Revelation: Lyarra is told the truth of her origins. Catelyn consoles her.
Catelyn Stark sat atop her horse beside Ser Rodrick and Howland Reed while clutching the raven scroll in her hand as she waited for her two eldest to return from the battle. She prayed to the Gods of Old and New for them to come back alive, to tell them, to tell Lyarra the truth they've kept hidden for many years.
Return they did. Greywind and Ghost bounded out of the woods, followed by a contingent of Stark soldiers and bannermen on horseback, one of them carried the Kingslayer, Ser Jaimie Lannister.
Catelyn dismounted, followed by her two eldest as they stood over the captured Kingslayer. "By the time they knew what was happening it had already happened." Robb said as his sister stood just behind him as his loyal soldier and sibling with Ghost beside her, growling a warning at the Kingslayer.
"Lady Stark, I'd offer you my sword, but I seem to have lost it." Jaimie said to Catelyn who glared at him.
"It is not your sword I want. It is my husband and daughters." Catelyn breathed out.
Jaimie quipped, "I've lost them too, I'm afraid."
"You did. Or rather, your family lost them, along with the Iron Throne and King's Landing." Catelyn said with a frown as she held up a scroll bearing an all too familiar sigil on it. Jaimie paled upon recognition, there's no way.
"Mother, is that...?" Robb asked as he took the scroll and read over the contents. His Tully blue eyes widened, "Daeron of House Targaryen has returned. He's taken King's Landing." This caused a ripple among his bannerman who voiced their utter shock at the Mad King's son's return. "My father and sisters are safe. They were rescued and protected by Daeron Targaryen." This silenced his soldiers, "Eddard Stark, has sworn fealty to the new King. Not the false-heir Joffrey."
"What about my family? My sister and her children." Jaimie questioned, fearing the worst. Joffrey may be a monster, but he's still his son.
"Cersei and Joffrey have been imprisoned for treason. What has become of Tommen and Myrcella, we have no knowledge. But we can assume their safe." Cat explained taking some delight in Jaimie's fear. After what he did to her little Brandon, he deserves to experience some anguish.
"Take him away, lock him up, bind him and guard him." Lyarra ordered their men before he was dragged off by Greatjon Umber.
After the battle and initial celebration, the Starks and Howland Reed were in Catelyn's tent.
"Mother, the decree that was written was from the Hand of the King, our father." Robb stated, his face freshly cleaned and free from his armor as he sat at the table with his sister and mother while Howland stood not too far from them. "But I noticed something else written on the scroll. 'It is time for you and Howland to tell her the truth.' Who was he talking about?"
Catelyn swallowed as she glanced at Howland who looked just as uncomfortable at that question. Taking a deep breath, Catelyn summoned the courage to answer, "He's talking about Lyra."
Lyarra stared at her mother and blinked, "I'm sorry?"
Catelyn nodded, "Yes, you."
Lyarra watched Catelyn's face shift between discomfort and fearful. "Mother, what is going on?"
"Catelyn sighed through her nose and bowed her head. "I had hoped to tell you with Eddard Stark present. Though to be honest, we had hoped the truth would die with us."
"What truth?" Robb asked, shifting his attention between his mother and Howland.
Catelyn turned to Howland with a pleading look.
Howland nodded then turned to the eldest Stark children. "Do you know what caused Robert's Rebellion?"
"Of course, everyone knows. Prince Rhaegar abducted Robert Baratheon's betrothed, Lyanna Stark, and whisked her away to Dorne where he imprisoned and raped her." Robb answered, having heard this story numerous times.
Catelyn looked sad, "That's what everyone was taught to believe."
"What do you mean?" Lyarra asked, watching her mother look mournful and angry.
"Robert's Rebellion was built on a lie." Catelyn's answer surprised her children, "Lyanna was never kidnapped, she and Prince Rhaegar fell in love and ran away together and got married in Dorne."
Robb and Lyarra's eyes widened as shock was written on their faces.
Lyarra interjected with a look of disbelief, "What are you saying? That can't be. Prince Rhaegar was already married to Princess Elia Martell and fathered two children, Rhaenys and Aegon."
Howland explained, "He annulled his marriage to Elia so he could have Lyanna as his wife. They were wed before the Weirwood as per Northern custom."
"So, what you're saying is, while our father was fighting the Mad King, our Aunt Lyanna decided to frolic to the desert to become someone's bride." Robb stated with a look of disbelief.
"They never intended for a war to break out. This was not what they planned." Howland explained the reasons behind the Rebellion.
"And yet, here we are, picking up the pieces." Lyarra stated with a look of mild annoyance after the battle she endured. "Why are we even talking about the past when we should be at King's Landing bringing our Liege Lord and sisters back to the North."
"Because not all of us are returning to the North." Catelyn answered with a look of sadness and desperation in her usually strong features.
"What do you mean?" Robb asked, surprised by her sudden outburst.
Howland knew Catelyn is at the edge of breaking down, so he decided to explain to the siblings. "When the war finally ended, I, along with other Northmen, went with your father to the Tower of Joy in Dorne to retrieve Lyanna. But Rhaegar's King's Guard were left there guarding Lyanna. We fought and killed every last one of them. Ned Stark went inside and found his sister in a bed filled with blood. She..." Howland swallowed as he remembered that day all too well, "...She had just given birth to Rhaegar Targaryen's last surviving child."
The siblings were colored shock as they processed this new bit of information. "Our Aunt Lyanna carried a child? A prince's child? How are we only hearing this now?" Robb exclaimed at hearing such a dangerous secret.
"Well, given what happened to Elia and her children, the very knowledge of another bearing dragon's blood would no doubt send Robert into a rampage. Never mind that it was Lyanna's." Lyarra stated, knowing their father's best friend's hate towards Targaryens.
"That's right." Howland nodded, "Lyanna knew that too. She made Ned promise to keep her baby safe from Robert. Then she...she died."
"And what of the babe? What became of it?" Lyarra asked Howland, urging him to continue.
Howland sighed and bowed his head, "Ned had to make a decision, one I firmly disagreed with, but followed nonetheless for the sake of Lyanna's memory." Howland took a deep breath and confessed, "Lord Stark claimed the baby as his bastard, and brought her to Winterfell."
Lyarra's eyes went wide at what she just heard. "What?"
"Ned Stark isn't your father, you were never a bastard to begin with." Howland explained as they watched Lyarra shook her head in denial.
Robb glanced between his sister then the adults in the tent. "This has got to be a joke. There is no way Lyarra is not father's child!" He vehemently said as he stood up like a wolf with his hackles raised.
"It's true Robb." Catelyn spoke, her voice cracked and wavered, "I can attest to that better than anyone."
"How?" Robb asked his mother.
Catelyn turned to Lyarra who was shocked into silence.
"When you two were but a year old, Lyarra crawled into the hearth and sat there while flames burnt her clothes, but she remained unaffected." Catelyn explained, much to their further shock.
"I didn't dream that?" Lyarra asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she recalled the few dreams she had growing up on how she was bathed in fire but was never burned.
"No, it was real." Catelyn said, "That was my first clue. Your father saw as well and pulled you out of the hearth, burning his hands in the process. We went to the Godswood, and he confessed the truth to me." Tears shimmered in Catelyn's eyes, "I made a vow to never speak of this, that we would both protect you."
Lyarra trembled as she fought to reign in her emotions. "But why now? Why tell me this horrible truth?" She asked, struggling to keep her tears from spilling forth.
Catelyn was silent for a moment then answered, "Daeron Targaryen knows about your true identity. He wants you to come to the Capital."
"To kill her?" Robb immediately jumped to that conclusion. "We can't let him do that."
"He won't, she is the last and only other Targaryen in the world." Howland assured Robb.
However, the Young Wolf didn't calm down. "She is also a Princess, the first-born son's heir. She's a threat to his claim."
Catelyn pulled out another scroll she kept hidden within her sleeve. "Your father... sent another message with the first one." She passed the scroll to her son who was still standing beside his sister.
Unrolling the scroll, his Tully blue eyes took in the contents, eyes wide in disbelief as he turned to his mother.
"Robb?" Lyarra asked, her voice sounding small and frightened like when they were children and she needed her brother's protection.
Robb swallowed and slowly turned to his sister. "He..." He struggled to speak, "...Daeron wants you as his wife to combine your claims and seal the alliance between Houses Stark and Targaryen." He paused and bowed his head, unable to meet his sister's gaze, "You will...be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms."
Lyarra was silent as she registered her brother's words and what they mean.
After a long and painful moment, Lyarra stood up. "I need a moment."
The newly discovered Princess left the tent.
Howland released a long sigh, "That could've gone better."
Robb hung his head with his hands planted on the table. "Lyarra doesn't want the throne."
"No, she does not." Catelyn voiced her agreement, "But Daeron will not let Ned and the girls go unless she marries him."
"So what he's doing is no different from the Lannisters." Robb exclaimed, unhappy with the idea of Daeron keeping his family hostage.
"He is actually more preferable compared to Joffrey. He's not waging war on House Stark or trying to kill his brother's child." Howland stated very calmly.
"Lyarra will be a prisoner, a hostage to keep House Stark in line." Robb said, not trusting Daeron and what he's planning to do with his sister.
"He will be your brother-by-law." Catelyn stated then stood up and made her way to leave the tent.
"Lady Stark?" Howland enquired after her.
"My daughter needs me." Then she left the tent to search for Lyarra.
