𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎 | The Cubs

{ Lyra }

✧✦✧

𝕸yrcella stood by Lyra's side, both of them dressed in dark dresses as they looked out across the courtyard. It was filled with activity, a mess of soldiers from three different armies, all beginning to get ready to leave.

Lyra had not been able to spend as much time with her siblings as she wished, but they understood. The peace talks had been held between Robb, Jon, Daenerys and Tylar, with Lyra signing off on what was agreed.

Tommas shifted in Myrcella's arms, sucking on his thumb as he slept soundly. Myrcella had been more than happy to hold him, loving her nieces and nephews, and Lyra had been more than willing to let her help. She knew that the woman was most likely missing her brothers just as much as Lyra was missing her husband. Margaery babbled on in Lyra's arms, talking softly as Lyra hummed and nodded.

"Mama!" Lyra turned at Mikael's shouts, watching the boy run towards her with Elia trotting at his heels. "Did you see the dragons?"

"I did." Lyra smiled. "They're big, aren't they?"

"Do you think I could ride one?"

"I'm not sure." Lyra shook her head as Myrcella chuckled beside her. "Maybe when you're older."

That satisfied her eldest son's curiosity, as the boy grinned and bounced around, before settling down as the doors behind them opened and Daenerys and Coren appeared. The older rulers were talking in hushed tones, before smiling as they came to a stop in front of Lyra.

"Thank you." Coren bowed his head. "For everything and I'm so incredibly sorry, once again."

Lyra nodded, mutely, as Coren finally relented and pulled her into a hug. Reaching up, Lyra gripped onto the back of his armour, letting her head fall and rest on Coren's shoulder.

"I know this isn't customs, but I think that after everything, we've gone past what custom dictates." Coren laughed as he pulled away, before reaching down to ruffle Elia's fur. "Stay safe and don't be afraid to send us a letter. We'll be happy to hear from you."

"I'll try my best." Coren nodded, stepping out the way for his wife, who held his hand out.

"I know we didn't always see eye to eye," Daenerys smiled gently. "But I admire you, greatly. Thank you for everything."

"Thank you for trying to help."

"We always will. If you need anything, ask." Daenerys nodded her head, still keeping the warm smile on her face. "We're allies now and we want to help. Essos won't be hit by the winter as harshly, so whatever you need, just ask."

Lyra nodded, watching as the pair walked off to their advisors. They were sailing back to Essos as soon as possible, more than ready to go home once more. 

"Sister." Lyra turned as Arya appeared ahead of her, from seemingly nowhere, wrapping her arms around the older woman. Lyra smiled, squeezing her gently.

"Try not to get too badly sea sick." She teased as Arya snorted.

"I won't." Arya shook her head, before leaning down to ruffle Mikael's hair and Elia's fur, sending the babies a wary look. That brought a small smile to Lyra's face. "I'll let you know what I find."

"If you ever need to dry off, you know where I am."

"Aye," Arya rolled her eyes, sending the older woman one last wave, before rushing away to her own crew. The girl was determined to get going, just as Daenerys and Coren were, excited to sail off and explore on her own.

The final group to come out of the castle was the remainder of Lyra's siblings. Jon and Aoife were travelling North with Robb, before continuing on to the wall, and Lyra didn't want to admit that she was going to miss them more than anything.

"Time for another goodbye." Robb joked, pulling Lyra into a tight hug, being careful of Margaery. The woman smiled, wrapping her free arm around her brother. "Remember, sister, you're a Stark. You're strong and if anyone were to rule five kingdoms, it would be you."

In the peace talks, the Riverlands and the North had officially been returned to Robb's command as he'd first set out to do. He had earned it after all the battles that he had undergone.

"Don't ruin the North." Lyra teased gently as Robb laughed. "Otherwise I might have to help start a war again."

"Do not joke about that." Jon pitched in, shooting Robb and Lyra a look. "I don't want to come back from beyond the Wall and have to clean up your messes again."

"We did a very good job at that ourselves."

"Ramsay." Jon argued back, causing Robb and Lyra to relent. "That is what I thought."

"At least we didn't join the Night's Watch and then break out vows less that a year and a half later." Jon scowled at Robb's words, though Aoife was laughing behind him.

