Arthur waited alongside Myles Mooton and Richard Lonmouth for the girl to arrive. The roar of the falls nearby was loud through the silence of the woods, where they had hidden themselves in.
A small stream of sunlight filtered through the thick canopy of oaks and redwoods and birch trees while Arthur could hear the neigh distinguishable flutter of wings of birds flying overhead.
The girl was late and Arthur was beginning to worry if she had been intercepted on her way here. He hoped not or the Prince would be displeased.
The boy, who called himself Petyr Baelish, had assured them that he knew the Riverlands better than anyone, and would bring Lyanna Stark to them without anyone knowing about it.
How much Prince Rhaegar had paid the boy for his silence and cooperation, Arthur could only wonder. Although the only thing he knew was that the Prince had met the boy in Gulltown, the major port city of the Vale of Arryn, and not too far from Dragonstone.
Beneath him, his mount nickered restlessly, the sand steed stomping the ground with impatience. Arthur ran down a hand over his horse's mane to try to calm it while his thoughts drifted towards their plans to take Lyanna Stark.
Beforehand, Arthur had been informed that Brandon Stark had left to meet the Wedding party coming from the North, which left his younger sister, Lyanna Stark, with less supervision in the Riverlands. The boy, Petyr, was clever and resourceful enough to come up with a plan to sneak Lyanna Stark from the Riverlands disguised as a washerwoman. Then, the boy had said that he would lead the Stark girl to Rushing Falls near Harrenhall, where Arthur and the others were currently waiting.
And from there, Arthur and the rest would take the girl to Maidenpool where Lyanna Stark would need to change her disguise once more, dyeing her hair and changing her clothes into something more inconspicuous. However, Arthur knew that this would not be enough to shake off the search parties that the girl's brother would surely lead. Thus, Arthur would set Myles Mooton and Richard Lonmouth to mislead the possible pursuers by heading straight for Kingslanding, passing by Duskendale whilst Arthur would take the girl elsewhere, towards the hidden Pirate's Cove named the Whispers.
Everything was planned, even to the guide who was supposed to be waiting in the Inn aptly called the Stinking Goose. The guide would help Arthur navigate through the rough terrain of Crackclaw Point and towards the Whispers, where Arthur and the girl would book a safe passage to Dorne.
Arthur had sorely hoped nothing else untoward happen. Yet it seemed everything was rapidly going downhill when the girl failed to deign them with her presence in time.
By now, the Prince must have already annulled his marriage to Princess Elia in Old Town and must have acquired a Maester to perform the wedding ceremony between the Prince and Lyanna Stark once they were all in Dorne.
The Prince was not alone to conduct his business in Old Town, of course. Ser Oswell Whent had went with him, and Arthur had no reason to worry about the Prince's safety, when one of his brother of the Kingsguards was there.
"The boy promised to arrive at midday with the girl. Yet they are still not here." Lonmouth's raspy voice suddenly broke the silence. "Do you think the boy got caught sneaking into Riverrun?"
There was a short pause as Arthur considered Lonmouth's words.
"Possibly," He managed to grunt an answer, drumming his fingers against the mane of his sand steed while his other hand flexed around the reins of his horse. He resisted the urge to ride forth and see what was taking so long for the girl to arrive.
Something must have happened, no doubt.
"If the boy, indeed, got caught. What shall we do then Ser Arthur?" Ser Myles asked, looking towards him.
Rhaegar will not be happy if that is the case. Arthur thought, the line of his jaw drawing tight. If the boy failed, then I'll be the one to sneak into the castle and take the girl away.
"We'll consider other options when the boy does not arrive within an hour mark." He said instead, his voice was hard as steel and brook no further argument, and so they continued to wait beneath the cool shade of the trees.
Silence reigned once more. Above them, the birds fleeted between the thick foliage and sang their songs.
Absently, Arthur rubbed a hand across his chest, expecting his hand to encounter the white scales of his Kingsguard armor, but instead his gloved palm met leather and ringmail. The corners of his mouth turned downwards at that.
Even now, Arthur Dayne did not feel like himself without his white armor. It was the Prince who had ordered that Arthur leave it in the White Sword Tower at Kingslanding. The Prince had assured him that he would find someone to bring it to Dorne, along with Oswell's armor, once they were all safely hidden in the Red Mountains.
And given what Prince Rhaegar had sent Arthur to do, it would be ill-advised of him to wear his Kingsguards armor, not when Arthur had every intention to keep all eyes away from him and the Lady he was set to accompany to Dorne. So Arthur had opted to wear clothes that resembled that of a hedge knight, and brought another set of clothes to disguise himself as a merchant if needed. The only thing he hadn't left behind was his sword Dawn, which remained strapped at his back.
Ser Myles Mooton and Ser Richard Lonmouth, on the other hand, wore their usual armor, cloaks and shields emblazoned with the red salmon of the Mooton's, and the yellow skulls and red lips of the Lonmouth's respectively. The two would be the prime target of the pursuers the moment they parted ways in Maidenpool, which was their plan, whilst Arthur must bring Lyanna Stark to Dorne where the Prince was waiting.
Arthur straightened when he could hear the sounds of pounding hooves and the whiny of horses coming in their direction. Arthur's hand immediately went for the sword strapped at his back, his fingers wrapping around Dawn's familiar hilt as he expected the worst. His purple eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the two riders bursting through the trees and heading their way.
"Be on your guard," Arthur warned to the two beside him, sliding Dawn from its sheathe. The sound of it was like music to his ears. Sunlight instantly caught the sharp edges of the pale blade and made it glow as white as fresh fallen snow.
The two strangers halted a good distance away from Arthur's party. It was hard for Arthur to distinguished who they were with the hoods of their cloaks casting their features into shadows.
"My lords," a familiar voice called out. The boy, Petyr Baelish, threw his hood back and raised his hand in entreaty. "I apologize for the delay, but it has taken me sometime to -"
"Is that her?" Ser Richard interrupted, impatience tinging his voice. "Is that Lyanna Stark with you?"
"Yes, I have brought the Lady as promised." the boy replied.
The other rider dropped her hood as well and Arthur was startled to see a cold stare directed at him.
He lowered his sword down just as Lyanna Stark closed the distance between them, even Ser Richard's mount shied away from the girl's great black stallion as she inserted herself in his party.
"Where's the Prince?" the girl asked, her cool grey eyes meeting his. "He said in his missive that he would be here to meet me."
"I apologize, my lady." Arthur said in haste, "But Prince Rhaegar is elsewhere to attend other matters that needs his attention before he can meet with you."
"Other matters?" The girl raised a brow. "Like what?"
Watching the Baelish boy from the corners of his eyes, Arthur responded in a low, but brisk tone. His voice barely above whisper which force Lyanna Stark to lean in closely towards him in able to listen to his answer.
"Like acquiring a Maester for your marriage and securing an annulment, among other things." He said to her.
"An annulment?" Arthur saw something flash in the girl's eyes as she whispered back. "Truly?"
"Yes, it's one of the reason the Prince is not here to meet you. He went to the Citadel to secure an annulment before he can marry you."
"And was the Prince successful?" the girl asked, sounding disturbed.
"Yes, I believe so." Arthur frowned, searching her eyes. He swore he caught a glimpse something in those grey orbs after imparting the news.
"Isn't that what you want?" he wanted to ask. However, he decided against it. He knew it would be imprudent of him to do so.
"I see…" the girl murmured with a troubled frown on her brows.
Arthur stared at her, puzzled at her reaction. He knew for a fact that Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark had kept a constant correspondence even after the Tourney at Harrenhall. Therefore, she must have known what the Prince had intended to do with his marriage to Princess Elia.
Yet it appeared Lyanna Stark hadn't known about the annulment at all, and she didn't appear ecstatic about the prospect of marrying the Prince.
What do you truly want in this arrangement, Lyanna Stark? Arthur thought, regarding the girl.
Arthur may not have said anything to Prince Rhaegar when his friend had mentioned about his plans to annul his marriage to Princess Elia. However, if Prince Rhaegar had ask for his opinion, Arthur would have admitted that he strongly disapprove about the annulment, and more so about Rhaegar's intention to marry the Stark girl. But Arthur was of the Kingsguards and he had sworn a holy oath to protect the Prince, keep his secrets and do his duty, even despite his misgivings on the matter.
"While the Prince is elsewhere, he has sent us here in his stead to accompany you." Ser Myles remarked, bringing Arthur back to the present.
Not soon after, Ser Richard made to correct the other knight, "Well, it will only be Ser Arthur who will be accompanying the Lady. The two of us will be heading to Kingslanding, as our esteemed friend here had suggested."
At the mention of the boy, Arthur turned his attention to him. The boy was sitting on top of a dappled grey mare and was watching them quietly.
"I trust that the money the Prince gave you was enough to buy your silence," Arthur's statement was more of a threat than a question. He made a show of gripping his sword while conveying a silent message through his eyes: "Speak a word of this to anyone and I will hunt you down."
"The Prince has paid me a considerable sum…which was more than I can expect." The boy replied, smiling a small smile.
Arthur misliked that smile. There was nothing remarkably trustworthy about the boy, of that he was certain.
"I will not speak of what occurred here to anyone. That I swore to you, my Lords."
Lies…Arthur thought, scrutinizing him closely, but we will be out of this place before you can decide to betray us. And pray that I'll not find you amidst the chaos that follows, or you'll be a head shorter than you are now.
"Well then, we must be on our way before the girl's brother discovers that she is missing!" Ser Myles announced cheerfully, moving towards the Baelish boy. "We thank you for your assistance boy." He said, thumping the boy's back, which nearly unseated the short boy from his horse.
