The Children of Spring

Lyanna VI - The Feast

Lyanna was in her room preparing for the feast, after having had a conversation with her parents, brother and sister.
The conversation had gone well, it was more to explain somethings that had happened in all of the sides of their stories. Lyanna told her parents which was the situation of the Six Kingdoms, so that when they got back, they could take care of it. Somehow, none of them was surprised with the reaction of the Freys or the Tullys or of Robin Arryn and Edmure Tully. Lyanna understood that by then, why would her parents be afraid of a 28-year-old kid that had rarely left his nest or of a man that was a completely fool? She did not expect much of Robin Arryn, after all, he had not even had the guts of appearing in the battle.
Edmure Tully was different though. After all, he had kind of been a hero in the War of the Five Kings. Then, with the whole story, it was understandable. If Lyanna had known all of that when she had gone to battle, then she would have been more calm. Axel Tully was not much different than his father, he just did not have as much honor as his father had, the wits were the same, though. Her mother and father were very impressed. Still, her father had said,
"You're half Targaryen, half Stark. You won't go down easily and you showed them that."
"We'll keep on showing them, 'till the end of time." Jorah had said and his sisters had agreed.
As of then, Lyanna was standing in front of a wardrobe full of clothes, mostly dresses. As there were meetings most of the years and fortunately the Red Keep, Dragonstone, Winterfell, Storm's End, Evenfall Hall and Casterly Rock were huge castles, they all had their rooms there and they could leave somethings there for needed occasions. Lyanna knew she was a princess and that she should wear dresses, she just hated to... it just did not feel funcional to wear them. She was sure that Jenny, Catelyn and Mia agreed with her. What am I going to do? I don't like any dress..., Lyanna thought fustrated. It was not fair, couldn't she just wear a pretty long tunic and pants just because she was a princess? Rhaella always wore dresses and Lyanna had simply followed, only because it seemed the right thing to do, eventhough Rhaella was the youngest of the two, in that matter, Lyanna felt she was right. That day, however, it did not seem right. She had grown up and had been in charge of the Six Kingdoms and she had never wore a dress, while that had happened. Lyanna was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on the door,
"Who is it?"
"It's mother." She heard and then said,
"Come in." Her mother came in and closed the door.
"I came to see if you needed help." Her mother said.
"Seems that I do. I don't know what to wear, I don't want to wear a dress." Lyanna explained, seeing if she could escape wearing a dress that time.
"I see..." Daenerys said going to the closet, she was used to this situations, only it was more regarding Rhaella instead of Lyanna and it was about dresses, someday it would have to be the day it was the other way around, "What about... this outfit, Lya?" She pulled out of the wardrobe a pair of black leather pants and a dark red tunic with details in grey and some jewels in it. Lyanna loved the outfit, however what she said was,
"I can wear pants?"
"Why couldn't you?" Daenerys asked surprised.
"Rhaella never does and we're princesses." Lyanna answered, sitting in the bed. Daenerys put the outfit on the other side of the bed and sat next to her daughter,
"Rhaella likes to wear dresses, I know you don't. And just because you're a princess, that doesn't mean that you have to wear dresses all the time." Daenerys explained.
"You do, so does aunt. And Jeyne." Lyanna said.
"Sometimes, I don't. For exemple, remembered when we told you about the feast, after the Long Night, I didn't wear a dress that night and it was a feast and I would be Queen. You don't have to play by the rules all the time, Lya. And, believe me when I say that you're lucky, because when you were born society was much different." Daenerys explained.
"Different how?" Lyanna asked confused.
"Well, people did not like to see women in power or even as knights. There was a reason for your aunts having to hide Needle and Sharp Claw. And for it to be a shock when your aunt joined Renly Baratheon's kingsguard." Daenerys said.
"Sounds like that society was made by idiots." Lyanna said with a chuckle and Daenerys laughed.
