Rhaenys beamed at her children as they squealed in delight, petting Lady Sansa's direwolf with gentle hands. She had initially felt uneasy about the imposing creature, almost demanding that Sansa separate them. However, her doubts dissolved as Lady licked Elia's cheek and playfully nuzzled Cassian, which caused her son to erupt into giggles. Rhaenys had been wrong: Lady was docile and kind despite her size. Cassian and Elia adored the furry beast, much to Sansa's delight.
The little ones enjoyed stroking Lady, and Sansa assisted them with eagerness. The red haired girl was so gentle and patient with the twins.
Elinor Hightower remained on the perimeter, attempting to force a smile while observing the gigantic direwolf. The girl was scared of the direwolf, but was much too stubborn to admit it. Rhaenys had to admit that it was quite funny seeing the young girl pretend not to be frightened of the beast. Rhaenys watched with amusement how the Hightower girl tried to subtly back away from the enormous direwolf whenever she deemed the beast too close.
"Where is yours, Lady Arya?" She turned to the young girl who was scoffing down jam cakes, pastry flakes around her mouth. Rhaenys sighed and brushed it off gently, just like she would do to Elia. Arya blushed at this.
"Nymeria is out hunting, I don't want her to hurt the babes," The young girl said. "She is not as nice as Lady."
"Nymeria?" Rhaenys quipped at the name of her ancestor. She had noticed the excitement on Arya's long and solemn face.
"Yes!" She squealed. "I have read Nymeria and the Ten Thousand Ships, and it is the only book I have liked. I wish mother would allow me to wield the sword, but she never will." She says bitterly.
Rhaenys laughed at this. "Sweet girl, if you wanted a sword that badly, then you should have told me. I would have arranged a sword master to teach you." Arya gasped at this, her large gray eyes sparkling like a pale moonlight.
"Really, Your Grace!" She squealed, alerting Sansa who shot her an irritated glance which Arya promptly ignored.
"I do not see why it cannot be. My own cousins, the Sand Snakes, train with spear and sword"
"I would love for them to teach me!"
"One day, Arya." Rhaenys said softly. She could not help but wonder if her Elia would be fearless and wild like Lady Arya, or sweet and gentle like Lady Sansa. Rhaenys did not mind her daughter being like either of the Stark girls.
Just then, Talya entered, a distressed look on her face. Rhaenys stood up in worry as Talya rushed to her and whispered in her ear. Her words made Rhaenys grow pale.
Dragonstone is under siege by Rhaegar Targaryen.
Rhaenys strode towards the tower of the hand, her steps quick and purposeful. Edric trailed closely behind her, her ever lasting shadow. She ascended the tower's steps with ease and didn't wait for Ser Oakheart to announce her presence, fueled by her simmering anger she flung the doors open.
The room grew quiet as they saw her walk in. The members of Robert's small consul were all there, seemingly in the middle of a tense discussion, before she hastily walked in. Ned Stark seemed out of place with his plain clothing, especially next to the extravagant sea blue doublet that Renly wore. Rhaenys saw the nervous look in the Warden of the North's eyes. She wondered why he was here, the man was not a part of the king's counsel, he is only here because Robert wants him here. The side glances Lord Stark received from Larys Whent and Petyr Baelish made it clear that they weren't happy to see the king's old friend here, attending an important meeting.
She briskly laid her eyes upon her husband. He seemed to be brooding in silence. His anger and frustration was clear, and for once Rhaenys was glad to see her husband's harsh moods. The angrier he is, the better.
"Your Grace, the hour is late. You should be resting." Varys tells her in his signature slimy voice. Rhaenys throws him a glare, she was in no mood to indulge the Master of Whispers with her grace.
"I have been told that Rhaegar Targaryen has started a siege to reclaim Dragonstone, is that true?" She asked Jon Arryn. His eyes shift towards Renly and then Robert before he answers her.
"One of Stannis' men, Davos Seaworth, came bearing news of Rhaegar's arrival on Dragonstone. He came with a request from Lord Stannis, the King's brother, asked for men and ships to be dispatched to Dragonstone immediately." Jon Arryn said, but the mournful look in the old man's eyes made her nervous.
"But Rhaegar has already won Dragonstone, My Lady. Stannis Baratheon has fallen alongside his castle." The hand says. Rhaenys grows silent, her heart pounds hard against her chest, beating so profusely that she feared her heart would leave her body. Her hands shake against her will. Damn him, damn him to all seven hells.
As she was cursing her father, Rhaenys suddenly remembers the young girl with a scarred face. Oh, Shireen. She shifts her attention to her husband.
"And what shall be done?" Rhaenys asks her husband. He glared at her, harshly, but Rhaenys met his eyes fiercely. He does not answer her. With a sigh of annoyance, she turns to Jon Arryn.
"Renly will be leaving the capital as soon as the meeting comes to an end and will seek to reclaim Dragonstone with the Lords of the Stormlands." He says firmly. Renly is to reclaim Dragonstone? Not Robert? Rhaenys automatically looked at the youngest Baratheon brother. He seemed to be as relaxed as ever, even with the knowledge that he would soon be facing a fearsome foe, the same foe that had just killed his brother. Rhaenys was slightly appalled at the lack of sadness or grief Renly presented. She decided not to judge the man too hard, it was well known that neither Renly nor Robert were close with Stannis. Perhaps the youngest brother simply mourns his older brother in silence.
