Chapter Text
Lantern had caught Tanselle’s notice before. It was hard not to notice him, with that green hair. Mystery swirled around him, this unknown knight who fought with such skill and directness. The circumstances under which Tanselle first spoke to Lantern, though, were rather less remarkable. It was a casual conversation, as they waited to be able to purchase food. She had liked him then, and as they ran into each other again and again that grew stronger. The encounter that changed everything had seemed like nothing more than a casual encounter like those at first.
She had been able to tell he was injured from the way he carried himself, and since he was stood close to her, she had addressed him.
“Why don’t you see a Maester?”
“Can’t.”
“Why not?”
She had caught the quick flick of his eyes around the field, and so she asked, “Would you tell me somewhere else?”
He didn’t reply directly. “Can you keep a secret, Tanselle?”
“I can.”
“Then, yes. Somewhere else.”
Her tent, she thought, might not be private enough, so she lead him out of the tourney field altogether, until they could guarantee absolute privacy. They sat together, under a tree.
“So,” she spoke. “Why?”
“If I saw a Maester, he would discover my lie.”
She couldn’t imagine what he meant. “What lie?”
“You won’t tell anyone?”
“I promise.”
She watched Lantern inhale. “No man am I,” he - she? said.
Tanselle stared in stunned silence, and Lantern continued.
“Woman though I am, I know myself to be a better fighter than many a man. So.”
“You are that,” Tanselle agreed, and Lantern smiled. She realised it was the first time she had seen Lantern smile, and she immediately resolved to try and make her smile again. She was gorgeous like this.
That was how it began. It was fun, being with Lantern. She knew it was unlikely to last, since they had met only because they happened to both be here, and really had only known each other briefly, but it was good. She watched Lantern train, and cheered her on. They kissed, both in private and more openly than she would have dared if it was known they were both women. Lantern came to all her shows, and she smiled to see her, wherever in the crowd she was.
On the day that Tanselle’s world shattered and their fragile peace was ended forever, Lantern was in the back. Her hair made her easy to spot regardless, like a beacon. She was focused on her show, but she liked knowing Lantern was there.
Then, Prince Aerion spoke, and Tanselle’s focus narrowed down. He grabbed her, and the pain of her finger snapping was all she could think of. Every function in her body seemed to break at the same time. It was just the pain. She didn’t notice Lantern moving. She did, however, notice when Lantern was stood before her with sword drawn. She struck before Tanselle or, it seemed, even Prince Aerion had time to react.
Blood sprayed over them both. Tanselle still felt numb, and distant. She would be horrified later, she was sure, but right now she barely registered anything. He had hurt her, and now he was dead.
There was a following scuffle, and shouting, and all kinds of things said, but little of it stuck in Tanselle’s mind. Only the surprise of Ser Duncan’s squire being a Targaryen prince himself, and then Lantern, loud and clear.
“As a knight,” she said calmly, looking up then to meet Tanselle’s eyes in what seemed like a silent plea for her secret to be kept. “I am entitled to a Trial by Combat. I demand one.”
This was not received well by the men holding Lantern, but they could hardly refuse. So Tanselle watched as Lantern was dragged away. Her head was held high as they took her.
The tent emptied, slowly. The boy, Egg, though she supposed that was unlikely to be his true name, lingered for a time. But she didn’t know what to say to him, and in the end she was left altogether alone.
Her family fussed over her, and made sure her finger was set. They kept checking in on her and she was grateful for it, but she had no words to express any of what she was feeling. She knew she wanted to attend the Trial by Combat, and that was about it.
The day of that same trial dawned, and Tanselle was in the stands. She hardly knew what she wanted. But she wanted Lantern to live, so she had to hope she won, for all that Lantern’s apparent propensity for violence scared and worried her.
Prince Maekar rode out, and she held her breath.
It was not an easy fight, and there were many moments she thought Lantern might be done for. But in the end she killed him as she had his son.
The crowd seemed uncertain, as Lantern rode off the field. Maekar’s body lay in the mud. The Kingsguard arrived, and Prince Baelor descended from the stands.
She slipped out then, still unsure of exactly what to think, and wary of being targeted. She sought Lantern out, feeling a certain pull even now.
She found Lantern sprawled out across the ground, a smile on her bloodied face. They kissed for the last time as fervently as they had for the first time.
“I should flee, I think,” Tanselle told her.
“You should,” Lantern agreed.
“Will you be alright? If I’m at risk, you are far more so.”
Lantern smiled, like a hunter seeing prey. “I can look after myself. I’ll leave at nightfall. They’ll likely send men after me. I’ll kill them too.” Her tone left no room for doubt.
“Maybe we’ll see each other again.”
“Maybe.”
And those were the last words they spoke to each other.