“She’s half starved.” Lyanna mutters, adjusting the baby in her arms. She passes off the sleeping Jon to one of the lady’s and tucks her other arm under Daenerys. She loved her son, that was for certain, but he didn’t need her near as much as this tiny, skinny baby did. Lyanna had never seen a baby be skinny before Daenerys’ arrival. “She and Jon are but six months apart adn yet – yet she seems so… different then he.” She feels the tiny toothless baby gum her nipple slightly, almost as though she’s making sure it’s still there.
“He’s so little.” Lyanna mutters, Aegon was just eighteen months old if her maths was correct, and to have sustained the injuries he did… it was a miracle he was still breathing, but she wasn’t hopeful he’d be whole. “An-and Elia’s brother, Oberyn, have you written him? told him the children are okay. I-I know he might not… like the idea but I-I’d like to keep them here. They’re Jon’s siblings, and after the trouble birthing Jon that I had they may be his only siblings for a long while.”
She purses her lips when he mentions the Kingslayer. “Rhaegar, it would be different if it were you. You did not swear a vow to protect your father with your life. If Jamie Lannister could break that vow once he’d do it again, I know he would and next time it might be you or the children. I-I won’t have him around them. Assign Arthur Dayne to the children and I if you must but please, not Jamie Lannister.” Tywin as the hand was a whole other bed of vipers, she’d have preferred someone else, literally anyone else, but there was no persuading Rhaegar when he took that tone. “Just – I don’t want Lord Tywin or Ser Jamie around our children. it’s too dangerous.”
“Oberyn, yes I have. In fact i’ve asked him to be apart of the small council. He’s agreed, i’m trying to foster the relations broken during the war, and this way Oberyn can be close to his sisters children and they to their Uncle. I’ve arranged for Viserys and Arianne Martell to marry when they are older. We also need to look for other arrangements for Rhaenys and when Dany and Jon are older…”
Lyanna was just as stubborn as he was on this subject and he knew that she was scared, scared of the possibilities that might occur. “Both Gerold and Arthur will attend to you and the children. I promise you. Ser Barristan will accompany and watch Rhae and Aegon’s chambers” Rhaegar paused, giving a long heavy sigh.
“Jaime swore an oath yes, but he was also sworn to obey his father. His father rebelled against the King. He swore to protect the innocent and defend the weak. My father would have killed the innocent and the weak. He nearly blew up Kings Landing and more. I’m not saying what Jamie Lannister did was right, but I as a knight and a Prince understand where his mind set was at during the time. How could he obey the King when his duties also applied to myself and the others of royal blood? He had to obey his father and mine…It’s a tug of war he couldn’t have won, Lyanna. My father killed your brother and father. He’s part of why this war happened. He kept the letters we wrote to your family and started Robert on his idea of a rebellion.”
“Lord Tywin hasn’t accepted the position yet, dealing with Robert asking for Cersei’s hand. Lord Tywin stayed netural in the war but he was against my father. Not myself. Those loyal to my father and not myself are to be killed or sent to the wall. Robert’s lucky I don’t send him off to the wall. It’s only your brother, Eddard who stays that action.”
“I just need help putting them to bed” Lyanna whispered, there was no way she could get up with both of them. Both babies were fast asleep against her. “Especially Daenerys. Every time i try to take her off my breast she starts screaming.” The baby was asleep, Lyanna’s nipple still in her mouth, but Lyanna had already tried to remove her twice to no avail. “Did she – well was she fed at all on the journey from Dragonstone?”
She knew that if she was given anything it was Goat’s milk, which would sustain life but was woefully inadequate when it came to nutrition. Guilt settled in her stomach again when he mentioned little Aegon, he was older then Jon, though not by much he’d’ve been less then two still and Lyanna knew she couldn’t nurse him too.
“W-will he be alright? I-I know the maester said he’d live but – but will he be… damaged?” She knew the injury to his head had been bad, everyone thought he’d die. “An-and Rhaenys, we – we’ll get her a new kitten and- well I don’t know…” She trails off. The little black kitten Rhaenys had so loved had been found with it’s skull crushed under the bed in Elia’s chamber. She can’t help but feel guilty for it, for what had happened to Elia and Rhaella, and the two children.
