Chapter 6: A Kitten's Instinct

Summary:

A runaway kitten leads to a panicked search and a delightful encounter.

Notes:

A meeting we've been planning and looking forward to for some time. We hope you all enjoy it as much as we do.

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

EliaI

Market at Harrenhal

Four years ago — when Elia had married Rhaegar Targaryen — everyone had thought that she was the luckiest woman alive, marrying the Crown Prince of Westeros — the most beautiful and gallant man the Seven Kingdoms had ever seen. However, Elia had found herself hesitant; she somehow hadn't believed everything people said about the melancholic and silver-haired man. She had always thought it odd that someone seemed to be so perfect, so without fault or issue. Maybe it was because of her own family, the way they were raised and how her brothers — especially Oberyn — behaved and some — again she thought of Oberyn — still behaved.

In the end she was proven correct; Rhaegar was not the man everyone thought him to be. Rhaegar was a man obsessed with prophecies, always reading them or books about them; it seemed they were the only thing that really mattered to him. Rarely had she and Rhaegar talked; mostly it was Elia who simply annoyed him until he would stop reading and talk — and even during those talks, the man somehow always moved things towards one prophecy or another.

Elia was sure she could somehow have been fine with it, that with time she would have been able to accept it and maybe even understand why he loved these prophecies so much — she had even hoped that maybe he would change after their first child was born. Alas, her feelings changed directly after sweet little Rhaenys was born.

Rhaegar hadn't even wanted to hold their daughter, he had just looked down at her and nodded before saying the words which had caused Elia to make the most important decision of her marriage. "The first head is born, but the dragon has three heads," with those words he had left Elia and their daughter alone; it was then that Elia had decided to drink moon tea so she wouldn't give this man another child.

Today had only proved her decision to be the right one; the way Rhaegar ignored their daughter made her blood boil. This man didn't even deserve Rhaenys, much less another child; he had no emotions and no love inside him — at least not for anything besides his damned prophecies.

"Mami," the word alone pulled Elia out of her thoughts and she looked down at her daughter with a smile on her lips, her hand gently moving through the girl's hair. "Yes, Little Sun?" Elia was looking into her daughter's eyes. "Does kepa not like me?" Those simple words made Elia's heart break into a thousand tiny pieces, making the hate she felt for her husband grow even stronger within her — but Elia pressed it all down. Rhaenys deserved all the love in the world, and Elia would give her all the love she had within her body and soul. "No, kepa is just a very busy man. He needs to be prepared, as one day he will rule the Seven Kingdoms. I'm sure he loves you just as much as I love you Little Sun," Elia answered in a gentle tone, her hand still moving through her daughter's hair.

"Princess," a voice suddenly said next to her, and Elia couldn't suppress a roll of her eyes as her uncle again appeared out of nowhere. "You shouldn't walk around alone," he said; it seemed as if Lewyn had made it his personal mission to protect her since the day she'd come to King's Landing — and Elia had to admit that she couldn't thank the man enough for that. "He's right sister, and you know it. It's not very safe for our princess and her beautiful little daughter to walk around alone with all these brutes here… especially all the northerners, did you see them?" She would recognize Oberyn's voice out of a thousand men, a small smirk appearing on her lips. "I mean, did you see them?" her brother continued. "Tall and broad, beards covering their faces while their skin is marked from harsh winters and hard work. Earlier I saw one of them catch two falling women with ease, one of them our dear A—" but Oberyn was interrupted. "My princess," Ashara suddenly appeared and bowed. "Ara!" Rhaenys directly squealed next to her and made fast little steps towards the raven-haired beauty. Balerion mewed and jumped from Rhaenys arm, but the little girl didn't care as she wrapped her arms around Ashara as well as she could — bringing a smile to the Martells' faces.

"Hello Little Sun," Ashara replied with her arms around Rhaenys and just slowly letting go of the little girl — moments like these gave Elia the feeling that Ashara would some day become a wonderful mother herself. "You appeared as if you'd been called for Ashara," Oberyn suddenly said from next to Elia — and Elia knew this tone, teasing as if Ashara knew exactly what Oberyn had been about to say. "Oberyn, I'm a lady-in-waiting for your sister; it's my duty to be with her when she wishes for my presence." Even though Ashara was years younger, she had easily built a friendship with Elia and Oberyn — something that had at first surprised Elia — but with time the princess of Dorne had understood that the Lady Ashara of House Dayne was different from most other women she had ever met. Different in a good way; she was fiercely loyal, and protective of her friends and family.

"Balerion!" her daughter's voice broke her from her thoughts. Out of the corner of her eye Elia saw a flash of black disappearing between the legs of people in the crowd — and then a flash of orange behind it. "Rhaenys!" Without thinking Elia rushed after her daughter, leaving the others behind as they needed a moment to understand what was going on. Her uncle was the first to react, and he ran after Elia, Oberyn quickly catching up while Ashara was a bit slower thanks to her dress. "Rhaenys!" Elia called again and looked around as she stood in the center of the market, turning around as her uncle came to a halt next to her. "Elia," her brother appeared next to her uncle and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Did you see where Rhaenys was running?" Elia shook her head, her eyes wide in shock as she looked into Oberyn's. "No, I saw Balerion run away, and a second later she was already running after him," Elia was angry at herself then, she should have picked up the kitten and made sure Balerion didn't run away. "We need to find her Oberyn, she's just a little girl alone here," Elia whispered in a desperate tone.

