"Mace wasn't afraid of me following this scenario, neither is he afraid of me. I'd say more along the lines of he is disinterested in me, or at the very least, resents me for everything I've done to me. You see, we never really got along. I wanted to go back to the Vale so dearly, that I purposely upset him. I hoped if he hated me enough that Lady Olenna would be forced to return me. Little did I know I was not a match for Lady Olenna, though I impishly made numerous attempts to not fit in with the Tyrells. Within the latest years, I began to realize how awful I was to him and tried to make amends.
"Albeit too late, I'm afraid, but Mace also did make attempts at appeasing me... With the wrong things. Be it lavishing jewelry on me or exotic bolts of silk, I never wanted these material things. So, when I heard they were going on a hunt, I thought I should go. You see, to add my impudence, I demanded to be taught to fight at a young age, again hoping the Tyrells would return me to the Vale. This is not acceptable in the south, but Lady Olenna humored me having a bow. I recall her words exactly, 'If it is to be anything, a bow in the hands of a woman with keen eyes shall always strike true'. Of course, I wasn't very good following her endearing words, I daresay I'm not a perfect shot, but nonetheless I kept up with it because it was a good way to keep my nose out of trouble.
"Now, circling back to the hunt... We were hunting deer, it was the perfect season to acquire a stag with a beautiful full rack and Mace had been craving venison. Winter brings snow south and so we were hunting in the snowy foothills of the Dornish Marches closest to Highgarden. Mace... is rather loud. Be it riding, drinking, or just being his merry self, he's never been on for subtlety. The hunting party split up because of this, as half hoped to be successful and give Mace the venison he wanted, and the other wished to accompany Mace. I was among the latter group with the Tyrell kennelmaster. A dog was sent forward and didn't return, sending the kennel master looking for her.
"Mace believed he had spotted a stag and blundered after it. Personally, I do think he saw a buck, but I think it was fleeing from what had prohibited the hound from returning. We greeted a shadowcat full in the face, lapping up the blood from its kill; the dog. Both of us were frozen for a moment, contemplating what to do, and before reasoning that we should chase it down or ride it off into the mountains, Mace turned his horse to flee. A grave mistake, as the shadowcat, seeing threat to the meal it had and prospect of a much larger meal that had revealed its back to him, it pounced.
"The shadowcat's claws gouged the rump of the horse, dragging it down to the ground with its prowess. I mean, this cat must have weighed as much as the horse. I give Mace credit, he did keep his seat as the horse fell hard, pinning him to the ground. The moment the cat had leapt, I had been shaken from my stupor, albeit too late, and fired an arrow at it. I took it between the shoulder blades just as the horse, Mace, and the cat toppled over. To remind you, Mace was in the way of the horse's head. Perhaps the cat thought that Mace was the head, but it paused in the confusion and perhaps it was jarred from the horse kicking out at it before falling.
"I took the opportunity to shoot another arrow, which struck a front limb, and remove my skinning knife from my saddle. There was no heroic removal of Mace's sword, in fact, the closer I drew to the shadowcat, the more afraid my horse became, and bucked me just feet. I wasn't as lucky as Mace and fell from the saddle, arrows spilling out of the quiver, and my knife flying from my hands. I landed quite hard, remaining on the ground as the shadowcat decided which prey was more tempting. Apparently, I was. I only managed to knock an arrow and fire it again as it flew at me and as Olenna had hoped, I struck true. The shadowcat still fell on top of me, the behemoth weight feeling as if it would crush me, but it had died before mauling me; and arrow through its left eye into the skull.
"The kennel master managed to help me out from underneath the shadowcat before we got Mace to his feet. I was covered in the blood of the cat because I had been beneath it. And it was the same kennelmaster who insisted that we skin the cat for the shadowskin, which I earned to wear as a cloak. Mace was not afraid of me because of what had happened, in fact, he was gracious that I'd saved his life. I was just glad that no one had perished aside from the shadowcat, hound, and horse. I did jar my shoulders quite badly and was bruised all over from the brunt of the shadowcat's fall, but I was relatively unscathed otherwise."