"And what of the King? Will he be going as well?" Her question prompts two answers.
"No." Jon Arryn says while Robert shouts a "Yes."
"The reclaiming of Dragonstone is dangerous, Robert, you can not go, not until we are sure that it isn't another trap." Lord Arryn sighs.
"Trap?" Rhaenys voices her confusion in the lord's words.
"Yes. Davos Seaworth informed us that someone betrayed Stannis and didn't inform him of the arrival of the Targaryen fleet as soon as it was spotted, like they were ordered to. Stannis' men only became aware of the fleet when it was close to the shore, and by then it was too late to gather enough men to defend the castle or send for more men. They were trapped." He lets out. "Lord Monford was in charge of Stannis' fleet. He was meant to be looking out for any signs of Rhaegar, but it seems that the old bastard was working with Rhaegar to take Dragonstone." Lord Arryn spits.
"The onion knight told us that Lord Monford took sixty of the eighty ships that made up Dragonstones naval defenses." Larys Whent says. "Our Lord Stannis did not stand a chance against the Targaryen fleet." Rhaenys could hear the false sincerity in the man's voice.
"We believe that Rhaegar may be planning something else. A raven came from Maester Cressen just before Dragonstone fell, informing us that some of the ships from the Targaryen fleet never landed on Dragonstone and instead turned towards the Stormlands." Lord Arryn explained.
"We should not waste time in trying to reclaim Dragonstone." Rhaenys finally says after a brief moment of silence. This garnered a multitude of odd looks from the men in the room. "Let him have Dragonstone for now. We must begin to raise an army, have them settle in the Riverlands and once we know more of Rhaegar's plans we can proceed as best we can."
"You want us to allow Rhaegar to hold Dragonstone?" Petyr Baelish's voice pierces through. Rhaneys turns to him, meeting his curious eyes. "I do not wish for him to hold Dragonstone, My Lord, but we must see the bigger threat. Word of Rhaegar's arrival will spread and when it does, the lords that once swore to Robert will run to Rhargars side. We do not need Dragonstone, what we need is an army, we must gather men and prepare for war."
"We can diminish all talk of war now, Your Grace. Renly will gather the men needed and make a quick end to Rhaegar Tararyen. There is no need for the realm to bleed." Jon Arryn says. Rhaenys gives him a condescending look.
"And what of Aegon? Do you truly believe that they will give up after the death of Rhaegar? No, they have had years to plan for this Lord Arryn, Rhaegar's death will not deter their plans of reclaiming the Iron Throne." She tells him.
"Then the boy will be killed too," Robert suddenly says. Rhaenys looks at him bewildered. Aegon? No, not him.
"The boy is not at Dragonstone." Littlefinger says. Her brother was safe with their Dornish family, at least that's what her cousin Arianne had told her. "He has been seen in Dorne." He explains. Damn it, how did he know?
Robert tries to meet her eyes, but she allows her eyes to glide in all directions of the room, starkly avoiding him.
"All of you leave. I need to speak with my wife." Robert's command caught her off guard. The men present hesitantly leave the room, surely curious to know what her husband wished to tell her. Ned Stark lingers on slightly before leaving them alone, his gaze lingers on her face as he walks out the room.
Robert waited a few seconds after the door was shut before speaking to her. Rhaenys takes several steps back as her husband crosses from across the room to where she stood. He towers over her.
"Why is he doing this?" Robert asked, but before she could answer him, he went off on a tirade. "He has everything. He has Lyanna, he has his son and heir, those other dragon spawns he fathered on that whore. He even has his mother and siblings at his side, for god's sake. So tell me why, why does he want to wage war against me. Is it for this shitty crown? Does he want vengeance? I have thought about this over and over again, and yet—" He pauses momentarily and looks her in the eye. "I come to the same conclusion every time. I am the only thing standing in the way of what he really wants. If he simply wanted my crown he would have made war with me years ago, but he waited because the throne is not what he truly desires."
"My Lord? I do not know what you speak of." She tells him. She eyes him nervously. He is seething with anger.
"He has everything but you" He said matter-of-factly. Rhaenys looked at him with uncertainty. Has he lost his mind?
"My Lord, I can assure that it is not me he wants. He wishes to steal your crown, he wants nothing more than that." She said with a slight edge to her voice. They both stay silent. Then Robert looks at her with an expression she had never received from him. His stormy blue eyes are filled with pity. Her stomach lunges at this unfamiliar expression.
"I always thought you were a smart girl. But perhaps you are more dim witted than I thought." Robert said annoyingly. "You are foolish to believe that this war is merely for some fucking crown." The words sink in, but Rhaenys does not believe him. This war is about the crown, you stupid bull.
She breathes in deeply before speaking. "Husband, it does not matter what this war is being fought for. What matters is that a war is being fought. They have killed your brother, and you sit here and do nothing." She pauses. "Perhaps what they say is true, the King's warrior days have long since passed. All that remains is a lazy oaf who only cares for drinking and whoring." Rhaenys' tone is stern and unyielding. And it was perhaps the wrong thing to say as Robert lifts his beefy and hard hand up and strikes her across the face.
