A/N: and here's Rhaegar! I had always wanted some kind of story line or flash back involving him and in way more detail than we got in the show. His thoughts and actions while Aerys descended into madness always fascinated me...and forms the basis of this chapter. I found it hard to believe he just sat around playing his harp while Aerys unleashed his madness...and here we go :)

Chapter Two: The Prince of SummerHall

281AC Kings Landing

The sound in the room was deafeningly quiet save for the constant scratching of quill on scroll. Rhaegar stood looking out of the Lord Commanders Office brow furrowed, feelings of discontent rumbling around his gut. While his friend recorded the great deeds of his comrades Rhaegar was content to brood. Thoughts rolled through his mind at what lay ahead for him, changing events led him to make decisions he prayed he would never be faced with. And yet, here he was. The Prince of SummerHall, loved by the people yet trapped in the hell of the Red Keep. He chose to spend most of his time with his friend Barristan Selmy of the KingsGuard. A man he trusted without question, a man he knew would go to any lengths to help him when needed. Truth be told he spent so much time in Barristans office to escape the sound, the horrible sounds of the cackling of a man spiralling into madness. How it angered him to see his Fathers downfall and paranoia blossom into irreversible madness. The man he had once looked up to and adored was gone, and in his place was a madman who abused his mother and frightened his little brother. Various memories flashed through his mind of his father, his strong hands helping him walk, lifting him up when he cried to hold him, teaching him how to hold a sword. This was the man he loved, this was the man who ruled the kingdoms- and now that man was gone.

Rhaegar sighed as his thoughts began to cause his head to hurt, rubbing his eyes tiredly he heard the quill pause. Glancing over at his friend he met his gaze.

Barristan set the quill down and fixed his kind gaze to his friend, the Prince of SummerHall and according to the ladies of Westeros, the most handsome man of all.

The men regarded each other for a short moment before Barristan broke the silence, "You are troubled my Prince"

Rhaegar exhaled from his nose slightly as he returned to gaze out of the window.

"I'm faced with a terrible decision Barristan. Every way I turn there is treachery and consequences that could destroy those I love. I don't know which path is the best to take. I can't-think in this place" the frustration was obvious by his tone.

He gestured around him, and Barristan nodded in understanding looking down at his hands in thought.

"Perhaps some time outside of the city would do you good my Prince? Give you time, and space to think?"

Rhaegar did not respond for the longest time, Barristan picked up the quill beside his right hand and made to continue writing when Rhaegar spoke.

"I'll ride with none other than you"

"It would be my honour" smiled Barristan as he resumed his work.

A sharp knock on the door startled Rhaegar and he looked to Barristan who smiled kindly putting the Prince slightly at ease. Rhaegar was always on edge, his fathers condition, the whispers of the court, the eyes on him- always imploring him please Rhaegar stop him...do something.

Composing himself, Rhaegar nodded slightly to Barristan.

"Enter" said Barristan resuming his work not looking up to see who was disturbing his meeting with the Prince.

A member of the KingsGuard entered, the young handsome knight's armour shiny to show his pride in his position. The young knight stopped in hesitation at the presence of the Prince, he glanced nervously at Rhaegar for the slightest second. Rhaegar noticed and it sharpened his mind, what does the young knight want that could make him nervous? KingsGuard don't usually get nervous they're mostly full of confidence and sure of themselves.

The knight cleared his throat while trying to search for the appropriate words to convey his message.

Barristans brow furrowed at the hesitation on the usually nonchalant young knight.

"What is it Ser Arthur?" he said, his voice deep, commanding, and concerned.

Rhaegar noted the familiarity Barristan spoke to the young knight, using his first name was not unusual but it was the tone he took. Rhaegar shook his mind internally, I'm being too paranoid he thought to himself.

Ser Arthur twiddled his cloak nervously in his hands again and Rhaegar looked closer at his movement, his hand was shaking.

"Is something wrong young Knight?" he said with as much strength as he could muster.

"It's-happening again" mumbled Arthur, looking to the ground, "The throne room is a -mess"

Rhaegar's stomach dropped, he knew in an instant what this meant and his head swirled. More bodies to clean up, more death, more of that maddening laughter as his father extinguished more lives. How was this going to end?

Barristan stood as well, but Rhaegar stopped him with a commanding hand.

"Stay, I'll take some men and attend to this," said Rhaegar, "Prepare the horses to ride out this evening"

Barristan looked up at his friend with a hint of sadness in his eyes and simply nodded, watching the young Prince and the KingsGuard exit the room in haste.

