The Wolf Of Casterly Rock | Lyanna Stark X Jaime Lannister | GOT/ASOIAF

Part IV

Lyanna was in Winterfell when the news came of Tywin Lannister's death.

She and the children usually visited her childhood home every year or so, but this time Jaime had come with them as well, along with Tyrion, who claimed to want to see the Wall. The visit had been going well up until that raven came.

Her children and Ned's all got along nicely, as a rule. Lorcan and Tya were thirteen, a year younger than Robb and Jon. The three boys were close - though Lorcan and Jon were both much quieter than Robb - which Lyanna was glad for, as her eldest son with Jaime often came across as rather reserved, even cold, to those he did not know so well. Damon, despite only being eleven, often tagged along with that group too, though he was friends with all the other younger boys too; being as confident and kind as he was, he always did make friends easily.

Tya seemed to prefer the company of the boys as well. She was not particularly given to the ladylike pursuits Sansa favoured, aside from dancing. Though as wild little Arya had grown older, her and Tya were becoming much better friends. Both had started slipping away from the septa's lessons together, Tya even teaching her the basics of how to fight, and though it made Lady Catelyn furious, Lyanna could only find it funny. Arya reminded her a lot of herself when she was younger, though Ned's daughter was far more intelligent and practical, with none of the young Lyanna's more foolish, romantic side.

No, Sansa had gotten that, although the girl's naivety might have also had something to do with her mother and septa filling her head with pretty songs and fairytales. Lyanna did not want Sansa to grow up too fast, of course, but was thinking of having a word with Ned; there was talk of betrothing her to Robert's eldest son Steffon, and the girl would not last long as a queen in King's Landing without a more realistic outlook.

But Sansa was a sweet child, and good to Lyanna's own daughter Alarra. She and her friends brought the quiet, ten-year-old girl out of her shell a little, including her in the embroidery and gossiping. It was clear that Sansa felt a little superior to her cousin, rather sorry for her in that Alarra hadn't inherited the Lannister good looks; she looked more like Ned, Arya and Jon than Jaime. Yet it was equally clear that Alarra often thought the things her cousin spouted were ridiculous and childish, so it evened out in the end.

Jocasta was only four, but she was everyone's darling; Sansa and her friends in particular fawned over her golden hair and beautiful face, and Jo seemed to like the attention, given that Tya rarely had much time for anyone she didn't find fun or interesting, and Alarra was usually so solitary; only Damon paid his youngest sister much mind, but he was usually busy fighting in the yard or riding. It was also rather amusing watching Jo playing with Rickon Stark, both of a similar age. The rather wild little boy seemed to find her daughter fascinating, and Jo seemed to find him hilarious.

Even Ned and Jaime had not been at each other's throats; the dislike between them had faded into cold civility over the years. There had been a tense moment or two, like when Jaime had asked Ned to spar with a mocking smile; her brother was a good swordsman, better than most, but of course nowhere near Jaime's level. Lyanna had diffused the situation by dryly asking her husband if he wanted to compare cocks as well, to which he had laughed and backed down.

But then the raven had arrived, with it carrying news of the death of the Hand of the King.

Jaime had taken the news with a blank face, barely even blinking. That may have been because Ned was watching at the time, as Lyanna knew him too well to believe he was truly that unaffected. Tywin Lannister had never had much affection for any of his children, but she knew that Jaime had respected his father at least, loved him even if he rarely liked him.

It was rather a shock for them all, in truth. Lord Tywin had seemed an eternal looming presence over the Seven Kingdoms, and their family, yet now he was gone. Even Tyrion had been shaken, and he made it no secret how he hated his father, who had despised him since the day he was born.