Authors note: Warning for this chapter there are dark themes inside. Incest type themes, nothing too bad as of yet though. Thanks for the reviews again guys, it means so much to me. You all have so many nice things to say about the story. ^.^ Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own game of thrones or anything you recognize from it. I own Lyrina, and my plot. The lyrics this time are from "You Ruin me." By the Veronicas.
"Yeah you got what you wanted, I guess you won. I don't want to hear that they don't know you like I do."
Chapter 13 Desperate measures.
Lyrina's P.o.v
It took another week to return back to Kings Landing, not that Lyrina was rushing the trip. Her first order of business upon arriving in the capitol was sending a raven to to Robb, she needed to inform him of her safe return. She handed Masester Pycelle the completed raven and in return he handed her two letters. Both unopened, both unmarked. She worried at first, if there were two from Robb, she could only imagine one was bad news. She thanked Maester Pycelle for the letters before she hurried off to her chambers. It was late and she was sure her family was all sleeping, it meant she had time to herself. Once she was in her room she read her ravens. One was from Arya, telling her she was in Winterfell and how thankful she was. She told her about Bran and how he can ride, she told Lyrina all about Gendry. Lyrina was thankful the young girl was happy and safe. The second one was from Robb, it was short. He told her he missed her, he captured her uncle in battle and he had to make terms with Lord Frey to pass the twins. He did not mention the terms on which he would pass, but she could only imagine they were not good terms. She was sure her grandfather had also tried to ensure Lord Frey would be on the side of the Lannisters.
The whole trip home all she could think about was reading the letter he had sent her. He asked to read as soon as she got back, he said everything would make more sense to her. She owed him that much, she needed to try to understand. Stowing her two new letters in the book, she pulled out the unopened letter. She held it in her hands thinking if she should even read it, but slowly she opened it and began to read his writing.
Love,
I am writing this because I need you to understand why I did what I did. I lied, I know this. I let you down, and I let you go when I should have held on to you. When your father came to Winterfell, he told me of a secret marriage arrangement he made with my father when were children. Lyrina you were meant to come to Winterfell, not just as a ward but as my future wife. When I learned of this, I can not lie about the feeling of happiness it brought me. I started to doubt how I felt toward you around your thirteenth name day, for me everything shifted. I no longer saw you as just another girl, I do not know what changed but when I looked at you I felt something more. I knew back then we could have never been so I tried to push the feelings away, I tried to treat you like a sister and that backfired. I treated you like a child, and I did not give you the respect you deserved. When I found out who you really were I selfishly allowed my true feelings to come to light, because I knew if you felt the same we could be something. When I found out you were to be my wife, once again I selfishly thought about how wonderful it would be. I didn't think of you at first, I did not think of how you would feel. I knew you never wanted to marry, you wanted to love someone first and I did not imagine love was something we could have. I did not think that after all the things I had put you through, that you could love me. I saw you with Jon, I envied him, he had something with you I could only dream of. But that night when we got back from hunting, and Bran had fallen everything changed. I let you in, and I know you let me in too. We opened up and slowly built something I could only dream of. I watched you get close to your siblings, I watched you grow close to your father and even your uncle. I wanted you to have that family life, so I made a choice. I was given two choices, I could of let you stay with me and marry you or I could have let you go with your family for a year. I thought letting you would be best for you, I thought you would want it. I thought it would be safe for you to be with your family, and I was wrong I will admit that. I was wrong for lying, I was wrong for not asking you what you wanted and I was selfish. I am sorry, Lyrina. I love you and I thought loving you meant doing what I thought was best for you but it's not. Love is about making a decision together, and if I could go back I would ask you. I would defy your father and I would ask you what you wanted. I would talk to you about it instead of just making your choice for you. I really hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I wanted to give you the chance to know them, to know the strangers who were you family. I know now that I should have asked you to stay, I know it would have been better for both of us. When this reaches you I hope you know that I did what I thought I had to. Lyrina I love you, and I have for longer than I could imagine. My feelings for you started, and grew before my eyes. I know this won't be easy, I know it won't be a fairy tale love but I want it to work. I know we will get mad, we will get hurt and we will fight but I know we will make it work. I know you love me, so please come home.
Robb Stark
Lyrina felt tears roll down her cheeks as she smiled at the paper. She was still bitter over the lie but she could see where he was coming from. He thought he was helping her, he thought he was allowing her to grow and he did. She was not happy in Kings Landing, she would never have been truly happy here but he wanted her to have the chance. He wanted her to know her father, to know her siblings, he wanted her to try and have the family he had. He knew she would have come back in a year, he knew she would still be his. He didn't have any risk in letting her go, and he did not realize how wrong he was until it was too late. She could forgive him, and that just made the plan she had even better.
