Winterfell
Lysara Stark
Lysara was uncertain of where she was but she knew that she must find her brother, the overwhelming whispers let her know after what seemed like an endless amount of darkness she was now dreaming and soon would awaken. The wind was gently swaying the leaves on the trees, the wind caressed her, unlike the violent whispers that were like sharpened knives pressing into her pale flesh. Lysara could not recall what had happened or how she came to be this way but what she did remember was an agonising, blinding pain and then she felt no more. Her grey eyes landed on the familiar crow, it cawed at her before flying above her head causing her to turn, only to still when her eyes settled on Brandon.
"Brandon?" Lysara demanded, causing him to turn and face her with a start, his eyes wide and his chest heaving as he adjusted his bow and arrow.
"Lysara..." He breathes, taking a hesitant step towards her. "You're alive."
"Aye. My flames will not extinguish until the Other is dead," She responds airily, reminiscing in the prophecy that the man that liberated her had gifted her with. "A woman of red, forged from ice shall become a flame. The red star bleeds...it does not bleed for the likes of Kings nor Queens. It bleeds for a Prince. The winds of winter will gather the darkness, Azor Ahai shall roam the earth once more reborn amidst smoke and salt. The Promised Prince has a song. A song of ice and fire. They shall raise their sword of fire and thrust it thrice into the dead man's heart. Ice nor fire can thrive whilst the other survives."
"You have been asleep for three days, Lysara," Bran tells her, causing her to still at his pleading tone, tears welling up in his eyes. "Please, wake up...please...It's Theon, he's-"
"I will. I promise. I can feel myself slipping back to our world," Lysara swore and nodded slightly.
It startled her to see Brandon walking, no running towards her. It bitterly reminded her of the series of the events that would be the downfall of her family along with the entirety of Westeros. His arms wrapped around her waist and they were locked in a tight embrace, she wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes, letting the whispers die down. The world was now graced with dragons, the pure unearthly power from them hatching had engulfed her. The dragons were reborn from the ashes.
A dragon of ice. A dragon of fire. A dragon of blood.
The three headed dragon.
The caw of the three eyed crow caused them to break their embrace and when they turned to face it, snapping out of their trance. Lysara let her brows lift in mild surprise when she saw a boy ages with her in place of the crow. The strange figure took in their appearances, his eyes trailing across her brother's face and body before looking to her own. As he stares at them, she takes her time to study him. He had dirty blond hair, deep green eyes and sharp but youthful features. It was his eyes that drew her in. Lysara looked on with suspicion, her brother had long since raised his arrow and had it pointed towards the crowd.
"You cannot kill it," The stranger states turning his attention to her brother.
"Why not?" Her brother demands.
The stranger merely looks on, gifting them a small and barely visible smile, but she caught as it made its way onto his pale lips. His eyes were trained on her younger brother but she desperately tried to keep herself asleep as she felt the pull of the light. Her ruby glowed dimly as the skies darkened around them and a heavy fog rolled in, she watched as both the boy and the crow along with her brother disappeared but the boy's words lingered in her mind as she woke.
"The crowis you, Bran."
Lysara opens her eyes, lying awake in her bed. She extends out her hand and reaches out to try and seek the warmth that Rickon usually gave off but found nothing but a cold bed. Her brows furrowed together as she tried to process her dream. It seemed no one knew she was awake, so she took, this time, to take in everything that has happened; Her father lost his head. Her mother and brother will drown in red. Her youngest sister will become no one. Her auburn haired sister will become stone. And her wolf with wings...he will become a crow. Then she thought on Rickon-
The door opening wide had startled her immensely, drawing her from her thoughts. Lysara sat up and looked on impassively to see Theon standing there, with a smirk ever present. Her dreams were cruel, she could see everything that befell Winterfell when the Ironborn and their false God ravaged the lands, drowning all of them. Lysara looks up at him with a tilt of her head, arching her eyebrow as she stares blankly at him.
"You have lost your way, Theon Greyjoy," Lysara states, her voice hoarse. "You have let the false God take away your sense of direction. Let us pray that the Lord of Light does not seek his vengeance with you as he does others. If he does, I will let the man with a sharp blade take it. The blade of cruelty is sharp and you will fall on many sharp blades for what you have done to my home and to my brothers. The betrayal of our house. You were like that of a brother to Robb. You lived with us; my mother and father gave you food, shelter and a home. They gave you love."
