This chapter is a bit of a long one, which I hope makes up for the delay…

The Knight of the Laughing Tree

Harrenhal seemed to be turning into a string of unexpected incidents, Rhaegar thought to himself. None of this was going according to plan. But then again, he had known that such a large Tourney would attract all sorts, and with his father in the mix, madness was bound to happen.

The start of the joust on that day was already punctuated with tension. Aerys had stood just after the last line of the opening ceremonies, intending to speak. He began by publicly declaring that Queen Rhaella had been sent back to King's Landing, accompanied by Kingsguard Ser Lewyn Martell and Ser Jonothor Darry. Due to the shortage of Kingsguard Knights, he had also decided to ordain a new Kingsguard right then and there, and his choice had led to some surprise.

Jaime Lannister was a green knight of only sixteen years of age, and the heir to Casterly Rock. Choosing him for the celibate and dedicated life of a Kingsguard not only deprived a young man of many life experiences his peers would have, but also Lord Tywin Lannister of his favoured son as heir. It was no secret throughout the Seven Kingdoms that though Tywin had two sons, he quite detested his second son Tyrion, who had been unfortunately born with dwarfism and none of the beauty his elder siblings had been blessed with. It also didn't help that his birth had caused the death of Lady Joanna Lannister, which was perhaps the largest thorn in Tywin's heart. He had loved his wife dearly and likely never forgave Tyrion for her death. He never had to acknowledge the young boy before this. Now, he would have no choice.

Rhaegar managed to school his expression of shock as Aerys made his announcement. He could see Tywin Lannister's simmering anger blazing in his eyes, along with Aerys's glee, and felt a wave of dismay,. So… this was to be his father's final revenge against Tywin for his perceived insults in the past. It was sad that the two once great friends would now be vindictive like this, and Rhaegar feared what the other lord's retribution would be for. He was sure there would be hell to pay, and felt waves of apprehension go through him at the understanding that the already tenuous peace between the Kingdoms had been fractured even more.

There was nothing he could do about it though, not at the moment, and so he turned his eyes to Jaime Lannister himself. The Golden boy of the Lannister family was much like Rhaegar had remembered from a meeting a few years ago: golden-haired, green-eyed, handsome, and proud as he strode forward. He did not seem to notice or care that he was a pawn in the political games between their fathers, and seemed to be quite excited at the honour of being chosen for the Kingsguard. Only the slightest hint of hesitation as he knelt before Aerys betrayed any sign of nervousness as he faced the roster of the greatest knights in Westeros, and swore to give up his previous attachments and inheritance in order to dedicate his life to the protection of the King.

Ser Gerold Hightower took the young man under his wing after the ceremony, as the rest of the onlookers finally began to meander back to their seats. Ser Jaime opted to sit out of the joust, seeming to be still riding his wave of excitement. The older knight gave him a kindly smile and informed him that though his duties involved dedicating every moment of his life to the protection of the King, he would probably need time to ease into it, and thus allowed him to sit with his twin sister Cersei to watch the joust for that day.

"Are you not going to congratulate him?" a voice said from behind Rhaegar. He turned, somewhat surprised as Elia walked toward him, with Ashara and Arthur following close behind.

"Elia? Are you sure you are well enough to watch the joust?" he gave her a look over, trying to see if there was any sign of sickness or exhaustion in her.

She smiled at him. "Don't worry about me, Rhae. I told you, there was nothing wrong with my physically. Besides, we heard what was happening and decided to come and see. So that is him? Jaime Lannister?"

Rhaegar nodded. Elia frowned. "He seems a bit young to be giving everything up for a place with the Kingsguard."

"Yes… but I have heard he is quite a celebrated warrior in the Westerlands. Perhaps he's always liked his lance better than the books and papers that come with being a Lord."

"The opposite of you then?" Arthur teased. Rhaegar rolled his eyes lightly, used to such comments now.

"From what I see. He has no reservations about the role. Quite the opposite: I have not seen someone so excited for being selected in years… not since you," he added to Arthur, who just grinned.

"All the reason for us to greet him then?"

Rhaegar nodded and he and Arthur made their way over. Jaime's twin Cersei noticed their approach first, and quickly sat up, her green eyes fixed upon Rhaegar. He was not unused to eyes often being focused on him (it came with the position of Prince, after all), but he did note that her gaze was particularly intense, in a way that made him almost a little unnerved.

Jaime also turned at their approach, and his eyes widened in shock, and he quickly stood and bowed deeply.

"Prince Rhaegar… Ser Arthur…"

Though polite, there was no mistaking the excitement in his voice.

"Congratulations, Ser Jaime, on your selection," Rhaegar said formally.

"The honour is all mine, my lord," Jaime said. Rhaegar detected nothing but sincerity in his tone. "I have hoped for such a role for years now, and I swear to do my utmost to be worthy of my role, to keep you and your family safe, and to be counted amongst the most respected knights in the Kingdom."

Rhaegar nodded. "I am glad to hear that this is what you really want," he said softly, turning to Arthur to see if he had anything to add.

"I welcome you, Ser Jaime, as my newest Kingsguard brother," Arthur said, his formal mask also slipping into place. "I know it must be surprising to be thrown into the role at a Tourney like this. Fear not, Ser Gerold will be there to guide you, and you can come to any of us if you are unsure of anything."

Jaime seemed to puff with some pride at being called one of Arthur's Kingsguard brothers. It was clear that he idolized the Sword of the Morning (which was not expected, as Arthur's skills were legendary).

"Will you join the listings today, my lord?" Cersei spoke up suddenly, interrupting the topic of conversation. She had directed her question at Rhaegar, who was rather taken aback by the directness and change in topic. As his gaze flickered to her, she gave him a sweet smile, leaning forward to show her figure in better advantage and tilting her head to the side coyly while her eyes fixed on him almost hungrily.

Rhaegar was no stranger to others trying to flirt with him. After being called dense about these things many a time in his youth, he'd learnt to see the signs rather quickly now. However, that didn't mean that he was used to it, or that it didn't make him uncomfortable.

"I think not, my lady," he said politely but distantly. Experience had taught him that it was better to try and discourage them as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, Cersei was undeterred, and leaned forward even more. "But my lord, your skill and prowess as a knight is well-known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, and not undeserved! I saw you joust at the Tourney of Lannisport in 276, where you beat almost every opponent that challenged you!"

"Yes, but I'm afraid I still lost to Arthur in the end," he kept his tone detached as he could while remaining polite.

"It was close… and besides, you beat me in the Tourney of Storm's End the next year, so we're even," Arthur said with a raised eyebrow at him. Rhaegar gave him a quick look, imploring him to not continue this conversation more. Arthur had not noticed Cersei Lannister's advances, but he did understand the warning Rhaegar's eyes, and quickly relented.

"If I were to join, I think it would be in the later listings," he turned politely back to the Lannister siblings. "I still have many other duties to attend to."

"Of course," Jaime said knowingly, giving Cersei a nudge as he spoke to Rhaegar. "It would be a waste to be involved too early, before the better and more worthier warriors show up. The ones who even stand a chance of lasting more than two rounds, let alone winning any of the prizes. You would not waste your time with these low-tier challengers, would you my Lord?"