Lyrina placed the letter back in the book, and began to formulate her plan. She had to get back to Robb, but she had to do so while ensuring his father and sister's safety. Lyrina knew what she had to do, she knew it would not be pretty but she knew it would be worth it. She knew that once she was with Robb, everything vile thing she had to do would be worth it. She would make the sacrifices she needed to make, so she could wake up in his bed everyday for the rest of their lives.
Before Lyrina crawled into bed she removed the fawn and wolf necklace, placing it on the book shelf. The second she hit the pillow she missed him again. She missed the feel of his warm body close to hers, she missed the way he smelt. She would never be able to explain the smell to someone, he smelled like the air did right before it snowed. She missed how he would kiss her head, she missed everything about him. She could not find him in the empty bed that surrounded her but she swore to herself that soon, soon she would be with him again.
Lyrina woke up the next morning to Val hovering over her bed. She could tell the woman was excited to have her back, because she wouldn't shut up. She went on and on about all that had happened while she was away. As Val helped her get dressed the woman told her all the things she missed, such as Sansa pleading for her father's life. Lyrina had wished she was there for her, she would have fought for her father's freedom as well. Lord Stark did not deserve to be imprisoned because someone had lied to him.
"Your mother is very on edge about your uncle being captured by the Stark boy. I heard she is thinking of sending you back again with new terms." Lyrina could only hope her mother would do it, but not until after Lyrina put her plan into motion.
"He is not stupid, he would know killing my uncle would not save his father and sister." Robb was not a senseless killer.
"His is still a young boy, his stupidity can easily out weigh his sense." Lyrina wanted to tell Val to fuck off, Robb was not stupid. He was stubborn, honorable and proud but not stupid. "You were two were very close while you were at Winterfell, how was seeing him?"
"I was not a guest in his camp that was for certain. Our bond was always rocky in Winterfell. I am just glad to be home." Lies, she just had to keep lying. If she lied it would make things easier.
"I am sure Joffrey will be glad to hear that, he was worked into quite the frenzy when he heard your mother sent you away." Lyrina had finished dressing, and now the two woman just stood in the middle of the room speaking. "He wants to see you I am sure."
"I missed my brother dearly. Would you be so kind as to tell him I will come by later this evening? I want to go see Sansa, maybe my mother as well." She did not miss Joffrey, she did not miss anything about Kings Landing aside from Sansa. She may have also missed the warmth, the sun and maybe the gardens.
"I can, but it will have to wait, I was told to wait with you in your chambers until your guard could come back. The hound had been sent by your mother to check something out in the city, he should be back shortly." No guard? That gave Lyrina an idea. She smiled at Val, her innocent smile she learned over the months.
"Oh no Val, I insist you go tell Joffrey, I really think he should know I intend to visit him. I can make my way to Sansa's chambers, they are not far from my own." Lyrina could see the worry in Val's face, the handmaiden did not wish to get in trouble. "You won't get in trouble, I am the princess. Now go on and tell my brother, but make sure you return here to tell the hound where I have run off to."
"Of course, M'lady." Lyrina knew her tone of voice would get the woman to see things her way, too bad Lyrina had no intention of going straight to Sansa.
Lyrina knew she should feel bad for lying to the woman, but she didn't. She no longer felt guilt over lying, it was a matter of survival in Kings landing. If were not lying you ended up being lied to, and getting yourself into trouble. Lyrina crept through the shadows of the castle, slowly finding her way to the dungeons. She had never been allowed to enter them, she never had a reason to really but she had heard of them. There were the normal cells, on the first two levels, normal cells for normal petty criminals, but the deeper you went the darker it got. One of the nights Joffrey spent with her he had told her horrid tales of torture chambers buried deep in the dungeons, ones put in the there by the Targaryens. He told he had not yet found them, but when he did he would show his sister them. Lyrina shuddered at the thought, she did not wish to see such horrid places.
With a torch, water and food in hand Lyrina descended the stairs deeper and deeper into the pits of the keep. She ignored the words of the men in cells as they called out to her, saying such vile things. She did not care for them she was headed deeper into the darker parts of the dungeons, where no light ever got in. Her brother saw it fit to send Lord Stark to the deep dark parts of the dungeons, he had told her it was because the man was used to not seeing the sun. Joffrey knew nothing of the north, he believed it all to be grey and cold but it was not true. The sun did shine in the north, it may not have been the warmth of the south but it did shine.
As she crept farther into the darkness Lyrina felt fear creep into her body. She had never experienced such cold, damp darkness before. It was truly chilling to her that somewhere like that could exist. The deeper she got the quieter it got as well, until all the was left was the sound of her feet walking on the stone. When she reached the open cells, the ones that were just cut out of the wall, no doors no windows just open spaces she knew she had reached her destination. She checked each one, only to find them empty until she reached the farthest cell. Chained to the wall she found the man she consider a father to her, the father of her love and a man who had more honor than any she had met before.
"Lord Stark." Lyrina did not keep her voice down, she knew no one could hear them so deep in the folds of the castle. The man looked up at her wincing from the light of her torch.
