Rhaenys gazed out of the window and couldn't help but admire the serene beauty that surrounded her. Verdant trees swayed gently, as if beckoning her to dance with them. The wheelhouse that she was riding in proved to be a luxury as she watched the guards on horseback galloping beside them. Despite the chatter of the men around her, Rhaenys remained aloof and uninterested in their mundane conversations. The only company she needed came from her children, Lana, a few of her handmaidens. A few chittering girls from noble houses were also stationed with her, acting as her ladies-in-waiting. Elia sat on Rhaenys' lap while Cassian enjoyed the company of her handmaidens, who all doted on him generously. Each of the young girls took turns sitting Cassian on their laps. Rhaenys smiled as her son spit up some of the milk he had been drinking, prompting the ladies to fuss at him. Talya grabbed a napkin and cleaned the milk off Cassian's face.
"Your Grace, would you like me to hold Elia, while you rest?" The nursemaid, Lana asked. Rhaenys contemplated for a while before slowly handing off her daughter to the older lady. Her Elia made little fuss at the sudden movement, she was much too occupied watching out the window to notice her change in handler Rhaenys, her children and her husband were on their way to Harrenhall to celebrate their first nameday. Rhaenys had suggested a grand celebration for her childrens nameday, though she never proposed that said celebration should be had in the humongous castle that was Harrenhal.
"The realm must see that we are united. What better way to do that than by reminding the realm that you have heirs." She had told Robert, her husband was a man who loved any excuse to drink and whore around and so he agreed at once. His lord hand had been harder to convince but in the end he too saw that the realm needed something to talk about besides the great war that threatened to envelop the kingdom. Rhaenys had suggested the celebration be held in Storms End but both Robert and Jon Arryn shut that idea down quickly, the Baratheon home was much too far for many of the lords and ladies to come to, they had said. Rhaenys had wanted to say that perhaps Dragonstone would be as great a place as any to hold the celebration but she knew she would be turned down, and so she never asked. She had been missing Dragonstone as of late, she is not sure why though. It had been years since she stepped foot in the castle, and during her years in Kings Landing she had never given her Targaryen ancestral home much thought. The men of the small council spent quite some time figuring out where to best hold the celebration, Lord Varys had suggested that the celebration be had right there in King's Landing but he too was shut down by Jon Arryn on account that the capital could not house that many people. It was Lord Larys that had suggested Harrenhal, Rhaenys remembered the uncomfortable silence that followed his recommendation. Petyr Baelish was the first to speak up in agreement with Lord Lary's suggestion, the rest of the men in the counsel soon followed, until only herself, Robert and Jon Arryn remained. She could see that the two men were unconvinced of the location of the celebration. Rhaenys could not fault them for being reluctant to host her childrens celebration in such a place. Things had gone so terribly wrong the last time a grand celebration was hosted in Harrenhal.
But in the end they both agreed the festivals would be held in Harrenhal and Rhaenys herself did not have the energy to fight against that. And so now she sits in a wheelhouse, journeying for days to reach the abysmal castle that was the catalyst for the downfall of her house.
She and the children had been on the roads for day's, they stopped at inns and castles of minor lords every night. Despite her body feeling terrible for all the time spent in the wheelhouse and uncomfortable beds in inns, she had never felt happier. This was the first time Rhaenys had been out of the capital since her mother died and she felt the chains around her neck loosen slightly as they left the gates of Kings Landing. And everytime they grew further and further away from the Red Keep, she felt the pressure around her neck loosen. She still felt a twinge of pressure, but where the pressure had once felt suffocating, it now felt like a small touch. Nearly gone, but still there. Always there.
She watched Edric Storm ride his horse next to the wheelhouse, he looked like a true knight in his armor. He rode beside Ser Barristan, they seemed to be conversing about something but Rhaenys could not hear what was being spoken. Rhaenys looked wishfully at the lovely white horse that Ser Edric rode, I have never ridden a horse. Will I still be able to, now that I am a woman grown? Rhaenys had only ever ridden on a horse with her father. He used to tuck her in front of him, wrap his cloak around her to keep her warm and ride. Rhaenys did not remember much of those rides but she knows that she enjoyed being atop a horse. She would laugh as her father made the horse go faster, she thinks that she remembers him laughing too but she can't be certain. Her sorrowful daydreaming is interrupted by Talya.
"Your Grace, is it true that the Knight of Flowers will be at Harrenhal?" The blond girl questions. "I am not sure Talya, but if my brother Lord Renly is there, it's safe to say that his precious knight won't be too far." She jokes with her friend. Talya and the rest of her handmaid's giggle at her. The younger maids begin to gossip amongst themselves and Rhaenys finds herself more than entertained at the group of young girls. They speak of handsome knights and lovely maidens, of kisses and love. Rhaenys looks at the young girls fondly, she wonders to herself if she had ever dreamt of handsome knights and lovely maidens, of kisses and love, she thinks not. Her eyes shift to her daughter Elia, will you dream of handsome knights and lovely maidens, of kisses and love my child? I hope more than anything that you do. Dream of sweet things, my love.
