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Chapter Text

𝐑𝐎𝐇𝐀𝚰𝐍𝐍𝐄 𝚰

The sky had not yet set as she lounge in the godswood. Peraphs the sky and sun , had stopped merely for her, Rohainne thought selfishly. Their was a faint chill she thought , in only a few moons spring would wither and autumn would rise.

The sky was still as bright as a birds song , it's clouds as pale as her cousins hair. She smiled as she heard the birds chirp , not even her cousin , Rhaegar's, could sound so pleasant on a spring day.

Though she heard many a courtiers praise it as the finest sound to grace their ears, nonsense, to her. Bookish old Rhaegar's ,playing, was far too melancholy to be enjoyed , she criticised. Ever happy to find fault in her annoying elder cousin.

Though his music was much like him , she mused, far too mournful to ever be truly enjoyed. She loathed her cousin rhaegar (though many ,like Arthur Dayne , would say it was merely a petty one-sided childhood rivalry , from her side).

She would throw herself from a tower , the day she was to wed him , she dramaticized. She had been offically betrothed to him since age six , a ward in the red keep since four and a half year. She had long grown accustomed to the red smelling keep Kings landing.

It had been a relatively-medium-length winter this season , lasting nearly two years , on the shorter side of snow season. The summer before it had been rather short too , even shorter than red haired Jon Connington , she giggled.

She knew that the smallfolk likely suffered from the short summer , but did they not always suffer?. She did not much think of the smallfolk , after all she had enough fruits and meats on her plate.

Still nothing could dower the joy of feeling the sun and sea upon her skin. She had not even been annoyed , when her silver headed betrothed , asked her for a dance that day at the King's feast.

She laughed so hard that day when the raven of spring came , rolling around in the goodswood grass for hours. Laughing so hard her belly ached , gratefull to feel the sun on her back. Dressing in a one of her dornish styles , not bothering to fix her maine of tumbling raven locks afterwards.

She had smiled so much that day , that now her plush cheeks had begun to ache. It was the best kind of ache, Rohainne decided, to ache from joy. Her vanity amused , when she thought that rhaegar would never know such a ache.

Rhaegar rarely smiled , not even in private was he generous with them. He often smiled at her though, she thought proudly. Though it seemed so strange on his face, he was prettier when he didn't smile that arrogant,beaming, blinding, lop sided -grin.

She had summarised that the reason of his so generous smiles to her was likely mockery. He likely took amusement when she got a answer of the maestar's wrong. Maybe he even tried to hide snickers of laughter , behind his ever so cool complection, she thought angerly.

How dare he mock her , did he think himself more handsome than her? She was to be the fairest maiden in the realm , when she grew up , all the courtiers agreed. Except Lord Tywin and his men , though she had never seen the light of the west, she was sure she was more comely.

Did he think himself more agreeable than her because he had more freinds? Rhaegar baerly had any freinds , infact she could only think of Arthur dayne and Jon Connington , unless you counted Richard Lonmouth and Myles mooton as freinds.

It was no fault of her own she had no companions here in the keep? She had plenty back in Storm's End her Estermont cousins and jeyne swann too. Her mother's court was full of lady's and wards , most of whom , loved her. Praising her as "the fairest doe that ever lived"

Regardless if it came to why she had no true lady companions in the Red keep , she would blame it mostly on Queen Rhaella , Rhaegar's mother.

She did not have Lady's in waiting , as future consort crown princess were supposed to have. Her aunt Rhaella , had sent all of her own away and refused to let Rohainne have her own. How must her aunt survive , she always looked as miserable as her son.

Her aunt had made a speach that day on why ,something-something , about the King and duty and saftey, she had yawned half way through.

She thought it selfish of her aunt to deny her companions , Rhaella's son, had plenty of sons of nobleman to be freind at court. Yet , he was only courteous and distant to most , boring,book-struken, had few freinds.

Ser Arthur and Jon Connington did not seem to like her very much , though on variable levels , from dislike to utter loathing. Ser Arthur always gave her disapproving , disappointed glances , as if she had broken his heart. She had concluded from thus and his short curt reply when she wished to engage in conversation with him that , the Sword of the Morning , was no admirer of hers.

He often shook his head or sighed , when Rhaegar offered to bring her a book , or walk her to her chambers, or lent her coin and bought her jewels. Even when Rhaegar wrote songs for her (however melancholic they may be) gave a pitying look their way , peraphs it was sadness brought on by the music

Jon conningtonon the other hand had a completsly diffrent deamnour to her , he outright hated her. He loathed her very being , as much as she loathed Rhaegar's. Peraphs he did it in spite of her and in defence of his stupid freind.

When the boy first came to court she had been so excited , he was a from the Stormlands and freind to her father, he would be a freind. Yet, it seemed the furey-headed boy with the broken nose , much preffered Rhaegar to her.

She felt a twinge of envy towards her cousin , was Jon not supposed to be her freind , she was just as comely as rhaegar and was much more pleasant company. She even rode and hunt , all the hobbies that the red headed liked , why couldn't he be her freind?

Though she soon let go of that weave of thought as she lay in the shade of the heart tree mind wandering to Rhaegar's other freinds.

She had like Richard and Myles , they were ever so agreeable to her. Unlike his other , older, freinds such as Arthur Dayne and Jon Connington. Lonmouth and Connington were both fellow Stormlander's and Bannermen to hers father.

She had even played a game of "court the lady" with Myles and Richard , even the younger robar Royce and joined the gamem. Though only on the promise that they all swear to the gods , old and new , to never tell anyone. They ran in rings trying to be the fastest , the one who fell from dizziness , lost. The prize was a peck from her lips for the winner of her little game .

When she tried to invite the red-haired Connington he only coloured a furious red , as bright as his hair. Scolding her and fibbing to Rhaegar and her father , though kindly not telling the king. She had lost her allowance for three moons afterthat and even Rhaegar hardened though only for a moment towards her.

Even her aunt Rhaella heeard, lecturing her on the importance of virtue and integrity for a lady. She had been on a tight boat with her septas for two weeks , until everyone , including RAT-egar forgot.

Though he eventually thawed , after half a day , letting her use his allowance , to buy things herself trinkets of jewellery and gowns without complaint. He even complimented her new hawk , bought with a loan from him that she had no intention to pay back and still doesn't.

A few moons after that , just after her thirteenth nameday , she had kissed Richard under the weirwood tree , forgetting the previouse lectures. She had sat straddling his lap as his hands wandered from her hair to up her skirt.

She had allowed his hands to wander and lift up her skirts , unfastening her dress , until she was left only in her small clothes and corset. He had fumbled desperately at the ties of her corset until she did him a favour and did it herself.

They both had blushed the deepest shade shade of crimson , as they fumbled with laces and ties trying desperately for more skin to skin contact. Her pale skin flushing a deep pink , as she kissed him desperately with fever.

Their kisses had been sloppy and inexperienced , trying to figure out how to work their mouths into one another. She had baerly noticed how quickly they had undressed , under the gods sacred tree . Until they were skin to skin , ad bare as their namedays.

She had taken a moment to gasp at him in wonder , before he sheathed himself inside of her. He had been fast and rough with his rhythm , not takeing a moment to let her adjust. It had only taken a moment for them to both come undone , under the heart tree.

They had basked in the afterglow , faces flushed and bare as babes. Richard every the honourable Knight had suggested running away to elope. It was only until she reminded him of the thin thread of the Kings sanity , did he calm.

While Richard was handsome and as lively as she , he was only a Bannermens son. If he suggested it only a week ,before, she would have gladly agreed and even kidnapped the seoton to elope. How bueatiful would it have been , Richard , her lively bridegroom and she his stunning bride to be.

Yet , only seven days prior she had seen the king burn a newly-weded common landed Knight and his bride , on the night of their consumption. For the common girl had dareed to refuse the king of his right of the first night , on her wedding day.

Never mind that the traditon had long been abolished and made unlawful , since the days of King Jaehaerys the first and his good Queen Alysanne , for nearly 132 years.

The bridegroom had been burned alive , in public ceremony so his lady wife could watch. The burning only stopped when the poor Knights bones had become chared ash along with his screams. The king had forcefully taken the bride before burning her alive also , stating it was his right.

She had shuddered to think what he might do to her and Richard , if he found out she had been dishonoured before her wedding day with his son. She was a great Lords daughter , he may likely at most make her convert her life to the faith .

Her Richard was no son of a great Lord , nor a bannermen of much importance. He would likely be burned alive as she watched , she had nearly puked at the wretchedness of the thought.

Still Richard had promised her that if her betrothal to Rhaegar was broken , he would steal her away and make her his bride that very same night. She had smiled , amused by such a hopeful dream , kissing his cheek as they dressed and ran to their own respective chambers. The cloack of night so dark that surely no one could have seen them.

Since then she had only bedded Richard though she did have a small dalliance with a minor lannister cousin named lanttecet, a squire of lord tywins. He had sworn to her on the old gods and new that he would never tell anyone. Even so it had only been a few kisses on his lap and some fondling , he never breached her maidenhead

Even if he did , who would belive him ? Her father would not , likely coming to his only daughters defence , so would her mother. Everyone and the king would agree that the boys words were lies , scripted by Lord Tywin Lannister.

Everyone would agree on her innocence and say this was just another minor lannister cousin trying to gain favour with Lord Tywin. By attempting to smear a good lady's name , in order to break the betrothal , so the prince may wed his leiges daughter , Lady Cersei.

Everyone knew how much Lord Tywin coveted a match between his daughter and the crown prince. He had advanced for it infront of the court in the past. It would do no harm to her or her reputation , she thought, satisfied.

She quickly stopped thinking of the lannister boy and it's consequences , as she realized nothing bad could truly happen to her and her family from her fun with him.

As her mind drifted from her thoughts to the sky she realized it was far too late and time to be heading back inside the keep. For the sky had gone as dark as a fresh greiving widows gown , she reluctantly began to dustoff her dress .

She felt a dribble of rain begin , too distracted with not getting her gown wet , she tripped. Her body landing on the hard grey stones of the godswood, dress now muddied , as the rain began pouring. She had momentarily rejoiced in the light rain and quiet of the late evening finding it pleasant.

Yet, now she cursed the gods for her dressed had ripped , and her knee scraped. She had wanted to cry and run to her mothers arms (though she knew it to be ridiculous for such a occasion). Stags did not cry , and she was the mightiest stag of all Storms end.

What was a few ripped seams of her dress, and a sum mud on her. She was born beside shipbreaker bay , she had not be cowed by the lightest storms of Storm's End. What was a little water to ruin her day?

She still remembered being baerly four on her mother's knee watching as the storm broke ship after ship. Devouring sailors, merchants and envoys alike that night as merciless as the gods. That night imports from the Reach were to be imported to Storms End , yet eachone sank like the sailors.

None survived that faithfully night at shipbreaker bay , the maestar had sworn that he had seen no signs of a storm. Why would he? It was the middle of a green summer , even the stormlands rarely had storm without much wind.

She wondered if stannis remembered the memory , likely not she baerly remembered it , herself. Being only four when the storm happened , only faintly remebering it as one of her first memory's.

Stannis had been two and eight moons ,according to mother, when the incident happened. It would be a miracle if he did remember something so young. Her brother had been in the vale for two years now , she wondered if he thought of her ever.

She missed Stannis , though the seven would have to torture her to get her to admit it (or maybe just make her spend more than a hour hearing her cousin drone on about prophecy , both were equal in agony). Still she often wrote to her grim and dour brother , she wondered If spring had also arrived in the Eyrie yet.

She may not like Stannis but their were few people to talk to in the Red keep , she found herself , pathetically, lonely. She could either go to the Sept , stich and read scripture with aunt Rhaella's septas , or talk to Rhaegar. She didn't know which one would have her clawing out her eyes in boredom faster , probably Rhaegar.

She grabbed onto a tree , getting up quickly , dusting off her dress again and fixing her hair. She ran as fast as she could avoiding the tricky steps.

She quickly ran up the stairs of the red stone walls , desperately hiding her face from any onlookers. Though to her satisfaction their were none , not even any chamber maids.

She had used the secret passageway Rhaegar had shown her once on one of their walks , a new one he himself had discovered , wanting to show her. The same one she used when meeting with Richard.

Chapter Text

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐈

Arthur had joined the king's guard at only nineteen , thinking himself ready for anything. He was atill young when he joined , imagining himself to be ,Ser Ryam Redwine, valiantly protecting a good King and his family.

He had know that he would have to forsake Starfall for it , and he did. Lordship did not suit the Sword of the Morning , it never had. His brother had been the bookish one , every good with numbers. He would make a fine Lord of Starfall , if only he were the elder .

He would have to give up all ; titles , lands , family , and dreams of a wife and children , to join the brotherhood. For then on , he would have no brothers , other than his fellow Kings guard , no sisters.

He would bo longer be Arthur Dayne , heir to Starfall , son of the Lord of Starfall. He'd rise as Ser Arthur Dayne , a Knight of the Kings guard. No father , but the father above.

Yet , the promise of joining and good and honourable brotherhood bound by blood and oath , had been his boyhood dream. To join an order of the greatest knights who ever lived , protecting and defending the seven kingdoms and it's King , was it not a just and good cause , he thought.

He would not have to forsake everything completely , he thought . He knew Prince Lewyn Martell of Dorne , uncle to his childhood companions , Oberyn and Elia , still wrote home.

It was said the Dorneish Prince still occasionally visited Sunspear , while travelling on the king's missions. He himself had only seen the Prince once before , at a feast in the Water gardens nearly 10 years ago.

Some even said that the Dorneish Prince kept a lover , a handsome man , kept at the hill of the Red keep. For the Kings guard vows stated "no wife , and children" , it did not state lover.

He had contemplated the idea before finally deciding that the next time he return to Starfall , he would be a brother of the Kings guard.

His brother would be Lord of Starfall , and Ashara , hand maiden , to the Princess of Dorne. They would not feel his lack too greatly , he had thought.

After all , who knows Ashara could come and live in court with him.
.
....

The night he had been appointed , had been the greatest night of his life. He had won the tourney and crowned his sister , a fifteen year old Ashara Dayne, as his Queen of love and bueaty. His brother had patted him on the back congratulating him , staying a extra night in King's Landing just to watch the ceremony.

He had remembered being knighted , but this was much grander. Their was a septon , and the king himself and his heir attended. Even Queen Rhaella , as pale as ever, and her ward , the Lady Rohainne Baratheon , the prince's ward had come to the celebration. The entire court had been lined watching him become the Kings guard. One of the younger ones in a generation , only nineteen going on twenty.

He was a man grown , but under the shean of celebration , his light airy smile made him younger. He looked the same as when he was a both of fifteen swearing the vows of knighthood again.

In front of the old gods and new , as the court watched , ge kneeled. He briefly glanced at his sister , Ashara , talking to the red viper and Lewyn Martell.

He had steadied himself , brows furrowed I'm concentration , as the septon came. Today he would be the Sword of the Morning , brother of the Kings own guard.

He felt the unease , most men felt at their weddings . Just like marrige , Kings guard vows were for life , forever bounding you're loyalty to one. Though he thought his marrige to the Kings guard , would be happier than most.

His eyes fixed on the septon , as he dipped his fingers in seven oils.

He had been annointed with the seven holy oils , even though certain rhoynish houses had their own gods , thankfully Arthur was not apart of them. He had kneeled infeont of the Iron throne and it's King , swearing his vows to the brotherhood.

The king himself had placed the sword on his shoulders , a replica of the ancient sword , Blackfyre. It had felt like cold steel , heavier than Dawn. As if the weight if the vows , truly pressed upon him.

As he arose , he found looks of pitty thrown at him from the White bull and Barristan the bold. Even Jonathan darry fave him a smile , that seemed to speak he believed Arthur foolish. The rest , like Lewyn Martell , had given him shifty looks and awkward pats on the back

Why would they look at him such , was he not their brother , of blood and vow , now. He had understood later that night , the youngest always takes patrol , infront of the Kings chamber.

Tradition had demanded that the youngest Kings guard take the night shift , with his brothers, protecting the King. He had followed the White bull and Ser Barristan , almost boyishly, as he was led to guard the King. Like a lamb eager to see blood.

He had been forced to take watch , as the king raped the Queen. He could not bear it , was he not to intervene. When he tried to open the door , Ser barristan had merely told him to sit. He had looked into his eyes , hand gripping his shoulder ,tight.

"This is the cost of you're oath ,boy, we serve the King no matter what he does" he had told him.

He had heard the screams , night after night. The poor Queen Rhaella begging for mercy , what sort of coward was he to not help? Was this the cost of the Kings guard , to forsake you're oaths as Knights?

Yes he knew of the lath to obey the king , no matter what, but what of the oath to protect all those who could not defend themselves ? He had nearly spiraled , unable to look a Queen Rhaella , without his head ducked in shame.

He had been finally put out of his misery , a month in , by Ser Barristan. He had assigned him to guard the prince , a quiet boy of only thirteen , 5 years his junior.

He had made fast freinds with , Rhaegar , finding him a much worthier King to serve than his father. The prince was , intellectual , thoughtfull , though oftentimes melancholic. He had grown quickly from green boy to a man grown of age.

Rhaegar did not much take to the sword , he liked singing. Fond of the harp and books , rather than sheild and sword , he was a scholarly Prince.

He had once confided in Arthur that he felt the burden of being the only son and that he did not think his father wished him heir. Though it took moons to draw this confession out , after months of silent melancholy.

That day Arthur had chosen to ignore the vow of forever obidence to the King , instead swearing to be his sons Knight.

He was not forsaking amy vows ,for, Rhaegar was the future King -to -be. Was it not better to serve a wise , and king Crown Prince , than a mad King ? He knew Rhaegar would be a good King , in his bones he did.

His freind was quite intelligent , aways having one head buried in a scroll. Though bookish was not the preffered quality in a king , better bookish than mad. He had sworn to serve the royal family in it's whole , and he'd much rather serve Rhaegar , for he was king to be.

To further add to Arthur's belief in this, the prince had begun training , a year after they met.

At fourteen he was considered quite old , to just begin training , yet Rhaegar was rather determined at this. Their was a fire lit in his eyes , that Arthur had never seen before. It had burned as bright as the Dornish sun , that day.

"It seems I must learn the sword if I am to be a warrior to defeat the night" Rhaegar had said

Since age twelve he he believed himself to be the princed that was promised. Though never truly understanding what it would take. Until he found a old tome about light bringer and the long night. He must be a warrior too, if he was to defeat the long night.

. His eyes misty , body posed as if ready for conflict. He had looked a true dragon that day, like the king's of old.

He had given it his all , even going so far as to wake up at three in the morning before the sunrise , let alone people awoke . He had wanted to train early , where no one would see. Arthur assumed it was because of the Prince's shyness , not wanting prying eyes around him as he learned.

Though it could be , it would be embarrassing for people to see him learn the sword , at fourteen instead of four. It would not do well for his vassals to see their leige baerly able with sword and sheild.

He himself had picked up his first sword and begun fighting at eight years old. While men like the red viper , have had , spear in hand since age five. Even Brandon Stark is reputed to have killed his first man , 4 years ago , at age ten.

Since then they had been training ,day after day. For if would not do well for men , to see a crown prince vested round after round. They would begin training on the training field in appropriate hours after Rhaegar learnt some of the basics.

They had trained for nearly three hours , until Rhaegar had finally relented to rest. The prince had ripped the blood off is lip, and thanked Arthur.

He had studied in the lance too , takeing it like a duck to water. After just 2 moons of training , he managed to un-horse Arthur in only four tries. He had a lean body but enough strength to hold onto his horse , a good form for jousting.

Though that often ment nothing in war , a loose hair , a small river , even a tilt of the wind , could determine the winner. Still Rhaegar would never weird any warhammers , instead his best option was the Bastard sword.

Rhaegar had been quick ,very quick, to learn. He raerly repeated the same mistake , though he lacked the strength of most warriors. Rhaegar's strength lay in speed and precision , rarely missing a mark.

The prince was a bueaty, anyone with eyes could see that , many a maiden wanted him. Arthur understood it properly in that moment when , Rhaegar smiled at him exhusasted , hair wet with sweat.

Rhaegar's smile was a little lopsided , his hair messy and sticked to his forehead. He had shaken Arthur's hand , congratulating his victory.

This is what a king was supposed to be , Arthur thought. Courages , and kind , open hearted , generous , Rhaegar would be a brilliant monarch , certainly better than his father.

Rhaegar had made it a consistent part of their routine now. Ever determined to best Arthur , either at lance or sword. The prince had progressed becoming , faster and swifter in his attacks.

After these spars , he often confided in Arthur. The Prince rarely showed his emotions , seldom what he was thinking. Though it seemed these training sessions ,and the tiredness that came with it , collapsed some of his barriers.

They had been training like this for nearly a year now , his twenty first birthday passing and Rhaegar just having had his fifteenth.

He had spoken of his great destiny , a long night was to come. He had told Arthur that he believed himself "the Prince that was promised". Peraphs that was the reason for his melancholy , a great burden on his shoulders.

....

Arthur was no blind man nor was he oblivious, he would see the way ,his freind, Rhaegar looked at Rohainne

. He had found that Rhaegar ,for all his bueaty , rarely talked to ladies. He had been Rhaegar's sword sheild formerly a year now , and despite being neatly a man of fifteen , he had never frequented a brothel. While odd , it was a good quality in a man for him to stay loyal to his beloved.

No matter his dislike for the Lady Baratheon , he could not deny she would be a great bueaty. At only thirteen she had great tumbling locks as dark as a ravens , that would make many a maiden weep in comparison.

She was a fine girl no doubt , with her doe like blue eyes. She was rather tall too standing at five foot 'seven , a rather tall height for a maiden not yet sixteen.

She was generous enough , gifting servants extra coins. She delighted in music , though did not seem to like Rhaegar's. She even tried to befreind Rhaegar's freind , Jon Connington , though the attempt failed.

She was courteous enough to Arthur ,himself, and even complimented his sword ,Dawn, on numerous occasions.

Yet , Arthur found it hard to like her , infact he quite disliked her.

What use was her bueaty if she was so utterly ugly on the inside. She always delighted in hurting Rhaegar , makeing japes at his expense.

She delighted in teasing his freind , often playing with his emotions. She would kiss him on the cheek , then say that she wished she was unbetrothed not in the Red Keep.

She had once , two years ago, personally and Arthur could swear purposefully, plucked the strings from Rhaegar's favrioute harp. She had taken out the harp strings , and replaced it with sewing string. One day when she was mad at her septas , takeing it out on Rhaegar.

Rhaegar had been quite heart broken , he may not have shown it , but Arthur knew he was rather saddened over the destruction of his favrioute harp. It was gifted to him by his mother , on his tenth birthday

It took no real effort to figure out the culprit , only one person in the Red Keep was so petty and bold. Arthur could admit that it took a certain level of boldness to do such a thing to the crown Prince.

The lady herself had confessed almost instantly , rather proud of herself
Still Rhaegar had taken it with a grace , he had not expected. He had merely asked that Lord Steffon's daughter would kindly not do such a thing , again. He had even tried to defend Rohainne to his father , saying it was a accident (even though it clearly was not , Arthur thought).

The Prince's betrothed seemed to calm down , and even express a hint of guilt , once finding out it was a gift from his mother. She had even went out her way to gift him a new one , crafted in a exact replica by the best harp makers in the city.

She had even ducked her head down , muttering a apology. The Baratheon girl rarely apologised , Arthur doubted she ever did. Still the apology seemed somewhat sincere , as she quickly ran off , the tips of her ears flushed.

Rhaegar solemn as ever , had a faint hint of a smile as he looked upon the newly crafted harp.

The relationship between the crown Prince and his betrothed was a strange one. For what Arthur knew , Rhaegar was quite infatuated with Rohainne Baratheon. Atleast he liked her quite alot.

He woke up early , neatly thrice a week ,not just for training but to pick her favrioute flowers. The lady once complained , that their were no storm lilies (a somewhat rare flower , mostly found in the Stormlands) in the keep. Stating them as her favrioute sort of flower , from back home.

Since then Rhaegar had ridden out , nearly every morning, riding out for a hour outside Kings Landing. Near a secluded forest one of the rare ones that grew grey storm lilies.

He had even planted some near her chambers , putting the flowers beside her bedside , nearly thrice or four times a week.

Though he could not deny , they undoubtedly made the Lady happy , she had never thanked Rhaegar for them.

Whenever he brought them , she would often braid the flowers into her hair , or have them dried and thread into her dress.

She often bathed with the flowers , once the scent was about to die and grew dry , putting them in her bath. Peraphs to remind her of home , it was likely she bathed with them back at Storm's End , they were somewhat common their , Arthur thought.

Though whenever he mentioned this fact , Rhaegars ears would go pink and his cheeks a rosy colour. His freind was as shy as a maiden it seemed , though Jon Connington seemed to scoul when he overheard this.

He rembered the excitement of the Baratheon girl , when Connington came to court. She was likely eager to have a freind in someone who had visited Storm's End and was a fellow Stormlander.

Arthur himself liked it when a Dorneish man was brought to court , they could could bond over life in the region.

Yet Jon Connington did not seem very taken with the Princess , he had rolled his eyes when she kissed his cheek. Face growing flushed , from what looked like disgust. The girl had attempted to befreind him multiple times , before eventually she grew tired and insulted.

While he himself was no fan of the lady princess - to -be , he found Connington's immediate hate or over dislike of her strange

Word counf

Arthur had joined the king's guard at only nineteen , thinking himself ready for anything. He was atill young when he joined , imagining himself to be ,Ser Ryam Redwine, valiantly protecting a good King and his family.

He had know that he would have to forsake Starfall for it , and he did. Lordship did not suit the Sword of the Morning , it never had. His brother had been the bookish one , every good with numbers. He would make a fine Lord of Starfall , if only he were the elder .

He would have to give up all ; titles , lands , family , and dreams of a wife and children , to join the brotherhood. For then on , he would have no brothers , other than his fellow Kings guard , no sisters.

He would bo longer be Arthur Dayne , heir to Starfall , son of the Lord of Starfall. He'd rise as Ser Arthur Dayne , a Knight of the Kings guard. No father , but the father above.

Yet , the promise of joining and good and honourable brotherhood bound by blood and oath , had been his boyhood dream. To join an order of the greatest knights who ever lived , protecting and defending the seven kingdoms and it's King , was it not a just and good cause , he thought.

He would not have to forsake everything completely , he thought . He knew Prince Lewyn Martell of Dorne , uncle to his childhood companions , Oberyn and Elia , still wrote home.

It was said the Dorneish Prince still occasionally visited Sunspear , while travelling on the king's missions. He himself had only seen the Prince once before , at a feast in the Water gardens nearly 10 years ago.

Some even said that the Dorneish Prince kept a lover , a handsome man , kept at the hill of the Red keep. For the Kings guard vows stated "no wife , and children" , it did not state lover.

He had contemplated the idea before finally deciding that the next time he return to Starfall , he would be a brother of the Kings guard.

His brother would be Lord of Starfall , and Ashara , hand maiden , to the Princess of Dorne. They would not feel his lack too greatly , he had thought.

After all , who knows Ashara could come and live in court with him.
.
....

The night he had been appointed , had been the greatest night of his life. He had won the tourney and crowned his sister , a fifteen year old Ashara Dayne, as his Queen of love and bueaty. His brother had patted him on the back congratulating him , staying a extra night in King's Landing just to watch the ceremony.

He had remembered being knighted , but this was much grander. Their was a septon , and the king himself and his heir attended. Even Queen Rhaella , as pale as ever, and her ward , the Lady Rohainne Baratheon , the prince's ward had come to the celebration. The entire court had been lined watching him become the Kings guard. One of the younger ones in a generation , only nineteen going on twenty.

He was a man grown , but under the shean of celebration , his light airy smile made him younger. He looked the same as when he was a both of fifteen swearing the vows of knighthood again.

In front of the old gods and new , as the court watched , ge kneeled. He briefly glanced at his sister , Ashara , talking to the red viper and Lewyn Martell.

He had steadied himself , brows furrowed I'm concentration , as the septon came. Today he would be the Sword of the Morning , brother of the Kings own guard.

He felt the unease , most men felt at their weddings . Just like marrige , Kings guard vows were for life , forever bounding you're loyalty to one. Though he thought his marrige to the Kings guard , would be happier than most.

His eyes fixed on the septon , as he dipped his fingers in seven oils.

He had been annointed with the seven holy oils , even though certain rhoynish houses had their own gods , thankfully Arthur was not apart of them. He had kneeled infeont of the Iron throne and it's King , swearing his vows to the brotherhood.

The king himself had placed the sword on his shoulders , a replica of the ancient sword , Blackfyre. It had felt like cold steel , heavier than Dawn. As if the weight if the vows , truly pressed upon him.

As he arose , he found looks of pitty thrown at him from the White bull and Barristan the bold. Even Jonathan darry fave him a smile , that seemed to speak he believed Arthur foolish. The rest , like Lewyn Martell , had given him shifty looks and awkward pats on the back

Why would they look at him such , was he not their brother , of blood and vow , now. He had understood later that night , the youngest always takes patrol , infront of the Kings chamber.

Tradition had demanded that the youngest Kings guard take the night shift , with his brothers, protecting the King. He had followed the White bull and Ser Barristan , almost boyishly, as he was led to guard the King. Like a lamb eager to see blood.

He had been forced to take watch , as the king raped the Queen. He could not bear it , was he not to intervene. When he tried to open the door , Ser barristan had merely told him to sit. He had looked into his eyes , hand gripping his shoulder ,tight.

"This is the cost of you're oath ,boy, we serve the King no matter what he does" he had told him.

He had heard the screams , night after night. The poor Queen Rhaella begging for mercy , what sort of coward was he to not help? Was this the cost of the Kings guard , to forsake you're oaths as Knights?

Yes he knew of the lath to obey the king , no matter what, but what of the oath to protect all those who could not defend themselves ? He had nearly spiraled , unable to look a Queen Rhaella , without his head ducked in shame.

He had been finally put out of his misery , a month in , by Ser Barristan. He had assigned him to guard the prince , a quiet boy of only thirteen , 5 years his junior.

He had made fast freinds with , Rhaegar , finding him a much worthier King to serve than his father. The prince was , intellectual , thoughtfull , though oftentimes melancholic. He had grown quickly from green boy to a man grown of age.

Rhaegar did not much take to the sword , he liked singing. Fond of the harp and books , rather than sheild and sword , he was a scholarly Prince.

He had once confided in Arthur that he felt the burden of being the only son and that he did not think his father wished him heir. Though it took moons to draw this confession out , after months of silent melancholy.

That day Arthur had chosen to ignore the vow of forever obidence to the King , instead swearing to be his sons Knight.

He was not forsaking amy vows ,for, Rhaegar was the future King -to -be. Was it not better to serve a wise , and king Crown Prince , than a mad King ? He knew Rhaegar would be a good King , in his bones he did.

His freind was quite intelligent , aways having one head buried in a scroll. Though bookish was not the preffered quality in a king , better bookish than mad. He had sworn to serve the royal family in it's whole , and he'd much rather serve Rhaegar , for he was king to be.

To further add to Arthur's belief in this, the prince had begun training , a year after they met.

At fourteen he was considered quite old , to just begin training , yet Rhaegar was rather determined at this. Their was a fire lit in his eyes , that Arthur had never seen before. It had burned as bright as the Dornish sun , that day.

"It seems I must learn the sword if I am to be a warrior to defeat the night" Rhaegar had said

Since age twelve he he believed himself to be the princed that was promised. Though never truly understanding what it would take. Until he found a old tome about light bringer and the long night. He must be a warrior too, if he was to defeat the long night.

. His eyes misty , body posed as if ready for conflict. He had looked a true dragon that day, like the king's of old.

He had given it his all , even going so far as to wake up at three in the morning before the sunrise , let alone people awoke . He had wanted to train early , where no one would see. Arthur assumed it was because of the Prince's shyness , not wanting prying eyes around him as he learned.

Though it could be , it would be embarrassing for people to see him learn the sword , at fourteen instead of four. It would not do well for his vassals to see their leige baerly able with sword and sheild.

He himself had picked up his first sword and begun fighting at eight years old. While men like the red viper , have had , spear in hand since age five. Even Brandon Stark is reputed to have killed his first man , 4 years ago , at age ten.

Since then they had been training ,day after day. For if would not do well for men , to see a crown prince vested round after round. They would begin training on the training field in appropriate hours after Rhaegar learnt some of the basics.

They had trained for nearly three hours , until Rhaegar had finally relented to rest. The prince had ripped the blood off is lip, and thanked Arthur.

He had studied in the lance too , takeing it like a duck to water. After just 2 moons of training , he managed to un-horse Arthur in only four tries. He had a lean body but enough strength to hold onto his horse , a good form for jousting.

Though that often ment nothing in war , a loose hair , a small river , even a tilt of the wind , could determine the winner. Still Rhaegar would never weird any warhammers , instead his best option was the Bastard sword.

Rhaegar had been quick ,very quick, to learn. He raerly repeated the same mistake , though he lacked the strength of most warriors. Rhaegar's strength lay in speed and precision , rarely missing a mark.

The prince was a bueaty, anyone with eyes could see that , many a maiden wanted him. Arthur understood it properly in that moment when , Rhaegar smiled at him exhusasted , hair wet with sweat.

Rhaegar's smile was a little lopsided , his hair messy and sticked to his forehead. He had shaken Arthur's hand , congratulating his victory.

This is what a king was supposed to be , Arthur thought. Courages , and kind , open hearted , generous , Rhaegar would be a brilliant monarch , certainly better than his father.

Rhaegar had made it a consistent part of their routine now. Ever determined to best Arthur , either at lance or sword. The prince had progressed becoming , faster and swifter in his attacks.

After these spars , he often confided in Arthur. The Prince rarely showed his emotions , seldom what he was thinking. Though it seemed these training sessions ,and the tiredness that came with it , collapsed some of his barriers.

They had been training like this for nearly a year now , his twenty first birthday passing and Rhaegar just having had his fifteenth.

He had spoken of his great destiny , a long night was to come. He had told Arthur that he believed himself "the Prince that was promised". Peraphs that was the reason for his melancholy , a great burden on his shoulders.

....

Arthur was no blind man nor was he oblivious, he would see the way ,his freind, Rhaegar looked at Rohainne

. He had found that Rhaegar ,for all his bueaty , rarely talked to ladies. He had been Rhaegar's sword sheild formerly a year now , and despite being neatly a man of fifteen , he had never frequented a brothel. While odd , it was a good quality in a man for him to stay loyal to his beloved.

No matter his dislike for the Lady Baratheon , he could not deny she would be a great bueaty. At only thirteen she had great tumbling locks as dark as a ravens , that would make many a maiden weep in comparison.

She was a fine girl no doubt , with her doe like blue eyes. She was rather tall too standing at five foot 'seven , a rather tall height for a maiden not yet sixteen.

She was generous enough , gifting servants extra coins. She delighted in music , though did not seem to like Rhaegar's. She even tried to befreind Rhaegar's freind , Jon Connington , though the attempt failed.

She was courteous enough to Arthur ,himself, and even complimented his sword ,Dawn, on numerous occasions.

Yet , Arthur found it hard to like her , infact he quite disliked her.

What use was her bueaty if she was so utterly ugly on the inside. She always delighted in hurting Rhaegar , makeing japes at his expense.

She delighted in teasing his freind , often playing with his emotions. She would kiss him on the cheek , then say that she wished she was unbetrothed not in the Red Keep.

She had once , two years ago, personally and Arthur could swear purposefully, plucked the strings from Rhaegar's favrioute harp. She had taken out the harp strings , and replaced it with sewing string. One day when she was mad at her septas , takeing it out on Rhaegar.

Rhaegar had been quite heart broken , he may not have shown it , but Arthur knew he was rather saddened over the destruction of his favrioute harp. It was gifted to him by his mother , on his tenth birthday

It took no real effort to figure out the culprit , only one person in the Red Keep was so petty and bold. Arthur could admit that it took a certain level of boldness to do such a thing to the crown Prince.

The lady herself had confessed almost instantly , rather proud of herself
Still Rhaegar had taken it with a grace , he had not expected. He had merely asked that Lord Steffon's daughter would kindly not do such a thing , again. He had even tried to defend Rohainne to his father , saying it was a accident (even though it clearly was not , Arthur thought).

The Prince's betrothed seemed to calm down , and even express a hint of guilt , once finding out it was a gift from his mother. She had even went out her way to gift him a new one , crafted in a exact replica by the best harp makers in the city.

She had even ducked her head down , muttering a apology. The Baratheon girl rarely apologised , Arthur doubted she ever did. Still the apology seemed somewhat sincere , as she quickly ran off , the tips of her ears flushed.

Rhaegar solemn as ever , had a faint hint of a smile as he looked upon the newly crafted harp.

The relationship between the crown Prince and his betrothed was a strange one. For what Arthur knew , Rhaegar was quite infatuated with Rohainne Baratheon. Atleast he liked her quite alot.

He woke up early , neatly thrice a week ,not just for training but to pick her favrioute flowers. The lady once complained , that their were no storm lilies (a somewhat rare flower , mostly found in the Stormlands) in the keep. Stating them as her favrioute sort of flower , from back home.

Since then Rhaegar had ridden out , nearly every morning, riding out for a hour outside Kings Landing. Near a secluded forest one of the rare ones that grew grey storm lilies.

He had even planted some near her chambers , putting the flowers beside her bedside , nearly thrice or four times a week.

Though he could not deny , they undoubtedly made the Lady happy , she had never thanked Rhaegar for them.

Whenever he brought them , she would often braid the flowers into her hair , or have them dried and thread into her dress.

She often bathed with the flowers , once the scent was about to die and grew dry , putting them in her bath. Peraphs to remind her of home , it was likely she bathed with them back at Storm's End , they were somewhat common their , Arthur thought.

Though whenever he mentioned this fact , Rhaegars ears would go pink and his cheeks a rosy colour. His freind was as shy as a maiden it seemed , though Jon Connington seemed to scoul when he overheard this.

He rembered the excitement of the Baratheon girl , when Connington came to court. She was likely eager to have a freind in someone who had visited Storm's End and was a fellow Stormlander.

Arthur himself liked it when a Dorneish man was brought to court , they could could bond over life in the region.

Yet Jon Connington did not seem very taken with the Princess , he had rolled his eyes when she kissed his cheek. Face growing flushed , from what looked like disgust. The girl had attempted to befreind him multiple times , before eventually she grew tired and insulted.

While he himself was no fan of the lady princess - to -be , he found Connington's immediate hate or over dislike of her strange

Chapter Text

𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐈

It was a bueatiful evening, the sky as dark as her sapphire jewels , Rohainne thought. Though the chill made her shiver wrapping her shawl tighter around herself. The false spring was comeing to an end , the maestars had described their would be a breif moon of winter before summer came.

It was odd winter never came before summer and after spring , Rohainne had thought confused. Her royal cousin had corrected her saying that it would be no true winter but a frail moon of chill.

Telling her all he heard from the maestar , reciting and talking as if he were one himself. It would suit him, she thought, he was as boring and studious as one of the citadel.

She choose to not dwell long on thoughts of her royal cousin . She had been finding herself to have grow as moody and grey as the sky of storms end , whenever she thought of the royal brat.

Her gaze drifted back to the scenery encompassing her, finding it as bueatiful as any painting commissioned by a great king of old.

Rohainne was of the belief of the seven , as any southern maiden should be. Though in truth she rarely thought of the gods , often rolling her eyes in the Sept.

She had already bedded three men before marriage while betrothed. While she was no scholar of the seven pointed star , she knew that alone dammed her to the Seven hells.

Peraps she might frequent the Sept more if it was this bueatiful , she thought, if only to commit sin.

The septas in the Red Keep did not like her lecturing her on her un-modest like gowns or her lack of a sense of duty. They even lectured her on her spending saying material things do not save you from the fires of the gods.

Many a maiden belived in such things and could even recite the seven pointed star forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards. It was what was expected of a future Queen or Lady , she heard that Catelyn Tully spent two hours in the Sept daily.

How did she have the time? , since her mother Lady Ninsa had passed Catelyn was offical Lady of Riverrun. Then again the Tully girl likely belived in the septons words off "their is always time for prayer".

She would not have found the statement so ridiculous , if it was not spoken and heralded to a starving crowd. Nonsense , prayer does not ease a starving stomach or the harshness of winter.

In another life she may have been preaching those words around the castle,herself. Playing the dutiful wife and cousin to Rhaegar , ever charmed by his silver locks and faint smile.

She almost laughed at her being a religious maiden , finding it as ridiculous as loving her Rhaegar.

She soon laughed aloud at the idea so utterly ridiculous and impossible as a miracle. She leaned upon the weirwood tree , as her laughter faded into a grin as if knowing a secret no one else knows.

The godswood garden ethereal in the moonlight glow , the red leaves of the heart tree complimenting the blue of the night. The grey-ish whit of the weirwood itself was shining , would it look as such in the north ? , the land filled with weirwoods.

Likely not , she summarised , while it may be a faint chill here it would likely be a a snow storm up north as cold as Tywin Lannister's gaze.

She did not wish to long dwell on such a thing as the Lord Hand thinking of him made her skin shiver.

The old hand had shown a renewed interest in Rohainne , studying her as a lion studys it's prey. She had not liked this attention lavished on her , it made her skin rise in goosebumps.

It was likely innocent a power grab of sorts ,she comforted herself. He had encouraged her to write to his daughter ,Cersei , and even his son and heir Jamie. She was his freinds daughter , afterall were her Lord father , and Lord Tywin not old freinds.

She was the future Queen too ,as much as she loathed thinking it. He was likely trying to fond bonds between her and his daughter for alliances , and to continue the friendship between their Houses.

Like how Stannis , Ned Stark and Elbert Arryn were being fostered together to create friendship between the Vale , the North , and the Stormlands. She would do better at forging friendships she thought , Stannis was as dour and disagreeable as a sour lemon.

Thouhh she heard Ned Stark ,the northern boy the same age as Stannis , had the same taste for duty and honour. Even Elbert Arryn was described as a quite and dutiful boy.

She had not thought why Lord Tywin would encourage her to write to Jamie ,his golden heir, though. Naybe he wished her to give him a position at court , once she miserably became consort crown Princess or, though Jamie would be Lord of the Rock.

He would not desperately need a position of the court , she thought. Even if Lord Tywin wished a high courtly position for his heir , could he himself not give him one.

The king may rule the realm in name , but Lord Tywin ruled it in fist.

As wild and uncaring for tradition as she was , even she knew it was fround upon for a non betrothed boy and girl to write to eachother.

It was even more around fround upon for a betrothed lady of such a great house as hers to write to the heir of another house whom she is not betrothed to. It would be even more unseemly for the crown Prince's betrothed to write to Jamie Lannister , a scandal for sure.

She could not fathom why Lord Tywin would wish her to write to his heir , peraphs it had been a slip of the tounge to say cersei ,and Jamie. He likely had just meant cersei , that was the logical answer Rohainne concluded.

She did not like to think lanttecet had betrayed his oaths. The boy had been granted a night in her bed and swore to the gods to never speak of it to anyone.

No one would belive him even if he told people .

why would the daughter of a Great Lord and betrothed to the Crown Prince give up her maidenhead to a minor lannister cousin ?

The king mat break her and Rhaegars betrothal at most , but he'd likely kill lanttecet. He was not so foolish as to tell the tale , she thought happily.

She soon began to dislike the matter of thinking on Lord tywin and lanttecet, preferring to think of the bueaty of the night.

She heard the crunching of leaves as she sat down , not having bothered to brush them aside before. The sound was only satisfying , like the cracking of one's knuckle , she imagined the cracking of a bone would sound simular

she imagined ti's would be the sound when Rhaegar broke his weak spine or empty skull full of tomes. Both sounds she had yet to hear was , though she thought it likely be the sound of a broken betrothal , and her freedom.

She had seldom time to indulge in such a hopeful dream , unable to linger in the foolish land of fantasy for even a moment longer.

For she soon heard the crunch of the late spring leaves by boot infront of her. She kept her eyes on her lap though rolling her eyes in annoyance of the disturbance of her peace.

She did not wish to look up at whoever was entering the godswood. Their were few northerners in court and nearly none who came to the Red Keeps weirwood.

It was well known the godswood was hers alone , she thought irritated. She would often come here to engage in fantasy dreams and wish death upon her cousin and his father. Throwing rocks angerly as far as she could where no one could see her.

She may just scream and run off if it her her aunt Rhaella and her septas. Their are few things more depressing and miserable than the Queen and her guard of septas. Peraphs only looking upon rhaegar would ruin her spirits so

After a minute , she lifted her head , if only to glare in annoyance at the one who disturbed her happy fancy. She would yell if it was a summoning of the King.

Rhaegar.

When she raised her head , she found it to be none other than her royal cousin , the Prince dragonspawn.

A faint soft sarcastic smile almost spread her lips as she saw it was him. Who better to ruin her day than her oh so disagreeable cunt of a betrothed. Of course it had to be him , were the seven gods truly out to make her the most miserable maiden on land.

