Chapter 12: The Red City

She stopped on one of the hills that were overlooking the red city in the distance as the party was still heading towards it, while she wanted to admire it for a moment as it was the first time she was seeing the capital with her own eyes beside the stories that the bards love to sing of. It was big. Very big.

"The there hills of the Conquerors ones. The red Keep lays on Aegon's Hill, the Sept of Baelor of Visenya's hill, and the Dragonpit on Rhaenys' hill, though now it's a ruined place," suddenly Rhaegar said, stopping with his horse next to her. "I know that it can scare sometimes, but it is quite a good place where to live. There are many secrets in it that only few know about

She smiled, looking down, before glancing at him, saying, "And do tell me, Dragon Prince, do you still remember those secrets after four years aboard fighting House Blackfyre."

"I do my lady. And once you are suited, I cannot wait to show them you," he replied, smiling, hitting the horse with his heels urging him to walk, and after a few moments, of contemplation, she did the same.

The citizens of king's Landing were cheering outside as the royal carriage was passing through the streets, while her son Viserys was waving and giggling to the outside.

"How would you treat someone who had fed you bad advice and who was trying to influence your mind by saying that your son was going to rebel?" suddenly she heard her husband ask, and Rhaella looked at him.

"What, your grace?" she asked, playing the dumb.

"You heard me. How would you treat?"

"Well...I don't know. It depends on how loyal those advisors are and if the whispers are believable," Rhaella replied, hopping it was what he wanted to her, but she could see by his expression that it wasn't.

Resting his elbows on his knees and leaning forward, he asked with a cold stare, "And are they true? Does your son plan to usurp me? Was that a reason to bring the Unsullied to Westeros?"

Now everything was clear to her, and crossing her arms, she said, "My son is your son, your grace."

At that, Aerys started to laugh, leaning backwards, and between them, he said, "You woman always twist my words."

"There is nothing to twist, your grace. And to reply to your question, no. He is not plotting to usurp you. Despite what others may say. He is loyal to you as I am."

Before she could ask the names of those who fed the lies, their carriage stopped and the king stepped down from it, while she and Viserys followed right behind, "Now you need a little bath, my little darling," as they started to walk towards the red keep. She will have to talk with him tonight and make sure that he won't doubt their son, and that he won't listen to those sheep of lords.

Small council rooms...

The moment they reached the red keep he was informed that the king gathered the small council for a meeting, and now they were all gathered here, with him sitting on the hand's seat. He still didn't know how to feel about this new…job, if he can say, and he never expected for his father to name him.

For sure his mother had a hand in this. He half expected for her to be present at the meeting too, since if he remembers correctly, she told him that she had all the intention to join the council. But she was missing, and he had no intention to ask his father about it.

"With all due respect, your grace, but it is wise to give such an important position to someone who has no experience in that role," Qarlton Chelsted, the former Maester of Coins said drawing his attention on him.

"If I wanted your advice on the matter of nominating the Small council's members I would have asked," the king replied with stern look and dangerous tone, and the lord immediately lowered his gaze. "I almost forgot. You and Lord Symond are no longer part of the Small Council. For your bad advice and filling the king's ears with lies, trying to put the father against the son, you are banished from Westeros and your titles and lands confiscated."

Rhaegar could see the expression of horror of the two lords who tried to defend themselves, but the king waved to the Kingsguard to take them away.

"Now. The reason why I summoned you all here is that there is no time to waste. War is coming and we need to get ready as best as possible."

"With whom, your grace?"

"The world, lord Velaryon. The entire world will soon be knocking at our door, and we need to be ready," the king replied, and Rhaegar wondered what sick plan was he excogitating. "You, lord Velaryon from this day are tasked with the expanding of the royal fleet, while you Rhaegar and you stark, are charged of the train of a new royal army. There are thousands of lazy mouths in these cities, who the only thing that does is eat, drink and fuck. It's time they pay the debt to the king by learning the way of the sword and protect his lands."

"Beg your pardon, your grace, but what you are suggesting will demand a huge amount of money," Velaryon said. "For both. The fleet and the army."

"Well, I'm sure lord Stark here and Prince Rhaegar will find a way," replied the king, grinning.

