The Last Dragon's Daughter

by Isildur123

What if Jon Snow was born as a female like Rhaegar probably wanted? This is an alternative story about Lyanna Snow/Visenya Targaryen, who grew up in Winterfell as a wild, fierce, beautiful and clever bastard daughter of Eddard Stark. She was never told who her mother was, however a strange discovery in the crypts beneath Winterfell will change her life forever.

11. Chapter 11

Chapter 11: Ghost of Lyanna Stark

Lyanna woke up to sight of her little dragon and wolf cub cuddling and sleeping together on the fur next to her bed, introducing them to each other wasn't as difficult as she originally expected and both got along amiably.

Those two had become a welcomed distraction from the troubles which seem to pop out everywhere where she looked lately. The news about King Robert Baratheon riding to Winterfell was one of such troubles and Lyanna spent many hours lost in thoughts on how to disappear for a duration of the royal visit to hopefully not be even noticed. She even suggested that she would go hunting alone to the Wolfswood during the period of King Robert's visit.

Ned was resolutely against such a notion and strictly forbade Lyanna to leave again. Such drastic measures are not necessary and out of the question, Lyanna. Besides, King Robert will expect the whole Stark family to greet him, even you. I understand your reservations in this matter, trust me. Just try not to stick too much. And I am sure no one will pay you any mind whatsoever.

Needless to say, she wasn't happy with such an answer. Lyanna yawned and went to sit at her table where the book, Dragons the Power of the Freehold was opened.

After reading a few pages an insurmountable urge to stretch out came over her and while she did, Lyanna's gaze fell onto the box, received a while ago from Ned, still closed and unopened ever since she put it there. "Well, I might as well look at what is inside."

Upon opening the box, several things were revealed inside, the most prominent was a dagger with wolf's head pommel, another interesting find was a signet ring with the sigil of house Targaryen, which most likely used to serve as the seal ring of the Prince of Dragonstone.

There were various trinkets the most prominent among those were a necklace of valyrian steel chain on which end was a decent sized sapphire in the shape of rose. Lyanna couldn't help but gasp when seeing the jewel, she was never much into pretty things but this one genuinely impressed her.

There were also some lists of parchments, the one on top had some visible blood stains on it. Upon reading its first words Lyanna realizes it was a letter containing her mother's last words to her.

Dear Visenya,

I am writing these words to you because soon I will be dead and sadly I won't be around to take care of you or see you grow up into the princess you are meant to be.

Now I am not sure when you are reading this or in what situation you currently are, however I believe, you are probably familiar with the circumstances of your birth and you may or may not feel resentment towards me or your father, in either case I want to say sorry.

Rhaegar and I were not careful enough with the planning of our secret marriage and we made some wrong choices, which did not end well and there was no way to fix them. Still, you must understand that the war which happened wasn't part of what we planned and I just couldn't bear the duty to marry Robert Baratheon. Then again, as the saying goes, there is no point in crying over the spilled blood and the past is long gone. Your future is what is much more important.

Your father claimed you are destined for something greater, something about prophecies and so on, yet to me you are simply my daughter which I love unconditionally. With that being said you are a true born Princess of House Targaryen and as such your future is bound to be full of danger and strife, whether you choose to claim your birthright, leave everything behind or even choose to play a role in prophecies, it makes no difference. So, should I ask you for anything I would ask you to be careful, think carefully about every vital choice you will make and most importantly be constantly vigilant, my child.

One day, my and your father's tale might be known as a mistake born out of foolishness and it might be something to that, yet to me only one thing matters, you. I have many regrets about it all. Alas having you is not among them.

Your loving mother, Lyanna Stark.

Lyanna rubbed forming tears from her eyes and put the letter back. "Well, mother, what is done is done, though I would wish to at least meet you."

Then she suddenly felt familiar movement as now noticeably heavier Zyraxes landed on her shoulder. "Muña, are you alright?"

Lyanna affectionately rubbed Zyraxes under the chin. "No, not really, darling. Still I have to just grit my teeth and get on with it."

Then she turned to the floor where her wolf pup was now sitting and watching her with tilted head. "Oh, don't give me that look, Ghost. Like that you seem to know something I fail to notice. Or maybe you just want something, won't you?" Lyanna shrugged and petted him too.