Rhaenys instinctively cups the side of her face that was just hit. Her eyes glare at the so-called man in front of her. Rhaenys feels the anger pump itself throughout her body. She resists the urge to smack him back, she knew only bad things would come from trying to hit a man as strong as her husband. She tries to recompose herself with dignity. Rhaenys succeeds as she stands up straight and crosses her hands over one another, she places her intertwined hands over her stomach. Rhaenys tells herself it's to appear unbothered, but she knows it's to keep her hands busy so that she doesn't attack the man standing in front.
His look of indifference is what bothers her the most. He hit me out of frustration and anger, but he seems calm now. It made her feel like a punching bag. Like her sole purpose was to let her husband take her frustrations out on her, and a part of her seethes because she knew that to be true. A wife's job is to please her husband, if he wishes to bed you against your wishes, you can do nothing against it. If he wants to beat you bloody, you must never fight back. But Rhaenys was a fighter, and it took all her will to not fight back against her husband.
"It is not up to me whether I stay here or leave. That damn old man wants me to remain here in this dirty city while Renly fights your cunt of a father." Robert says. "I want nothing more than to kill that wretched bastard, but Jon forbade it. He says it's too unsafe for a king to fight, especially when he isn't really needed in battle." He scoffed.
"Jon Arryn oversteps himself." Rhaenys says. Robert eyes her suspiciously but listens to her. "He is merely the Hand of the King, his job is to advise you, not to order you around like a dog." She says harshly.
"He is like a father to me, watch how you speak of him." He curtly reminds her. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"My Lord, I only mean that Jon Arryn can not force you to stay here while your brother goes off to fight. You are a king, but you have always been a warrior first. Your expertise and strength will be needed in the war to come, if you stay here in King's Landing, your skills will waste away." She said, She pauses and thinks for a moment. "Robert, perhaps it's best if you don't go to Dragonstone." Her final words garnered a confused expression.
"Let Renly deal with my father while you go to the Riverlands and gather your men. Send a raven to Riverrun and tell Lord Hoster to call his banners. If your brother loses his battle with Rhaegar, you must be prepared with a large army." She tells him. He huffs and turns away from her. "Have Ned Stark send a raven to Winterfell, telling his son to march south with his men and join his grandfather."
"If you must leave, go to the Riverlands." Rhaenys says before she walks out of the room.
Edric is waiting for her a couple of steps away from the door. He follows her as she makes her way down the stairs and out of the tower.
"Your Grace, Lord Petyr, wishes to speak with you." He informs her. "He says that he will be waiting for you by the garden." She rolls her eyes at that. Rhaenys has no desire to talk with the man. She could tell that he was dying to get into her good graces and while she disliked the man, Rhaenys knew that he had unseen power which could be beneficial to her.
"Very well then. Let us go meet him."
"Your grace, if I dare ask, are you alright?" Edric said, his blue eyes shining with concern. Her stomach flipped at that, and she looked away from his eyes.
"I am fine, Ser, thank you," she muttered softly, but it did not do much to persuade her sworn shield. They continued their walk down out the long hallways to meet with the slimy lord. She cast a few quick glances towards Edric as they walked together, and she would find him staring back at her. His blue eyes would meet hers and then fall to the left side of her face. The side of her face that Robert had smacked harshly, Rhaenys could still feel the sting.
Rhaenys spotted the man's black and silver hair, his back was turned against her, and he faced one of the many trees in the Godswood. The armor that Edric wore made a loud noise and must have alerted the man of their presence.
Petyr Baelish noticed her arrival and his face twisted into a sly grin that made her skin crawl. She gave a small, tight smile to him in greeting. His beady eyes flickered with a cunning gleam as he looked her up and down. She tried to not grimace.
Baelish closed the distance between them and greeted her, bending his body to a low bow, which made her roll her eyes. The man was always one for theatrics.
"Your Grace, it is an honor to be in your presence." He said with a voice of oily charm. "Thank you, Lord Baelish," Rhaenys replied, maintaining a gracious smile. I am not to be trifled with, you bastard.
"Well, My Lord, is there a reason as to why you wished to speak with me," she asked, already tired of his presence. "It must be something of the utmost importance if you had to seek me out."
"Yes, it is, my Queen," he said, that same stupid slimy smile still plastered on his face. "I only wished to make you aware of what is going on in the realm, as I am your faithful servant."
"Speak, Ser." Her interest now piqued at what he had to say. The small man despite his humble beginnings had various connections around the seven kingdoms, which even Rhaenys had to admire.
"Aegon Targaryen." His voice smelt minty as he moved closer to her, but her heart stopped as she heard the name he had spoken. Aegon?
"Your brother, Aegon–"
"I have no brother," She forced the lie through her teeth with a smile. Rhaenys knew better than to claim Aegon as her brother in front of a deceitful man such as Petyr. Any signs of affection she showed in her voice and words could be used against her.
"Well, sightings of Aegon Targaryen from my friends in Dorne have been reported back to me," he said to her. She breathed a sigh of relief. Of course, I know that, you fool, I too have connections.
Her cousin, Arianne, had informed her of whatever plots her uncle had been concocting. Rhaenys would be waiting to dole out the King's Justice to her uncles after all of this is over. Of course, she will be lenient, after all he is her mother's brother and her beloved cousin's father. Rhaenys was not cruel.