"I heard Ser Gerold Dayne will be coming to the celebration." One of the young maids said. That name immediately caught her attention.
"Ser Gerold Dayne?" She asked the girl who shook her head enthusiastically. "Yes, they say he will be riding in the tourney." Talya continues. Rhaenys thinks back to all the Dayne's she knew of but she could not remember any Gerold Dayne, and so Rhaenys once again questions the young girl. "He is a Knight of High Hermitage, they say he is as skilled as Ser Arthur Dayne." Those words only grew to interest Rhaenys more. A Dayne? As skilled as Ser Arthur? Not very likely but I would love to see the man who is supposedly as skilled as the Sword of the Morning. And suddenly she recalls that Arianne had mentioned him in one of her letters. Arianne did not write anything of interest but she made up her mind to be present during the tourney to see Gerold Dayne ride. She hopes that the man is as good as the ladies in her company claim him to be.
"Are you excited for the celebration?" Lana asked Rhaenys. The queen gives a nod. "Yes, I look forward to celebrating my children's nameday. My sweet children are already a year old, they have grown so quickly."
"They have grown rather quickly." Lana agrees.
"It is the Baratheon blood that has made them into giants." Talya jokes.
"My children are not giants, Talya. Besides, they aren't that big." Rhaenys replies to her friend. Talya gives her a knowing look and they both laugh. The rest of the ride is silent. The stillness in the wheelhouse allows her a moment of serenity and she closes her eyes and falls into a dreamless sleep.
A gentle shake wakes her up. Rhaenys opens her eyes slowly and sees Talya's face loom over hers. "We will be arriving at Harrenhal in just a few moments." She tells Rhaenys. All of her drowsiness disappears from within her at once. Her nerves and fears engulf her for a fleeting moment but she is able to regain control over her emotions quickly enough that she doubts anyone noticed the way her face paled or the way her hands trembled slightly at the mention of Harrenhal. She peered out of the window and saw the grand castle that Harren the Black had built and completed the day Aegon began his conquest.
Rhaenys had visited Harrenhal but once, and held no recollection of it. As her eyes beheld the colossal fortress with its darkened towers, she marveled at how such a sight could have ever slipped from her memory. The daunting castle only loomed larger as their wheelhouse neared, and as they passed through the massive gates, Rhaenys noted an increasing multitude of watchful guardians securing the entrance to the stronghold. Her heart quickened as the wheelhouse jolted to a sudden halt; it was time to emerge from the cocoon of her ladies and children. Hastily, she adjusted her silken locks as best she could while the announcing voices began to rise in a cacophony outside of her chamber; then, as if fate itself parted her safe seclusion, the door swung open to reveal Edric standing before her. With the courtly grace of a true prince, he extended his hand which she gladly accepted before descending from her refuge. Rhaenys gestured for Ser Balon to assist her ladies and little ones out of the wheelhouse, and she observed him dutifully follow her command. Feeling a sea of gazes upon her, she strode purposefully toward the assembly gathered within the vast courtyard.
Her blue gown contrasted starkly against its somber surroundings, its square neckline adorned with delicate white lace trimmings. A string of gently glimmering beads dangled from her neckline while atop her head rested a resplendent golden circlet. With poise and confidence befitting a queen, Rhaenys approached her king and his courtiers in their orderly row.
"Lord Larys, it is good to see you." She smiles sweetly at him.
"As am I, Your Grace." He tells her in return. Rhaenys moves to be introduced to the other lords gathered in the yard but Larys continues to speak. "You look as beautiful as ever, My Lady." He says. Rhaenys is unsure what to think about the man's words but thanks the man nonetheless. She looks at the men crowding the courtyard and finds only a few familiar faces, Lord Jason Mallister frequented Kings Landing when she was a young girl, she had never spoken to him but she knew his face well enough. She saw Renly and Ser Loras amongst the unfamiliar faces. She recognized most of the sigils present at the courtyard but had no way of figuring who belonged to which house. To spare herself any humiliation, she let lords introduce themselves first. Rhaenys smiled and laughed at their jest, as a good lady would. But as the last of the men introduced themselves Rhaenys could feel herself grow tired. It was Robert's ear-piercing voice that brought her back to the courtyard.
"Ned." Her husband had all but screamed. Rhaenys looked at the direction her husband yelled towards and saw a man. He was tall and well built, he had half of his shoulder length hair up, his hair was dark with light streaks of white hair. He wore simple garments. The only thing that made him look like the lord he was, was the beautiful cloak he wore. Rhaenys found that despite it being years since she's seen Lord Stark, he looked much the same way he did when she first laid her eyes upon him in the Throne Room. Lord Stark moved his way through the crowd of men with dignified power.