Rhaegar made a non-committal sound of agreement with Jaime's assessment, trying to maintain civility. While it was an unspoken rule, Jaime's barely hidden tone of disdain for some of the knights from poorer homes who could scarcely afford the training given to those more 'worthier' knights was one unfortunately shared by many in the nobility. But not one Rhaegar particularly liked. His family history with Ser Duncan the Tall, the hedge knight who had distinguished himself enough to go from a nobody to the Lord Commander of Aegon V's Kingsguard, had always made Rhaegar more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt to all challengers, regardless of how polished or shabby and ill-matched their armor and weapons were. Rhaegar had always looked up the memory of the honourable knight, to whom he owed his life (after all, he'd rescued his mother from the fire of Summerhall minutes before Rhaegar had been born). From Ser Duncan's example, Rhaegar had learned that it was skill, integrity, and dedication that distinguished a good warrior from the great.

But of course, he was painfully aware that the rest of world did not think the same, and believed that blood, wealth, and status to be much more important.

They made their excuses and quickly moved back to sit with the Royal Party. Elia leaned in as soon as he sat down, and murmured, "I had an interesting conversation earlier."

"Oh?" he gave her a curious look. She had a strange, probing expression, and a small smile played on her lips. He was glad to see that she seemed to be in a much better mood.

"Yes. I took a turn about the Gardens and bumped into two of the Starks of Winterfell."

Rhaegar felt a jolt in his stomach at the mention of the Starks, and his mind flashed immediately to grey eyes and the sweet scent of winter roses. Forcing the invading thoughts of his mind, he willed his expression not to change as he replied, "Ah, which ones?"

"Lord Brandon and Lady Lyanna."

"I see."

Elia gave him a curious look, probing. He wasn't sure what exactly she was looking for, but she continued on anyways, describing how she had taken the time to know the daughter of the Stark family, finishing the story with a 'I quite like her. She's a quite lively and charming without putting on any false pretenses. Did you know she's the best rider in her family after her brother Brandon? I was quite envious… my parents never allowed me to ride a horse in my youth."

Rhaegar nodded, somehow unsurprised by this revelation about Lyanna Stark. He wondered why Elia was telling him about this meeting in particular, though inwardly berated himself for even trying to see if she had any ulterior motives. He should be happy for her to be able to connect with more people, and just because he had to watch his back in court all the time on account of his father and all the other scheming nobles, didn't mean he had to apply that to his private life as well.

"I'm glad you were able to have a good time, and that you seem to be doing better."

Elia smiled at him. "Much better, thank you. I… it will pass. This isn't new, after all."

He just nodded and gave her hand a quick squeeze, unable to say more as the call for the joust to begin sounded. Though this bout was not as well-observed as some of the others, since most of the challengers were young squires, he still made a point to observe the skills of the riders, knowing that many would become knights he potentially worked with in the future. He watched with interest as challenger after challenger rode against each other, and the crowd alternatively cheered or groaned as their favourites were defeated.

The current champion was a squire of House Haigh that was no older than fifteen, bearing rather gaudy armor. He had won three bouts in a row, and the two other squires waiting to ride, likely his friends, were cheering him ecstatically.

"Are there any other challengers? I will take you all on, squire or knight, highborn or lowborn!" he called out arrogantly. "Or are you all too afraid I will defeat you. Understandable, of course. Perhaps I will win this Tourney after all!"

Rhaegar heard Arthur scoff from where he sat behind him, "Oh please, your attitude makes you look like an idiot who just got lucky. All talk with no skills, and not even worth challenging to most of the people here."

But then, it appeared there would be a challenger after all. Rhaegar heard gasps as a figure in a set of old knight's armor suddenly rode forward silently. He tilted his head curiously as he observed the knight stop just before the current champion. The knight said nothing, only pointed his tourney sword at the squire.

"Oh, so you wish to challenge me?' the squire called out, derisive as he glanced over the knight's rather shabby and ill-fitted armor. "What is your name, ser?" he said the title mockingly.

The knight said nothing still, only raised the shield in his hand. Upon it was a rather hastily done, though surprisingly good, drawing of a Weirwood. The trees had always fascinated Rhaegar, the unsettling contrast of the blood-red leaves and the wide 'grin' drawing his interest. He knew the tree was often affiliated with the Old Gods, worshiped by the North. So it would seem this knight must have been one of theirs.

Glancing over at where the Northerners sat, however, immediately informed him that this might not be the case. They all looked at each other in confusion, whispering amongst themselves. Some looked curious, while others slightly scandalized, likely thinking that this knight was making a mockery of their culture.

"Hmm, this is getting interesting," Arthur said, leaning forward.

"Oho, so you are Ser… Knight of the Laughing Tree, is it?" the squire called out, and his friends joined in on the jeers and laughter. But the knight jerked his head once in a nod. Rhaegar was a little amused to see the helmet quiver a little, as if not quite sitting right. But the Knight remained calm, staring the squire down through the visor.

"Well, all right then, I'll humor you! Let us get to it!"

Both contestants got into position. Rhaegar was surprised to find himself leaning forward curiously as well, his breath held as he watched the two ride toward one another. Despite the knight's poor choice of armor, he was clearly an exceptional rider. This piqued Rhaegar's interest, and he narrowed his eyes and he observed the mysterious knight more closely, taking in every incongruous detail of the scene.

The knight fumbled a little with the tourney sword as they approached (perhaps because his too-large gauntlet had slipped a little), he was easily able to recover and narrowly, through gracefully, dodged the squire's attempt to unhorse him. On the second round, he must have gotten his bearings and rode forward sharply, cleanly (and it must be said, rather forcefully), unhorsing his opponent.

There was a collective gasp from the crowd. The squire quickly picked himself him, wincing a little in pain. But any physical pain was probably nothing compared to the humiliation he must have felt, judging by his red face.

"That wasn't fair! I wasn't ready and wasn't doing my best!"

Lord Whent, who had been overseeing the judging, shook his head. "If you did not try your best, it is no one's fault but your own. The winner of this bout is the Knight of the Laughing Tree."

There were several cheers. Rhaegar couldn't help but glance over at the Northerners again, especially at the Starks who had decided to watch the joust. He saw Brandon Stark nudge a small boy sitting beside him with a grin. The boy had a rather embarrassed smile and seemed rather nervous to be sitting with the as important a family as the Starks. From behind him, Eddard Stark seemed rather amused, while Benjen Stark continued to cheer on the mysterious knight.

The squire let out an angry growl, and whirled on his friends. "You guys better take him down!"

"Don't worry," one of them said, stepping forward. This one was a squire of House Blount, looking a little less hotheaded than the first, but no less confident.

But it was not to be for him either. This time, the Knight of the Laughing Tree unhorsed him forcefully in one go. There were more cheers at that, with even the Northerners who had been upset at his choice of sigil cheering now.

The last squire rode forward, a member of House Frey. He was the biggest and brawniest of them all and eyed the mysterious knight with interest and a little respect.

"You're good, I give you that. But I'm afraid your luck has run out. Once I defeat you, I will remove that mask and see your true identity!"