He absorbed the story as she sat on a boulder across from him, the details considerably more believable now that he had context. What he drew most from it that Elyse had been acting out of instinct and hadn't purposely demeaned Mace. Additionally, their relationship was strained because she had wanted to return to the Vale. Eddard wondered why she hadn't been allowed to visit, perhaps she would have been kinder to Mace had she been allowed to return to the Vale periodically.
A reasonable story with reasonable outcomes. The engagement had been cut off following the hunt, so many believed it was because of the hunt. Rather, it had been a compilation of events and ironically followed the dangerous encounter with a shadowcat. Of course southrons would try and make it out as if this dramatic event was the causation to breaking off an engagement. Lady Elyse was a homesick child who had acted out of spite, which threw Ned more questions. Why had she never returned? From her own mouth, she had wanted to, but had never been allowed. His own loyalty to Jon clouded his better judgement, but perhaps there was more information he didn't possess; just as he hadn't known the true story behind the betrothal break off. No love seemed to be lost fortunately.
"How do you feel following your betrothal being broken off?" he asked her, honestly curious.
"Mace and I actually got along considerably better once it had been decided the match was illmade. I do not mind his personality when I can consider him more of a brother, but as a husband..." she trailed off, her countenance shifting as she realized that she appeared slightly crestfallen. "I fear I would have spent most of my time butting heads with him. I'd be doing you a disservice by telling you I'm sweet, agreeable, and timid. Lady Olenna... Lady Olenna raised me in a certain manner and as many know, she controls House Tyrell. I have opinions of my own, which I am not afraid to voice. It is better you know sooner rather than later, in case that's not the type of wife you were looking for."
She had to know that the Vale's worth was on her shoulders. Even if Jon Arryn remarried, having a son would be a gamble, and Elyse's hand would guarantee the Vale. Deep down, Ned felt a sense of duty to Jon, to make certain that the Vale didn't end up in the wrong hands. Otherwise, her words did not frighten him. She was chatty, if not very well spoken, but her honesty was refreshing. He had not expected that of a lady raised in the south, but it could have also been her way to weed out suitors. How would they react to her blunt words? Would they accept the challenge and think they could tame the falcon? Or would they bow down to the falcon just to have the chance to be Warden of the East? Ned gazed into her eyes, finding himself soaring within the blue sky depths before he found words.
"I cannot say what 'kind' of wife I am looking for other than one who is forward and loyal," he told her, her shoulders sliding down slightly as if she had been worried about his rebuttal.
"As I could ask the same," she agreed, nodding slowly. "My father picked you. I know he was intended to marry Lysa Tully in hopes of producing an heir, but from what I understand, I'm an anomaly. All other attempts for a child ended in heartbreak and suffice to say, it might be due in part to my father's ability to produce children. Still, circling back, you were raised by him and so... I presume you must be a good man."
Ned chuckled lightly, feeling his cheeks burn from her compliment. "I try to be, but you shall have to be the judge of that."
"Just be yourself, I've been surrounded by too many men who try to be more than they are to be impressive," she said before shifting the subject. "I know you have siblings, are they all here for the tourney?"
"Yes, my family is all in attendance. My elder brother is Brandon, the younger Benjen. I also have a sister named Lyanna," he told her.
"Wonderful! And I know that your brother, Brandon, is betrothed to Lady Catelyn Tully, so I presume the Tullys are here as well."
Eddard nodded.
"Despite the insipid extravagance of this tourney, I daresay we'll find one way or another to look beyond it's superficial face," she pushed herself to her feet, her curls bobbing around her as she smiled at him.