"Your Grace." He said to Robert. His tone was polite and his face was stern. Robert rushed forward and gave the man a hug, they both laughed. Rhaenys stood a distance away, unsure of what to do. All eyes watched the King and the Warden of the North eager to watch the interaction. Rhaenys could not blame them for that, for she too was eager to see the men interact. She saw as Robert whispered in Ned's ear, but she was too far away to hear what was being said. Regardless, whatever was said seemed to ease Lord Stark as a small smile spread across his bearded face.
Rhaenys watched with careful eyes as Ned Stark turned his attention towards her. His gray solemn eyes stared at hers with curiosity. She gave him a smile and reached over to pull him into a hug.
"My Lord, I am most pleased to see you." She says with a sweet smile on her face. She felt the man stiffen slightly against her hold but before he could return her gesture, she pulled herself away from him. She played this reunion in her head countless times and yet— she found that she did not know how to feel about meeting Ned Stark again. He is one of the reasons why my mother is dead , she tells herself. He rebelled against my father, he is to blame for all that I have lost. Rhaenys knew that a multitude of people were responsible for the unfair death of her mother, Ned Stark had not caused her mothers death but his sister did. She had always been conflicted about Lord Stark's accountability. He is a good man, but is he?
"Your Grace, you have grown to be a great beauty." He tells her politely.
"You are most kind, My Lord." She replies courteously. It was then that she finally noticed the young man who stood besides Ned Stark. The young man had auburn hair and blue eyes, he was shorter than his father though not by much. The realization hits her all at once.
"You must be Robb Stark." She says aloud, to no one in particular. Robb nods and offers her a smile. "I am glad we have finally met My Lady." He tells her, Rhaenys could not tell if he is being honest or not. I fucked the man responsible for my houses downfall just so I didn't have to marry you. It was peculiar being in the presence of the boy, he was to be my husband and now he is just a stranger to me. Rhaenys shakes those thoughts away, it matters not anymore.
She looks around for any signs of the rest of the Starks but finds no one of importance. She questions the lord about his family's whereabouts.
"My Lady Wife stayed behind in Winterfell with my youngest son, my daughters and my son Bran are resting. The journey has tired them greatly." He tells her.
"Yes, many days of traveling can be quite tumultuous, my own children are quite tired from the journey." Rhaenys looks around and once she spots Lana and Talya with either of her children in their arms, she beckons them forward. Before she has a chance to introduce her children to the Lord of Winterfell, Robert interprets her.
"Ned, these are my children, Prince Cassian and Princess Elia." He says proudly. The twins babbled in their own language, seemingly unaware of the eyes watching them. Lord Stark raised his hand to stroke Cassian's hair and Rhaenys fought her reflexes hard as she almost swatted the man's hand away from her son. She quickly clasped her hands together to keep them occupied.
"He is as pretty as his mother." Lord Stark jokes, Robert lets out a loud laugh, which people in the court echoed even though Rhaenys doubts that they heard Ned's jest. The sudden noise scared her sweet Elia, her loud cries rang loud in the courtyard. Rhaenys quickly takes her daughter from Talya's arms and tries to console her slightly. She must be hungry.
"You must excuse me My Lords, the children are tired and hungry." She says politely. Before her husband or Lord Stark could respond to her, Larys Whents voice cuts through. Rhaenys had forgotten that the man was there, a foolish thought given that I am in his castle.
"Let me show you to your room Your Grace." He offers. Rhaenys had no other choice but to follow him.
Lord Larys led her swiftly to the Kingspyre Tower, the tower itself was massive though it was slightly slanted due to the dragon fire it had endured years ago. Nevertheless the chambers she was provided with were spacious. She quickly ordered her things to be brought in at once to her rooms. As the servants went in and out, Rhaenys was finally able to get a good look at the castle from out her chamber window. She had heard stories about said castle, how it had been haunted and cursed and a small part of Rhaenys truly believed it to be true. Especially when she was younger, it was easier to fault the actions of her father on some mythical curse than to blame her own father for his actions. As she grew older, she realized that a generational curse was not at fault for her father humiliating her mother. No, he knew what he was doing.
When the last of the servants left, Rhaenys began feeding her children. They both soon fell asleep in their cradles. She watched them sleep, and it wasn't until her children had closed their eyes that she realized how tired she was.
"Will you be resting now, Your Grace?" Talya asked her. Rhaenys ponders for a moment, she was very tired and still— her curiosity of the magnificent castle grew bigger and bigger as the castle remained unexplored.
"No, Talya. I will be going for a walk." She tells her handmaiden.
"Will you like me to accompany you?" The blond haired woman asked. Rhaenys responded quickly. "No, I wish to go alone. Please stay with the children."
"Of course, My Lady." Talya answers. With those words being said Talya helps Rhaenys change into a more suitable gown which will keep her warm enough now that the sun is setting. The gown she wore earlier would not suffice. Talya picks out a simple but elegant white woolen gown with a red overcoat. She dons a golden belt around her waist, accentuating her shape. Satisfied with how she looked, she leaves.
