#— ♔ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ‚ PRE-REBELLION. 〉

[bloodiedrubies]

A witness to the flesh of porcelain, the prince of Dragonstone dreaded the transformation  — even the sight of ivory meant the gentility and summer of the world were slipping past her fingers. Lyanna @inspireswar​  was a woman of the north, a STARK, yet she deserved nothing but bountiful harvests, endearing ballads, and . . and love. Rhaegar kept quiet with his deepest thoughts, however even a man lacking sight could decipher the tenderness in violet eyes. Despite his desire to reach forth and grab a gentle hold of her hand, if only to comfort a friend, it was entirely too inappropriate for a man, an heir to the Iron Throne, and one already betrothed.  

        ❛  It comes to my understanding, the skin of the Starks all turn into steel with time, just as the blood of the DRAGON runs through my family. My only hope is . . that this is natural, and nothing painful or uncouth causes you to turn so armored.  ❜  If anyone were to ponder the extent of flowery words, Rhaegar could always blame his natural pull towards music and the arts. It was nothing more.

      ❛  You must spend more time here; the warm weather and blooming flowers can return some of that gentility in your life.  ❜  Silver-blonde hairs covered his handsome face as he tipped head forward and down respectfully.   

#— ♔ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴡɪɴɢs ‚ ASK RESPONSE. 〉 #— ♔ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ‚ PRE-REBELLION. 〉 #inspireswar

[bloodiedrubies]

A promised prince. Destiny birthed upon the falling of a bleeding star. Salt and ashes the sign of things to come. Further agreement could not be breached. Head nodded surely, moving strands of white-silver hair about face before chin lifted upwards towards the sky. Rhaegar Targaryen, once said to have been so bookish he must have read while in his mother’s womb, held onto tales, fairy or otherwise, as fact. Some more than others. Among men however, who was to say what was pure fiction and what was fact? Giants and children of the forest had once roamed the lands, so it was it improbable that dragons could return to existence and one man would bring salvation to the Seven Kingdoms and beyond? There were many strange things men had seen through the ages which were lost to the maesters, and there were still strange things occurring around the corners of the world which were not considered fact. The world was tremendous, and men only lived for a fraction of time. Rhaegar, for being extremely solemn, believed in many, many things, perhaps with the eyes of a child. The Prince of Dragonstone was not quick to usher judgement. Again, he nodded and then issued a verbal response.

   ❛  Now that, I can agree with you. ❜  Gemstone eyes took the appearance of the other man  @adversitybloomed​ in a polite but curious fashion. Rhaegar removed leather riding gloves from his hands and brushed away dirt and debris roused by the disturbance of many men and horses from his tunic.

   ❛  What is it that you believe in then? I only mean to be curious, not crude nor coy, ser..?  ❜  

#— ♔ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴡɪɴɢs ‚ ASK RESPONSE. 〉 #adversitybloomed #— ♔ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ‚ PRE-REBELLION. 〉

[bloodiedrubies]

Fresh bruise of dark blue and purple failed to the steal the attention from violent gemstone eyes, and, queerly, it even brought forth already brilliant colored hues despite the marring of handsome features. Several bruises, sore ribs, and a stiff shoulder were small penalties to pay for claiming victory over the tourney, however even if victory had been far from grasp, the merriment from the crowd and kinship among the contestants were reward enough. Droplets of rain fell with the gentility of a shy lover’s kiss upon the travelers, and the bathed and brushed horses of their company shook heads with the accumulation of moisture, reveling in the break from the heat. The prince of DRAGONSTONE and future heir to the Iron Throne rode silently, yet his bright eyes aptly focused on his company and their line of conversation. On the subject of armor, Dornish food, and. .  women, Rhaegar put spurs to his mount, stealing away for the briefest moment. Hardly fifty meters away, red apples slick with dew were ripe for the picking. He sat high on his saddle and reached a slender, elegant arm forward. Rhaegar’s finger tips barely touched the surface of the particular fruit he eyed when loud rustling emanated from neighboring foliage, and two strange men were birthed from the greenery. More surprised than alarmed, the appearance of the sudden figures stalled the movement of muscles. The rushing of horse hoofs stamping on the ground behind him were hardly perceived, but the impeccably clean and white cloak hanging from Arthur Dayne’s @neithergodsnormen​ shoulders finally earned full attention. Rhaegar sat back properly within his saddle and placed hand on the hilt of his sword, yet Dayne was already off his horse and with sword drawn.

      ‘  P-pardon, sers, and and m’lord. We was just hoping to steal a look is all.  ‘  The townsmen were humble in the way they stood, and in the way they spoke, forcing words through the gaps of missing teeth. The two men shuffled on ruinous shoes with gazes mostly averted, though their desire to get an up close look at the Targaryen was a powerful desire and motivator. 

