Chapter 9
“That trial was a sham,” said Ned coldly as Rhaegar sat behind his desk.
“I did not want it to happen,” said Rhaegar with a sigh. “Had Lord Hoster bent the knee, he’d still be alive.”
“Oh please,” snarled Ned angrily. “You sent your pet sorcerer after him to finish what you dared not do. If it had been any other man, he might have died with honor, but you wouldn’t even give him that—”
The door to the solar opened, and Ned felt a chill. At the door was the young man he was talking about. He looked more like a boy than a man, with a clean-shaven face and bright blue eyes. His dark brown curls hung loosely around his face, and he wore strange black robes.
“You called for me?” he asked, ignoring Ned and looking at Rhaegar.
“Yes,” said Rhaegar. “I just wanted to inform you we will be departing soon. So be prepared; we will head to King's Landing, and then Ned and I will head to Dorne.”
“Dorne?” Ned turned to Rhaegar with a confused look on his face.
“Lyanna is in Dorne; she is safe in a tower by the Dornish red mountains, guarded by three of my Kingsguard.”
“You took my sister to the homeland of your wife?” Ned asked, barely holding back his rage.
“I took her where she would be safe. Especially in her condition; she is with child.”
“Curse you! You have turned my sister into your whore!” Ned looked as if he might lunge for the new king.
“She is no such thing,” replied Rhaegar coldly, barely containing his anger. “We left together. She didn’t want to marry Robert; she told me so herself.”
“It will take weeks to reach Dorne,” snarled Ned angrily.
“I can help with that,” offered Regulus, stepping forward.
“How?” asked Rhaegar curiously.
A sudden CRACK rang through the air, and Regulus vanished, only to reappear seconds later next to Lord Stark, who jumped startled.
Regulus let out a laugh at the look of terror on the Northman’s face.
“Like that.”
***
“My king, are you certain?” asked Lewin, watching as the sorcerer sat before the new king with his wand held out. “Magic is treacherous by nature. How do you know you can trust him?” He then turned to Regulus apologetically. “No offense, of course.”
“I can only apparate if I know exactly where I’m going or if I’ve been there before. I just need to see your memories of this Tower of Joy, and I can take us there.”
“So exactly what did you do to Lady Lysa Tully?” asked the king, trying to keep the worry from his voice.
“Yes and no,” said Regulus. “She tried to shield herself from my spell. No harm should come to you as long as you don’t resist. Just close your eyes and envision this Tower of Joy. See it in your mind, and all should be fine.”
Rhaegar took a breath and nodded.
“Okay, close your eyes—”
“I warn you, sorcerer,” said Barristan, stepping forward. “Should any harm come to the king, you’ll regret it.”
Regulus smirked and turned to Rhaegar.
“Relax, Legilimens.”
Regulus watched a dozen images flash before his eyes. Rhaegar upon his horse riding into a clearing to find a girl with long brown hair, looking back at him with grey eyes.
Then he saw Rhaegar upon a horse riding up to the girl, a crown of blue roses in his hand as he held it up to her.
She pressed herself against him, kissing him passionately.
“I don’t want to marry him,” she begged. “Please take me with you. I beg you.” She clung to Rhaegar, and he held her in his arms.
He heard her screams of horror as she cried into his chest. “My father and brother!” He wiped tears from her pale face. “Why?”
“Protect her,” said Rhaegar to three men in armor drenched in white cloaks. “Once the war is over, things will be as they should be.”
Regulus stared up at a stone tower. He felt the heat upon his skin under the glaring sun, and he spotted mountains drenched in red and orange.
He gasped as he and Rhaegar pulled back. Rhaegar stared at him, neither saying a word.
“Your grace, are you alright?” asked Barristan, turning to Regulus accusingly.
“I am fine,” said Rhaegar, turning to Regulus. “Did you see it?”
“Yes,” responded Regulus. “I got what I needed.”
***
Regulus, Rhaegar, and Ned Stark stood in the courtyard of the training yard. Around them were Lord Tywin, Lord Jon Arryn, and Brynden Tully.
“You have your orders,” said Rhaegar. “Lord Tywin will march to Storm's End and finish the siege.”
“Yes, my king,” responded Tywin before turning to Regulus curiously.
“Lord Tully and Lord Arryn, you will meet us in King’s Landing to bend the knee and swear fealty before the lords of the realm.”
Both men nodded begrudgingly, staring daggers at Regulus.
“In the meantime, I will retrieve Lady Lyanna from Dorne and then head to the Red Keep.”
“Your grace, are you certain it is safe?” asked Lewin, staring warily at Regulus.
“No harm will come to the king. I can promise you that,” said Regulus coldly.
“Regulus has yet to give me doubts about his loyalty,” said Rhaegar, turning to Regulus with a smile.
“Thank you,” said Regulus with a smile. “Now, your grace, Lord Eddard, give me your hands.”
“What?” snarled Ned, looking down at the boy's pale outstretched hand.
“I need to be holding you for the spell to work. Unless you don’t want to see your sister…” Ned growled and took Regulus' left hand while Rhaegar took his right. Regulus was sure they must have looked rather silly, three men holding hands.
“Now try not to scream.”
“What—” began Lord Eddard when a loud crack rang through the air, and all three men were gone.
***
Eddard screamed as his body was crushed all at once. The sorcerer’s hand held him with crushing force, and he stumbled to the ground with a thud. Instantly, he felt vomit rise in his throat, and he wretched as he puked his breakfast on the dirty ground.
“You son of a bitch,” he turned to the sorcerer, who stood tall as if nothing had happened. On his other side, Rhaegar had also fallen to the ground. He stood up and lunged for the sorcerer, gripping him by the collar. “You bloody cunt, I’ll—”
“Who goes there?” They turned to a man in armor making his way toward them. He was tall and broad with bright violet eyes. In his hand was a sword of milky white.
“Arthur,” called Rhaegar, lifting himself up.
“My prince,” said Arthur, taking a knee. “We heard of your victory at the Trident. There are rumors of a sorcerer and—” then his eyes fell upon Regulus, and his words died in his mouth.
“We’ll talk later, old friend; now, Lady Lyanna.”
“The birthing has begun; she—” it was then that they heard them.
The screams of pain and terror.