"Oh, you do not seem so surprised, Your Grace." He smirked, seeming to be amused by her reaction.
"As the queen I have my own ways of keeping a close eye on the happenings in my kingdom, My Lord," she said coolly. "So if you have any other information which you believe would be of use to me, I suggest you share it now. Otherwise I have pressing matters to attend to."
"It's just that in Dorne, when I had been told about Aegon Targaryen's whereabouts I was slightly surprised but that soon faded away. The boy is half dornish after all, he has every right to be in Dorne." He gave a dramatic pause. "But I was in absolute awe when I was informed about not one but three silver-haired youths stuck by his side."
Rhaenys stood frozen for a moment, her eyes fixed on Lord Baelish's smug face in stunned silence. This revelation hit her like a gust of harsh wind, threatening to knock her onto the cold ground. How dare those three wretched brats take a step into her mother's homeland. Was it not enough that their imbecile of a father and whore of a mother had been in the sands of Dorne while her mother suffered alone at the mercy of a madman.
She balled her fists at her sides, her nails digging sharply into her palms. The anger that burned within her, fierce and unrelenting. Rhaenys wanted nothing more than to march to Dorne and drag Rhaegar's spawn out of her mothers home.
Rhaenys' eyes turned to Baelish's amused ones. Oh, you find this hilarious, don't you fucking cunt. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, she would rather die than show her rage to this slimy man.
"Well it seems that my expectations have not been met," She replied with a raised eyebrow. "There is an upcoming war and the sightings of three youths are the least of my worries. I will however thank you for bringing this to my attention"
"Of course my Queen." He drawled with his eyes glinting in amusement. "The bastard is amongst the children of Lyanna and Rhaegar who are in Dorne with Aegon. I believe he is the one who was fathered and born there." Petyr said with a grating sense of pleasure in his tone. A grimace formed on her face. Her fury shook her bones and Rhaenys knew she had to leave before she made a fool of herself in an act of rage.
She gave a tight smile and walked back to her chambers. Edric looked at her in concern but did not comment on the conversion he had certainly overheard.
The walk back was tense as Edric kept peering over her but she was much too angry to care about his sickeningly worried gazes. She didn't allow Arys Oakheart to open the doors to her chambers. She pushed the doors with such strength she had been unaware she had. Arys looked befuddled as he shared a look of concern with Edric.
As soon as she was in the privacy of her rooms, Rhaenys let out a guttural scream of rage into her pillow. How dare they? She was angry at everyone, her father, Arthur, that wolf girl, their spawns and everyone else who had a part in this. She was even mad at her cousin Arianne for not telling her about the dragon spawns being in their homeland.
The thought echoed through her mind like a mantra, her fury intensifying as each moment passed. She stormed over to her vanity and began to swipe the items off the top, sending her combs, brushes, perfume oils flying through the air.
A loud crash was heard and her mirror shattered into millions of tiny pieces on the floor. This fueled her anger even further as she kicked her chair out of the way and began to pace back and forth across the room, her breaths coming in ragged gasps. The more she thought about them running around in the sandy beaches of Dorne, only served to enrage her further. It was not fair. How could they see Dorne before I had the chance? I lived my entire life chained in this horrible city yet these brats could waltz into whichever kingdom they desired. How could they freely go to Dorne while my mother had to beg to go there?
She stopped in front of a wall tapestry and grabbed a corner with both hands with a primal yell to tear it down the wall. Finally, exhausted, Rhaenys collapsed on to her bed, her chest heaving with exertion. Hot angry tears ran down her face as she drifted off to an uneasy sleep. She dreamed of her mother this time but she couldn't see her face. Her back was to her and her mother kept walking away, despite her protests for to come back.
She woke to incessant knocking on her door, making her grumble in annoyance. She allowed for whoever it was to come in. Talya entered. Her friend tried to not make her shock known as she stared at the state of Rhaenys' ruined room.
"I am sorry for the mess, Talya." She asked apologetically, knowing that her friend would probably have to clean the mess up.
"Are you alright, my queen?" Talya asked, ignoring Rhaenys prior comment. Worried filled Talya's eyes as she tried to not look at the mess in her room. Rhaenys knew she looked terrible. Her hair was messy. The circlet that had been on her head had flown off her head as she trashed her room and her voice sounded hoarse from all her screaming.
"I am fine." She assured Talya but it sounded more like she was assuring herself. "Could you please tell Lord Stark to meet me in the godswoods later today. I wish to speak with him?"
"Of course, your grace," Talya neatly curtsied and left her alone.
She freshened up by splashing rosewater on her face. She changed into an emerald gown.
Rhaenys opened her door to find Edric standing outside, causing her to shriek.
"You startled me!" She said annoyed that he had made her make a sound so unseemly.
Amusement glinted in his dark blue eyes as he stifled a smile, causing her to roll her eyes.
However any mirth he had dropped when his eyes focused on the bruise on her cheek. Fury burnt his blue eyes. It made Rhaenys feel strangely embarrassed.
"Apologies, my queen but I was worried about you." He said, she shut her eyes. Rhaenys had hoped that she was more discreet in her rage. She used to be so good at hiding her anger, since becoming queen Rhaenys found it alarmingly difficult to contain her anger. She had thought she was doing a good job at masking her anger. But her heated conversion with Robert proved her wrong and the mess she had made in her chambers certainly made it apparent to everyone that Rhaenys was a mad woman.
