Prologue
The sound of war raged outside Kings Landing as the smell of death wafted through the Red Keep. Elia Martell held her infant son, Aegon, while trying to calm her two daughters, Rhaella and Rhaenys. Rhaella was the oldest of the three royal children. A girl kissed by the fires of old Valyria with her dark brown hair and olive skin. She was the spinning image of her mother, but she had her father's haunting violet eyes. Elia had often thought about who her children would take after in both looks and personality as they grew. Out of all of her children, Rhaella took after her father's charming, but intimidating demeanor. The little dragon could demand the attention of the entire throne room with nothing but her eyes. She was quite the force to be reckoned with even at such a young age.
Elia looked down at her eldest who was much calmer than her sister. Instead of looking scared at all the commotion that seemed to surround them she was curious. Rhaella knew something was wrong the moment the guards locked her mother and siblings in their chambers. The guards had been frantic, almost in a panic, as they said nothing to the princess. When the doors were barred from the outside Rhaella was the first to comfort her younger sister by wrapping her arms around her waist followed by whispers of soothing words.
The sound of men shouting and swords clashing seemed to grow ever louder as the minutes passed by and finally, Elia could sit idle no longer. She placed her son in his bed before turning to her eldest with a determined look in her eyes. Rhaella knew the look immediately and waited for her mother to finish comforting her sister. She watched as her mother gave Rhaenys a wooden chess piece in the shape of a queen to distract her from the horrors outside the walls.
Once Elia was satisfied that her younger children were occupied she turned to Rhaella who waited patiently with her arms folded in front of her. Elia placed her hand on the small of her daughter's back and guided her over to the servant's entrance. Rhaella sent her mother a questioning gaze at what her mother was implying, but said nothing.
"Listen to me, my daughter," Elia began as she lowered herself to look the young girl in the eye. "I need you to find Ser Jaime Lannister. Tell him what has happened and who sent you. Don't let anyone see you, not even the other members of the kingsguard. Do you understand?"
The little dragon was not surprised by her mother's command as she nodded her head. Rhaella was fond of the kingsguard. She would often be seen making them laugh while on duty by sending them funny faces, but Jaime Lannister was different. Jaime Lannister was one of the members of the kingsguard that was closest to Rhaella's grandfather, King Aerys Targaryen, or otherwise known as the Mad King.
The former heir to Casterly Rock was kind to Rhaella and would often spend time with the girl when she asked him to read to her. Rhaella had a special bond with the young lion and in Elia's eyes that made him the only one she could think of to truly trust. Elia was desperate for an escape route for her and her children so she sent her eldest through the servants corridors in hopes of finding a way to safety. She watched as Rhaella disappeared from view and suddenly felt a sensation in her stomach that she hadn't felt in a long time, terror.
Elia Martell, the wife of Rhaegar Targaryen, became terrified when she heard the sound of her chambers doors being forced open and saw Ser Gregor Clegane march into the room. She let out a strangled cry as she tried to protect her children, but could only watch in horror as her daughter and infant son were murdered before her eyes. The sight of her children's blood on the knight's hands made Elia both enraged and horrified as his eyes turned to bore into her own. She tried to run, but the princess was no match for a mountain.
Rhaella Targaryen moved through the corridors of the Red Keep with calculated grace as she stayed as silent as the dead. She knew her mother's life depended on her finding Jaime and she had never failed her mother before. Rhaella hid behind one of the tall pillars as a group of soldiers dressed in red and gold charged passed her. She was frightened by how many guards were roaming the halls of her childhood home but remained calm as she ventured forward.
Rhaella wasn't sure where to look first for the king's sworn protector, so she gravitated towards the only room in the castle that seemed to be impregnable. She stopped as she reached the servant's door that led to the throne room. She was afraid of what lay beyond the door and whether she had chosen the correct area. Rhaella placed a shaking hand on the door and with a surge of bravery opened the door as quietly as she could.
At first, the throne room was silent giving the impression that it was empty and abandoned, but then came the voices of two men. Rhaella recognized the first voice as belonging to Jaime Lannister, but she could not place the second voice. It had an accent, perhaps Northern, but the princess couldn't be sure. It sounded like the two men were arguing about some matter that made no sense to her. Rhaella couldn't decipher the conversation no matter how much she strained her ears.
Finally, Rhaella realized how much time she had wasted standing around and quickly made her presence known. She made her way around the steps where the throne sat and let out a whimper at the sight before her. Blood ran down the steps like a crimson waterfall and pooled like a lake at the bottom. The sight of her grandfather's lifeless body was forever seared into the mind of the young Targaryen as she continued to stare.
The sound of the small whimper caught the attention of Jaime Lannister first who whipped around to locate the princess. She was trembling in fear as her violet eyes never left the crimson flood that stained the throne room floor. Her hands were wrapped around her small frame as she curled into herself to make herself smaller, a trick he had taught her if she was ever in danger. The smaller she was, the less of a target she became.
Jaime Lannister looked over at the Mad King's corpse before looking away with shame as he made his way towards the shaking girl. He bent the knee in front of her and tried to shield her from the horrors of war, but the damage had already been done. Rhaella had spotted the blood on Jaime's sword.
While Rhaella was frightened of the man who had slain the mad king, she had been afraid of her grandfather while he was alive. She was no stranger to the rumors that circled the king in his later years. She knew what the peasants and nobles whispered when they thought no one could hear them. King Aerys Targaryen was a man gone mad. She had witnessed her grandfather fall into a state of madness when he called for his kingsguard to burn the city.
The second man in the room was Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and friend to Robert Baratheon. He was surprised to see the eldest child of Elia Martell and the late Rhaegar Targaryen wandering around the Red Keep, but he masked it well. The little babe that he had met on one occasion was now a girl of five name days. Eddard thought that the girl looked like her mother, but when she looked up at him he could see the familiar violet eyes of the girl's father.
Rhaella looked at the second man in confusion as she tried to place a name to the face, but no matter how hard she thought no name would come. She could tell the man was young given his youthful features with his dark grey eyes and long brown hair. Rhaella was normally very intrigued at meeting new people, but given the circumstances, she refrained from giving him so much as a formal greeting. Instead, she turned her attention to Jaime who was looking at her with his green eyes full of concern.
"Rhaella, what are you doing running about the castle?" Jamie asked, trying to keep his voice level and calm so as not to frighten the girl more than she already was.
Rhaella looked up at him with her violet eyes full of fear, "Mother sent me to find you. She said you were the only person she could trust to protect us since father's away."
Jaime felt his heart hurt for the girl as he hung his head in both shame and worry. He had been so preoccupied with trying to deal with Eddard Stark and his accusations toward his last deed that he had forgotten that there were others who needed him. Others such as Elia Martell and her children.
"How long ago did your mother send you to find me?" Jaime inquired, noting how silent the Lord of Winterfell had become.
"Less than ten minutes ago," Rhaella answered his question quickly.
Jaime nodded and went to pick up the girl so as to be better prepared to defend her when Eddard intervened, "You are not taking the princess anywhere."
Eddard Stark was known to be an honorable man. He was reluctant to let the princess out of his sight after having just seen the dishonor Jaime Lannister had displayed against House Targaryen. He was also no stranger to his friend, Robert Baratheon's rage, as he began calling for the heads of every Targaryen. He felt safer knowing the princess was with someone who could and would protect her at all costs.
Jaime looked at Eddard with a new sense of loathing, "The princess needs to be kept safe especially now that my father's men, as well as Robert's, are within the city walls."
Eddard couldn't disagree with the kingsguard, "She goes with us both."
Lord Stark's tone was final and gave no room for Jaime to argue further. The two men knew that they needed to check on Rhaella's mother and siblings if only to make sure they were still alive. Together with Rhaella safely tucked into Jaime's side the princess and her two protectors left to the princess consort's chambers to see what fresh horrors awaited them outside the throne room.
Jaime Lannister, Eddard Stark, and Rhaella Targaryen didn't venture far before learning about the fate of Rhaegar's wife and two youngest children. Rhaella had been devastated as she collapsed to the stone floor in a heap of flesh and bones. The sound of her cries seemed to echo throughout all of Kings Landing as sobs racked her entire body. The lords and knights surrounding her all felt remorse for what they had done as they watched the princess grieve in the middle of the throne room. She was too young to be an orphan and yet there were hundreds more like her.
Jaime was the first to snap out of his trance of self-pity as he looked down at the girl. He wanted to offer comfort to the girl in any way he could but had never been in a position to do so. He was used to being around his sister Cersei who was known for her lack of emotions. The lords and knights watched as Jaime Lannister, son of the mighty Tywin, crouched down to Rhaella's height and proceeded to rub her back in soothing circles.
He wasn't sure if he was doing things correctly until he noticed that the princess had calmed down considerably. She was as quiet as a mouse with the only sound coming from her being slight hiccups from having cried so hard. Jaime felt his heart shatter when Rhaella finally looked up at him. Her normally cheerful eyes that held so much light were now void of any happiness as tears stained her cheeks.
Rhaella seemed to be void of all emotion as she looked at the men that surrounded her. She couldn't place their names, but she recognized some of the sigils on their cloaks and armor. When her eyes finally came to rest on the man that was arguing with Jaime in the throne room she held his gaze. Rhaella didn't know why but out of all the men there she felt that this man was the one in charge. He carried himself with dignity and honor. Two things the world was desperately being deprived of.
Eddard moved toward the girl once he realized she was waiting for him to speak, "My name is Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell."
Rhaella nodded her head before moving to stand so as to try to be graceful like her mother, but her legs buckled underneath her. She closed her eyes waiting for the ground to hit when she felt herself land in a pair of strong arms. When she finally opened them once more she found green eyes boring into her violet ones.
"Careful, my lady," Jaime said as he tried to steady the princess.
Rhaella sent the knight a grateful look before standing again only this time she was more stable. The young girl tried to gather her thoughts as grief held her heart. Her mother was dead and judging by the state of the Red Keep the girl could only assume that her family had lost the war. Now she had to worry about what would happen next. Would she join the rest of her family in death or would she survive to see another sunrise?
The little dragon turned to look at the lords and raised her head in such a way that they were all reminded of the late prince as she asked, "What will happen to me?"
The lords looked amongst each other as if trying to find the answers themselves. Before anyone could answer her the sound of the doors opening drew their attention and everybody was quick to bow as Robert Baratheon entered the room. Well everybody except Rhaella Targaryen.
Robert noticed the little girl first and had to do a double take as he thought he was seeing a younger version of Elia Martell among them. It wasn't until he took a closer that he saw her for the dragon she was. It was in the eyes. It was always in the eyes. Robert made his way to the Iron Throne and sat down feeling how uncomfortable the chair truly was for the first time. He motioned for Eddard to take his place by his side and allowed the rest of the court to rise, all the while his eyes never leaving Rhaella.
He decided to leave her childish rebellion alone for the time being and instead focused on what to do with the girl. If he would have his way he would butch her like the rest of her family, but Eddard Stark would not allow it. He was surprised that Eddard was willing to let the girl live despite her grandfather's treatment of his brother and father.
"She should not have to answer for the Mad King's crimes," Eddard argued. "If we condone the mutilation of innocent children then we are no better than King Aerys."
There were mummers of agreement that rang throughout the court and Eddard was pleased to see that he wasn't the only person who wanted to see the girl left alive. However, his happiness was short lived as Tywin interjected that once the girl was grown she would one day pose a threat to Robert's claim to the iron throne. Eddard was enraged to see that Robert agreed with Tywin's ideology especially after he had the mountain murder Rhaella's mother and siblings.
Eddard knew Robert to be a better man, but the effects of Lyanna's abduction had left the man with an inability to see reason in any matter pertaining to a Targaryen. Instead, he wanted to see them all dead including the two that had fled across the narrow sea. Eddard looked down at the girl as she stood next to Jaime Lannister who had not once left her side. He could see the pain in the girl's eyes as she tried to hold back her tears. She was a brave dragon in a room full of stags, wolves, and lions.
Once talks of a formal execution were underway did Eddard stay silent no longer, "The girl will come with me to Winterfell."
The room fell silent as Robert looked at his friend as if he had spoken treason, "You will do no such thing. She will become a threat to the realm if she is kept alive just like the other two dragons."
Eddard shook his head, "I will not stand here and listen to you plot this girl's death when she has done nothing but share a name."
"A very powerful name," Robert interjected.
"Powerful yes," Eddard admitted. "but if you feel one girl can threaten your reign then your reign will end before it has begun."
Robert considered this before finally nodding his head with deep displeasure, "She may."
Eddard quickly bowed to Robert before descending the steps toward Rhaella and kneeling in front of her, "Come with me."
Rhaella followed Lord Eddard Stark out of the room until they reached a new room that Eddard had been assigned to. He left the princess there to rest away from the eyes of the court and promised to speak with her after he finishes with the King's meeting. She wanted to protest saying she needed to be present, but it seemed no one cared what she thought as Lord Stark left without another word.
Rhaella sighed as the weight of the day's events seemed to take its toll on the girl's body, but she was hesitant to approach the bed. She didn't feel safe sleeping on such a large bed when she was used to sleeping with her mother and siblings. She pulled the large blanket off the bed and onto the floor along with two pillows and began to make herself a small bed in the corner of the room near the servant's door. She had a feeling she needed to be prepared for anything from that day forward
Rhaella allowed her body to succumb to the delightful feeling of sleep as she curled up on her makeshift bed. She tried to think of happy memories with her family, only to find them plagued with nightmares. She lay there awake in fear of falling prey to the events of the day over and over again in her mind. As she lay there Rhaella Targaryen, daughter of Elia Martell and Rhaegar Targaryen, vowed to lay the dead to rest, but to never allow their sacrifice to go unrewarded. She vowed to take back what was hers with fire and blood.