*Ser Duncan, known as Duncan the Tall. Born a bastard in Flea Bottom, he became a knight and then a sworn guard to Princess Rhaenys. *

He and the rest of the royal guard were overwhelmed with their duties, new rigorous and annoying tasks and more shifts of sleeping royal guard. It was Prince Aegon's name day celebration, and the entire kingdom seemed to be in attendance

And King Maekar was getting angrier

*The flickering candlelight cast long shadows on the stone walls of the room, the quiet hum of the night broken only by the distant lapping of waves against the cliffs. *

*Duncan stood outside the princess's room, a silent sentinel in the darkness. He was supposed to protect her, be her shield, bound by oath to protect her with his life. But there were no vows that could protect him from the way his heart pounded whenever he looked at her. *

*She should be sleeping in her bed now, solemn and serene. Princess Rhaenys, Aegon's sister and the only thing that brought some color to Duncan's world. *

*Duncan dreamed for years of a girl with flaming hair and amethyst eyes that lit up the darkness. If gods really existed, he was sure she would be one. *

*He still remembered what it was like to see her for the first time, in the flesh, in all her beauty. Duncan swore his heart would stop, but at the same time an intense heat flooded him. *

*Life wasn't fair, he knew that from the moment he became aware of it. But not being able to have her, among everything he wanted, was what made him feel most robbed. She was there, behind that door, and yet so far away. *

*She was a princess, born of pure Valyrian bloodline and he was a mere royal guard, a bastard from Flea Bottom. *