"And Lord Tyrell I would add," Rhaegar said, nodding at the fat dumb lord of the reach.

"So be it. What do you say, Lord Tyrell?"

"It will be a great honour to contribute to the future of Westeros by helping to build its mightiest," the Lord of Highgarden said bowing in gratitude.

"Now. Lord Stark. If I am not mistaken, you are not yet married, and as a member of the Small Council, I want to give you a maiden as a bride and the lands to with she is the heir."

Rhaegar was surprised by this offer of the King, even though he didn't like a forced marriage bestowed upon someone, and looking towards Eddard, saw him open and closed his mouth a few times, shocked and not giving breath to his words. "Who is the lady in question, father?"

"Lady Falyse Stokeworth," the king replied, not glancing at him, but keeping his stare on the young Stark.

Who swallowing said, ""It is a great honour you do me, Your Grace, and I am sure she is a sweet girl... but I cannot accept. I am already married before the Old Gods. Lady Ashara Dayne became my wife when we were at Harrhenal, in the Godswood."

This revelation stunned everyone, including him, while the king started to laugh.

"Married you say? To a Dornish woman who has nothing to offer you. I offer you a title, a keep, and lands."

"That may be, but I swore an oath before the Old Gods, your Grace when I took her as a wife."

"And tell me Stark, who were the witnesses to this vow of yours?"

"The Prince here," Eddard said, and everyone turned to him, including the king, and Rhaegar swallowing, at feeling all those eyes. "Ser Arthur Dayne, the lady's brother. My brothers, the Princess of Dorne, and my sister."

"Do you confirm what the young Stark has just said, Prince Rhaegar?"

Rhaegar looked towards Stark for a moment, seeing him, plead for help with his eyes, and after a few moments, said, "Yes. I confirm that everything he said is true. I witnessed his union with Lady Ashara."

"Well, what an unfortunate event," the king said with annoyance, leaning in the chair, "But…since the crown just acquired two new lands, I will give you one. Eddard Stark. I name you lord of Rook's Rest."

"I…I…don't know what to say, my king…." Stammered Eddard Stark.

"You don't have too. Just swear the oaths to House Targaryen. Lord Tyrell be a good man. Fetch my quill and paper," the King said, and the Lord of the Reach immediately got up, with arrogance and a smug on his face, before returning with what the king requesting, who started to write on a parchment. "And here is your nomination and the rectified documents, Lord Stark of Rook's Rest."

'Old fox,' thought Rhaegar. By this, he bounded Eddard and his honour to the crown should Brandon Stark rebel.

"I thank you, my king."

"Well, now let's continue with the meeting. We still have plenty of things to discuss, and decide," the king replied, while Rhaegar groaned internally, and rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Targaryen fashion was what she found in her room. The three headed dragon carved on the walls. The red and black covers on the beds. Even the drapes were red and black.

She let herself fall flat on the bed, releasing a sigh. So, it was her that she will spend the rest of her life. In this miserable city. She will no longer be able to ride through the Wolfswood with the winter winds agreeing her skin and wave her brown hairs in the air.

"I see you are not happy of being," said someone from the door.

Getting up, she saw Dacey enter and Lyanna sighed, getting up, "Not really. I was just remembering the old times." Seeing the She-bear in a light dress, Lyanna asked, "Are you going hunting in that dress?"

"Maybe," she replied, smirking. "Maybe I intend to draw a falling star to me."

Lyanna started to laugh at hearing those words, shaking her head, "Dacey, Dacey. You know that the Kingsguard can't be with women. It is in their oaths."

But before they could continue with this conversation, they got interrupted by a knock at the door, "Yes." And she saw the queen enter, followed right behind by four ladies.

"Your grace," they greeted the queen with a reverence.

"Lady Dacey. The king asked to join him in his solar," the queen said with seriousness, and Lyanna immediately glanced at her friend who was looking at her, almost in fear, because they both knows the story of this king.

"Dacey-"

"It's all right, my lady. If his grace wants me to join him in his solar then it's better if I don't let him wait," Dacey replied, smiling reassuringly, before moving away and after a curtsey to the queen, she left.

