The Princess
Some few weeks after the coronation of King Robert I Baratheon, a small procession guarded by Baratheon's finest entered the holdfast overlooking the mighty capital of the Seven Kingdoms. Their charge was the young Princess Alyssa Baratheon, who they had guarded for the entirety of the war. Now, she had finally arrived at her new home. Yet, for her, it was strange. She'd heard that Robert had nearly died at the hands of Rhaegar, and all she could think about since that moment was to see her brother again. Their farewell at the Crossroads had not been a warm one, as the young lady had been repulsed by the idea of marrying Tywin Lannister, and as a sign of protest had refused to even acknowledge his existence when he went on campaign. With little else to do in the small town but gossip with her handmaids and knit, however, she'd turned to thinking. Over time, she had come to terms with her future, just as Robert had with his. She knew that he had a kind heart when you knew how to break through the wall of vulgarity, and that all he'd ever wanted was to be a good warrior. Being King surely did not interest him, just like being married off did not fit into Alyssa's own image of her future. But that was how it was.
Inside the Keep, she was given the time to take a rest and wash off the dust from the road. Robert was still busy hearing the many nobles of the Realm petitioning him for justice, squabbling over minor sleights and small sums of money. She felt useless and unwanted.
It seemed like an eternity had passed before the silence in her chambers was finally broken. A few powerful knocks on the heavy wooden door, and then a familiar voice. "Alyssa," it called out. "Can I enter?" The princess said nothing for a moment, letting the voice flow through her body. Robert. She came to a realisation as she stood up from her bed and walked the few steps to the door. She'd missed her brother. As she opened it, she couldn't help but shed a tear. "Please, come in, my brave King." As the tall figure stepped through the doorway, she took him in. He seemed different, more mature. Tired, too. And yet, the fire that she knew still remained in his eyes.
They hugged for minutes, without saying a word. The powerful yet gentle grip around her felt calming, as if she could finally let go of all her doubts and fears. "I missed you, little sister," Robert finally broke the silence and the grip. He looked at her, taking her in. "You've matured since I last saw you. A real Lady now, no, a Princess." Alyssa smiled. "And you, Robert," she softly spoke. "You did the impossible, freeing the realm from the Targaryen madness. You should be proud of yourself." She walked back to her bed, and sat on the side. "The Sers could not stop talking about you on the way to the capital," she recalled. "How they wished they could have seen the duel. You, prevailing against the Prince, who so many called perfect in every way..." Alyssa's mind wandered off for a moment.
She imagined she was there, standing alongside the soldiers of both sides, viewing the battle between good and evil. The mighty warhammer versus the nimble blade. Rhaegar going for cheap tactics, Robert fighting with honor. The mud, running red with blood of both warriors. And finally, the gemstones, shimmering in the last beams of sunlight as the battle had finally been decided. Robert, standing proud even when his wounds would have been fatal to a less formidable man. Surely the mother had watched over him.
"Show me your scars," she suddenly said. "How close did he get?" Robert made a disapproving noise. "Closer than I'd like to admit," he answered. "They don't look pretty, Alyssa," he warned her. "Young ladies such as yourself shouldn't see them." The princess poked a finger into Robert's chest softly. "You said I am mature now, and a real lady does not shy from a wound," she insisted. The King frowned for a moment, before slowly unbuttoning his attire. The large wound on his side had closed completely, but the skin was still vulnerable and off-color. "The maester said it's not going to heal completely," Robert admitted. Alyssa traced the mark of the sword with her finger. "It's manly," she voiced her thoughts before taking his hands into hers. "You will always be perfect to me." Brother and sister's eyes met as they sat there, hands intertwined. Everything around them stopped, as he moved his head closer to hers. "I love you," he whispered, before they kissed.
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