With the setting sun beginning to cast long shadows across the castle grounds, Robert was worried he would not be able to find Lyanna before darkness fell. Much to his relief, it didn't take long for him to find her. She had fled to a fairly secluded spot away from prying eyes and listening ears. As he approached, Robert saw that she was pacing and muttering to herself, and didn't seem to have noticed his arrival. Robert stood by waiting for her to calm down a little before he announced himself. Eventually her pacing slowed, and her shoulders began to relax signaling to Robert that it was perhaps safe to proceed.
"Good evening, Lyanna."
"Robert?" Lyanna almost jumped in shock when he announced herself.
"Are you alright?" Robert asked in his most gentle tone. At this question, Lyanna drew herself up and presented herself with all the pride and dignity one would expect of a woman of her station. Robert was impressed.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Though her voice appeared strong on the surface, Robert could just make out the slightest of trembles indicating that she was not, in fact, alright.
"Well, forgive me for pointing it out, but it looks like you were crying." Robert stated in an ever so slightly teasing tone.
"Yeah, well what's wrong with that?" She snipped, her eyes narrowing.
"Nothing at all, but I am concerned with what made you cry and storm out of the hall." Robert explained, putting his hands up in a conciliatory gesture. For a few tense seconds, she remained silent, her face as harsh and cold as the northern winter. Robert was worried that he had truly offended her and was about to apologize when all of the pride she had mustered drained from her, and her expression shifted into a conflicted frown. She looked away and fiddled with her hands a bit before taking a deep breath. Gray eyes locked with blue as she finally spoke.
"It was the prince's song. It was beautiful, especially the part about breaking your chains and flying free." Her tone was wistful, and Robert could see that simply remembering the song caused Lyanna's eyes to grow misty with unshed tears.
Robert didn't know how to respond. Was this how Rhaegar first ensnared Lyanna? Had he ensorcelled her with verse and song, playing on her desire to be free? It's not like he had done anything in his past life to ensure she didn't feel trapped in a loveless marriage. But he had worked so hard to earn her trust this time around. Was it all for not? Robert balled his fists as his anger began boiling for the second time tonight. He was doing his best to not release all of his frustration on her, so he just stood quietly. A few heartbeats of silence passed between the two before Lyanna finally continued.
"Let's run away Robert." Lyanna said almost whispering.
"What?" was all he could manage in response.
"We can cross the narrow sea and live our lives how we want in Essos, away from the expectations that society puts on us here. We can break our chains and fly free together."
Robert was truly stunned; He could feel the sincerity of her words. What touched him the most however was the thought that she wanted to run away with him. Just as suddenly as it came, all of the anger that had started building up vanished and was replaced by a maelstrom of competing emotions. First among them however was affection for the maiden before him. He took a few steps closer to her, closer than what a septa might call appropriate for an unmarried lady without an escort.
"Lyanna, that is the deepest desire of my heart…" He trailed off, his words weighed down by melancholy and longing. Robert sighed and Lyanna spoke up.
"I know there is a but meant to follow those words." She paused and took another deep breath and let it out in an attempt to compose herself. "I'm sorry Robert, I think I've been unfair to you."
"Oh?" Robert replied, raising his eyebrows in honest confusion. He was not expecting the turn the conversation had taken.
"Yes, I let a few simple words undo all your efforts. Earlier today when you spoke of bringing me under your cloak and authority, the fear of being trapped in a terrible marriage overwhelmed me."
"Lyanna," Robert's response was silenced when Lyanna held up her hand indicating that she wasn't done talking.
"Please, let me finish. I want to thank you for your honesty, Robert, it really puts my heart at ease to know that we share the same desire. It's silly, really, you spent day after day in Winterfell reassuring me that you wouldn't treat me like some prize that you had won, and yet one sentence threw it all into doubt." She paused again, seemingly steeling herself for her next words. "Robert, If you can stay and put duty before desire, then I will happily do the same by your side."
Robert didn't know what he was expecting when he tracked down his betrothed, but that declaration was by far not it. To say he was moved was an understatement.
"Lyanna, I swear by the gods old and new that I will do all I can to ensure that your duty is never a burden." His voice was quiet, but full of emotion and resolve.