"It really was." Daenerys said and Lyanna laughed, "Now, what about you change for the feast? It'll be fun. Maybe, you'll finally dance this time?"
"I don't know about that, but we'll see. Thanks, mother." Lyanna said and hugged her mother.
"You're welcome, sweety." Daenerys said, after the hug and the she left.
Lyanna changed and then went to the feast.
At the begining of that night, the feast began. They dinned and there was music and everyone was happy. There were talks and flirts and games and dancing. Thomas, James, Catelyn, Jorah, Mia, Beric and Rickon were talking, when Tyrion and Jaime went to teach them a game. Gerion, Galladon, Durran, Sam and Jon were talking too, Gerion, Galladon and Sam were trying to get Jon to confess which was the girl who had captured his heart and Durran was just spending time with his new friends, that had finally felt to him, like real friends. The rest of the girls were either dancing or talking, except for Lyanna, who was just watching the scene, as usual, except, that time, Brandon and Eddard were there with her too.
"So what do you think of going exploring?" Eddard said.
"I'm in." Brandon said. They did not like to stay put for a while, Lyanna did not like it either, still in a week she would be 14, it was time to be a little bit more responsable about that and that was why she said,
"Aren't you two old enough for that?"
"Me and you have the same age." Brandon said.
"I'm just saying that maybe you might not dissappear this time." Lyanna said.
"Where's the fun in that?" Eddard said.
"You're even worst than the twins and Jorah when it comes to change your minds." Lyanna said.
"So, you're not in this time, Lya?" Eddard said.
"No." Lyanna said.
"Really?" Brandon said surprised.
"Yes." Lyanna said and, for much surprised that they were, they agreed and went away. Lyanna got back to watch everyone again, it felt good to do that.
After a while, Brandon and Eddard having dissappeared, Gendry, Arya, Jon, Clegane and Sam went to find them. At that Lyanna just thought, Why does no one ever listen to me?
Still Lyanna was watching everyone, she liked to do that in the feasts, it was a lovely sight and it gave her courage to join the dance later, if she ever did. However, that time, she wouldn't be alone, because she heard,
"Hey." She turned to see Bryce next to her.
"Bryce." Lyanna said surprised.
"My princess." Bryce replied.
"Don't call me that." Lyanna rebutted.
"As you wish. Don't you dance?" Bryce asked with a smile.
"Normally, no." Lyanna answered, smiling too, without knowing.
"Too bad. I was wondering, if you'd save me a dance." Bryce said.
"I'm sorry, but I don't dance. You can ask one of the other girls, I'm sure there's many girls who would like to dance with you." Lyanna replied.
"Maybe. But I'd rather wait. So, Lya, if you change your mind, I'll be waiting." Bryce said with a smile, while leaving.
"Keep dreaming." Lyanna told him.
"I'll be waiting, my princess." Bryce replied with a defying smile as he joined his friends.
Lyanna watched him and she did not know if she was furious, flattered, or both. Screw you, Marbrand, Lyanna thought as she watched him laughing at some unheard joke.
Meanwhile, her father, who had seen the scene from afar and had noticed her discomfort, went to his daughter,
"Hey, little princess."
"Father." Lyanna said surprised.
"I know that look. What's the dilema this time?" Jon asked for he knew that look.
"A friend asked me to dance. I don't know what to do." Lyanna answered.
"A friend?" Jon asked.
"Please, don't start with the protective father role, this is already hard enough as it is." Lyanna said and her father laughed.
"Don't laugh either." Lyanna said with a chuckle.
"Sorry. But why don't you dance?" Jon asked his daughter.
"I went to war, I led an army, he saw that. I don't dance." Lyanna explained.
"That's good to know." Jon said, looking at her, "Suppose I shouldn't either, right?"
"I didn't mean you and mother and aunts and uncles." Lyanna said, blushing. He had ensnared her.
"Lya, look around, look at your family, you'll find the answer. But my advice is don't wait too long to decide." Jon said, looking at his daughter with a smile.