The knight gave no reply, only got into position. At the mark, both charged towards each other. The first round, both missed. The second, the knight managed to land a hit, but was unable to completely knock the Frey squire down. His tourney sword had also cracked but did not break. Rhaegar could see the crowd leaning forward with bated breath, all eager to see what would happen.

The knight turned his horse around, and both rode at each other one last time. This time, both seemed to give their all. Unluckily for the Frey Squire, the mystery knight was the superior rider, and dodged his strike before landing a hard blow of his own. His strike was so vehement that his tourney sword cracked and broke, but it was enough. The Frey squire was sent flying off his horse and landed heavily.

The crowd cheered ecstatically. Many clapped and called out encouragements. Lord Whent seemed rather amused as the three defeated squires began arguing heatedly with one another at whose fault it was that they had been defeated so soundly.

"Well, Ser, I congratulate you," Lord Whent said. "If there are no more challengers, then this knight will be declared winner for today!"

There were none. Lord Whent nodded at his servant to fetch the prize for that day's listings.

"Now, good ser, will you reveal your identity and receive your reward?"

The Knight gave a moment's pause, but then to everyone's shock, shook his head sharply and kicked his horse. Before anyone could do more than gasp, he had galloped away, quickly disappearing in a cloud of dust.

For a moment, the crowd was gobsmacked. Then voices rose as excited speculation and exclamations of how entertaining the whole thing had been broke out. Rhaegar could see that most were in high spirits, even the defeated squires, who had sidled up to Lord Whent to ask for the prize in lieu of the mystery knight, considering he had forfeited his win by leaving.

Only one person did not seem amused. Rhaegar could feel a cloud of tense agitation and fury rise from a few seats beside him and was almost unsurprised as his father stood and yelled, "Treachery! How dare he not show his face before his king? This is a plot, a nefarious plot against myself and the Seven Kingdoms!"

"Your Grace!" Ser Gerold Hightower tried to calm Aerys, but the mad king would not be talked down.

"He must be found! He must be found and unmasked and punished for trying to plot against me!" he yelled out, his eyes blazing with a crazed light.

"Of course, your grace!" Lord Robert Baratheon had stood, bowing respectfully to Aerys. He seemed rather excited at the prospect of a bounty hunt. "I will see to it personally that the knight is found and unmasked!"

"Just you will not be enough," Aerys cried out. "I want more of you searching!"

"At once, your Grace," Ser Richard Lonmouth, who had been sitting beside Robert, spoke up. "I too will join in the search."

Rhaegar was rather surprised that his former squire had volunteered himself so readily. Richard had never been one to easily give into Aerys's mad ramblings… but then again, perhaps the mystery of the knight had unnerved him as well.

Aerys considered the young knight for a moment. Then, his gaze slid to Rhaegar, eyes narrowing in suspicion. He steeled himself.

"Father?"

"You… have you any idea who it might have been?"

"No father," he answered immediately. "I also did not see his face, nor did I recognize his armor or sigil."

He willed his expression to remain blank as his father's suspicious eyes considered him, and met his father's accusatory gaze steadily.

"Then you too will go to search for him. As my son and heir, you above all must not fail me."

Rhaegar gave one nod of acknowledgement. He felt Elia tense from beside him, nervous as she always was when Aerys glanced their way. Arthur could say nothing, but his earlier cheer was gone as he observed the standoff.

"Then go!" Aerys all but shrieked at him.

Rhaegar gave Elia's shoulder a quick squeeze, apologizing for having to leave her alone again, and glanced at Arthur, entrusting her safety to him. Arthur nodded, knowing that it would be best to get Elia away from Aerys while he was this angry. Richard Lonmouth quickly joined him as he left the jousting area.

"This is rather exciting," Richard said as soon as they were out of earshot of the King. "I've never gone on a mission with you before."

"Mission?" Rhaegar said, amused by the word choice despite the tension he felt. The younger knight shrugged.

"I knew His Grace would ask you to look for the Knight. You're always so clever and observant, surely if anyone could track him down it would be you. I thought I'd volunteer so we can work together."

"You flatter me, Richard," Rhaegar said as he saddled his horse. Richard shrugged, still seeming in high spirits.

"So, do you have any idea who it was?" Richard asked as they followed the faint tracks left behind by the horse the knight had been riding. It led into the woods on the grounds of Harrenhal, unsurprising if he was trying to throw off pursuit and hide his true identity

"Hmmm, I'm not quite sure yet. I was sure I've seen that armor somewhere before, but no one in the listings, or even just practicing, has been wearing anything like it. Although, now that I think on it, I realized that it must have been an older style of armor used by knights of the North. But that hardly matters, since it was likely stolen. You must have noticed how ill-fitted it was?"

Richard raised an eyebrow. "No, not really? That's interesting… and he never did speak, did he? So we cannot identify him by voice either. Trying to hide his identity from the start with stolen armor and that laughing tree sigil, and pinning it on the Northmen to throw off our scent, I see… Clever of him."

"Richard, I believe we should split up," Rhaegar interrupted the other's musings as they reached the edge of the woods.

"What?" Richard turned to him, looking rather surprised and disappointed. "Why?"

"The forests around Harrenhal are large and dense… we would cover a much greater amount of area if we search separately. Look, these tracks are already fading on the harder soil…. We can't rely on them much longer."

"I suppose," Richard conceded. "Good luck then. I'll try my best to scour as much of the area as possible."

"Thank you," Rhaegar said sincerely.

They parted at the next fork, and Rhaegar let out a breath. He had told a partial lie to both his father and Richard. He had known from the beginning that the knight must have been a Northerner, and after seeing them ride and joust, had quickly figured out why the knight never spoke. Alone at last, he let out a chuckle of amusement to himself, and the smile he'd been holding in.

"She never ceases to amaze me."

~line break~

"Crap," Lyanna hissed to herself, struggling to move as quickly as she could in the oversized armor. She could still hear the uproar back at the jousting site, and knew it would only be a matter of time before other knights swarmed to look for her.

Still, it had been worth it just to see the stunned looks of disappointment on those pathetic bullies' faces when she'd easily knocked them off their horses. "That'll teach them about picking on people, just due to their rank and their looks."

She urged the horse a little faster. It wouldn't do for any of her family, or the squires of Winterfell, to see it. They might recognize the horse as one of theirs and figure out her identity. With that in mind, she had quickly made way to the small woods on the outskirts of Harrenhal, determined to find a secluded place to change out of the worn armor and dispose of the borrowed weapons.

The woods were like a maze. After a while, she began to wonder if she was going in circles… the trees were all unfamiliar and looked so similar. Impatience gnawed at her, and she turned her horse back along the path she'd just been on, and took another fork. If she didn't find a way out of this soon, she was doomed.

Just as she was about to throw her hands up in frustration, she saw something flicker in the distance. Squinting, she realized it was the sun shimmering off of something… water! Yes, that's exactly what she needed. Urging the horse forward, she found herself at the edge of a large pond or small lake… probably decorative for the Whents of Harrenhal, but it would do. She stripped the armor off and then dug into her saddlebags for a dress she'd hastily packed in there. Pulling on the garment, she hissed as the fabric dragged across her arm. Pulling up the sleeve, she saw with dismay some cuts and bruises there where the armor had dug into her flesh. Indecision gripped her then. Should she worry about it right now, or should she worry about getting back?

