Children

Kingslanding

She did not want to let go of the crying Visenya, but the babe was pried from her hands by Nymella. "It's alright," Nymella told her, passing Visenya onto a Martell guard as they clambered onto the boat that had come to take them onto the ship. "You could come with us, save us all the heartache."

"I can't leave," Arianne cried, wiping the tears from her eyes as she kissed Valerion goodbye. The young Prince was in his father's hands and had been passed onto another guard. "Don't let them out of your sight Nymella." Valerion, who was not happy about the situation, scrunched his hands together and opened them, indicating he wanted to be returned to his father.

Nymella nodded in response.

"And don't spat in front of them," she laughed lightly, Nymella and Penelope had never been good friends, hopefully, this would bring them closer together.

"And if you pass by the Ladybright fleet, tell them to hurry up!" Oberyn piped up.

He was waiting for his bannermen to return with soldiers that had not made it the first time around, of them included Lord Ander Ladybright – Arianne having found out the mysterious man who had been a part of her and Rhaegar's bedding ceremony. He had also accompanied them down to the harbour with complaints of boredom.

"You would be much safer in Dorne. Besides you could visit Ashara in Starfall and see your birthplace," Rhaegar reminded her, as he had been reminding her as the days closed in on the twin's departure date.

"I am only sending them on your account, they would be safe here. I know we will win this war," Arianne replied, hugging Nymella and Penelope goodbye as they climbed onto the boat and took each child from the guards.

"May the Mother watch over Prince Valerion and Princess Visenya in their journey to Dorne and keep them safe as they are protected from these dark times. May they know their mothers' everlasting love and their father's protection," the High Septon, who had joined them to the docks, prayed as he watched the boat was rowed away.

Oberyn rolled his eyes, turning around to leave.

Arianne had asked for the High Septon to come and bless their departure, not wanting to take any chances when it came to her children. She'd miss them terribly, but Rhaegar had shown no signs of letting them stay. He had, just by a scratch let her stay.

She turned to Rhaegar, eyes bloodshot. "Are you satisfied?"

He sent her a disapproving look, "not entirely," he pointed to her, "you were supposed to go with them." She ignored his words, binding her hands together as she followed Oberyn and Kingsguard back into the Keep. "Why are you acting like I won't miss them as well?" Rhaegar asked her, skipping his steps a little to catch up with her.

"You have shipped them away from me. They would have been safer here."

"I will gently remind you, Arianne," he stopped her with his hand on hers, "they are royalty. Not common children who can skip about in the creeks of the forest. They have duties, as you and I do. And they are important commodities come wartime."

"Right, it's so refreshing knowing they are sheep and you their shepherd."

She really was insufferable sometimes. Why could she not understand that he was doing what he was doing to keep them safe? If there was a chance the city fell, they would be the first ones Brandon's men would come for.

The Northern party had been spotted at least a few days from Kingslanding and all the gates to the city had been closed. With the exception of one small one that was guarded and checked to see who left and came. Ander Ladybright had returned with two fleets of Ladybright men, Arianne got a better look at the man that was Lord Ander.

"Your grace," the light-haired man smiled, kissing her hand and keeping his lips lingering for the shortest moment. She nodded back at the Lord, mesmerised by his pale blue eyes and a deep scar that went from eye to jaw on his right cheek.

They were stood in the Throne Room welcoming those who had arrived, the sparkle of armour dazzling the room as if it were a large jewel pot. Colours of gold, silver, grey and black – with banners situated at every given corner.

"Lady Olenna," Arianne smiled at the approaching woman. "I'm afraid I did not get a chance to wish my condolences for Mimi."

Olenna nodded back to Arianne, she waved her hand dismissively. "Your flowers were condolence enough," Olenna noted. "Look at you. From bastard to queen. The impossible made possible."

"Yes, well it's more like blind luck."

"I'm not sure I'd call you lucky," Olenna said, looking at Arianne with sympathetic eyes. "You are all alone in this world child. Except for him. Your brother."

Thanks for reminding me, Arianne thought to herself, looking to Rhaegar. "I have my children and many friends."

"Yes. Hold onto them. Your children, these people are not your friends. Gods what could Mace possibly have left to say now," Olenna threw her head back in frustration, moving to shoo her son from embarrassing their House any further.

A silence fell in the room as Rhaegar stood by the Throne, waiting to address the newly arrived guests, as well as those who had been waiting for moons with them. Arianne followed him to the Throne, standing by his side as she had done for days before. Even though the swelling of her feet she had stood by him, Rhaegar would not forget that. "My lords and ladies. Thank you for your loyalty. I know how ... attractive rebelling can be at times. But still, you have answered our calls, you have offered your homes to the rebels and pledged fealty to me. It is not a gift I take lightly." There was light clapping, "I swear to return your cities, villages and castles to you once we have crushed and starved the rebels, the King of the North will run with his tail between his legs. The North will see the Crown's new King and his capabilities. His mercilessness, if they wish to see it."

There was a response of yes's and nods.

Rhaegar turned to Oberyn and passed him a piece of parchment, "look at how the King in the North wishes to repay our years of friendship." Oberyn passed the parchment along, and the gasps and whispers around the room grew.

