#lyonel

I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS LIKE. A LOT.

Idk how normal is it to tag but I wanted to say my small thanks to @snarwor for inspiring this piece <3 I think I can’t exactly call this a fanart to “let me see the heat get to you” since it’s far post-canon and here Baelor is sadly dead BUT if not for their work this art wouldn’t exist, I LOVE that fanfic it’s SO good-written and has SUCH good takes on the characters I can’t stop thinking about it and as I’ve read it as you can see my thought train went far forward

Storm’s End had never been a quiet castle, it was a place of crashing waves, booming laugher and men shouting across the training yard.

Which is why, when the training yard went suspiciously silent, everyone went on alert.

Lyonel noticed immediately, of course he had. He was looking forward to you watching him in the yard, even if you would roll your eyes and call him a showoff, something in him still preened beneath your attention.

Which was precisely why, when your attention was very clearly not on him, the laughing storm fell deathly quiet.

“Something the matter, my lord?” one of the knights asked cautiously, uncomfortable with the sudden silence of a man who was normally the loudest voice present.

“Nothing” Lyonel said easily, a practiced smile slipping into place. But his eyes has not moved from the other end of the yard.

You had fully intended to watch your husband that morning. Truly you had. There was something undeniably satisfying about watching him in the yard, broad shoulders rolling as he swung a blade, sending knights twice his size sprawling into the dirt.

You would tease him for it, of course, you knew he loved it.

But the sight of it stirred something warm and dangerous in your chest all the same. You had certainly been looking forward to racing him back to your chambers afterward for an afternoon “nap”

Unfortunately, on the way to your husband you had been intercepted.

A visiting knight from the Reach had stopped you near the edge of the yard. He remembered your sister and had been eager to ask after her, offering congratulations on her recent betrothal, recalling the last time he saw her.

“I assure you” the knight was saying with goodnatured exasperation, “your sister was quite determined that I was a terrible dancer”

You laughed “Ah yes, that does sound like her”

He smiled at that “I believe she said something along the lines of if you step on my foot again I shall consider it an act of war”

You covered your mouth to hide your grin, you sister definitely learnt that from you “That is actually one the milder threats I taught her”

The knight laughed outright this time “Well then I consider myself fortunate to have escaped with only bruised toes”

“Quite” you said dryly “If she had truly disliked you she would have invited you to play a game of cyvasse”

His brows lifted “Your sister plays cyvasse?”

“Oh yes” you replied sweetly “And she is very good, that is why she only plays with people she dislikes. So she can crush them”

The knight burst into laughter.

It was at that exact moment the training yard fell completely silent. You noticed the change only vaguely, still smiling as the knight tried to catch his breath.

Across the yard, however, your husband had just dropped his practice sword.

You were too busy saying, with perfect sincerity “Of course we all pretend it’s a friendly game. It spares everyone’s dignity”

The knight laughed again, louder and more boyish as a shadow fell across you.

You turned, already knowing who is was before you saw him, broad shoulders still dusted with training sand, dark hair damp with sweat, a smile on his face that you knew well enough by now to recognize as deeply suspicious.

You scrunch your eyebrows in confusion, wondering what has him so peeved.

“My lord” the Reach knight said quickly.

Lyonel clapped him on the shoulder with alarming enthusiasm, nearly crushing the poor boy “Enjoying Storm’s End?”

The knight nodded “Very much, My Lord” the boys voice a tad higher than before.

“Good” Lyonel simply replied as his eyes met yours. You stared at him question of why he was manhandling the poor boy.

Lyonel’s grin widened, moving around the knight to slide his arm easily around your waist, pulling you against him.

“Lyonel” you chide, falling against him. He looked down at you with that bright, wicked expression.

“Wife” he replied easily, looking pointedly back at the boy. Smiling in satisfaction when the knight’s eyes widened a fraction “Terrible habit of mine” he carried on casually “Interrupting conversations when my wife is involved”

The knight cleared his throat “Well em I should perhaps um” he stumbled over his words

“Of course not” You began

“Yes” Lyonel said cheerfully cutting in “You should”

The knight bowed quickly and retreated across the yard, practically running.

You watched him go. Then you turned slowly toward your husband, slapping his chest lightly “That was unnecessary”

Lyonel looked entirely unrepentant pulling you closer “He was smiling at you”

“Yes” you replied dryly “That is what people do when they are speaking politely. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the concept”

“He leaned closer” he continued, as if proving his point

“He was trying to hear me over the noise of your men” you pointed out .

