Summary: "A lions still has claws" Thea is a lion, born of House Lannister. In blood and bone, she is the very essence of what her house is. She has spent her days learning to be a proper wife and mother. When the time comes for her to marry, Thea isn't going to go down without a fight. But, with rebellion and corruption rife from the Wall to Dorne, winter is well and truly coming.

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.

What the hell! The amount of feedback I got on my last chapter was unreal! I am so glad you are liking it. Gives me real inspiration to write more. And I hope you guys like the new summary. I didn't feel like the old one suited where I was going to take this story, so I've made it more appropriate without giving too much away or without it being to broad. I think anyway, let me know :D

Holla at DamonSalvatorelover, SeerStormborn, burningflame74, akanohana, Elin, FollowTheSun22, Mercedes216, Narsilia Lyanna Elendil, beserkerbeast and Guests for their lovely reviews on previous chapters. I love you all. *a million internet kisses* :*.

To everyone who has read it already, you guys are unreal and thanks to the 60 or so people who have favorite'd and followed this fanfiction, I couldn't thank you enough!

five

Approaching the door, Thea heard the load roar of music and chattering of people from every angle. Overall she heard her brother by law's roaring laughter from the center of the room. He was hard to miss. His enormous stomach and glistening crown. Thea narrowed her eyes in the doorway, looking at him. She scoffed before walking over to where her sister and Lady Stark were sat.

"Ah, nice of you to grace us with your presence, sister," Cersei stated as Thea occupied the empty seat to the Queens left.

"The place is quite big," Thea lied, smirking and brushing out her skirts. "I simply lost my way."

"Of course you did," Cersei said, giving her younger sister a look from the corner of her eye. Cersei raised her chalice to her lips and gulped down a mouthful of wine. Thea wouldn't blame her. Robert's antics with one of the kitchen maids at that very moment in the lower part of the hall were shameful.

"Is this your first time in the North, your grace? Lady Thea?" Catelyn turned to ask the two golden headed Lannister's.

"Yes," Cersei said, not even turning her head to the Lady of Winterfell. "Lovely country."

"It is," Thea agreed. A lie. If she spoke honestly, she would have said the place is grey, dull and quiet compared the colorful Westerlands where the forested hills rolled into one another and at Casterly Rock, you could always hear the thrashing of the ocean. Either the smell of salt water or pine wood lingered in everyone's noses in the trading town of Lannisport, depending on which side of the town you were standing on. Thea loved getting out of the castle and making her way down onto the shore and onto the rocked coastline. She let the ocean spray soak her to her skin once. Father wasn't happy. She loved the feeling of the water hitting her face and wind blowing her long skirts. She was at peace in the Westerlands. In the North, things were different. A grey sky loomed over the muddy ground. Snow coated the far away mountains that lay between Winterfell and the Wall.

"I'm sure it's very grim after King's Landing and Casterly Rock," Lady Stark said. 'Yes, it is,' Thea thought, but thought it best not to answer. She was trying to be polite. It's not often that she does try to. "I remember how scared I was, when Ned brought me up here for the first time."

"That must have been a big change from Riverrun," Thea said, taking a swing of the wine one of the kitchen maids handed her.

"It was in the beginning yes," Catelyn answered, before noticing her daughter approaching. "But, you do grow accustomed to it."

"Hello, little dove," Cersei greeted the auburn haired teenager with affection, as her eyes ran over her "But, you are a beauty. How old are you?"

"Thirteen, your grace," Sansa replied with a smile.

"You're tall, still growing?"

"I think so, your grace," Sansa replied again.

"And have you bled yet?" Cersei asked, and Thea seen the teenager tense up. It always was an awkward question for girls of that age. Thea remembered it quite well. The girl just shook her head. Thea's eyes moved across the hall. She didn't like feasts. They were always boring and made her want to fall asleep. She tried to entertain herself by watching others until the point of insanity, then she would excuse herself and return to her chambers. Men guzzling beer. Women gossiping among themselves. A few people out dancing by the musicians. Yet again, her eyes fell upon the drunken oaf of a King. Although, this time he had managed to pull himself away from his kitchen wench and was loudly talking to Ned, Robb and Benjen Stark. She couldn't hear clearly to what he was saying. The music had livened up as people were getting up to dance. But, whatever the King roared to the heir to Winterfell, the young man turned his head to look up at her. Immediately, he saw the Lady looking at him. Thea curled the corners of her lips up into a smirk, but he held his stern facial expression, before being the route across the room to her. She turned her head to look straight ahead, holding her devilish smirk, and lifted chalice to her lips once again.

"Care to dance, my lady?" Robb asked, extending his hand towards the western beauty. Her blue eyes move upwards, meeting his matching ones. Thea placed her slender fingers into the crook of his thumb.

"My pleasure," Thea said, standing up from her seat. It was then she realized how tall he actually was. Her eyes only came to his shoulders, as he lead her towards the dance floor. "Or, to the Kings pleasure."

"You heard?" Robb asked, turning around to face her.

"I saw and I simply knew," Thea told him, starting to dance with him. She had to admit, she wasn't the best dancer. She despised dancing from a young age, and refused to go to classes thanks to her horrible dancing tutor. Apparently, young ladies needed to know how to dance. Not the case for Thea, who simply observed from her seat at most feasts. She usually always refused to dance with her many suitors. But, Thea had concocted a plan. "My sister informed me of Roberts plans."

