The Vale, 281 AC
Ser Barristan Selmy was among the guards that escorted the Stark party to King's Landing. He met them half way in the Kingsroad, near the Twins where some outlaws caused trouble. He suspected that Lord Frey had his share of responsibility in those increasing crimes but did not hold proof, alas. Lord Stark was accompanied with a hundred men party, they set up a camp while reaching the Vale of Arryn. They intended to stop at the Eyrie where Lord's Stark second son was fostered.
The sun was beautifully setting in the Vale's green hills. He was in the middle of cleaning his sword when a feminine voice interrupted his routine: " It's beautiful", he heard Lyanna Stark whisper.
"Yes it is my lady, there is an unspoken and magical beauty about the sundown." She laughed out loud when he said this and he turned around to see her face.
" Well, there is an unmistakable truth about that Ser, but I was referring to your sword. " He joined her laughter and invited her to seat next to him. They sat in silence as he finished polishing his blade but he could sense the young Lady Stark was eager to ask something.
"Go ahead my Lady, you can speak freely".
" Can I hold your sword? " It was rather unsettling to see a highborn lady and a future princess being interested in swords.
" Of course, my Lady, please be careful." That brought another fit of laughter from her.
" I may not look like it but I know how to yield a sword, Ser, trust me." She winked at him and his eyes widened. No other woman has ever winked at him, those gestures were considered inappropriate. Lyanna Stark was so young, so candid and wild, he had seen it while traveling with them. She refused to use the wheelhouse, preferring to travel with her own horse. And what a rider she was! "A centaur" Roose Bolton said once to them. She was also stubborn and got a pretty sharp tongue. He knew then that she was a wild she-wolf who could not be put in a cage. She may never find her place at the Court where everything was so codified. The dragon will have to tame the wolf, in order for them to survive in the Red Keep. King Aerys and the whole Court will eat her alive if she refuse to bend to the rules.
Much to his surprise, she indeed knew how to practice with the sword.
" I cannot believe I am holding the sword of Barristan the Bold, even more before the man itself. Did you slay Maelys the Monstrous, the Golden Company, the Band of nine and Ser Symon Hollard with this sword? "
"You are very well informed about my deeds, my lady."
" My brother Benjen is one of your greatest admirer, I too think you are one the greatest knight since Aemon the dragonknight."
" So many compliments for an aging knight, my young lady, I thank you for the honor." At her insistence, he told her some of his adventures, like how he saved Lady Jeyne Swann from the Kingswood Brotherhood, the Defiance of Duskendale, a long and painful memory that needed to be told to her in order to understand the mental state of the King. He finished with more cheerful stories like his victory at the Tourney of Storm's End against a young Prince Rhaegar.
"I've been promised to the Crown Prince for so many years but I hardly know him. I know my duty and that I can't really escape it, this is my fate. But Ser Barristan, do you think we'll get along enough to be able to respect each other? "
He sighed.
"They say that the Gods flip a coin when a Targaryen is born. I believe that they tossed it to the right side for Prince Rhaegar. He is one of the finest young man I've ever known, truly. I do not say this just to appease you my lady. I do not doubt that you and the price will find an understanding and maybe later fondness. You just have to trust him and break through his barriers because the Prince is known for his melancholy. But I know him well enough to say his mind needs sometimes an escape from his royal burden. After all, he remains a young man with the same desire for happiness as all of us are. Even if he is a very promising warrior, he does not find joy in it, Prince Rhaegar loves to sing, maybe my lady, if all is well, you will have the chance to hear him. "
They watched the fire while the men drank and laughed in the camp.
"How is he truly like? I want... and I trust your opinion more than the tales and whispers about him." She said quietly, fidgeting with the hem of her skirts.
"Able. That above all. Determined, deliberated, dutiful and single-minded. As a young boy, the Prince of Dragonstone was bookish to a fault. He was reading so early that men said the Queen Rhaella must have swallowed some books and a candle whilst he was in her womb. "
They shared amused smiles as he recalled what the young Prince's childhood was. He poured another glass of wine and she took it without hesitation.
He continued: " Rhaegar took no interest in the play of other children. The maesters were awed by his wits, but his father's knights would jest sourly that Baelor the Blessed had been born again. Until one day Prince Rhaegar found something in his scrolls that changed him. No one know what it might have been, only that the boy suddenly appeared early one morning in the yard as the knights were donning their steel. He walked up to Ser Willem Darry, the master-at-arms and said: "I will require a sword and armor. It seems I must be a warrior."
Her grey eyes turned serious as she was lost in her thoughts.
" Did he never mentioned what exactly made him change his mind?"
"No one has ever seen this scroll, my lady. If the occasion presents itself, you should be the one asking him."
The remained by the fire for another minutes until they deemed fit to go to sleep and Ser Barristan escorted Lyanna to her tent.
"Thank you Ser Barristan, for everything." He simply nodded.
"Goodnight, Lady Lyanna, sleep well. Tomorrow will be another long day."