"Do not worry for your friend, lady Lyanna. It has been years since the king took a mistress," the queen said, trying to ease her worries, even though it didn't ease them. "But the reason why I'm here is to introduce you to your new southern ladies in waiting," the queen added showing with the hand. "

"A pleasure to meet you, my ladies."

"Now, if you leave me alone with lady Lyanna I will be grateful,"

Once alone with the queen, Lyanna saw her head towards the balcony and heard her ask, "How do you find King's Landing?"

"Full and loud."

"Yes. I can imagine," the queen replied, chuckling and turning towards her. "And your chambers?"

"Pleasant. But too much red and black for my taste I would say."

"Targaryen colours, my lady. But I'm sure we can make it to your liking," the queen said, approaching one of the walls, that was decorated with the carpet of what seemed like a battle. "These chambers have a secret passage that leads straight to Rhaegar's. They were my mother's rooms in the past and the others were my father's. They used the passage for...well, I think you can understand the reason."

And Lyanna looked down, blushing. She knows very well the reason, and she didn't know what to think of that. On one side, they were so much in love, according to the tales she heard, that they broke their betrothal to lords Paramount and Wardens, going against their father's decision, something she herself was prepared to do if she would have been forced to marry Robert Baratheon. But on the other side, she could not conceive the fact that a brother and a sister can do that. Sleep together.

"I know what you think," the queen said, and she immediately looks up at the woman who was looking at her with crossed arms in front of her chest. "You think we are abominations."

"No...I don't...it is just something...difficult to understand."

"Yes, I can imagine that for the outsider it can be difficult to understand, especially because many of the failed. But you know it doesn't always turn bad. There are those that are happy and last till the end of their days...and then there are those...that...like mine, for example," the queen added the last part with sadness turning around, and she immediately rushed to her, hugging the woman in consolation console.

Even though she didn't hear her, Lyanna knew that she was silent sobbing, and she didn't know how to react to it. What words to say since she only grew up with boys and her father.

But after a few moments, the queen stopped cleaning her tears, pulling away and Lyanna dared to ask something, only hopping to not overstep.

So, filling a goblet of wine for the queen and for herself, she asked, "Have you ever been in love?"

"In love?" she chuckled, taking a sip, and sitting on the bed sighing. "No Infatuated but never in love." Taking another sip and looking down. "At the age of twelve, I got infatuated with a knight who crowned me the queen of Love and Beauty. It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life with all the attention on me for that day." She stopped, smiling, to take some breath and another sip of wine. "I still remember the times my brother followed me all around the hallways through the Red Keep teasing me about the charming knight-"

"You had another brother?" Lyanna asked, confused, not remembering that King Jaehaerys II had another son.

"No. I was referring to Aerys."

"But he is-" she stopped the words to come out not wanting to offend the queen, but it was she the one to end them.

"Mad. Cruel. I know. But he wasn't always like this. Not in the old days. It was that witch and our marriage to destroy us. To make this hatred between us. But above all, what made him become who he is was his obsession with Tywin Lannister."

"Why?"

"Why does Robert Baratheon hates Rhaegar?"

"Because of me. Does the king hates Lord Tywin because of you?"

"No. Not because of me, but because of my former lady in waiting Joanna Lannister who married Tywin. The King had feelings for her, and he wowed her sometimes, but as you can see it didn't go the way he wanted."

"Yes, I can see," was the only thing she said, lowering her gaze, feeling even more sorry for the queen.

She felt the queen's hand on hers, and say, "Do not worry, lady Lyanna. I'm no longer the frailly girl of those forgotten days. I'm stronger now and I know how to play the game of thrones and I will teach you too how to play in this game of power."

"But Dacey is with the king now."

"And he won't touch her, lady Lyanna. I promise."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because he made an oath to me to not take another mistress," the queen replied, getting up, placing the goblet on the table. "Now I'm sure you will want to have some rest," the queen said, kissing her forehead, "I always wanted a daughter, and hope I can find one in you, just like you can find a mother in me if you want."

With those final words that filled her heart with joy and hope, the queen left her room, while Lyanna laying on the bed, releasing a sigh. This was all so new. She never had a mother. She never met her. And this...she didn't know how to react to it.

