THE BATTLE OF THE TRIDENT
Summary: The outer world storm back, and shatters the wolf and dragon's dream world.
283 had come and the wolf maiden's womb began to swell. Sometimes Lyanna could feel the babe kicking and would take the dragon prince's hand and place it on her pregnancy. Their chambers smelled of flowers for the prince would bring her blue winter roses often, and some she would wear in her hair. The weather was getting warmer as spring filled in the land. Rhaegar would sing and the babe would calm, and the she-wolf would smile: "What shall be his name?"
"His?" Rhaegar asked while lost in her embrace and caressing her womb: "How are you so certain it's a boy?"
"Boy or girl it doesn't matter to me. It's ours." The wolf maiden kissed her husband's forehead: "You will want our child to have a Valyrian name?"
"If that's also your desire." The dragon prince said: "When Aegon was born I've told Elia that our next child would be named Jaehaerys, like my grandfather, or Aemon, like my great-great uncle…"
"Jaehaerys is a mouth's full!" Lyanna laughed: "I 'm fond of Aegon or Aemon… And if it is a girl? There wasn't been a Visenya in House Targaryen for a very long time…"
"Aye, that's true. A Visenya born from by very own Visenya." Rhaegar smiled and kissed her lips: "I also like Rhaena… It sounds like my mother's name. The queen will adore you once she meets you."
"When will that be?" Lyanna asked and sadness dwelled among them.
"Once the war is over, and we don't know when it will happen or if already did. I've asked the maester to send ravens to King's Landing and Sunspear. No word has reached us, yet."
"I don't even know if Ned is alive or dead…" Lyanna sighed with sorrow: "And Benjen is all alone at Winterfell… He's but a child and he's serving as Warden of the North. Will I ever see them again?"
"Of course you will, my love." Rhaegar caressed her face: "Once this is all over, we will travel to Winterfell and explain them what truly happened."
"Will my brothers ever forgive me for forsaken my betrothal and wedding you, the man I love?" The she-wolf said as if she was thinking out loud: "Will your own children despise me? Even when the war is over there will be countless queries to answer…"
"Do not fret about it right now." The prince said while embracing her: "We shall face all inquiries together."
One morrow their dream came to an end. It hasn't a raven that arrived but Ser Gerold Hightower, the Lord Commander of Aerys II Targaryen's Kingsguard. The White Bull unhorsed and was received by Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Oswell Whent.
"I bring sour news for our prince, brothers." The White Bull said while observing the rounded tower above his head.
"The prince is with the princess inside the tower." Ser Arthur Dayne said.
"It's not my place to question our prince." Ser Gerold said: "The king demands for his presence in King's Landing."
"But you are questioning our prince." Ser Oswell said: "I can see it in your eyes."
"No souls but yours have seen our prince since last year and many things unfolded during his absence." The White Bull said: "It's time to return to the capital."
"Our prince wants us here, my Lord Commander." Ser Arthur said in defiance.
"Your loyalty to our prince is moving but the king may find your allegiances problematic, Ser Arthur." Ser Gerold recalled: "You've pledge your sword to protect the king."
"And I'll protect the true king with my life."
The tension between the Kingsguards was notorious, but then the newcomer bowed and said: "My prince."
"Lord Commander!" Rhaegar Targaryen said while climbing down the stairs: "You sure aren't an expected sight… I was hoping for a raven for quite a while. Why did you travel all the way into the Red Mountains of Dorne?"
"The king requires your presence in King's Landing, my prince." Ser Gerold said: "Lord Jon Connington has lost the battle at Stoney Sept, in the Riverlands, against Robert Baratheon, who was hidden in a brothel until the very end. They are calling it the "battle of the bells". Ser Barristan was sent alongside Ser Jonothor Darry to rally the surviving loyalists, and the king ordered me to find you. You must return to lead the Targaryen army, my prince."
"Hiding in a brothel… Waiting for his allies to come to the rescue… What kind of coward is this rebel?" Ser Oswell Whent said.
"The king is concerned that this rebel may be the greatest threat House Targaryen has faced since Daemon Blackfyre." The White Bull said: "Robert Baratheon is winning every battle. Only Lord Randyll Tarly of Horn Hill has best him at Ashford."
