Everything around her seemed to have lost its sense.

Moments ago, she was in the Sept of Baelor, but now she found herself sitting in a chamber within the Red Keep. It was the room that had once belonged to Robert, despite her mind's clouded state, she was still able to recognize the room her father had confined her in.

The room carried memories she was reluctant to confront, remnants of the time she had surrendered herself to the Usurper's grasp. Why, she pondered , had he chosen this chamber for her confinement?

A small yet rational fragment of her mind chimed in, affirming that this space stood as a haven for her and her children. Guards stationed by the door lent an air of security, while the reassuring presence of Edric lingered nearby.

"You will be safe here, there are men posted by the door. I must go make sure the city is secure. I will return soon," Rhaegar had said when he dropped her off into her dead husband's room.

He had assured her of his return, yet hours had stretched on without his presence materializing. Could it be that he had lied?

The bitter taste of past deceits played on her thoughts – this wouldn't be the first time he had failed to return for me. But her mind couldn't resist veering towards darker musings, entertaining the notion – is he dead? Has fate's hand claimed him? That would explain his absence.

A quick shake of her head served to dispel such notions. No, she shouldn't dare nurture such hopes that her father laid dead somewhere. More likely, he is absorbed in his task of securing Kings Landing from Robert's men.

Amidst the quietude, Rhaenys discerned the faint melodies of her children playing on the ground. Edric was with them, putting forth his efforts to engage her toddlers and fill their hours with amusement.

Since their departure from the Sept, Rhaenys had maintained an unbroken silence in Edric's presence. Words seemed inadequate to express the whirlwind of thoughts consuming her, and she lacked the energy to engage in conversation. Yet, even in her silence, she perceived the genuine concern etched across Edric's features. Initially, he had made efforts to spark conversation, but her replies had been reduced to mere nods or dismissive shakes of the head. Faced with her lack of words, he had ultimately surrendered to the role of keeping her children amused.

Seated upon the same chair where Robert had once handed her the letter disclosing her uncle's and Jon Arryn's plans to wed her to Robb Stark, Rhaenys reflected on how that day now seemed so long ago.

In the end, her fate as a Stark bride had been defied, a fact that had brought a sense of liberation. The memory of her abhorrence towards marrying Robb Stark and her aversion to the prospect of a Northern marriage had ultimately steered her into Robert's arms, a choice rooted in rebellion against her family.

Robert, she mused, had been my savior. Yet, a traitorous whisper slithered into her mind. Rather than silencing it, Rhaenys chose to entertain its inquiry. Was Robert truly the salvation I had believed him to be?

With the question allowed to linger, she shifted her focus inward . Had Robert truly been my salvation?

Certainly, Robert had bestowed upon her the most cherished treasure she could have yearned for. Her gaze tenderly rested upon her children. And while her heart had never grown to love Robert, it had come to love his children. Her eyes turned briefly to Edric before looking back at the children she held dear.

Yet, Robert's defeat in his battle against Rhaegar had altered that notion. Her husband had once again taken up arms against Rhaegar, only to meet defeat this time. Robert was gone, but she endured. The revelation dawned on her— he had never been her salvation; she had merely yearned for him to play that role, to be the sheltering presence she craved.

Despite Robert's assertion of might, he had proven powerless against Rhaegar. He had failed to safeguard her and their children from the reality they now lived in.

Rhaegar had reclaimed the Throne, and now she must survive under his rule.

Her thoughts began to gravitate toward the one individual she steadfastly avoided thinking about since she left the Sept. The mere notion of delving into such thoughts stirred a disconcerting mix of emotions within her.

It was a name she had tried to bury beneath layers of resentment and sorrow— Rhaegar.

Rhaegar's return had disrupted the fragile peace she had forged for herself over the years of his absence. It was a reunion she had never imagined, and certainly not one she had sought. His reappearance had shattered the shell of her solitude, forcing her to confront a past she had strived to distance herself from.

She found herself wrestling with a storm of conflicting feelings— anger at his actions that had reshaped her life, sadness for the loss of the stability she had once tasted, and an undeniable spark of curiosity she was hesitant to acknowledge. The depth of her animosity remained unwavering, yet beneath it, there lingered an undercurrent of questions.

