It wasn't easy to explain to Belaro why they were leaving his service when the time came. Dorella was sad to see Lyanna go but she was a maiden now and about to be betrothed. She would soon be distracted enough to get over their departure.
"Why now?" Belaro was saying. "Why is it that you need to see family in Westeros so suddenly? Most Westerosi who come across the narrow sea are here because they are running from something. I expected that you had secrets like the rest of them and I didn't want to pry. I see that the death of your king has changed something for you. If I am to be bereft of your service and of your presence, the least you can do is tell me what it is you are really doing."
Jaime looked at each other and they each nodded, agreeing to tell him the truth.
"My name isn't Yoren." Jaime told Belaro. "And hers isn't Ava. We are both from noble houses. If we had returned before now I would have been executed and she would have been forced into an unwanted marriage. She left a son behind. It's safer to go get him now than it ever was before….if we are forced to flee again, might we come back here?"
"You can come back here but if you do I'll want you to do it under your true names. No secrets the next time." Belaro said.
Lyanna couldn't leave without telling him the full truth. She had done enough dishonorable things in her life that telling this man who had sheltered and employed them their true names seemed like such a small price to pay. "I am Lyanna of House Stark."
Belaro dropped his wine goblet to the floor. "Then you must be Jaime Lannister. The tales all claimed that you ran away on the same night."
"Yes." Jaime answered him.
Belaro began to laugh. "Seven hells… who would have thought that all this time...you made pretty good servants for being so highborn...yes, come back if you need to flee Westeros again. Come back as my guests."
Belaro gave them extra money for the trip. Jaime both Johanna and Lyanna's hands as they boarded the ship bound for Westeros. It was going to be a long trip for Lyanna. She had been waiting so long to see her son that every passing day of the journey was going to seem slower than the last. The three of them shared one tiny cabin room on the ship. Most nights their daughter slept between them. Twice they made a bed of blankets on the floor for her so that they could have the bed to themselves after she fell asleep. Both times she awoke and climbed back into bed with them just after they started kissing.
After a time they reached White Harbor. The ship let off the passengers and they found a new ship that would take them upriver close to Winterfell. By the time the ship had gone as far north as they could go, Lyanna was heavy with child. Jaime was worried about her riding a horse the rest of the way but she assured him that she would be fine. She hadn't ridden a horse in years but she hadn't forgotten how either. She had loved riding horses once. It was good to be on one again. It was good to sit a horse in the north and be almost home again with her son.
It was nearing nightfall on the day that they finally reached Winterfell. Lyanna burst into tears when she saw the towers in the distance. They were almost at the gates and Lyanna pulled her horse to a stop to speak to Jaime.
"Perhaps you should let me speak to Ned first. He won't be happy to see us together." Lyanna said.
"I was under the impression that Ned wasn't ever happy about anything." Jaime said.
"Well he's not exactly jolly, that's true. Just let me speak to him, please."
"I will until he says something I don't like."
"Jaime….please?"
"Fine, I'll try to stay quiet."
A servant came to the gates when they knocked.
"I need to speak to Lord Stark." Lyanna said. "Will you please tell him he has a guest who he'll want to see?"
"Who are you? Who am I to tell him is here to see him?" The guard said.
"Just give him this. He'll know who I am." Lyanna handed over a single blue rose.