"Lyrina, what are you doing down here?" His voice was raspy, and Lyrina felt a pang of guilt inside of her. She hated to see him this way.
"I brought you this." She handed him the water and food she had brought down. She did know if they were feeding him, and needed him to have some strength.
"Thank you." She watched him sip the water as she sat down on the cold floor next to him.
"I just go back from seeing Robb, he marches south with a whole host of northern bannermen. He is a leader now." She did not know if anyone else came down to see the Lord, she wanted him to know. She saw him smile to himself.
"I have heard, my son's grown up." Lyrina smiled as well, it was very true. The Robb she had left at Winterfell was a boy, he had come into his own while they were apart. She could see how he had grown, just as she had.
"He is a man now, there is no doubt. We spoke of you, I had terms for him to garner your release. Your son is stubborn my Lord, he would not agree."
"I know my son, if he did agree to the terms set by your family he had his reasons." It seemed to her like he was already resigned to his fate.
"My mother intends to keep Sansa, to either marry Joffrey or to ensure your son will never rise against the crown again. If he were to return to Winterfell, you will be freed and pardoned."
"We will not allow Sansa to remain here." It seemed to be the family consensus on the matter. Lyrina did not want Sansa there either but she could help her.
"I am aware, Robb made that clear to me." She looked at the man, he was getting weaker she could see that, being locked in the dark was no good for him. "I am going to get you out of here."
"You can not put yourself in harms way for me, Lyrina. I may have claimed your uncle heir to throne but soon people will know it truly belongs to you. The realm will need you."
"The realm doesn't need me, the realm needs people like you. People like you and your family, honorable, just and kind people." The man reached out and grabbed her arm as she spoke.
"That is people like you Lyrina. I helped you become the woman you are today, and I know being here may have made being honorable hard but I know it is in you."
"I am getting you out of here, whether you like it or not. How can I marry your son if you die? How can I look upon him everyday knowing he sees the woman whose family killed his father? What will I tell our children when we speak of their grandparents? I am sorry but the realm needs you, Lady Catelyn needs you, Arya needs you, Bran, Rickon and Sansa need you. Jon needs you, Robb and I need you." Lyrina felt her emotions getting the better of her. How could he sit there so resigned to his fate? How could he just accept the he would die?
"Lyrina... I can not ask you to risk your own life for mine."
"I am not Lord Stark, my life is not what I am risking." It's something much more valuable.
"If you think you can stop your brother from killing me, I will not stop you." Lyrina smiled to herself, she was sure she could stop Joffrey. "You mentioned Arya, did she reach Winterfell safely?"
"I didn't get to tell you. I sent her away the night before you got arrested, I would have gone with her but I needed to stay for Sansa. I sent a boy with her, his name is Gendry, I believed I could trust him. She reached Winterfell shortly before I arrived to see your son." She saw a mix of emotions pass the mans face.
"Gendry, the boy who worked at the blacksmiths in the city? How did you come to know him?" Lord Stark looked at Lyrina curiously and Lyrina shifted nervously, she felt like he was interrogating her.
"I,um,I went down there to acquire a set of weapons the first time I got lost in the city. He cornered me after I left the stall, telling me he could make it for me, and because I could not get it into the castle I asked him to hide in my saddle bag in the stables. He was coming to make sure it was still there the night I was taking Arya." Lyrina felt as if getting a weapon was a bad thing, and she no longer even had it. Theon Greyjoy had never returned the knife to her.
"He is a good boy, I had a few encounters with him. I am glad to hear he is safe at Winterfell, as well as Arya. Lyrina you do not know how much good you have done."
"I am glad I could keep Arya safe, my regret is I could not get Sansa out the same way."
"I know you will do your best to look after my daughter,Lyrina. I know you will get her home to her brother and mother safely. I wish to speak to you about the boy Gendrey though." Lyrina could not understand why he would bring up and blacksmith's apprentice again.
"Alright." Lyrina got comfortable, putting her back against the cold stone wall.
"Do you know who is he, who he really is?"
"No, I told you I barley knew the boy. I took a risk on him, he had told me he knew you."
"Lyrina, I am certain that boy is one of your father's bastards. He looks so much like your father did at your age, he even looks like your uncle Renly. Both men are the image of your father at a young age." Lyrina knew he was familiar, knew he was comfortable but it was not because of who he was it was because of who he reminded her of.
"So he would be another brother to me?" Her family tree was getting more messed up with each conversation.
"Yes. I know all this is a confusing mess for you Lyrina, everything must seem so twisted around. I am sorry you were put in the middle of it, I wish my son had just kept you in Winterfell." Everyone wished she had stayed in Winterfell, but she knew now that she had to be in Kings Landing. If she had never come to Kings Landing she could only imagine what would have become of Sansa and Arya, she did not want to imagine what her mother would have done.
"He and I discussed that as well, I understand why he did what he did." She did understand, the letter made it all more reasonable to her. Though it was still bitter for her to think he was being selfish, she understood.
