"Wolves, Lions and Dragons"
Chapter 1 – Life Changes in mysterious ways.
Premise:
Lyanna Stark was not the only daughter of Lord and Lady Stark. The gods old and new, weeping at the destruction wrought on their lands, appealed to the children of the forest for guidance. The Green man and the Three Eyed Raven, gave guidance, and a life never been was renewed and a life taken was restored, to bring balance to the lands. Lyarra Stark birthed her eldest child Brandon in 262AC and then her second son Eddard in 263AC. In 264AC, she birthed her first daughter Karlyn, then in 266AC, Lyanna followed her older sister and brothers. In 268AC, Benjen arrived and then not 5 years later, Lyarra passed away. . /House_Stark for dates etc.
273 -Winterfell
Brandon - Aged 11 - Black hair, Grey Eyes
Eddard - Aged 10 - Brown hair, Grey eyes
Karlyn - Aged 9 - Black hair, Blue/Grey eyes
Lyanna - Aged 7 - Brown hair, Grey eyes
Benjen - Aged 5 - Black hair, Blue/Grey eyes
Winterfell was cold. It was always cold but today seemed colder than normal. Brandon stood silent beside his father as the coffin bearing the remains of his mother was lowered into the cypt. Behind him, his two brothers and two sisters stood in silence. Eddard, his junior by a year, had his arm around Lyanna and Karlyn, who was only two years younger than Brandon, held their youngest brother, Benjen, aged 5 close. Lyanna's eyes were red, Eddard's cold. Karlyn's were almost blank as she held Benjen, who was the only one of them openly crying.
The grating of stone on stone made Brandon flinch. But he, liks his siblings said nothing. Eddard and he had returned from their fostering for this. Karlyn and Lyanna had not said much but Brandon had heard rumour that Karlyn was due to go south for some southeron match.
Their father raised his head and at that signal two torches were lit beside the stone coffin and Rickard Stark led his five children from the crypt.
Brandon blinked as they came out, breathing the cold air of the north. He would be riding to House Dunstin the next day. Eddard would head back to the Eyrie and Karlyn and Lyanna would remain with Benjen.
He stood, and watched as his father stalked off towards the great hall, many of the other northern lords falling into his wake.
"Brandon." A soft voice said.
He turned to find Karlyn standing there. "Where is Ned, Lya and Ben?" He asked her.
"Godswood" She replied. "We need to talk."
He nodded and holding out his arm for her to take, began to walk towards the Godswood. He looked around as he did so. And frowned. There was a small group of soldiers near the smithy. They wore red and gold. "What are they doing here?" he asked recognising the coat of arms of House Lannister.
Karlyn shook her head, her black hair falling down her back as she walked. Her sensible dark gown "When we join the others" She said softly.
When they entered the Godswood, he paused and surveyed his siblings. Lyanna and Benjen sat on a stone bench. Eddard sat on the ground at their feet. Karlyn moved and leaned against the nearest weirwood tree.
"So... what do we need to discuss?" Brandon asked as he moved into the goodwood and sat at the base of the tree where Karlyn leaned.
Eddard looked at his brother. "Father's machinations continue." He stated.
All siblings knew of their father's desire for southron matches. Only so far, Brandon and Eddard had been affected. "What now?"
"Father has organised two betrothals for Lyanna and Karlyn" Eddard said.
Brandon looked at his sisters. Aged 9 and 7, they were too young to wed.
"Father has organised my marriage to Jaime Lannister" Karlyn said. "I am to leave for Casterly Rock tomorrow for Fostering."
"And" Eddard said "Father has arranged for Lyanna to marry Robert Baratheon." he looked at Lyanna. "He is a good person."
Lyanna sniffed. "We shall see."
At 7, Lyanna had definite opinions and she did not want to marry some southern lord. At 9, however, Karlyn, was more apt to go with things. The 9 year old sighed. "Lyanna is not going south until she is 16 to wed Robert. I, on the other hand, must go. Lord Kevan Lannister is here. He and his wife. They are escorting me to Casterly Rock."
A suitable arrangement, Brandon noted. "Mother would have insisted," he said in a low voice.
The siblings fell silent and heads bowed. After a moment, Eddard spoke again. "He wants Benjen to join the Nights Watch."
Brandon's head came up. He stared at Eddard. "No." he stated firmly. "No. Not by the old Gods!" He pushed himself to his feet. "Benjen you are not going to join the Watch."
The 5 year old shrugged. "Maester Walys says it is the best thing. I am a third born son."
His siblings all gritted their teeth. Walys was a pain in their collective sides. Karlyn straightened. "Maybe, I can get Benjen to be a squire south?" she said softly. "I could ask Lord Tywin if he knows someone who wants a squire?"
"Ned could take him to the Eyrie." Lyanna suggested.
"Father would never allow it." Eddard replied. "And we all know that. He can't be sent to the watch until he is 15 anyway. We have time to work it out."
Brandon nodded. Time. It was what they all needed. He needed it. He did not wish to marry some spoilt southern girl. He wanted Barbery. And not Catelyn Tully. "We should join father in the great hall" He said and stood. Dusting himself off, he watched Ned do the same.
Karlyn however didn't move. "He has a septa coming north" she said softly. Lyanna stared at her.
"A Septa? Here? No way." Ned stated.