"I've sent a raven to Sunspear but I receive no word from prince Doran Martell concerning princess Elia and our children."
"Princess Elia and the children are in King's Landing, my prince."
Rhaegar felt a cold shiver throughout his body: "Our home has always been Dragonstone. Why are princess Elia and my children in King's Landing?"
"The king demanded the princess to travel and remain in the capital." Ser Gerold said: "Prince Doran is occupied at the moment since he's rallying ten thousand dornishmen to fight Robert Baratheon. Ser Lewyn will command these forces in battle. And my prince is expected to gather and lead the Targaryen army."
"My father is using Elia, my children and Ser Lewyn as hostages for Dorne to fight for him…" Rhaegar muttered while contemplating his choices: "What about my mother and brother?"
"Ser Willem Darry among others will escort Queen Rhaella and prince Viserys to Dragonstone once the time is right."
"And I imagine my father will not allow Elia and the children to travel with them… They are not safe in King's Landing… They weren't supposed to be there." Rhaegar said: "Is Tywin Lannister fighting for my father?"
"The Lord of Casterly Rock hasn't chosen a side, yet."
"I have to convince my father to ask Lord Tywin for help before the rebels do." The dragon prince said: "I'll return to King's Landing but you shall remain here, my Kingsguards."
"My prince, the king has ordered-"
"And your prince is ordering you to stay here and protect my wife and unborn child, Lord Commander." Rhaegar said with strictness: "My father could have sent a raven with a respond to my letter and summoning me, and instead he commanded you to come all the way from King's Landing into the Red Mountains of Dorne. I reckon what he's after and he will not use Lyanna as a hostage."
"Robert Baratheon controls the Riverlands and the Stormlands, my prince. It's not safe for Lady Lyanna Stark to remain here."
"He doesn't control the Crownlands or Dorne, Lord Commander." Rhaegar recalled: "You shall remain here with Ser Arthur and Ser Oswell and protect your princess, who's carrying my heir in her womb. And I'll return as my duty commands."
When the dragon prince revealed to Lyanna the sour news, the she-wolf wept and cried out for him not to go: "Please, don't leave me, my love! You'll meet Robert Baratheon on the field and he'll use his hammer against your sword. I've seen him fighting and he was fearsome, and it was only a melee at Harrenhal…"
"I have to go for the realm needs me." Rhaegar said while the wolf maiden embraced him and placed her head against his chest: "I have to lead the armies, my love. These men have fought and lost many battles and they need their prince to fight alongside them. And my father is holding Elia and my children as hostages… He would do the same to you. I cannot allow it. I have to go and fight for us."
"Consent for me to go with you, then."
"That's unfeasible." The dragon prince said: "You have to remain here, my love. You'll be safe. The Kingsguards will be here protecting you, and Ser Arthur is a legendary warrior."
"You'll go into battle without Ser Arthur Dayne?" The tears flowed down her cheeks: "Put an end to this war and deliver me to Robert Baratheon. He can do whatever pleases him with me… I just don't want you to breathe your last breath this soon!"
"I won't." Rhaegar took her in his arms and kissed her fiercely, and while feeling her face wetting his neck: "I will never allow you to be harmed, my love. You'll be safe here until my return."
"Return to me… to us." Lyanna whispered against his lips.
"I will return to you and to our child, my love." Rhaegar said while touching her face and kissing her softly, deeply: "I promise."
The battle between the rebels and the Targaryen loyalists was fought in the ford near the junction of the Kingsroad and the River road, on the northern bank of the Trident. The Targaryen host had nearly forty thousand men, mostly knights, but also archers, freeriders and foot soldiers. Rhaegar arrived to the battlefield alongside Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Jonothor Darry and Ser Lewyn Martell. They could see the banners of their foes from a distance: House Baratheon, House Arryn, House Stark, House Tully and almost all of their bannermen. Robert Baratheon leaded the rebel host, riding his brown stallion and wore a great antlered helmet, which made him look like a horned god, and on his hand a spiked iron warhammer crafted by Donal Noye. His booming voice commanded the beginning of the battle.
