News of the burning of Lannisport was spreading fast, but no other news burned fast across Westeros like the one about the second prince, Alycilles, was abducted. Raven's have been flying all around Westeros with the demands of Balon Greyjoy, while the ironborn used the advantage they gained to begin their attack raiding the coast starting with Seaguard.
When the news reached King's Landing, the King and Queen were both enraged. For once the two had come together through their desire to have the Greyjoys wiped out for this treason. The lion Queen was calling for the heads of every Greyjoy while the stag King was calling for his allies including his old friend, Eddard Stark, the Quiet Wolf. Soon the forces of the Iron Throne were gathering, Robert calling on to his brother, Stannis, and as master of ships, joined the Redwyne's as they formed the royal fleet. With their counterattack ongoing and the King gathering his forces of Ned Stark and Tywin lannister. The forces of the Iron throne were on their way to settle Balon's foolish rebellion, and retake the prince of the seven kingdoms.
While all this was happening the young silver prince was in his captivity suffering at the hands of his Greyjoy captors. His cell was cold and wet and dark. It's been sometime since the young prince had arrived at the grey waste that is the Iron Islands. When Alycilles first stepped foot on the rocky island, he found his feet stepping in the wet, muddy ground leaving his boots mucky.
His feet would sink a few feet into the mud causing him to have to use some force to pull his feet from its clutches. He examined the kingdom he was brought too, tall grey buildings matching the murky atmosphere of the place. There was a storm raging, rain wetting his face as he was being dragged on by the man with the eyepatch, who he had learned was a man named Euron Greyjoy. Alycilles had been quiet the whole ride to the Iron islands, avoiding the eyes of anyone and keeping his head down. And he did so still as he was brought before the lord of the Iron Islands, Balon Greyjoy.
His throne room was empty, and as gray as he stood before the lord, his clothes soaking wet, his hair sticking to his face, and as he looked at the lord, a scowl formed across his face. The lord of Pyke looked down at the boy, his regal clothing having dirt and ash stained on them, and even some seaweed clutching to his boots. He then looked to his brother, the one eyed man looking on with glee in his eye as he grew a wide grin. "What have you brought before me."
The prince watched as the one eyed man walked around him, his black long coat flapping as he walked. "I have brought before you brother, the child of the false king and queen. Alycilles Baratheon" he says. Balon's expression didn't change as he looked unamused by his brother.
"And why have you brought me the second prince. What worth is he too me if he's not the crown prince?" he asked.
Euron simply shrugged his arms out, "prince, crown prince, it doesn't matter as long as we can take advantage of it for our cause. It's said the Queen loves her children. Some say they love this one here the most. Currently in our position. We have the sway over them. Send a raven detailing our demands, let them know their child is at our mercy and if they want to see him back again alive, they'll submit to our will" he says.
As Alycilles listened to him speak, his fear as to what will happen to him grew. He thought he was going to be a prisoner for the rest of his life here. The lord of Pyke simply thought about it before he looked to one of his guards. "Take the boy to one of the cells." He then looked to his one eyed brother. "Well speak on this matter later."
And here he was sitting on the wet floors, still in his dirty jerkins and trousers with his mind racing through his head. He wondered how his family was doing. He wondered if his sister was worried for him. He knew she would be. He could practically feel her emotions through himself. His father crossed his mind and even his brother. He thought of his mother. He knew her well enough to know she would be in a reckless fury.
When Alycilles was playing with some children in the gardens of the Red Keep, the Queen witnessed a child around the same age as the prince push him to the ground during their frolicing. A couple days later, Alycilles heard whispers from handmaidens saying the boy was missing and was later found with both of his hands cut off.
The boy's father was a minor lord who had no evidence this was the doing of the Queen but could only accept it as a mercy that his boy wasn't found as a feast for the crows. The seven only know what she'll want done to the Greyjoys.
Every now and then a girl he didn't know would bring him food to eat which at times Alycilles didn't, only deciding to do so when his stomach started to hurt and the growling of it would keep him up. The girl would say, "don't worry. If we wanted you dead, we wouldn't poison you like some Dornish."