"I can assure I am fine, Ser Edric" She said, walking down the hallways and nodding in acknowledgement at the lesser lords and ladies that crossed her path.
"Where are we going?" Edric asked as they walked besides each other.
"It appears I must meet with the High Septon." Rhaenys responded.
"Shall I have them ready the wheelhouse for you?" Rhaenys pondered for a moment. "No, let us take a horse instead. It will be much faster that way." He nodded his head in understatement.
Rhaenys waited at the entrance gates of the Red Keep, patiently waiting for Edric to arrive with the horse. Her eyes glistened in amusement and curiosity as she saw Edric arrive at the gates with two horses. His white horse was as beautiful as ever. A much smaller brown horse let out a whine as Edric pulled its reins gently over to Rhaenys.
"Here." He said as he handed her the reins to the brown mare. She raised an eyebrow at him.
Confused as to why she didn't take the reins of the horse, he gives her a puzzled look. "Is the horse not to your liking, Your Grace?" He asked.
"The horse is fine Edric." She reassures him. A brief moment of silence passes between them before Edric breaks it.
"Then why don't you take the reins?"
"Because I don't know how to ride a horse." She tells him. He stares at her in disbelief.
"You don't know how to ride a horse? But you're a Lady." He reminds her. Rhaenys lets out a laugh.
"I was never taught." She tells him. "There was no one who ever cared enough to have me learn how to mount a horse." She confesses. She refused to think about Rhaegar Targaryen promising to teach her how to ride when she was older.
"Oh." He says quietly. "Then shall I have the wheelhouse prepared for you?" He asked again.
"No, the horse is fine." She tells him. Another moment of silence passes. "But you said you can't ride a horse." He repeated. He sounded annoyed now.
"Yes, that is why you and I will be riding together." She tells him. "Hurry up, the matter that I need to discuss with the High Septon is urgent." Snapping out his thoughts, Edric helps her onto his white mare. He swiftly climbs up after her.
The gates open and they ride into the city. They arrive at the Sept of Baelor in a surprisingly short amount of time. Whenever she took the wheelhouse to the Sept, it would take ages for them to finally reach the large structure.
With the help of Edric she swiftly got off of the massive white horse. She and Edric ascended up the steps of the Sept.
Small groups of people stood by the entrance of the Sept. Rhaenys walks past them and into the blessed building. She looked around in an effort to try and find the High Septon. She had Talya send a messenger to let the septon know that the queen wished to speak with him.
The thin man appears suddenly from the right side of the Sept, where a multitude of rooms were built into the large sept. He was walking as fast as his short legs could take him.
"Your Grace, apologies for the lateness." The septon looked flustered as he spoke. His hair was littered with gray hairs, showing his old age. Rhaenys had known him since she was a child but she was never fond of the man.
The dornish woman gave him a reassuring smile. "There is nothing to forgive." The High Septon let out a shaky smile, he seemed nervous to be in her presence. Perhaps it was because the last time she had spoken to him was mere hours before she gave birth to her children, if she recalls correctly she called him a cunt for not being able to help calm the nerves that overtook her as the days passed and her babies still weren't born.
"Is there a reason as to why you wished to speak with me?" He nervously says. Rhaenys smiles and walks closer to the man, linking their arms together. The man stiffens against her but says nothing as she pulls him along, deeper into the sept, where not as many people linger.
"Yes, I wish to speak to you. A concern I have regarding the good of the realm." She said,
"The good of the realm?" His confusion is evident in his voice. "I am not sure what you mean, My Lady."
"I am sure you are aware of what is happening at Dragonstone." The man replies with the nod of his head. "I am afraid that those heathens are not only bringing war to us but shame as well." She sighs melodramatically.
"Pardon." The Septon says. Rhaenys could tell that he was interested in what she was saying by the way his body leaned towards her. She draws out another lengthy sigh before turning to face the Septon, grasping both of his hands into hers. Rhaenys looks him in the eye as she speaks of her fathers sins.
"The Targaryens have not only brought war into our peaceful realm but disrespect our Gods as well." She says, a sad look plays on her face. "It shames me to say that my father has brought his bastard son, Aemon, with him." The man looked engrossed in what she was saying and so she continued without any interruption.
"The bastard son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark walks around with Rhaegar's trueborn children, as if he is one of them." She shutters. "This utter disrespect of the Gods cannot go unnoticed."
"I wish it to be known that the man that seeks to be King of the Seven Kingdoms walks around with his bastard son and true-born son as if that is not shameful. Remind the people that Aemon is a bastard that was conceived while Rhaegar was still married to Elia Martell. Remind the people that Rhaegar is not a man of duty." Her voice firm and her eyes doe-like.
"I shall have members of The Most Devote spread the words." He says firmly. He releases his hands from her hold and instead in-prisons her hands into his bony ones. "Every corner of the kingdom shall be reminded of Rhaegar's insolence." The Septon's voice sounded proud.
"Thank you." Rhaenys bows her head slightly at him. She is shocked when the man reaches forwards and lowers her head, kissing her forehead lightly. "Do not worry child, all will be fine." And with that he left, claiming that he would write the letters himself and send them off to The Most Devote.
That was easier than I expected.