Why, she wondered, would he choose to return? He had his family, a life of relative tranquility, and yet, against all rationality, he had made his way back west. The question echoed relentlessly in her mind— why?

A shiver of unease swept over her as a sinister speculation took shape. Does he seek revenge? It seemed a logical possibility, a way to rationalize his unexpected reentry into her world. The thought weighed heavy on her heart— the possibility that his intentions were laced with a desire for retribution against the victor of the first war that had reshaped their lives.

Her gaze once more drifted towards her children. A surge of apprehension seized her— was he plotting to extend his vengeful pursuits, targeting not only Robert but their innocent children as well? Her heart quickened its pace, thudding with the intensity of her fears.

No , with a determined shake of her head, she silenced the rapid thoughts. She had seen the way her father had gazed at her children in the Sept— there had been no traces of animosity or resentment when he regarded her children.

But still, Rhaenys found herself in the midst of a struggle. She had never thought of Rhaegar as a vengeful man, yet the years of separation had left her ignorant of the man he had become. The unsettling truth was that she hardly knew her father at all.

I must tread carefully when I am around him, I must figure him out before I do anything.

It is the sound of someone calling her name that drew her out of her thoughts.

"Rhaenys," Edric's voice reached her, close and unexpected. Somehow, he had appeared right beside her, his presence slipping past her awareness. She instinctively turned towards where her children had been engrossed in play with him, but a wave of cold fear gripped her as the space they had occupied was now empty.

"They're asleep," Edric reassured, his hand finding her shoulder, guiding her back into her seat. Rhaenys followed his gaze to the spacious bed, where Cassian and Elia lay soundly asleep. A wave of relief washed over her as she saw them safe and resting, allowing her tense muscles to relax into the chair once again.

She remained seated in silence, her gaze fixed upon her slumbering children. I have been as much a failure to them as Robert was, a bitter thought murmured within her.

A movement drew her attention— Edric had shifted before her, lowering himself to her eye level. His hands reached for hers, enveloping them in a reassuring grasp. "What's troubling you?" he inquired, his voice gentle and concerned.

Rhaenys met his gaze, a mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes. "What?" she replied, momentarily caught off guard by his question.

"What's bothering you?" Edric repeated, his sincerity unwavering.

Her response was laced with bitterness. "What's bothering me? Robert is dead, Rhaegar has claimed the throne, and I've been defeated," she stated, her tone carrying a weight of resignation. She paused, locking her gaze with Edric's and infusing her words with determination. "We have been defeated," The word 'we' was laden with significance.

Edric let out a sigh. "We're still alive, Rhaenys. Cassian and Elia are here, unharmed. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" His gaze rested upon her, searching for a glimmer of hope.

"It means the world to me that they're unharmed," she concurred, a touch of warmth in her tone. Then her expression turned resolute as she shook her head. "But you're mistaken, Edric. They're not safe, not within these walls, not with Rhaegar and his spawns roaming the castle," she uttered, bitterness tainting her words.

Edric regarded her with understanding, his eyes reflecting a mixture of compassion and concern. "I understand your worries," he said gently, his grip on her hands tightening slightly. "We've seen the darkness that can seep into those around us. But remember, we've faced challenges together before – adversity that threatened to shatter us. And yet, here we are."

"I do believe that there are those who wish to harm your children, but—"

Rhaenys locked eyes with him, a mix of skepticism and curiosity in her gaze.

Edric's words faltered momentarily, and then he pressed on. "But I don't believe your father is among those who wish to harm them," he finally declared. Rhaenys instinctively pulled her hands away from his grip, but he held steady, undeterred by her reaction. In response, she shot him a pointed glare. "Just hear me out, please," Edric implored.

Rhaenys remained silent, her expression unreadable, which Edric took as a cue to continue. "I don't think Rhaegar intends to bring any harm to your children. If that were his intention, he would have acted on it already. There's something more to his return – something that goes beyond his need for vengeance and power,"

Rhaenys regarded Edric, her brows furrowed as she processed his words. The weight of her doubts seemed to hang heavily in the air.

"You believe there's another motive?" she inquired, her voice cautious but tinged with curiosity.