A drop of blood oozed out of the wound, and it made up her mind. She stepped closer to the bank of the pond and dipped the tunic she had worn under the armor into it, intent on cleaning the wound.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you."

The voice made her jump, since she hadn't even heard the sound of anyone approaching. She reacted without thought, drawing the small sword she'd stolen to ride out with and swinging it at the unknown person. The newcomer gasped and swerved to the side, but she felt the blade nick them, and heard their surprised hiss of pain. Her momentary satisfaction at landing a blow was replaced with horror as her brain caught up with her body, and she realized she recognized the voice.

"Oh crap…" she swore again. "My Prince… I'm so sorry I…"

She had no idea what to do as the silvery-haired man examined the cut on his forearm. Panic rose within her. Was she going to get killed for hurting royalty? Would her family be dishonored? Why did she act before thinking?

Prince Rhaegar surprised her by letting out a shocked laugh. "I must admit… I did not think your immediate reaction would be to attack me. If I had known that, I would have dodged quicker… or perhaps tried harder not to surprise you."

She blinked. His purple gaze met hers, and she saw no anger in them, only amusement and something else… something almost like admiration.

"The fault is entirely mine, my lady," he said with an apologetic nod, "I imagine any young woman, or indeed anyone at all, would not appreciate being startled like that."

She felt her face go red. "I… I should have recognized your voice…" how could she forget his voice when it haunted her dreams and waking hours all the time?

He shook his head. "Please don't worry yourself. It is a clean cut and will heal quickly. And none shall be the wiser."

Lyanna wasn't sure what to say. Was he truly not angry? He didn't look it, but she had not forgotten the stories of what some previous princes and kings had done to those who had slighted them, for even more minor offences.

Rhaegar whistled slightly, and a white horse trotted toward him from a little ways away. That would explain why Lyanna hadn't heard his approach. The prince patted the beast on the neck gently before walking around and rummaging through his saddlebags.

"As I was saying, you probably don't want to clean your wound with pond water. We have no idea what is in it, and it could cause infection, or at least irritate the cut more."

He pulled out a small vial of a dark brown liquid and a clean handkerchief, and some bandages, before making his way back to her. He dabbed a little of the liquid onto the cloth, and Lyanna wrinkled her nose slightly at its odd smell.

"What is that?" she asked.

"An antiseptic developed in Lys," he replied. "They have some of the most advanced research and development in tinctures and potions, and they have discovered that applying this onto wounds helps prevent it from festering."

He approached her, and held out the cloth while gesturing at his arm. "May I?"

Her breath caught for a moment. He was going to treat her wound? Her mind seemed to have gone blank with shock, and without thinking, she nodded. He was gentle as he carefully lifted her sleeve and dabbed at the cut. It stung slightly, but the effect did not last long. She as much more distracted by the feel of his warm hand on her arm, and his close proximity. She could see his face so much clearly now, see the deep purple of his eyes as they concentrated on the task, see the way a few locks of his silvery-gold hair fell slightly onto his handsome face, which filled her with the mad urge to brush it away.

She swallowed slightly and felt her heart pound wildly against her ribcage. She struggled to keep her breathing even, but he must have noticed a change anyways, and looked up.

"Does it hurt? Forgive me… I must apply a little pressure to stop the bleeding…"

Lyanna quickly shook her head, trying to unscramble her mind. "Why are you helping me?"

It was the first thing she could think of to say. A moment later, she quickly added, "not that I'm not grateful, my lord. I am, really… but… you're you and…"

She wasn't sure if he understood. But he didn't seem confused by her rambling.

"Why am I helping you when I am a prince, with no need to lift a finger to fulfill my own needs?"

She nodded.

He glanced back down and removed the handkerchief, checking the wound. Satisfied that it had stopped bleeding, he pulled out another small tub of salve, carefully applied it to the cuts, before wrapping a bandage around it.

"I am not so different from you," he said while he worked. "We are both people, are we not? Is it not the basic form of human decency to help another in need?"

That wasn't an answer, and he must have seen her frown. He sighed slightly.

"I suppose it is no secret how… neglectful my father is of his subjects, and his Kingdom. I can do little as of right now, for he still holds absolute power over everyone, myself included. But I try to do what little I can regardless. Seeing him as made me realize that our place in life is truly the luck of a draw… the privilege we have, the power we hold, are all because we were born at the right time to the right people. I have seen the poorest beggar in the slums of King's Landing offer his meager meal to a woman and child in need, and that was more than my father has ever done. One does not need to have much to be kind and generous, and if I should not give what I can when I can, offer help to those in need, then truly I am unworthy of what I have been born with."

He finished bandaging her arm and stepped back. "It is something you Starks are well known for as well, is it not? The generosity of your House to the people of the North, nobles and common folk alike, is well known, and something I've always respected, admired, and wanted to emulate."

Lyanna didn't know what to say. She wasn't aware that her father's activities were much known outside of the North. And she knew that some had criticized him for giving handouts to the poor, enabling those who would rather not try to improve themselves but just receive and take advantage of his kindness. And she was sure that some amongst those who receive the Stark's generosity do exploit it. But most of them, she was sure, are good and hardy folk who are nothing but grateful for the gifts, and used their aid responsibly.

"I… that is very admirable of you as well, my prince," she said quietly. The bandage on her arm was skillfully done, not too tight, and yet secure and comfortable. It spoke of him having done this many times for others. Unsure of what else she could do, she offered, "Do you want me to dress your wound as well? It's… it's only fair since I gave it to you."

Rhaegar seemed surprised and glanced down at his arm as if he'd forgotten. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded.

Lyanna had also had some practice bandaging wounds, having needed to treat herself many times after sneaking out to practice sparring or jousting. She didn't just pull her skill in the Tourney today from thin air, after all. She borrowed some of his tincture and carefully dabbed at the wound, just as he had done for her, before she dressed and bandaged it as well. She tried to ignore the way her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped close to him again, close enough that she could smell his rather pleasant scent. She also resolutely ignored the strange flopping of her stomach, and the heat that threatened to rise on her cheeks, as her hands and fingers brushed his skin and felt the strong muscles of his forearm. Thankfully, he was still and quiet as she worked, gazing thoughtfully over the pond, though once or twice she caught his eyes flickering to her. Every time, her heart leapt slightly, but she remained outwardly calm.

"Thank you, my lady," he said quietly but sincerely once she was done. She just nodded, unsure of what to do now.

"May I ask another question?"

He tiled his head slightly in curiosity. "Of course."

"Why are you here?" It was something she probably should have asked right away, before she became distracted by her untimely attack on him.

The corners of his lips twitched a little. "Well, my father asked myself and several others to track down the mysterious Knight of the Laughing Tree, and to unmask and bring them before him. He seems to believe they are part of some treacherous plot."

Lyanna felt herself pale as horror filled her. "You… don't know it was me…" she tried to say defiantly.

Rhaegar raised an eyebrow at her. "On the contrary, I knew it must have been you as soon as I saw the mystery knight joust."

She shook her head. "I don't believe that. And I said it wasn't me. I… just happened to find the armor here…"

It was weak, and she knew it. But she had to try.

Rhaegar pressed his lips together, and she wasn't sure if he was irritated or trying not to laugh.

"Firstly, I recognized the breed of horse as being particularly common in the North. As well, I know that the Laughing Tree is a reference to the Weirwood, which is quite sacred to the Old Gods. These points spoke of someone who is very much connected to the North. The armor the knight wore was old, mismatched, and ill-fitted. The way it shook when the knight rode would not happen if the body within filled it properly, indicating it was not theirs. Furthermore, the style is one I recognize… from five years back. Lord Rickard Stark had recently spoke of upgrading the design of the armor for his knights for better ease of movement, and so most of the other Northern knights are wearing newer armor, with the older versions being brought by squires as a backup. No northern knight would ride out on the first day of the tournament in something old… unless it was the only armor they had access to, would not be missed if taken, and because they did not have their own. Someone smaller than the other knights with no armor of their own and is ill-fitted in a full knight's older armor would either be an aspiring young squire, or possibly a smaller woman."

He glanced at her. she crossed her arms, not willing to give in. the corners of his lips twitched again, and he continued. "That had already piqued my interest. The knight never spoke, indicating that their voice would be an obvious hint as to their identity, and would cause an immediate uproar to most of the crowd even if it had been distorted by the visor. Again, a woman's voice would certain meet those requirements. The skill with which the knight rode with meant that it was no green squire, and a quick scan of the stands let me know instantly that you were not sitting with your brothers today, or indeed anywhere at all, thus making the conclusion obvious."

"You had no reason to suspect I could ride, or joust," she blurted out before she could stop herself.

"Ah, but you told Elia this morning that you love to ride, did you not? She indicated you were even better than Lord Brandon. And you watched me and your brother Brandon's spar with critical interest, not just passing observation, leading me to believe you knew more about the subject of warrior arts than you let on."

Oh of course. Princess Elia and him would certainly talk. She just hadn't thought the Dornish lady would bring her up in conversation.

A tiny smile crossed his face as she huffed, still unwilling to admit defeat.

"Tracking in the woods was easy. I just had to look for hoof prints that did not seem to accompany anyone else and had no sense of direction. Though the hard ground makes them difficult to identify, I know these trails well enough by now to take note of anything amiss. On the other hand, a Northerner would probably not know Harrenhal well, and escape would probably result in them losing their way. I did not approach right away when I saw you take off your visor, because I was sure you would want to change and would want privacy. It's only when I heard your hiss of pain that I came to check on you."

He finished the tale and looked at her earnestly. The amusement mixed with sincerity in his eyes was hard to resist, and she sighed.

"Fine… you caught me. What will you do now, bring me to your father?" she challenged, chin lifting in defiance.

He shook his head. "Of course I will do nothing of the sort. Did I not just say that I know my father to be rather mad and unreasonable? I had come to warn you of the search party, and that you should try to hide all evidence as quickly as possible. Besides, how could I do that to someone who had just expressed such genuine admiration for my songs yesterday? It would be the height of dishonor."

The words made her laugh in surprise, especially the overly dramatic solemnity with which he delivered the last line. She had always heard of him being melancholy and dour, and to have him make anything approximating a joke surprised her greatly. In fact, she realized that in the time she had known him, he hadn't been particularly gloomy at all. And though reticent, he had actually smiled and laughed several times. She wondered if the rumors were just exaggerations then, said by disgruntled nobles, or perhaps he was just very different in private compared to in public.

As if to prove her right, her laughter broke his solemn mask and he smiled again, this time more widely, and chuckled as well.

"Thank you," she said more sincerely and earnestly this time. "Really… if there's anything I can do."

"Well… there is," he began. Before she could panic at what he would ask, he continued. "If you would tell me what drove you to enlist today, I would be happy to keep this a secret."

"Oh," she let out a breath of relief. "Of course. It's a bit of a long story but-"

He cut her off, suddenly putting a finger to his lips. She stilled, and listened. In the distance, they could hear shouts.

"Dammit, this is impossible to navigate!" came an annoyed voice. Her eyes widened in horror as she recognized the tones.

"Careful Robert… stay on the path, or your horse might twist its leg. How will we track that knight then?"

"It's my brother Ned and Robert Baratheon," she hissed, eyes wheeling around in panic. Rhaegar frowned at her.

"Is that a problem?" he asked in confusion. "Shouldn't they help you, as your brother and betrothed."

"Ugh, not at all!" she exclaimed, forgetting that he knew nothing of her misgivings about Robert, or her annoyance with her brother for suggesting their betrothal. Seeing his brow furrow at her harsh tone, she hurried to explain, "I haven't seen Ned in years so I'm not completely sure how he'd take it, and more importantly Robert knows me about as well as he knows how to speak YiTish, and thinks I'm some sort of delicate maiden still."

He was surprised at her outburst, and perhaps also the venom in her tone as she spoke of Robert. "You don't want this betrothal?"

"To be honest, part of me would rather run away to Essos to be a minstrel than marry him. But never mind that, I need to get out of here! I will be in so much trouble if they find me here, and they figure out what I've done." She shuddered in fear of her father's anger, and Robert Baratheon's rage, against her and against her family, if he realized that she was nothing like the delicate flower he envisioned her to be.

Rhaegar paused for a second, deliberating, and then made up his mind.

"Perhaps not as far as Essos, but we can still make ourselves scarce. Sink the armor in the pond. I will compensate you for the price of it later. You won't want it to be found anyways, in case someone did note it was missing and mysteriously returned later. I'll let Lord Whent know to fish it out when the Tourney is done."

She nodded, seeing the logic of his words. She knew the armor wouldn't be missed, and quickly pushed the heavy thing into the pond. The shield, however, she kept strapped to her back, unwilling to part with it. she then went back to the horse, but Rhaegar stopped her.

"They've been following the tracks of the horse as well," he warned her. "Your brother must have been able to recognize the horseshoe print as being one of your house's. If you let it roam free, they will likely find it soon and just believe the horse was not tethered properly wandered off and the tracks were made by chance."

"How am I supposed to get out of here then?" she hissed back.

"Ride with me," he replied simply. At her wide eyes, he added, "I promise I am not kidnapping you or anything of the sort. If it makes you feel better, you can ride in the back, and you can take my knife so you can stab me if you feel unsafe."

Despite the dire situation, she giggled slightly and rolled her eyes. "I won't stab you unless you give me a reason to. And I have my own knife hidden,' she added.

"Of course. I shouldn't have expected less," he said in amusement again, and his eyes flickered once more in admiration. "Well then, my lady, will you accept my help?"

She nodded. Though it was perhaps not the most ideal situation, she trusted him. They might not have known each other long, but his presence was always warm and gentle, and she felt no ill will from him. Only a sense of safety and comfort. She murmured quietly to her horse, urging the beast to wander back to camp, before she gathered her saddlebags and made her way to Rhaegar's horse. He helped her up, shifting his own saddle forward so she would have more space, trusting her ability to ride behind him. Moments later, they were off, weaving through the trees with much more certainty than she'd had when she first rode away alone. She had to wrap her arms around his waist to keep steady and found it quite warm and calming as they took a circuitous route away from the pond and from Robert and the other men. Carefully, she leaned forward, resting against him more comfortably. She thought she felt his breath catch for a moment, but he did not seem to mind and continued to navigate steadily through the woods, which encouraged her to stay there, relishing the moment.

In time, the voices faded, and he stopped in a small, secluded clearing.

"I think we should be safe here," he said to her, shifting slightly. "We can wait a while until the uproar dies down, and then I will bring you back."

She leaned back at his words and mourned the loss of his warm back and the feel of his strong form in her arms, before she slapped herself inwardly and released him, quickly sliding off the horse.

"How do you know about this place?" she asked him with wide eyes, admiring the dappled sunlight that bathed the edges of the clearing, and small wild flowers that peeked out around the stones and fallen logs.

"Ser Oswell is a good friend of mine, and Harrenhal is his home outside of King's Landing. I have been invited here as a guest many times," Rhaegar said simply, offering his horse an apple and murmuring compliments to the beast in thanks for taking them so far so quickly.

I should have known, Lyanna thought. Ser Oswell Whent was a celebrated member of the Kingsguard. Lyanna hadn't known Rhaegar was close to any of them though, apart from his famed friendship with Ser Arthur Dayne. She watched as Rhaegar dug in his saddlebags again and drew out a cloak, which he laid across the largest and flattest rock he could find.

"We should wait here a little, while they search the forest. When the uproar has died down a little, and you feel ready, I can take you back to camp by a discreet and circuitous route, so you will not be found," he added. "Though I suppose we cannot wait too long in case your family starts to miss you."

"Oh, they won't," she said, unable to help her grin. "I claimed to have 'lady's pain and ailments' before the joust started and went back to camp. They were all quick to give me space and make themselves scarce. I doubt any of them would look for me for a long while, because apparently I get 'extra testy' during that time."

An amused smile crossed Rhaegar's face. "Ah, that is indeed a useful excuse."

She nodded. "Besides, it's nice to get away for a while, away from all the watchful eyes of those court nobles and the need to act all proper all the time."

"I quite agree," Rhaegar said, a sympathetic look in his eyes as he commiserated with her. "It is doubly hard when you live in the capital."

That was true. He must have had it so much worse, being the crown prince whom all the Kingdoms looked to constantly. Perhaps that would explain his usually guarded expressions and polite though reserved attitude. She quite liked him as he was now, seeming a little more carefree and much happier, if his smiles were anything to go by.

"If so, then please take a seat, my Lady. There's no need to wait while standing,"

"Thank you…" she said and sat down gingerly. He did not join her, and stood to the side, scanning the area. After a moment, she began to feel slightly awkward.

"Are you not going to sit?"

"Hmm? Oh… I… suppose that there is room enough."

He sat down beside her, and Lyanna had to resist the mad urge to shift her position as his warm presence settled beside her. Whether it was to move away politely, or scoot closer to him, she couldn't tell, and was glad he did not seem to have noticed her inner war with herself. Instead, he turned to fix his indigo eyes upon her.

"So then… you were going to tell me why you enlisted."

"Oh… right…" she felt a slight flush of embarrassment. "Well… those three squires I challenged… I caught them bullying the son of one of my father's bannermen… I tried to get my brother Brandon to do something about it, but he was completely useless, so I had to take matters into my own hands."

"So you wanted to get revenge?"

"Well, I wouldn't call it that. I wanted to teach them a lesson. They think they're so great because they are from rich or powerful families and think they can pick on someone smaller than them…" just speaking of it made her angry. She remembered the scene vividly, the three taller squires standing around the cowering Howland reed, jeering and laughing and occasionally kicking him. She'd chased them off with a Tourney Sword, but it had hardly been satisfactory, since she knew they'd only backed off because she was a Stark.

"A sentiment shared by many, I'm afraid," Rhaegar said softly. "In our world, money and power speaks, and too often there are those who abuse their position or wealth."

She raised an eyebrow at him. He let out a humorless chuckle. "Of course, I include my own family in that."

"I'm surprised you'd admit it."

He shrugged. "There is no point in denying it, and things will never get better if we turn a blind eye. But forgive me, I did not mean to shift the conversation away. So then, you decided to enlist in order to defend this Howland Reed's honour?"

She grinned. "Yup. I wanted to give them a healthy dose of humility by besting them at the joust. Though… I admit I had a bit of petty pride in there. They only left me alone because I was from a Great House, and made a great show of concession because of it too. I wanted to prove to them that it didn't matter if I was a woman, nor what my House name was, I could still beat them. Either way it worked. They learnt that they aren't as talented as they think, and I think they also got the shock of their lives to see Howland sitting with us last night at the feast, and again with my brothers at the joust."

He raised an eyebrow, seeming rather amused by her admission. "While I commend and admire you for standing up for someone else, I have to say, I'm not sure if it solves the problem entirely."

At that, she frowned, feeling rather irritated (and a little hurt) that he didn't agree. It was surprising how much what he thought mattered… she hadn't cared when Brandon criticized her for trying to get him to join the joust to teach them a lesson, becoming defensive instead. But somehow Rhaegar's words hit deeper.

Seeing her frown, he quickly explained, "Please take no offense. As I said, it is admirable that you stood up for him, and showed those other squires that he had friends and should not be trifled with. But it doesn't stop them. They pick on him because it makes them feel bigger, likely because they feel small in their normal lives. But though you may have stopped them yesterday, and humiliated them today, what of tomorrow, or the day after that? You cannot always be around to protect him, and he needs to protect himself. They may fear Lady Lyanna Stark, they may fear the Knight of the Laughing Tree, but they do not fear Howland Reed."

Her frown deepened and she crossed her arms. Brandon had said something similar, saying that it wasn't very helpful for him to be seen defeating them, since he was the heir of House Stark. Though in Brandon's case, he'd also been reluctant because he hadn't wanted to join the early listings. Lyanna had become angry, leading to their argument in the garden earlier. Seeing that Brandon wasn't going to budge, she'd taken it upon herself to do something. It had seemed worth it to see Howland smile as he watched his bullies get a taste of their own medicine, but perhaps Rhaegar had a point.

"Well what should I have done then?" she asked with some annoyance.

"I'm afraid that there isn't always a simple answer. But I believe he needs to learn to stand up for himself."

"Are you mad? He's so much smaller than them. they'll rip him apart!"

"I did not say he had to do it alone. What you did for him, inviting him to be friends with you and your brothers, I think that is one of the best things you could have done to help boost his confidence. But he needs to show that he will stand up to them even when you're not there to protect him. And then, when they realize that he will not just lie down and take it, that he also has support from others who find him worthy to stand with and call a friend."

She was quiet then, mulling over his words. True, Howland didn't have to be alone. They could be there with him if he confronted his bullies… but Howland would have to speak for himself the next time. Otherwise, he would be seen as just hiding behind the Starks for protection.