She can't help the proud smile that forms on her face. Edric clears his throat and leans closer to her, he leans forward. His face is only inches apart from her face before turns and whispers into her ear.
"There is a girl watching you." He informs her. Rhaenys gives him a confused look. Many people look at her, and Edric has never felt the need to inform her of such a thing.
"She's been watching you since you've entered. I think she wants to talk to you." He nods his head towards a dark corner of the sept. Rhaenys follows his gaze and finds a young septa staring at her with curiosity. "Perhaps you should go and speak with her." Edric suggests. A look of uncertainty passes through Rhaenys' face. Noticing that Edric tried reassuring her. "She looks harmless. Besides you always speak with the young septas, you have never spoken with this one. I have never seen her, I think she's just arrived in the city."
Rhaenys contemplates for a moment. What Edric said was true, she spoke with the young septas often. Rhaenys liked speaking with the young girls, so innocent and unaware of the cruelties of the world. She often wishes that she had become a septa, she would have had no need to marry anyone or have any children. She wouldn't have needed to face the cruelties of this world.
With a gentle nod of her head Rhaenys makes her way to the isolated corner the young septa occupied alone. Rhaenys makes sure to plaster a friendly smile on her face before greeting the girl.
"Are you new here sweetling?" She asked the girl. The younger girl bows her head. The septa had beautiful deep blue eyes, so innocent and doe like that Rhaenys simply wished to hug the girl. She resisted the urge of course and waited for the girl to respond to her.
"Yes, Your Grace. I only arrived a few moons ago." The septa tells her. Rhaenys had been in the sept frequently in the last couple of moons but she's sure that she's never seen the girl before. "I am Tyene, My Lady." Her voice is sweet and so very gentle.
Tyene, Tyene, Tyene . The name sounded familiar but she could not remember where she had heard it.
"I wish to give you something." The septa takes a piece of folded up parchment from her sleeves and hands it to her. "I am at your services, My Lady." Her words had garnered Rhaenys' interest. The words spoken were something she had been told over and over again that they seemed to have lost any kind of meaning. The pious lords who offered her their services never truly meant it, not unless she was ready to offer them something in return. But the way the septa said those words made Rhaenys believe that the girl truly meant what she had said.
"Well, thank you, Tyene," Rhaenys said, offering her a sweet smile. Something about her was so familiar but she could not discern what it was.. She opened the note to reach the contents of the page to find the familiar handwriting of her cousin Arianne. The same rage she had from earlier erupted in her. She and Aegon were to depart for Dragonstone. The very place where she was born and brought up. She felt sick at the thought of those lowly bastards prowling down the same halls where she ran down as a small infant. A bit of shame still came to her for being so childishly angry at Arianne who also did not have a choice in any of this.
"Tyene, you know my cousin, Arianne?" She said softly, looking at her, trying to decipher what Tyene wanted. Instead Tyene smiled gently, her eyes glinting with cunningness that reminded her of Prince Oberyn.
"I am well-acquainted with Princess Arianne, cousin." She smirked softly causing Rhaenys to gasp.
"You're Tyene Sand, Oberyn's daughter." She said, feeling stupid for not realizing earlier. To be fair, Oberyn had left nothing of himself on Tyene, who certainly must have taken after whichever woman Oberyn seduced. But as she studied her cousin's face more thoroughly she found that Tyene shared her father's viper-like eyes. A distinct widow's peak formed on her forehead that Rhaenys recalled her uncle having.
"Dorne is with you," Tyene whispered, holding on to her hand. Her sweet scent overwhelmed as Tyene gazed up into Rhaenys' own eyes with her large blue eyes. Her doe-like eyes were sincere. Rhaenys doubted that all of Dorne was with her, but she was content to have just her cousins by her side. Rhaenys had been alone and afraid for so long that she welcomed her cousin into a warm embrace. The smaller girl returns her embrace.
They stay in each other's arms for a while. As they pull away from one another Rhaenys gives her cousin an odd look.
"Tyene, why are you dressed as a septa? Arianne never mentioned that you were a septa." Rhaenys beckons. Tyene lets out a wide smile. "Cousin, it is much easier to get information when you are dressed as a faithful servant of the seven. They shall never suspect a septa of spying on the lords of the castle." She tells her.
"Huh, I would have never thought of that." Rhaenys admits. It's true that a septa, especially one as innocent looking as Tyene, would never be suspected of deceitfulness.
"I must go now cousin, I shall speak with you later." Tyene tells her before placing a kiss on Rhaenys' cheek and scurrying off. Rhaenys watches as the young septa goes to join the other septa's gathered around The Warrior.
Rhaenys tells Edric to ride fast as they leave the Sept of Baelor. Ned Stark should be waiting for her in the Godswood.
As they enter the gates of the Red Keep, she heads off to find the Northern Lord, Edric follows close behind.
She sees the man hidden between two large trees. The leaves of the trees do a fine job of hiding his presence but Rhaenys knew the Godswell well enough that no man would be able to from her in there.
Rhaenys walks slowly towards him before calling out to him in her signature pleasant voice.
"My Lord, I apologize if I kept you waiting. There was a matter that needed my attention." She says apologetically. The corner of his eyes crinkle as he lets out a gentle and small chuckle, a slight grin appearing on his face as he reassures her.
