This chapter has been betaed by the very generous and thorough lifeconfused. Their inputs made the chapter so much better!

Here you go:


Rhaegar VII

He got a chance rather soon to make up things with Azalea.

He had been just getting ready for bed one evening, when Azalea burst into his room from somewhere in her nightgown and house robe with both her hands tucked behind her. The Kingsguard had not stopped her.

It was highly inappropriate but Rhaegar did not care.

"Azalea?" he gave her a questioning look.

"It is your nameday tomorrow." She simply said.

"It is." Rhaegar nodded.

"In my world we celebrate at what we call midnight on the eve of the nameday. We share a cake." She murmurs, pulls out her hands.

There is a cupcake in her palm with a single burning candle for some odd reason.

"It is tradition to blow candles. It is silly and…" She trails off, then rather embarrassedly says, "I should leave."

But Rhaegar extends his hand and pulls her closer, takes the cupcake and gives her a questioning look, "Just blowing the candle?"

She nods.

He does it to a light clapping from her, then tears the cake into half and offers her a piece.

"Where did you get the cake from?" Rhaegar asked.

"I baked it," She confesses rather sheepishly, "There is a kitchen in the trunk."

Rhaegar blinked. He wanted to kiss her, so badly.

"Eat it…" She urged.

So he does. It is a beautiful cake.

He chewed slowly, savoring the taste and the feel of the cake she baked for his nameday.

There was a slight noise of a crack and Rhaegar looked around the room but found nothing.

"I was also hoping to give you your present." She said rather hopefully.

"Azalea, please you do not need to…" He protested.

"I insist and I doubt you would decline it once you see it." She shakes her head and starts pulling out something from the coat pocket.

"But you have done so much…" He begins but halts when he sees her hands.

She is holding a rather plain dragon egg in her palms, an egg with a rather large crack.

"It is an Antipodean Opaleye. They are very mild in their demeanor, very gentle, noble and exceedingly beautiful. There was no other dragon that suited you better. The eggs I have had already been incubated for a long time and only needed a month more to actually crack. I started the process when we returned from the Kingswood to have it ready in time for today. It needs to be with you right now for the bond to form…" Azalea said softly.

Rhaegar is so moved by this. So very moved. He opens his hands and Azalea very gently puts the egg in them.

"Thank you" he croaks out, not trusting himself to speak.

"I already promised them to you. It just seemed like a good occasion to…" Azalea shakes her head.

There is another crack and some portions of the shell fall down.

"The scales are pearly and the eyes are rather fetching like glittering multicolored jewels with no pupils at all." She informs him.

A small claw comes out and more of the shell breaks.

"Should I help?" He whisper asks.

She shakes her head with a smile, "It will bite you."

More of the shell breaks off and a head peaks out.
Azalea was right, it was really, really beautiful. It reminded him of her.

"Why does it suit me?" Rhaegar asks rather curiously.

"Because those qualities remind me of you." She admits. He is a bit surprised, but something breaks his attention.

More shell breaks off and soon the dragon is on his wrist, looking rather curiously at him.

"Pet it," She says gently.

He follows the instruction and his little dragon seems to purr at that. It soon climbs onto his shoulder.

"It would be hungry…" She murmurs, and pulls out a slice of pork from another pocket and hands it to him.

His dragon munches rather happily.

"It is rather intelligent." He remarks.

"They all are." Azalea smiles softly, "It is a she by the way. I can see the signs."

"How do you tell? There has been a debate here since forever." He asks.

"They are usually bigger, more vicious and territorial. She is already possessive of you." Azalea points out.

He offers his little she-dragon more pork which she eats more happily.

"Can you think of a name?" Azalea asks curiously, "I know your family has a…"

"I don't think any of them suit this noble dragon." He shakes his head.

"Gwendolyn," He says finally, "After the woman who brought hope back in my life."

Azalea's eyes widen. So, she was not completely clueless.

"You do not need to, Rhaegar." She says, not meeting his eyes.

"I know. I want to." He simply says.

They stood in silence watching Gwen eat away.

"I will need to keep her in the trunk. She can be in the greenhouse so she will have space to move around. I do not wish your father to get his hands on her. You will have to be away from her but I promise you can visit her when we practice." She murmurs.