She talks a lot, doesn't she? Ned thought, offering a gentle smile in return as he stood up from the stone he had been sitting on. He didn't quite mind it, the brightness in her voice, the engaging expressions, and her confidence was somewhat infectious. Lady Elyse was radiant not only in appearance, but in disposition. Her frankness was an attractive trait, but also in due part to her eloquence and the light on her face. And that's a dangerous trait for a lady, isn't it? Smiling eyes, honest words built on a silver tongue, and friendliness that pulls you in... There are bound to be others that admire her.
He didn't know why he thought that, as she was already promised to him. Just their morning conversation had drawn him in. A part of him felt bad that he could only take her words with a grain of salt until she had proven otherwise. Desperately, he hoped that the exuberant young lady he spoke to now wasn't a southron ruse or face she wore. Brandon's words lingered in his head, which he now tried to shake away as he offered his arm to Elyse.
Dawn had passed and much of the grounds were busy with people milling around. From challengers seeking the lavish prizes, to noble girls ogling at the hedge knights and their armor, their attention was drawn mostly by the inky black banner flying at the head of an entourage of horses and some knights cloaked in snow white. The banner of the Targaryens boasted the crimson three headed dragon, marking the attendance of the royal party. A wheelhouse was ahead, mostly likely containing the king and perhaps the queen. Many were gathering to greet the royal party, eyes admiring the details of the dark wheelhouse with dragons carved into the wood or perhaps it was the rider just up ahead who was approaching the rear of the guard.
The black horse wore a dapper ensemble in the Targaryen colors, the fabric fluttering around the mare's muscular curvature. The rider was lean, adorned in a fine doublet that glinted with silver thread embroidery that nigh matched the rider's hair. Prince Rhaegar smiled broadly at those around him as he approached, a rider flanked him, with a much more serious face than the prince; the Sword of the Morning. Broader and more imposing, the pale glow of the hilt of his sword drawing envious stares from those who knew its lineage.
Eddard hadn't thought much at all of the royal party's arrival until he noticed that the prince was approaching them.
"Lady Elyse!" he proclaimed excitedly, dismounting in a graceful swoop, landing neatly on his feet like a feline. His dark cloak swung around him as he approached, paying little heed to customs as he trailed forward, the reins of his horse in hand.
"Your grace," Elyse dropped her hand from Ned's arm to curtsy, her head bowed slightly.
The prince brushed the pleasantries away with a smile. "Come now, we're good friends."
"And many eyes watch us, your grace. Be us good or poor friends, we must still observe proper pleasantries in front of others... Please, this is my betrothed, Lord Eddard Stark," she gestured to Eddard, who had not met the prince before, but had heard of the prince's glory.
Rhaegar was impossibly handsome with deep, violet eyes, a strong jaw and straight nose. He had no facial hair, his long silver hair sweeping over his shoulder in a loose plait. With long, elegant fingers, Rhaegar took Elyse's hand between his, in a friendly, but gentle manner. "You always were so proper in court, despite your more daring hobbies. I am glad to see you have not changed much," he glanced at Eddard, not mirth or dislike in his eyes. "A pleasure to meet you. I hope you're well prepared for trying to tame the falcon, the Tyrells tried to clip her wings, and now she is due to marry a Northerner. Perhaps it is for the best-" he glanced back fondly at Lady Elyse.
Eddard bowed respectfully to the prince. "The honor is mine, your grace."
"We'll need to meet later in private. My wife, Elia, will likely be thrilled to see you again. Perhaps your betrothed would also prefer to join us tomorrow for dinner? I have some wonderful wine from the Arbor that I think would be worth opening to paw over what's happened in the last few years since I've seen you," Prince Rhaegar suggested, glancing between the two.
"I am honored by such an invitation and shall accept. I am unaware if Eddard has any previous engagements, so I do not wish to commit him to this gathering."
"I would also be honored to join the prince and princess for dinner," Eddard inclined.
