Lyanna

She tried to keep a positive attitude, as she had told Ned she would. But she simply couldn't shake the thought that the man she was about to meet would father a bastard on every girl in Storm's End even while she was his lady. Ned had tried to make it seem better than it was, but Lyanna was no fool. She knew men like Robert Baratheon. Her own brother Brandon wasn't even entirely different, she had to admit, much as she might love him. She wondered how his own future bride would feel. But at least Brandon was more discreet about it, and rumors about him didn't carry nearly as far. Robert might love her, might treat her very kindly when he was around her, but he would never respect her. All of the people she helped him rule over would know of his affairs, and that sort of disgrace wasn't something she wanted. And his lack of restraint spoke poorly for other areas of his life as well.

She was dressed in her nicest dress, spun grey wool with white lace, with the direwolf of Stark pinned to it. She would make her point clearly: I am a Stark, I will always be a Stark. Father could betroth her away to a Southron lord if he pleased, but she would never give up her ties to the North and her home. She had brushed her dark hair out until it shone, and had pulled it back with a silver clip. She looked about as beautiful as she ever looked, which she imagined was the sort of thing her future husband would appreciate.

When they reached the pavilion with the stag of Baratheon over it, she steeled herself. She put on her best fake smile and took Ned's arm. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be."

He pushed open the tent flap and said, "Robert, there's someone here to meet you."

He stood up, and the first thing that Lyanna saw was how tall he was. She stood at a scarce five feet tall, and Robert towered over her. That intimidated her a little, but she kept her smile. "Hello, Lord Robert."

He was quite handsome, too, she realized. Large and muscle-bound and with strong features. She could see why so many women wished to share his bed, to be certain, but looks alone did not a good husband make. "Lady Lyanna," he said with a jovial tone and a wide grin. "You're as beautiful as they say."

Ned was looking between them with concern in his eyes. Lyanna knew how important this was to him, how badly he wanted them to get along, to be happy together. "Thank you, my lord," she said. "It's nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine," he said.

"Well, I suppose I should leave you two," Ned said, giving her a questioning look.

She nodded slightly to tell him it was okay, and he exited the tent.

"Are you excited for the tourney?" Robert asked.

"Quite," she said. "I love the North with all my heart, but such festivities are rare up there. It's nice to meet different people and hear their stories and all. I suppose I should start by learning your story. Ned has told me much about you, but I'm sure there's more."

He shrugged. "Not really a lot, if I'm being honest. But I'll gladly tell you whatever you want to know." He sat down and motioned for her to sit next to him.

She sat down. "I've heard you plan to fight in the melee. They say you're a great fighter."

Robert smiled. "I like to think so. Ned isn't a fan of fighting, of course, but I find it fun."

"Have you ever seen true combat?" she asked.

"Not yet," Robert said. "But I'm sure I will someday."

"My brother Brandon is quite good with a sword," she said. "He hopes to win the joust." She wished she could fight as well as Brandon, but Father had never seen fit to allow her to be trained. She had to make do with playing with sticks with Ben in the godswood.

"Ned mentioned he was good fighter," Robert said. "I look forward to meeting your other brothers as well. Ned speaks highly of you all."

She smiled at that. "You have two brothers, don't you?"

"Hmm," Robert said, a little dismissively. "I do. Stannis and Renly. Renly's just a boy, and Stannis is... well, he's Stannis. Ned's more a brother to me than either of them, really."

The realization came to her then. "That's why you want to marry me, isn't it? Because he would be your brother then, for true."

"It's certainly a nice bonus," Robert said.

But it wasn't a bonus. She saw it now; that was the point. She wasn't being valued as Lyanna Stark, she was "Ned's sister." Robert wanted to marry her because it would tie him to his best friend, not because of anything she had ever been or done. Not even because it was a good political match. A wave of resentment rose inside her. She wondered if Ned knew, if he knew that was all she was to Robert. She didn't think Ned would do that to her, but then he didn't know his best friend as well as he claimed. In that moment, Lyanna made herself a promise. She would not marry Robert Baratheon.