Hidden in an alcove, deep in one of the great halls of the Red Keep, two figures are huddled together as they listen, well one is listening, the other's reading.
Dragon glass eyes gleam with an insensitivity as they peer out into the opening, watching as the daily staff goes on about unaware.
Said opening is behind a row of dragon busts, barely big enough to fit a grown man though perfect for two boys of ten name days.
He glances up as the clanking of metal meets his ears. Crawling out of his position he peers over Lael's shoulder, trying to stay as quiet as possible as a few guards rush past, frantic.
The older one, 'by minutes!' Rhaegar could practically hear the whine in that, the one who he was thinking of and peering over, vibrating with giddiness written on his face as the mayhem unfolds.
"You know, we are gonna get in trouble" the soft voice of his drawing his cousin, more like a twin, away from the chaos comensensing.
Lael tilts his head to look behind, white locks more pale than his spun silver flicking with the movement.
Ruby eyes full of mischief, along with a grin that puts the best jester to shame is what meets his indigo gaze.
"No we won't, besides. You're only worried they will not let you keep your books." Lael preaches.
Rhaegar took to books, like, well a dragon to fire. He loves immersing himself in a story or event that's happened, or learning about the-
"Besides, Uncle, His Grace…your father adores me." lael continues with playful smugness.
"Yeah, only because you indulge in his antics, honestly agreeing to the nonsense he spouts" he says.
His face pointing back down to the book he's currently reading, a candle light being his meager light source. The glow hidden from view by the bust stands.
When silence meets him he's afraid that he overstepped, looking towards his cousin he sighs in relief seeing his oblivious cousin had resumed watching people.
His relationship with his father is not the healthiest.
The king used to be amazing, when he was younger he remembers his father being more gentle where he'd hold instead of scorn him.
Making remarks on his seemingly unusual apathy towards fighting and training.
He doesn't want to fight, he prefers reading and learning. It's not that he's not good, he's actually pretty proficient in his swordplay. He just doesn't like it.
'Why fight when the solution is so simple?'
When his wayward cousin asked if he wanted to ditch the training section in lieu of seeing a secret spot, who can blame him.
His mind settles as he gets lost in the story he's reading.
A historical book detailing the Great Bastards, currently he's on Brynden Rivers, or Bloodraven as he coined himself upon legitimacy.
His mind can't help but draw an image of his cousin when the book goes into describing Brynden, they both had the pale, almost snow white hair, their eyes and Brynden, birthmark are the only differences he can conjure up.
"What are you reading?" The voice of his cousin breaks his reading.
he thumbs the page before dragging his attention to Lael, he can't help but start at the mirage that seems to shade over his cousin for a split second.
It was almost like Brynden was standing behind Lael.
Instead of answering he hands the boy his book, watching in curiosity on how his companion will react.
The Blood eyes widen as his cousin reads, he notices a glazed look in his eyes. Worried, he tries for a response.
"Lae..?"
Hearing him call his name seems to jolt Lael. Seeing as he looks up towards Rhaegar as if forgetting he's here.
Lael gives a reassuring look to Rhaegar, which doesn't do anything to calm his mind.
he opens his mouth to question, but Lael interrupts.
"We, have you go" with that Lael dodges the unasked question quite literally, as he snatches Rhaegar by the wrist tugging him out of the hole, before sprinting down the hall swiftly dodging past the stunned servants loitering around.
Looking back he just catches the sheen of a gold cloak as they round the corner.
'Oh'
Turning his focus back on the back of his cousin's head he lets a grin break out as the rush of adrenaline rushes through his veins when the resulting shout of "Brats!" reaches his ears.
If it were anyone other than the person who yelled that, they'd be in trouble, but since they're a gold cloak, and charged with protecting one.
he's given certain privileges, within reason… he hopes, knowing how vindictive Ser Lewyn can be.
"Lae-" his call is interpreted as he collides into said boy's back causing him to oomph slightly.
Turning his gaze to where his cousin stopped to stare, he squints wondering what he's seeing.
Not giving him time to ask, Lael steps up to a torch handle, with a whisper of 'so cliché' making Rhaegsr wonder what he meant.
The sound of stone grinding alerts him to the fact that his cousin pulled…' a lever?'
The now identified lever was simple, just a quick tug and the wall in front split before pulling apart, the noise making Rhaegar wonder how no one came to inspect.
