Sorry for the long absence. The people who have been my readers would know, but chronic migraine and accompanying things suck. It makes me disappear off the face of planet for sometimes.
Thank you lifeconfused again for being excellent and utterly more accountable than I have been. This story would not be what it is without them and their excellent betaeing.
Enjoy! Also, happy first episode.
Chapter 10
Armies returned back to their respective places. Lords travelled in cohorts to the capital.
His father had been imprisoned in his wheelhouse. He had attempted mauling people and nearly mauled a servant. There were tantrums but now that he was not a king, people could hold him down.
Azalea had been offered several wheelhouses considering she had arrived in Dragonstone on Valor but she had declined.
She had taken a destrier and rode alongside him and Arthur.
The Martells had wanted to leave for Dorne but Rhaegar had reminded them of the fealty they owed him at the coronation.
So they were grudgingly traveling apart from the royal battalions, which Rhaegar did not mind.
Tywin Lannister was still the interim hand. The man did know how to run the country. And the council had named Jon Arryn Master of Laws until he could decide his own until the coronation as King's landing would see a rather large influx of people for the coronation and the wedding.
When the coronation was over he would run through the names that he and Azalea had thought of for appointments to the council. He had sent a raven ahead to his mother along with ravens to the Grand Maester and the Kingsguard to expect a rather large party.
The first stop was halfway to Maidenpool.
Azalea had remained with the royal party. She had been given handmaidens from a brigade of the ones of other houses. Her tent was with the royal battalions but so were the tents of Ashara Dayne and Helena Whent. It would have been improper otherwise.
She had a rucksack of her armor, breeches, tunics, and a clock which is what she wore. Ashara had lent her a nightgown but Azalea had refused daydresses instead riding in her tunic and breeches. Part of her luggage would be waiting for her at Maindenpool courtesy of the Iron Bank, shipped right when she flew off on her dragon.
She told him later that she did not like wearing other people's clothes. He did not really mind and while the idea had raised brows the whole of two days, most people had heeded his warning and mentioned nothing. Rhaegar did not really see the fuss. Her cloak hid everything anyway.
She and Ashara got along rather well. Helena's exuberance seemed to startle Azalea a bit but it did not become very apparent. Helena did not get why she would not just travel in the wheelhouse with them.
Azalea and he had exchanged rather flighty looks with each other. He had wanted to comfort her so badly after the council but there had been no time or privacy. People, the realm, nobles, his father, everything needed attention.
They had spent time with each other because he had somewhat insisted on her input in places but there were just so many people around. He did not want to give people reasons to talk about her honor.
She had been brilliant. He had given her apologetic looks, several of them, but all had been met with an assuring smile. When he was discussing things for too long with a number of lords, Dayne had brought him supper.
At his questioning look, Dayne merely whispered in his ear, "Lady Azalea insisted."
The pattern had repeated itself on all other days.
So, today he was determined to spend time with her. They had left Maidenpool two days ago. Her luggage had arrived. There were a couple of trunks only. The rest would arrive in King's Landing. But yes, Azalea had taken to wearing what she called riding dresses. The skirt was split in between to make for comfortable astride riding. Rhaegar had seen it while they traveled to Summerhall but he had not realized how different it was until he saw Ashara gushing about it to Arthur, who did not get why Ashara and other ladies were flummoxed by them.
It was more graceful and dignified. Her skirts did not climb up at all. It was also much more comfortable. Arthur summarized for him later when Rhaegar asked him why he looked peekish. Apparently, that dress solved all the problems that southern woman had with riding.
That day Azalea had accepted the invitation of Olenna Tyrell and had traveled with her in the wheelhouse.
They were done setting camp and dinner was being stoked when Rhaegar sought out Azalea to be told by Arthur that Valor had arrived some time past and Azalea had taken him away from the camp. He was not sure which direction.
But then they heard singing in the sweetest, most moving voice somewhere which made people wonder.
"It sounds like maiden herself," He heard a knight of Vale say.
"If only the seven knew High Valyrian, good ser," Rhaegar absent-mindedly said, then took Darry and Whent and they traipsed around in the woods following Azalea's voice.
She sat by a pond, rubbing her hands on Valor's scales as she sang a song.
He had his chance so he asked Whent and Darry to stay behind in the trees.
She stopped singing abruptly as she heard his footsteps.
He immediately went and sat next to her, "You have half the camp falling in love with your voice, my lady."
"Was I that loud?" She looks rather concerned with a small flush.
"I did not hear anyone complaining." Rhaegar simply said, meeting her eyes honestly.
Their eyes met and both of them did not look away from each other for some time until Valor shifted and said something which made Azalea roll her eyes and she hissed back.
At Rhaegar's questioning look, she just shook her head but then Valor hissed even more insistently.
"He clearly wants me to know what he is saying." Rhaegar said pointedly.
Azalea pursued her lips in irritation and shook her head, "He is just being a dragon."
He raised his brow and she finally relented with a sigh, "He says that you have not paid adequate attention to me as your mate. He is offended on my behalf. It is stupid. He is a dragon, he does not understand noble obligations."
"Actually, I happen to rather agree with him." Rhaegar said, reaching for her hand. She did not pull away but looked at him in surprise but then said, "Don't be so hard on yourself, Rhaegar. It is a given that people need your time. You cannot spend all your time with me."
"But I could have spent some, especially considering we have not seen other in nearly two moons." Rhaegar said.
There was conflict on her face but then she admitted, "I missed you."
Rhaegar turned to face her and pulled both her hands to make her do the same and she moved but she would not meet his eyes.
"I missed you more than I thought I would and considering I thought I would wither away without you, I would say that it was not very pleasant." Rhaegar said gently and leaned to make their foreheads meet.
She flushed a little more. It was strange that she still did that but Rhaegar had always loved them a little too much.
"I owe you an apology." He said next.
"It is alright, I said it was not a..." She shook her head.
But he cradled her face, "Not for not spending time, but for what happened in the council and not even comforting you after that. It was unjust and horrible and I am extremely wroth over it but I cannot imagine what you went through. Your determination there was beyond words but I know it is easier to present strength than feel it. No one will ever question your honor; much less dishonor you so again without consequence." He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Tears welled in her eyes again, "I thought it would not bother me so much after what they said about me in my own world. People are fickle, they need fodder. I expected it to a certain extent. But I…I was on my best conduct…but the fact was that they questioned me because I do not have a family, no one to speak for me. Will I simply be assumed to be honorless because I am an orphan, because I was unfortunate enough to lose my parents?" Her voice broke a little.
"You have a family and I will always speak for you, Azalea. I would have cut them down, consequences forgotten, if you had not stopped me." Rhaegar said, wiping away her tears, "But yes, it was wretched of them to do that. I did not expect Princess Wera to be so embittered or Lord Tully to be so crass. He has daughters younger than you, what was he thinking. I made sure that they knew it was not acceptable. And I will not let those comments simply remain. They will pay for it." He said, kissing her hair and pulling her into an embrace, "You were so brave and so elegant. I am so proud of you. I am so grateful to you. I was so close to abdicating the throne to put stop to that farce…"
She made a noise of protest.
"And I knew that you would not like that so I did not interfere. But I am really not happy that you went through that. Let me make it up to you?" Rhaegar said.
"You don't need to." Her muffled voice came. Her face was buried in his chest and she seemed as loath to move away as he was.
"I don't think I could actually, but I was thinking we could take the wheelhouse tomorrow and play cywasse and just be with each other. Sure, there would be Ashara and Lady Whent and a couple of the Kingsguards but…and I will play the harp for you tonight. You must sit with me, if I have to handle the advances of Lady Florent or any other lady one more time I am going to ask Valor to burn me. They are rather afraid of you so I hope to be spared." He said.
The last one had her laughing lightly, "I don't know Rhaegar. It is rather entertaining to see you flap when they corner you."
"But you promised to protect me, my lady. I demand that protection." Rhaegar insisted.
"Then you shall have it," She met his eyes. There was a smile on her face now, and she raised her head and kissed his forehead.
"I regret bringing Darry now. Oswald would tease me forever if I ravaged your lips and I could take that but Ser Darry can get judgmental…" Rhaegar said.
"We can stay in an embrace," She insisted and her hold on him tightened.
"For as long as we wish." Rhaegar nodded.
"I actually have something for you, Azalea" He admitted after a few moments of silence.
She looked surprised and a little excited.
"I take it you do like presents," He teased, seeing her expression.
She glared at him.
"I could not think of anything for a long time. You have all the fineries, weapons… even wonderful dragons and books did not seem very romantic." Rhaegar shook his head.
She was about to protest but Rhaegar placed a finger on her lips and pulled out a string of moonblooms and tucked them in her hair, "I want you to know that you will always be my queen of love and beauty regardless of expectations, so the next time I crown you, you need not be so surprised."
That did it. Azalea flushed a complete red and hid her face in his chest. Rhaegar's laugh rumbled in his chest.
"It is rather endearing that you are so bold otherwise but cannot even accept flowers from me without feeling so shy," He told her.
She hit his chest with a half-hearted fist, "You are horrible." Her muffled voice came.
He laughed harder, but took her wrist and planted small kisses along it as an apology. She relaxed into his embrace once more.
They stayed there for some time, but almost simultaneously moved away from each other.
"We should head back. I dare say Ser Darry and Whent have been bored or entertained or scandalized to death." Azalea said as she glanced around at the darkening sky.
Rhaegar sighed and got on his feet and out of habit, offered her his hand. She stared at it, rolled her eyes but took it.
She hissed something to Valor and Valor hissed something back, that made her flush, but she rushed him away.
Rhaegar said, "Will I have to ask?"
"He says you will do." She said with a straight face.
"I am glad." Rhaegar simply said.
He kept his promise. He played the harp for her.
And she kept hers because she took out Gwendolyn that night and instructed her to be on his shoulders.
That kept most lords and ladies away.
But Lady Florent was rather persistent.
Gwen roared and hissed but Lady Florent seemed to rather stubbornly ignore it.
Azalea sat across the fire, with her back against a tree trunk and embroidered something. Ashara had taken it upon herself to teach Azalea, who had picked it up rather quickly.
Gwen's agitation was rather apparent because Azalea called out in a light, amused tone, "Careful my lady, she-dragons are rather territorial. She cannot flame yet but her breath is still hot enough to burn you."
"Oh no, she would love me, Lady Azalea. Perhaps a ribbon or two would look lovely with her eyes," And despite Rhaegar's strong protest, she tried to tie a ribbon around Gwen.
Gwen roared, the hot air got the ribbon on fire and then after smacking Lady Florent with her tail, she flew into Azalea's lap, who promptly petted the dragon and the dragon snuggled comfortably and started purring.
He thought he heard some rather large sniggers across the camp. To be fair, he was fighting rather hard to not laugh outright.
Lady Florent was in shock, so Rhaegar excused himself and decided that what Gwendolyn did was a brilliant strategy as Azalea's side was the safest, so he went and sat by her.
He was rather pleased to see that she was still wearing the crown of moonblooms. It had raised some brows but giving flowers was nothing short of encouraged in a courtship.
"Do you have a request my lady?" He asked her.
She paused in her embroidery and gave it a thought, then said with a smile, "Jenny of Oldstones."
That was the happier version of the story.
He nodded, picked his harp up and played
Nobody bothered them anymore. He thought he saw Lanmouth waggle his eyebrows at him, but he ignored it.
He was too ecstatic right now to bother with the impertinence.
They took the wheelhouse.
While Gwen hopped and half-flew across the room, about seven of them played a game of riddles.
Gwen returned to his shoulder, occasionally going to Azalea for food, and even let Ashara pet her for a while, all rather quietly and without fuss.
It was when they made a stop for lunch that Arthur told him that Rickard and Brandon Stark wanted an audience with Azalea and him.
They granted it. Ashara and others left. It was just Arthur, Azalea, and him when the Starks entered the wheelhouse.
"Lady Azalea, your grace. My children told me what you did for my daughter. Even though they assured me that proper gratitude was expressed, I just wanted to thank you formally as the head of the house and as Lyanna's father. She is a spirited one and the light of north. The North remembers. It will do the same for your favor." Rickard Stark said.
"It was not a favor, Lord Stark. Protecting the honor of women is not a favor, not even a duty but basic humanity. I hope she is doing well." Azalea smiled.
"Playing with the knife you gave her oh so graciously," Brandon rolled his eyes.
"Brandon, behave," Rickard Stark admonished, "Forgive him, my lady, your grace... the wolf blood runs wild in him and Lyanna."
"We do not mind, Lord Stark. Sometimes, such honesty is appreciated. We have rarity of it in south." Rhaegar said easily.
"I also had a most enlightening conversation with Howland Reed, my lady. Most people do not care for the Crannogman, afraid of their strange ways." Rickard Stark began.
"Some people would find me strange, Lord Stark. I do not think that makes me unworthy of kindness. The same goes for Lord Reed." Azalea said rather graciously.
Rickard Stark nodded, "I also thank you for speaking to Eddard. It was kind of you to do that after he questioned the truth of your words in the beginning. He told me you asked him to speak to his siblings. Something about families not being able to hold grudges…My children made up with each other, thanks to you."
Azalea just graciously nodded.
They talked some more about the north, about a wall his father had wanted to build to extend the kingdom, about winter in north.
He could tell that they had been surprised by how well informed Azalea was of things.
He liked the Starks and they liked Azalea and him. Azalea more than him but that was expected after the favor she had done for the family, and well, Azalea was rather likeable.
The time in the capital was rather busy.
His mother was not in the best shape. His father had apparently been rather cruel with her because he suspected her part in the council and Ser Selmy and Darry had stood outside the door and done nothing.
Azalea had taken over Viserys' care and had viciously lashed out against Grand Maester Pycelle for not doing his job.
His father had been shipped to Dragonstone under a selected guard.
And he was being bombarded from everywhere. Azalea had taken the role of addressing the stewards and the keep's upkeep and she even found time to advise him on things and make sure he ate.
He was so, so grateful to have her around. But it was madness all over. He could barely talk to her.
