At Storm's End they're taken in by the stable master, and old man who saw their talent when dealing with horses and snatched them up. As they trio grows up they remain bestfriends and nobody really cares as it's clear that Lyonel isn't interested in Rafe *that* way so there is no risk of bastards (Lyonel does try to get into Dunk's pants but accepts that his friend doesn't see him that way.)

Fast forward ten years Dunk and Rafe have inherited the title of stable masters from the old man, who died of old age, and spend their time taking care of horses and saving Lyonel from death by boredom by hanging out with him, they do accompany him to a couple of tourneys, but they're there to take care of the horses and t make merry, they like their lives and aren't interested in being knights. During tourney Dunk delights in meeting other stable masters to discuss horses, or spending time wih new people and listening to stories, Rafe, instead likes to spend her time exploring and learning gossip, which she shares with her friends. Both enjoy doing petty pranks on people bothering Lyonel, and are *really* good at not getting caught.

Now, Lyonel, in this au, has been friends with Maekar for years, and once a year the prince makes the journey to Storm's End because Summerhall is in the Stormlands and he has to visit his lord paramount (Lyonel's father).

Some years after Dyanna's death (I'm sorry it's for the plot) Lyonel starts flirting with Maekar and...it works, to the astounishment of Dunk and Rafe and Daeron (who has joined the friend group whenever he can make the journey to Storm's End), Lyonel and Maekar become lovers, they can't see each other often, but they make it work, there's only one problem (if you ask Dunk and Rafe) for some reason the couple's preferred activity is having a roll in the hay, in the stables.

Let's just say that Dunk and Rafe are greiving their once innocent eyes who had never seen prince Maekar in compromising situations (they used to be scared of him, now they can't look him in the eye without having flashbacks).

This goes on for a long time, where Dunk, Rafe and Daeron bear it by avoiding the stables as much as possible when both are present, and by commiserting together.

One day, for diplomatic reasons Baelor is also set to arrive at Storm's End, with him are: Maekar, Daeron and Aerion. The duo has never met Baelor (Lyonel met him because politics or something) but they despise Aerion because they caught him hurting a horse once and they've never forgiven him. (Dunk has threatened to let Emperor, the most aggressive horse in the stable, lose while Aerion is in the stables if he ever tries setting foot in their dominium). Lyonel has warned Maekar to make sure his son behaves or he's going to be booted out of Storm's End, and Maekar agreed even if grumbling.

Now, Baelor has never met Dunk and Rafe, he only knows of them through Daeron and Lyonel stories and Maekar's grumbling, so he's curious, when he meets Dunk....he's smitten, he wants that cookie so badddddddd.

So now there is another lovely couple, only this one doesn't do their things in the stables.

So now we have, Maekar who visits at least once a year with legitimate reasons, Baelor who searches constanly for reasons to visit, Rafe and Daeron commiserating that they're the only ones sane in this friends group and Dunk an Lyonel crying into each others arm about missing their lovers. Pretty caotic.

Baelor does try at one point to convince Dunk to come back to KL with him, but Dunk was like: "my place is here....and Lyonel called dibs" while Lyonel is in the background screeching ("that's MY bestfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) while being held back by Maekar and Rafe promising great pain for Baelor if he takes her little giant brother away while Daeron listens a bit scared.

All in all life is good.