THE LADY AND HER KNIGHT

His eyes were constantly scanning the courtyard and the porch of the Great Keep that stood right above, as a blow hard as hammer came down to his chest. Blocking it easily with his sword, Rhaegar slid back to take defense and another upward thrust was offered by Martyn Cassel, that he parried quickly. The man was bulky like every other northerner, but putting weight on a sword was not alone enough for winning a fight.

Focusing on to end this farce which had been going on about an hour now, Rhaegar growled before taking advantage on the attack, and gave a right and left cut, which the man in front easily deflected from but with the side cut towards his unguarded leg only resulted in Martyn eating the mud. Chest puffing up and down for both of them, Rhaegar extended his hand to the man lying on the ground.

"Who did you say train you?" Martyn asked, raising up from the mud.

"Ser Harbert from Storm's End." Rhaegar deflected his questions by offering a water pouch to drink from and as expected, it worked quite well.

"Water is not the exact drink that I like after a good fight." The man spat the water to the ground and Rhaegar restlessly searched for his maid one more time, glancing all around the castle. "A mug full of ale in one hand and a woman in another hand. What do you say?" Martyn laughed cheerfully, and Rhaegar had to refuse it politely with a chuckle. If the man's indiscretion in woman and drinks never existed, there was no way he would have allowed Rhaegar and Richard to enter the castle.

He was not a complete fool, though. There was a need for the Starks to hire men into the castle, and Ser Rodrick Cassel didn't seem to be as lenient as his brother. "Another time, Martyn. I have been assigned to train those lads with their wood sticks." He gestured his hand to the direction of the peasant boys and the man grunted a curse before leaving him to his devices.

Joining Richard, who was immersed in his duty, Rhaegar once again skimmed the field before removing his almost torn gloves. Whatever supplies he bought from King's Landing was turning out to be useless as that wretched city in this cold North. The Wall was a different tale as the black brothers actually offered Rhaegar their own cloak and gloves, which he had to return.

He prayed to the Gods to not get a froze bite considering all his coins were already spent on bribing Martyn Cassel by buying him whores and ales.

"Use your leg, Wallis... and thrust the stick into his chest." Richard gave the order to the boys and came closer to Rhaegar. "These boys will take a few months to even hold a sword. But you must see their spirit, Ser."

"They are trained to live in fear of the wildlings and might have learned a trick or two in defense." Rhaegar answered looking at the young lads of not more than three and ten, but his mind was only thinking about her. He didn't come to train these boys or Martyn or serve the Starks. It was all to get closer to her. But even after two days, he was having no idea how to locate her in the Ice castle.

"You are searching for Lady Allara. Aren't you?" Richard grinned, and Rhaegar simply ignored his ignorant squire's taunts. "She asked me to give you this." As Richard pulled a black cloth wrapped out from his tunic, Rhaegar's was struggling to contain the surprise.

"Who did you say give you this?"

"Lady Allara Stark... The strange eyed monster shoved this in my hand and asked me to give it to you, with no courtesy of a lady." Richard retorted and shoved the present into his hand.

"When?" His eyes wandered all over the surrounding. Did she miss finding him too? "Does she know-"

"Just a few minutes before, Ser, when you were knocking that northern savage to eat mud. She even cursed you for being a brute while giving this to me."

Richard was also keenly examining the present in hand and Rhaegar was restless in unwrapping that silk cloth. His smile only widened ear to ear, as he tried the brown leather gloves into his fingers that had soft wool weaved inside, which made sure to give warmth as soon as it slid past to his wrist. A howling black wolf with red eyes, similar to DarkWing, was embroidered into the palm of the cloth, which was perfectly fitting his hand.

"Did she give another one that fits my hand?" Richard enquired and opened the black silk cloth. But to his disappointment and Rhaegar's happiness, nothing was there inside. "I am not going to act as a mediator, anymore for that vile creature." His squire growled and left from the place, while Rhaegar circled the castle over and over to search for her. She must have been close enough to notice the torn gloves. Wouldn't she?