Outside the base camp, Lyarra sat against a lone tree looking up at the sun that was slowly heading towards the horizon. Her violet-grey eyes were empty and sad as she replayed the events in her head. It all finally made sense to her. Everyone kept saying how she looks so much like the late Lyanna yet was not as wild. Calm and quiet like her father. She heard stories about Prince Rhaegar, whispers that were forbidden in the South, how sad and melancholic he looks, yet was kind and fair to the commonfolk. He also loved to sing and play the harp, just like her. So, in a way, she does resemble her birth father. Growing up, she always saw Ned Stark with a brooding demeanor. The times when she asked about her birth mother, his eyes would turn sad as he gazed upon Lyrarra, as though searching for the woman who his child enquired. She should've known.
Lyarra heard someone approaching but made no move to stand and greet them.
"Lyarra." Catelyn's voice met her ears.
Lyarra sighed through her nose, still gazing at the horizon. "You didn't like me back then. When I was still an infant." She stated, her voice carried no anger or spite, just a matter of fact.
Catelyn spoke as gently as she could, her own heart in turmoil. "Lya, try to understand, it was a different time, one I've regretted since. But everything changed when you crawled into the fire."
Lya closed her eyes, "So... everything I thought... everything I am... was all a lie."
"No," Catelyn knelt beside her daughter and wrapped her arms around Lyarra's shoulders, "you are our daughter, and we love you."
Lyarra believed those words as she looked up at Catelyn with tears shimmering in her eyes. "Why did you choose me?"
Catelyn smiled through her own tears, "We didn't Lyarra, the Gods did."
Lyarra sniffled as she let out a shaky breath, unable to form words despite all the questions that swam within her.
Catelyn tucked a lock of hair behind her daughter's ear, "You are a Stark, my child. Here your father brought you, and it's with us you were meant to be loved and raised. Your name may be a lie, but the bonds you created, and the love you share with your family, that is more real than anything in this world."
Lyarra sighed, "But my fa-Lord Stark still lied to me. He knew how much I wanted to know about the woman who birthed me, yet he kept silent."
Catelyn nodded in understanding, "It was just as hard for him. He never got over his sister's death. But you have helped him through that pain more than you know."
"But I'm not his daughter, I'm his niece. He lied to me." Lyarra stated, confused by everything that's happening around her.
"It was a lie, but at the same time, it wasn't."
Lyarra stared at her in question.
Catelyn explained, "Even though you did not come from his flesh, you share the same blood. That was not a lie. And Ned's a terrible liar." Lyarra laughed at that statement because it's true. "But in his mind, heart and soul, he saw you as one of his children. Make no mistake Lyarra, you are his daughter, and you have made him so proud. You've made us both proud."
Tears fell down Lyarra's cheeks as she listened to her mother's comforting words. The truth tore at her, but knowing she is still loved helped her significantly. She acknowledges the fact that Rhaegar created her, but it is Ned Stark who she views as her father.
Lyarra fell into Catelyn's embrace as the older woman soothed her. "Mother, thank you...for everything."
Catelyn held back her own tears as she held her daughter, savoring the warmth that came from her.
"Lyarra, I know you don't want to hear this, but there is the matter of Daeron's...'proposal.'" Catelyn hesitantly said, unsure how else to call what was in that scroll.
Lyarra pulled away and sighed, "I know. It's not like I have any other recourse." She shook her head, "It's impossible to run from this."
"But do you want to?" Catelyn asked, watching her daughter's expression shift between thoughtful and hesitance.
Lyarra sighed again, "Much as I want to, I can't, and I won't. I don't want to repeat Rhaegar's and Lyanna's mistakes. It would only drag us into another war, a second Dance of Dragons. I won't let that happen." She vowed, knowing any cowardly actions can and will have catastrophic consequences in the long haul. "I'll agree to the match, if only to see father and my sisters free. I don't know if I'll be a good queen, but I'll try my hardest to be better than Cersei." Lyarra paused, "I'll figure out a way to make this marriage work."
Catelyn smiled proudly at her daughter; she already displays the rational qualities of a leader. Being Robb's second-in-command in almost everything as molded her into a trusted commander in battle. Her temperament will certainly go a long way, she's calm and tactical when speaking with allies.
"You're already a fine leader, one Rhaegar and Lyanna would no doubt be proud of." Catelyn told Lyarra, making the young woman smile at her praise.
"As for your marriage, I know you'll make it work." Catelyn smiled fondly, "Your father didn't love me when we married. We hardly knew each other. Love didn't just happen to us. We built it slowly, over the years, stone by stone. For you, your brothers, and sisters. It stays stronger, and it lasts longer."
Lyarra smiled, "I'm glad for that."
Catelyn pushed herself off the ground and pulled Lyarra up, "Come, best we give Daeron a response."
"Actually, I'll write about my acceptance to the marriage." Lyarra said with a smile that reminded Catelyn of Arya when she wants to cause mischief.
"I'm not going to insult him. Too much." Lyarra added with a shrug.
Catelyn sighed, her work as a mother is never finished. "You really are Lyanna's daughter."