Edric nodded, his expression serious but earnest. "Yes, I do. There's a complexity to this situation that we may not fully understand yet. Rhaegar's actions— his return— they don't seem solely driven by revenge or power." He paused, searching her eyes for understanding. "I'm not suggesting we should blindly trust him, but perhaps there's an opportunity here for some sort of... understanding."

The idea of finding common ground with her father was both alluring and terrifying, a path fraught with uncertainty.

"An understanding," she repeated softly, the words carrying a weight as she grappled with their implications.

Edric's gaze held unwavering conviction. "It won't be easy, and it won't happen overnight. But perhaps," he paused, a faint smile touching his lips, "perhaps there's room for peace between you and your family."

Rhaenys allowed the weight of those words to settle, peace with her family.

Abruptly, as if moved by an unseen force, she extracted her hands from Edric's grip. Standing up, she did so with an almost fierce determination, Edric rising to his feet in response. A tempest of emotions blazed within her gaze as she faced him, her eyes alight with a passionate intensity.

"I won't settle for mere peace," her voice dripped with defiance, each word carrying the weight of her resolve.

Her words seemed to cut through the air like a blade. The tension in the room became palpable, the charged atmosphere crackling with the clash of opposing emotions.

Edric, his gaze unwavering despite the intensity of her declaration, held her stare. He seemed to understand that her defiance was not merely a fleeting outburst, but a declaration of her convictions.

Rhaenys' chest heaved with each breath, her heart a turbulent storm of conflicting desires. She wasn't just rejecting the notion of a peaceful coexistence— she was rejecting the very idea of complacency in the face of her past, her fears, and the complexities of her shattered family.

"I want justice," her voice trembled with raw determination, a fierce light burning in her eyes. "For every wrong that has been committed against us, against me, against my children and my mother." Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides, knuckles turning white as her grip tightened.

In the charged silence that followed, the room seemed to echo with the weight of her words. And Edric spoke no further.

The moon had gracefully taken the sun's place, casting its silvery glow over the room, when a knock resonated through the chamber. The room, now steeped in shadows, held a sense of foreboding for Rhaenys.

After her fervent conversation with Edric, Rhaenys had retreated to Robert's bed, a nest of blankets and pillows where she had nestled alongside her slumbering children. The rhythmic rise and fall of their breathing, the peacefulness of their innocent rest, had brought her a fleeting sense of comfort.

The unexpected knock had shattered that tranquility, jolting her from her relaxed state. The disruption rippled through the room, rousing Edric from the chair he had assumed in her absence. Their eyes met briefly, sharing an unspoken acknowledgment of the intrusion.

The knock echoed once more, each rap against the door like a palpable heartbeat. Rhaenys felt a mixture of curiosity and worry. Who could be seeking her out at this hour?

Is it Rhaegar?

A soft, unfamiliar voice filtered through the door, its words carrying a gentle request. "May I come in?" it asked, a tender note underscoring the question. "It is me, Rhaella. Daenerys is with me as well," the voice continued, its owner identifying herself with a quiet reassurance.

Rhaenys' heart began to beat with a quickened rhythm, a blend of surprise and anticipation coursing through her.

Grandmother? Daenerys?

In her preoccupation with Rhaegar, Rhaenys had unwittingly overlooked the presence of her other family members in King's Landing. The realization landed with a weight that settled into her mind like a stone sinking in water. She was about to face not only her father but her grandmother and her aunt as well, along with the others that had abandoned her.

"Rhaenys," Edric's voice reached her ears, a silent question dancing in his eyes.

A subsequent knock sounded on the door, a gentle knock that seemed to underscore the gravity of the moment. The voice on the other side held a mixture of uncertainty and earnestness. "We can return on the morrow, if that's what you would like," the soft utterance floated through the air, laden with a palpable nervousness and hesitancy.

Rhaenys' heart mirrored the tempo of the knocks, a rhythm of emotions coursing through her. She was poised at the crossroads of unexpected reunions, facing a family that she had not anticipated encountering ever again.

A torrent of thoughts surged within her, some of them vehemently urging her to turn her grandmother away, to keep the complexities at bay. Yet, amidst these thoughts, a small, persistent voice whispered for her to consider letting Rhaella in.

"No," Rhaenys moved closer towards the door, "come in now,"

There was a moment of silence before the door cracked open.