"I understand." He says and offers Gwen back to her.

Azalea speaks soothingly to her and soon Gwen has climbed on Azalea's shoulder.

"I should leave," She says and turns around, but Rhaegar takes her hand and gently tugs her back.

She gives him a questioning look.

"Arthur spoke to me." He said.

Steel returned in her eyes and she snapped, "Do you have a husband in mind then for when this is over? Is that the reason why he was so inquisitive?"

"Azalea," Rhaegar said softly, "I would never impeach on your freedom, nor would Arthur. It was not a query to…Arthur has been worried about me. I was pining rather badly."

"Well, we could always invite Elia Martell to court." Azalea hesitates and then prattles on, "She could be one of my ladies in the time being…"

Rhaegar gives a humorless smile, "And why do you think I am pining after Elia?"

"Well, it certainly can't be Cersei." Azalea gives him a look of trepidation.

"Can you think of no one else?" Rhaegar asks. This was rather endearing.

"No, and frankly, I am horrible at romance so you should save your breath and talk to someone else. What was Arthur even thinking coming to me for advice on why ladies would reject you? How would I know? All of them keep singing praises of your virtues."

"But he was not concerned with why ladies would reject me." Rhaegar said softly looking right into her eyes, "He was concerned with why you in particular would reject me despite hearing those paragons…"

"Why would he…why would I…what meaning…" Azalea's thoughts raced, "But why?"

"Can you think of no reason?" Rhaegar asks. Oh my, she was sharp as a tack at courtly matters and here…

"No, unless you feel rejected by me, which is ludicrous because you are pining after another woman." She says straight away, looking rather agitated.

"I do feel jilted, my lady. I spent nearly 4 moons trying to express how much you mean to me, how much I look forward to being with you…and you think I am pining after another woman, Elia Martell, no less. Granted, I did not verbally express it and I would have, had I realized that you had such a misconception."

Azalea opened her mouth to retort when she suddenly realized the implications of what he had said, and suddenly, there was a bright pink flush all over her face and she immediately looked down.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just thought I should make my intentions clear lest we keep hurting away in misconceptions…" Rhaegar began.

But then she looked up and asked rather innocently, "Why would you pine after me, Rhaegar? I do not understand. I know everyone thinks this is a good match but frankly, I would rather have you happy. And I will be around, you know. It is not like if you marry another woman that I would turn away from my promises…"

Rhaegar immediately cradled her face which quieted her instantly, "You give yourself little credit."

"I pine after you because I lost my heart to you even before you told me about dragons. I pine after you because you make me better, you make me feel hope, you make me feel alive. I pine after you because I never thought I was capable of feeling this way. I pine after you because no one has ever understood me or supported me with as much ease and selflessness as you did. I pine after you because even though you see me as a friend, you do not realize how every little thing about you tugs at my heart and make me so full with feelings. Your smile, your arguments, your skills with swords, your gentle heart, your fury, your kindness, your compassion and care… You would not believe for how long have I wanted to secure my arms around you and never let go, ever since we were on Dragonstone. And I thought I was caging you by thinking of marriage, but all this while you had not even known and you need to know, so that you can choose for yourself."

Tears had sprung in her eyes, "You are not caging me Rhaegar. No one has ever treated me as equally as you do. I hated Elia Martell and I had not even met her. I hated the thought of sharing you with another woman but if that is what you wanted, then that is what I would have given you."

"I don't…"

"I know. I am not that dense." She said sniffling a bit, "I…I was pining too." She finally confessed.

"Azalea Sage Lightbringer, may I embrace you?" He asked.

She flushed immediately but had a small smile and proceeded to give a shy nod. He instantly wrapped his arms around her waist and back, slowly cradling her face and pressing her torso snugly into his chest, ignoring the confused squeak of Gwen. She leaned her head into his chest and he kissed her hair, "Will you do me the honor of being with me till the end of my days, my lady? Will you marry me?"

He got a nod from her head, buried into his chest.

"That is not a verbal promise." He teased.

She glared at him but relented, "Yes, Rhaegar of House Targaryen, I will marry you."

"And that is the best nameday present I shall receive for eternity." He murmured, hugging her even closer.


