Chapter 14. Fire Does Not Burn.

"What fire does not destroy, it hardens."

-- Oscar Wilde.

2nd Month. 297AC.

Red Keep.

"What have you found out about her?"

Lady Mopatis spoke after a sip of wine where she laid haphazardly on her bed, an almost bored look on her face as she admired her manicured fingers.

"Her name is Lyarra Dayne. A recently legitimized bastard of House Stark, the Great House of the North. Her mother was a Dayne of Dorne who died during childbirth."

Aelora scoffed in disbelief.

"A bastard…"

It rolled across her tongue like a disease and her maid nodded before she continued.

"The queen holds her in high esteem, as the daughter of her closest friend albeit since passed. Rumors are the prince values her as a friend as well."

As she said that, Aelora's hands tighten around the goblet and her eyes flash.

"Her uncle is a member of the Kingsguard and said to be one of the king's closest friends."

The more the servant girl spoke, the more the Valyrian beauty fumed until she let out a shriek which silenced the servant as she got of the bed, uncaring of the wine pouring on her bedsheets.

"Which other female is around the prince!!"

The summer island servant looked down in deference.

"Another daughter from a Great House, my lady. A Tyrell of the Reach."

As soon as she said that, Aelora let out another shriek, throwing her goblet against her wall, and the servant girl flinched at the sound it maid, even with the red colored wine leaking down the now stained wall.

Aelora paced angrily, fuming as her eyes glittered with fury, and the servant girl, Missandei, moved to clean up as quietly as she could.

Lyarra looked behind her as a she turned a corner, sighing in relief at having escaped from Nymeria's attention.

It was afternoon and the silvery blonde had been invited by the Sand Snakes for a talk. It had been nice, obviously but Nymeria definitely knew how to make her feel awkward.

In fact, with the way her eyes usually glittered, she was beginning to believe the older girl was now doing it on purpose.

Did she expect Lyarra to get angry and complain? That would be very inappropriate, in her opinion.

She walked leisurely down the hallway, looking out a rather large and long window which showed the cold and blue seas a little further away and below.

It was the 2nd month of the year already and Lyarra had fully settled into life as a Lady in Waiting. Oh she still missed her siblings, but the letters they exchanged always gave her a sort of peace whenever she read it, and sometimes she reread them whenever the feeling in her heart for too much to bear.

But!

At least she was comfortable enough to say she had met people she could call friends, like Obara and even Nymeria herself. Not forgetting the other Snakes too.

But there was one other she was rather confident was a… friend.

Or at least he was… close enough to what a friend could be. Lyarra had never had a friend from noble background before, mainly because of the stigma of the last name Snow, as well as many houses not wanting to offend Lady Stark.

But Aegon had nothing to be worried about… did he?

He was the Prince. If anything, it was the other way around!

Lyarra's stomach fluttered and she subconsciously rubbed her it with her hands as her mind filtered his face across her mind.

His blinding smile… beautiful eyes and… attractive… laugh—

"Lady Lyarra!"

Looking up in surprise, the silvery blonde spotted Ser Garlan Tyrell a few feet from her.

He was very much the 'gallant' knight he was said to be, with an almost friendly enough visage to him this time.

Not that he usually wasn't of course. But at least he wasn't giving her his usual look of disapproval whenever he found her sparring in the yard.

"Ser Garlan."

She curtseyed in greeting and he bowed back at her.

"My lady. It is perhaps my good fortune, running into you here, that is. I was headed to the royal gardens. Would you perhaps join me?"

Lyarra perked up at that.

The royal garden was one of the most… if not the most beautiful attraction of the Keep itself.

"Yes. I'd be delighted."

Garlan smiled at her and Lyarra felt he really was a very good looking man. He just had some… odd inclinations.

Still though… while she'd never admit It out to anyone else… Ser Garlan's smile was not as beautiful as the prince's.

But that could be because Aegon had the features of Valyria! It wasn't Garlan's fault Aegon had beautiful silver hair and gorgeous eyes and amazing skin that glowed and—

"Shall we?"

