Author's note: So this may be my last update for about a week or so, I am going on a trip. Thank you all for the reviews, favorites and follows. I hope you all enjoy the news in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Game of Thrones, I own Lyrina.

Chapter 28: We can't keep fighting their wars.

Lyrina's p.o.v

Her trip to the Iron Islands was taking longer than she expected, she reached Seagard easily but getting a ship became her problem. Many of the people there did not accept her claim of not being part of her family, that she had married Robb Stark. They saw her as an extension of her brother and that made it hard for her. It took her a week to finally get a ship, and she had almost turned around and went back to camp but she did not.

Lyrina had stopped feeling guilty, she had stopped feeling regret for leaving, because the only thing she could focus on was getting sick. Each day she would awake only to find herself throwing up into the water below the ship. She had never been upon a ship before and the water was no doubt causing the woman to be sick, and she could not stand it. The man who ran the ship was kind to her, and his men tried to look after her but she did not allow such treatment. She was thankful enough that they were willing to take her to the island, she only hoped that someone would be waiting when she arrived there.

When she arrived on the solid ground of island, Lyrina was more than pleased, solid ground was her home. She thanked the men who brought her over, careful to pay them a good amount of gold, before she sent them back on their way home. She would find a ride with one of the Iron born when they finally joined the war, though she had heard a rumor that Balon had declared himself a king. The last thing she needed was to bargain with a king. Her husband was a king and she could barley handle negotiating with him.

"Are you who the King in the North sent?" Lyrina was met with a woman that a tone to match that of Theon.

"No, I came myself. I am Lyrina Stark, Queen in the North and heir to the Iron Throne." She bowed her head before the woman but her tone stayed strong.

"I did not think the King would allow his Queen to come to the Islands."

Lyrina looked down to the ground, regret filling her again. She did not doubt that Robb had made it back to camp and he no doubt learned of her absence but there was nothing to be done. Lyrina gripped the sword Gendry had given her for protection.

"Like I said I came myself, your Prince was not able to make the trip."

She did not doubt Robb had sent Theon after her, he must have been furious at her but she had to do what needed to be done. The woman before her looked her up and down before turning to a man to her left that was walking by.

"Get us two horses so we may go see my father."

So she was Theon's sister, she never learned her name. She only heard Theon speak of his family in private and mostly when drunk. He spoke of missing his mother and sister, he told her how is brothers had been killed in the failed uprising. She felt for the boy, ripped from the only family he had.

"So you are Theon's sister, what is your name?" Lyrina did not know if she could get Balon on her side but she could try and get to know Theon's sister.

"Yara."

"It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Right."

Yara was not polite and it almost made Lyrina smile. She had been surrounded by polite people for over a year, every since she was pointed out as a the Princess, and being around someone real was different. It felt like her time with Jon, or even when she spoke to Gendry,with them she was never a Queen or a Princess she was just herself.

They rode in silence to the castle, but they did not reach the castle before Lyrina had to hop off her horse to get sick. She was sure it was still the sea messing with her but as she became sick on the side of the road she began to worry. She worried she had caught something in Seagard or aboard the ship that now made her ill. The trip had taken three weeks in all, and she was worried of a sickness.

"Are you not well? If you are sick I will not risk my father."

"No, I was just not used to traveling on a ship is all." But she was beginning to doubt herself.

She once more mounted her horse a feeling of overwhelming shame came over her. She did not know what was making her so sick but she hoped it passed soon, the sooner the better. She needed to be better. How could she negotiate if she was feeling sick constantly. As they rode Lyrina thought of all the ways she could convince Balon that joining the north would benefit them, it would help the Iron Islands. She had nothing to promise the man but she needed his ships, her husband needed his ships.

The castle they approached was grey, and the weather surrounding it was wet, windy and cold. Lyrina longed for Winterfell at least that was home when it was cold, here she felt like an outsider. Yara led her through the castle not speaking a word, only helping Lyrina's uneasy feeling grow. She could run the risk of Balon using her in some kind of plot against Robb, but she would need to stay strong. If she had a bow she would have felt better, even with her lessons she was no good with a sword. She could not kill the people it would be necessary to escape, her hope was the Balon was reasonable, if not Yara was her last hope.

When they entered the room that held Balon, Lyrina was thrown off by how dreary the place seemed, even the war camp seemed more alive than that room. The fire warmed it but not enough, the room felt cold, dark and lonely. When the man stood from his chair Lyrina saw nothing of Theon in him. He was a bitter looking man, with long grey hair and dark eyes. He seemed as cold as the stone surrounding them and as the water outside.

"Who is this, Yara?"

"I am Lyrina Stark, wife of Robb Stark and daughter of the late King Robert, my Lord." She bowed her head in respect.