His expedition resulted in no good result and he returned to his inn, after having his portion of stew at supper, that was good enough to swell his stomach but left no lasting taste to his tongue. Growing up in royalty, he was accustomed to eating better food. Not that he was going to complain. This was how King Aegon, the fifth of his name, learned humility and he was glad to learn just as him. As he lied down on his straw mattress in the inn, he realized it would be the last night to spend in that small lavishness, considering all his coins were spent. Ignoring the prospect of next day, Rhaegar went into dreamless slumber and woke up to Richard's voice by the door in the morning.

As they prepared to leave the inn, rumbling noises emerged from Rhaegar's stomach and he saw Richard greedily peering at the men breaking their fast with hot soup and fresh baked bread. The lunch and supper were served in the castle, and perhaps there was a way to get some bread for the morning too. Hunting was no more an option considering there was a patrol sent out into the woods.

"Milords..." The inn-keeper addressed them. "There is a bundle that came for you from the castle with a letter." The man dropped the black silk wrapped parcel onto his table and exposed his rotten-teeth at them.

"Thank the Seven... Oh no… Thank the maiden…" Richard excitedly opened the silk taking it to a nearby table while Rhaegar was eager to read the contents of the missive. He was glad that the inn-owner was not educated in reading, and Allara was no fool to send this by herself.

'Bring your horses and mule to the stables. Inform Walder, the stable boy, to tend it in my name. Also, stay in the Guards Hall and you will get your breakfast every day.'

Nothing more was written, and he kept twisting the parchment over and over. No information of when to meet her. Did she not care enough to inform that, or was she planning to surprise him? Richard praised Allara as he took spoonfuls of poached egg and butter baked pork together. Although Rhaegar loved all these small things that she was giving attention to, he was desperate to meet her again. What did she mean by needing something in return for the information of dragon eggs the other day?

Finishing their breakfast, he did as she had bid and took his horses and mule to the giant looking stable boy called Walder and went on about his day. A day turned to be two and sooner it grew to be four, during which time, he received two more tunics from her, black leathered soft cloth with fox furs inside to protect him from the cold, a spiced ale bag, a dornish vintage pouch, and everything came to Rhaegar through Richard. Perhaps he should simply stand with Richard to meet her, for not even once did she grace him with her presence?

"Supper is being served, Ser Duncan. It is time to fill our bellies..." One of his companions on the battlements patted on Rhaegar's shoulder, asking him to join in the little merriment.

"Those wildling buggers are not goin' to come any sooner. Join us Ser..." Martyn Cassel said. Nodding vaguely, Rhaegar got down to reach the Guards Hall as a new set of guards started replacing them on the battlements. The ridiculous amount of men in garrison in such a short period shocked him quite a lot.

"Do the wildlings make such a serious threat?" He dared to ask, hiding his royal southern accent as much as possible.

"Aye... Those lots steal our women, raid our homes, and take our children. Vicious bastards, all of 'em. But they ain't the real threat. Its the kraken in the seas that I worry about. My brother thinks the same."

"The Iron borns?"

Martyn laughed. "Aye... Those shameless cunts."

Rhaegar gathered a lot about Quellon Greyjoy and the ancient Greyjoys during his time in King's Landing. There were queer and blood boiling atrocities done in the name of pillaging, raping and reaving by those sea creatures, which were well known to even a child in the Seven Kingdoms. But Lord Quellon was a different man — a man of peace and what reasons would the Starks have to fight against them.

"Will my lord plan to raid to the Iron lands with these men?"

Martyn gave a strange stare at Rhaegar, and he realized how he crossed a line there by not acting the part of a hedge knight. No knight asks the motives of his commander. He should simply follow.

