Chapter Text
House Martell and House Targaryen
Princess Elia knew her husband well.
Rhaegar was dutiful, quiet. Beautiful. She fell in love with him at first sight and felt foolish for it. I am not that different from all the young maidens in the Realm, after all. Her mother, Princess Dorea of Dorne, had received an emissary from King Aerys, who was still journeying the Free Cities. No brides of Valyrian Ancestry were found for Rhaegar. The daughters of the Great Houses were all of the wrong age. Aerys had reached an agreement with House Lannister for the future, but the present was what worried him.
Aerys needed a suitable bride for Rhaegar and the only option he deemed acceptable was Princess Elia.
If Elia felt offended at winning Rhaegar by default, she did not show it.
The offer is a good one and it will bring glory to House Nymeros Martell.
Oberyn surprised everybody by declaring Rhaegar Targaryen to be a perfect match to his dear sister.
Elia smiled; it had become almost a joke, the search for a suitable husband for Elia. The Hightower heir, Baelor, was close to perfect, until he farted. Oberyn would not stop reminding Elia of the fact, making light of the situation.
Elia took the opportunity to remind Oberyn he was also in need of a wife: “ Mayhaps now you will find yourself a bride too, brother. Mother would be happy.”
“Mother is happy. A half Martell will sit on the Iron Throne and Dorne will benefit from your good luck, Elia.”
Ravens were sent, guests from all over Westeros arrived, and Elia Martell wed Rhaegar Targaryen at the Great Sept of Baelor.
King Aerys did not bother to shorten his trip with his cousin Steffon and his son, Robert. He was enjoying his fame in Essos and his freedom far from the eyes of his sister wife. Rhaella was heavily pregnant and complained bitterly that her husband would miss the birth of “their princess”. Rhaegar gently explained Elia that their parents had finally found a degree of happiness in the last years, and that they had been hoping for a girl since he had been born, 18 years earlier.
But Aerys, after living a life in the golden cage of King's Landing, seemed to have forgotten about his duties and family; in his newfound enthusiasm for travelling, the letters he promised to send home were scarce and far in between. For what Rhaella said, they felt impersonal, cold and Aerys was always changing his mind about the date of their return.
Rhaella Targaryen became friends with Elia, sometimes even sharing her troubles with her good daughter: “ I do not understand it, Elia. Aerys did not want me and I did not want him. He resented me for years and blamed me on our bad luck. When I started fearing for his sanity, things changed. The High Septon instructed Aerys to dismiss Grand Maester Pycelle and The Citadel sent us Marwyn. Aerys health improved and my body became stronger. But it was not only that. Aerys changed with me. For better. He would take me for walks, notice the way I combed my hair... small things. He was considerate of me. The High Septon renewed our vows and I fell pregnant. Aerys stopped visiting other women's beds. For a time, after Viserys was born, everything was perfect. I thought he would return from his travels after it was evident there was no bride for Rhaegar and I was with child, but it is like we do not even exist now that we are far from his sight. I pray Rhaegar´s affections are not as volatile as Aerys. “
In truth, Elia wondered about Rhaegar´s true feelings. Their couplings were pleasant and she always looked forward to his visits. He was kind to her and, with time, Elia could see that she was amongst his circle of trust, something she was extremely proud of. She had feared that Rhaegar, being a dragon, would be an aggressive, irascible husband. She realized the contrary to be truth.
If there was fire in Rhaegar, Elia never knew.
He held back with her; there was a part of Rhaegar's personality that he kept to himself, completely out of reach for Elia. Even after the birth of their first daughter, Rhaenys, when she saw her husband shining with pride and glee as he held the small bundle in his arms... even there, Rhaegar remained inescrutable.
As the years passed, Elia started to piece together the missing parts of the enigma that Rhaegar was.
Upon being informed that the ship carrying King Aerys, Lord Steffon and Robert Baratheon sunk at Shipwreckers Bay, Rhaegar´s first reaction was to comment, with tears in his eyes, how his newborn sister, Daenerys, would grow up without a father.
The birth had been a difficult one and Queen Rhaella almost died. Daenerys was born during a storm so strong that part of the Targaryen Fleet stationed at Dragonstone was danificated. Rhaegar travelled to the Island with his brother Viserys to visit his convalescent mother, leaving Elia to rule in his stead.
