1: Rhaegar
He had always been plagued by nightmares, both in dreams and while awake.
While conscious, he had to witness how his once kind, and fair spirited father faded into madness and instability, hurting innocents, while he did nothing but stand by his side and watched with a practised indifference.
He was as guilty as his father, he was well aware of that.
In his dreams, blood, snow, darkness and cold haunted him.
He sometimes saw a girl with silver hair wielding a sword, sometimes he saw a girl with dark hair instead. Other times they fought together, back to back. He had never seen them before, but they seemed familiar.
Other times, on rare occasions, he saw a young woman with silver hair falling off a dragon and landing on the Snow.
What he saw more often though, was an older woman with black and grey armour wielding a sword of Valyrian steel. Her hair was held on a bun, and he could notice some grey strands, which let him know of her older age in comparison to the other girls, and there was blood and dirt all over her body.
She killed something made of ice, and in that eternal darkness, she turned to him.
They stared at each other. She'd open her mouth to speak.
And then he'd wake up.
Rhaegar could never remember her face, but he was sure she was beautiful, and he needed to talk to her, although he didn't know what of.
"What is it?"
"Today's the day." Ser Lewyns voice came through the door.
Rhaegar sighed. That was it. His betrothed would be arriving shortly.
He looked out through the open window and noticed the sun still slept.
He gently shook the woman's naked shoulder. She stirred under the sheets, auburn hair a mess, and a pair of sleepy brown eyes met his. She smiled.
"Again, My Prince? Do dragons ever sleep?" She asked groggily.
He laughed quietly, getting up from the bed and grabbing a robe.
"We do, but not today." He grabbed a pouch of coins. "I'm afraid it is time for you to go."
The woman didn't protest, leaving the comforts of the bed and grabbing her pink dress from the floor. She quickly put it on and Rhaegar took a few steps in her direction.
"Thank you. I had a lovely time." He said, to which the woman snorted.
"There's no need to be so courteous. I'm just doing my job."
Rhaegar shrugged.
"A little kindness never killed anyone."
He offered her a few coins, and the woman paled and her face fell, taking a step back and raising her hands.
"That is too much, Your Grace-"
"I'm aware." He said calmly, still holding out the coins. "Just give the man who runs the establishment the necessary amount and keep the rest for yourself." He shrugged.
She looked at him, trying to decide if he was tricking her, and Rhaegar made sure to keep his face open and welcoming. He understood her fear.
Finally, whatever drove that woman must have won, for she took the coins from him.
"Thank you, Your Grace."
He nodded once and opened his chamber door. Ser Lewyn Martell stood guard outside that night.
"Ser Lewyn, could you be so kind as to escort this lady back home?"
"There's no need, Your Grace. I know how to handle myself in the city."
"I imagine you do, but it'd give me a little piece of mind to know you made it back safely. And Ser Lewyn makes for excellent conversation."
Hesitating once more, the woman stepped out of the room and bowed to him one last time.
"Good night, Your Grace."
"And to you, Miss." He answered, since he had never bothered to learn her birth name.
Ser Lewyn and the woman departed, headed to the street of Silks, and Rhaegar locked himself once more.
Finally alone.
His smile fell off his face, replaced by a deep frown. His shoulders slacked and he had to make an effort not to yawn.
He headed for his desk, where some books, poems and unfinished songs laid and quietly moved the chair.
He heard some rustling outside, and knew that despite the great security of the Red Keep, Ser Lewyn hadn't wanted to take any chance and had most likely sent a different Kingsguard to relieve him.
Carefully, he moved the tapestry and pressed the right brick. A thin passage opened, as did the door of his chambers.
"I was supposed to sleep tonight." Arthur complained, allowing himself in and kicking the door closed behind him.
"It's not my fault Ser Lewyn chose you."
"It is! Couldn't you wait until your bride arrived? I heard her party was spotted making camp last night; so she should be here before midday."
"It will still be a full moon before the wedding." He said, grabbing a candle and walking into the secret passage.
Arthur followed suit.
"One moon is nothing compared to a lifetime."
Rhaegar snorted.
"You kept that particular vow? Because I recall Ser Barristan and I finding you naked on the beach with those sisters from Volantis-"
"That wasn't me." Arthur was quick to lie, even though he had returned to the Red Keep with the prince, a very disapproving kingsguard and the biggest headache of his life. "You know, the arrangement is official, so technically you could get a sample before the wedding."
"She's a respectable Lady, Arthur, and your future Queen, so mind your tongue." he was cold and firm, walking ahead in the darkness.
"How do you know? Have you met her?"
Rhaegar gave him an unamused stare as he lit all the candles in the small room they came upon and Arthur sighed.
"My apologies. Weddings make me nervous."
"How so?" The prince tried not to laugh as his closest friend shuddered in horror.
"I know not; they just do. I prefer war."
"Well, I'm afraid your favourite activity is the one we are trying to avoid at present." He motioned to the extra chair he had managed to squeeze into the small space."Sit. We have some things to discuss."
Rhaegar leaned back on his chair while Arthur awkwardly took a seat.
The Prince had found the secret room when he was still a boy, and wanting to hide his most treasured books and the investigation of a lifetime, he had built stands from the floor up to the roof all around the place, which didn't leave much space for the desk he later on placed at its centre.
"I don't know if you and Oswell have had the chance to speak, but we've recently debated whether or not to approach the High Septon."
Arthur frowned.
"Oswell and I haven't crossed paths much these past few weeks, so no, I wasn't informed. Why the Septon?"
"I believe he could help our cause."
"Surely a Septon can't sway your father from his…current decisions. And if-"
"I don't exactly intend to give him a seat on the council. I thought of speaking to him, as a concerned son, and gently push him in the right way."
Realisation dawned into Arthur's deep, purple eyes.
"You want him to find cause to force your father to abdicate."
"That is the most recent option I've been considering." Rhaegar admitted.
It couldn't be him going up to his father and starting to whisper words and ideas into his head, or he might end up with his head on a spike. He didn't trust the men of the Small Council to do it either; they were far too self interested, with the exception, perhaps, of Lord Varys. But then again, no one really knew what Lord Varys wanted.
"I think it's a bad idea." Arthur said. "I doubt the Septon will be persuaded, and even if he did and you became king, you'll be indebted to him and therefore stuck; and I don't think it's too good of an idea to let any fanatic gain too much power."
Rhaegar snorted and smiled kindly.
"The High Septon isn't-"
"But he is, or at least he's power hungry enough to pretend not to be." Arthur seemed adamant, shaking his head vehemently. "I still think we can push him to do it himself."
"That wouldn't be honourable."
"Honourable? Burning alive a farmer just because he asked justice for his murdered children isn't honorable, Rhaegar."
"I understand. That was a very unfortunate incident-"
"An incident? That was done purposely. And the king enjoyed it."
"I will try to locate his widow, if he has one, and I will compensate her." He reassured his friend.
Arthur gave him a long look. There was something there that hurt Rhaegar: judgement. Arthur was Rhaegar's closest friend, and it hurt to see that he lacked faith in his plan and intentions.
"If you no longer wish to cooperate with this, I will unde-"
"That's not it." Arthur interrupted softly, his hand closing around the pommel of his sword. "I believe the king is becoming too dangerous for everyone, and I also believe you would make a fine ruler, but I fear what will come to pass if we don't do something quick."
"We have to be careful. I'm sure we have more time."
Arthur sighed, looking away. Rhaegar could be quite headstrong when he wanted, and despite their close friendship and constant banter, the prince couldn't help but sometimes notice a restraint in Arthur, as if from time to time, he remembered who was superior.
"I should return to my post, Your Grace, and you should try to get some sleep before Lady Stark arrives."
Arthur stood up, bowed and turned to leave.
Rhaegar exhaled heavily and leaned forward, burying his face in his hands as a million thoughts raced through his mind.
He hoped his mother wouldn't sport any new scar in the morning, he hoped his father would die naturally and spare him the dishonour of taking care of the issue, he hoped the whore he had hired made it back to the brothel safely, he hoped Viserys would stop being afraid of everything.
When he opened his eyes, they settled on the Valyrian steel dagger that rested to the side.
He hoped for the Prince that was Promised.
Rhaegar laid his head on the table and played with the handle of the dagger, running his fingernail over the invisible words of the prophecy only fire would reveal.
"His will be the song of ice and fire"
He hoped he hadn't made a mistake by demanding his northern bride.
Rhaegar's eyelids dropped little by little, and he saw a flash of yellow and a hammer being swung at him.
Someone shook him by the shoulder.
He jumped in the chair, blinking the sleep away rapidly and looking around, his grip on the dagger tightening.
When he glanced up, he found his mother staring down at him with a lovingly amused smile.
"I didn't mean to scare you, unlike you did to me today, when you fail to come to my chambers to break your fast with me."
"I apologise, mother." He dropped the weapon, rose to his feet and kissed her cheek. "I didn't realise I was tired."
"It's alright. Your brother kept me company."
Queen Rhaella was dressed accordingly for such a cold season, so Rhaegar couldn't see the full extent of the damage, but he did notice a small, purple mark by her jaw.
He cradled her face gently in his hands.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, as he had done plenty of years prior, when he realised for the first time what his mother had to endure.
"Treat your wife and children with dignity, and you shall have repaid me by a tenfold." She said softly, swapping his hand away. "Are you hungry?"
As if on cue, his stomach rumbled.
His mother's smile turned far too sweet.
"That's too bad. Your bride is entering the city, so you won't have time to eat." She turned to leave. "I left an attire appropriate enough for the occasion on your bed, and a small welcoming present for Lady Stark, since you were unbecoming enough to not want to get one yourself. I'll see you in the throne room. Try to look agreeable, and no more whores inside the Red Keep."
Rhaegar was almost afraid to ask how she knew.