“Lady Visenya!” Visenya whirled around at the sound of her name. The minute she saw who had been calling her, she breathed a quiet prayer of thanks to the Father that he had caught her while everyone was dispersed. The second day of the celebration involved a few small events and a continuation of yesterday’s festivities. Alaric was crossing wooden swords with a few other boys his age, and Isabel and Jasmyne had left to buy some sweets and exchange stories away from their husbands. Emma and Violette were competing with each other in a casual archery competition, and Silya had stayed inside to sleep, since she’d apparently been quite busy since she and Prince Rhaecerys had had their first child. The others were equally scattered.
“Lord Baelin.” She said, curtseying to him in greeting. She found herself smiling at him. He was so pretty. Almost as tall as father, but much more slender, with those curly golden locks and pale green-brown eyes. He had these sort of soft, pink lips that she couldn’t stop staring at, too. They always seemed to be curved upwards in a mischievous, but gentle smile. “Should you not be with the Lord and Lady Lannister presiding over the competition?”
He laughed lightly. “This celebration has occurred every year since I returned from my fosterage. It is not expected that I spend every moment for all three days every year at the center table with my father and mother, except the year of my majority. Tomorrow and during the feasts are the most important times, so that people can present their gifts and well-wishes. How is your sister?”
“What?” Visenya asked, in slight surprise.
He looked at her, with a slight combination of confusion and amusement. “I did not see you at the feast yesterday. Is your sister feeling better?”
“Oh.” She said, guiltily looking away. “Yes, much better. She is staying in her room, getting some more rest, but she doesn’t require any more attention.”
He smiled at her again, “Does this mean I may have you to myself today?”
Visenya found herself flushing a little. “Well…” She had been planning to wait for Alaric to finish his mock spar, so he could accompany her around the faire, but they hadn’t determined anything, and who better to walk with her than the boy who had been a part of the celebration since the end of his fosterage. “If you don’t mind joining me to enjoy the festivities, my Lord.” She said, finding herself practically glowing at him.
He held out his arm for her to take, and said back, “It would be my pleasure.”
As they strolled between the stalls, Lord Baelin began to strike up conversation with her, as if he could sense just the tiniest jolt of anxiety she felt at the thought of any of her siblings catching her with her fingers resting against the arm of a Lannister. “Is your sister your only sibling?” He asked her.
She thought fast, “No, I have a lot of siblings- but they’re not with me!” She added hastily. “It’s just me and my sister here.” That’s right, he thought she was a Targaryen. She could use that. “Si- Prince Rhaecerys’ wife has agreed to look after us as a… favor to our mother. M-mother hates travel.” That last particular sentence itself was an atrocious falsehood. She couldn’t imagine either of her parents being particularly put out by being forced to travel. They were both such active people. She resolved to stick to the truth as much as possible from now on. He knew about her elder sisters, but not her, so it was hard to guess just how much he knew about her family.
“Do you miss them?” He asked, actually seeming genuinely interested.
“The rest of my family? Well, yes, sometimes. All of my siblings except my- Alar- Alarinne are much older than me and have gotten married in the last few years.” She winced slightly, hoping Alaric would forgive her for turning him into her sister, if he ever found out about this.
“Why do you do that?” He asked.
“Do what?” She asked back.
His beautiful face was lined with the smallest frown. “Act suddenly nervous, and wince as if you’ve offended someone. Do I discomfit you?” He took a step to the side, loosing his arm from his side so she could slip her hand out if she wanted. “You need not trouble yourself to humor me because it is my Nameday.”
She laughed at him, and kept her fingers firmly on his arm. It was odd how comfortable she felt with him. Except for when she was lying to him, it felt like the most natural thing in the world for them to be together. “I’d never do something like that, my Lord Baelin. If I had not desired your company, I would have said so directly. I just- miss my family, so I- don’t like to speak much about them.”
“Oh, excuse me.” He said. “I should have thought of that. My father has always said I should better learn to hold my tongue.” He was so oddly polite, compared to what she had thought a Lannister would be. It made her feel even worse, since none of it was his fault.
“You can best atone for it by accompanying me today.” Somehow like that, she managed to rope him into spending the day with her, steering him away when she saw even an inkling of her other siblings. It had turned into some wonderful game, even with the twinge of guilt she felt about it. She barely noticed as the sky darkened and their time together came to an end.
Baelin, however, had obligations, and when the sun had begun to set, and the stalls began to close, he stopped them both. “I’m afraid I have to prepare for the feast tonight. Should I expect to see you there tonight, now that your sister is improved?”
“Oh!” She started, a little. “Perhaps, yes.” She said, but she did not sound certain about it.
Taking a breath, he twisted so that he was directly facing her instead of walking by her side. “If you do not come to tonight’s feast, I am afraid I may not see you again before you leave. I do not presume to know you well upon so short an acquaintance, but I have enjoyed our time together, and desire to continue our acquaintance. What I mean to say is, may I see you again? Or at least exchange letters with you?”
“I’m afraid that might not be well received, my Lord.” Visenya replied back, surprisingly smoothly. He had thought from her reaction yesterday that she might start acting a bit squirrelly, but he had to ask, and her response was more hopeful than he had expected. “My house is not on good terms with House Lannister, as Lady Margaery’s feud against House Velaryon does include Prince Rhaecerys’ beloved bride. Still, it is likely even House Lannister will be invited to the first Nameday celebration of Prince Rhaecerys’ first child, Princess Vaena Targaryen. If you can secure an invitation, I will certainly see you there.” She curtsied to him then, and with another one of her smiles excused herself. “I’m afraid I’ve kept you too long.”
As she walked away from him again, Baelin couldn’t help thinking to himself that she hadn’t kept him long enough.