"Reconsider, Rhaegar." Lyanna's urging went unheeded. She knew it would, and yet she could not stop herself from trying. Her husband's hand rose above the parchment, quill at the ready. "Jaehaera would serve you better in the home of some lord."

"She will serve me well by ensuring peace at my court." The quill moved in fluid motions. "Too long have Dorne and the North been at odd with each other. This shall see their conflict to an end." So it would, she reckoned, albeit not one he had envisioned. "Let me hear no more of your protests, woman."

"As you wish, husband." She turned and abandoned his solar.

Ashen-faced, Jaehaera held onto his arm with strength he would not have suspected rested in her fingers. Jon did his best to ignore the minute discomfort and swallowed another mouthful of drink. "You have to help me."

And so he had. But to defy his father was to go against the King's word. "You do not wish to have the crown?"

"I would fain exchange a thousand crowns for a husband that is not Aegon. He loathes us, Jon. Do you not see it in his eyes?" Jon thought back on the history of their parents and wondered whether that was not more punishment for those two than Jaehaera. Still and all, her plea could not go unanswered.

Unrest at the Wall. Jon considered the possibility for a brief moment before standing to his feet. The Small Council, forever attending, gave him their attention. "Allow me to go, Your Majesty," he asked of his father. "If the Night's Watch lacks men then my uncle is sure to lend me some."

"Aye. That is a good notion," his father spoke after a few moments. "Take Sers Dayne and Whent with you."

"But father, what knowledge does he have of battle?" Aegon protested. "I should–"

"You are the Crown Prince, brother," Jon cut him off. He had to make it look as though this was some manner of favour. "We cannot afford to lose you."

"The Wall? Have you gone mad, Jon?" She certainly seemed to be of that opinion. Jon regarded his lady mother with patience. There were things she did not need to know, after all. "Your sister has need of you. I have need of you. And you leave us in pursuit of what?"

"Duty, lady mother. A word I am certain upon reflection you shall find the value of." He glanced towards the door, just in time to see his squire enter. "Father expects me to see to the situation at the Wall."

"And I expect you to protect your sister." He shrugged.

"You do not have to accept the betrothal," Arianne pointed out, gliding her fingers through his hair. "'Tis not as though it will make a difference." Not in the long run in any event, Aegon agreed, wrapping an arm about his cousin's waist.

"I want to make her my wife." The Dornish Princess froze mid-motion. "I want her to live through the worse days of her life and know that I am the cause. I want to see understanding dawn in her eyes before she dies."

"And should she breed?"

"She shan't." She looked down into his eyes unconvinced. "Even I am not that cruel."

"My lord, I am begging you." Lyanna was unaccustomed to pleading. She had certainly not done so a day in her life ever since the day of her mother's day. She had begged the gods for her safe return. They had brought her back a corpse.

"You are asking me to go against the King's wishes." Lord Lannister, she knew, had been waiting for his opportunity.

"You can have the girl." Lyanna countered. 'Twas a good thing he had no daughters still prime candidates for breeding good sons. Still and all, a royal marriage was a royal marriage.

"My son as well." Seeing where he was going with this, Lyanna bit into her lip.

"I shall do my best to see him freed of his vows but I cannot promise–"

"Find a way, Your Majesty. Or the deal falls through."

"Visit Rhaenys? Whatever for?" Lyanna did her best not to appear anxious as the question finally registered. She cleared her throat in a bid to buy time and proceeded to stroke a hand over the folds of her skirts.

"I've been thinking, Jaehaera has not had an easy time of it. Surely her own sister would put her mind at ease regarding the upcoming marriage." Shyly, she glanced up at her husband. "I would have certainly been grateful for a woman's wisdom when I was in her position."

He made a thoughtful sound. "You truly think it is necessary?"

"I believe it would help our daughter." She moved around his desk in order to reach him.

Uncle Brandon sneered. "I never liked the man." Jon had known as much and had been counting on it. "Jaehaera is my sister's daughter. To allow her to suffer would be an affront to my sister." He placed down his cup. "What I don't understand, though, is your detour."

"A promise is a promise, uncle." Jon put down his own drink. "And no one can possibly blame you for giving in to the demands and pressures of an army at your door."

Booming laughter filled the chamber. "I thought you were all Lyanna, but I see there is some of your father in you. Very well, 'tis not as though we do him any worse than he has done his own sire."

"Abducted?" Lyanna, seated in her chair, produced a worthy gasp of horror. Rhaegar was not looking at her though, so he could not see her expression. If her voice was perfectly capable of lying, her face was not. "Who would dare?" her husband demanded.

"Lord Arryn thinks 'tis the mountain clans at work." The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard stony expression would have struck her as odd, were she not conscious that the way he phrased the matter implied disbelief.

"What do you think, Ser Gerold?"

"The body of Ser Barristan was not found among the dead. Begging pardon, Your Majesty, Her Grace I can understand not being among the dead, but what would they do with Selmy?"

"An army?" The words ripped through the stunned silence. Rhaegar turned towards the man, not out of concern, but for confirmation. "You are certain."

"Many arms strong, wild men and Northerners alike. They fly a silver dragon as their banner." Why would his son of all people do such a thing?

Swaying on unsteady feet, Rhaegar sought out the eyes of his wife. "You put him up to it, didn't you?" Her eyes widened in alarm and she jumped back as he lunged for her. Unfortunately for Lyanna, he was both the better strategist and the swifter of the two. "Tell me the truth." He gripped her tightly.

"I wanted him to help his sister."