The Nursery at the Keep

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"He will love greatly. Will you wrong him?"

[Deleted]

"Never!" Rhae said at once. "I will be the best wife in the world!"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Yohn silently looks at Rhae. "You will wrong him. But I will ask him to forgive you."

[Deleted]

"No," Rhae said tearfully. She went and took Yohn's hand. "How do you even know what you're talking about? I'll be as good as Queen Alysanne and...and...I'll be Queen Naerys to his Prince Aemon the Dragonknight!"

Only when she said it did Rhae realize that it had sounded wrong.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Exactly." Yohn smiles.

[Deleted]

Rhae looked both horrified and fascinated. "I don't believe you. How do you know those things?"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Yohn grins and says, "You'll just have to trust in me. I think you will, perhaps you will too much. Mayhaps that will lead to trouble, someday."

[Deleted]

Rhae was unnerved. There was something about this boy that reminded her of Lady Aranya...whereas where Lady Aranya looked fierce and grim, this boy made her think of an old soul with a great burden. She wasn't sure what to make of him.

"Do you want a honeycake?" she asked quietly.

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Honeycake would be delicious." Yohn walks in and sits down at the table. "Thank you."

[Deleted]

Rhae sat quietly. The nurses had taken Urri Greyjoy away to tend to his arm, and the Flowers children had left as well. Only Yohn, Petra and Rhae were still in the room. The princelings were fast asleep in their crib.

Rhae was still staring at Yohn. She drank a glass of cold milk while he ate. Then she asked abruptly, "You don't look like you're Brynden or Petra's cousin."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"I like looking different," says the silver haired boy. "You'll remember me, won't you?"

[Deleted]

"You have nice hair," Rhae said. "I'll remember that hair. But you don't dress very nicely."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

Yohn looks down at his dirty brown tunic and its hand painted, homemade sigil. "How should I dress?"

[Deleted]

"Nicely," Rhae said. "Aren't you the Hand's son? The Hand wears such pretty clothes. I saw him at the ball - Petra and I sneaked out." Then she gasped. "You were the little tree! Yes you were!"

She pondered it for a moment. "The tree costume was nice. But you should wear sky blue and cream silks! And shiny boots. And comb your hair." She giggled. "You have leaves in your hair. And a twig thing."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Never. I will never wear silks, I will never wear sky blue and cream. I am not an Arryn! That is a lie!" Yohn's voice starts even but by the end he's shouting.