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𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐍. Their lingering glances and quiet giggles was something he often saw between the two boys but he said nothing about it and kept his mouth shut for Rodrick's likings could get him killed.

Katerina was a woman whom he hadn't spoken too in a fare few months, they were both busy people with her being the eldest Hightower sister and him having many roles to play. He'd spoken to Alicent more than one and enjoyed her company more than he'd like to admit.

However, he took into thought that whenever he did see Katerina looked worried- biting her nails and chewing on the inside of her mouth was a repetitive cycle. Rhagar wished to speak with her but she seemed in a hurry wherever she trailed off to throughout the day.

Yet, the princess managed to score herself another servant- Oberyn. He would trail after the princess like a lost pup and it made Rhagar laugh at how lost he looked.

Only when he was laughing did Rodrick walk up to him and say, "he reminds me of you." To which he got himself a fistful of dirt shoved into his mouth.

Oberyn was not a quiet one at all he was able to talk your ear off once he got out of his shyness and Rhagar hadn't heard the end of it. Once Rhaenyra had something to do he would search the castle for Rhagar.

The Valyrian didn't even like him, which is what he told himself, so when Oberyn would ask him question after question he would try and gruffly reply. That only seemed to make it worse and Rhagar thought about tearing off his ears but he'd always walk the boy back to his chambers when came night.

He'd wake the boy up and take him all the way to the other side of the castle where Rhaenyra would be, take him to supper and had started to take him horse riding. And yet after all this Rhagar still told himself he didn't like him.

It was early morning and the sky was turning from orange to a light blue, Rhagar had just woke still in his night garments when a loud knock made him jump.

"Go away!" He all but grumbled to whoever was on the other side of the door. Though, the pounding on the door continues only more rapid and consistent this time.

Rhagar hauled himself to his feet with a tight face as he hastily walked to the door and swung it open to be greeted with the princess.

"What do you want?" It was clear to her that he was not a morning person.

"I need you to escort me to the throne room," she pushed past him and entered his chambers whilst continuing to speak. He stood by the door and grabbed a fist full of his hair nearly tearing it off.

"This early?"

"Oh stop being a prat and get ready I am to be," the words died off of her tongue as if they were too hard to speak.

Her silence made him more awake, "Rhaenyra?" Rhagar walked over to her as her back was turned to him, she was scarily quiet.

"Do you think I'll make a good Queen?" She asked when she felt his hand touch her shoulder.

He could've answered with something snarky, something that would've made Rhaenyra want to hit him but he didn't. "I think," he turned her round so she was facing him with eyebrows furrowed in stress, "you're going to be the greatest queen the world will have ever seen."

She looked up at him and had the smallest of smiles forming, Rhagar was instantly reminded of when they were mere children and how he could make her laugh so hard she'd have to clutch her stomach. Until it all changed.

They looked one another in the eye as if reliving every moment they had shared together, the good, the ugly. Emotion rushed to their head and wrapped itself around his lungs like a tight rope, squeezing so hard it bruised.

Nose to nose it was almost amusing how many times they'd found themselves this close to each other and always denied any feelings. Though, this seemed different Rhagar was leaning closer and closer, Rhaenyra moved a hand to the collar of his armour and was tempted to pull him in.

He was suddenly aware of how beautiful she looked, in a red satin dress with gold and black crests embedded in the dress. She had her hair tied in a neat bun with many braids and a black and gold headpiece- she looked radiant.

"Rhaenyra!"

The two jumped away from each other with flushed faces and nervous stances, Alicent and Katrina had come to prepare Rhaenyra. Usually he would bury anything that just happened between the two into the darkest parts of himself but now he was infuriated.

Angry that they had been interrupted and the butterflies that traveled up his stomach, into his throat made him scared of the feelings he'd been having for a long time.

"Yes," she managed to croak out and the two bursted through the room.

"I told you she'd be here," Alicent chimed to her sister with a dainty smile pointed towards her friend.

"I suppose I owe you a lemon cake," Katerina said with a faint smile but it was fake- something was troubling her. "Shall we go?"

Rhagar nodded and held the door open for them to leave first, Katrina made sure the two girls were a far bit in front of her before whispering to him, "I need to speak with you."

He looked down at her expectant but she shook her head rapidly, "not here- this is a matter we need to discuss privately," Katrina pleaded and he simply nodded.

They arrived in the Throne room with every Lord and lords' sons kneeling at the feet of the king with the princess stood in front of them. Head raised and back arched in complete and utter stillness as she awaited her father to speak.

Every Lord took a knee as they stood in front of Viserys and Rhaenyra who had the blankest of faces with her hands folded in front of another. Some were more begrudging to bend the knee to a woman but when Rhagar gave them a fine glare they seized.

"Do you Kratus of House Warfare swear to follow."

"I swear on my honour, my wife's memory and my sons life we will follow Rhaenyra Targaryen, heir to the iron throne," he recited and Rhagar who was knelt besides him kept his head low until he lifted it to look at the princess in question.

The soon to be queen turned to look at all of her subjects but she couldn't stop herself from looking at him. Kneeling at her feet sporting a look of proudness, something he didn't often look at her like it was nice. A feeling that brought her great piece and she would've continued to stare if not for her fathers brooding get humble voice cutting through the tension the two created.

"I Viserys Targaryen, first of his name, king of the annals and the rhoynar and the first men, lord of the seven kingdoms and protector of the realm," he stood in front of his throne with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Do herby name Rhaenyra Targaryen, princess of dragon stone and heir to the iron throne."

All were stood and bowed their heads as the King named her, she turned to face her people with her head high and shoulders pushed back. The posture of a Queen and for the first time in a long time when their eyes connected amongst the sea of heads he gave her a genuine smile.

The people were scattered round the throne room as they spoke with one another but many were interested m getting an audience with Rhaenyra. She was not used to this much attention about politics or the future and it excited her but she couldn't help peer over shoulders to catch a glimpse of his white hair and that smile again.

However Rhagar was pulled out the throne room and dragged to Godswood by none other than Katerina who had been meaning to speak with him for at least a few months at this rate.

"Katerina what troubles you?" He was genuine with his words and meant to only help her for he had noticed her tense figure for some time.

The next words came out rushed and nearly made Rhagar faint, "I need you to marry my sister."