Some love stories are written in blood. The blood of millions shed in war, rich , red and thick like sweet syrup. People say everything is fair in love and war- it was both. They loved and lost, in the end he chose her over the crown.

I LOVE HAPPY ENDINGS AND SO I MIGHT THINK OF MAKING THIS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HAPPY ENDING, SOMETHING BITTER SWEET.

chapter 1

Lyanna sat in front of an ornate mirror looking at herself and wincing in pain as her hand maid tugged and pulled at her hair trying to pin them up into an elaborate bun that was the current fashion of the south, not that she cared much for fashion but mother insisted that she look her best.

"Lady, would you please sit still, this isn't easy you know", cried the hairdresser. "never seen silkier hair than this, they manage to slip through the tightest of pins", she muttered angrily as she pushed another pin into her hair".

It hurt and Lyanna winced again but she wasn't going to cry or shriek at her hand maiden like a silly little girl, she was tougher than that, stronger and her father had always said a good knight would never cry even if his head be cut off.

After another hour of tugging and pulling Linda finally gave up and managed to make a really impressive braid that actually stayed put. She looked crestfallen but Lyanna patted her back and assured her that her lady mother would be pleased. It took them another hour to get her into the tight corset that made her breasts touch each other and pop slightly out of the neckline of her dress all the while showing the world that she was no longer a child and ripe to be betrothed. She hadn't bled yet but her body had starting showing that she soon would.

Lyanna was tying the back of her ruby necklace when she heard the welcome tune being played. The squire boys had practised that for months in preparation for the arrival of the royal prince and his wife. They said he was a dragon and one of the fiercest. She felt the sudden urge to climb outside the window and have a good look but then she stopped herself from doing so as it would look bad upon her mother if they spotted her in her pretty dress hanging off on the vines that grew on the wall. She'd probably have to wait till the official welcome to have a look at the royals.

Her guards and her lady mother escorted her to welcome the guests. All the fuss was for her father's fiftieth name day and all the important dignitaries from every kingdom were invited, most of them had already arrived and had been given the best of accommodations in their castle, parts of the castle that had been uninhabited were cleaned and furnished with velvets and softest of furs for the guests, the prince and his wife were to be given the best room in the castle, the one which had molten lava flowing beneath its solid stone floor heating the waters that ran through the walls. The special welcome was reserved only for the royal prince and his princess.

Her brothers Ned and Brandon stood along with the Baratheon brothers, Ned gave her a smile and beckoned her to stand in between him and Robert Baratheon, who winked at her as she walked towards them followed by mother who would stand ahead. She could feel her cheeks redden. She had just been winked at, she wasn't used to this type of treatment from the boys, and she was usually one of them, beating their arses in their own game. "You look decadently delicious, a rare piece of meat", whispered Robert into her ears. He hadn't bothered to look at her the past month that he had lived with them, it was probably her dress that had caught his attention.

The royal carriage arrived before the horses and a delicate foot wrapped in gold sandals peeped out of it making its way to touch the soft carpet that had been laid out for the royals. The king's guard helped the princess out and she looked positively exhausted and cold. Her nose and cheeks had reddened due to the cold and she shivered slightly but she still looked like the great beauty that she was with long red hair and pretty green eyes. Before the princess moved any further, a silver horse galloped and came to a stop in front of her and the prince hopped down from his steed to help his wife, he took her hand in his ever so gently and turned around to face the welcoming party.

Lyanna had never seen anyone so beautiful. He was astonishingly fine-looking. His hair was the colour of molten silver and his eyes alluringly violet. His strong jaw had the slightest hint of stubble and he shined bright like the morning star even after his tedious journey, he looked like the fairy tale prince that he was.

The prince and the princess walked towards them in a leisurely pace all the while everyone bowed and looked at the approaching pair of feet. Lyanna badly wanted to look at the prince again. He was just so gorgeous. She could feel a tiny butterfly flutter in her stomach.

"You may rise, my lord", the prince addressed her father who stood up and greeted the prince who nodded lightly. They exchanged a few words while her mother made her way to the princess to receive her. The prince then walked towards her brothers and her all the while exchanging pleasantries, Ned looked uncomfortable but he made sure he had his best face whereas Robert looked at the prince with loathing. The prince hadn't looked at her yet and she was terrified of him talking to her, what would she say if he asked her something, she had forgotten if she had to do the curtsey or not, she just wanted to disappear into the background and be one of the Karstarks who didn't need to come in front and do the talking. The prince was saying something to Brandon, and as she was about to turn around and hide behind some fat ladies he called out to her.

"Lyanna you must come here sister", he shouted, she couldn't even pretend she hadn't heard him. Her hands had turned clammy and she could feel a trickle of sweat move down between her cleavage but she turned around and plastered a brave smile and walked towards her elder brother.

"Prince Rhaegar ", she said as she did her awkward curtsey and turned around to face her brother. "How may I be help to you brother", all the while avoiding to look at the prince.

"The prince wanted to see you sister, the last time you met him you poked him in the eye with your finger." teased Brandon.

Lyanna flushed and stuttered, "I ap apologize for the mishap my prince, I was but a tiny babe".

"That you were my lady", said he, in his voice, rich as silk. Lyanna hadn't looked up to the prince in fear of him noticing her flustered self. But the prince would have none of it and he put one calloused index finger underneath her chin forcing her to look at him.

"You look different my lady", he remarked, his eyes penetrating hers, making her weak in the knee, the air crackled around her and she could feel her pulse quicken as he lifted her hands and kissed her on her knuckles. He looked like he was drinking her in, her face, her lips and her bosom. The spell was broken when his wife- the princess spoke softly from behind him, "darling I am tired, can't we make our acquaintance after I have rested."

Lyanna shook her head lightly trying to shake off the otherworldly feeling she had just experienced, reminding herself that the prince was married and doted on his wife. She saw him take his wife's hand and walk off without giving her a backward glance.

"You better not give him any ideas my lady", whispered Robert into her ears and she jumped. "You are to be my wife after all." He added with a smirk.

Lyanna betrayed no emotion at his comment as she knew her father would never agree to Roberts whims and wishes, everyone knew of his deeds with the local whores and he also had a baby with one of them she had heard, he was the biggest drunk of the lot always forgetting his manners as he got tanked up . No father would never let him marry her, she reassured herself and gave him her widest smiles. "In your dreams my lord", she said and stuck her tongue out. Ned who had heard the whole exchange laughed aloud followed by Robert and Brandon. She left them laughing behind her back and made her way to her chambers praying to the old gods and the new, hoping that what Robert wished would never come to pass, she would rather die than marry a man like Robert.

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"NED…NED", lyanna whispered to the mound of furs that was his cover as he slept. She pushed at his head a little and he stirred. "What is it Anna?", he asked from under the covers.

"I need to speak to you, it is of the utmost importance.", she squeaked.

"At this hour?" he mumbled.

"Yes I wouldn't have risked my neck if it weren't so important", she chided.

"You must stop with this nightly visits and strolls Lyanna, you are a woman now, people will spread rumours", he said exasperatedly, "turn off the lamp." He added.

"I ll cut to the chase brother, am I to be married off to Robert ", she whispered and doused her lamp.

"Not that I have heard anything about it, but Robert had went on about how we were family, I had my suspicions then but it isn't something to be worried about." He explained. "I would never have you shipped off to them", he added and held her small hand in his.

"You promise me brother", she asked softly.

"I swear to the old gods and the new, I wouldn't let savages take my only sister."

Lyanna kissed her brother on his forehead and bid him good night before slipping out of his room into the long dark corridors that led to her chamber across the hall.

The princes chambers was right across another corridor to the left and she had this sudden urge to go see what they were up to, but then the thought of the kings guard at the door and changed her mind. Father would disapprove if she were caught snooping around the castle in the middle of the night.

Tomorrow morning there would be grand feast for the royals and she was excited to attend that for the first time in her life. As she lay in bed she realized all the while she hadn't been excited about the feast she was excited to see him, her dragon.

a/n : remember as teenagers we hardly cared if our crush had a girlfriend or not , we only want to look at our love with longing and not care what the world thought of it, society norms hardly matter when it comes to the passion of the first love. Remember your first love? Reviews are welcomed.