SINNER
dedicated to malgneto & luciangemini

The things we love destroy us every time, lad. Remember that.
Jeor Mormont

•••

Laila Ryswell had close to nothing. Born into a house that was frequently loyal to the Starks, she never truly had a place within their walls. Her mother and father weren't the wealthiest in her house; not to mention that she never knew her mother anyways, due to her dying in childbirth. Laila and her father had no place living in the Rills for most of her childhood, so they headed North and found shelter with the Starks of Winterfell.

Ned Stark, the recent Warden of the North, quickly trusted the Ryswell father and daughter, and agreed to letting them stay within their walls if they pulled their way. Laila's father agreed to steward for Lord Stark, while Laila, at age seventeen, became the handmaiden of Catelyn Stark.

Ten years later, Laila sits by her father's bed and watches him die. A fever had overtaken him a week prior, and at his old age, Maester Luwin had only predicted the worst. Laila was heartbroken that she officially had no family left, but the Starks welcomed her as one of their own, and for that, she was grateful.

Finally, at age twenty-nine, Laila was informed by Lady Catelyn that Robb was calling the banners of House Stark, and that he planned to start a war with House Lannister over them imprisoning Lord Stark after he left for King's Landing with Sansa and Arya. She accompanied Catelyn on her journey to war with the other hand maidens, and Laila got her first glimpse at a life of war.

The War of the Five Kings was hard to bear, and she hadn't even fought in it. Laila had to look at the strewn corpses after every battle, as she walked past the encampments with Lady Catelyn. She wouldn't ever be able to endure a life such as this, which is why she admired those in Robb Stark's company, like Freya Greyjoy.

After taking on the likes of Brienne of Tarth when visiting the Stormlands, Catelyn Stark certifies a small group of women to serve as her counsel. She trusts both Laila and Brienne more than she should and this leads to an odd alliance. But when she theorizes that releasing a certain prisoner may help her get her daughters, Sansa and Arya, from the clutches of the Lannisters, Catelyn may send the most unlucky duo on a mission to return him to King's Landing.

CAST

NINA DOBREV
AS LAILA RYSWELL
the dutiful handmaiden

NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU
AS JAIME LANNISTER
the kingslayer

GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE
AS BRIENNE OF TARTH
the lady knight

MICHELLE FAIRLEY
AS CATELYN STARK
the honorable mother

LENA HEADEY
AS CERSEI LANNISTER
the loving sister

TRAILER

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© stxrmborn

This is a fan fiction for HBO's Game of Thrones. It is primarily focused on the television show, not the books. Not all events in this are true to the canon or TV show/books. This story is a slow burn.

DISCLAIMER: 1) I do not own any of the original Game of Thrones characters that are mentioned in this story; these belong to HBO/George R. R. Martin. 2) I don't own any dialogue taken from the Game of Thrones television show. 3) I do not own the mentioned House Ryswell; this house belongs to George R. R. Martin. 4) I own my original character, Laila Ryswell, and some of the original character's plot.

WARNINGS: This story features cursing, violence, sexual themes, character deaths, and triggering topics (i.e. sexual assault). Do not read if you are uncomfortable with those.

SPANISH TRANSLATION: This story is being translated into Spanish by ares1711. Check it out here: http://my.w.tt/UiNb/wF3Sikp2yE

NOTE: Some characters from my other GoT stories might show up in this story. It's not necessary to read those other stories to then read this, but if you want to learn more about those characters, then I suggest reading the stories they are featured in! All of my GoT stories are connected and exist in the same universe, as they are part of the Rare Women Series, but you do not need to read them in order.

BOOK I: Season 2
BOOK II: Season 3

•••

A/N: How many GoT fics will I write???? The world may never know?????

I've always been like a silent big fan of Jaime. I usually never mention it but??? I love him???????????

Also I'm just recognizing that I am, in fact, a total hypocrite, because I wrote a whole chapter in my rant book a while ago about using generic face claims. I'm, I guess, technically using a generic face claim here ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ In mY DEFENSE THO, I NEVER MENTIONED THAT NINA DOBREV IS GENERIC BC SHE IS MY KWEEN

Okay so, let's see how this goes??? Prepare for tears fam

Happy reading!