By the time the wedding was supposed to happen, most of the Northern Lords had arrived and were unhappy about a daughter of the North marrying someone from the South, especially a Lannister. They scowled at the thought and complained to Ned, but there was nothing the Warden of the North could do. The king decreed it, and he could not go against the king.

Many of the Lords proposed rebelling against the crown. What had the Southerners ever done for them? With the ideas that Lyarra had about crop rotation, the North was finally self-sustaining. Big Jon Umber was the most upset; he had planned to ask Lyarra's hand in marriage for Small Jon Umber. The two were great friends, and marriage would have been perfect.

Big Jon stood and looked Ned dead in the eyes, “I want it known that if the Kingslayer hurts Lyarra in any way, I will happily take his head.”

Ned had already made the same promise to himself as had Robb and Jon. No one was going to hurt his precious daughter. He would rather die than see his daughters hurt, especially Lyarra. Ned knew he shouldn't have favorites among his children, but Lyarra held a special place in his heart.

Ned thought for a moment. In a few more days, his daughter would be married to the Lannister. Ned shuttered at the thought. He suddenly stood and left his Solar with Midnight following him. He walked towards Lyarra's bedchamber. He decided that he needed to spend time with Lyarra before her wedding.

Ned knocked on the door, and Lyarra bid him enter. Ned entered and smiled at his daughter, who was sitting by the fireplace, reading; Kouga was lying at her feet. Midnight saw her pup and walked toward him to greet him. Lyarra and Ned smiled as they saw the wolves cuddle and lick each other. Finally, Lyarra closed her book, looked at her father, and smiled.

Lyarra hugged her father, “Father, it is so wonderful to see you. What brings you by?”

Ned chuckled, “Do I need a reason to come see my eldest daughter?”

Lyarra smiled at her father and hugged him tighter, “No, of course not, Father. But I have the feeling you are worried about something,” Lyarra told her father.

Ned smiled sadly, “I am only worried about your marriage to the Kingslayer,” Ned commented as he kissed his daughter's head.

Lyarra gave her father an encouraging smile, “Do not worry, Father. All will be well. No matter what happens, I will always be a Stark of Winterfell, and the best thing is that I get to go South with you. I will help you look after the girls.”

“Aye, but you will be surrounded by Lannisters and eventually go to Casterly Rock to become its Lady.”

“I have a feeling that will not happen for a while. The Queen will not let her brother go that easily.”

Ned raised an eyebrow, “Then you see it as well?”

“Aye, the unnatural attachment the Queen has towards her twin, I have seen it. From what I can tell, Ser Jaime does not feel the same,” Lyarra explained to her father.

Ned nodded and accepted his daughter's observation. He knew that Lyarra was a good judge of character, and she had never been wrong. Lyarra had often told her father that she didn't like or trust Theon Greyjoy and that he should be treated as the hostage he was, not a ward. Had Ned listened to his eldest, Theon wouldn't have attacked her; from that moment on, Ned listened to the advice of his daughter and trusted her feelings. Lyarra was never wrong.

After a while, Ned asked his daughter to escort him to Godswood. He knew that he and Lyarra found comfort there, and even though she wouldn't admit it, Ned knew his daughter was nervous about the wedding. His brave girl faced everything head-on with her head held high, but even she wasn't immune to nervousness. They sat silently in front of the Weirwood tree and prayed, though Kagome prayed to the Kamis that brought her to this world. She did pray to the Old Gods, but she depended more on the Kamis of her old world; she knew that they were powerful and would help her keep her family safe.

Kagome knew that the Old Gods were also influential, but they were too passive, too hands-off; at least, that was the impression they gave her. Father and daughter sat in silence for a while until Ned sighed, he held his hand out, and Lyarra took it, “Come, my sweet girl, it is time to prepare for your wedding.”

As they walked back to Winterfell, Ned suddenly stopped Lyarra, “Promise me, Lyarra, promise me you will not lose yourself and will remain the sweet girl you have always been.”

Lyarra hugged her father tightly, “I promise, Papa, I will remain your girl, but I will do whatever it takes for the Starks to survive in the South. Mother said the Starks do not fair well in the South, and I will be damned if I let anyone hurt my family,” Lyarra said with a sparkle in her silver eyes. Ned nodded, and they returned to the castle to prepare for the night's ceremony.

Lyarra entered her bedchamber and found Robb and Jon lying on her bed. Lyarra rolled her eyes and closed her door, “To what do I owe this visit from my beloved brothers?”

Robb sat up, “Lya, we don't want you to marry the Kingslayer,” Robb said, with Jon agreeing with him.

Lyarra smiled sadly at her brothers, “It is done; the King has decreed it.”

“Fuck the king! I'd rather go to war than let you marry that Lannister scum!”

“So would I!” Jon echoed.

Lyarra was touched by her brother's proclamation, no matter how stupid it was, “Robb, Jon, I love you both for your concern, but you have to be reasonable. Do you honestly think that the Lannister would stand for such an insult? Or the king? This is something I have to do.”

“Why?” Robb asked, close to tears. He had never been separated from his twin before; even when he fostered with the Umbers, Lyarra insisted on going with him, as did Jon. The three siblings were so close they may have well-been triplets.

Lyarra gave her twin a sad look, “I need to care for Father and the girls. I cannot let Father go into that den of serpents alone. He's too honorable and won't see the dangers until too late. I will not let them harm our family.”

Jon sat up, “Do you truly believe their lives will be in danger in the Capitol?” Jon asked.

“Aye, Jon. Especially if something happens to King Robert, and I feel that someone is plotting his death.”

Robb and Jon looked at each other, “The Queen,” They whispered, and Lyarra nodded.

“She hates him for still loving our aunt and being a whoremonger. If she can get Joffery on the Throne, she can rule through her son, which would cost the realm dearly.”

The boys nodded, understanding Lyarra's reasons for going through with the marriage. They didn't like it, but they accepted it. A few minutes later, Catelyn and Sansa kicked the boys out so Lyarra could prepare for tonight. The maids came in to fill Lyarra's bath. Lyarra stripped and got in the tub; the maid helped wash Lyarra. After her bath, the maid helped Lyarra out of the tub and rubbed scented oil on Lyarra's body; she then handed Lyarra her robe.

Cat motioned for her daughter to sit and began brushing Lyarra's hair. Catelyn was going to braid it, but Lyarra asked if she could keep her hair down, “Of course, my darling,” Her mother answered.

Catelyn paused, “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Aye, Mother, I need to go South with Father and the girls, and if this is the only way, so be it.”

“This is not what I wanted for you or Sansa and Arya. I wanted my girls to stay in the North.”

“I know, Mother, but that cannot be helped now,” Lyarra responded, “So, we need to make the best of a bad situation.”

Catelyn sighed, then continued to help her daughter get ready. It was a somber affair, and Sansa knew that no one was happy with the situation, but she did her best to help her older sister get through this. She and Arya talked about everything but the wedding.

While this was going on, Jaime was in his bedchamber getting ready as well. He sighed as he got dressed, dreading having to marry a stranger but also someone much younger than him, but there was nothing either of them could do. The King had made a deal with his father, and Jaime had to go through with it.

Tyrion was sitting by the fire, drinking wine. He looked at his brother and chuckled, “Don't look so disheartened, Jaime; your bride will think you don't want to marry her.”

Jaime turned and looked at his little brother, “I don't, Brother. The last thing I wanted to do was get married, especially to the Ice Queen of the North.”

Tyrion laughed, “I'm sure she feels the same way, Brother. But you must admit, Lyarra Stark is beautiful, especially with those enchanting silver eyes. She's also kind and very witty. And that wolf of hers is quite friendly. Provided you do not harm his mistress, of course. And don't be bitter because she beat you in a spar,” Tyrion said as he drank his wine.

Jaime scowled at his brother for reminding him how he was humiliated by the girl. Once Jaime was ready, he took his cloak from Tyrion and put it on. After that, the brothers left for The Godswood.

