Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken.

--- Harrenhal 281 AC ---

To celebrate the name day of his maiden daughter, Lord Walter Whent organized the greatest tourney of the time at Harrenhal in the Year of the False Spring.

The tourney took place over ten days, of which the competition lasted seven days, with five days allotted to the joust. Besides the melee and the joust, the tourney included an archery contest, an axe-throwing contest, a horse race, and a tourney of singers. There was also a mummer's show.

During the tourney's opening ceremonies, fifteen-year-old Ser Jaime Lannister was admitted into the order of the Kingsguard. King Aerys II Targaryen is said to have believed the cheering of the crowd was for himself instead of Jaime. Although Jaime wanted to compete in the tourney the next day, Aerys commanded him to return to King's Landing that night to guard Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys. As a result, House Lannister and the Crown began to have discord between them.

Lord Walter Whent's fair daughter was the queen of love and beauty when the tourney began. Her honor was defended by her brothers and her uncle, Ser Oswell Whent of the Kingsguard, but they were all defeated in the tourney.

The joust was won by the Crown Prince Rhaegar, heir to the Iron Throne, who defeated many knights, including Yohn Royce, Brandon Stark, Arthur Dayne, and Ser Barristan Selmy at the final tilt. It was indeed a great honor for the crown prince to be the victor. And with the tendencies of the Mad King, it was looking promising to have a warrior Crown Prince well liked by the masses for his charm and wit. However, this is the point where things started turning in the wrong direction.

Each victor is awarded the right to crown the Queen of Love and Beauty to a Lady of his choosing.

What sparked the controversy was that it was expected of the Crown Prince to award the crown to his wife, Princess Elia Martell. However, the prince rode past his wife, Princess Elia Martell, and placed a crown of winter roses, the crown of the Queen of Love and Beauty, on Lyanna's lap. This action was considered an outrage by many because not only was Rhaegar married, but Lyanna was already betrothed to another man.

For the realm, this was the moment when all the smiles died. Oberyn Martell, Robert Baratheon, Eddard Stark, and Brandon Stark were among the most outraged. Elia Martell was confused and distraught by what had occurred.

The heated conversation that took place between Elia Martell and the Crown Prince just after he crowned Lyanna was something Ashara Dayne could never forget.

---- The Crown Prince's tent just after the joust ----

Princess Elia and her lady-in-waiting Ashara Dayne rushed into the camp where Rhaegar was sitting with his Kingsguard Ser Arthur Dayne and shouted "Rhaegar!"

The Crown Prince gave a sigh, having expected this after the actions he had taken.

"Can you tell me why you thought of pulling such a stunt publicly? I thought we had decided on keeping this matter mum and just concentrated on the Great Council arrangement during this tourney. With this single action you have slighted three Great Houses directly and two more indirectly"

"I had to do this, Elia. This was just a passing fancy. I was impressed by the actions she took as the Mystery Knight"

"What do you mean actions she took as the Mystery Knight. Was she the Knight of the Laughing Tree?"

"Yes, she was the Knight of the Laughing Tree. In order to teach a lesson to the squires of three knights of Houses Blount, Frey, and Haigh, who had been bullying the crannogman, one of the Stark bannermen, she became the Mystery Knight."

"While this is interesting, it still doesn't explain the need to crown her."

"This was just a passing fancy Elia. Nothing more. Please forgive me."

"You have shamed me, Rhaegar, in front of the entire kingdom. Anyway, I wanted this to be a gift when you crowned me but now it seems it will have to do with being a humiliation for me. I wanted to inform you that I am pregnant."

Rhaegar, and the Kingsguard were stunned. Rhaegar, especially, was extremely uncomfortable and started to speak when he was interrupted.

Elia did not wait for anybody to speak further after what she had blurted out. Her Martell motto 'Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken.' could clearly be seen on her.

"I told you we will be taking this slowly and that we need to concentrate on the formation of the Great Council first. But the simple consequences of this single act has slighted Houses Martell, Stark, Baratheon, Arryn & Tully."

Ashara butted in before Elia could get more angry "I don't think any plan for the Council can move forward right now. That means we will have to push this for later."

Ser Barristan added "This was perhaps the best chance for almost all the Lord Paramounts of Great Houses to meet."

Rhaegar frowned and though he understood, he replied, "I simply couldn't leave her act unrecognized."

Elia huffed and left the tent with a frowning Ashara in tow, but not without leaving a single remark which shook through the hearts of the people in the tent. "Was it worth it?"

Rhaegar frowned. 'Elia will never understand. Lyanna is the ice to my fire. The answers to the questions plaguing me about the connection between the Prince that was Promised and the Song of Ice and Fire. Aemon's deductions were right. The Prince that was Promised will sing the song of Ice and Fire. It has been decided by the will of the Gods. Only our child can bring about the Dawn. I need to court her'

In no mood to continue this conversation further, he turned towards Arthur and said "Can someone please go fetch my squire Richard so that he can help with my armor and get some wine." and so, Arthur left the tent to get Richard Lonmouth, his squire to remove his armor and bring the wine.

