4th Month of 286 A.C. King's Landing
Lady Lyarra Stark
Winter was firmly in place and had been four years now, in King's Landing it seemed there were times when snow storms would come and all activity would stop. There would be no one out on the street doing business and there would be no one trying to plot, all would be enjoying the snow and the freedom it offered dressed head to foot in warm clothes. Lyarra and her youngest son Benjen though did not need to fear the snow or the cold, but still they dressed up warmly especially as Jonothor was at that age where if they did something he wanted to do it to. Jonothor was a cute child, his curls were growing ever longer, and soon would need to be cut, he was a inquisitive child always asking questions and repeating what he learnt. And he would often go for a walk and disappear for hours at a time only to reappear with one or two of the Kingsguard either carrying him back after he had exhausted himself or following him back to his rooms in the nursery. The child truly was sweet and the fact that he got along so well with his aunt as well was good. Daenerys was a sweet child as well, shy and quiet, but always involved in whatever trouble Jonothor got up to.
Benjen, her youngest son had come to King's Landing per her husband's request. He had grown so quickly, he was tall and muscular from his hours in the practice yard. He had a bit of a beard as well almost as much as Ned was said to have. Her youngest son had always been a bit between Brandon and Ned in terms of personality, he could be loud and brash like his oldest brother or he could be contemplative and quiet like his second brother. He was her favourite child though that much she knew. Though she loved her children fiercely, she loved Benjen the most, for he was her boy, her little boy and now he was growing up so quickly. He had become something of an older brother for Prince Viserys, with the boy constantly following him around asking her son questions which he dutifully answered.
She knew that she would be meeting with her son and her husband to discuss Benjen's future soon enough, right now she needed to bring her attention back to the ladies she was currently with. Especially Lady Mina Tyrell. "I am so sorry for your loss Mina. Paxter was a good man, true and brave. He died fighting for his king and the kingdom." Lyarra offered.
Lady Mina's husband Paxter had died during the fighting in the Stepstones killed by one Crago Danzahar and though the fighting in the Stepstones was going very well, she knew the lady would be grief stricken. "I… I should not have asked him to volunteer to lead the mission. He was reluctant to go, and now he has gone and he is not here anymore. I… I…" the girl broke of sobbing.
"It is okay my lady." Lyarra soothes her. "Paxter would've had to go regardless as master of ships. That he volunteered shows just how committed he was to the royal cause. He died a hero's death. It is sad that he died, but he has done his oath honour and himself honour. The King will remember Lord Paxter."
The lady continues to sob. "I… I.. do not know what to do now my lady. I am sorry for this. My children are only small, I… I will have to return to the Arbor to ensure that they are alright and raised well."
Lyarra shakes her head then. Can't allow for that to happen. "Nonsense Mina. Your children can come to court. Horas and Hobber can come to court, and become friends with Prince Viserys I am sure they would all enjoy that. Your daughter Desmera is already here and good friends with Princess Daenerys. You don't want to disrupt that do you?"
The woman continues to sob and then eventually wipes her eyes and says. "Of course. You are right my lady. I shall send word to the Arbor and ask them to send my boys as quickly as possible."
Lyarra nods. "I shall speak with my husband and ask him to send men as well to ensure they are safe. It would be best for them to come by land with the fighting still going on."
The woman hesitates for a moment and then nods and Lyarra knows she has got a victory. She then turns to Lady Daella Staunton and asks. "So my lady has there been any more gossip from amongst the crownlords that you have for us?"
Daella Staunton is a shrewd woman, named after an even shrewder woman, and as such she chooses her words carefully. "It does appear as if the succession of Stokeworth is going to become an issue. Lord Alyn Stokeworth has just died without issue and his sisters are squabbling over who gets to sit their arse in the Faithful chair. One argues that she should sit the chair due to having more children and four sons, the other argues that she should sit the chair due to being elder."
Lyarra smirks then. "That they have not brought the issue before court is something interesting. Most women would have done so."
Lady Staunton smirks somewhat and says. "The Stokeworths are not normal women. They were brought up with a lot of pride and ill begotten believes that they are special. They have too much pride to come forward to the crown and as such will bicker and argue but will never do anything. They will rule Stokeworth together during this time, and ensure no one else comes and goes."
Lyarra nods filing this piece of information away for later. "Surely that is not the only thing you know of my lady. What more do you know that you don't tell your husband?"