She said nothing but stepped closer to him and took Robert's hand in hers. Robert looked into her eyes and saw them filled with hope and trust. It was a sight that Robert swore he would treasure for the rest of his days. He began to lean down towards her, wanting nothing more than to capture her lips with his. The opportunity to do so, however, slipped away when a familiar voice called out startling them both.
"Lyanna!"
Robert practically growled in response to his foster brother's interruption. It was not the first time that Ned had ruined a moment with a woman, but it was the first time that Robert swore he would pay him back somehow. When Ned came around the corner, he stopped and took in the sight before him. Almost without missing a beat, he crossed his arms and addressed the two of them.
"Robert, Lyanna, I hope nothing untoward is happening here." His tone was more teasing than scolding. Before Robert could say anything, Lyanna responded.
"And what if there was?" Her tone indicated that she was also not appreciative of her brother's interference. Ned was taken back a little, but recovered quickly and simply smirked before responding
"Then I would expect the two of you to find somewhere a little more private." His response caused Lyanna's indignation to crumble, and she blushed fiercely in embarrassment at her brother's uncharacteristically crude jape. Robert couldn't help but smirk at his betrothed. She was fierce and determined in all things but romance. Lyanna managed to rally, however.
"How could you? You would let this southern ponce besmirch my honor?" She said in an exaggeratedly incredulous tone nodding her head towards Robert for emphasis. Ned's expression turned grave.
"If Robert ever thought of dishonoring you, then not even our years of friendship would save him from the reckoning that would follow." The iciness of his voice sent a chill down Robert's back. After a few heartbeats of awkward silence, Eddard's face changed into a bemused grin.
"Fortunately, I know that he would rather be gored by a boar than do that to you." Robert noted that his friend's grin didn't quite reach his eyes.
"That's an odd turn of phrase Ned." Lyanna responded with a voice laced with curiosity.
"Perhaps, but I'm sure you'd agree, right Rob?" Eddard said in a tone that brook no argument.
"Of course, Ned!" Robert exclaimed, finally letting go of Lyanna's hand.
"See, he agrees. Now let's get back to the feast before more people start missing you. Aunt Branda is quite unhappy that you ran off before she had a chance to properly meet you." Eddard said teasingly.
"Aunt Branda is here?" she replied incredulously
"Right! Ser Harrold and Lady Branda insisted that they accompany me to meet you all. Lady Branda actually petitioned me to stay in Storm's End after we are wed to help you get settled. You won't be a lone wolf in the south my dear." Robert couldn't help but grin at the smile that the news put on Lyanna's face.
"Well then, would you be so kind as to escort me back into the hall? I would very much like to see my aunt." Lyanna's posture and tone shifted radically as she gracefully offered her arm to Robert. The change was sufficiently jarring that it caused him to hesitate.
"What, just because I don't normally act like a lady doesn't mean I can't. I learned my lessons well; I've just chosen to ignore them." She said in an overly ladylike voice, still maintaining a proper posture.
Robert couldn't help but laugh, happily taking her arm in order to escort her back to the feast. Fortunately, by the time they returned, the King had taken his leave. Robert guided Lyanna to where Ser Harrold and Lady Branda were sitting and left them to their reunion. It brought no small amount of satisfaction to Robert's heart to think that by taking up his seat as he should have years ago, he had helped bring about this happy event.
His moment of self-satisfaction was soon broken, however, by Eddard tapping him on his shoulder. Turning, Robert saw Ned gesturing towards a less crowded area of the hall. It seemed that his friend wanted to talk away from his sister and aunt. Robert nodded in response and followed his friend, and when they were far enough away Ned spoke with a low and grim tone.
"What did the king want with you?"
"Oh, He wanted to appoint me as his new hand." Robert said flatly, almost not believing it himself.
"He appointed you hand?" Eddard replied in shock.
"Well, no, not exactly, I think your sister's outburst helped change his mind. If I repeat what he said, you might be the one being called kingslayer this time around."
Eddard didn't reply, but just looked away as if in deep thought. Robert eventually sought to fill the silence.
"Look, I'm planning on doing everything I can to stay as far away from the king as possible. I won't let him get within a league of Lyanna." Robert's voice was grim and determined.
Eddard looked to Robert and studied his friend for a few more moments before letting himself relax.
"I trust that you mean what you say, and I truly hope that you can follow through on your words."