"I am a king."

"I am sorry, your grace."

This man was more stubborn than Theon and colder than her own mother, she would have to charm her way into winning him over.

"I am sorry Theon could not make the trip, I am sure he will be along shortly. He was off fighting a war."

"Your husbands war."

"A war to save the north, and to save the Kingdoms from the hands of my horrid brother. We need your help, King Balon."

"I don't agree, I have my own plans."

She was getting angry. Why would they send word of someone to come if he was going to just deny them? Lyrina did not travel all that way for the damned man to deny her offer. But before she could say a word Yara took her arm and lead her from the room. They made their way through the halls of the castle until they found an empty bed chamber, once inside Yara closed the door tight.

"We won't agree, you should go back to you king."

"I will leave, but you know that if your father rises up against us he will be crushed. Every Iron born will die, we won't be alone in this war for long." Lyrina would not back down.

"And who is going to side with the boy King in the North."

"It's not him we need them to back, Yara, it's me." She held the hilt of her sword,Lyrina did not like how the tone of the discussion was going. "I am the one true heir to the Iron Throne, the Seven Kingdoms are mine to rule. If your father does not aide us, and in turn attacks against us, he will die."

Lyrina knew these people were not like the Starks, honor did not work for them, and they were not like her family she could not sway them with fancy words. The Iron born do not sow, they take what they want, but if they did not bend the knee they would die. Theon being on Robb's side could not save them, not this time.

"You are here on our Island and you threaten us? We could kill you, or keep you for ransom."

"Go ahead, that will do you no good. If my uncles join my husbands cause, we will have over a hundred thousand men. I am their blood, and they will back me."

Lyrina didn't believe her own words but Yara did not need to know that. Her uncles were men she could not control but she could only hope there was some love for her father hidden inside them, and that love would transfer to her.

"My father is not going to bow to the son of Ned Stark and the daughter of Robert Baratheon, they took his youngest son and killed his others."

"Your father gave him away, let him go, he did not take his son back, he did not fight." Lyrina knew what it was like to be let go of. "If your father ever cared for Theon, he would have fought like hell to get him back. Maybe because my mother is sick or because the Starks are honorable but I have always known if you love your children you fight like hell for them."

"You don't understand. What the hell could you know you are the fucking princess."

Lyrina laughed, she began to walk around the empty bed chamber. Yara was the one who knew nothing about being let go of, being pulled from your family. She lived her whole life with her father, and no doubt was the prized child in her brother's absence.

"When I was four my family sent me away. My father planned to send me to his best friend, in hopes of a marriage but mother sent me to her father. I was ripped from the only home I knew it at four, I was given away. I know what your brother went through, I ran away and found myself in Winterfell with him. The Starks became our family because they cared, because they helped us grow up and because they saw the good in us." Lyrina would not let this woman sit here and tell her she did not understand. "When I first went to Winterfell I was a ward under a different name, I was treated just as Theon was and we were treated very well. Your brother is a good person, and I am glad I came in his place because I fear what you would have done to him."

Lyrina had seen a change in Theon as he fought beside Robb, he believed in Robb, he believed in what they were fighting for. She wanted to believe that Theon was on their side no matter what, and if he could believe that of her she could do the same for him.

"He is my blood, he is Iron born, he has a place here."

"And if your family helps us you will have a place at Casterly Rock. We will give it to your family if you aide us. The Lannisters don't deserve it, but neither do you if you won't help us."

She had heard Robb mention something to Theon about his father and Casterly Rock, she only hoped she filled in the right pieces.

"We don't need the King in the North. My father is a King, and he will have what he wants."

" Fine than I shall leave in the morning, but remember what I said Yara. We won't back down if you strike against us."

Yara left her alone in the chamber and Lyrina was proud of herself but she knew it was her anger that spoke. She was angry that she wasted her time coming to the cold, dreadful Islands when she could have been back in camp with her husband. She would been able to solve her argument with him weeks ago but now she was stuck on the Island until she found a ride home. She could not stand the Iron born, she even would have preferred the company of Theon to his family on that cursed Island.

The next morning Lyrina awoke to Yara in her chambers again, dressed in armor. Lyrina was in no mood to deal with the woman, she was no doubt there to tell her to leave. She was not going to play the Iron born games, she came there with terms and they denied her.

"If you want the ships we must leave now."

"Exuse me? Last I heard your father did not want to help."

"Just come with me."

The other woman pulled Lyrina from the bed giving her only a moment to dress before she pulled her out of the room. Lyrina did not understand the sudden change in Yara, and she did not think she would get the chance to ask. The Iron born was pulling her through the castle at an alarming rate, it was hard for Lyrina to keep up with her.