"I hope you two can find it in your hearts to make things work, your father was right that marriage will bring a very big alliance to Westeros." She knew that, she knew that marrying Robb would ensure a lot of things and she was hoping others would see it as well.
"I do as well, Lord Stark. I must be going now, I am not exactly permitted to be down here." Lyrina stood up grabbing her torched from the holder she had placed it in. "Lord Stark, I just wanted you to know I will do everything in my power to keep your family together."
"That is what I worry about." Lyrina walked away from the man, making her way back up into the light.
She understood his worry, he cared for her and did not want her making drastic decisions to keep his family together. But that was exactly what Lyrina intended to do, she was going to make drastic moves to ensure their safety. She was going to make sure the ones she cared for were taken care of. She had saved Arya, but getting her home did not save everyone else. Robb still rode off to war against her family, and he may have won one battle but the war was still raging on. Lord Stark was going to die if Lyrina did not do something to change it, do something to make her family see the good in keeping the man alive. She passed the cells once more and the men called to her, but she once again did not care, she had other things to worry about.
When Lyrina exited the dungeons, she felt the warm air of the capitol once again. She was surprised by how cold the dungeons had felt despite the warm weather of Kings Landing.
"What were you doing down there?" Lyrina was taken by surprise when her body was roughly pushed against the wall. She looked up at a very angry, red faced hound.
"Nothing." She felt the man push her harder against the stone wall.
"I can not protect you if you insist on lying to me, girl." She did not want him to protect her. She had trusted him, she had grown to see him as a human being. But he wasn't a human being, he was just a dog who killed whoever he was told to.
"I don't want your damned protection." The man let go of her with a sigh,and Lyrina straightened herself up. She would show him no fear.
"You need my protection whether or not you want it. I have kept those letters form showing up in your chambers, and I have kept Joffrey away from you." He did not keep Joffrey away from her. He would climb in her bed every night. Where was her so called protection then? But he wasn't her night guard, and she knew her night guard just left every time he saw Joffrey come by.
"Oh good, you stopped some servants from slipping notes into my chambers, thank you." Her tone was heavy with sarcasm, she was not dealing with him.
"I will protect you because that is what I was asked to do."
"Yes, always the the faithful hound following his damn orders." Lyrina was bitter. She had seen him act as a hero at the tournament of the hand, she had seen him as a person. Someone she could grow to allow into her life, but he betrayed her. He killed innocent men because her mother commanded it, he brought her and Sansa to her mother because she bid it be so.
"You ungrateful bitch." She knew he was angry, she could see it in his eyes but he made no move toward her. She had never seen him angry with her and she began to wonder why he was now. Did he really care for her, and just not know how to express it to her? Was she being too hard on him for doing his job?
Lyrina did not say another word, she just headed in the direction of Sansa's chambers. She had to fill the girl in on her brother and mother, she knew she would want to know. The hound kept on her heels and she did not care for the moment. Lyrina truly found herself questioning her new found hatred for the man. She had forgiven him for killing the butchers boy, she was able to see past that to slowly learn who he was. Despite being a man who did not mind killing, he did not seek knighthood, he hated the idea of it. She saw a kind of sick honor in his denial of knighthood, he saw no glory in it, he could kill without being a knight. She knew of what his brother had done, murdering innocent children but what bothered her was he was no different. Mycah was innocent, and he had no qualms of killing him. She knew he was honorable, he defended Ser Loras against his brother but yet he had no issues slaughtering Lord Stark's men. He was an enigma Lyrina would never understand, but she needed to learn was if she could trust her life to him.
When she reached Sansa's chambers Lyrina was surprised to find her alone, sitting on the balcony. She had not seen the girl in over two weeks and she looked as if the life was draining from her. Sansa was always a formal girl, but that did not mean she lacked a fiery spirit. Now the girl before her was just a shell of proper lady, sitting in her chair mindlessly working on her needle point.
"Sansa." Lyrina kept her voice low, not out of fear for someone hearing but for respect of the girl. She saw Sansa jump in her chair, something had her on edge.
"Lyrina." Sansa put her things down and ran toward her. Lyrina was surprised by the unladylike reaction she received from Sansa, but she could hear the desperation in her voice. "I am so glad you are back. It was horrible here without you."
"I am back now, and I can tell you all about my trip." Lyrina felt comfortable with openly speaking of Robb because no one was in the room with them. The hound had stayed outside, no doubt just standing there waiting for the two girls to plan their mass escape.
"Please do." The two girls found their way to the table which had food and wine, no doubt from Sansa's uneaten lunch.
"Well first I was captured by one of your brother's men, it was not pleasant in the least. Thankfully Theon found me tied to a kennel and saved me from freezing to death. Never in my life did I think I would so happy to see Theon Greyjoy." It was no laughing matter but Lyrina found herself laughing with Sansa.
