10- Melantha
The sounds of cutlery cutting through meat was the only thing that filled the silence of the room as the Starks had their lunch.
Melantha eyed the empty seat with the half-full plate. Lyanna had left after throwing a fit over her the lessons she was being forced to take with one of the Maesters of the Red Keep.
Their father had ignored her yelling, while Ned watched on amused and Melantha remained unimpressed, more concerned about the headache that her sister's yells were causing her than about the girl's immaturity.
It was a relief when she abandoned the room.
"Were you planning on something for the afternoon?"
Both children looked up, caught off guard by the question. Their father rarely inquired about their activities, except on the occasion in which he had to remind them of their duties for the day.
"I have some reading to do before joining Robert on a small hunt." Ned said.
Melantha's face twisted in displeasure at the mention of Lord Baratheon's name.
"I planned on writing a letter for Benjen and Bran, after that I was going to have tea with the queen, then a walk through the gardens with Rh- the prince, and dinner with Lady Catelyn and Lady Ashara."
"Maybe you can intercede with the Queen on behalf of the family, since you've been spending so much time with her."
Melantha and Ned exchanged looks.
"Concerning what?"
"Your sister's prospects."
She froze on the chair, as if someone had dropped iced water all over her.
"Father," Ned cleared his throat. "I believe Lyanna is still too young to-"
"I'm not talking to you, boy." He sneered before turning to Melantha once more. "Since that prince of yours refused to, you could take the matter up with his mother."
Melantha said nothing, staring at her father, trying to guess what he was talking about. She thought of Rhaegar's foul mood some days prior, and she wondered why her father would discuss Lyanna's future with the crown prince.
"You want her to marry prince Viserys." She said,
He nodded.
"Prince Rhagear wasn't happy with the idea."
"Maybe that's because the child can't even talk yet."
He dismissed her point with a wave of his hand.
"He'll grow up."
"Even so, you have to understand it's not the best idea for the Targaryens to marry their two sons to daughters of the same family. There's not much advantage in that."
He grunted.
"That's what he said, but I still think it could be a good idea."
"The queen might still have a daughter though." Said Ned, and shrugged. "If she did, she'd be the bride of Prince Viserys."
Melantha lost her appetite and pushed her plate away.
"Father, southerners don't usually seek out an alliance with the north, least of all the Targaryens. It's not wise to push your luck this way. Besides, it'd be more advantageous if Lyanna was married into another southern house, into a territory we're not rooted yet."
"But the best outcome would be to let her choose, many years from now when she's no longer playing with dolls."
"Leave the politics to me, Melantha. Your only concern from now on is to wed the prince and continue this forsaken dynasty."
At that moment, she could've spat on his face.
"I agree with my sister, although perhaps Lyanna would fare better in the north."
Melantha stood up from the table.
"I've made my opinion known, father." She did her best not to tremble, the anger at the conversation, and the fear regarding facing her father battling inside of her. "And I'd rather not speak any further on it unless Lyanna is here to give her opinion."
She turned around and left, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she heard her father scoff.
When she walked into her room, she heard Ashara before seeing her.
"What did he do this time?" She asked.
Melantha looked around, startled and confused, until she found the dornish woman standing by a chair near the balcony, her face reddening in anger.
"How did you get in?"
"The door. What did that idiot do this time?"
Melantha turned around so she could get some semblance of privacy and dignity as she wiped the tears off her cheeks. She focused on her breathing and forced herself not to cry.
"Who do you speak of?"
"Rhaegar. Who else? What did he do?"
"I haven't seen him today yet, so he's done nothing to offend me for the time being."
Ashara's shoulders sagged in relief for a moment before she narrowed her eyes.
"What happened?"
"It's nothing, only an unpleasant meal."
She hated crying, mostly because of the headache that would always come afterwards; she also hated it because even long after the tears stopped, there would still be evidence of the occurrence on her face.
"Family trouble?" Ashara asked, sitting next to Melantha and placing her hand atop of hers. "You know, I understand you're in a delicate position, and that everyone at court is waiting to see the tiniest of cracks to tear you down-"
"That's comforting."
"But you can talk to me. I promise not to betray your trust."
"Even to the prince?"
"Yes, even him."
Melantha sighed and looked away, embarrassed.
"My father wants me to talk to the Queen, to present my sister as a suitor for prince Viserys."
"He can't even wipe his own ass."
Melantha looked down at her hands as they fidgeted with each other.
"He has all these reasons to justify it, but I know what he's truly thinking;" She closed her eyes, her heart aching by the thought. "He doesn't want to risk me dying without securing a Stark on the Iron Throne, so Lyanna is his second plan."
Ashara remained silent for only a moment
"That's despicable, and sadly unsurprising."
Melantha's head snapped up, surprised. She had expected some reassurance, she had expected Ashara would try to convince her otherwise, tell her that she was wrong and her father saw her as more than a brooding mare to further a stupid line and gain access to the most dangerous position in the continent.
It was enraging and heartbreaking to her, that her father couldn't care to see more in her. She could read and write better than anyone at Winterfell, she could ride as good as her brothers, and wield a sword with enough competence. Melantha could discuss all eight thousand years of Stark history from different sources, she could do it while drunk even. Thanks to Ned and Maester Luwin she could understand some politics and warfare.