Her happy moment was abruptly interrupted by door knocking. Annoyed, Lyanna sent Zyraxes to hide and went for the door. To her surprise it was Sansa and Jeyne Poole. "Lyanna…. My lady mother sends me to fetch you…. Ehmm you ought to come with me to her at once."

Lyanna immediately shook her head in instant refusal. "Not bloody likely ... .You can tell her I politely refuse as I am not inclined to ruin my day, thank you."

Just when Lyanna said that and was about to close her door. Jeyne, the daughter of the steward of Winterfell, Vayon Poole spoke. "Those are orders from Lady Stark, defying them wouldn't be wise, bastard. Should we call the guards?" The cheeky, victorious smile which appeared on the girl's face was enough to make Lyanna's blood boil.

"You know, Poole. If not for a fact you are using the order of someone of higher rank as a leverage I might almost make a mistake in thinking you have guts." Jeyne opened her mouth to retort with something but before she could, Lyanna continued. "Unfortunately you don't have any and as a result, I am really fighting the urge to punch that smug face of yours, right now."

Jeyne stopped smiling and quickly stepped back taking cover behind Sansa who gave Lyanna a look full of contempt. "Don't worry Jeyne, she wouldn't dare to do such a thing….."

"Oh? That is cute how certain you are, sister." Lyanna folded her arms while adopting a contemplating expression. "Alas, you might be right, our little, cowardly Jeyne here, is not worth it…. Or perhaps she is. Tell me, I heard that recently you have been calling Arya by some very nasty nickname, weren't you, Pool?"

"Nickname?" Jeyne simply repeated while fainting ignorance.

"Playing dumb aren't we?" Lyanna stepped forward to Jeyne, disregarding Sansa's presence. "Then let me be clearer, should I hear you called Arya horseface, it will have painful consequences to your own face and I can promise you that."

"Enough Lyanna, don't threaten Jeyne." Sansa almost shrieked those words. "She is right that you are disobeying orders from the lady of Winterfell. It is not appropriate for you, know your place."

"Eh, whatever. Care to at least explain to me what this sudden summon is about? Before we go?"

Disgruntled and very aggravated Sansa was taken back by this sudden cooperation but she proceeded with explanation. "There were reports that the King and his family are arriving today, all of us are meant to be properly prepared, my mother simply wants to make sure you are prepared too."

"I see…. Alright, give me some time." Lyanna begrudgingly and maybe a little curious as to why and how she should be prepared for the King's arrival, conceded.

XXX

When they arrived at Lady Stark chambers, Lyanna felt like she really wanted to be anywhere else but there. Especially when she saw the mirror and a chair position in the room.

Lady Stark just nodded to Sansa and Jeyne. "Thank you. You can go." Once left alone Catelyn gestured towards the chair. "Lyanna, come and sit here, we must attend to your hair."

"Ehm, with all due respect, Lady Stark, I would prefer to do that on my own as I always do."

"King is set to arrive today and our family must greet him, we must look presentable. All of us."

Lyanna studied the expression of the woman she preferred to avoid with suspicion before she finally went to sit, though still on guard. When seated she spoke. "Why would you bother doing this, Lady Stark?"

If the question set her off, Catelyn didn't show it and simply took the hair brush and proceeded with brushing Lyanna's dark brown hair. "As I said, the King will arrive today and we must..."

"That is not what I am asking." Lyanna cut her off abruptly. "Why are you brushing the hair of someone you hate?"

After a brief pause Catelyn answered. "I was told the truth about your parentage."

"Oh, I see… So what? You expect me to just forget your animosity towards me for all those years and move on?"

"Lyanna, I will not pretend it didn't happen and now when I know the whole truth, I regret how I acted, however you must understand how I saw you. A living proof of my husband's infidelity."

"If there was anything to know about Lord Eddard Stark that he was a man of honour, without stain, yet when he returned from a war, there was you, a babe which he claimed was his bastard and what's more you were to be raised alongside his true born siblings. I was blown away and it felt like betrayal."

Lyanna snorted at that. "So you chose to be hateful towards a child… you know even if I were a bastard born to Ned Stark, it wouldn't exactly be my fault would it? Well it's not like matters anymore. Let's just call it water under the bridge and continue avoiding each other, Lady Stark."

