Chapter Text
King of Sorrows
‘I Rhaegar Targaryen, First of These name, King of the Andals, the Rhoynars and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm’
For the moment, his hand stopped midair, the silver haired man sighted, crumpled the parchment and threw it into the bonfire. Rhaegar hid his face in his hands, how to write these last letter, knowing that it will come too late, that it is a goodbye she will never hear from his lips. He felt a death's grip around his throat, poison that his Lady Wife was feeding him with for the last two years and the wounds from Battle under the walls of Storm’s End, was taking its toll. The blood in his veins was getting cold, his eyes and mind was covering with fog he barely had strength to pierce through.
But it needed to be done…
The prophecy…
Visions…
He lifted the quill.
‘Rhaenys. My little dragon. I am so sorry.
I hope that you hate me enough to not cry for me. That my death will not be added to the long list of sorrows I brought you. That… you will find strength to forgive me. But for this last I can only pray, I know how badly I wronged you.
Looking behind, now when the Stranger is by my side, at long last I can see all my mistakes. And can only ask myself, when did I become so cowardly and foolish to let vision of the future and knowledge of the past, make me blind to the present moment. Did it happen when I took Lya as my Second Wife and sparked the Rebellion, or spared Robert Baratheon after Battle over Trident? When I was too late to save your mother and brother from Aerys? When I made Cersei Queen, to strengthen the Realm at your expense, and ignored everything she did against you, saying that it doesn’t matter, that you are my heir and nothing will change that? Or when this boy… this boy after all these years… found you in the Wolfswood?’
Dragon of the Sun
“Let me go, Ser Jaime!”
“Princess, please. The Queen…”
“What? She didn’t mean it? She cares about my education? We both know that she doesn’t give one copper about it! She just wants to slander me in front of the court and Fa… and the King.”
She didn’t call Rhaegar ‘Father’ for years, ever since she was brought before him, covered in blood of the Septa, dragged from the Godswood screaming and crying. Rhaenys still remembered his eyes… cold as amethysts, sad and tired, his words ringing in her mind:
‘If you act like a beast, I will treat you as such.’
She never forgot Cersei cruel smile and three weeks in the Maidenvault, cold night when she screamed for Rhaegar to forgive her. It was the last time she begged, last time she used the word ‘father’, last time she prayed to the Seven. Her childhood ended that day.
And she was just eleven.
A child.
She broke free from Jaime’s grip and run through the Royal Camp. They were just half a day away from Winterfell, but of course Cersei demanded them to stop, to delay their arrival just for another day. Her displeasure about this trip was the only thing that brought Rhaenys little happiness in this cold, gloomy place. Mere mention of She-Wolf from the North, was enough to spoil the mood of the Queen. Lioness never forgot the love that Rhaegar still harbored for Lady Lyanna.
Finally, Rhaeny’s found the only place she felt safe, the big red tent guarded by Ser Oswell Whent. He smiled at the sight of her, sad nostalgia appeared in his eyes.
“Is my uncle inside?”
“Yes Princess, but on your place I would…”
She entered without waiting.
“Hello uncle.”
“Rhaenys… for the Gods sake…”
Viserys, Prince of Summerhall was laying naked with the one of the Myrcella’s maids. Poor woman hidden herself under the sheets with silent scream.
“Don’t bother with dressing. I will leave soon, and you can go back to your… activities.”
Her uncle sighed and covered himself with the red robe. Rhaegar preferred black, but Viserys was always dressed in red. It suited him well, with his slender figure, platinum hair and spares beard.
“You are hiding again, don’t you?”
“This is the only place that Ser Jaime will never check.”
“Of course. I remind him about his Dwarf brother too much.”
“Lord Tyrion, at least would offer me some wine.”
“Suit yourself, dear niece. I still have some Arborian Gold.”
She poured herself the cup. Maid tried to sneak out, but Viserys stopped her.
“Oh no sweetie. You will wait here now, until my niece leaves. You will not run to the Queen and tell her about it.”
“Thanks uncle.”
“Everything for my favorite niece.”
Rhaenys smiled. She sometimes felt like Viserys and Daenerys were the only Targaryen's that were fully on her side. She loved Myrcella and Tommen, but they were children of Cersei, always obedient to their mother. Joffrey was a selfish and cruel prick, jealous about her position as Crown Princess.
“So why were you hiding? Golden Bitch again?” He switched to Vallyrian.
“Yes.” She responded in the same language.
“What she did this time?”
“Lord Manderly joined us this morning, you would know if you only lift your lazy ass.”
“I do not care for these savages. Especially for the Lord to Fat to ride a horse.”