He seemed to sense her acceptance of his words and smiled a little. "I can't promise it will work every time, but I think it just might in this situation. Too often we use violence to solve our problems, but that isn't always the answer."

"No, but it still felt really good to see them fall and struggle inelegantly after unhorsing them."

At that, he laughed again. Lyanna couldn't help feel her stomach flip-flop a little at hearing his unrestrained laughter. She remembered Princess Elia's words earlier that day about how Arthur Dayne had been trying to make him laugh, but to no avail. But Rhaegar had laughed so many times already today, that she couldn't help wondering if it was an exaggeration on the Princess's part? Or… or was Lyanna just better at provoking such good humor from him? The latter thought made a strange shiver go through her, one that made her feel tingly and fuzzy in a strangely nice way.

"I must agree," Rhaegar said as his chuckles subsided. "If they are truly as terrible as you described," he said, amusement clear in his eyes. Lyanna smiled back at him, and for a moment, there as a comfortable silence as they just gazed at each other. Then Lyanna shook herself, reminding again that she should not be enjoying her time with him so much.

Thankfully, his attention shifted suddenly as a songbird flew past them. His eyes widened and she saw a spark appear in his eyes as he watched the bird flight with academic fascination.

"They're back earlier than usual… perhaps spring will last a bit longer? Or perhaps that one is lost from its flock," he murmured to himself.

"I'm sorry?" she asked.

"Oh," he started, seeming to have forgotten he had an audience for a moment. She saw the faintest dusting of pink cross his face for a moment, the only outward sign of his embarrassment. "Forgive me, I… was distracted."

"I could tell," she replied, unable to hide the amusement in her voice. "I didn't think birdwatching was one of your hobbies."

His embarrassment became more pronounced. "Not exactly a hobby, but I read extensively about the migratory patterns of certain songbirds a few years ago, because they may help predict how long each season may last, and when winter may come."

Lyanna was unable to suppress her smile. It humanized him somehow… despite his lofty position and royal air, he had such interest in such a banal and seemingly boring topic.

"Not the sort of thing I expect a prince to read about," she teased. "I expect history, economics and politics to make up most of your reading."

"They are, but those can get too weighty and boring sometimes… this is more light reading."

"Light?" she gave him an incredulous look as flood of giggles escaped her. "I can guarantee you that if you gave something like that to my brothers, they would be asleep within minutes, if not complaining heavily."

He shrugged but did not seem offended by her laughing at his expense. She quickly tried to control herself, but couldn't help asking, "So then… what other 'light' reading do you do?"

Evidently, this was a topic he actually had interest in. Within the next while, Lyanna learned a myriad of things, ranging from music to medicine to architecture to geography. Despite the sometimes rather dry topics, she couldn't help listen to every word he said with interest. She had rarely see him, or anyone really, so animated as they spoke of their studies, and she could feel his genuine passion for all of his academic pursuits. Perhaps it shouldn't have been surprising, given that there was a saying in the Seven Kingdoms that Queen Rhaella must have swallowed books and a candle while pregnant with him, for he came into the world reading. His thirst for knowledge was legendary. But it was something entirely different to hear it directly from him.

It was endearing… and as she watched and listened to him, she could feel the seed of affection in her heart take root and grow, even if she'd had the will to stop it.

From there, they moved onto other topics of conversation, the ice having been fully broken at last. He was a fascinating and engaging conversationalist when he allowed himself to talk without restraint, and Lyanna found herself keen to pick at his wide breadth of knowledge. It was surprisingly comfortable talking to him. She felt safe voicing any of her thoughts and opinions, and never felt as if he would use them against her or think her inappropriate for thinking such things. He respected her position even if they did not agree, and after having been told often that a Lady should not presume to know more than man, that was a breath of fresh air for Lyanna.

"You know, this was quite enjoyable," she commented after their discussion on the best way to gain a horse's affection, which Lyanna had won. "I hadn't thought you would be easy to talk to, being a prince and all."

At that, his previously content expression faded, and a sad and heartbreakingly lonely look crossed his face for a moment. It was quickly gone, replaced by his normal stoic expression, but she hadn't been able to miss it, and had to fold her hands in her lap to resist the urge to reach out and comfort him.

"I am glad to be of service, my lady," he said softly.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Isn't it a good thing? If you are to be King one day, wouldn't it be important that your subjects feel comfortable talking to you?"

At that, his sighed and looked away. "I suppose it is. But I was just reminded that few people have ever told me that they found my company enjoyable. I suppose I had little in the way of friends, growing up. Most are never able to see past my family name or title. Arthur is about the only one I had been able to truly count on."

"Yes, you two seem very close." She hesitated for a moment, and then, feeling bold, added, "I could be your friend, if you want."

He glanced up at that, measuring her as if trying to figure out if she was making fun of him. She tried to look as sincere as possible, to let him know she really meant it.

"Really, I'll be your friend, if you'll be mine. And I promise this is not because of any ulterior motives other than the fact I like your company and you as a person. Besides, you saved me this time, and I think that's enough to start a friendship."

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his lips at that. "I do not believe you ever needed to be saved, my lady. But… I am glad to be able to help make the situation a little less inconvenient for you. And… I am honoured by your friendship."

Lyanna smiled widely at that, trying to keep her heart from pounding so loudly, afraid he would be able hear it. "Good, its settled then!"

The moment was interrupted again as they heard voices in the distance. Lyanna recognized them after straining her ears. This time, their owners were much less alarming.

"Oh, it's Howland and Benjen… I guess they were roped into looking as well." Judging by the voices, Howland seemed rather nervous, while Benjen was excited to put his ranging skills to use in tracking down the knight.

"I suppose we have hid long enough," Rhaegar said, standing. "we should probably return before anyone looks for you, and I must report back to my father so he's not suspicious."

"Oh… does he suspect you had something to do with it? Even though you are his son?"

Rhaegar shrugged. "He suspects everyone. And I suppose there's no hiding that I am included in that."

Lyanna bit her lip, and then handed her shield to him. His eyes widened as he reflexively accepted the shield, and looked up at her questioningly.

"I'll be sad to part with it… but I can always paint another. I don't want you to be in trouble for failing your duty to your father though."

"I can't…"

"Please," she pressed the shield to him more insistently. "For my peace of mind."

His gaze softened. "Thank you… I shall do my best to prevent him from destroying it."

She nodded, and waited as he whistled to his horse, and then helped her climb on. He took them through another circuitous route through the woods, until they must have lost any other search parties and reached the edge of the woods that looped back toward camp.

"Will you be all right from here?" he asked. "Straight ahead are the pastures of Harrenhal… and then the camp should be further down. I'm afraid I cannot escort you further, as I cannot exactly appear with anyone else, if I am to claim I lost the knight's trail."

"Yes, this is fine," Lyanna said, though she couldn't help the disappointment she felt at the parting. When would she be able to see him again? The thought of never having another conversation with him made her chest hurt, and she found that she was unwilling to leave him. But she forced herself to get off his horse and look toward camp. Her feet, however, were refused to go.

"I…"

"Yes?"

She steeled herself. "I actually still had more questions for you. About dragons. And… and the history of Valyria… I… Can I see you again to ask?"