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Rhaegar smelled the characteristic scent of burning flesh well before he made it to the throne room. The most beautiful castle in the Kingdoms had become a chamber of death, entering the throne room he paused at what confronted him. He couldn't identify who they were but they were there all the same, he knew the forms of women, he knew the forms of children. This sickened him most, one woman looked to be holding a babe in arms. His mind immediately flashed to Elia and he stumbled to the side of the room and emptied the contents of his stomach on the floor. Ser Arthur Dayne paused behind him and appeared not to notice, but Rhaegar knew he saw. Standing again and still feeling sick he surveyed the scene, after a long time he turned to Ser Arthur.

"What happened? Were you here?"

"Yes, I was here" started Arthur cautiously, he could see the look of anger and consternation on Rhaegar's face.

"And no one did anything?! Nothing at all? Who are these people anyway?" yelled Rhaegar, his voice echoing around the walls of throne room, around the bodies of the dead. He had lost his patience for these occurrences.

"What would you have had us do?" muttered Arthur insolently, "If we don't want to meet the same fate"

Rhaegar immediately bristled at his comment but deep down he knew he was right, this was happening far too commonly now to ignore. Action had to be taken, despite whatever the consequences would be.

"Get your men and some soldiers, remove them from the room. I'll organise some cleaners."

Ser Arthur nodded and went to leave and enact the Princes orders, but Rhaegar gripped his arm trembling slightly, "Can we expect war to erupt from this?" his voice was low, full of emotion but also concern.

"No my Prince," said Arthur stealing a glance at the bodies, "Commoners coming for assistance from the Storm Lands, bandits stole their money and made off with their horse. The husband killed, they were merely reporting the incident and hoping for some- help"

Rhaegar felt disgusted, angry and furious all at once. Innocents, coming for help. Silently he begged the gods to help him make it out of this situation alive and sane. This wouldn't have happened if his Fathers Hand was taking care of matters of the court.

He loosened his grip on the young Knights arm and nodded slightly his face paling as he caught a glimpse of a child the same age as his daughter.

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Rhaegars footsteps echoed around the halls as he traversed through the Red Keep. The whole time he walked the sight of those bodies haunted his mind. This was enough to push him over the edge, something had to be done. Now he needed to go to the one person he knew he could turn to who shared the pain of this situation. His wife.

Slipping into the chambers he found his family, the children squealing and playing chase and hide. His eldest, Rhaenys, his darling princess coaxing her younger brother Aegon to come find her. The scene was such a contrast to what was unfolding in the Throne room Rhaegar almost swayed on the spot and fainted with the emotions of shock reverberating through his body. Elia looked up at his appearance and the pair locked eyes across the room. Her big brown soulful eyes saw straight into him and his eyes bored into her. They shared a moment of tension, and fear. This was cut by the children running and grabbing at his legs, laughing and looking up at him in pure joy. Their bright smiling faces melting his heart, and cementing his decision that something must be done.

"Children," cooed his wife in her thick Dornish accent, as if nothing was wrong, "come it's time you bathed"

Elia called the maids to attend the children who willingly followed them to play and splash in the bath for a time. Rhaegar watched them leave with a haunted smile on his face.

Elia crossed the room with the smile falling from her face as she knew Rhaegar brought them bad news.

She slipped her golden brown arms around his body and looked up into his face.

"Your Father?" she questioned in a low voice.

"Yes" he replied barely audible, just the thought of talking about it made him want to be sick. The images of the burnt bodies flashed into his mind again.

"I want you and the children to leave the Capitol. You're not safe here, none of us are"

Elia blinked several times, "That won't happen Rhaegar"

Suddenly the images left his mind and he focused sharply on her face, "I'm ordering you to leave. It's not safe" the last words he emphasised as if she hadn't understood them the first time.

"I know what you're saying," she replied irritably, "he won't let us leave, he told me as much already"

Rhaegar felt rage rise in him, his children squealed in happiness from the bathroom making his anger intensify at the thought they were in danger.

"When?"

"A few days back, he cornered me in a corridor. No one heard, it was quick but it happened."

"What was said?" spoke Rhaegar sharply.

Elia looked up to her husband, her protector with large soulful eyes, "You'll burn just like the others if you try and escape me"

Rhaegar pushed away and paced the room, his mind working hard to find a way to protect his family. He knew his Father had loyal servants who would report attempts at escape, if this wasn't done right they could all die and it would be Rhaegars fault.

