Love is Never a Simple Thing... Who: William Stark, Lyanora Stark What: Discovering her 'news' When: Evening, Nine Years Ago Backstory Where: Lya's room in Winterfell Status: Completed Log Rating: PG
Lyanora sat on a chair in her room, wearing her shirt loose and breeches... snuggly below the starting of the bulge in her belly. William was back, and while normally she'd be overjoyed at that fact - and a good part of her still was - she was also terrified and not quite sure how she'd explain... this. She had missed five cycles and from what the old midwife told her everything was going fine, as far as her child was concerned. At least Will wouldn't come home to find her vomiting all over. That thankfully had stopped. Though the way her stomach turned now, she wondered. Of course, that might just have been nerves.
William stood outside Lyanora's door staring at the veins in the old oak wood. How many other brothers, fathers, grandfathers, and son's had stood outside this door in the past, anticipating what should have been a joyous reunion of family members? This one would not as pleasant as William would have liked, and he dreaded confronting Ly with his new-found knowledge. And finding out about her pregnancy on his return had been hard news to swollen. Would this have happened if he hadn't gone to the Eryie?
But none of that mattered now. William raised a hand and rapped lightly on the door, then pushed it open when Ly's voice rang out granting him entrance. She was seated across the room, still as lovely as when he left, but there was no mistaking the slight bump that poked out from her over-sized shirt. "Lyanora," he greeted warmly. No amount of trouble could take away from the love he felt for his younger sister. "It's good to see you again."
"Will," Lya said, wanting to run over and embrace her brother, "Welcome back. So, are you married?" Yes, avoid the conversation that was going to come about her increasingly obvious condition.
"I am," William replied, wishing she'd come to him. Instead, he crossed the room to her, reaching out a hand to help her up. "And you'll get to meet her soon. She's an Arryn." Probably stating the obvious, but he too was avoiding the subject. "She is close to your age, perhaps the two of you will be friends. She'll need some here, as she knows no one."
"I'll try," she would, she didn't always get along with other women. In fact, she couldn't stand most women, but that was a different story. Will helped her up and she hugged him, tightly. At least he hadn't started with yelling at her, "How was your trip? I'm so glad you made it back safely."
William hugged her back, almost fiercely, as though by extension of affection he could erase all the undesired consequences of his absence. But the motion only served to reinforce the truth; he could feel the bump of her child between them. "My trip was less pleasant than I'd have liked, to be honest, but the results were the same. I left the Eryie with an Arryn bride, even if she is not the one Randell would have thrust into my arms." He paused, pulling back to look down at Lyanora. "I think I was gone far too long..."
Lyanora pushed a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, "Not so long," she said, not quite meeting his eyes, "I suppose I am a bit changed. I..." she wasn't exactly sure how to say this.
He shook his head, "Too long. What happened Ly? Why," William paused and swallowed, almost wishing he could ignore the fact that his younger sister - his young sister - was pregnancy with some man's child. Some man that William had not chosen. Some man that may not have treated her right. His mind reeled with the possibilities. "Who?"
"I... can't say," she finished lamely. After all he was married now, to stop something of a conflict that had been brewing. And William could have changed that with a word. Both she and Alaric had known what his responsibilities were and had their affair anyway.
William frowned. "What do you mean you can't say, Ly? Why are you protecting him?" A hint of anger laced his voice, frustration was evident as well. "I would know who.." he trailed off. She'd know what he meant.
"Who what?" Lya asked, looking up at her brother, "Took advantage of me? You'll find no one around who did that. Anyone who tried would get a knife to the gullet," she pointed out. She had heard it joked that there were songs about her. The wild she-wolf and her claws. Turn down a couple of small minded men and suddenly mummers are singing about how you have daggers for eyes. "I... wish I could say who, but I can't, Will."
"You," William paused, "Did this willingly then?" He felt a mixture of relief and despair. At least his sister hadn't endured something harsh and unpleasant. But at the same time, that she had walked into this hornet's nest of her own free will was a blow as well, one that would be hard to recover from. "You must, Ly. He still took advantage of you; else, he'd have given you his cloak and sigil like a proper man."
"I can't, he did not take any advantage I didn't give," Lya managed. The whole thing was still too raw in her mind and though she didn't want to shed anymore tears on the matter she knew she just might, "You should know more well then most, Will that we can't always choose our own paths this way. I can't say anything; I won't."
"Ly!" William argued, even as the determined expression set over her features. "You were but a child!" He released her, turning to lean against the wall as though the stone structure could carry the weight on his shoulders. The voice inside him reminded him that he was the same age as she when he was wed proper and creating children. But you were wed proper... Quietly, he answered her, but even the softness of his voice could not mask the cold fury that he tried not to express. William was not a violent man, but he would do what he must to protect his family's honor. "Knowing well does not make choosing the wrong path acceptable, Lyanora." He looked up at her, his expression hard, but his eyes soft. He could not be angry at her, even if her choices had not led her where he'd have wished. "Keep his identity a secret, dear sister, but pray then that I do not find out." Because if he did, then this man who abandoned Lyanora with child would pay for his sins.
"Because then what? You two will undergo the very manly art of poking each other with swords?" Lya returned, "I made my choice. It might not have been the best choice, but it was my choice, Will." She had chased him down and cornered him, she recalled with a smile. She had been lonely, for one, and for another she had liked him. "I'm... sorry. I tried to write but... I couldn't figure out what to say," she said, her gaze down on the stone floor. She had been half afraid that Will would've written back demanding she take the moon tea. Now she was too far along to rid herself of the pregnancy.
Will turned away at her accusations. She'd been right on the mark, but that didn't remove the sting of her words. "I will do what is right," he finally consented. A soft sigh escaped from his lips as he turned over the events in his mind. "I should have taken you with me. Let you see the Eyrie, meet the Arryns..." He could have protected her there. He couldn't help but feel his absence was partly to blame for her transgressions. "Perhaps it was better that you waited for my return," he offered, reaching out to lift her chin and her gaze from the floor. "Your child will be a Snow, but he will be my nephew the same." His anger would not extend to the life in her womb, nor could he remain angry at her. Instead, he pulled her into a second hug, both to hide his frustration and offer his support.
Lya started crying. Her emotions had been in flux since before she had even found out she was with child for certain. Something that she had been assured was actually normal. It didn't mean she had to like it. But she was crying none the less, half because of the stress and half from pure relief that he wasn't mad enough to do anything like send her away. "I'm sorry Will, I really am."
William let her cry, holding her close as the tears flowed. In many ways, he could understand her plight. She was as human as he, and they'd all made mistakes. Will was certain he'd make many more before the old gods called his soul back. "It's alright, Ly. No Stark is perfect, certainly none in this room. Just promise me next time you fall for a man, you'll force me to wed you to him first?"
She half-laughed at that. She had been in love, and Lya honestly wasn't sure she could bring herself to love another. And her child would be without a father due to an arraigned marriage meant to keep two families from fighting over a heap of bricks and mortar. "If ever I do, I promise."
"Good," William affirmed as he pulled back from the hug again. He felt more relaxed, pushing what he could not change into the far corners of his mind. If he ever did find out, he would deal with the problem then, but until that day came he would not let a stranger tear holes in his family. "Now tell me what I missed while I was away. And perhaps you'd like to meet Kaelyn?"
Lya nodded, "I should meet your wife." How bad could it be?
William smiled. "Come. I will take you to her now," he began as he led Lyanora out the door, enlightening her on his trip to the Eyrie and how displeased Randell Arryn was at his choice of bride.