All of Me

by itachisgurl93

What if Rhaenys Targaryen was not Rhaegar's first child? When he marries Elia years earlier, she gives birth to a daughter five years before the Rebellion. How will the world change with a new player? The Destiny of the world is forever changed when Valaena Targaryen is the first born child of Rhaegar and Elia, especially when she holds a great secret. Fem!Harry

4. The Dragon and The Wolf

Chapter 4: The Dragon and The Wolf

The journey to Harrenhal took a little more than a week, but damn if Valaena hadn't been over her trip exceedingly quick. Her butt was sore enough to last her a lifetime, not to mention the long remaining bow-leggedness after getting off the horses. Thankfully, it was overall quite the entertaining journey, but it would have been the even better if it hadn't been for the wonderful still water, which in turn lead to the one thing she could never conquer in all her lives.

Mosquitos.

Not even He knew how many times she had been bitten during the many nights. One would think that her magic would be able to repel them...but no, they were the biggest of threats here. Which she was thankful for, what was she supposed to do if they had diseases like malaria or dengue fever or one of the other many those shits carry. 'But what diseases did they have here in place of others', she had to ask herself, there was always a disease.

No.

She wouldn't think about this right now. It was not the time. She was supposed to be having fun here, her first tourney, and of course, she would have to put all her support into rooting for her father to win at the dubbed Tourney of Harrenhal.

Harrenhal was...well it wasn't the worst looking castle that she had seen before. The scorch marks weren't all that...bad. Well no, it really was, but from what she had seen, with some, probably a lot of, full-time fixers, the castle could be made back into it former glory. Not that anyone wanted anything to with the haunted castle. Why the Whents like staying here was a mystery to her… but a lordship was better than none, which she could accept as an excuse.

Though only a little since the ghosts that could supposedly be heard screaming, were probably assholes, if their life stories were to be believed. So it good thing she couldn't see any ghosts this time around. The thought of having to deal with her own future problems while being sidetracked with an unfulfilled ghost just didn't appeal to her.

It was the morning of the third day of the tourney and people were just barely starting to come out of their tents and campsites. Valaena had woken up extra early that morning in order to take a walk outside, not that she really needed to, seeing that Rhaegar had already left the bed when she awoke. She scurried around, hiding in between the large tent flaps or trees, making sure that none of the Kingsguard or any of the little knights or would-be knight that ran around, could see her.

Seeing her coast clear, she made a run for the strip of grass in between a couple of large tents. Caught up in being faster than the wind, she didn't have time to stop before she ran face first right into-

She rubbed her nose and looked up from her seat on the floor. A slow flush crept up on her face. The man was handsome. Handsome and wild. With a head of shaggy black hair for that just-rolled-out-of-bed look, lips that didn't shy away from smiling, a chiseled jawline and pretty grey eyes. Though the color of his eyes wasn't what caught her attention-maybe a little-but the wild, hot-blooded look in them. Like he knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to take it. But at this moment, they were wide with surprise and with a hint of worry.

He bent forward and held out his hand, "are you alright Princess Valaena?"

How did he...ah yes. Her hair. No one in the kingdom had her hair. She smiled and grabbed his offered hand, "I'm fine. Thank you Ser…" she trailed off.

"No, no ser your Grace. Just Brandon."

The Wild Wolf.

He really was as handsome and wild as the rumors said. The handsome, she could see and the wild...well two peas in a pod.

"Thank you Brandon Stark."

"Oh? You've heard of me?"

She smiled at him, "yes," she nodded her head, "rumors of you reach the Red Keep."

"Is that so? Well, rumors of your intelligence run all the way up north."

She tilted her head and looked at him in confusion, rumors of her intelligence? Had she let on too much? After all the thousands of years she lived, most of the time it was just too hard to stay childish or dumb for long, especially in a world like this. The faster one learned, the faster one survived. It was known she could talk and read at unprecedented age but how did…

"The Night's Watch," she concluded.

She had seen a small group of them once at the Red Keep asking Aerys for more people to man the wall. He wasn't going to, but she had talked him into.

"So the rumors are true." Brandon Stark said with a smirk, "the little princess is very smart and quick on the uptake. So then what, may I ask, is the most precious princess of Westeros doing all the way out here with any guards?"

She kept her grip on his hand and walked to his side, "I wanted to explore."

"And you couldn't do that with guards or knights?"

She shook her head, "they would never let me go too far. And so many of them would only cause attention."

He looked down at her, "big sentences for a little princess."

She looked up at him, "soft hands for a big wolf."

He grinned at her, and she grinned back. Yes. It was going to be a good friendship.

"I do not have soft hands."

She didn't stop the laughter that bubbled out her. She kept her hand in his and wrapped her free arm around his to keep balance. She looked up at him once more, "will you show me around the camp?"

"I don-"

"Please? You said I should be with a guard, but you're strong enough to protect me aren't you? Or were those stories false?"