Rhaenys' memories of her grandmother Rhaella were faint, obscured by the layers of time and the barriers that had kept them apart within the confines of King's Landing. Their lives had existed in separate spaces, with Rhaella often secluded within her chambers on the orders of Aerys. Despite this distance, the image of her grandmother's beauty remained etched in Rhaenys' mind, a delicate fragment of the past.

Now, as Rhaella stood before her, the years had only enhanced her ethereal beauty. The passage of time had graced her with a regal presence that commanded attention, her features bearing the weight of both experience and grace.

In the few memories that Rhaenys retained, Rhaella's face always carried a sense of sorrow, a sadness that seemed woven into her by her time spent with Aerys. Yet, as Rhaenys observed her grandmother once more, she couldn't help but notice the change in her. The worry and hesitancy that marked Rhaella's expression were accompanied by a newfound radiance, an aura of happiness that emanated from her eyes.

It was a happiness that must have been nurtured during her time in Pentos, a city that bestowed upon Rhaella a sense of contentment and happiness that even the tension of their present situation didn't entirely overshadow. Rhaenys found herself conflicted by the sight of her grandmother basking in newfound joy, a joy that had only been possible because Rhaenys was left behind to rot.

A surge of irritation flared within Rhaenys. The contrast between her own turmoil and her grandmother's apparent happiness stoked an ember of resentment. She felt as if the scales of life were tipped against her – her vulnerability magnified in the presence of a woman who had escaped a similar fate.

Grandmother had been trapped here in Kings Landing too, just like I was, but she was able to escape.

Rhaenys' gaze hardened, mixtures of emotions filled her— a blend of frustration and unexpected longing for the happiness that Rhaella had seemingly discovered. The years apart, the tragedies Rhaenys had endured, had etched their marks upon her and now those marks were undeniable.

"Come in,"

The command in Rhaenys' tone was clear, even as her expression remained a mask of detachment. The tension in the room seemed to thicken as Rhaella and the young girl exchanged a wary glance before stepping cautiously into the chamber.

The young girl bore a striking resemblance to her mother, her long silver hair cascading like a waterfall and her eyes adorned with the same shades of lavender. Despite her innocence, a cautious gleam dwelled within her gaze. Yet, in the depths of her eyes, Rhaenys discerned glimmers of excitement, a spark that made Rhaenys wonder of her aunt's intentions.

Her eyes, color so similar to theirs, remained fixed on them, her gaze devoid of warmth or recognition. It was as if she was looking at strangers who had no place within the walls of her heart, only remnants of a past that had soured and left scars.

"Now tell me, why are you here?"

"I wished to speak with you," Rhaella's eyes shifted towards Edric who stood poised by the bed, guarding her children. "Alone," she added.

Rhaenys emitted a soft, derisive sound. "There's no need for that, Lady Rhaella. Edric is my sworn protector, he remains by my side,"

The elder woman's silver locks shimmered as she pursed her lips, a fleeting smile playing upon them. "Indeed, I understand,"

Rhaenys raises an eyebrow and waits for her grandmother to continue.

Rhaella's throat cleared, her voice bearing a delicate trace of optimism. "It's been far too long, you have grown much, my dear,"

The words lingered. Rhaenys clenched her jaw, her fists tightening. Her grandmother's words prodded at the wounds of years spent in solitude and silence.

"Indeed, I've grown," she acknowledged, her expression remaining icy and unyielding.

Her grandmothers gaze held a hint of sadness as she continued, "I had wished for things to be different, to be there for you, my child."

Rhaenys' eyes flickered with a mixture of resentment and bitterness. "It's a bit late for that, isn't it? After all these years?"

Rhaella's shoulders sagged slightly, the weight of Rhaenys' pain was evident and Rhaenys cursed herself for letting it show. "I know, and I am sorry for the pain I've— we've caused you,"

She crossed her arms, a defensive barrier against the emotions stirring within her. "Sorry doesn't change anything. It doesn't bring back all the years I spent alone."

The older woman took a step closer, her voice gentle. "I can't change the past, but I hope we can find a way to heal the wounds that have kept us apart,"

"You want to heal my wounds?" Rhaenys' voice remained frigid, her words cutting through the air like shards of ice. "Perhaps it's too late for that as well,"

Rhaella's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice trembling as she spoke. "We made mistakes, Rhaenys. Terrible mistakes. But we— I, want a chance to make amends."