"Splendid!" Rhaegar grinned, patting Elyse's hand. "Sunset should be a good time. We are staying within Harrenhal. I have no doubt you'll find your way, I'll inform the guards to expect you."
"We shall be there," Elyse promised, squeezing his hand before withdrawing her own and stepping back toward Eddard. "Your journey must have been long and you've only just arrived. We shall leave you to relax before then-"
"Right," Rhaegar agreed. "Until tomorrow."
"Until tomorrow evening," she bid, gazing past the prince toward the Sword of the Morning. For a moment, it appeared as if she were going to greet him, but instead turned back to Ned with a strained expression.
With Lady Elyse came a plethora of information and relationships he had no knowledge on. If she was a Northerner, he might have been able to get some access to her ongoings, but she had spent most of her life south. The only people who knew her were those that she had been surrounded by and this not only included the Tyrells and their subordinate houses, but also those in King's Landing. Ned would have to learn and if he felt the need to, ask about the relationships she had with other noble or royal families.
"Would you like something to drink? The sun is rather bright today," Eddard suggested, the thoughtful expression plastered on Elyse's face leading him to believe that the merry exchange wasn't as merry as it had been displayed. *Southrons...* he thought dreadfully.
"Yes, I think I could use a drink. Perhaps... perhaps we could go visit your family? I would like to meet them," Lady Elyse suggested, her voice cracking slightly.
"A drink first and a moment of rest, then you shall meet the rest of the Starks," Ned promised her, leading her away from the clustering crowd that was still observing the royal party's arrival. He waited until they had walked a good distance and crossed the threshold of where the Northern tents were pitched. They passed the banner of the Karstark winter sun before he spoke plainly, "Are you alright?"
Elyse turned her keen eyes toward him, silently observing him before deciding to give an answer. "Well enough, though now I need to prepare myself for a royal dinner," exhaustion crept into her voice, but she turned a smile up at him. "You'll see tonight, entertaining royalty is arduous."
"The prince seems friendly," Ned decided.
"Oh, there will be no lack of conversation, but that's just the problem isn't it? I'm not keen on being drilled about the last 3 years of my life, including telling between rumor and truth and the prince adores talking. Just... do not get him started on reading between the lines of ballads or songs-"
"Ah, so is this where your disdain of music comes from?" Eddard mused, putting the pieces together.
"Perhaps in tandem with my experience riding to Harrenhal," Elyse muttered, slightly grudgingly.
"What does a lady, such as yourself, prefer to talk about if not the arts?" he continued, with mock curiosity.
"Well, if I had to be honest," she drawled, considering Eddard with an open stare. "I enjoy listening to other people speak about themselves. Not in a bragging manner, but in a way that I can understand better what it may be like to live in their shoes. I have lived such a privileged life, as many of our other peers, that it isn't frequent that we take a step back and say 'How are the things I do affecting others beneath my station?' And it is a question that should be more frequently asked. Prince Rhaegar and I often spoke of philosophy and philanthropy, as he approached me when I was doing some of my work in King's Landing.
"House Tyrell has always been keen in philanthropy, a trait that I have rather enjoyed. In King's Landing, I worked on a mission to help restore shelters intended for the less fortunate in the city, which is a good portion of the population. This included importing grains and a daily soup kitchen that is run by Holy brothers and sisters. I headed coordination, my first real job I suppose, to gauge whether or not I could handle the stress and the many intricacies as well as unanticipated bumps... Sorry, I'm rambling and being a little hypocritical aren't I? I said I don't like listening to people bragging and yet-"
Eddard smiled at her sense of self. "I did not think you were bragging. You were telling me about what you did in King's Landing."
An appreciative sigh escaped her lips. "Yes... well, it draws back to what I said about listening to others. While working throughout parts of the city, I spoke to the impoverished residents to see if there was anything additional that we could do. I met people of all walks of life; handicapped soldiers left jobless, abused women thrown out of their households, children born in brothels- I learned so much that most nobles turn a blind eye to and willfully ignore."
