Witch's Wail

Kingslanding

Arianne had tried with all her might to stop from seeing Cersei Lannister, the girl was everywhere! She'd walk the opposite way if she'd see her coming down a hallway, look anywhere but the lady when they did cross paths and sometimes outright ignore her. And now here she was, standing in front of her in the Throne Room. Rhaegar had even told her off for it when Cersei had complained to Tywin of the Queen's ignorance.

"Your grace," Cersei smiled, curtseying.

"Lady Cersei," Arianne nodded back, placing her hand possessively over Rhaegar's shoulder. He took no mind to her touches, but placed his own hand over it anyways, her touch soothing him. He was deep in whispers with Lord Mace Tyrell, who was telling him of how his men had defeated Baratheon forces.

"You are getting big," Cersei said, stepping closer to the new Queen as she did so, passing by the twelve Kingsguard as she was no threat to anyone.

Arianne felt herself biting the inside of her cheek, nodding back to Cersei. "It is what happens when one is with child."

Cersei nodded back, smirking as she passed by Jaime. They hadn't had a chance to see each other lately, with Jaime being kept busy by the demands of court. "What names are you thinking of?"

They both knew that pleasantries were all they could exchange, seeing as Arianne was the Queen and Cersei's father was the one helping them with the war. "Was it you want my lady?"

She let out a timid laugh, "I know there is an opening to be your lady-in-waiting, and I was volunteering myself is all." Cersei glanced at Rhaegar for the shortest second, but it was noticed by Arianne.

"I am fine with two, thank you."

"Yes, but you are Queen now, you need at least five to share the task of caring for you and befriending you," Cersei said, coming closer to Arianne. If she were any closer, they'd be able to feel each other's breaths.

"Do you ever tire?" Arianne asked her, moving her head to the side in question. "We are at war and you are trying your petty little games with me. Might I remind you I am your Queen."

"You need not remind me," Cersei responded, her smile flattening. "And it is my father helping you with the war."

"Get down," Arianne said, her voice dry and tired of trying to decipher what it was that Cersei truly wanted. She did as she was told, curtseying and turning around to join the wives and daughters of the Crownlands.

Mace bowed leaving Rhaegar and Arianne alone once more. Rhaegar stood from the Throne, walking a few paces to the large dragon's head that sat near the Throne. She followed him, unsure of what he was thinking.

"What's the matter?"

He ran his finger across the large teeth of the dragon skull. "Balerion," he whispered to her, the biggest of all these beautiful creatures.

Arianne winced, Rhaegar had been mentioning dragons a little too much for her liking the past week. The Throne Room was left untouched and still the nineteen dragon skulls decorated it after he was crowned.

He picked up the smallest one, "the last hatchling born on Dragonstone. As our dragons were." Rhaegar wanted badly to send Arianne to Dragonstone, so that their last dragon might receive the same good fate as his two siblings. Maester Pycelle had confirmed its sex, after apologising for not feeling that her last pregnancy was twins.

"Someone must have been hiding." He had said, unsure of how else to explain his fault.

"Is that why you have chosen Baelor?" Arianne asked him, moving his silver hair from his shoulder attentively.

Rhaegar turned to her and nodded, "of course," he placed his hand on her stomach and kissed her cheek. "Oberyn has requested an audience with me, would you like to come?"

Arianne groaned, she was in no mood to discuss anything from here on out, having just stood for hours listening to the dribble that was court. "No. I did want to ask something of you however."

"Hmm."

"An allowance," she stopped him before he could protest, "to fund an orphanage, one that isn't full of starving children."

"Come back to me with an estimate of how much you need, and we'll take it from there. Alright?"

Arianne nodded back to him. She had very quickly learnt that no matter how much she wanted to be equal to Rhaegar in standing she would never be and needed his permission to do almost anything. It was frustrating but knew that he himself needed the permission of his new small council before doing anything.

He had named the Hand of the King, Tywin, strictly for wartime purposes as he had told Arianne when she told him she didn't trust Tywin. The Grand Maester stayed as Maester Pycelle. Master of Coin; Lord Qarlton Chelsted. Master of Laws; Lord Symond Staunton. Master of Ships; Lord Lucerys Velaryon. Master of Whisperers, after hours of questioning from Rhaegar on why he had said all those things to his father, was named Varys. He defended himself by stating that he was loyal to the King and the King only, whoever it may be. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard stayed Ser Gerold Hightower. And his new advisor, was Prince Oberyn Martell. Much to the dismay of both Julian and Otto, who had protested when Rhaegar read from his list who he had chosen. But he had to mend what was torn with Dorne and that was a start.

Her conversation with Cersei had left Arianne to remember the words that the witch she had taken with her to Harrenhal had said to her.

