Chapter 19: For Better Or For Worse

King's Landing

Ned smiled as his sister entered his chamber. He felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, but having Lyanna near always made him happy. She didn't take a seat near him, but instead arched a brow at him and he made room for her beside him on the couch. She sat down and wrapped her hand around his arm, resting her head on his shoulder.

"If things were different than they are, I would thank the Gods for your stay."

"You know I miss you everyday, Lya, but my duties keep me at Winterfell."

"I understand," she whispered. "I want to go back, you know. I don't want to leave Rhaegar or Jon or Egg, but I miss the cold and the furs and the Wolfswood. Winterfell was my home."

"It still is," he assured her. "The gates of the North are always open to you."

She nodded.

Ned pressed a kiss on her hair and dropped his head softly on hers. She was one of the few people who knew him inside out, and he knew her no less.

"I'm scared for the children, Lya," he confessed after a brief moment of silence. "War is a nasty affair. Last time it tore our family apart. I don't want my children or yours to suffer like we did."

"The pack survives, Ned," Lyanna murmured. She looked up at him. "The pack always survives."

"But at what cost?"

Lyanna remained silent. Ned thought of Brandon, his brother and the true heir of Winterfell and the North. Ned was the younger brother, he was supposed to squire for someone and maybe one day become a Knight. But here he was, the Warden of the North, his sister the Queen, Benjen at the Wall and Brandon and his Father dead. Only when he was with Lyanna did he let himself remember and ponder over the memories, knowing fully well that even if he showed his weakest side to her, she would not judge. That she knew him, perhaps even better than Catelyn did.

"I am worried about him, Ned." Lyanna pulled him out of his thoughts with her voice. She pulled herself away from him and sat with her hands on her lap, looking at him with eyes filled with confusion.

"Rhaegar is determined," she added. "He wants to protect his family and his biggest weakness is his inclination to believe in prophecies. It is tearing my family apart. Aegon has left and Jon is... he is too angry these days that he could do nothing about what has happened. Rhaegar is doing what he thinks is right, but I wonder if it is."

Ned wanted to declare Rhaegar a fool, but it would be unfair to his sister. She loved her husband, and making her sad was the last thing he wanted, so he kept himself from saying what he wanted to.

"Aegon is in Dragonstone?" He asked to confirm. He had heard but he didn't know for sure.

Lyanna nodded. "Rhaegar sent him. He rode away angry at his Father. Aegon is usually understanding but Rhaegar made him leave when he didn't want to."

"And Jon?"

Lyanna was hesitating, he could see it in the tremble of her lips. He knew her too well for her to hide such basic behaviours from him.

"He is angry," she said simply.

"Because Aegon is gone?" Ned asked.

She put her hand over his and squeezed, and answered softly,

"Because she is."

"She? Who-"

He stopped halfway, something clicking inside his mind.

Because she is gone...

He remembered asking Sansa about her relationship with Jon and her trying her best to avoid the topic. He remembered Jon looking sad and tired at the very mention of Arya's name.

He looked at Lyanna.

"Arya?"

Lyanna sighed.

"We were wrong, Ned. We were wrong in making decisions for them. They are not kids anymore, and they have made their own choices."

Ned stood up in astonishment.

"Impossible!" Lyanna didn't say anything. "Seven hells, it cannot be!"

He paced to the far end of the room and back.

"How did this happen?" He asked her, regaining a bit of his composure.

"I don't think even they know that answer, but as far as I know they are in love. Jon loves Arya and she loves him back."

Ned clenched his jaw and suddenly thought of all the letters Arya had written to him.

Nothing.

She had hidden it, and exceptionally so. Jon was barely mentioned in her letters, and Ned had guessed it was because Jon was spending more time with Sansa than with her. He couldn't have ever imagined...

"How long has it been?"

"I learned of it four moons ago," she answered.

Arya was in love. His wild little daughter who rode horses faster than any man in Winterfell, who stole her brothers' breeches and wore them, who was so dirty some days no one could recognize her face. She was in love and she had not said a word about it to her family for more than four moons.

It was shocking more than anything else, and he asked himself how could he not consider that she was growing up. She was almost sixteen, and it was not surprising. But Jon of all people.

"Sansa," he remembered suddenly. "Does she know?"