"I-"

"Please Brandon Stark?"

He looked at her for a hard moment before nodding his head in consent. He looked up at the sky and took in a deep breath, just like how she constantly had to do to keep her patience in check. She bit her bottom lip as he grinned down at her.

"Only until a guard finds you, Princess."

She gave a quick nod of agreement.

She gripped his hand tighter, 'no,' she thought, 'it's not his hands that are soft.'

He showed her all the tents and explained all the different little houses that had come to participate. Or at least tried too. He knew even less about all these houses than she did. But she held his hand and smiled all the way through. He certainly had an interesting take on things. Like how all Southerners were soft and girlish, which was a point she couldn't deny...to an extent. The stories of the destruction of Houses Tarbeck and Reyne was a point to Southerners, or rather a point to Tywin Lannister.

They had walked around for almost an hour before the returned back to where they had first met, which meant, right outside of the Stark tent.

"Brandon Stark?"

"Yes, Valaena Targaryen?"

She smiled at that. She had told a few people to call her by her name without any titles attached, but none other than the boy-almost-grown holding her, would. And it felt nice to her ears. But that might have had to do with the fact she like his low baritone voice. It was soothing to her ear, and she knew what that voice would do to older women.

"Why do you stay in a tent when there is plenty of room in...not a tent."

He let out a gruff, short laugh. "Because we are not like these other soft ninnies that need a soft bed day in and day out."

"So what sort of soft ninny are you?" She asked with a teasing grin.

He looked down at her sharply and stared and stared and grinned. "You win that one little princess. Well caught."

If all Northmen were as easy going as him, well, she'd definitely have to make a visit to the North sometime. By the time they had rounded their way back to the Stark tent, a large group of people had gathered around. She hid behind the Wild Wolf the moment she noticed some familiar faces. And try as she might, the Wild Wolf didn't understand the idea of quietly listening it seemed.

"What's going on here?" He questioned with a loud booming voice, effectively gaining everyone's attention.

The girl-the She-Wolf-spoke first, "Brandon! Brandon, you won't believe-"

"Lyanna straight to the point."

"A bunch of little squires were ganging up on Howland, and as the child of his liege Lord, I had to help him." She exclaimed with a knowing conviction that she was in the right. "So I took a tourney sword and beat them with it."

"Lyanna!"

She just huffed and looked him square in his eyes, "come off it Brandon, you would have done the same."

"Maybe. But you and I are different and I would not have involved the Prince or the Kingsguard!" He said pointed looking at the aforementioned people, bowing his head slightly to Rhaegar.

Lyanna crossed her arms, "I didn't pull them into anything! They came upon us on their own."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, I was just taking a walk when I saw what was happening. By the time I came over to help, Lady Lyanna had finished." Rhaegar said instead, smiling disarmingly at Brandon, though, it came out more as a pitying look.

Valaena took in a deep breath and close her eyes, why was all of her family so awkward? She felt Brandon's grip tighten, was it time to intervene already?

"You shouldn't be mad at her, she was just sticking up for what she thought was right. It is something commendable."

"Oh commendable is it?" Even deaf she'd hear the mocking tone of his voice. She released her breath and opened her eyes as she heard the rattling of armour and hands going to swords.

"Watch your tone Lord Stark. Remember who it is you're talking to." Said a voice that could have only been her Morning Star.

She walked out from behind the eldest Stark child, "he only worried."

It brought her more satisfaction than it should have to see their eyes widen at the sight of her. The next moment they all stood in front of her, her father kneeled to meet her eyes, his hands cupped her face, "what are you doing here sweetling?" He asked worriedly, but softly as to not spook her.

She grinned at him, "exploring with my wolf," she said swinging her and Brandon's still clasped hands. She watched as all their eyes followed their clasped hands.

Rhaegar's eyes narrowed as he took it in, he stared for a moment before his head snapped up to Brandon, "you allowed her to walk around without protection?"

"Maybe you should keep a better eye on her...Your Grace."

Men and their egos.

"Kepa," when he turned back to her, she leaned forward and placed a kiss on his forehead, "It ok. My wolf promise to protect me always, cause I no find Arthur."

The knight bent down onto one knee, "forgive my Princess Valaena, I didn't think you'd be awake so early."

Valaena smiled, "it's ok. I found my wolf." She grinned up at Brandon, who really had no choice but to smiled back at her. She felt her father's hands leave her face and cup themselves under her armpits. She released her hand from Brandon's, as her body was pulled up, and wrapped her arms around Rhaegar's neck. By Death, her father was a jealous and protective one, but it was cute, so she let it pass. She planted a kiss on his cheek, so far he was shaping up to be one of the better fathers that she's had, she could appreciate it while it lasts, and she hoped it lasted a long time, but knowing her luck...