“An-and the Kingslayer?” She asks. “H-he’s – I want him dead. He can’t be around the children if – if we can’t trust him.”
“I believe she was but not by any kind of mothers milk. Prehaps goat milk?” He told her, giving his sister an odd look as he noticed how she slept. It was odd to think of this little babe as his sister. Viserys was older and they’d spent time together but Daenerys was a just a babe and it was harder to wrap his head around the idea that he was a good twenty years older than her and they were siblings.
“Aegon will be alright. For now. The Maester doesn’t know if he’ll be damaged in any way or the severity until he heals up some more.” Rhaegar prayed to the Seven that Aegon would be fine. A happy healthy child with no problems but he couldn’t be sure, the blow had been hard. “The Masester tried to be positive but…There was something in his tone that makes me worry if i’m being honest. Of course. I think she’d like that very much.”
Her request left Rhaegar a bit stunned. “Jaime Lannister. Jaime did what I would have done had I known his plans with the wildfire, Lyanna. Besides, I’d rather be on good terms with his father seeing as he took care of the kingdom while my own crept further into paranoia and madness.” Rhaegar started, his brows came furrowed a bit as he thought. “Jaime didn’t get close to the children. The one i want dead is Gregor Clegane. H-he was the one who helped lead the attack on my children and Elia. Who r-ra-raped her…If Jaime hadn’t killed my father, I’d be a Kinslayer and not he as Kingslayer. My father should have been dealt with before any of this came as it did.”
There was guilt in his voice, heavy in his body language as he couldn’t look Lyanna in the eye. “Jaime will stay on as Kingsguard. Tywin will serve as my hand. I’m not changing my mind on this.”
“Does she? Does she have Lyanna’s wild spirit in her too?” Rhaegar asked, trying to imagine what her daughter looked like and just how close to Lyanna she did. “She’s with the Lannisters, kept by the lions?” He asked and before he could get an answer he spoke again “I swear we will get them back, both of your girls Lady Stark.” If he could at least help in getting one or two Stark daughters home safe and sound than he would.
“I see. Well, I guess I can’t fault him for following his Uncle and making his own decisions.” Rhaegar wouldn’t blame Jon for taking the black. it had been in the past a noble thing to do and wasn’t just for a way to escape death and while Jon might just be of his blood he did have the Stark blood running through his veins. “I’ve gotten word that my supporters are coming here within the next day” He mentioned off hand before he shook his head at the comment about Harrenhall. “Well, that may be the case but members of my own family have come to ruin in the throne I wish to reclaim…At any rate, what are Robb’s next plans?”
He had been expecting a feeling of warmth to wash over him as Roberts sword found its was into his chest, he expected to see his wife and children, anyone he had known in his life but as darkness clouded his vision he found nothing. His thoughts and feelings were mo more and Rhaegar Targaryen ceased to be no more.
That was until there was a spark and he felt his soul being pulled, yanked away from the once comforted feeling of nothingness and back towards the light to being again. Memories and basic functions were coming back slowly as he felt his soul realign with his body. He felt his skin burn and for a moment Rahegar wondered if this was it. He had passed some judgement test and would wake in the afterlife. But he heard an unfamiliar voice and his foggy mind went to the Seven. “The Mother…?” He mummered as he thought the voice to belong to the motherly aspect of the Seven. But as he woke further and looked at the woman, he gave her a warm half smile. Of course The Mother would take form in his very own mother. In Rhaella. “Mother, Rhaella…I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you or Viserys. I should have been. But-” His voice was low and there was a bitter sadness that came out between words as he tried not to cough, inhaling the smoke that was still around him. “I-wasn’t.”
Yet, there was something about this woman and the longer he looked at her that more he found himself noticing differences. Just enough to make him see that it wasn’t Rhaella and Rhaegar sat up, feeling the weight of his armor, intact and as if Robert hadn’t laid the killing blow on him. He had died. But everything here felt to real, smelt to real and looked to real. This wasn’t the afterlife at all, his indigo eyes looked around and he was bewildered. Why was he in the Dragonpit in Kings Landing? He should have been far away, far from here, fighting at the Trident.