"What is going on?"

"Do you want our ships or not? I can give you thirty with men if you hurry."

"We need to stop fighting our parents wars, Yara. I know you are a solider but we can not continue to blindly follow them."

They were a day from Riverrun and camp when Lyrina spoke up. She had gotten Yara to open up on the ship, well she thought she did. Lyrina was unsure of if Yara was telling her what she wished to hear instead of telling her the truth.

"I know you believe that but you were not raised as a solider, I was. I was the only child in that house."

"I was raised to be a Princess, to be the quiet, silent and docile type girl, I changed my path and that means you can too. Yara you don't have to fight his battles, you took the first step by coming with me."

While on the ship Yara confessed to Lyrina that her father did not know she took the ships and that was why the left in a hurry. She knew her father would never side with the Stark family and really neither was Yara but she knew the war would come to her home if she didn't. Yara had believed Lyrina when she threatened the Iron Islands, and they may be good fighters but a hundred thousand men was a hundred thousand men.

"My father will kill me when I return home, but I did for my mother, if I bring home my brother maybe the madness will pass."

"If we win this war you won't have to go home Yara, Casterly Rock will go to you or your brother. Let your father claim to be a king of the Iron Islands, it will win him nothing."

She knew what it was like to have stubborn parents, she knew her mother was no doubt still bitter and angry. She saw a ray of hope in her mother when she got married but that hope died the same night. She had to know of Joffrey's plans to take her, and that made her mother just as guilty.

"We can reshape our futures, Yara, create a better realm for our children."

"For that child inside your belly?"

Lyrina touched her belly as they rode on, her fear growing with each mile closer to camp. When she learned of her pregnancy in Seagard she was ecstatic but with each day she got nervous. She did not know what she was riding into, she did not know how her marriage was.

"Yes, for this child inside of me. I don't want it to grow up afraid, or feeling unloved. I want the war over so my child can know it's family as a whole and have a home."

Lyrina wanted the same things as she did before she was with child, but the feeling of knowing she was carrying life changed everything for her. She wanted to be a better mother than her own, she wanted the child to be with her and she never wanted to be separated from them. She saw how it hurt Lady Stark to be away from her children, she saw what wars did to families. She wanted to be Queen so no family would have to feel that pain.

"You truly think sitting on the throne will make the realm a better place? What is different from you and your brother or your father?"

"As far as my brother and I go we could not be more different. I don't want to control everything the realms do, I don't want a universal army, I won't kill people for no reason, I won't hold people's children hostage, I won't force myself on people. I want the lands to feel free, and united under one leader. My father was a warrior always looking for a fight, I am not."

"We shall see."

Lyrina knew Yara did not have faith in her cause, and she knew Yara barley had faith in fighting for her husband but she did not care. She did not have to trust Yara, she just needed the womnan's ships. Yara could not believe in her all she wanted but when the war ended she would be sitting in Casterly Rock as the Wardeness of the West, if she could be trusted. Lyrina just needed Yara to support the battle, and she hoped Theon could keep his sister honest.

When they arrived at camp, Lyrina pulled Yara into a tent that sat on the edge of the encampment. She was not ready to face Robb, not yet. She did not know how he responded to her letter, she did not know if he was angry and if he wanted her to still return to her brother. Could he really feel that way? She doubted he could but she was unsure of his anger.

"Queen Lyrina, we did not know you were back." Lyrina thought the tent was empty but instead it held a squire of one of the houses.

"Oh, hello. Can you do me a favor and fetch Lady Stark or Gendry for me please?"

She needed to see one of them. Gendry would know how Robb was, and he would know what she should do as far as approaching her husband. Lady Stark was a mother, she could help Lyrina with telling Robb of the baby.

"I am sorry, my grace, but Lady Stark is in the Stormlands and Gendry was sent north to Winterfell."

Lyrina felt an anger inside of her. How could Robb send Gendry back to Winterfell? He had been the one to drag him into the war and now he was sending him away. Was this her punishment for leaving the camp?

"Then fetch me Theon Greyjoy, but please do not tell him why or tell my husband I am here."

"Of course, my grace."

When the young boy was gone Lyrina looked to Yara who stood strong on the side of the tent. She was going to meet her brother after all these years and she seemed to hold no worry. Lyrina was nervous when she met her own siblings, she could not imagine having no fear. Then again her sibling turned to be a vile monster, while the young ones were sweet and true. She wondered if Yara was putting on a brave face or if she really was a tough as she seemed, if she was Lyrina envied her. Her own strength seemed to come from anger, or hatred for her family, but now it came from her unborn child.

"Lyrina, you are back." She looked to the tent entrance as Theon walked in and straight toward her.

