court of lies | robert's rebellion

the rush hour

"and yet here you are, living despite it all"

Twelfth moon of 280 AC, the ship Fallen Star

"What are you trying to do?", Arthur asked with narrowed eyes.

"You should be more precise, if you want me to answer more clearly.", Rhaegar did not look at him, he was busy with writing a letter, sitting on the chair behind the small desk in the cabin of the ship.

"What is she doing here with us?", he explained. "Because the only answer that comes to mind is that the fact you are using her -which I do not wish to think you would do such things."

"In order to fix this mess in a more human way, in order to avoid bloodshed, I must force him to abdicate, no?", he raised his head and leaned his back. "And in order to do that, I must have allies, powerful ones."

"Her brother is either dead or is going to die very soon, and she is the only suspect as of now.", he shook his head with confusion. "What 'ally' are you talking about?"

"Whether it is Leyton or Baelor Hightower who's ruling Oldtown, having them behind my back would increase my chances greatly, you know this. If we would make a list of the most powerful ten lords in this realm, we would place the Hightowers above a few Lord Paramounts, as we both know. I don't truly understand your problem in here, Arthur."

"People should support you because they believe in you.", he said dryly. "Not because they owe you a favour."

"You are right.", there was something in his eyes, something felt too foreign to Arthur, something that made him go uneasy. "House Hightower will owe me a favour once I help them fix whatever is going on there. And not just Oldtown, I can secure a good half of the Reach with only backing her up now. Jacen Oakheart is the regent of Old Oak now, until his good sister gives birth to his brother's heir and if he is a traitor just like Lady Atera says, then it is Arys Oakheart who's going to be the regent for a good few months. Lady Alerie is married with Mace Tyrell -the Lord Paramount, Hightowers have five sworn houses, you know her close friendship with Lord Redwyne, four of Lord Leyton's children are mothered by Lady Crane and his own mother -alongside with his brothers, was Lady Fossoway.", Rhaegar opened his arms. "Just by choosing to believe to her word -which I truly believe she is telling the truth, I make allies half of the Reach."

"And what if she is not telling the truth?"

"Then I still make allies half of the Reach.", he shrugged but Arthur caught the glimpse of hesitance in his eyes. It was a good sign, it meant Rhaegar was merely pretending.

"Then you would back a kinslayer. Someone who betrayed their family is no ally."

"And if she is telling the truth,", Rhaegar stood up and approached to him inside of the relatively small cabin. "we would not only gain all of these, but we would also secure the loyalty of Driftmark.", he put a hand on his shoulder. "I am not naïve enough to think that someone like Lucerys would go against the king for Elia. But he would do it for his grandchildren.", he sighed.

"Your speech starts to sound like everything Connington said about her, when he urged you to marry her."

Rhaegar seemed offended. "Do you truly think this less of me? That I would regret such a decision?"

"I did not mean it like that.", but his face indicated that he suspected.

"Elia is my wife.", he pressed the words. "And blessed me with a child, I would not even dream of thinking such a thing. I share a life with her now, we've been married almost for a year and that year, that lavender haze in Dragonstone? It was the best year of my life, Arthur.", his eyes were sincere. "Because she was in it. Because she made it better. And trust me, if there is one thing I want more than save this realm is to see her and my daughter one more time.", his face was serious. "Lady Atera had served my wife faithfully and I dare to think that Elia even likes her. This is not just a way to gain allies, I am supporting her because I believe the things she say and I am supporting her because Elia would want me to do. If there is someone who owes something to the other party is me, not her."