If there was one thing Lyanna had learned in all her years of being a mother, that was that her children would only enjoy gathering together from time to time and keeping each other company if it was for more than just a few hours. That being the case, she raised no protest when Brandon finally appeared from wherever he had been and claimed that he would take them all to his estate where more surprises waited for them. Rickard had simply winked at his daughter as the children were being readied.

"Let them have their fun, and you may have yours," her father said softly, patting her hand gently.

"Do you know what this surprise of Brandon's is?" she asked in return.

"I am not at liberty to say," Rickard answered with a smile. He kissed her goodbye and the children did the same.

At least she would not need to worry about them, knowing that they were in the safe keeping of their uncle, aunt and grandfather. Lynarra hugged her long and hard and Jon pressed himself against her side. "I shall expect the both of you back by tomorrow noon. Are we understood?" She had used her sternest voice which never failed to produce a ripple of amusement where her children were concerned.

"We solemnly swear." Brandon joked, being the last left to say bid her goodbye. "I suggest you use the time to catch up on your sleep."

Ignoring his jape, Lyanna saw all her guests to their vehicles and waved them off. She returned to the now empty house and climbed up the stairs, fully intending to make good use of her brother's advice. While she adored Lynarra and Jon with every fibre of her being, a little bit of solitude every now and again was not something to be scoffed at.

She had not managed to clear half the steps when she heard the doorbell ring, announcing that a visitor had arrived. Shaking her head in wonder, Lyanna sighed and clambered down the stairs, directing Talla, one of the maids, with a look. The young woman hurried across the hall into the receiving antechamber as the door was being opened. It was perhaps one of the village children. Talla would know what to tell them.

Yet the maid came back to her employer with a confused look on her face. "There is a Mr. Targaryen to see you, Miss," she innocently announced. "Shall I direct him to the parlour or are you not in?"

"Never mind, Talla. See to your other duties and I will see to our guest," Lyanna said weakly. She did not want to see him. A wave of shame crashed into her. How could she possibly face him after everything? After all these years?

Her guilt turned into fear and the fear became something else entirely. She found the courage to face him. There was little choice afforded to her in that. Stepping to where she knew Talla had left her guest, Lyanna could only produce a short gasp when she saw him.

Rhaegar's look mirrored her own. His face was not quite as she remembered it. There were lines across his skin that hadn't been there before and his eyes were sadder. But he gazed at her with wonder, as if he had been waiting to see her again. As if he hadn't been the one to humiliate her.

"Why are you here?" she found herself asking, eyes filling with tears. Despite her intention to keep away, her legs carried her closer and closer to him. She was heading towards another disaster, her mind warned; but her heart tugged towards a different path. "What more could you possibly want from me?"

He caught her hand and pulled her in his arms, in spite of the fact that Lyanna tried to escape his hold. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The apology rang in her ears though he had spoken barely above a whisper.

"I don't care," she managed to ground out. "After what you did, how dare you appear before me?" Instead of holding the anger she had wanted the words to hold, they were an anguished cry. "I am not a toy to be picked up and discarded at a whim. And you have–"

"I never did throw you away. You abandoned me." Holding her firmly by the arms, Rhaegar pushed her back to stare in her eyes. "I suppose you are speaking of my good-brother's visit. It was not of my doing. He acted on his own. I never had any intention of–"

"How did he know?" Lyanna asked. "Surely, you didn't tell him." Her tone was mocking.

The man sighed. "He followed me. Lyanna," he said her name in such a way that her very heart twisted, "I was going to divorce her. Elia must have had her suspicions, and she shared those with Oberyn as soon as I told her of my intentions."

The world was spinning. Lyanna clutched Rhaegar tightly, trying to keep to her feet. "A divorce?" She leaned against him. "I never asked, you know I never did." Her protests were lost in his shoulder as she was once more wrapped in a strong embrace.

"I know, but I couldn't stay with her any longer. I just couldn't." He pressed a soft kiss to her hairline and move downwards to her eye and cheeks and finally to her lips. "Had I known, I would have waited to speak with you. But Elia refused to sign the papers and then you were gone and all I knew was that you never wanted to see me again."

Enraged, Lyanna pushed against him to release her. "Who said that?" She gave him an angry look. "And why would you believe that?"

"Your father." His confession stunned her. Lyanna had indeed told her father she never wanted to see Rhaegar again. But those had been angry words, spoken in haste.

"You should have asked me." Her fingers twined through his.

"I wrote to you. Every day." He shook his head. "All the letters were returned unopened." Her eyes denied having received any letter. "Perhaps they though they were protecting you."

"Do you–" she began, unsure.

"Oberyn told me everything in the end." He held up a hand allowing her to inspect the bruised knuckles. "Can I see them?"

"Only if you're willing to travel," she laughed.

"Where?" his question followed.

"At Brandon's estate. It's not far." A knot formed in her throat.

"Then let us go." Rhaegar offered her his hand.

They left together.