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WINTERFELL, 299 AC.
IT'S COLD. Probably the most cold Lyanna ever felt. Most of the time in King's Landing the weather was nice, unlike people in it. She knew in that moment that she doesn't like this place one bit.
They came through the gates of Winterfell, like a wind that carried everything rich and powerful, three hundred of them, lots of vassals and knights, sworn swords and horse soldiers. Over their heads were a few golden banners with a crowned stag of house Baratheon.
There was Lyanna's uncle, Jaime Lannister and Sandor Clegane with his horribly burned red face, next to him was the crown prince and behind him was Tyrion Lannister. The Imp was riding next to Lyanna, talking about Gods knows what, but all she knew was that she was grateful that her father even let her ride a horse, for maybe it will be her last time.
In front of all of them, was already mentioned king Robert Baratheon, surrounded by two knights from the King's Guard, but from all that was known lord Eddard Stark couldn't recognize the man 'till he didn't jump from his warrior horse and caught him in a bone crushing hug. "Ned! O, how good it is to see your cold face!" The king looked Ned up and down, "You've got fat!"
Eddard Stark looked at him as if to say 'but what about you?' They both started laughing.
"Your grace, Winterfell is yours." Ned said in his usual cold voice. Maybe the winter made them like that Lyanna thought as she came down from her horse, like everyone else. Cersei Lannister also exited her carriage with her younger children.
"Cat!" Robert yells and also hugs Catelyn as if he hasn't seen his longtime friend. "Your grace." Catelyn says while trying to collect her composure.
The king greets every of Stark children, but only to say "Take me to your crypts. I want to pay my respects." And Ned loved him for that, because he always remembered her.
The queen gets mad, "We've been riding for a month, my love. Surely, the dead can wait." King Robert only looks at her with eyes full of fury, her twin brother silently grabs her hand and she doesn't say anything anymore.
"Lyanna come with us. You need to see the person I've been telling you so much about." At that moment everyone looks at her.
When Ned caught a glimpse of her all he could think was about his dead sister. She didn't look like her, but there was something about the way she carried herself that she reminded him so much of her that it hurt.
Lyanna only smiled at him, before they went to the crypts. She didn't even meet her betrothed, but all she knew is that she needed to find a way to survive before the cold ate her alive.
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WINTERFELL, 299 AC.
THE CRYPTS REEKED OF DEATH AND LONELINESS, of old stones and burned candles. Misery and pain, but also of Stark's history. Lyanna could see many faces there, some of them so old that the stone on their statue faces had crumbled down and some new ones or remotely new ones, like one of her namesake.
The three of them were standing before the said statue and Lyanna did not see herself in her, but maybe it was because she was a living girl not a stone figure. Her father, Robert, was caressing a stone cheek of the Stark girl and Lyanna could swear that she had never saw his eyes go that soft and all she could do is swear at the Targaryen who kidnapped the girl, before she could marry Robert Baratheon.
But Lyanna never truly understood one thing and that is how a Stark girl could get kidnapped by a man who in the Targaryen books that she read sang songs, loved music and was described as a good man and how in the Seven Kingdoms did Lyanna Stark get kidnapped so easily if she was even a half-good fighter she heard from stories.
"Did you have to bury her in a place like this?" Her father grumbled, "She should be on a hill somewhere with the sun and the clouds above her."
Ned's eyes softened for a moment. "She was my sister. This is where she belongs."
"She belonged with me."
Lyanna only stayed silent, she didn't know what to say or do. She knew that her father cared a lot about the dead girl, but not this much. All she could do is wish that Lyanna Stark married her father then, so he could be happy and that she didn't have to carry a burden of her namesake. In that parallel universe Cersei wouldn't be her mother, that would of pleased everyone, she supposed.
"Lyanna!" She snapped out of her daze. "I guess you finally got to meet her, but she never was so cold like this, she was the fire in all the winter there was and then that bastard took her away from me. I kill him in my sleep every night."
"It's done, your Grace. The Targaryens are gone." Ned Stark said as if to comfort her father.
"Not all of them."
Targaryens aren't gone? is all Lyanna Baratheon could think. She didn't feel the anger when she heard that, all she could do is be curious. Truly she was fascinated by them and by their dragons, she had dragon blood she was sure of it or at least she hoped.
"Daughter, go outside. I am sure there is a maid waiting to escort you to your chambers." Robert said while petting her shoulders , "I have something I need to discuss with Ned."
Lyanna only bowed to her father and Ned Stark and turned around to walk to her chambers, completely forgetting about her betrothed, only thinking of Targaryen blood and fire of their ancient dragons.
( Strange thoughts covered Lyanna's mind, but never those of Ned Stark becoming a Hand of the King and her being left completely alone in the cold snow. )
