“What am I to do with you?”

She continued sewing but a smile had formed on her face. He paced in front of her like a wolf awaiting it’s prey.

“Lyanna?”

“I don’t know father.”

“You don’t know?”

“I do not. But surely you do.”

The barest hint of a smile seemed to show through. “I do, I know what is best for my children. Do you know what is best for you?”

“At the moment listening to my father.”

“The correct answer would have been always listening to your father.” He started to pace again. “Tell me, why does a castle have walls?”

“Winterfell has walls so the water from the hot springs can run through them and keep us warm. For defensive purposes, they seem to have a way of keeping enemies out. They also keep the wind and rain at bay, and I do hear in some cases, they are rather good at keeping daughters inside.”

“In most cases.”

“Sometimes.”

“All except for Winterfell. It’s walls happen to not be daughter proof. As you prove daily.” She started to giggle and he sat next to her. “Why does it take eight of our household guard to track you down?”

“They might be doing a poor job.”

“Shall I have them sent to the wall to learn how to defend something properly?” He asked.

“No, the one that found me was quite handsome. I would like to be found by him in the future.”

His eyes fell on her again, in a cold un amused stare she tossed her hair to the side and held up the sewing. “Lovely. Why are you so obstinate?”

“Have you ever tried to cage a dire wolf?”

“I’ve never seen a dire wolf, caged or otherwise. Save the banners we have in our possession. So no, my ever intelligent little girl I haven’t tried to cage one.”

“But if you were to cage a dire wolf, do you think it would stay there? How would you entice it to be locked up forever?”

He shook his head. “Your playing a game with me, I do not appreciate having time wasted with this nonsense. I could board up your windows and lock them so I would only have the key. I could put three guards at your door to make sure you never leave. But why must I go through so much trouble? This is the twelfth time in a fortnight you snuck out the window. How did you manage this time? I took the ladder away, you have no access to rope. Your riding boots are with Brandon so you need to ask permission for that as well. How did you get into the gods wood in the middle of the night? I am far too old to be lecturing you in the middle of the night because you refuse to listen. You are a lady…”

“I am trying to be a lady, it is difficult with only brothers….”

“That is a lie. You do well as a lady, in company you are pleasant, polite and courteous to our guests. You ought to be turned over my knee and hit. But you’re a twelve year old girl, just coming into…your womanhood… It’s a bit late in your life for that now.”

“Where was mother from?”

He paused and thought on it a moment then sighed. “It isn’t important. You know everything you need to know about your mother. She was descended from the Flints….”

“But she was not one herself?  You never say…You only tell me I have a her look as well as yours, I am a good marriage between you two. But she was more level headed. Do weir wood trees grow on islands? How would she know so much on the old gods…?”

“Your asking questions that never needed answering. It’s like how when you were little, you had the same dream night after night that I would ride south and die. It was only because you’d just lost her, of course you felt like you would lose me too. You have clan blood. That is all there is to know.”

“What were her house words?”

“Winter is coming. She was lady of Winterfell. Come on, why are you going into the Godswood? Are you meeting someone?”

“No father. I like the Godswood at night. It’s more peaceful. I feel like I have a better chance hearing then answer my prayers.”

“Not once did you consider going through your chambers door and not the window?”

“If I went through the door would I be allowed outside while everyone is sleeping?” She asked.

“No. Your always complaining on going somewhere. You’d follow one of your brothers somewhere. It is not safe for a lady to travel on her own. You are to stay in the castle…”

“I am not to wander the hallways, or talk to any men in my night clothes, or invite them into my room to speak with me unless they are my brother and the door has to stay opened. Do you know what?”

“What?”

“I saw Brandon with a lady in his room and he shut his door.”

He sighed. “He did no such thing. He’s wild but he has limits.”

“I have limitless willfulness?”

“Indeed you do. But your father has limited patience. We are coming to an agreement now. While your in the castle you can wander the hallways and talk to whomever you like so long as you stay in an area where you can be seen. You will not take any men near your chambers, and you will not climb out your window or I will board it up. If you continue to break my rules for your safety I will hire a septa…”

That had made her angry. She crossed her arms and raised her voice. “ABSOLUTELY not. I am a Northern girl, we worship the old gods I have no need for a septa! I would rather you remarry!”

“And I would rather you sleep in your bed and not under the heart tree!”

“But you always know where to find me.”

“Yes, and when that is true you find somewhere else to hide. You could be injured or kidnapped you have no idea the dangers out there. I have kept you in Winterfell, protected and cared for…”

“If I were kidnapped, and they put a ransom on me would you pay it?”

He sighed. “Of course I would. But, I do not want you kidnapped. So, I want you inside my castle where you are safe.”

“We have clan blood?”

“You and your brothers have clan blood, quite a bit more in you and Brandon that attaches itself to your wolf blood so your completely obstinate. Why are you so interested now?”

“If we have clan blood, as much as you say at least…and Starks are descended from the first men could we have green dreams?”

“You are not one of the children of the forest, you can stay out of  the godswood, and the wolfswood at night.”

“But father, when I was there I could hear someone. Like how you can hear the gods…”

“Lyanna, I don’t actually hear the gods. I just tell you I do because it’s what you want to hear. You’re a willful little girl.” He knelt down so they were about level and looked in her eyes. “You have clan blood and Stark blood. The only part of that matters to anyone in the kingdom is the Stark blood. You are not a greenseer they’ve been gone for the longest time. But, it is well past the time that you need to stop acting out and listen to me.”

“I do listen to you…”

“Without talking back….”

“I don’t talk back…”

He sighed. “You don’t?” She nodded. “Come on, no more sneaking out. We need you to be a good, proper lady. It will be nice, men all over the North will bring you presents and ask for your hand in marriage. What do you want? What would entice you?”

She frowned. He took her hands and smiled at her. Then she started to smile. “Do you still have mothers things?”

“Some. I packed her trunk, would you like them? I’ll have someone bring it up to you. Her dresses….her jewelry…” She was thinking on it, and seemed tempted. “I do think there were books too. She liked writing.”

“What did she write?”

“What all ladies write. She liked poems and songs.”

“She didn’t share them with you?”

“Some, others she did not.”

“You’d let me have them…”

“All of it. But you have to listen to me. You need to obey me.”