Queen of Wolves // Jaime Lannister [GAME OF THRONES] (ON HOLD)

9. HEAR ME ROAR

Ravens travelled far to spread the news of Lord Jon Arryn's death and Alynna mourned his loss in stride. He'd always been fond of her and Tobias, sharing many old tales of her father and the king during their time in the Vale. She felt betrayed by the Gods, old and the new. Why? Why did they solely keep claiming the good people? The just? The brave?

'Always the innocent are the first victims, so it has been for ages past, so it is now.' said Maester Luwin wisely while Alynna walked alongside him, voicing her thoughts to the only person she saw fit to give a logical answer, only the answer had been more disheartening than anything else.

Along with the news of the previous Hand's death had come the news of King Robert riding for Winterfell, with the queen and all the rest of them. Was she cursed? Alynna wondered as the weeks past, to bring all she had left behind to her home? It would explain so much.

'You remember I said to have enough ale, for Tyrion Lannister? He likes to be down in his cups for most of the night.' urged Alynna. The few times she'd seen the lord in the Red Keep, he'd been drunk, the other times she'd only notice him once it was too late, for instance in the library Renly showed her, since Alynna was always so enraptured in her books she never heard the world around her, the other people milling about and reading, not until they were on their way out. They mostly being Lord Tyrion but by that point, she knew it would be foolish to try to make conversation.

Maester Luwin nodded as they made their way to the great hall. The flurry of people preparing for the grand banquet were bustling around, cleaning the furnishings and fastening candles onto chandeliers. Catelyn approached them before they entered, looking grateful to see the two.

'We need plenty of candles for Lord Tyrion's chamber. I'm told he reads all night.' Cat told the maester, sharing a glance with her daughter who also liked wasting candles.

'I'm told he drinks all night.' Maester Luwin replied, following to keep up with Alynna's mother.

'How much could he possibly drink? A man of his ... stature.' said Cat implied heavily. Alynna raised a brow. 'More than you know.' she muttered.

'We've brought up eight barrels of ale from the cellar. Perhaps we'll see for ourselves.' said the Maester giving Alynna a curt nod.

'In any case, candles.' Catelyn confirmed as they left the large room. When they went outside Alynna's direwolf surrounded her.

'There you are, girl,' she murmured, bending down to nuzzle Weirwood's fur who shook her head warmly at Alynna's touch. Alynna continued to play with the wolf as Catelyn accosted Bran for climbing again.

'I saw the king!' Bran exclaimed, 'Coming down our road!' he continued while ignoring his mother's warnings. Alynna sighed, hearing Bran speak excitedly of the new arrivals, she gazed imploringly into Weirwood's pale eyes.

'If I make it out of this alive, let's say you and me go on an adventure, eh? Maybe we'll bring the rest of our brothers and sisters if they're up for it.' Alynna said to her direwolf who simply tilted her head in reply.