"You southerners think we are numbskull savages. Don't you?" The man scoffed. "No, Ser. We are merely preparing for the worst. There are disturbing news about one of the Quellon sons, having prepared a fleet of his own during his time in exile. And do you know what every evil ironborn do when they have their own army?" Rhaegar remained calm, and wondered, which of Quellon's sons was dispelled. How could he not know this? "They take their hunting pleasure on our northern shores. And as you see, the Mad King keeps his ass high on the throne with no worry for his own people and it falls in our hands to protect our people, all alone."

Rhaegar chose to remain silent instead of giving a response. Of course his father had been nothing but a burden to the throne, and the blades were already rejecting him by piercing him on all sides. Now, when he heard Tywin had withdrawn his position as hand, the situation would get even more delirious. But that gave no explanation to this collective assembling of peasant boys and men, who were getting trained vigorously, out of the blue. He decided to not let out his opinions out in the air and get more attraction of his presence.

Already there were many men who came to speak with him, just to know what it meant to be a knight and when they learned the duties of a knight, they laughed on his face, saying that any man would do and it made no difference. He had a hard time adjusting in this place and the worries of court had gave nightmares to him. The only reason he fested into the castle was to learn about Allara, who was testing his patience even more for the last five days. His desperation was crossing mountains.

Just as he crossed the stables, Richard came out with a grin and a monstrously huge present in his hand.

"What is it now this time? Did you even tell her to meet me?" He almost groaned lifting the heavy woolen cloak, but he was stunned to see a magnificent fox fur embedded into the collar of the cloak. It would be so good to sleep in it, walk in it and wrap himself in it. The whole black cloak was filled with furs. Richard folded his arms, turning around to show his cloak which was small, fitting his stature, but what Rhaegar received seemed to be much more exquisitive.

"I did tell her to meet you. But she seems to be more into me, Ser." The boy grinned, and Rhaegar gave a clout to his head. "If you think I am lying, then answer me this. To whom is she meeting to give all the presents? From whom is she running away? Come to think of it, I guess this is the right time for you to give up the girl to me." Rhaegar knocked his squire's small head once more, before venturing into the stable to check on his horse and change the dirty tunic that he had worn since the morning.

Why will she not meet me?

Ignoring the stab in his heart, when Rhaegar ventured into the stall where his horse was kept, he groaned loud like an animal to see his horse have a fresh leather saddle, printed with a black wolf of red eyes. She even seemed to have bathed his war horse, and filled his belly, eventhough he warned the stable boy to not come anywhere near his beast as it was trained to only obey hi,. But she seemed to have calmed even his horse.

Angrily he entered the stall and removed his garments on top, becoming bare chested. When he picked his new tunic, his horse neighed. And when he lifted his eyes, she was standing with an awkward smile of catching him changing his dress.

"Sorry… I didn't mean to see you like this. I came to offer your horse an apple." Her hand rose in the air to show the shiny green apple and when she turned to run away, Rhaegar lost his mind.

Seeing her up close, all in flesh after all those attempts to find her, a feast for his eyes, he wanted to grab her and keep her close to his chest. Without thinking further, he seized her waist making all those apples to slip by one after another that was tied in a black silk around her waist and pushed her against the wall nearby, his own body acting as a barrier for her to move, while both of his hands lied on either side of her body. She kept herself glued to the wall, with mere inches of distance lying between them, and his whole head was screaming to cover the distance and embrace his lady.

Her open hair was tangled and messed up from the ride. And she seemed to have climbed an apple tree to pluck all the fruits for horses. The way her chest heaved, the way her face flushed, all from the effort of a ride made his mind go excited that he badly wanted to hold her close in his arms.

"Are you even this cruel to make a man go mad, my lady? What have I done to you that you slip from me at every turn?" He asked, his finger lifting her chin. When the cold air brushed his bare skin, his body quivered and her cheeks turned even more red seeing him with only half of his clothes. She beamed, shaking her head and used her index finger to feel his carved muscle dragging it all the way from chest to his abdomen, slowly heating up his skin in the process.

