Elia Martell was a kind woman. Liliyanna liked her, Rhaella liked her, Aerys, in his own way, liked her. The only one, it seemed, that didn't like her, was her husband.

She was kind, fairly pretty, and loved Rhaegar with all of her heart. But she was weak and sickly. The maester said it would be dangerous for her to have children.

That was the point when Aerys decided to marry Liliyanna and Rhaegar. Liliyanna would be the second wife, and if Elia never had children, then Liliyanna's would take Iron Throne. But if Elia managed to produce a son, then he would rule the Seven Kingdoms. Not long after the announced betrothal, Elia gave birth to a daughter, Rhaenys. Hopes were kept that perhaps she would give Rhaegar a son.

The night Liliyanna and Rhaegar wed, Aerys ran the bells as a reminder of Rhaegar's birth. Elia, due to her poor health after birthing Rhaenys, was bedridden and unable to attend. There was a magnificent feast, and lords and ladies from all over Westeros attended. That was the first time Liliyanna encountered Lyanna Stark.

Lyanna was interesting. She was fourteen years old. They called her the She-Wolf, and she lived up to the name well. While her brothers, Eddard, Brandon, and Benjen, feasted on the delicacies prepared in the kitchens, Lyanna sat stoically at her table. She was solemn, but when she laughed it rose above the crowd and even those at the high table could hear her.

The feast was wild with music and laughter. At one point during the night, the musicians had begun to play 'The Dornishman's Wife.' With lyrics that made a mockery of the Dornish, it would have been a grave insult to Elia, should she have been in attendance. Rhaegar didn't want to speak up, but Aerys did. He threatened to cut off the hands of each musician if they didn't stop playing the song. They quickly shifted the tune to 'The Bear and the Maiden Fair.'

Drunken singing was heard from the tables of Northern lords, among them Lyanna's father, Rickard. He did not drink much wine that night, instead conversing with his daughter.

Rhaegar and Liliyanna blushed whenever their hands bumped beneath the table. After Aerys had announced Rhaegar's betrothal to Elia, they had stopped most communications. And there they were, married. The only thing left to do was the bedding ceremony, but the feast would last some hours before that.

At some point during the night, Rhaegar led Liliyanna to the center of the hall, leading her in a waltz. The crowd cheered and smiled at their prince and his second wife. They all liked Liliyanna, and most of them hoped that Elia would not be able to have a son.

Rhaegar and Liliyanna danced the night away, drunk on glee and excitement. When the sun had started to rise in the sky, Aerys announced it was time for the bedding ceremony.

Many who had fallen asleep at their tables were roused awake, and they cheered raucously while they watched the couple get whisked away.

The next morning, most of the guests had begun travels back to their homes. But one guest of importance remained. Lord Justyn Daxer, Liliyanna's older brother.

He had been nine the last time he saw his little sister, and now he was a man of twenty-five. He brought news for Liliyanna; Myranda Daxer had died a year before. A letter had been sent at the time of Lady Daxer's death, but it had never reached Lili. While his sister had been living in King's Landing, Justyn had married the sweet, but stupid, Kyra Florent. They had a son by the name of Aemon, four years old, and they wished for Liliyanna to take the boy as a ward.

She agreed.

Aemon Daxer was a mischievous little boy. He was torture on the servants, waking up at odd times in the night and screaming so loud in woke near everyone in castle. Liliyanna wondered how her kind, caring brother could have created the terrible child. Aerys had a hatred for Aemon, who often woke Rhaenys, who would cry the rest of the night. The king threatened to cut the boy's tongue out if a solution wasn't found. Liliyanna had to beg Aerys not to when the problem was not solved, and it was only out the lust that Aerys felt for Lili that he agreed not to harm Aemon.

Viserys and Aemon became an inseparable pair. Aemon, while only being a year older, seemed to be smarter than the Targaryen prince. They roamed the castle, chased by a tired Rhaella.

With all the trouble that Aemon Daxer caused, Lili was filled with anxiety. If she could not handle her own nephew, then how was she to control the baby that was brewing in her stomach? She dared not tell a soul, unsure of the child's parentage. Only the day before she and Rhaegar's wedding, Aerys had been with her. It did not help that Rhaegar and Elia were attempting to have another child.

Nor did it help that Aerys began to suspect the pregnancy.