Hours later...

A pit of snakes. That is what Kings Landing was in his opinion. A pit of fucking snakes, ready to bite and seize power. And besides that, there was the things with the King.

For now, he gained some time, but he doesn't know how long this lie will last, and he doesn't even know if Ashara really wants to marry him since they never truly talked about this delicate matter at Harrhenal, tangled in each other arms. By the old gods. Why he had even opened his mouth?

As he was drinking cups of wine one after another, Ned heard a knock at his door, and placing the goblet on the table went to it. Opening, he was greeted by beautiful violet eyes, and long darky hairs, with the huge smile that conquered his shy heart.

He wanted to jump on her and kiss her everywhere, but it wasn't proper. Not honourable. So, he only greeted her, stepping aside, "My lady."

"My lady? Since when are we so formal Eddard Stark?" she asked, entering, while he closed the door, after glancing left and right to make sure that no one was coming and that no one will listen to his conversation with Ashara.

"I'm sorry. I was deep in my thoughts and you took me out of guard."

"If you say so," she replied, heading towards the table and drinking from his goblet. "You know, something strange happened to me a few moments before coming here. As I was walking through the hallway minding my business, I stumbled upon the king who greeted me as Lady Stark. I-"

"I wanted to talk about that precisely, Ashara," he said, cutting her, and sighing, heading towards the bed. "Today, during the meetings of the Small Council, the king wanted to give me a lady in marriage."

"Who?"

"Doesn't matter. I-"

"It matters to me," she blurted, looking inside her goblet.

"Lady Falyse Stokeworth."

"Ah…Lady Falyse," Ashara said the name, sarcastically, moving towards the balcony. "I meet her today when I went to see your sister, and I must say that she is an…awful girl, with an acid tongue." Glancing behind, she said, "but I think you will like her…in time of course."

"I already told the king that I'm married."

"You are?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow. "And may I ask who the lucky lady is? I want to congratulate her in taming the quiet wolf and making him do this long step."

"No one, Ashara. And That is what I wanted to talk with you. When the king told me this…I was…I said…." He stopped ting to find the best way in revealing it.

"You said my name, didn't you?"

"Well...it didn't go really like that…but…yes. I told him I married you before the Old gods in the Godswood of Harrhenal."

He didn't dare to look up, keeping his gaze down, squeezing his right fist with his left hand, and resting the elbows on his knees. He didn't want to see the anger that she may feel towards him right now.

Even though he wasn't looking up, Eddard feel that she was approaching him, and when she stopped in front of him and lifted his chin up, he heard her say, "Then ask me, Ned."

In that moment, after those words left her mouth, his heart started to race like thousands of horse in open field. His throat was dry, and as if a knot was blocking the words not letting them out. Her violet eyes were gazing deep in him, making almost difficult to keep the stare, but in the end, the courage came and he, taking her hands, say, "Lady Ashara Dayne. Will you do me the great honour of becoming my wife?"

"If I have to," she replied with a cocky smile, before throwing herself at him giggling, making him lie down on the bed, and starting to kiss him very passionately.

His hands were resting on her waist, and he felt his cock starting to harden, but he tried to resist as much as possible. He didn't want to lay with her before the wedding night. Before they make their oaths. He wanted for that moment to be special for both of them, but especially for her.

Breaking the kiss, he said, "I hope you know that, if the wedding will happen here at King's Landing in the Godswood, it will happen in secret."

"I don't care. I only want you," Ashara replied, before kissing him again, and this time, Eddard rolled them, so that she was laying on her back, with the hand resting on her belly for a moment, before getting up, hearing her groan in frustration. "If we are going to marry soon, why are you holding back?"

"Because I want it to be special, our wedding night. Now we need to get ready for the night. Tomorrow I will talk with your brother and with the Prince," he said, heading to change himself, while she groaned in annoyance.

Hours later…

Once the hour of the wolf came and knowing that all the red keep will be asleep, Rhaella decided to go to Aerys' rooms through the secret passage that went from a room that belonged to no one. These passages always brought her fear when she used them. They were so cold and gloomy, especially when walking alone.

