This isn't new, I just needed to edit and add some things for the final chapter!

Okay, so here's my reasoning behind everything:

Robert was only a drunkard, glutton, and whoremonger because he was depressed over Lyanna (yes, even 15 years later) and he did not love Cersei. In fact, he kind of despised her ('cuz I mean, you all know what she's like). I think that if he had married Lyanna, he would have been a completely different man than the King Robert we knew in the books. I know that Lyanna believed Robert would never keep to one bed, but let's remember that she was around 14 (+/- 1) when she said that, she was upset about having to be married off (to anyone- Arya was described as being a lot like Lyanna), and that statement she made to Ned was born out of pessimism and the fact that she did not want, let alone love, Robert. She was wild, a free-spirit who hated being dictated to and controlled, but that was the world she lived in. She longed for freedom and was given chains instead. It doesn't matter that those chains were prettily disguised (because really, there were worse men she could have been married off to). I can hear cries of but it was his nature, and love is sweet but it can't change a man's nature! Robert started a bloody war to win Lyanna back, I'm sure he would have changed for her, or would have at least tried his hardest. And I really doubt that Ned (or Brandon) would stand by quietly while Robert cheated on his sister. So this story is what I imagine would have happened had she never been 'abducted' by Rhaegar (because that's a whole other debate).

Lyanna went riding after her father announced her betrothal to the Lord of Storm's End, Robert Baratheon.

The bright sun did little to diminish the cold but Lyanna did not mind. When she went riding, the wind whipped through her hair and she soared across the fields feeling weightless. It was the closest thing to freedom she had in this world ruled by men. Nothing else mattered when she was astride her horse. The world melted away until all she could feel was the horse's strength beneath her, the crisp air on her face, the smell of leaves in her nostrils. Life couldn't hurt her when she was lost in her own world. It was where she did her best thinking- or forgot that which she did not wish to think of.

Plaguing her at that moment was the betrothal hanging over her head like the threat of a noose. At times she thought a noose would be preferable to the prospect of being married off. She had met Robert Baratheon twice before. He was being fostered in the Vale with her brother, Eddard, and the first time she met him was when she visited her brother for his tenth name day. The second time was when Ned and Robert visited Winterfell for her tenth name day. She hardly remembered what he looked like, let alone his character. But if Ned claimed him as his greatest friend, he couldn't be a terrible person. Then again, Ned tended to be forgiving where family was concerned and he had been fostered with Robert from the age of eight. But no, no, she knew Ned enough to know that his forgiveness extended only so far and he would not claim a man as his greatest friend if he were not decent. However, a decent man does not always make a decent husband. That is all beyond the point though, Lyanna huffed. She spurred her horse to go faster in the hopes that the speed would let her outpace her thoughts as well. It wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair at all.

That last thought took all of the energy out of her. Her anger ebbed away into misery. She slowed the horse down to a canter, then a trot, and then nothing. She bent over its neck and there, in the middle of the forest with no eyes upon her, she let herself cry. They were angry, frustrated tears. A helplessness she had never felt before overwhelmed her. She would marry Robert because she had no other choice, but she would not be happy about it.

After she spent her tears in solitude and was sure her eyes were no longer red, she returned to Winterfell. It was only after depositing her horse in the stables that she realized she was not ready for company. Before anyone could stop her, she ran to the small pond in the godswood. The winter snows were whiter than the heart tree's trunk, but in the feeble light filtered through the sparsely leafed branches, the two colors blended into one. The lake had a thin layer of ice on its surface. Lyanna took a twig from the floor and stabbed the ice, but the twig broke in half without cracking the surface.

"It has been nearly a year since I saw you last, Lyanna. I thought you would seek me out."

Lyanna turned at the sound of her brother's voice. "I see your hand in this, Ned," she said with reproach.

"You have always known that you would have to marry. It was ever the only option."

"Why? Why is marriage my only option? Why can't I be a knight, or a court advisor, or a single woman making her own living? Why must I marry to be of any worth?"

"Your worth is not defined by your marriage," he said without conviction.

"But it is! You know it is! An old maid is a burden to her family."

Ned did not deny it. "This is the way of the world and for that I am sorry. I know you hate this, but Robert is a good man. He will be good to you and you will be the Lady of Storm's End. It is a good match."

"Good, good, good!" Lyanna said, her anger rising. "I don't want good. I want more for my life than good. I want to do as I please, and if I must marry, then I want to marry whom I please!"

"But you can't. You must do as you are bid."

"It isn't fair, Ned," she said in a small voice, all the fight gone.

"I know, but we can do naught to change it. Do you not trust me, though? I would not have supported Robert if I thought he would hurt you in any way. He's a good man, as you will see if you would stop running and return to the castle. He is half in love with you already and eager to see you."

"Robert will never keep to one bed. I hear he has gotten a child on some girl in the Vale."

"What Robert did before your betrothal is of no matter. He is a good man and true and will love you with all his heart."

Lyanna smiled sadly. "Love is sweet, dearest Ned, but it cannot change a man's nature."

"Don't be so quick to judge him, Lya. You hardly know him."

"Will we be married soon?" she asked with a sigh.

"No. His parents' recent death made him the Lord of Storm's End but he still has much to learn. He will remain in the Eyrie to learn more from Jon Arryn."

"Father mentioned that. I am sorry to hear about their passing."

"Yes, he . . . well, it is not my place to say. I am sure he would take comfort in your concern for his well-being. In any case, that is why he is looking for a wife at sixteen. I know he would rather wait but he is a Lord now and he must do his duty."

