The sun shone through the lightly coloured curtains; Arianne had woken from the deep slumber that had held her since she had retired from her own celebrations. After Cersei had that more than an interesting conversation with her, rather than confront Rhaegar in front of his drunken friends she decided it would be best to talk to him with a level head. She could confirm that she did not, in fact, have a level head, rather the opposite, she was even more infuriated with him.

Rolling over onto her back she reached for the red and black ring from the nightstand and fiddled with it, trying to come up with viable reasons as to why it had been in Cersei's possession. Getting up from the bed in a huff she gazed out into the small garden that Rhaegar had shown to her the night before. Although it was small, she liked the thought of having her own quarters away from everyone else. Besides, this meant that Nymella and the other girls would take twice as long to reach her, and she could bathe and dress for the first time in a long time.

After taken a cold bath to cool from the morning heat and getting dressed in the dress from the day before, Arianne left her quarters, remembering to take Rhaegar's ring along with her. When she swung her door open, she was greeted by the sight of the Targaryen guards she had seen the night before and Jaime Lannister. The had been sat on the floor, eyes shut and mouths ajar.

"Good morning," she chimed, stepping over them and crossing her arms behind her back. There was a scurry behind her and clanking of metal and chainmail as the three stood up and walked briskly behind her.

Jaime, with his lips pursed and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, skipped in front of her. "Sorry, my lady."

Arianne looked at him with a puzzled face, "I never thought I'd hear a Lannister call a bastard my lady."

Jaime ignored the question and placed his helm onto his head, his golden hair matting under it. "Where to my lady?" His muffled voice came.

"Rhaegar's room, please," Arianne responded.

"Would my lady not prefer breakfast first?" Jaime asked once more, mentioning to the hallway, which they were now passing, and the large breakfast set out for her at the dining table.

Arianne was taken aback by the set-up; in Winterfell, it was a feast if lemon cakes were involved in breakfast but the set up here put it to shame. There was fruits she had never seen, sweets scattered around the table, pies of all colours and textures and a large jar of wine right in the middle of the oak table.

"Who is joining me?" Arianne queered, making her way to the table in wonder.

Jaime shrugged his shoulders, pointing to the two Targaryen guards dressed in black to stand at the opening of the hallway. He stood next to Arianne as she sat down at the head of the table and three servants came to prepare her plates.

"Oh, I can do that myself thank you," Arianne fussed, taking the plate from one of the girls who had placed some diced fruit onto it.

"Of course my lady," the servant whispered letting the plate go from her shaky hands and backing away from the table.

Arianne looked at the three girls who had just been scrambling to get her meal ready. "Well ... there isn't much to do, you are excused for the day." She said, nodding her head as if to agree with herself.

The girl who had put her plate down for her stepped forward, unsure if she would be out of place for saying what she was about to say. "Excuse me my lady but Prince Rhaegar asked we do not leave this area at all, and we are only excused when you are not here. And well-" she fiddled with her fingers, "his word is stronger than yours."

Arianne blinked up at the girl and nodded in understanding. "Jaime, won't you sit with me. My brother seems to have not been awoken yet."

Jaime cleared his throat and sat down at the seat next to her taking off his helm, "Arianne - sorry - my lady - your brother left last night for Winterfell. He said to apologise but he could not be in the capital any longer."

Arianne scoffed and placed her napkin on her lap. "Fantastic. So I am not only now completely alone here, my favourite brother chose to leave me in the dead of the night." Jaime shifted in his seat uncomfortably, unsure of why she had asked him to sit down with her. Arianne looked up at Jaime as she finished plating her plate with fruit and sweets, she rolled her eyes. "Do I have to beg you to eat with me, Jaime?" She asked him, raising a brow.

Jaime smiled softly and followed her direction, taking bread from a basket and pouring himself some wine. "What should we except for the day?" He asked, indicating to the two guards.

Arianne frowned, "what are their names?"

"Magel, the skinny one, and the taller one is Valor," Jaime responded, his mouth full of salted bread.

Arianne nodded, knowing too well she would forget their names come time to remember them. "Well, I wanted to see Rhaegar. And now that Ned has left me ... probably find something to busy myself with."

"You wanted to see me?" The cool voice of Rhaegar Targaryen came from behind her.

Arianne turned around, unable to help the smile that formed on her lips. Taking her napkin off her lap and placing it onto the table. "Good morning," she said, standing to curtsy to him. There was the sharp dragging of a chair behind her and Jaime quickly stood from his seat and sunk into the shadows of the wall.

Rhaegar nodded to Jaime and gave a small kiss on the cheek to Arianne. "No more formalities, please ... besides you forget to do them sometimes."

Arianne felt herself go red and shook off his words, she waited for him to sit down and sat back down, pulling the ring that Cersei had given her from her finger and setting it on the table.

Rhaegar looked down at it and then to his own fingers. "Where did you get that?"

"Cersei," Arianne replied.

Rhaegar's jaw clenched, his purple eyes flashing towards Jaime for a short moment, who in turn scoffed at his sisters' feeble attempt of jealousy. Rhaegar placed his hands on the table and his fingers hovered over the ring. "And ... and where did Cersei get this from?"

Arianne blinked at him, "well from you, of course. Where else would she get a custom made Targaryen ring from Rhaegar?" She felt herself grow disappointed with his condescending words.

Rhaegar scoffed, touching his nose as if to warn Arianne. "That's impossible, Cersei and I haven't -,"

"Haven't what?" She asked, crossing her legs underneath the table, in doing so accidentally kicking his leg.

Rhaegar stood from his chair abruptly, picked the ring up and made for the same door he had used to enter. "I'm going to have a word with her. Enjoy your breakfast."

Arianne waited until he had reached the archway that led out of the dining room, having a quick internal fight with herself on whether or not to snap at him. She had kept her cool for long enough. "I am not your puppet, Rhaegar." She had wanted her voice to come off as strong and diligent, but instead, it was shakey and a lump began to form in her throat.

Rhaegar felt the little hairs on the back of his head stand up, his ears turn warm and his chest fall and rise faster. He had never been spoken to like that, not even by his father. Especially not in front of servants and guards. Jaime pursed his lip, looking anywhere but at the two. It seemed he was not alone, for the three servants who had insisted on staying with Arianne tried shuffling out of the room.

Rhaegar raised his finger, "stay," he instructed. He had not been in a particularly good mood before turning up to breakfast, one he thought would cheer him up, as did all the times he had spent with Arianne. "I told you, Arianne, I don't know how Cercei got this ring, but I am going to find out."

Arianne placed her sweaty hands on the table, still not daring to face Rhaegar as she spoke. "And I told you, Rhaegar, I am not your puppet."

"Where has this come from exactly? A night after I present you with your own quarters, house and guards?"

Arianne scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Servants to keep me from leaving my designated area. If you didn't want me to meddle with your life you could have just told me."

"Meddle with my life ... I have publicly been seen courting a bastard. I am a prince, do not forget that." Rhaegar shouted, his raised voice shocking those around him.

Arianne, who had mustered up the strength or fear to look him in the eye stood from her seat. "How could I?" She moved past the guards, who made a motion to follow her, "don't. I doubt anyone cares enough for a bastard to have her hurt." And with a final teary look at Rhaegar, she left the room, Jaime skipping a few steps to catch up with her.

...