"At the request of Lord Baratheon" Karlyn sighed. "I saw the raven scroll."
Lyanna stood. "I... don't want a Septa. Old Nan is fine!"
Brandon sighed. "If Father has ordered a Septa, then it is to give you more education. Now that Mother has passed... It's expected."
"By those south of the neck!" Lyanna spat.
"By the lords and ladies of the North as well." Karlyn said. "We are both sorely lacking in those areas Lya."
"I don't need those!" her sister snapped.
Karlyn smiled wanly. Both Lyanna and she had been trained from a young age to be able to protect themselves. They both had training in the sword, lightweight ones, and the bow and dagger. They could ride as well as their brothers, and Lyanna took it to extremes. Wolfs blood, their father called it. Lyanna and Brandon both suffered from it. Benjen too, though at 5, his wolf's blood was barely up. Karlyn took after the Flint side of the family, she was a climber but she was also calm and studious, she watched and waited. Ned was a mix of both sides. Though, it was clearly seen he was more Stark than Flint. "I know" she pacified Lya. "Come, let us do as Brandon suggested. Go to the great hall. We must show the North, that House Stark is strong."
Brandon nodded. "Remember our words."
The three next in line, recited them "Winter is coming." and Benjen merely nodded.
Eddard looked at Brandon. "The Pack survives, the lone wolf dies."
"And this pack, is going to survive." Brandon stated. Then as a group, they headed off to the great hall. Brandon swung Benjen up on his back and Karlyn linked her arm through Lyanna's as Ned walked beside Brandon.
=Great Hall=
The warmth of the Great Hall was a relief to the five Starks as they entered, formally in an almost procession.
Brandon walked first with Karlyn on his arm. Behind him, Eddard, had Lyanna on his arm and Benjen at his side. They moved at a steady pace down the centre of the hall. Dressed in unrelieved black the five made a sombre statement as they did so.
Their father sat at the high table, Karlyn noted as they walked towards it. Lord Kevan and his wife were there as well, seated in places of honor. Brandon helped his sister to her seat, while Eddard did the same with Lyanna after they had performed the required bows and curtseys to their father and his guests.
The children, for that was what they were still, sat in silence. Their father noted it, noticed that Karlyn, eldest daughter could have sat in her mother's chair but did not. It sat, swathed in black, a reminder for their loss. His children, his legacy. The weight was already bearing down on them.
Karlyn answered questions in her normal soft tone of voice, and deflected Lyanna's rude answers as she always had done. When one of the guests, young Roose Bolton had made a comment that had boarded on rude, Karlyn had frozen him with a return look, which made him shut up. The fact that her two older brothers were beside her also glaring might have had something to do with it. The Bolton Lad and his father had approached about a match between Karlyn and Roose but he had said no. Firmly. His relationship with Lord Bolton was cordial but nothing else. And his children all knew better than to think the Boltons were not a threat.
After the dinner, people drifted off to either speak in small groups or their quarters. Karlyn, had been aiming to retreat back to her bedchamber, but she had been flagged down by Lord Kevan Lannister.
"My Lord" she said politely, glad to see Ned hustling Lyanna and Benjen out of the hall from the corner of her eye. She dipped a curtsey to the proper degree. He was after all, the second son of a Lord paramount and lord of Lannisport.
"Lady Karlyn." he said. He was stern of visage, and soft of voice. She knew from the information given to her by her father, that this man, was Lord Twyin Lannister's right hand. "Will you be ready to depart on the morrow?"
"Yes Ser." She replied with what her mother termed, her company smile. "Father has agreed and my maid has packed my belongings. They are most likely not suited for the warmer climes of Casterly Rock though."
Kevan nodded. "My good sister will assist there, she and my niece Cersei."
Whatever Karlyn was going to say was cut off by the approach of maester Walys. She tilted her chin and gave the approaching man a chilly look. "Maester Walys Flowers," she said deliberately using his bastard name in her address. She was not his favorite person. When he had arrived 4 years ago, he had ousted her from the library where she had loved to curl up and read. She could not borrow any books now, without the man looking over her shoulder and tsk tsking at her or, in the case of a few days before her mother's passing, reporting her reading material to her father. Rat in more ways than one. But her face was serene, though her tone cold.
Maester Walys bowed gave her a dismissive look. "My Lord of Lannister, a raven for you, from Kings Landing." He handed the small scroll over. Kevan took it and read it carefully.
He folded it, tucked it into his tunic. "It appears that Casterly Rock will miss your presence Lady Karlyn. My brother has returned to the capital and is requesting I bring you there."
Karlyn inclined her head. "Kings Landing is said to be very pretty, this time of year."
"It is" His wife, Lady Dorna replied with a smile. "Joanna will be enjoying herself immensely and you will be able to purchase gowns there for sure."
Kevan stood with a small smile. "I believe traveling by boat will be better. I will speak with Lord Rickard. Please excuse me." He bowed and moved off.
The Maester was torn between keeping an eye on the eldest daughter of house Stark or being at his lords elbow.
Lady Dorna solved his problem by saying "Maester you are excused. Lady Karlyn and I must retire. We have a busy day ahead tomorrow." She stood looking at Karlyn. "Will you show me to my room Lady Karlyn."
Karlyn smiled and curtseyed. "Of course Lady Dorna. My pleasure."
They turned, ignoring the Maester and headed out the door.