He stumbled upright, getting his bearings as he reached for his sword. “Who are you?!” The Prince of Dragonstone demanded as he unsheathed his sword and held it out, pointing it at the woman who wore nothing on her. Why had he been brought here? Was this another test from the Gods? It had to be. “Why have you brought me here?”
“It would seem so.” Rhaegar agreed and having seen Robb, it confirmed such as he didn’t know of the other Starklings. “And? Would you have let Robb go to the wall? You must have had some sway….But of course you did. You couldn’t let the Bastard son be around so you send him off as soon as you can manage. Though we all know he wouldn’t pose a threat to the younger trueborn sons.” Rhaegar couldn’t see the logic in it all and he was starting to grow furious with the woman.How could she? “Did you love-no..did you like the boy even?” He couldn’t say for sure but from what he knew not every woman was so kind to a bastard child that showed up. “This could very well be my son, Lady Stark. my son. And he is at the wall. Forever. How can I see him now? My heir, my blood…Lyanna’s blood.” It was more despair and longing that filled his voice now than anger.
“It’s just a place. I’m sure that Iron Throne is just as cursed if not more than Harrenhall. An people are still making wars over then damn thing. Maybe we should do away with it. Or place the capitol in Harrenhall. Than no one would want the throne.”
“Did he?’ Rhaegar asked curiously as he thought of the bastards name and his whereabouts and how he didn’t look like him. “Well, my little Rhaenys looked more like her mother than I, it wouldn’t surprise me if any child Lyanna and I had looked more Stark than Targaryen, least one-” He stopped short reminding himself that he wouldn’t ever have another child with Lyanna. “If what i’m thinking is correct, i’m glad he looks more like his mother than myself. For his safety.”
“Th-the wall? what i-is he doing there?” He sputtered “How could either of you let him go to the wall?! He’s a child!” Rhaegar asked, suddenly angry. He would now, never get to see Jon, if he did turn out to be his son. But they couldn’t know for sure if his thoughts were true or not because well, Eddard was dead, Lyanna was dead. “Now…if what i’m thinking is to be true…I’ll never know:
“You of all people can’t believe in the curse of Harrenhall, Catelyn Stark? I’m surprised.” For as long as he had known her, Rhaegar would have lossed money had he bet on her not being superstitious.
“Would the Honorable Eddard Stark tell you if she had been with my child? “ He asked her wondering if she truly believed that he would have not lied to protect something. Rhaegar thought on her words for a moment longer and he had a wild look in his eyes and he spoke with urgency. “Lady Stark…When exactly did Eddard come with his bastard from the Tower? Five months yes but…Lyannna was-My wife was close to birthing before I left for the trident, any moment she could have had the child.” His thoughts jumbled together for a moment as he thought too many impossible thoughts at once and none of them seemed to make sense. No, Robert and Tywin had seen to his lines death. There was no way Lyanna and his child was alive.
“And my mother bore only three alive for more than a year and died giving birth to the tenth, Viserys had been sickly as a babe, ten children and no thanks to my father, my mother was never in the best physical health. Elia couldn’t handle a third, it would have killed her. Sometimes more than three or four is too many for the body. Can you honestly tell me you think you would carry a sixth or a seventh child to term and in good health, either of you if you were to fall with child again?” He asked “Hypothetically of course.”
He gave a small chuckle as she spoke of Robbs engagement. “And how long will that last? Lyanna was to marry Robert and I fancied her and she fancied me. Robb will honor this marriage? He will have her bare his children and not this Jeyne? Beauty sometimes will take over a mans mind more than honor and an engagement. How many bastards have been born outside a marriage? Robb is a man like any other. A great warrior and a strong tactiion but I prey he doesn’t fall into the trap so many of us men fall to. “
“Yes. Lyanna was. I don’t know what happened to the babe, from what I hear your husband was the last one to see her alive…Did he tell you anything?” He frowned as he realized if she was asking than she didn’t know anything at all, no more than he did. “Sorry, I just…I never got to know if she had a son or a daughter. She was close to giving birth when I had to leave for the trident.” Rhaegar sighed “Five seems like a lot. Than again Waldar Frey has an immense population all by himself.” The Targaryen gave a laugh, feeling more at ease around her.