His nameday went rather quietly and dully in court.

The change in his countenance was palpable for Arthur to notice.

"I take it that you two had a talk?" He asked as they walked back to his chamber.

"We did." Rhaegar said, "It went…well."

Arthur snorted, "It went better on the basis of your reaction."

"She went to Flea bottom again today. I discreetly followed. She arranged cakes for the orphans and children on the street. Didn't even take the credit." He informed.

"She didn't tell me about it." Rhaegar shook his head, "But that is what she did the last couple of times. Fed them soup and treated their flu. She knows healing. I only met her after the fact and she was still not happy with what she had been able to do."

"She noticed me actually," Arthur admitted, "Then she said, don't be so surprised Ser Dayne, as you recall, I have rather good reflexes. Didn't even get angry that I followed her. When I asked her about the cakes, she told me that sharing cakes for a loved one's nameday is a tradition she distinctly remembers from her memories. She could not think of sharing cakes with anyone who would appreciate it more."

"That is rather true." Rhaegar said.

"She is a gem. You are a very fortunate man." Arthur said.

"I know Dayne, I know."


Lewyn Martell informed him that Dorne is offended by Aerys' dismissal of the betrothal talks between him and Elia.

"Tell me Prince Martell, do you think that Princess Elia can withstand the sheer madness of this court?" Rhaegar asks lightly.

The word madness is the key. Rhaegar knows that Martell would get that he is talking of his father.

"She would certainly try, my lord." Prince Martell says carefully.

"And if she doesn't?" Rhaegar asks rhetorically.

Martell does not say anything to that.

"I understand your sister's desire to join our families but that boat sailed the minute Azalea entered the court. She is rather deft at dealing with the madness, has a certain protection because she is Valyrian blood and now is widely known as a dragonrider. Elia has none of that and I don't say that in regards to her suitability but her safety in the capital. Even I cannot protect people from the madness. I am already spread thin. Do you wish that on your niece and does your sister?" Rhaegar simply said.

"Of course, this does not have anything to do with the fact that you are fond of Lady Azalea, your grace." Martell said bluntly.

"I was under the impression that you were rather fond of her too, Prince Martell or has that changed?" Rhaegar asked.

Martell looked sheepish, "Lady Azalea is very capable, your grace. I do not argue against that. I was simply informing that Dorne is not happy."

Rhaegar nodded, "I have taken that under advisement, Prince Martell."


Their father soon announced in the court that they would be going to the tourney at Harrenhal as a royal party and commanded Azalea to call Valor there, which she graciously agreed to.

His father wanted a spectacle and most of all he wanted to flaunt Azalea.

Azalea was rather looking forward to it.

They had their stolen moments. Of course, there was this distant public relationship. They had not made it a secret that they did get along with each other or even were fond of each other's presence, however, the depth of their understanding with each other was not commonly known.

Azalea was of the mind that if they were too affectionate, his father would get suspicious of their plotting.

So, they let his father think that Rhaegar was doing his duty and Azalea was doing her best to survive the Westerosi ideals to be the next princess.

The stolen moments were something that Rhaegar looked forward to.

It was surreal to think of himself so besotted but he realized that a mere affectionate glance from Azalea was enough to brighten his day.

They had not embraced again. But when he could, Rhaegar took the liberty of kissing her wrist or holding her rather delicate hands, caressing her little fingers with the back of his thumb.

He also realized that despite how bold Azalea was in general, she was rather shy when it came to those stolen moments. She would smile which told him that she appreciated when he initiated contact but it was accompanied by a rather fetching flush on her cheeks.

Gwendolyn was growing splendidly and if he thought he was spoiling his she-dragon, then Azalea was even worse. She kept feeding it spiced and roasted meat.

Apparently the flames would come later, after 3 moons and before 6. But, she still hissed out a lot of hot air.

But Gwendolyn was exceedingly beautiful and even rather gentle, so the pampering did not do much damage.

Things were well. Nothing went awry until…

Grandison, the oldest member of Kingsguard would pass away in his sleep two sennights before they were due to leave for Harrenhall.

The manner of death was not fishy at all but the timing was a bit problematic, it added an unknown seventh component.

This also moved the small council away from speculating about Harrenhall because they were too busy figuring out the appointment of a loyal Kingsguard.