At that time, Elia was thankful for the trust Rhaegar had put in her and she was already pregnant of Rhaenys. Looking back now at the event, Elia realized it was the first time Rhaegar made a true distinction between the family he had with her and the one he felt he truly belonged to.
This is not to say that Rhaegar did not love Rhaenys and Aegon, because he did. However, the bond he had with Viserys and ,even more strongly, with Daenerys became more apparent to Elia through the years.
Elia could not help but feel bitter about it.
***
Rhaenys was born exactly six moon turns after Daenerys in the year 279 A.C and Elia suffered as much as her godmother did, almost dying in the birthing bed. Both princesses shared the same wet nurse while their mothers recovered, which Rhaella did in no time. Elia, however, had lost too much blood and could barely leave her room without assistance for sennights after the ordeal.
Grand Maester Marwyn was the most honest man Elia had ever met. She had always prefered the hard truth to the good lie, but this time around Elia wished that the Maester had spared her. Marwyn explained to the Royal family that the Queen was “ in no way able to perform her duties as a wife without risking her life.”
Elia had always wanted children and she was devastated. Oberyn was there when Marwyn gave his opinion, but not even her brother could hide the gravity of the Maesters words with jokes and comforting words.
She felt like a failure, a Queen that could not even be a wife to her King.
Rhaegar said very little to her and Elia feared she would be set aside. There was no precedent, of course, but the High Septon being so close to the Royal Family was a fact Elia could not ignore.
She decided to follow Oberyn's advice and take some initiative, meeting with the High Septon and sharing her worries, humbly asking for “ his guidance and comfort.”
The High Septon saw women as vessels. Bringing life was their natural call and Elia should be brave, not hide behind the opinion of men without faith. Her marriage had been blessed by the Seven, the High Septon was sure, and Elia should insist her husband to do his Duty, and pray to the Mother, asking for strength. The High Septon added that he would not annul a consummated marriage and furthermore, he would “ fast and pray during seven days and ask the Seven to bless Her Grace with a living boy and allow her to survive to see him grow.”
When Elia told Oberyn about the meeting, his brother laughed: “ The High Septon is smarter than we give him credit for, sweet sister. You either die trying to give Rhaegar an heir, and most importantly to him, no dangerous precedent for annulment is set during his tenure as the Leader of the Faith or you survive and has to be forever thankful for his Holy Grace interference on your behalf.”
Elia insisted that the advice the High Septon gave her was sound and not out of malice; Oberyn called her naive : “You should not listen to him; you are more than a broodmare, Elia. Do not kill yourself. Rhaegar has Viserys. He could marry Rhaenys and we would still have House Martell´s blood flowing through the veins of the future generations of rulers of the Seven Kingdoms.”
“I already made up my mind, Oberyn.” Elia said, defiantly. “ As soon as I am strong again, I will give Rhaegar a son and I will survive. “
Prince Aegon Targaryen was born in 281 A.C
A Tourney at Harrenhal was organized to celebrate the event and it was there that Elia´s carefully built world started to fall apart.
***
Lady Ashara Dayne was quickly married to Lord Rickard Stark´s second son after the Tourney at Harrenhal; Eddard Stark had supposedly “ dishonoured” Lady Ashara and was forced to marry her to hide his shame. It would have been the scandal of the season, if not for King Rhaegar Targaryen, who crowned Lady Lyanna Stark as his Queen of Love and Beauty.
It was Ashara who alerted Elia of Rhaegar's plan of abducting Lyanna Stark and having her as a second wife. Ned Stark had been granted an abandoned Keep at Stony Shore, where Ironborn raids were frequent in the times before the Conquest, and insisted Ashara to stay at King's Landing with her brother until he had everything organized up North.
Elia did not know how Ashara learned about the plan; if had been Ser Arthur the one to tell his sister or even Lord Eddard Stark, trying to save his sister's honour.
Elia knew the new High Septon was cut from a different cloth than his predecessor; a generous donation and a show of piety would surely grant the new King his wish of having the long forgotten Valyrian tradition of polygamous marriage restored.
Elia would not allow it.
She went to her husband´s chambers and found him ready to leave : “Rhaegar, you are making a mistake.”
