No one could dispute the place of the five with the young Brandon Stark. Together with Adrik Tyrell, Daemon Targaryen and two other knights Aruna did not know, he won the tournament and thus the honor of Princess Rhaenyra.

Even though the tournament was for Rhaenyra and Laenor, they had shown little interest at the end and had talked and drunk wine with Aruna. The ceremony was actually quite unspectacular and quickly over. The princess, her husband and her friend had personally gone to the five winners to talk to them about what had happened. Especially Laenor was very interested in the conversations.

Aruna had hugged her brother tightly and smiled at him proudly. Adrik was, next to Rhaenyra, the most important person in her life and she was glad that nothing had happened to him. Afterwards, she had congratulated each of the others on their victory as well and had a brief chat with them.

"A remarkable performance, my prince" Aruna eyed Daemon's horse. The knights had tied their horses to a wooden post and had dismounted to speak with the princess or other visitors. Daemon paused what he was doing and looked at the young woman. He had just tightened his horse's saddle and had not seen Aruna.

"Thank you, Lady Aruna" the Targaryen replied curtly. Aruna found his title of greeting to her annoying. She had liked it when he had called her my Lady. She would have preferred to sigh aloud or retort something sarcastic, but she refrained and went to the young Stark instead.

Brandon looked much more excited than Daemon when she joined him. "Lady Aruna" His smile was so genuine and warm, it almost made the girl's cheeks turn red. "How nice to see you"

"It's good to see you too, Ser Brandon" Aruna returned his smile and looked at his horse. "You really have a beautiful horse" she noted. The fur was a beautiful warm shade of brown and the animal looked healthy and strong. Horses had always been her favorite animals. Suddenly she missed her own horse, which was waiting for her in Highgarden.

Brandon took the halter in his hand and stroked his horse's neck. "Thank you, Lady Aruna" The Stark looked at the Tyrell and then pointed to his horse. "Go ahead" Aruna carefully placed her hand on the horse's blaze. The horse was exceedingly well behaved and immediately let Aruna touch him.

"Does he have a name?" Aruna wanted to know, looking to the young Stark. "She" Brandon corrected her "Her name is Nymeria".

"A beautiful name, for a beautiful mare" Aruna's words were true. The horse stood out among the other horses of the competitors. "Do all the horses in the north look like that?" she asked gullibly. Brandon had to laugh as he shook his head. "I take it you've never been to the north, Lady Aruna?" the young man stated. Brandon was still wearing her wreath. He hadn't taken it off since Aruna had given it to him.

"No..." Aruna shook her head slightly. She only knew Highgarden and King's Landing, and the statement almost made her sad. "But I would like to see the north and feel real cold on my cheeks"

Almost dreamily the Stark looked at the Tyrell girl. Almost as if he were imagining her in the snow. "It would be my honor to show you the beautiful north. This place is nothing compared to that" Aruna had to smile at the offer and hoped to accept it someday.

"Lady Aruna, Ser Brandon" Laenor joined the two and introduced himself to the northerner. "My
consort sent me. She wished your company" Laenor pointed to Rhaenyra. All three turned to the
princess. As if sensing it, Rhaenyra looked to the three and smiled.

Standing with Rhaenyra were Daemon and Laena. The two groups looked at each other for a moment before Aruna said goodbye to Brandon Stark. She had really enjoyed his company. As slowly as she could, she walked over to her friend.

"I hope my please didn't spoil your conversation?" Rhaenyra looked guiltily at Aruna. Her uncle just rolled his eyes, but the two girls couldn't see that. Laena held back and watched everything quietly for now.

"Maybe a little bit, but it doesn't matter" Aruna said honestly. She had resolved not to hide anything anymore. "We still have enough time to talk" The girl turned briefly to Brandon, who was still talking to Laenor, and for a brief moment he returned the eye contact.

"What is he like? I mean as a northerner" Laena wanted to know and Aruna turned to the young girl. "Exceedingly charming and nice" gushed the dark haired one, watching Daemon out of the corner of her eye.

"Disguise. Northerners are barbaric and want to carry off young southerners like you" Startled, all three women looked to the only man in the group. Daemon visibly did not hide his distaste. "And how do you know this, Prince?"

Daemon finally turned his eyes to her, but he no longer looked at her affectionately or kindly as usual. Aruna wished at that moment that he would stop looking at her and ignore her again. Since she could barely stand his gaze and couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"I know more northerners than you by far. You should trust my experience, Lady Aruna!" the Targaryen demanded seriously, looking down at the Tyrell. Rhaenyra and Laena said nothing to their conversation. Especially for Rhaenyra, this was uncharacteristic.

"Not everyone has evil intentions, Prince Daemon." Aruna defended Brandon. He was kind to her and had saved her from embarrassment. She couldn't imagine that Brandon had evil intentions. Or any intentions at all. "Why does this bother you so much?"