They had finally decided on the entire Small Council.
Jon Arryn would be the new Hand, Willem Darry would be the Master of Laws until they found someone better, Kevan Lannister would be Master of Coin, Lord Redwyne would be the Master of Ships.
Varys had been talked to and assured of their interest in the stability of the realm. He said he believed them because his little birds had told him of a kind lady, her cakes, her soup, her breads and her herbs. He had sworn fealty after Azalea extracted a promise for him to come to them first if they were failing the realm instead of playing games behind the back.
And he was rather good at his job. So he remained as Master of Whisperers.
And of course, Hightower remained as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
Tywin Lannister was in an advisory position for a few moons as the transition occurred.
The tough thing had been asking Tywin to step down.
"Make him think it is his idea…" Azalea had said.
But a few well planted seeds later, Tywin had requested to step aside himself. Apparently, someone needed to teach Jaime the ropes of being the Lord of the Rock.
How Azalea achieved that, he never found out.
But he had accepted and offered a position to Kevan regardless, which kept the Lannisters appeased.
Of course, Azalea would be on the Small Council. There was no question of that.
Dorne, the North and the Stormlands still did not have representation and he hoped to remedy the latter two.
But he knew little about the North and while he was keen on Jon Connington's ability, he was a bit skeptical. Arthur had advised him to think carefully on the matter because Jon will not be impressed with the fact that he was marrying. He had somewhat of an infatuation with Rhaegar and while Rhaegar had never encouraged it, Connington had not exactly been the most grounded when it had come to Rhaegar's potential matches.
He supposed distant public interactions could be civil but he did not trust Jon in a small intimate setting until he saw him around Azalea.
He would not put Azalea through more of scrutiny, especially from someone whom he thought of as a close friend.
The Coronation happened.
It was only a week after that he found himself alone with Azalea in his solar. Tywin Lannister had just left after some going over the minute details of the wedding.
Rhaegar dropped his head on the table with a groan.
Gentle, cool hands touched his temple and he realized that Azalea was massaging them for him.
Oh my! This was wonderful. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch until the back of his head rested on her bosom. She kissed his forehead, "It will be fine soon. I know this is exhausting but in the end, things will settle and you will have normal days or as normal as days are for rulers and…"
Rhaegar opened his eyes and he saw the kind green eyes staring at him with affection, "I dream of those eyes when I troubled my lady. Sincerely, I am going crazy right now when I have you ensuring that I eat and sleep. I don't know what I would have done were I doing this on my own."
"You would have been fine," She says firmly.
He takes her hand and kisses it with a lazy smile, "I think we will have to disagree on that."
"Dowager Queen Rhaella…" Jonathan Darry announced.
Azalea shifted away from him instantly as his mother entered the room.
"Mother," He would say as Azalea did a deep curtsy.
He said as Azalea curtsied deeply.
"I will leave you two to speak." Azalea quickly said and left.
His mother was a picture of grace and sorrow. She always had been.
He stood up and went to take her hands.
"My handmaiden told me you came to see me?" She asked.
"I did, for the past few days. But you were deep in sleep. I did not wish to disturb you." Rhaegar said honestly, "How are you feeling?"
"I…I have been confused. All my life I have known duty. Now my son has deposed my husband, for good reasons and I don't understand…" She paused, "And I do not understand what my role is any longer."
"You are my mother, you are the Queen Dowager, you have Viserys. I am also sure Azalea would appreciate if you have input on the wedding and other matters. Or you could rest. You are free mother. You can do whatever you wish to." Rhaegar said gently.
"I heard Azalea took over the upkeep…and she has been looking after Viserys." His mother said.
"She did. She was rather taken aback by your condition. I had kept the previous incidents from her. The keep would be hers in a few days regardless, so we thought it was best. As for Viserys, he has been asking for both you and father. The nursemaids could not help. We have been doing what we can, Azalea more than me certainly." Rhaegar nodded.
"How are you?" His mother asked next.
"I am a little overwhelmed but Azalea has been a blessing there as well. But mostly I am happy. You are safe, Viserys will eventually be fine, the realm will not suffer and well, Azalea is here with me."
"You love her." It was a statement.
"I loved her long before she entered the court." He smiled despite himself.
"She makes you happy."
"She does; so very much." Rhaegar said.
"And she agreed to the match now?" His mother was curious.
"Azalea thought I was keen on another woman so she did not wish to bind me into a marriage I did not want. She was stalling father to give me a choice. I confessed that I wanted her, found out she returned the feelings and we got betrothed." Rhaegar admitted.
"That is good. My son must be happy." She said.
He embraced her. His mother was not doing well emotionally and physically so it was awkward and stiff but it was still his mother, and she loved him. Rhaegar took comfort in the fact.
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