Arthur's only thought at the time was 'Have you made a mistake Rhaegar?'

---- Outside the tourney camps ----

In the evening, Elia, still angry at Rhaegar for his actions and the exhaustion she felt after having spent the entire afternoon to calm Oberyn and prevent him from taking his spear and fighting with Rhaegar to demand justice, couldn't help but sigh. However, she soon spotted Ashara entering the tent and immediately invited her to take a walk with her outside the compound looking to relax.

She was still uncomfortable with what had happened during the joust. Her gut was telling her that her life was going to change. She continued on a leisurely walk with Ashara who herself was in thoughts about the Stark heir, she was sure. There were too many wolves roaming around.

It was a murmur of voices that broke Elia out of her reverie. Her trained ears picked up the intonations that denoted nobility clearly. She looked around at her surroundings trying to find the source of the voice. Ashara, curious herself, pointed to a jagged path to the left between the trees.

For a moment, she thought what she should do - announce her presence or slip away without interrupting what was clearly a private meeting? Except that it wasn't a private meeting, it was clandestine.

'This is how my life falls apart', thought Elia.

'Not by war cries or the actions of an increasingly insane and bloodthirsty king, not the impulsive actions of a much impulsive yet beloved brother, but by the thoughtless stupidity of a husband that still remained dear in her heart, despite it all'

Regardless, she asked Ashara with a finger to her lips asking her to remain silent and she crept forward, draping the shadows afforded by the trees.

These were not the actions of the bride of a Targaryen, but those of a Princess born to rule. Her eyes glittered like poison, a black sun burning from within and yet, for all her cynicism and world-wisely views, there was a single moment when her breath hitched and her eyes widened.

Was this heartbreak?

The beauty was picturesque, the picture hauntingly beautiful. She wished she had never seen this sight. She wished she had never thought of taking this walk. She didn't think she could ever get rid of it, or rid herself of the betrayal and hopelessness she felt at the moment.

She took her chance to take rest in the shadows from where she could clearly see and hear the interaction between the two yet be hidden away from their notice.

The two were in their own little world, seemingly ignorant of all those around them. The moonlight glanced off of Rhaegar's face, the intimate dance between light and dark making him seem otherworldly and achingly handsome. The little Wolf-girl, for she would not respect her and call her name, sat across Rhaegar at his feet, staring at him in adoration and wonder.

She did not know how long she stayed but she had experienced it all. The way Lyanna complained of being betrothed to the drunken whoremonger Robert Baratheon. On that point she could agree and felt pity for her as well. But the next movements of Rhaegar stopped her. For his face completely convinced her that whatever actions he had done today were more than just a passing fancy as had been explained to her.

It was obvious that he was courting her, just like he had courted Elia towards Rhaegar in the past. She could feel it. There was something afoot and lastly, she was pregnant with his child as well.

She kept staring at the scene even after Rhaegar and the Wolf-girl departed owing to the noise made by, wait was that the Lannister twins? She felt her hand being clasped and she turned to see Ashara looking at her with pity and concern. Her eyes clearly asked what they should do about the scene we witnessed.

She knew she had a lot to think about. The ache in her chest refused to abate and her long lashes blinked away the tears. Her hood had long fallen back and the wind chipped away at the wet tracks on her face, whipping a few loose tendrils of hers in whichever direction it fancied.

"He is courting her." murmured Elia, loud enough so that only Ashara could hear her.

"Elia?" asked Ashara. In response to Elia's words, Ashara stared at her without any idea what to say. The truth is, if she hadn't heard Elia murmur before, she might not have believed what was happening.

"Never mind. Lyanna is simply showing her appreciation and gratitude at being crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty at the tourney. I'm sure my husband will explain about this meeting to me himself. You shall see Ashara." replied Elia hesitantly. She did not need to look at Ashara to know her reactions to her statement. Honestly, she did not a shred of belief that what she was saying held some amount of truth.

Her thoughts were swirling onto many things right now. The actions of the Crown Prince, the letters being exchanged with Maester Aemon at the Wall that Rhaegar was being secretive about, the actions taken by Rhaegar when he won the joust at the tourney, the hostility towards her husband and the Wolf-girl for meeting clandestinely, and why was she having the thoughts that Rhaegar was not simply meeting privately to help her out of her betrothal but was courting her.

She did not want to believe what was happening. But she knew that now was the time when she had to act as the Martell she was. And not the Targaryen she had become.

She had to be Unbowed. Unbent. Unbroken. She would. She promised herself.

She had to first understand his motive before she could take steps to protect herself. And of course, she had to convince her idiot younger brother to stay with her. She needed him close to take action for him. It had been a few years since she had picked up a weapon.