In Lyarra's bedroom, Catelyn and Sansa helped Lyarra change into her wedding dress. It was a beautiful woolen dress in Stark grey and white with white fox fur trim and a matching maiden cloak. Lyarra looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, she looked beautiful, and the grey brought out her silver eyes. Sansa gushed at how beautiful she looked.

Arya hugged her oldest sister and sniffled, “I don't want you to get married, Lya.”

Lyarra kissed Arya's head and hugged her tightly, “I know you don't, Sweetling, but at least I'll be going to King's Landing with you; then maybe you can visit me at Casterly Rock later. Would you like that?”

Arya looked up at her sister with red puffy eyes, “Aye, I would. Do you think Father will let me?”

“There's no harm in asking,” Lyarra said and wiped Arya's tears away.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Catelyn opened the door, and Ned walked in; he smiled at Lyarra and hugged her, kissing her head, “You look beautiful, my little wolf.”

“Thank you, Father,” Lyarra mumbled into Ned's chest.

Ned pulled away and wiped the tears that threatened to fall from Lyarra's eyes with his thumb, “Do not cry, my sweetling; all will be well. I know this is something that neither one of us wanted, but we have to make the best of a bad situation.”

Lyarra cleared her throat, “I'm not crying because of the marriage; I'm crying because I'm leaving the North and you,” Lyarra told her father.

“You and I will always be together, no matter the distance. Remember, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. You will never be alone,” Ned promised his little girl, “Now, are you ready?”

Lyarra sighed, “As I'll ever be.”

Ned smiled sadly at his daughter, then held out his arm; Lyarra wrapped her arm with her father's, and they left her bedroom.

In the clearing in front of the Weirwood Trees, there stood King Robert and the royal family. Robert and his two youngest looked on anxiously while Cersei and Joffrey scowled. Jaime stood with Tyrion by his side, waiting for his blushing bride to appear. Everyone there held torches as they waited for Ned and Lyarra. Finally, Lyarra appeared on the arm of her father. Jaime glanced back, and his eyes widened. He had never seen a woman so beautiful in his life, not even his sister, compared to Lyarra Stark.

Father and daughter arrived at the Weirwood tree, and the ritual began, “Who comes before the Old Gods this night?” Howland asked

Ned took a deep breath, “Lyarra, of House Stark, comes here to be wed. A woman grown, trueborn, and noble. She comes to beg the blessing of the Gods. Who comes to claim her?”

Jaime stepped forward; he had to rehearse his part of the ceremony several times, “Jaime, of House Lannister, heir to Casterly Rock. Who gives her?”

Ned squeezed his daughter's hand, “Lord Eddard Stark, her father.”

Howland looked at Lyarra, “Lady Lyarra, do you take this man?”

Lyarra looked into Jaime's eyes; she quickly flared her aura and was surprised to find that the man had a good heart but was conflicted on many things, “I take this man.”

Howland asked Jaime the same thing; he hesitated momentarily, then answered, “I take this woman.”

“Join hands and kneel,” Howland told the couple.

Jaime wasn't sure what to do, but he looked at Lyarra and saw that her eyes were closed in prayer. Jaime shrugged and did the same thing. Jaime wasn't a religious person, he didn't believe in the Faith of the Seven, but Jaime thought he would give it a try.

Meanwhile, Lyarra prayed to the Kamis and Old Gods for a successful marriage, she prayed that perhaps one day she and Ser Jaime would learn to love each other, but she prayed fervently that they would give her the strength to save her family. That was the most important thing to her.

“Rise as husband and wife,” Howland said.

Jaime and Lyarra rose and looked at each other, “You may cloak the bride.”

With that, Tyrion handed Jaime his cloak, and Jaime draped it across Lyarra's shoulders. Jaime gave Lyarra a chaste kiss, but when their lips met, Jaime felt a charge go through him, and a sense of peace came over him that Jaime had not felt in a long time. Jaime wasn't aware that Lyarra pushed some of her spiritual powers into Jaime to ease his troubled heart and mind.

They turned, and, as was a tradition in the North, Jaime swept Lyarra into his arms and carried her back to Winterfell, where everyone was waiting for the feast to begin.