"Enough of this," Robert said, clapping his hands together obviously trying to change the subject. "There's still food to eat, wine to drink, and ladies to dance with. If my memory serves me right, you are supposed to dance with one of the most eligible women in all the realm. Maybe something will come of it this time around." Robert said in a somewhat suggestive tone. Eddard said nothing, his features becoming oddly impassive. Robert knew that expression well enough though. It was the look Ned got when he was embarrassed by something Robert had said. Robert laughed and slapped his foster brother hard on the back before heading off to take care of some family business.
He collected Stannis from where he was silently nursing a goblet of wine while trying not to stare at the maiden that had captured his attention, and let him know that it was time to ask for that dance. As the brothers walked towards the area where the Reacher Lords were seated, Robert unfortunately made eye contact with Lord Tyrell and was forced by common courtesy to interact with the man.
"Lord Tyrell." Robert said as politely as he cared to while giving him a slight nod. Robert had to admit that the man seated before him was not quite the fat oaf he remembered dealing with in the last few years of his previous life, but Mace Tyrell was never the sharpest man in the realm. The air of entitlement that hovered over the Lord of Highgarden made Robert want to snarl in disgust.
"Ah, Lord Baratheon! It is good to see yet another young and virile Lord Paramount such as myself. I daresay the old guard is getting a bit too stuffy. Perhaps more of them should step down and let the new generation take charge of the realm."
Robert just stared and blinked for a moment. Was he so stupid as to insinuate that the deaths of their fathers were simply them stepping aside to make room for the next generation. Did Lord Tyrell think he was giving Robert some sort of compliment, or was he just trying to cover for his already vast sense of inadequacy? Almost immediately, Robert heard the grinding of teeth and could practically feel the indignant anger radiating from his brother in response to the man's words. In an attempt to quickly extricate them from the encounter, Robert put on his biggest smile and let out a sharp barking laugh.
"Perhaps, but I doubt the likes of Jon Arryn, Tywin Lannister, and Rickard Stark will be riding off cliffs anytime soon. Now if you'll excuse us, we have business with a bannerman of yours. Good evening, Lord Tyrell." Without even waiting for a response, Robert grabbed Stannis by the shoulder and guided him to where the Florents were sitting. To say that Lord Alester Florent was surprised when approached by the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands would be an understatement, but the ambitious fox was quick to pick up on Stannis' not so subtle glances towards his niece. After some prodding, Stannis managed to actually ask the young lady for a dance. Robert took a moment to reassure her that Stannis was not nearly as stiff once he actually got on the floor. Once the two had gone and begun their dance, Robert turned to the Lord of Brightwater Keep.
"Well, let's not dance around the subject. It seems to me that my brother is smitten. Would you be amenable to him courting your niece while they are here at the tourney? If it works out, I am sure we can hammer out the rest of the details." Robert noticed that behind the placid mask of Lord Florent's face, plots and cunning moves were already being planned. Robert couldn't help but casually peek over to where Lord Tyrell was watching his conversation. Robert had to stifle a laugh at the confused and slack jawed stare that was being sent his way. Eventually Lord Florent responded.
"It would be House Florent's pleasure to entertain the brother of the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. I hope this leads to our houses growing closer and more prosperous."
After the interaction with Lord Florent, the feast went along mostly as he remembered it the first time. Unlike previously, he got more than one dance from his betrothed. Last time, she had excused herself saying that she wasn't feeling well, but this time, much to Robert's delight, she was happy to take a few more turns on the dance floor. Robert saw that everyone else pretty much danced with the partners he remembered previously, however he was thoroughly confused when he saw Eddard approach Lady Catelyn for a dance. Robert at first was confused by this development, but his stomach dropped when he remembered that he had told Ned about meeting his son by the Tully woman. Trying to think of all of the consequences of the changes he had made since returning was beginning to make his head hurt, and since the feast was winding down, he decided to bid farewell to the Starks and head back to his tent. He was nearly halfway back when he heard a familiar voice call out to him.
"Lord Robert Baratheon." Robert turned and saw the cocky smile of Jamie Lannister before him. It actually took him a moment to realize who it was as there was a sense of mental disconnect seeing that damn grin on the face of a youth of six and ten.
"Lord Jaime Lannister." Robert returned cautiously, noting that the Kingslayer had a sword on his hip, his hand resting in a manner that was casually threatening.
