DANCING WITH DRAGONS | XXIII.
"YOU'RE BEGINNING TO SEE"
( 'THE BETROTHAL' )
Ned Stark makes his way through the many men guarding the tent. They stare at him but say nothing. Ned keeps his head down, almost as though he is ashamed of what he is doing, where he is going. Behind him are Stark men, maybe five or six, but like Ned Stark, they keep their heads down.
His destination is a red tent, with a black flag flying from it. On it, a dragon with three heads. Ned turns to their men and gives them a silent nod. They return the gesture, standing at ease. He takes a deep breath before pushing the flaps of the tent open.
And there sits Rhaegar Targaryen.
The Prince stands up from his seat, a smile on his face. Ned notices his black and red armor; he had seen it in Harrenhal at Lord Whent's tourney. That was where this mess had begun when Rhaegar Targaryen had set his eyes on his sister.
"Lord Stark," Rhaegar said, "I'm sad that we're meeting under such circumstances."
Ned tries to calm himself, "Where is my sister?"
"Lady Lyanna is safe in Dorne," Rhaegar tells him, "She is with child."
Ned drops his gaze to the ground. If Lyanna was in Dorne, then it was what she had chosen. No one could tell Lyanna where to go or what to do. If she was having Rhaegar's child, then it was because she wanted to.
"What is it that you want?" Ned asked, wanting to get to the point. He was betraying Robert by meeting with Rhaegar, but he needed to know about Lyanna. He needed to make sure that his younger sister was safe.
"I want peace, Lord Stark. Should I win this war, I'd like to fix the realm," Rhaegar tells him, "I hear your wife is pregnant."
"She is," Ned replies, thinking of Catelyn. She wasn't supposed to be his and Ned could tell by the way she looked at him. She didn't want him, she wanted his brother, Brandon.
"Should Lyanna have a son and your wife a daughter, I believe we should unite our houses," Rhaegar says.
Ned can't help the chuckle that escapes him, "And why would I do that?"
"For peace," Rhaegar says calmly, "I understand that my father murdered your father and brother. I understand what I did by running away with your sister, but I love her."
"You have a wife," Ned stated, "You have a daughter and a son that you abandoned."
"They will be safe in King's Landing," Rhaegar says and Ned scoffs. The Prince standing before him was truly a fool.
"Your father is mad. Do you truly believe he won't harm your family? Your mother? Your brother? Your wife and children?" Ned speaks passionately, "You are a fool."
"Lord Stark-"
"I'm done here. My first daughter will never marry into a southern house, especially not a Targaryen bastard."
"He isn't," Rhaegar says and Ned's breath nearly stops. He had married Lyanna? But in order to do that-
"You annulled your marriage to Elia," Ned said, "Making your son with Lyanna, your true heir."
Rhaegar nodded, his gaze dropping down to his desk, "Yes."
There was no honor in Rhaegar's actions. He couldn't believe Lyanna either. She never wanted to be a lady, she hated the idea of being married to Robert and how constricting it was, but here she was, married to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.
"My daughter would be queen someday," Ned states, more so thinking out loud.
"They could rule together. My son and your eldest daughter."
Ned glances at the floor thinking of all the war, the bloodshed he had seen. If Rhaegar were to win the war, then the kingdoms may prosper again under the rule of Rhaegar and Lyanna. His daughter would have Lyanna there to guide and educate her.
"When my first-born daughter comes of age, she will be married to your son with Lyanna."
Alysanne shot up, breathing heavily. She glanced around her room, trying to regain a sense of reality. She wasn't in a war camp; she was in Winterfell. As she caught her breath, Alysanne had wanted to cry. She had seen her father, young and handsome, but most importantly alive.
She blinked trying to work out what she had seen. Ned Stark had met with Rhaegar Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion. Her Aunt Lyanna and Rhaegar had married and were having a child. Rhaegar had annulled his marriage to Elia Martell, making whatever child they had, the true heir to the Iron Throne.
And Alysanne would have been promised to that heir.
But her Aunt had died, as had Rhaegar. There was no way that the boy had lived when his parents had not. There was no one to protect him. She couldn't believe her father's actions. The honorable Ned Stark, negotiating with the enemy. It was cunning, but it was for family and Alysanne respected that.
Slowly, she got out of bed and began to wander through the castle. She thought she'd talk to Lyarra about the situation, but her legs guided her to the room of her younger brother. She entered Bran's room, and her brother looked up at her.
"You're beginning to see," Bran said softly.
"I don't quite understand," Alysanne said sitting on Bran's bed. Her brother sat up in the bed and looked at her.
"There is more you must learn," Bran tells her, "I wish I could give you all the answers, but even I am struggling to fully uncover what happened."
Alysanne laughs, "I would have been queen no matter the outcome of the war."
Bran smiles, "I think you were destined to rule big sister."
Alysanne looks at Bran and shakes her head, "I disagree."
Bran tilts his head curiously, "Why is that?"
"I'm not the way a queen should be. I like to go horseback riding and fighting," Alysanne says.
"You also like to read, you're almost as well versed in history as I am and I can see into the past," Bran jokes, "You not enjoying stitching and singing and dancing doesn't make you any less worthy to rule."
"Well ruling is a thing of the past," Alysanne says as she thinks of her dream, "Whoever father betrothed me to is dead. Daenerys Targaryen will take the Iron Throne."
Bran looks at her, "You love her."
Alysanne nods, a sad smile on her face, "I do."
"She loves you as well," Bran says, "You have to remember that."
Alysanne laughed, whenever someone said you have to remember that, nothing good ever came of it. However, she had already broken her own heart by setting Daenerys free. Whatever happened, Alysanne had to accept.