It eventually returned to Rhaegar who passed it to Arianne, it was another of Brandon's creative letters. This time, the parchment showed a crowned direwolf, eating three small dragons at its feet. Beneath the dragons were initials, V.T, V.T and the last was left empty, as he did not know the name of their babe that was not born yet. She threw the parchment to the ground in disgust, wondering why Brandon had turned so violent and vindictive.

"Now do you see our enemy? An enemy that wishes death on babes born and unborn," he placed his hand on Arianne's stomach.

She looked to the crowd, who all looked back at her in pity. Of course, they would.

"How did she live with such monsters?"

"Her own foster-brother?"

She could not take the whispers or cries any longer, so she moved Rhaegar's hand away and left the room through the door nearest to the Throne. Jaime's footsteps close behind hers.

...

That night, as Rhaegar lay in the quiet room next to his wife, he tossed and turned. Dreaming of three people, a woman and two men, two white haired beauties and one with black hair following after them, riding dragons. The dragons were not as big as what he had known Balerion the Black Dread to be, but they were big enough that the trees gushed from the wind that came from their wings.

"Hello father," a deep voice came from behind him. Rhaegar turned, finding himself on the rocky land of Dragonstone. He frowned, these were his children? They seemed to not know his existence anymore as they marched up the steps of Dragonstone, the flying free above them. As they passed him by, Rhaegar tried to reach out to them.

The woman, who had short silver hair, held onto the boy with silver hair's hand, wearing a woollen black dress and leather pants. The boy smiled at her, he looked just as Rhaegar had, so much so Rhaegar had thought it was himself at first. The black-haired one trailed behind them, his face lightly tan and his brows etched in a frown.

What were they doing?

What was going on?

"Dig it all!" The voice of the woman yelled, she sounded just as Arianne had sounded only louder ... and meaner. She and Rhaegar watched the grounds of Dragonstone Island were dug relentlessly. He did not understand, nor know what was going on but watched from an omnipresent view as the three continued about their day.

The silver haired man turned, looking directly at Rhaegar. "I am no King father."

Before he could get a better look at him, he was rooted from his position on the rocks that led to the castle and a place he had never seen before.

"Hello," the sweet voice of Arianne rang around him. Rhaegar looked around, trying to find her. "Have you seen our children? Your dragons?" The voice asked him. Rhaegar covered his eyes with his hand, trying to get a better view above him. He could not speak so he nodded. "Aren't they beautiful?" He nodded once more.

He was back on Dragonstone's rocks in a flash, watching as a dragon that flew above shook its head and rested. His dream was playing games with him. Moving Rhaegar from here to there without a thought for his mind.

He was now in the Keep, the gardens to be exact. "We mustn't Aegon, you know we can't." It was the same voice as he had heard before.

"I do not care what people say if that's what you're worried about Vi," he presumed that came from Aegon, his grown son, he looked drastically different to who he guessed was Valerion. Bigger, stronger, as a warrior would look.

For now, it seemed the only child he was yet to see was Rhaenys.

He was taken from his worldly thoughts and returned to his dream, where he was now stood close to the two that identified each other as Aegon and Visenya. Aegon pulled her closer, moving her darker silver hair from her neck and kissed her. Rhaegar tried to prey them apart, angered with what he was seeing. They kissed as if lovers did, not a care in the world. He didn't know whether to call it passion or lust or wanting something you could not have. His hands fell through their bodies, so all he could do was watch helplessly. He tried to call out for them to stop, but his lips would not move.

"You cannot separate them, I have tried," it was Arianne again. She was stood by the balcony of the garden. Her favourite spot. Rhaegar turned from the entiwned couple, moving closer to her. Arianne smiled, taking his hand in hers. "Show me how a dragon flies." She pushed him, Rhaegar stumbled backwards, and fell for what seemed like eternity.

His eyes opened and he let out deep gasps, holding onto his chest as if what he had seen had pained him. And Arianne, who had been sleeping quietly beside him jolted awake, patting his back.

"What, what is it?"

He ignored her question, taking her hand as he kept breathing in and out.

So the next day, as the small council meeting ended, Rhaegar called for Oberyn to stay back a little.

"After the war, Aegon is to take over Valerion as first in line," Rhaegar blurted out. If the succession did not matter, if his dragons had a purpose greater than titles and land, they would not need titles and land. Besides, Valerion had told him personally he was not set to be a King.

"Why the change of heart?" Oberyn asked him, wondering what had changed his mind so quickly.

"I had a dream," Rhaegar responded honestly. "I saw my children, all but Rhaenys."

A dream. Oberyn tutted, he would not probe any further though. He swung his feet from the table and jumped up. "You have saved yourself a lot of grief." Now to write to Doran and Elia.

Northern Party – Two Days from Kingslanding

"We have bided our time!"

"Aye!"

"Waited, wondering if our kingdom will be cared for!"

"Aye!"

"Travelled through snow, dirt and shit!

"Aye!" There was a chorus of laughter.

"My father was your Lord, killed in cold blood. Killed for obeying orders, are we to wait and see what happens to those who don't follow as they are told!?"

"No!"

"Are we to wait for Rhaegar's own madness to grow, until his son and his son after!?"

"No!"

"Then we will kill the cunts, their whores, we will take back the North for what it always was, always will be!"

"To the King in the North!" There was a silence as those in the large tent drank ale from their large cups.