Seldom had he had the chance to participate at a gathering more awkward than that which took place in the halls of Lord Lannister. It was not the decorations, for whoever had done them partook in an impeccable taste. Nor was it the food, surprisingly enough. The King had the grace not to look like someone was trying to poison him for once. But that, Rhaegar suspected, had more to do with the fact that he had undoubtedly found a way to further prevaricate and dangle before Tywin that which he wished to obtain.

"You know, frowning quite so hard might ensure that your face remain stuck like that," Arthur noted before sipping some of his wine.

"I am not frowning," Rhaegar contradicted, drinking some of his own wine. It was rather good, aromatic. "I am contemplating."

"Contemplate with a merrier mien then. We have to at least appear unknowing, Rhaegar." Arthur busied himself with a rib in the next moment, for just one moment raising his eyes from the plate in order to look at Cersei Lannister.

"What is it, Dayne. Struck by love, are you?" the Prince teased. Cersei Lannister blushed as their eyes met. Rhaegar looked at the alleged sister who was rolling her eyes. Lyanna Stark seemed rather unimpressed at the royal party. "The younger one may actually posses a lick of sense."

When noticing that she too was under scrutiny, Lyanna met his stare, held it for a heartbeat and then promptly returned to her food. Rhaegar could not rightly tell because her hair formed a protective curtain around her face, but he thought that she too grew red with heat. Smarter she might be, but not immune. That was interesting.

"Me?" Arthur coughed. "I rather think you are the one who had his heart captured."

"Why would you think that?" Rhaegar questioned. He took a piece of meat and chewed on it thoughtfully.

"You are still staring at the younger sister," his friend whispered conspiratorially.

With a start, Rhaegar realised that Arthur was right. He had been looking at Lyanna. His gaze broke away from her. Perhaps that had been the reason for which the girl's posture straightened drastically in the past few minutes. He laughed lightly.

"It takes more than a pretty face for me to fall in love. I'm not you, after all," he rejoined, throwing his friend a dry stare. "But I will admit I'm interested."

"Why? Because unlike her sister she doesn't fall all over herself to accommodate you when you walk into the room?" Well, the best friends were those who knew the answer before a reply was given.

Rhaegar was about to answer verbally when something caught his eye. Lady Lannister seemed to be communicating with her daughter entirely through stares. Rhaegar looked between the two of them. mesmerised by the vivid emotions Lyanna's face portrayed. But then he realised he was likely intruding on a private exchange. He looked away, returning his attention to Arthur.

"You've read my mind." He was but half serious, of course. "We have discussed this, you and I." Even if he hadn't been particularly taken with the younger girl, it was for her that he had to declare. Yet he found that the possibility was not quite as unappealing as it had been before.

Arthur sighed. "You should try to see the full half of this goblet, my friend. She is young, healthy and not simpering. I'd say this is good." It was definitely better than the alternative his parents had considered a few years back. "If a few years I reckon she'll be only too glad for your choice."

"Because, of course, every woman in the kingdom dreams of being wed to a Prince," Rhaegar murmured under his breath. "Dayne, how can you understand women so well?"

"I'm Dornish," Arthur answered, tongue-in-cheek about the whole matter. "But truly now, what do you think of her?"

"I think she has potential." In fact, he considered her rather brave, truth be told. Not many people – and certainly very few of those who were as young as she – could hold their equanimity in the presence of his father. She had been disturbed by his presence. But she had masked it admirably.

"Shall we have some music?" their hostess suggested once the King had filled his stomach to the brim with the offered food. "Your Majesties, Your Grace?"

"I think that is a splendid idea," the Queen offered. She looked towards her spouse, her gaze pleading for something.

"Indeed," the King spoke, "let us see, Tywin, how good your daughters are."

The Lord Hand might have as well allowed a couple of aurochs to play for all the King knew about music. Aerys Targaryen was likely to fall asleep in the middle of it all. Reserving the judgement of his father's behaviour for a later time, Rhaegar gave a nod of his head. It was more than enough for two dulcimers to be brought in.

What followed was a perfect confirmation of the fact that the two daughter of House Lannister were at odds with each other. Sibling rivalry had grown wings with them and transformed into another thing altogether. It was amusing to watch. But Rhaegar found that he had grown curious as to what they like away from polite company,

As it was, they looked rather like two warriors trying to outdo one another in front of their liege lord. The music itself was more than adequate, though it seemed to him that Lyanna Stark was the more proficient one. Yet Cersei Lannister too was quite good.

"We might have landed in the middle of a war," Arthur commented lightly. Rhaegar could hear the amusement in his voice. Clearly they were of the same mind in this.

"I daresay we have." He continued to look at the two girls. The rose in Lyanna's hair had slipped and fallen to her feet, a bright spot of red against the pallid grey of her dress. She did not seem to notice, so engrossed was she in the music. "Who do you think will be the winner?"

Unbeknownst to them it would take many more battles spread along a great many number of years until a winner could be determined. For Cersei and Lyanna were unlike other warriors. They fought with wit and skill, soft words hiding threats and quiet gazes masking shouts – but perhaps more importantly, they were women bent on besting each other.