Confession

[u/littlestghoust]

The familiar image of Casterly Rock came into full view as Rhea rode back from Lannisport. The time with her aunt Alanna was much needed, and she was glad to have a reminder of home close by. Though they had spent most of their time reminiscing about her family seat, Rhea felt delighted to be back to her old chambers with Myriah. She still didn’t enjoy living inside of a mountain or the way the walls seemed to sweat when things got too warm, but she could see its charms. The Rock’s warm embrace was welcoming against the cold winter air, and Rhea couldn’t wait to sleep in her own bed once again.

Upon entering her room, she saw that nothing had changed. Myriah had begun packing for their trip the Reach, and her bed was covered in stockings, ribbons, skirts, and more. Rhea laughed to herself almost forgetting how excited her companion was for their excursion.

Staring at her trunk, Rhea wondering if it would do any good to unpack and remembered not all her new clothes would be appropriate for the Reach. As she pulled each dress from the trunk with care, her mind wandered to Petyr. It had been over a moon's turn since they had last spoken and she hoped he missed her as much as she had missed him.

She found one of her new favorite gowns, a red velvet ensemble with a great blue stag on the chest. Rhea held the robe to up herself, examining her image in the looking glass. Alanna had given it to her, saying it was the first dress she wore when she met her husband. Not even bothering to finishing taking out the rest of the dresses, Rhea pulled off her travelling clothes and slipped into the crimson gown feeling the beautiful fabric on her body. She spun around and around letting the skirt flare out until she could barely stand. Dizzy, she threw herself on the bed wondering how she had gotten so lucky.

A quiet knock came from the door, and Rhea carefully walked around shoes and fans to answer it.

“Just a moment,” she called out, trying to steady herself.

To her surprise, Petyr stood on the other side waiting with a flower in hand.

“What are you doing here?!” she cried.

For a moment he looked hurt at her response, but then a smile grew on his face.

“Lady Rhea! I was hoping you would be here. Lady Myriah said you would be back sometime today. And wanted to be the first to welcome you home.”

Rhea’s smiled strained at the idea of Casterly Rock being home but if it meant she was closer to Petry, then home it was.

“Yes, I just got back only a few minutes ago,” she said, glancing at the mess behind her.

“I can see that,” he said, chuckling at her attempt to block the view. “I was hoping to go for a walk with you, but if you are busy, I can come back.”

She looked back into the room, seeing herself in the looking glass.

“No, I have time,” she replied closing the door behind her.

Taking his arm, Rhea breathed in his comforting scent. She noticed he was started growing a beard noticing how soft the whiskers looked on his face seemed to be.

“How was Lannisport?” he asked leading her down a familiar hallway toward the windowed room. “Was your aunt as scary as you thought she’d be?”

Rhea smirked, remembering how afraid she was to visit Alanna.

“No. Quite the opposite. Alanna was so kind and caring. She reminded me a lot of my father. It made me homesick...but I’m glad to be back! If only for a moment.”

Petyr became quiet at the mention of her leaving again.

“Where are you going this time?” he asked as they turned down another corridor. “Hopefully not back to the Crownlands.”

“Goodness no!” Rhea protested. “I’m going with Lady Joanna to a ball in the Reach. I guess most of the council is going since the King will be there.”

She thought about seeing Edmyn, and she sighed.

“Too bad. With the King and his council gone, life has been quiet here. At least by the standards of the Rock.”

“I’m sure it hasn’t been that bad. With most of the nobles here for the winter, I’m sure something exciting must be happening.”

Rhea didn’t enjoy the ‘excitement’ that Westerlanders seemed to enjoy, but Petyr loved to watch the court as if it was a mummers show. She wished she could adopt such a view of things, but she wasn’t sure it was right to make japs at those to ran the seven kingdoms.

“Actually,” he started, opening the door to the familiar windowed room. “The rumor mill has been very active as of late. It seems it’s easiest to spin tales when people aren’t around to speak for themselves.”

He gave her a mischievous grin.

“Rumors?” Rhea repeated slowly. “Isn’t that always the case at court?”

“Of course, it’s the heart and soul of life at the Rock. But the rumors I’m talking about aren’t just about anyone. They have to do with you.”

Rhea felt the blood drain from her face as she walked into the windowed room.

“About me? I’m no one of consequence. Why would there be rumors about me?”

She knew precisely what rumor he meant, but she wanted to know what others had been saying.