"And are you against them?" Robb asked, politely, twirling her in his hands. Robert and Ned looked on at the pair. Thea was a beautiful girl and Robb a handsome young man. They would make an excellent union, if it weren't for the families they belonged to. Hopefully their marriage would put an end to such quarrels.

"To an extent, yes, I am," Thea dryly answered. She let the corners of her mouth curl up. "But, don't worry. I have something planned."

"I expected you would," He answered, looking away.

"And what is meant by that?" She asked.

"You're a Lannister," He stated, and Thea just smiled, baring her teeth. Robb had to admit. She had a dazzling smile. Who wouldn't admit that? Thea does have a reputation for being one of the most beautiful young women in Westeros. This was enhanced because she has gone unmarried for so long. Most young girls will be jumping at the chance to be married before they're even fifteen. Look at Sansa. There was something different about her, and Robb sensed it. She wouldn't be someone you'd like to get very close to. It may end up coming to bite you back in the end.

"That's quite true, Lord Stark," Thea said, as they continued to dance. "Don't be ordering a cloak of lions and wolves to made just yet."

"No, we do things differently up here, Lady Lannister," said Robb, as he spun her dancing partner in a circle, before pulling her in close.

"I'm not surprised," Thea said, with a shaky breath. She pulled herself away. "And please, call me Thea."

"Then you must call me Robb," he insisted.

"I have my manners, my lord," remarked Thea.

"As do I, my lady."

Thea observed the rest of the party from a distance. She drank wine from her chalice without having to dance or, worse, make small talk. She heard the heavy clanging of her elder brothers armor, as he approached her.

"You must relax, Jamie," she told her brother. "Take off the army and have a drink. It is a feast after all."

"The Kings Guard must protect the king, dear sister," Jamie spoke. "Where is your betrothed, may I ask?"

"He is not my betrothed, nor will he ever be," Thea remarked, straightening her back. "If you need must know, he is caring to his sister. She was being a little devil."

"You and her should get along just fine, then," he joked.

"Make sure to call upon me once the King is awakened and dressed tomorrow," Thea told him, looking upon her brother by law. "God knows what hour that shall be. I must have words with him."

"And words shall that be?"

"Let's just say I'll be travelling back to Casterly Rock sooner than he expects," said Thea, before taking a drink of her wine. "and without a husband."

hope you guys enjoyed it, i know it's bad, but don't be afraid to review! Sorry it took so long to be published!

-HannahBanana

Replies:

DamonSalvatorelover: Aww, I know! thanks for the review, cailín! xx

SeerStormborn: Oh my lord! I love your long reviews :D Thanks, cailín. Actually shocked at how many people like this. Yeah, like other fanfictions I have done, I just described her and then you had to stick to that. That's why I can't update many of my stories. I like it like this. It's better, plus, it doesn't get boring, because for the next good lot of chapters, youre still finding things out about it. Even the things I have planned further on in the story, involve...I'm not going to spoil it! Yeah, good luck is right! Yeah, like she's trusting of her, but she'll keep her at a distance, if you know what I mean. Aww thanks, dolly! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and sorry for the really long reply. xx

Elin: Thank you :D hope you enjoyed this chapter and continue reading :D I have a lot planned. I just sat down and thought the whole thing out, and because I've only started to read the books, I'm going by the TV show, I have up a lot of stuff planned. Like bits and bobs all the way up until the season three finale. xx

Guest: Aww thanks! Hope you liked it :D xx

FollowTheSun22: Aww, thanks! That is what I wanted to bring. I'm not dissing the others either, they're brilliant. I just wanted something different and I wasn't going to wait until someone else posted it. The idea was in my head and I went with it. Like for Thea, it would take a lot to make her betray her family. She's a Lannister in blood and bone, and she's proud of it. They would have to do a lot of terrible things to make her turn her back on them. They will interact more in the next couple of chapters don't worry. You might even see a fight...shoosh! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D xx

Mercedes216: Thanks, cailín! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :D xx

Narsilia Lyanna Elendil: Haha, yeah, thats what I tried to bring :D Yeah, I have a lot planned and hopefully you'll like it. I was a bit stuck for a while, but I've managed to work through it and still keep it unique in a way. Hope you liked this chapter :D xx

akanohana: Oh my god! Our names rhyme! Yeah, I have an idea on the romance side of it now, but you'll have to wait and see. Everyone is saying that and I'm just like...'cool'. It's surreal how many people like it and like it because it's different. Yeah, she's spontaneous. You never know how she's going to react or what she's going to say in any situation really. It can be nothing, but she could completely over react or it could be really serious and she just brushes it off. But, she does understand that things can be serious, if you know what I mean. It's just whatever mood she is in at the time. A lot of teenage girls can probably relate to that. That's just Thea. You'll see in the next few chapters how she reacts differently to certain things. I do not care how many reviews I get. I'm happy to get any. Just saying. I'm shocked this chapter actually got so many. I think yours is like the 6th or 7th or something. That is huge for me. I'm not the writer who gets 10-20 reviews a chapter. I'm happy with just two reviews! Aha, hopefully you don't have to wait as long for the next chapter, cailín and I hope you enjoyed this one :D xx

beserkerbeast: aww, thanks chica! hope you enjoyed this chapter :D

Dark G0ddess: Yeah, Thea and Jamie are going to have just a normal brother-sister relationship. Not as complicated, or slightly as sick, as Cersei and Jamie's but still a loving familial relationship. I'm not into that incest stuff. I find it awkward to even watch sex scenes on the show. I'm only 18, like. So, I wouldn't be able to write anything like that.