A few days passed and Aruna felt sorry for herself. She had had a lot of time to think about what had happened and had decided to forget everything.

She was embarrassed by the evening with Daemon and the worst proposal ever. Aruna had acted out of the effect. At that moment, the thought had felt right. But now she had realised that there could be no future between her and Daemon. The Targaryen was an experienced man with expectations and Aruna was just a young woman who had no idea how to live her life.

She hadn't told anyone about the evening and she wasn't planning to anytime soon. Daemon stayed out of her way and didn't talk to her anymore either. Aruna had truly messed it up, and they had gotten along so well.

King Viserys had cancelled almost all the celebrations surrounding his daughter's marriage. But he could no longer cancel the tournament. Many knights and young men eager for fame and fortune had travelled to King's Landing. To cancel the tournament now would only have caused tumult and trouble.

Viserys had spared no expense or effort for this tournament. From a puppet show to archery, there was everything. But the most popular event was still the jousting, where men sometimes fought for their lives.

Aruna thought this event was overrated. It wasn't too exciting, everyone thought, and far too dangerous. She planned not to come. She would have preferred to pretend to be sick or play with the children at the puppet theatre, but her brother would also be competing today.

She had tried to convince him not to come for hours. Aruna just didn't want to watch him put himself in danger for such nonsense. But it was her friend Rhaenyra who had ruined her plans by inviting her to the Royal Lodge. She was the only one from House Tyrell who was allowed to sit here.

The morning after the eventful evening, there was a big argument between the Tyrell members. Estella had literally gone berserk and spilled all the tea. She had lectured Aruna, although it wasn't even her fault. Rhaenyra had made her her lady without asking Aruna first! She didn't regret it, but it certainly would have saved her trouble.

She had only received a pitying look from her uncle when her aunt had slapped her in the face at the end of her speech. Neither he nor Elio had helped her and Adrik couldn't because he wasn't there. Aruna hadn't told him about the argument either. He should not worry or cause trouble unnecessarily before the tournament.

Disappointed with herself, Aruna sighed. Before they had travelled to King's Landing, the two siblings had never kept secrets from each other and now they had hundreds of them. she wondered if Adrik had secrets from her too?

Rhaenyra put a hand on her friend's leg and looked at her encouragingly. "Your brother is a good fighter. Nothing will happen to him" Her husband Laenor, who was sitting next to her, agreed. He would have liked to compete too, but as Prince Consort it was no longer his place. There was a high chance that he would get hurt.

Aruna's guilty conscience continued to grow. She had not told Rhaenyra about the evening with Daemon. The fear of her friend's reaction was too big. After all, Daemon was Rhaenyra's uncle and they were close.

In the royal lodge, apart from the three of them, sat the king and queen, Laenor's parents and sister, and some advisors whom Aruna did not know. She did not know most of the people here and it made her uncomfortable.

Princess Rhaenyra opened the tournament with a short speech. Then the first fights started.

Two armoured riders stood on the field. Between them was a barrier and a few metres. The warriors usually competed in pairs and the loser often had to leave his horse and expensive armour to the winner. Mostly, however, the loser was eliminated by being killed and the winner was allowed to compete again in the next round.

In today's tournament there were five fighters who defended the honour of Rhaenyra Targaryen. The other contestants challenge these five to take their place if they win.

Lady Laena Verlaryon, Laenor's sister, sat next to Aruna. They had not yet had the chance to get to know each other better and even now they were talking too sparsely.

Lady Laena was an educated and pretty young woman. She was a few years younger than Aruna and Rhaenyra, but that did not make her less self-confident. She knew her benefits and knew how to use them. Aruna was more than jealous of the beauty.

In front of the four of them was a table with five wreaths. One wreath for each woman in the lodge. Aruna's wreath was adorned with southern flowers and beautiful pink roses. She had smiled when Rhaenyra had proudly shown her the wreath. She would have liked to keep it herself.

But she would have to give the wreath to one of the knights who had won her favour. She hoped very much to be able to give her wreath to Adrik, then she could surely keep it and it would not be embarrassing.

She looked down at the knights. They were all standing in a row on their horses, watching the tournament anxiously until they were allowed to compete themselves. Aruna quickly found her brother, for on his chest loomed the logo of House Tyrell.

And then it was time. Adrik was chosen and took his place. The faster he rode and the closer he approached his opponent, the faster Aruna's heart beat. The two knights circled each other a total of three times until Adrik managed to hit the unknown knight on the shoulder and knock him out of his saddle.

Aruna exhaled in relief. She hadn't even noticed that she had been holding her breath. Enthusiastically, the Tyrell clapped as did many of the other spectators.

Adrik rode closer to the royal lodge and let himself be celebrated. Unlike his sister, he enjoyed the attention, especially when he had earned it as he was doing now. Aruna stood up and leaned over the relling to her brother. "You did really great, Ad!"