Rhaegar did not try to deny it :” Lyanna loves me, Elia. She is part of the prophecy. I am sorry. She awaits me. Soon, we will return to King's Landing and establish a new routine. Aegon and Rhaenys will come before any child of Lyanna in the line of succession, as it should be. You have my word.”
He cannot expect House Stark to accept this madness...what a fool Rhaegar is!
It was not love for her husband that compelled Elia to throw herself at his feet and beg for Rhaegar not to leave, but the politician in her. It was not even about the line of succession; it was about the existence of the Iron Throne and the unity of the Seven Kingdoms.
The dramatic gesture made Rhaegar stop, as Elia predicted : “No! Do not go, Rhaegar. Instead of saving the Realm, you will cause a war. She is betrothed to Lord Dustin´s heir. Her father is your Warden of the North. He will turn against you, Rhaegar and you need House Stark on your side when time comes. You do have Aegon and Rhaenys; together, you are the three heads of the Dragon.”
Oberyn told Elia that “ performers live for the applause; they crave it even more than gold.” There was no greater performer in the whole Seven Kingdoms than Rhaegar Targaryen. Elia was struck by the dichotomy; he was so reserved and quiet in everyday life and yet, so comfortable in being the center of attentions when he had his harp on his lap.
Rhaegar had been a single child for the first thirteen years of his life, the beloved Crown Prince of the Seven Kingdoms, the dream of every girl in the land and beyond.
It was this side of him that Elia was appealing to. She knew it would be enough to make Rhaegar at least consider what she was saying.
“Please, Rhaegar, do not go. Not now. Not this way. We will think of something. There must be a way of convincing House Stark to give you Lyanna.” Elia felt his indigo eyes on her. He is almost convinced. I must make him doubt of her, without him even noticing . “ If you really love her and if she really loves you, Rhaegar, if she really has a role to play in the prophecy, then a day or a sennight more will make no difference. If it is meant to be, she will wait until you find a better way to have her.”
While Rhaegar spent the next days with his nose stuck in old parchments and books on prophecies, conferring with both Marwyn and his Great Uncle Maester Aemon at The Wall, a raven came from the North announcing that Lady Lyanna had married Lord Willam Dustin at Barrowton, a mere fortnight after Lady Catelyn Tully wed Lord Brandon Stark at Riverrun.
Elia breathed in relief.
She had successfully averted a disaster.
She knew nothing.
***
House Lannister
Grand Maester Pycelle was a fool. But he was a fool that had a purpose and now Lord Lannister would have to make do without him.
Pycelle was a Hill of Lannisport and never forgot his origins. He knew his place. Tywin Lannister was his Superior and Pycelle was happy to serve him.
Everybody agreed Lord Lannister was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but , if the Hand of the King had a problem, this problem was the King himself.
Aerys Targaryen had always been vain and quick to anger, but in his youth he was also charming, engaging and ambitious. Through the years Lord Lannister witnessed his friend falling into the pits of madness. The stillbirths, miscarriages and unhappiness in his union to Queen Rhaella took its toll, but also a resentment and envy towards Tywin himself, who had married the woman Aerys desired and was father to perfect golden twins, while House Targaryen was down to a single heir.
The fits of anger were almost an everyday occurrence and had already affected their friendship. They barely spoke without an argument erupting. Tywin was forced to conclude that the bad blood between them was starting to affect the Realm.
Something had to be done.
The High Septon was a good influence on the King, one of the only people capable of making Aerys see reason. Tywin was not a religious man, but if the Seven would help Aerys Targaryen control his worst impulses, then so be it.
When Pycelle made the mistake of being found abed with two very young girls, this after being accused of taking liberties by a minor noble woman that sought him for medical assistance, the High Septon urged the King to make an example out of Pycelle.
The execution of the disgraced Grand Maester was carried by another fellow westerlander, Ser Ilyn Payne, now Justice of the King, one of the few appointments Lord Tywin had made that were approved by Aerys.
Lady Joanna knew the madness of Aerys firsthand; she wrote Tywin, advising her husband to seek a truly neutral Maester from the Citadel, one both specialized in dealing with maladies of the body and soul, and with great knowledge of the Arcane, a subject that fascinated the convoluted mind of the King.