"I'm going to double your guard Elia, I need to get out of the city tonight. I need to think of a way to get us- all of us out of this alive. Can you promise me you won't leave this room until I return?"

He rounded on her and looked at her small delicate form, she would be easy for his Father to overpower and harm. Despite his madness he was still strong and capable of inflicting harm, who knows what he would do in Rhaegar's absence.

Elia looked to the floor, "You forget that I'm from a family who is strong. I'm not one of these ladies who stays where her husband orders her"

Rhaegar smiled inside, that was the quality that endeared Elia to him in the first place.

"I know you aren't my love, but I need you to be safe"

Rhaegar crossed the room to grasp her hands hard in his, he looked down at her hands small and delicate in his, "I need all of you to be safe. Stay in here, please" he struggled to hide the desperation in his voice.

Elia defiantly looked to her husband before grasping the side of his face and kissing him passionately before embracing him tightly.

"I'll keep us safe while you're gone" she cooed in his ear as he held her small form against his body. All around them elaborate opulent murals of Targaryen history glittered around them on the walls.

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The night was warm and the moon illuminated the city brightly, the red roofs of the city were darkened by the night. Two lone riders urged their horses through the sparse streets, hoods covered their faces as they navigated the cobblestone lanes and streets. Once outside the city the horses lengthened their strides, the hoods blowing off the riders to reveal silver and gray hair blowing in the wind. The horses rode hard until the sun began to creep over the horizon in the distance. Their hooves cut through the quiet of the night as they rushed through the brush of the overgrown roads. These tracks weren't frequented often anymore and the plants had begun to reclaim them. In the hour before sunrise the riders came to a halt when they arrived, the broken and burnt palace at SummerHall looming out of the early morning mists.

Rhaegar dismounted solemnly passing his reins to Barristan, "Wait for me until I return my friend"

Barristan looked slightly concerned but he took the reins all the same, "I'm here if you need me My Prince"

Rhaegar nodded slightly and entered the thick mist that engulfed the ruined palace. He knew exactly where he wanted to go, and he picked his way through the rubble to enter the parts of the building that still stood. Coming into the main hall suddenly Rhaegar felt exhaustion take over him. Finding a place uncluttered with debris he sat to get some rest and quickly dropped off into a deep sleep.

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Rhaegar blinked, one, two, three times and looked around. One moment his body had been wracked with exhaustion and the next he was here, standing in the main hall of SummerHall palace. His heart dropped and he looked around in shock. The palace was no longer a ruin, it was completely whole returned to its original splendour. Rhaegar walked around and marvelled at the scene in front of him, something he had always wished so much to see was what this place, his birthplace had looked like before it was destroyed. So consumed with looking at the brilliant marble details of the grand room he missed the man approaching him from the side.

"It was a splendid castle wasn't it?" spoke the man softly as he came to stand at Rhaegars side.

Rhaegar startled and stepped away in haste unsure if this man was a threat or not to which the old man simply smiled. Instinctively he reached for his sword but it was gone, he felt vulnerable and on edge.

"Please Rhaegar, we are kin. I mean you no harm" he spoke with familiarity and kindness but Rhaegar was still unsure. His kin weren't known in history for having deep regard for each other.

"Wh-who are you?" replied Rhaegar cautiously.

The man sighed and his face, heavy with lines of age and grief was saddened.

"I am Brynden Rivers, but I do not go by that name now," he looked at Rhaegar squarely and Rhaegar stumbled backwards again as the sight of the man shocked him. The man had three eyes, all glaring at him and glazed over. Internally it creeped Rhaegar out to see someone with so many eyes, he stepped away again panic rising in him as he didn't understand why this man was coming to him in dreams. The man stepped forward and spoke some more.

"I have important information for you to help you with what's to come, follow me"

Rhaegar considered him for a moment, "Is this a dream? Am I asleep?"

"Your physical body is resting but your mind is very much conscious. If you want to save your family I may have the answers you seek. But the path is long and bloody, you'll have to make sacrifices and your country will almost be torn apart by war"

"Do you speak of my father? And his madness?" said Rhaegar seriously.

"Partially, yes. But there is more- a prophecy about the Long Night. For it is coming and with it there is much darkness"

"The Long Night? That's already happened though"

Brynden smiled, "There will be another, and if you don't prepare yourself everything you know will be no more"

"What is this prophecy?" asked Rhaegar struggling to believe this was real.