"I could never imagine any woman being happy to see him." Sansa's face was red as she said it but she still laughed. Lyrina was glad to see she was not nearly as empty as she had first thought.
" I am sure there are some women. After Theon saved me I got to see your brother, the stubborn ass that he is." She saw Sansa's eyes light up at the mention of Robb. While Arya had always been closer to Jon, Sansa shared a special bond with Robb. They both took after their mother in looks, and both knew their roles as proper children of Winterfell. It helped that Robb never really had to lecture Sansa about running out on her lessons.
"How is he? I heard a whisper that he mounted a force of men against Jaime and Tywin Lannister." Lyrina could hear the worry and fear in her voice.
"He is doing very well. When I saw him he was even doing well enough to argue with me, somethings never change." Lyrina laughed, and she hoped it would ease the girl's mind. "I did receive a raven from him though upon my arrival home, he won his battle against my uncle and even has him as a hostage."
"Is he going to keep fighting? Joffrey told me that your mother sent you with terms to stop the fighting, though Joffrey did not agree with it." Lyrina watched Sansa speak of Joffrey and she felt bad for the girl. She did not speak of him with the same light in her blue eyes, now Lyrina only caught a glimpse of regret and something more. Had her brother hurt the girl? Lyrina would kill the bastard if he had.
"He won't accept the terms because my mother intends to keep you here, Robb will never let that happen. Do you understand me?" She watched the girl's eyes fill panic at the mention of her mother keeping her in Kings Landing.
"I want to marry Joffrey though." Her tone did not carry the same weight it used to.
"You don't have to lie to me, if you don't want to be with him anymore you don't have to be." Lyrina wanted her to understand that she was on her side.
"I love him, and I want to marry him. I know you don't understand it Lyrina, because my brother is kind and loving it's easier for you to love him. I know Joffrey isn't perfect but I love him as he is." Lyrina could hear the anger in her tone, the bitterness in her voice. She did not love Joffrey, she loved the idea of him. She had her head so filled with fairytale princes that she refused to see it.
"Love is never easy." It wasn't, and Lyrina knew it never would be. If love was easy then she would have been with Robb at that moment. If love was easy her family would not be in a war against the man she dreamed of at night, she would not have to pick sides. "Your mother wishes you well, she misses you. Arya is back home, waiting for you to meet her there."
"My mother should understand that I was promised to Joffrey and it is my duty to follow through." So now it was her duty not love?
"Sansa, are you doing this for duty or for love?" Sansa knew she had been caught, Lyrina saw it flash across her face right as the first tear fell.
"I don't know." Lyrina felt her stomach sink down to floor, the poor girl was so lost and confused.
"I am here for you Sansa, I am not leaving your side." Lyrina held the girl's hand reassuring her that no matter what Lyrina would be there. Lyrina would not leave Kings Landing unless Sansa was with her, she could not leave her alone again.
The two girls sat there eating, drinking and talking about everything. Lyrina told Sansa all about what Robb had done with the lying, and even told her of the betrothal. She of course bid her to keep it private but she knew she could trust Sansa, she was after all to be her sister in law. She listened to Sansa go on about how she begged Joffrey to spare her father, and how he genuinely seemed moved by her. But Lyrina knew better her brother did not give someone something unless he got something in return, just like their mother. She knew that if he spared Lord Stark's life it would not be because his lady begged for it, Lyrina knew he would want something in return. She knew exactly what to give him. After a few hours Lyrina bid Sansa farewell, telling her she had other things to do.
In the hallway she saw the hound once more waiting for her, she could tell his anger had subsided. She was still unsure of where he loyalties lay and that worried her.
"Where are you going off to next?" Lyrina did not know. She could go back to her room and wait to see her brother until nightfall. Her plan was best done in the later hours.
"Back to my chambers I suppose." Lyrina did not have anywhere else to go.
"Can we take a walk first?" Lyrina looked at the man suspiciously.
"Why?" She noticed he looked around checking to see if anyone was around them.
"Just come with me." The hound grabbed her arm and began to drag her out of the castle. She tried putting up a fight, but she did not scream.
"Let me go this instant." She tried to sound like her mother, but he was not listening. He was walking with a purpose to the city. Did he plan to kill her?
"Are you going to kill me? Is that what you want?" Lyrina held no fear in her voice, but inside she knew she was terrified. He could kill her without giving it a second thought. He kept walking but slowed his pace as they entered a crowded area. It was somewhere Lyrina had not been, and she was shocked at the amount of people on the small streets.
"I am planning to do the opposite of you killing you princess." He still held her arm as he navigated her through the city. The people tried to speak to her, but there were so many, she could not hear them all.
Lyrina kept up with the man as he pulled her through the city, and her fear decreased with each step. If he wanted to kill her she was sure she could out run him, even in the crowded streets. She had started to memorize the path they took from the castle. Soon they were no longer in the crowded streets, but in more open,cleaner streets. She felt she had been walking with the man for hours when it seemed they reached their destination. The hound stopped her in front of gate, one she had never been to.
