As they arrived on Bear Island, Lyanna's thoughts went to Ser Jorah, all the way over in Essos, remembering their first conversation, back when he still hated her. Lyanna had told him that Bear Island was always a place she wanted to visit, and now she was, bot not for the reasons she thought she would have to. This was for war, the fate of their cause resting upon Ser Jorah's cousin, little Lady Lyanna Mormont.

The island was small, the keep even smaller, but as Jon led them all into the hall, Lyanna felt the northern presence within the halls. Lyanna couldn't hel but find herself gazing all around the room in wonder, examining every details of the stone walls and wooden plaques, almost not noticing the young girl sat at the grand table between a master and a commander, though her age didn't make her look out of place. In fact she seemed to fit in perfectly to her surroundings, and Lyanna, despite being at least eight years older, instantly felt intimidated by her stare.

"Welcome to Bear Island," she addressed them, no childish softness about her.

"I remember when you were born, my lady," Sansa began to speak first after the rest of them hesitated. Not even Lyanna knew how to start the conversation of war, so small talk seemed the best route for them. "You were named for my aunt Lyanna, like my sister. They said she was a great beauty, I'm sure you will be too, one day,"

"I doubt it," Lyanna Mormont shot back harshly, and her cutting tone reminded Lyanna somewhat of a younger version of Willas' grandmother, and in parts, mirroring the way Lyanna herself used to be, and a small smile began to creep onto her face. "My mother wasn't a great beauty or any other kind of beauty. She was a great warrior though, she died fighting for your brother, Robb,"

"I respect her for that, not many women in our situation have the courage or chance to pick up a sword, or a bow, or an axe and fight," Lyanna interjected before Jon or Sansa could, knowing that with her own experience, she may be able to help their cause. "Being a great warrior must run in your family because in the East I knew your cousin Jorah, and is was one of the greatest knights I ever had the pleasure of meeting and fighting with,"

"You must not know many knights then, he disgraced our family name," Lyanna Mormont shot back, making Lyanna flush red. She exchanged a small glance with Sansa, both of them realising this was going to be a lot harder than they thought.

"Well, um, I served under your Uncle at Castle Black, I was his steward-" Jon began, and Lyanna shot him almost a glare as he spoke the word 'steward', noting he had left that part out to her when he was telling her all about his time in the Night's Watch.

"I think we've had enough small talk," she spoke up again, rolling her eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Stannis Baratheon once showed my the letter you wrote to him after he'd asked for your support, it said-"

"I know what it said," she snapped again, and although the situation was becoming increasingly more difficult, Lyanna couldn't help but smirk. "'Bear Island knows no King but the King in the North who's name is Stark,'"

"Exactly, my lady, and so I've come here today with my brother and sister to ask for your allegiance against house Bolton," Lyanna Stark decided it was time to speak up again, trying to keep eye contact whilst the little lady stared her down.

There was a pause as Lady Mormont took advice from both of her councillors, the pause setting the three Starks on edge as they watched nervously.

"As far as I know, none of you are the most secure connection to house Stark," she pointed out. "Jon Snow is a bastard, Lady Sansa is a Bolton - or is it Lannister? And I don't know enough about Lyanna Stark to follow you, except for you marrying Joffrey,"

Lyanna grimaced, cringing as she spoke his name. Lyanna realised that each of their histories would be a hindrance to them now, especially Sansa, with her connection to the man they were starting a war against, and Lyanna, previously married to the boy her brother led half the north to war against.

