Chapter Text
The sun was shining brightly as little Lyarra Stark walked through the glass gardens. Her curious grey eyes looked around, searching for her favourite flower. To her four-year-old mind, the flowers in the garden meant everything. She would skip her lessons with the Septa so she could pick the flowers and make crowns out of them.
She let out an excited squeal when she spotted the pale blue petals. She had found her favourite flower. Her little hands reached out and picked several winter roses and laid them on the ground.
Pushing her red hair out of her face, she sat down, careful not to muddy her dress in case her mother got mad, and started to weave the roses together.
An hour later, she had several crowns of winter roses in her lap. She had made one for all her family. Her father, her mother, her twin brother Robb, her half brother Jon and her uncle Benjen, who was due for a visit soon. She had also made one for Rodrik, Jory, Maester Luwin, Old Nan and Hodor because they were her favourite people outside her family.
As she went to put the crown on her head, she heard heavy footsteps and knew right away it was her father. He always knew where to find her. Apart from Robb, he knew her best.
“Lyarra Stark, your mother is worried sick.”
She turned around and saw her father frowning at her.
“Sorry, Papa.”
“Why did you run out on your lessons?”
“I wanted to make flower crowns.”
“You could have done that after your lessons.”
“I know.”
“Don’t do it again. You know how important your lessons are.”
“Yes, Papa.”
Her father smiled. “Now, let’s see your flower crown.”
“I made one for everyone, Papa.”
“Even me?”
Lyarra giggled. “Especially you.”
Her father kneeled down so she could put the crown on him. The pale blue looked good against his dark brown hair and brought out his grey eyes.
“You look pretty, Papa.”
“Do I? Why thank you.”
“Is Mama mad at me?”
Ned shook his head. “No, she’s just worried about you.”
Lyarra narrowed her eyes. “Are you telling the truth?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
“No.”
“So, she’s not mad.”
“I guess not.”
“Come on, Lya. We need to get back to your lessons.”
“Do we have to? Can’t we just stay here a little longer?”
“Unfortunately not. Your mother would never allow it and you can’t miss your lessons.”
“Not even just this one time?”
“No.”
“Alright then. Can I go to the library after?”
“Ask your mother.”
Lyarra frowned. “I’m asking you.”
“You still need to ask your mother.”
“If she says yes, can I go?”
“Of course.”
Lyarra raised her arms up for her father. “Then let’s go.”
Ned chuckled before lifting his young daughter and carrying her back to where her mother was waiting.
Catelyn was not as understanding as her husband was. She expected Lyarra to behave better, regardless of her young age.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to run away from your lessons?”
Lyarra frowned at her mother’s tone. “Sorry, Mama.”
Catelyn sighed. “I know how much you love the roses in the gardens, but it’s no excuse to miss your lessons.”
“I know. I just couldn’t wait to make you all flower crowns.”
“Well, next time, perhaps you can wait until after your lessons.”
Lyarra grinned at the growing smile on her mother’s face. “Alright, Mama. I promise I will.”
Catelyn knelt down and held her arms out for her daughter. Lyarra gratefully ran into them, hugging her mother tightly and breathing in the flowery scent of her long red hair.
“I love you, Mama.”
“I love you too, my darling.”
As soon as she let go of her mother, Robb came bounding over to her and wrapped her in a tight hug.
“Hello, little sister.”
Lyarra frowned, annoyed at her twin brother. “You’re only a few minutes older than me.”
Robb grinned impishly. “I’m still older than you.”
“I know. You won’t let me forget it.”
“You’re just upset because I’m older, and that means I’m better.”
“It does not.”
“Does too.”
Ned put a hand on each of their shoulders. “Now, children, there’s no need to fight over something so trivial. It doesn’t matter who is older. Your mother and I both love you the same.”
Lyarra huffed. “Robb started it.”
Robb stuck out his tongue in response, which caused their mother to frown in disapproval.
“Now, let’s get back to your lessons. Maester Luwin is waiting for you.”
“Yes, Mama.”
Maester Luwin was old, with grey hair and grey eyes. He wore grey robes with long sleeves that covered his hands. But despite his aged appearance, his mind was as sharp as her father’s sword. He was a fountain of knowledge and Lyarra eagerly lapped up its waters.