“There was no noise” he countered, grinning wildly.

You glanced across the still silent yard, every knight present was pretending to be extremely invested in their swords.

You looked back at Lyonel “You interrupted a perfectly civil conversation”

“He was flirting” he replied eyes dark, hand flexing at your waist,

You let out a short disbelieving laugh “He was asking after my sister! He does not give two figs about me!”

Lyonel hesitated at your smiling face, but only for a moment “Still suspicious”

You rolled your eyes “Gods give me strength from my territorial fool of a husband” You teased as you leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

Lyonel smiled again, slower this time, entirely unrepentant “Worth it” he murmured before pulling you back in for a deeper kiss.

Summerhall’s feasts were never as grand as those at King’s Landing. But they were warm. Lanterns glowed along the stone arches, music drifted softly through the hall, and the long tables were filled with visiting lords, knights, and household retainers enjoying wine and conversation.

You had escaped the high table, when Lord Tyrell wanted your husbands attention.

Not permanently, of course. Maekar would notice if you vanished entirely, and later that night he would undoubtedly show you in bed exactly how much he had noticed.

You merely wanted a moment.

Just long enough to speak with one of the visiting lord who had been telling you about the horses bred in the Dornish Marches.

“…and they claim the bloodline runs back three generations” the lord was saying, gesturing enthusiastically with his cup, faced flushed with wine.

You leaned forward with interest “Three?” you repeated skeptically. “That seems unlikely”

He laughed “You sound exactly like my stablemaster, my lady”

“I suspect your stablemaster has more sense than your breeder” you replied dryly.

He laughed at that deep and slightly drunkenly.

It was that laughter that carried across the hall all the way to the high table,

Where Maekar had been listening to a Lord Tyrell drone on about grain shipments. In truth he had been only half listening, but when his gaze followed that laughter across the hall he stopped hearing the man entirely.

His full attention was now fixed on you.

You were sat on the lower benches leaning slightly forward, animated in a way, that told him you were no doubt talking about riding or horses, one of your passions.

Under normal circumstances, he would have been content to simply watch you. His beautiful wife, planning all the sinful things he wants to do to you later that night,

However, his attention had shifted to the source of the laughter. The man seated beside you. He was too close, smiling at you, too broadly.

Maekar’s fingers tightened slowly around his goblet as he rose from the table, forgetting about the sputtering Lord Tyrell entirely.

You had not noticed the shift in your husband, too focused on the topic at hand.

You were in the middle of explaining why Dornish horses handled uneven terrain better than Stormlands stock when a shadow fell across the bench.

You look up to see your husband close behind you, tall and immovable, silver hair catching the lantern light.

You smile up at him, thinking nothing of the scowl on his features. A regular occurrence.

“My prince” the lord greeted quickly, scrambling to his feet in his drunken haze.

Maekar did not look at him immediately his gaze was on you smiling up at him “You left the table” he grumbled

You raised a brow “Lord Tyrell was no doubt preparing to pull you into a dull conversation, I made a quick exit. I was planning to come back” You gestured calmly to the man beside you “We were discussing horses”

The lord nodded eagerly “Yes, Your Grace. Remarkable animals”

Maekar finally looked at him. A long moment passed. The lord shifted under the weight of that gaze. You looked at your husband in confusion at his sour mood.

“Horses” Maekar repeated

“Yes” the lord replied, his voice suddenly much higher.

Another pause, the lord seemed to understand he should make a swift escape “Ah I believe I hear mywife calling me” he lied poorly before staggering away across the hall, even Daeron had more grace.

You watched him retreat, Then you turned your eyes slowly toward your husband “That was rude”

Maekar clasped his hands behind his back “He was sitting too close”

“He was pointing” you replied incredulously.

“He laughed” he countered

You stared at him “I said something amusing, I can do that, you know”

Maekar said nothing, but his expression did not change, nor the intense look in his eye.

You studied him for a moment. Then your lips curved slightly “You are jealous”

“No I am not” he replied defensively.

You raised a brow, clearly not believing him.

He paused, then corrected himself flatly “Yes. I was fucking jealous”

The honesty startled a quiet laugh from you “Gods help me” you murmured, getting up and stepping closer to him, your hands settling against his chest as his moved instinctively to your waist The hum of the feast forgotten for a moment.