"I will respect your choice, Lyanna, however I am sorry nonetheless."

"Whatever."

After that the room submerged into awkward silence as Catelyn was attending to Lyanna's hair. Though it didn't take long until the lady of Winterfell started to talk again. "There was something I wanted to inquire about…. will you be so kind as to indulge me?"

Lyanna's face just adopted an expression which cried: Just get this over with. So Catelyn carefully spoke on. "Domeric Bolton, what is he like? Given his house's unsavoury reputation I am worried for Sansa, should the potential betrothal come through between them."

"Huh… I wonder if you considered it when you schemed to marry me off there…. Anyway when it comes to Domeric, you have nothing to fear."

"In fact, when I met Domeric in Barrowton for the first time, I was very wary of him, mostly on the basis of Northern history and as you said, the unsavory reputation the house Bolton has. Yet after I spent some time with him I found him rather pleasant company."

"Indeed? How so?"

"Well, for starters he is a good rider, very good swordsman and surprisingly well read plus rather good in poetry. He is also former square though he refused any knightly aspiration, which is probably a good thing considering he is no fond of the Faith of the Seven."

"I see, so by your estimation the match between him and Sansa in let's just say five years is a good idea?" Catelyn asked carefully.

Lyanna turned to her with the raised eyebrow. "Hmm, since when do you care for what I think, Lady Stark? Hmmm, I say Domeric is capable of making Sansa happy. It is the place where she would be potentially married off that I find much more disturbing."

"You mean Dreadfort?"

"Yes and its Lord. To be frank that man always makes me uneasy, like he is hiding daggers behind every gaze of those pale eyes. Although maybe it's just me being paranoid."

Catelyn thought back upon meeting Roose Bolton and found Lyanna's description rather fitting but didn't say that out loud even as she was finished with her hair. "Well, all done. I also had a dress ready, so you look presentable."

When Lyanna heard this and saw the dress she resolutely shook her head in refusal. "No way, over my dead body. I am supposed to be as unnoticeable as possible. If I wear this, everyone will notice me."

"I know you might find it uncomfortable since you are not used to it but in the south young ladies wear only dresses such as these, especially when meeting the king, so you will certainly not be out of place and standing up, like you would if you wear your usual un-lady-like attire."

"I knew I should have just gone to Wolfswood. Hunting would be preferable to this mummer's farce…." Lyanna said in an angry tone and took the dress.

XXX

Anger was still brewing inside Lyanna while she was standing in the courtyard among the Stark family and her face showed a clear sign of irritation.

Robb noticed it and whispered to her. "You look like you are ready to strangle someone. Let me guess you don't really like being in that pretty dress. Though I must say, you look really good wearing it, even if I would never imagine you wearing one."

Lyanna elbowed him lightly to the ribs for that. "Don't even start, Robb. This is the worst experience of my life. I don't even know why I am standing here. In fact I am going to hide behind you and Sansa."

"Will you two ever shut up?" Half whispered agitated Sansa who was standing next to them. "You should be grateful for being here, Lyanna. Meeting the royal family is the highest honour, the bastard like you can ever hope for."

Arya hearing the arrogant kicked her older sister to the leg, fortunately it ended there as Ned and Catelyn quickly disciplined them all. And just in time as the first horses began to pass through the gate into the courtyard. In full the King's party counted 300 strong, the glorious procession was somewhat in contrast with the solemn atmosphere of Winterfell.

Among riders Ned recognized Ser Jaime Lannister the Kingslayer. Another he knew was Sandor Clegane, next to whom rode a tall boy who Ned guessed had to be crown Prince, right behind them rode Tyrion Lannister the Imp as the dwarf was often called. However when Ned saw his old friend, he barely recognized him, from a tall strong man, who earned the nickname the Demon of the Trident was now a fat bearded king.

Yet some things stayed the same, such as a familiar roar and strong bear hug. "Ned! Ah, but it is good to see that frozen face of yours. You have not changed at all."

Ned was honestly baffled by the change his friend and King went through, since nine years ago when they both went to war with the Iron Islands, yet he kept his posture and said only. "Your Grace. Winterfell is yours."