"Home, Lady Lysara says." Theon mocks, his tone filled with scorn and bitterness. Her eyes landed on the Ironborn men that had gathered behind him as he stepped further into her chambers. "Winterfell. It was not my home, it was my prison. Your father, who you deem ever so noble took me from my home and my family and brought me here! You never accepted me, Lysara. Nor did Lady Catelyn. I can see the resemblance between you both now. The castle is no longer in your hold, Lysara. It's mine!"
"You dare insult my father...my father was worth ten of the likes of you!" Lysara spits fiercely as she takes to her feet, clutching her necklace for support as she eyes him coldly. "You dare say my home is a prison...my home...it is a liberation! And as for the castle, it will never be yours nor will any other have a claim to it. Stark, a name so ancient and cold, a name that I wear with pride and honour. I run Winterfell! You nor any other will lay claim to it while I still draw breath. I will not hand over my home to you, Kraken!"
"You don't understand, Lysara. The castle is mine," Theon says, hissing between his teeth.
"How so?" Lysara challenges.
"The castle is mine, along with everything in it; the food, the drink, the chambers, the weapons, the banners, the servants, the women, your brothers...you," Theon stated, a smirk crawling onto his face causing her to look on in disdain, with a raised eyebrow at his admission. He thinks Winterfell will be his, Lysara scoffs to herself. As long as I live and breathe, Winterfell will never be his.
"How so?" She asks again, before elaborating further. "You claim that the castle is yours. Yet, I have not given you my home. And besides, what would you even get from my brothers? Tell me, Theon. Do you honestly believe in your heart that I would bend to your will and let you take our home from us? You can threaten my brothers, that is all you are worth. Mere threats. You may bark all you wish but you do not follow through with the bite. And if you do have the gall to do so, do honestly believe I would let you or your men harm them? I would burn my home to the very ground with you in it before I let that happen. I promised I would burn anything to keep my brothers safe and I intend to keep that promise."
"It's not your brothers I want," Theon replies causing her to still in confusion. "It's you."
"And what is it you exactly want from me?" Lysara drawls.
"You will marry me," Theon said simply causing her lips to part in shock.
"You have not only lost your way but your damned mind! You are a Kraken, a Kraken that will freeze where he swims when winter comes for you," Lysara responds coldly. "You are scum. A turncoat. You betrayed my brother! You betrayed my father and mother! You betrayed me. My family and I treated you like a direwolf within our pack, we were your family and you would choose them...them over us!"
"You were never my family!" He shouts. "You have no choice!"
"I am Lysara Stark-" She begins, a soft smirk growing on her face as her eyes become downcast. "I always have a choice. Besides, I do not see myself in your future. Now, I suggest you leave my chambers and bring my brothers along with Osha to me, unharmed of course, the heavy stench of fish is causing me to retch."
Theon stormed towards her, his boots thundering against the wooden floors in her chambers. Lysara raised an eyebrow, her smirk still present on her face as she looked up towards him but her smirk faded fast when a hand came in contact with her face. Lysara slowly looked back to him, reaching up and touched her split and heavily bleeding lip that was slowly swelling up from the harsh contact of his gloved hand. She took her hand away from her lip and placed her bloody fingers into her mouth, her eyes locked with his own.
"I shall wear this with remembrance," Lysara proclaims with a sneer.
"You will marry me, Lysara Stark. I need loyalty and I need your home and land, which I can only get through you and your brothers. You should feel flattered, not only would I like to bed you but you will become both a Princess of the Iron Islands and the North. I will send for Maester Luwin, I need you to look presentable for our wedding. I wonder what the bards will call it? The Grey Wedding? The Silver Wedding? It does not matter. However, you will not be seeing your brothers until the wedding. Goodbye, Lady Greyjoy." He leers, glancing at her briefly before he left her chambers, slamming the door behind him causing loose items in her room to shake and some scent bottles to shatter onto the floor.
She remained silent, the silence was all that was heard in her chambers before a sudden laugh escaped her lips as she kept her fingers to her sore, stinging lips. Her laughter echoed throughout her chambers, the fire pit in the corner roaring with new found life as she threw her head back and laughed loudly, collapsing to her knees as she shook with laughter, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Lysara licked the crimson substance from her fingers once more before her eyes darkened and her body was shaking with sobs.
The night is dark and full of terrors. And I will cast the light upon you Greyjoy. You will burn.
