Chapter 3

Rhaenyra had woken up this morning feeling anxious. Today her father would be speaking to Harwin, he would be within her reach today.

What was he to think when he heard the news of her choice? Would this Harwin accept, did he have any interest in her beyond her being a Princess at this time in their life. Or did the attraction come later on after she was wed to Laenor.

He could decline her hand and then where would she be. Alone again. Only to suffer having him near but out of her reach.

What of their boys. Would they never exist here with her again. Her boys with their dark hair, and eyes like their father. There was no denying they were the children of Harwin Strong. They resembled him too much. In looks and in their temperaments.

This is what started their decline, the whispers of her son's parentage. Bastards. They were called. She did all she could to shield them from these words. But she knows Jacerys heard. He did confront her about Harwin. He knew who his father was even if he could not outwardly show it.

She knew Harwin loved her and their sons, though he couldn't show it. he longed to claim them. To teach them. She could see the pain in his eyes as he watched them call Laenor father. To be called Valeryons.

To see his sons be mistreated by Cole in the training yard that day. It seems he could control himself no longer. He had to defend his boys.

Criston Cole. She forgot waking up back in this time that she would need to see him again. He was her sworn sword. They have not crossed that line yet. No honor to be taken, no offer of running away together.

She would make sure that would never happen. She was unsure if she could stand to look at him anymore. The Criston Cole she had known over the last 10 years was not a friend to her. But her enemy. Conspiring with the Queen Alicent for her doom.

She didn't know how she was going to face all the people who would come to hurt her. Would the malice they felt for her never come? Or had it always been there and she was just too young to see it. To lost in her Uncle Daemon.

She has stayed up most of the night before trying to plan.

Would she tell Harwin of what became of their lives and how she came to be here in this time. Did he know already, perhaps something similar occurred to him.

Or should she just keep these things to herself.

She spent most of the morning sitting at her window seat. Staring out over Kings Landing and thinking of her life.

A knock sounded. Breaking her free of her thoughts.

"Enter" she said.

Ser Criston entered and smiled in greeting.

She felt her skin crawl. This wasn't the man who was her enemy. Not yet. She had to remind herself.

"Princess, you have a visitor. Ser Harwin Strong." He said.

"Of course. I've been expecting him, please allow him in Ser Criston, you can wait outside, I'll be fine" she said. Suddenly her skin felt as if it were on fire.

He was here. Right outside her door. She would get to look upon his face. Into those eyes she gazed upon on the nights she could convince him to stay with her.

Would she still feel as strongly as she did? She couldn't imagine otherwise.

She watched as Ser Criston went to inform Harwin he could enter. She turned to face her window to give herself a chance to calm.

She did not hear him enter. Her focus on remaining calm and not bursting into tears at the thought that he was only a few feet from her.

"Princess" she heard him say. In that voice of his she loved. His deep voice was enough to make her freeze.

That voice that could say both the sweetest and filthiest things to her. Could have her come undone with just the sound of his voice in her ear. His beard grazed along her skin as he whispered his affection to her, leaving her breathless.

How could she act as if she had not shared her body and heart with this man. She sighed. She couldn't prolong this torture. She had to see him.

Slowly she turned towards him. Instantly their eyes connected.

He looked as she remembered. A bit younger and that hair of his pulled back in a knot.

She remembers telling him how she loved his curls. Loved running her hands through his hair every moment she could. Pulling it tight in her grasp as he worked between her thighs. He had taken to leaving free for her wandering hands.

His wide shoulders stretching the material of his tunic across his chest. His big hands clasped together. She could see him taking her in as she was him.

This man held so much of her and he did not know it yet. Just the sight of him had her mouth dry, and licking her lips imaging it was his own tongue caressing hers. The taste of his breath as he took hers away with his kisses that consumed her.

He was here with her. She could have everything again.

"Harwin." She managed to say, before she lost control of her body.

Before she knew what she was doing she was gripping him tight. Her arms not able to close around him, she grabbed his back and pushed her face into his chest. Breathing in his scent. Tears came to her eyes. His scent was the same. She was home.

She felt his arms come up to gently hold her to him. Placing the smallest of kisses to her forehead.

She knew he was probably confused at her reaction but she could not bring herself to care just yet. It had been only a couple days since she lost him, but it felt like an eternity.

If this was finally the end of her dream she wanted to stay here with him as long as she could.

"Princess are you alright?" he asked. He probably was not expecting her to burst into tears at the sight of him.

Quickly she wiped her eyes and slowly gazed up to his handsome face. Staring into his eyes and feeling his warm breath caress her skin.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so happy to see you. You wouldn't understand." She said.

"Don't apologize Princess, having you run into my arms every time I see you wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Though I could do without seeing your tears." He said, slowly he brought a hand to her face, his palm resting at her chin as he wiped a stray tear she had missed.

He did not know what that would do to her. So many memories of him taking her face in his big hands. She always did feel safe with him.

They must've stayed in each other's arms for quite some time, it was only when her legs began to tire that she stepped away from him. Placing her hand in his she pulled him slowly to her window seat.

"Please, sit with me. I'm sure you must be confused and have some questions for me" she said.

She would tell him. She had to. She could prevent his death in that fire if he knew.

"I would say more surprised than anything Princess " Harwin said, a small smile making it's why on his face.

"Rhaenyra." She said. "Call me by my name please." She nearly begged.

His smile grew "Rhaenyra." He said as though he was tasting her name on his tongue. She smiled. She didn't think she would get to hear her name from his lips again.

"I wanted to come to you and tell you in person that I'm honored that you have chosen me as your future prince consort, and I happily accept your hand." He said.

Her breath rushed from her lungs in relief.

"You have no idea how happy that makes me Harwin." She said with a smile.

Harwin smiled with her. " I admit this was not something I expected. I did not know you really knew of me Princess." He said. " I know in passing we had some interaction, but I did not think this would happen."

Rhaenyra smiled as she squeezed his hand that was still in hers.

"Harwin, I know I'd be asking you a lot. I'm going to tell you something. But could you trust me? Trust me enough to know That I would never lie to you. That your happiness means the world to me…" she said shakily

"Princess Wha-" he began only to be cut off.

"Harwin. Please. This isn't going to make sense and I may seem mad and you may run from me in a few moments.."

"Rhaenyra, whatever you need to tell me I will listen. I will not run from you. I would never." He said, clutching her hand.

She stared into his eyes seeing the caring man she fell for. She could tell him this. He had always been devoted to her. Always on her side.

So she told him. Everything. She didn't hold back. Maybe she should have with some of the more regretful details of her young life. But Harwin knew these things before and yet he still loved her.

He was still her Harwin. In her time and in this one.