In the end Rhaenys did not go on an extensive exploration of the castle. Her curiosity was cut short when she stumbled upon the godswood. The sight of the old gods proved to be as great as she had hoped it would be. The heart tree was a marvel to see, she stood at a distance, a small part of her was much too frightened to step any closer to the tree. But from where she stood she could see the thirteen cuts that cried red sap.
"Do you not wish to be closer to the heart tree, My Lady?" His deep and sudden voice reminded Rhaenys that she was in fact not alone. The reminder of her sworn shields presence made her a little more brave and she made her way towards the heart tree.
Her hand instinctively reached out to caress the marks that adorned the tree.
"It was my ancestor Daemon who made these marks." She said softly as her hands lingered on the trees' scares.
"The battle above the Gods Eye." Edric said.
"Huh?"
"He waited thirteen days for Aemond One Eye, he had just finished marking the thirteenth day when his nephew finally arrived. The battle above the Gods Eye." He explained. Rhaenys knew the tale well, the stories about the Rogue Prince had been her favorite. He was both loved and feared. Good and bad.
"Do you think he was scared?" She beckons the man standing next to her.
"Daemon Targaryen?" He asks, she nods in conformation. "No, I don't think so. The Rogue Prince was a seasoned warrior. I doubt he feared his nephew." He responds.
"Yes, I suppose. But—" She hesitated. She locks eyes with Edric and his eyes watch her eagerly. "Do you think he would have regretted— had he lived?" Her question leaves the man confused. And so she clarifies. "Do you Prince Daemon would have regretted fighting his nephew, his own blood, had he survived the battle?" Her eyes are no longer looking into his, she focuses her eyes on the red sap spilling from the tree.
"He did what he had to do, for his wife and children. I don't think he would have regretted it, at least not entirely." He said softly. She turned to face him again and saw the sincerity in his eyes which caused her heart to flutter.
The sound of heavy footsteps made Rhaenys break her gaze. She turned behind and saw Ned Stark's eldest son coming towards them. Both Edric and Rhaenys watched the young man walk towards the heart tree where they both stood. Once he was in front of them, she noticed that the man looked nervous. Rhaenys wasn't sure if Robb was intimidated by her or Edric. Robb Stark bowed deeply and smiled at her. He was quite comely now that she looked at him closely.
"My Lady, I had not expected to see you here." He told her. Rhaenys gave him a shy smile. "I have never seen a heart tree before, I admit that my curiosity could not be sedated. The heat tree is as lovely as I imagined it to be." It would be lovelier if you were to leave , she thinks bitterly.
"It would be a great honor if you and the King were to join my family and I in breaking our fast tomorrow morning." He spoke gently.
"It is I who would be honored, My Lord." She replied politely. Rhaenys watched the weird exchange between her sworn shield and Robb, Edric looked at Robb with a strange look, which perplexed Rhaenys. Already she had grown tired of the godswood and decided that it would be best if she went away to her bedchambers.
"I am tired My Lord, you must excuse me." Rhaenys tells the northern man. A disappointed look briefly flashes through Robb's face before he composes himself.
"Of course Your Grace. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." He tells her sincerely. Rhaenys only offers him a small smile in return as she leaves the sight of the Old Gods, she feels Edric following her.
As Rhaenys advanced towards the great hall, the clamor of spirited conversation and mirth-filled laughter reached her ears from within. Upon stepping inside, her eyes settled upon her husband, situated at the head of the lengthy table alongside Lord Stark, his laughter resounding exuberantly. A symphony of tantalizing aromas filled the air with promises of sumptuous meat stews and savory venison pies in a plentiful array upon the bountiful table. Amidst this feast, a gilded salver held an artful arrangement of delectable lemon cakes, positioned temptingly near a large carafe of the finest wine . Once the Starks noticed her arrival, they abruptly stood up.
"My Queen," Ned Stark greeted her politely.
"Do be seated, all of you." She sheepishly said. Her gaze swept over the Stark children she had yet to meet. The taller girl was strikingly beautiful, with long auburn hair and vivid blue eyes. She boasted the Tully coloring and presented herself immaculately, her gown pressed perfectly without any creases or stains. In contrast, the shorter girl was a wild thing with unkempt hair, betraying her inability to sit in one place for more than a moment. The two sisters could not be any more different. She could not help but wonder if her own brother across the Narrow Sea would be any different from her?
"Your grace, it is an honor to meet your acquaintance, I am Sansa." The oldest Stark girl introduced herself to Rhaenys earnestly, her eyes brimming with excitement and purity. Rhaenys saw as the younger girl gagged at her sister's excitement in the corner.
"It is absolutely delightful to meet you too, sweetling" Rhaenys smiled gently down at her. "Your beauty is truly remarkable, dearest Sansa." Sansa's little face lit up at this, gleaming with pride.
I did not offer you my crown, sweet Sansa, only kind words . Sansa cast a stern look at her younger sister who groaned and introduced herself.
