Lady Arianwyn Targaryen, Lady of Runestone, was not born of love. Nor passion. Nor even a sense of duty. She was seeded by her father, the Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen, in an act of unbridled hatred, and borne of her mother, the late Lady Rhea Royc...
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Arianwyn stood by the door in the plainly decorated solar of the guest apartments Rhaenyra and Daemon's family had been given for their stay at the Red Keep, her head down and hands clasped demurely in front of her. Servants scurried past her as they hastily readied the rest of the family for the last-minute dinner the King had commanded his family attend that evening—a desperate attempt for peace between the Greens and the Blacks.
The gruesome murder of Vaemond Velaryon by Daemon's hand only hours before seemed long forgotten.
Forgotten by most, but not by Arianwyn.
The cool steel of Brynna's embroidery shears pressed against her side where they were tucked beneath her skirts. They were not as sharp as a dagger or a knife, but they were all Arianwyn could find without drawing attention to her search. Still, the knowledge that she had the means to defend herself brought her some measure of comfort.
Brynna had been overjoyed when she saw the small tears on Rhaenyra's red gown and realized that she could dress her in something better suited to her. But that joy was swiftly replaced by worry and dread when she saw the streaks of tears on Arianwyn's face. When she learned how the dress had been torn and why Arianwyn fled from the throne room.
When Arianwyn asked her to help pack her most valuable jewels and least conspicuous clothes in a satchel for when she made her escape.
She immediately agreed that Rhaenys' plan was necessary. She knew well what Daemon was capable of. She had seen Rhea's wounds. She had witnessed his neglect and cruelty on Dragonstone. She had been the one to dry Arianwyn's tears the night before.
Then, she did something that Arianwyn had not expected. Brynna packed a bag for Arianwyn, then another for herself.
"I have cared for you since the day you were born," she said as she stashed the bags beneath Arianwyn's bed. "I have followed you from Runestone to King's Landing to Dragonstone. Did you really think I would let you go out into this dangerous world on your own?"
She also declared that she would find Ser Warren and tell him of their plans so that he could accompany and protect them. Then, tonight, they would all steal into Maegor's hidden tunnels and the dark streets of the capital. Together.
But until then, Arianwyn had a dinner to attend.
She dared not dress in any of the many bronze or green garments she'd brought, not when her father was so volatile and had already wet his sword that day. Instead, Brynna selected a new gown, one that Arianwyn did not know she had been making.
It was modest, as Arianwyn preferred, with long, fitted sleeves and a gently curved neckline that revealed only a sliver of her collarbone. The skirts were full but without structure, leaving the fabric to drape elegantly over her waist and hips. The silhouette would have been rather plain were it not for the attached cape that began between Arianwyn's shoulder blades and fell to pool on the floor, trailing gracefully behind her when she walked.