"I gave you so many clothes to protect yourself from cold, Ser. But you seem to prefer only your skin." She teased, tugging her lower lip into her teeth.

He blamed it all on the cold. He blamed it on her seductive smile that spread on those cursed plump lips. He blamed it on her warm finger when he thrashed on her body in search of more warmth. Her raising breasts struggled to breathe in his tight hug, and his hands latched on her majestic behind. But unlike before, she gave a moan in response when he felt her shaped ass in his palms. His reasoning and senses vanished into thin air, when her moans sang a tune of a song that the whole world had no rights to hear. It belonged only to Rhaegar.

And when her arms wrapped around his chest, he growled like an animal before pulling a handful of her hair to see her radiant, flushed face. Her blue eye was so soft, and he kissed her cross eyes first, one after another. Then her reddened cheeks. When his mouth trailed to her lips, her eyes were shut close, and he could feel her heart flutter as her chest heaved, eagerly expecting for this moment with him.

Tugging her hair between his fingers, he caught her lower lip for a hungry kiss at first. She tasted of honey from flowers, making his mind turn numb for a moment, as he relished in her own earthly scent and flowery taste. And when she parted her mouth, her anticipation explicit in the little sounds she made, he played against her hot scorched tongue with his cold ones. Her hands on his shoulder moved above to twirl his hair while his own hands went to rest it on her waist, without breaking that passionate kiss which he only dwelled deeper and deeper till his heart's content, which seemed to be never ending.

When they parted to take a breath, he looked into her eyes that seemed to turn more scared and feared as every second grew longer between them. Withdrawing her hand from his body, she instantly slid past him and her hands started shaking in panic or embarrassment. Did he hurt her? He was not exactly gentle like he was with Elia. Elia…

Rushing inside the stall he put on all his clothes and when he warily came out anticipating her absence, she surprised him by standing in the same place. The silence between them was dreading his heart, while her bruised lips made him worry for her.

"Did I hurt you, Allara?" Rhaegar asked. When she shook her head, refusing, the pit of his stomach flipped in fear of what he had done to her. "Are you scared of me?" He asked calmly, and she gave a long sigh, shaking her head.

"I am not scared of you, Ser. Had I been… then I wouldn't have come anywhere close to you."

A part of him relaxed in the prospect of not harming his lady while another part of him badly wanted to leave from there. He didn't realize there was so much of buried desires for her until he met her, which exploded with the way she made him roam for her. But what he did was wrong from any perspective. His mission was not to lead her into pain, but to get the truth of the dreams.

"You seem to be worried. Gods… Why is your hands shaking? Are you fine?" He tried to get closer seeing the sweats that was drenching her skin but she pulled her hand back to her behind.

"I think I am fine and… I will leave." She stated, her voice soft and sad.

"Allara… Speak with me. Don't cut me off like that. I went mad searching for you, all the five days. Tell me what you feel and why you are avoiding me."

"Let me see, Ser. Out of nowhere, a man comes to rescue me from wildlings, like a knight in songs. Just as my father asks me to find a hedge knight, he proclaims himself to be a hedge knight. Oh, I forgot. He even knows I have dragon dreams because he was fucking seeing it too... And now that I said I have a clutch of dragon eggs, he ventured into my own home." She seethed, her blue eye turning black and her nose flaring in red. "Now, you tell me, if I should feel worried of kissing him or not, in the middle of the stables."

"I am sorry, my lady." He apologized, taking a few steps back. Why couldn't he see this way? And his teeth clenched, unable to justify his actions even when her eyes was waiting eagerly for him to give her hope. How would he be in his right mind, give her hope? Picking the fallen apples and giving it back to her, he turned back with guilt of doing a sin. "You will find no more disturbances from me, my lady. I will leave on the morrow."