“I did not realise when I married a Targaryen I married a territorial dragon” you tease

Maekar’s hand tightened slightly at your waist “You married a man” he continues “a man with eyes”

Your smile widened “Well then” you said lightly, stepping closer “a man with eyes should know I was only speaking about horses”

Maekar’s gaze dropped briefly to your mouth “That fucking lord was not thinking about horses”

“Perhaps” you replied calmly “But you are supposed to trust your wife” you added sweetly

Maekar studied you for a moment. Then said quietly “I do”

His thumb flexed slightly against your waist. “I simply dislike being reminded that other men possess vision”

You laughed again at that placing a firm kiss on his lips.

Across the feast at the high table Daella, who had witnessed the entire exchange, leaned toward her sister.

“He does realize everyone can see this, doesn’t he?”

Rhae just grinned “No”

She watched their father still holding you at the waist in the middle of the hall “He never does”

The gardens of the Red Keep had been opened for the afternoon gathering

It was meant to be a lighter affair than the feasts of the great hall. Tables of fruit and sweetwine had been arranged beneath flowering trees, musicians played softly near the fountain, and courtiers wandered along the paths enjoying the spring air.

You had escaped the cluster of ladies near the terrace with a smile.

They had been discussing embroidery. You had endured precisely fifteen minutes of it.

That was more than enough, especially as your mind wandered to your husband and the rather skilful use of his tongue that morning.

Instead, you had wandered toward the far end of the garden where several lords had gathered near the rose hedges. One of them had been speaking animatedly about the recent dragon histories uncovered in the Citadel archives.

That had caught your attention immediately.

“and the maesters insist the account is exaggerated” the lord was saying, clearly enjoying his audience “But the records suggest the dragon was nearly the size of Balerion himself”

You tilted your head slightly “That seems unlikely” you say quietly not realising you had been overheard,

The lord turned to you with interest “You disagree, your grace?”

“I suspect the maesters are correct” you replied calmly “Histories have a habit of growing larger in the retelling.”

He smiled “A fair point. Though it is refreshing to meet someone at court who has actually read those histories”

You smiled faintly “Despite all my septa’s warnings that reading would addle my wits,” you said dryly.

The lord laughed loudly at that, and you could not help joining him.

Across the garden, Baelor stopped speaking.

He had been standing beneath one of the flowering trees with several lords and his son Valarr, discussing trade matters that required far more patience than enthusiasm.

Your laughter carried easily across the garden. Baelor’s gaze lifted automatically and found you.

You stood near the rose hedges speaking with a Reach lord.

He watched you for a moment, just a moment. Then he realized the lord beside you had stepped closer.

Valarr noticed the silence first “Father?”

Baelor blinked and nodded once, though he had not heard the question

Valarr followed his father’s gaze. Across the garden, the Reach lord laughed at something you said.

Valarr’s mouth twitched “You are staring”

Baelor’s gaze did not move “I am observing” he replied calmly, though his voice had grown slightly tight.

Valarr hummed thoughtfully “That man appears very interested in your wife” he teased

Baelor’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly “Yes”

Valarr watched his father in amusement, wondering how long it would take him to snap.

Baelor prided himself on composure. Prince of Dragonstone, hand of the King, man trained from boyhood to command a room with calm restraint.

Valarr watched the Reach lord lean slightly closer to you again.

Baelor sighed softly as through cursing himself, then he excused himself from the group.

Valarr grinned behind his back.

You were in the middle of explaining why dragon histories were often exaggerated when a familiar presence settled beside you.

You did not need to turn to know who it was “Your Grace” the Reach lord said quickly.

You glanced up to find Baelor standing beside you, expression calm as ever.

“My love” he said gently.

You smiled automatically “Dear husband” you greet sweetly.

The lord cleared his throat slightly “We were discussing the Citadel’s dragon records”

“So I heard” Baelor replied. His voice remained perfectly pleasant. But he stepped slightly closer to you all the same.

The lord nodded eagerly “Yes, my prince. Your lady was explaining why the historical accounts are often exaggerated.”

Baelor glanced down at you briefly, his mismatched eyes softening “My wife has always had a fondness for accurate histories”

The lord chuckled “Well then she has corrected me quite thoroughly”

“I imagine she has” he replied. You narrowed your eyes slightly at Baelor’s tone.

The Reach lord shifted awkwardly under the quiet weight of the prince’s attention.

“Well” he said after a moment “I should allow you both to enjoy the gardens”

He bowed quickly and moved away. You watched him go. Then turned slowly toward your husband “That was unnecessary”

Baelor folded his hands behind his back. “He seemed very interested in you”

“Yes” you replied patiently “We were having a conversation, interest is normally a part of it”

Baelor studied you quietly and you in turn watched him.