"That is good." Aoife cackled once more, as Jon shot her an offended look. "What? It is true."

"That doesn't mean you have to laugh at it." Lyra began to chuckle as Jon pressed a kiss to her cheek, shortly followed by Robb doing the same. "Come and visit?"

"Well, I will try." Lyra turned to Aoife, pulling her into a brief hug as the older woman laughed. "If you ever want to come to King's Landing, then I will always be open to having you. All of you."

"The same goes for Winterfell." Robb nodded. "Eliza wants you to know that it will always be open to welcome you home."

The siblings shared a final smile, before Robb, Jon and Aoife dispersed to begin the long six month journey back North.

"We'll see them soon." Lyra turned, watching as Sansa joined her and Myrcella's side. The auburn haired Stark crouched, allowing Mikael to hurry into her arms. The little boy giggled, clinging to his aunt, as she stood up once more. "I know it."

"You can still go with them, you know?"

"No." Sansa shook her head, sending the other two women a smile as Tylar and Arah emerged from the castle, standing behind the trio. "No. Winterfell is my childhood home, but too much has happened in the North now, and I missed being in King's Landing with you. I am staying."

Lyra shot her sister a smile, before reaching down to grasp onto her hand. 

"I am always glad to have my sisters with me." Lyra squeezed Sansa's hand, before turning to look at Myrcella. "Both of my sisters."

Myrcella shot her a weak smile as they watched the various parties ride out of the gate of the Red Keep.

"Your Grace." Tylar leant forward, ruffling Elia's fur. "It's time."

✧✦✧

Staring at the double doors of the Throne Room, Lyra half expected for Joffrey to be standing next to her, ready for them to make their entrance. But her husband wasn't there.

Lyra sighed, turning back to look at the front.

"Mama!" Turning, Lyra smiled as Mikael came rushing to her side. He was beaming, still dressed in his dark doublet. A golden pin was on his shirt, signifying that he was the crown prince, and he came to a stop by his mother and Elia with a giggle. 

"Mikael. I thought you were going to be with Arah?"

"No." Mikael shook his head, before holding his hand out. "I wanted to walk my Mama in. Like Da does."

Lyra felt tears well in her eyes, but she brushed them away and took Mikael's hand. The doors in front of her opened, the hall filled with courtiers and Lyra paused. She wasn't sure if she could do this.

Mikael gave her hand a tug, sending her a smile, as Lyra found her courage once more, walking with her son down the aisle. The courtiers bowed their head as Elia padded past, rushing up the dais to sit beside the Iron Throne. 

To the left of the throne sat Sansa and Myrcella, both of them smiling gently. Tylar was hovering behind the throne, his hand on his sword, as he watched her. Lyra looked down at Mikael as they reached the stairs, climbing up them as her son led her to the Iron Throne. Lyra sat down, watching as her son hurried to sit with Myrcella and Sansa, sending her another grin.

Lyra took a deep breath as Rolan joined her side, ready to begin the day's proceedings, as Lyra leant back into the throne, the swords cold against her back.

"All hail, Lyra Baratheon, Queen of the Five Kingdoms." Lyra kept a small smile on her face, looking straight ahead as her husband had. "Ruler of the Andals and the First Men."

"All Hail!" Came the call from the courtiers as they bowed once more. Lyra surveyed the scene in front of her, tilting her head up. For a brief moment, she thought she saw Joffrey standing at the back of the hall, that familiar half-smile on his face, but he was gone in a blink.

"Thank you." Lyra snapped herself out of her thoughts as the doors closed. "Please rise. Rolan."

The man began to list off the day's duties, as Lyra pressed a hand to the curve of her stomach, smiling gently. She could do this, even if her husband was not standing beside her. Joffrey would always be with her. He was there in Myrcella's set jaw and small smile, in Sansa's courage, in Arah's cunning, in Tylar's laughter, in Mikael, Margaery and Tommas' eyes, in Lyra's heart and in the life that grew within her.

𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐔𝐌

Hiya,

Ending the book is always one of the hardest things for me to do. Lyra and Joffrey were one of my oldest pairings and books that I wrote. Coming to the end of this book always makes me sad because it's the end of their story but there's still an Epilogue to go before we move onto the other three books in the series.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx