Chapter Text
There was a small silver shining sharp blade at his Prince's throat and still Arthur had never felt so relaxed before and he gladly went back to closing his eyes and dozing through this terrible headache.
“Stop twitching.”
“I'm not twitching.” Rhaegar complained in an annoyed fond huff, “I am holding perfectly still, I'll have you know. Your hand is twitching, which should make me nervous.” He pointed out but Arthur knew Rhaegar would still be smiling again. “I thought you've done this plenty of times before.”
“Yes, with sturdy Northmen,” Lyanna grumbled and Arthur heard her wiping off the blade once more, “Not with dainty little Valyrian Princes.” Rhaegar huffed again and Arthur bit his lips to keep from laughing, “What do you think your handsome Knight will do if I cut you?”
“Laugh.” Arthur didn't give his friend any chance to respond himself, still keeping his eyes closed, he nevertheless grinned, just knowing that Rhaegar was scowling over to him. “And then press a cloth over his dainty little wound and laugh some more.”
“You need a trim yourself, my friend.” Rhaegar said with challenge dripping from his tongue but Arthur shrugged and didn't even have to say something because Lyanna already came to his defense.
“Contrary to you, my darling, Arthur looks only more handsome with some stubble.” Lyanna snickered, water splashed in the next moment and Lyanna squeaked. Arthur opened his eyes again and found Rhaegar with one hand still in the water bowel while Lyanna stared at him with water dripping down her face. “You're such a child.” Rhaegar went so far as to stick his tongue out at her but then squeaked himself when Lyanna pulled his chin up again and set the shaving blade back to his jaw. “And now hold still or I'm getting Oswell up here.”
Rhaegar grumbled something under his breath but heeded her wish, holding himself perfectly still. Arthur watched them with tired eyes, how Lyanna finally finished shaving Rhaegar and then dropped the blade back onto the table before grinning when Rhaegar pulled her onto his lap with quick hands.
They kissed and then both turned their heads to look over to Arthur who was still lying exactly where he had been placed by both of them earlier, in their bed, after Oswell had tattled over Arthur's too pale face and unfocused eyes as he had taken over watch from Arthur.
They had fussed over him for minutes until Arthur had given in and let them do whatever they wanted, finally giving up in pretending this headache wasn't threatening to slice his head in two.
“How are you doing?” Rhaegar wanted to know and the worry in his eyes, Arthur hated it as always, “And don't tell me 'you're fine', because I can see that you're not.” Arthur sighed and rolled onto his back, grimacing when the wettened cloth that Lyanna had laid on his forehead earlier slipped off and landed in the crook of his neck.
“It's just a headache.” He told both of them, “Really. I pushed myself too much yesterday, especially out in the sun. It's been too long since I trained under Dornish skies. I'll be fine.”
“Of course, you'll be fine.” Lyanna agreed and Arthur saw how she pushed herself off of Rhaegar's legs, stepped up to the bed and then crawled upon it, sitting down on her knees next to Arthur's hips. She picked up the cloth and laid it back on his forehead, stroking a hand through his hair, it was getting too long but they didn't have scissors and as much as he trusted Lyanna with a blade, he wouldn't let her hack at his hair. “We'll take good care of you. Rhaegar could surely fetch more water from the well.”
“I'm only thriving to be your humble servant.” Rhaegar joked but picked himself up from his chair, patting off his tunic before rolling his shoulders to get rid of any lasting tension in them. Lyanna snickered as he went off to actually fetch some fresh water. Once the door was closed, she turned those kind grey eyes back on Arthur.
“I'm wondering how you would fare in the North.” Lyanna mused, taking the warmed up cloth and throwing it over to the table, it landed directly next to the shaving blade. “Now where I see where you truly were born and raised. How you say it gets cold here in the nights and I can only say that I can at least breathe easily again when the sun is gone. You would be freezing with only one step past the Neck, we'd have to bundle you up.” She giggled and Arthur snorted, only to wince when it aggravated his head again.
“Can you tell me more about Winterfell again?” He asked her instead, closing his eyes again to get away from the light, Lyanna laid down at his side.
“All day long.” Lyanna told him and he could hear the smile in her voice, “I already told you about my favourite place in Winterfell, so let me tell you about my second favourite place now.”
Arthur listened, let Lyanna's voice and her happiness soothe his headache, he tried to picture the places she described and wished nothing more than to one day have the chance to see it all with his own eyes. To stand in Winterfell with Lyanna and Rhaegar at his sides.
--
“...And so I invite you, my nephews, to come North and visit Winterfell so you may see the childhood homes of your father and mother respectively with your family at your sides. I am very much looking forward to welcome you in my home and see for myself how much you two have grown. With love, Uncle Ned.”
Jon's voice had finished speaking for barely a moment's breath before Torrhen and him were already screaming in joy.