"The King and the Prince and the court is coming tomorrow," Lord Tywin spoke, glancing at everyone in the private dining hall. Servants were bustling about the keep and castle, getting the Rock ready to receive royal guests. "The Queen and Prince Viserys are back in King's Landing but we will still be celebrating the prince's birth. We must all be on our best behavior."
"Dear, are you planning on talking to the king about the betrothal?" Joanna asked, from the corner of the table where she was feeding Tyrion. Taliya was sitting next to her youngest brother, keeping him happy. Cersei and Jaime were across the table, Cersei's eyes narrowed at Taliya in jealousy.
"Why does she get to marry the prince? Why not me?" Cersei pouted, making stink eyes at Tyrion when their brother giggled at her. "I want to marry the prince and be Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Father."
"She is marrying Prince Rhaegar because she is our firstborn," Joanna remarked, her lips twitching into a frown. "Cersei, you are marrying Lord Stannis when the time comes and that is that. Stop badgering your sister."
"But I'm prettier than she is!"
"Cersei, go to your rooms," Joanna spoke, steel coming into her voice. Taliya would have grinned but she knew when her mother sounded like that, it wasn't wise to disrespect her. She turned to Tyrion and made a face, to which he laughed out loud, clapping his hands in joy. "Do not make me send a raven to Sunspear about rethinking a marriage to Oberyn Martell."
Cersei shuddered, standing up and dipping her head in an acquiescing nod. "What's next? Our Imp-"
"Cersei!" Joanna raised her voice, just enough to get everyone's attention, pointing through the door that led to the family quarters. "You know better than to call Tyrion that word."
Tywin looked up from the letters he was reading, raised an eyebrow as Cersei fled the room. "Should I restrict her to her rooms during the tourney?"
"No, I will deal with her," Joanna spoke, glancing to Taliya, Jaime and Tyrion.
Taliya looked over to where Jaime was sitting, her brother half out of his chair to go after Cersei. "Uncle Gerion's planning on arriving tomorrow too, isn't he?"
"Yes, he is," Tywin answered, glancing down at the letter again. "He will be here early."
"Your aunt Genna too will be here tomorrow," Joanna added, taking a bite of her dinner.
Taliya waited beside her mother and father as they watched the royal procession walk up through the Lion's Mouth. Cersei and Jaime were on her other side, their eyes wide as they watched the big group of people entering the courtyard. She could see the carriage that the king was probably in and the kingsguard on horseback around it. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Jaime whisper excitedly about Ser Arthur of the kingsguard, of how he was the greatest knight in Westeros. Prince Rhaegar was riding up front, on a horse, and he looked… Like a king should look. He wore his silver hair long and his purple eyes were intent on the crowd before him.
The Prince Who Was Promised. The former Girl-Who-Lived. Taliya studied him closely, seeing the Targaryen red cloak on his shoulders. He looked… haunted for a second, as he rode his horse right up to her father and mother. As he dismounted, he said hello to Lord Tywin and Lady Joanna before glancing at her, his eyes curious. Purple eyes met green and held.
"Your Grace, this is my daughter, Lady Taliya," Tywin introduced them as the king stepped out of his carriage. "Taliya, this is Prince Rhaegar Targaryen."
"Your Grace," Taliya offered, dipping her head in an acknowledging nod.
"Lady Taliya." Rhaegar looked her over before reaching out his hand. Taliya peered down at Rhaegar's hand then held out her own, her eyes widening as Rhaegar clasped it and brought it to his mouth to kiss. Taliya's cheeks warmed and Rhaegar grinned at her before letting her have her hand back, turning towards the king.
Taliya's eyes narrowed as she watched King Aerys stand before her parents. Aerys wasn't as handsome as Rhaegar was but the king definitely had the Targaryen look, with long silver hair and purple eyes. But she had heard things from her father. The king was steadily growing madder with each year. Last year the king had brought up the idea of building a whole new capital city because King's Landing stunk. Or had said he would bring war to Braavos just because the Iron Bank hadn't loaned him money.
And Taliya had heard the rumors of what the king had said when news had reached King's Landing of her baby brother. King Aerys had disrespected both Taliya's mother and Tyrion, saying that her mother's breasts had been ruined by nursing her children. Aerys had also said that Tyrion had been born 'to show Tywin some humility at last'. She didn't take much offense at that but she had heard the gossip about Tyrion. People called him the Imp or the Halfman or the Devil.
Taliya had thought to keep an eye on the king after that, to protect her mother while the king was in Casterly Rock for the tourney.
