I do not own Game of Thrones

"Grab the traitor. Don't let him escape."

Aerys Targaryen, also known as the mad king shouted.

It had all started with a large tourney, organized in reality as a bedrock for a coup. Rhaegar expected to gain support of the lords of Westeros and dethrone his father without appearing like a kinslayer.

Unexpectedly his father the king showed up as well ruining his plans. It wasn't all bad though. The terrible state of his father was now visible to everyone so any attempts in the future would receive that much more support resulting in a peaceful succession.

He only hoped that no one else would do something stupid when someone posing as a knight with symbol of laughing tree joined the lists. Though even Rhaegar couldn't understand that reaction which was excessive even for Aerys.

Ser Barristan reacted swiftly and captured the knight before he could flee, unveiling of which turned out to be a she. It was the she-wolf of Winterfell.

There was a wildness in her that immediately let him know that she would have to be the mother of the prince who was promised. It wasn't love or even lust that he felt but the sheer satisfaction of being right, something a maester would feel upon proving something he believed in.

He could not let this girl be killed. He considered just borrowing her womb for just one child but that would insult the North.

No, he would have to seduce her and win her heart. Ideally if she had escaped, he could capture her and then use her frightened state of mind to win her over. Ser Barristan did something unnecessary.

Now his Father was looking at her like she was a rare creature. Her brothers had tried to rush into the tourney grounds only to be stopped by the kingsguard. He had to take matters into his own hands.

"Father, she is the daughter of the lord of Winterfell."

Aerys turned to look at him in confusion. He needed to continue speaking quickly.

"She can be very useful to our family. In fact this is an opportunity. The pact of ice and fire can be completed here."

Now Aerys looked curious.

"She can be the second wife. I know Targaryens haven't practiced polygamy in a long time for avoiding trouble with faith. But we are dragons, we answer to no one."

He could not remember the last time his father had looked so serious or sane. Luck was on his side.

"A wife who is struggling to give another child can be put aside or just kept to the side. A wife like that has no rights. Remember what is important, the dragon must have three heads."

A genuine smile bloomed on Aerys's face making him look much younger as he wasn't very old to begin with. Aerys spoke again for the first time with a normal voice in a long time.

"I thought I had lost you my son. Its a great day that we finally agree on something."

Aerys stood up and announced to the stands as well as the girl.

"I have decided that I will take Lyanna Stark as my wife. Whether she will be second wife or only wife is something I will decide later."

He left in a good mood not noticing that his son stood frozen there.

Aerys Targaryen felt like he had been stuck in a nightmare for a long time and only now was waking up. Ever since his father had married him to his sister on the words of that woodswitch, both he and his sister-wife had felt trapped. It had only gotten much worse since Duskendale and he had taken it out on her.

First was the fact that he lost Joanna, then he lost his friendship with Tywin. Rhaella had one stillborn after another. It was like the whole world had become his enemy and he saw threats in shadows everywhere. That paranoia reached its peak with the laughing tree symbol reminding him of the woodswitch.

All of that came crashing down when he saw her. She was hiding her face but she wasn't hiding herself, defying the order of things openly. Maybe he could trust her to be honest with him. Rhaegar had made all the good points about it.

Why had he held himself back for so long when he could have just taken Joanna as a second wife? Did he really fear those septons and septas that much? To think his son would be bolder and less sane than him.

He cleaned up properly after a long time and had his hairs and nails trimmed as well. His stress lines had also eased up a lot as he wasn't that old to get wrinkles.

When he reappeared the next day, everyone including the girl were shocked that he was just as handsome as his son. In fact she did not seem like she hated the prospect that much anymore.

"When will we be married, your grace?"

Aerys looked at her properly and estimated her age and physique.

"In two or three years."

Lyanna looked like she didn't like it and showed impatience on her face, which amused him but he wouldn't bend on this

"I may be mad but I still have enough sense left to not impregnate a 14 year old girl. Your hips aren't fully developed yet, you would undoubtedly die in childbirth. Worse, a child of my blood might die with you. I've had enough of that."

After that he looked at his son Rhaegar and gave him a thankful smile. Even to the end, he didn't realize that the whole convincing thing was Rhaegar talking about himself.

Similarities of Rhaegar and Aerys are uncanny. They both had tunnel vision which is relevant to the whole greatness vs madness thing. While one is about paranoia, the other is about obsession. But it doesn't end there.

They both had two children but were not able to complete three heads of the dragon, yet they did have third child after their deaths. Rhaegar could have easily included Viserys or his future children to complete the set but his arrogance meant that all three must come from him.