Daella Staunton does not disappoint. "It would appear that Ser Alor Dayne has made a reappearance in King's Landing as well. Our little friend happened to spot him coming into the brothel with his son. It seems they had some urgent business to discuss with the proprietor of the brothel."
"Now that is interesting," Lyarra says. "Ser Alor has not been in King's Landing since the day King Aegon the fortunate removed him from the small council. Whatever he and his son are doing in that brothel, and whatever they must be discussing must be of grave importance for him to come to the place he hates the most."
Lady Daella nods. "Indeed, that is what I was thinking. I think it could have something to do with Prince Lewyn's bastard. The child is now eight years old, and soon enough will be old enough to squire. I think they are trying to cover that whole affair up. Though there are some I know who think it has to do with that golden haired bastard in the brothel."
"The man is still there? BY the gods either he must like that brothel or there is something else going on." Lyarra says.
Lady Daella nods. "That is what I think as well my lady. Something is definitely going on in that brothel, but what is I know not."
Lyarra nods, knowing something more than the woman but not wanting to give away all her secrets instead she asks. "And what news of Lady Gaunt?"
Lady Gaunt was a shrew of a woman, someone who neither morals nor honour and did all she could to remind everyone of the importance her husband and brother had once held in the King's court. Some said she was mad, only Daella Staunton knew the truth. "Oh she continues to push the boundaries, her son grows impatient waiting for her to die. And her family wonders what sort of sins they have committed to be left with her. There are rumours she means to leave the castle not to her son, but to her lack wit brother just out of spite."
Lyarra laughed that was most certainly something that the woman would do. Noticing Ser Mark hovering in the doorway she stood then and said. "Forgive me my ladies but I must go. I shall see you on the morrow." With that she walks towards the door and links her arm with Ser Mark's and they walk in companiable silence to her husband's solar.
Upon entering she finds her husband sat in the winter chair, his face looking worn and tired his beard greying. Her son sits opposite him looking for all the world like Rickard did at that age. Lyarra clears her throat and then sits down. Her husband speaks first. "Benjen has just told me that apparently, there has been an offer of marriage from Lord Ryder for one of his daughters to marry Ben."
Lyarra looks at her husband and then her son and says. "And what sort of response was given back by you Benjen?"
Her son shifts uncomfortably in his seat and his voice is soft when he says. "I… I said I was not sure. That I wanted to wait for some time."
Lyarra breathes a sigh of relief. "Good. Giving a definitive answer to a man such as Lord Ryder would have been a bad move. The man knows how to hold a grudge. Have there been any other offers?"
Her son shakes his head. "Apart from the offers from Lord Ryder and from Lord Umber that you already know of no. I truly do not know whether or not I wish to remain in Winterfell anyway."
Lyarra sighs and says. "Benjen if this has to do with joining the Watch out of some sort of misguided attempt at repenting for something you did not do, then you can forget it right now."
Her son protests. "I am a man grown mother. I am ten and seven, not some little boy anymore. I have thought long and hard about it and I have begun to wonder if perhaps I would be of more use on the wall than sitting in Winterfell or in King's Landing playing with little children."
"Is there so much wrong with being someone whom your nephews and nieces can play with Benjen? Do you not want your own family as well?" Lyarra asks pleadingly.
Her son falters for a moment and then says. "What good is it for me to have a family if Brandon and Lya cannot have families? They should be alive right now enjoying winter, but they are not because I did not tell father."
Rickard speaks then his voice containing a lot of anger. "There was nothing for you to tell me. Brandon and Lyanna sealed their own fates with their rash actions. I will not accept that you are denying yourself the chance to have a family and know your children out of some pathetic attempt to make amends. If you truly feel you must make amends you will not run away to the Watch. You will confront your demons like a man. We are wolves not mice. We stand and face our problems. And you will do the same."
There is a silence then, and Lyarra looks at her son who looks shamed faced and her husband who looks angry and tired. Eventually her son speaks. "I… I know father. I will stay here for some more time and get to know Lya's boy. I want to have a chance to get to know him. I am not needed as the spare anymore in Winterfell, for Ned has two sons and a daughter now. I want to see more of the kingdoms. Once that is done I shall consider settling down."
Her husband looks to protest but Lyarra lies a hand on his arm and silences him speaking for them both. "That is fine Benjen. So long as you are happy we are happy."