Said knight's voice cut through her internal rage of emotions and she quickly locked her elbow with his.

"Please."

She eagerly said, desperately trying to fight down her embarrassment.

The walk towards the garden took a little while, seeing how Large the Red Keep was, and they passed the occasional guards and maid. Even running into Lord Stannis Baratheon.

He really was a very severe looking man. No smiles even when Ser Garlan greeted him. Only a slight look of irritation.

As they got closer to the garden though, walking through the open passage which led to it, Ser Garlan spoke up once more.

"How are you enjoying the South, my lady? Certainly you must like it better than the North."

Lyarra opened her mouth to refute that but Ser Garlan continued.

"I have heard a lot about that place. From traveling knights and merchants. A cold place it is called. Little wonder why you are all pale skinned. Honestly why anyone would want to leave there is quite alarming, really."

The silvery haired girl frowned.

"Ac—"

"But of course, it is not like you all can do anything about it. Abandoning your homes? Where would you even go? Ridiculous."

Ser Garlan chuckled to himself and Lyarra gritted her teeth in growing indignation and anger.

Had he invited her for a walk just so he could jape at the North??

If he thought she would take it laying down, he had one thing comi—

"Ah… where are my manners?"

Lyarra's head snapped towards him, a rather grim frown on her face which was immediately wiped away at the slightly sheepish look of Garlan's face and the… slightly stained red cheeks.

The younger girl's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"You look beautiful today, my lady."

Lyarra stared slightly slack mouthed at the knight who continued to stare at her with an almost eager look.

"Oh…"

Was all she breathed out as she herself felt flustered and she swallowed.

"Thank you, Ser Garlan."

He smiled back at her, however small, but it was there… and it was, surprisingly genuine.

"My pleasure."

The garden was large and beautiful. Lyarra wouldn't be shocked if it was the Largest in the seven kingdoms. Of course, the Reach might be different, especially the fabled Highgarden she'd heard so much of.

Here though, it was awfully beautiful. Bright and accentuated with the shining sun.

Flowers, trees, shrubs, archways intertwined with beautiful vines. Imported flowers from a number of exotic places. The grass as green as could be as the pair walked through the cobbled pathways while garden keepers did their thing and tended to their work while bowing or curtseying in greeting as they passed them by.

"It really is beautiful here, isn't it? Almost reminds me of home."

"Oh?"

"Indeed! Highgarden is a beauty. And though the Red Keep stands out on its own, and it's beauty is surreal, I can very well still boast Highgarden the most beautiful of Keeps in the seven kingdoms."

Lyarra found that hard to believe.

"I have heard Summerhall could very well beat that accusation."

Ser Garlan made a disbelieving noise in his throat as they turned a corner, a maze a little further from them, well tended to.

"I have heard that quite a lot. A keep the sun is in love with, as many would say. And while I have never been there before, I still stand by my words."

The rather stubborn look on his face made him look like a toddler being denied his play time.

The silvery blonde stifled a smile.

"You must be very proud of Highgarden."

A wistful look appeared across his face as they slowed to a stop and they turned to each other.

"Highgarden is something you have to see to believe it's beauty. Perhaps I have to invite you there someday soon."

He looked down at her and she smiled at his invitation, nodding.

"I guess I just have to see it then."

He returned her smile with a bow, looking behind her.

"Excuse me for a moment, my lady."

He walked around Lyarra, towards a rose bush, plucking one of the salmon colored flowers and returning back to her.

"Here."

She took the Salmon rose in hand, taking a light sniff and staring down at it in interest.

She then looked back up at him.

"Thank you."

Oh how Sansa would have fainted with glee at this.

"I heard flowers have meaning."

Ser Garlan nodded at the statement.

"Indeed. Even different colored flowers of the same family have meanings."

"Oh?"

She looked down at the Salmon colored rose, and back at the attentive knight.

"So what does this one mean?"

She asked curiously, and as he opened he opened his mouth to reply, the sound of feet getting closer startled them, and they both turned to see the Prince arrive with his trusty guard and friend, Ser Gendry.