"This is the old gate,your uncle escaped through here before the arrest of Lord Stark." Lyrina did not know why her uncle Renly had left, she didn't care to ask. "He is mounting a force against the crown as well, but that isn't why this is important."
"Can we go back to the keep now, I don't wish to be out here." She really did not mind it, but she did not know where this was headed.
"Lyrina, listen to me, you need to leave Kings Landing." The hound never refereed to her as her name, he always called her girl or princess.
"I can not leave, nor do I wish to." She wanted to, Gods did she want to but she could not. She had to ensure the safety of the family she loved.
"The longer you stay in Kings Landing the more dangerous it gets for you. If people begin to believe the rumors Stark started, people will want you dead." Lyrina did not think people would kill her over rumors, rumors that were not true.
"I can not leave yet, but I will remember the way to the gate in case I need it." She could see the seriousness in the man, he was not one to joke with her. She knew he really wanted her to leave, but she truly wondered if it was for her safety or for his own gain somehow.
"I fear your time will be short lived here if you stay." Lyrina ignored him and made her way back. She maneuvered through the streets on her own, with him on her heels. She wanted to make sure she knew her way, knew how to manage on her on.
As they made their way back Lyrina wondered if she could do it with Sansa, if she could lead her to the old gate. It would get Sansa out of the city, she could free the child. She knew if her plan backfired, if she could not do what she planned then she would have to take Sansa away. She would have to get her out of the city before someone could stop her. At least she had a back up plan.
Upon her arrival back to her chambers, she bid the hound go find Val so she could have a bath. She wanted to bathe before visiting her brother. The hound listened to her command and Lyrina found herself alone. She looked around the beautiful chamber she had been given, and she hated it still. Her father had given her everything she could have asked for, except for her home. Kings Landing would never have been home, it was where she was born but it was the farthest place from home. She would sooner call Casterly Rock home, at least there she had memories. Kings Landing would never be home, even if there was a chance before her father's death, there was no chance anymore.
"M'lady, do you want me to fetch you some dinner as well?" Val had begun to fill the bath.
"Yes please, and some wine as well." Her tolerance to wine had shifted greatly, an she loved it.
The bath did not take long to fill, and Lyrina slipped into it as Val went to get her food. Lyrina had not taken a proper bath in some time. In her travels she had stopped at rivers to get washed up, not wishing to take the stop at Inns. She almost bathed with Robb, but his mother came in to his tent so they knew it would never have been appropriate. Lyrina let herself sink deeper in the water as she thought of him again. The moments they shared were intimate, passionate and burned into her memory. When she had woken up that morning in his bed, he was still asleep, and she just looked upon his face with a smile. She knew she could wake up beside him for the rest of her life, but she knew then she had to do something to ensure she could. She would have to fight hard, work hard and make it so she would never have to leave his side again.
"Your not wearing the necklace." Lryina looked down at her neck when Val had mentioned it. She knew she wasn't, she had a reason for it.
"I see no point in wearing something with a traitors house sigil." Even saying it burned her, but she knew it was what the woman would want to hear. Val may have been her handmaiden but Lyrina was more than aware she still worked for her mother. Lyrina had to be cautious of what she told the woman.
"Did he really love you?" Val spoke of love like it was a far off dream, similar to how Sansa once spoke of Joffrey.
"As my brother once warned me, I was nothing but a whore to those men. The way the Stark boy pawed at me was vile." She was not a whore, none of them ever dared touch her in such a way.
"I am sorry that you lived with that for so long, but you did seem fond of the bastard." As Val washed her back Lyrina wished the woman would stop speaking of the Stark's. She did not what she was speaking of and it bothered Lyrina.
"I will admit Jon and I did have a bond, he is now a man of the night's watch free of the political war. He is no traitor and shall remain a friend of mine until the end of times." She knew there was no harm in being open about Jon, her mother could not shame her for being friends with a man vowed to protect the realm, so telling Val would cause no issues.
"I am sure he misses you greatly." That was the last the woman spoke on the subject. The rest of her bath was spent in peace.
When Lyrina finished bathing she made sure just to put on her robe. She had no issues being naked beneath it, she was alone in her room with only Val for company. As she sat down to eat the other woman began to brush her hair softly. Lyrina liked the feel of having her hair combed for her, saved her the issue of dealing with the long mess.
"Joffrey was very pleased when I told him you intended to visit him this evening." Lyrina sipped her wine with a smile.
"Good, I have been away from my brother far too long." Lyrina needed everyone to believe she worshiped Joffrey, just as her mother did. She needed to be the dutiful and adoring sister that she had to be.
"Do you want help picking out a dress to wear?" Lyrina just took and bite of her food, before shaking her head at the woman.
"I think I am going to just put on some simple clothes, it is just my brother after all." In truth she just wanted Val to leave.