"How are you on warging?" Bran asked
"I've had a few dreams as Rhaenys. Roaming the castle and the Godswood. Nothing while awake though," Alysanne tells him.
"That is good," Bran tells her, "Mastery takes time and we still have that."
"Do you know when the Night King will arrive?" Alysanne asked.
Bran nods, "He is nearing the wall but currently he has no way of bringing it down."
"That's good," Alysanne said and sighs, "Well I guess I'll let you sleep."
Bran smiles, "It's no bother. I enjoy talking to you."
Alysanne smiles at that and places a kiss to her younger brother's forehead. When she falls asleep, she dreams of a simpler time in Winterfell.
The next day, Alysanne found herself standing in the back of the Great Hall as her sister listened to the grievances of the Northern lords. Many greeted Alysanne, others saw her as a cowardice girl that fled from home.
Arya came into the room and stood beside Alysanne, "Have you seen Littlefinger today?"
"Not yet," Alysanne said softly, "I think I may know what he's planning on using against me."
Arya looked at her intently, "What is it?"
"Father made a deal with Rhaegar Targaryen during Robert's Rebellion. I was supposed to marry his son with Aunt Lyanna to unite the kingdoms," Alysanne told her.
"You had no control over that," Arya says, "And there isn't any evidence of that."
"There could be," Alysanne says, "Father could have written it down and stored it somewhere."
"And Littlefinger could have found it. He could manipulate it and not only turn Sansa against you but all the Northern lords."
Alysanne sighed, "Exactly."
Arya looked back in front of her at the Lords, "Does Sansa know?"
"No. I've only told you and Bran," Alysanne tells her, "When Littlefinger springs it on her, he needs to see her genuine reaction."
"Clever," Arya says.
"My lady we did not choose you to rule us, but perhaps we should have," Lord Glover says.
"Aye!" another agrees, "The King in the North should stay in the North."
Lord Royce stands, "The Knights of the Vale came here for you Lady Stark."
Sansa's eyes dance from the Lords to her sisters standing in the back of the room. Sansa had to seem a little power hungry, but while still respecting Jon's title. If Littlefinger had spies, then they'd know that Sansa just might be influenced into betraying her family.
"Your very kind my Lords," Sansa says with a smile, "But Jon is doing what he believes is best for the North."
"Excellent," Alysanne says under her breath, "I'm going to practice my-" she trails off, "Whatever this weird thing is."
Arya laughs, "Be careful."
Alysanne heads out of the Great Hall and heads to the Godswood, wondering if Bran had been right about the Weirwood tree being the best place to practice. She had expected to be alone, but she found Lyarra sitting under the tree, eyes closed.
Alysanne approaches her as quietly as she can, but the sound of snow crunching can be heard. Lyarra's eyes open and she looks over her shoulder at Alysanne.
"Sorry," Alysanne said, "I didn't mean to disturb you."
"It's fine," Lyarra says softly. She glances at the giant Weirwood tree, "It's peaceful here."
Alysanne nods, "Do you worship the Old Gods?"
"I do," Lyarra answered, "Do you?"
"After my father lost his head, I stopped believing in all that," Alysanne said, glancing at the ground, "The world is a cruel place and the Gods don't care. New or Old."
"You're a realist?" Lyarra asks with a laugh, "That's surprising."
Offended, Alysanne scoffs, "Why is that surprising?"
"Because you're obviously a romantic," Lyarra says with a smile, "You can't be a realist and a romantic. It's unusual."
"Why do you think I'm a romantic?" Alysanne asked.
"Your Dragon Queen is thousands of miles away. Entertaining your brother. Yet you still love her," Lyarra shrugs, "A realist would move on. A romantic would hold out hope."
"Have you ever been in love before? Actually, I think I know the answer to that question," Alysanne says, "You've never been in love, so you wouldn't understand my feelings for Daenerys."
Lyarra nods, "You're right. I've never been in love before and I have no idea how it feels to be deeply devoted to someone. What I do know, however, is that you're sitting here, mulling over Daenerys and she is not doing the same."
Alysanne raises an eyebrow, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"It's those closest to us that we least expect betrayal from," Lyarra says, standing from where she was sitting. Alysanne glares at her, but Lyarra seems unbothered.
"Your scar is healing nicely," Lyarra says with a smirk, "Maybe it's enough to win back your Dragon Queen."
"You're mocking me," Alysanne says.
Lyarra laughs, "No, I'm just trying to think like a romantic. That scar on your shoulder may entice her as well."
"Then I'll have you to thank for helping me entice the Queen," Alysanne tells her. Lyarra simply smirks as she walks closer.
"Maybe I should give you another scar," Lyarra says, "Do you think your Queen would like that?"
Alysanne realizes how close they're standing. Lyarra is only inches away and she's smirking at her as though she's trying to get under her skin. As though she's trying to get Alysanne to crack, but she won't.
"I don't know," Alysanne says taking a step forward, removing the little space that was left, "But I do know that you'll never be able to land another hit on me. No matter how hard you try."
"Would you like to test that out right now?" Lyarra asks, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
"No," Alysanne says taking a step back, "I didn't come here to fight you."
"You're right," Lyarra says, creating even more space between them, "I guess I'll leave you to practice."
"Lyarra," Alysanne calls out. The bastard girl looks up at her, "I'm sorry for what I said about you not knowing love."
Lyarra laughs, "You were being honest. And if I'm being honest with you, that was the one thing I've never done."
Alysanne can't help the smile that comes on her face, "You want to fall in love? That is what a romantic would say."
"Well you've shown me that realist can also be a romantic," Lyarra says with a shrug, "But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it."
Alysanne laughs, "I believe it."
Lyarra offers her one last smile before making her way back to Winterfell.