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Post by Gandalf on Jun 8, 2023 9:24:22 GMT -5
It has been almost two years. Two long years in this Tower, this prison. For half that time she had only the nursemaids, who were almost as strict and exacting as the two knights who caged her. It had been only the child that kept her here, the babe that now crawled and mewled under the fuss of the nursemaids.
Lyanna had the child in her arms, her dark-haired dragon with the grey eyes of the Starks. She passed him off to Wylla, for it was time for him to be fed, and then stood to greet her long awaited brother.
For a moment, she simply stared. It was like being greeted by a ghost, the memory of another life holding her in an unflinching vice. He looked so much like Father, with those mournful eyes that had seen too much. He held the self assured manner of a great Lord that quiet Ned had never commanded. It was if he had been killed too, and another man had slipped into his skin.
Then she caught the soft uncertainty in his eyes, dancing behind that lordly mask. Gentle Ned, the brother she remembered. She embraced him fiercely.
”It took you long enough.” Lyanna choked out, tears blearing in her eyes. ”I thought… Ned, I am so sorry.”
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Jun 8, 2023 19:35:02 GMT -5
As Eddard entered the room and laid eyes upon his sister, Lyanna's presence washed over him, stirring a mix of emotions within his heart. The sight of her struck him deeply. He felt a surge of regret for the time lost, the years they could have spent together if circumstances had been different.
Without hesitation, Eddard closed the distance between them and enveloped Lyanna in a tight embrace, holding her as if he could shield her from the pain and isolation she had endured. His voice trembled with a mixture of relief and sorrow as he spoke.
"Lyanna," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine emotion. "I have come, at last. You have nothing to apologize for. It is I who should have been here sooner, to free you from this prison, to protect you."
He pulled back slightly, his hands cupping her face as he looked into her tear-filled eyes. The weight of his own guilt and the knowledge of what she had endured bore heavily upon him.
"I cannot change the past, but I swear to you, Lyanna, that from this moment forward, I will do everything in my power to make amends," Eddard vowed, his voice firm with determination. "You and my nephew, this child of destiny, will find safety and happiness. I promise you."
Lyanna's presence, her strength and vulnerability, stirred a deep well of love and protectiveness within Eddard. He understood the sacrifices she had made, the choices she had faced, and he would honor her by ensuring a brighter future for both her and the child she held so dearly.
"Tell me, Lyanna," Eddard continued, his voice gentle. "What can I do to bring you both the peace and freedom you deserve? I am here now, and together we shall face whatever challenges lie ahead. No longer shall you be alone in this tower, for I am with you, and we shall find a way forward, as family."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 9, 2023 3:53:20 GMT -5
Lyanna drew back as if she had been struck across the face, grey eyes narrowed into furious slits.
”I do not need protecting, Ned. I am not the little girl you remember. I never have been.”The words cracked like a whip, swift and harsh. Her thoughts went to Rhaegar, to Father, to Brandon. The idea that she needed to be protected had caused only pain. Fool men, and their fool duty.
Lyanna turned away, as if to sulk. ”I… I don’t know, Ned.” A sigh escaped her, voice cracking with emotion. ”That Rhaegar has not come with you tells me it is not safe to go to him.” Not that she would ever want to go to King’s Landing, that stinking pit of a city. Her voice softened as she turned back towards him.
”I will go to Winterfell. We will go to Winterfell.” She corrected, looking down at the child as he sipped hungrily from Wylla’s breast. The nursemaid seemed to pay them no mind, as if they were not even there. ”It will not be the same, but it is my home.”
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Jun 9, 2023 5:14:20 GMT -5
Eddard's eyes widened in surprise at Lyanna's sharp response, her words piercing through his intentions like a sword. He realized his mistake in assuming that she still needed his protection, forgetting the fierce independence and strength that had always defined her. It made him smile.
He listened attentively as Lyanna spoke, her emotions palpable in her voice. The mention of Rhaegar's absence. He understood her apprehension, for he too held reservations about the capital and the dangers it posed.
As Lyanna suggested returning to Winterfell, Eddard's heart swelled with a mixture of relief and sadness. It was a bittersweet realization that their lives would never be the same, that the innocence and carefree days of their youth were forever lost and that their brother and father wouldn't be there. Yet, he recognized the significance of returning to their ancestral home, a place where Lyanna could find solace and a sense of belonging. Peace even.
A gentle smile formed on Eddard's lips as he met Lyanna's gaze, his voice filled with sincerity. "Winterfell shall be our sanctuary, Lyanna. It may not erase the pain and hardships we have endured, but it will be a place where we can find peace. Our family will be there, waiting to embrace you and this precious child."
Eddard's eyes flickered to the child in Wylla's arms, a symbol of hope and a future they could shape. "My nephew will grow up knowing the strength of his mother and the love of his family. He will know Winterfell as his home, and we shall guide him with the values and honor that our house holds dear and he will do it with my son.."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 9, 2023 5:45:48 GMT -5
Lyanna’s fire dampened somewhat.
”He is the blood of the Dragon, Ned.” She said gently, a touch of sadness in her voice. ”There will no peace for him, I think.”
Rhaegar believed that their child would be one touched by destiny, though what that meant she was not certain. Sometimes, his convictions frightened her; he had woken up screaming often enough to know that he saw things beyond the veil of night. Dreams held power, and that power ran thick in the blood of the Dragon Kings.
”But what peace we can find, I will take.” She grinned suddenly, her brother’s words pulling her from her thoughts. ”You have a son? My shy brother, who could not ask a girl to dance?” Brandon’s face danced across her mind’s eye, blue and bulging. It was he that had asked Ashara to dance with Ned, and he that had been betrothed to Catelyn Tully. She forced her smile to return. ”What will you name him?”
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Jun 9, 2023 8:52:09 GMT -5
Eddard's gaze softened as he listened to Lyanna's words, understanding the weight of her concerns. The blood of the Dragon ran through their son's veins, and with it came the potential for both greatness and strife. He couldn't deny the uncertainty that lay ahead for their child, but he was determined to provide him with as much peace and love as possible.
"Indeed, he carries the blood of the Dragon, Lyanna," Eddard replied, his voice tinged with a mix of reverence and caution.
As Lyanna inquired about his own son, a flicker of pride appeared in Eddard's eyes. He couldn't help but feel a sense of joy amidst the complexities of their situation. He chuckled softly at her teasing words, his thoughts momentarily drifting to his shy nature in the past.
"Yes, a son," he confirmed, a warm smile gracing his lips. Laughing aloud even for remembering the dance.. "I have been considering the names Brandon. Brandon, after our dear brother, holds its own significance. The name names carries strength and honor, just as our family does."
Eddard's gaze met Lyanna's, seeking her approval and understanding. "What do you think, Lyanna? Should we honor our fallen brother and name him Brandon?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 11, 2023 4:55:25 GMT -5
”Brandon Stark.” Lyanna breathed, eyes widening, mouth standing a little agape.
Then, she nodded, forcing a smile from herself. ”Yes. He would have liked that.” No doubt he would. Brandon always had a high opinion of himself. How could he not? He was Brandon Stark, heir to Winterfell, blessed with all the gifts the Gods could give.
”I hope for your sake he does not grow to take after him.” It was a weak jape. More than anything else, she missed her brother, even though he made her the angriest woman in the world. It struck her as odd that she felt the same of Rhaegar.
(End scene, return to Winterfell?)
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Post by FieldMarshal Bismarck on Jun 11, 2023 16:52:45 GMT -5
Yes
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 11, 2023 17:18:49 GMT -5
(So goes North with Lyanna then? Arthur or Oswell?)
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