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.

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To everyone who has read it already, you guys are unreal and thanks to the 80 or so people who have favorite'd and followed this fanfiction, I couldn't thank you enough!

six

Thea walked quickly down the stony hallways of the Winterfell keep. The King was awake and prepping for a hunt with the Lord Stark and his cassels. Entering his room, she found in in a state of dress. His shirt hung loosely over his body and his trousers managed to balance on his hips, with his belt laying open under his layers of fat. Thea thanks herself for not walking in any sooner. Robert noticed his sister by laws presence, but didn't cease his servants from helping him to dress.

"Thea Lannister. What calls you here at this hour?" Robert inquired. "And to my bedchamber?"

"I've come to speak with you, your grace," Thea said, practically spitting the words out as Robert shrugged on his brigandine. "I request that this nonsense with Robb Stark end, immediately." The King turned to face her, she stood with the stony Lannister expression carved into her Westerland features.

"Nonsense? You call your impending marriage, 'nonsense'?"

"What marriage?" Thea arching an eyebrow. "I know I did not agreed to a wedding. Especially with a Stark."

"The Stark's have proven themselves worthy..." the King began, but was cut off by the young Lannister girl.

"To the Baratheon's," said Thea, quickly narrowing her eyes and baring her teeth. "Not to the Lannister's."

"You interrupt your King," Thea stood tall in front of him. Her cool composition riling the King of Seven Kingdoms. "I could have your head on a spike!"

"Idle threats don't frighten me, your grace," rising her shoulders high, Thea flattened the ripples in her skirts. "I'm sure my Lord father wouldn't like my pretty head on a spike. He may even relinquish his armies and withdraw his finances. Where would the crown end up after that?"

"Tywin Lannister knows better than to do that."

"Do you believe so?" Thea said, smirking and exposing her teeth. "Well, the Starks would have to react too. I am, obviously, the intended of the heir to Winterfell. The good Lord Ned Stark may even give up his position as Hand of the King. Or worse."

"The marriage will take place," the King spluttered, his face turning red in anger. Nowhere in the Seven Kingdoms has someone spoken to him, the King, in such a manner. Maybe, excluding his wife. "That will be the end of it." Robert turned and let his servants finish dressing him.

"Are you sure you want to do that, my King?" Thea asked, stepping closer to him.

"I am certain."

"Well, you're giving one man an awful lot of power," Thea stated, planting seeds of doubt in his mind.

"Ned Stark wouldn't try anything," Robert stated. "He's been a loyal friend to me for years."

"Yes, the Lord Stark is a noble man, but people do change in the Capital. As Hand of the King, he practically commands the Seven Kingdoms." The stepped slowly towards him, the clicking of her shoes echoing against the hard stone walls. "Then, his daughter intended for the crowned prince, my dear nephew Joffrey. Not to mention his eldest son, the Lord of Winterfell, married to the daughter of Tywin Lannister, Lord of the Westerlands and richest man in Westeros. It seems, you playing right into his hands, your grace. You're providing him with the means to usurp the Baratheon stags from the crown. How long before it shall be your head on a spike? I know where I shall be. Safe in the North, baring the Stark name and producing heirs to continue the Stark rule." Thea turned and walked towards the door again. Robert stood silently with his back to her. She stopped at the door and looked back one last time.

"If it is so, of course."

Thea sat the the desk, transcribing a note to pass onto her sister.

Dearest Queen,

I hope that Robert did not take offence from our encounter this morning. But, it seems I have gotten my way and will return to Casterly Rock unwed for another while. I'm sorry, I cannot join you and the Lady Stark this afternoon. I have made other arrangements. So please excuse my absence.

Your sister,

Thea Lannister.

Carys walked into the Lady Lannister's bed chambers and saw her dressing in her riding clothes.

"My lady, you are not properly dressed," she told her. "The Queen and Lady Stark requested you for the afternoon."

"Tell them I am going riding with the men," Thea turned her head around quickly. "And have my belongings prepared. I intend to ride back to Casterly Rock in the coming days."

"Yes, my lady," Carys dutifully agreed.

"But, wait. I have more duties for you," Thea said, stamping the note shut with the sigil of House Lannister. She held it out between her fingers to her handmaiden. "Pass this onto my dear sister and prepare a raven. For when you return, I intend for you send a letter to my Lord father."

"Of course," Carys said, taking the letter. Thea watched the woman leave, before turning back to her second letter.

My Lord Father,

I am writing to inform you of my impending return to Casterly Rock. In my short stay in the deary wasteland of Winterfell, I have convinced the King to cancel the wedding preparations. Thank the seven. It took some talking, but I've got him on my side now. Hopefully the seeds of doubt in our dear Robert Baratheon's mind will blossom and he will relinquish the Lord Stark as Hand and appoint you, dear father.

I expect to arrive within the month.

Your dearest daughter,

Thea Lannister.

Robb, Jon and Theon were saddling their horses, preparing for the hunt with the King, Lord Stark and the cassels of the house. Somehow the topic of Thea had worked it's way into the conversation.

"The Lady Lion doesn't seem keen to have you as her husband, Stark" Theon commented. He had heard a few witty jabs exchanged between the pair the previous night. "I wonder why?"

"She obviously doesn't like good company," Robb stated.

"I wonder are the rumor true," Jon contemplated. "That she spends her days within the walls of Casterly Rock?"

"I doubt it," Robb said.

"Would you look at that," Theon said, drawing their attention to the blonde haired Lannister who had just entered the courtyard. "Speak of a maiden, and that maiden shall appear." Before long she had made her way over to the stables.

"Good morning," She said, with a toothy smile. "Lord Stark. Jon Snow. And..."

"Theon Greyjoy, my lady," he introduced herself.

"An Iron born," she said, examining him. "Hm."

"Sister, you mustn't address people as such," Tyrion told her, also entering the stables.

"I do apologize, my brother is quite old fashioned in his ways."

"Jamie informed me you were to have words with the king this morning," Tyrion queried.

"I did," Thea smiled, happily. She turned to the oldest Stark boy behind her. "Like I told you last night, there's no need to have a cloak of Lions and Wolves made, anymore."

"Who knew you had such reign over the king," Theon commented. Thea mounted her house with ease and sat with a straight back.

"I'm also pretty handy with a bow and arrow," Thea said. "So, I would keep an eye on your kneecaps on the hunt, if I were you."

"You know father doesn't approve of this," Tyrion told her.

"Well, father's not here to stop me, is he?"

xenocanaan: Thank you very much. I'm glad you like it! I'm not even sure yet. I have until a certain point planned, so I'll continue writing up until then. We'll see how it goes :)

Daenerys86: Thanks a lot :) so happy you like it! Yeah, I just wanted to create a different character to what I've already found. But, people have probably had the same idea since this fic's inception, so I'm sure there's a few now. But, thanks for reading anyway. You'll find out what she's capable of soon!

LittleNK: You go boy/girl, i don't know! Thanks for reading and reviewing! Glad you like it and hoped you liked this chapter too!