Rhaella was fierce with an embroidery needle, making quick even stitches. Diana watched with envy, while hers were just as straight and small, she only worked at half her sister's speed. Twas the last night the two would share together before Rhaella returned for Diana's wedding to Tywin. The princess was happy enough with the match, but was unsure on how to proceed from there. She had dreamt of the snarling lion for ages, since she was a child she dreamed of herself ascending the steps to the Iron Throne, and when she took her seat there was a large golden beast snapping his teeth at anyone who dared approach, to dare question her rule. Diana knew not to share her dreams with anyone, not since she was nine. Aerys had just turned twelve, and they were playing "Come into my Castle," and she proudly proclaimed herself the Queen of Westeros, and Aerys had told her that he was the King, and would marry a beautiful maiden one day who would be the queen, not her. Childhood made a fool of the girl, and she stubbornly said that she would sit upon the Iron Throne, and not him. Aerys had began to swing his fake sword at her, the wood beating down on her arms as she tried to shield herself. "Upsurper!" He had snarled at her. She ran to her grandfather, tears in her eyes and bruises quickly forming, worrying the king greatly. "You are a Dragon," He told her, "Fire made flesh, and fire does not cower, it burns."

From then on, Aegon was the only one she told her dreams to, of Jenny bringing a strange woman to court, of the baby crying with the smell of salt in the air and smoke in her lungs with a woman in a bed of blood, who would win a tourney, and the like. Some were vauge, but others crystal clear, such as when she dreamed of a maiden of golden hair and green eyes weeping before the statue of the maiden, begging the goddess to save her from the fate of marrying a second son. That was a more recent dream, that began soon after word of the tourney in Lannisport reached court. Her grandfather thought her simply an intuitive child, but the woods witch is who made her grandfather believe in dragon dreams.

"You have the sight, child." The wood witch was a large woman, brought by her uncle's wife. "But you do not see with your eyes open."

Rhaella seemed to sense what Diana was thinking about, "You need to stop dreaming, Di. You are to be a Lady wife soon, you must do your duty." The crown princess was always mindful of duty, a word Diana wished someone would provide her sister a synonym to use so she would not have to suffer the word for so long and so often.

"I cannot stop a dream anymore than I can keep a bird from flying, than I can keep a river from flowing." Diana bit back, staring at her needlework instead of her sister. The roaring lion of Lannister stared back at her, golden thread sharp against the black silk. Her personal sigil, or so she was planning, a golden lion on a black field.

"Then stop listening to them." Rhaella pleaded, putting her half finished flower aside, she had stopped embroidering dragons onto anything since her wedding, Diana noticed.

"And if I told you I dreamed of your son?" Diana asked, her tone sharp.

Rhaella recoiled as if Diana had struck her, "I'm to have a son?" The fear and relief in her eyes made Diana nod, and Rhaella could feel her eyes began to tear. "I shall give Aerys an heir."

"He shall be small, but strong." Diana had started dreaming of it a few months after her sister's wedding. The woman with silver hair weeping over her screaming child, the maester speaking words she cannot hear. In that dream she sees what her sister does, the smell of salt from her own tears and smoke that burns her lungs, but the emotion felt is only utter joy.

"Thank you, Di." Rhaella murmured, "If it is just a dream, it is a beautiful dream to have." Diana only smiled.

"I should be going." Diana replied, and gathered her silks before heading back to her room.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

It had been five moons since Diana and her sister had parted, and one more until they would see each other. One small letter was set before her in her personal rooms in the Rock, a hallway away from Tywin and his family's personal quarters. Rhaella was always mindful of eyes and ears, choosing to speak of trivialities in her letter, embedding true information within.

My Dearest Sister,

I'm so happy to hear that Casterly Rock suites you, you will make a lovely Lady Lannister. I shall see you soon sister, and look forward to your wedding. While the marriage bed can be a trouble, marriage is what cements any alliance. How is Lady Gemma? Does she still hold a distaste for fish? Too bad if so, we recently received quite the catch.

There is something else I should tell you, dear Diana. Dreams do come true, Aerys could not be more pleased, and I have begun to sew dragons.

Love always,

Rhaella Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone

Diana smiled, Aerys had been visiting her bed often, and was never too soft on her sister, but a child had been put on Rhaella. If only Hoster Tully hadn't of been so gruff with Gemma. Diana had been playing matchmaker as of late, after hearing of her work with Sybel Spicer becoming Lady Westerling, and of Gemma's marriage prospects being based on her choice, Diana had received many a visitor. Hoster had recently became Lord of his house, and wished for a bride with great influence, but Gemma could not even stand the taste of fish, let alone the thought of bedding one. Diana had wished for Luthor Tyrell, but Olenna Redwyne had snatched him up before a raven could have even been sent. It was a shame, Gemma could have soothed the trouble her family had from her mother marrying her father instead of lord Tyrell. He had a brother, but Diana did not keep Gemma from marrying one second son only to wed another.

A knock resounded on the door, and she called for them to enter the solar.

"Brightheart." Tywin stated matter-of-factly, "The small folk have started to call you the bright heart, others the light of the west. What have you done?" He was not angry, but there was a queer look in his eye.

"I helped facilitate the marriage between Leo Lefford and Dorna Swyft, visited several orphanages and personally handed out bread, and then I went to the sept. And to think, you left for a few weeks." Diana replied with a smile, Tywin had asked her to keep an eye on his father while he rode to deal with some problems at the Golden Tooth.

"You are winning over the Westerlands quite well." Tywin acquiesced, the lords he had thought to win through fear, as his father was too lax in his ruling. Perhaps Diana was just who he needed as a Lady wife, a woman to soften the edges of those who cowered before him. Fear would keep his bannerman in line, while respect and favors owed would keep them loyal to his family. By arranging marriages, Diana was playing a hand in alliances, increasing loyalty between his bannermen to each other and to his house.

"And soon, they shall learn who is the sword, and who is the shield." Diana replied simply, "I shall be the merciful maiden, and you the wicked warrior."

A/N:

Time jump to the wedding next chapter! From there, there will be a few more jumps, a few months at a time. Kudos to those who figure out why Diana wanted the wedding at Summerhall