Untouched Gold / Tywin Lannister / Avalon Targaryen (1)

16. Flower Crowns

'Rhaegar I hope you win today.' Avalon said fixing her nephews armor.

'Thank you auntie.' Rhaegar told her. 'Hey, who is that?' Rhaegar nodded across the stadium. Avalon followed his gaze.

'There are a lot of people over there.' Avalon remarked.

'Stark, right?' Rhaegar questioned and Avalon rose a curious brow.

'' Tywin would know, he knows everyone but... yes Lyanna I believe." Avalon agreed. "Why are you asking about the stark girl?" Avalon questioned in a hushed voice. 'your wife and children are right there.' Avalon reminded him.

'Yes... just curious.' Rhaegar assured.

'Curiosity killed the dragon.' Avalon warned.

'Nonsense,' Rhaegar smirked down at her kissing her head before he headed out.

Rhaegar was a married man yet he couldn't stop staring at lyanna. Avalon noticed. She noticed how Rhaegar looked at Lyanna and how lyanna looked back at him. But she knew nothing would come of it. For he was married and lyanna stark's engagement to the lord of the storms end had been declared. Avalon moved to Tywin and the children, he pressed a kiss to her cheek as he ran a hand up and down her thigh. 

But as the tournament went on prince Rhaegar won time and time again. He was the victor and lyanna jumped up happily as she clapped for the prince. Avalon noticed her excitement but of course she was excited, Rhaegar was the prince, handsome and kind, everyone loved Rhaegar, not Jaime but everyone else. Elia was fussing with the children. 

'Daddy won.' Avalon said taking her niece from Elia, as Avalon pointed at Rhaegar. 'Say yay daddy!" Avalon encouraged and she clapped in Avalon's lap. Tywin smiled back at her. He wanted to marry her, he wanted to love her every day and he knew she wanted a child of her own. 

Prince Rhaegar, the heir to the Iron Throne, was the victor. Rhaegar was given a flower crown to give to the most beautiful woman at the competition. Avalon saw Elia start to rise up but rhaegar was walking in the opposite direction.

'Rhaegar.' Avalon hissed but he wasn't paying any attention to them. He rode past his wife, Princess Elia Martell, and placed a crown of winter roses, the crown of the Queen of Love and Beauty, on Lyanna's lap. This action outraged many because not only was Rhaegar married, but Lyanna was already betrothed to another man. Avalon held her breath as he handed the flower crown to lyanna. Neds eyes went wide and the crowd let out a gasp. Lyanna took the flower crown placing it on her head gently, her cheeks were as red as the rose in her hand.

'Thank you' Lyanna whispered, he bowed before her.

"See, be glad you didnt marry him. He's a cunt." Jaime decided and Avalon didnt have the strength to shoot him a glare. She stared at Rhaegar as he rode back around dismounting his horse, a smile on his face. Avalon didn't have words, what was he thinking? He was going to stir up trouble. She could already hear people whispering, bickering, hissing Rhaegar's name with distaste.

The news of Rhaegars actions spread worse than wildfire. Avalon grabbed his arm pulling him aside but he was smug.

'Rhaegar!' she shouted. 'do you not understand what you did? How you hurt your wife?' Avalon questioned.

"Elia was duty.' Rhaegar reminded her.

'And Lyanna stark is to be married to another man.' Avalon reminded him sharply.

"She is not yet-'

'Rhaegar! Listen to yourself, you are the prince, the heir to the iron throne you cannot be foolish like this.' Avalon begged. 'They already call your father, my brother the mad king, do you want a rebellion before you even make it to the throne.'

"I can't explain it auntie.' Rhaegar told her and it was like he had hearts in his eyes. 'It's love at first sight.' Rhaegar exclaimed.

"Love? Rhaegar! Think of your wife." Avalon begged. 

'Tell me that love is not in the cards for people like us, but I saw Lyanna and I knew that she was the one for me.' Rhaegar told her.

'You are an idiot.' Avalon shouted.

'You always followed the rules and did as you were told-' Rhaegar reminded her.

'As should you!" Avalon countered. 'you are the crown prince! You will sit on the throne. You must be careful with your words and your actions. The world is watching.'

'Let them watch.' Rhaegar told her. 'Auntie Avalon look at me,' Rhaegar said putting a gentle hand under her chin. 'If you find love, don't run away from it. Run towards it, head first.'

"I don't like getting hurt.' Avalon told him softly.

"You love Tywin, you will marry him will you not?" Rhaegar countered. Avalon met his gaze. 

"You are a cocky prick, you get that from your father."  Avalon decided. 

"You love him, was it love at first sight?"

"I was like five when I first met him." Avalon corrected. 

"But then?" Rhaegar pushed. 

"Yes." Avalon admitted. 

"It was love at first sight auntie..." Rhaegar whispered.  'I'm going try and speak to Lyanna again.' Rhaegar told her.

'Nothing can come of this, love or not.' Avalon warned.

'Just a talk.' Rhaegar told her but she saw a smile on his face that said otherwise.

'I saw the way she looked at you.' Avalon admitted her gaze shifted to Tywin.

'And?'

"She had the same hearts in her eyes as you do.' Avalon told him and Rhaegar's smile got even bigger, she could see all his teeth, as white as his hair.

'Don't tell anyone.' Rhaegar said hugging her tight.

"You are coming back.' Avalon meant it as a question but it came out as a statement.

"I am following my heart.' Rhaegar told her. 'Tywin makes your heart flutter, don't let him get away.'

'Please,' Avalon began as she grabbed his hand not wanting to let him go, but she knew she had to. '...be careful Rhaegar.'