"I have only just arrived, Your Grace. I feared that it was I who would be late." He confessed. Rhaenys speaks in a joking tone. "Then we are both at fault." Another chuckle falls from the older man's lips. A brief moment of silence passes between them before Lord Stark speaks again.
"Your Grace, why did you call for me? I tried to think of a reason why you would be in need of my presence but could not think of any." He admits. Ned is about to say something more when he suddenly stops himself as he flickers his gaze towards the left side of her face. Her eyes panic as she recalls what Robert had done to her earlier.
"Does he do this often?" Lord Stark said, his voice strangely stern. However she didn't feel scolded but instead felt warmth.
"No," she replied softly. "It was my fault."
"He should never have raised a hand against you." Ned said. Rhaenys had to stifle a laugh. Only Eddard Stark is allowed to say such things about the king.
"I wanted to talk to you about where your loyalties lie."
"My loyalties?" He looked slightly startled.
"Your sister, Lyanna Stark whom you haven't seen for nearly two decades is coming back to fight with her husband, Rhaegar Targaryen for the throne." She said, "They also bring their five children who are your nephews and nieces, your own flesh and blood."
Ned stayed quiet. His eyes darkened at the mention of his sister.
"However, you were raised side by side with my husband. And the two of you see each other as brothers, no matter what quarrels the two of you had in the past . My husband values no one's word more than he values yours," Rhaenys carried on. "I understand that you may feel conflicted, your sister and a man who is a brother to you will soon be waging a bloody war against one another but I must know where your loyalties lie." Her tone is cold.
"Your father, Rhaegar Targaryen is coming back to take his throne," He said softly. "Are you not conflicted either, My Queen?" She stilled, her face flushed red with fury.
"Perhaps you have forgotten Lord Stark, so I shall have the honor of reminding you that Rhaegar Targayen abandoned me. I owe him no loyalty." Rhaenys scowled. "My mother was butchered when you opened the gates to the lions and not a single one of you honored her with swift justice!"
Ned Stark looked guilty and his eyes widened, his face torn. Good.
"Do not speak to me about conflict. I know where I lie and it's not by my husband who would've loved to see me die that night." She said, "It's by my children whom I love more than my own life. I would gladly die for my husband's crown if it meant my children will live a happy life, safe and cared for."
"My queen, I never wanted any of that to happen," He said softly. "My sister was rumored to be taken by Rhaegar Targaryen and my brother felt so much rage that he threatened to kill the Crown Prince."
Rhaenys knew the story. Everyone did. Her grandfather burnt Lord Rickard Stark in his own armor in front of his heir, Brandon in that mockery of a trial.
"I wanted to avenge them more than anything and get my sister back," He said. "I never thought that Princess Elia would die. I would have never let that happen to her. I only wanted my sister back."
"But you still let that man and his dog kill her. I would've been next." She whispered the last part. His face made a grimace.
"I wanted Tywins and The Mountain's head as justice but Robert refused it. From then on, I never saw him again." He said. "That wasn't the boy who I grew up with. Robert was a lot of things but he would never harm an innocent woman and her child. But the war left him so bitter and with anger that I could barely stand to look at him that day"
"The only person who saved me that day and was on my side was Jaime Lannister."
She saw the scowl on Ned's face and knew what he was thinking. The Starks and their honor. Jaime was the most honorable man she knew despite his obvious misgivings, he was never cruel in the way most men were. Kind, he was alway kind to her. Despite the sins he committed, she did mourn him on his execution day.
" Yes, the Kingslayer himself," She said. "He did what everyone of you should've done. Jaime Lannister protected me, a three year old who saw her mother die. The men who you call honorable sat by and did nothing. You sat by and did nothing." She spat out the last words like venom with the intention of hurting the man in front of her.
The man before her gulped and looked down. She smiled slightly, My words are the only weapon I can wield.
"High as honor? Those are the words of Lord Arryn, your father in all but name who raised you to be the epitome of those sayings. Did you know that the same honorable man wanted to marry me, someone who could be his granddaughter." She snarled, feeling angry over being used and played around with. "Where was his honor then? All of you are hypocrites"
"Please, My Queen." Ned pleaded softly, his solemn gray eyes now sad. "I know that you have suffered many injustices but know that I had no part in any of them. I only wished to see you content, I never meant any harm." His gray eyes darkened. "I did not know that Jon tried to marry you." He paused. "That was unbecoming of him but I know that he would have never hurt you. I think you would have been happy in the Vale, just as I was." He ended with a soft smile.
Rhaenys shoots him a glare. "Happy? You think I would have been happy married to a man who is as old as my grandfather, a man who stood by and let my mothers killers go free." She shoots the northern man with a disgusted look. Ned stays silent, unsure of how to reply to her. Moments passed before the man spoke up.
"If you had married my son, you would have been happy, I'm sure of it. Robb is a good man, he would have treated you with more dignity than either Robert or Jon ever could." He sounded pained as he admitted that his brother and father in all but name would have never treated her with kindness. But it was too late for that, she was wed to Robert and Rhaenys had to witness the man's temper and drunkenness, his whoremonger ways. Though she supposed she should be grateful that she wasn't sharing a bed with the old man, Rhaenys would rather be married to a whore than a crippling old man.
