So, I am playing around the ages of the Lannister twins for the sake of the plot. I only realized my date discrepancy once I went back and reread all the history. Bear with me!

Happy Reading!


Rhaegar V

The year has turned.

They both travel to Summerhall 2 moons after Azalea arrives.

How Azalea convinces his father to let her go on his frequent pilgrimage, he would not know. He is grateful all the same. He wishes to show her the place where he was born.

Dayne, Hightower and Whent along with other soldiers accompany them. Hightower was the King's addition.

She has maids but that is only for the female company. It is inappropriate if she traveled alone with party consisting of only men.

Summerhall always had him play tragic songs. This time, the beats and melodies are lighter. They remind him of her laughter and her eyes, and he plays the harp incessantly, hoping that she would find his love and affection in music, if not in his gestures and words.

He wears his heart so much on sleeve that even Hightower and Whent have realized his tragedy. They all seem to find it amusing.

The maids ride on carts of supplies and Azalea rides right alongside them on a horse.

The first thing she says about the place is, "It must have been beautiful once, so much tragedy over a prophecy…"

He agrees with the first unconditionally. The second one shakes him.

"So much of my family died as I was born," Rhaegar tells her.

"So much of my family died because I was born." She tells him, her eyes holding understanding.

They sit alone by the calm pools with broken fountains and algae for hours. Somewhere in between, she had taken his palm and squeezed it lightly in comfort. He was rather grateful.

The food is not anything like the Redkeep and while the maids complain, Azalea has no issues in propping herself by the fire beside him and eating up her bowl of broth.

Hightower talks about the Reach and the city of Oldtown that he remembers from his youth and Azalea peppers him with questions.

Hightower answers, just like Arthur had.

Azalea has been a very good traveling companion. She had taken up practical cloaks and traveling dresses and riding boots. She never complained about accommodations, long riding hours or anything. She even follows instructions without question.
For a lady, it was very accommodating. For a lady who presented herself as extremely refined and delicate in court, it is even more so.

Arthur and Hightower are taken aback. Whent is less so but even he looks intrigued.

Rhaegar is simply pining.

He had gifted her a Destriar. She seems to love him and calls him Zephyr, after the west wind for his speed. It had earned him a rather bright smile. He basked in it.

But he does not think that they are still doing anything more than pretending.

The days are nice. They all tell her more about the Westeros. Rhaegar plays his harp and they explore the ruined caves around the castle.


It is after a sennight that they receive a raven. Pycelle had managed to train one raven to journey to ruins of Summerhall when Rhaegar had started visiting it frequently. He does not use the raven often because Rhaegar does not usually linger at Summerhall longer. It is worrying then to hear one cawing at the ruins of the old tower.

Lady Jeyne Swann has been captured by the Kingswood brotherhood.

While the small council had planned to send Selmy to deal with it, as the Prince and three Kingsguard are already out of King's Landing, his father commands them to take care of it. There will be reinforcements arriving in the form of Lord Crakehall and his guards and a few knights from Grandview who are returning from a trade trip.

"He sounds like a maniac," Azalea says when Rhaegar tells her of Simone Toyne.

He discusses strategies with his three Kingsguard for a while, bringing up Smiling Knight and Toyne again and again.

"But the Lady Azalea and women?" It is Arthur who points it out.

"We can stay in the caves," A maid suggests quickly.

He gives Azalea a questioning look and she gives a low confused shrug but doesn't protest as they get ready to leave.


They don't have much luck tracking them down. It is nearing a sennight. It is as the raven from the capital said, the smallfolk are protecting the brotherhood.

Rhaegar is dressed as a soldier but he knows that word is abound that the Crown Prince was in the area.

It is a desperation that leads them to investigate areas faster and they wear themselves out. Then, they get ambushed. They are vastly outnumbered at least 7 to 1.

The most ridiculous thing he hears during the ambush is that they have already rescued Jeyne Swann and that the brotherhood wants her back.

He would have thought it was stupid if it was not the Smiling knight himself who declared it. They are good fighters, mostly because they have no sense of honor or rules of fighting.

Rhaegar is busy fighting 3 of them, after defeating 4 soundly that his cloak comes off and his silvery hair are displayed in full glory. He only realizes it when Arthur shouts from the other end to watch out.

His hair had caught the attention of Smiling Knight who had a rather predatory smile as he made his way towards Rhaegar. Rhaegar is suddenly attacked again and has to turn his back on the knight.