“Jeyne, is she from a good house at least? Though politically there are better options…Waldar Frey would not be one of them. He’s been trying to weasel his way into any and all Great Houses, no doubt he’s still at it now.” Rhaegar cautioned. His father hadn’t trusted Waldar Frey and he himself didn’t trust Waldar not one bit.
“Forgive me Lady Catelyn, I shouldn’t be giving you counsel on these matters. Or to persuade you at all over your son in his dealings.”
The men on Robb’s council were furious… so was she really but Robb had seen the Targaryen prince back from the dead as an ally who could never be turned to the Lannisters. Catelyn was sure- she wanted to be sure- he didn’t like the idea of allying himself with the son of the man who’d killed his grandfather but he’d little choice in the matter. The North needed southern allies.
“You said you were why my husband brought home his bastard. What did you have to do with Lady Dayne’s affair with Ned?” she asked from the doorway. In the camps Rhaegar’s identity had been well hidden- from the Northern bannermen who weren’t included as part of Robb’s council more than anyone- but when they’d come back to Riverrun he’d been given chambers of his own.
The truth would come out in the morning.
Tonight she’d have answers.
“Well If I hadn’t taken Lyanna as my wife than his father and brother would have no need to venture far from home and Eddard no need to come and fight, nor go to Dorne to rescue Lyanna.” He told Cat briefly shrugging it off like it was the obvious answer. “Just who is Eddards mistress? I’ve heard Ashara Dayne to some wench in a bar. You’re his wife surely he must have confided in you” His thoughts wondered back to his own children and he wondered what would have happened if Lyanna hadn’t died. If their child had survived.
Rhaegar had been glad to hear that Robb Stark had allowed him to stay as he had predicted the young wolf was in deed in need of allies and he would take what he could get and having sent letters out to those he knew he could trust in hopes of gaining more supporters to the cause of the Starks and now it was a matter of a waiting game. “Least you and Eddard have many children together, even if there is one bastard to add to all of that. Wish I could have seen all three of my own, alive and well.” Rhaegar poured them both a goblet of wine and offered her one to take. “Robb seems smitten with that girl, what was her name again? Jane?”
“I understand that very much, Lady Stark. Had I been able to at the time I would have taken vengeance for what was done to my own family as you and your son are doing now. With Robert and Eddard no. But Robert would have started some sort of war within his own family had he believed the truth of it all” Rhaegar stated before Cat spoke of Tywin trying to marry Cersei off to him. “Yes, that’s true and had Viserys or one of my dead siblings been born and lived to be a girl i’m sure Tywin would throw either of his sons at her.”
“I did yes.” He ignored the contempt in her voice, the way she spoke of Lyanna and her brothers. “Am I also the reason your husband came back from war with a bastard?” He asked tilting his head “Lyanna and I wed and I placed her at the Tower of joy in Dorne yes, but because it was safe, i had intended for Elia and our children to follow as well but the war came to quickly and the Ravens didn’t fly and before I knew it I was fighting Robert at the Trident and dying.”
Rhaegar took a quick deep breath trying to remain as calm as he could while talking to her of the past. “I would be shocked if he did trust me if I’ll be honest. But I swear on my life that I mean when I say that I will amend my actions in the past and strive towards a better future.” He argued for himself and for what was left of any allies he and his house might have. “Viserys knows of the Seven Kingdoms, he knows it’s home. He and Daenerys should know that they have a place here, free of fear and starvation from being on the run all of the time.” He had he been revived sooner he would have stopped this, he would have gone to them and brought them back to Westeros with open arms but now they were lost in the Dothraki sea and no clear whereabouts.
“I intend to bring them home, Lady Stark and if I should not see the throne in my hands after Joffery and his mother are far from the throne, than I would like to help see it to better hands and one that would support your son as King in the North. Please, talk to your son and I shall await his word.”
Goldnwulf 