Winter is coming...

{Lann POV}

Spending time with Lyssa is always great. Although, she treats me like a little brother at times, probably due to our age difference. My young face doesn't help either.

But I have seen her blush every time we are in close proximity and our breaths merge. Just like how Jaskier said maidens do when they are agitated and feeling things. Not that my cheeks were any better though.

We have been spending more and more time together, talking about everything from her daily life to the gossip in her family. Apparently, my prank with the undergarments worked too well.

I wasn't expecting the divide between brothers to be formed so. At most the ghost would've been blamed but it seems I have underestimated how the male ego and emotions work. Jaskier even said that the male ego is more fragile than a rotten egg.

Today I was playing the 'lute' for Lyssa as I had promised. Took a whole week and some to learn one of Jaskier's songs. And there was also his smug look throughout.

But I guess it was all worth it. The smile on Lyssa's face as she hums along is worth going through all that.

"I've sung the song for you. Now tell me why you look so worried." I asked after ending the song. I probably know why though…

Lyssa looked conflicted before she looked at my face and sighed. "You know the ghost in the castle! It's causing a lot more trouble. We tried everything to find and chase it away, and now my family is thinking seriously of moving out of the castle."

"Uncle and father's disagreements have been growing and mother is always sad. Father doesn't even sleep in the same room as her anymore. It's all chaos there. I like staying with you much better."

Hearing her words I could feel a tinge of guilt but I crushed the feeling all the same. I couldn't be weak when I am so close to the finish line. I looked her in her eyes.

"If your family really does decide to move, will you go with them?" I asked not hiding my intent.

Looking at me she was going to speak when she seemed to suddenly realize it. She opened her mouth but closed it without speaking a word. It continued for a while until she just slumped onto my chest.

I kept silent and ran my finger through her hair. The two lion cubs seemingly sensing the mood came running and started licking Lyssa's fingers.

We had managed to tame the little beasts with a lot of meat and effort. Now as long as they were well fed, they were as docile as a dog with the two of us. It still felt unreal to me at times that these were the same beasts that could wipe out a group of men in no time.

Lyssa giggled and started playing with the lions while I just watched her by the side.

In the evening, when it was time for her to get back, she finally spoke. "I don't know what I feel Lann. But the time I have spent with you has been some of my best. I just hope I can spend more of my time with you."

She seemed to be contemplating something until she suddenly sprang up on me and kissed my cheeks. And just as quickly she ran away leaving me with a smile I would never forget.

"Our little lion is growing so fast." I heard the smirk in the voice of the bastard bard. Looking at him, I was even more irritated at him gesturing between my legs.

"Why can't you let me have my moments? Also, why do you disappear whenever Lyssa comes over?" I asked him something I had been thinking about for a while.

He looked entirely too amused at my question, which I hated. "Who knows little lion? Maybe I am a ghost!" That startled me.

Does he know? How much does he know? No! Calm down!

It's entirely possible for him to have inferred things through the rumors about the castle and what he knows of me. But what do I do about him?

Set the lions on him? Could they kill him? He always has this indescribable feeling about him like he is too powerful…

"Stop overthinking will ya. I can smell your brain melting and bubbling all the way from here." He cut off my thought process.

"You're not as smart as you believe yourself little lion. The wolf pup up north is way smarter than you. But he loves building more than anything. Bastard loves it so much he even skipped my lessons." I could hear his irritation by the last line.

This was once again new information. Information I didn't know what to do with. I don't even understand it to be honest.

"Who are you really?" I managed to croak out a sentence. I didn't know why but I was terrified of the question and the answer that might follow.

"Fear of the unknown. Most sentient beings are born with it so that they can stay away from knowing more than they should. Otherwise, madness is the least of the prices to pay for knowledge beyond your station."

"Can… can you read m-minds?" I was even more terrified.

He smiled. I had to do all I could not to piss myself. He stroked the chins of the two cubs that looked like they were playing with their own mother.

"I could if I wanted to but I don't. It takes away the sense of adventure. That's why omnipotent beings are always starved for entertainment." He started to speak.

"Anyway, your terror was written all over your face and you're not the first one to ask me that question. Many have pissed and shat themselves just by thinking of the question."

The more he spoke the more I could feel the terror rising. But there was also a warm feeling wrapping around me, making me inadvertently think of a mother's womb. Safe and comfortable.

"As for who I am, you've learned the runes and numbers yeah?" He asked me with some amusement in his voice.

I nodded. A terrifying hypothesis formed in my mind.

"Well yeah, I'm the Raven you so love to write about just to see the words disappear." Despite my terror, I swear I was so annoyed at the teasing I was ready to punch him.

I gulped the annoyance down with some saliva to wet my dry throat and asked again, "Why follow me? Why tell me now?"

He looked up into my eyes. "When you live long enough with no one by your side, you need to find fun things to do. To keep yourself from madness. So I go on adventures to find new stories. You were just interesting I guess.

And now that you are so close to the end of your adventure, I just felt that it would be rude of me to not introduce myself. After all, I am taking your story. You deserve some truth in exchange."

I was silent for a long while thinking of what I had just learned. Master Raven, who had taught the first men so many things was following me as the bard Jaskier.

I was bickering and insulting Master Raven, known to be powerful enough to sink entire islands. Shit! Stop thinking!

"Ahahahaha look at that face. It's worthwhile to reveal my identity just for these expressions." The bas- no, master Raven started laughing hysterically.

"Who is the wolf pup from the north?" I asked what I had in mind for a while.

"Heh, that's your first question? Feeling competitive, are we? He is called Brandon Stark or just Bran. A talented kid about the same age as you.

You'll probably meet him when you become the lord of Casterly Rock someday. Winter is coming after all."