The prince had a polite look on his face though his eyebrows were raised at the scene before him.

But there was no surprise in his eyes though.

Ser Garlan straightened up immediately, turning towards the Prince.

"Your grace. An honor to see you here."

He bowed respectfully and the prince nodded back awfully polite.

"Ser Garlan. A surprise to see you here."

He said, though his eyes moved towards Lyarra, throwing her a friendly nod, and Lyarra's fingers tightened around the rose in her hand, a tightness in her chest as she lowered said hand to her side though the prince's eyes followed the rose for a moment.

The atmosphere suddenly grew awkward, as no one said a thing. Although Gendry seemed to be enjoying every second of it, while the prince looked like he could very well bask in the awkwardness without any issue.

Ser Garlan though, twitched slightly, not sure what to do, when he cleared his throat, turning towards the prince once more.

"The Red Keep boasts an amazing garden, your grace."

Aegon hummed.

"My mother is an avid flower lover. It is all her as well as the work of the garden keepers."

Ser Garlan nodded, and it was quiet once more.

Lyarra preferred to suddenly look elsewhere but at the people around her. But she still felt eyes on her… and she wanted to look back… but…

"Hm! Well, I believe grandmother would require my presence very soon."

The gallant knight spoke up once more, turning his full attention on Lyarra who looked up at him.

"My Lady, perhaps you need an escort back to your apartments?"

As Lyarra opened her mouth, she was cut off, this time by the prince.

"That would not be needed, Ser Garlan."

The pair turned towards the prince who had taken a step forward, a smile across his face but his eyes as intense as any of the Dornish.

"Why, I am sure Ser Gendry and myself would be honored to do that, especially since our destinations cross."

Lyarra's head snapped towards the prince at that, a questioning eye on him but he practically ignored her, eyes on Ser Garlan who hesitated for a second, turning towards Lyarra who nodded immediately.

"Very well."

He bowed before turning and doing the same for the prince albeit lower.

"Lady Lyarra. Your grace."

And he was off.

It was quiet for a moment, and the prince cleared his throat, turning back to her though his eyes lingered on the salmon colored rose in her hand… and suddenly, Lyarra felt the urge to hide it…

But then the prince smiled, his bright smile making him a flower in his own right.

"So Lyarra… you're being courted by Ser Garlan Tyrell then?"

As he said that, her eyes widened in open shock and Aegon's lips twitched.

"What? No! He just invited me to join him for a walk through the Gardens."

The prince and Ser Gendry snorted in unison much to Lyarra's confusion and slight offense, something Aegon noted.

"Begging your pardon, Lyarra, but that sounds quite like the beginnings of a courting."

Lyarra's brain more or less malfunctioned at that as she looked down at the flower blank faced.

"Really?"

Aegon chuckled, his eyes brighter than usual as he stood in front of her, hands crossed behind his back.

"Perhaps you should speak with my mother on this. Accepting the invitations of any man, especially those unwed just like yourself can set tongues wagging as well as set wandering eyes on you."

Unwed—Lyarra sniffed, eyes on Aegon.

"In that case, it would seem your invitations are to be rejected as well."

Aegon glanced down at her in surprise, and Lyarra mentally patted her back.

"I believe that is not possible, Lyarra."

She narrowed her eyes at that, arms crossed in disbelief.

"Oh? And why not?"

Without knowing, both had subconsciously crept towards each other and we're rather close to each other than appropriate.

Gendry stifled a smirk, rolling his eyes slightly as he turned away a little while still being able to protect his prince.

"Because…"

A foreign look appeared in Aegon's eyes and Lyarra held her breath.

"Because that would break my heart, Dayne."

He smiled rather impishly, the sunny skies cascading down on them and breeze rustling through the gardens, ensconcing the pair in their own world.

Lyarra swallowed, placing her free hand on her fluttering stomach and patting it almost in desperation.

She looked away for a second, before looking back at his grinning face that looked like it hung the sun, and she cleared her throat, blinking desperately.