She looked back at Brandon, "thank you for protecting me." Her father tensed for a moment, before he too thanked Brandon. "You have my thanks Young Lord of Stark." He turned back to her, "let us go, yes? I'm sure you haven't broken your fast yet."

Valaena nodded in confirmation just as her stomach rumbled in hunger. She giggled, and put a hand on her stomach, "oopies."

Her father just shook his head and started to walk away, the knights following behind them.

"Wait!" She exclaimed, wiggling out of her father's grip. Her shoes touched the ground and she was off back to back Brandon. She stood in front of him smiled and waved him down to her height. They looked each other in the eyes for a long moment, which she broke off with a smile, and a quick kiss to his cheek, "bye bye, see you at feast."

She quickly walked back to her father and grabbed his hand, leading the trek back to Harrenhal for food.

It was a quiet walk. If one didn't count the questions of why she was awake already, why she was with Brandon Stark, or why she didn't bring any guards with her on her little outing. She answered all of them with a smile. Though if she was being honest with herself, as much as she didn't regret waking up as early as she did, the drooping of her eyes was really getting to her. She tugged on Rhaegar's hand, "Kepa."

"Yes Sweetling?"

"I'm shweepy," she slurred, not bothering to cover up her yawn. Before she knew it, she was being picked up and placed against her father's body with her face in the crook of his neck.

"But what about eating?"

She shook her head, "too shweepy," and she was, she wouldn't be able to take more than a few bites before her eyes would start to close.

"Go to sleep then, Love," he said, rubbing her back, "you've already had such an exciting morning, and being in this new place, I'm sure you didn't get enough sleep."

"Mhmm…" she closed her eyes and trailed off, she could sleep for now, not like anything fun would happen until tomorrow.

When Valaena next opened her eyes, it was later into the morning, almost the afternoon and there was nervous bustling all around her.

She sat up and stretched, pulling the kinks and tiredness out of her body, which a three year old shouldn't have...but that horse riding killed her. She allowed a yawn to escape her, not even trying to stifle it. She ran her fingers through her hair, which reached the middle of her back now, getting the knots out, before braiding it, wrapping it in a bun and tying it off with a ribbon.

She rinsed her mouth out with water, and wiped her face. Her bun looked a little crooked in the mirror, but that usually happens when someone does it blindly. She gave herself one last look over, and nodded in acceptance at her appearance.

Valaena walked to the door, opened it and walked out confidently. But it was a short walk as she was unceremoniously grabbed at the waist and spun around. She let out a squeal of laughter as she recognized the large brown hands.

"And where do you think you are going Princess?"

She looked up from her place in his arms, "to eat Uncle Lewin."

His eyebrow raised in amusement, "oh is that so? And when you ran off on your own this morning, where were you going?"

Valaena smiled, "to explore," she replied raising her arms in the air in excitement.

"Yes, we heard, but why didn't you tell us?" Lewin asked, a slight frown on his face.

"I'm sorry. But you say no."

"Of course!" His voiced raised an octave, "what if something happened to you? What if someone took you or you got hurt? We can't protect you if you disappear! You've made us very sad Princess."

Valaena lowered her head, "I'm sorry," and she did feel bad. Whenever her children had disappeared without a word of where they were going...those had been some of the most heart clenching moments of her lives. "But I'm ok, my wolf protect me."

Lewin and Barristan, she wished Jaime had still been here in Harrenhal, but he had already been sent back to King's Landing right after the feast last night, sharply turned their heads to her, "your wolf, Princess?"

She nodded in excitement, her body wiggling in joy, "my wild wolf. He very sweet." she sent a blinding smile at the two older men.

The two men shared a look, there was only one wild wolf they knew of, and sweet wasn't the first-second or third either-word that people and rumors used to describe him. Fierce, bold, wild, but not sweet.

Lewin placed Valaena back on her feet, but kept a hold of her left hand. She was a slippery one who liked to run the moment she could, it was well known to anyone who stayed in the Red Keep. He looked back down at her when he heard a rumble. He grinned when he caught Valaena's eyes, "hungry?"

She giggled and nodded her head, "Yes! I no break fast."

"I didn't break my fast, Princess. Try again."

She scrunched up her nose, "I didn't break my fast." She looked at Lewin and Barristan for confirmation and grinned happily when they nodded at her. 'Just one more year,' she thought to herself, 'one more year and I can stop talking like this.'

She walked with them to the feast hall at Harrenhal, taking all the details and feature of the giant castle that she hadn't before. It was...It just was. There really wasn't much she could say about the old, burnt castle that's hadn't been said already. It was old, dry, airy, wet, musty, damp, and had a smell of fire and ash that just wouldn't go away. But strangely, it was beautiful in its destruction. It gave the blackened castle an almost one of a kind history in Westeros, one no one else wanted, but still a unique history nonetheless.

By the time they arrived at the hall, it was almost full with people eager to have their mid-day meal. And from what she had heard it would be freshly caught veal, chicken or duck. Of course there was bound to be different types of fish too, and desserts and all that but...but Valaena just really wanted to be able to eat meat again. To taste beef or veal, something other than the bland, soft stuff given to her now. Which she hoped her father would allow for this occasion, most of her teeth had come in, and she bet she could tear meat apart better now. If it was one thing she hated about new lives as humanoid being, it was the first 5 to 6 years when she wasn't able to do almost anything without someone's help or eat what she wanted.

Her hand still held in Lewin's, they walked together to the dais where the men of her family sat. She expertly ignored the faces that turned to look at her as her Aerys called out to her.

"Papa!" She happily said back, walking faster to the dais. She climbed the one large step and took her seat beside her father. He placed some bread and cut meat on to her plate and pulled her cup closer so she could reach. She grinned happily and said thank you to her father, and reached for the two pronged fork. She stabbed it into the small piece of meat and brought it to her mouth, chewing it ever well before swallowing. It tasted...it was ok, she would have like a little more...something in it, but what was the point of complaining now? The cooks would just say she was too young to know what she wanted and what was good with what. At least it wasn't lamprey. She knew it was a fish… but it was too similar to a leach for her liking.

Valaena just shook her head and finished her food. There was still so much for her to explore, she couldn't waste the day away sitting and doing nothing. She turned to Rhaegar and put on her best doe-eyed face, "Kepa can I go-"

"No."

Her bottom lip jutted out and trembled, "but Kepaaa-"

"No. You left this morning without letting anyone know. Who knows what could have happened to you!"

"You were gone too!" She exclaimed crossing arms and turning back to face the hall. 'Absolutely ridiculous,' she thought, 'this is beyond unfair. So I went to explore early, so what?! Ugh!'

"Kepa I exploring-"

"Valaena-"

"Arthur come with me."

Rhaegar paused, he didn't want to let her out of his sight, but Arthur being with her was just as good. He turned to his friend, "Arthur."

The knight turned to him, "I will not take my eye off of her, my prince." He replied having heard their conversation. "We will be back before the sun sets."

Rhaegar paused a moment before slowly nodding his head in agreement. He turned back to Valaena, "and where do you plan to explore?"

Valaena uncrossed her arms at Arthur's acceptance and smiled at him. "The black towers!" She exclaimed, happily clapping her hand together. And as expected her father's eyes widened.

"Absolutely not. Those towers are much too dangerous, they could break at any moment."

Valaena frowned, "lake, then."

Her father didn't look much happier about that either, but he accepted it as the better of the two choices. Arthur would be quicker at keeping her safe from anything on their way to and in the lake, but not so much crumbling floors.

He took her hands in his and placed a kiss upon each of her tiny palms. "Promise me. Promise me that you won't do anything that will put yourself in danger."

Valaena giggled and bent her head down to kiss her father's hands, "I promise." She never went to trouble, but it always found her. "Bye bye." She hopped up out of her chair and walked over to where Arthur was waiting for her. She took ahold of his outstretched hand, holding it tight as they walked out of the Hall.

The walk out of the castle was quiet, longer than it needed to be, and was spent smiling lightly, but politely at the ones who bowed to her. The walk past all the tents went even longer, with lady servants and Ladies cooing at what a beauty she would become, and knights and squires exclaiming their admiration and wish to be like Arthur. It took much longer than what she would have liked for them to be alone together, the frown on her face giving away her displeasure. But what could she have done, it was the duty of those born with more, to be kind, helpful and understanding to those born with less. Though, because she was honest to herself, she could admit that Cersei Lannister didn't deserve kindness, helpfulness nor understanding. Nor did she did anything that showed Valaena that she deserved it, but she was still a child. Valaena held out hope that Cersei's attitude would change in the coming years...very little hope.

"Arthur?"

"Yes Princess?"

"Ashara like anyone?" She asked looking up at the Dornishman. She grinned as his head turned sharply to her, his eyes narrowed in anger.

"Pardon me?"

She giggled and squeezed his hand, she had seen the looks that Ashara had sent to Eddard Stark, the glances he sent back were even cuter. But on the other hand, she had also seen Barristan send longing glances Ashara's way. It was adorable to her, and she didn't want to butt into it...but she was bored and love lives were entertaining. Destructive and entertaining.

"Nothing." She giggled shaking her head. Just a hint of such was enough to Arthur sniffing around like a bloodhound.

And she was being lifted up. She laughed as she ascended three feet in the air and into Arthur's arms. "Now then Princess, what were you saying about Ashara."

"I like Brandon Stark."

Her body jerked forward as Arthur came to an abrupt halt. His head turned to her sharply, his eyes narrowed, "you like who?!" He exclaimed, completely unbelieving of what he had just heard.

Valaena just smiled and patted his head, "I like Brandon Stark," she replied calmly. Arthur said nothing and continued quietly until they reached the lake. "I see," he finally said, "and what brought this on Your Grace?" He asked putting her down at the edge, watching patiently as she bent down and undid the straps on her sandals. She stepped out of them and place her feet where it just touched the water. The sand feeling like all wet sand did under wiggling toes, squishy, sinking and utter terrific. She wondered if the shore of the Sapphires Isle also felt like every other shore, or people just felt amazed by the color surrounding them.

"Princess?" She broke out of her thoughts and looked at her Morning Star. Smiling at the pointed and inquiring look in his eyes. "He funny, and loud, and nice, and make me smile."

"Am I not?" He exclaimed with a dramatic clutch above heart. "What have I done to deserve this my beautiful Princess, that you'd like a man you have just met...not more the me right?" He asked, looking down at her pleading, "Right?"

Valaena smiled at him, but said nothing. And giggled when she heard a deep gasp of shock and disbelief from him. She lifted up her skirt and stepped deeper into the water, it was at her calf now, and she could see little fish swimming past.

Soon my child

She turned abruptly behind her and looked at Arthur, but it couldn't have been him. It wasn't his voice. She looked back down into the water, closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath. She released it and concentrated on that String of Death inside her, and pulled as much magic as she could from it, and did the only thing she knew how to for moments like these.

She listened.

But there was no more.

She was alone again in the world. And she would be for-"no further, Your Grace."

She almost wanted laugh, 'it seems my Morning Star can protect me from my thoughts as well.'

"Ok Arthur-ah!" She jumped in the water and then she was being picked up and put on the shore, the great knight looking over her. "Are you hurt Princess? What caused you to yell?!" He questioned frantically, as his hand went down and checked her legs and feet for blood. When they came back with nothing he looked at her, worry plain on his face and swimming in his eyes.

Valaena laughed and cupped his cheeks, and brought her forehead forward to lay on his, "Thank for protecting me from fish." She grinned at him as his face melted off the worry and replaced it with disbelief.

"Fish?"

She nodded their heads, "fish."

A single snort.

Then two.

Then full blown laughter, "fish!" Arthur exclaimed, maybe a little delirious, but definitely more with relief and amusement. "And why did you yell my Princess?"

She released his cheeks and took a step back, "it hit my leg, so I scared and I jump." She inched her way back into the water, lifting her skirt higher, stepping in deeper. Smiling at the clinking metal, and sloshing water behind her.

"Arthur get wet."

"So are you Princess."

"I no wear armour."

"...no. You do not, but I must protect you from the fish."

The serious tone he said it in almost made her drop her dress. "My Arthur funny."

"Why thank you Princess, I aim to please," he said bowing, lifting his cloak from the water some, before it fell back in as he straightened. She giggled, looking down at her feet before kicking up water, laughing louder as she did it again. 'Rhaenys would have loved this.'

Thoughts of her little sister warmed her, but thoughts of her Muna and the baby inside her stilled her heart. She looked back at Arthur, he had two younger siblings, just as she was about to...did he worry when his mother had given birth to them? For most of her lives she hadn't had to about death during childbirth, there was usually something to make the situation easier. Mostly the worlds were developed enough that a mother's death during childbirth wasn't even an issue, but when she was in a world like this, either she was born last, her mother was healthy, or magic through healers helped the process along. This life was the complete opposite of those. She let out a deep sigh and looked at Arthur, "Arthur...Muna and baby.."

"They will be fine Princess there will be Maesters, Septons, and Septas there to make sure nothing goes wrong."

Maesters, Spetons, and Septas...she trusted them as far as a snail could throw them. She and the religious clergy never got along, and these maesters who kept their secrets to themselves pissed her of even more, especially since they didn't allow women to enter the citadel. But she couldn't do anything about it now, she was just too young for anyone other than Aeyrs to take seriously, and she couldn't talk to him about something like this yet. His public image was on a slow...slow rise, and if he were to claim that she, and women by extension, should be given the right to enter the citadel...Valaena let out another sigh, the public's opinion might not change, but the Lords, and the Maesters, they would definitely put up a fuss about it.

"Princess! No more, come back closer to the shore." Arthur called out.

Valaena looked around, the water was already at her thighs, drenching her skirt in water. Tsk. She kissed her teeth and dropped her skirt, what was the point of holding it up if it was already wet. But she did walk back closer to Arthur, who was in the process of taking off his armour, only to pause at the confused look Valaena gave him.

"You don't know how to swim Princess, it would be easier for me to get you without all this extra weight on me."

Ah. That was right, they had yet to teach her how to swim, not that she need to be taught, but how strange would it have been to them, if she just started swimming without help all of a sudden.

Valaena nodded her head and waited for Arthur to finish before holding out her hand for him to take and walking further into the water. Before she could get further than waist deep, Arthur picked her up and set her on his waist. "Would you like to go in some more?"

She enthusiastically clapped her hands and nodded her head. "Onwards!" She exclaimed pointing to forwards, deeper into the water.