"Have you ever been to Casterly Rock, Your Grace?" Taliya asked.
Rhaegar stepped over to stand in front of Lady Taliya Lannister. She was beautiful, her long blonde hair woven together into a braid which was hanging down one shoulder. Her bright green eyes studied him with intent and Rhaegar could swear that they glowed briefly, lighting up one second before the glow vanished the next. Lady Taliya's sister was beautiful too, Lady Cersei, if Rhaegar heard correctly.
Taliya though… There was something about her. She wore a golden cloak over her shoulders, probably keeping warm in the slight sea breeze. She was as tall as he was, allowing them to see eye to eye. Her leggings were black, keeping her long legs warm. Mayhap he would talk with his father about marrying her; he knew that Aerys wanted to send Lord Steffon Baratheon to Essos to find a bride for him.
He had a brief vision of golden haired babes as he looked at her before sighing. Aerys probably wanted a lady of Valyrian heritage for him to marry. Keep the bloodline pure and all that. Rhaegar's great-great grandfather had had other ideas about House Targaryen though and then had died at Summerhall.
"I have not been to Casterly Rock, my lady," Rhaegar finally answered, glancing up at the keep and the formidable rock that held it.
King Aerys turned towards him, eyed Lady Taliya. "Rhaegar, leave the lady alone and let Lord Tywin show us around the keep. I am sure the woman has better things to do."
"I can show you around," Taliya remarked, glancing between her own parents and Rhaegar's father. "Besides, my father doesn't know all the good places. It's no trouble to me."
Tywin's eyes narrowed but Rhaegar could see some veiled approval in them.
"We must talk with Lord Tywin," King Aerys ordered. "Matters of the Crown take precedence."
"I apologize, Lady Taliya," Rhaegar spoke, seeing the woman's eyes study the king. He had the faintest idea that Taliya found the king lacking. "You will have to show me around another time."
"I'll be around," Taliya offered, watching as he turned and followed his father and Lord Tywin.
"Your Grace," Tywin started, as he led King Aerys and Prince Rhaegar into his solar.
"We appreciate this tourney," Prince Rhaegar started, glancing around Lord Tywin's office. The desk was carved with lion heads and lion tapestries were hanging on all of the walls, very much unlike the dragon skulls in the throne room in King's Landing. "The Queen and my brother couldn't make it, I'm afraid."
"Is the prince ill?" Lord Tywin asked.
"He better not be," King Aerys remarked, grimacing. "My queen is difficult to be around when she loses a child. She has not even birthed a sister-wife for Rhaegar yet."
Rhaegar turned to look at the wall beside him, hiding a grimace, before turning to look at Lord Tywin. The Warden of the East was looking at King Aerys with apprehension before he spoke. "Your Grace, my daughter might be the right lady for your son. She is trueborn and knows a lady's grace."
"No, Tywin. I will not have my son marry a child of my servant."
Rhaegar's eyes widened as he glanced between his father and Lord Tywin Lannister. "Father-"
"No. You shall have a lady of Valyrian heritage, not one that is inferior to us dragons. This matter is settled."
Lord Tywin's dark green eyes narrowed dangerously, subtly, before he nodded. "Shall I have one found in Essos?"
"No. Lord Steffon Baratheon offered and he will go."
Taliya stared out at the godswood the next morning, looking up at the big weirwood tree.
"What is it with you and trees, sister?"
She turned only to see Jaime walking over to her, his eyes apprehensive.
"They're beautiful," Taliya retorted.
"They're not beautiful. They're old and creepy."
Taliya snorted. "There's a power to them, old power. The maesters think that they children of the forest could see through them."
"Still creepy though."
"Tyrion thinks they're pretty too."
"He thinks dragons are fascinating."
"Dragons are fascinating. The Targaryen dragons had a bond with their riders. The dragons I knew-" Taliya stopped herself, looking beyond Jaime to the crown prince, who was walking over to them. Ser Arthur and Ser Lewyn of the kingsguard were trailing behind him. The castle and the city of Lannisport were getting over crowded with knights who wanted to compete in this tourney, wanted to show their fighting prowess. The tourney would start today and would end in a week with a big feast to celebrate. The prince probably had wanted some peace and quiet.
"The dragons you knew?" Jaime echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"I… Forget I said anything," Taliya retorted.
"Lady Taliya, Jaime," Prince Rhaegar spoke, stopping in front of them and then turning to his side, letting them both see Arthur and Lewyn. "This is Ser Arthur and Ser Lewyn."
"My lady," Arthur said, dipping his head in a nod.
"Your uncles are competing in the tourney, are they not?" Ser Lewyn asked, looking between the two of them. "I only ask because Ser Arthur is competing."
Jaime's eyes widened. "Ser Arthur, you're competing?"
"Yes, I am," Arthur replied, his lips twitching up into a grin.
Taliya smiled at her brother's worship but nodded. "Yes, Uncle Gerion and Uncle Tygett are competing. Uncle Tygett is the one you have to worry about though. Are you competing, Your Grace?"
"Tygett Lannister…" Ser Arthur trailed off. "Was he the one frowning at Lord Tywin yesterday?"
Jaime shrugged and nodded. "He is. He's a good fighter."
"I am competing," Prince Rhaegar answered quietly. "I had wondered if you would be so kind as to show me around? I did not get the opportunity yesterday to spend time with such a beautiful lady."
Taliya snorted, causing Rhaegar's eyes to widen at the unladylike behavior. "I'm not as beautiful as my sister, Your Grace. Though my mother thinks me more beautiful than her. She might be a bit biased though, considering I'm her firstborn."
Rhaegar took a step closer towards her, offering her his arm. "All mothers think their firstborn is the greatest. It's a secret."
"Even yours?" Taliya questioned, taking his arm. "Jaime, don't tell our father where I am, will you?"
"I won't," Jaime replied, still staring in awe at Ser Arthur.
"Some place you have to be?" Prince Rhaegar asked.
"Lady lessons with Septa Saranella," Taliya offered, feeling the warmth from the prince surround her as they walked back through the small godswood. "My lady mother, Joanna, wanted me to continue them even though the tourney was taking place this week."
"Your lady mother must be formidable," Rhaegar remarked, as they stopped just at the courtyard. The entrance to the keep was to the right and to the left was the gate and walls and Lannisport. The tourney arena was right outside the walls of Lannisport, with the stands right below the walls. "To hold court amongst your father and his brothers."
"She is," Taliya replied, leading Rhaegar into the keep and down the set of stairs off to the left. "Very much the lioness on the Rock. I hope your mother is recovering from her recent birth?"
"She is. Thank you for asking. My little brother, Viserys, is healthy," Rhaegar remarked, as they walked down the stairs. Once they stepped off the last step, Rhaegar's eyes widened at the many piles of treasure ahead of them. "What is this?"
"The Golden Gallery. It is where the treasure of the Lannister kings of old is kept and any other treasure that our family brought back from fighting," Taliya explained, as they looked out over it. "Father doesn't like people who are not Lannisters seeing this so keep it to yourself."
"Yes, my lady," Rhaegar said, bemusedly. "I will not speak a word of what you showed me."
Taliya glared at him and he laughed.
"I mean no disrespect, my lady."
"Yes, well."
Rhaegar grinned and followed Lady Taliya back up the steps, listening to her talk of her childhood. Ser Lewyn quietly followed him, watching his every movement. He knew that his father had said no to marrying Lady Taliya but she intrigued him. He wanted to have her as a friend, if he couldn't court her like he wanted to. And perhaps it was a small rebellion against his father too.
"What is King's Landing like?" Taliya asked, as they walked through the keep. He stopped to glance out one of the windows, taking a breath of the sea air that flowed in through it. Casterly Rock smelled much better than King's Landing and he wondered what the difference was. Mayhaps it was because there were not as many people living here as in King's Landing.
"It's a big city, my lady," Rhaegar offered, hearing Taliya step over to his side. "There are so many people living in the city and working. I… Do not tell my father or mother what I am about to tell you."
Taliya nodded, her green eyes lit up with interest. Her interest was unlike the interest of the other ladies at court. Rhaegar could tell that Taliya was genuinely interested in what he said. The ladies at court only spoke of weddings and how to gain favor with other lords and ladies.
"I often go into the city, disguised."
"That must be an experience," Taliya commented. "The Crown Prince walking about the city as if he was one of the smallfolk."
Rhaegar smiled, hearing the understanding her tone.
"I understand the need to go unnoticed," Taliya spoke, her eyes narrowing in thought. "For you, it must be a strong one."
"Yes. I appreciate going unrecognized in the city," Rhaegar replied. "What do you mean you understand my need? You are not the Crown Prince."
Taliya stopped, her body stilling. Her golden hair was in two thin braids down her back, with the rest of it long. She turned to look at him, her eyes intent on him. "You are not the only one to have a prophecy over your head."
