Winterfell

Lysara Stark

"Lysara."

She blinks, all she could do was stare up at the burning sky in wonder. All she could do was stare with intensity as the sky blackened with clouds of ash, she watched as the black sky turned a pure gold, as the scalding heat licks her skin. The heat melts away the ice surrounding her, as everything erupts into chaos. The beasts from the skies and land flee and the beasts in the waters are cooked where they swim. Ash falls from the sky, each black flake representing a loss of life. A life lost to the inferno.

Lysara lets the tears fall from her face silently as she hears the screams of men, the wailing of women and the terrified cries of children. Her face, impassive and blank, unable to handle the intensity of what she was looking at. She was numb as she watched the four corners of the word become engulfed in ash and anguish. She looks on as buildings fall, as both high and low born perish. How did such a world fall to its knees? Lysara thought as the fire ate away all life, until only she remained. The world was dying around her, yet she remains untouched staring up at the fire that lit up the world. Ungodly. She licks her dry lips that had cracked with the boiling heat and stiffened at the presence she felt behind her.

"Lysara."

Lysara's breath hitches and with one last deep breath, she turns around cautiously. She's taken aback when her grey eyes meet a pair of burning indigo eyes. The burning Kingdom behind her fades from her mind as she keeps his stare. Azor Ahai? Lysara asks herself, with a slight shake of her head in denial. He watches her, cocking his head to the side as his eyes fill with curiosity until the boy's eyes finally settled on her face. There was a fierce passion in them but she could see it...it was a flicker dancing in his eyes. Madness. Lysara's eyes cannot leave his; his strong, fierce and mischievous eyes dancing with madness.

"Lysara."

"Azor Ahai?" Lysara asks with uncertainty, taking a step forward.

Her eyes leave his own to take in his features. She's graced with an ethereal beauty. He had silver hair, cascading down to his shoulders in unruly curls, his hair glowing gold underneath the fire. His face is even more so, his tanned skin lighting up the features of his face. Her gut warms at the sight, her breath remaining heavy and her eyes steadily narrow as she looks on at him. Lysara falls silent once more, as she takes in his face but it appears he was doing the same, inspecting her features. He steps forward, his light eyebrows raise in a fondness as his hand cups her cheek.

"Lysara!" A small familiar voice screams frantically, snapping her out of her trance temporarily. "Run!"

Lysara finds herself ignoring the voice, keeping her feet grounded as his gaze locks her in his hold. His eyes warm her insides like the fires above and all she could think about was him. She attempts to catch a glimpse of the Son of Fire, at all of Azor Ahai's greatness. Lysara could make out the dark armour, black as coal, that he wore. In a mere moment, she feels nothing but contempt and peace, despite the world that was dying around them.

"Azor Ahai," She breathes softly and closes her eyes, leaning into his warm touch.

Lysara is within his gentle hold and all she can do is watch as she reopens her eyes the fire that forms a circle around them, encasing them. She watches as it nears them but even then, they do not move. The boy, ages with her, gazes at her like her father does her mother. Like Jory does. Her eyes grow weary as the fire licks their skin, burning away their clothing but for an unknown reason she does not feel the pain at all. Nor heat. Lysara feels cold.

"No," He speaks up which causes her eyes to widen. "I am not Azor Ahai."

"W-Who are you?" Lysara asks, her face contorting into one of devastation.

"Aegon."

Lysara immediately sits up, clawing at her throat, gasping for her air. She looks vigorously around her chambers, her eyes wide and wild as she searches for the boy in her dreams. Her racing heart starts to slow as she comes to the realisation that it was nothing but a dream. A vision gifted to her by R'hllor himself. She shivers, looking to see her furs and covers were knocked to the stone ground, along with some of her pillows. Lysara grasps the ruby on her necklace and closes her eyes as she takes to standing. She wipes a bead of sweat from her sweat slick body and rolls her shoulders, trying to ease off the sleep from her aching muscles.

"Aegon," Lysara murmured and closed her eyes as she approaches her dresser.