"As I must do mine. Very well, let us go join my betrothed. I have to go along with this but it does not mean I have to like it," she said.

Ned held in a sigh. With Lyanna it was best to choose one's battles. "That's fine, but you will act like the proper lady you were raised to be. You represent Winterfell, so make Father proud."

ooooo

"Lord Robert, I trust you are well?" Lyanna said.

"Much and more, especially now that you are in my presence, my lady," Robert said, taking her hand and placing a kiss on it.

Benjen hastily converted his chortle into a cough when Brandon elbowed him. Lyanna refrained from rolling her eyes and responded with all of the courtesy she was taught. "You are too kind, my lord. I hope your trip was without hardship."

"It was as pleasant as could be. I was just telling your brother that Winterfell is very different than I remember."

"It has been years since you were last here."

"Why don't you show him around, sister?" Benjen piped up with a too-innocent smile on his lips.

Lyanna turned to glare at him as Ned said, "what a good idea. You can show Robert around the castle and by the time you are finished, dinner will likely be served."

Lyanna looked pleadingly at Brandon but he discreetly shook his head. Lyanna grudgingly turned back to Robert with a genteel smile. "I am sure Lord Robert is tired from his long journey. Perhaps he would like to rest before dinner."

"Not at all," Robert said. "I should very much like to see the rest of this great castle."

"Very well. We may as well begin here."

She showed him the godswood as a test of sorts.

"Ned has told me that this is where he comes to be alone and think. Do you do the same?"

"Yes. Benjen and I often climb up in the trees and hide when we do not want to be seen," she said, motioning to the trees as she walked.

"Your septa must have been cross."

"I have no septa, my lord. We keep the Old Gods in the North," she said with a streak of rebellion. She may be forced to marry him, but she would never take the Seven.

"Of course, but did you have no equivalent? No one to teach you the ways of a lady?"

"No. I suppose Old Nan is the closest I ever had, and I had lessons with Maester Walys. I spend a lot of time here, though. This is our heart tree."

"I can see how some might find it peaceful here," Robert said, taking in the weirwood and the frozen pond.

"You do not?"

"Certainly, but I prefer company and noise."

"I like a balance. Do you have a godswood in Storm's End?"

"Yes, though it is not as large as this, and we only have a single weirwood with a solemn face."

" Come, let us see the armory next."

When they arrived, Harwin was hesitant to let them in, Lord Stark had given strict orders that Lyanna was not allowed access to swords or any other weapons.

"I asked Lady Lyanna to show me the armory," Robert lied. "I will answer to Lord Stark if there is a problem."

"Thank you," Lyanna told him once they were inside. "My father insists that ladies should not fight, but Bran and Ben have taught me in secret. You won't tell, will you?"

"Of course not, though your father is right. You do not need to know how to fight, it is for the males in your life to protect you."

"Why should they have to protect me when I can protect myself?"

Robert laughed. "That is a fair point. Well I shan't bar your access to the armory at Storm's End."

Lyanna looked up at the man, wondering if perhaps she was wrong about him. But then she remembered his indiscretion at the Vale and that thought slipped away.

ooooo

Robert, Ned, and Brandon went hunting, leaving Lyanna with peace for half a day, at the very least. She hid away in her favorite tree and was enjoying her time alone until Benjen found her.

"Lya, I need your help with-"

"No. Leave me."

Benjen grinned. "I see you're still wroth with me."

"If you don't leave right now-"

"I was only trying to help you! What better way to get to know your betrothed than a romantic walk?"

"You know perfectly well that I did not want to be alone with him."

"I don't understand what you have against Robert-"

"Lord Robert," Lyanna corrected.

"He gave me leave to call him Robert because we're to be related soon," he said defiantly. "Anyhow, I like him; he is humorous and tells great tales and the serving girls are in love with him already."

"Then they can have him!"

"There are worse men to marry, Lya."

"What would you know about any of this?" she snapped. "Wait until Father makes a match for you and then come tell me that."

"Father made a match for Bran when he was fifteen and he hasn't ever behaved as you are."

"Because it's different for him, and it will be different for you as well. Men can still do as they please after they marry while women are nothing more than property."

"That's more reason to want to marry Robert. He seems to truly like you so I don't imagine that he would treat you like property."

"Ben, you're still so little. One day, you might understand."

"You're only thirteen, Lya, so don't act like you are so much more mature than I am."

ooooo

Her family insisted upon leaving the betrothed couple alone so they could become acquainted, and though it aggravated Lyanna, she bore it with as much civility as she could, trying to find topics of conversation.

"Ned told me about your parents. I am sorry for your losses, my lord."

"Thank you, my lady. Your condolence is most appreciated."

"If I may be so bold, how did it happen? You need not answer the question if you would rather not."

"I would not keep this, or anything else, from you. King Aerys sent my parents to the Free Cities to find a wife for the prince. They were set to return a few moons ago, so I went home to be there for their arrival. My brother, Stannis, and I were watching from a tower waiting for them. Before long, their ship was in sight but they were caught in a storm off Shipbreaker's Bay, aptly named, I would say. The ship crashed and all those aboard were drowned, save a fool my parents had found."

"You saw it happen?" Lyanna asked in horror.

"Yes. It was . . . harrowing."

"I cannot imagine."

"You have had your share of grief. Ned told me your lady mother passed when Benjen was born."

"Yes, but I was too young to remember. I hardly remember her at all."

"That, too, is a tragedy," he said solemnly.

"I suppose it is."

So ended their final conversation. Eddard and Robert returned to the Eyrie the following morning and Lyanna saw neither of them until the tourney held in Harrenhal soon afterwards.