"She does, and I don't think she minds."

Lyanna told him about her and Aegon, and Ned was so bewildered it was hard to stand on his feet. Things were nothing as he had hoped for them to be. Sansa was supposed to be the one for Jon, but instead it was Arya, probably the only girl in Westeros who hated the mere thought of being a Queen.

"They grew up," he said aloud.

Lyanna was in front of him and she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"It was going to happen anyway. We cannot possibly change fate."

Ned stood still for a while then looked at her.

"I want to speak to Jon," he said.

Lyanna nodded.

"I'll send him."

She pressed a kiss to his left cheek, opened the door and walked out of his room.

0-0-0-0-0

Ned looked at Jon properly when he sat in front of him. For the first time, he realized his nephew not only looked like him, he also looked strikingly like Arya. The eyes, the hair, the long face; they were almost mirror images of each other. Ned had not taken in the details before. But now he realized how much Jon was like his Father, how much Arya had always been like Lyanna and he mentally cursed himself for not thinking of the possibility even once.

"Why didn't any of you write to me about it?" He asked.

"Arya...," he replied. "She wanted to tell you herself. Sansa and my betrothal was not officially called off. They had decided to tell you together after it did."

"Did it?"

"Not yet," Jon said slowly. He looked at Ned and added with determination, "I love her. I know things weren't thus planned but I cannot feel sorry for things turning out like this. I am in love with Arya, and I want no one else but her."

"A betrothal is a sacred and solemn vow made before the Gods. I do not believe any man has power to take it back." Ned took one look at Jon and he knew that no matter what he said, Jon will not listen. It relieved him. "But a marriage is not valid without love. If it is the wish of my children, I have no objection against calling it off."

He would have done something about it, if it was Sansa's heart on the line. But it wasn't, and if his daughters were happy choosing, he knew he owed them that. He would never force Arya or Sansa to do anything.

He couldn't live with the blame of breaking four hearts at once. Them being happy was all that mattered, even if it meant going against his ideals for once.

Dorne

Arianne drew her eyes from the cyvasse board towards where her Father was sitting. Doran was looking out languidly at the Water Gardens when Arianne saw the Maester appear and bow, landing a scroll in Doran's hands.

"Your turn," Oberyn called out. She broke her eyes away from her Father and tried to concentrate in the game as she moved her piece forward, but alas, her interest was lost. Her mind, curious ever, started wandering to the scroll and her heart leapt up thinking it was fron Robb.

But Doran didn't call her name and she was sure it wasn't addressed to her. She doubted though that Robb would send a letter for her through her Father. As brave as Robb Stark was while wielding a sword, he was but an amateur in the matters of the heart and Arianne didn't think he would be bold enough to let her Father read his letters to her.

"Hoping it's from Robb Stark?" Oberyn asked her, as if reading her thoughts. The man's smirk grew at her frown. "It will be quite a scandal if Doran ends up reading your lover's words of passion for you, dear niece. Snatch it from his hands while you can."

Arianne narrowed her eyes at her Uncle, and stood up, ignoring the game in front of her.

Doran caught her eye and when she was close, handed her two scrolls instead of one.

"One is from Winterfell. The other is from Dragonstone, from your cousin Aegon."

Arianne took the one with the direwolf sigil and opened it to read a formal letter in Robb's hand to her Father, saying he had reached Winterfell safely. Mayhaps she would have to wait some time for a more private letter.

"How is my dear nephew?" Oberyn's voice shot through her thoughts and she turned her attention to the other scroll in her Father's hands.

"You can ask him yourself," Doran said, turning his eyes to his brother. "Aegon is coming to Dorne for what he writes is a crucial matter."

It had been years since Arianne had last seen her cousin. They had never been close but there was mutual respect on each side. Her other cousins though, the Sand Snakes, were terribly fond of Aegon, especially Nym and Tyene. Arianne was better friends with Jon, but like her and Aegon, it had been years since they had met.

Arianne was happy Aegon was visiting. With all of the conflicts in the kingdoms, it was hard to guess what this crucial matter of him really was. She would just have to wait.

Her Uncle nudged her and challenged her to another round of cyvasse, but Arianne's mind was completely off it now, so she rejected despite Oberyn promising her a dozen dragons if she won.