"I am glad you have awakened," Maester Luwin said gently, applying an ointment to her bruised lips and cheek.
"The Kraken needs to die," Lysara murmurs, keeping her jaw clenched at the sting of him touching her tender face.
"I agree, my Lady." He informs her, humming as he inspects her face. "The bruising should fade in a moon cycle's time."
"Has he harmed my brothers?" She inquires.
"No. Bran and Rickon are fine," Maester Luwin says, his voice filled with relief yet sadness.
"The bastard wants to marry me. He wants to become Lord of Winterfell," Lysara tells him stiffly, trying to suppress a shudder but couldn't help but grimace when Maester Luwin touches a tender part of her face. "If I do not, he will kill my brothers. I have seen it. I have dreamt of them lying at his feet as Winterfell is drowning. If they die, Maester Luwin...If they die, I would lose my mind...my soul...my fire and light. My younger brothers mean more to me than my own beating heart."
"I know, my Lady. You love them fiercely, as do I," He said. "I will protect the boys. And Osha, she has kept her word. The woman has never left their side once. They are safe. Do not fret. I will not let them witness whatever it is that you will do to the Ironborn. I can see it in your eyes...the vengeance. Your brothers will remain ignorant of it. I swear to you, by the Old and by the New, Lady Lysara. I swear to you by the love and admiration I held for your mother and father. I will not fail you."
"Have you somehow sent word to my brother and mother?" She inquired. "To my uncles?"
"Yes, I was able to. The Ironborn think I hold no loyalties to anyone other than Winterfell," Maester Luwin informs her, while he dabs at her face with the ointment that is gradually taking the sting from her wound. His wise, kind eyes were knowing and firm. "I hold no loyalties to anyone except those who wear the name Stark. Though, may I inquire how you intend to handle them? How you intend to handle the likes of Theon?"
"I will handle Theon Greyjoy. I know how his mind works," Lysara stated, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she passed Maester Luwin a folded up piece of parchment and wrapped his frail fingers around it tightly, just as a soldier marched into her chambers. Lysara leant over to Maester Luwin and murmured, "I know more than one way to skin and fillet a Kraken."
"Time's up. The Lady needs her rest," The man sneers.
The man roughly dragged Maester Luwin from her chambers, leaving her alone with her devious thoughts and plotting mind once more. Lysara poured herself a goblet of wine, she looked at the purple liquid and saw her reflection. Lysara swirled the liquid inside of the goblet before raising it to her lips and took a small sip, she pulled the goblet away from her lips, staring at the fire that filled her chambers with warmth and hummed in satisfaction at the wine's delicious and sweet flavouring.
The night is dark and full of terrors, allow me to burn those terrors away, R'hllor.
Lysara kept the laces at the front of her dress loose as she made her way towards Theon's chambers, a wine pitcher held firmly in her hands. She spared a sidelong glance to the Ironborn soldiers walking at either side of her, she scoffed lightly before slipping into the Kraken's chambers. Theon's frown turned into a smug smile as he eyed, he crossed his legs and placed his feet upon the table while he leant back in his chair. Lysara's grip clenched on the pitcher as she kept her eyes on him, watching his every movement.
"You have agreed to my proposition, it seems. You truly are wise," Theon muses.
"As I said, I always have a choice," She says lowly. "When are we to be wed? Have you decided upon a date?"
"After the next moon," He answers. "I have all the arrangements made. All you have to do is look pretty in a frock."
"I want to be married within the week," Lysara informs him. His eyebrows raise and he makes a move to speak but she continues, keeping her voice low and calm. "After all, I took the time to consider your offer. And I quite like it. Although, I do have some terms and conditions. I have wishes I want to have fulfilled."
"Go ahead. If it is in my power, which it probably will be...I will allow it," Theon responds, before sitting up properly instead of his casual slouch.
"The first term is that you will allow me to keep my religion," Lysara states, making her way towards him carefully. "I have worshipped R'hllor for many years. And I will do so until my final breath."
"Fine," He sighs, sitting up further in his seat. "Anything else, my Lady?"
"My brothers, Brandon and Rickon will not be harmed by you nor your men. They will be safe," Lysara said while she takes a wine goblet from a nearby table and begins to slowly pour the wine, keeping her eyes on him as she places the pitcher down and takes the wine goblet. She raises her mouth to the wine goblet and sips from it, before slowly licking her lips, knowing that it was drawing him in and soon would ensnare him in her trap. "I want them guarded. They mean more to me than the stars you can count. It would please me greatly if they were well."