Sometimes when he wouldn't expect it, the one eyed man would come to him with the girl. They would ask the prince some questions, things he couldn't possibly know and would even torture him a number a times. The girl would engage in his torture as well playing what she called a game in which she would induce drowning the boy and reviving him before he died. He could never tell if he had tears or salt water on his face. Whenever he came back to consciousness she would let out a deranged laugh as the prince would vomit out water.
It was almost too much to him to take at times causing him to think he would snap. Thinking back to his mentor, Ser Barristan would bring him courage when he was on the brink. When his heart was heavy with grief and he felt his tears flowing, the old knights words helped him persevere.
After what seemed like days with no sign of his captors and with the little bread he had left, he began to wonder if they had forgotten him. He didn't know if he actually wanted to be left their in that cell with no worries of torture and threats, or be checked up on just so someone knew he was still alive.
Footsteps though broke the thought as he could hear commotion from behind the door. He stood up, one hand leaning on the wall to help him keep balance as he watched the door to his cell open with a hard swing.
The man who stood there was someone the prince had come to know. Victarion Greyjoy, another brother to the lord of Pyke. The prince tried to back away further, but he found his back already pressed against the walls of his black cell.
"Because of you, a lot of trouble has been brought upon us boy. Euron and his damn ambitions" he said. The man said nothing after. He simply began to walk towards the boy, but the prince's mind was racing with every way this situation could turn. He also noticed that the man forgot to close the door behind him. As he got closer, not noticing the prince's eyes were focused on something else, he reached out for him but the young boy was fast and nimble as he swooped down under the Greyjoys legs, kicking his own fast as he made for the door. Victarion was quick in his own response but by the time he made it to the door, he was face to face with wet wood. The young boy had made it to the door and mustered the strength to close it and lock it.
"Damn you boy, you'll pay for this. I swear it on the drowned god" he shouts. Alycilles didn't take the time to stay there and hear him talk as he made his way towards the stairs out of the dungeons.
He ran through many halls, avoiding the areas he could hear soldiers at. The castle felt like a maze to him, causing him to run back and forth through areas he's been in already.
He kept on running and hiding, sometimes staying in a single spot, his nerves not allowing him to move, until he heard a storm of noise coming from outside.
He saw a window nearby and dragged a bench to the wall, lifted himself on top of it and peered his eyes outside.
He could see ships far off in the sea close to the Iron islands. Men were storming off the ships steadily making their way to meet the Greyjoy forces. The prince felt a sense of relief. This must be my father's army. He's come for me at last, he thought. He jumped off the bench and ran out the room, eager to meet his father and go home. He soon came upon a door which he hoped led outside, and when he pushed it open, he found the sounds of battle clear to his ears.
The sounds of battle rung all around him. He saw men everywhere engaged in combat, some wearing armor he was familiar with, like the golden plated armor of the gold cloaks.
He wondered if his uncle was within this rabble of men. A loud boom rung to his side as he looked and saw a tall tower crumbling in on itself as it fell forward.
He stayed low, running towards the breach in the wall where his father's forces were coming in from. He saw a man with a flaming sword running around. He watched as they clashed with the ironmen. As he laid there he could hear the sloshing of footsteps just behind him. He turned his head to see the man, Victarion standing there before him.
"Found you boy" he said with anger in his tone.
The man was clearly enraged, two axes in his hands and eyes of red staring down at the boy. Alycilles stood up fast nearly slipping in the mud and ran towards armies of the iron throne.
No one seemed to notice the small boy on the battlefield as he neared close to him swerving all around him with Victarion on his trail. I have to find my father, he thought as he kept up his running until he felt a force grab a hold of his hair tightly pulling him back.
"Damn brat, I'll make sure your father gets you back in pieces. Damn what my brother desires" he shouts.
He lifted his axe in the air ready to bring it down on the prince's head. The prince in a split second before it was too late found his hand clutching a sword buried in the mud. He didn't think and just acted as the instinct to survive flooded his body.
