Game of Thrones AU. Targaryen Harry (Haera). Harry is Rhaegar's younger sister. Viserys and Dany are twins. Rhaella died in childbed, while Aerys died because of an illness. Rhaegar is King and has two wives - Elia and Lyanna. Brandon is married to Catelyn Tully but died before he could sire any children. Eddard is the Lord of Winterfell. Cersei Lannister was wed to Robert Baratheon and Jaime Lannister had been released from the Kingsguard upon Rhaegar's ascension to the throne.
Soulmates were something very rare nowadays. It happened more often thousands of years ago but true soulmates vanished with the magic and the children of the forest or - in the Targaryens case - with the dragons. Thus Haera knew that she was different. Because of the name on the inner side of her right tight. She had never told a soul, not even her siblings that the Seven had blessed her. And she would probably only tell him. Probably.
She had met him once and that had been two years ago at the wedding of her older brother Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark, his second wife. He had greeted her politely but never talked to her more than a few words. Which made her doubt that he had a soulmark at all. It happened sometimes that the person you were destined for was not destined for you but for someone else or no one specific.
She had watched him during all the days he had been staying at the red keep but he never watched her. Not once. Instead he - at least from her point of view - courted someone else. A true and very beautiful Lady who would truly make him a fine wife. A Lady with soft, brown curls contrary to her silver, untamable hair that she always needed to braid. A Lady with a smooth, olive coloured skin contrary to her pale one. Only their eyes were quite similar. They had the Targaryen colouring and shone like a clear, dark amethyst.
But somehow, two years after the wedding, he was still unwed. As was the Lady. And it gave her hope. As small as it may be.
But during those two years Tywin Lannister also send his son and heir to court - to woo her. Haera liked him but she would never love him. She had tried to forget her soulmate and fall in love with Jamie but it never happened. The gods would not let her. Because whenever she felt, that she had made some progress, she was sent dreams of her soulmate. She even tried praying to the old gods but they would not let her go. But they also would not help her to fulfill her destiny. Somehow she got the feeling that they wanted to mock her and keep her unhappy for whatever unknown reason.
She often asked her good-sister to invite her family but whenever they came, her older brother always stayed behind. Claiming that he had too many things to learn after his older brothers sudden and tragic death. After all, he was his father's heir now.
Today was her twentieth nameday and all the noble Lords and Ladies of the Seven Kingdoms were invited. They all came - even him, her soulmate. Rhaegar had hosted a tourney in her honour that had lasted for five days because of the many contestants participating. The last duel was fought out just at this moment. It was between Jaime Lannister and - surprisingly - Eddard Stark. Everyone shouted excitedly for their favourite while the two men fought valiantly. Only Haera sat in her chair and watched on in contemplative silence.
Jaime had asked her brother for her hand in marriage and Rhaegar had told her that she needed to make a decision. A decision he would announce - in case of her consent - during the feast tonight. But she knew that it all depended upon Eddard Stark, who was just now defeating Jaime Lannister and was declared the winner of the tourney. The masses exploded and Eddard was given a crown made solely out of blue winter roses. A crown he, according to his sister, personally had prepared in the morning. He rode to their box, which did not only host the royal family but also her other good-sisters Lady in waiting and confident, Lady Ashara Dayne. The woman Ned Stark, her soulmate, seemingly had been courting. Lady Ashara, who sat next to her and beamed at the northman. Eddard Stark stopped his horse in front of them and looked first at her brother before his gaze, surprisingly, stopped on her.
"Princess Haera, I crown thee my Queen of Love and Beauty." He placed the crown on her head and gave her a dazzling smile. Everyone started cheering. "May I have - at least - your first and last dance tonight?" She nodded happily, not trusting her voice at all. "And as many dances as possible for the rest of our lives?"
"Oh Ned." She whispered. "Of course you may." He took her hand and placed a soft kiss on her wrist.
"Well, it seems that I have to disappoint Ser Jaime." Her brother exclaimed laughingly. "You have my blessings, Ned!"