When she reached the secret door, Rhaella opened it slowly, trying to peek inside, and heard him talking to someone. Or rather, to himself as there wasn't another voice in there.

She tried to listen as best as she could, but couldn't understand the words he was saying, so she decided to go in and announce herself.

"Aerys? Are you awake?" she asked, looking around. The room was almost dark except for the moonlights that were casting a glow over the table but where he was not sitting. "Aerys?" she called again, looking towards the bed, but there was no sign of him in there. Yet she heard him talk a few moments before. How was it possible to not find him there?

"What are you doing here? Did I summoned you?" she heard him ask in an irritated voice, as he came from the shadow.

"No. But I hoped that since we are alone...we could speak..."

"It's the hour of the wolf. You should already be in the depths of your dreams."

"Yes. But I needed to talk with you."

"About?"

"I'm glad you trust our son and-"

"What makes you think I trust him?"

"Well...you named him Hand of the king. That is-"

"Naming him Hand of the King doesn't mean that I trust him," he replied, heading to the table.

"But I thought-"

"You thought wrong," he replied, sitting on the chair, while she was standing in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do or say. In that moment her eyes settled on something covered on the table, right before him.

"What is that?" She asked, but he didn't reply, filling himself a goblet of wine, she supposed as she was approaching the table. Taking off the cover Rhaella, draw up a breath, yelping not believing what she was seeing. It was a skull. Swallowing, covering it back, Rhaella asked, with fear in her, "Whose skull is this?"

"Ser Bonifer Hasty," he said the name with contempt. "Do you like your former lover's skull?"

"He never was my lover," moving away from the table, not wanting to be the target of his rage should it arise.

"Ha! Never you said," he laughed.

After drinking all the content of the goblet, Aerys rose up from the chair and started to approach her in a predatory manner, while she only looked at him with the coroner of her eyes, holding her breath. He stopped behind her, pulling her hair aside, revealing her shoulder, and taking a sniff.

"I see you bathed, sweet sister. Winter Rosse's fragrance you put in," he whispered in her ear, and his breath made her skin shiver before she heard him whisper on the other side. "Did you want to impress your future daughter-in-law with this northern fragrance?" he added keeping whispering, starting to lower her night dress, "Or maybe on one of her brothers?"

At that, she immediately turned to him, glaring, disgusted by his words, covering herself, and as he moved away, she said, "I'm in your room, not in theirs."

"Indeed you are here. Although you still haven't told me why you are really here. You know I don't like surprises and I don't stomach disobedience well. You know I will burn you If I smell that."

"But you will not, for you know that without me you are lost."

"Lost? Ha!" he exclaimed, laughing. "You are too confident, woman."

"Maybe I am," answered Rhaella, shrugging her shoulders. "But without me, you will not have your promised princess. And without me, you will be at the mercy of the lords making mistake after mistake, just like you almost did at Harrhenal."

These words made him so angry, apparently, that he grabbed her neck at once, squeezing it, with gritted teeth. Rhaella felt her breath starting to fade, the more he squeezed, but in the end after a few moments, he let her go, and she fell to her knees, coughing, and breathing heavily.

Rhaella felt her body tremble, and she clenched her fist, starting to get up and adjusting her robe.

"Get on the bed on your hands and knees," he said, moving back to the table to fill his goblet again. His body was shaking with rage because of the way she dared to speak to him. Now he had all the intention to punish her and he won't be gentle. The hands were trembling, as he tried to drink the water, and glancing over his shoulder, he saw her still standing there, defiantly and he said again, with more anger, "On. The. Bed. Now!"

"No," she defiantly said, crossing her arms. "As I told you before, I will no longer let you take me against my will."

The anger exploded, as he rushed at her, grabbing Rhaella by the arm and dragging her towards the bed, throwing her on it, but before he could do anything, he saw her pull out a dagger, pointing it at him, "You dare to threaten the king with that dagger?!"

"Not threaten the king, rather make him remember the promise he made," she replied, still pointing the dagger. "To no longer take me against my will!"

He was breathing hard, and fast, passing a hand through his long silver locks, and over his short beard, before glaring at her and heading towards the door.