He raised the sword, a short one that the prince was easily able to manage and blocked the man's strike. His arms felt the heavy blow come down on him as his sword gave way. Victarion's strike was shifted away from the boy as the young prince brought the sword back up even as his arms and hands vibrated.
Alycilles stepped back a little but Greyjoy started to move on him, handling his axes in his hand as he swung. The prince dodged them, swaying left and right as his eyes stayed focused on the man's swinging.
He was predictable and only moved with one intent which the prince was able to read easily. Things weren't really in his favor as the man had most of the advantage with the prince only having some decent training. He figured he could get a strike in when the man went in for an attack.
As Victarion brought his axe back, the prince side stepped and dodged it bringing his own sword for the man's plate armor hoping he could pierce it. His focus was cut when he saw Greyjoy bringing his other axe around and nearly slicing the boy's arm in two. The prince screamed as he held his arm, his hand felt the liquid streaming from his cut, and winced at the pain.
The cut wasn't deep but it was going to be needing some tending too. "Stings doesn't it stag brat. Don't worry I have something that will relieve the pain" the man said.
He swung his axe to which the prince dodged but just barely. The prince turned to face him, his sword held up high as he stood his ground. "So little stag. Have some fight still in you" the man bluntly stated.
With fighting happening all around them, the two circled each other, staring one another down. The young prince was nervous and his arm hurt, but he had to focus or he was dead.
"PRINCE ALYCILLES" he suddenly heard a voice shout out. The prince turned his head and saw Ser Barristan, and his uncle, Ser Jaime charging towards him. The prince would have wept if he didn't feel the hard plate of a gauntlet smack across his face. It stung but he held the tears back taking a swing at Victarion with his short sword in hand.
He thought back to the days of his training. He swung his sword colliding with the kraken axe somehow holding his own, giving enough time for his mentor and uncle to arrive by his side. Victarion seemed to notice this as well as he quickly turned his attention towards them ignoring the prince.
Jaime came first, swinging his sword at Greyjoys head. "Get away from my nephew you cunt" he shouts. The young lion was quick, holding his own against the kraken man. They were fast almost like a blur but the Greyjoy was fighting dirty, kicking up mud at Jaime's face blinding him.
As Jaime was tending to his eyes Ser Barristan stepped up quickly taking his fellow kingsguards place as he engaged Victarion. Barristan Selmy was holding his own even looking to be the better fighter.
Alycilles watched as the veteran knight clashed with steel against steel as sparks flew from them. Jaime rejoined the skirmish taking over whenever Barristsan fell out. As he watched his own fury within him began to build as he watched those he cared for struggle against this madman, who seemed to be reveling in the battle. As they fought the prince went unnoticed as he circled them, making his way to the krakens back.
While Ser Barristan was engaged in combat, his blows were parried by the man. The prince found his opening and swiped at Greyjoys heel, causing him to fall to a single knee. Victarion snarled, swinging his axe not even looking at who struck him, completely missing the prince as he swiftly circled the man giving him another quick cut to his other heel abruptly stopping the man. Greyjoy was getting sloppy, and the prince saw this taking advantage as he flooded his hand with blood from his bloody wound and rained it in his eyes. It blinded him, Alycilles not giving Victarion any chance to counter.
As he saw Victarion reeling over his eyes, Alycilles saw this as the chance to end this nightmare. He charged at the man, screaming whatever warcry that the young boy could muster. His screams though seem to have alerted Victarion as he seemed to quickly recover, his vision slightly returning, as he took a chance and swung the back of his hand. The backhand came into contact with the prince's lip busting it sending him flying to the ground. Jaime had gotten back to his feet by now, rushing to his nephew's side. He rushed his shoulder into Victarion's back, pushing the man away from his nephew. The battles around them were growing more fierce and ending fast but their resolve didn't break.
The prince was getting tired. His breathing was growing harder and harder. Adrenaline was steadily slowing down within him, and he felt pain all over his body. He saw his uncle with his mouth open breathing hard as well. He was hoping that his famed uncle would finish this man off already so he could rest, but it seems that everytime he wished for something, it didn't come. The storm above their heads was raging as thunder boomed every minute lighting up the dark sky with flashes as they all fought upon falling raindrops.
