Ned, holding a slice of lemon honey cake on a silver platter, quietly made his way to his sister's room. She wasn't there. As the second-eldest and the one who understood Lyanna best, he set the cake on her vanity and went straight out of Winterfell's main building. He passed down a long corridor and through two small courtyards, heading towards the glass garden near the north gate.
Inside the transparent walls, there were hot springs. The humidity caused water droplets to roll down the glass, but he could still make out his sister's figure. She was sitting on the steps of the garden, hugging her knees. She didn't care if her exquisite, luxurious gown got dirty, only staring at a cluster of Winter Rose buds, the most beautiful flowers in Winterfell.
She heard Ned's footsteps approaching. Without turning her head, Lyanna gave a wry smile. "Brother, did Father ask you to bring me a piece of lemon cake to comfort me?"
Ned wore a helpless expression. "Yes, I put it in your room."
"Father thinks that noble ladies must love this kind of beautiful, elegant food, but brother, do you know what I have an appetite for right now?"
"Roasted pork kidneys with peas and onions." Ned chuckled softly and sat down as well. "I've asked the kitchen to make a portion and send it to your room tonight."
Fourteen-year-old Ned was that reliable. His younger sister, by a year, leaned on his shoulder. Together, they admired the delicate fragrance of the Winter Roses. Lyanna whispered, "I really wish someone like the minstrel Bael would appear and take me away – brother, is that legend true?"
Over two hundred years ago, the Stark Duke of that generation hosted a wandering singer named Bael. Moved by his singing and lute playing, the duke asked what reward he desired. Bael replied that he only wanted the most beautiful rose in the castle. The Duke readily agreed, but the next day, it was the Duke's only daughter who disappeared with the poet.
"Bael is the King-Beyond-the-Wall, it's a conspiracy," Ned answered honestly.
"But I don't think so, brother. Bael might have known the Lady long before, and the Lady didn't want to marry Domeric, the heir to the Dreadfort, so they eloped, brother."
"Lyanna, you can't be thinking these things." Ned sighed, patted his sister's shoulder, and hesitated before saying, "Robert, he's not a bad man."
"But I don't want to marry him." Lyanna said dejectedly. "You're all going to comfort me, saying he'll change after we're married, right? Brother, don't deceive yourself. I'll even bet you that Brother Brandon will eventually have a child named Snow... He and Robert are the same kind. The eldest sons of great lords, they have everything, including a suitable wife. They will love their beautiful and well-mannered wives, but they will never be faithful to them alone."
Ned looked at his sister's dark gray eyes and couldn't find the words to comfort her. He smoothed her damp brown hair, tucking it behind her ear, and finally said in a low voice, "I will protect you, Lyanna."
"Don't let me marry into Storm's End. I won't be the good wife Robert imagines. I'll suffocate there, please, brother," Lyanna murmured.
Ned couldn't promise.
Just then, the siblings heard someone enter the glass garden again. Please don't be Robert! Lyanna desperately thought – the gods favored her, she saw a head of silver hair peering out from under the grape arbor, revealing a handsome face. It was Prince Viserys.
The little prince opened his violet eyes wide. "Sorry, I'm here to admire the plants in the glass garden—it's wonderful here! Grapes and strawberries, too! My brother loves them the most! Sadly, there are no lychees anywhere—Ah, the famous Winter Rose you're looking at, right? Do you mind if I take a look too?"
Like a cheerful little bird, the chattering prince seemed to lighten the siblings' somber mood. Lyanna sat up straight and nodded at the handsome boy. "Of course."
The little prince knelt down, admiring the roses before him. "They're so beautiful." He cupped his cheek, lost in thought. "If my brother were here to admire them, he would surely play the most beautiful music on his harp. He's the best!"
"You two have a very good relationship," Lyanna said, touched, hearing him constantly mention the Crown Prince.
The little prince nodded vigorously. "He's the best brother in the world. But you two also have a good relationship. The Duke Stark sent Ned to comfort you... I'm sorry about my pamphlet, Miss Lyanna."