"You will bring a child into the world, a child of fire and ice who will lead your people to victory against the rising dead. If you fail all is lost"

"Me?" said Rhaegar in disbelief.

"Yes, you Rhaegar. But you need to follow me first and do as I say"

Brynded beckoned to Rhaegar who cautiously tailed him as he traversed through the palace. Unable to help himself Rhaegar marvelled as he walked through arches carved with dragons that glittered and shone brightly.

"You need to awaken the parts of yourself which are sleeping boy, and you will be able to gift some of these parts to others close to you. You will be remarkable, but you will not be the last of your family. There will be another, also remarkable. If you can find your way to her then your family will hold power once again and the livings chances of surviving are assured." spoke Brynden as he walked, turning back to find Rhaegar several paces behind him looking all around him.

"What do you mean I need to awaken parts of myself?" he said suspiciously as he still wasn't sure if this man was here to harm him or help him.

Brynden smiled and turned walking away, after waiting a brief moment Rhaegar chased him down deciding he wanted to know more. They crossed soundlessly through the palace not stopping for long in one place now so he could marvel at the palaces wonders. Eventually they approached a room with a red door which Brynden simply passed straight through, Rhaegar tried the same and was shocked to find he could do this as well. Inside was the biggest library he had ever laid eyes on, the books were in shelves so high he was unable to see the top of the room. Brynden stopped in the middle of the room and simply held up his hands light streaming from his palms. Rhaegar heard a rustling sound and looked on in shock as he approached. Some objects seemed to be falling, no hurtling towards the old man who calmly stood with his arms out. The objects slowed to reach the mans hands and fell gracefully into his hands with minimal effort. Brynden turned towards Rhaegar and handed him three objects, two books and a dragons egg. The egg was hot and Rhaegar looked it over reverently in his hands, he could feel the egg breathing and the heat radiating out from it. Yet it didn't hurt him and was ringed by the most intricate patterns, the books were black, thin, non descript. Rhaegar simply looked confused at what they were, he flicked through them but the old man closed his hands over them.

"Time to rest young man, when you awaken tomorrow the world will look quite different. There is more to do, you cannot rush back to the capitol, ensure what's happened here has integrated. If this plan is rushed we fail and all of humanity dies, we will meet again soon, Rhaegar Targaryen" spoke the old man, his voice shaky with age and what sounded like a tinge of grief.

"Wait, tell me what are these books? How do I use them?"

Rhaegar held up the black books with confusion across his face, Brynden remained expressionless.

"Those books hold the key to growing your power, they are from Old Valyria. You will need to learn Valyrian to decode them. Rest young Dragon, I'll return to help you"

The words boomed in Rhaegars mind as the wonderful halls of the palace dissipated into nothing around him and Rhaegar felt like he was falling in darkness. The old mans face dissolved away into blackness as a stream of dust. Rhaegar felt the familiar feeling of cold stone underneath him but a sickness churned in his stomach of hunger and sickness. The only thing that kept him focused was the heat emanating from the dragons egg he tightly clutched under his arm. A reminder that his dream was in fact reality.

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Barristan waited for his Prince patiently in the outer ruins as he was commanded. Yet days had passed and he grew worried for his Prince. He had never wandered from his side for this long, and the area was known to be frequented by looters and bandits looking for some long lost Targaryen treasure to spruik for a chance at riches. He stared into the swirling mists which frequented around the ruins since that fateful day and his brow was furrowed in outright worry. Restlessly he paced the perimeter looking for a sign or a sound, but nothing came or showed him his Prince was alive. Yet he was obedient, he had been instructed to stay, he trusted his prince, so stay he did. Loathe as he was to do it, something in him told him to hold position, be patient, all will be well. As the days burned on his worry grew but the feeling to remain didn't budge, so while internally he was a mess of anxiety and worry he remained watch. Alert and ready for his Prince to emerge from the mists and return to the capitol with some answers, a plan, something. A week after seeing Rhaegar disappear into the mists, Barristan spotted movement in the swirling. At first he dismissed it, a trick of the mind. Yet striding out of the mists, was Rhaegar with a look of purpose painted on his face along with grim seriousness.

"You were worried" said Rhaegar quietly and sternly as he came to face Barristan.

"Of course Rhaegar, you have been gone for 7 nights. I thought you dead, or injured"

Rhaegar watched the man he called his close friend and guard relax as he approached, he smiled and clapped a hand on his back in thanks.

"I am protected in there, no harm can come to me. It's my home"

Barristan gave him a strange look, confused and unnerved all at once.

"What happened in there Rhaegar? Why did you take so long? You couldn't have needed that long to compose a new song" chuckled his dear friend.

Rhaegar looked down, the weight of the hot dragon egg burning into his side. For a long moment he debated about whether he should show and tell what he had seen and found. In his mind he saw a flash of Barristan alongside a Targaryen ruler, a faithful servant as always.

Sighing

Rhaegar revealed the dragon egg and smiled as Barristans eyes widened in awe at the sight.

"The ruins have been searched for anything of value?! Where did you find this?" his eyes searched Rhaegars with intent.

The Prince returned his gaze steadily, "Not everywhere was searched I managed to find a place that was intact"

Barristan looked for a few moments more into Rhaegars face for any sign of a lie, before he tore his eyes away and gazed back at the egg which seemed to glow in his hands.

"Do you have a plan for your father? You can't mean to show him this?"

"My father will never know about this, and it seems the wheels are already in motion for my fathers demise. Some things are happening out of my control, so now I need to do what's best for my family"

The men walked to the waiting horses, "You mean to evacuate Elia and the children?"

Rhaegar nodded slowly, "Yes I must find a way to get them out. Will the WhiteCloaks help me if it goes against my father?"

"I pledge to support you anyway I can Rhaegar. You know of my loyalty to your House, I have a few men I trust to help you"

Rhaegar swung onto the top of his horse which was ebony black and spirited, it danced around the clearing as Rhaegar grasped the reins and brought him under control.

Barristan swung onto his horse watching the Prince curiously the whole time.

"I know of your loyalty Barristan and I have another task I would like to bestow upon you. And when I do trust what I'm saying, don't question me because I can't give you the answers"

Barristan looked troubled, a task that would make him ask questions was something he felt unsure of. Did Rhaegar mean to ask him to commit a terrible act?

Rhaegar spurred his dark horse into the fall of night, pledging to ride as hard and fast back to his little family.

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The horses galloped at an unreal pace. As they ran Rhaegar felt the rush of energy through his body and directed the energy to the horses. Their pace increased and at one point they rode so fast their surroundings were just a blur. Their pace slowed through the city as they made their way to the stables of the Red Keep, but they still moved with agility and haste. Barristan looked breathless and confused as the horses lathered with sweat collapsed into stalls of hay and fell into deep sleep. Rhaegar pushed on through the Keep, his mind focused on one thing, keeping his family safe. At sight of him the guards looked relieved and stepped aside wordlessly as he entered his family chambers. It was dark inside, the light illuminated the room once his eyes adjusted and he saw Elia gazing out the window. Scanning the room he saw the forms of his babies with Elia sleeping on the other side of the room. She turned slightly at the sound of his steps but she knew it was him, a small smile fell across her face.

"You're back" she whispered quietly.

He smiled and reached out to her, encircling his arms around her and inhaling her sweet scent.

"I'm back, it did me good to get out of here. I have a plan" he spoke decisively and confidently.

Elia looked up at him, she was unsure. They had tried to plan their escape before and been foiled. She had steadily lost faith it was possible, she didn't believe they could be free.

"Rhaegar I don't think we can-"

Rhaegar held his hand to her lips, and opened his palm. Light streamed from his hand, illuminating the room. Elias eyes widened in what was both wonder and fear, Rhaegars finger remained on her lips.

"My ancestors could wield magic, it has been latent in our blood since we forgot the ways of our people after the Doom. But it's always been there just waiting to be rediscovered, something happened at SummerHall," he spoke excitedly, "things aren't as hopeless as before"

He slowly removed his finger from Elias face and she grasped his hand examining it reverently.

"What do we need to do?" she whispered quietly.

Rhaegar held up two black books, "Follow these, there is a prophecy and details of the magic of my ancestors. With some time and practice we might just be able to get out of this with our lives"

Elia swallowed thickly, returning home to Dorne had been a tantalising and painful prospect she had given up on.

"What is this prophecy?" she asked suspiciously, "My people are not so trustworthy of prophecies, they can be- misleading"

Rhaegar nodded, "I felt the same, until I saw it"

Elia looked confused, and Rhaegar settled her with a kiss, "Trust me"

He whispered and smoothed her hair down, slowly and gently he pressed his thumb into the space between her eyebrows. Immediately she startled at his touch sending her into a deep trance to view the prophecy.