The Kingslayer was on the defense, blocking and parrying the Greyjoys' strikes until Victarion locked steel with Jaime's sword. The two struggle as they were in a stalemate, both gritting their teeth until Victarion pulled his hands down, disarming the kingsguard.
Jaime was slightly stunned as Victarion swiped at his legs bringing the young lion to the muddy ground. As he looked up at Victarion knelt down, wincing at the pain of his knees nearly cut to ribbons by the prince.
He grabbed Jaimes hair, pulling his head back as he displayed his neck to him.
Victarion grinned as he held his kraken axe up and lined it with Jaimes neck. Jaime simply closed his eyes and waited for the blood to spill from his throat.
He felt liquid paint his face.
But there was no pain.
He opened his eyes and saw a blade bathed in blood sticking through Victarion's throat. He suddenly lost his grip as his axe fell to the mud. He then slumped over, his body joining his fallen axe as the mud made a smacking noise as his body hit the mud.
The young lion saw as his nephew stood there his hands trembling as he eyed his uncle.
Jaime had a stunned look on his face as he simply stared at his nephew who looked like he was on the verge of breaking down.
Suddenly around them, men started cheering as some had seen the battle that was going on between them. Jaime looked around him as some of the ironborn were fleeing at the sight of their fallen lord as some of the men started chanting the prince's name. Alycilles looked down at the dead Greyjoy. The bloody sword plunged through his throat as his life's blood drained onto the muddy ground.
He didn't remember attacking.
Just a sudden fury.
And red.
The prince slowly fell forward, his spent body losing whatever will he had to stay conscious. Jaime caught him in time before he could hit the ground and pretty much passed out in his uncles arms. The man looked down at his nephew, with intrigue in his eyes as he thought to himself. What kind of man will you become Alycilles? I hope it will be a better one than me.
Ser Barristan soon made his way to Jaime's side, taking his time to see if the young prince was alright. He was out cold, but was breathing. The old knight smiled at his squire.
His first battle he thought.
He awoke suddenly to the familiar ceiling of a room. The red ceiling of Casterly Rock looking back at him. His body was sore and he could barely move. He tried to sit up but a hand appeared on his shoulders, slowly pushing him back to the bed.
"Rest now my little nephew" a feminine voice said. The young prince turned his head slightly, a little pain came with it and he saw his Aunt Genna looking down on him, eye of green casting their gaze. "What happened to me?" the tired boy asked. "You've been here, resting since the battle. Your uncle Jaime brought you here. Once you're fully rested, you'll be returning to King's Landing. The Queens orders" she said.
"But. I don't want to leave yet" he says looking a little sad. She smiled down on him rubbing some of his hair away from his eyes.
She stared at him. The blue and green colors staring back, very defined colors that one couldn't help but look at. The Lannister lady was mesmerized by them. "I thought I was dead," Alycilles says, his tone soft. "No my sweet, you're alive, and from what I heard you made quite the show out there. The men have taken the liberty of calling you The Avenger now. Alycilles The Avenger" she says with a joyful ring to her tone. The young prince looked back at the ceiling, going over the name in his head. Alycilles The Avenger he thought. He smiled as he drifted off back to sleep.
After the Greyjoy rebellion was foiled it would soon be known as another name, The War For the Silver Stag, given that name after King Robert offered a large amount of silver and gold for the safe return of his son to which Jaime Lannister won but didn't claim saying, he didn't do it for the money.
The prince upon returning home to King's Landing was treated like a hero as the tale of his heroics had quickly spread far across Westeros. The Queen mother showered him in affection, having been in a state of grief that her child was away from her for so long in turmoil. The young prince seemed to be taking being back home well but he would soon find himself plagued with a new horror. night terrors would plague him, putting him through fits of screaming throughout his sleep.