"You spoke to the residents?" Ned repeated, taking in Arryn once again. They had paused in front of his tent, having walked the length of the encampment to the Stark area. "You were there?"
"Of course I was. I didn't sign paperwork, I saw my work through, and I even helped some days in handing out rations. The Tyrells were doing their part in helping feed the poor and so I brought these accounts before Prince Rhaegar, after collecting dozens of reports. I proposed that there be sanctuaries throughout the cities and programs to help find work for those who were injured in duty. I admit, I was quite enraged by it all, that I certainly step outside of courtesy. I am fortunate that Prince Rhaegar listened and agreed to help and did not have me punished for how belligerent I was. I left tact at the door in the face of so many suffering at the doorstep of the Red Keep. He took an interest in me during my time in King's Landing, which I suppose is how we became somewhat of friends, as I had to run logistics by him."
"And no doubt, the prince likely wishes to hear what you have been busying yourself with for the past few years?" Eddard filled in.
Elyse nodded wearily. "I'm afraid it hasn't been quite as impressive as when I was in King's Landing, perhaps you can understand my trepidation to spend an entire dinner with them."
"You might have declined," Ned suggested, but knew that there was no proper way to decline a prince's invitation.
Elyse gave him a wry look that bespoke that silently.
"Here, please come in and have a seat," Ned pushed open the tent flap and offered her into his tent. He was thankful it was clean, unlike his sister's, as he hadn't originally intended on bringing Elyse there on their first meeting. She took a seat in one of the wooden chairs at the small table in the tent. "What would you like to drink?"
"Just rose or barely water should suffice," Elyse answered simply, staring down at the wolf pelt rug with interest.
Eddard left the tent to fetch the water, his heart fluttering slightly. Why? Was it the words she had told him, the reason why she and the prince were companions? The fact that Lady Arryn was an honest, perhaps sometimes prone to passionate outbursts, but compassionate and empathetic person? Few nobles ever thought of those beneath them, but it was the base born that ran everything. It was they that supported noble life by working on tasks from seemingly mundane to of greater import. Eddard's own father, Rickard, had stressed how important it was to appreciate those that served and the others you looked after.
Rickard had given him a lecture after learning the Vale would someday be Eddard's. These words had likely been shared with Brandon, but since Ned wasn't to inherit Winterfell, Rickard had no reason to spend the time honing Eddard.
"Sit with those who serve you. Ask how their families fair. Ask about their lives. Ask how things may be improved. You are not all knowing and any lord who fancies themselves so, is a fool. Being humble and empathetic makes you a much better lord and fortunately, you know many in the Vale already, and you may know what issues they already face. Still, establishing rapport with your servants strengthens the bond between you and them. It creates better workers. Thus, it creates a better environment to thrive in. All it takes is for you to listen and to ask, nothing more."
But Eddard knew that asking also meant he may have to act in different scenarios. Just as Lady Elyse had described asking the commoners about their lives, she learned of the injustice and was forced to act. Fortune smiled upon them, their births higher and importance marked on them on their first name day, but others were not as fortunate and thus, they were responsible in making certain their voices were heard.
Perhaps it was the fact that Lady Elyse cared that made his heart flutter. The idea that a southron flower was not just a pretty thing to admire, but also a weapon to be wielded. This was not the self absorbed aristocrat that Brandon had warned him of and Eddard was relieved... and eager.
Eddard found a barrel of barley water and filled a tankard for Lady Elyse, returning to his tent to hear voices just outside. Upon opening the flap, he saw that his brother was sitting across from Lady Elyse with a rather boisterous smile on his face. The Arryn seemed relaxed, a warm smile illuminating her face as she spoke to Brandon. Her eyes swept over to the entrance, the smile not fleeing at the sight of Eddard.
"Ned!" Brandon stood up. "I was wondering where you'd gotten off to. Inviting your betrothed to your tent on the first day? I daresay father may not be entirely pleased by this, though Lady Elyse has assured me you've only returned for a short rest."