"I just need to think." Lyanna rebutted.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts then. And I'm going to try to find your cousins." Jon said and Lyanna smiled,
"Thanks, father."
Jon nodded and went back to try to find his nephews that were still missing. And after a while, Lyanna left the hall.
While that happened, Joanna and Pod were sitting together talking. Joanna had set her heart on staying with her husbant all night, for he could not dance due to his injury, however Pod and Jenny and Marianne had other plans to get her to have a little fun.
"You know, you don't need to stay here sitting, just because I can't dance." Pod said.
"I know, but you are my husband and I'm not going to leave you alone." Joanna rebutted.
"I apreciate that, really I do. But everyone else is dancing and you should be having fun too." Pod said and Jenny and Marianne came to them, Marianne said,
"Mother, can you come with me? I'm trying to convince someone to dance, maybe you could help me." Joanna looked at her and then at Pod and said,
"Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Of course I'm sure, love. Go have fun. Besides, Tyrion and Jaime went to teach them the game, they'll be back soon. So will Jon, Gendry, Sam and Clegane when they find Bran and Ned. You don't have to worry about me..." Pod answered.
"And he won't be alone. I'll stay." Jenny said and at last Joanna nodded, still she said before leaving,
"Next time, you three decide to plan something, warn me first, please." They nodded with a smile and she and Marianne went away while Jenny took a sit in front of her father. Then her father asked,
"And you, why don't you dance too?"
"Oh, I will. I'm just waiting for people to disperse a little and until Gal, Ger and Sam find out whom Jon likes, so they can ocuppy their minds with something else. That buys me some time, so we could say I stroke a deal." Jenny explained.
"I see, that means you know whom Jon likes." Pod said.
"Yep. Me and Jeyne know all the secrets possible, everyone comes to us to talk. Still don't know why..." Jenny said.
"You're good secret keepers, as long as the secrets aren't yours." Pod said.
"And, ironically, I'm a terrible liar." Jenny said with a chuckle.
"It isn't exactly the same thing." Pod said.
"I know." Jenny said and then they heard,
"Do you I mind if I keep you company?" It was Gerion Lannister.
"Of course not." Pod said.
"Don't like dancing you two?" Gerion Lannister asked.
"I made a deal. So, I'm just waiting." Jenny answered.
"And I'm not a very good dancer with both legs functional, with one, well, it's just not possible." Pod answered with a chuckle and Jenny laughed a little.
"I see. Better singer, from what I've heard." Gerion Lannister said to Pod.
"It's what they say." Pod said.
"It's the truth, father." Jenny said.
"If you say so. I hadn't got the chance to ask, but how are you doing with coming back here and all of this, my lord?" Pod asked, looking at Gerion Lannister.
"Firstly, just Gerion is fine, I mean we're family. And second, I'm getting used to it. It'll take a time, but I'll get there. I just want to see my daughter now." Gerion Lannister answered.
"Joy will be very happy to see you, I'm sure." Pod assured him.
"Exactly." Jenny said.
"We'll see... Can I ask you a question, Podrick?" Gerion Lannister asked.
"Of course, there's no need to ask." Pod answered.
"About your father?" Gerion Lannister added and Podrick looked at him surprised and nodded. Jenny looked at her uncle surprised too and then at her father.
"I've been meaning to ask you this for a while, but the timing's been wrong and I didn't know if I was right, then you spoke of the Greyjoy Rebellion and I have to ask. I had a very good friend, a long time ago, he was from your house and he had a son with your name. He died in the Rebellion too. So, my question is what was your father's name?" Gerion Lannister explained, asking. He's Lann..., Jenny thought surprised. No... it can't be, Pod thought surprised and then he said
"His name was Fred, Fredrick. It's a great coincidence, but he only had one friend and his name was-"
"Lann. It was a nickname." Gerion Lannister said and Pod looked at him without words and just nodded. Gods..., Pod thought, it was supposed to be impossible to find his father's best friend after 32 years and, further more, it sounded impossible that his father's best friend was his wife's uncle and had been held in captivity for 25 years by some warlocks. Jenny looked at her father and she did not know what to say or do.