The guards would burst into his room expecting to find intruders, but saw only a boy in deep sweats with tears on his cheeks. The memory of his torture at the hands of the Greyjoys and the fighting, killing, and blood was taking its toll on his mind. The Queen mother had to stay by his side for days soothing him in her arms, making sure her young lion had a peaceful sleep, even though she was soon to give birth. There were times when the queen couldn't calm him down as the boy would throw quite a fit, lashing out at anyone who tried to calm him. Even some of the handmaidens feared to be near him. It was his twin sister, Saphira who was the only one who could calm him down. She would stay with her brother throughout many nights, sleeping in his bed with him as she would wrap her arms around him, rubbing the tears from his face and singing his favorite songs to him.
The Queen herself would monitor her son but it would always be her daughter to sooth his terrors. She noticed that they were together more and more lately but she couldn't look into it as she had just given birth to a baby boy, the Prince Tommen Baratheon and had not too long ago had a baby girl, Myrcella Baratheon.
297AC:
Over the years as the prince grew his interest began to vary from subject to subject with his number one being swordsmanship. Wielding the sword, he quickly passed the stage of a novice squire and was fastly becoming adept and felt the need to spread his arsenal. He soon took on the spear practicing with his uncle Jaime, and Ser Barristan until he felt comfortable with the level he was at. He would then move on to another weapon like the short sword, learning to be swift and fast with the weapon. Out of curiosity of his father's style, he took on the hammer as well, finding it needing lots of strength use.
When he wasn't practicing with the sword, he would explore Kings Landing, wanting to see more of the city he's been growing up in. He would have about four gold cloaks along with Ser Barristan following him closely. He would play with them, running off and avoiding them as he would ramble across the Street of Sisters coming to face a building, an odd building that stood out from the rest. The building was painted blood red and had a great big door painted black. He didn't know why he stopped running, but he found his attention and wondered about this place.
He slowly made his way to it, grabbing for a handle as he slowly opened it. As he entered the building and closed the door behind him, he saw he was in a single hallway leading to a door. On each side of the walls hung banners of a heart engulfed in flames.
He walked down the hallway lit by torches as he came to the door. This time he was a little hesitant in his grasp. He didn't know why he was drawn to such a place. But any thought of turning around left his mind. Even if he wanted to move he felt as if his body wouldn't let him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and opened the door, walking through. The room was in the shape of a circle, had torches all around lighting the room dimly, and had many different doors all around.
He found himself casually walking around unaware of the presence that was with him. A woman wearing a long red dress made herself known. "Welcome my prince" she says. Alycilles turned to the woman, somewhat surprised. "Who are you?" he asked.
She smiled. "I am a simple servant of light. One who is here to guide you, your grace" she says. The women had long dark hair that curled at the ends. Her blood red dress revealed her bosom making the young prince feel funny. The one thing about her that intrigued him the most was the red stone embedded within the neck choker she wore.
It glowed bright red dancing within the flames calling for the prince. "You've come here for a reason my prince. Do you know why?" she asked.
"No, I don't," he says with true ignorance.
"What do you know of the lord of light, young prince?" she asked.
"I only know of the seven" he responds back with.
"Yes the seven gods. But they are not the only ones. There are also the old gods, but they are not only gods. There is the one true god" she says.
The prince didn't know exactly what she was talking about but it somewhat interested him. "Who is this true god?" he asked. The red woman smiled, her lips of red curling accentuating her face's beauty. "The lord of light. Also known as R'hllor" she says.
With that the prince began to frequently visit this temple of the red lady learning little by little from her about this Lord of light and the ways of their kind.
As the years went on the young boy began to experience more and more of the Westerosi lifestyle. One sport of his people that he wanted to take part in for some time now was a Tourney. During a tourney being held by the King in honor of his daughter, Princess Myrcella's name day, the young prince decided it was finally time he put the training two of Westeros' finest knights have been instilling in him.
Since being home, he has been trying to hone his skills of swordplay even more now, sometimes even training with Ser Barristan for entire days. His mother found it an obsession. His father said it was his true Stag coming out. Ever since returning, the prince wanted to become stronger. He never wanted to be put into a situation like with the Greyjoys ever again. He told himself he needed to become stronger and needed strength to make it happen.