"I am Arya, pleased to meet your acquaintance, Your Grace" She said boredly. Rhaenys found herself slightly irritated at the girl's lack of enthusiasm towards her but the fleeting annoyance towards the young girl vanished as Rhaenys reminded herself that she is just that, a young girl. She felt uncomfortable staring at her longish face and her unsettling gray eyes. Out of all the children present, Arya was the most Stark-like, she must be very similar to Lyanna Stark.
"As am I, Arya." She replied with a small smile. Rhaenys' gaze fell on the table once more and found a little boy staring at her. She walked towards the young boy and greeted him.
"You must be Lord Ned's youngest son." She said, Her words caused an immediate reaction. The once shy boy straightens up and addresses her loudly.
"No, I am Bran. Rickons the baby, I'm not the baby." He says, his cheeks flushed red from anger or embarrassment, from which, Rhaenys was not sure.
"Pardons my little Lord, I did not know." She told him, the little boy's face flushed red slightly. He looked down and mumbled softly. "It's alright, you didn't know." Rhaenys reached her hand forward and ruffled the boy's red hair. She drops her hand from the boy's hair and turns to greet the rest of the men.
"My Lords, please pardon my lateness. The children were quite fussy this morning." She politely explains. Ned Stark gives her a small smile and waves his hand, "It is alright, you must tend to your children first." His tone is sympathetic. Rhaenys gives him a grateful smile.
"Well now that she's here, let's eat." Robert bellows out, the servants present begin to serve them their food. Rhaenys watches the children as she eats her warm stew, the Stark kids proved to be a source of entertainment. The Stark girls were as night and day as she knew they would be, they argued in hushed tones, well at least Sansa did. Rhaenys pretends not to notice the girl's little argument so as to not embarrass the eldest girl, who Rhaenys could tell wanted to please her queen. The gray eyed girl spoke loudly as opposed to her sister's quiet tone.
"Stop looking at her like that, you look stupid." Arya tells her sister, Sansa had been staring at Rhaenys with her beautiful doe eyes. Rhaenys could not help but let out a little giggle, though she covered her laugh with a cough as to not bring attention to herself.
"Shut up, Arya. You're the one who looks stupid, your dress is wrinkly and you didn't even brush your hair. If mother were here, she would tell you the same." Sansa says, louder than she intended to. The girl quickly looks at Rhaenys with embarrassment.
"Pardons, Your Grace, it's just that my sister can be– bothersome." She tells her. Rhaenys reaches her hand out and grabs the girl's hand. "It's alright, Sansa." She says to the girl softly. The red haired girl blushed and looked down.
"Perhaps you both can join me in my chambers today for some tea later today." She tells them. Sansa immediately jumps up and voices her agreement. Rhaenys looks at the younger Stark girl, awaiting her response. "And you Lady Arya, would you like to join your sister and I?" She asks the girl again. Arya makes a face, but this time Rhaenys does not feel annoyed. Instead she smiles at her.
"You do not need to come if you do not wish to, sweet girl." She says gently. The girl looks at her suspiciously. After a moment of silence, Arya finally replies.
"I don't like tea." She says. Bran, who had his mouth stuffed with bacon, calls out to them. "Liar."
"Shut up, stupid." Arya says immediately.
"And what do you like, Arya?" She questions the young girl. The girl answers immediately.
"I like riding, I'm better than Sansa." She says proudly.
"That's only because of your half-horse." Sansa scoffs. Rhaenys and Bran both laugh.
"Sansa, you mustn't call Arya such things, she is your sister." She scolds the eldest girl gently. The eldest girl looked slightly abashed and began to play with her food.
"Perhaps someday you and I could go riding." She says to Arya. The dark haired girl nods reluctantly. Rhaenys tunes her attention back to the flustered girl sitting besides her, and offers her one of the lemon cakes that decorated the oak table.
"Here, lemon cakes are my favorite." She whispers to the girl. Sansa snaps up and gleams at the lemon cake Rhaenys placed before her.
"Lemon cakes are my favorite too." Sansa tells her. Rhaenys smiles at her. "Then please eat the lemon cake My Lady, I fear that I will ravish the rest of the lemon cakes all on my own." She jokes with the girl. Sansa giggles and starts eating the cake.
Her attention turns to the men at the other side of the table. Her husband and Robb Stark looked to be having a good time. Lord Stark watched them as she did.
"Lady Catelyn remains at Winterfell?" She asked, though she already knew the answer. Lord Stark nods. "She is with my youngest, Rickon. Though she wished to be here to celebrate the prince and princess." He tells her. I highly doubt that. She smiles regardless.
"Do you wish to have any more children, My Lord?" The question causes the man to falter for a bit, but he composes himself remarkably quickly. "No, My Lady. I think four is a good number." He jokes. Rhaenys lets out a small chuckle in response.
"And you, My Lady, do you wish to have any more children?" He beckons her. Rhaenys' eyes flicked involuntarily to Robert and she felt a lump in her throat begin to form.