King's Landing

Jon glanced around the Council room. His Father sat at the head of the table of the Small Council, and Jon was to his right. Connington, Ned Stark and Varys were also present. Mace Tyrell's seat was vacant and so was Aegon's. Two of the Kingsguard stood behind the King.

"Lord Varys has brought some news," his Father began, then took a deep breath. "The Tyrells were behind Jon's poisoning."

Jon took note of the shock on Connington and Ned Stark's face, but on his part, he wasn't too surprised. Perhaps he had anticipated it. Aegon's distrust of the Tyrells might have rubbed off on him in some way.

His Father spoke again, his voice echoing through the Hall.

"I declare House Tyrell of Highgarden traitors against the Crown. They have conspired against the Crown and are aiding Robert and Stannis Baratheon in their treasonous acts against the Throne. I have information they were involved in Lady's Arya's kidnapping."

Jon saw Ned clench his knuckles. His voice though, was ever calm as he spoke, not conveying any of his true feelings on the matter. Jon knew his rage surpassed even his own.

"Your Grace," Lord Stark said. "Lady Margaery and Lord Loras still reside in the castle. Do you plan to imprison them?"

"No, My Lord, they will not be treated cruelly. For all we know, they might not have know about their Father's treasonous acts."

Jon wanted to watch Margaery and Loras suffer if they had a hand in it, but he wouldn't deny that if they were not guilty, it would be an dishonourable deed on their part. For the first time in months, he agreed with his father on something.

When the table went silent, Jon turned his eyes to his Uncle and nodded in his direction. His father was just about to speak when Jon cleared his throat.

"Father, if I may," he began. "Lord Stark and I have decided to send an emissary to Storm's End."

"I do not believe a peace treaty will do any good, My Lord," Rhaegar said, addressing Lord Stark.

"Not a peace treaty, Your Grace," Ned replied.

"A hostage swap," Jon finished his words. "Lord Loras and Lady Margaery in exchange for Lady Arya."

Rhaegar didn't accept the proposal immediately but Jon knew he was not in a state to refuse, not with Ned Stark sitting near him. It would not be taken well. Hardly any result had come out of all his claims that he was trying his best.

"Fine," he agreed finally, looking at Jon. "We will need someone willing to go."

"I'll go," Jon volunteered immediately.

All heads turned his way but he kept his eyes still on the King.

"No," Rhaegar said sternly, with a warning tone. "I will not put your life at risk. There are other men better suited for this task."

"I have to go!" Jon persisted, fists slamming against the table as he stood up.

"Enough, Jon!"

"Your Highness," Ned called, surprising him. He turned to look at him. "The King speaks wisely. It might not be the best idea."

Jon stared at him in surprise. Of all the people, Ned was the last person he expected would dissuade him.

"But Lord Stark, I-"

"That will be all for today," Rhaegar's voice echoed throughout the room cutting him off with a commanding tone. As he left with Connington in tow, he shot a condescending look at Jon that revealed how angry he was at Jon.

But Jon had expected this behaviour from his Father. What he had not expected was Lord Stark's answer. He was so sure he would let him go get Arya back.

As they exited the Hall, Ned placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"I know you think I'm being unfair, son, but as much as in danger Arya is, I cannot willingly agree to send you on a mission this dangerous."

Jon shook his head. Everyone was worried for him when they should be more worried for her. For once, why couldn't they let him be and do as he wished? They were trying to protect him but all it was doing was keeping her from him.

"You think my life is more important than hers?"

He felt miserable. He thought about Arya; her hair, her eyes, her laugh. Jon knew her to be many things but never patient.

Are you thinking I've given up on you?

"It's not like that, Jon. "

Ned patted his back, and Jon felt like a child being coaxed into doing something he was against. He felt like a helpless pawn in his Father's hands, unable to do any thing he wished and just forced to listen and agree.

That would not do.

You need to listen, Father.

And Jon knew exactly how to make him.

A/N: Review folks! Also, did you guys watch the finale? Bloody hell, mah gurl slayed! I love Arya more now. I just hope she reunites with Jon soon. ^3^

Will update as soon as I can.

Music:

Where's My Love? (SMYL)

Start A Riot (Banners)