The meeting
"Is this your sanctuary too?"
The voice was calm, and when Erin looked up, she saw a beautiful young woman standing by the edge of the garden. She wore a simple gown, of a sweet yellow, that obviously suit her perfectly, she had a beautiful silver lock that could make any man fell on their knees and apologize for all of their sins to her, mesmerizing lilac eyes, that she knew could look into her soul, and, rings in her fingers, each one more extravagant than the last one, including a golden necklace with a beautiful red stone -probably a ruby or a red spinel-.
Though her presence was understated, there was an undeniable air of authority about her.
It was definitely a Targaryen.
Most definitely Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Erin stood quickly, surprised to find someone else out this late. "I didn't mean to intrude," she said, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The young woman smiled, though it was a smile that seemed to carry both understanding and a trace of curiosity. "You haven't intruded at all, although I am curious why a lady would be rambling at such late hours." She said with half-smirk, her brows up and Erin could swear she was having fun questioning her and seeing how the girl looked completely lost. “I couldn’t sleep. I’ve just arrived and…” Erin trailed off, taking a steadying breath before composing herself. “I am Erin Stark,” she said, her voice turning more formal than she had intended, as she extended a hand toward the princess. “I merely sought some fresh air, but if this is where you wish to remain, Your Grace, I shall take my leave and disturb you no further.”
Rhaenyra shook her head and as she shook her hand smiled. "Please don't." She trailed even closer, now whispering almost into her ear in a playful, innocent tone. "I might have just decided I do wish for company.” Erin felt herself flush and lowered her head.
The princess suddenly intertwined their arms and began to stroll with her, almost dragging her along until Erin managed to match her pace. “Call me Rhaenyra, please. My father said I must speak with you, and now I find myself curious as to why you are here at such an hour. So, tell me—truly.” Erin hesitated for a moment. Was it wise to share her thoughts so openly with the Crown Princess? In the end, Rhaenyra had made it sound as if she were merely fulfilling an obligation—was she truly interested, or simply acting out of duty? She had to be, they don't even know each other.
Yet, something in the warmth of Rhaenyra’s tone put Erin at ease, as if the princess, too, sought solace in the quiet. "I just needed some time alone," Erin said finally, her voice quieter now. "I don’t know anyone here. It’s all a bit overwhelming. I’ve already heard some lords saying things, and…" She trailed off, uncertainty flickering across her face.
"It seems like you wish to be alone," Rhaenyra simply replied, using once more, that mischievous, innocent tone. Erin felt herself flush once again, now even redder than before. "Oh no, I am glad you’re here, really," she stammered, her words tumbling out in haste. “I am too.” Rhaenyra's smile widened. “And anyway, you do know someone here now.” Erin gave her the same smile back.
It was weird.
They just started talking litterally two minutes ago and she was already saying that she could trust, even rely on her? She didn’t know if she was being honest, but if she was being honest with herself, she really needed an ally here.
So better hold on to it.
After a small lingering silence, the princess' back, which had been slightly hunched, straightened suddenly, as if waking from a trance. “So tell me Lady Stark. How was it growing up in the North?” Erin hesitated, unsure how to answer. Growing up in the North had been... different. It wasn’t all harsh, and cold -besides the weather- , but it wasn’t easy either. "It’s a place where you learn to get by," Erin said finally, her voice casual. "The North has always been a place where survival is more than just a necessity; it's a way of life. You need strength to survive there, mostly in the winters.
Rhaenyra snorted before speaking, "Strength is something we could all use more of here," she said moving her head exasperated. "I swear, they call for a maester everytime someones hurts their ego."
The brown-haired girl couldn't help but smile too. “And what about you, Prin—Rhaenyra?” She quickly corrected herself as Rhaenyra shot her a look, a silent warning not to call her "princess."
Although, it did suit her.
A princess indeed.
Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow, but there was no malice in her gaze. "What about me?" she asked, her tone a little teasing. "I don't know, I guess... How was it growing up here? How did you manage?" Erin asked, her curiosity evident. Rhaenyra shrugged slightly. "Well, growing up here isn't as great as one might think," she replied with a casual tone. Erin never thought it was. "It's hard—mostly because everyone's always watching. I guess that's why sometimes I sneak out here at night. No eyes on me, no expectations either." The princess sighed. "And how do I bear it?" She smirked. "By riding Syrax, of course.”