"I'm trying to save you from making a mistake" At his words, Aruna faltered. Too much she would like to believe him, but a quick glance at Laena made her doubt. She took a quick breath before answering him. "Then you should have asked me, if you wanted to save me from making a mistake."

No one said a word and Daemon couldn't think of anything to say either. "Excuse me" Aruna deliberately curtsied to the three and then left them standing. She quickly left the show grounds and found shelter in one of the many tents.

Without seeing which one she went into, she found herself in a tent for children. There was a puppet show in the front and pillows and blankets all over the floor. The children were so focused on the puppet show that they sat quietly in their seats. No one had seen or heard Aruna come in.

Few of the parents were present Aruna noticed as she sat down on one of the cushions at the very back. She just wanted to get away and had found a safe place here. No one would look for her here. Slowly she began to listen to the stories of the puppeteers.

A man and a woman were telling the story about a young girl who lived in the forest. The girl was friends with all the animals from the forest and lived alone in a self-made hut. Aruna had to smile, because it sounded like the perfect life. The girl in the story had no worries, many friends, and was not forced to marry and have children someday. Aruna was almost jealous.

One of the children sitting next to her eyed her shyly. Aruna smiled cautiously at the young one. The boy quickly became bold with the young woman and introduced himself as David. Whispering, the two talked and gradually more children gathered around Aruna. After the puppet show, the children asked Aruna to tell a story.

She could not refuse the children's request and told a story about the girl with a rose. It was a popular children's story in Highgarden, which her brother used to tell her often before going to sleep. The children admired it and listened eagerly and almost excitedly. David was even the brave one and put his head on Aruna's leg and closed his eyes. David's behavior caused Aruna to smile.

She had never thought of herself as a mother, because she never wanted to be like her aunt. Aruna knew it was her duty as a wife to give children to her future husband, but she never knew if she wanted children herself. At that moment she became unsure of her earlier thoughts, because the children seemed to love her.

One by one, the parents came to take their children. Only with difficulty did they leave the tent. One girl had even cried and Aruna felt touched. Her story seemed to have gone down well with the children.

The tent had been her safe haven. She had not thought she would feel safe here so quickly, much less be recognized. Aruna enjoyed the feeling of being needed and acknowledged. She could have spent the whole day here, but it was getting late.

Among the parents was Queen Alicent herself. Aruna was embarrassed to find that she didn't recognize her children among all the children, despite their light hair. "Lady Aruna," Alicent greeted her, and Aruna stood up to curtsy to her. "Good to see you, your Grace."

Alicent eyed the children who were literally clinging to the Tyrell girl. "They like you." she noted, and had to smile. "I'm not surprised. You are an overwhelmingly nice company."

"I thank you for those words, your Grace" It really pleased Aruna to hear how her old friend thought about her. She had hardly spent any time with Alicent since she was back. "Are we going for a walk?" asked Alicent, but it was more of an order for Aruna. You don't turn down a favor from someone in the royal family.

Aruna nodded in agreement and said goodbye to the children, to whom she had to promise to tell them another story soon. Alicent's daughter Helaena took Aruna's hand and her two sons walked beside her.

The five were accompanied by guards who were responsible for the security of the queen. For Aruna it was still very unfamiliar. Much had changed since her last stay here. Alicent was now queen, Rhaenyra was the heiress of the Iron Throne, and Daemon awakened unknown and new feelings in her.

"How are you?" wanted Aruna to know after a while of silence. The guards kept enough distance from the women and the children played with each other. At least the two boys were. Helaena was still holding Aruna's hand.

Alicent looked at her companion in wonder. Aruna got the feeling that Alicent was rarely if ever asked how she was doing. "Fine, considering the circumstances," she replied curtly, avoiding eye contact.

Aruna didn't know what Alicent meant by circumstances, but she got pity for her old friend. And she wondered if all this was Alicent's wish and dream? She was chained to the king, had given him three children, and yet she did not look happy. This life was just not the fulfillment for any woman.

"Ser Brandon Stark seemed interested in you. Are you thinking of marrying him?" Alicent changed the subject as she sat down on a bench and gestured for Aruna to sit beside her. She left her children in the care of a septa.

By now Aruna hated this question, but it seemed there was only one way out of it. And that was to finally get married, of all things.

"I wish I knew the answer, your Grace," the Tyrell answered honestly, looking at her hands. "When we are alone I don't want you to address me so formally. After all, we were once good friends." Alicent looked kindly at Aruna before her face became more serious again. "I can almost feel your emotions, Aruna. I was in a similar situation back then."

Now Aruna looked at the other woman knowingly. "I feel like everyone wants to control my life, and it makes me unsure of what I actually want." Understanding, Alicent nodded. No one could ever relate to Alicent like that. Alicent also had no choice then when her father urged her to spend time with the king.