Lyanna took a deep breath. "No, thank you. I've heard about Robert before, and you've confirmed it for me. Whatever happens, I thank you."
The little prince looked at her quietly and suddenly smiled. "I am grateful to be a prince in this world and to have a brother like Crown Prince Rhaegar. He will protect me, tolerate me, and will certainly allow me to decide my own marriage in the future—I want to be a Kingsguard and don't plan to marry. My brother will definitely respect my wishes."
Ned felt as though he was being subtly hinted at. He sighed. "Your Highness, your marriage will be decided by King Aerys, and no one can defy the King."
Viserys tilted his chin, grinning. "No matter who Father arranges for me, I have at least ten ways to get out of it. But I won't tell you any of them, lest you learn them and break a maiden's heart."
Ned was speechless, but Lyanna laughed. "I've heard about Princess Elia in King's Landing. Little Prince, were you trying to stop something back then? To stop your brother...?"
"What a clever girl!" Viserys put a finger to his lips, then blew Lyanna a kiss, his purple eyes sparkling. "You are truly intelligent! I would never let my brother marry Elia!" Because he was young, the gesture seemed endearing.
Ned was a little surprised, re-evaluating the little prince. How old was he back then?
Lyanna frowned in concern. "But no one has proposed to Elia since then. That's not good."
"No, no, Miss Lyanna. I think, with Princess Elia's constitution, she would likely die in childbirth, so it's best for her to live well in Dorne."
"Live well without marrying..." Lyanna found herself a little envious of the Dornish princess who could avoid marriage, but in the end, she sighed. "You're very interesting, Little Prince. If you were a princess, how would you avoid marrying someone you didn't want to?"
"It's simple!" Viserys's eyes lit up. "Following Targaryen family tradition, I'd elope with my brother! Queen Alysanne did it that way!"
Lyanna rubbed her forehead, murmuring, "Still hopping around in marriage, just switching to marrying the Crown Prince? No other options?"
"How could anyone not want to marry my brother?" Viserys' purple eyes sparkled. "Apologies, but my brother isn't like Robert! He's pure! Gentle and strong, with a sense of justice, plays the harp, and has won many tournaments! As for looks, just look at me!" He gestured at his face. "I'm not even a tenth as handsome as my brother! So, how could anyone in the world not want to marry a man as perfect as my brother? Believe me, Miss Lyanna, when you meet my brother in person, you'll know that marriage is not as dark and despairing as it was with Robert."
Ned finally felt something was amiss with this conversation – Viserys was implying... He stood up abruptly, "Your Highness, you shouldn't be talking about this in front of Lyanna."
Lyanna frowned. "Brother! You don't think I—" She paused, annoyed, and didn't finish the sentence, not wanting to say, You don't think I want to marry the Crown Prince, do you!
"Alright, alright." Viserys thought he had laid the groundwork for today. Looking at the siblings, he changed the subject. "The town outside Winterfell, the security should be good, right? When the snow stops, I'd like to go for a stroll alone, is that okay?"
Alone was absolutely impossible. The Stark Duke sent the castle's instructor to follow the young prince to the winter town. Viserys went straight to the tavern, not only ordering a large plate of garlic-roasted ribs to eat himself but also saying, you can order whatever you like, I'll pay -
The instructor drank strong liquor cup after cup with the roasted lamb chops, while the young prince sat inside talking to the waitress. After talking for a while, the waitress went out and brought another three or four women from the town into the shop, surrounding the young prince - The instructor didn't know what happened after that.
He opened his eyes and found the prince sitting beside him, beaming, his red fringed cloak neatly arranged. "Very good! We can go back to the castle now. If it doesn't snow tomorrow, Robert Baratheon will be jousting in the training grounds! It's such an exciting event, I have to polish his armor and weapons tonight. I can't miss it!"