"I did what I had to do to survive," Sansa spoke before Lyanna could. "What I did, I did for house Stark,"

"I could say the same too, Lady Mormont," Lyanna agreed. "I married Joffrey because the king told me to. I was told it was my duty, so I went south, I married him and I bore him a son. My duty to him ended when he arrested my father, had my friends murdered and ordered for me to be tortured. From the end of my duty, I have dedicated myself to my family and trying to make right of what happened to the North.
"I know how hard it is. We live in a mans world, and women like us are belittled and mocked. You're young too, Lady Mormont, so you'll no doubt face it your whole life as I have. But it doesn't have to be that way forever. I've spent the last few years with Daenerys Targaryen, and she taught me that a woman can rule in her own right, something your mother and sisters probably taught you too. Lady Mormont, if you have your soldiers fight with our force, you'll be proving to the whole world how strong not only Bear Island is, but how strong a woman can be,"

As Lyanna stopped, she felt the eyes of everyone in the room trained on her, not that she exchanged their glances. Instead, she kept her eyes latched with Lyanna Mormont's, the younger girl obviously considering what she'd been told.

One of Lyanna Mormont's advisors leant over, meaning to offer her some advice, but she stopped them, raising her hand forcefully. The Starks watched as the young lady lowered her hand, and in return, she smiled at them, in short showing them a gesture of allegiance.

***

"The answer is no,"

Lord Glover was not as understanding as Lady Mormont. In fact, it was difficult to even arrange an audience with him, and even after the Starks met with him his rejection was already imminent. It was the knowledge of the wildlings and unsullied that tipped him over the edge though.

"I received you out of respect for your father, now I would like you to leave," he growled after the mention of their force. "House Glover will not abandon its ancestral home to fight alongside wildlings and Eastern bastards,"

He began to walk back to the great oak doors of the keep, despite the calls from Jon. Even Sansa couldn't make Lord Glover turn back, and so Lyanna - almost desperately - ran forward, her heavy black fur cloak flowing out behind her, almost appearing regal.

"Lord Glover!" she boomed, more powerful than either Sansa or Jon. "You received me and my siblings out of respect for Lord Eddard. Now receive me out of respect for my father!"

This, unlike anything else they had said, made Glover laugh. It was a threatening, short laugh, and though his back was turned, Lyanna knew there was no smile on his face. He turned back to her, storming back down the steps to face her, only stopping a foot away from Lyanna. She knew he was trying to intimidate her, glaring at her, attempting to stare her down despite her being almost as tall as him. She swallowed heavily and mimicked his stare, squaring up to him slightly as she tried to present herself as unafraid and strong.

"Your father is the same as theirs, I owe you no more respect, you traitor," he spat at her, though she didn't flinch.

"My father was Brandon Stark, so yes, you do owe me more respect," she spoke back, keeping her tone steely. "And I'm no traitor, I am not the one refusing to support my lieges,"

"Brandon Stark was a foolish, selfish glory-seeker who caused the greatest war our kingdoms has ever seen, the deaths of thousands," he snapped back to her and Lyanna struggled to stop herself from punching him. "And you're just the same. You want to be seen as this great leader, a little lady whose become a soldier, but where were you when your brother was marching on Kings Landing? Where were you when the Young Wolf was marching against Tywin Lannister and Joffrey Baratheon, leading half of the north to their deaths? That's right, you where there in the capital, warming that inbred King's bed, betraying your family with his children. Where were you when Robb Stark was murdered alongside most of the northern houses you're going begging to? You were off in the east, fucking those bastards you've now convinced to fight behind you, supporting a Targaryen. And now what are you? Married to another southerner, except this time he's a cripple instead of being an inbred bastard. I wouldn't support any movement of the Starks whilst it's led by you,"

Jon had only ever seen his sister punch someone in the face twice. The first time was the drunk Squire at the feast in Winterfell after the arrival of the royal party. The second time was when a another Lannister squire laughed at Lyanna after she found out she was to marry Joffrey in one of the corridors of Winterfell; that time both Jon and Robb had to pull her off the Lannister. Even Joffrey only received a slap, despite their fight. However, Lord Glover made the third man Jon had seen Lyanna punch in the face, but the first one Jon wasn't overly apologetic for.

Lord Glover was also the man who stayed true to his word and refused to pledge his house to fight against the Boltons, especially now Lyanna had broken his nose.  So far, their cause wasn't looking overly promising.

***

Word count: 1697

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