i. Willas leaned in closer to her. Visenya froze in her position, unknowing if she should draw further away or allow him his prize. The knight, however, had no such doubts on his mind. His soft lips met hers, mouth pushing against hers with patient, careful moves. Visenya decided that the gesture was quite pleasant. Still, even she knew that she ought not to allow him any further victories.

"Ser, you are in my bedchamber. Pray leave before I call for my guards," she chided him. Flustered, she doubted she looked very imposing.

Her suitor smiled kindly at her. "Then I suppose that answers all the questions," he said.

Willas took her small hand in his lager one and brought it to his lips for a chaste kiss.

ii. Having been assured that he was in no hurry to make it known his suit had been refused and that he truly wished, despite the fact that he now knew he had no chance of gaining her heart, she would remain longer in Highgarden, Visenya agreed to do so. After all, Highgarden was a wonderful place and she herself was in no hurry to return to Summerhall.

Visenya looked outside to the beautiful garden below. She had been trying to write to her father, yet the words would not come for some reason. But write she must, for he expected it of her. The King had to know of her decision. Willas Tyrell, Visenya felt, would be a much need ally if she could keep him by her.

iii. Robyn gave her a pleading look. "But surely, Visenya, even you can see the folly of what you propose. You cannot simply expect that you will be allowed to stay here any longer, unwedded It is simply not done."

"Ah, where had your rebelliousness gone to, my dear?" Visenya laughed. "So what if they do not think me a maiden. It is not as if I need to wed anyone."

"It was never that you had to," Robyn agreed. "But I thought it your wish."

"And it is. But Willas Tyrell shan't be my husband." That seemed to confuse Robyn. "Sometimes, it is best to refuse some offers."

"Yet sometimes it is best to take them," the other shook her head. "I do not think I shall ever understand you."

iv. Loras and his good friend Renly applauded her courage. "It takes heart, my lady Blackfyre," the Baratheon said. "It seems you have not only your mother's beauty, but her bravery as well. I always thought her to be in the right. After all, how could love ever be a sin?"

Tears gathered in Visenya's eyes at his comment. "No one has ever paid me a lovelier compliment," she said in a soft manner.

"People can at times be foolish," Loras chimed in. If Renly was the heart, then his partner had to be the head. "What matters is the justification. And hat better justification is there but love?"

If only she could shout their words out loud for the world to hear. Visenya beamed at tem instead still wiping away tears.

v. "This is preposterous," Robyn said heatedly, "they mean to wed her to that wretch, Joffrey Baratheon. Poor Raya, she has no idea what sort of person he is."

"And you know better?" Visenya could not help but ask, taking the letter from her companion's hand. "Perhaps she can soften him, Robyn. Raya is not without her charms. Besides, they shan't wed for another few years. You worry over naught."

"You may very well be able to remain unblinking to the suffering of your siblings, but I cannot stand by and let it happen to mine," Robyn's voice rose with every word.

It was very rare for Robyn to lose her temper. Visenya stood to her feet swiftly and caught her by the shoulders. "What is this truly about?"

vi. Arthur placed the letter in her hand and shook his head. "It is time we left, my lady." Visenya brushed a hand over her skirts as she stood up, fingers curling around the paper. Perhaps he could read her better than she thought he would ever be able to, for the man placed a hand on her shoulder and once more shook his head.

"Rhaenyra was no maiden when she wedded," Visenya pointed out. It would not change anyone's mind, of course, but it would make her feel better.

"Rhaenyra stood a Targaryen," her guard reminded her ever so gently.

And she was only a Blackfyre. "I know." Yet their situations weren't that different, were they? "Am I to return to Summerhall?"

"Nay, my lady."

vii. Tears had never suited her. Visenya said her goodbyes to the Tyrells and her almost-betrothed. Willas had been patient and kind to the last, and she could not fault him for anything. Perhaps she should have accepted his proposal.

Yet the decision had been made and she would not turn upon her word. That would not do.

"You are so very stubborn at times," Robyn noted. "See what had come of it?"

"Do you not find it strange that the King should call us to court?" Visenya asked instead, declining to offer any answer to Robyn's inquiry.

"Not at all, given the fact that the Queen has decided to remain even longer in Dorne," her friend shot back.

"Were she to stay there forever, I would be so very pleased."

viii. Rhaegar took his daughter in his arms. "You have grown," he said, brushing a kiss to the crown of her head. And he spoke the truth. Visenya locked her arms around him, grinning from ear to ear. "Four and ten already. How the time flies"

"Not nearly fast enough," Visenya laughed, letting go at a long last. "I have heard Her Majesty is still away in Dorne."

"She has decided that she would like to spend some more time in the presence of her brothers," her father informed her, his tone light. Visenya, however, detected the worry behind it. She frowned.

"What is it, father?" she demanded to know, sitting down on his knee like she used to do as a child. "What burdens your mind now?"

ix. She tried every trick known to her to gain the information from his lips, but nothing worked. Visenya shut the door behind her with a loud thud and threw herself on the bed with a groan. "Men," she muttered. Was it truly so very difficult to share whatever bothered him with her? She was no longer a child. Even a difficult situation would not scare her.

"Patience seems to have left you," Robyn commented, trying to soothe her. "His Majesty knows what is best, does he not? Trust in him then."

"I do," Visenya assured her, "but I mean to know what goes on and why he will not speak of it."

Robyn sighed and shook her head as Visenya looked up at her. "My lady."

x. When Aegon returned from Dorne, he had neither sister, nor mother with him. Visenya spied his arrival from a safe distance. Of course, she knew very well that soon enough she would be sent after to greet him properly, but for the time being, it was perhaps best to keep away and observe.

At her side Robyn stiffened slightly. Her uncle rode with the Prince. Visenya glanced at her friend. "Ah, so it is like that?" The signs were truly not that difficult to make out. A smile raced her face momentarily.

"It is like that," Robyn agreed. "What shall I ever do?"

Visenya took her hand and squeezed it. She had little words to spare and ultimately it would be Robyn's choice what path she walked.