Daenerys' gaze was equally somber, her expression mirroring a deep sadness that echoed Rhaella's sentiments. Rhaenys' cold exterior began to crack under the weight of their sincerity, but she fought to maintain the icy façade that had become her shield.

"There are no amends for what's been done," Rhaenys' voice wavered, a hint of vulnerability breaking through her resolute exterior. The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of years of separation and pain hanging in the air.

Rhaella took another tentative step forward, her hand outstretched as if reaching for a lifeline. "Rhaenys, please, give us a chance to mend these broken bonds between us."

Rhaenys started at the hand, the urge to swat the hand away from her was strong but she kept her hand at bay.

"Rhaenys—" before Rhaella could say much else, a resounding knock reverberated through the room. All heads turned in unison toward the closed door. The sudden interruption hung in the air, silencing their conversation.

"It's me, my love," she recognized the voice. So he's still alive.

Rhaenys offered no response, her gaze fixed on the door. In front of her, she detected a slight tensing in Rhaella's posture at the sound of her son's voice— how strange.

With a creak, the door swung open.

A surge of anger coursed through Rhaenys as she caught sight of her father in the doorway. His silver hair cascaded slightly disheveled around his face, weariness etched into his features. Yet, there was a faint smile on his lips.

And Rhaenys had an overwhelming urge to wipe the smile away.

Rhaegar displayed no surprise at the presence of Rhaella and Daenerys in her chambers. He disregarded them, striding into the room without sparing them a glance, his violet eyes fixed solely on her.

"I would like to speak to my daughter," Rhaegar said.

"I believe we spoke in the Sept, there's not much else to be said," Rhaenys retorted, her tone firm.

"The hour grows late. Rhaenys has had a long day. It may be wiser to continue this conversation tomorrow," Rhaella implored, her voice carrying a note of urgency, as she positioned herself beside Rhaegar, her hand resting on his shoulder.

"I've spent years biding my time in Pentos for this very moment. I have already endured seventeen arduous years; I shall delay no further," Rhaegar responded firmly, his gaze shifting to his mother with an unyielding stare.

"And I am certain your years of living in opulence and being attended to were every bit as trying as you claim," Rhaenys shot back with a hint of sarcasm.

Rhaegar's response was attempt to voice his thoughts stalled on Rhaegar's lips, the words left unspoken.

Edric's voice, emerging unexpectedly from his position by the bed, caught Rhaenys off guard. She had almost forgotten his presence. "Perhaps we should leave them, they have much to discuss," he remarked, his gaze locking onto her fiery eyes before shifting towards Rhaella. "Alone,"

Rhaenys shot him a sharp, distrustful look at his intention to leave her alone with Rhaegar.

"Let us leave, Mother. My brother and niece have much to discuss," the young girl with silver hair interjected, her words directed at Rhaella. Rhaenys shifted her intense gaze from Edric to the girl, her expression carrying a cold hostility.

Daenerys averted her eyes from Rhaenys and turned her attention to Rhaella. "Come, Mother," she insisted, gently guiding her away from the room.

Rhaenys observed her grandmother for a final moment, catching the wistful words that left Rhaella's lips. "You've blossomed into a great beauty, Rhaenys. I only wish I could have seen it happen,"

With that, Rhaella turned away from her.

Her grandmother placed a tender touch on Rhaegar's arm, and the two shared a wordless exchange that seemed to unsettle Rhaegar. He abruptly turned away from his mother, a visible air of chilly annoyance surrounding him.

Before she could begin to try and understand the exchange that had just transpired, a gentle touch brushed against her arm. Her focus shifted from the mother and son to the figure that had silently moved to her side.

Her jaw tightened as his voice murmured her name, "Rhaenys," he said softly. She offered no response. "I'll be stationed outside, watching over," he reassured, his words hanging between them. I don't need you to guard the door, I need you here with me, was what she wanted to say, though she bit back her words. She watched in silence as he slipped past her, his steps carrying him to the door. His gaze held a plea, a silent request, before he closed the door behind him.