"If there's anything I can do to help, let me know." Demanded the queen. "Not every woman should have to go through this. A woman's duties are not meant for every woman."

Aruna had never heard such honest words. Finally, someone spoke her thoughts and fears. "But we have no choice, do we?" asked Aruna almost sarcastically, and Alicent shook her head. "If there was a way out, I would know it and take it".

Aruna felt good talking to a woman who had the same pressures from society. Alicent had even more pressure in her position as queen. While she knew she could talk to Rhaenyra about these things as well, she didn't want to cause her any more worry. Besides, Aruna knew that her secret was safe with Alicent.

The girl looked at the three guards standing a little distance away. One of them was already familiar to Aruna. Ser Criston Cole had been the attacker on the first night of the festivities. He had been the instigator of the chaos. Aruna got a bad feeling about him and instantly blamed him for Daemon's rescue and their failed bond.

Aruna would have liked to ask why Criston was still alive after the action. After all, he had killed someone in front of everyone. Why did Alicent let him get so close and why did the king allow this to happen? Aruna planned to question this at some point, but now was not the right time.

As dusk fell, Aruna said goodbye to Alicent. The conversation had done her good, but it had also left her quite exhausted. Since she couldn't find her brother or her friends, she headed back to the Red Keep.

The longer she was here, the better she knew the corridors and it was almost as if she had never been away.

Instead of going to her own chamber, she went to the Tyrell family lounge where they dined every morning. On her own, she lit the fireplace and then lay down exhausted on one of the red furniture. It was an uncomfortable couch and the fabric felt scratchy on Aruna's skin, so she pulled the sleeves of her dress down further.

Aruna's mind was still on her conversation with Alicent, her gaze fixed on the warm fire. Through the closed window she could still hear the people from the festival celebrating and singing drunken songs. Aruna closed her eyes and shortly after fell asleep without wanting to.

Sometime during the night she woke up when something heavy lay on her. Startled, she opened her eyes and sat up, only to see her cousin standing in front of her. "Elio!" He had a woolen blanket in his hand, apparently trying to cover her.

Elio was not deterred and covered his cousin. Irritated, she looked at him in response. "You were shivering in your sleep. I thought you were cold" he justified himself and sat down next to her on the piece of furniture.

Aruna pulled her legs to her body and snuggled into the blanket. She was actually quite cold. "That's sweet of you...thank you" she said softly then. Elio just smiled at her in response. "Are you just back now?"

"Were you worried about me, cousin?" Elio grinned cheekily now and nudged her gently. Aruna stuck her tongue out at him in response. "Yes I am. It was still quite funny on the streets" The girl preferred not to imagine what he had been doing rubbing for so long, so she just nodded. "Have you seen Adrik?" she then wanted to know.

"Only briefly in the evening, then we parted ways again." Elio shook his head as he spoke. "He's certainly already asleep and if he's lucky even in a woman's lap." he joked, but Aruna didn't find it funny and slapped him against the arm. "Don't talk about him like that."

"And what if it's the truth?" provoked Elio to his cousin. "It isn't. My brother is a man of honor" Was her brother perhaps with a woman after all? Adrik had never told her about women or about relationships, so she didn't want to believe he was with one now.

"And yet here I am, tucking you in. Not him" Elio spoke calmly and his provocative voice was gone. She hated to agree with her cousin! "And why are you here?" she wanted to know from him.

"Why do you always ask so many questions?" Instead of answering her, Elio asked Aruna a counter question and he knew exactly how much she didn't like that. "Because no one gives me answers or tells me anything!" Aruna stood up and put the wool blanket over her shoulders.

Sure enough, Elio didn't go into her statement and answer her question. "I just wanted to get one last wine before going to sleep and then I saw you lying here." In fact, Aruna believed her cousin at that moment.

The two had not always gotten along well, but the older they got the more they learned to deal with it. By now they could talk to each other normally, even if Aruna didn't understand or agree with many of Elio's actions and statements.

"Good night, Elio. Put out the fire when you leave." She then instructed him and left the room. Aruna was exhausted and had no strength left today to continue talking to him or even arguing if necessary. As she walked across the hallway she could still hear the voices and music from outside. A privileged few also seemed to be prancing through the hallways of the Red Keep or were on their way to bed.

As she walked past the stairs it was as if she heard the voice of Rhaenyra. Aruna stopped for a moment and tried to understand what she was saying, but Rhaenyra was speaking Valyrian.

She then quickly went to her room to avoid being caught. Aruna would not even have had an explanation for eavesdropping and wanted to avoid trouble for today.

****

i just posted a new tiktok about the tyrell family!

I would be happy if you look at it. :))

Tiktok: roseofwesteros

What did you think of the chapter? <33