"I knew I knew those eyes." Gerion Lannister said, looking at Jenny, "When I saw you, I thought you were your mother, you look a lot like her, but the eyes are different and they looked familiar to me."
"I have my father's eyes." Jenny said with a smile.
"Uh, it's what your mother says." Pod said, after finding his words.
"And you have your father's eyes... I'm sorry, this must be a lot to take in." Gerion Lannister said, looking at Pod.
"It's alright, it's just that today has been a very emotional day and I wasn't waiting for this one. I just told them that I didn't know what had happened to you, that I had kept the wooden knight after my father died, because I hoped that you'd somehow find me, and now I found that you are their great-uncle. And..." Pod explained and Jenny smiled a bit. Which were the odds?, Jenny thought.
"You kept the wooden knight?! I went to your house to find you, but you were gone. I didn't know you had gone with Cedric. How did you know I'd come to find you?" Gerion Lannister asked surprised.
"Of course I kept it. That and my father's lucky coin were the only things I brought with me from the house. And I didn't know, I just hoped. You were my only friend. I tried to stay in the house as long as possible, but, if I hadn't gone with Cedric, I... How did you know my father had died? You were in a trip, if I recall it rightly." Pod explained.
"When I got back from the trip, which was soon after the battle, I went straight to the castle, to where they kept the corpses, I was really hoping not to see anyone I'd known, but... I saw his body and I knew." Gerion Lannister said. That had been what he had done and when he had seen the body, he had broken down, because Fredrick was his only friend and the only person he knew he could count on and not only because of his family name, they had known each other since they were 10. He had stayed there, looking at the body, until his eldest brother had arrived,
"Gery, you're back... A friend of yours?"
"I know you don't understand, but what you had with Aerys and Steffon, I had with this man and he didn't deserve this. He has a son, he's just a year younger than Jo. And I assure you that his father was the last person that boy had and now he's dead." Gerion had told his brother.
"Go find the boy, then." Tywin had said.
"What?" Gerion had said looking at his brother.
"Go find him. They didn't answer the letter. Find the boy and burry your friend. Give him that, at least." Tywin had stated. Gerion had not known what had crossed his brother's mind to say that, but he had not thought twice, he had gone to the house, but it had been too late.
As of then, that boy was a grown man, obviously acomplished, and was right in front of him and had married his niece. He looked a lot like his father.
"Thank you for trying to find me." Pod said with a smile, he was happy to know he was right about that and to finally see his father's best friend again and to know that after all, they were family, either ways. Jenny smiled to see her father smile, it was relieving for her, because she understood when he had told them the story that it was an uneasy subject for him. And uncle Gery being Lann was a very unexpectedly good coincidence.
"You look a lot like your father, he loved you more than anything else in the world, that was why he went to battle, he wanted to give you a better life away from, well, his cousin and your mother. I... I burried him, I imagined that your mother hadn't let you answer the letter. And when I couldn't find you, I burried him." Gerion Lannister said. After all, someone did..., Jenny thought.
"You did?" Pod asked surprised.
"I'll take you there, when we get to Casterly Rock, I promise, it's not far." Gerion Lannister said seriously.
"I never thought I'd get the chance to say goodbye, especially after 32 years. Thank you." Pod said looking at him. Maybe there, I might be able to find a way of knowing how to say goodbye, Pod thought.
"We'll go with you. I promise." Jenny said looking at her father and he looked at her and nodded. He deserves to say goodbye, at the very least, Jenny thought.
"Even after that, I went to look for you, so I found your mother and your father's cousin, but..." Gerion Lannister said.
"She didn't care, I know. Don't worry." Pod said. She'd be so sorry right now, Jenny thought a bit angry.