Whilst she was grateful that it was a dream, she couldn't comprehend what had happened fully. The dream had felt so...real. The heat on her skin, the burning of empires and the way that the boy looked and spoke to her. Lysara had woke from the dream with nothing but disappointment, she had thought that the purple eyed boy was Azor Ahai reborn. No, Lysara denied with a shake of her head as she took out her red dress and slipped it over her head. He is not Azor Ahai.

"Aegon," She repeated, the name playing on her lips.

The was not the first time she had seen those purple eyes, she had seen the him that night when the library was set on fire, the night her mother and brother were attacked from the shadows. And now, now she had a name to the face she had been longing to see once more. Lysara knew of many Aegon's throughout history, causing her brows to furrow in both confliction and confusion. The violet eyes were still ingrained in her mind, capturing her very soul. I must be mad, Lysara thinks to herself and lets a bitter chuckle escape passed her lips. Why would I be dreaming of dead dragons?

Lysara made her way out her chambers, seeking out her mother. Since the attempt on her brother's life, it seemed it reignited the fierce motherly fire within her mother as when she arrived, she caught her mother giving orders to Maester Luwin. Lysara hitched up her red skirts and briskly walked towards her mother. Her walk slowed, guilt and rage filling when she caught sight of her mother's hands and swallowed, staring intently at the heavily bandaged hands.

"I'll burn their kingdom down for what they have done," Lysara seethed as she tenderly touched her mother's wrist. "They'll pay."

Her mother hushed her, wrapping her into a tight embrace and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. Lysara was certain she would weep, she was close to weeping but bit harshly into her bottom lip, drawing blood. The Lannister's will pay for their sins, Lysara thought darkly as she wrapped her arms around her mother's lower back. She held her mother possessively, keeping her close as she eyed Maester Luwin. I am the one they will not suspect, I will come and burn their kingdom down like I did within my dream. R'hllor will set all those who oppose him alight.

"They'll pay," Lysara vowed.

"They will," Lady Catelyn promised fiercely, pulling back and examined her features intently. Lysara's prayers to R'hllor had worked well, the shadow was cast from her mother's heart and her brother was on the verge of waking and the assassin was killed. "It's the Lannister's, Lysara. I know it is. No one has believed me."

"I do."

Her mother's eyes widened in surprised, before pulling her back into a firm and fierce embrace. It was rare for herself and her mother to embrace but when they did, no one could part them. A thousand armies could try to and those armies would fall. Lysara pulled away briefly and placed her hands on her mother's shoulders, gripping the light furs wrapped around her mother's neck lightly.

"Your father will know of this," Her mother tells her. "I must go to King's Landing."

"I know-" Lysara began, catching her gaze. "Tell father-A bird mocks you. You have to tell him, you-"

"I will," Lady Stark interrupts. "I promise."

"You have to be careful, mother." She responds, her voice a hushed whisper. "The night is dark and full of terrors."

"Robb rules Winterfell as of now and with him running things, you have to do your duties. Your younger brothers need you, now more than ever. Do you understand, Lysara? I do not want any more of this talk of leaving. The lone wolf dies, but the pack survives; family, duty, honour. Those are my words just as they are yours." Her mother said firmly, her face was stern like her eyes and her lips were pressed into a thin line. "Promise me. Promise me that you will not abandon them."

"I promise, mother."

Lysara felt a fierceness fill her and it was consuming her whole. The lone wolf dies but the pack survives, the words echoed like a mantra in her thoughts. Her eyes flickered close, her breath rising and falling slowly as she concentrated deeply on her father. I am not my father, I understand how the game shall be played. Lysara pursed her lips, reopening her eyes to look to her mother.

"I must tell you something," Lysara said as her eyes averting to Maester Luwin. "Alone."

Her mother nodded to the Maester, whom hastily left with various other servants that were present in the cold hall. Lysara remained cool and collected, grasping her mother's upper arm and gently tugged her towards the end of the hall. I must tell her, Lysara thought with great guilt and hesitancy. I should have told them sooner...but I couldn't...they would have died. The Lannister's would have had us executed.

