The Lion Knight and Dragon Princess

18 - The Rock Shall Never Fall

"Burn them all!-"

Those were the final words of my father before I watched Jaime stab him in the back with his sword. He'd told me to run and when I had pulled myself from the trance I was stuck in I bolted.  Holding up the long material of my black and red dress I maneuvered throughout the Red Keep and away from the throne room.

Repeatedly looking over my shoulder and behind my back I wasn't sure if someone was following me or not.  Only a handful of guards knew about the secret passageways underneath the castle.  Rounding the corner I collided with a smaller body tumbling to the cold and harsh floor. "Urgh!....Tyrion." Rubbing my head my vision cleared showing me the dwarf laying on the ground before me.

"I told my brother the three of us should have made a secret code for this situation." He groaned, pushing himself up off the ground, grabbing the burning torch he had dropped when we fell.

Brushing off the fabric of my dress I pushed myself up to stand apologizing to my friend and brother in law. "I'm sorry, Tyrion.  I just wasn't looking where I was going - Jaime - he - he killed my father."

"I was afraid that he would have to.  Everyone around your father was just too afraid to tell him in fear of being burned by Wildfire." He admits with a sad expression.  Lifting my head upwards I gasped hearing the sound of heavy footsteps above our heads.  Meaning it had to be Robert Baratheon's army. "We must go, princess."

He extended his freehand and I placed mine in his before he dragged me through another passageway and down multiple stairs till we came out of the caves seeing sunset. "Where are we supposed to go?  Surely they'll notice me gone?"

"Don't worry about it.  I have something already set up with a local tavern owner.  He's agreed so long as I send him double the amount of coins to help pay for his rent." Tyrion explained squeezing my hand in his, reaching inside his tunic he drew out a bandanna. "Wear this to hide your silver hair."

Taking it from his hand I nodded before we stood outside of the tavern that was closest to the Red Keep.  "I understand.  But I doubt I'll ever be able to repay you for saving my life."

"You will one day.  I have faith in you, Vaella.  My brother will become a better person because of you." The lion lifted his gaze up to meet mine.  At the time I didn't realize that he would be right about me and his brother.  My current family was falling apart but my new family wouldn't fall even if our home did.

It had been quite some moons since Jaime had left the Rock and that made me extremely worried.  I had never had to sit somewhere and wait for him to return like this.  When he was serving as a Kingsguard I was forced to be distracted while working as a tavern girl.  Peaking my head inside the twins room I saw them playing with their toy swords that we had let them carry.

"I challenge you to a duel, lion boy." Luciya aimed her sword at her brother wearing a short red gown and some boots.

Rhaegar drew out his own sword gently hitting hers with his blade. "No! I challenge you sister.  We know who's the better swordsman in the family, our father."

"So who got his skills? We shall see." She teased with a smirk.

Leaning my body against the doorway I couldn't help but just silently watch my two children.  Ever since they had been born I would often think about my mother.  And how she never seemed happy around our father.  Her children were the only thing to not make her feel like a prisoner that she was.  I was forever grateful that Jaime had allowed me to be myself and be as free as I desired. "Take that, princess." Rhaegar swung at her but she rolled underneath his sword climbing up onto the bed.