"Very well, but only so much before we have to back and dry off ok?"

Valaena pouted, "but-"

"Princess, you don't want to get sick do you?"

"No," she replied dejectedly, even though it wasn't lake water per se that caused a person to get sick, but how could sh explain that to these people who didn't get to bath regularly. "But a little longer?"

Arthur looked at her for a moment before her smiled, "very well, a little deeper, a little longer so you can look at the fish, but then we go back."

Valaena nodded her head in agreement, it was better than nothing. By Death her mind was all over the place.

Soon child

Her head snapped left and right, there is was again. But nothing was there.

She looked down at the water, nothing.

Where could the voice have-

Her head snapped up to the sky and her eyes narrowed. It wouldn't be the first time that she had met gods of the worlds she was born into. But that life usually ended up more a struggle than others. 'Please don't be the gods of this place. Please! That is the last thing I need right now.'

She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, something she seemed to be doing a lot now.

"Arthur," she called out, her eye's still closed, "you will protect me?"

"Yes Princess, that hasn't changed in two days."

Valaena opened her eyes and looked at Arthur before wrapping her arms around his neck, "I believe you."

"I will not let you down, my Princess." The Sword of the Morning replied, and he wouldn't. He hated to say it, well not really, and he shouldn't say it but, "I couldn't let anything happen to my favorite Targaryen."

"I your favorite?"

Arthur nodded his head, "but don't tell anyone." He whispered to her, with a grin lighting up his face. Valaena giggled and brought her finger up to her lips, "secret," she whispered back. It was fun for her, acting like a child. After all, especially in lives like these, being a child never lasted long enough.

"Ready to go back?"

She shook her head, no, she was not in fact ready.

"Oh really?"

Valaena pouted, "yes."

Arthur let out a quick chuckle, "don't worry Princess, we'll come back here at another time. Maybe you can convince your father to come along as well. If you ask...well we both know how that will turn out, don't we, oh brilliant one."

They grinned at each other.

Arthur turned around and walked out of the lake, then placed Valaena down on the ground. She put on her shoes quickly and turned to watch Arthur put his one. It took a bit of time to do it alone, "Arthur is wet, why put armour back on now?"

"Well I can't just leave it here, can I?"

"Why no ask srqu-squire to pick up?"

Arthur paused for a moment just as he finished putting on his armour, then looked up into the sky before turning to look down at her, "because you make me forget everything else when I'm with you."

Valaena looked down at the ground and brought her hands up to cup her face, 'damn he could get pussy with that line. No! Stop it. You're a child right now and he is older than your father, calm down.'

Valaena took a moment, before lowering her hands and looking back up at Arthur, "lair, you forgot because you forgot. No blame me." She crossed her arms and walked a head. Smiling at his laughter, and the clinking of metal that followed her.

Their walk back to the castle was a lot quicker, but who was going to stop two people on a straight path to dry clothes? Even more so when one was a princess and the other was her knight. Arthur walked her to the room she shared with her father, and left to go change his own clothes. She quickly stepped out of her clothes, with the help of Ashara, who had seen the two of them, and then proceeded to admonish her brother for allowing her to get wet.

She took a bath, changed into dry clothes, it was a black and red ensemble, of course, a red dress with black trimmings on the neckline and sleeves, with little dragons flying on the skirt. Her bodice was encrusted with black diamonds and rubies. Her hair was combed into an updo, her father and grandfather had this weird thing about not letting other people see her with her hair down, said it was too pretty someone might come to cut it off and steal it away. The only person outside of her family allowed to touch her hair was Ashara, and that was only when one of the other's couldn't, the two of them didn't even like Rhaenys touching her hair, which made no sense, but she went with it since she liked the possessiveness, it was cute.

A long, silver, connected chain, intertwined with the her updo. It had been a gift from Aerys, it was a thin, less than half an inch straight piece of Valyrian steel, followed by another half inch encased in a small sphere of black jade, followed by another piece of Valyrian steel, followed by another half inch encased in a small sphere of red jade, the pattern continuing again and again, until it was almost eight feet in length. It was beautiful, and hers only, she would put it on herself as the thought of someone else touching angered her. She didn't even allow her family, other than Aerys, to touch it. Around her forehead was a circlet of simple and elegant design; silver, decorated with small rubies on the curved bands and a black diamond in the middle.

The rest of the day passed quickly after that, she spent most of it inside, secretly reading the book she brought with her. It was about the history of Valyria, her ancestors had brought it with them when they moved to Dragonstone, and damn did it excite her like no other. Their rise was similar to many empires, but so was their fall. Valaena though, was more interested in their magic and their ability to hatch dragons. Not that it said much of that in the book, but it was a fun read. Though it was taking her quite some time to get through it since it was all in High Valyrian, and no one thought to translate it. She was seventy-thirty on that, while it would have been nice for her to be able to read it better, she was happier that this way nothing would be lost in translation, as everything tended to be when it was translated.

So enraptured in the book, Valaena didn't even notice the sun was beginning to set until she was grabbed from behind and spun around. The book flew from her hands as she laughed in delight and grabbed onto the arms.

"Are you ready for the feast my love?"

"Kepa! You scared me!"

Rhaegar laughed, "oh is that so? Why were you laughing then?"

"Because I know it you."

"Yes, I'm sure you did." He chuckled putting her down, as she wiggled around to face him. "You look beautiful my sweetling."

Valaena giggled and gave a twirl, "thank you," she said beaming a smile up at him. He held out his hand to her and she grabbed on tight. She walked down the hall with all the grace she could hand in hand with her father. It was the last night before the tourney officially began, so they were heading to a celebration feast.

The walk there was fast, and filled with many, many people bowing to them. Before they even reached the hall doors, music and laughter could be heard. One of the loudest voices she heard was that of her wolf, his laughter was so contagious, she couldn't stop the giggle that left her.

"What's funny sweetling?" She father questioned her smiling.

She shook her head, it wasn't a big thing but, "I happy they having fun."

Rhaegar smiled at her, "yes, happy subjects are the best sort of subjects to have."

The two walked through the larger doors hand in hand, and ignored their surroundings as the noise around them quieted. Valaena could practically hear the sighs of wanting from the females in the hall. There were also quite a number of people looking at her, after all this was her first official outing from the Red Keep. More so than that, she was pretty sure that they were surprised that Aerys would even allow her out of the safety of the Keep. The real question was whether or not Aerys and Rhaegar would let her be apart from them for too long. Especially Aerys. It was like he was codependent on her now.

"My Dragon! You've come! Why are you so late?" Aerys asked, loudly getting up from his seat and jogging down the middle to meet them.

Valaena stuck out her bottom lip and fluttered her eyelashes as he reached them. She raised her arms as he picked her up and held her at his chest by her thighs and butt. "I sorry Papa. I read book."

"Oh how smart you are my little one!" He spun around laughing, "and which book was that?"

"Rise of Valyria."

Aerys laughed, loud and unapologetic as he took the step up onto the dais, "is that so? And how is your Valyrian coming along?"

"I'm getting better." She replied to him in Valyrian. She couldn't help it, she liked to show off every now and then. But she did keep it to a level where she didn't stuff it into people's faces. That was how one made needless enemies. She was placed in her chair, which was right in between Rhaegar and Aerys, with Viserys sitting to Aerys' left. Rhaegar was supposed to be seated where she was but...who was going to tell Aerys that he couldn't put her seat where he wanted, not that her father cared either, as long as he could always see her.

Aerys motioned for the feast to begin and quickly, laughter and loud conversations began to fill the hall. Rhaegar and Aerys, both placed cut up piece of food on her plate, of course not before Aerys' food tester took a bite of everything first.

The feast proceeded same as the last two days. Loud rambunctious laughter, fights, the squeals of joy from the servicing girls or the whores, who just knew they were going to make a little extra tonight. Valaena just quietly ate her food and observed those around her, especially her wolf. He seemed to being having fun, which seemed to be teasing his little brother, Eddard Stark.

People were dancing now. Her mother's handmaiden, the only one she truly trusted, was dancing with Ser Barristan, while Eddard Stark seemed to be watching them closely. Her cousin, Robert Baratheon, who seemed to have given up trying to get Lyanna Stark to dance with him, had his arms wrapped around a laughing whore, seemingly ignoring the glare Lyanna was sending his way. Lord Steffon was shaking his head at his eldest child, Cersei Lannister was being approached by many a man, but looked like she'd rather be anywhere but there. 'Probably in her brother's bed.'

Just as she finished eating, her father stood up and took his harp, and silence fell among the crowd as he started to strum his strings. She just wished it wasn't such a sad sing like the one he had played in the first day. But she knew better, her father was just too melancholic to sing more upbeat songs. Like he was the only a tragedy had happened to.

But she said nothing and just listened to her father play. And she wasn't disappointed, it was another sad song, but this one was about his dead siblings. 'Why does this man insist on acting like nothing good has happened in his life?'

By the time his song ended, there was once again not a dry(female) eye in the room, though she did spot some men discreetly wiping their eyes. Valaena held back on rolling her eyes and pushed her chair back out. She quickly walked to her father and wriggled her way into his lap. One of his arms held her in place, while the other kept a grip on the harp. Rhaegar looked down at her and gave her a small, sad, smile.

Valaena wasn't having it anymore. She shook her head and wiped away the two tear tracks on his cheeks with her hands. She kissed his cheek, "no more crying," she said shaking her head. Both her hands held onto his cheeks and nodded his head along with hers. "You can't be sad anymore."

Valaena turned back around and grabbed onto the harp, and looked back up at him, "I'll play now." She pulled his arm closer to her and and plucked a few strings, wanting to hear and feel how it sounded with her fingers, and she strung some more. It was a slower song, and she didn't sing, but it felt happy. It made her smile, and she could see it was making other smile as well. And then she strummed faster, and the singers started to join in. They all sang different songs, and it was an entire mess, but people were laughing and dancing like they had no care in the world.

Happy subjects were easy subjects.

Valaena finished her song on a high, happy note, there was thunderous applause and then it was laughter and dancing once again. She eyes trailed over the mass of people in the hall before landing back on the Starks. Her wolf was saying something to Eddard that made him blush, Lyanna was doing her best to ignore Robert, who had once again placed all his attention upon her, and little Benjen was stuffing his face with food. She giggled and wiggled her way out of her father's grip, and made a straight beeline towards Ashara.

Valaena got her attention, mainly by just grabbing her hand and pulling her in the direction of the Northerners. The table turned to the two of them as they got closer. Brandon was the first to get up and bow his head, "is there anything you need my Princess?"

Valaena smiled and shook her head, she let go of Ashara's hand and grabbed onto Brandon's with both of her own. She looked up into his eyes, "enjoying the feast?" She asked with a tilt of her head.

"Yes I am."

"Dance with me?"

Brandon was stumped, the people around them quieted down, but Valaena kept looking into his eyes.

"It would be my pleasure." He said bowing at the waist.

She smiled at him, before looking back at Ashara, "Ashara dance with Eddard." She left no room for complaints as she led Brandon to an empty space. But they didn't complain either, she watched from her periphery as Eddard stood up and asked Ashara to dance.

"How did you know?" Brandon asked her as the people before made way for the unusual pair. She turned around into his arms when she found a suitable space.

He twirled her and she laughed. He spun them around and she laughed even louder. He pulled away from her, before pulling her back in. They twirled around at a slower pace this time.

"I saw the looks he sent her."

Brandon's face betrayed his doubt, "and you know what that look meant, your Grace?"

She grinned up at him, "Ser Barristan looks at Ashara the same way."

"I see," he didn't really. He knew she was smart, but to understand emotions by the looks on people face was a little too much for him to believe a three year old could understand, no matter how smart. He looked up and caught the faces of the Dragon Prince and the Mad King.

Now that, that face a three year old could understand. The look of jealousy and disdain. It was probably one of the only times he had see an emotions other than sullen melancholy on Rhaegar's face. They really loved the little girl dancing in his arms. Though if he was honest with himself, which he was, if he was her father, Brandon doubted he'd ever allow her to go outside of their home. She was too trusting, too smart, and too beautiful. Letting her out would be like telling the men of the kingdom that...it would be war.

"Your father and grandfather are-"

"My Dragon!" The loud voice of her grandfather called out halting the commotion in the hall. She turned to him slowly.

"Yes Papa?"

Aerys jabbed his hand out and pointed at Brandon, "why do you dance with that wolf?!" He demanded of her. She just looked from him to Brandon and back again, "Why? I like Brandon. We family."

Her father interrupted before Aerys could say anything else, "no my sweetling, we are not family."

Valaena almost wanted to roll her eyes, but she held off, "why?"

"Because we do not share any blood, we never married a Stark nor they a Targaryen." Rhaegar replied softly and slowly as he walked to where they stood, ready to take her back into his arms. But she couldn't have that just yet.

She looked back up at Brandon and smiled, "then I marry Brandon."

"NO!" The shout was so loud it made her jump a little. She looked back to her father and Aerys, both had shouted. Her father stood in front of her now and looked at Brandon with narrowed eyes. He spoke to her, but didn't look at her, "that can't happen sweetling, I don't know what the young Lord of Stark has told you, but he is to be married to another already and beyond that, you are far too young to be married." He finished and looked down to her, his hands found their way under her armpits and she was pulled off the ground and back into his chest.

"Really Kepa? I can't?"

"No."

"Oh," she said digging her head into the crook of his neck, and wrapped her arms around his neck, "okay. I sleepy now."

Rhaegar rubbed her back, "I'm sure you are. Let's get you to bed."

She nodded into his shoulder, and he started to walk out of the hall, but not before throwing one more glare at the Stark heir. Valaena, for her part, looked up from Rhaegar neck and caught Brandon's eyes. She lifted her head a little higher and gave him a small smiled, before slowly waving goodbye, which he returned. When they passed through the doors, Valaena once again buried her face in her father's shoulder.

"Did you really like him that much? After just meeting him once my love?"

"Hmm."

"Do not worry, sweetling, you will be married to someone who will love, cherish and protect you. Who will wait on you hand and foot, will give up his life for you and love no other but you. I promise."

She nodded her head and closed her eyes. Her beloved Marvolo would be that one. No one else would be as worthy. Her body fell into blissful sleep as her mind drifted away with memories of the past.

Valaena opened her eyes to the bright light filtering in through the curtains, a smile grew on her face.

The tourney had officially began.