"Mother...I have to tell you something-" She began, her voice wavering as she clasped her hands together. "You may not like what you are about to hear..."

"I'm your mother, you can tell me anything," Lady Catelyn assured her.

"I know who pushed Brandon from the tower. I saw him...I saw Jaime Lannister," Lysara informed her and watched as her mother's stern face contorted into one of anger. "In my dreams, I dreamt of Brandon. I seen that he was pushed from the broken tower in my dreams...that is how I was able to come across him. I later checked the tower...I found a necklace..."

"A necklace..." Her mother repeated slowly, before her eyes shot up to her own. "Where?"

"I confronted the Kingslayer," She confessed. "I returned the necklace to him as a warning. It was Cersei's necklace. The Lannister's live a lie."

"N-No..." Her mother murmured, turning on her heel to face the table as she shook her head in denial. "No..."

"Yes," Lysara pressed. "I'm sorry, mother. The Lannister twins, they pushed Brandon from the tower. They-"

"No!" Her mother roared, throwing her arms across the table, knocking everything from it causing her to startle.

"It is true." Lysara informed her coldly, staring ahead. "Jaime Lannister had my brother pushed from the very tower he and his sister committed incest in. Brandon caught them in the act which spurred the action from Jaime, in an act to keep their relations secret. I do not know how long they have been in a relationship for but I do know for a fact that Robert's children...aren't Robert's children. They betrayed the King. Father must deal with them before it is too late for him to do so. He must put them to death-"

She felt it before she could hear it or see it. The sharp sting of a slap, she looked on ahead blankly at the doors to the hall, her head had been thrown to the side because of it. Lysara slowly turned back to face her panting mother's, who's eyes were filled with rage. She regained her impassive composure, straightening her back and clasped her hands behind her back as she stared at her mother with a lightly lifted brow.

"Your father is a man of honour!" Lady Catelyn stated, her tone fiercer than ever. It could rival a she-wolf's growl. "We are treading on dangerous ground, Lysara. It is bad enough that I know a Lannister was involved in the attempted murder of my son, twice. And now you throw all sorts of accusations. This isn't a child's game, this is a dangerous game we are playing, Lysara!"

"I am not Eddard Stark. I am not my father," Lysara spoke after a long period of silence. Her eyes were serious and cold. "I understand the way this game will be played. I will do everything that I can to protect our family. Do you think I am throwing these accusations around because I can? I know this because he told me. I took it upon myself to confront him. I may have died in the process but I would care little for that because this is what protecting my blood...our family is! We need to rip out the bed of weeds by the root, one by one, before they strangle us in our sleep! My father is a man of honour, I am not. And if I am to be in this world a little while longer, then I will do whatever it takes to protect my family. I will do R'hllor's bid and burn the false Gods."

Lysara leaned over to a candle placing the long lit match on the wick of the candle, letting the candle flicker to life. She continued to light many candles, looking over ever so often to Brandon and Rickon. Lysara turned back to face them and saw her youngest brother fidget where he stood, unable to stand still for a long period of time. He was too little and too bored to understand the importance of standing by Bran's bedside. Lysara's lips twitched slightly as she pinched the burning and blackening match and made her way towards Rickon.

Lysara bent down and hoisted Rickon into her arms, taking the seat at the bedside and set him on her lap. She threaded her fingers through his unruly hair, combing out the tugs and knots of his curly hair with her nails. Lysara hummed a soft song, bouncing him up and down on her lap before she let the squirming Rickon rest on her lap, his head lying on her chest.

"How about I tell you a story, little pup?" Lysara offered, looking down at him.

"No," Rickon denied, shaking his head. "I want Bran. I want mother."

"Our brother will wake," Lysara reassured him as an idea formed in her mind. "How about we pray to him? Or sing?"

"Can we sing?" He asked eagerly, his head tilting up to look at her with interest.

"Of course, wild wolf." She replied.

It was only when her eyes flickered back to the sleeping Bran, she jumped, clutching onto Rickon tightly. Her grey eyes met a pair of big, blue solemn eyes. Lysara stilled but snapped out of her daze, setting the small boy down with haste. She spun Rickon around to face her and gripped his chin lightly, lifting his head up so that their eyes met.

