The Song of Ice and Fire {Rhaenyra Targaryen}

Chapter 1

Lyanna Stark, daughter of Benjen Stark and younger sister of Rickon and Bennard Stark, was never your typical Westerosi girl. She preferred pants to dresses and a sword to stitching. But that didn't matter. She was the jewel of the north. The northern people adored her. They had massive celebrations every year on the day of her birth and just loved her. Even if she wasn't the typical Lady.

Naturally, her father had her taught sword fighting, archery, combat, and politics just like her older brothers. So seeing the Stark girl covered in dirt, sparring with her brothers, was not an uncommon sight.

"Come on Lyanna, that's the best you can do?" Bennard asked her teasingly. "Don't plant your feet Lea, keep it light, use your agility," Rickon says, a few feet away from the pair. 

Lyanna and Bennard circle for a few seconds until Bennard steps toward Lyanna, swinging at her. Lyanna quickly raises her sword in defense, pushing the swords down, she takes a step to the side, pushing Bennards sword into the dirt.

"Good!" Rickon calls out. Bennard pulls his sword back up and gets back into a defensive position. This time Lyanna advances swinging her sword, Bennard raising his sword as well. As their swords clash Lyanna smirks. She raises her foot and kicks Bennard in the stomach and he tumbles backwards and lands on the ground.

She walks over, standing over him, her sword pointed at his neck. "And, your dead." She says laughing. "Good job." Bennard says smiling as Lyanna pulls him up from the ground. 

"Children, your father requests your presence." A servant called out to the three. "Coming." They all yell and put away their gear, making their way into the large building, to their father.

"I wonder what he wants." Lyanna thinks aloud. "Probably to inquire about the missing ale from the basement." Rickon says laughing as he nudges Bennard with his shoulder. "It was only one barrel, I'm sure he hasn't even noticed." Bennard replies as he stabilizes himself.

As the three enter the dining hall they see their father and mother sitting at the table, eating lunch. The three take their seats at the table, Rickon at the end, opposite their father, Lyanna between their father and mother, and Bennard on the other side of their father. "Why did you send for us father?" Rickon asks taking a bite of his turkey leg. "I'm going on a hunt later and wonder if you all would like to join me." Benjen asks his three children.

The children all look to each other and come to a silent agreement. "We'd love to father." Lyanna replies which causes Benjen to smile. Now if you asked Benjen Stark which of his children was his favorite he would adamantly deny he had one, but anyone with eyes could see the connection he had with his daughter. To say he was overjoyed when it was revealed his wife had given birth to a daughter would be an understatement. The night of Lyanna's birth, Lord Stark hosted the biggest feast Winterfell had ever seen. People came from all over the north to see her and congratulate the family.

Even King Vicerys, who had recently had a daughter of his own, sent a gift for the youngest Stark's arrival. "Well than, we shall leave after we finish eating." Benjen says joyfully.

The family continues to eat, talk and laugh until the Maester bursts through the door suddenly and enters the hall. The family looks over confused and he stops in his tracks, bowing, before continuing over to Benjen Stark. "Lord Stark." He says and he approaches Benjen. 

He leans over and whispers into his ear so only the Lord can hear. Benjen looks troubled while the rest of his family gazes at him with confusion. Benjen suddenly stands up. "Excuse me. Children, meet me in the courtyard when you've finished, I need to handle this." He says before swiftly exiting the hall.

"What was that about?" Bennard asks looking at the door their father just departed from. "Must have been something important." Lyanna replies. "Why do you think?" Rickon asks. "Well did you see the look on Maester Lewis's face? He was concerned and in a rush. And father was in deep thought when listening to him." She replies finishing up her food. "I'm sure your father will reveal what that was when you're out on your hunt." Their mother replies standing up.

She goes around the table, kissing the three of her children on the head, but pausing when she gets to Bennard. "I know you took a barrel of ale from the basement." She says smirking at him. He gulps and looks up at her. "Just don't drink it all at once." She finally says and exits the room smirking as Lyanna and Rickon struggle to contain their laughter.

About half of an hour later Benjen, Rickon and Lyanna sit on horseback on the courtyard.
"Ben hurry up!" Lyanna calls across the yard, adjusting the bow across her shoulder.
Bennard suddenly emerged from the stables on his horse.

"Took you long enough Ben." Rickon says jabbing him in the stomach with his elbow. "Well then, now that everyone is in attendance," Benjen starts with a pointed look to Bennard, "let's get going." He finishes and leads his children through the gates on horseback.

An hour later the four had still not caught anything. Rickon and Bennard had been giving Lyanna pointed looks the entire trip. They wanted her to ask their father about the meeting earlier. They knew that I'd she asked he would answer. Lyanna rolls her eyes and turns to their father.

"So father, what did Maester Lewis want?" Lyanna asked. "Otto Hightower sent a raven." He replied, looking forward. "The hand of the King?" Bennard asks in disbelief, "What did he want?" "Well, there's rumor floating around Kings landing of a northern rebellion." He replies. "What kind of rebellion?" Rickon asks. "Word is that the North is planning to declare independence against the crown, become its own kingdom." He states with a sigh. "Well if that was true wouldn't you know of it, as the Warden of the North?" Bennard asks. "In theory, yes, unless someone else was planning the rebellion." He says mysteriously.

"The Boltons." Lyanna says quietly. "What?" Bennard asks. "The Boltons," she repeats, "they've never liked the Starks as Wardens of the North and have never wanted the North to be ruled by a southern King. They have always believed that the North should rule itself." Lyanna says continuing forward. "That's correct." Benjen states. "Wait, so does that mean the rumors are true?" Rickon asks. "Yes, the Boltons are planning a rebellion, my sources told me weeks ago. But the King mustn't know, he won't understand. We must handle this internally." Benjen says.

"How do we do that, the Hand is already sending ravens, and he won't trust your word from a raven." Rickon states. "I will be sending an advisor to King's Landing, to assure the King and his council that the North is not rebelling, that the rumors are just that, rumors." Benjen says, finally looking over to his children. "Who will you send?" Bennard asks. "It's one of us, isn't it?" Lyanna asks.

"Yes, you're the only ones I trust with something like this." Benjen states. "I'll go father." Rickon states straitening his posture to appear taller and stronger. "No, you are the heir to Winterfell and the North, you will stay with me, and continue to learn what that means." Benjen states patting his son on the shoulder. 

"I'll go." Lyanna says, looking at her father with a hardened experession. "No." He replies firmly.
"Yes, I'm the obvious choice, I'm more knowledgeable in politics than either of the boys and sophisticated. They will take me seriously in King's Landing. And besides, we both know that while Bennard is a good fighter, there's not a single smart thought in that big head of his." Lyanna says.

"Hey!" Bennard exclaims and hits his sister on the shoulder as Rickon laughs at them. Benjen looks at his only daughter in deep thought for a while until finally coming to a decision. "Fine, you may go." He says with a sigh. She smiles at him. "But, you will be accompanied by one of my men, I could only trust a northerner to protect you." He states. 

"Deer!" Bennard whisper yells and the three teens urge their horses forward to chase it, drawing their bows and arrows, in hopes of shooting it down. But as Benjen watches his children chase down the deer, he can't help but feel that he may be making a grave mistake.