"I am, along with thirty ships and their captain."

Lyrina held her hand out in the direction of Yara, and she watched as the two stared at each other. She knew Theon would not know who she was his, after all it had been ten years since they had seen each other.

"I will have to inspect this captain of course, see if she is fit to lead the Iron born. If not you know I can, Lyrina."

"I am more than fit, my lord." Yara's tone was seductive, she was teasing her own brother.

Lyrina saw the way Theon looked at the girl and she was not going to allow that. She would not allow Yara to trick Theon into something so vile.

"No games,Yara. Theon this is your sister, Yara."

"Yara.."

She left the two alone in the tent and she hoped they could be trusted. She hoped Theon would stay true to the only family he really knew. She could not stay and wait to see what they spoke on, she had to find her husband. As she walked through the camp she could hear the men whisper about her, and she saw them bow their heads to her. She would smile at them, and once she reached the tent she shared with Robb she took a deep breath.

"I can send my bastard to find her, your grace, I am sure she is on her way back." She heard Lord Bolton's voice and for a moment she stopped before entering.

"I would appreciate that,she has been gone too long I fear." Robb sounded worried.

"I will send word at once."

Lyrina entered the tent stopping both men in their tracks. She knew she was a mess, but she did not think that warranted that stares she was receiving form both men. They looked at her as if she was part of their imagination.

"We won't need your bastard son to find me, Lord Bolton." Her voice was strong but she wavered seeing Robb's blue eyes. "Now leave us."

"Excuse me?"

"I said leave us, Lord Bolton."

She watched the man leave in a huff, he did not like being ordered around by her but she did not care. She was Robb's Queen, well she still hoped she was, and that meant she had power. She needed to be alone with Robb.

"Hello." Her voice was still strong only slightly wavering as he came close to her. "You sent my brother north. How dare you."

"What? You are gone a month and all you have to say to me is I sent your brother away?"

"Yes." She tried to be strong but he was inches from her now, and she wanted to cry.

"Silly woman."

She almost said something to him about his comment but his lips landed on hers with need, she took a moment but she finally gave in. He took her in his arms as his lips moved against hers. She pulled her mouth from his for a moment to speak.

"Not until we talk Robb."

"Later."

His lips met hers again this time burning with need as they had the last time they kissed. She knew what he wanted, what he needed but he was not getting it. She would not give herself to him until they speak about what happened between them the last time they spoke. She pulled herself from his arms and stood before him.

"Now, we are going talk about what happened."

"I am sorry, I didn't mean any of it, you know that."

"I know, I know."

She hugged him, not wishing to think too hard on the past. She wanted him to apologize that was all she wanted. She knew he did not mean the words he said but she needed to hear it. She needed to know her trip to the Iron Islands was not in vain, she wanted to know her help would be wanted. She loved him.

"I got you thirty ships and someone to run them."

"Thank you, Lyrina, I did not want you to be the one to go but thank you. My mother is speaking to your uncle Renly and your uncle Stannis is sending someone to speak with you."

Lyrina was hopeful that Lady Stark could convince Renly to join them, her worry was the assassin that had come to kill her. He claimed to be from her uncle but he had been so kind to her she could not believe that. She would have to have trust. Her only hope was she could convince her uncle Stannis to join her, a man she had no memory of having met.

"There is something else, Lyrina. A raven came from your mother for you, I read it."

Robb looked down and Lyrina could tell he was ashamed for reading her raven but she did not care. She could not imagine anything coming from her mother was good, or worth anything to her. Unless her mother was giving the North the freedom they wanted or she was going to name her the Queen, Lyrina did not care for what the woman said.

"And?"

"She wants you to return to Kings Landing, she said you have the choice to make me bend a knee or return to Kings Landing. If you do neither she can no longer keep you safe."

"I don't need her to keep me safe Robb, I have you." Lyrina took Robb's hand in her own and took a deep breath. "Plus I can't go back to Kings Landing and you can't bend a knee, because I want a better future for our child."

Lyrina took his hand and placed it upon her belly where their unborn child lived. She looked at his face as the wheels spun in his head. She let go of his as it rested on her belly, and a small smile formed on her husband's face.

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure, I didn't think it would happen so fast." She let tears form in her eyes.

"We are going to parents, we are going to have a child. I dreamed of this for so long."

He pulled her into his arms laughing, he was happy but Lyrina worried. They were still at war and she was going to give birth to his child. What would happen to a baby in a war camp? Would she have to leave her husband and return to Winterfell without him to raise their child? What if he never came home? One thing was for sure, Lyrina was going to fight harder than ever to ensure they won the war. She was no longer just fighting for Robb's freedom, or to free the realm from her brother, she was fighting for her child.