Then your lips curved slightly “You were jealous”

Baelor hesitated, only briefly “Yes”

The honesty startled a small laugh out of you “Seven hells, what for?”

Baelor regarded you as though the answer should have been obvious “You were laughing”

You blinked “I do that occasionally”

“With him” he continued

You stared at him for a moment before the amusement returned “Baelor” you said gently, stepping a little closer “half the court laughs with me at some point during the day”

“Yes” he agreed calmly “That does not trouble me.”

You folded your arms “But that particular lord does?”

Baelor’s expression softened slightly “You were speaking about something you love” he said quietly “You lean forward when you do that”

Your brows knit faintly “I…….what?”

“And your eyes brighten” he continued thoughtfully “You begin speaking faster. Your hands move when you explain things”

You stared at him, a soft smile forming. “You have noticed all that?”

Baelor met your gaze “I notice everything about you”

The warmth that rose to your face surprised you, making you feel like a blushing maiden again You cleared your throat lightly “Well” you said after a moment, recovering your composure “the lord was asking about dragon histories. I was hardly flirting.”

“I know” he replies in that insufferably calm way.

“Then why chase him off?” You ask

Baelor’s mouth curved in the smallest smile “Because he was enjoying it”

You laughed again despite yourself “Gods help me ”

Baelor reached for your hand gently, drawing it into his “I do trust you” he added softly.

Your smile returned “But?”

“But” Baelor said, eyes warm as they held yours “I have waited a very long time to call you my wife” His thumb brushed lightly across your knuckles “I do not particularly enjoy sharing your attention.”

You huffed a laugh and leaned closer “You are impossible” you mutter, giving him a soft kiss.

Baelor smiled faintly against your lips “Perhaps”

Across the garden, Valarr had been watching the entire exchange.

One of the young knights beside him tilted his head “Is the prince always so attentive to his lady wife?”

𝑆𝐸𝑅 𝐷𝑈𝑁𝐶𝐴𝑁

・Dunk is a bit wary of your magic.

・However, Egg loves it. The little princeling likes knowing that there's magic in this world. That it isn't something that was only alive in the past.

・Dunk doesn't realise all the good luck that's come his way is from your magic.

・Because you aren't one to show off.

・So, Dunk keeps living life, blissfully unaware (Until Egg tells him)

"Ya know, ye don't have to do that for me..." he says one night, while you were both laying on your backs, staring at the stars.

"I'd do anything for you, Dunk." You catch his hand in yours, and don't let go until morning.

𝐿𝑌𝑂𝑁𝐸𝐿

・He loves your witchy ways.

・Lyonel often watches as you do spells, jinxes, curses. His interest comes from pure curiosity.

・Constantly asks you questions, wants to know what means what.

"Ah, so that's how it works...Gods my wife is incredible."

・Asks if you can curse some of the courtiers. (As a joke...maybe)

・Helps collect your ingredients; well, he gets the maesters to get them.

・Lyonel has found spell bags underneath his pillow, lavender on his bedside table, he even wears the necklace you enchanted.

𝐵𝐴𝐸𝐿𝑂𝑅

・He was shocked to find out but got used to the idea quite quickly.

・Baelor protects you from court gossip, as many think you're delusional.

"Be careful how you talk, or you may lose your tongue." You would never had thought Baelor would say something like that, but when it comes to you - there's nothing he wouldn't do.

・The courtiers are really just intimidated by the thought of the future Queen/King of the Seven Kingdoms being a witch. You hold power because of it.

・In your shared chambers is where you really let your witchy side show. There's glass bottles, herbs drying, ingredients on shelves and different types of oils.

・Baelor truly doesn't mind, he is a little curious but he knows not to touch anything.

𝑀𝐴𝐸𝐾𝐴𝑅

・Didn't believe you at first but one day he accidentally walked in on you doing spellwork.

"What in the Seven Hells are you doing?!"

・He startled you and you dropped a glass bottle.

"I'm making a spell you ridiculous man! And you made me drop it!"

・The shrill arguement lasted a few minutes before Maekar apologised (which isn't a normal thing for him to do, but when it comes to you, then he softens)

・He never lets anyone talk ill of you. Especially when you aren't there - he cannot stand people talking behind your back.

・Maekar has told you to use your shared chambers however you would like.