Tywin did precisely that and, in 271 A.C, Marwyn was sent from Oldtown and made Grand Maester.
Tywin was appalled at the sight of the man, who looked more like a sailor than an scholar. Nevertheless, in a question of days, Marwyn proved to be perfect for the job. Political power meant very little to the new Grandmaster, who focused in repairing the Royal couple´s health, only giving his advice when asked and had the grace of not aligning himself to any group or House as far as Tywin Lannister could see.
Marwyn had travelled as far as Ashai, was honest to the point of bluntness and crude. Exactly the kind of man Aerys liked to have by his side.
The grandmaster reputation was a strange one. He had forged a Valyrian Steel link to his chain and was rumoured to take part in queer rituals at the little sailor´s temple at Oldtown. Instead of bringing whores to the Red Keep, Marwyn had the tact of discreetly visiting them at the street of silk.
One day, Lord Lannister called the Grand Maester for a private conversation: “ The Queen is pregnant and she looks healthy and happy for once. His Grace has also improved, both in mood and in general disposition. I asked you here to personally congratulate you on your efforts and to inquiry how you succeeded where many had failed.”
“The truth always, My Lord. Queen Rhaella is frail and her body cannot be treated the same way His Grace would treat his bed warmers. The High Septon might have spoken in terms of sins and blessings, but I explained to His Grace that, by keeping to other beds, he was constantly bringing small maladies, imperceptible to strong and virile men as him, but dangerous to an already weakly woman like Queen Rhaella.”
Marwyn took a sip of Arbor Gold and continued with his explanation: “ I advised them both to spend more time together, engage in more regular and less aggressive sexual intercourse and space out the time between pregnancies. Rhaella is romantic; I advised His Grace to at least pretend to be her knight. She will not be the first, or the last woman to fall prey to such lies. As for his health: King Aerys needed more physical and mental stimulation than he was having locked in the Red Keep, to keep his mind away from his obsessions. My concoctions and potions only help so far. The body and the mind have to be made stronger, so the process of self healing has better chances of success.”
The next days showed to Lord Tywin that, although the friendship with Aerys would never be the same, a middle ground could be reached. The key to this balance was Marwyn. Tywin disliked the feeling of needing somebody´s constant assistance, but he had to admit that Marwyn dealing with His Grace made his life and work much easier. Aerys would not come as often to the Small council meetings and, in the sessions he did attend, he started to do more than simply disagreeing with any of Tywin's suggestions just to spite him. Aerys did even give a couple of workable ideas, which were promptly incorporated by Tywin, eager to show Aerys he was not his enemy.
With the situation at King's Landing under control, troublesome news arrived from Casterly Rock. Tywin felt sure about his position as Hand and, most importantly, Aerys was on his best behavior in ages, so he decided to travel to Casterly Rock.
The problem was their twins; Joanna told Tywin that she had caught them in “ physical intimacy” and, in her opinion the act far exceeded the common curiosity of children their age.
At first, Tywin did not want to believe it; he thought Joanna was exaggerating: “ What I saw that day was alarming yes, but far worse is that the servants are starting to whisper and even more worrisome is how the twins behave and interact socially. Jaime only does what Cersei allows him to do.They live alone in their own little world. Cersei wants to be a Knight; I would have indulged her if she behaved properly, but I forbade her from attending practice at arms because it is the only thing that Jaime has that is his own. It has affected both in a very negative way, Tywin. Cersei has no friends and Jaime can barely read and write.”
As Lord Lannister still did not believe his wife, she asked him to observe the twins the next days without interfering.
It took Tywin just one afternoon to realize the gravity of it all.
Lady Joanna felt that his husband was putting all the blame in Cersei, which was unfair. She did not voice her worries, but Tywin was the man who had his father´s mistress walk naked through Lannisport.
“Our daughter is intelligent and has a strong character. She only needs to be taught the value of duty and that kindness is not the same as weakness. Jaime needs to learn that he cannot rely on his sister to think and to act. He has a tendency of wanting others to do his work for him and Cersei just happens to be more than happy to oblige. We need to show Jaime that he is as strong as Cersei.”