"There's something you don't know." Gerion Lannister said looking at him with a sad look.
"Please, tell me, that's not what I think it is." Pod said right away. The theory couldn't be true, if it was then the worst case scenario he had imagined was true... No..., Jenny thought, she suspected what it was and she really hoped it wasn't true.
"I don't know what you think it is." Gerion Lannister said. Podrick swallowed hard and then said, looking at him,
"They... killed him in the battle, didn't they? It wasn't the Greyjoys." And the look that Gerion gave him, gave away that it was that,
"Sword through the heart." No..., Pod thought. Right at that, Jenny took her father's hand that was in the table. Gods..., Jenny thought. Her father looked at her and then down and said,
"I knew it..."
"How?" Gerion Lannister asked confused.
"I was 8, not stupid. He came back, my father didn't, my mother didn't let me answer the letter or even leave the house and she was never there for that much time. It was easy to put the pieces together. But, deep down, I still hoped that it was the imagination of a 8 year-old boy at work." Podrick explained. I'm sorry that you died like that, grandfather, Jenny thought, never letting go of her father's hand. She did not know what to say, because there was nothing she could say.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say." Gerion Lannister said.
"You don't have to say anything. I'm glad to finally know the truth." Pod said and Gerion Lannister nodded. Jenny looked at her father with a small smile.
"Well, I'm glad I found you and that it was like this, because when you and Joanna were kids, me and your father talked about you two meeting each other, because that way you'd both have a friend, so would Tyrion. You two got there on your own and I could not be more happy." Gerion Lannister said smiling and Pod smiled too. So did Jenny.
"I owe them a lot. They were the first ones who did not leave me behind." Pod said and Gerion Lannister nodded. However, someone was calling Gerion.
"Go. It's alright. Maybe one day, you could tell me a little bit more about my father." Pod said.
"I will. And I want to hear what happened since the last time I saw you." Gerion Lannister said and Pod nodded.
"See you later, uncle." Jenny said and then Gerion went to who had called him.
Jenny stayed quiet for a moment, as her father took his father's lucky coin from his pocket and just kept looking at it. I'm sorry... I miss you, dad, everyday..., Pod thought.
"Are you alright, father?" Jenny asked, giving his hand a little squeeze.
"I... don't know, sweety." Pod said, looking at her, at last. Jenny stood up and then sat next to her father and just hugged him.
"I'm sorry about grandfather, dad... He did not deserve that... But I'm sure he wouldn't want you to think this was somehow your fault. I know what you're thinking." Jenny said, she had not said that word since she was 10, but it just felt right to say that, maybe she, Marianne, James and Thomas should never have stopped using it. Pod hadn't heard her saying the word 'dad' for a long time. But she was right, that was what he was thinking. Still, he could not help it.
"I know..." Pod said after the hug.
"It'll get better... I know it." Jenny said, looking at him. It wasn't fair what had happened to her grandfather, he had only done the right thing, for his son, and then he had got murdered for it. But, revolting as it was, there was nothing she could do by then. She could not imagine what her father was going through and she knew that he would be the last person to show it.
"I... just need to get some air." Pod said standing up. Jenny stood up too, saying,
"Of course, I'll go with you."
"It's alright, Jen. I promise." Pod said.
"I'm not letting you alone." Jenny said determined.
"I'll be fine, sweety, you don't need to worry about me." Pod said.
"Then, just let me call mom. Please, dad." Jenny said, looking at him, and he looked at her and reluntacly nodded. He really did not think he could get through that alone and it was better if it was Joanna than Jenny, for he knew his daughter would never give up. Then Jenny went to call her mother,
"Mom, can you come with me?" When Joanna heard that word, she just knew something had happened. She went to her right away, and asked,
"What is it, sweety?"
"Dad found out some things about grandfather and he needs you, even if he says he doesn't. Just go with him, alright?" Jenny explained. Gods..., Joanna thought.