His face looked as dour and melancholy as ever , his face looked like a painting of a doomed maiden come to life. He would be a fair maiden , she thought, even fairer than her.

His lean frame she had ever grown accustomed to , had begun filling out. His arms more manly than before rather than like that of a young boy. Peraphs it was from lifting all those heavy old tomes , she thought. At neatly sixteen however he was he was soon to be a man grown

Word has spread quick that he had begun training over more than a year ago at roughly fourteen , he had bugun his training. Since then his frame had filled out slightly , his chest more solid and his arms muscled.

Still she would not say that he had the build of a warrior , Richard Lonmouth had one despite never being to a single war. She almost smiled thinking of her lover, a small girlish smile peraphs they would be able to meet again tonight.

She realised she had been bonding out for a few minutes , her and Rhaegar both standing saying nothing. Usually it was her cousin who was the awkward one , not knowing what to say. They stood their in silence for a few minutes as her gaze raked over him once again.

As if committing his ever feature to memory so she could loathe every single part of him for eternity.

She did not know who he and Ser Arthur thought they were fooling. The entire castle knew that the Prince had begun training , a few servants seeing him early before the sunrise with sweat on his brow and sword in hand.

Still no noble had see the Prince train yet, maybe he was so awful that he could not train in public for fear of mockery. The thought of perfect Rhaegar failing miserably at something warmed her bones and amuses her heart.

His long silvery gold tresses , thin and straight , looked like molten silver mixed with gold. His face looked as pretty as a girls , she thought bitterly. His bueaty was agreeable , his personality was not.

He had soft pouty lips , he would be a good kisser likely , peraphs he even had practice. She did not like the thought of him having practice , were honourable men not made to stay loyal to their betrothed. Even if she herself had bedded others , she was forced into this engagement so it was more acceptable for her.

He was hers , she would not tolerate him humiliating and disgracing House Baratheon with mistresses like his father does to Queen Rhaella.

As if sensing her scrutinising him so very thoroughly , Rhaegars head dipped to the ground , face flushed pink. He had been unable to hold her gaze , merely quietly offering his hand to walk.

It had slowly become a routine of theirs , she had not even realised it until now. Nearly twice every week he would come ro her while she was in the gardens , silently offering his hand to walk together. It was a annoying routine that she did not wish to continue.

She had loudly professed the last time he did this saying that the godswood was somewhere she frequented often was her favourite for peace and *quiet*.

She had made her dislike of him invading her space so glareingly clear. She had made it so glaringly obvious that even Ser Arthur , their almost constant companion in these walks , looked offended.

Yet , Rhaegar had only looked a little dejected stating it was his favrioute place too.

She had even told him bluntly (though many would say rudely) that she did not wish him to come again. After he offered that they come walk together next time since the both wre fond of the godswood.

After telling him she did not wish him to come near her again , the Prince looked at her with the look of a beaten puppy. Eyes a bit misty and lip pouting , brows furrowed.

She could not stand to see him look so ... pathetic .

Her mother had made her promise to try to get along with the silver haired brat , she might as well do it just this once , to uphold her promise.

She had then offered to prolonged their walk and rather roughly took his hand in hers.

The silver brat seemed pleased , likely prideful he had his way , Rohainne thought angerly. Her betrothed had taken her rare kindness of blessing him with her time , as a bi-weekly gift he was owed.

Disgustingly unfortunate for her , she thought as she walked alongside him in her gown as green as grass. She was abruptly taken out of her thoughts by the sound of a musical voice she loathed all too well.

"Do you wish to take another turn around the gardens ? " he asked though it sounded like something they were to do than a question.

"Do you wish to be experiencing to the most boring walk in the seven hellls ?" She aske. Her sarcasm seeping through as she forced a clearly feigned rude mockery of a smile.

" No , but I do not see the revelance of that to what we are doing , its quite pleasant now"

he had perfectly responded .

How was she to mock him when he gave her such a eloquent reply ? As if practiced a thousand times before. For a moment she had been caught of guard glareing at him digging her sharp cat-like nails into his bicep.

Finding herself tounge tied , she had no choice but to agree and prolonged the walk. Even as she silently cursed him for this the entire walk.He seemed pleased with himself as if being gifted something of great value.

They had nearly walked for a hour straight , a eternity in her mind . She had to clench her hands into fists for fear of jumping at him , and straggling her (most annoying) betrothed.

She thought of how pretty he may look with red flushing his ,breathless ,pale skin. She had thought of the red tipping downwards to his neck , or going upwards to his ears as it often did with Rhaegar , or both.

She thought of his soft pink lips , more luscious than most maidens. They often looked slightly dry , peraphs the fear of her hands on his throat would wet them.

She imagined his chest rising and flushing , looking as pathetic as he was. Maybe she'd be on top of him straddling him , her dagger pressed between his thighs.

Him breathless , and whiney beneath her as always.Maybe she'd do him a kindness and snuff the life out of his miserable body.

She almost blushed looking up at Rhaegar imagining him beneath her.

When he looked upon her to with those wide eyes as if expecting something , her face contorted in anger.

She soon began talking his ear off with the most ridiculous topics , just to make make the walk so utterly unpleasant , torturous , that he may never seek her company again.

She rambled on and on , from the lack of dried passion fruits in the Red Keep to her annoyance at Lord monford for stepping on her gown last feast. She talked so much , so annoyingly ,that she herself could scarcely remeber all she said

Her mouth had turned into the rain of the Stormlands : never ending , constant , fast , never stopping for a break.

She had hoped to see him annoyed and for him to recoil in dismay. Instead he listened attentively almost eagerly , even a light grin when she made a particularly ridiculous Jape , occasionally at one's at his own expense.
After the second of hour of they're walk the both quickly began to tire. Rhaegar suggested they lay under the weirwood tree. After sitting for baerly a moment , she deemed it past polite time and went to get up.

Though many would argue , her septas and "proper" ladies , that leaving abruptly with no warning or curtsey to her betrothed was rather rude.

However Rhaegar had made no move to stop her , only looking wistfully when he assumed she left. Sitting beneath the late night sky , for much time had passed since they began their walk. His face under shadow of both yearning and the weirwood.

Many maidens seemed interested in Prince Rhaegar , why would they not be ? He was handsome but humble. Kind and generous but not overly free handed with favour. Gallant and chivalrous as honourable as a king should ne.

His melancholic quietness , often helped add to his mysterious allure. Many maidens dreamed of mending the melancholic prince and kissing away all his woes.

He was always kind and courteous to all , never prideful or arrogant. He would be courteous to a great Lord and to a commoner.

His long silver hair shone like te moonlight itself , the same light Rohainne delighted in. Atleast she still liked some part of him , he thought bitterly.

She had liked his hair and purple eyes ,for a time even curious about him. When she was four , just fostered at court , she used to follow him atound everywhere.

Yet as time faded so did that faint fondness , she seemed more ready to strangle him than smile , since then.

His own lips knew little of sweet smiles and charming words. His face a brooding sadness of deep introspection , rather than the approachable merriment she preffered.

Rohainne had not shared his sense of doom and melancholy. Since he had known her and likely longer, she had been more generous with her favour than the King's lickspittle's with wine.

Her laughter was as sweet as summer wine , he was grateful she laughed often enough for the both of them. Her laughter rung loud and clear , like the sweetest of myrish songs.

He recalled how she would dance without end with any man ready to ask for her hand , her mirth never ending. How could he admonish her for her lack of interest in her boring bookish betrothed.

Rohainne was like wild fire , she loved to burn no wonder she did not fall for her bookish dour cousin

Her laughter knew no prejudice : it sang as sweet as birdsong for the umpteenth son of a Landed Knight , as it would for the heir to a great House.

His cousin bore the tempter of the waters she so admired. Her temper as volatile as the worst storm of shipbreaker bay , he had often been on the receiving end of that temper.

She was the Stormlands made flesh and maiden : pleasant and bueatiful at one second , yet ready to eat you alive ,flesh and bone , the next.

Peraphs the king to be and his queen to be were as doomed as a wilting flower ready to die , no matter how much you water it.

.....

On the other side of the castle , a maiden freely runs up the stairs to Maegor's Holdfast , to her rooms grinning.

Rohainne eagerly ran up the stairs , rejoicing in being free from her boring cousin. Maybe , even thinking of sneaking off with Richard , before morning light.

Chapter Text

𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈

Tumbling black locks as dark as jet , spilled over the orange pillow as vibrant of sunset. The sun had escaped the chains of the moon and night , for what felt like far too early for some. The sky a striking orange and yellow , it's colours simular to the mark of Dorne.

Many had woken up to watch the sunlight pour from their windows.

Arthur Dayne had been required so for his duty as a Kings guard , yet that did not make it any less pleasurable to him. The orange hues of the newly born sky of the fresh day , a member of a group of few things that made the foreign city tolerable.

The handsome Prince Rhaegar usually awoke to see the harmony of the hues in the early day sky , to get a headstart into his scrolls of prophecy and doom. Yet for nearly a year now , the Prince awoke before the sun to train his greatness in the sword not song.

The golden morning light drowning the city , was as stunning and shining as the pot of gold , jesters were sure Lord Tywin shat every night. It was also one of the few things that made the intolerable , un-ignorable , stench of the capital city forgettable if even for only a moment.

Though many enjoyed wakeing up to the morning sun of the stinking city , Rohainne Baratheon , betrothed of the prince himself , did not.

For the Lady Rohainne did not wake for atleast four hours before ,the hour of the sunrise , typically.

.....

Rohainne awoke at the hour of the trout , the sun peeking out from her Estermont , green , curtains. She turned over , reluctant to get up , having not slept till two hours past the hour of the wolf last night.

Her glossy black tresses as disheveled from the night before , a still ache between her thighs. He had left no marks unlike she had on him , good he thought she would have no need to cover them up this time.

Last night she had been made bold by her high off manging to annoy her betrothed Rhaegar. In her state of dizzy joy and boldness she had stolen a flask of Arbour red from her father's desk , finishing a quarter of the flask.

Then half-heartedlt re-filling it with a mix of slightly fermented grape juice and water.

After she had finished with her cup of wine, the wine giveing her courage yet seemingly stealing her wits from her. She had dragged a sweet , willingly , Richard Lonmouth into her bed.

Richard was a handsome boy , if you ignored his slightly bucked teeth. He had locks of a sweet burnished Hazel , his eyes deep pools of woodland hued oak.

He was clean shaven , and strong featured , as a man worthy of her should be. He was no delicate bueaty like "perfect" cousin Rhaegar , her betrothed. Instead he had sharp , distinct features , and the body of a warrior.

She had first practised the art of kissing with him , them trailed her hands down his body. By the time they finished kissing most of their clothes were off , neither fully remebering how it happened. After seeing him in such a eager state of undresss , she shrugged off her own chemise and removed her dripping small clothes.

While Rohainns had been with many a boy in the last moons , Richard was her favrioute. He was Rhaegar's squire and the easiest way to quietly humilate her cousin , without him ever knowing.

She delighted in the thought that Rhaegar would have to take a "spoilt" wife to bed. Though significantly less delighted after remebering said bride would her herself.
She thought of the red that may flush his cheeks from finding it out , his expression delicate even in anger. She thought of his furyied voice , sweet and womanly even in rath.

She imagined his snow-pale hair matted in distress and fury. His pouty pale lips shouting curses she had never heard her oh so "great" cousin utter a sound of in his life.

Richard opened his mouth to speak"This is immoral , what if the Prince -". She slammed her mouth into his both fighting for breath. "If you belive it so Richard , then tell me to stop" she said hands tangled in his hair , skin to skin.