"Alright," He responds as she prowls towards him, her eyes lidded. "Done. Anything else?"
"Take me," Lysara purrs, handing him the goblet and slowly lets her dress drop to the floor. "If I am to be your wife as you say, I wish to see if the whores who speak of your talents are true to their words." She watches in satisfaction as he licks his lips, his eyes growing dark with lust while he takes in her naked body and she watches with raised eyebrows as he downs his wine. "Let us make a night of it. You have your wine and now you have your woman, what more could you desire? May I refill your goblet?"
"Yes."
She made her way over to collect the wine pitcher, her eyes glinting dangerously before they became lidded again and she planted an ever sweet smile on her face as she approached him once more, pouring another goblet of wine for Theon and tilted her head to the side, waiting expectantly for him to drink it. He didn't. Theon raises a brown, placing the goblet to his mouth to take another sip except he doesn't, he stills and looks to her, peering into her grey eyes.
"You look parched," Theon comments.
"As do you..." Lysara retorts softly, crawling onto his lap. A hand grasps her waist tightly, his blunt nails digging into her skin causing her to inwardly wince but she refuses to let the pain she felt show. He tilts his head up, his goblet held tightly in his hand before their eyes meet.
"We will drink together," He replies dismissively.
"No. I'd rather not. I have had plenty of drink," She insists.
"No, Lysara," Theon coldly voices, letting go of her waist and pulls out a dagger from his belt and tilts the blade up, pressing it into her chin. "Drink."
"Together?" She offers, raising the goblet slowly to her lips as he does the same.
"Together," He confirms, sealing his fate as she sips.
Lysara's ruby necklace glows dimly as she downs the wine before passing it to him and he does the same after a few moments, she crawls off his lap and stands above him, cocking her head to the side. She could feel a fire burning within her, a sweat breaking out onto her face as a smirk appears shortly after when she sees the dazed look on his face. Her lips then twitch into a cruel smile as she takes the dagger out of his ever weakening hold and stares at him as he looks on at her wide, angered eyes.
"Y-You stupid bitch!" Theon growls as blood starts to run down his face. "You-"
"Poison," Lysara replies, the smile widening on her face as she pulls out a light blue phial and places it in his weak hand.
Theon's raspy curses and hoarse cries fall silent to her ears as she turns and bends down, picking up her dress and the skirts of her crimson garb, covering her body. Lysara places the goblet back down on the table before slipping out of his chambers and into the darkened halls, that were slowly lighting up from the candles that flickered at either side of her when she made her way for her brother, Brandon's chambers where she knew both her brothers would be.
Author's Note: Hi! Hopefully you like Chapter Thirteen, let me know what you think and if you have any questions about this chapter or any other chapter, feel free to ask and I'll happily answer them. Let me know what you think about Lysara as a character! I'd like to thank all of you for reading this story, for leaving a review and for following and for making this story one of your favourites.
Reviews-
timijaf: I haven't fully decided on if I am going to make him a Blackfyre or not but he will play a major part in the story later on along with Jon and Daenerys, without giving too much away.
lilnudger82: Thank you for reviewing! And I'm glad you are enjoying this story so far. I was hoping Lysara did give off that 'worse days to come' vibe, I didn't really want to have her as a 'hero' or to be light hearted, I'm putting her as more of 'chaotic good' or an 'anti hero'. Yep, the men in Lysara's life (particularly her younger brothers will have it tough).
ATP: In this chapter she does stop Theon, so hopefully you like that. She won't be marrying Ramsay or any other but she will encounter him in later chapters.
RHatch89: Thank you! Hopefully this chapter doesn't disappoint.
Guest: I've kept them all safe for now but there will be consequences to her actions.
ZabuzasGirl: Thank you! Hopefully you like this chapter!
TWDzombie: Hopefully you like this new update. As for Lysara, I consider her personality like the scales of justice in a weird sort of way. Though she is two-faced. On one scale, she can show this caring side to the one important thing in her life other than her religion which is her younger brothers and the chaos, on the other side of the scale disrupts that balance and I hopefully have shown that she will and can be capable of ruthlessly killing/manipulating someone to keep her brothers safe.
celticank: Thank you, I'm glad you think so! I'm glad you think Lysara is badass. And yes, R+L=J is canon and it will play a major part to the story in future chapters.