"Yes well… I guess we can't have a sick prince running around. Can we?"

Aegon laughed.

Music to her ears.

Just then, a dramatically girly sigh escaped Gendry's lips, and Aegon and Lyarra turned to the offending figure who smiled sardonically.

"Sometimes, you remind me of Jon and Steffon."

Lyarra threw him a look, though secretly glad to step a little further away from Aegon and still her beating heart.

Gendry shrugged.

"And you remind me of aunt Lyanna. The winter rose, she was called. Or is still is."

He then grunted, crossing his arms

"At least you're not like that new lady."

Aegon threw him a look, but then it was already too late as she picked up on who he meant.

"Lady Mopatis?"

Gendry nodded with a groan, ignoring Aegon's eye roll, seeing as he had someone ready to listen to his woes.

"Indeed! She is just a bag of craziness. She always 'accidentally' runs into Aegon. Her voice is grating, she is really rude to us Kingsguard members, calling us servants!"

As he bemoaned the injustice of it all, a smile grew across Lyarra's face which Aegon noticed as he snorted.

"Do not encourage him."

She turned to him, feigning innocence.

"Whatever do you mean? Please Gendry, tell me all your woes."

"Now you're both just acting childish."

As he said that, Lyarra turned towards him with narrowed eyes.

"Do you like her?"

Aegon stared at her with a startled look.

He stared at the rather severe look on Lyarra's face, eyes moving towards Gendry who grinned unapologetically, and back at the girl frowning grimly at him.

"And where exactly is that coming from?"

He asked amusedly and Lyarra scrambled to say something… anything… but nothing came to mind, and so sniffed, turning away slightly.

"Perhaps you do like her, what with your inability to answer a straight question. Beetle-headed clotpole."

Gendry snorted while Aegon's eyes glittered with laughter before sighing almost wistfully.

"Well, I am sorry to disappoint you, but perhaps my heart already belongs to another fair headed maiden."

With that, he walked away from her, turning the corner, leaving Lyarra a little confused and worried.

"Awww…"

She turned towards Gendry who playfully dabbed at his eyes and she frowned at him.

"However did you even become a member of the Kingsguard?"

He puffed up immediately.

"With my amazing skills and handsome face of course."

Lyarra snorted, stifling a smile of amusement.

"Of course."

"Lyarra."

Aegon's voice called out and she turned, eyes widening slightly as he walked towards her with a smile across his face… and a bunch of well cut and tended red tulips in hand, tied in a slip of gold silk.

"I think these suit you better."

She slowly took it in hand, eyes on the beautiful flowers, suddenly feeling appreciation in her heart blossoming. She looked up at him but he only smiled.

"Come. I should escort you back, just as I promised."

Lyarra slowly shook her head.

"I think I'd very much like to enjoy the garden further."

He nodded understandingly.

"Very well then. I should be leaving now. I have a meeting with my father."

With another nod and smile, he turned and walked off, Gendry behind him while Lyarra watched them until they turned the corner.

And then she breathed out in relief, shoulders drooping slightly.

She looked down at the red tulips and then at the salmon colored single rose… and then back at the tulips…

And she smiled.

Days later, Lyarra practically skipped in her sparring outfit as she headed towards the sparring yard to meet her uncle, Arthur.

It has been a long time coming in her opinion. But he was a very busy man. Most would call him Ser Barristan's second when it came to who had more power amongst the Kingsguard. He was also rather close to the King much like Gendry was close to Aegon.

At the thought of the prince, Lyarra's stomach fluttered.

Her maid, Sarah had helped her with a vase where she kept the tulips well watered… as well as the rose from Ser Garlan as well.

Everything was rather confusing, in her opinion… and while she wasn't sure what to think yet… or perhaps she did not know what to think, she rather appreciated them both.

She had never received flowers from anyone before. Perhaps this was why her sister Sansa liked grand gestures after all.

They made one feel good.

As she turned the corner, she subconsciously slowed down as she saw the Lady Mopatis coming her way, two guards behind her and a summer islander maid servant a little to the side, hands crossed in front of her and her curly hair much like Sarella Sand's.

Aelora Mopatis who had been heading towards her own apartment, spotted the other silver haired girl and her eyes narrowed with glee as she stopped in front of the girl who bowed like the uncouth wastrel she was.

"Lady Mopatis."

Her voice, while pleasing, was bland toned and to Aelora… that was disrespectful of her own station!

"Hmm… you're that bastard girl."

Lyarra's eyes narrowed as she stared the girl head on.

"Pardon me?"

Aelora sniffed, uncaring.

"You are pardoned."

She stared Lyarra from head to toe with a look of disgust at the breeches the younger girl wore.

"Frankly I cannot see much in you. Dressing like this. Much like the other Dornish bastards."

She sneered as her tonal voice cut Lyarra, but the Mopatis heiress continued, not noticing Lyarra's growing anger.

"In Pentos, people like you would be slaves, with brands and owners."

Next to her, the Summer Islander girl who looked to be around Lyarra's age twitched a little, something said girl noticed.

And Lyarra who could usually contain herself, could not when faced with such an arrogant braggart.

She bared her teeth at the older girl, fisting her hands so as not to do anything too unruly.

"And in Dorne, people like you would be dead already for your disrespect of the Prince's children."

Aelora's eyes widened with unrestrained fury but Lyarra ignored her as she walked past, her strong persona making the Summer Islander girl curtsey slightly as she passed her by and walked off, trying to contain herself.

Aelora breathed in and out through her nose, fingers curling slightly.

"That girl… has no idea who she is talking to."

She gritted to herself, and then from nowhere, turned and backhanded Missandei in the face, and the girl fell to her knees with a pained shout as she held her palm to her face.

Aelora turned to her with a seething look.

"And you… I never gave you the leave to curtsey at a common bastard!"

Missandei's eyes lowered to the ground.

"Learn your place, cretin. My father bought you for me. I can very well take your life whenever and however I want."

Missandei nodded with a straight face and apologizes.

"Of course. Pardon me, my Lady."

Aelora's nostrils flare before she huffed and stomps off, muttering about disrespectful slaves, her guards behind her and Missandei rising to her feet to follow at a more sedate pace.

"And send for my mauve colored dress!! Immediately!!!"

Missandei frowned in confusion, having not understood what she had just said—oh of course, she meant her purple dress.

As for Lyarra, she fought down her anger as she entered the sparring yard, spotting Arthur across with a couple of others here and there doing their own thing.

Ser Jaime Lannister prepared to spar with Ser Jonothor Darry further behind and Lyarra thought she would die in awe.

"Lyarra!"

Arthur called out to his niece with a smile on his face and she waved at him as she moved over.

"Uncle."

"You look a bit pinch faced there, Lyarra. Is anything the matter?"

Lyarra blinked at that, before remembering the Lady Mopatis and forcing a smile across her face.

"Do not worry about that, Uncle. Worry about me winning over you."

Arthur laughed out loud but Lyarra continued.

"Very well then. Let us see what you can do, niece of mine."

Later that evening, Aegon walked towards the royal apartments, a slight smile on his face even as Gendry complained about anything and everything.

He was beginning to believe Gendry was supposed to have been born a spoilt prince in another time.

He chuckled to himself. A Baratheon prince… very odd to imagine.

"Prince Aegon!"

The painfully familiar tonal voice of Lady Mopatis resonated behind him and Gendry sighed pitifully.

"Please no."

The prince would never admit it out loud… but indeed… no.

But what could he do but be polite? He was the prince after all.

And so, he turned towards her with a smile.

"Lady Mopatis! Whatever are you doing here?"

Aelora smiled softly at the prince, throwing Gendry a glare when he scoffed beneath his breath, turning towards the prince once more.

"Oh, I was just taking a walk with my guards! I just happened to spot you."

Aegon looked at her with a little disbelief seeping through.

"Of course."