Arianne Sand of House Stark, your heart desires every man it meets, and your body entwines them in longing lust. Three crowns you will be crowned, all of which will fall from your head in rejection. Your time as a wolf is coming to an end, the time of reminders of home is coming to an end, by the time you are married you will have a son, by the time you are married you will have a daughter, your sister will bring to your doorstep the greatest of life, your brother will be slain by a brother, your father will be slain by a father and your sister will be slain by the grasp of a brother. A tragic beginning to a life you had, though it does not now, will haunt you when you arrive at the pit of snakes. Red jewels in clear water. Keep your eyes peeled for it is your own that seek to hurt you.

Well ... she had gotten many of it right. Rickard had been killed by Aerys, she was no longer a Stark, hadn't been back to Winterfell since she had left for Harrenhal, she had by law two step-children through Rhaegar, and Lyanna had tried to have her adopt a child that was to be a Lord of a great House. Arianne scoffed as she walked back to the nursery, there was no way she was right.

Was there?

...

Oberyn sighed leisurely as Rhaegar waited for him to speak. They had been sitting in silence for some time, with Oberyn prolonging each and every one of his movements.

"Princ-,"

He held his hand up, taking a cup of wine from a cup bearer and drinking it. "This is disgusting," he cringed, spitting the wine back into the cup and handing the cup back to the girl who had given it to him. "That crown is ugly," he pointed to the one sitting on Rhaegar's head and Rhaegar rolled his eyes.

"You are the one who asked to speak privately."

They were in the council room, alone, just as Oberyn had asked. "I did." His words coated with humour as he smiled slyly to Rhaegar. "Your wife wishes to ride me, dragon."

"Oh gods," Rhaegar groaned, standing from his seat. "Will that be all?" He knew the viper and Arianne had shared eyes at Harrenhal but thought that was over with. She was after all married. But Rhaegar knew she was one for seducers, falling prey to Julian's own words before they had been married.

"No," Oberyn laughed, holding his hand out before Rhaegar left the room. He quickly remembered Doran's words in the raven he had sent a few days earlier;

I have seen war and what it does, Dorne is happy staying Dorne. Should Rhaegar win, we would be stripped of our titles. Aerys is gone now, Elia is home and safe. We must thank for what we have. Negotiate an ongoing alliance, Rhaegar will understand it. He has already agreed to send his children to us during a war and put you on the small council. Do not overreach, Oberyn I implore you.

He was unhappy with his brother's words, but followed them nonetheless.

"A trade deal," Oberyn spoke, waiting for Rhaegar's reaction. "We send wine, gold, fruits and you pay us. Properly." He referred to the low payments they had received when Aerys was King. "You have already reformed laws on taxes to make your lords pay much more than the common people, you can buy some oranges from us."

Rhaegar let out a chuckle, "three ships a moon."

"Two, do I look crazy sending three for this shitty city."

"Three Oberyn, it is a big city and wine can be moved on the Kingsroad to other locations."

Oberyn thought about it for a moment, "three. Only after the war ends."

Rhaegar nodded back, having sat back down. "I presume that's not all."

"Visenya," Oberyn began, seeing Rhaegar visibly wince at the mention of his daughter. "Is she to marry her brother?"

"No," Rhaegar snapped, a little too quickly as it caught Oberyn off guard.

"Then promise her to the first son of Doran. Lady Mellario has a babe, almost one now, Prince Quentyn Martell."

Rhaegar shook his head, "No. She will not marry someone with no titles." He knew far too well that the heir was Princess Arianne Martell and refused to promise Visenya to someone who was not of similar rank to her. "Valerion will ward there when he is grown, as a blood-debt for the annulment of marriage with Elia."

"And the succession?" Oberyn had to bring up what they were both thinking of in the back of their heads. "Aegon or Valerion, who will come first?"

"Valerion."

"And what of your first, true son?"

"He is to be the Prince of Dragonstone. His sons after will receive the title," Rhaegar said.

"And are these your words," he pouted his lips slightly as he played with the pen in front of him, "or Arianne's? Or are they what your prophecy has told you to do?"

Rhaegar sat back in his chair, "Oberyn. There can only be three dragons, and they must be truly Targaryen. Visenya and Valerion are much closer to being true dragons than Aegon and Rhaenys. This proceeds titles and lands."

The second Prince of Dorne sent Rhaegar a pitying look and he stood from his seat. "Valerion will ward with us when he turns seven until his ten and six name day." He made for the door, but before he did, he placed his hand on Rhaegar's arm. "Don't let what some dreaming Maester wrote years ago be the death of you Rhaegar. Think properly about the succession, it is wise to choose now before your boys are grown and war for the title of King."

...