"Dammit Ned, away with those formalities. How long has it been, nine years? And you never once came to visit me. Others take you, it has to be me who has to go all the way here just to see you again.."

Ned tilted his head slightly before answering. "Well, as you know, your Grace ruling is very demanding and time consuming."

Robert gurgled a laugh at that. "Ha! Don't I know it? But I also know that is precisely why you need to unwind from time to time which is something you probably don't do enough. We will have to put that right, won't we, my friend?"

In the meantime. Queen Cersei Lannister approached accompanied by her two youngest children and Ned knelt in the snow to kiss the queen's ring, while Robert embraced Catelyn like a long-lost sister. "Catelyn, you look good as always, it would seem the North suits you well."

Catelyn just nodded with a courtly smile. "Thank you, Your Grace."

Next came something which made Ned nervous deep inside, for obvious reasons. Children had been brought forward and introduced one by one. Right after Robert apprised Robb as a next Lord of Winterfell and complimented Sansa, he froze when laying his eyes on Lyanna who were just standing there, trying not to draw any attention. She failed at that extraordinarily.

"Seven hells either I am dreaming or I am seeing Lyanna's ghost right now."

Lyanna, puzzled by the strange look the King was giving her, didn't have a clue what to say or do, fortunately Ned came to her rescue, while putting a calming hand on his friend's shoulder. "Your Grace, you are making my daughter feel uneasy."

King blinked in confusion. "What? Don't tell me that is your bastard girl, the baby you showed to me fifteen years ago in King's Landing?"

"Indeed, she is. Lyanna Snow, my bastard daughter."

King studied Lyanna in more detail and noticed her purple eyes and after a brief moment he finally nodded and turned back to Lord of Winterfell with a wide smile. "Ha. I'll be damned, the only bastard you have and such a young beauty, She is like your sister come again, Ned. Then the King looked back to Lyanna. "You remind me of your aunt a lot, girl. But tell me, are you also a good horse like she was?"

Lyanna looked to Ned for guidance, receiving only a cautious nod to speak. "Well, Your grace. I like to ride a lot, there are some who would tell you I am a better rider than my brother Robb, but I do not want to brag."

Robert laughed and wanted to talk more but Ned interfered as he felt tension rising from the others around, especially from the queen. "With all due respect, Your Grace. This is a hardly time or place to question my daughter. Wouldn't you say?"

"Oh, of course." Robert said and looked around as he just realized where he was. And the children's introductions continued.

Alas, as soon as formalities of greeting had been over, Robert wanted to do something else. "Take me down to your crypt, Eddard. I would pay my respects."

"My love, we have been riding since dawn and everyone is tired and cold. Surely we should refresh ourselves first. The dead can wait." Cersei Lannister said, while Robert just spared her one dismissing look and followed Ned who already called for a lantern.

The rest of the people slowly dispersed with Catelyn directions as she led the queen to follow her into the quest lodgings.

Lyanna for her part made her exit very quickly and without attracting any further attention, yet the opposite was true because while leaving, a pair of green eyes followed her curiously. "Interesting looking girl isn't she, Jaime? A purple eyed bastard of Lord Eddard Stark. I mean I once heard the rumour that the honourable Ned Stark entangled himself with Ashara Dayne from our sweet sister but I would never imagine to have that rumour confirmed, by seeing the possible result of that entanglement.

Jaime Lannister shook his head as he averted gaze to his little brother. "I wouldn't be so hasty in making such a conclusion if I were you, Tyrion. You know how it is… Rumours tend to be just that a rumours "

"Oh? So, you would say I am wrong in presumtion that girl is the outcome of Lord Stark and Lady Ashara love?"

"Well I don't know if Lord Stark and Lady Ashara were fucking at some point or another, nor I want to know. But I can tell you that girl…. She is no Dayne."

XXX

When entered the ancient resting place of the Kings of Winter, Robert walked behind Ned who held the lantern. "I was starting to think we would never reach Winterfell. In the south, the way they talk about my Seven Kingdoms, a man forgets that your part is as big as the other six combined."

"I trust you enjoyed the journey, Your Grace?" Ned said, completely ignoring the king's complaints.