"If My King wished for more children I will bear him as many as the Gods allow." She says with a smile, though her smile does not reach her eyes, for a moment she fears Ned could see through her but before he could comment on it, her husband calls to him.
"Ned, why don't you let the boy join the tourney?" He asked his friend loudly. Ned sighs.
"He is not a knight, Robert. He can not enter the tournament regardless if I allow him." He explained. Robert waves his friend off.
"Nonsense, I say let the boy join." Robert says, next to him, Robb seemed to be waiting with bated breath as his father reconsidered. It was obvious that the boy, Robb, had tried to convince his father to let him join the tourney beforehand, and was denied. But now with the king's approval, it looked like perhaps the Stark boy would be able to ride in the tournament. After moments of contemplation, Lord Stark finally spoke.
"Fine, but don't get hurt too badly. Your mother would have my head if you are harmed." He said reluctantly. Both Arya and Bran cheered at this, Sansa clapped her hands slightly and began talking about how galiant her brother would look riding in the tourney. Robb Stark looked beyond happy, a boyish smile gazed upon his face.
"Thank you father." He says earnestly.
"My son will be riding in the tourney." Robert tells the table.
"But Prince Cassian is a baby." Bran says, his voice filled with confusion. An uncomfortable silence fills the room. Rhaenys grows tired of the silence and speaks up. "Ser Edric Storm, my sworn shield, will be riding in the tourney." She explains to the young boy, but the boy's face still has a puzzled look on its face. But luckily his sisters understood and told the boy to shut up before Bran could make any more uncomfortable inquiries.
"His bastard is going to ride in the tourney." She hears Arya whisper harshly to her younger brother. The boy's eyes widened and his cheeks turned red. Sansa decides to speak up this time.
"Who are you going to crown your Queen of Love and Beauty?" Sansa asked her brother. Robb's eyes fall on her for a moment, Rhaenys shifts uncomfortably, luckily no one seemed to notice the queer exchange. Robb looked away from her and cleared his throat before answering his sister.
"Someone beautiful of course." Sansa gushes at his answer. The rest of the meal passes without much incident but Rhaenys finds herself exhausted from the meal but she can not deny that she had enjoyed breaking her fast with the Starks, in large part because of the younger kids. She found that in the short time she had interacted with the kids, she had grown fond of them , Arya and Sansa especially. The girls were so different and yet Rhaenys found she enjoyed both their company.
After the meal she made her way back to her chambers where she had left her children in the care of Lana and Talya. Rhaenys could hear the faint sound of giggling as she neared her rooms. A smile broke onto her face as she heard those familiar giggles, she all but ran to her chambers. As she walked in she saw her twins playing on the ground, wooden toys spread out around them. She calls them immediately.
"Cassian. Elia, my loves." She says. They turn their small heads towards her and Cassian lets out an excited yell, Elia is already pushing herself up with her chubby hands. Rhaenys watches as Elia makes her way towards her, Lana is guiding her. The young princess wobbles and almost falls over a couple of times but Rhaenys waits with patience and gently encourages her. Finally her daughter stands in front of her, Rhaenys instantly scoops her up, unable to be parted from her daughter any longer.
With a warm smile on her face, Rhaenys leans down and gives a tender kiss on her daughter's forehead making Elia giggle. "Oh, how I have missed you, my love." she whispered affectionately to her daughter. The babe only grunts cutely in return. Rhaenys balances Elia on her hip as she goes to make way to her son. The boy was already standing up, though he lacked the confidence his sister had, and did not try to walk his way to his mother. Instead he holds his arms up, clearly wanting his mother to hold him. And she, as always, indulges her sweet boy and littered her son's face with kisses, eliciting giggles from both mother and son. There was nowhere else she would rather be than with her little ones.
Noon came swifter than desired, and the servants began to prepare her room for the influx of guests who would soon be arriving. Rhaenys changes into a dark gray woolen gown, the gown is simple but form fitting. With the help of Talya, her hair is braided up and her golden crown is fitted onto her head. The indigo-eyed girl watches the pleathear of cakes her servants brought in be placed onto the stone table. Just besides the dessert filled table, three other small round tables were brought in, where her and her ladies would be seated.
The first to arrive was Elinor Hightower, the eldest daughter of Baelor Hightower and his wife Rhonda Rowan. At ten and three, she towered all the other ladies in waiting who were much older than her. Jon Arryn wasted no time in accepting the request made by one of the richest lords in Westeros to have his daughter join the Queen's retinue. Rhaenys had been initially vexed by the Hand's decision to accept the Hightower girl without her leave, but her annoyance dissipated once she met the girl. . Elinor Hightower would make a fine addition to my ladies, she had thought. And she was correct. Elinor was a great beauty with long silver-gold hair with a sharp wit and an infectious laughter that filled the dreary halls. The girl, Elinor, immediately begins talking about the tourney. Rhaenys indulged the girl, asking her questions about the numerous knights the girl mentioned.
"Ser Loras will be riding in the tourney." The girl leaned further away from her chair and closer to Rhaenys. "But I heard from some of the stable boys that his horse is in heat." She whispers with a mischievous grin. Rhaenys feigned a dramatic gasp.
"That is not very gallant of Ser Loras." She shakes her head to further emphasize her disappointment in the Knight of Flowers, though of course Rhaenys could care less about the knight's mount being in heat. Elinor nods her head in agreement. Before the young girl could gossip anymore, the two cousins, Desmera and Dina Redwyne came stumbling in with an unsteady curtsy towards Rhaenys. Rhaenys pursed her lips and resisted the growing temptation to roll her eyes. The only reason she accepted them in her circle was at the insistence of Olenna Tyrell herself, who was adamant that she took the two of them under her wing. After a few days with them, she realized why. The Lady Olenna wanted the girls to spy on their queen and report all their findings to the lady of thornes. Rhaenys contemplated removing the girls from her service; however she realized that the support of House Tyrell and the Reach would be greatly beneficial to her and so enduring the frivolous girls was not the worst thing in the world.
"Good morning, sweetlings." Rhaenys greeted them with a serene smile and the two inspid girls blushed back at her. Soon her room was filled with chatterings of the young noble ladies of Westeros, each one vying for her attention with their names escaping her memory.
A short while later, a gentle tapping sound could be heard from beyond the doors of the room. As they opened, Edric stepped in and was met with a chorus of sighs and adoring gazes from the ladies-in-waiting who surrounded Rhaenys. She couldn't help but feel a sense of annoyance at their reaction, rolling her eyes at their blatant display of infatuation towards him.
"Yes, Ser Edric." She smiled at him, he returned the smile.
"My Queen, Lady Sansa Stark has arrived." He informed her.
"Oh is that so, allow her in."
"Yes, My Queen."
Sansa Stark walked in, she stood tall with a wide smile plastered on her red face. A simple look at the Stark girl told Rhaenys that the girl was nervous. She must have expected to be the only one here . The rest of the girls present scrutinized her, intrigued by the rare sight - Northerners rarely left their fortitude of winter and ice to be in the South. Rhaenys stood up and walked over to Sansa with a gentle smile and enveloped the girl into a warm embrace.
"I am so happy you joined us, my dear Sansa." She said to Sansa, keeping her voice as sweet as honey. "Please sit down with me" She gently took Sansa by her hand and walked back to the rounded table that was occupied by Elinor and herself. She gave a stern look to Desmera and Dina who were gossiping in a very unsubtle fashion. The two girls immediately ceased their incessant chittering and instead took a sudden interest in the pastries that filled their plates. Rhaenys offered Sansa a lemon cake onto a plate .
"Here, I saved you a piece." She tells the girl. Sansa lets out a sheepish smile and thanks her. Rhaenys watches as the girl nibbles on a piece of the lemon cake. The Stark girl was so unlike the talkative girl she had met earlier today. Determined to get the girl to talk, she begins to ask her questions about her home.
"Do you miss Winterfell Sansa?" She asked the girl. The red haired girl swallows the cakes in her mouth before answering.
"A little bit– it's just that the south is much more different than the North." Sansa explains.
"How so, sweet girl?" This particular question seemed to be the right thing to ask, as the young girl immediately opened up. "The North doesn't have any knights– well there are some, but not handsome knights like the ones here. Also there is so much to do here, Winterfell doesn't have many girls my age and so I don't have that many friends but I have already made so many friends here. The ladies Jeyne Westerling and Marrisa Blackwood have been most kind to me." The girl says excitedly. Rhaenys smiles at the girl's enthusiasm.
"I am glad to hear that you are enjoying your stay at Harrenhal." The girl blushes at this. "But truth be told sweetling, the Riverlands aren't quite as grand as the rest of the south."
"What do you mean, Your Grace?" Sansa said curiously. "Well, the celebration here at Harrenhal is for my children, the prince and princess of the realm, so of course the festivities have been enjoyable but I'm afraid that once the celebration is over, the Riverlands will turn right back into a dull place where only fishermen live."
"Oh." The girl said, trying to hide her disappointment.
"My sweet child, there is no need to be so anxious. While the Riverlands may not be as incredible as you might have envisioned it, King's Landing is even more of a spectacle. People from across the narrow sea come to the city, singers, dancers and mummers are just the few who grace the city. And the merchants from Lys bring the finest silks, they bring us fruits that can only be found on the other side of the sea." She tells the girl. Rhaenys watches as the girls grow with excitement, Sansa hangs onto every word she says. Rhaenys smiles and leans closer to the girl.
"Would you like to come to King's Landing, Sansa?" She asks but she already knows the answer, Sansa eagerly nods her head. "Yes, Your Grace. More than anything in the world!" She says excitedly but her smile falters slightly. "But my father would never let me go, I have asked him many times already." Her voice sounds defeated.
"You need not worry about that Sansa, I shall speak with your father. Perhaps I may even convince him to let Arya come." She tells her.
