i. The septon looked between the two of them and then towards the King's brother. His face had gone ashen. Visenya clutched her brother's hand, fingers twisting almost convulsively around the yielding limb.

"Your Grace, this could cost me my head," the old, withered man said. He had a kind face. Visenya prayed it was a reflection of his kind heart. She held his gaze, her eyes pleading for him to understand.

Aegon was less subtle. "You will wed us, Septon. Else you will find yourself all that sooner without a head."

Visenya had the inexplicable urge to smack her brother upside the head. Instead she dug her nails into his flesh warningly as she spoke to the Septon. "We understand the risks you take and are ever appreciative of the facet. We shall in turn protect you for the service rendered."

ii. She had done it. Visenya allowed Robyn to gather her hair in intricate plaits and pin it above the nape of her neck. "I do not understand the significance," her companion said, still at work. "In the North, maiden or married, a woman may keep her hair down."

If it ever had one it had been long since lost, Visenya considered. It was just the way it was done. She felt queasy. The gods had heard the vows, the Septon had declared them wedded. But what if, despite all of it, Aegon still changed his mind? Terror made her quiver.

"There you go again," Robyn whispered. "I think he truly loves you, my lady. You have nothing to fear from him." A gentle hand came to rest upon her shoulder.

iii. Aegon touched the length of his leg to hers. Visenya looked at him through startled, uncertain eyes. She was not exactly unknowing of what went on in the marriage bed. All the same, however, it frightened her.

The vessel swayed gently. Aegon reached out to drive a few strand of hair away from her face. He pushed them behind her ear.

A floorboard creaked as he shifted his position. Lean, strong arms wrapped around her. He did not smile. Somehow, she was grateful for the solemn air he carried about him when he'd entered the cabin they were to share.

Visenya tentatively hugged him back, fighting the childish impulse to his her face in his shoulder. Who would have known that becoming a bride would make her a craven?

iv. The sheets twisted uncomfortably around her. Visenya instinctively fought the restriction. A shallow intake of breath followed her daring acrobatics. Her lower half was not appreciative of her efforts. But she felt too hot, too squashed to care. She braved the ache and kicked her legs.

Another twinge of pain followed. This time Visenya hissed through gritted teeth. A large hand settled on her shoulder and pushed her back gently. The pressure was then relieved from her limbs. Visenya murmured her gratitude in the hollow between shoulder and neck, lips bushing salty skin.

Aegon murmured something back in acknowledgement. He was only half-awake. Visenya raised her head to look at him. One arm resting over his eyes, the other wrapped around her, the remnants of an easy smile on his lips and silver locks mingling with her, that was the sight before her.

v. Viserya kissed her cheek softly. "You did the right thing," he assured her, as he had done before. He was so very good at it.

"But still," she whispered. "I did not wish to cause anyone hardship. Look where that had taken me, running away from a father that loves me."

Her uncle made a small sound in the back of his throat. "My brother will understand. He, better than anyone else, will understand why you did it. Had your mother been here, she would be proud of you."

"You truly think so?" Visneya questioned. Why was she so concerned with that?

"I know so. The two of you are so very alike in comport." As he spoke those words he looked at the sea. Visenya's eyes did not leave his face, however.

"Are you truly determined to go through with it?"

vi. Rhaenys cried on her mother's shoulder, her whole frame shaking in time with the sobs. "He was supposed to love me," she said, voice breaking. Just like Elia's heart was breaking. It was worse than Rhaegar's betrayal.

Aegon was her son. She loved him. She had raised him to be an honest man. What could that girl have done to him to turn the Prince away from his family? "Hush, Rhaenys. We shall find them and end this madness."

Her daughter whimpered softly. "Why would he do this to us, mother?"

"He is a young and foolish boy, too easily swayed," Elia replied, stroking Rhaenys' dark hair gently. It was all the fault of that she-wolf. Had she not had the temerity to bed with a wedded man…

vii. Rhaegar looked at his brother's small note. He licked his lips and picked it up again thoughtfully. A name, he'd told her daughter, made all the difference. And he had meant it. Yet it had not crossed his mind that she would go to her brother for help. A distinct possibility, to be fair, which he had not even considered.

But then again, Aegon had been cross and sullen whenever there was talk of his wedding to Rhaenys. He might have suspected, even a little. Why had he not paid more attention, Rhaegar wondered. He took the note and threw it into the flames, watching as fire consumed it. The paper blackened and curled, catching flame and burning away to dust.

A smile touched his lips momentarily.

viii. His wife stormed into the room, her lovely features cast in the light of anger. "What is this I hear?" she demanded, the bracelets she wore clicking softly as her hand moved through the air. "You promised me, Rhaegar. You promised she would not cause trouble for us. You swore to me."

But he had broken vows before, Rhaegar considered, calmly standing to his feet. "And what would you have me do, my queen?"

"Find them and end this nonsense. Aegon must wed Rhaenys," she insisted.

"And why is that?" Rhaegar questioned.

Elia mouth gaped open. "You cannot mean this," she said, disbelief colouring her every word. "Gods be good. You cannot mean this."

"But I do mean it. From the bottom of my heart," he countered.

ix. "But father," Rhaenys complained, jumping to her feet. "She is a bastard," the words slipped past her lips in a cloud of anger. Both hands came to cover her mouth when she finally realised what it was that she had said.

Her father had stopped midstride, his eyes fixed on her. Tension escalated quickly between the three persons in the room. "Your trueborn daughter tells no lie," Elia cut in.

The King's gaze slid to her mother. Rhaenys was still too stunned by what she saw in his eyes. Never had anyone dared to call Visenya a bastard to father's face.

"My dear daughter," Rhaegar spoke, looking at her once more, "there is not much I can do in this case. I have deployed men to search the Seven Kingdoms for them."

x. Visenya wrapped her arms around Robyn tightly. "I wish you could stay here with me," she said, remorse shining through.

"I should have liked that as well, Your Grace," Robyn addresses her formally. "But I must away." She was doing this for her. Visenya let her go reluctantly.

She waved at the ship once her uncle had helped Robyn back onboard. Aegon wrapped an arm around her waist and she leaned against him. She had never truly realised how tiresome being self-sufficient was until she had someone she could lean on so wholly.

Her husband kissed her temple gently. "It shall all be fine," he promised.

Visenya hoped that the gods would allow the promise to come true. She turned, slightly, until she was facing him. Rising upwards she placed a kiss on his lips.