“...your… dragon?” Erin guessed, nervous. Rhaenyra laughed, “Yes, she is incredible.” Erin let out a deep sigh “I imagine” she had always watched dragons with admiration, though she never got to see one of the imponent creatures up-close.
“Well, then one day you must see her,” Rhaenyra assured, her face leaning closer to Erin. “Really?!” Erin snapped, her eyes wide in surprise. Rhaenyra nodded with a grin. The two exchanged a glance, and in that split second of shared understanding, laughter spilled out before either could stop it. As Erin walked alongside Rhaenyra, she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The way Rhaenyra touched her arm and spoke to her made her feel, if only slightly, at home—more at ease. Before either of them realized it, they had circled the large yard and found themselves back at the tree. Rhaenyra shot her a glance. “Would you sit with me? I've grown a bit tired, but I do not wish to return to my chambers just yet.” As they sat under the tree, in the quiet of the garden, Erin found herself more at ease than she had been in days. Perhaps this wouldn't be such a lonely place after all. Maybe, just maybe, she'd found an unexpected confidant in the princess.
.
Erin opened her eyes to the soft light of early morning. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the dim light, only to realize that the princess had unknowingly leaned on her shoulder. The warmth of the princess's presence was still comforting, and for a moment, she wasn't sure how much time had passed.
Had they really fallen asleep? Erin couldn't remember. The silence between them had felt natural, like a shared understanding that needed no words. The quiet comfort of the garden and the distant hum of the waking city had lulled them into an unexpected peace. It was still early-for what she could see, servants hadn't begun their daily duties, and the halls remained still. Erin gently nudged Rhaenyra's shoulder, whispering softly, "Princess, I think we may have fallen asleep." Rhaenyra stirred, blinking her violet eyes open slowly. Erin found herself caught in the gaze of those striking eyes for a moment, her heart skipping slightly. She shook the thought away and focused on the situation at hand. "What?..." Rhaenyra said, her voice groggy but still laced with the strength Erin had already begun to admire.
"Oh, fuck, I didn't even realize..." Rhaenyra quickly straightened herself, pulling away from Erin's shoulder and rising to her feet. For the briefest moment, Erin could swear she saw a tinge of pink on the princess's cheeks-an expression she hadn't expected from the realm's delight. She seemed almost... flustered? It was a rare glimpse, and Erin found herself quietly amused by it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Erin said, standing up as well.
Rhaenyra waved a hand dismissively, but there was a slight edge of embarrassment in her smile. "It's fine," she replied, her usual composure returning as she smoothed her gown. "I've never been one to shy away from a little rest, even in the most unlikely places." There was, now, a recovered, playful tone in her voice now, a contrast to the aloofness Erin had expected from the princess. "You make it sound like you're always napping in the gardens," Erin teased, raising an eyebrow, still half-amused by the princess's rare slip. Rhaenyra's smile widened slightly, the flush on her face fading as she regained her usual confidence. "Well, perhaps not that often. But... it is nice to be away from the noise, even for a little while." There was a brief pause before Rhaenyra added, "And sometimes, you just need an escape from… everything.”
Though not everyone (?)
Erin could hear the unspoken weight in her words. Despite her status, Rhaenyra was still human, with the same doubts and weariness that Erin herself had felt since arriving at court. It made her wonder what other sides of the princess remained hidden from everyone else. "You're right," Erin said quietly, now standing beside Rhaenyra. "I think we all need an escape from time to time." Rhaenyra glanced at her, an appreciative look flickering across her face. "Right," she said, her tone softening. Then, with a mischievous smile, she added, "But next time, we might want to choose a more... private spot to talk—or perhaps none at all.” Erin chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Agreed. Though, I must admit, I never thought I'd be found asleep next to a royal princess."
"Ah, the world does have its surprises," Rhaenyra replied with a smirk and boldness, standing a little taller as the morning sun began to light the garden around them. For a moment, they stood in silence, the warmth of the morning sun brushing against their faces. Erin couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort with Rhaenyra-perhaps their unexpected meeting, their quiet conversation, and even their shared moment of vulnerability, would mark the beginning of something more than she had anticipated.
"We should probably head back to our chambers," Rhaenyra said, breaking the silence with a casual tone.