'Rhaegar," Arthur yells yet again and Rhaegar expects a solid blow from the smiling knight, knowing he will not be able to turn in time to thwart the attack.

The blow never comes.

The clang tells him that it is because a sword is between him and the Knight. One of his comrades had come through.

The clangs get furious.

He wonders who. Arthur was across. Whent and Hightower…

Rhaegar tries to turn to aid his helper by trying to turn around, all three of the kingsguard are away from him, fighting furiously but not with the smiling knight.

It is a cloaked figure, a small one, like a child. The raven had spoken about reinforcements, perhaps a squire.

Rhaegar does not have time as Arthur is nearly impaled. He should really aid the squire against the Smiling Knight but while the squire is holding his own, Arthur isn't because of being vastly outnumbered. Toyne seems to want Dawn and others are attacking as well.

Clangs, more clangs. Rhaegar takes a light hit from what seems like a pummel. His head, oh my. Where are the others?

He manages to save Arthur's skin and moves back to aid the squire but there is no need. The smiling knight is on his knees, tied in ropes. Whent and a couple other soldiers who were alive are securing the other members, their moves getting frantic in light of the Smiling Knight's capture. Rhaegar goes to them. The squire is dealing with any who comes too near the knight very well.

'What is your name squire? I need it to knight you." Arthur says after a minute or two, when every member of the brotherhood is down. Toyne is bleeding on the ground, losing consciousness rapidly. It would have been better to take him alive

Rhaegar turns and properly sees the squire for the first time. He has this feeling...the fighting style too familiar…and the fact that there are no more additions beside the squire in the party.

"You cannot knight a woman, Ser Dayne." The cloak's hood comes off and Azalea's luminous eyes greet them.

There are humphs and gasps of disbelief everywhere.

It is Whent who recovers the earliest, "We need to ask where Lady Swann is."

'She is safe. I managed to convince a woman to give me her location. I sent her, her guards and the maids with her to her home." Azalea turns and informs them.

The Smiling Knight gets very agitated. Rhaegar realizes that he had cut through his ropes. He is about to hit her with a knife he was procured and Rhaegar and Arthur both yell, too far to intervene directly.

Azalea has rather quick reflexes because she turns and a clean swipe from her sword takes off the knight' head, the cruel smile intact. The head and body fall off to the ground.

Moreover, she seems unfazed by it, "Such a shame, I was hoping to keep him alive."

Rhaegar leaves propriety and rushes to her, turning her around rather forcefully and examining her.

"I am fine," She tells him gently, but does not protest as his eyes rove over and his hands tighten on her arms.

"You can fight?" Arthur says but it comes out like a question.

She gives Arthur a rather unimpressed look, "Slow on the uptake, aren't you?"

And then she gave Rhaegar a rather pointed look, "Next time, do not leave me behind as you march off. You will not like what I do."

"I asked you." Rhaegar immediately protests.

"No, you agreed with a maid, discounting what I would think and gave me a pitiful look as you were leaving." She tells him succinctly. He doesn't argue, getting a solid indication from her tone.

They have lost 4 soldiers but the brotherhood is mostly gone.

They bury the dead and despite Arthur's protests, Azalea does help in shoveling away the dirt.

The prisoners are tied around trunks.

"But the smallfolk," Hightower is questioning.

"They won't attack us. I gave them my word about their right and also bribed the women with gold. They are going to keep their husbands in check by giving them too much to drink. They were rather sympathetic when I told them about suffering of women in wars of men. There are still some members of the brotherhood on prowl though, be better safe than sorry." Azalea informs them.

While her tone is nonchalant and her face is blank, they all get the jibe. They had left her behind as they strategized and marched off. She did not appreciate it in the least.

A fire burns and Azalea finally sits down.

Then she tells them the whole story. She waited for the maids to sleep, sneaked out in one of their dresses, got a woman to cough up the location and with that rescued Swann and her guards, who were not very coherent. She took Swann back to the cave where the maids were frantic and crying because the King would burn them for letting Azalea escape. So after cleaning up wounds and food and rest, she took the maids, guards who had regained bearings and Lady Swann aboard a cart and escorted them onto the road to next living castle.

She was returning to give them word of it, when one of the smallfolk women informed her that an ambush was going to happen, so she rushed as fast as she could.

"I apologize. The ambush only happened because they thought that you had Swann." There is regret in her eyes.