"Rickon," She spoke softly. "Rickon, I need you to go and fetch Maester Luwin and Robb. Can you do that for me? Tell them that Bran's awake. You have to tell them this, okay? It's important."

Rickon nodded, understanding the urgency and firmness of her tone. He may not have understood fully what was going on, but her tone said it all. Her little brother scurried out of the room, Shaggydog in tow. The direwolf cast her a glare before he padded behind his master. Rickon ran out of Brandon's chambers as fast as his short, little legs would carry him. Lysara hesitantly looked back to Bran as she cautiously took his hand in her own and pressed a kiss to his knuckles.

"Brandon."

"I-I...Lysara...I can't feel my legs..." Bran stammered weakly, panic and fear rising in his tone. "Why can't I feel them?"

"Hush," Lysara murmured and reached over and brushed the curls, that were sticking to his sweaty face away. "I-"

As Lysara was about to comfort him, Robb had stormed into Bran's chambers with Rickon at his heels. Her eyes flickered behind him in search for Maester Luwin and she let out a soft sigh. He forgot. Her older brother paid her little to no attention as he moved to Bran's bedside and took a seat on the edge of the bed, looking down intensely at their younger brother.

"How are you feeling?" Robb inquired.

"I saw you," Bran croaked. His eyes met her own, causing them to widen. He remembers. "You were in my dreams."

"I was?" Lysara asked, feigning surprise. "You must tell me of it."

Brandon struggled to sit up but he managed to shakily prop himself onto his elbows, though his legs refused to move. Lysara recalled Maester Luwin stating that he would never be able to use his legs again nor would he have any feeling in them. Her heart ached for her little brother, knowing that she would be the one to deliver the news. The unbearable look of despair on Robb's face confirmed that he couldn't tell him and as for Maester Luwin, she wouldn't leave such a responsibility to the kindly man. He cared for her family as much as she did. Lysara reached out to touch her brother but he recoiled, glancing to her as if she were a stranger.

"Where's mother and father?" Bran demanded. "What happened?"

"You fell," Lysara answered truthfully. "Can you recall anything before your fall?"

Lysara looked at him intensely, searching for any trace of a lie in his eyes as he shook his head. She briefly looked up to Robb, as they both shared a cold and dark look. She placed a soft but false smile on her face for younger brother and leaned down to him, planting a tender kiss to his forehead.

"Do you remember anything?" Robb pressed. "Anything at all?"

"No," Bran answered vaguely, transfixed on his legs.

"Strange," Lysara remarked softly. "I hope you remember soon."

"I...I...Why can't I feel them?" Brandon asked, tears pooling in his eyes as he looked up to her desperately. "Lysara...I can't feel them!"

Lysara swallowed the hard lump that was present in her dry throat as she watched the useless attempts of her younger brother as he tried to move his legs. He suddenly, in a fit of anger and pain began to relentlessly hit his legs as he cried, tears falling from his face. She quickly reached over while hushing him, grasping onto his wrist and pulled them away from his legs. Their eyes met and with that he began to cry loudly. Lysara closed her eyes, climbing onto the bed and lay next to her brother, wrapping her arms around his body and pulled him to her chest, allowing him to sob into her neck and hair. Uncaring for the blunt nails that he dug into her pale flesh.

Lysara let everything fade into the background as she stared impassively towards the burning candles, the sobs of her brother echoing loudly and dauntingly in her eyes. She clutched him tighter, staring on at the dancing flames with nothing but vengeance and fire left in her beating heart.

Author's Note: Hey! I'd like to thank everyone for reading my story, for putting it as one of your favourites and for following it. I'd also like to thank everyone who has left a review And hopefully this chapter doesn't disappoint. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Reviews-

celticank: Thank you so much, hopefully you like this update! I'm glad you think that about Lysara. As for helping Robb with the war, she isn't going to. Her story line without revealing anything, points her more to beyond the Wall. As for R+L=J, you'll have to wait and see...