Robert snorted. "Bogs and forests and fields, and scarcely a decent inn north of the Neck. I've never seen such a vast emptiness. Where are all your people?"

"Likely they were too shy to come out." Ned jested, knowing too well how his kingdom was, vast and mostly empty. "Kings are a rare sight in the north."

Robert snorted Again. "More likely they were hiding under the snow. Snow, Ned!"

"Late summer snows are common enough. I hope they did not trouble you. They are usually mild."

"The Others take your mild snows." Robert swore. "What will this place be like in winter? I shudder to think."

"The winters are hard." Ned admitted. "However, now that you mentioned others, I have something to talk about with you, regarding others and before you dismiss me, hear me out."

"What? Don't tell me you are scared of ancient horrors and fairytales. I wanted to tell you to come south and taste summer with me and you instead start talking nonsense, Ned."

Ned stopped and gave Robert a look which left no doubt he was deadly serious. "It is no fairytales nor nonsense which keeps me and my brother awake at night, Robert." Ned said and swept the lantern in a wide semicircle. Shadows moved and lurched. Flickering light touched the stones underfoot and brushed against a long procession of granite pillars that marched ahead, two by two, into the dark. "She is down at the end, with Father and Brandon."

Ned led Robert between the tombs and statues of Kings in the North and later Lords of Winterfell with swords laid at their laps and direwolves curled round their feet. King Shivered both as result of ever present chill and majestic history resonating from the stone faces of the past Starks.

Current Lord of Winterfell stopped at last and lifted the oil lantern. The crypt continued on into darkness ahead of them, but beyond that point the tombs were empty and unsealed. Black holes waiting for their dead, waiting for him and his family members. "Here she rests."

Robert nodded silently, knelt, and bowed his head. Before the statue of Lyanna Stark one of three statues present at the tomb.

Ned let the statue be commissioned despite the fact it went against tradition that only Kings and later Lords of Winterfell had their statues made, however he didn't regret it. And now there were trio statues present next to each other, His father Rickard, brother Brandon and sister Lyanna, the woman his friend and King claimed to love and fought a war for, yet she didn't love him back.

Though he never said it to his friend to spare his feelings, Ned at some point started to believe Robert never in fact loved his sister, more like he loved the idea of Lyanna Stark, an idea Robert himself invented as he never truly knew her. Ned couldn't help feeling pain and regret every time stood there, thinking how things went wrong.

He was torn out of these thoughts by Robert's words. "She was more beautiful than that," The king said after a silence. His eyes lingered on the statue's face, as if he could bring her back to life.

Finally, Robert rose, made awkward by his weight. "Ah, damn it, Ned, did you have to bury her in a place like this? She deserved more than darkness."

"She was a Stark of Winterfell. This is her place." Ned said quietly.

"She should be on a hill somewhere, under a fruit tree, with the sun and clouds above her and the rain to wash her clean."

"I was with her when she died and she wanted to come home, to rest beside Brandon and Father." Then Ned spotted a fresh winter rose put in the statue's hand. He didn't have to guess long as to who put it there. He again heard the words: Ned, promise me you will protect my daughter. In his mind. "I bring her winter roses when I can, Lyanna was . . . fond of them."

The king touched her cheek, his fingers brushing across the rough stone as gently as if it were living flesh. "I vowed to kill Rhaegar for what he did to her."

"You did."

"Only once. In my dreams, I kill him every night." Robert admitted with the hint of bitterness. "A thousand deaths will still be less than he deserves."

Ned, who was now again exposed to Robert's hatred towards Targaryens clenched his fist around the lamp more tightly, reassured that he made the right choice by shielding Rhaegar's and Lyanna's child, convinced that his friend would kill her without a second thought.

And there was nothing Ned could say to that. So, after a quiet, he said, "Rhaegar and Targaryens are gone, Your Grace. We should go back"

"Not all of them are gone as you put it and I will not rest until they are." Robert muttered sourly, but he started back the way they had come. "And if I hear 'Your Grace' once more, I'll have your head on a spike. We are more to each other than that."

"I had not forgotten," Ned replied quietly. When the king did not answer, he said, "Tell me about Jon."

