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𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐑 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐔𝐏 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐎, 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐓 𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐃.

Daemon had been sending him many ravens over the past weeks that followed since he was exiled and Rhagar had been tempted to respond. Although, he thought his friend needed to understand that what you say can be just as hurtful as what you do but it was difficult for Rhagar to not fly with Klauth and cause havoc.

For the Rouge Prince had been at many a battle with Caraxes and his men, inviting Rhagar along with his father to join but he kept a tight hand on his restraint. Even though the princess had been getting under his skin far more frequently than she ever had before.

Constantly tipping over his drinks when sitting with the high Lords, making sure his swords were blunt and he admits that maybe he started this outburst from her. When Otto Hightower blamed him for burning his entire wardrobe and trashing his chambers Rhagar thought about not bringing in Rhaenyra's name, he really did but he couldn't help it.

And her father certainly did ban her from attending meetings with the Lords for a week and gave her a curfew so, she finds her actions justified.

"Rhagar," Rodrick said as he pushed open the door to his chambers with a huff. Over the months that had passed since the two knew each other they had grown as close as brothers which meant invading one another's privacy was now valid.

He hummed and walked over to the table where he served himself a glass of wine, "the King wants to see you," he scoffed at Rodrick's saying.

"If the King wants me he can get off his high horse and stop sending his merry men," Rhagar looked Rodrick up and down and the Baratheon looked down at his brown pants and tunic before crossing his arms in a huff.

"Don't insult the messenger besides he says it's urgent, "Rhagar turned his back to him and rolled his eyes, "it's about the princess."

The chalice stopped a couple inches away from his lips before he sighed and placed it on the table before picking up his sword from the bed and sheathing it. He was out the door before Rodrick could even accompany him, "I do warn you though," Rodrick rushed out as Rhagar quickened his pace to reach the room required.

"Warn me about what?" They stopped outside the door and Rodrick decided it was best to whisper, "you won't be the only one." Rhagar furrowed his eyes rows and went to open his mouth when the double doors were thrown open. His eyes quickly scanned the room first landing on Viserys with contempt before travelling to a silver knight with dark locks and a still face.

And lastly Rhaenyra who had her arms crossed in front of her as she stood with an eyebrow arched as if to challenge him.

"Ah Rhagar you've arrived now we can get started," Viserys said with a anxious clear of his throat. He knew that the Warfare House now held a deep distaste for him and although he were the King and thought it proper of him to act unbothered it was difficult when you always had a deadly glare on you.

"With what?" Rhagar pursed his lips and rested both hands on his sword as he leaned his weight on one leg.

Viserys was going to open his mouth when Rhaenyra cut him off without missing a beat, "me and my father are simply discussing who would be my personal guard."

"And what's that got to do with me," in all honesty the idea of spending more than half a second in the princesses presence made his skin crawl.

"My father thinks you would be a good fit though I find Ser Criston far better," she jutted her head to the knight who had been silent as he stood in the corner of the room.

Rhagar looked him up and down with his nose and lips slightly pinched in disgust at the mere idea that someone was better than him. "And do tell princess, how is he better than me," Rhagar took his eyes from the knight and moved them back to Rhaenyra's where his golden irises practically glowed in envy, his grip tightening on the handle of his sword.

"He beat every knight at the tourney- even Prince Daemon," he retorted with a snort that made her chest heave and nostrils flare as she was interrupted.

"If he went up against me he would certainly be defeated- oh wait he did," he laughed once more and Criston who was still stood in the corner of the room shuffled uncomfortably on his feet and kept his eyes to the floor.

"Fine then he did not beat you," she sneered out and her feet guided her to inch closer and closer to him as she spoke every word. His body leaned closer against his better judgement but his feet were planted rooted to the ground.

But Rodrick had other plans and raised a timid hand as he arose from the background, "if- if I may your Grace, Rhagar did not beat Ser Criston but he came pretty close to it."

His words made Rhaenyra snicker whilst Rhagar clenched his jaw in annoyance and snapped his neck to Rodrick who felt as though he'd shrunk under his glare.