"Yes, of course," Erin replied, nodding as Rhaenyra began walking down the hall toward her room. Erin followed instinctively, unaware they were headed in the same direction. "Wait, we're going the same way?" Rhaenyra suddenly stopped, her voice laced with amusement, just as Erin bumped into her. A surprised laugh almost escaped Rhaenyra as Erin collided with her.
"Uhh, yes... I think it is," Erin replied, sounding unsure, her mind still a little clouded from the unexpected closeness. "Well, in that case, we're heading the same way," Rhaenyra said with a playful smile, stepping up beside her and waiting for Erin to take the lead. As they turned a corner, they spotted a redhead standing near what appeared to be Rhaenyra's room.
The young girl, probably of their age, turned around at the sound of footsteps, and upon seeing Rhaenyra, her expression softened in relief. However, when her gaze landed on Erin, she froze for a moment, her eyes locking with hers. She hesitated before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper, "Rhaenyra " before she quickly looked away, her tone shifting as she found her confidence again. Then turned again her attention to Erin, a faint but warm smile forming on her lips. "Would you introduce me to your company?" Rhaenyra sighed, clearly unbothered, and introduced her friend. "Alicent Hightower," she said confidently. "This is Lady Stark." Erin extended her hand recognizing the name with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Lady Hightower."
Alicent quickly shook her head, her smile turning shy once more. "No, please, Alicent. And likewise, Lady Stark," she replied, her voice soft but genuine.
She shifted her attention back to the princess, her tone a bit more pointed. "Yesterday, you said we could go over the book about the conquest of Dorne. But when I arrived last night, you weren't there. I waited for an hour, and you never showed."
Rhaenyra winced, as though remembering what she had spent the night doing instead of meeting with Alicent.
"Shit—sorry," she corrected quickly, noticing the disapproving look from the redhead. "I forgot." "Clearly," Alicent said, her tone sharp but not harsh, still kind. "None of the servants knew where you were. I even asked your mother if you were with her, and she had no idea. I had to reassure her, saying you were probably riding Syrax. But you weren't. I asked everywhere."
Erin couldn't help but watch the interaction with quiet amusement, noticing how Rhaenyra rolled her eyes as if she were being gently scolded. The princess seemed to take the redhead's concern with grace, though Erin couldn't suppress a smile at how the situation played out.
“So” Alicent finally finished her reprimand “Were where you?”
"Erin and I were just talking," Rhaenyra replied, her tone making it clear that she shouldn't inquire further—at least while she was still there.
"Where were you two going then?" Alicent asked, her voice laced with an almost imperceptible edge, her gaze lingering on Erin a moment longer than usual. "It's not long before breakfast, and some lords are starting to arrive for the celebration. They are going to start making many big meals, and the celebration hasn't even started yet, there's even a chocolate fountain -it's shocking"
"We were just heading to our chambers," Rhaenyra replied with a grin, clearly amused by Alicent's enthusiasm. "But now that I've heard about the chocolate fountain, I might reconsider. What about you, Lady Stark?" she asked, her tone light and teasing.
"I would love to.” Erin frowned her brows for a second. “But I do have a question," She began, her curiosity piqued. "There were no servants around the last time I saw, and if it's such a big meal, where was everyone?" Alicent’s smile flickered for a moment before she refocused her attention on Erin, her gaze narrowing slightly. "Where exactly were you?" she asked, her voice soft, yet edged with curiosity. Erin raised an eyebrow, sensing the subtle tension in the air. Before she could respond, Rhaenyra spoke up, answering for her. "We were by the Weirwood tree," she said casually, her tone light. "It's a quiet spot, far from the kitchens and service doors, so I guess that's why no one was around." She flashed Erin a reassuring smile as she spoke. Alicent, however, tried to mask her discomfort with a forced smile, but Erin noticed the slight tension in her expression. "I see," Alicent replied, her tone returning to its usual warmth, though there was a faint tightness in her smile. "Well, if you two are finished with your talk, I suppose we can all go enjoy the chocolate fountain together."
Erin was eager to ignore the subtle tension in the air, her excitement for the chocolate fountain quickly taking over.
"That sounds like a brilliant plan," Rhaenyra chimed in, with a touch of sarcasm, though a hint of sincerity lingered behind her words which made Erin want to laugh.