During the tourney the young boy found himself winning the archery contest, the jousting contest, and even coming in third during the melee. Those who watched him said he looked like a whole different person fighting like a young Robert in a way. The prince showed skills and strength unlike anyone at his age, amazing everyone who watched the tourney that day. After all was said and done, the king marched down from his seat and stood before his son. He drew a sword and knighted his son right then and there. Prince Alycilles became the youngest knight that day at the age of thirteen.
297AC:
"Lord Mace. Lady Alerie. You remember my nephew and niece" Renly Baratheon says smiling as he presented the two. Prince Alycilles and his sister, Princess Saphira stepped forward as they made introductions to the lord and lady of Highgarden. "Thank you for having us here again, Lord Mace," Alycilles says.
The plump lord simply chuckled. "You are always welcomed here in Highgarden my prince. You've been here so many times, it would be strange if we stop seeing you now" he says.
They were in the great hall of Highgarden, a room that looked like the budding of a flower. There were banners of their sigil, a golden rose hanging above their heads being overshadowed by the white walls. Great big windows letting in the sight of the starry sky as the moon's light gleamed off them.
Along those walls, white stone was carved to look like a vine intertwined all around the room. Upon their arrival to Highgarden his sister would always point out the giant status that spread all around the great hall wondering how they managed to get them here.
Night had come and the main hall was being lit by torches on sculptured pedestals giving the place a palatial look. The lords and ladies of The Reach were in abundance today, some trying to gain the favors of the royal twins.
The prince chuckled as he looked towards the lords' wife. "Lady Alerie. You look very well my lady" Alycilles says. The lady gave him a curtsey as she thanked him. With that she brought forward her two children who were eager to reacquaintance themself with the prince and princess. A man wearing a light green doublet with flowers patterned on his left shoulder with black tights, and a girl wearing the same color dress with her own gold flower embroidery sewn around the bottom and riding up her thigh and a gold flower pin clipped to her hair.
He had curly auburn hair that stopped just to his shoulders, and the girl had long curly auburn hair that fell all the way down her back.
Along with the two came a elderly woman walking with a cane as they stopped before the two twins.
"Welcome back to Highgarden" the girl says while mostly looking at the prince while she spoke.
She then turned to the old woman that was accompanying them. I like to introduce you two to my grandmother, the Lady Olenna Tyrell" the auburn hair girl said.
The old rose looked upon the two, her sharp eyes examining them with evaluation. "My, aren't you two a pair of lovely things. The silver and gold twins. I see now why they call you two that. The Targaryan blood runs true through you two there's no doubt about that. And this one here might be prettier than Loras", she says pointing at Alycilles. He gave her a little smirk as his sister let out a giggle. "He is a pretty boy isn't he" Saphira says looking at her brother as he side eyes her. The prince looking to steer the talking towards something else looked towards Loras.
"So Loras, how goes your training?" he asked. The boy looked towards the prince as his face beamed.
"As good as always. You need to attend our next tourney. It's been a while since we had a good bout" he says. "It shall be quite the tourney then, when I finally unhorse the famed knight of flowers" Alycilles says giving him a sly smirk. Loras chuckled, showing some teeth at the prince's remark. "You and everyone else. Though you most likely have the best chance" he says. The two seem to be having a friendly chat when Mace Tyrell found the chance to ask Alycilles a question.
"So Prince Alycilles, I've been wondering, are the tales of you taking down a full grown lion with your bare hands actually true, I mean, that had to have been stretched a little right?" he asked. The prince chucked. "No I didn't kill a lion with my bare hands my lord, I actually had a steel dagger, not the perfect weapon for fighting a raging beast but when it's charging at you, you either waste time and die or let your instincts take over. One quick thrust to the heart was all it took" the prince says.
"It was quite the sight. I thought my nephew was lion food for sure" Renly said as he laughed.
"Yeah, well now I have a lion fur cloak" the prince says.
Music began to play as Highgarden's great hall was festive with dancing as the many lords and ladies took the center, their regals looks mystifying the scene as they moved around.