"There you have it Rhagar," she taunted and took another step closer as if to intimidate him, "you did not beat my choice of guard so I suppose you might as well just leave," she smirked teasingly that clashed with his angered eyes that held a blaze behind them.

Viserys who was sat at the end of the table amidst the knights and his daughter side eyed Ser Criston who shrugged his shoulders at him. Viserys was awkwardly scratching the back of his neck with no intention of stepping in between whatever weird thing the two were having.

Rhagar was going to leave, he really was but it was now his mind that betrayed his body as a feeling of nausea settled in his stomach as he reminisced what Aemma had said, "protect Rhaenyra."

He chewed on the inside of his mouth letting the top layer of skin peel off before an idea came to mind and he let his own devious smirk match hers that faltered slightly. "I say we have a rematch then, me and Ser Criston for the honour to guard the princess and he would be the new commander of the Nights Watch."

Rhaenyra seemed slightly shocked but more so confused by his eagerness to want to be at her side so badly, did he realise that he would be at her beck and call. She narrowed her eyes at him to search for an ulterior motive but he held her gaze and she saw nothing but gold staring back at her.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ser Criston ready to step forward but Viserys had already raised from his seat with his hands clasped together. "That is a splendid idea you two will fight tomorrow at dawn, I will be sure to let the hounds know they will have a new commander."

Rhagar was going to retort to the king but decided to bite his tongue and accept his proposal to the fight with a stiff grin, "of course Viserys," he opposed from saying thank you or he might have just pulled out his own teeth.

The king nodded and bided a good morrow to his daughter before leaving with multiple guards trailing behind him. "Princess I must take my leave now," Ser Criston said and Rhaenyra turned to him but Rhagar scoffed slightly.

"Didn't know you could talk," he gritted back to which the knight simply shook his head at and did not hold eye contact as he kept his head grounded to the floor and walked out the door with Rodrick on his heel.

The door slammed shut behind them and now the two were alone, Rhagar winced slightly when Rhaenyra turned round to glare at him along with a frown.

"How can you be so insufferable?" She parented her mouth to say more but her raised hand stopped herself. "Never mind I know how your just a conniving, scheming minx who does not care for anyone but them self."

Rhaenyra started to walk past him but her words hit a spot in his heart he did not know was possible and he grabbed her arm to stop her from walking.

She turned to look up at him with furrowed eyebrows and her lips were parted slightly as he stared down at her with an intensity that she wasn't sure she could match. "Don't say that please," Rhagar's words hadn't meant to sound so small so weak, so unlike him it scared Rhaenyra.

"Then tell me who it is you care for," she urged and pushed herself forward till there chests were touching though he was still holding her arm in a burning grip that tightened with every strained breath they both heaved.

Rhagar's mind seemed to whirl as he caught the spark behind the princesses eyes was it...hope a hope that she would say something meaningful- say her. His eyes darted across her face from her soft eyes to her plush lips that were free of any cuts or scabs on them.

"I care for," he trailed off and found it increasingly hard to breath as she took her left hand to press against his chest and he was sure she could hear his heart beat without even needing to touch him.

He thought he'd swallow his tongue by how dry his mouth was, "I cared for Aemma," the mention of her mother caused her to draw a sharp breath but he was not finished, "I care for Alicent and Katrina along with Daemon and Rodrick." Her expression was one of downcast that she could not mask even from him.

"And I care for you."  Her attention was now solely placed on him as she looked up at him with a chocked sort of undeniable shock though he sensed her wariness, "I care for...you." Rhagar spoke every word in a low and deep whisper and now their faces had pulled to one another as their bodies had collided to their full extent. 

Their noses were touching and their eyes traveled to their lips and back to each other's eyes with one purposeful intention. It was so obvious- it would be so perfect, so right but the two were anything but for one another and it would seem the fates agreed as their was a loud nock on the tall double doors.

He snatched his body and arm away from her and his eyes were wide as they both heaved heavily and took hastened steps away from one another. Rhagar swerved around the princess and pushed the doors open quickly without sparing a second glance to the girl behind him.

He didn't even see the culprit of who knocked but Rhaenyra sure did and she was cursing that very man with every myth she'd ever read- it was Otto fucking Hightower.