Rhaegar
It was only this morning that the Royal Family of Westeros, House Targaryen had arrived at Harrenhal for the great tourney. Their arrival was a large ordeal since King Aerys II himself was among them. Rhaegar, his heir and Crowned Prince had made note of the many onlookers who seemed concerned with the king's sickly appearance and wondered what that could possibly mean for him. But the arrival and greetings from the many lords and ladies already in attendance had left Rhaegar feeling drained after his journey and gave him little time to contemplate such things. Sometimes the crown atop his long, silvery hair felt heavier than any armor he had ever worn. But still, he remained dutiful to his people.
As overwhelming as being crowned prince was at times, he often found what brought him the most comfort was walking nameless among the people of Westeros. Only then for the duration of his walk, would he be able to feel the freedom from duty and honor that came with his titles. Prince Rhaegar was usually accompanied by his friend and Kingsguard member Ser Arthur Dayne on these treks though, on occasion he was able to sneak off on his own. Thankfully the Dornish knight was not a man of many words. Unless of course, he deemed them necessary. The Targaryen Prince appreciated that about the knight and over time the two had become close friends.
During the lunch he shared with his wife and young daughter, Prince Rhaegar has seemed to be in good spirits though Ser Arthur had noticed something hiding beneath the surface. He knew that the Prince of the Seven Kingdoms and the Princess of Dorne though married, were hardly in love. They cared for eachother and were kind to one another but it was obvious that their marriage was one of duty and not love. And that did not appear to be changing in the near future either, despite the birth of their first child and daughter, Princess Rhaenys. Elia Martell was a good wife and woman but love her, Prince Rhaegar did not. Ser Arthur though had never spoken of it, but most certainly had known it.
The Prince and the Knight made their way through the castle, wearing sigil-less leathers and only their swords at their hips. They did not expect to find trouble, but regardless they never left without their weapons. Silently, the pair made their way out of the gates of the castle walls, walking through the crowd straight for the beach at God's Eye Lake. As the lake came into view and the men were finally alone, Ser Arthur finallI broke the silence "So are you going to continue to sulk in silence or tell me what's bothering you?" The prince looked over at his friend with a hint of surprise, not realizing his emotions may have been written all over his face. "It's obvious something is on your mind," the Dornishman continued, "I need your head in the tourney if I am to beat you honestly again." The joke brought a smile to the Targaryen's face before fading away as he looked forward. The day was bright with shimmering lake water to Arthur's right and beautiful greenery and trees to Rhaegar's left, the tents of the many tourney attends just beyond that.
"It's Elia," the prince finally confessed. "I worry for her health. I told her I thought she should stay behind but she insisted on attending the tourney."
"It didn't seem you were too worried about her delicateness on our journey here," the knight joked with a grin, jabbing the prince in the rib playfully.
"Again, she insisted," the prince continued. "She wishes to give me a son. The prince that was promised."
"Sounds to me like she is trying to be a proper Dornish wi-" Arthur had been cut off by the sound of a loud thud. The two men were unaware of exactly where it came from until they heard the bellowing voice of a young woman beyond the bushes to Rhaegar's left.
"That's my father's man you are kicking," she said loudly sounding more annoyed than distressed. Rhaegar and Arthur shared a quick glance between them before they unspokenly approaching the bushes off where the commotion was coming from. A few cracks of a sword sounded through the air before another thud was heard. Shortly after, two squires scurried off in different directions, one passing the prince and the knight in a hurry. As Rhaegar approached the scene, he stopped Arthur abruptly to keep him from going any further. The two stood quietly unnoticed as the scene before them unfolded. Of the three people before them, the young, dark haired lady was the one Rhaegar was captivated by. She was a slim and pale girl, but curves of her womanly figure and her young looking face led him assumed she was in her late teens. Her long dark hair was neatly braided down her back though a few stray strains were out of place, probably from riding. Her smoky eyes seemed to pierce the squire kneed on the ground before her, the tip of her sword resting carefully under his peach fuzzed chin. Behind her was a young lord who seemed to have taking a small beating, looking up at her in amazement.
"It will do you some good to learn some honor if you wish to be a knight," her eyes did not leave the trembling squire. "Y-yes, m-mi'lady Lyanna. I mean Lady Stark," he quickly corrected himself. She seemed unmoved by his words as she looked down upon him at her mercy. Lyanna quickly relaxed, tossing the tourney sword back the the pile behind her where she picked it up from.
"Go on then," she replied dismissively before turning the lord on the ground behind her. She held her hand out to help the young man up with a polite smile, "are you alright Lord Reed?"
"Yes Lady Lyanna. I am fine. Thank you," he said as he dusted himself off, not realizing he tore the elbow of his shirt.
"You are bleeding. Come. I will wash and bandage you up. My brothers have had their fair share of injuries while training," she reassured the shy lord. "I bandage them up all the time. Mayhaps I will introduce you to them."
Rhaegar was entranced by the young woman. Her bravery and fearlessness was unlike anything he had seen from a Lady before. He admired it, along with her readied willingness to protect her bannerman. "Traits of a great lady in the making. Perhaps even a queen," Rhaegar had thought to himself
"Well she certainly is a woman grown now," Ser Arthur commented, tearing Rhaegar from his thoughts. "I remember seeing her at the Tourney at Storm's End. She was a young thing then."
"Lyanna Stark," Rhaegar whispered softly to himself, unaware he spoke her name aloud.
Arthur snickered, "the she wolf has caught your eye, eh? It makes sense that you would like a woman who would challenge you."
The prince looked at his friend, shaking his head. "No. I am trying to make sure I am familiar with the my people. I was just make note of her name is all," he lied attempting to play it off
"Her name is not the only thing I saw you taking note of Dragon Prince. I have seen that same look in a man's eye before. And it had nothing to do with remembering a woman's name," the Dorishman teased.
Prince Rhaegar simply rolled his eyes and shook his head, paying no mind to his friend's typically forward comments. Though he would not speak it, the she wolf had most certainly caught the Dragon Prince's attention. This unexpected attraction both bothered and intrigued him.