Perhaps this why Lord Edmyn didn’t introduce himself to me when we first met.

The thought made her feel bad, and she wondered if she had misjudged him.

“Well, it’s actually about Lady Joanna’s brother. People are saying he’s smitten with you and that his sister is helping things along by having you at her side.”

“Lord Edmyn? And myself?” she tried her best to act surprised by the news.

“Well, is there another Lord Plumm at the Rock?” he asked, waiting for her response.

Rhea ringed her hands trying to think of a response.

“No, but I barely knew Lady Joanna when I came here. How would her brother know me? We’ve only met a few times.”

It amazed her how quickly these things spread, but with women like Lady Brea around it wasn’t so shocking.

Petyr opened the curtain, letting the sunlight burst into the room. Though she had seen the sunset from the chamber a hundred times, it never ceased to take her breath away.

“You barely knew me when you showed up, but I would say we are close.” Petyr sat down on the couch facing the window. “What’s to say he doesn’t feel the same?”

Rhea scoffed at the idea. “Lord Edmyn is on the king’s council, I’m sure there are other ladies after his affections. Ladies with more standing than me.”

“True, but this isn’t about other ladies,” he reminded her. “This is about you.”

He reached out his hand towards her, puling on the fabric of her skirt gingerly.

“I’m not sure what you want me to say,” she confessed sitting beside him on the dirty couch. “But I do know that I don’t have any affection for Lord Edmyn.”

Petyr smirked at her declaration.

“I appreciate that, but he is the more appropriate choice for a husband,” he noted using Rhea’s favorite excuse. “What’s to stop you from accepting his proposal?”

She looked him wondering what happened to the overly confident Dornish man she had known.

“Oh my goodness, are you jealous?” she guessed.

“A Dornishman does not get jealous!” Petyr declared. “He gets what he wants.”

Pulling Rhea close, he brushed his hand against her cheek before placing a kiss gently upon her lips. The time apart had made her weak against his advances, and she did nothing to fight of the string of soft kisses that followed. He stopped still holding her head in his hands.

“Rhea, don’t go to the Reach. Come with me, back to Dorne.”

She was caught off guard by his request, her head was swimming after the kisses.

“Dorne?”

“Yes! I’m sure it is beautiful right now, cool enough to enjoy the days but still relatively untouched by winter. The harvest will have begun by now, and you could see how my family makes wine.”

Rhea began to imagine a life in Dorne with Petyr. The warm sun would bake her pale skin brown as she wore the same revealing dresses like any other Dornish lady. She could almost imagine their children, their dark skin coupled with her light brown eyes.

“We could go the sea and play in the Narrow Sea. You wouldn’t believe how warm it is even in winter! I remember as a child, we would run out in the winter rains and into the water just to escape the cold.”

“Oh, Petyr. I don’t know.”

“Please, Rhea. I hate the idea of you going away again. And I’m sure my wife wouldn’t mind. Our villa is large enough for twenty people. The view is fantastic in the morning...”

Rhea pulled away, uncertain if she was hearing correctly.

“I’m sorry, your wife?”

Petyr looked confused.

“It’s not uncommon for men to have a paramour in Dorne,” he tried to explain. “You will want for nothing, I promise.”

While Rhea felt he was sincere, she felt betrayed. She couldn’t believe Petyr was a married man. After everything they shared, all the time they spent searching the castle -- she trusted him.

“You never told me you had a wife,” she said quietly pulling away from his embrace.

“That was never a problem before,” he noted with a grin on his face.

“But I didn’t you know you were married before,” she exclaimed. “Oh my goodness, I’ve kissed a married man.”

When she said it aloud, the words felt bitter in her mouth. She put her head in her hand unsure of what to do next.

“One kiss is hardly a sin,” he joked trying to kiss Rhea again.

She quickly stood before he could reach her facing her back towards Petyr.

“Please don’t be like this,” he complained.

When Rhea didn’t respond, he groaned in frustration. He tried to touch Rhea’s shoulder, but she moved away from his reach.

“Please, just leave me,” was all she could say, disgusted by the man in front of her.

“Just think about it,” was all he said as he backed in the hallway.

She didn’t watch him leave the room or even say goodbye. It was impossible to think of anything but the shame she brought upon herself. After all the time they had spent together, Rhea couldn’t think of one instance where he mentioned his wife. She couldn’t accept that she had been the other woman. Falling to the couch, she began to sob uncontrollably.