Under Ser Lewyn Martell's command, the dornishmen threatened Robert's left flank, while Ser Barristan Selmy remained close to his prince and cut down several men with his sword. To defeat the dornish attack, Ser Lyn Corbray led a charge and broke their formation, and with his wounded father's sword he stroke down Lewyn Martell. Many lords and knights lost their lives during the battle. Three of Rhaegar's bannermen were killed before his eyes and even Ser Jonothor Darry was killed.
In the midst of the battle, when the dragon prince was trying to cross the river, Robert and Rhaegar's stallions face each other, and the young lord from Storm's End rode towards him: "We shall decide who wins this war now, Rhaegar! One on one combat! Fight me and I'll shatter every rib you have!" Robert Baratheon roared.
"Aye, we shall." Rhaegar held his sword up in the air, and they both rode their horses towards each other, while Robert swigged his warhammer and the prince swerved.
"Where is she?" Robert asked and blood was dripping from his warhammer: "Where are you holding my betrothal captive?"
"You will never know." Rhaegar said and Robert tried to strike him down once again with fury upon his eyes, but the prince managed to escape.
"Damn you, beast! What have you done to her?" Robert shouted while Rhaegar was resolute in escaping the successive blows of his deadly warhammer: "How many times have you rape her, heh? I'll crash every bone of your body for it!"
The warhammer knocked on the dragon prince's dark stallion's head, crashing the animal's cranium, and the mount collapsed beneath the prince's legs, forcing Rhaegar to unhorse. The stream was shallow but the water start to flood his feet, while he kept his sword facing Robert Baratheon, who unhorsed as well.
"She is mine… Why did you take her from me?" Their combat had turned into a dance of warhammer and sword, and while the stag lord had rage and violence, the dragon prince was rapid in avoiding the blows of the warhammer: "Seven Hells! Answer me, Rhaegar!"
"Lyanna was never yours. She never wanted to wed you, Robert." The dragon prince said and held his shield while his foe's warhammer trusted against it until the defense turned into worthless pieces of wood.
"You dare to speak her name?" Robert growled while the shield fell from Rhaegar's hands.
"Aye, I dare to say her name! Lyanna!" Rhaegar shouted, and with a quick swing of his sword he cut through Robert Baratheon's armor and blood started to flood from the side of his stomach, and while the dragon prince was breathless, he managed to say: "I love her and she loves me… She never loved you."
"You will never have her, you lying cunt!" Even with his hand pressing against the wound and blood soaking the cloth over his armor, Robert swigged his warhammer against Rhaegar with anger, walking as if he was drunk: "She is mine! Mine! And you've stole her away from me!"
"I do not wish to kill you, Robert." The dragon prince said while blocking the punches of his warhammer: "If only you would listen to me…"
"That's where you and I diverge, Rhaegar." Robert stopped and gazed upon him with hatred, gripping his warhammer in his hand: "I do wish to kill you, and I will for what you've done to my beloved!"
And when the warhammer stroke again it carved into Rhaegar's chest and blood and the rubies of the three-headed dragon sigil on the prince's breastplate shone on the sun and sunk into the water. The dragon prince struggled to breath and his legs began to collapse. With an enraged and final blow, Robert craved his hammer into his chest again and all rubies were knocked off while blood was dripping from his mouth. Rhaegar felt his lungs on fire for his ribcage was shatter into pieces, while he sank to his knees in the water and with his last breath murmured: "Lyanna…"
The wolf maiden felt a tightness in her heart and to prevent her body from falling, Lyanna grabbed herself to the stone walls from the chambers.
"M'princess!" the handmaiden shouted, helping her standing: "Are you alright?"
"Aye… Thank you." Lyanna said and touched her forehead and felt the cold: "Must be the babe. He's unstill."
Four days later, Ser Arthur Dayne entered the room with the gravest of faces, announcing a raven has come. And then the wolf maiden knew her dragon prince was dead, and felt darkness upon her and her strength leaving her body.
Hope you've enjoyed it and let me know your opinion! Thank you for reading and for the nice reviews!