i have noexcuse

The Day of Arrival

Silver Prince

The Royal Prince stood next to his mother on the stoney steps where land met the Blackwater bay. Rhaegar stood tall and straight with his hands behind his back in anticipation. They were surrounded by guards and several of his mother's ladies, the rest of the party was at the top of the stairs, all waiting for their new princess to arrive.

The prince felt a smooth hand on his shoulder and he turned to see his mother, a head shorter than he, pushing the velvet of his shirt down.

"How are you feeling, my son?" Her voice sounded pleasant, but the smile never reached her eyes, like always. Rhaegar mulled over what to say in his mind.

"I feel relaxed. Should I be nervous?" He asked. Rhaella took her eyes off of him and stared at the sea before them.

"Perhaps, however apprehensiveness has never been a strong suit of yours." She chuckled. Rhaegar look back at the see and nodded. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of white and gold sails, not much longer now. Rhaegar took another glance at the tower looming over them. He knew his lord father was watching them, with his hand on his younger brother keeping him at his side. Rhaegar inwardly shuddered at the thought of his aging father's long nails touching his brother's shoulder.

When he was a young lad his father had stood tall, his silver hair tied behind his head. Only in the past ten years had he seen his lord father's health decline, and something inside him warned him he should keep a watchful eye over the king.

He could never tell a soul of these feelings. He knew that.

The sounds of whispers pulled him out of his thoughts and into the present. The ship was growing closer and he could see the burnt orange flag. The sun had arrived. The dragon laid in wait.

The prince waited until the ship had come to a full stop to walk and take his place at the dock. He took a deep breath. Nervousness had finally settled into his joints, into his hands. Rhaegar kept them firmly at his sides, he felt the eyes behind him bore into his darkly clothed back. He had to keep his neutral exterior in place. He felt a presence appear at his side, turning his eyes slightly he saw the Dayne he called friend appear next to him. Arthur had been standing behind he and his lady mother this entire time, only now, as his princess and sister were nearing did he choose to come closer. Rhaegar pondered if his loyalty would waver when he saw what the ship would bring them.

A bell was struck behind him as the ship finally stopped in front him. He heard men yelling, an anchor being dropped and the sounds of boot against wood. A seamen's life had never called to the prince, his people belonged in the sky on the backs of scaled vessels, not wood and cloth. However the smell of salt and adventure pulled him closer to the edge of the dock.

Rhaegar took another steadying breath felt the wind change direction. Hidden amongst the smell of salt and fish and water of the port a new smell tingled at the prince's nose, citrus. A loud thunk meant the ship at finally settled, and the brow pulled out from an opening on the ship. Men surrounded the prince and used ropes and hooks to pull the bridge-like structure down from the boat.

A hush fell over the party behind the prince as a figure appeared atop the brow. She was small, even with the thick cloak and silks surrounding her, the prince could see she was small boned and short in stature. She was encased in gold and orange, Rhaegar could see a large sun embroidered on her cloak that made him want to laugh aloud, his father would be overjoyed by the sight.

Her hair was long, and worn down in a single braid. As she descended he could see a gold circlet woven into her dark tresses, with small curls waving in the wind. He held his breath the entire time, trying to keep the smell of salt and citrus in his lungs.

Oval face, with high cheekbones, her face was an olive tan with paleness hidden underneath. Her cheeks were red with the chill of the wind and sea. Her eyes are large and dark. Everything about her was shades of gold and bronze and earth. He had grown up surrounded by reds and silvers and shades of violet.. She turned her head slightly and he could see the way her forehead made a path down to her nose in a sharp angle, and his mind flickered to that of Ser Lewyn, her stern uncle and member of the Kingsguard and their shared trait. He had not imagined such a nose would fit on the face of petite woman, yet there it sat, perfectly.

And then suddenly, she was standing in front of him, with a dark haired paler beauty besides her. There was no denying she was the Dayne girl, Arthur's sister. The similarities were uncanny, the hair, the eyes, the way their lips never dropped the quizzical smile. Rhaegar simply glanced at Ashara before looking back at the woman in front of her.