She knew it was unorthodox. She knew it was bold and probably wrong of her, and she was too afraid to examine more closely the motivations that drove her. But she also knew she had to say something. If she didn't, she would go through the rest of her life wondering about what-ifs and roads not taken. This way, she would know for sure.

He was caught off-guard by her request. He hesitated, a myriad of emotions crossing his face as he debated with himself, while she tried hard not to fidget and looked imploringly at him.

"I… I suppose it would not hurt… now that we are friends," he said, almost as if to himself. She felt her heart pound, stupid hope and elation rising as he continued, "And I know Elia quite liked you after meeting you this morning. She would surely be happy to see you again…"

As he said that, she saw resolution come over him. "Yes, if it pleases you, you are welcome to visit our camp. My father is not staying near me, so there is no need to worry about him, but Arthur and his sister Ashara will probably be there, if it is no trouble?"

"Oh none at all! I'd love to talk with all of them more."

He smiled at that. "I'm glad you already have a good impression of them. We usually retire from the public eye about three hours after nightfall. If you would like to continue this conversation tonight, I will ask Ashara to meet you just behind our camp so as to keep things discreet… I hope you will forgive me, but I do not want unwarranted talk that I'm trying to curry secret political ties with the Stark Family to start, especially now that my father is here."

"Of course, I understand the need for discretion," she said with a rush of relief and excitement, unable to stop the wide smile from crossing her face at the thought of seeing him again that evening. "I will tell everyone I'm going to sleep early, and they surely won't bother me tonight. I'll be happy to meet you, all of you, again."

His smile widened as well. "Then… it's settled," he said, echoing her earlier words. "I shall see you later."

"Thank you, my prince," she said, remembering herself and curtseying. A strange look crossed his face at that, and he shook his head.

"Don't call me that… in private at least. If we are friends now, please… just call me Rhaegar."

She was stunned and felt a flush rise in her cheeks but could not ignore a direct request. "Rhaegar," she tested the name, enjoying the taste of it on her tongue. She grinned. "Okay… then, Rhaegar. I hope you will call me Lyanna then."

He looked rather amused but complied. "Lyanna, then."

She had to hide another excited shiver at that. The sound of her name in his voice did things to her. Her stomach was doing that strange flip-flopping again, almost like indigestion, but in a weirdly good way. Was there even such a thing as good indigestion? Perhaps Rhaegar would know… and now she would have a chance to ask him. The thought filled her with unprecedented joy.

They parted ways at last. Lyanna couldn't help the slight spring in her step as she made her way back toward camp. Her head felt as if it was in the clouds as she replayed every second of their interaction over and over, alternating between wanting to giggle in happiness and flushing in embarrassment at some of the weirder things she'd said. She was lucky she didn't meet anyone on her way back to her tent, or there surely would have been awkward questions about her mood. By the time she heard her brothers coming back, she had finally regained some sense of control over her expression and was able to fake having missed all the commotion of the joust well enough.

"They say even the royal search party couldn't find the knight," Ned was telling them as he sat down for their evening meal. "The Prince himself looked, along with Ser Oswell Whent, but they had no luck."

"Hmm, yes, King Aerys was quite livid," their father, Lord Rickard Stark said solemnly. "I was half afraid he would strike Prince Rhaegar when he returned with his hands empty save for the knight's shield."

"He didn't though?" Lyanna asked, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.

"No, Ser Barristan thankfully restrained him. The Prince claims that he found the shield abandoned in the woods and all traces of the knight gone. It was more than anyone else recovered, so Aerys could not fault his son."

"You should have seen the knight though, Lya!" Benjen said excitedly. "He was so great… made all three of those lousy squires eat dirt and then some."

"Yeah, they were really awesome," Howland chimed in with a grin. Lyanna smiled, gratified that Howland was feeling better, though she also reminded herself that she needed to tell him to stand up for himself as well.

"Well, I'm glad someone managed to teach those bullies a lesson," she said, and Ned and Benjen nodded in agreement.

Brandon, however, shot her a suspicious look. "You sure you didn't hear anything, Lya?" he asked.

"Nothing…" Lyanna said, frowning at him. "I was sleeping for most of that time, and our camp isn't that close to the jousting site. I dare you try to pay attention to other things going on when you're dealing with a headache and cramps and-"

"Okay, okay!" Brandon cut her off before she could continue, shuddering. "I'm glad you're feeling better anyhow. You're not mad at me anymore?"

She smiled at her brother, who did look genuinely sorry. "No… as long as you help me decide the colour of my next handkerchief and dress and let me coordinate your outfit for the closing ceremonies."

Brandon groaned while her other brothers laughed. Her father just shook his head fondly at his children.

She turned in early, claiming residuals of her headache and a need for peace and quiet. None were the wiser as she waited for night to come, and then pulled on her darkest cloak and crept out of her tent. No one noticed the small figure flitting past the various campsites toward the royal one, which was thankfully a distance away and removed from the rest of theirs, making sneaking there discreetly easier.

Lady Ashara Dayne met her at the edge of their campsite, as promised. The beautiful Dornish woman had an amused sparkle in her eye, and greeted Lyanna with a familiarity that surprised her.

"Welcome, Lady Lyanna. I do hope all of us can get to know each other better."

There was a knowing glint in her eyes, one that made Lyanna blush. But she did not let it bother her as she continued forward toward the warmly glowing tent, her heart filled with excitement and anticipation.

19/04/06 edit: It is has been brought to my attention that I made a mistake about the warriors in the North and the fact that there aren't many knights. Ooops, that's my bad... at the moment, I don't think I have much time to rework the chapter, so I hope you can just overlook this fail on my part (and any other mistakes of the like) and enjoy the spirit of the story. I will try to rework those parts at a later date (when I am less short on time).

Author's note:

So… this wasn't meant to be this long, but I got carried away and kinda reverted back to my old habits of (very) long chapters. It won't always be like this I don't think?

Anyways, there's not much to say, except that the idea of 'good indigestion' is a shoutout and homage to emletish, a writer of some of the best ATLA fanfics I've ever read, that have made me both laugh and want to cry and really think about life. I really cannot recommend her enough if you are into ATLA (though of course her pairings may not be your cup of tea, but she just writes the characters sooooo well that it might still be worth checking out). I must also confess she's my inspiration for writing down my rambly chapter notes/thoughts.

Also, I am endlessly entertained by the idea that calling Rhaegar 'bookish' and 'reads a lot' is just a more elegant way saying that he's a nerd. I'm convinced that before he decided he had to be a warrior after all, he pretty much was a complete nerd (and I say that with all the love in the world to my fellow nerds out there). If that term existed in Westeros, Lyanna would have been the first to call him that.

Chapter notes:

I also don't have much to comment here. I realize that the new season is starting very, very soon… another trailer just dropped, after all, and I am ready for all my story ideas to be contradicted. Still, I'm pretty sure I will continue to follow my original plan, since who knows, the books might be different and might have some things more similar. I will probably only be able to get one more chapter out before the season premiere, which will probably be the first of my few two planned flashback chapters. Hopefully if I don't get delayed…. *nervous laugh*

As always, thank you for reading!