"Your grace?" he heard her call him, but Aerys ignored her.

"Out of my way before I burn you all!" he screamed, to his Kingsguard, storming through the halls towards the Throne Room, the only true place where he felt powerful.

She was lying there, breathing hard and full of fear. What happened this night, went out of hand. This wasn't supposed to happen. She came for answers not for a fight, especially knowing that now there will be consequences for her actions, and there was no way of escape from it.

She brought her knees up, curling and hugging them, as she starts to silently sob.

She was laying on the bed, eyes open, and with the sleep not wanting to claim her. It was cold in her room, very cold, and the heart wasn't lit up. The hour of the wolf was long gone, but she turned left and right in her bed, with a mind full of thoughts.

Suddenly she heard a knock through the wall and immediately climbed down from the bed, grabbing her sword, that was resting next to the bed.

Another knock came and she heard a familiar voice say, "It's me. Rhaegar." And Lyanna released a sigh f relief that it wasn't an attacker, lowering her sword and approaching the wall remembering that there was a secret door. Once she found it and opened it, she saw the prince step in.

He glanced at her hand, seeing the sword, and smiled, saying, "I'm sorry my lady if I've scared you I-"

"You didn't," she immediately replied, stepping aside to let him pass.

"I'm sorry if I didn't come before...I was busy with the Hand's duty and your brother kind of…made a mess."

"I wouldn't say that marrying Ashara Dayne is a mess," she sarcastically replied, knowing that the Prince was referring to that, as all the Red Keep already knew the news about the Maester of Law as the King spread it.

"It is a mess because it is built on a lie. He isn't married to the Dornish lady-"

"But maybe he will be soon," she replied, placing her sword back in her place.

"I don't want to fight over this, my lady I only came here to see how you were faring," the prince replied, approaching the heart. "I see the fire died. Those nights it seemed are getting colder. The Maesters say that it may be a false spring this year."

Tightening a robe that she wore, Lynna approached the heart, as the Prince lightened the fire, throwing another log into it, as the fire grew.

"How are your rooms?"

"Cold," he replied, holding his hands near the fire. "But I think now it's time for me to go. I'm sure you'll want to get some rest. After all, it's only a few hours before dawn."

But as he was getting up and turning to leave, Lyanna immediately stopped him, grabbing his arm, "Wait! Would you…ahem...would you like to sleep with me? I mean in my bed not…like sleep."

I don't think it will be wise to sleep with you my lady before wedding. It wouldn't be honourable and-"

"You didn't think about honour at Harrhenal," she blurted out, remembering the moments. "Under the tree when my brother Brandon discovered us. Or in my chambers when you came to talk and…well, we kind of ended up on the bed with me on top of you-"

"I know. I remember. But If you insist," he replied, moving towards the bed, an getting on it after taking off his overcoat.

'By the Old gods. Since when she became so bold?' Lyanna asked herself, before taking a long breath, and approach the bed, laying on the others side.

The prince was lying on his right, facing her, while she was on her left, hands clasped under her chin. He approached her a bit, placing a hand on her waist, but still lying at a small distance, before whispering, "Sleep now, she-wolf," closing his eyes, while she stays awake a few more moments to admire his sleeping visage.

The anger still didn't fade as he was breathing fast and sitting on the Iron throne, with the moonlights that were lightening it from behind and casting the emblem of his house on the floor.

"That wasn't very kingly, Aerys," said his friend. "You said that you wanted to be a better king than what you were before."

"She defied me!" he growled. "She deserves punishment."

"She is your queen. She is your wife. She is your sister. Three things you must protect for your future and if you want for your plan to succeed."

"I will not let her defy me!" shouted Aerys as he stood up, but suddenly he felt his body freeze, and like snow start to appear, falling.

"Don't raise your voice to me, boy! You know what I can do. Don't challenge me," growled the Raven, in an echoing voice, before letting him go, and he sank down on the throne, scoffing.

"If I let her challenge me, that will be my end," he quietly said, scoffing, and looking to the side.

"It won't be," the raven replied, his voice trailing off, and he knew that their conversation ended there and that he was no longer there. So, he would no longer read his mind and judge his actions.