Tables were set for the feast being held and were full of the Reach's finest cuisines. Both the prince and the princess made their way around being presented to noble after noble, exchanging words of pleasantry. The two of them always enjoyed court intrigue, learning how to play the game from their mother early in their lives.
They could feel the eyes on them, watching them wherever they strolled off too. "You would think Highgarden never had royals in their halls before by the way they are staring at us" the prince says with some amusement to his tone as he took a sip of cider from his goblet.
His sister smiled. "They just never seen royals like us before sweet brother. They want to ingrain it into their memories so they can relive this day and tell the rest of their household" she says with a cheeky grin teasing him.
"You think highly of us sister" he responds with, grinning as he looks at her. "Not my fault when we've been fed that all our lives" she says folding her arms together as she watches the dancers. "I suppose so" he ends with.
As they talked, the two of them both seem to notice Margaery Tyrell walking up to them with a couple of her lady friends trailing her skirt. They all curtsied once they were close enough as the Tyrell maiden began to speak. "My prince, I would like a request" she says, her tone alluring. Alycilles sat his goblet onto the nearby table and straightened his back as he looked at the beautiful flower.
"And what would that be, my lady?" he says. She almost seemed to hesitate before she spoke.
"My cousin would like a dance if you would be willing, my prince" she says as he looks into her eyes, reading them as they tell him a different story. He then eyed the girls at her side, eyes flourished with heat as some of them averted from his gaze and others had their marbles light up. He smirked.
"And she couldn't ask herself," he says. The Tyrell maiden simply shrugged her shoulders and smirked to herself, as the side of her mouth curved upwards. Alycilles was starting to like her even more. "I'll dance. With you that is" he finishes, staring at her as she grew a concealed smile on her face.
He took her hand and led her to the middle of the floor and danced. They were soon joined by the others who watched them, following their lead. The two of them were graceful, never missing a step or a beat as if they were one. His silver hair entangling with her auburn waves as they came close together, his arms pressed to the palms of her back while she rested her hand behind his neck.
Princess Saphira watched them while also noticing the jealous looks the ladies around her were giving off, either jealous of their Highgarden flower, or at the prince for not choosing them. The princess smirked.
"You move quite nicely my prince" she says.
"Likewise my lady, you seem a natural yourself"' he says. My mother would have me practice every chance she could. I'm glad it paid off for something, and i'm not making a fool of myself'' she says. He gave her a warm smile.
"I doubt that could ever happen," he says. As they danced, she felt her face flush with red as she tried to speak but couldn't. She simply looked into his eyes, mesmerized by his gaze and smile.
The festivities were calming down as the lion and the rose walked through one of Highgardens many maze-like flower gardens. Margaery Tyrell had her arms entwined into the princes as she led him through the maze. They were surrounded by flowers and roses, each one being of every color, it made the area seem bright under the moonlight.
"So how have you been liking your stay in Highgarden?" she asked him. "You know I always enjoy my stay here. You guys always welcome my sister and I so warmly" the prince says. The Highgarden maid smiles as she dips her head. "You can thank your uncle for that. He's pretty much charmed my father, telling him stories of you. Not to mention you have the favor of my brothers as well" she says. The prince grew a smile from her words. "If that's the case it'll be easier for me to plead my case to your father than" he says. She turned her head till she faced him. "You still plan on keeping that promise we made when we were children?" she asked. His eyes found hers as both their eyes seem to reflect the past.
"Why wouldn't I. I feel just as strongly about it now like I did then. And what about you?" he asked. She kept her gaze onto him, the two of them coming to a cliff overlooking Highgarden with the moons light bright above them. "I sometimes dream of that day. The two of us, jumping on that bed as feathers and pillow stuffing flew around us. We were just kids back then with dreams bigger than ourselves. But of all the dreams that I have lost throughout the years, that was not one of them" she says. She placed a single hand under his chin as she rubbed his face. She smiled at him as he did the same.
"My prince. I'll keep my promise, waiting here in the gardens for you, so you better not forget me" she says.
"Ofcourse" he replies.