AUTHORS NOTE- This is obviously an alternative universe I am making here. Some dates and ages will have been slightly altered to fit my story better and if it doesen't always seem exactly canon, oh well, this is AU and i don't particularly care. The beginning however has one key difference. What if the wife of Rickard Stark was not Lyarra but an OC. Rhaena Targaryen is the eldest child of King Jaehaerys II and when confronted with the possible prospect of marrying Aerys, decides to avoid that by any means necessary. She finds a sympathetic ear in her grandfather King Aegon V who arranges a Northern alliance with Rickard Stark. Everything else happens as normal up to the point of the rebellion. Rhaena was with child and nearly died when giving birth at the time of Rickard and Brandon's death. She was aware of the truth of Lyanna's so-called abduction. By the time she was well enough to act the game had already been set. The other divergence is Queen Rhaella's own support in Rhaegar taking a second wife who is her niece. All three of these women possess exceptionally strong indomitable wills which will be of paramount importance in the support and upbringing of our main male character who is of course the grandson of the two elder and son of the younger woman. His is the song of Ice and fire this is the story of the Prince that was Promised- well, my version at least.
CHAPTER I- THE TOWER OF JOY
It had been three days since Rhaegar had left the Tower of Joy and both Lyanna and the Kingsguard were feeling decidedly uneasy. The situation in the realm was deteriorating rapidly. Lyanna knew there would be consequences for her defiance, but never in her wildest dreams did she believe it would come down to this. Perhaps what angered her the most however were the tales of the absurd claims of that oaf Robert Baratheon. Lyanna snorted in disgust at the mere thought that she would allow herself to be kidnapped and raped. The bastard who dared would be dead long before he had a chance to so much as touch her. She then felt a gentle kick come from the baby. It seems she wasn't alone in her belief. She was distracted from such thoughts as Ser Arthur Dayne joined her in the room looking worried.
"What is the matter Ser Arthur?" He was normally quite composed and confident, and she certainly didn't like the look of worry on his face. "My Princess, banners have been spotted making their way towards us. It doesen't look to be an overly large group, more like a troop of guardsmen."
"Whose banners do they bear? Virtually no one knows of our location." inquired Lyanna. "The oddest sight Princess. They are a double banner with what i'm certain is the Stark direwolf halved with the Targaryen dragon." At that, Lyanna bolted upright and raced toward the window. The gasp that left her lips surpised Arthur. "Mother", she whispered. "That is my mother's personal banner. I'd thought she died in childbirth though i never actually got a confirmation of this." "If that is indeed the Lady Stark the others won't allow her entry. We have our orders," he said. Lyanna actually giggled, somewhat confusing Arthur. "You forget Ser Arthur, my mother is far more than simply Dowager Lady of Winterfell; she was born the Princess Rhaena Targaryen, eldest child of King Jaehaerys II. You are bound to follow the commands of the blood members of the royal family above all others, which she most assuredly is."
Apparently Ser Arthur had been wrong because when he descended to the base of the Tower he found both Ser Oswell and Ser Gerold on bended knee kissing the back of Lady Starks hand. It occured to Arthur that his Kingsguard brothers were both considerably older than he and would have seen Lady Stark growing up as the granddaughter and then daughter of their kings. Looking at her it was almost hard to believe that Princess Lyanna was this woman's daughter. She was pure Targaryen and bore a remarkable resemblence to Queen Rhaella. Which was of course natural as she was the elder sister of both King Aerys and Queen Rhaella. Never having heard of bouts of Targaryen madness coming from the North, Arthur could only hope this Targaryen was more like her sister and nothing like her brother. His thoughts are confirmed when she calmly asks to be brought to her daughter, though it is plain to see this is no request. Arthur was rather shocked when Ser Gerold Hightower barely even paused to think before acquiessing to her will. He thought that perhaps this is one formidable lady.
When the door opened and Lyanna saw her mother walk through she was in her arms within moments. She poured out her heart to the mother she thought to never see again in this life. They discussed things for well over an hour before it occured to her that her mother had seemed less than surprised by any of this and also seemed remarkably well informed.