"Your help will surely not be forgotten!" Ser Myles declared.
Meanwhile, Arthur slid Dawn back in its scabbard, glancing at the Stark girl who had seemingly gone mute.
"It's always an honor to serve the Prince." He heard the boy said. "I wish you well in your journey, my lords."
"And you too, boy." Ser Myles responded, giving the boy another thump on the back.
Once more, Arthur directed his attention to the Stark girl beside him.
"My lady," He said gently, trying to catch her attention. "I believe it's time for us to leave."
The girl looked up at him then, and instantly Arthur found himself staring at pair of eyes full of uncertainty.
He paused, tilting his head to the side, and wondered silently, Are you about to change your mind?
The girl must have read something in his expression because Arthur saw the sudden stubborn set of her jaw and the flash of determination in her stormy grey eyes as she said, "And so we ride."
He regarded her for a moment before he echoed softly, "And so we ride."
Thereafter, he swiftly turned to look at the other two knights who were waiting for them.
"Let's go," He said, prodding his horse forward, with Lyanna Stark immediately settling to ride beside him.
He didn't deign to look at the Baelish boy, who remained behind while they rode out of there.
The wind whistled against his ear as his mount picked up speed with his purple cloak flapping in the wind. He needn't look to his side to know that Lyanna Stark was keeping up with his pace.
"Where are we heading?" Arthur heard her asked a moment later.
"To Maidenpool," His response was curt and he did not tear his eyes off the terrain, which was hard to traverse with trees and shrubs scattered in every direction.
"Maidenpool? I heard of that place." The girl said out loud, "Isn't that the place where Florian spied Jonquil bathing in the river?"
"Jonquil was bathing in a spring-fed pool, milady, not a river." Ser Myles replied, laughing boisterously. "Perhaps you might have heard of the song called 'Six Maids in a Pool'? That's where Maidenpool got its name."
"No, I haven't heard the song before, Ser…errr..."
"Ser Myles Mooton." The knight introduced, flashing the girl a brief smile. "Would you like to hear the song? I am well acquainted with it, considering I come from Maidenpool."
"Well, if it's not too much trouble, Ser…"
And before Arthur could warn the other Knight, Ser Myles suddenly burst into song with Lyanna Stark closely listening on.
Six maids in a pool
They're of noble blood
One Fool, but great, on the shore
He'd seen that flower full of love
"She'll be in my garden" - he'd sworn
Her name was Jonquil, pure child
Tough father had made a deal:
By ugly, full of money lord
That beauty will have to be killed, oh
.
Oh oh, glorious Florian-
He was the first who had opened her thighs
Oh oh, glorious Florian,
Run from thousands of lies
To the happiest day of their lives
Deciding that he had enough of the song, Arthur said sharply to the knight, "I advise that you keep silent, Ser Myles, unless you want our enemies to know where we are."
Immediately, the knight stopped singing.
Arthur could feel the Stark girl's gaze on him, but he ignored it. And so they rode in silence with Arthur frowning in thought.
While Ser Mooton had been singing the song, Arthur swore that he had heard a whisper in the wind, saying repeatedly: "Oathbreaker …Kingmaker… Oathbreaker…Kingmaker…" What the words meant, Arthur simply did not know and choose to ignore. He did not care about some words in the wind, much less about a song called 'Six Maids in a Pool', and the knight named Florian.
And if Arthur Dayne did, he would have realized then that the song wasn't merely a song at all, but some might call it a prophecy...
Oh oh, glorious Florian-
He was the first who had opened her thighs
Oh oh, glorious Florian,
Run from thousands of lies
To the happiest day of their lives
.
He was a knight of famouse name,
The owner of Furious sword
But now he's fool with motley shield
Because of cutting word.
Despite of misery and fate,
Pride's what he feels for real
He'll care about vows he gave
With blade of Valiry steel, oh
.
Oh oh, glorious Florian-
He was the first who had opened her thighs
Oh oh, glorious Florian,
Run from thousands of lies
To the happiest day of their lives...
.
Oh oh, glorious Florian-
He was the first who had stolen her bud,
Kissing her petals &
Whispering swears,
Green grass had coloured with blood..
.
Oh oh, glorious Florian-
He was the first who had opened her thighs
Oh oh, glorious Florian,
Run from thousands of lies
To the happiest day of their lives...
Author's Note: I couldn't resist writing this one because I just love Ser Arthur Dayne! I just find it disconcerting to be writing him in the role as Lancelot, when he has the same name as King Arthur and he has the sword Dawn which is similar to Excalibur. LMAO. But he will be Lancelot to Lyanna's Guinevere. And yes, I will be putting up a warning about explicit sexual content because there will be many in the future…nyahaha.. The song above is from the G.R.R. Martin's song of ice and fire books called, "Six Maids in a Pool." And yes, I will be including other songs from the books like "The Dornishman's Wife", and "The Bear and the Maiden Fair," to fit with the story.