"Of course, well if you do not need me I will be off for the night. Have a good evening with your brother, M'lady."
Once Val was gone Lyrina took her plan into action. Lyrina began to take the braids out of her hair, letting it fall loosely around her face. She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment, trying to make sure she looked presentable in some fashion. Her skin was no longer pale, her blue eyes shined with mischief and for a moment she was happy. She knew her brother would not be distracted by her looks, she would have to be completely convincing with her words, he was not as dumb as she wished.
Upon exiting her room Lyrina told the night guard she was going to see Joffrey, and she knew that would ensure he would not follow her. The guard did let his gaze wonder down her body, and Lyrina knew his head was full of questions he was not going to ask. Lyrina just gave him a flirtatious smile before she sauntered off in the direction of her brother's chambers. She was going to do something she had never dared to imagine, but as she slowly learned from watching the women of Kings Landing, when all else failed sex appeal worked. If you could not get a man to see things your way, the best bet was to show him something he could not deny.
Her brother had a guard of his own outside his chamber, a man belonging to the kingsguard. She felt a small blush of embarrassment as the man looked upon her. She thought of turning around, and never going through with her plan, she did have a back up plan. Instead she stood her ground staring at the man before her, he could not run her away from her goal.
"I am hoping to see my brother, it is urgent." The man continued to look her up and down, sending chills through Lyrina.
"He is in there." The man stepped aside so Lyrina could enter her brother's chambers. She did not care what the guard thought of her, at-least that was what she had to tell herself.
"Brother dearest." Lyrina closed the door behind her, searching her brother in his chambers. Upon her call to him she saw him come in off his balcony. He was shirtless, her guess getting ready himself for bed.
"Sister, I am glad you have made it home in one piece. Come sit and tell me about all the horrors that befell you in that wolf's camp." Lyrina smiled at herself while her brother looked her up and down, her goal would be achieved.
"It was truly disgusting, northern men know nothing of civility." She found herself sitting at his table as he poured her a cup of wine. "The camp was dirty, and one man even dared tie me up like a common criminal."
"Disgusting, you are the princess and should be treated as such." She knew he was believing every word out of her mouth.
"I was just glad to come back here, I missed being around people such as yourself." She learned flattery was a key to getting Joffrey to act civil, she learned it in her bed while he tried to touch her.
"No man like that will ever lay a hand upon you again sister, you are much too good for them." Joffrey reached out to graze his fingers along her arm as he spoke. She kept the shudder inside herself, not willing to let him see.
"I am glad you see it that way."Lyrina drank more of her wine, making sure to keep eye contact with her brother. She wanted him to keep looking at her, though she was learning that was not a problem. The young boy had his eyes glued to her body.
"Sister, why are you walking around the castle dressed in such an enticing fashion?" Lyrina was waiting for him to ask her that.
"Well you have spent so many nights in my chambers, I was just thinking maybe this time I could spend the time here in yours." Lyrina stood up as she spoke, slowly walking toward her brother. She felt sick but she knew what she was doing. "Would that be okay with you brother?"
"Of course sister, I am sure the dark times you spent in that camp have left you frightened. I do not want you to feel alone." She could see him shifting in his seat, see him squirming to keep control. She was getting him where she needed him to be.
"Thank you,my dear brother." Her voice was like velvet, she had heard the tone form the women around kings landing. The whores she had seen coming in and out of her father's chambers, she knew how to play the game. This game was just a little more dangerous than most.
Lyrina allowed her brother to stare at her as she walked around his chambers, she was curious about it. She looked at his books, most covered in dust and no doubt unread. She found her way to his balcony that over looked the bay below it, the sky dark and full of stars.
"Sister, come inside, you are wearing a robe I do not wish for someone to see you." She heard the terse town in her brother's voice. He was being possessive of her, time to play on it.
"I am sorry brother." Lyrina kept her voice docile and submissive, just what he liked. "It is just so beautiful out there, nothing like the north."
"The north is a dismal place, and no place for you to ever have been. Why did you have to go to such a place?" Lyrina smiled at her brother before sitting in his lap, she saw the shock on his face but it quickly faded.
"I was young, brother. What do you truly think of the north though, not as a place to live, but as the largest of the seven kingdoms?" She smiled at him innocently,she felt wrong sitting in his lap.
"They have too much power, too much independence. Do you see how they had no qualms of riding south with a whole host, instead of just coming to bend a knee? They are stubborn men, who need to learn their place." She felt him tense he spoke and she too the moment to wrap her arms around his neck.
"So you agree that they need to have a new loyal leader? Someone who is loyal to their one true king, you?
"Exactly that sister. I need to put someone in charge who will understand I am the king, and they should kneel before me." She had him.
"What if I told you I had a plan, that I knew how you could have the north loyal to you and your heirs for all of time?" She was surprised when Joffrey stood up, carrying her in his arms. She felt a small panic set in, but she did not let it show.