Lord Tywin agreed, but since he was not a man of half measures, he had already concluded that Cersei should not be allowed to stay near Jaime in the future. Instead of agreeing with Joanna that sending their seven year old boy to be fostered by House Marbrand was good enough, Tywin decided to also send Cersei to be a cupbearer somewhere, feeling that the hundreds of cousins, uncles and aunts that lived at the Rock would treat Cersei with more indulgence and reverence than she truly deserved.
Tywin Lannister chose to send his only daughter to stay a couple of years at Riverrun, strengthening the bonds between House Lannister and Tully. There, Cersei would have two girls close her age to play with and not be surrounded by family all the time. Tywin still had hopes that Aerys would agree to have Cersei marry Rhaegar and become Queen; and if she was to become Queen, it would do House Lannister good if Cersei was to take House Tully´s words- Family. Duty. Honour- to heart.
***
Viserys Targaryen was born in 272 A.C and Lady Joanna travelled to King's Landing with Jaime to meet the new addition to the Royal Family.
The visit had to be quick, since Aerys Targaryen still lusted after Lady Joanna and both Lord Tywin and Queen Rhaella wanted to avoid any unpleasant situation.
Joanna insisted Jaime go to Riverrun to visit Cersei with her; they would be chaperoned the whole time, she said and added that she missed her daughter and wanted to see for herself how Cersei was faring as a guest of House Tully.
Their stay, Tywin insisted, should not be streched; Casterly Rock needed its Lady. Lady Joanna wrote from Riverrun to inform she was again with child; and that Cersei had, in her words “ given Lord Tully a lot of trouble in the beginning, but her temper and willful nature had been somewhat subdued. Jaime, however, reverted to his more passive role in her presence, but nothing too grave happened. Lady Catelyn is good company for our Cersei and Lady Lysa, despite being shy, is well behaved and proper. The only oddity is Lord Tully´s ward, a lordling called Petyr Baelish, who follows Cersei around like a dog. I would have taken issue with him, for he is far too lowborn, but they are children and, much like her aunt Genna, it seems that Cersei enjoys torturing her would be suitors.”
In 273, Tyrion Lannister was born and Lady Joanna died. His son was a dwarf and there was nothing Lord Tywin could do about it, except focus his energies into providing Jaime and Cersei with bright futures and pray that Tyrion would either join the Citadel or even better, the Faith and his existence be forgotten.
Although Joanna wanted Cersei to become a Princess of Dorne, Tywin Lannister was still interested in the Crown Prince.
When Lord Tywin finally made his move, Aerys Targaryen offered no reply.
Instead, His Grace sent Grand Maester Marwyn to explain his position : “ Cersei is simply of the wrong age; Rhaegar needs a bride ready to give him sons and daughters in the next year. His Grace insists on a young woman with at least one Valyrian forefather and already asked his cousin to join him in travelling through the Free Cities. If the search bears no fruit, His Grace will turn to House Martell, the only of the Great Houses who can claim a blood link to House Targaryen. Houses Velaryon and Celtigar also have no daughters to spare. “
Marwyn continued : “However, His Grace would agree in binding both families in the future. Her Grace is again with child; if it is a girl and Lord Jaime Lannister agrees on waiting fourteen years, King Aerys would agree to the match. The wait being too long, there is also Prince Viserys to be considered. Or we simply accept that we must wait even longer, for Rhaegar and Jaime to produce offspring of their own, the only possibility for House Lannister to have a half lion sitting on the Iron Throne one day.”
Not being a gambler by nature, but seeing he had no choice, Lord Tywin decided to trust his luck. Cersei was unfit to be Queen, he knew deep down. Tywin wanted a child of Lannister blood to sit on the Iron Throne, no matter how long it would take. His relations with Aerys were cordial and Rhaegar looked up to him; Tywin was healthy and capable and decided he would stay in King's Landing for as long as it took to sign a betrothal agreement.
In 278, Rhaegar married Elia Martell of Dorne and the Princess Daenerys was born; Rhaenys Targaryen came to the world in the following year. When Elia gave birth to the Crown Prince Aegon in 281 A.C, Tywin saw it was time to act. He had already sent Cersei to the Eyrie and had initiated negotiations on Jaime´s behalf in the Westerlands.
