Hari's Madcap Multiverse

"Promise me, Ned. Promise you'll protect her."

"I promise."

"Visenya. Her name is Visenya Targaryen."

_______________________________________________________

"Howland, We can't call her Visenya. It's a Targaryen name."

"Enya? Anya? Anna?" Howland hoped the baby wouldn't have silver hair. It wouldn't matter what her name was.

"Arya. We'll call her Arya."

_______________________________________________________

Being Master of Death kind of sucked. Well, Death was a bit of a dick.

Years ago he kept pestering her. "Go to a new world, Hari, a new reality. It is not a kind world. But you will find your soulmate."

And Hari had been hooked. A soulmate. A real soulmate. Not a bastardized soul connection forged by a psychopathic, murderous cult leader.

Hari finally agreed. And with no more information, Death sucked her into the new reality in the body of a child. Her childhood had too many reminders of her first life, with the added issues of no plumbing. She still had her magic, thank Death, but couldn’t use much as a child. Each year she slowly gained strength. Being a child sucked. In every reality.

Her father, Ned, was nice, kind, and gentle, but let his bitch of a wife abuse Hari. All of her siblings gradually grew distant after Catelyn coached them about bastards.

Hari was used to being hated for existing.

Still, it was an arrow through the heart when Robb started calling her bastard. He’d been like her twin. Sansa was such a cute, precious little sister for a few years, but now turned her nose up at Hari. Bran kept his distance and Rickon was just a babe.

One thing Hari did like about this reality was her name. Arya was a much cooler name than Hadrianna, which always made Hari wince in her first life.

But nobody called her Arya. Sometimes it was Ari. Theon teased her once and called her Hari, but was furious when she loved it and made everyone call her that. So she was Hari again, and it felt right.

_______________________________________________________

"The King is coming to Winterfell," said Ned.

"Yes, father." said Hari.

Ned grimaced. “Stay out of their way. Do not come to their attention.”

Hari felt a stab of pain. “I can stay in my room and pretend I don’t exist.” It was almost worse than the Dursleys when someone she loved and admired was so embarrassed by her existence.

Ned patted her shoulder. “That is not quite necessary.”

_______________________________________________________

The King and his entourage made a grand entrance to Winterfell. Hari was disappointed. Her previous reality was better at pomp and circumstance. She missed airplanes. And showers. And other people taking showers rather than riding for weeks on horses.

Hari often used a Notice-Me-Not charm during the King’s stay. She made avoiding the entourage a bit of a game.

Until one day she couldn’t.

Hari almost screamed when she woke up one morning with a name on her wrist. A very particular name. Her heart jumped at the idea of finally finding her soulmate. But the name… This was going to cause problems.

Hari pulled her shoulders back and walked toward the high table during breakfast. Ignoring Catelyn’s death glare, she walked to her father.

"Lord Stark," whispered Hari. "I need to speak with you."

Ned stared at her, unblinking. "It must wait."

"It can't."

"Meet me in my solar after the meal." Ned sat at the table, dismissing Hari.

_______________________________________________________

"What is it?" Ned didn't wait to sit before asking.

Hari peaked into the hallway and saw the guards were not near. She closed the door and walked to Ned's side.

"Father..."

He just stared at her.

She sighed and put her upturned wrist near his chest, pulling up her sleeve.

Ned looked at the writing on her wrist and gasped.

"Tywin Lannister," he whispered. He closed his eyes.

"He's the queen's father, right? There's not another of his name."

Ned rubbed his forehead. "He is the one. Soulmarks are a rare and powerful blessing of the gods. It is an honor. I don't want you to think otherwise."

"But?"

"But Tywin Lannister is a dangerous man. Not who I would choose for you."

_______________________________________________________

Weeks later, Hari was called to her father's solar.

She stopped mid-step after entering. A man was sitting in front of her father's desk.

He had broad shoulders, fine clothes, blonde hair, gray temples, and the most piercing blue eyes she'd ever seen.

Mine.

"Show me your wrist." His voice was stern and precise.

It would have been the height of bad manners for anyone else to ask.

Hari walked toward him and held out her arm, never taking her gaze from his eyes.

He stared back.

Then his eyes flicked down to her wrist. He pulled up her sleeve and stroked his name.

The sheer relief of touching her soulmate was enough that she could cast a Patronus from the feeling.

After ripping out the Horcrux, she'd always felt hurt. Alone. Soul pain.

But it was gone. This man may be a dangerous stranger, but he'd taken away pain she didn't realize was there.

It could easily be addictive. She didn't care.

Mine.

Tywin's neck and shoulders relaxed the smallest amount. He breathed deeply. He was feeling it, too.

Hari reached for his other wrist, slid his sleeve back, and her mind went blank.

No.

This wasn't right.

"You feel it. I feel it. You're mine. So...so why isn't my name...?"

"You don't know?" Tywin's gaze felt like Dumbledore’s.

"Who is Visenya Targaryen?" Hari's mind was whirling. Someone else’s name was on her soulmate.

Hari startled as Lord Stark stood, walking until he blocked the door. He was holding a dagger.

"Father?"

"No need for dramatics, Lord Stark," said Tywin. "I won't hurt her."

"I won't let you leave until I'm convinced."

"Father? What? Who is..." Hari's eyes were unfocused. "He's mine. But that name... must...be mine. How? My mother couldn't have been a Targaryen. There weren't any female Targaryens of the right age. And my last name would be Stark on his wrist. You...You came back with Lyanna's bones and me. And...no."

"You are a daughter to me. Your blood runs through my veins."

"But...Rhaegar? and Lyanna?"

"They were your parents."

"He raped her." Hari was going to be sick.

"No."

The tone of Ned's voice made Hari look up.

"No?" she whispered.

"I found Lyanna on her birthing bed. Rhaegar and Lya wed. They were in love."

Everyone was silent. Hari focused on her breathing, mind whirling. Tywin stroked her wrist.

"Do you want the throne?" asked Tywin.

Hari blinked. "I just found out that..." Hari cleared her mind.

Tywin's gaze sharpened.

Hari sighed. "Is Robert a good king?"

"No," said Tywin. The word was absolute, with no room for debate.

Ned growled. "King Robert is a good--"

"--soldier." Tywin cut in. "He is not mad. He does not burn people alive. But he does not make the kingdom prosper."

"In what way?" snarled Ned.

"The kingdom is bankrupt."

"What?"

"The royal accounts were prosperous under Aerys. It has taken sixteen years for King Robert to drive the kingdom into debt."

Ned rubbed his forehead.

“War will come to the Seven Kingdoms when we can no longer hide the financial situation,” said Tywin.

Ned looked away.

Hari watched in amazement as her father – her uncle – fidgeted. It was so unlike him.

Tywin’s fingers kept stroking Hari’s wrist. It was the best feeling she’d ever experienced. And distracting.

She started when Ned blurted, “We have word that the Lannisters murdered Jon Arryn.”

Hari’s head jerked to look at Tywin. She used passive Legilimency to see if he would lie.

“Preposterous!” said Tywin. “My daughter is Queen. Killing Jon Arryn would jeopardize the Lannisters.”

Hari sighed. “You’re telling the truth.”

Tywin’s eyes snapped to hers, and he seemed to look into her soul. “Yes.”

Hari nodded. “We need to plan the alliance between Houses Stark and Lannister.”

“And Targaryen,” added Tywin.

Ned’s voice was cold. “Not until you answer for Elia, Rhaenys, and Aegon.”

The words funneled into Hari’s brain. Rhaenys. Aegon. They were…they were her siblings. Hari’s siblings. Hari’s siblings were murdered. Hari’s siblings were murdered.

Tywin glared. “I cannot answer for something I did not do.”

“But you can answer for what you ordered,” said Ned.

Tywin locked eyes with Hari. “I did not order their deaths. I did not imply or suggest they should be killed. However, I did not mourn their deaths as it strengthened the peace.”

Hari slowly nodded. “He’s telling the truth.”

Ned slumped. Somehow his daughter – his niece – no, his daughter – could always tell if someone was lying. But he wasn’t ready to give up.

“You could have ordered a trial of Clegane and the others involved.”

“No.” Tywin looked faintly annoyed. “They were dead. It could not be undone. Their unfortunate manner of death made Robert’s rule stronger.”

Ned was silent.

“Visenya–”

“Hari,” she insisted.

Tywin’s eyebrow rose. “Hmmm.”

Hari had a distinct feeling Tywin wouldn’t call her anything so plebeian.

“You haven’t answered my question,” he said.

Hari frowned. “What?”

"Do you want the throne?"