His ego, his conscience, his mind, everything was begging him to leave from this place, anyway. There would be chaos in the city of King's Landing, and if his father ever learned the truth of his own adventure, he would make sure to punish Rhaegar by harming the ones he loved. Rhaegar always knew what she wanted in return. A chivalrous hedge-knight to marry. But Rhaegar was neither a hedge-knight nor a chivalrous man.

Rolling on the sheets from one edge to another, Allara sat up on the bed frustratingly, unable to believe slumber didn't visit her chamber even at the hour of ghost. Even her frightening dreams seemed to have vanished. The troubling dreams that never once stopped harassing her had no evidence of its existence ever since Lord Black happened to visit her. And how could she not get scared of all this change? What was he expecting from her after that unexpected kiss?

Lord Black was clearly offended when she spoke harshly, but it was quite scary to know a man chase her by even risking to stay right under her father's nose. She worried that he thought her to be some tavern wench who would warm his bed, just because she played with him on the last meeting. And the kiss… What should she make out of it? Perhaps she was the desperate one, unable to wait till confirming his intention.

But what if all these were ploys to take those dragon eggs?

Putting on her gown, Allara decided to push away the thoughts of that handsome mystery knight, whose behaviours bought uncountable suspicions in her head and unexplainable pleasure to her heart. She walked towards the Godswoods, to check on those five dragon eggs. There was no way of hiding them in her chamber, without any of her siblings noticing it. And she was even more scared now that he had already come inside the castle. Would his glass candle tell where to find the eggs too? Was it the reason he abruptly left her after giving a fucking kiss? That thought only started hurting her heart, and she touched her lips to feel that moment once again, which gave more bliss than pain.

For many centuries, the eggs went undetected by anyone in the castle, so she thought it would be wise to let it stay in the same place. Moreover, she was scared of lifting them and breaking its shell. Then it would be of no use.

As though it would be of any use, now. The last dragon hatchling died during the rule of King Aegon, the third of his name, and ever since not even one hatchling came out. She learned about the dragon Kings and their madness only recently. These five eggs in Godswood must have been fossilized for Gods know how long and she was sure, they were a beauty to be stored and preserved but no dragons were coming any sooner.

And if they came, the Mad King would lay claim on those creatures.

Just as she came near the kennels, two of the household guards offered a whisper of salute and nodded their head, moving past her, for taking a patrol around the battlements. Her father seemed to be lately disturbed of the wildlings' attack because of which the garrison was tightened in the castle. As though the wildlings were capable of taking Winterfell. They wouldn't be even able to cross the Wall.

When she entered into the vicinity of her Gods, Allara felt a change in the air and her first instinct was to run to check on those eggs. But there was more reason to her visit than just checking on the eggs. She wanted to see him and ask him not to leave. How much ever silly it might look, he seemed to be the only answer for all her problems and she liked him. This was the perfect man sent by the Gods themselves, and why would she need to question every single thing. Perhaps it was time to let go of her fear and embrace new things. Letting him go just because she was scared to experience new things was so stupid. Was she ready to marry an old man over a charming, mysterious knight?

Turning around, she plotted in her head to search for him in the Guards Hall where he might be resting but that would be a huge risk considering how many men would be inside. How was she supposed to get past all those men and search for him? As though Gods had heard her pleas, Richard came out of the hall yawning dreamily, probably to take a piss. She went around the hall and walked straight to him, her hands folded in contempt.

"What... the hell... I am sorry. What are-"

"Where is he? Did he already leave?" She threw her questions like bolts, and he stammered with a shaking body and quivering lips for the cold.

"No... He is... here. We are still here, and probably, we might leave on the morrow. The cold takes-"

"Ask him to come meet me near the Godswood. Now!" She chastised, unwilling to hear the stupid boy's ranting, and went back into the dark to hide. It took almost half an hour before she heard her knight clear his throat, standing at a respectable distance from her.

"You wanted to see me." He stated with the clear intention of making sure it was all her mistake and sure it was.