She had quickly pushed him from her rooms , declaring that she fear for his saftey if her fathers men saw. A half-truth at best , truly she had merely wished form him to leave once she had enjoyed her fill of pleasure.

Selfish as it was she could hardly say she regretted , infact she could not at all , even in her morning fog.

Richard was a good lover , she thought , kimd and eager to please. He was sweet and charming , she felt bad forcing him out in such a crass way. Still he had Bern overly clingy , wishing to stay in her bed into the night .

She had kissed his forehead when he left , and he did not seem too dejected. Peraphs she could call upon him again ; myles moonton was rather annoying , while lancette she couldn't trust. Firey haired Jon Connington had rejected her advances time and time again.

Did he think himself better than her? Nonsense , surely not she was a Lord paramount's daughter and more importantly the daughter of his leige Lord. No likely he did not think himself worthy of her , the thought soothed her eager and helped calm her anger and hurt pride

The red haired boy was a freind of Rhaegar's peraphs it was misplaced loyalty to the Prince.

She had seldom time to lay in her feather mattress contemplating when servants came to clean her rooms. It had become time to get dressed , lest she wished to be made a spectacle for being late.

She combed her hair it had become as wild as a hedge of thorns from last night. Her hair often got quickly interwoven and stormborn , after a night of lovemaking.

She had no handmaidens , noble girls her own age , to help her smooth her wind tossed main of jet black. Her servants were all common girls who knew little-to usually nothing of maintaing a noble woman's hair.

She had one of the common worker girls untangle her unsmoothed strands. The king made sure to change the servants in her and every member of the royal family's rooms and attending every fortnight.

She had scarce time to learn their names , before they were snatched away from her.
As the serving girl continued brushing her locks , even going so far as to massage her scalp , she hummed in delight. It reminded her of her mother ,Cassana, back at Storm's End who used to take care of her hair.

She longed for those days her mother would lavish attention on both her and Stannis. She remebered her mother braiding her hair into intracate styles and weaving jewels into them. She yearned for when she was so little , her father could bounce both her and stannis on his lap , telling them stories.

Though all too soon it was over , her being stolen for court as the Prince's betrothed , and Stannis being made a ward of Jon Arryn's at the Eyrie.

Soon the girl maid put the brush down , haveing perfectly smoothed out Rohainne's curls . Rohainne dissmisses her politely , her hand twirling a curl of hair.

Her maid had begun to prepare her dress , a light satin green embroidered with running black stags. The green was to honour House Estermont , her mother's house, it reminded her of the grass in spring. The embroidery was light only black thread and the occasional black crystal sown in.

It reminded her of the scented green grass silk her mother wore when she was little. She shrugged on her chemise quickly as a maid laced her corset. Once dressed , she looked inside her jewelry box.

Her eyes landed on a onyx and coral pair of earings , a gift from her father for her twelfth name day. She was fond of the gift , wearing it often when her father came to visit court.

Swiftly she donned her earings , finding them light upon her ears , with a seemly grace to them. The yellow coral of dawn gold twinned with the black onyx , a token of House Baratheon's heraldic hues.

She was fond of her house colours , not wishing to change them even after marriage. Rohainne wrinkled her nose at the thought of haveing to wear black velvets and dragon imagery , instead of they yellow stags of Storm's end , she was so accustomed to.

The sole mercy of wedding her joyless , dour , cousin Rhaegar , was that as queen she would be allowed to keep her family name. Stags were much prettier than dragons , and storm was better than fire.

Her wedding day was not too far , she thought as she stepped out of her royal chambers and into the halls of the Red keep. Ti's would be less than three years , until she was to wed her cousin , she did not rejoice in the thought.

Still the cake would be good , she thought as she treaded past royal servants and greeted courtiers who had awoken around the castle.

Her aunt , Queen Rhaella , had seen to it to commission a tiara of coral and Ebony gem. The tiara had been adorned with silver stags and dragons bond to one another , fashioned in the style of Queen's of old. A symbol of her ever-lasting betrothal to Rhaegar , her cousin , and future King and most sadly her husband.

For most of the day Rohainne lounged around in the godswood , her old septas now the Queen's lady's , the King haveing forgotten to send her new ones.

She did not mind , she was in fact quite happy he did not send new ones. She did not wish to spend hours couped up in a room reading the seven pointed star , or worse embroidery. She could sow the basic stitches but never any more she found herself unable to master the art that most lady's could.

A Queen should know how , her mother had scolded her. Yet , Rohainne could not matter the art , fingers too clumsy constantly pikeing herself with the needle. She had a sense of envy towards the lady's who could effortlessly do so.

She heard the praises of the Tully daughter's perfection at the womanly art. She often heard Lord Tywin praise his daughter , Cersei's skill at the needle , infront of her father and the king. Chiefly cherishing it for the measure it gave him against Rohainne's compatibility to be Queen.

She'd much rather rife her horse into the forset , or fo hunting with her bow. The day was clear and their was little chill ,she thought appreciatively , peraphs it was time for a hunt.

She swiftly packed her boe and arrow , as well as changed into a black and gold tunic to go. Her father would not allow her to go hunting alone , so she had to ofcourse invite one of her father's men. She chose Richard , her lover, he would be good fun and laugh at her japes.

She invited myles moonton too , she had taken him to her bed once but no more than that time. She liked the boy from maidenpool , he was a trusted freind. Even if he was not a Stormlander and was Rhaegar's squire.

She was to chose a lady too , for even she knew it was far too easy for rumour of her virtue to spread , when she was sighted alone in a forest publicly with a two unmarried young men. She was to pick a group to go with for a hunt alone was no fun

She chose lady Alaeyne Penrose , another Stormlander lady , though one much older than her. The lady was twenty-and six, haveing over a decade on Rohainne , closer to a young aunt with the thirteen year age gap , than a freind.

Still she was good fun and seemed sweet enough in court company. She chose her cousin , Mya Estermont to join the entourage. She was a distant cousin , the daughter of her mother's cousin's daughter as kin to her as Rhaegar , whom she was to wed.

She invited Robar Royce too , to not make the party too scarce. The Royce boy proved good company though , he had a certain tendency to over reach himself. She invited a few of her maids to come , partially as witness the other part as company.

She quickly handed off task of telling each companion , to five messenger boys. She had told them all they were to meet outside the King's stables. She rushed to her quarters , quickly freeing herself of her silk dress , and ordering a maid to undue the laces of her corset.

She shrugged into a red tunic , too bubling with excitement for the hunt , to much mind what she was wearing. She kept on her already remaining jewlery , and swiftly donned a pair of loose breeches . Still elegant enough to be expected for a lady

In joy she all but flew down the corridor , her father had forbidden her from hunting since the last incident. When arriving at the stables she found more than the small party of five she had invited into her company .

She found their to be nine in total gathered their , not counting the stable boys of course. She saw the five she had invited staniding with four others whom she had not , standing with them.

While the party was much more than she had invited , she did not seem pleased. Usually , Rohainne would think more the merrier. Yet , today , she thought one less would make her all the more merrier

Her mother's cousin's daughters Mua Estermont , a girl she had only met once before. She was about as much her kin as *him* , she would not even think the bastards name , for fear of her rage.

Richard and Myles has both come , myles haveing his head down cast at the floor guilty written clearly as if in cursive over his expression.

Richard looked a light apprehensive , a hint of nervousness and fear on his face. As he tried not to stare at his silver haired companion beside him.

Robar Royce , and a lady who little younger than Rohainne herself ,were excitedly conversing . One whom , Lady Alaeyne Penrose , would gracefully introduce to her as her husband's neice.

She truly did not mind her Lady companion had brought another , she would have been no less delighted if her fair freind brought her entire household to the hunt. But the silver haired , limp tounged , bastard standing before her ? That she minded.

Who was he to come uninvited and un wanted to her hunt. Did he think himself her freind , because she had tolerated a few walks with the silk spun princeling.

He had come with companions , she thought suddenly , her blush betrayed her , before she could scoul it away. Before seeing his companions and , remebering her own , she had half a mind to strike her git of a betrothed across the cheek , and draw her sword on him.

She unwillingly forced herself to swallow her temper she would not be seen as the mad maid of Storm's End . Atleast infront of her companions , half of them Stormlander Bannermen to her family. She had half a sense to know , how badly it would look for her to yell at the arse their and then , he likely did too.

With a calm she did not feel , she forced herself to move and open her mouth , nearly paralysed with inner rage. Still she managed , she even complimented the ladies penrose on their matching blue gowns. She felt her shoulders ease and her mouth lighten , once she began conversation with the party.

Rohainne had always delighted in company , and a full lively gaggle of companions. She promised herself that when she became Queen her court would be full of freinds.

That is if Rhaegar wouldn't lock her up in some misty room on Dragonstone , like his father.

The silver haired welp ,had brought two companions with him , she nearly forgot. Arthur dayne , and the heir to Griffin's roost riding tall beside him , on their white mounts.

"They say love is a wound that never heals. I suppose Richard has grown rather accustomed to bleeding for you , my Lady"

the brown haired Royce whispered in her ear , as they prepared to mount their beasts.

She laughed at the Royce's boys cheesy jape , still unwilling to acknowledge her betrothed and his nest of freinds. She soon laughed off her anger at Myles Moonton , Rhaegar's squire. Afterwards he placed a daisy in her hair , and helped her mount her horse.

Neither Richard or her betrothed seemed pleased at her and Robar's freindly teasing of one another. Richards stare of jealousy felt so intense , she feared he might stare a hole of fire into the back of her head , from the heat of his glare.

She delighted in his jealousy , his cheeks were flushed and he constantly trailed after her and Myles, once they mounted their horses.

She was soon pulled put of her amusement and giggles , by the stare of Jon Connington. He looked at her ad if she personally killed his entire family , what was wrong with him ? Rohainne heard him mutter something about adultery , and impropriety to Rhaegar from behind her.

"Do you have something to say ? , my Lord Connington ?" She asked.

Turning her head from her horse to glare back at him , as they all quickly dismounted their mares.

"Lust is a shamefull thing and a sin often commited in court. I'm sure you are more aware than most. I , and the Prince , were only discussing the importance of dignity , loyalty ,and virtue." Jon , snapped back at her

He looked at her with a smug sort of smile , as the members of their party looked on , at the raven haired lady and the ginger haired boy with the broken nose.

Rohainne was no fool she knew a insult when she heard it , and Jon conningtons was as clear as the sky before her. He japed at her virtue , atleast she could feel lust , and desire , the Connington boy had never so much as looked at a lady since he came to court.

He was always so enamoured with "brillant" , "shining" Rhaegar. She had no doubt that if the heir to Griffin's roost was a woman , he would be swooning at Rhaegar's "preicious , golden, dainty little legs".

The way Connington described the importance of virtue , and looked at Rhaegar , one would think , he was betrothed to the indigo eyed dragonspawn not her. Oh how she wished it was so , she would be much happier with myles , or Richard as her betrothed.

Her cousin Rhaegar , was the human equivalent , if you even considered him human , to a dusty old history tome. Bueatiful to look at , yes, but not good for much else , boring and time consuming with nothing of real importance or fun.

"I dare say the Prince is closer to you're heart than most brothers are to one another's" she said angerly snapping back , not truly understanding the insinuation her words gave.

"I rarely see two men so close ... you are closer to him than I , his betrothed am " Rohainne added for good measure. Delight crossed her face when Connington looked close to throttling her if she were not a Lady , and his leiges daughter at that.

She did not notice Robar biteing his knuckles ,.to conceal his laughter. Nor the Lady penrose , religious as ever , covering her niece's ears. She also did not take into much consideration as to why Ser Arthur looked one breath away from burstimg into unstoppable laughter.

Rhaegar , himself blushed and looked a little confused , before slightly angry and offended. Meanwhile Jon Connington turned such a shade of fiery red , that even a blind man could see him , clearer than any red lamp of the street of silk.

She could not understanding , why people were finding it so humorous , though she herself would after laugh for hours after finding out.

Only later would she understand the true not-so subtle insult in her words. True , she had meant to insult prideful Jon but not in the way she had. Though admittedly she had caught two birds with one stone , insulting both her betrothed pride , and his freinds

Chapter Text

𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐈

Richard found it hard to resist Rohainne , infact most days he could not do it at all.

He had met the lady of the Stormlands once before he came to court , when he was three and she was all but freshly four namedays.

His father had been invited to a feast held by Lord Steffon , a feast to honour the third nameday of his solom heir little Stannis , a boy of age with him , .

The Stromlander Lords and some of the marcher Lords had come and sworn fealty to the little heir. He rembered how proud yet kind Lord Steffon looked , and how grumpy Three year old Stannis was , even how his mother and Lady Baratheon laughed together as if old freinds

Asode from that ,he rembered little from the small feast Lord Steffon hosted , little except she. She was taller than him at the time , with doll like midnight curls that would loosen overtime. She had a light tan likely from being outised all day playing with the stable boys , she was the most bueatiful thing Richard had her saw.

She was dressed in a gown of lake blue silk , the gown with little stags embroidered around the waist. Her cheeks were pink and plump as if dusted with rouge , three year old Richard rembered blushing when she first lifted her head and looked to him. Her eyes were a serene shade of blue , as if stareing into mountain lakes.

When their eyes met he realized that she had the most delicate fine eyelashes on earth , thick and full and long , dark and shiny.

●●●

When he had described them to his deviant elder cousin ronald and his band of drunk freinds , one lad had crudely joked and asked if he was describing eyelashes or a northmans dick.

He had blushed not understanding what a "dick" was at the time

He had been mortified at the joke then , and considered his cousin and his companions the worst sort of deviants.

Now he had the sense to loom back on it and laugh , even if his ears wet a tad bit pink.

●●●

Richard had grown up around bueatiful women all his life in his fathers lands , and even in the capital one could not say it had a shortage of bueaty.

His mother had been a petite bueaty with fine brown hair , Richard frowned as he thought of her , he missed her sweet caramel perfume . His father's mistress while a minor daughter of a long forgotten Knight with only a miniscule plot of land all had bit forgotten in his name.

Richard had hated her then , at age eight he had put the kennel masters dog lindy in her bed , a red bitch known to bite. The dog had nearly bitten her face off , he felt a glimmer of glint thinking of the incident now.

His mother had sat him down that day , and explained to him the ways in which noble marriges worked. She had later kissed his cheeks and Rchard had learned that not every marriage was that of the good Queen Alysanne and King Jaehaerys the first.

Richard had sworn to himself that he would marry for love that day. He would win a tourney and crown a bueatiful maid with pretty eyes his Queen of love and bueaty. They would wed , and he would love her all his live and she his.

●●●

He had practically jumped with joy , as if was still a child , when first seeing the Kingsguard on the first day in court.

The Kingsguard's cloaks shone , swishing behind them , clean and effortlessly like a cloud.

Ser Gerold Hightower , the White Bull , had looked as detetmined and feirce as feirce as any noble Knight , rescuing a maiden from a dragon. He had to be determined ofcourse , he was the Lord Commander of King Aerys Kingsguard , why of course.

His hair seemed to be turning white with his cloak , Richard noticed , though his recognisble raven hair and sharp eyes were still dark , though marked by streaks of silver.

Ser Barristan the Bold , had walked alongside the Lord Commander that day. His hair was a slightly muddy blonde compared to the Targaryan silver , though still recognisable-ly yellow , his blue eyes seemed older than him somehow.

He had been the Knight of Richard's dreams , every Stromlander took pride in Selmy. Every young boy heard tales of him , of his courage and honour and bravery , and dreamt of being him one day.

The marcher Knight even gave Richard a smile , as he walked by.

Behind him walked , Prince Lewyn Martell , the Dorneishman. While Dorneish man and the Stormlander marcher Lords were no natural allts , Richard was no marcher Lord merely a boy.

Prince Lewyn looked tired , older than his years , though unlike Ser Barristan it showed on his face. He had deep smile lines and wrinkles , and his skin looked dry and flakey.

Peraphs Ser Lewyn's body struggled with adjusting to the sun of the capital. He had dark tan skin , a warm undertone natural to most Martell's of Sunspear.

He was muscular and well built , and as tall as tower , his short fine dark hair gently lined with grey.

His armour was fine , and much more detailed than Ser Barristan's though it had fewer scratches , and a Dorneish sun carved on the shoulder.

After them walked Ser Arthur Dayne , the young Dayne Knight.

He was the youngest in the Kingsguard , though proclaimed to be the best Knight in the Seven Kingdoms , just as good or better than Ser Barristan.

His hair was a dark sort of brown almost mistaken for golden under lamp light and could be seen as black on a dark night. It was a shade darker than Richards own , and lighter than Ser Lewyn's , it had a soft sort of curl to it at the end.

He lacked the typical dorneish complexion , not as dark as most men if the land , yet not as light as a Crownlander. He had fair skin , though that likely could be from the lack of sun in King's Landing compared to Dorne , and a olive complexion.

He had a strong frame , more broad and firm than Prince Lewyn's though less tall. From where Richard was standing he might have been of height or maybe even taller with Ser Barristan. Though his frame resembled the White Bull more with those broad shoulders.

Despite him being a Dorneish man and Ser Barristan the son of a marcher Lord. It seemed that their was ittle hostility between the two men.

Arthur Dayne's eyes though were the most interesting thing about him. They were a dark sort of purple , almost violet , a contrast to the Prince and Queen's softer indigo eye colour. They looked like the deep amethyst on one of his mothers jeweled necklaces.

They said that he nearly killed his cousin for the sword Dawn and ran off with it to join the Kingsguard.

The Sword of the Morning was stood by guarding the Crown Prince , the man Richard was to squire for.

The prince himself was a ethereal wonder , with shining silver locks that looked like melted silver in the sunlight. Hisindigo eyes more bueatiful than the most delicate myrish beads.

Richard had merely pissed himself seeing all those great knights of his day dreams as a boy.
He remebered watching as Ser Oswell Whent , the bat, and Ser Jonothor Darry guarding ,though it looked more like cageing, Queen Rhaella.

Both Ser Oswell and Ser Jonothor had pristine white cloaks , though Richard could swear , their was a speck of mud on Ser Jonothors cloack. Ser Oswell's seemed to have a miniscule flicker of blood on it at the end , Richard could baerly see it.

They both looked stern and were silent , only bowing their heads at the King when he spoke to them and following his command.

Oddly enough Ser Harlan Grandison , a old Knight and by far the oldest Kingsguard, was not their. Rumours had long since spread the old Knight was ill , and soon maybe not even a decade later someone would have to take his place.

All Richard could do was marvel at the most honourable and just knights in the realm that day

●●●

Richard had no trouble makeing freinds at court , as he polished his Prince's lance. He was the type to quickly befreind everyone , his mother joked that he was a ferret.

Always quick to make a new freind , and as mischievous as a naked night's sky.
He had quickly befreinded Myles Moonton Rhaegar's other Squire , the boy from Maidenpool now a good freind of his.

Myles was irremarckable at first , but a sweet guy and a good freind to Richard. He was always sweet and polite , though he could crack a rather funny joke every once in a while. The short boy sweet in demeanor and a loyal frsind , his blue eyes as vibrant as the summer sky.

Sometimes when Myles smiled , Richard was reminded of Rohainne. He had bright blue eyes just like hers , though his hair was a few shades lighter , a honey brown in the sunlight.

Myles would have made a pretty maiden , he thought , even with his crooked nose. Sometimes he caught himself stareing at Myles the way he did Rohainne , thiugh he chose not to dwell on it.

The Prince too was good company , when not being hoarded by Lord griffin ( a nickname he and Myles had made for Jon Connington). He was often melancholic , seldom smiling , but he was kind and generous enough when he was pleased.

He would never be onto to spread praise like sweet jams in Highgarden like the King often did with his favoured ones. Nor was he fickle or reluctant to gift it , atleast with the Prince one would not so easily fall out of favour with him as his father.

He wasn't generous with praise , though he gave it when appropriate and gave a reward if needed in the situation.

He'd much rather the Prince be hesitant with his favours than flimsy , kissing his cheeks one day , and burning him alive the next , like his father.

●●●

He was being introduced by his father when he first came to court , as Prince Rhaegars Squire , she was ten and three and Prince Rhaegar's betrothed. The Prince's very own cousin amd his Leige & Great Lord's very own daughter in the flesh and bone.

He quickly found why they called her Lord Steffon's jewel. Despite being only being a year older than him , she was taller than Jon Connington by a few inches and never failed to tease him relentlessly for it.

Over the years her features had only grown more refined. She had plump cheeks that easily coloured , and a soft willowy frame though thin she had the same soft warm frame as Richard remebered.

Her tight coils had loosed with age , dark curls framing her creamy skin like ink would parchment. Her laughter loud and echoing , as mischievous as always. Her bright blue eyes alive with mirth and mischief.

Richard knew nothing had changed her from the moment he saw her tumbling down a hill , only a day after he came to court .

She was seated in a large woven brown basket. The basket rolling down Visenya's with her in it. Her laughter , bright and clear , as she tumbled down the high hill.

Ser Barristan , was chasing after her down the hill , thought he Kingsguard was rather slow. He was likely weighed down by his armour and white cloak. Though that was not to say Ser Barristan was slow , he was still fast in feat only Rohainne was much faster and had a headstart.

Rohainne had tumbled down the hill in her basket three times , by the time the old Kingsguard as fast as he was caught up with her.

Richard knew that in certain parts of the kingdoms , people "basket rolled". He knew in the Eyrie they tied a rope to two farway trees and if the basket fell , lads would joke the eagles and hawks would robb you of you're flesh and meat like robbers.

He knew in Dorne they would bury a basket in the sand , and then later try and dig it up to see if it was in the same spot still years later. (Though that information was newly gained from Prince Lewyn)

His new freind Myles , had told him that in the Riverlands , that as a small child , five or seven , he would go inside a large basket and his cousins would roll him down a hill all the way into the water. The idea seemed so exciting , yet Myles himself said he hated it at the time

He supposed it made sense enough Myles , was not bookish per say but his blue eye freind did not seem to rejoice in suprise and danger as he did.

She had come down the mountain unscathed , not even a scratch on her knee. Her dress though had tugged on one of the branches on the hill while she had her tumble. The dress itself was extravagant , even for a Great Lord's daughter , and seemed beyond repair.

Richard had expected her to cry or atleast be upset of the lose of a gown so fine. Instead when Ser Barristan informed her off the tear in the blue fabric , she merely laughed , declaring it worth the basket ride.

She did not even seem fased , still smiling though shivering slightly from the cold air of the hill. To Richard he couldnt see any fun in basket rideing down a tiny slope of the hill , where it had a few stalls their already , though he kept that thought to himself. Richard then offered her his cloak , and they became fast freinds there after

. Though not before Ser Barristan gave Rohainne a firm lectures on the dangers of basket stealing & wheeling , while Richard stood next to her.

Albeit Visenya's hill was full of shops and small stalls so on her way Rohainne had made quiet alot of damage , though thankfully she was in a smaller more secluded part of the area. If Rohainne hadnt been a rich Lords daughter and the future daughter-in law to the king , the few merchants on the slope might have stoned her.

Then again the stoneing might not have been as bad as the lecture from the King and her father , even Richard couldn't understand why she'd decided to go basket rolling on a small slope (the only slightly high part left of Visenya's hill) and crash into those merchants.

●●●

Richard and Rohainne quickly became fond of eachothers company , or at the very least Richard became fond of hers. She was quick to jape , her tounge as sharp and sweet as her nature.

Often times they would sneak away from the Kingsguard and Lord Steffons men. They would go into the city and sneak into taverns , though Rohainne would always make sure to have a hood on when they went.

They would drink the evening away and quickly sneak back in to the Red Keep. Lest anyone realize they had not spent the day in the sept as they had promised to.

Though such getaways became more rare since Rhaegar had taken to training more on the field.

As Richard was his squire more and more did Rhaegar have need of him. Richard did not mind to greatly , it was a honour to serve the crown Prince ofcourse.

Seeing the Prince in action , almost made the task of polishing his lance exciting and seeing Myles smile.

Myles smile was almost as sweet as Rohainne's , it certainly cleared up any misery.

●●●

One night they had stolen some wine from Lord Steffons cellars. They both had baerly a glass before they were dazy and drunk , both being teenagers who were rarely allowed strong wine.

They lay giggling , hands roaming places they shouldn't , all under the guise of freindly teasing. Rohainne's hair spread out across the roots of the weirwood tray as they lay across the ground under the heart tree.

"Come hither Richard-say thou lov'st me not?" Wispered Rohainne , her breath as firey as the king's cellar of wildfire , on his neck.

Her words as tempting to him as arbor gold to a reeling drunkard. Her words as sweet as the honeysuckle bosom , as addictive as air to a drowning man.

It was only then after , that he realized she had quoted "Richard & Milena" a famouse play of two doomed lovers.

They had made love that night , under the godswood tree. Young and inexperienced , rohainne was his first time , he was as much a maiden as her.

Though contrary to his elder cousins teasing , he very much knew "where to put it".

They had fumbled with their ties and laces as they kisses eachothers skin.

●●●

He had asked her to run away with him and elope , and she had laughed. He felt offended at first though she quickly kissed his anger away. Explaining to him what would happen if the King and her father found out about them.

He swore to her that night under the moonlight of the godswood , that he would wed her the second her betrothal was broken. A fanciful with it was unlikely King Aerys would break the betrothal between his heir and cousins daughter , a Lady of a Great house with Targaryan blood.

Still they kissed away all their worrys under the shade of the tree , and hurriedly ran when the sun came to rose.

●●●

Richard swore he would not see her again , she was the Crown Prince's betrothed , Rhaegar had been nothing but kind to him. How did he repay that kindness ? By fucking his cousin and betrothed , surely not.

Yet the first time was not the last time , every few nights he would warm her bed or more so they would tangled in eachothers arms in some long forgotten secret passage.

Rohainne had sworn on the old gods and new that she did not love Prince Rhaegar nor did her betrothed love her. She had sworn on her grave that the arrangement between her and the Prince was no love match merely cousinly affection.

What wrong is it , to bed a willing woman whom you love ? They do not even love one another , but he and Rohainne did , their was no cousinly affection between us.

●●●

It had really all started as normal today , a day just like any other. He woke up , got dressed , read the retainments of his mothers last letter , begun to finish his off.

Then he went bright and early to the maestar and sent his letter off via raven. He quickly when from their to the trading yard to clean and polished both Ser Arthur's and the Prince's lances and sword.

While Myles attempted to fix the scratches in Rhaegar's armour and cleaned Ser Arthur's sheild. The Prince was off training a little further away , likely near thee outskirts of the castle.
He practiced with some other squire's , Ser Barristans ,nephew lommy , mostly. He made a few jokes with the lad , then continued training and doing tasks for the Prince.

It was mostly fetching him some old books from the library . Though the librarian , Geoffrey , glared daggers at him and Myles the entire time . He supposed you weren't really supposed to have a tickle fight in the middle of the library.

Eventually they got passive aggressively kicked out , and he mentally placed the books on the Prince's solar table. He then went doing some odd tasks for Ser Lewyn , whose squire had taken ill.

After that he was abruptly told by a servant , a Lady of Rohainne's household no doubt. That his Lady had decided to go hunting , and had arranged a hunting party. Both he and Myles were invited , as well as Robar Royce , a boy he was somewhat familiar with.

She had also invited the Lady penrose and her cousin Lady Mya Estermont to the entourage. Richard of course knew why she did it , it would be inappropriate for it to be just him and her , man and woman. Yet he could not help but wish the party she invited had been a little less small , so they may have some alone time together.

It was on his way to join the stables , where she said they were all to meet , that he bumped into Ser Arthur and Jon Connington and ... Prince Rhaegar.

When the Prince asked where they were going.

He was about to make some lie , when Myles calmly told the Prince they were going to meet Rohainne in the stable. Gods , he loved his freind sure but could he be any more naive. How would it sound to the Lady's betrothed if you told him you were to meet her in the stables , without adding you had appropriate chaperones and it was a platonic meeting.

(Well technically for Richard it wasn't but STILL.)

Richard quickly elaborated that it was for a hunting party , and the ladies cousins and freinds would be their. The Prince inquired if he could join the hunt , and what was Richard to say.

He could not tell the ladies own betrothed he could not spend time with her , could he ?. Both Ser Arthur and Jon joined the Prince to the hunt , as Ser Arthur was Rhaegar's guard.

Jon had joined as always only because Rhaegar was going , his redheaded freind never missed a opportunity to be with the Prince.

He knew Rohainne was not going to be happy with him. Mother have mercy in him.

●●●

At the stables , Richard could see both newly married Lady penrose and her neice , a nice girl whom he met last year in a banquet at his fathers castle. Chatting eagerly with them he could see Robar Royce , looking like a love struck fool at Lady penrose's neice.

Even black haired Mya Estermont was their , her spring green gown matching her eyes and jeweled belt. He felt almost shy as he walked in and waited for Rohainne , the host herself , to come.

●●●

If stares and muttered insults could kill , both Richard and his Prince would have been dead and murdered by Rohainne. She looked ready to lunge at Rhaegar and he feared him too , it was clear she did not appreciate him bringing the extra freinds.

She glared daggers at him and Myles the entire way to the woods , though she eventually did soften up by the time Robar made a few japes and the company eased.

●●●

They had been riding for maybe half a hour , the tension thicker than northern stew. He had heard Jon Connington mutter something to the Prince , multiple times along the way.

Do you have something to say ? , my Lord Connington ?" Rohainne asked , her eyes as sharp as daggers.

Turning her head from her horse to glare back at him , as they all quickly dismounted their mares.

"Lust is a shamefull thing and a sin often commited in court. I'm sure you are more aware than most. I , and the Prince , were only discussing the importance of dignity , loyalty ,and virtue." Jon , snapped back at her the insult clearly aimed

He wondered what was wrong with his freind. Rohainne was sweet and always polite to him , and while Jon maybe stern and serious he wasn't mean. Yet he always looked at her as if she were the devil made woman.

It was a evil and cruel accusation to bluntly insult his leiges daughter . Richard opened his mouth to critic his freind and tell him to shut up but Rohainne did first.

"I rarely see two men so close ... you are closer to him than I , his betrothed am "

Richard reckoned it would be safer to mock the seven themselves , than to call the crown Prince if the seven kingdoms a lad-lover , ( even if you were his betrothed and the Lady of a Great House).

To say that both his freind Rhaegar and Connington were fonder of eachother's lance than Lady's bosoms was surely a form of treason against the crown , yet Rohainne had implied it so utterly casually.

Peraphs the father's justice from above does exist , Richard mused ,peraphs her name is Rohainne. Only his Lady Rohainne would be so utterly careless as to call her betrothed and prince a man who would prefer the back door of the father than the front of the maiden's. He doubted she knew the true length of the insult she, Rohainne seldom thought before she spoke ever cheerly

Peraphs her justice comes in the form of humiliating a certain overly prideful , overly protective , red-haired freind of his.

The grass was as green as a virgin maid , the flush in Connington's cheeks as red as her blood on her wedding night. Then again he doubted Connington even knew what a blushing virgin looked like , or what any pretty woman in bed looked like really.

●●●

After Rohainne's verbal beating of Jon , they decided the day was still young. The group of men including him , Myles ,the Prince and Ser Arthur Dayne , not to forget Rohainne though she was no man , had worked up a sweat for hours . Though both Robar Royce and Jon Connington had not joined.

Lady penrose's neice had grown faint and tired with a growing headache she could not join them in further hunting. Lady penrose herself had stayed , to help care for her neice until she regained her strength in the forest.

Robar Royce had insisted on staying by Lady Penrose's neice whom he clearly fancied. While Jon Connington muttered something about a headache still licking his wounds from Rohainne's insult.

Rohainne's couisin , Mya Estermont , was a sweet but slightly simple minded girl . She claimed she feared to go deeper inside the woods , and Myles only smiled and offered to hold her hand to help her over come her fear. For some reason that made his stomach churn in anger.

Surprisingly the Prince agreed to join them , though it was only proper that he did considering he was Rohainne's betrothed , Richard thought bitterly.

Still he reminded himself he should not think such a way , and the Rhaegar was only doing his duty . Rohainne had sworn that they did not fancy eachother despite being betrothed , swearing that they saw eachother as cousins , nothing more.

Alongside the Prince , Arthur Dayne , his sworn Guard joined them.

They had spent all day chasing after a bueatiful bird a bueatiful bird only found in the deep forest of the Kings land. It's feathers reflecting light into rainbows like the stained glass of the Sept of Baelor. Richard was sure the bird had a name and that prince rhaegar had said it but forgot whatever it was.

The men and Rohainne had decided to bet on who would capture the bird. They had all placed a valuable on the table for the bet.

Richard had betted a fine quill he had Bern gifted by his father. The quill had a rainbow sunset feather and was a rare feather of a dorneish sandsood , a rare bird to find let alone pluck a feather from.

Myles had chose to use his necklace for the bet. It was a fine thing with a long thin silver chain and a large glass locket at the end , usually hidden underneath his tunic and vest . The locket contained rose water from Jonquil's pool , the very same one that Queen Alysanne had stepped into all those centuries ago.

The water of the maidenpool bath is said to have healing property's and is a place of small legend. Both Good Queen Alysanne and Jonquil were said to have bathed in the healing waters , though one more myth than fact.

Ser Arthur had not joined the bet , for he said it would be unwise and inappropriate for a Kingsguard.

Rhaegar too had not wanted to bet ,t though Rohainne seemed to worm him down after several moments of pleading and the encouragement of the group. He simply took of a Ruby encrusted ring on his finger , the only peice of jewlery he seemed to have on his pale slim fingers.

He soon placed it on the bet , his expression calm and serene as always.

Rohainne took off her pair of coral and obsidian eatings and quickly added them to the betting pile , without hesitation.

Lady Mya added her necklace , a simple delicate gold chain with a small locket of her hair at the end.

And so the bet began.