It was then that she realized Rhaella and Daenerys had departed as well, leaving only Rhaegar and herself in the room, with her children still asleep on the bed.

The room fell into silence.

Rhaenys fixed her gaze on her father, a sense of intensity burning in her eyes. Anticipating his gaze to shift away from her, she was taken aback when his eyes locked onto hers.

"Rhaenys," he finally spoke, his voice soft, almost pleading.

Her features remained rigid, unyielding. She let the silence stretch on, letting the weight of her unspoken emotions hang heavily in the air.

"I know you must have questions," he continued, his tone gentle. "I understand your anger and resentment,"

Rhaenys' expression remained unmoved, a mask of cold detachment.

"I never wanted things to turn out the way they did," he went on, his voice carrying a touch of remorse. "So much has happened, so much pain—I wish I could change the past,"

Despite his words, Rhaenys's demeanor remained unyielding. She listened, her icy gaze unwavering, but she did not show any signs of softening.

"I want to make amends, Rhaenys," he implored, his voice tinged with sincerity. "For the years lost, for the mistakes made. I want to find a way to heal the wounds that have torn us apart,"

Her gaze remained piercing, her emotions held in check. She didn't respond, her silence echoing through the room.

"I know it won't be easy," he admitted, his voice soft but determined. "But I'll try to make things right, if you'll allow me,"

Rhaenys' eyes remained locked onto his, the tension between them palpable. The room was heavy with unspoken words, with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future.

And amidst it all, their eyes remained connected, each trying to decipher the intentions and truths hidden within the other's gaze.

Rhaenys' mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She wanted to remain distant, to hold onto her anger and resentment like a shield. But as she stared into her father's eyes, she saw something there— a vulnerability, a longing for connection.

"I'm not asking for your forgiveness right away," he continued, his voice steady. "I understand that trust needs to be earned,"

Rhaenys' features remained stern, but a hint of something flickered within her. A crack in her facade, however small.

"I want to try to bridge the gap between us," he said, his words a plea. "For your sake, for my sake, and for the sake of our family."

She balled her hands into fist, she felt as her nails dug deep into her palms.

"Your children," he whispered, his voice filled with a raw tenderness. "They deserve to know their family, to know their grandfather,"

The mention of her children struck a chord within her. She glanced towards the bed, where Cassian and Elia slept soundly, innocent and unaware of their conversation. I must keep calm for them. She tried to stifle the anger that burned in her.

Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm, she repeated to herself as her father continued to spout nonsense.

Rhaegar's gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes filled with hope. "I've missed so much," he confessed, his voice laden with regret. "I want to be a part of your life, Rhaenys,"

"What makes you think you deserve a place in my life?" Her tone was harsh, her chest rose rapidly.

Rhaegar's expression was pained, his voice soft but resolute. "I know I can't change the past. But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right, to build something meaningful between us,"

"Build something meaningful?" She scoffed, the bitterness lacing her words evident as she took purposeful steps away from him. "You speak of building while all I've known you for is destruction. Everything you touch turns to ruins," she spat out, her voice dripping with resentment.

Rhaegar's eyes bore a mixture of pain and desperation as he watched her retreat. His voice, when he finally spoke, was soft, almost pleading, "Rhaenys, you must understand, I never wanted any of this pain for you. I never intended to bring destruction to your life,"

Rhaenys turned around, her gaze cold and unyielding. "Intentions mean nothing now, Rhaegar. The damage is done, and I won't forget what you have done to me," she retorted, her voice a wall of icy resolve.

"I–" he started, taking a hesitant step forward, but Rhaenys cut him off.

"You," her voice dripped with venom, "abandoned my mother, left her to die," her voice trembled with suppressed emotion.

"Rhaenys–" Rhaegar's voice cracked, his eyes welling up with tears.

"You abandoned me too, here, in this wretched place, surrounded by my enemies," she recalled the years of torment she endured at the hands of Cersei Lannister.

Rhaenys' gaze remained unwavering, a mix of anger and pain etched across her face. She had bottled up these emotions for years, and now they surged forth like a torrent she could no longer contain.

"You ask for forgiveness," she continued, her voice now edged with a bitter sarcasm. "But can forgiveness erase the scars you've left? Can it bring back the years of suffering and isolation?"