Her brother smiled at her and thanked her. But he did not address his next words to his sister as she had hoped. "I hope I was able to impress you, your Grace. Your favour would be the greatest honour and my greatest victory on this day"

Aruna looked at her brother in shock and then looked to the Queen. Alicent had already risen and joined the two Tyrell siblings with her wreath. "It was an impressive show. You have earned my favour, Ser Adrik" Alicent placed her wreath on his lance from Adrik and smiled at him as she did so, then went back to her seat. Adrik also moved away again and stood with the four previous winners.

Aruna, embarrassed, also went back to her seat, where Rhaenyra was already looking at her pitifully and took her hand. Many just wanted the favour from the queen, but why her brother? Aruna felt betrayed.

The tournament continued and the next two winners asked for the favour of Rhaenyra and Rhaenys. Laena and Aruna were the last two women who still had their wreaths.

The next fights were quite unspectacular until Prince Damon Targaryen entered the field. For him, this contest was an easy one and he quickly managed to knock his opponent from the saddle, as did the next two opponents. Only after a total of four fights did he come to the lodge to get the favour of a lady for the further fighters.

Aruna's heart beat faster and she got hope. Had Daemon forgiven her for the embarrassing proposal?

Rhaenyra had not stopped holding Aruna's hand the whole time. At the sight of Daemon she wanted to stand up. She would have loved to give him her wreath, but she remained seated. She didn't want to embarrass herself again, as she had done with Adrik earlier.

"My Lady" the Targaryen man began. His gaze was fixed on the last two wreaths. Almost as if he had to think, he was silent for a moment, but what Daemon then said broke Aruna's heart a second time in a few days.

"How many more of my companions do I have to get rid of, Lady Laena?"

Aruna would have liked to shout out loud when Laena got up to get her wreath. "You had my favour before the tournament, Prince Daemon" Lady Laena placed her wreath on the lance and then leaned over the reeling to hold Daemon's hand. Was that why Daemon had rejected her? Was his heart already taken?

She felt Rhaenyra place her free hand on top of Aruna's, who was still holding her other. "Hey! You're hurting me, Runa," she whispered in her lady's ear. Startled, she looked at the two hands and let go. She hadn't realised how much she had squeezed her friend's hand. "Forgive me" Aruna apologetically kissed Rhaenyra's hand.

Rhaenyra just smiled at her worriedly and looked briefly at Lady Laena and her uncle. Without words Aruna could understand her friend and she knew she had to tell her. She had to confide in someone. "Later" she only whispered and tried to smile.

Daemon and Laena were literally holding up the tournament with their conversation, so the king decided it was the right time for a short break for the competitors. Rhaenyra did not hesitate and immediately pulled her friend out of the lodge. They walked across the grounds past several attractions and even stopped briefly to get a small bread.

The two friends sat down a little away from the crowd and shared the warm little bread. the warm little bread. The lodge also had a variety of fruit and vegetables, but the two needed something that would also fill them up.

Rhaenyra gave Aruna time to start by herself for which the girl was very grateful. "A few days ago, there was a moment..." began Aruna, avoiding eye contact with the princess. "Between Daemon and me..."

Rhaenyra listened attentively to her friend and let her finish, but she did not like what Aruna was saying. "We kissed," the Tyrell girl finished her story.

"Did he make you do anything?"

"What, no! On the contrary..." Aruna looked at Rhaenyra but couldn't interpret her expression and it scared her. "I asked him to make me a wife and before you say anything now Rhaenyra I know it was stupid.... I shouldn't have done it and Daemon then just left"

The princess remained silent for a moment before speaking. "You should have told me that much earlier. " Rhaenyra sounded disappointed. "I know and I'm sorry too. I was just very ashamed and Daemon rejected me immediately"

"And you really just kissed?" the Targaryen girl asked seriously. Aruna nodded. "Of course. I swear it by everything I hold dear, Rhaenyra" Aruna took Rhaenyra's hands in hers and looked at her sincerely.

"Good" Rhaenyra's serious face changed to a smile. "I don't want to lose you for anything in the world. I need you here and I want you to be happy"

"I am happy and I will stay happy here with you" Aruna replied as Rhaenyra hugged her. embraced her. The sound of trumpets gave the signal that the tournament would continue and the two girls hurried back to the lodge.

The tournament continued bloodily. Some of the participants were taken to healers, for others it was already too late. Adrik Tyrell stood out and impressed not only Queen Alicent that day. He even managed to secure a place of the five who fought for the honour of the princess. Aruna was mighty proud of him

She was less proud of herself. Aruna had been weak and had allowed herself to feel for a man with whom she had no future. She was glad she had not given him her Innocence. That would have been an even bigger embarrassment and she would never have found a husband.

It was also an embarrassment that no knight asked her for her favour. Aruna felt inferior and ugly. Rhaenyra's smile of encouragement did not help her self-pity.

Surely her aunt was particularly pleased about Aruna's situation. "They just don't dare, because they are afraid of rejection. You have the last one," Rhaenyra had whispered to her.

Aruna turned away from the tournament when at one point she could see no more blood and went to the back of the lodge to have some wine. She knew she could have asked a servant for it, but Aruna needed a moment without the view of the tournament.