The next day, the snow had stopped, and the sun rose. Winterfell was covered in white snow, shimmering under the rare, bright winter sunlight like a layer of gold. Robert Baratheon was full of confidence. Seeing that the boy, who had finally remembered his duties as a servant, had polished his armor until it shone like a mirror, he thought, Does the lad feel guilty for the trouble he caused? Well then... He, with the help of his attendants, got fully dressed, picked up his warhammer with iron spikes, and confidently anticipated that today would be a good day to win the heart of his beloved.
In the Winterfell training grounds, the audience included Viserys, the Duke Stark and his family, and all the servants and attendants of the castle. Robert immediately spotted the girl he favored. How beautiful she was! Her silver-gray cloak set off her gray eyes, which were misty and deep! A cascade of brown hair... Oh, she was looking at him!
Robert politely saluted the audience. He faced his first opponent, the knightly head instructor, with high spirits.
He was full of confidence and strength. In just over a dozen rounds, he had snatched the head instructor's spear and pointed his warhammer at the instructor's chest.
The audience applauded. The Duke looked at Lyanna, "Not bad, eh?"
"Gods," Lyanna whispered. "The instructor drank too much yesterday, and now his legs are weak. Moreover, he's afraid of hurting the distinguished guest! Father, do you think I don't understand anything? Can't you arrange a decent duel?"
The Duke was a little embarrassed. And Brandon volunteered to come forward and fight Robert.
"Don't worry, my sister! If he falls on the field, he won't be worthy of asking for your hand!"
Lyanna chuckled. Could her brother Brandon possibly win against Robert in a fight? It was a foregone conclusion.
Viserys blinked, then suggested, "Your Grace, may we use the family's Valyrian Steel Sword? I believe Robert deserves to fight a Stark using that sword."
The Duke thought this was a good idea and handed his eldest son Ice, their family's rare greatsword, as a weapon.
Viserys stared at the gleaming sword, unable to resist his covetousness. Could Lyanna use it as a dowry? He thought. If only I could melt Ice, I could forge a pair of gauntlets and armor for my brother to protect his vital areas. Thinking of this, his Ruby Ford phobia was triggered again, and he stared at Robert, the man who killed his brother—If I'm lucky, hmmph. I'll make you pay later!
In the center of the training ground, Brandon blocked a blow from the warhammer with the greatsword, gritting his teeth as he pushed back, then swung Ice at Robert.
Robert retreated, a scratch appearing on his armor from the Valyrian Steel. These two seemed to be fighting with some genuine effort. However, Viserys continued to eye the other man's sword enviously, thinking, Anyway, if it weren't for me, this sword would be melted down by the Lannisters—I want it, and reasonably.
Brandon was quite strong, and Ice clashed repeatedly with the warhammer—Good, this move is a block! The hammerhead and the horizontal blade met—
Viserys stared intently at the connection between the warhammer's handle and head.
Clang! Another metallic clash. Brandon's thrust was blocked by the hammer. He quickly shifted his feet and slashed again with his blade, maintaining his balance well.
Robert blocked again with the hammer, then stepped back! In the instant the greatsword blocked Brandon's vision – its wide blade obscuring him! Now was the time! Robert raised the warhammer high! His strong arm arced through the air as he brought the hammer down towards Brandon's chest and shoulder armor – but then, a sharp crack!
The hammerhead detached from the handle at the connection, and due to inertia, the metal block flew backward through the air, slamming into Robert's face! He didn't even have time to cry out before he slumped to the ground with a thud, unconscious and bleeding.
The Stark men jumped up in alarm – the Duke immediately called for a healer and a stretcher! Lyanna anxiously looked at her brother, Brandon. Brandon removed his helmet, clearly bewildered by this strange turn of events. However, remembering the oath he had just sworn, he wavered for a moment, wondering, could this be the will of the gods?
Viserys, who had been painstakingly corroding the connection of this metal warhammer for days, slowly stood up. He looked at Robert, who was knocked out, and felt immense satisfaction. He felt he still needed to thank the Valyrian Steel Sword.