Diana used to love King's Landing, playing in the great hall at night once court was finished, hiding in dragon skulls and looming behind bones. When the children were but babes, she wished for them to grow up in their father's ancestral home, not hers. Watching Alysanne ride her pony to Lannisport to see Nina and Evelyn to pick out silks for dresses, Jaime and Brandon in the tilting yard, crossing wooden swords, little Daemon sitting in her lap in the library, begging for another story about Lann the Clever or Daemon the Grey. It was a childhood filled with joy, a brighter one than she had.

Yet here she was, back at square one. Sandor's wounds had healed nicely, and once there were no need for bandages, Diana coaxed him into not hiding his face. "Scars are signs of strength, not shame." She had told the lad, and his brown eyes watered.

The children and she had been in the capital for about a year, and Diana knew that the time for her children to be just that, was almost over. Prince Rhaegar's name day was in a fortnight, he was already a man grown in the eyes of Gods and men, turning seventeen soon. Alysanne at fifteen, was a late bloomer who had yet to flower, much to the King's ire and the Queen's pleasure. Aerys wished them to be wed as soon as Alysanne became a woman, much to Diana's displeasure. Her first born was to be a man grown in a few turns of a moon, Jaime at fifteen was a better swordsman than even his father. Spending the year and a half in King's Landing had been good for her children, allowing Alysanne to grow used to court and her betrothed, while Jaime was able to refine his swordsmanship skills with boys his age and the King's guard.

Daemon was a fine archer, but could not hold a sword properly to save his life. He could hit a target from across the keep, though, and Diana had made sure that tourneys included archery contests from then on out. Daemon found solace in the large library of King's Landing, and enjoyed reading softly to himself while his father worked in his solar. Tywin was grooming their second son to be a lord just as much as he was Jaime, and he and Diana had been in talks with the Tullys, whom currently only had daughters. A Lannister running the Riverlands would be dream for her husband, but Diana only cared that this Catelyn was good to her son.

Diana almost wished for another child, the nursery was empty within the Keep as of late, but knew that her sister would only be enraged at the fact. Aerys had grown more and more tempermental as of late, and looked at Alysanne like she was the source of his misfortune. Her daughter took after her in looks, with Valyrian coloring and high cheekbones, but with her father's nose. Alysanne was a demure maiden, not as fiery as her twin, a Lady of good breeding and etiquette, always remembering her courtesies.

When her daughter came into her solar in tears, Diana was perplexed, Alysanne was never a crier, even as a babe. Daemon, who sat by the fire and was reading of the Doom of Valyria, looked just as startled as Diana was. "Alysanne, darling, what is it?"

"The king!" She cried, and Diana was holding her in an instant, stroking her silver mane and soothing her until she could speak again, "Prince Rhaegar was playing his harp, and asked me to sing, so I started singing the Rains of Castamere, Father said I sing it oh-so-pretty."

Diana took a deep breath, her husband had mentioned having luncheon with the prince and King, and had invited her along as well, but she was busy and sent Alysanne in her stead. Her daughter was besotted with her betrothed, and Diana wanted her to be happy, praying Rhaegar's coin landed on greatness and not madness.

"What about the king, sweet sister?" Daemon piped up, his book forgotten as he looked towards his weeping sibling. Daemon had his father's cunning, and loved to watch people.

"He said that I sang like a dying cat, befitting of a serving lion." Alysanne blubbered, her tears dripping into Diana's shoulder.

"Alysanne," Diana began, her tone stern but soft, a feat only a mother could achieve, "Do you know why you are betrothed to the crown prince?"

"Because she is the most beautiful maiden in the realm!" Daemon replied with ease, and his sister blushed. She knew in a year or so, Daemon would be breaking hearts across the realm with his charm, second son or no.

"That," Diana acquiesced, "And because the prince is an only child, and the King believes that the bloodline must remain pure."

"Then why am I not betrothed to Jaime, if we should marry brother to sister?" Alysanne asked, her tears calming.

"Because madness brews in inbreeding." Diana whispered, and drew her children closer to her, "This does not leave this room."

When they had both nodded, Diana continued, "You are the best bride because you are my daughter, a silver lion with the blood of the dragon in your veins. The Queen cannot bear more children, so one day you shall give your husband many children."

She turned to her son, "Jaime shall be lord of the Rock, but you, Daemon, can be many things. You can be Castellan, like your Uncle Kevan, or you may marry an only daughter and be given lands of your own."

"If we are so great, why does the King say such things? The Queen is jealous, so I understand her coldness, but why her husband?" Alysanne asked, playing with the hem of her pale silver gown.

"Because greatness cast shadows, and men do not like to stand in the shadow of someone else." Diana said simply, "And my children cast the greatest shadow of all."

A/N:

Little bit of family time and a bit of a jump. Defiance of Duskendale is next chapter! I updated the character index, since there are a few characters that shall be introduced in the next ten or so chapters that haven't really been mentioned.