“Yeah I know. You care for nothing.”
“Except you, Dany and Alys… by the way, did you see my daughter?”
“Yes. She is with Daenerys.”
“Good.”
“You should spend some time with her. She doesn’t take this trip well.”
Viserys looked at her sadly and weary. She knew this look all too well, every time someone talked about Alysanne or her late mother, he fell into melancholy and started drinking.
“Rhaenys…”
“Spare me this, uncle, I didn’t come to listen to your excuses.”
“I pray that you will never fell in love. It is poison that kills everything inside you once it is gone.”
“Don’t worry. I saw what love did to our King and to you.”
They sat down at a camp table, each one with a glass of wine. Myrcella’s maid was still hiding under the furs and sheets.
“I advised against this journey. I said to my brother that Lords should come to King’s Landing to swear allegiance to you as Heir to the Iron Throne, not you to them. But he didn’t listen.”
“Yeah… I know. At least once you and Cersei agreed on something.”
“For different reasons. And trust me, it is the last time we agreed on anything.”
They smiled to each other.
“This nearly finished. Just the North, Westerlands and we will go home. You will be official heir to the Iron Throne, and I will go back to Summerhall to drink my life away.”
“You could be so much more, uncle.”
“What? I do not care about swordplay or ruling. I love women and wine…”
“And Alys.”
“Of course. My sweet little Alysanne, my little dragon.”
She finished her wine. Again she spoiled the mood… yes, she was a master in it.
“I will leave, with your permission.”
“Gods speed niece. And of course, if anyone asks, I never saw you here.”
“Thanks uncle.”
She left his tent, thinking how deeply flawed is her family. They poised as this perfect royal line, strong and noble, but in truth it was nothing like it. Her father, so focused on the Realm’s unity that he didn’t see the gaps between his loved ones. Viserys slowly drowning in wine. Daenerys absorbed by dreams about dragons. Queen and her firstborn, eaten out by their own malice and ambition. Rhaenys’s youngest siblings, innocent and weak. And her Rhaenys Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone, heir to the Iron Throne, rebellious daughter, screaming every night while watching the same nightmare time after time.
She slowly sneaked to her horse Night, a gift from her uncle Oberyn. Black stallion never accepted anyone except her, he even bit servants if they weren’t cautious.
Night was waiting for her, all settled up. Ser Oswell probably sent the word to prepare him for her. He knew her too well.
But he wasn’t the only one.
“Where are you going, Princess?”
Ser Jaime appeared behind her from the thin air. Kingslayer was smirking with his oh so perfect lips, cold wind played with his golden hair. Perfect knight in the white armor… last thing she wanted to see.
“I need a ride, Ser Jaime.”
“Not without me.”
“Oh, exactly without you. I do not need you to talk about your sister and her good intentions, and I do not want you to spy on my every move.”
“I am your sworn shield, my job is to protect you and follow you everywhere.”
“I do not need it tonight.”
“Princess, listen…”
“No, you listen, Kingslayer.” She turned around and looked straight into his green eyes. “I have enough today! I have enough of my stepmother and her son. I have enough of their laughs and taunts. I need to blow up some steam, run away from this all… and sadly you remedy me too much of everything that I want to run from.”
“Princess Rhaenys…”
“Please, Ser Jaime. I just…” Tears appeared in her eyes. She felt so much conflicted emotions about him. He was the one that saved her and her mother from the Red Keep. He was her sworn protector, he was with her when she was waking up screaming. Not only that, but he was a father figure to her, more than King ever was, and at the same time he was a reminder, of her mother misery and pain, of Cersei torments, of Lord Tywin cold glares and Joffrey japes. “I need this. Just a few moments.”
Kingsguard sighted, he didn’t know how to say no to her.
“Alright Princess. Just for a few moments. Come back quickly, or I will call all Kingsguards to look for you.”
She smiled, happily, he replied with the clearly anxious smile.
“I will be back soon.”
“I hope so, or my head will soon be placed on the pike.”
She laughed and jumped on her horse. In one moment, she forgot about her worries. She was free, riding through the woods like the Wilding girl.
North was cold and gloomy, but it was also so beautiful, it had this primal charm like Dragonstone and Dorne. Here in the woods she wasn’t Princess, she was Rhea. She passed trees, startled rabbits and escaping heard of deer. Did Lyanna ride here with similar feelings? Escaping from her identity and duty?
She couldn’t finish this fought. Suddenly she felt that something hits her, before she saw what happened she was falling. She tried to scream, but the force of collision with the ground forced air out of her.
“I’ve got her!” She heard a young and excited voice. Someone was pressing her to the cold earth.
