A/N:
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Flashback: 10 Years Ago
Visenya's Age: 8 Years Old
"Aim a little lower, and relax your right arm." Ned instructed the small girl as she pulled the string back on the bow and arrow.
"It's...difficult." Visenya began, voice quivering but to the reinforcement of the weapon.
"The art of weaponry isn't for everyone Visenya, it's alright if you don't..." Ned began.
"No!" She retorted. "I want to learn."
A small smile came on to Ned's face, as Visenya fired the bow, missing the target completely, causing Robb to laugh from his position sitting on top of one of the barrels. Ned immediately glared at Robb, causing him to stop laughing and shut up immediately. Ned turned back to Visenya.
"You have to visualize it." He instructed. "Close your eyes, relax your bow arm, and feel your surroundings, then when you are ready, release it."
Visenya nodded, before taking aim once again, this time, closing her eyes, and taking notice to her surroundings, before releasing the string. Upon opening her eyes, she smiled in shock, noticing the perfect bullseye on the target.
"Well done." Ned said with pride and Visenya smiled at him feeling an emotional high.
Present Day
Visenya took a deep breath in before exhaling it, as she pulled back on the bow string, from her position, crouched in the bushes. As promised to her by Robb and Theon, she was allowed to take part on the Royal Hunt, and Ned thought it'd be a great idea for her to get out, even though Robert and all of the Baratheon's were there.
She tilted her head slightly, as she focused on the target at hand. A beautiful stag, waiting to be captured. Visenya, easily aimed her bow, closed her eyes, and focused on the surroundings. She listened to the sound of the running brook not to far, the birds up a head, the sound of the wind blowing. She listened to her surroundings. And just when she got comfortable...she released the string.
She immediately opened her eyes to see the stag on the ground. She smirked in triumph.
"How are you better with the bow than I am, Princess?" Robb asked quietly from his position next to her.
Visenya shrugged as she got up from her position, heading toward the stag. "I wouldn't be able to tell you, if I knew, I'd tell you."
"Do you promise me on that?" Robb asked seriously.
"I'd never lie to you Robb." Visenya explained grabbing two of the stag's legs, while Robb grabbed the other two. "You of all people should know that."
"I know." Robb replied. "And you of all people should know that I'd never lie to you."
"I know." She quietly replied.
Just as they started to pick up the stag, Jon, Rickon, and Theon came running toward the two of them.
"What did you catch?" Jon asked.
"A stag." Robb explained, before gesturing to Visenya. "She shot it."
"Right in the eye as well." Theon said nodding his head approvingly. "We should take you on hunts more often."
"Will you teach me to shoot like that?" Rickon asked.
Visenya smiled and put a hand on Rickon's head. "Of course."
As they all helped to carry the stag that Visenya killed out of the woods, Robert and Ned were in a discussion about the mysterious girl that Ned was harboring.
"Who is that?" Robert asked pointing to Visenya, who's angelic laughter filled the area around them.
"My niece, Valaria. She's been staying with us since her mother passed. She is Edmure's daughter." Ned explained with a proud look, knowing Visenya killed the stag.
"She is quite the beauty." Robert remarked, making Ned slightly sick to his stomach, as Robert didn't know who she truly was. "Tell me, are you responsible for her?"
Ned nodded. "Aye, Edmure has wanted her here rather than the Riverlands. Much more exposure here than there."
Robert smiled glancing at his own Kingsguard before looking back to Ned. "She would do well in the Capital, I am certain of that."
"I'm sure she would." Ned remarked. "What're you leading on?"
Robert turned to Ned. "The Kingslayer is in need of a wife...and out of all the women in King's Landing, and the North, the only one that makes the most sense, is her."
Robert pointed at Visenya, who had already mounted Rhaenys, and was in deep conversation with Jon, Robb, and Theon, who were all mounted on their horses as well. Ned sighed to himself, if he were to agree to the betrothal of Visenya to Jaime...Visenya would cause a great deal of mass murder. She despises all of the Lannisters...mostly because they give her an uncomfortable feeling, but there is no one she despises more than Jaime.
The man who killed her father...at the orders of Robert Baratheon.
"Tell me, how old is she?" Robert asked.
"Eighteen, Your Grace." Ned explained.
Robert nodded approvingly. "She is of childbearing age, I am rather surprised you hadn't married her off sooner."
Ned sighed glancing at Visenya, who had a glare in her eyes, from something Theon had said.
"She's...very...cold sometimes, as well as blunt and sarcastic." Ned said with a sigh.
"Then she'll be perfect for Jaime." Robert said with a nod. "Once we reach King's Landing, you and Tywin will be able to discuss these matters greatly. I'm sure she will warm up to the idea eventually, as will Jaime."
Ned sighed again, knowing he wouldn't win this battle. Robert was persistant. He was the only man Ned trusted after Jon Arryn's death, and if Visenya married a Lannister, perhaps she would be able to figure out truly why Jon Arryn died.
From where she was sitting on Rhaenys, she could see Ned's fearful and regretful look in his eyes. Visenya frowned in confusion, and Ned nodded, signifying what she initially thought. He made a deal with Robert. He accepted the job as Hand of the King.
He was going to leave Winterfell.
"Everything alright, Princess?" Robb asked with concern.
Visenya shook her head, as she turned Rhaenys around.
"I don't know." She murmured, before kicking the horse into a gallop, to head back to Winterfell, eager to see how Bran's condition was. Within the last few hours, just before they left for the hunt, Bran fell from the top of the tower, and was now in a coma. She was deeply concerned, at if he was going to live, as even though she wasn't related to the boy, she saw him as her brother.
As soon as they returned to Winterfell, Visenya practically ran inside and upstairs to Bran's room, where she found Catelyn and the Maesters by Bran's beside.
"How is he?" Visenya asked hesistantly.
Catelyn shook her head. "They're unsure if he'll wake up. I can't loose my boy."
Visenya sighed and put her right hand gently on Catelyn's shoulder. "I'm sure he'll wake up, Lady Stark."
Though Visenya herself didn't even believe the words out of her mouth. Still though, she found it shocking that Bran fell...he never fell. He climbed that tower all the time...so why he fell was beyond Visenya's knowledge. Just as Catelyn was about to reply, Ned walked into the room.
"I'd like to speak with my wife and Visenya alone." He explained.
The Northern Maesters nodded, and they all left quietly, leaving Visenya alone with the two people she considered to be her parents.
"I've made my decision." Ned explained.
Catelyn nodded. "And?"
"I have decided to be Robert's hand. Sansa will be betrothed to Joffery, and we leave for King's Landing later today." Ned explained, before looking at Visenya.
A concerned look came on her face.
"Continue." She urged.
Ned sighed, looking at the floor, before looking back up to meet Visenya's blue eyes. A look of regret came across his face.
"Robert also requests." Ned began, pausing, almost like he had difficulty speaking the words. "That you are to be betrothed to Jaime Lannister."
Visenya's eyes widened in shock and disbelief, and instead of replying to Ned, she turned around and started to run out of the room.
"Visenya." Ned began.
But Visenya was already out the door of Bran's room and running down the corridor.
"Visenya!"She heard Catelyn call for her, but she didn't care.
She kept running through the palace, dodging palace workers, direwolves, and various objects as she did. She didn't stop running until she reached the Godswood, where she grabbed onto it, and sank to her knees in agony. Tears began to stream from her face, as all of her anxiety and distress released from her.
She couldn't marry the man that killed her father. She couldn't ally herself with the people who destroyed the Targaryen line. She couldn't satisfy Robert Baratheon...the man that destroyed her family.
"It is never a plesant sight to see a lady in distress." A voice said from behind her.
Visenya immediately stood up wiped her eyes and turned around to see Tyrion Lannister standing behind her.
"Lord Tyrion." Visenya began with a small sniffle. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Tyrion sighed walking slowly to her. "I was strolling, until I heard your wails from a mile away, are you alright, my Lady?"
Visenya frowned in disgust. "I'm fine, if you'll excuse me, I have to get to my studies."
Just as she started to walk out of the Godswood, Tyrion spoke to her once more.
"I hear you are to be my sister-by-law." Tyrion began making Visenya stop in her tracks.
Visenya's eyes narrowed as she turned on her heel, to look the small man in the eyes.
"Who informed you of that?" Visenya asked in disgust.
"The king himself." Tyrion explained. "He's rather pleased with the match...as is the Kingslayer...but not you, I'm afraid."
"And what makes you say that?" Visenya asked with sarcasm.
Tyrion gestured to the area around her.
"I can't recall." He replied with the same sarcasm.
Visenya rolled her eyes at the smaller man.
"I don't want to marry your brother." Visenya explained.
"Why?" Tyrion asked in curiosity. "Surely he's everything a woman would want. Skilled in combat, young, handsome. Any woman of your stature would jump at the chance to marry him."
"I am not like every other woman." Visenya countered.
Tyrion nodded. "Right you are, my Lady."
Visenya gave him a small nod, before walking out of the Godswood to head to her room. To not allow for anyone to bother her she locked the door, allowing for her to be near Maegor, whom she might have to leave behind. While lying back on her bed, she looked toward the two dragon eggs that sat on the windowsill, thinking about the phrase she read over and over again. Dragons need fire.
Eventually, Visenya was interrupted by various handmaidens that belonged to Catelyn to help her pack her things. After they finished packing her clothes, she briefly glanced over to the eggs and her books about Valyria, and Targaryen history. She smiled to herself before placing the eggs and the books in her bags with her clothes. She may have to leave Maegor behind, but she was not going to leave Rhaenys, her eggs, and her Valyrian objects behind.
