Untouched Gold / Tywin Lannister / Avalon Targaryen (1)

42. Familiar

'I see them coming, the riders!' Bran announced. Tywin hated it. Hated them leaving but he had work to do here that wouldnt stop and Avalon deserved some fun.

'How?' Catelyn questioned hands rooted on her hips, Bran looked up at her sheepishly. 'You were climbing, you said you wouldnt climb anymore.' Catelyn reminded him. Tywin agreed that they would write and avalon would keep a blade with her. That the children would stick by her side or each other. Use the damn buddy system.

'I wont do it again.' Bran lied looking to his feet. Catelyn took a gentle hand and brought it to his chin.

'You know every time you look down I know you are lying.' Catelyn countered. 'Go on, line up.'

Tywin should have come with he debated it really he did but avalon assured him she traveled on her own when she was younger and she would be fine now. She had her family and rhe kings guard she had sandor and her own Davina and Tyon were formidable fighters. Avalon had become quite skilled herself. Everything was going to be fine.

'Where is arya?' Ned questioned looking back to Jon and Theon stood in the second row. Jon shrugged, Ned's eyes drifted around looking for her when arya came running up with a guards helmet on her head.

'What are you doing?' Ned questioned, "where did you get that?' he pulled the helmet from arya's head and flattened her hair down. 'Go.' He told her pointing down the row of starks as the royal family approached.

Robb watched as the Royal party rode into the courtyard of Winterfell. He looked at Sansa as the Prince Joffery rode into the courtyard smirking at her. Sansa looked at him bashfully then he smirked as he heard Arya whisper to Sansa

"That is Ser Jaime Lannister the Queen's twin brother"

"Shut up." Sansa countered.

"They call him kingslayer." Arya went on.

"Shut up." Sansa demanded.

Robert heartily hopped down from his horse Ned Stark and his family bowed before him on their knees as Robert approached. Robert motion for Ned to stand, Ned rose as did the rest of his family.

"That's the imp."

"Shut up." Sansa hissed.

'Your Grace,' Ned said tipping his head to Robert.

"Who do you think that is?" Arya pondered looking to Avalon and her children. 

"Shut up!" Sansa demanded then she saw who she assumed was called the Hound.

'You got fat,' Robert noted but Ned looked down to Roberts stomach both men started laughing before they hugged joyously.

Avalon looked around smiling at the snow around them. Nora giggled out jumping up and down happily.

"Thats the hound." arya remarked. 

"SHUT. UP." Sansa demanded shooting her a glare. 

'Cat' Robert said happily hugging her before fussing with rickon's hair. 'Nine years it has been nine long years, I have not seen you where have you been?' Robert asked

'I've been here guarding the for north for you, your grace.' Ned said obediently. Jon and Theon stood like statues behind the starks.

"Oh honey, its beautiful here." Avalon remarked. 

"It's cold." Cersei countered. 

"I like it." Davina remarked proudly. 

"Of course you do, you and I are yin and yang." Cersei agreed. 

"I'm awesome and you are-"

"Davina." Avalon begged. Davina smirked back at Cersei.

"I dont know where you went wrong with you." Cersei teased. 

"You are one to talk with JOffrey." Tyon cut in. Avalon hummed her agreement.  

Robert went down the row of stark children greeting them happily. Cersei cleared her throat waiting to be announced but in all honestly Robert had forgotten she was even there, he didn't care for his wife or his children, he wasn't a kid person considering the amount of bastards he had running around kings landing. Avalon thought it was very disrespectful but Catelyn came to Cerise and bowed the deepest of curtsey's for her. Welcoming Cersei to winterfell. Ned moved to Cersei and Avalon locked eyes with him. Ned kissed Cersei's hand but his gaze stuck on Avalon. He looked the same, yet different. Avalon turned to sandor nervously. 

"I didnt think he would know, didnt think he would remember." Avalon whispered. Sandor brought a hand to her shoulder as he sent a glare back at Ned. "But I think he does and if he does he will tell RObert and I'm-" her breath hitched. "-and the kids... and-"

"I wont let anything happen to them Aval... Lady Ava." Sandor assured. "I promise you." 

"Take me to the crypts Ned." Robert had to drag Ned away from the croutyard. 

"Who is that?" Ned pondered. 

"Lady Lannister." Robert answered. "Cersei needed her step mother here." Robert grumbled. 

"Lady lannister... I'm unfamiliar." Ned offered. 

"Ava something I think." Robert remarked. "I dont much care, but she is nice to look at." he nudged Ned. "Now come in, I wish to pay my respects."

"Mum whats wrong?" Cersei questioned.

"I met Ned ages ago." Avalon remarked. "I... I didnt even think about it when he said Ned Stark, I met him and his sister and..." Avalon's shoulders slumped. "I... what if he knows who I am?" 

"He hasnt said anything yet." Jaime offered. "Maybe he just thinks you are beautiful."

"You are beautiful." Tyrion agreed. "Dont worry, we can always stick Davina on him." 

"Who am I killing?" Davina agreed. 

"No one! Heavens, you were too eager." Avalon tsked. "Lets get warmed up." she requested as she grabbed Nora's hand. 

+

"She was more beautiful than that," Robert corrected with a heavy breath. His eyes lingered on Lyanna's statued face, as if he could will her back to life. Finally he rose up, made awkward by his weight. "Ah, damn it, Ned, did you have to bury her in a place like this?" His voice was hoarse with remembered grief. "She deserved more than darkness ..." 

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

"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." Robert muttered.

"I was with her when she died," Ned reminded him. "She wanted to come home, to rest beside Brandon and Father." He could hear her still at times. Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned.

"I bring her flowers when I can," Ned added. "Lyanna was ... fond of flowers." Robert touched Lyannas 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." Robert grumbled.

"You did," Ned reminded him thinking back to the lady lannister, could it be? COuld she be Avalon Targaryen? Everyone said she was dead. It couldnt be and yet... Ned needed to get a better look at her.

"Only once," Robert said bitterly.  "In my dreams, I kill him every night," Robert admitted. "A thousand deaths will still be less than he deserves."