"It was a fine feast wasn't it." Jaime said in a nonchalant tone that set Robert's nerves on edge. He never begrudged Jaime for killing the Mad King like everyone else seemed to do. It had to be done. Not only that, but Robert could respect the man's skill as a warrior. No, any ill feeling towards Jaime Lannister came solely from the fact that he was yet another golden-haired ponce that had infested the Red Keep at his wife's insistence. Robert couldn't help but feel some of that residual resentment towards the barely grown man before him. Beyond that however, there was definitely something wrong with this encounter. He had never interacted with the heir to Casterly Rock before the rebellion, and saw no reason why Jaime would approach him now. Was this yet another consequence of his changes?
"It was, thank you. Good evening." Robert said curtly and turned away.
"Lady Lyanna is not meant to be yours. It is better that you give up on her now and find some lucky Stormlands girl who will put up with your drinking and whoring." Jaime's voice dripped with deadly playfulness. Robert stopped immediately, the words throwing up so many warning flags it took a moment or two for Robert to process them all. Surely, the gods were not so cruel to send him Jaime Lannister of all people. Robert turned and walked up to the Lannister knight and towered over him. Six and ten Jaime still had some growing to do before he would no longer have to crane his neck up to see eye to eye with the Demon of the Trident. Jaime's grip on his sword tightened, but he held his ground.
"So, Kingslayer, how are you planning on stopping me?" Robert's voice was full of menace and his hands were balled tightly into fists.
Robert watched as the heir to Casterly Rock went ridged at his future moniker, and the color drained from his face. Slowly his color returned and shifted into a red almost as bright as the dubblet he wore.
"No! nonononono! You cannot be the true king I was sworn to serve!" Jaime yelled, his knees almost buckling from the stress of the sudden realization.
"Well, it's not like the gods gave me a choice either." Robert couldn't help but find the whole situation morbidly funny. "They apparently have some sick sense of humor. They said they would send a knight who never broke their oaths, but here we stand."
"I stayed true to the oath I swore to them when I became a knight. I kept them all the way to the bitter end." Jaime said defiantly before deflating a little and mumbling. "Or so they told me."
He ran his hands through his hair and recomposed himself.
"I guess my penance begins a lot sooner than I thought." Jaime stood a little taller and prouder than before, as if determined to face the seven hells with dignity.
"Alright," Robert relaxed a bit and stepped back, "I'm assuming you thought that by threatening me into giving up on Lyanna you could prevent the rebellion and keep me from killing the prince at the trident? Did you think he was the true king you were supposed to serve?" Robert asked and Jaime nodded. "Were you going to cut me down if I didn't agree to your demands?"
"I'd do what I'd have to." Jaime replied with a cocky smirk. Robert guffawed in response.
"Well, you gave up that chance the moment your pride let me get within arms length of you. You might have still had the advantage when you were in your prime and I was a fat slob, but I think you might have overestimated your chances now." Robert watched Jaime's face carefully as he processed the information. The smirk turned ever so slightly into a grimace. If Jaime Lannister could be defined by anything, it would be his ability to fight. He was a natural, and it was obvious that he had just realized how right Robert was about the situation. If it had come to a fight, it would have taken precious seconds for Jaime to draw his steel. Enough time for Robert to have easily overpowered the young knight and violently end the encounter with his bare hands.
"So, my god-sent companion, what now?" Robert said after basking in the satisfaction of knowing that the Kingslayer had seen that he was right.
"Well, I had hoped that I could avoid the worst of my punishment. But since the gods apparently have a sense of humor, I will go do what I did last time. I take up the white cloak and relive the worst three years of my life all so that I can throw away my honor once again to stop a madman. This time however I'll take Stark's advice and trade the white for black." Jaime replied in a far more upbeat tone than one would expect when discussing such a grim topic. There was an awkward silence as Robert took in what had just been said.
"I'm sure your father will be happy with that particular plan." Jaime just looked away in response. "My steward insisted that we bring the good wine on this trip. I think any more discussion about this is best done with a bit more drink in our bellies." Jaime silently agreed and followed as Robert led the way.
A/N I had fun writing this chapter, and I hope you enjoy. As always, I really appreciate your comments. I am planning on do some alternate POV in the next chapter to give a glimpse into what Jaime went through before his death. Since I am working more with the book canon, it will be a lot of speculation.