The prince bowed, and looked into her wide eyes. He expected fear, surprise, perhaps even breathlessness to stroke his own ego. The men around them were grabbing trunks and the sounds of the bay felt like it was swallowing him whole. Yet what he saw in those onyx eyes was curiosity, and a mischievous look hiding in the corner of her lips.

The princess curtsied, and the Dayne woman followed in suit. Rhaegar could not help but feel his interest peak as she held out her hand first for him to take. He only knew Dornish men, who were all headstrong and unbending. He would have to expect the same from their women. His mind quickly went back to Lewyn. His father would not allow him to join the party of guards down at the docks. He was to escort them to the throne room when they arrived back at the party. More games for his father to play.

"I hope your journey was smooth." he finally said after what felt like hours of silence, when in reality it had only been a moment. His small princess' gaze never broke from his, and smiled.

"I have never been on such a long journey before, your highness, I thank you for your kind words." her voice was also kind, tinged with the same accent as Arthur and Lewyn's. A diplomat. He thought.

Small footsteps behind him caught Elia's eyes and he turned to see his mother, followed by two Kingsguard. Elia and the Dayne girl both curtsied, and Rhaella waved her hand at them.

"Princess Elia, I am so happy to finally meet you. I feel as if I am seeing my dear Adrielle again, seeing you brings a flood of love and memories to my heart." Rhaella grasped Elia's hand and squeezed it. The princess's face rushed with blood and a lovely blush covered her cheeks. Rhaegar felt himself smile slightly at the ordeal.

"My mother sends her love as well. She wishes she could partake in the festivities, but my home needs her." Rhaegar noted the slight wince when she said home. Dorne was no longer her home, and if she were to pass his father's tests she would have to be smarter.

His mother did not seem to notice, but instead linked arms with her and began to walk forward, patting her arm with her other hand.

"Your brother's are coming, no? I have not seen Doran since he was my Viserys age." People walked past them, carrying luggage and crates. Citrus followed them as they walked, and Arthur stayed behind them, close to his sister. Rhaegar walked slightly ahead of his mother and betrothed, leading the party.

"Yes, both of them. My good-sister Mellario is due in several moons and can not join. My father will be here as well." The more she speaks, the more Rhaegar wishes to compose music. They arrive at the base of the steps and he turns slightly, one foot on the step and the other on the ground, to offer a hand to Elia. He pauses at her face.

"Lord Daeron, I remember the day your parents met, you must let me tell the story one day, my dear, if they have not told you already." Rhealla takes no notice to the Dornish woman's hesitation, instead dropping her arm and lifting her skirts slightly to climb the great steps. Arthur and Ashara both look at Elia in concern but familiarity.

Rhaegar takes a step off the stairs and drops his arm. "Are you well, princess?" he asks. Elia's face pales slightly then darkens with red.

"I was not aware there would be so many steps, your highness." Her voice is small. Above them, Rhaella stops, and looks at the party of people that are already at the top of the stairs, loading the carriages. They would need to leave soon.

Arthur steps forward, and bows slightly towards Rhaegar.

"Your highness, the princess has just landed from a long tiring journey, and is unfamiliar with the climate of King's Landing, if I may be so bold as to carry the princess up the stairs as to not tire her more." Rhaegar looks him up and down and then at Elia.

"Do you accept Ser Arthur's inclination, my lady?" Rhaegar asks her. Please decline. He thinks selfishly. If they were in the gardens, away from all these eyes and little birds, he would be the one to offer his arms to carry her. Yet in the city, and right now he was the heir, and he could not carry her.

"I do, my lord. Thank you." She curtsies, and Arthur, towering over her picks her up delicately, and begins the climb to the carriages. Rhaegar stays next to them, instead of ahead of them this time. And takes a quick look at Ashara. Her face too is slightly flushed, from the air or the steep stairs, he did not know. They marched the steep stairs and settled into the carriages. Ashara and Elia were on one side while Rhaegar and his lady mother sat across, Arthur took his place on the back of the carriage, keeping watch over them as they drove away.