i.

"I've missed you," she said. It was the manner in which she said it though that pierced his heart. They were simple words. She hadn't been trying to pass on any other message through it. It was just that she had missed him and she wanted him to know.

But as good things did not last an eternity the moment was over much too quickly.

And then she drifted into an entirely different conversation. "Shaena won't go shooting with me anymore. She says Robert Baratheon prefers ladies to half-tame creatures. Though I cannot understand why that should matter to me. And how exactly does shooting arrows impede one from being ladylike?"

It occurred to him that she was trying to get him to talk to Shaena. Women and their plots. "Shaena is the only one who can decide how much she wishes to compromise upon." He won't be dragged into some else's courtship.

ii.

At least once she had a bow safely in hands, Rhaegar could concentrate on something else than her eyes. The added benefit was that he could in an almost logical manner. There were, certainly, some residual curious notions which he did his best to swipe away.

"Higher," he advised, analysing her stance. She moved her arms slightly. "Not so high." He knew she knew how to shoot an arrow properly and that he should upbraid her for trying to provoke him, but instead of giving her a set down, he ended up standing behind her, one hand on her shoulder, the other on her outstretched arm.

She did not turn to look at him. Which was just as well, because he might have lost what little semblance of control he had and actually ask what her aims were.

Later, he would blame it on the hot Dornish sun and Lyanna's youth and impressionability.

iii.

Youth and impressionability had very little to do with it, of course. Lyanna did not operate on such notions. Instead, she had come up with a plan. If only she could get Rhaegar to comply; that stubborn man would drive her insane. Which proved a little less than easy. It seemed he was wilfully ignoring the signs of interest thrown his way with expert practice.

"Men," Elia told her with a small indulgent smile, "are most comfortable when hunting. You are not the one who has to work for his attention."

Lyanna's dejection was almost palpable. "Then what should I do?"

The Dornishwoman looked positively thrilled to have been asked. Lyanna suspected that Elia Martell liked little better than to solve the problems of others. "That is quite simple. Rhaegar is not as daft as he would have you believe. Pretend defeat." At the look of Lyanna's face, she laughed. "A woman has to be sly at times, Lyanna Snow. We live by our wit and beauty."

iv.

Wit proved a dangerous enough weapon to be playing with.

Oberyn Martell gave the two of them an incredulous look. "Women," he muttered as if that should produce some contrition. "Why do I get the distinct impression that refusing won't deter you any?"

"Because it won't," Elia assured him. "So be a good brother and share."

He sneered at that. "Fine. But not for long." Nodding towards the youth, he barely had time to think on the absurdity of it all before Elia was talking, instructing the young Dornishman.

He glanced at the Northerner girl. Waters sure knew how to pick them. A few years more and he would be fighting other away. But of course women lacked the necessary patience for anything.

"Stop staring at her," Elia admonished, slapping a hand to his arm. "And don't scowl. Your face might get stuck like that."

"I should think it an improvement," Lyanna piped in, the ungrateful wretch.

"Snow, don't push your luck."

v.

Arthur was quite certain pity should have been the feeling summoned in favour of his friend when he saw Lyanna and Oberyn's paramour becoming quite close. Instead, he was prevailed upon by some perverse pleasure to be rather amused at the whole incident.

If he knew women, and he did – at least better than Rhaegar, anyhow – then Lyanna Snow had not so much found a new interest, as she'd discovered a way to needle his friend to the point where it became apparent. Amusing as it was, there came a point where Arthur just could not sit back any longer.

"I propose the radical solution of talking to her," Arthur advised. At Rhaegar's glare he chuckled. "You can play ignorant, if you will, so long as are aware of what you are losing."

"I cannot wait for the day some wench decides to teach you a lesson, Dayne." Well, at least he'd been spurred into action.

vi.

The boy at her side looked slightly panicky. "Are you certain he doesn't mean to murder the both of us?" Lyanna gave a dubious look towards Rhaegar. Naturally, she knew he was strong enough to, if he so wished. But she very much doubted she was in any sort of danger.

"You I cannot vouch for, but I am out of harm's way." That did not seem to please her companion. "You are truly frightened, aren't you?" He nodded, giving her a forced smile. She sighed. "He truly isn't this frightening usually."

"Which gladdens my hearty for you, m'lady, but truly do not wish to have an early funeral."Well, she supposed he had a point. "The Prince was quite right. Women are absurd."

"You had best be off," Lyanna advised in an offhanded manner. That had been all the youth was waiting for to abandon her to the, she hoped, tender mercies of one appropriately disgruntled looking Rhaegar.

vii.

Rhaegar had always been a man of few words. Lyanna hadn't even counted on receiving an explanation when he caught her gently by the wrist and pulled her away, leading her through some narrow streets to she could not guess where but neither did she care as her objective had been achieved.

Lyanna hoped that people weren't staring at them or they might wonder at the wide grin on her face, and subsequently about her sanity. Not that she was worried about her sanity anymore.

"Find this amusing, do you?" Rhaegar questioned, turning his head slightly towards her. She started to shake her head in the negative but quickly changed the motion into a nod. "Lyanna Snow, there had better be an explanation for this."

"I think you already know." He, needless to say, did not seem to appreciate the audacity. It made no matter, he would be glad for it later, she told herself.

viii.

Rhaella took a sip of her drink, fanning herself with her hand. "I do think this is out most brilliant idea yet," she told her husband who, for some reason, looked doubtful at her. "Come, Aerys, you knew the moment he drew his sword at Tywin Lannister that this would either end in blood or with a wedding."

"Aye, but I was hoping for the blood," he groused. "Weddings are no sport." At the glare his wife threw him he heaved a sigh. "Must you meddle?" He is old enough to find a woman of his own."

"You men," Rhaella laughed. "I've given him until now to find one and he has turned up empty-handed. I say 'tis high time someone took the situation in hand."

"Why don't you just have me write them an order to proceed with that blasted wedding?" Only too late did he realise his mistake.

"That is actually a capital notion."

ix.

The explanation she ended up giving to him was some fantastical mixture of feminine reasoning and practicality that had his head spinning. Of course, it was in that way that he knew she was trying to muddle his thoughts beyond repair.

"Well played," he was forced to admit by the end of it. "Now for the real reason. And no lying." He shot her a stern glance.

She blushed prettily and offered a smile. "I want you." There were a few ways to damn a man and she had found one of the more effective ones.

"Nay, you think you want me." There had to be some way to convey to her that this idea of hers could not possibly end well.

"I know my own mind," she argued.

"You are four-and-ten," he shot back.

"Five-and-ten in a less than a moon's turn," Lyanna returned with a glare. "And I know what I want."

x.

"You, my friend, have no escape," Arthur told him, clapping a hand to his shoulder in congratulations. "I suggest you man up and accept that she'd bested you this time." He took Rhaegar's drink away. "This won't help. In my experience, women are more receptive to a sober confession than a drunken one."

"Dayne, bugger off," was the dignified reply he was given. "And give me my drink back." he glowered when Arthur drank it himself instead. "What can I do to make you leave?"

"Go to your Lyanna." Refusal met his request. "Why do you insist upon torturing us all with this? Do you want the whole realm to beg you?" Rhaegar offered a helpless stare.

"She is–," he began but was swiftly cut off by his friend.

"Mayhap she is, Waters," Arthur allowed. "But you should be smart about it, fool. Wed her before she wakes up and realises she could do any better. Then you can spend your entire lifetime making it up to her."

"Gods, I hope you suffer the same someday soon."