"I am sure your son would have made a good husband but I would have hated him regardless of the kindness he showed me." Rhaenys said sharply. Ned looked shocked at the words she spoke.
"I do not believe that My Lady. I believe that if someone shows you kindness, you will return it. I've seen it with my own daughters, they cherish you and I know you care for them as well. You would have come to care and love my son, if only Robert hadn't taken you for himself." His tone turned dark at the end.
Rhaenys resisted the urge to roll her eyes, how she wished to tell the honorable man the truth. How she wished to see the shock in his eyes as she told him that it was her who went to the king. She had relished the shock in Oberyn's eyes when she told him the truth and wanted the same from Ned. Rhaenys wished to tell him that she was not as innocent and kind as he thought her to be but she held her tongue. Better for him to think of me as a hapless girl, I must not show him my cruel and bitter heart.
"I did not ask you to meet with me to discuss matters of the past, matters that no longer matter. Choices were made and I am the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, not the Lady of Winterfell. And as Queen, you have a duty to me." Rhaenys said.
The older man raised his eyebrow, he seemed displeased. "My duty is to the King." He tells her.
"And as his wife and mother of his children, who are the heirs, you have a duty to me as well, do you not?" Rhaenys reminds the man. She takes a couple of steps forward and pulls the man's arms out towards her, Rhaenys grasped his calloused hands into her warm and soft ones. The dark haired girl stares deep into his gray eyes.
"Lord Stark, I urge you to fight for King Robert, fight for me, Your Queen."
"Your daughters, Sansa and Arya. They're sweet things and as you have seen for yourself, I have grown more than fond of your precious daughters. I have the power to protect them while the war ravages the kingdom, that I can promise. But what I can not promise is mercy for your daughters if Rhaegar Targaryen and his men were to take the city and crown. You have fought against his father and played an instrumental role in deposing him. I highly doubt Rhaegar would forgive that and just like with those lions, he will have eager allies waiting to do the same with your daughters to prove their loyalty" She lets the word sink in. "It would be cruel if what was done to my mother was done to your sweet girls." She added softly.
His eyes widened at what she had said, Ned shook his head in denial. "No, Lyanna would never let him hurt my daughters. Sansa and Arya are her family." He said adamantly.
"My Lord, you speak of the same sister who ran off with a married man while betrothed to another. Her selfish actions caused the death of your father and brother, Lyanna had the blood of her family on her hands and what did she do? She turned her back to you and left to be Rhaegar and pushed out four more babes" Her voice was honeyed. "Can you truly be sure that Lyanna won't turn her back to your daughters? She has lived with them far longer than she has lived with you, why would she choose you over Rhaegar? She has already done so fifteen years ago"
Rhaenys knew that her words had worked. The northern man seemed disheveled, his eyes were hazed with conflict and the dark eyebrows that decorated his face were scrunched up. He let out a sigh before nodding his head.
"I shall fight for Robert and for you, My Queen." Those words should have been enough for her but they weren't. Words were fickle, men even more so. And Rhaenys had no desire to see the words of Ned Stark be washed away and discarded. She could not risk him changing his mind for whatever reason. He must stay loyal to her children.
"Swear it." She orders him in a cold voice. "Swear it upon the Old Gods that you love so much, only then will I truly believe the words you say."
The dark haired man looked at her with a peculiar emotion present in his gray eyes but Rhaenys could not decipher his gaze. Finally, after a moment of anxious and undisturbed silence, Ned let a small but sad smile graze his lips. He gave her a nod and Rhaenys watched as the man got down on one knee, he unsheathed his long sword. She was surprised that she had not noticed the ancestral sword from House Stark that had rested on the man's waist but she quickly shook off her amazement from seeing the weapon and gazed intensely at the man who kneels before her.
His voice is suddenly deep and not at all like the light hearted tone he often spoke to her in. Ned balances his sword on both of his hands. She hears him clear his throat.
"My Lady Rhaenys, daughter of Elia, I, Eddard Stark of Winterfell swear fealty to you and your husband, Robert Baratheon. It is with great respect and loyalty that I offer my allegiance to your rightful rule over the Seven Kingdoms as Roberts Queen.
"As the mother of the future Baratheon heirs, Prince Cassian and Princess Elia, I recognize the importance of your family's legacy and the stability it brings to the realm. I will do everything in my power to ensure their safety and prosperity, as well as that of your entire family." He pauses briefly before continuing.
"Though our houses have had conflict in the past, I assure you that I am fully devoted to upholding your reign as well as the reign of your son and his sons. I only wish for a peaceful and prosperous future for all of Westeros and I recognize that achieving these necessitates is only possible with Robert on the throne and you by his side, as his Queen."
"May the Old Gods and the New bear witness to my oath, and may my Gods guide me in fulfilling my duties to you, your children and the realm."
Hearing Ned Stark swear an oath to her somehow made her feel lighter.
Rhaenys watched as the man rose to his feet, attempting to push down the feelings of gratitude that swirled within her. I have not asked him for anything special, he is simply doing his duty to me as his queen. There is nothing to be thankful for.
As Ned's eyes wandered to her face, she plastered a pleasant smile on her face before going to him and placing her hands into his own. Rhaenys decides to indulge her foolish feelings of gratitude and smiles brightly as she thanks the man.
"Thank you, I shall never forget this, Ned."