A Fork in the River
Rhaegar 1
"What else did the wood's witch tell you?"
The casual tone Arthur used to ask his question did not hide his worry from Rhaegar. It had been four days since they had kidnaped the Stark girl and Rhaegar knew Arthur was becoming increasing concerned that Brandon Stark would not find them. They had tried to be conspicuous, traveling quite close to the main road and tonight they were braving a private inn, but even the best plans failed.
"My prince, please let me know if there was anything else she told you. If the Stark-Tully alliance goes ahead your father will see that I have failed him. Your wood's witch sent us to Lyanna Stark. But to what end?"
Rhaegar took in a deep breathe, contemplating what to tell Arthur. "The maester confirmed that Elia cannot have any more children," he began, wondering as usual how much he could share without risk being seen as his father's mad son. "I believe that I need to have three children. As you know my plan was to leave you to your duty with Stark while I conversed with the prophets on the green isle about this. Then my sage found me first and told me where to find what we sought. I thought she meant Brandon when she mentioned the ice wolf. She told me little else that I can make sense of yet." Arthur looked at him skeptically and Rhaegar nodded at him to tell him what he really thought. "I don't know why you listen to her. She seems to only bring your family pain. Your mother…"
Rhaegar shot his friend a warning glance, should treasonous words leave his lips. "It is exactly for my mother. I have to believe that there is some greater good to come from her suffering after what my grandfather forced upon my parents."
"At that witch's urging," pointed out Arthur and Rhaegar smiled. To have someone argue with was nice when one was a prince. Rhaegar sighed, "The price of not listening to her, to ignoring prophecies is too high. But one thing at a time. The wood's witch as you call her has given you a gift even if you don't see it. My father ordered you to break Rickard Stark's alliances. Your plan of confronting Brandon and demanding he honour your sister may have achieved breaking the Tully/Stark alliance. And no doubt a successful Stark/Dayne alliance would be beneficial for our other goal too. But kidnapping Lyanna should bring Brandon to us anyway and increase our bargaining power over him. The extra boon is that the Baratheon pride will have my cousin Robert shy away from marrying a woman who's been dragged through the woods for days alone with four men. My father will be appeased when it appears that you've broken both of Lord Stark's alliances in a single move."
Arthur smiled at this and then looked troubled. "I hate that we have bound and kidnapped a helpless woman though. To break her betrothal and dishonour her, even if only in others' minds is unacceptable. And I am concerned about how you plan to get Baratheon back on your side after all of this."
Rhaegar had been worrying about that as well. The Baratheon words were not lip service. But he figured that if they could explain things to Brandon then he could explain to his brother. He had heard that Eddard Stark was a good friend of his cousins and may even be able to convince Robert that Lyanna was still a maiden and worthy of being the Lady of Storm End. Unfortunately the way that girl rode it was unlikely she would pass a maester's exam.
Arthur nodded at this explanation and Rhaegar wondered how he would have reacted had someone kidnapped Elia while they were betrothed. His pride would have been piqued, he would have been annoyed at another delay in having heirs, and he would have worried for her safety. But mostly he would be relieved he may have gotten a chance to marry for love – though with his luck no doubt it would have only resulted in his father reconsidering Cersei Lannister as an appropriate wife for him.
"My prince, speaking of dishonour, there is something else that troubles me. What did Lyanna mean when she said you didn't follow the king's Orders at Harrenhall?"
Rhaegar smirked as the memory of the small women beating three knights ran through his head. He had truly told no one. The poor women had been aghast when he found out, but he did not want Arthur to formulate any incorrect conclusions based on her words. "As you know my father was concerned about the Knight of the Laughing Tree. He sent me to uncover his identity and return him to his custody. I found Lady Lyanna under the armour."
A strange look came over Arthur's face. He was Dornish so the idea of warring women was not so strange to him so Rhaegar doubted that was the cause of it. "So that is why you crowned her Queen of Love and Beauty?" he finally asked.
Rhaegar smiled and nodded. "I felt she deserved it," he replied. "You know Arthur, if you were so curious you could have just asked me. I am always your friend first."
"Aye, I was afraid of the answer Rhaegar. Either way she is a lady with few peers. And unless her brother is quite convincing the poor thing will likely remain single or married to some farmer in the North. Unless you decide you want to honor the old Targaryen custom and take her for your second wife."
The words were meant in jest, and yet Rhaegar felt like he had been given an epiphany. His sage had whispered just those words – remember the old Targaryen ways – before sending him on his way to find her.