King Viserys, however, had other plans and waved her over. "Lady Aruna?" With the goblet in her hand, she walked to Viserys and greeted him politely with a curtsy.

"I trust you are enjoying yourself?" the older man wanted to know and Aruna wondered if he was asking out of irony. Not wanting to disappoint him, she answered his question in the affirmative. "It is really exciting and the places of the Five Horsemen change almost by the minute. You have trumped yourselves with this beautiful feast, my king."

Viserys smiled at the girl and beckoned a servant who brought Aruna a chair. Politely, she took a seat next to the king. She had never sat so close to him before. "I am glad to hear that, Lady Aruna" Aruna had always liked Viserys. He had always been attentive and polite to her. As a child she had looked up to him and wondered if her own father would have treated her so well.

Viserys told her old anecdotes and stories from previous tournaments. Supposedly, he had competed himself as a young man. Aruna found it hard to imagine Viserys at her age. she wondered If he had looked something like Daemon back then? Unfortunately, she lacked the imagination for that.

She listened attentively and asked questions with interest. Viserys seemed to like that very much. H His wife next to him looked bored and had turned her head away. Apparently she had heard these stories many times before. Aruna decided to have tea with Viserys one day. She would love to hear more of his stories.

Aruna kept looking at the tournament field during Viserys' stories. There were fewer and fewer participants and the current knight was fighting his way bravely. She sat down even straighter and tried to see better, but from back here by the king the view was a little worse than in front by Rhaenyra.

The knight confidently faced his opponents and it was almost as if he was dancing across the field. The girl with the dark hair was so fascinated by his fighting style that she stopped listening to Viserys. Sometimes she wished she could do such manly things as a woman. She would like to know if she could also swing a lance while riding.

It was easy for the unknown rider to defeat his opponents, but he seemed to enjoy putting them on the rack for a while. One after the other he challenged and finally one of the five, who almost effortlessly stabbed the lance through the armour.

The audience applauded, as did Aruna. She watched with interest as the knight galloped across the field and stopped at the end in front of the lodge.

Respectfully, he lowered his head and made his horse do something like a bow as well. Aruna never knew that horses could stretch like that.

Rhaenyra's head turned with a broad smile as she looked for her friend. Aruna, on the other hand, remained sitting motionless. Had the talented unknown really come to her?

"You wouldn't believe how happy I am, Lady Aruna" His voice sounded deep yet so soft and gentle as he spoke confidently and loudly for her to understand. At her name, the girl stood up and walked to him at the front of the relling. "I was more afraid that someone would ask you before me than for my own life at the tournament" he said now in a softer voice but still loud enough for everyone in the lodge to hear him.

"I am not only asking for your favour, but also for your time. I would love nothing more than to go for a walk with you" Aruna took the wreath and held it tightly in her hands. The stranger seemed to be not only a good fighter but also a charmer and that pleased the girl.

"Only too glad to give you my wreath and my time" Aruna smiled as she spoke. Out of the corner of her eye she could see four of the five riders, including Daemon and her brother. She found it hard to keep from smirking and spoke a little louder on purpose. "In return, I would like to see the face of my knight".

Deftly, the man opened his helmet with one hand and took it off himself. Finally Aruna could look at him and she was not disappointed. His brown hair was curly and you could certainly get lost in his green-blue eyes. He had striking features and a slight beard.

"Ser Brandon Stark, My Lady," he introduced himself and smiled at Aruna. Rarely had she seen such a genuine smile and she couldn't help but smile too.

"Now Ser Brandon Stark..." the young Tyrell began, leaning over the Relling. The action made her dress slide down a little and she showed some cleavage. Just a hint, but it wasn't lewd or spoiled. "Cherish it well" Against all tradition, Aruna did not place the wreath on the lance, but placed it directly on Brandon's head. "Today you are my champion"

"I will always take good care of it. Thank you Lady Aruna of Highgarden" It was with difficulty to break eye contact as Brandon turned and joined the other four knights.

Shyly they still exchanged glances while Aruna returned to her seat next to Rhaenyra. She and Laenor had already been waiting for their friend with a satisfied grin. "I told you so, dearest friend".

Aruna could only roll her eyes and listened to the two talk about the knight. "He is the son of Rickon Stark. Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. His father bent the knee to me when my father named me his heir"

"I have heard many stories about the firstborn of the Starks and they did not disappoint me today" Laenor handed Aruna and his wife each a goblet of wine. "I hope he is nice to you, should you ever actually start seeing each other"

"I don't know yet...I think so? I should at least give him a chance to get to know me" Aruna looked back and forth between her friends. Brandon had really impressed her, even if she didn't want to admit it. Laenor was clearly the most excited about the upcoming meeting. Rhaenyra, on the other hand, had her reservations, afraid of losing her friend to the North. But she would never put her needs above those of her friend and so she kept silent.

Aruna was happy. She didn't know when or where, but she was confident and hopeful. Sometimes you just had to wait for something good to happen.

***
Finally you get to meet Brandon Stark!
He's going to be a lovely prospect for Aruna.... and someone is not going to like that. O.o
I picture him as a cross between Torrance Coombs and Richard Madden(: