Chapter 1
"What were you thinking, Ned?" Lady Catelyn's voice hissed. "You expect me to raise this… child along with our own? Along with my son? Your heir?"
"Cat…" Ned tried, but his wife wasn't listening.
"How could you? I will not have your bastard in my home!"
"Cat," Ned stated, this time more firmly. "You have every right to be upset with me, but the child stays. That is final."
"Fine," Catelyn snapped. "But you will take care of him by yourself. I will not do that."
Lyla hid in the shadows as Catelyn stormed out. Ned sighed heavily as the babe in the crib began crying.
"Cousin Ned?" Lyla called cautiously as she entered the room.
Her cousin seemed exhausted, but he forced a smile on his face.
"Hello, Lyla. What... What are you doing here so late? Where is your nurse?"
"Sleeping, I think," she replied. "I couldn't sleep."
She walked over to the crib and carefully picked the babe up. She had done this with Robb a few times, so she knew how to soothe the child. He stopped crying as she gently rocked him in her little arms and hummed a lullaby. Ned observed her silently, exhaustion and guilt clear in his eyes.
"What is his name?" Lyla asked, her eyes never leaving the child.
"Jon," Ned murmured.
Lyla nodded.
"That is a nice name."
Ned smiled, his smile a bit tense.
"Thank you, Lyla."
"I can keep him if Lady Catelyn does not want him," she offered after a moment of silence.
"I am afraid things are not that simple," Ned murmured "You see, he… I…"
"I know what a bastard means," Lyla said quietly. She had already heard that word being whispered many times after her cousin had arrived with Jon.
Ned cleared his throat and turned his head away.
"Well, a little girl like you shouldn't know something like that," he murmured.
Lyla gently rocked Jon, who was now content and quiet in her arms. "It doesn't matter to me," she said softly. "He is just a babe."
Ned sighed, his shoulders sagging with the weight of his responsibilities. "Yes, I know. I am sure my wife will eventually see that and forgive me."
"Robb!" Catelyn cried out as she hurried to her son who had just fallen on the ground. As soon as she picked him up, her eyes turned to Jon who looked frightened and confused. "How dare you push him?"
"I-I didn't mean to, my lady," he stuttered. "I…"
"They were just playing," Lyla cut in as she walked over to Jon. "They are children, Lady Catelyn."
Catelyn glared at Lyla, her grip tightening on Robb as she held him protectively. "Playing? He could have hurt Robb!"
Lyla knelt down beside Jon, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Children fall. It was an accident. Jon didn't mean any harm."
Robb, still sniffling from his tumble, looked at his mother with wide eyes. "It was just a game, Mother. Jon didn't push me on purpose."
Catelyn's stern expression softened slightly as she looked at her son, but she couldn't completely let go of her resentment. "Fine. But you need to be more careful, Jon."
Jon nodded quickly, his eyes downcast. "Yes, my lady. I'm sorry."
Lyla gave Jon's shoulder a gentle squeeze before standing up and looking at her cousin's wife. "Let's not make more of this than it is, Lady Catelyn. They're brothers, after all. Let them learn and grow together."
Catelyn's face tightened at the word "brothers," but she held her tongue. She took Robb's hand and walked away, leaving Lyla and Jon standing together.
Once they were alone, Lyla turned to Jon and lifted his chin so he would look at her. "Don't worry, Jon. You did nothing wrong. Just be careful, alright?"
Jon nodded, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Lyla."
She smiled warmly at him. "Go on and play. Just try not to knock Robb over again."
Jon smiled back, a bit more confident now, and ran off to join Robb, who was already calling for him to continue their game. Lyla watched them for a moment, her heart full of love for both boys.
As she turned to go about her day, she saw Ned standing a short distance away, having witnessed the entire scene. He gave her a nod of appreciation, and she returned it with a small smile. Despite the challenges, Lyla was determined to ensure that Jon knew he had a place here and that he was loved, no matter what.
"How is he?" Ned asked, concern clear in his voice.
"The fever is not coming down," Lyla replied, her eyes filled with tears as she held Jon's hand. "I'm scared, Cousin Ned."
Ned moved behind her and gently squeezed her shoulder.
"I am sure he will be alright."
She shook her head.
"You can't know that."
"No, I can't, but I refuse to believe anything else."
Ned looked at Jon, his face pale and sweaty from the fever. The sight of the boy struggling against the illness tightened the knot of worry in his chest. "Has Maester Luwin said anything more?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Lyla shook her head, her eyes never leaving Jon. "He's done everything he can. Now it's up to Jon to fight this."
Ned knelt beside Jon's bed, gently brushing a damp strand of hair from the boy's forehead. "Jon is strong, Lyla. He's a fighter. He'll pull through this."
Lyla wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "I hope you're right, Cousin Ned. I just… I can't bear the thought of losing him."
Ned took a deep breath, trying to push away his own fears. "We'll stay with him, both of us. He'll know he's not alone, and that might make all the difference."
"Pardon me, my lord," a servant stated as he entered Jon's chamber. "Lady Stark requests your presence."
Ned hesitated, looking at Lyla and Jon.
"You can go," Lyla assured. "I will stay with him."