The path leading past the newly discovered entrance is narrow but tall, seemingly endless in its depths.
"What?" Is all he can say.
"Rhae, do you trust me?" The question catches the boy off guard, the serious question out of character for such a carefree person.
"Always" he replies without hesitation, knowing he made the right choice by the startled, but pleased expression on Lael.
Before he can inquire on what to do with the tunnel, a cough startles both of them, as they whip around to see both of their respective Kingsguard.
Ser Barristan calm as ever with cool resignation, while the amused expression of Ser Lewyn doesn't do any to quell his foreboding feeling of a vigorous training session.
"Boys" Barristan starts. Sneaking a glance at Lael, he sees the unrepentant look on his face and almost groans.
'At least pretend'
"You don't realize how much luck you two have that this hasn't reached your father, my prince" addressing Rhaegar.
This caused him to wince the last time he made his father displeased, he had a child his age flogged until the poor lad was unconscious. He still hears the boys please for mercy.
He sees Lael scrunch up his nose, probably remembering the same incident.
He remembers how Lael was the only one to try and dissuade the king, but what can a child do?
The king looked at Lael with an eerie expression for a long moment before promptly adding ten lashes onto the flogging, causing Lael to go white.
That was on their name day.
"Sorry, Barristan. It's just our dear future King who wanted some peace and quiet, and I felt like causing- I mean I wanted to help" the alabaster child smiles sheepishly at the slip up.
The two guards give each other a glance, a thousand words passing through the gaze, before turning to them. Lewyn opens his mouth to speak but his eyes flick behind the two registering the tunnel.
"What is this?" Came out instead.
Rhaegar looks towards his Best friend/brother/cousin knowing and trusting him in these silly but fulfilling endeavors.
He sees a look of trepidation, something he rarely sees on his companions face.
He's curious too, though he's never asked he's wondered how his cousin has done and pulled off some of the feats he does, the way he knows the layout throughout the halls of the Red Keep is scary.
Having your cousin pop up in your room from a slab next to the fireplace was not what he expected in the middle of the night.
Tho using all the hidden spots to their advantage was a plus.
"I…" his cousin trails off panic in his face.
The two men in front of them seem to soften, seeing the distress on the boy's face.
Lewyn quickly crouches in front of the distressed
"Hey, little Dragon, you know I'm not gonna be mad, I need to know everything to protect you to the best of my ability, and when you wander off into these places it can be dangerous without someone knowing in case something happens." Lewyn quickly reassures, sending a glance to Rhaegar, when the silverette leans in to comfort the boy as well.
Ignoring the curious guard Rhaegar grins as he offers "you know having these two in on it might help" acting as though he's not just as clueless.
The two look at Barristan clearly wanting him to put his two stags in. The startled knight bends to his knees in front of the two boys.
"My Princes, it would be my honor to be bestowed the trust you have to offer, if it's to your pleasure" The ever so formal man states in a sincere but mood lightening tone.
The responding giggle causes a triumphant feeling to arise in them.
The smirk on Lewyns face shows how much he adores the Boy being cradled protectively, as though he could stop the internal struggle from his form alone.
"'Mother Hen" Barristan teases the other knight, laughing when the responding middle finger is thrown up.
Rhaegar's attention is drawn to Lael as he takes a deep breath before seeming to glance behind the knight before giving a grin full of chaos.
"We can't talk here, come on!" he doesn't give them time before darting into the darkness of the tunnel, the three stand stunned before following.
Barristan, being last passes the threshold, immediately the stone slabs start closing. Not giving any time to process the stabs shut and they incased in darkness. The sounds of Lael's footfalls echoing farther down.
"Damn it…Lael!" The call echoes throughout the tunnel.
"This way, it's not that far! it's just dark" the unconcerned call of Lael making Rhaegar almost slump in relief, trusting his friend to not kill him,
'purposely', he thinks distantly, given the current situation he's given some slack.
Just as he's about to aimlessly wander down the dark tunnel, feeling the darkness claw into his eyes. The sound of something igniting is heard as flames burst to life starting down where Lael went.
As the flames finish igniting, the tunnel reveals itself to be covered in intricate scale work making the surrounding seem like the skin of…
'A dragon' his mind whispers in awe.
Before he can contemplate the smug face of Lael Greets him at the end of the tunnel, a sheen of sweat seems to be coating his face.
"I don't know why I hang out with you"
The only response he gets is a echoing cackle