Ashara was the last to arrive, muttering about dresses being impractical if she had to run; Ashara would have been faster than any of them, but she needed to wear breeches and flat shoes if any for that. "We should spread out over the width of the market and keep walking in a single line, that way we have the biggest chance of finding her," again Ashara showed her intelligence, her purple eyes already scanning the market. Quickly they all agreed to Ashara's plan. Elia walked along the right side of the market, passing the merchants while Lewyn walked a few feet away from her more towards the center. Ashara walked a few feet from Lewyn, and finally Oberyn walked along the left line of merchants.

Elia forced a smile onto her lips even though she was close to breaking down and crying her eyes out: first the scene with Rhaegar, and now Rhaenys had run away, disappearing among all these strangers. Could this day get any worse? It already felt like one of the seven hells.

Then her eyes widened; she saw the orange of her daughter's dress. Her steps got quicker as she'd already waved Lewyn over to her, happy that her uncle was able to push the people out of their way. When they were closer she could hear her daughter's light laughter and looked again in the direction; now she could see a man in the distance. He had dark brown hair that framed his long face and a full beard that covered the lower half of his face; Elia could see that the man was smiling while looking at her daughter. Her daughter was lifted up on one of the man's arms while her hands played with his beard, and Balerion rested on his other arm — the kitten who normally allowed no one besides Elia and Rhaenys to even touch him — was pressing his head against the northerner's chest as if he'd known the man as long as he'd known Rhaenys and her. "We found her," was all she whispered to her uncle as she took his hand and squeezed it, the anxiety leaving her body as she trusted the gut feeling telling her the northerner wouldn't hurt her daughter.

It seemed as if her uncle had also given Ashara a sign, who in turn had informed Oberyn, as the other two soon appeared behind them. It was Oberyn who made a sound of interest. "It seems as if some northerners cross our path more often than others," her brother mumbled, but Elia simply ignored it — ignored how Ashara thrust her Elbow into Oberyn's side while her purple eyes never once moved away from the scene in front of them. The northerner and little Rhaenys seemed to get along quite well, Rhaenys laughing more often than any day since she was born. "So where are your parents?" Elia could hear the northerner ask Rhaenys as they got closer. "I'm sure they're already missing their Little Sun and sweet Balerion." Where her heart had been shattered a few moments ago, it felt as if it was repairing itself just the tiniest bit then.

Neither the princess and her friends nor Eddard Stark had noticed they had been watched by a woman. The woman silently followed them, standing in the shadow of a merchant's tent as she watched them and listened to every exchanged word. The bright green eyes and golden hair had thankfully been hidden in the shadow cast by the merchant's tent, as they might have noticed her otherwise.

EddardII

Market at Harrenhal

Robert had called rather loudly for him, asking for advice on a gift for Lyanna. It was nice to see his best friend had actually listened to him and was not considering anything southern as a gift for Lyanna;Ned would have been worried about his best friend's mental health if he had. After that they parted ways again, each of them strolling along the stands of the different merchants and checking out their products and the quality thereof.

One thing Ned noticed was that the market was already bustling, people forming crowds in front of the different merchants and their professions. Ned had already seen a few things that had gotten his interest, but the most interesting one he had just found: a pretty old book, the cover worn down from all the hands it must have gone through. The pages were yellowed, but it was still readable — at least for someone who was able to read the runes of the First Men. It was a book about the Kings of Winter, his ancestors who'd ruled over the north, and had probably been written before or shortly after the Targaryens conquered Westeros; this book had definitely gotten Ned's attention.

Then he heard a soft mewl combined with a pull at his left trouser leg, getting him to look down toward his feet where he saw the small black kitten who'd tried to get his attention. "Hey, who are you?" Ned asked as he knelt down and one of his hands gently moved through the kitten's soft black fur. "That Balerion, my kitten," a high-pitched voice suddenly said, and when he looked up Ned saw a tiny girl with olive skin, shoulder length curly brown hair and warm brown eyes standing before him. "Balerion?" Ned knew Aegon the Conqueror's dragon was called Balerion, "A very interesting name. And what's your name?" The smile was still on his lips while his hand moved over the kitten's fur, feeling how Balerion pressed his head against his hand. "Mami and friends call me Little Sun…" Ned noticed that the little girl wanted to add something to her words, and gave her an encouraging smile. The little girl looked into his grey eyes with her brown ones before she simply returned it happily and said, "You, too." Suddenly Ned felt a weight on his arm and something pulled at the arm of his shirt, when he looked down he saw the kitten lying on his lower arm and stretching out while the little girl gave an excited squeal. "Balerion likes you! He only ever lets mami and me touch him… and now you."

