I own nothing but Raenera.
The arrival of Eddard Stark and his girls and the royal family came quickly. Raenera had grown used to having to hide who she was, in that time. She was Flea Bottom when he arrived. Ser Barristan was by Raena's side along with Starlight. She was listening to the people as she strolled through the poor part of the city. For Ser Barristan it was just like Rhaegar interacting with the people. They all smiled at her eager to please her. She came to the blacksmith shop. She nodded to Ser Barristan as she walked inside the shop. She was greeted by Gendry.
"My lady, what can I help you with?" Gendry asked.
"Gendry how many times do I have to tell you to call me Raena? I need some arrowheads."
"At least once more my lady" Gendry said as he walked behind her picking up a pile of arrowheads.
"Gendry, we come from the same stock you and me."
"No, we aren't Lady Arryn"
"I was called Lady Stone for most of my life. I have no clue, who my mother was other than her name and her first name at that."
"My mother was barmaid with blonde hair that uses to sing to me. I don't know who my father is"
Raena looked at him she knew who his father was just looking at him. She smiled at him as place the arrowhead in front of her. Her fingers traveled over the sharp metal tips. Her eyes landed on the bull helmet near him. As she looked back at him the master blacksmith walked in. His eyes travel to the highborn lady that was conversing with his bastard apprentice. His eyes landed on her chest. Her direwolf moved closer to her as she smiled up at the smithy.
"I hope Gendry was not a bother you Lady Arryn"
"Not at all, Anthor I just pick up the arrow head I order. We were discussing a necklace I wanted to be made."
"A necklace" Anthor asked not at all believing her. He eyed Gendry and then her for a moment.
"Yes, I wish to wear it for the tourney for the new hand of the king. One that would show my hopes to join with his great house. I was hoping to have it made of silver or steal something not common in jewelry around here. I want a pendant in the shape of direwolf with birds around it; no gem in it or maybe a topaz stone in the eye of direwolf. If you can't make for me; I can go elsewhere Anthor." Raenera lied not wanting to get Gendry in trouble for talking with her.
Gendry was shocked he even believe her. Anthor looked at her for a moment before nodding his head. Anthor was not one to lose a sale. Raena knew this. Gendry smiled at her as she caught her look as his eyes traveled around the shop.
"That would run you more than simple arrowheads you normally request,"Anthor stated writing down her request.
"I figure as much. I have fifty gold dragons for it." Raenera countered.
"That would more than cover such a design and item" Anthor stated.
"Should I pay you now or afterward Anthor?" Raenera asked as she eyed him.
Gendry made himself busy working on the sword. His eyes every once and a while would catch Raena eyes. He could see through her guard look that she always wore. He remembered when he first met her.
She was young girl maybe the age of five. Her dark hair was pulled away her face. She was with Lord Arryn. Gendry had just started to work with Anthor. He caught the purple eyes of young Raena Stone. She was beautiful even then. She did not have the harsh guarded eyes that she had now at that age. But as she aged he saw her once carefree eyes slowly became more and more guarded as she learned the game he knew she hated.
"Thank you Anthor, I will send my nurse, Luciya, to pick it up."
"Always wonderful doing business with you Lady Arryn."
"And you Anthor, " Raenera said nodding her head towards Gendry.
Gendry caught her eyes before she left the shop. He could see the laughter in her guarded eyes. He saw walk in step with Ser Barristan. He saw Ser Barristan take her package for her as they walked back towards the red keep.
"So what did you have to pick up at the blacksmith my lady?"
"Arrowheads, they are present for Prince Joffery. His name day is coming up." Raenera lied.
Ser Barristan looked at her fo a moment as they walked. They were the right weight for arrow heads but he knew she had good will toward Joffery. She looked around the road. She met his eyes for a moment.
"They aren't for the prince. Lady Arryn" Ser Barristan stated.
"You're right they are for me," Raenera admitted.
"You shoot a bow?" Ser Barristan asked shocked.
"I'm not really good at it. King Robert and Queen Cersei do not know. Lord Arryn taught me. It the one thing I can do that brings me closest to him. I never hurt a person with it and don't plan too, Ser Barristan." Raena admitted.
Ser Barristan smiled at her and her at him. Ser Barristan and she had grown close while the king was traveling. He was one of the few people she knew guess her secret but keep it quiet not from the need to use her but because he was a man of honor. If he had not guessed her secret he had thought of who she was. She could see it in the way he treated her since he found her for the king; when her purple eyes met his. He made her feel safe and protected. When they came to the Red Keep he bowed slightly to her.
"I have these sent to your room my lady" Ser Barristan said.
"Thank you Ser Barristan," Raenera said as he walked off.
Raenera and Starlight walked through the throne room on their way toward the gardens. Jamie met her eyes he eyed Starlight. It looked eerily similar to Lady Sansa wolf that was killed on the road. Starlight stayed close to Raena without a leash. Her purple-blue eyes met his green eyes her head was held high.
"Ser Jamie, I am glad to hear of the family safe return."
"We had some trouble on the road. The prince was attack by wolf much like your…"
"Starlight is a dog, Ser Jamie. Direwolf have never been this far south. She was gift from my name day."
"All the same Lady Arryn I would keep the beast on a lead"
"I would do so, Ser Jamie." Raena said
At that moment Lord Eddard Stark walked into the throne room on his way to the small council. His eyes landed on Ser Jamie. Then they traveled to the lady with what looked a lot like Lady. She turned looking at the man. Her eyes guarded looked at him weighing him. Starlight moved closer to her mistress. He eyes landed on the wolf then back to the young lady.
"Lord Stark, Ser Jamie. Excuse me" Raena said as she exited the hall heading off into the gardens.
"Lady Arryn," Ser Jamie said.
Eddard eyes lingered on her as she exited. That was woman King Robert wanted his son to wed. She was a beauty that much was easy to see. She was hiding something. He could tell that much. The creature at her side looked too much like a direwolf. He shook his head.
"Remarkable isn't she… Her beauty has to come from her mother. I wonder lays behind those haunting purple eyes. Your son could have known. May yet still know. If you agree… if not… Thank the gods you're here Stark. About time we had some stern northern leader ship." Ser Jamie said.
"Glad to see you're protecting the throne." Ned said
Ser Jamie stood up walked closer to Lord Stark.
"Sturdy old thing. How many kings' arses have polished it, I wonder? What's the line? The king shits and the Hand wipes" Jamie remarked.
"Very handsome armor. Not a scratch on it" Ned countered.
"I know. People have been swinging at me for years, but they always seem to miss." Jamie stated.
"You've chosen your opponents wisely, then" Ned stated.
"I have a knack for it. Must be strange for you coming into this room… I was standing right here when it happened. He was very brave your brother. Your father, too. They didn't deserve to die like that. Nobody deserves to die like that."
"But you just stood there and watched." Ned stated
"Five hundred men just stood there and watched. All the greatest knights of the seven Kingdoms. You think anyone said a word, lifted a finger? No, Lord Stark. Five hundred men and this room was silent as a crypt. Except for the screams, of course, and the mad king laughing. And after…when I watched the mad king die; I remembered him laughing as your father burned. It felt like justice." Jamie said.
"Is that what you tell yourself at night? You're a servant of justice? That you were avenging my father when you shoved a sword in Aerys Targaryen's back?" Ned spat.
"Tell me, if I'd stabbed the mad king in belly instead of the back, would you admire me more?" Jamie asked.
"You served him well… when serving was safe." Ned stated before walking away out of the throne room on his way to small council chambers.