"Yes. I..." She trailed fidgeting her fingers with the sleeves of her gown. "I wanted to see you." His face had no kindness that she saw when he pressed his lips against hers, only furrowed brows condescending her immature behaviour and she hated his judging eyes. "Oh... Stop blaming it all on me. There hasn't been a time when a man never disappointed me. How do you think I can accept it all at once?"

"I haven't..." He relaxed his shoulder and gave a loud gasp in frustration. "You are mistaking me, Allara. I haven't come here to give you hopes and as you think I am not a right man. And you were correct to distrust me. Perhaps, my actions were wrong and my thoughts too. But..."

She didn't want to hear him saying he would leave her and make her miss the last chance. She held his hand in hers and looked into his eyes with fear and sadness dancing in her own. "Please, don't tell me anything more and don't leave... I just need time."

Her pleading must have changed his heart or the way the waves of warmth passing through her body to his cold hand must have changed something that he almost growled before holding her cheeks in his hand. "Don't trust me... You should not." He said and his thumb caressed her cheek, so softly like a feather touching her skin and she had to bet that she wouldn't be able to hear another word he spoke if he wouldn't move away from her. Breaking the distance, she simply nodded.

"This place is not safe for us to speak or meet. My father will not be happy if he happens to see me with a man at night. Follow me." She walked around the castle, not interested in dwelling to explore the reason behind his heavy warning words. Reaching close to the North gate and to the direction of the broken tower, where there were almost no men, she stopped. "No one comes here. Some lightening struck here after which it was never repaired."

"Don't tell me you keep the dragon eggs here." He teased with a smile, hugging himself tighter for the cold. He had a slender physique and strong shoulders. She had seen his muscular chest in the dark and felt its mesmerizing build through her fingers. His arms were hard from training and she couldn't stop thinking of the feel of his strong arms around her waist once again.

"Do you really want the dragon eggs?" She enquired climbing the stairs, and he followed too without an answer. "Are you not going to answer me now?"

"You are asking me a tricky question, my lady. If I tell yes, then you will question if I came all the way only for the eggs... And if I tell no, then you will call me a liar. I am contemplating on which answer to settle."

Her grin only became wider, and they reached the top of the tower. "I don't have to keep dragon eggs here. This place will remain only for us till you leave. And you can tell the truth, Ser." She said and dusted off the floor to take a seat. When she patted the floor next to her, he leaned his head on the stone wall and she instantly grabbed his hand, woving her fingers into his. "If truth is so hard to be admitted, then don't. I like to live in lie."

"You like to live in lies?"

"It makes my life easier." She decided not to let him indulge in her pain by explaining her sad stories. "Did you enjoy the North? I know it's not as exciting as your southern lands, but..."

"Why don't you take me to the places you love?" His smile was so small but she accepted and laid her head on his shoulder, suddenly overwhelmed by tiredness.

"Don't leave, Ser..." She whispered before feeling his arms around her shoulder and closing her lids.

"Allara…" A moment later he whispered, clenching her fingers, and she simply hummed. "You should know the truth and you deserve to know. I am a married man."

Hercules: I am so glad that you enjoyed the chapter. Your comment make me fly because it expresses how much you enjoy the reading. Thanks a lot. Yeah... Allara gava a lot of clues to our Prince. And as you said, ofcourse Rhaegar is the best option for Allara over an old man who whores. She knows that. Richard is unlucky but he understands it and no... I don't think they saw Elia and Ashara making love. Might be kissing or some uncomprehensible positions.

firstofhername: Thank you.

Muskan Jain: Yeah there are not much with Rhaegar/OC. Thanks for reading.

Natalie: Wow... Thank you so much. I think most of Rhaegar is what Jon got in personality and this man broods like no other. Haha... No... Hells Rhaegar will be better than Jon from S8 and he will never go down that track. I never rewatched S7 and S8 because I hated it too much. So no that my queen bullshit. Can't wait to hear about your review of this chapter.

Arianna Le Fay: I know but I don't want to kill Elia yet or send her away. Not now, atleast.