Eddard's grey eyes bore into his brother, trying to come up with some sort of explanation. He knew Brandon was only poking fun at him, but he also didn't wish for Elyse to get the wrong idea. "I only offered a place for her to rest out of the sun," he answered simply.
"Your brother has been nothing but courteous to me. Given that we're not inside of a castle, there are few places I can rest privately out of the sun. I willingly entered this tent, so you cannot only blame him, you can put it on my shoulders as well," Elyse informed Brandon, though not unkindly. Brandon had no intentions of tattling on them.
Eddard stepped forward and offered the water to Elyse, who accepted it graciously.
"The two of you have been out all morning?" Brandon inquired with keen interest.
"It hasn't been that long, has it?" Lady Elyse asked.
"It's nearly afternoon. I suppose it's well that the two of you are getting on," he gave his brother an impish look, as if to ask otherwise. "Have you met our father yet?"
"Not as of yet, I was intending on perhaps getting freshened-"
"Nonsense, you look wonderful as you are. I believe Benjen and Lyanna may be with him, if you've yet to meet them as well," Brandon insisted.
Eddard could plainly see that Elyse was feeling a bit rushed, but she gave a tentative smile and nodded in spite of this. "Very well," she agreed, taking another sip of her water before standing.
"Lady Elyse if you need another moment-" Eddard started, shooting a glare at Brandon.
"I am fine. What is it but a short walk over a few tents?" she returned, leveling an earnest smirk at him.
"That's the spirit," Brandon encouraged, leading the trio out of the tent and across to the larger tent belonging to their father. Compared to Eddard's tent, Rickard's was thrice the size and had two proud Stark banners flanking the entrance with torches. Within, a wooden chandelier was hung from the center support and a long table filled the goliath chamber. Bear and wolf pelts decorated the ground, covering the dirt with fur. Toward the back, a large bed was filled with more pelts, though slightly obscured by a curtain that separated the main area from the sleeping.
Sitting at the table enjoying an afternoon meal was the rest of the Stark family, lifting their heads from their discussion to see the approaching newcomers. Lyanna and Benjen remained seated, but looked on as Rickard stood up.
"Ned," he greeted, but his eyes went past him, to the young woman who entered behind them.
"Lady Elyse Arryn," Eddard introduced. "My father, Lord Rickard Stark, sister, Lady Lyanna, and brother Benjamin," he gestured to each respectively as he said their names.
Lady Elyse gave a curtsy at her name, Lord Rickard approaching to formally greet her. "Please, relax, we are to be family soon. Eat at our table as if it is your own. Have you had a midday meal as of yet?"
Eddard had not witnessed the softer side of his father in a long time. Often Rickard seemed hard and subdued, quietly judging, and only offering up his word when he thought it time to weigh in. There had been fleeting times since returning home that Ned saw the mask of the lord come off. But as his children were being lined up to marry, this mask seemed to be slipping more often in anticipation for the day that the majority of his children no longer lived in Winterfell.
"No, I have not yet, my lord," Elyse answered, being guided by a large hand to the bench.
"And you just arrived this morning. You must be famished."
"Just a little peckish," she admitted, finally sitting down.
"Brandon another setting?" Rickard called.
Brandon retrieved the setting from a small cupboard that had a few bottles of wine stacked on top of it. He also fetched a second for Eddard, eying his brother mischievously as they joined the rest of the Stark family. Bread, cheese, dried fruit, and slices of salted meat were arranged on a board in front of them. A bottle of wine had been opened for lunch and Rickard was filling Elyse's cup.
"This is a local vint, slightly bitter, and a gift from Lord Hoster," Rickard explained.
Eddard wondered if the wine would be suitable for Elyse's tastes, given that she had grown up in the best wine making lands in Westeros. No doubt she had ample access to Arbor gold or hippocras made in Highgarden. If not, the Tyrells could have imported other vints from Lannisport or Dorne.