They spoke as they walked. About sudden sickness and death of Jon Arryn, about Catelyn's sister, how she left with her son to Vale against Robert's will and How Robert wanted her son to be fostered by Tywin Lannister. When hearing this, little Robert Arryn's future seemed very uncertain to Ned.

Then conversation shifted towards the reason Robert came to Winterfell. After a brief reminiscence of old times in the Eyrie and lamenting his position as a King of Westeros Robert finally told Ned he needs him in Kings Landing and why.

"Lord Eddard Stark, I would name you the Hand of the King."

Ned dropped to one knee. The offer did not surprise him too much. The Hand of the King was the second-most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms. He spoke with the king's voice, commanded the king's armies, drafted the king's laws. At times he even sat upon the Iron Throne to dispense king's justice, when the king was absent, or sick, or otherwise indisposed.

Robert was offering Ned a responsibility as large as the realm itself. It was the last thing in the world he wanted. And in the current situation the last thing he needed.

When Ned said nothing while thinking what to say. Robert laughed light heartily. "I left you speechless heh? No matter. You helped me win that damnable throne, now help me hold it. We were meant to rule together. If Lyanna had lived, we should have been brothers, bound by blood as well as affection. Well, it is not too late. I have a son. You have a daughter. My Joff and your Sansa shall join our houses."

"Your grace, that might prove to be impossible, you see, she is only eleven and I already negotiated a possible betrothal for her with the Heir of the Dreadfort, Domeric Bolton."

"So? Betrothals can be broken and I think that betrothal to the crown Prince takes precedence over you bannerman. Besides it is only betrothal, the marriage won't happen for a few years." Robert waved his hand impatiently. "Now stand up and say yes, curse you."

Ned did stand up but he shook his head. "I won't break my word, Your Grace."

Robert folded his arms in frustration. "You and your northern honor. Sometimes it can be really pestering, do you know that? Although perhaps there is no harm. Afterall you have another daughter ripe for the betrothal."

"Ned frowned, you mean Arya? But she is even younger than Sansa, nine years old…"

"Gods Ned, I am talking about your oldest daughter, Lyanna and don't even think about objecting about her age, she must be the same age as your oldest son, fourteen no?"

After hearing this Ned's heart almost stopped and he immediately began to seek words to dismay such propositions. "Lyanna is a bastard Robert, the realm would never accept her as a bride for a crown prince, that is why you aimed for betrothal with Sansa am I wrong?"

Robert shrugged. "True but if Sansa isn't available and Arya is too young, then it leaves only Lyanna. Should anyone protest I will simply legitimize her and my son can accomplish something I never did. Marry Lyanna of house Stark. How does that sound, hmm?"

"I once promised her, She will not be forced into any marriage without her agreement and I am going stand by it. With that being said, should she choose to accept marriage to your son I am not going to say a word against it."

"And why in the Seven hells would she refuse it? Becoming queen of the Seven Kingdoms is the highest station she could ever accomplish, considering she is a bastard. She would be a fool not to accept." After this Robert again waved his hand. "Anyway now I want your answer regarding the Hand of the King position."

"Your Grace. You honour me with that offer but I must refuse."

This took Robert by surprise. "What?! Didn't you just a few moments ago say you are at my command, care to explain Ned?"

"I am sorry, the truth is there are certain matters which I need to attend to here in the north." Ned answered, retaining his calm, despite the fact that Robert looked ready to hit him.

"Then I hope you have a bloody good reason to refuse me because of those matters, Lord Stark. Because if they are not good enough I swear by the Old Gods and the New That I will have you arrested and drag you to King's Landing to be my hand by force."

Ned bowed respectfully. "As you wish, but not here, let us go to my solar." After this they both began to walk out of the Crypt.

So, hello there. As you can see, I finished another chapter, this one heavily relying on the canon events with some adjustments. And yes, there is going to be a lot of tension in Winterfell in addition to a very agitated Robert Baratheon when Lyanna (Visenya) refuses to marry that incestuous gold haired goblin. Anyway, for this chapter I wanted to write some form of reconciliation between Lyanna and Catelyn and I also wanted to write more stuff in this chapter other than King's arrival, alas I decided that this chapter was already rather long enough. So, I am going to leave it for another chapter. Have a nice day.