Ned sighed and nodded.
"Send for me immediately if anything changes."
"I will, I promise."
Lyla stayed by Jon's side, keeping vigil through the night. She held his hand, murmuring soothing words to him.
As the hours dragged on, the fever seemed relentless, but Jon's breathing remained steady. Finally, just before dawn, Maester Luwin returned to check on him. He examined Jon carefully, his expression grave.
"How is he?" Lyla asked anxiously.
Maester Luwin looked at her. "The fever has not worsened, and that is a good sign. His body is fighting it. We must continue to keep him cool and give him the herbs I prepared. If he can hold on through today, I believe he will start to recover."
Lyla felt a glimmer of hope and nodded. "I'll do whatever it takes. Thank you, Maester Luwin."
As the sun began to rise, casting a soft glow over Winterfell, she continued her vigil. Jon stirred slightly in his sleep, and Lyla took it as a sign of hope. She knew he would be alright.
"Lyla," Sansa's clear voice called. "I want you to read to me."
Lyla looked up from her book, she was just teaching Jon about the history of the North.
"Perhaps a little later, Sansa, I was just…"
"No, I want you to read to me now," she demanded. "Mother said that you are here to look after us. You have no other place to go."
Lyla was momentarily taken aback by the young girl's tone, but she gathered herself quickly.
"I am teaching your brother right now, Sansa."
"He is not my real brother," Sansa declared. "Mother said so."
Lyla took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. Sansa's words stung, but she knew she needed to handle this carefully. "Sansa," she began gently, "Jon is part of this family, just like you and your siblings. It's important that we treat each other with kindness and respect."
Sansa pouted, her small hands on her hips. "But Mother said…"
"Your mother is upset, Sansa," Lyla interrupted softly, yet firmly. "But we must all remember that Jon has done nothing wrong. He deserves the same love and care as the rest of us."
Jon looked down, clearly affected by Sansa's words. Lyla reached out and touched his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. "Jon, why don't we take a short break? I'll read to Sansa for a bit, and then we'll continue our lesson."
Jon nodded, looking relieved. He stood up and walked over to the window, gazing out at the courtyard.
Lyla turned her attention back to Sansa. "Now, what story would you like to hear, Sansa?"
Sansa hesitated for a moment, her earlier defiance wavering. "The one about the dragon and the brave knight."
Lyla smiled and reached for the book of tales. "Alright then, let's read about the dragon and the brave knight."
As she began to read, she glanced at Jon, who was still by the window. She hoped that, in time, Sansa and the others would come to accept him fully. For now, she would continue to be a source of love and support for Jon, and teach the others by example.
After finishing the story for Sansa, Lyla gently closed the book. "There, wasn't that a wonderful tale?"
Sansa nodded, her earlier attitude softened by the story. "Yes, it was. Thank you, Lyla."
Lyla smiled warmly at her. "You're welcome, Sansa. Now, let me get back to Jon. Remember, being kind and understanding to each other is what makes us strong."
With that, she returned to Jon, who had resumed his place at the table. Lyla picked up the history book again and continued their lesson, determined to show both Jon and Sansa that family was more than just blood, it was about love, support, and acceptance.
"Arya!" Lyla called. "Arya!"
The girl was certainly a challenge, even at the age of seven. She had run to the Godswood after Lyla tried to convince her to join her sister for their septa's lesson. Lyla was well aware of how much Arya hated those lessons.
"Arya, please, come back! It's not safe for you to be here by yourself!"
Lyla sighed, knowing that the girl could be anywhere by now. Arya was fast and very good at hiding.
"Arya!"
Lyla decided to turn back to Winterfell and get some help when she suddenly heard leaves rustling.
"Arya?" she called, relieved, when she suddenly saw two strange men.
"Well, well," one of them said, grinning. "What's a pretty little thing like you doing here all by herself?"
Lyla tensed but maintained her composure.
"I am Lyla Stark, cousin of Lord Eddard Stark," she stated. "I am here looking for a missing child."
"Is that supposed to scare us?" the other man snorted mockingly.
Lyla stood her ground, her heart pounding. "I suggest you leave," she said firmly, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "Lord Stark won't take kindly to strangers causing trouble on his land."
The men exchanged amused glances, clearly not intimidated. "Oh, we're trembling," one of them mocked, taking a step closer.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the tension. "You heard her. Leave now, if you know what's good for you."
Lyla turned to see Jon, sword in hand, emerging from the trees. Despite his youth, there was a fierce determination in his eyes.
"Who's this?" one of the men sneered.
"That is not important," Jon said, stepping between Lyla and the men. "Leave now, or face the consequences."
"Oh please, do you even know how to use that, boy?" the other man snorted. "Step aside and maybe we'll let you have a turn with her after…"
The rest of his sentence turned into shocked gurgling as Jon cut his throat. His companion had no time to react when Jon sank the blade of his sword into the man's chest without a moment of hesitation. Lyla was too shocked to move or make a sound, she simply stared at Jon who turned slowly to look at her, a satisfied smile on his face.
"It's alright, Lyla," he hummed. "You're safe now." He stepped closer to her, unbothered by the blood spills all over his face and clothes. "I would never let anyone hurt you."