"I would ask you to tell me all about it dear sister, I trust you." He carried her to the bed and placed her on one side. She sat there for a moment frozen, she did expect him to be so openly receptive to her.
"Well first I have to tell you something father told me before he passed on. He spoke to me of a secret pact he made with Lord Stark shortly after my birth, I am to marry Robb Stark." She feigned disgust.
"I will find the pact and burn it before I let you be forced to marry that traitor." Lyrina could feel the anger come off of him as he sat beside her on the bed. Lyrina just smiled at turned to her brother.
"Before you go and do that, hear me out on this. What if I do it, what if I marry this traitor boy?" She watched her brother's face contort in anger and she knew she did not have long to explain. "Think about it for a moment please. I am the princess, I am your sister. If I marry him, convince him to return to Winterfell so we can have children, our children would be of your blood brother. Not only would they carry the Stark name the north requires but they would have your blood in their veins making them loyal to you." She saw the wheels begin to turn in his mind.
"But their father would ensure they were not loyal to the crown, he is a traitor still." Lyrina smiled and leaned against her brother allowing her robe to slip open a little. She needed him distracted.
"Even traitors can be won over by the ways of women. It will be my child to raise once I have given birth, even if he is heir to Winterfell. I will make sure my son knows that one day he will need to lead, and do what is right for the crown. And if an accident must befall his father, it would be a shame but my son would understand his duty.." Lyrina kept her voice docile, but sweet. She wanted her brother to believe she could do it, that she could kill the boy.
"Sister, I think that is truly a plan we could work through. I fear mother would never allow you to marry him though, and I do not like the idea of him touching you." Lyrina pressed her head against his bare chest, hating the feel of him.
"Brother, you are the king it does not matter what mother wants. I want this, I know we can control the north, once you control the north nothing else will matter. You will have control of everything. We can do it together." She kissed his chest lightly looking up at him. She hated herself.
"If I allow this, you will have to promise me that you will never allow him to change who you are." Her brother put his fingers under her chin forcing her to look him in the eye. "You can not let him ruin my precious little sister."
"I promise brother, I promise he will not ruin me." You've already done that. "I will always remain loyal to you, and to our family."
For a moment they laid their in silence, Lyrina with her head on his chest while played with her hair. She felt sick to her stomach, she felt like she needed to bathe in dragon fire but she had to do it. She needed to get him to agree to the marriage, to everything she needed from him. If she had to play his sick little game so be it.
"Brother, I may require a few more things from you." She kept her voice sweet as she lay there passively.
"Anything sister, you know I would do anything for you." His fingers were buried in her hair, and she fought the urge to dig her nails into his chest until they drew blood.
"I need you to send Lord Stark to the wall, you can not kill him." The hand he had in her hair pulled her head back, and he forced her to lie on her back on his bed. He was enraged and Lyrina began to worry she had gone too far.
"You do not tell me what to do with that traitor." His words were full of venom and his face was inches from hers. "He claimed out mother fucked her brother, he called her an incestuous whore."
"I am sorry, it's just, if I am to marry his son I do not think the boy would understand that I allowed his father to be killed." She heard Joffrey sigh, and saw the realization in his eyes. She knew his drive to control the north would out weigh his need for blood.
"Fine, I will think about it, but you are going to have do somethings for me in return sister." She knew he would want something more in return, something more than just the north.
"Brother you know I would do anything for, but I must ask one more thing of you. I would want Sansa to accompany me back to Winterfell. I know you do not wish to marry her, but I could keep her in case you still wish to. I will make sure she knows where she belongs." She made sure to use his words.
"Once more sister, I will think on it. Now take off your robe so we can go to bed." Lyrina felt a panic set in, she did not think he would ask her to take the robe off. She had doubted he would even ask her to stay with him.
"Your guard saw me come in, he will think we are up to no good if I do not return to my chambers." She was not letting her panic show, but it was there below the surface.
"He knows not to question me, now take it off so we can sleep. Do you wish to upset me sister?" Lyrina thought she had all the power, but she had begun to realize she had given Joffrey everything he wanted.
She stood up so she could shed herself of the robe, instantly regretting that she wore nothing underneath. She stood naked beside the bed for a moment as her brother looked her over. She slid beneath the blankets, trying to keep herself hidden from him. She felt sick, she felt scared and she hated herself for thinking she could pull it off. She was not a manipulator, she tried to be and she ended up naked in her brother's bed.
"Remember sister, you will always belong to me." Joffrey pulled her body against his before kissing her neck and slowly drifting off to sleep. What had she done?
"Cause you play me like a symphony, play me till you fingers bleed, I'm your greatest masterpiece. You ruined me."
A/N: As I stated... incest. Anyway I imagine the next chapter will be worse. It is going to be told strictly from both Joffrey's p.o.v and Robb's. They are the most influential men in her life right now, so I thought we would check in on their heads.