Lady Elyse took a delicate sip and smiled. "It's not too sweet, a very nice dry blend."
Conversation began naturally over the meal, Rickard inquiring about Elyse's life in Highgarden and how Lady Olenna fared. Much of the information that Elyse had told Eddard so far had come out again, including the story of how the shadowcat was defeated. Lyanna and Benjen leaned excitedly toward her, as Elyse explained to her own chagrin, albeit more modest with numerous sets of eyes compared to just Ned. During Rickard's drilling of questions, Elyse answered easily and with easy confidence. The Starks learned that she was keen on philanthropy, adhering to the philosophy that "There is always something that can be improved." She enjoyed falconing, riding, archery, and joining hunts and had been on numerous before the fated shadowcat encounter. She also enjoyed reading history and was very well read in the geography and topography of Westeros. Lady Elyse had traveled throughout much of southern Westeros, including Dorne, Lannisport and Casterly Rock, and Oldtown. Elyse seemed most excited to recount Oldtown.
Only when they realized how long the conversation had been ebbing on did Elyse realize she needed to get prepared for the start of tourney feast. She gave an apologetic look to all of them, plainly enjoying her time amongst the Starks.
"It's only for a bit, you are more than welcome to sit with us for the feast as well," Rickard reminded her with a chuckle.
"Thank you, I appreciate the gesture and perhaps I shall take you up on that offer," Elyse admitted, standing up.
Eddard offered her a hand, knowing it was only proper to escort her back to the Tyrell region of the camp seeing she had no ladies tending her.
"I'm sorry for my brother," Eddard told her once they had made their way out of the head tent and back across the path that divided north from south encampment.
Elyse's lips curved up and she smiled at him. "Why?"
"Brandon was a bit... overbearing and questioning of your honor."
"I did not perceive it as that. I thought he was just teasing you," she responded. "I liked your family. They were quite fun to converse with. Especially Lyanna, she has a wildness in her that I recognize."
"Lyanna..." Eddard sighed, thinking of his sister. "My father calls it the "wolfsblood" that sometimes makes us Starks 'wild'. Brandon also seems to have it, but I've come to think of it as just a 'wild' temper. No matter of punishment ever seems to change their dispositions." If his sister had even an ounce of the poise that Elyse did, perhaps she's be more of a force to be reckoned with, but Lyanna was difficult. He loved her to pieces, but also worried incessantly about her because such a temper on a woman was not accepted by others.
"I was like that once. Remember I told you that I once yelled at Prince Rhaegar?"
"I don't think you're quite as much as Lyanna. You are driven by passion for others, Lyanna is driven by her own motives."
"She's still young. She's ten and four, isn't she?"
Eddard nodded.
"She has passion too, she just doesn't know how to wield it yet. Perhaps during our stay in Winterfell, I can help temper that passion. I see a lot of myself in Lyanna."
"That's a bit hard to believe," Eddard blurted out before he could stop himself.
Elyse paused, dragging him to a halt, staring up at him with her lovely blue eyes. "I'm not perfect, Eddard. I know this is only our first day meeting and it's quite easy to see me as I've been taught to be, but I've made mistakes, and I probably will in the future too. I told you that I used to pick on Mace incessantly. I wasn't always kind, nor am I completely even now. Until either of us can prove we are who we are, everything today was just words. And words are cheap."
"You don't hide. You speak your mind, but a much more eloquent way that I expect Lyanna may ever be capable of-"
"All it takes is the proper mentor. I had Lady Olenna to temper me. Perhaps we all have an innate makeup of how we will act, but our upbringings also vastly affect our dispositions. Do you know what many people call Lady Olenna?"
"The Queen of Thorns," Eddard answered.
"Do not let a pretty face and gilded words distract you. You have yet to see the thorns Lady Olenna has passed onto me," she seemed so serious, warning him not to trust a comely face. But her warning of it only made Eddard chuckle.