She dreamed of a link of chains around her neck and the talls bookshelves of the Citadel; she longed for a quiet, unimportant life.
She longed for choice.
Any of her siblings would've tried to convince her that her father loved her, that he was harsh but had the best of intentions, but she could see through him.
Maybe it was because in another life, in other circumstances, she could've been the same as he is now.
She wasn't sure if the thought terrified her or not.
"I have so much more that I want to offer, all except-." She whispered.
Ashara bit her lip, purple eyes racing across her face as she gave sense to what Melantha had said. Her expression turned sad and her arms went around Melantha's shoulders, bringing her in for a hug.
"I'm sorry." She said, and somehow, that was enough for the moment.
Melantha relaxed in her embrace, her worries forgotten for a moment.
With those two words, she felt understood, she felt accompanied.
"I know it's stupid and ungrateful of me to-"
"It's not, truly. I think most women feel the same." Ashara looked up and ran her finger down Melantha's face, placing a lock of hair behind her ear. "It's a sad, silent companionship that we all share."
"Could our companionship not be silent?"
Ashara smiled sadly.
"Please."
She pressed her cheek to her shoulder and they sat like that for a while, watching the sun move across the sky.
Melantha was more than happy to leave the confines of the Red Keep for a few hours and feel the wind slap against her face and tangle her hair as she galloped across the beach on top of a borrowed horse.
She looked back and couldn't help but smile at Rhaegar, who was only a few paces behind her. She was sure she looked mad, grinning widely, with her hair sticking up in all directions, but she didn't care. She felt light once more, the burdens of her future gone into the back of her mind.
The sun shone down upon the young couple and the sand hit their faces as they raced amicably, their guards long ago left behind.
Melantha pulled on the reins of her horse and slowly came to a stop, taking in the sight of the blue waters and the boats amidst it.
"If I had known you'd enjoy yourself so much I would've bought you here much sooner." Rhaegar said with a smile, as breathless as she felt.
Melantha's cheeks were thankfully previously flushed.
"I'm sorry. I usually comport mysel-"
"Nonsense." he interrupted. "Don't apologize for enjoying something, Mel. Never to me."
Her teeth showed on her new smile as she guided the horse closer to his, but with enough distance to be considered proper.
"Is that a new nickname I hear?"
The prince fumbled for an answer.
"Well, I'm sorry; if you don't like it I ca-"
"I don't mind."
He stared at her for a few seconds in complete silence. She let him, patiently waiting for something she knew nothing of. She almost considered talking to him about what her father had told her the day prior, but quickly discarded the idea. The last thing she wanted at that moment was to cloud it with unpleasant schemes.
"You've taken to your ride very well." he said finally as he pointed at the horse.
"Oh, yes, surprisingly. It's usually a bit of a struggle to get used to new things." she answered, running her hand down the horse's neck and giving it a loving pat.
He did it again, just stare at her. Was he trying to decipher her mind? Was he reconsidering their betrothal? She didn't feel any sort of apprehension as he looked at her, so she wanted to assume the staring was not a bad sign.
"Well, from what little I've seen, you're managing all these changes in your life quite well." His face shifted then, softening, opening up to her beyond the courteous prince. "But you don't have to manage it alone. I have my responsibilities, but my duty to my family is very important to me, and you are family to me already Melantha; there may be a few days to the wedding yet, but you've been my family since our betrothal was settled."
Melantha didn't say anything, she didn't really know how to respond to such declarations.
It warmed her heart to hear him speak those words, it made her want to go up to him and borrow herself into the safety of his embrace.
It also made her weary, for she didn't fully trust him to keep his word, she didn't fully trust him to not break her.
Her hand traveled to her left wrist, where she kept her old, pink ribbon tied securely. She toyed with it, not knowing how to respond and growing anxious.
Rhaegar's gaze drifted down to the ribbon.
"It looks well loved." He said casually.
Melantha ceased her fidgeting.
"Um, my mother braided my hair with it before she passed." She blurted out, not knowing what to say.
She knew the sun wasn't the reason why her face was so heated. She groaned internally. Why would she say that? Couldn't she find something more gracious to offer as a reply.
Rhaegar's expression grew sympathetic and he leaned his head to the side.
"I was aware of the circumstances of her passing; I'm very sorry. You must've been so young."
Melantha shrugged.
"There are worse tragedies, I'm sure."
"It doesn't lessen yours."He said softly, refusing to move his eyes from her face.
Melantha felt perplexed. She was used to shrugging off her pain in front of others, and she was used to others barely noticing it anyways. Here he was, the beloved prince of the realm, giving her his undivided attention and letting her know she could allow herself to feel her pain as much as she liked. "You know, I'm not a Maester from the Citadel, or a Pentossi surgeon, but I do assure you that I'll do all that I can to ensure your safety on the birth bed, Melantha. A long and happy life is my promise to you."
They remained in silence for a moment while she seized him. She wanted to beg him not to make promises he couldn't keep, but his intent warmed her heart, and in the end it was that warmth that won the battle.
She smiled as a cold breeze ran past her, making her and Rhaegar shiver.
In the distance, she saw the guards approaching and felt slightly bold.
"Do you think we could lose them again?:
Rhaegar turned to look at the guards and back at her, smiling widely.
"Of course we can."
A/N: Hope you like this one! I'm excited for the next one.
Have a good day, everyone! ? ゚メユ