Luwin would help her select books from the library and help her read them when she tripped over the tricky words. Her father joked she would read the entire library before she was ten.
Lyarra loved to learn, and it showed. She was smarter than an average girl her age and her mother thought she would have made an excellent advisor. Of course, that wasn’t possible, as she had to marry a wealthy lord because she was a Lady of Winterfell.
Robb, on the other hand, preferred outdoor activities. He loved to practice sparring with a sword or shooting with a bow and arrow. Of course, there was a limit to what he could do, since he was too small to wield a real sword.
Their half brother Jon would join him and the two of them would try to outdo each other with the rubber swords Rodrik gave them.
Robb and Jon were alike in personality, though completely different in looks. Robb took after their mother with his red hair and blue eyes while Jon took after their father with dark brown hair and grey eyes.
Lyarra loved both of her brothers, but she loved Robb a little more. They were twins, after all. They had a special connection, one their mother encouraged them not to talk about outside the family.
They could speak to each other in their heads, something Jon was often jealous of. It frustrated their mother sometimes as well, since they would have conversations with each other all the while saying nothing out loud.
Lyarra listened with rapt attention while Robb and Jon tried not to fidget. They had been at their lessons for hours, and the boys longed to practice with their swords again.
Lyarra was fascinated when Luwin started talking about dragons. She loved to imagine what they looked like, and she often wondered if they were truly gone. Old Nan’s stories spoke about things that no longer existed. Who said that dragons weren’t in hiding too?
Lyarra pictured herself as a Targaryen princess riding on the back of a dragon. Perhaps she would name it Meraxes, after Queen Rhaenys’ dragon.
She would prefer a wolf, of course, but no man had been able to tame one.
The three of them were too young to learn about Robert’s Rebellion and how it ended the Targaryen dynasty, but Lyarra had heard about it. People whispered about it. It was in one of her books.
She knew her aunt Lyanna had died during it, although her father never talked about her. It was just common knowledge. She had been down to the crypts to visit Lyanna’s grave, where she had laid a crown of winter roses on it. Her father visited every day, although he rarely took any of his children down there. Lyarra had only been a couple of times and she wasn’t sure how many times Robb or Jon had been.
When the lessons were finally over, Robb and Jon rushed out to find Rodrik while Lyarra headed off to the library.
She wanted to finish the book she was reading. She grinned when she saw it. Wonders by Lomas Longstrider.
It was getting dark when someone finally joined her in the library. A girl around her age with curly brown hair and blue eyes.
“Hello.”
The girl’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re Lady Lyarra.”
“I am. And you’re Alys, Ser Rodrik’s daughter.”
“Yes.”
“I haven’t seen you around before.”
“I’ve been living in Winter Town. I just arrived here.”
“Why have you been away from your father for so long?”
“I was sick. It was better for me to stay away. I couldn’t risk endangering the entire castle, or so my mother says.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve never had a friend who’s a girl before.”
Alys gaped. “You want me to be your friend?”
Lyarra smiled. “Of course I do. I’ve only been around my brothers. It would be nice to spend time with a girl. I’ve only been with my mother and Septa and they don’t count. Oh, and Old Nan, but she doesn’t count either.”
Alys smiled shyly. “I’d love to be your friend.”
“Great. You can pick flowers with me tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
Alys left to find her mother a little while later, but Lyarra stayed until the sky outside was black.
The door to the library opened again and her father walked through.
Lyarra beamed at him. “Hello, Papa.”
Ned frowned. “It’s past your bedtime, little wolf.”
“Sorry, Papa, but I wanted to finish this book.”
“Perhaps Maester Luwin can read it to you in the morning.”
“I can read by myself, Papa.”
“I know, but he can help you.”
Lyarra sighed, but she didn’t like to refuse her father. “Okay then.”
Ned smiled. “Now, let’s get you to bed before your mother comes.”
“Okay.”
Lyarra felt content in her father’s arms as he carried her to her bedroom. She always felt safe with her father. She felt like nothing bad could happen to her as long as she was with him.
Lying in her bed, she dreamt of dragons and large wolves and silver-gold hair, and she wondered if any of it was true.
As the little wolf dreamed, so did another little boy. One day, their paths would cross, but not yet.