Part Two - The Knight and His Princess
Rhaenyra finally let the fake smile on her face drop as the Celtigars departed from Stepstones. Normally she would have invited them for a stay and feted them with a feast but between the hole in the ballroom (thanks for that, Grey Ghost) and she nor her household are unable to keep a civilized conversation with Ser Celtigar, she was glad she had a viable excuse to not have the Celtigars as her guests.
(Pity. Lord Bartimos Celtigar was an interesting man and she was looking forward to some intelligent correspondence with him.)
Walking back to the castle and followed by Ser Aemon, the princess couldn’t help but mourn the fact Harwin was no longer watching her back now her scarlet shadows are back. There was no longer the sound of heavy footsteps dogging her footsteps, the flash of red and black cloak from the corner of her eye distracting her nor his muffled laugh whenever she said something funny.
She couldn’t help the deep sigh escaping from her, shaking her head at her guard when he looked in befuddlement at her.
Rhaenyra wondered if she should go for a flight and sulk on Olyvar’s lap (though she has a feeling he would just make fun of her for it) when Vaelaena and Rowena came running toward them. “Princess! Princess Rhaenyra!!” Her Vale cousin gasped out. “Thank the Seven we found you.”
“What? What happened?!” Rhaenyra asked in despair. Was Lord Corlys here to challenge Laenor’s and Prunella’s marriage? Were they under attack from pirates? Has her father finally lost his mind and had come to force her to marry one of the Hightowers?! Scary thoughts swirled in her mind as she was unsure what was going on.
“It’s Ser Harwin!” Vaelaena huffed, trying to catch her breath. “He’s dueling Sayiddah in the garden right now!”
“What?!”
Rhaenyra tried to push her way through the thick crowd, everyone watching avidly at the vicious duel in front of them that they didn’t realize their ruling princess was trying to get to the front. Thanks to Ser Aemon and her ladies, the princess finally was able to squeeze her way and watched in fascinated horror as her two most favorite people in the world clashed against each other.
At some point, the barely polite duel had descended into a brawl; trading vicious punches and kicks and steel swipes. Nose bleeding, lip stinging, head ringing from a temple blow. They go around and around, exchanging body blows and fancy high kicks, brutal elbows to the face.
Both refused to give up at this point, despite the blood splatters covering their ripped clothes. No, their collective honors were at stake at this point.
“THAT IS ENOUGH!” Rhaenyra bellowed loudly. Spectators complained but slunk away when the princess turned to glare at them angrily before turning back to Harwin and Sayiddah, the latter spitting out blood from her mouth. “What were you thinking?!! Brawling in the middle of the garden like uncivilized savages?!”
“We were just sparring.” Sayiddah said sulkily as Laena helpfully passed her handkerchief to her. Beside her, Harwin was ducking his sisters fussing, blood still dripping from his nose.
“Sparring?!! More like both of you were trying to murder each other!!” Rhaenyra shrieked; seriously this is not good for her mental health. “Well, is anyone going to tell me how this happened in the first place?!”
Everyone looked at each other awkwardly. Alys opened her mouth to say something when she yelped loudly as her brother slapped his hand over her mouth. Harwin bowed wordlessly to Rhaenyra before leaving, dragging his sisters with him.
Rhaenyra stared at his retreating back in confusion.
“What the hell?” She muttered loudly. She then turned to Sayiddah, who threw a jug of water over her, sluicing off the blood on her head. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
The Nakhuda took a swig of water to wash out the taste of blood in her mouth before turning to the young woman. “I asked your cousin for a courtship and she said yes.”
“Oh? Nice.” Rhaenyra nodded appreciatively. It’s good Sayiddah found someone and judging from Laena’s very excited, lust-filled gaze on the Nakhuda, it was clearly reciprocal between the two of them. “Wait, then why was Ser Harwin challenged Sayiddah to a duel?”
“He apparently took offense to me trying to besmirch Laena’s virtues in the garden.” Sayiddah smirked.
“Whatever for?” She asked bewildered.
Everyone looked awkwardly at each other (they may or may not have invested in the secret betting ring about their princess’s romantic relationships), unsure what to say to her.
“Well? Is anyone going to tell me?” After a long awkward moment of silence, she threw her hands in the arm, grumbling loudly to herself.
“There you are.” Harwin stiffened to hear Rhaenyra’s voice from behind him. He had fled to Felstrong to seek clarity at the Weirwood sapling, hoping no one would find him till he was ready. “I was worried for you.” ignoring the dirt, she sat down beside the knight, passing him the basket she was carrying. “Thank the Gods Elinda saw your chartered boat or it would take me longer to find you.”
“I just wanted some time alone, Your Highness.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen now that I’m here.” She looked pointedly at the basket Harwin was holding, leading the man to open it just to find some tincture, salves, bandages and for some odd reason, meat buns and a bottle of mead. “I figured you would be in need of sustenance after the fight.”
Ignoring his protests, Rhaenyra got him munching on the buns while she treated his wounds. She finds it amusing his eyes kept darting away everytime they accidentally met eye to eye as she fussed over him.
“Why did you dueled Sayiddah, Harwin?” She suddenly asked.
“She was making light of your honor by sneaking around with Lady Velaryon, Princess.” Harwin looked away, his ears red. “Forgive me princess, if I have overstepped.”
“You didn’t but truly, you don’t have to defend my honor, Harwin.” Rhaenyra huffed, gently rubbing the salve on his bruised knuckle. “I can defend myself.”
“You shouldn’t need to, not when I’m here to do it for you.” Harwin whispered. “You deserve all the respect in the world and I don’t like it when someone you love disrespect you like that.”
Rhaenyra couldn’t help but smile. “What Sayiddah and I have isn’t serious Harwin. Both of us know we cannot love each other the way we deserve, not with our priorities in the way. In fact I’m glad Sayiddah found love in my cousin. I know Laena would make her a very happy woman, especially with their love of travelling the world.”
“Oh.”
“Plus I already have my attention on someone else.” She grinned toothily at him. “You.”
“M-Me?” Harwin asked incredulously. What does she mean by that? Surely she didn't mean that. Why would she… Harwin saw the admiration and affection shining in her violet eyes and could help but looked away, his cheeks red in embarrassment.
Oh.
Rhaenyra felt charmed by his shyness.
“What if I told you that you already had my attention for a very long time?” Her smile turns soft. “I didn’t understand it at first, not until Olyvar pointed it out to me. Then I realized you were always there by my side; haunting me with your presence. Harwin, I-”
She was cut off by the gentle fingertips underneath her jaw and the slight press of a thumb against her chin, guiding her forward, and then his lips were against his own. She pressed back into it, wanting more, not wanting the kiss to end, her hands sinking into his curls and wrapped around his neck, the slight stubble on his jaw scratching her sensitive skin.
The need of air finally forced them apart, both of them looked at each other in wonder. Rhaenyra couldn’t resist pulling in for another sweet kiss, her hands cupping his face gently.
“Stay by my side, Ser Harwin Strong,” She whispered against his lips, “and be mine.”
“Yes, Princess Rhaenyra, I am yours, now and forevermore.” He swore before pulling her again for another kiss.