"Yes, and we would be no closer to finding Swann and we would have probably fallen into one of their traps regardless," Arthur shakes his head. Rhaegar shares the sentiment.

Zephyr has trotted here by now. She moves to remove the load but Rhaegar beats her to it.

He takes off everything but does not see food, only a flagon of water.

"Did you finish the food you took from the cart?" He asks her.

'What food?" She responds absent-mindedly.

"Azalea, did you eat or sleep at all?" Rhaegar is positively furious now. He knows from Dragonstone that she forgets to eat. She might remind him to eat but sometimes her dreaminess is worse than his.

"I thought I forgot something," She looks sheepish and a little apologetic.

He hands her a bowl of broth, which she takes gratefully, sits by her to make sure she eats and urges her to sleep. Thankfully, she does not protest, curls up by the tree trunk and him, covers herself with her cloak and sleeps instantly.


Arthur comes and joins him sometime later, hands him his bowl of the food, "You knew she can fight that well?"

Rhaegar nodded.

"We found her with wounds, battle wounds. She had weapons on her, daggers, knives. Whent even recovered her sword but I think he thought it was a family sword or something. She had warrior instincts the moment she woke up and when I asked, she did not hide it. We simply did not spread it around because of how women are supposed to be and well, Father, " Rhaegar told him honestly and yet briefly. He was tired.

He was also worried and anxious. He wanted to embrace Azalea and not let her go.

"She is as good as the best knights in the realm, Rhaegar. Smiling Knight is…I can't believe with the ease she took his head off." Arthur speaks more.

"She has been in a war. That's what we thought, her instincts, her reactions, they bespeak of a battle-hardened warrior. Would you have found it better if a man took the head off?" Rhaegar is a little irritated and quite defensive.

"No, no, you misunderstand me, Rhaegar. I did not mean to belittle her. I am in awe. There are not many people who are so good and she is what, 17. Most people earn their knighthoods around this time. And she does not have the advantage of a man's frame. All of it is pure skill and practice. She would be dead if she had not taken his head and you would be dead if she had not been a warrior. I am just, she keeps surprising me. Every time I think she is perfect for you and the realm, she shows another side just adds her to qualities that make me appreciate her." Arthur says, "Also that explains why you did not seem concerned about her going alone to Flee Bottom. She can take care of herself."

"What are we going to tell the King, your grace?" It is Whent who speaks hesitantly.

"What if he burns her?" Hightower is equally morose.

It was Hightower who had caught the two children stealing bread on his fathers' orders and they were burned. He was still very affected and guilty.

"We will not take this decision without her input." Rhaegar simply says, "I won't let harm come to her but I will also not take away her victories in name of protecting her."

The soldiers are looking for hay to make bedding just creating noise, when Arthur rolls his eyes and snaps at them. A highborn Valyrian lady slept peacefully in mud and they could not?

Hightower and Whent took the first watch, so Rhaegar curled up right next to Azalea.

Her fingers were out; he could not help but reach out and caress them a little. Her breathing hitched and then evened out again.


At dawn, their reinforcements arrive.

More soldiers led by Lord Crakehall and Lord Celtigar have arrived into the Kingswood. The knight of House Grandison and its affiliates have taken to escort Lady Swann back, meeting them on the way.

A scout has found them and goes back to bring the entire party.

Azalea is already up. She has roasted a couple of rabbits over fire. She had hunted and skinned them and done something because they smell beautiful. After the scanty broth of last night, this is a feast and they pounce on it.

There are 6 prisoners. The Kingsguard take 3 and the soldiers take the other 3.

They get ambushed yet again before they can even climb their steads.

Azalea and he share a look. She murmurs, 'Judas" questioningly. It is a defense-offense maneuver they have been practicing and he nods and they both charge as one.

They both took out nearly half of the attackers whilst working together, covering and shielding each other as they attacked.

It is Jaime Lannister and the Frey boy, the squires of lord Crakehall who find them first along with a couple more soldiers, outrunning what looked like their own battalion in a race. The lords had arrived towards the end, matching up to their belligerent squires and they managed to take prisoners.

Dayne's head was saved by Jaime Lannister, whom Dayne knighted.

The boy was barely 15. But the battle was heated and he had shown prowess with that sword. If only he had years of learning of him to temper that prowess.

Jaime was ecstatic but he also kept throwing curious glances at Azalea, who was now sitting on the ground and wiping the blood spatter off her face and then her sword. The Frey boy was no better only he also threw nasty looks at Jaime.