Ser Jaime Lannister married Lady Mellara Hetherspoon at Casterly Rock in 282 A.C; later the same year, Lady Cersei Lannister wed Ser Elbert Arryn in the Eyrie. Lord Tywin Lannister was in attendance at both events.
***
House Stark
Brandon Stark was not happy with his Lord´s father choice of bride: “ House Stark married southerners before, but they were Royces and Blackwoods, First Men families tied to the Old Gods. Father, our bannermen will not accept her.”
Lord Rickard had befriended southerner Lords during the war and Maester Flowers had convinced him that turning south would make The North richer and stronger: “ When Winter comes, we need grains, boy. The Riverlands are fertile and Lady Catelyn ´s dowry will feed our smallfolk in the years to come. The Lords will appreciate not having their people dying from starvation. Lyanna will marry into a northern house and nobody will dare complain.”
The discovery of sex was outside Winterfell walls, age 13, at the brothel. When he was sent to the Rills, Brandon continued to enjoy the company of wenches, serving girls, prostitutes, until he met Lady Barbrey Ryswell. They shared the love for horses and the warmth of their bodies. Brandon had hoped that her name and station would impress his father and had promised to breach the subject with Lord Stark, as he was expected in Winterfell for a visit.
Brandon could not endanger his position as heir, nor shame his father, but he could try to bend Lord Rickard´s will and buy some time: “I was not expecting this news, father. Lady Catelyn is far too young. All I ask is that we make no official announcement until she turns four and ten. “
Upon his return to the Rills, Brandon convinced Willam Dustin to visit the Ryswell lands, an easy enough feat, since his friend was infatuated with Barbrey. Brandon knew of this and , partially out of self interest, and partially because he new Willam was a good man, Brandon convinced his father to reach for House Dustin regarding Lyanna´s hand.
Willam´s father must had told him about Lord Rickard´s proposal, because Willam made himself scarce during their stay. Brandon went for Barbrey and told her about Lady Catelyn. His plan was simple: he had bought them enough time to get her with child : “ Father agreed not to make any announcement for almost a year, Barbrey. He values honour above all. If you are with child and the betrothal with Lady Catelyn is not public knowledge, father would have no choice but to agree to our union.”
When Barbrey mentioned that Lord Rickard could still force the marriage even if Brandon got her pregnant, he brushed it off: “ Then you would take moontea, My Lady and we would pretend you lost your maidenhead to the saddle.”
Lady Barbrey agreed; the next six moon turns were spent in constantly heat, their encounters growing in passion and intensity. But Brandon´s seed did not take root. She despaired and went to her father, who was aware of Lord Brandon´s intentions. The Maester was asked to prescribe tonics for Barbrey to conceive. He insisted upon a physical examination and it was then that any hope of becoming Lady Stark ended for Barbrey.
***
Brandon Stark found Catelyn Tully to be beautiful and proper, but boring. He wondered if her hair would be any indication of her temper and wished for nothing more than a good lay. He played along her silly ideas of knights and songs because, otherwise, there would be nothing in common between the two of them.
Catelyn tried to please him and was very impressed by his appearance, he knew it. Brandon could not fault her for not being what he really wanted her to be and had already made peace with the fact that he needed to marry “for her womb and the grains of the Riverlands.”
Brandon attended the Tourney in honour of Crown Prince Aegon at Harrenhal and there he took the courtship of Lady Catelyn a step further and even agreed to join the lists. It was all great fun, playing the southern game of chivalry and watching Catelyn blush and be proud at each round he won, but Brandon knew it was just a game for him, and not really who he was.
The Tourney was bittersweet in many ways. They all knew it would be probably the last time the Stark siblings would be together as children.
Ned was almost eight and ten, more Arryn than Stark in his demeanor, so quiet and reserved that Brandon for a moment thought Catelyn would be better suited to his brother than to him.
Benjen was three and ten and spent most of his time running after Lyanna, one year older. A recruiter from the Night's Watch was in attendance and Benjen seemed to have taken the words the man spoke seriously, which made his younger brother look even more naive in Brandon's eyes.
House Tully was being honoured by the King, who had appointed Ser Brynden to the Kingsguard. Lady Catelyn looked magnificent and, for a moment, Brandon thought he could grow to love her in time, had she been less ladylike and more carefree.
If only she was more wolf and less fish...
When King Rhaegar crowned his sister Lyanna “ Queen of Love and Beauty", Brandon had to be restrained.
The only thing that could have taken Brandon´s head out of the slight would have been sex. It was then that he noticed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her name was Ashara Dayne, one of the Queen´s ladies in waiting.
But Catelyn Tully, his betrothed, would not leave his side and Ned, Brandon could see, had fallen in love with the beauty at first sight.
“ Come on, Ned. You should ask her for a dance. Tell her about the North, our strength and honour. Impress her with your...seriousness!”
“Surely, you do not expect Lady Ashara Dayne to feel flattered by my advances, brother. I am but a second son, without lands or income of my own.”
Honestly, Brandon had no idea how Ashara would react, but it annoyed him that Ned thought so little of himself. “ You are a Stark of Winterfell, you are good enough for a Dayne. Lands, gold, this all can be arranged. I will speak to her on your behalf. This way, if she turns you down, you can blame your fool of a brother and his sloppy attempts at playing matchmaker.”
Ned danced with Lady Ashara and after their dance, they disappeared in the night.
***
Lyanna convinced Ned not to return to the Eyrie and stay in the Riverlands because she knew her older brother was unhappy in The Vale and that his heart already belonged to a dornish Lady.
“ You could speak to Father about Lady Ashara, Ned. Riverrun must have a raven that flies to Starfall after all. Be bold, at least this time. You have nothing to lose, and all to gain.”
Ned gave Lyanna a rare smile : “Aye, you are right, Lyanna. Since Robert died and Lady Cersei arrived, things are really not the same at the Eyrie. The truth is, if Ashara would have me, I would wed her in the morrow.”
Lyanna rolled her eyes; the noises that came from Ashara´s tent could only mean that the Lady, for some strange reason, thought Ned irresistible.
Possibly because the fruit of his indiscretion was already growing in Lady Ashara´s belly, Ned decided to meet Lord Rickard at Moat Cailin. Days after Brandon and Catelyn were wed, Eddard quickly and quietly married his Lady Ashara at the Godswood of Riverrun.
Lyanna was happy that she helped Ned overcome his insecurities and marry the woman he loved, but she was miserable.
In the confusion that followed the Tourney of Harrenhal and the preparations for Brandon´s nuptials, Lyanna had been foolish to think that, she too, had found love.
Willam Dustin was a good, solid young man, but the King had made her heart almost stop when he played his harp. Lyanna did not want it, but there, at Harrenhal, she fell for Rhaegar Targaryen.
When Rhaegar found her to be the Knight of the Laughing Tree as she was dropping her armour and trying to make her escape, Lyanna was sure that her feelings were reciprocated. He asked her to stay and speak to him. They kissed. Letters were exchanged. A meeting place was agreed and Rhaegar would be sending men of his trust to escort Lyanna back to Harrenhal, where they would wed.
But the day came and went and Lyanna only received a small note; an apology really, asking for more time.
The tone was distant, very different from the love letters of before.
Lyanna started to doubt Rhaegar´s intentions and, in her doubts, she found that Willam Dustin, being of solid, northern stock, was well suited for her, better than the Dragon King, prone to melancholy and sadness, would ever be.
Before she could second guess herself, Lyanna went to Lord Stark: “ Father, I wish to speak to you, in private.”
Rickard Stark offered Lyanna his arm and they went for a stroll. They sat on a bench, at the Godswood of Riverrun and Lord Stark was all ears :“Very well, you have my undivided attention,Lyanna. “
“You might have heard of King Rhaegar, how he crowned me Queen of Love and Beauty. It caused a stir and people are doubting of my honour now. But it meant nothing. His Grace had just discovered that I was the mystery knight and wanted to thank me for my participation without revealing I had broke the rules of the Tourney. Brandon took offense, but Willam said nothing. “
“Lord Willam is a fine man; your brother has a lot to learn. What do you have in mind, Lyanna, to stop the rumours?”
Lyanna put up a brave face, trying to hide the heartbreak: “ My betrothal was announced last year. I am four and ten, old enough to be wedded and bedded. I wish to return to the North with my intended and stay at Barrowton.”