"No." She yells suddenly, attracting all the attention from the room. Sansa looks down in embarrassment.
"All is fine my ladies, please indulge yourselves with more cake." Rhaenys tells her ladies-in-waiting, knowing not to anger their queen, they do as they are told. Sansa gathers the courage to look at Rhaenys again. "I only meant that Arya shouldn't come to King's Landing with us. She'll ruin everything."
Rhaenys ponders for a moment, two Stark girls as my hostages are better than one, but one will do.
"We shall see." Rhaenys says, sending Sansa into a frenzy of excitement at the prospect of joining her queen in the grand city of Kings Landing. The air was alive with excited chatter as Sansa grew more confident and started to chat animatedly with the beautiful Elinor and Ysilla Royce, who excitedly asked her about the Wall in the North.
Suddenly all this came to a halt at the sound of soft rapping. Rhaenys beckons the person in, revealing the timid Shireen Baratheon, the sole child of Stannis Baratheon, her husband's brother. Rhaenys lets out a rare genuine smile at her. The rest of the girls whisper to each other at the sight of the greyscale but Rhaenys only approached her with a rare, genuine smile. Shireen fidgets nervously as Rhaenys takes her hand, but the queen's warm gesture puts her at ease.
"My Queen," Shireen curtseys delicately. "No need for that my sweet girl," Rhaenys smiles down at her and brings her to her seat. "Come sit with us."
She gives a particularly withering glare at the girls who were gawking at Shireen, mouths agape like fools, daring them to say anything. Rhaenys knew of the way they spoke of Shireen behind closed doors. It irked her to no end as Shireen was a sweet, gentle thing, so rare to find in Kings' Landing. The poor girl was lonely as a result of her disfigurement. Rhaenys insisted on bringing her to court and even won against the stubborn Stannis. She found it to be beneficial for Shireen, who enjoyed being in the company of her queen. The young girl was enamored with her cousins and they with her.
"Lady Sansa, this is Shireen Baratheon, my husband's only niece," Sansa, even at the age of one and ten showed more composure than the rest of the girls when she smiled brightly at Shireen, who smiled shyly back at her. "I am sure you girls can be fast friends but sadly Shireen here might be going back to Dragonstone soon."
"Hello, Lady Shireen" Sansa greeted her politely and preened at the pleased look on Rhaenys' face. Elinor passed Shireen a plate of lemon cake and poured her tea. Rhaenys looked around the room, her gaze settling on the sheepish-faced girls who still sat silent. She raised a questioning brow, annoyance seeping into her tone. "Why are you all so silent?"
At that, the gathering resumed to its formerly lively chatter, the sound of their voices mingling with the clink of teacups and rustling of the dresses. Rhaenys settled back into her seat, her gaze softening as she watched Shireen shyly joining in the conversation with Sansa and Elinor.
Cherish this time, girls, be as innocent for as long as possible. Rhaenys dreads to think what would become of the girls in her room once the war started. Her hands grew clammy as she thought about the horrors the girls would witness or endure. Rhaenys tries not to think of such things and instead focuses on the innocent chatter and laughter of her young ladies.
Daenerys watched as the orange flames danced around the three stones. Illyrio Mopatis had told her that the eggs were merely stone now but Daenerys knew better. She could feel the warmth that radiated from the colorful eggs and knew in her heart that the eggs still had life in them.
"Do you think the eggs will hatch Dany?" Rhaenyra asked. The younger children of Lyanna stood around the fire watching the flames encase the stone. The flames from the fire gave an orange hue to the room and turned Rhaenyra and Daeron's skin golden orange.
"The eggs are stone Nyra." Daeron voiced. Rhaenyra let out a sigh. "But I want to see the dragons hatch." She said stubbornly. Daenerys watched as the sibling went back and forth. She stood silently before speaking for the first time.
"The dragons will hatch." Daenerys said firmly. "We shall hear the sound of dragons once more." In the corner of her eye she could see the siblings exchanging puzzled looks at what their aunt had just said but Daenerys ignored them as stared intently at the flames, wishing that her questions would be answered. But just like the other times, the flames proved to be insufficient in answering her queries. The serenity that had been in her slipped away and annoyance and anger slipped into place. With the sudden desire to be alone she asked her niece and nephew to leave her alone, sensing her distress, they made haste and walked out of the doors of her room in Pentos.
The silver haired girl silently took the dragon eggs out of the fire and placed them back into the chest that they had been gifted in. Illyrio had given the dragon eggs to her brother Rhaegar as a gift before his departure to Tyrosh. Her brother had asked for her to keep watch over the stones until he returned to Pentos. Rhaegar and Lyanna had gone to Tyrosh to see Aegon and the others off, for the eldest Targaryen children would be journeying to the Stepstones and into Dorne. And after seeing them off, her brother would return to Pentos and be off to reclaim Dragonstone. Daenerys had eagerly accepted the task of watching over the dragon eggs. The stoned dragons called to her.
She went to sleep that night dreaming of the dragon eggs hatching.