Lancelot had a dream that night. It wasn't a nightmare, though. He dreamed of a young Tywin, accompanied by a silver-haired man of the same age—the young Aerys.
They had a good relationship back in King's Landing, along with Steffon Baratheon, King Robert's father.
They trained as knights together, received education from Maesters together, and were groomed to become lords together.
One day, Aerys invited Tywin and Steffon to visit a brothel in King's Landing. Both declined, so Aerys went alone.
In the brothel, Aerys left his seed. A year later, a silver-haired baby was born.
Aerys even visited her in secret, naming her "Visenya."
When Lancelot woke up the next day, he found he had inexplicably gained a new talent.
Name: Lancelot Lannister
Identity: First Heir to Casterly Rock
Class: Knight
Strength: 21
Speed: 21
Intelligence: 21
Magic: 21
Spirit: 21
Talent: Warg, Mage, Dreamwalker.
"I woke up with a Dreamwalker talent out of nowhere. Does that mean the dream last night actually happened?" Lancelot wondered.
He decided to find an appropriate time to verify this with Tywin.
"Visenya... If my mother was Aerys's bastard daughter, then Jon Snow and I are cousins?" Lancelot murmured.
Half a month later, Lancelot delivered a Valyrian steel sword to Yohn Royce, who gave Lancelot a set of bronze armor in return.
"I wonder if Ser Lancelot has named this sword?" Yohn Royce asked, admiring the patterns on the blade.
Lancelot shook his head. "No, the naming rights are yours!"
"In that case, I shall call it Ghostslayer. May it slay the White Walkers and avenge my son!" Yohn Royce declared.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Lancelot planned to return and continue his alchemy.
"Does Ser Lancelot know about the strange tales circulating in King's Landing recently?" Robar Royce approached Lancelot and asked.
"Urban legends? Everyone knows about the White Walkers now. It's normal for stories to pop up. Don't take them to heart."
Lancelot waved his hand, feigning disinterest.
"But a septon died in the pool in front of the Great Sept of Baelor. The Faith initially claimed they would catch the murderer, but a day later, they changed their tune, saying the septon died from excessive drinking and drowned himself."
Robar Royce continued.
Lancelot stopped. He patted the neck of the Red Charcoal Fire Dragon Steed, sending it off to run in the forest by itself.
Lancelot began to listen to the specific details. After hearing Robar Royce's full account, Lancelot felt the matter wasn't simple.
"Some say the Mad King's ghost has returned, along with many ghosts of House Targaryen, seeking revenge on all who betrayed them," Robar Royce whispered.
"How can one be king alone?"
"Aerys was deserted by everyone, leading to his final end. He betrayed his friends, ministers, vassals, and subjects; they didn't betray him!" Lancelot said.
"Although this urban legend sounds real enough, I don't think it threatens the people of King's Landing."
Lancelot whistled, calling back his horse. He mounted and headed back to the Red Keep.
Back at the Red Keep, Lancelot intended to resume his alchemy.
But before he could set up his cauldron, Myrcella rushed over, looking distraught.
"Lancelot, bad news! I heard Margaery is seriously ill and bedridden. Let's go visit her together!"
Myrcella had two best friends in King's Landing: Sansa Stark and Margaery Tyrell. They were recent friendships, and as daughters of great lords, they were qualified to be friends with a princess.
"She's seriously ill?" Lancelot was skeptical. Margaery didn't seem like a frail woman!
"Alright! Let's bring some gifts and go see her!" Lancelot agreed.
He went back to his room and prepared some gifts: a bottle of "Soothing Potion" from his latest lottery draw, which could calm the mind and prevent nightmares and insomnia.
And an amulet, also from the lottery, which could protect the wearer from supernatural disturbances.
Finally, Lancelot grabbed a few strawberry cakes and bags of grass cookies, and went with Myrcella to visit Margaery.
Although House Tyrell didn't usually live in King's Landing, their wealth allowed them to own a large residence in the expensive capital, like a small palace.
Lancelot met Loras, Garlan, and their eldest brother.
Willas felt sensation returning to his leg and estimated he could stand up in another month or two.
"Lancelot, you're here! And Her Highness the Princess?" Willas greeted them.
"Willas, how is Margaery? Can we see her?" Myrcella asked.
"She is currently being treated by Grand Maester Pycelle. You might have to wait a moment! We shouldn't disturb the Grand Maester," Willas said hesitantly.
"If it's Grand Maester Pycelle treating her, then it's fine. Let's go," Lancelot said.
Other maesters might resent being disturbed, but Grand Maester Pycelle was a Tywin fanboy! So it didn't matter.
Lancelot knocked lightly on the door and entered Margaery's room.
It was a very feminine room, filled with expensive carpets, tables, chairs, and screens.
Seeing Lancelot enter, Grand Maester Pycelle's expression shifted from potential annoyance to a kindly smile.
"Ser Lancelot! And Princess Myrcella!"
Myrcella peeked out from behind Lancelot. She saw Margaery on the bed; she looked thinner. Much thinner.
"Margaery, are you okay?" she asked.
"I feel terrible. Headaches... and nightmares every night about terrifying creatures in the deep sea," Margaery said.
"Deep sea? Do you have thalassophobia?" Lancelot asked.
"What is thalassophobia, Ser Lancelot?" Grand Maester Pycelle inquired.
"Thalassophobia is a specific phobia involving an irrational, intense, and persistent fear of deep bodies of water. It's a type of anxiety disorder.
I suspect Margaery isn't simply 'afraid of water,' but overly fearful of elements like the 'unknown, confinement, and oppression' of the deep sea environment. Even contact with related objects might trigger strong physiological and psychological reactions," Lancelot explained.
"However, this condition usually affects sailors. Margaery, you don't go to sea often, do you?" Lancelot asked.
She shook her head. "I've never been to sea alone. At most, I've taken boats on the river."