They clean up the wounds as much as they can. Azalea's stock of salves and bandages is useful to the end.

"You were formidable together, my prince." Hightower tells him.

Azalea has gone quiet though and Rhaegar is concerned. He sends her a questioning look and receives a shake of head with a smile.

"We should leave quickly," Arthur says.

And they do.


Arthur engages Jaime in conversation, who will accompany them to King's landing. He is looking forward to seeing his father and sister.

"She is no longer at capital, Ser Jaime." Rhaegar informs him swiftly. Jaime's face falls.

It is Azalea who manages to speak to him for longest, engaging him not just about the Westerlands or his skill with sword but his little brother, Tyrion.

Jaime is wary at first. Rhaegar is not surprised. Little Tyrion has probably not even seen his 6th nameday and he is already notorious as the imp and from what whispers he has heard, Jaime is protective of his brother regardless of the hatred that Cersei and Tywin espouse.

But Azalea has a gentle, understanding way and she manages to coax Jaime into talking for hours, first about Tyrion, then Casterly Rock and when the Frey boy says the word Imp, she beats Jaime into giving him a quelling look.

She slows down to trot beside Rhaegar in a while.

"My lady…" He murmured rather gently to her, breaking her from the brooding. Her eyes are glistening momentarily but then she gives him a weak, reassuring smile.

They stop in early evening, a few leagues outside of King's Landing.

There is an inn and a bath and bed sound wonderful. He insists that Azalea take the best room, being the only lady in the entourage.

She protests mildly but whatever has afflicted her whole day, manages to dampen her zeal to argue.

And he is the only one who has noted the difference. The others are alright.

He and his Kingsguard and the other lords with the squire and newly knighted Jaime sit on a table, eating and drinking, when she comes down. She is still in breeches and a tunic, fresh ones but still and her cloak is over her. But her hair is washed and brushed and she looks like a vision.

Arthur gets up and offers her a seat while Lord Crakehall suggests a meal in her room because of the manly company.

She merely raises her brow and sits beside Rhaegar, quickly taking the food.

"What happened to the Smiling Knight, my lord?" Lord asks.

"He is dead," Hightower answered, exchanging a quick look with Rhaegar. That ends that direction of thought.

Azalea gets up to take some sugar cubes to Zephyr and Rhaegar offers to escort her. When she pets him and speaks to the horse in lighter tones, she addresses him gently, "You can ask it, Rhaegar. It is burning you."

"You are quieter, more withdrawn. Others don't know you well to notice because you are usually gentle and quiet but…" Rhaegar trailed off.

"I hate killing." She says softly, "I have killed hundreds of people by now probably but I still hate it. I am good at combat, and I prefer taking prisoners and I can kill and not feel bad for certain people. I regret killing the Smiling Knight, not because he did not deserve it but because I wanted to hand him to your father for an execution. He could have burned him and it would have curbed fire executions of innocents. But others, some of them were lads of 15 of younger and we could not leave them alive, but they were fighting in what they believed in and if the smiling knight and Toyne had not brainwashed them…Who would they have been? Violence is a necessity at times; I know that better than anyone. I would kill them again in battle but I usually do think of the deaths I have caused to honor the lives because violence without forethought or introspection is just butchery."

"I learned swordplay not because I like it but because I was expected to. I am good at it, but I have never relished it like Arthur or Ser Selmy. I do not like tourneys. I do not like spilling blood. Sometimes, it is duty. Sometimes, it is hard. Sometimes, it is...it gives you a rush. I would kill to protect people. I have killed to protect people but I also feel that I have a horrible advantage of being born a prince. I am always at the lawful side, the right side, the side that supposedly protects." Rhaegar murmurs.

He took her hands and squeezed them. She does not untangle them and they stay like that for some time.

"I will be fine, Rhaegar. I need sleep. I will be fine. And so will you, " She says, at last and moves as if to leave but he tightens his hold on her.

"About Father…" He begins.


So, disclaimer, editing this is difficult for me because I am too attached and I have read this fic over 3 dozen times. I can say sentences aloud by now. I was fascinated with it. I still am. So, when I post it, I ususally gloss over words.

Which is why I requested a Beta.

That said, I try. I also request general reviewers that you leave respectful reviews if you see errors or glitches and I will correct them. Thank you anonymous guest reviewer for the last ones!

I have made good progress on the next Flipped Chapter!

See ya! (Please leave reviews).