"My lady."

Lady Taliya stopped, turned around to look at him as he walked over to her, raising an eyebrow. "Your Grace?"

Rhaegar walked over to her, holding out an arm. Taliya hesitated then looked over to where her family was. Lord Tywin was talking with Lord Marbrand and King Aerys was talking with another member of the court while sneaking looks at Lady Joanna. Rhaegar inwardly winced, knowing of the rumors of his father.

It was the night of the feast, the last day of the tourney. Everyone was celebrating the big feast, enjoying the many different kinds of food. The king and his son would leave the next morning, heading back to King's Landing. Lord Tywin would go back to King's Landing too, as Hand of the King, he was expected back.

"Would you like to dance?"

Taliya looked up at him and nodded, her eyes studying him as she stood up from her seat. "Your father said we couldn't marry."

"My father does not control everything I do. I could just be dancing with the woman knight who bested me in the tourney."

Taliya rolled her eyes and took his arm, glancing to where the musicians and bard were. The bard was probably already composing songs in Lady Taliya's honor, the lioness who unhorsed the dragon. "My father was very upset at King Aerys' words that day. You should be thankful that my lady mother has Lord Tywin's ear."

Many of the lesser lords and ladies of the westerlands were glancing their way, entranced by the couple. "I apologize for my father. You are not our servants. I would like to know you better. If my father had allowed this, I would have begun to court you this week."

Taliya's green eyes narrowed in thought before she grinned at him. "Who says you can't court me? Maybe your father will change his mind."

"You don't know my father. He's bent on finding me a bride of Valyrian heritage to marry. Keep the bloodline pure."

"What about your mother?" Taliya questioned, as they danced to the slow music. "Surely she has some influence over the king. She is his sister-wife after all."

Rhaegar sighed, shook his head. "My mother's eyes have been closed for years now. She had many miscarriages."

"I am aware of that. I hope your brother lives well," Taliya said, her eyes going soft with sympathy. "My lady mother almost died birthing my little brother. I don't know how I would have lived if Lady Joanna had died or if Tyrion had died."

She hadn't been about to lose another mother, not right after being reborn into this world. She already knew what losing a mother was like and she was not going to experience it again.

"Your brother Tyrion is a dwarf, is he not?"

"Yes." Taliya glared at him, daring him to say anything bad about her brother.

Rhaegar smiled a little. "I will not say anything, my lady. He is your brother."

"Good."


Taliya watched as the king's company rode off through the Lion's Mouth, the opening of the rock that made up the keep. Prince Rhaegar watched her until he could no longer see her before galloping off ahead of the king's wheelhouse.

Aunt Genna and Lady Joanna were beside her, with Cersei having run off with her friends towards Lannisport. Jaime was next to her, staring off at Ser Arthur Dayne had gone.

"You like Ser Arthur?" Taliya asked, glancing at her brother.

Jaime glared at her, shaking his head. "Of course! Ser Arthur is the finest knight in all Westeros. Who wouldn't like him?"

Taliya laughed quietly before glancing out at the sea beyond the keep. "If King Aerys won't let the prince wed a lioness, I suppose I need to see if I can draw the king's attention some other way."

"Hmm?" Joanna turned to her daughter, raised an eyebrow.

"I heard the phrase from a sailor. I need to see if Maester Creylen has any information on dragons."

Joanna stared at her then dipped her head in a nod. "What for?"

"I am going to read up on how the Targaryens of old hatched their dragons."

Aunt Genna's eyes widened beside them and Jaime stared at her.

"You do not plan on burning the king to a crisp," Joanna said. "Surely not."

"Mother, I haven't hatched any dragons yet. That would take a few years."

Joanna laughed quietly under her breath. "You do not have dragon blood in you, my daughter. How will you hatch dragons when you are not their kin?"

"Her magic," Jaime spoke, gesturing to Taliya. "She used it to save you."

Taliya sighed. "You weren't supposed to tell her, Jaime. Besides, mother, the king was looking at you like he wanted to steal you for himself."

Joanna grimaced. "He has always looked at me like that. Your father was hesitant to hold this tourney in the first place but I did not want our relationship with House Targaryen to wither. And what is this about magic?"

Taliya groaned. "Way to go, brother."

Jaime grinned.

"Just wait until I tell our mother of your-"

Taliya startled, glaring at her brother as he withdrew his foot after kicking her in the shin. "What, are you eight?"

"Taliya, what is this magic I hear about?" Joanna asked, frowning, as she looked between them.

