particularly interested in her and asked questions about how long she has been horse riding and what not. Usually Lady's rode in the carriage, not on horse back. Thea looked around again. The place was dreary and dull. A grey sky loomed overhead and she made sure to watch her footing. A number of places on the ground looked extremely muddy and she didn't wish to dirty her dress. The party all moved into the banquet hall as the weather began to turn from dry to rain rather quickly. Thea knew for certain, she wasn't going to like it here.
I am really really really really really really really sorry. I know it's so bad :( It just a boring, long filler chapter. Next one will be better. I'll try my best to make it better.