"How Mother? How does it seem that you already know all of this?" asked Lyanna. Rhaena responded with the question, "Besides the Kingsguard downstairs, who else was at your wedding to Rhaegar?" "The Queen", Lyanna said. Then, all the knowledge her mother had began to make sense. Of course the Queen would contact her sister if she heard she still lived. The two had always been close no matter the distance that separated them. "Mother, something i've been wondering. Why was the Queen so supportive of Rhaegar and I? Why did she help us?"
The answer is both simple and complicated. "Because sweetling, you are my daughter. You're also more like me than you realize and she would have easily recognized that. Also, I believe she holds little love for Princess Elia and her Dornish kin. She doesn't trust them in the slightest, and with good reason. Frankly my darling I'm not sure which is worse; to be surrounded by Lannisters or the Martells. You were always her first choice for her son's wife but my brother refused to wait a few more years for you to come of age and then your father got sucked into the Arryn-Baratheon alliance."
"Now my dear, we must get you packed and out of this desert hell. No daughter of mine will be forced to endure such things."
"Are we to go home Mother? I am committed to my course", Lyanna stated determinedly." That is good daughter for I am committed to seeing you and my future grandchild are well met. We are to sail to Dragonstone", she announced.
After summoning Ser Gerold Hightower she presented him with a letter in the Queen's own hand commanding him and his brothers to accompany her sister and good-daughter and all in their company to Dragonstone and set sail from Starfall post-haste. Apparently Lord Dayne had been pressed into Queen Rhaella's service to ensure their swift and safe departure. As none of them had even slightest desire to remain immobile and useless in this remote tower they all agreed to follow the Queens command without hesitation. They would leave at dawn on the morrow.
Before Princess Rhaena retired for the evening she had two more surprises for not only Lyanna, but the Kingsguard as well. A wet nurse walked into the room to introduce Lyanna to her new nine month old baby sister. "Lya meet your sister, Elaena Stark." The young babe presented to Lyanna was beautiful. She was also, Lyanna noted, the only one of her mother's children to inheirit her own pale blonde Targaryen locks. Lyanna also saw when the little girl opened her eyes that she possessed eyes identical to her own glacial orbs.
"She's so beautiful Mother. Hello, little one. I'm your big sister Lya and I promise you this little sister, no matter what i shall love you always." Rhaena leaned forward and placed a kiss on Lyanna's brow. "Just as i'll always love you Lya. I want you to know i'm so proud of you my beautiful girl." "How can be you mamma, I got Father and Brandon killed", she whispered. Her Mother gently grasped her chin and met her eyes. "It is not and never will be your fault Lyanna. You never could have known. The fault lies with my mad brother and him alone. And i promise you this, he will get what's coming to him even if i have to be named a kinslayer to see it done. For killing my oldest boy, his own nephew and your father, I would wear it as a badge of honor." Rhaena stated boldly. If the members of the Kingsguard heard that particular threat to their kings life, they showed no sign of it.
"Now, I have one more child to introduce you to." Rhaena motioned towards a servant and asked her to bring in the boy. Lyanna is speechless as are the Kingsguard when they are presented with five year old Renly Baratheon of Storm's End.
"Mother, how? How in the name of the gods did you get custody of Robert's little brother." Instead of answering she introduced Renly to everyone and then sent him to his supper and bed. Finally after he left, Rhaena answered. "It was Rhaella's idea. We had both gotten word the the defenders at Storm's End were at their starving point, and neither she nor I want anything to happen to Steffon's last boy. We both loved him like a brother and would preserve one of his children untainted by any of this if we could. Also having him in our hands is leverage we need, though of course we'd never let him come to harm. But, Robert needen't know that of course. He's never seen any of my birth family as his true relatives. As to how I retrieved him, that part is simple. The Tyrell's let me through their lines and i used one the the ancient tunnels that run underneath the castle that Steffon and I used to play in as children. Hunger is a rather a powerful motivator to seek out new surroundings. Now we must needs rest sweetling for we depart with the dawn."