Elia didn't say a word at breakfast. She only lowered her head and ate silently. Rhaegar took bread with fish and eggs , he never ate much. The smell of his wife's wine filled the room and even if Rhaegar tried to take it away , it didn't leave. After Rhaegar told her he didn't love her Elia drank her sadness away. He felt guilty but this was the only way to show her how he really felt about their wedding ,even if he had loved her with all his though about the first months of their marriage. Only her eyes and grace made him fall in love with her. He could still remember the cheers and claps from the Lords and Ladies of the Seven Kingdom when they married in the Sept of Baelor. But the commonfolk were the one who cheered the loudest of all. They were the only ones we could hear from the Sept. Their weddingnight was great even if Elia wasn't a maid. And when he presented his daughter the year after their marriage to the Realm , people made songs and poems of their love. He took Rhaenys with him in Flea Bottom and remembered how every men , women and children came to take a look at the Princess. Septas and the Septon blessed their child even if the Septas were known to be cold , they took the child and embraced it as their own. But now , all of it was over. He didn't love Elia anymore and even if his mother told him to pretend , he couldn't.
'I wonder when you are going to divorce me.' said Elia.
'Never. I don't want to be the father who gave up on his children.' said Rhaegar gently.
'So being the husband who gave up on his wife isn't the same?' she said in a mocking tone.
'I didn't give up on you. Only on our love.' he said honestly.
'This wasn't love , this was duty.' she said pouring herself another cup of wine.
'Stop drinking that much.' he said warningly.
'Why?' she said.
'Because I care about you.' he said gently.
'Do you? Aren't you the one who came to me to tell me you didn't love me?' she said impatiently.
'Eli-'
'Aren't you the one I trusted the most and who ended up hurting me like no one else ever did?' she sighted and drink his wine. She looked at him and tears fell down her face.
'So don't you dare telling me what to do!' she said in tears. She stood up and left the room as quickly as she could. Ashara came in and looked confused. She closed the door and took her plate and cups and gave it to a handmaiden. She came next to Rhaegar and tapped her hand on his shoulder. He put his face in his hands.
'She will be fine.' she said comforting him. She was bothered about something, he could tell by looking in her eyes.
'Are you fine , my lady?' he asked holding her hand friendly.
'Yes.' she lied. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were wet.
'Did anything happen between you and Lewyn?'he asked worried.
'No. Nothing ever happened.' she said coldly. He sighed and she watched him.
'If you need something else , my lord.' she said in a soft voice. He shook his head slowly. She bowed and left without saying another word.
He stood up and left to see his father in his chambers. In the corridor he saw girls that blushed whenever he went past them. One of the girls even had tears in her eyes. He turned left and arrived in his father's chamber. Ser Jaime was there. He was on his knees and seemed sad while the King only looked at him like he was some beast to be killed. Even if Rhaegar slapped Jaime in King's Landing ,he still cared about him. The King pointed his hand at the door and Jaime left in anger, pushing Rhaegar with his shoulder. Ser Barristan closed the door quietly.
'What's the matter with him, Your Grace?' asked Rhaegar confused. In his youth , King Aerys was a handsome and elegant man with silver hair and happy purple eyes. Queen Rhaella told him how beautiful he was on their wedding, even if she didn't love him. And now he was a grotesque thing with long greasy silver hair and long curled fingernails.
'I named him knight of the Kingsguard. He doesn't approve.' said the King. Even if every lord and lady of the Seven Kingdoms would be there he still didn't change something of his appearance. He didn't even cut his abnormaly long fingernails like the Queen told him to.
'Lord Tywin won't be happy about it.' said Rhaegar concerned. He poured himself wine and gave a cup to Rhaegar. Rhaegar ignored it and the King took the cup for himself.
'Do you think I care about his happiness? I am the King and if I want that Lannister bastard around me , so be it.' he said. He then stopped drinking and looked shocked. His father didn't trust the Lannister and having one by his side day and night with a sword in his hand didn't make him more comfortable.
'I will send him to King's Landing. Where he belongs.' said the King.
'A knight of the Kingsguard belongs with the King.' said Rhaegar the King wasn't a good thing to to, yet he did it all the same.
'Let's hear what Barristan thinks of him.' said his father defiantly. They both looked at him and he took off his helmet.
'Do you trust the man , Barristan?' asked the King.
'I do not know ,Your Grace. When the Prince struck him, he prepared himself to hit him back.' said Barristan. He was right , when they were in that tavern he stood up and raised his hand to him.
'See. He must go to King's Landing.'
'Then why did you name him a knight of the Kingsguard if you don't trust him?' said Rhaegar angrily.
'To humiliate his father. If he joins the Kingsguard he won't be Tywin's heir but that ugly dwarf of his will.' said his father in a mocking tone.
'Imagine it. A dwarf being the lord of Casterly Rock.I can see his green eyes full of humiliation.' said his father laughing,his eyes flickering at any noise.
'I haven't come here to talk about Ser Jaime.' said Rhaegar as he sat down.
'Go on.' said his father.
'Father, you need to stop. Now.' said Rhaegar.
'Be specific, son.' he said.
'Stop burning people you suspect of treason.' he said looking right in his eyes.
'I don't suspect them, they are traitors.' he said angrily.
'And why are they traitors,father?' he said loudly. His father didn't answer and looked very angry. He looked at Ser Barrisan and sighed.
'That's right. You are no good king , father. Be wise and don't kill people for crimes they didn't commit.' he said as he stood up.
'Get out.' he said. 'Now and don't you dare tell me if I am a good king or not.' he said angrily. Rhaegar bowed and left in anger. How could he possibly think he'll ever listen to him? His father , the King who never cared about his subjects. He walked angrily down the corridor and went in the yard of Harrenhal. It was already filled by people and Rhaegar made his way to where the contest took place. Today was the archery contest , but Rhaegar never liked archery so he didn't take part to it. Many lords and ladies were watching but the other who didn't were only drinking wine untill they'd all be drunk. He only sat down on a chair and looked around him. There were a lot of beautifull women and strongbuilded man , you could tell who was highborn and who wasn't. There were a lot of colours , no black except for the banners of House Targaryen. Arthur came next to him and took a cup of ale.
'That's unfair. Aegon the Conqueror was a cunt. Did he really had to give the Kingsguard the same vows as the Night's Watch?' he said joking and when he looked at the expression on Rhaegar's face he stopped laughing.
'The King?' he asked.
'Who else.' said Rhaegar coldly.
'You are only doing your duty as a son.' he said comforting him. Then a woman came in front of them. It was Elia , she looked at Arthur and he bowed and left. She sat next to him and took his hand into hers.
'I'm sorry.' she said sadly.
'Why?' he asked confused,after all he caused her wrong.
'I acted like a child. I should've tried to understand you.' she said laying her head on his shoulder.
'I've hurt you.' he said feeling bad. She took her head away and looked in his eyes as she put her hand on his face.
'It's alright. I think I see you more like a friend too.' she said admitting. 'But we must act like we were in love. Even if we won't touch each other in bed.' she continued. He layed his hand on her cheek and she sighed. He coudn't ask for more. She seemed so angry and full of hate,but now she looked happy.
'We must do it for our children.' he said.