Little Rhaenys had been so amazed by the development that she had stepped closer to Ned, slowly raising a little hand to pet Balerion. "Thank you for catching him, he ran away." Ned looked down at the little girl again and smiled, earning himself a giggle from Rhaenys. "Hm? Do I have something on my face?" was his amused question at Rhaenys's reaction. "You look funny…" little Rhaenys looked as if she was searching for the word in her mind before she simply pointed at his beard. "You mean my beard?" Ned asked, and Rhaenys nodded, her small hand suddenly touching his beard as her eyes got wide. "Soft!" She squealed in delight as she stepped even closer to Ned who couldn't hold back a small chuckle.

"Lift me too?" The question shocked Ned, but he simply couldn't say no when he saw the girl look at him with big puppy eyes. "Sure," was all he said as he moved his other arm so the little girl could sit down on his forearm before he stood up again. "Wow," the girl said excitedly, "so high." Yet the girl showed no fear at all, she was only happy to be on his arm, and she pressed herself against his chest while one of her hands moved through Balerion's fur and the other played with his beard.

"So, where are your parents?" Ned asked Rhaenys, his deep voice gentle and warm. "I'm sure they're already missing their Little Sun and sweet Balerion." With warm grey eyes Ned looked at the girl who was sitting on his lower arm as he patiently waited for an answer, which came from a different person. "Sweet Balerion?" he heard a man say, "That kitten is the grouchiest cat I've ever met, and he calls him sweet? I told you northerners are an odd bunch." When Ned looked up, little Rhaenys was already squealing again. "Mami! Tío Oby!" The little girl sounded so happy that again Ned couldn't hold back a smile, as his eyes moved to the source of the voice. He saw a man with olive skin and black hair, whose eyes were dark and looked like they belonged on a viper. Next to the man stood a slender woman, she too had olive skin and curly brown hair that reached her shoulders. Her eyes got Ned's attention as they were of such a dark brown they looked nearly black, but still showed so much warmth. "It seems like we found your mami Little Sun," he said in a quiet tone to the happy girl who nodded eagerly in return, but then Ned's eyes saw the knight with the white cape and silver armor — a Kingsguard — and the maid with the laughing purple eyes he'd caught mere moments ago together with the green-eyed blonde.

"Princess Elia," Ned said as he bowed his head respectfully, for who else would walk around with a Kingsguard but without silver hair? "Forgive me, I didn't know this was your daughter, Princess Rhaenys," his deep voice was still warm but also respectful, not wanting to make them think he had any ill intentions. "I just wanted to go and search for her parents together with her," but now Ned was interrupted by Rhaenys, the girl who was still sitting on his arm. "Balerion likes him, mami! First he petted him, and then Balerion jumped onto his arm on his own," as if the kitten wanted to prove the little girl's point he licked over Ned's hand before pressing his back and head against Ned's chest while softly purring. Again a smile came onto Ned's lips when he looked down at Rhaenys and Balerion. "I told you! Odd bun—" just when Ned looked up the man was interrupted by his sister, Princess Elia Targaryen. "Thank you for offering your help to a child in need Lord…" the princess said and Ned realized he hadn't even introduced himself. "Eddard Stark," he quickly said, "Second son of Lord Rickard Stark, Warden of the North." Now he'd at least introduced himself as court demanded it, his attention completely on the princess; it was only Oberyn who noticed how a certain purple-eyed beauty couldn't take her eyes off the northerner, and she had a dreamy smile on her lips.

"As I said, Lord Eddard, thank you for offering your help to a child in need. Not every man would act this way, especially with a child they didn't know." Elia bowed her head a little, a sign of her thanks that Eddard just returned. "Children are our future Princess Elia, a man who doesn't help a child is no man at all," Ned answered in his deep voice while Rhaenys again touched his beard, her hand moving through the soft hair. "Very wise words, my lord," the princess answered with a small smile. "I hope to see and hear more of you during the tourney Lord Eddard, you seem like a good man." With these words the princess stepped closer to Ned and her daughter. "But please excuse my daughter and I now, we'd planned to stroll through the market before sweet," a small smirk appeared on the princess's lips — a smirk only Ned could see as she reached for her daughter — "Balerion decided it would be a good idea to run away." As if the kitten could understand them it raised its head and pressed it against Ned's chest, as if demonstrating he hadn't run away, but had sought Ned from the beginning. A low chuckle escaped the princess at the sight, and she gently took Rhaenys from Ned's arms. "Thank you again Lord Eddard," the kitten had gotten up and jumped from his arm onto the princess's shoulder, "I wish you a wonderful day and a pleasant tourney." With one last smile the princess turned around and walked to the group that had accompanied her; Rhaenys — and Balerion — were looking over her mother's shoulder directly at him, and she raised one of her little hands to wave at Ned, saying, "Bye," loudly as Ned waved back.

With a smile Ned turned around after they departed into the crowd, and slowly walked towards the trees where Lyanna had disappeared.