"I believe the night is still quite young, my prince. Perhaps you would like to… show me around? I hear Flea Bottom is wonderful. Atrocious name, but that doesn't matter."

She dragged a hand over Aegon's bicep, a happy grin on her face and he cleared his throat.

"Apologies then, my lady. But I don't have the time to do that."

Aelora pouted at that.

"Are you sure? We could have a lot of fun…"

She smiled seductively at him as she dragged her hand across his chest while moving into his personal space.

Aegon breathed in and out, before grabbing a hold of her offending hand and removing it from his person.

"Once again, my apologies."

He took a single step back and bowed, walking off and leaving the offended girl frothing by the mouth.

That night as Lyarra dried her hair after a much needed bath, her muscles beginning to slightly hurt after her spar with her uncle.

Now she truly understood why he was the famed Sword of the Morning, and just why people regarded him as the best the realm had to offer.

It was no ordinary title.

"Really Ghost. I felt absolutely weak compared to him. It was very brutal."

She ranted slightly to the pure white direwolf on her bed.

Having home through his very first growth spurt, he was now as large as a hound though sleeker and more quiet.

He had begun getting looks from more people whenever she took him on walks and even her maid Sarah was beginning to eye him.

He'd even been hunting on his own occasionally, especially at night and Lyarra was beginning to see just why direwolves were feared.

Holding her new letters from her siblings, she smiled as she moved towards the fireplace to settle and read when she stumbled slightly over Ghost as he leapt over her bed, and the letters fell, with two landing directly in the burning fire.

"No!"

She cried out as she fell to her knees by the fireplace in panic, and without so much of a thought, dipped her hands right into the inferno and yanked the slightly crisp letters out as she blew on them and waved out the fire.

A sigh of relief escaped her as they were thankfully enough still quite readable, albeit the burns here and there. One letter from Robb and the other from Arya.

It would have been a disaster if it ended up burnt without recognition.

Her eyes filtered towards the burning fire and back at the letters, before a foreign feeling went through her and she froze as her mind played back what had just happened.

She subconsciously dropped the letters as she stared at her unblemished palms on her laps as she knelt.

She stared back at the fire and then at her hands once more… and her mouth dried as she contemplated what had just happened.

Had her mind deceived her?

Perhaps it was just a trick.

Maybe the letters had fallen on a safer path.

But…

She looked into the fire again.

So enticing and exotic. So rich and colorful. A reddish gold of sorts that almost seemed white the more she focused on it.

It reflected in her eyes and she suddenly felt as if in a trance.

And slowly but surely… as if in a daze, brought her hands closer to the dancing embers… and she dipped it in, watching as the fires seemed to embrace her and leaving her with a tingle that went through her spine.

And she didn't burn.

And that's the chapter! Surprise cameo by Missandei, and a very weird and awkward triangle btw the Prince, Lyarra and Garlan. And was that jealousy the prince exhibited? Lol. And Aelora… she is definitely going to cause trouble isn't she? She also seems to have anger issues too, the brat.

And then there is Lyarra realizing she really does not burn after all!

Salmon colored roses convey attraction and appreciation. My, my, Garlan.

As for red tulips… well, their deep red hues evoke feelings of passion, love, and lust. They can also mean "believe me" or "my feelings are true."… take that how you will, lol.

In case you're all curious about the age of the Tyrells.

Margaery Tyrell—16 name days old(turning 17). Born 280AC.

Loras Tyrell—17 name days old(turning 18). Born 279AC.

Garlan Tyrell—22 name days old(turning 23). Born 274.

Willas Tyrell—25 name days old(turning 26). Born 271.

Also for those of you that didn't catch it earlier, Aelora is 18.

If you all need to know the ages of others, let me know and I'll put it in the next chapter.

Huge Thanks to those who leave comments, i see it and i truly appreciate a lot! You have no idea! Keeps me motivated to post her on FFN instead of abandoning, lol.

NEXT CHAPTER: Lyarra tries to research more on what just happened as well as the blood that runs through her veins, Aelora fumes and things come to a standstill between the Prince and Lyarra.