Once the handmaidens took her luggage downstairs, she decided to visit Bran one more time. She entered the room, to see Catelyn, still sitting by his bed.
"I came to say goodbye to you and Bran, my Lady." Visenya began.
Catelyn nodded as Visenya walked over to the other side of Bran and took on of his hands in hers.
"When I come back, I'll teach you to shoot a bow like I can. You'll be the sharpest shooter in all of Westeros, when you wake up." She explained.
Catelyn gave her a warm smile, before standing up to hug her, and as she engulfed the girl into a hug, Visenya felt her emotions run high.
"Take care of Sansa and Arya." She began. "And Ned."
Visenya nodded. "I will."
"Do not trust the Lannisters." She continued. "Though based upon your reaction earlier, I am sure you have your own opinions on them."
Visenya smiled. "Of course."
Catelyn took her hands in hers, giving them a light squeeze.
"Remember who you are Visenya. While you are posing as a Tully...you are, and will always be a Targaryen." She reminded before giving Visenya a kiss on the cheek and ushering her out.
Unlike Sansa and Arya, who were riding in the carriage, Visenya opted to ride Rhaenys to King's Landing. It would give her a sense of closeness to Ned for a little bit, before she would be whisked away to marry the Kingslayer.
"Do you think you'll get your old room?" Rickon asked, as he, Theon, and Robb followed Visenya and Jon to their horses, as while Visenya was going off to be married, Jon was going to Castle Black to become a member of the Night's Watch.
Visenya shrugged, as she placed her saddle on Rhaenys. "I don't know. I'll know if I do. I carved a Targaryen symbol in the wall when I was younger."
"It'll be odd without you." Theon began. "It'll be so...quiet."
Visenya groaned giving him a shove. "I'll miss you least of all, Theon."
Theon rolled his eyes, before giving her a hug, followed by Rickon. Both of them then retreated back to the castle. Robb, who had just finished saying goodbye to Jon, then walked over to Visenya. He said nothing but continued to look over her.
"Is this truly what you want?" Robb asked.
She shook her head. "No."
He nodded. "I know."
They both looked over each other for a moment, before engulfing each other in a hug. They held onto each other tightly, neither wanting the other to let go. While her and Robb had their animosity and disagreements here and there, they were both fond of each other.
Though they'd never admit it.
"I'll miss you." Robb admitted.
Visenya gave him a sad smile. "I know. The next time you see me...I may have children."
"Maybe they'll have white hair." Robb said with a laugh, making Visenya laugh as well.
"Hopefully." Visenya said truthfully, before mounting Rhaenys. "Take care of Maegor for me."
Robb nodded. "I will."
She gave him another sad smile. "Goodbye, Robb."
He nodded, as she turned Rhaenys around, heading toward the gate, following after Jon.
"Goodbye...Princess." Was all Robb could say.
Once they were all out of Winterfell, Ned, Jon, and Visenya all stood waiting for Jon to part with Benjen.
"There's great honor in serving in the Night's Watch. The Starks have manned the Wall for thousands of years. And you are a Stark." Ned began from his position on his horse. "You might not have my name, but you have my blood."
"Is my mother alive?" Jon asked after a moment. "Does she know about me? Where I am, where I'm going? Does she care?"
Ned sighed giving him a small smile. "The next time we see each other, we'll talk about your mother. I promise."
Jon nodded before turning to Visenya. "Be careful in the Capital."
She nodded. "Be careful at the Wall."
"I'll miss you." Jon said with a sigh.
Visenya gave him a sad smile. "You were like the brother I never got to know. You and I have always been the outsiders...I'll miss you Jon."
He gave her a sad smile. "Goodbye, Visenya."
He and Benjen then turned their horses around and started galloping towards the Wall. Visenya sighed as she watched them ride away, before turning her head to look back at Winterfell, the home she had come to know for most of her life.
"I have news you may want to hear." Ned began, as he and Visenya started walking their horses back to the Royal Caravan.
"What?" She asked, not knowing if it was good news or bad news.
"Your sister and brother are alive." He explained making her head snap to him.
"What?" She questioned in disbelief.
"Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen are alive and well in Essos. Where, I have no idea. Your sister recently married some Dothraki horselord." Ned explained.
Visenya sighed. "I'm just glad they're both alright, and alive...The King will likely not want to hear it."
Ned nodded. "Aye, but we must still keep our minds sharp. While you may be betrothed to Jaime Lannister, I am still highly concerned of the situation. Especially after the death of Jon Arryn."
Visenya nodded, as she and Ned urged their horses into a slow gallop to allow for them to catch up with the Royals, both knowing in the back of their minds that this entire situation could go south, rather quickly.