It was not until four days before they were to leave that Azalea came and said, "Lord Varys might have given us Lannisters."

Rhaegar was astounded. He did not trust the spider.

But so far, he had not whispered anything against Azalea to the King and the information came to her.

The list of applicants for the Kingsguard had the name of Jaime Lannister, the heir of Casterly rock and Tywin's firstborn son.

What was that boy thinking? Did he want to cause a war?

"I will have to dissuade your father. This requires some delicate work. I think Varys anticipated that this would cause some issues. I don't really thinks he knows what we are up to." Azalea said.

"Absolutely not! You are not putting yourself between the quarrels of Tywin Lannister and my father. That goes further back…Azalea, they will tear you apart."

"Much better it is me than the realm," She shrugged.

Needless to say, that did nothing to calm down Rhaegar. He insisted on protesting which Azalea calmly listened to because saying something else, "I think Grandison was murdered. Someone wants Jaime on the Kingsguard."

"My father would not…"

"Not him, and of course, not Tywin, not even the Martells. No, this is desperate and..."Azalea shook her head.

"Nothing came in the examination." Rhaegar pointed out.

"I read that Tears of Lys usually don't," She informed him quietly.

"That is hard to come by." Rhaegar said finally.

"Yet Grand Maester Pycelle has a whole bottle." She informed him, "I have been continuing my checkups with him He does not know how well versed I am in the lore of poisons. The amount changed in between the last 2 sennights. And from what little I have paid attention to, he is more loyal to the Lannisters."

"Lord Tywin would not…"

"There is another Lannister here." Azalea said quickly, "Cersei wants Jaime in the capital. Both of them were rather anguished that as soon as she arrived back from Casterly Rock, Jaime was sent back packing to the Rock. It sounds ludicrous because she is barely 15 years old but…" She trails off.

"What do you know?" Rhaegar asked simply.

"I think they might harbor romantic feelings for each other. I spotted them in rather compromising situation on the night before he was leaving," She simply said, "To Jaime, his sister and brother are everything. I have been discreetly asking around. Jaime clung to Cersei following his mother's death. He raged a lot when she was brought to the capital. Cersei has been fed the fact that she would be the queen of 7 kingdoms since before she was 7 years old. She wants you but she is also not above using her charms on her brother. She probably thinks that she will still be the queen and yet, she is not ready to let Jaime go. Tywin Lannister wants to betroth Jaime to Lysa Tully, a fact that the twins are not happy about," Azalea confessed.

"Seven, incest in any other house would…" Rhaegar began, "And yet being Kingsguard solves the problem. He cannot marry and if she is queen, he would be near."

"I don't think Jaime Lannister has considered what he is giving up. I don't think he is also aware of Cersei and Tywin's desire for your hand for her. I also do not think he is part of the plan in outing Hardison but I think he submitted an application at the behest of his sister. He thinks Cersei will remain in capital because Tywin is the hand," Azalea says rather sensibly, adding to his deductions.

"Tywin will have her hide…and his hide and my father's hide. This is his heir. He hates Tyrion, as unfair as that is. He will leave King's Landing taking Cersei, and I am only marrying you so she is not coming back. The twins will not get what they want, even if Jaime Lannister is very sure of this course." Rhaegar began.

"Which is why we can't let it happen." Azalea asserted.

And she came through. Somehow, Tywin Lannister did not see the list because Azalea whispered about his influence.

Somehow, Azalea also dissuaded the entire council from choosing names from a list. Instead, she suggested that they wait for the tourney and see who among the applicants emerges out as most fearsome and honorable.

Tywin Lannister protested the idea, which Azalea privately twisted as his keenness to influence the decision and having his loyalists in the Kingsguard.

It was a far-fetched assertion but his father bought it.

She had bought them time.

They set out for Harrenhall. His mother and Viserys remained in the capital. Azalea did not protest the wheelhouse even once but urged him to include Zephyr in the horses that were going.


I will usually update within 10 days. I have recently began working so please don't expect me to only focus on this story.

I have other things. I do this for joy! Please don't suck my joy.

Among other things: I am largely ignoring a lot of stuff that is happening in Essos. Just to reiterate!

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