"Mayhaps we should talk about this in your rooms," Genna said, with a glance around them. "Private conversations should be held within safe walls."

Joanna studied Taliya before nodding. "I think you are right."


Joanna stared at her daughter once they were in her set of rooms. Genna was sitting on the chair next to her and Taliya was pacing in front of them, her mouth tight. Jaime had gone off to practice swords with their master at arms.

"When you were birthing Tyrion, you were dying," Taliya finally spoke after a few minutes of silence

Joanna nodded, flashes of the birth running through her mind. She had taken a few minutes to acknowledge that she had birthed a dwarf and then another few minutes to realize that she wanted to keep him. "Yes, I think I remember that."

"You had lost blood and energy and I didn't want to lose you."

Joanna's eyes widened as Taliya stopped pacing to stand in front of her.

"I… I have magic."

Taliya stared at her then held out her palm. A glowing… energy appeared in Taliya's open palm then rose out, taking shape and form, ending in a translucent, blue lion.

Joanna's eyes widened as the blue lion loped around the room, shifting through the desk and chairs in the room. "What is this?"

"Magic. It's akin to what the children of the forest could do, more or less," Taliya explained, before making a tiny motion with her fingers. The blue lion vanished though not before letting out a voiceless roar. "I used it to save your life."

Joanna stared at her daughter. "Does… anyone else know about this?"

"No. Only Jaime and Cersei. Though they only know I can heal."

Genna's eyes were still wide. "Do you mean to say you can do more than heal?"

Taliya glanced at her aunt, smiled wearily and nodded, tucking a strand of golden hair behind an ear nervously.

"You should keep that to yourself," Genna remarked. "We should not let the king know of you and your abilities. If he were to learn…"

"Should she have competed in the tourney?" Joanna asked, turning to Genna.

"Did you use any magic?" Genna questioned, looking at Taliya.

"No. That was just pure old jousting. I don't mind being the center of attention that way. I'm used to it but I will make an effort to not let the king know. Prince Rhaegar and I did plan on keeping in touch, writing letters."

Joanna nodded, studying her daughter. "Your birth was not an accident then."

Taliya shook her head. "No. The gods brought me here."


"What is it that you were about to say to me earlier?" Joanna asked, as Genna walked out, heading out to the town of Lannisport.

Taliya stared at her mother then sighed. "Cersei and Jaime are still together. I saw them kissing just yesterday. I wouldn't have said anything but Cersei is..."

Joanna stiffened. "They have an unhealthy relationship."

"Yes."

"We need to separate them now," Joanna remarked, standing up and peering down at Taliya. "Thank you, Taliya."


Tywin glanced up at Joanna as she entered his solar. She had a grim look on her face, her green eyes narrowed and her mouth tight.

"Joanna?"

"Our eldest daughter mentioned seeing Cersei and Jaime kissing yesterday," Joanna spoke, sitting down in one of the chairs opposite Tywin. "Have you any ideas as to where to send Jaime to squire? Or perhaps to foster?"

Tywin stiffened. "Is Taliya sure she saw them?"

"Yes. I trust her. Moving Cersei and Jaime's rooms to the opposite ends of the keep didn't help matters. Mayhaps Jaime could foster at Riverrun? Or in the Eyrie?"

Tywin shook his head. "I won't have Jaime foster in Riverrun but in the Eyrie with the Arryns… I know Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark are fostering there too. The heir to Casterly Rock fostering with the heir to Storm's End and the second son of Winterfell. I will make the arrangements. That will strengthen our ties to two Wardens."

Joanna dipped her head in a nod. "Ten is a rather old age to start fostering but I believe we will not regret it. For Cersei, she could be a cupbearer to Princess Lorenza in Dorne."

Tywin blinked. "Are you thinking on having our daughter marry the Viper?

"Yes. Princess Lorenza became my best friend while in the capital. House Lannister would benefit from these ties in the long run, Tywin. I am certain of it. And… from what I've heard of the Princess' son, he will be able to handle our daughter."

"Alright. I will write to Lord Jon Arryn and Princess Lorenza. Will you be the one to talk with Cersei?"

"I will," Joanna replied, smiling softly. "I heard from our other daughter that she and the Prince plan on writing to each other."

Tywin's eyes widened and his lips twitched up into a small, surprised grin. "I had not expected that."

Joanna laughed a little. "You were the one to suggest that she ride in the tourney. Had you totally not expected this?"

"Perhaps I had. We will see what comes of this."