"Did she leave any thorns for her daughters or give them all to you?"
"Mina and Janna?" Elyse said in slight disbelief. "I'm afraid most of those thorns were passed onto me," she responded, trying not to seem amused by his question, but a small smirk was tucked away.
"NED!" they had only approached the copse of the Hightower tents when the voice boomed through the air like thunder. Ned's heart immediately dropped into his stomach, recognizing the voice at once.
Robert Baratheon swaggered into view, a very tall and impressive man. It had been a little time since Eddard had seen his childhood friend, but he had a handsome clean shaven face. Dark, wiry hair curled like brambles and his striking eyes pinned the couple to the ground where they stood.
"You look like you've seen a ghost!" Robert guffawed, his eyes sliding over to Lady Elyse after taking notice of her. "I heard you had been betrothed, but seven hells, I didn't know that Lady Arryn was so lovely. I love Jon like a father, but, you know..." he trailed off, as if indicating that Jon wasn't very attractive before settling back on Elyse. "Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End."
Eddard could only groan internally at the exchange, but Lady Elyse appeared unbothered. "As you know, Lady Elyse Arryn of-" but before she could finish, Robert had taken it upon himself to embrace her like a lost sister. Her composure slipped for a minute as she was lifted up off of her feet (the difference between Robert a 6 and a half foot giant and the petite Arryn, quite considerable), in which Ned protested loudly.
"Robert!"
"Oh come on now, she's going to be my sister too. We're basically brothers," Robert boomed before setting her back down on her feet. He had a look in his eyes that Eddard recognized only too clearly; lust.
Lady Elyse teetered back on her feet, but instead of appearing faint, her eyes sharpened and she leveled a nasty glare at Robert. The jovial expression fled from Robert's face for a moment, recognizing the brooding eyes of Jon Arryn in his daughter.
"I didn't ruffle your feathers, did I?" Robert teased, recovering from her venomous glare.
"Eddard, I shall see you tonight at the feast. I can see myself the rest of the way," Elyse ignored Robert and spoke directly to the Stark. Before Eddard could apologize, Elyse turned on her heel gracefully, whipping Robert with her long hair, before she stalked off.
Eddard wanted to follow her, but knew that Robert would just be at his heels like a puppy. His thoughts were shattered as Robert slapped him hard on the back, his teeth chattering together from the brunt of the smack. It was his turn to glare at Robert.
"What?"
"Boundaries. Boundaries, Robert."
"She's your betrothed and she's Jon's daughter."
"We did not grow up with her and this is the first day I've met her. Perhaps *years* down the line behavior like that will be acceptable," Eddard snipped.
"First day and you're already that fond of her, Ned?" Robert perceived. "I mean, she is beautiful. Who thought that Jon was hiding that pretty thing in Highgarden?"
"For good reason with you in the Vale," Eddard muttered.
Robert seemed not to hear him in that moment. When a woman caught his eye, he tended to stay on the subject. "I didn't think there was someone who might rival Lyanna's beauty, but the Arryn certainly comes close."
"I would prefer not to debate the beauty of my sister in comparison to my betrothed," Eddard informed his friend.
"My point is that not only are you to become Warden of the East, but have one of the most lovely women in the Seven Kingdoms as your wife. I have seen a considerable amount of women, so I would know."
"I know and as comely as Lady Arryn is, beauty is only one faucet of a person," Eddard reminded Robert, aware that his words fell on deaf ears. Robert's infatuation with his sister was because of her appearance. Robert didn't quite understand or know what it was like dealing with someone as willful as Lyanna.
"Right, right."
Faceclaims
Robert Baratheon - Henry Cavill in Immortals
Rhaegar Targaryen - Tom Hopper in Vikings (given the paler hair and violet eyes)
Arthur Dayne - Peter Mooney in Camelot