       ❛  It's quite alright, ser Dayne. They meant no harm.  ❜  Rhaegar opted to be formal in the company of the common folk, and then extended hand out to signal for the kingsguard to sheath their weapons. The two common folk were visibly relieved with the sheathing of swords and grew bolder in their attempt to make eye contact with violet eyes. The taller, older man of the two reached within his soiled tunic for an object, and the Targaryen prince could feel the tension within Dayne and the rest of the kingsguard. No weapon was drawn, instead a smooth and peach colored stone. Alone it wasn’t anything spectacular, but Rhaegar knew it was a token of love. Dayne was not pleased in the slightest however. The prince’s lips pull into a small, polite smile in order to relieve the tension as the townsmen were filled with renewed fear upon hearing Arthur’s words.

       ❛  Yes, quite. I thank you for your fast movements, and surely this men here admire your prowess with a sword as well. Now if you would please hand me their gift.   ❜  Rhaegar patted down his body, searching for a gift to offer in return. Aside from armor, weapons, and finely stitched clothes, the man had little to offer. A piece of clothing was typically a favor given to the opposite sex, but it would have to do. A piece of Rhaegar Targaryen’s shirt and several silver stags ( from the purse of his companion ) had to suffice. The men were more than merry to make the exchange and wandered off from where they emerged, muttering happily to one another. In the aftermath, an apologetic smile was offered to Dayne and his companions. 

     ❛  I believe we were on the subject of Dornish peppers. . .  ❜  

#— ♔ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴡɪɴɢs ‚ ASK RESPONSE. 〉 #— ♔ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ‚ PRE-REBELLION. 〉 #neithergodsnormen

[bloodiedrubies]

A poet appealed to the masses, plucking notes to rouse the heart and spark kinship, while a wise man did not waste breath on follies. Experience guided speech, and no person could deny the knowledge and skills that Jon Connington   @neithergodsnormen​ offered. It was not selfishness which motivated Rhaegar to keep a man of such a caliber at his side, nor the cunning yet frigid foresight of gathering powerful allies ( however the latter was not entirely incorrect ) — Jon was genuine at heart, and time spent with a FRIEND was time truly cherished. The Targaryen prince did not bother expressing flowery words, however the edges of lips did pull up in a modest yet handsome smile. Rhaegar tapped the point of the wooden, practice sword against the cold stone of the courtyard ground before he circled about his friend with slow, methodical steps.

   ❛  I certainly hope that is not a jab directed at me, ser. I have little choice but to quickly excel at anything handed to me, furthermore, how else am I to catch up to your level of swordsmanship?  ❜ The future KING of the Seven Kingdoms; the realm and, more importantly, his father would not allow his son and heir to not the best at everything. Rhaegar opted to remain silent on the rest of his thoughts however. 

  ❛ Does this pace suit you better? Perhaps I will avoid the GRAVE after all. .  ❜

#— ♔ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴡɪɴɢs ‚ ASK RESPONSE. 〉 #— ♔ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ‚ PRE-REBELLION. 〉 #thank you for sending this in. 〉 #neithergodsnormen

[bloodiedrubies]

A lesson aimed at the apt ears of a son, or a reminder for self, to maintain the fires of Targaryen perseverance? Rhaella @astormofsilk​ was not weak, but legacy of the dragon’s blood did not forge a person out of valyrian steel despite myths and legacy spanning across the centuries. The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and his beloved mother was the closest embodiment to the famed crafting metal, for Rhaegar knew more than a child should have known. He carried the legacy of the his family’s name and his destined rise to the throne perfectly well, yet watching the deterioration of his father’s sanity and the love, affection, whatever it had been Aerys harbored for Rhaella was painfully obvious since he was a toddler. He would rule the Seven Kingdoms one day, yet he was hopelessly weak, powerless in the face of his father’s tyranny and wroth. He was frightened, and it must have shown on his handsome features, which became warped with concern and dismay. Could he raise hand or voice against his own kin, the Lord of the realm? Rhaegar reached his hand out and gripped that of his mother’s with a loving, reassuring grip.  The rest of King’s Landing was suffocated with the stench of poverty and death. Up high on their pedestals, in the open courtyard of the castle, the scent of fresh fruits and rose petals surrounded mother and son. It wasn’t right. it simply wasn’t. One day he would take the throne, whether his father wanted it or not. Rhaegar dropped his perfumed head and pressed lips against the flesh of his mother’s hand. He was telling her, it won’t be like this forever. 

Promises in the wind.

#— ♔ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴡɪɴɢs ‚ ASK RESPONSE. 〉 #ouch. my heart. 〉 #astormofsilk #— ♔ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ‚ PRE-REBELLION. 〉