Rhaegar's shoulders slumped, his tear-filled eyes still locked onto his daughter. He seemed to struggle for words, his lips moving silently as if searching for an explanation that could justify his actions.

"You were my father," Rhaenys' voice cracked, the rawness of her emotions breaking through her icy facade. "You were supposed to protect me, to shield me from harm. But instead, you were the one who caused me pain."

Rhaenys inhaled deeply, her voice finding a steadier tone as she pressed on, "You slew Robert and left my children fatherless. You snatched the crown from my son, and now you ask for my forgiveness?"

Rhaegar's gaze met hers, a mix of pain and justification in his eyes. "I killed Robert for your sake. He held you captive and forced you into a marriage you never wanted, into a bed you never chose."

A mocking glint flickered in Rhaenys's eyes, a faint smirk curling her lips. "Forced, you say?" She chuckled dryly. "Is that the delusion you've convinced yourself of, or simply a convenient justification for stealing my son's crown?"

Rhaegar's face shifted, uncertainty coloring his features. He advanced toward her, and this time Rhaenys held her ground. "This," he gestured around them, "I went to war for you, to get you back. To free you from that demon's claws." His fingers brushed her cheek, and Rhaenys shot him a penetrating glare. "You're now free of him."

Rhaenys' expression remained resolute, her eyes narrowing as he came closer. "War," she repeated, the word dripping with skepticism. "You started a war? All for what? To free me?" Her tone was laced with bitter incredulity. His touch on her cheek felt like an intrusion, and she stepped back, out of his reach. "I was never in Robert's grasp, nor in yours." Her voice turned steelier. "Don't romanticize your actions, Rhaegar. They were for your own ambitions, not for me."

"No," he shook his head, his expression a mix of frustration and pleading. "I did all of this for you, why can't you see that?" Rhaegar's sigh held a note of desperation.

"For me?" Rhaenys's voice dripped with disdain. "No, you did this for yourself. You killed my husband out of vengeance, blaming him for taking your crown and, in your distorted mind, me." She paused, her gaze unwavering. "But what you fail to grasp is that you lost me the day you abandoned my mother for that whore," she spat, her words carrying the weight of years of pent-up resentment towards Lyanna and Rhaegar.

Her father remained silent.

"You should have stayed in Pentos with your whore and dragon spawns. I had no need of you, not when I was Queen, but you stole that from me," she declared, her gaze piercing into his eyes, mirroring her own. "You should have died at the Trident,"

His expression contorted with the ache her words brought.

"Even though we were apart, our hearts remained as one," Rhaegar murmured, his voice carrying a plea.

Rhaenys' patience snapped, her hand met his cheek with a resounding slap. "Our hearts were never one," she declared vehemently, her words laced with a bitter finality.

He said nothing, only held his bruised face.

"You have no idea the lengths I went to escape your suffocating legacy," Rhaenys continued, her voice rising with each word, her emotions threatening to overcome her. "You were never a true father, you were a shadow cast over my life, and I was left to bear the weight of your actions!"

"Do you want to know something, Rhaegar? It was I who sought out Robert. It was I who went to him, desperate to escape the cage of your legacy! I wanted to be free of your hold, and I believed Robert could give me that freedom!"

Rhaegar's face contorted, a mix of shock and guilt washing over his features. He took a step back, as if physically struck by her words. "No..." he whispered, his voice hoarse and broken.

"Yes!" Rhaenys's voice broke, her hysteria reaching a fever pitch. "And do you want to know why, Rhaegar? Because you abandoned me! You left me, forced me into a life I never wanted, a marriage I never wanted but needed! All of this, all of it, is your fault!"

Rhaegar's face crumbled by the rawness of the truth. His voice trembled as he spoke, his own anguish apparent. "I'm so sorry, Rhaenys. I never meant for any of this to happen,"

But his words were swallowed by the room's oppressive silence.

"Get out," she commanded, her voice quivering with a mixture of anger and hurt. Her heart raced within her chest, a turmoil of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She felt sick.

"Rhaenys—" he began, his voice laden with desperation, but she cut him off abruptly. "Just leave. I don't want to talk to you anymore," her words trembled, mirroring her shaky composure.

