Honourable Maiden, Rhaegar Targaryen

One

Chapter One
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Journey to King's Landing

279 AC
It's been years since Lady Jeyne's death. Jon took his cousin Rowena as his second wife. Sadly she died from the winter chill a year before. The marriage was childless, and Janei to this day is the heir to the Vale. It was not a daughter he needed, but a son. He had to find another wife who would bore him at least one son to continue his legacy. As of now, he wasn't looking forward to finding himself a wife, more interested to find a husband for his daughter. A healthy girl of eight and ten, from a powerful house and an heir to her father's lands and yet not married. Finding a man to marry Janei off to isn't as easy as Jon thought it would be.

Good men were here in the Vale. A possible candidate was a knight from House Hunter. The lad was tall and skinny with sandy-like hair, which fell on his moon-like coloured eyes. He was seven and ten and Janei was only ten when he started as a sworn knight to House Arryn. Rowena noticed her stepdaughter's looks toward the young knight. He was full of light and nice smiles but never paid it to any woman nor to Janei or any older ladies his age. He didn't seem interested and didn't see the girl's eyes scanning his figure.

Jon considered the boy for a moon, not thinking about the better options, just wanting his daughter happy.

From the age of two and ten, she believed she would marry the knight she so dearly desired. It wouldn't be the first time for the two Houses to be married. Before Aegon's Conquest while the Arryns ruled as Kings of Mountains and Vale, King Roland I married Teora Hunter, who became his queen. History would repeat the union of two houses if they married.

However, he wasn't interested in a marriage wanting to use his life to serve as a knight and completely commit to it. The news saddened Janei, crushing her dreams. The father of the boy tried reasoning with him, but he couldn't. Lord Hunter would have offered his other son if he already wasn't married.

Jon Arryn moved to try to find an even better match for her. Perhaps his foster son Robert. But he wasn't sure of it. Janei grew up with Robert and they were close. Thought they thought of each other as brother and sister, nothing romantic. Eddard Stark, his other foster son was an option but was given up for some reason that Jon didn't address.

Finally, he decided to send his daughter to King's Landing to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elia, a betrothal to Prince Rhaegar, the future King of Seven Kingdoms.

That is a big honour, being a lady-in-waiting to the future queen. Janei liked the idea of meeting new friends. The high mountains do get lonely at times, there are not many ladies to socialise with, spending some time in the King's Landing will let her spread her wings and be free to get to know girls her age.

She travelled with her father, Robert and Eddard to King's Landing. The wedding of the royal couple didn't yet take place, but it was to be having the next year which was approaching soon enough.

The trip to King's Landing would be a long and boring journey if it wasn't for Robert's jokes. They were always lighter when Janei was around, knowing she didn't like him talking about his experiences with women, being uninterested in those stories. Robert did have a couple of girls that already felt the warmth of his bed. One of the lucky girls was a peasant woman. By the words of her father, the woman is with Robert's child. He might be only seven and ten and the Lord of Storm's End, but a bastard already seemed not so pleasing, right?

Well, it's not like Robert can be controlled, she liked his fun side, but not when he became fun and had no mind. That's when his common sense would be abandoned completely. Thankfully it looked like Robert was saving himself for the wedding feast where he will be able to drink as much wine as he wishes.

" Sometimes you are too much Robert. " She laughed as he spoke a joke of his.

" And you never seemed to complain about it. " He added back.

" I didn't have to. You are not boring to talk to. "

" Hey don't put Ned on a spot like that. He didn't even get a chance to say something. " The strong man pushed his horse close to his friend's, pushing his hand on his back, patting him.

" Don't do it so strongly. You will scare the horse. " Ned patted the animal that shivered at Robert's action.

" What kind of horse is that? It isn't good for a battle. "

" Thankfully there isn't one. " Eddard commented calmly.

" You need a stronger horse. One that won't be afraid of another one. "

" I am good with this one. " Rob shook his head at his friend.

" That's what he would say for the girls if he had any. " Robert almost chuckled at his own joke.

" He is waiting for the right one. Leave him be. " That made the Baratheon laugh even more.

" I would have perished before I found that one. Seems like an eternity will pass before you get to her. " Janei shared a reassuring smile with Eddard knowing he isn't as wild as his brother or his best friend.

" That's a good one Janei. Wait till I tell that to Brandon, shall he share a laugh with me. " The man's roaring was heard even when he left to calm himself.

" I might not even marry. In the end that is my brother's duty. "

" That doesn't mean you can't. " The girl spoke to a Stark she grew to love like a brother.

" Yes, but it seems like quite a pressure that I don't have to face like Brandon, Robert or you. " Ned spoke the truth. It was known that the first child must marry, and their future was more important than their siblings. Or like hers. As the first and only daughter it was known from the start she will be wed.

" I am sure you will figure it out, you still have time to decide. " He nodded.

" Are you excited about your new position? " He was referring to her becoming a lady-in-waiting.

" I will be explained what my duties are when I arrive, but I am glad to get away from the snowy mountains. Still I will miss my home and all of you. " Janei's glancing spread from Robert, to Ned and finally to her father's carriage.

" It's easily overwhelming. You will also meet the royal family. " He reminded her.

" Yes, the Targaryens. " She imagined their blonde hair and purple eyes. She has never seen them face to face, this will be her first time.

Eddard noticed her mind going somewhere else. " I am sure you will be fine. There is nothing to worry about. You will be with the ladies in a big castle surrounded by guards. " He hoped to calm her with his words. Succussiding almost fully.

" I know, I just hope people will like me. "
" I am sure they will. " They continued to ride, Robert came by them and started talking about the war of ninepenny kings, boring Janei who left them, joining her father in the carriage.