“Lars, grab the horse! Hart, hold her tightly!”
“What…” She tried to speak, but a rough hand stopped her.
“Shhh girl. Do not speak. Do not yell. Or it will end bad for you.”
Four men surrounded her. Two of them were clothed in the black… Night’s Watch. The other two wore furs and leathers, primitively stitched.
“It will end bad for her anyway. I didn’t see a woman like her for years…”
“Lars don’t. Do you see her attire?”
“By the Gods! Noble Lady!”
“And?” New voice, clear accent, the wilding.
“Do you know what we will get for her life?”
“We will get a noose. Ned Stark will never parley with us.”
“We will hang anyway. At least, let's have some fun.”
“We do not have time.” Woman? She was dressed like a man, but it was definitely a female voice. “He is behind us. White Death…”
“Fuck the White Death! Fuck Strak. And fuck her… especially her.”
She saw his face, ugly and full of pox scars, cruel eyes and watering mouth.
“Stop it!”
Her oppressors froze in place. Rhaenys turned her head. In front of them stood a young man in the big gray fur and leather armor, his head was covered by a mountain lion’s head hood. Next to him growled a great white wolf with eyes red as blood. On his shoulder sat raven.
“STOP! STOP!” Screamed the raven.
“Fuck…” Said Lars.
“White Death…” Fear was heard in the woman’s voice, the spear in her hand was trembling.
“Let her go!” Demanded hooded man.
“Berra, get yourself together. Yvar…” Screamed Lars, drawing his word, but the White Death didn’t wait. He moved fast as lightning, he got to the second Wilding and with one strike separated his head from the body. Yvar died without even making a noise. The woman didn’t have such luck. Wolf jumped at her and sunk his fangs in her neck, her screams drowned in blood.
Lars tried to fight. He deflected the first blow, but the second pierced his chest.
“Stay there!” Rhaenys felt cold steel on her throat. Hart was trembling with fear.
White Death froze in place, with his sword covered in blood.
“Summon your wolf!”
“Ghost, to me.”
Wolf obediently trotted to him, growling at the Deserter.
“Now, I will take the horse, and you will let me go. No tricks or she dies! You understand?”
The hooded man didn’t respond.
“Hey! Do you understand?”
Suddenly she heard the bird wings flapping. Raven attacked Hart face, man screamed. Rhaenys felt hot blood on her face.
“Ghost, kill!”
And then there was no more steel on her throat, no Hart weigh on her. She only heard screams, cut off swiftly with wolf jaws.
“My Lady, are you harmed?”
Rhaenys looked at her savior, he took off his hood, and now she could see how young he was. He was 16 years old at best, with a sparse beard, long dark brown hair, long face and gray eyes similar to Valyrian Steel.
“No Ser… I am alright, thanks to you.”
“SER! SER!” Screamed the raven, sitting down on the man’s shoulder.
“I am sorry, my Lady. This cursed beast doesn’t know when to shut up.”
“It’s fine.” Rhaenys couldn’t look away from the boy. There was something in him… something she couldn’t name.
“Let me grab your horse…”
“No. He listens only to me. Help me stand up, Ser.”
“Of course, my Lady.”
She stood up. Luckily, she wasn’t injured. She was lucky… so lucky. Night waited for her, wary of the wolf standing next to the young man.
“My Lady, these woods are dangerous. Where are your guards?”
“I… didn’t take any with me. I needed some time alone.”
“Are you from the South, my Lady?” He asked with a soft smile.
“Yes…” She looked at him curiously while grabbing Night’s reins. He didn’t recognize her, or the three-headed dragon on her coat.
“You should go back to your camp then, my Lady, I will escort you if you agree.”
“Of course, good Ser, I will be much obliged.” His presence was weirdly comforting.
“My Lady, I am not a knight. I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger.” He was walking next to her horse, while she was riding slowly towards the camp.
“Then you will be knighted soon enough. Your deed demands the reward, and this is the least that can be done.”
“Every one would act the same as I in this situation. I did nothing that deserves such an award.”
“You save the Crown Princess. Knighthood is bare minimum.”
He fell on his knees, she had to stop the Night. A mischievous smile appeared on her face, she didn’t want to embarrass him, but this reaction was so funny.
“My Princess, I am so sorry. I didn’t know…”
“PRINCESS! PRINCESS!”
“Rise a poor wayfaring stranger. I am sorry to startle you. You are my savior and will be treated as such. Now come. King will surely want to meet you.”
“Princess, I am not worthy of such honors. I will escort you and be on my way…”
“Don’t you dare… what is your name, Ser?”
“Jon Snow Princess.”