He reached out towards her, a gesture of yearning, but she sidestepped him, heading towards the door. Yet, his grip suddenly took hold of her arm, halting her progress.

"My love, please, let's talk," he implored, his tone filled with a mix of sorrow and urgency. Rhaenys struggled to break free from his grip, her pulse pounding in her ears, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She had to get away.

In a desperate attempt to free herself, she raised her free hand and delivered another sharp slap to his face, the sound echoing in the room.

"Let go of me!" Rhaenys' voice trembled with rage, her chest heaving as she struggled against his grip. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision, but she refused to let them fall. She was determined not to break in front of him.

"Please, Rhaenys, just listen to me," Rhaegar's voice was tinged with desperation, his grip on her arm not relenting. He looked at her with sorrow-filled eyes.

His words fueled the fire that raged within her. "Listen? You want me to listen to you? After everything?" Her voice rose, her anger spilling out, unfiltered. "You abandoned me! You left me,"

Rhaegar's expression crumbled, guilt and anguish etched onto his face. "I know I've hurt you, Rhaenys," his voice cracked, raw with emotion. "But please, let me explain,"

The door swung open suddenly, cutting off Rhaegar's plea. Three figures entered the room, their presence instantly commanding attention – a man with short silver hair and light eyes, he wore a white cloak— Arthur Dayne, his solemn gaze fixed on her and Rhaegar.

Rhaenys knew the other two figures. Her uncle, Oberyn Martell stood with a mixture of concern and determination on his face; and Edric, his expression angry as his eyes locked on Rhaegar's grip on her.

Rhaenys' heart raced at the sight of Edric. Relief and a glimmer of hope began to seep through the storm of emotions that had engulfed her. She wrenched her arm out of Rhaegar's grasp, her eyes never leaving his tortured face.

"Get out," she hissed at him, her voice shaking with anger and pain. "I don't want to see you anymore,"

Rhaegar took a step back, his own pain evident in his eyes, but before he could say anything, Oberyn took a step forward, his voice dripping with the venom of a snake. "You heard her, didn't you? Leave,"

Arthur Dayne's gaze shifted to her, and Rhaenys' eyes locked onto his with a defiant glare. The white knight raised his palm toward Oberyn, his gesture a plea for patience. "Rhaegar has not seen her in years. Let them have a moment,"

Before Rhaenys could interject and tell the knight that she had spoken to her father enough, Edric stepped forward, his presence a shield for her.

"I believe we're all quite tired. His Grace will have time to speak with Princess Rhaenys on the morrow," Edric stated calmly yet resolutely.

"This is none of your concern," Arthur shot back, his annoyance evident.

"Everything involving her is of concern to me," Edric responded with a tinge of frustration.

As the tension lingered in the air, Rhaegar seemed to sense Rhaenys' need for space. "Rhaenys," he began softly, his gaze beseeching.

She held his gaze for a moment, her anger and hurt still simmering beneath the surface. But then she sighed, her anger dissipating into exhaustion. "Just... go," she said quietly, her voice tinged with tiredness.

Rhaegar's shoulders slumped, defeated. With a last, lingering look, he turned and walked out of the room, Arthur Dayne following suit but she caught the lingering look he gave her and Edric. Oberyn remained, his dark eyes fixed on Rhaenys, concern etched across his features.

Rhaenys looked at Oberyn, her gaze weary yet determined. "You too, Uncle. I need to rest," she said, her voice holding a touch of vulnerability.

Oberyn hesitated, his eyes searching hers for a moment before he nodded reluctantly. Without a word, he turned and left, leaving Rhaenys and Edric alone in the room with her children.

She shifted her gaze to the bed where her children lay, peacefully asleep despite everything. Their ability to sleep undisturbed even in the midst of chaos brought a fleeting smile to her lips.

Edric's concern was palpable as he took in her expression. His voice filled with worry. "Are you alright?"

Rhaenys shook her head, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't contain it any longer. The weight of the past, the confrontation with her father, and the flood of memories converged into a torrent of tears. She buried her face in her hands and began to cry.

Edric's arms enveloped her in a comforting embrace, his hand gently rubbing her back as she sobbed. He held her close, offering his silent support as she let out all the pain and frustration that had been building up. The room was filled with the sound of her tears, a release of emotions long held back.