"What things?" Joanna asked concerned.
"Uncle Gery is Lann and the theory is right and I'm pretty sure he thinks it's his fault." Jenny explained quickly. Dear Gods..., Joanna thought and then nodded and went to her husband.
"Hey..." Joanna said.
"Hey... Jenny told you?" Pod said and she nodded. Jenny watched as her parents left the hall, she was really worried, but her father nodded at her and she nodded back. He'll get through that, he always does, Jenny thought, then she went to where Galladon, Gerion, Sam, Jon, Durran and by then Marianne were.
As that happened, James and Thomas had noticed that Lyanna had left and the three of them had a pact, none could leave the feasts earlier. Therefore, they had gone to find her before starting a new game.
They caught her in one of the corridors,
"Lya." James said.
"I forgot the pact, sorry." Lyanna said, turning to them.
"Why are you leaving? A little bird told us, someone asked you to dance." Thomas asked curiously and Lyanna narrowed her eyes at him and he smiled. The three of them had always been the partners in crime and it had always worked so far.
"Has everyone been borrowing Varys's little birds?" Lyanna said, fustrated and James laughed.
"Hey, I made up that one!" Thomas said.
"I can't use it?" Lyanna asked.
"Not against me, that's the rules." Thomas answered.
"Right, sorry..." Lyanna said.
"Why don't you dance with Bryce?" James asked.
"I don't dance. Period." Lyanna answered and the twins looked at her with a knowing look. "I've led an army, alright?"
"Your mother conquered six kingdoms and dances with your father." Thomas rebutted.
"My mother and Rhaella are ladies, I'm not." Lyanna said.
"Alright, that's fair. But. My mother, aunt Brienne and aunt Arya aren't ladies and they dance." James said and Lyanna sighed.
"You'll never give up, will you?" Lyanna asked.
"What kind of cousins would we be, if we did?" James asked and Lyanna laughed. Then Thomas and James offered her their arms and Thomas said,
"Come on, Lya. Just give it a chance." Lyanna looked at the two of them and then nodded and took their arms. They went to the hall and when they got there, Lyanna went to where Bryce was and said,
"Still waiting on that dance?" He looked at her and smiled.
"Of course." Bryce said and then he stood up from where he was sitting and held out his hand to her, saying,
"May I have this dance, my princess?"
"You may, if you don't call me that again." Lyanna said and he nodded, then she took his hand and they danced and, for once in her life, Lyanna liked dancing. This is not so bad..., Lyanna thought. James and Thomas were watching and smiled, Well done, coz., they thought. Then Thomas went to Jeyne, she was talking to Joan, but then Jorah had asked her to dance and Thomas took the chance to ask Jeyne as well, therefore he held out his hand to her and said,
"May I have this dance, my princess?"
"I thought you'd never ask." Jeyne said, taking his hand.
"Was that a yes?" Thomas teased.
"Yes." Jeyne said similing. They went to the dance floor and danced for a long while. At some point, Jeyne said,
"I can't believe you're all leaving tomorrow. I thought we had more time."
"Me too, love. But we'll write to each other everyday and when we notice, we'll be together again. That does not mean I won't miss you." Thomas said.
"I'll miss you too, love." Jeyne said and they kept on dancing.
After a while, everyone was dancing. That feast had had it all, good games, others not so good, good surprises and bad ones, but it had been a good moment after all. If that was what feasts were supposed to be and if that meant Lyanna could dance with Bryce again, then the feasts were not so bad. She loved to dance with him and even admited to herself that it was a very good moment and that she liked him a bit, he was good fighter, a rather good dancer and above all he was a nice guy and he seemed to like her, and it wasn't just because she was a princess, that was what she liked most about him.
After the feast, that night, when Lyanna fell asleep she dreamt of the dance she had had and of the ones that were yet to come, for she would make sure that that one was not the last one, only the first.