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A Prince of House Targaryen Chapter 7 (Dragon Tears)
🕑 Added 2022-02-20 14:30:41 +0000 UTC285 AC
Dorne was as beautiful as she remembered it. They had left behind the muddy roads and stone paths long ago and now there was only hard-packed orange sand for as far as they could see.
Elia rejoiced but the children were unsure about this place they were travelling to. Rhaenys, particularly, stared out the window of the carriage and frowned.
"Where?"
"This is Dorne, my love. I was born here. I grew up here. It's part of who you are, as well. You and your brother." Elia smiled.
The toddler frowned and looked back out the window. But nothing could dampen Elia's mood.
Rhaegar smiled at her every once in a while, his eyes clearing of his previous worry the nearer they got to the Water Gardens. Elia had known it would be good for him to leave King's Landing, but she hadn't expected the effects to show so soon.
It wasn't long before their carriage and their retinue pulled through the gates of the palace. The horses brought them up alongside a magnificent pool of water serving as a feature in front of the palace, the clear water sparkled like jewels in the sunlight.
Elia exhaled, Rhaegar forgotten, as she climbed from the carriage. Immediately, she caught sight of her family. Tears sprang to her eyes as Oberyn - dressed in a mustard tunic - swept her into his arms.
She breathed in his sweet orange scent and basked in the familiarity of his embrace. He cradled the back of her head in his palm and Elia at once felt at home.
"Thank you for coming, Elia. I was going insane here with just Doran for company."
She laughed, bright and clear. "You two still don't get along?"
"Not without you mediating."
She smiled at her brother and the two of them parted to give her a chance to greet Doran and his wife - Lady Mellario.
Doran embraced her first, and Elia felt as she had when she was small. Her older brother kissed her temple as they parted and Mellario took his place. Elia hugged her friend and then Arianne. She greeted little Quentyn with a kiss on his head.
When she had greeted each of her family members she turned back to the carriage to find her children. Aegon and Rhaenys were holding hands, the two eyeing Arianne in particular. Oberyn approached them first.
"Uncle Oberyn," Rhaenys said smiling running blindly at Oberyn's arms who hugged her close.
Aegon on the other hand who was only two name days looked confused and lost, not recognising Oberyn or anyone around him except his mother, father and Rhaenys.
"How is my little princess, let me look at you," Oberyn spoke sweetly before pulling her away and looking at her face closely.
"You will become the mos beautiful princess in the world," Oberyn said with Rhaenys giggling, Aegon had rushed at Elia after Rhaenys had run towards Oberyn.
He was standing close to Elia, his little hand holding on Elia's dress, looking a bit afraid.
Rhaenys moved to greet Princess Arianne as Oberyn moved towards Elia and Aegon, the little prince seemed to be intimidated by the Viper Prince, he left a small cry before hiding behind Elia, holding her dress tightly.
Elia laughed before taking her little dragon on her arms, who snuggled against Elia's neck, hiding his face from the dangerous Viper.
"Is okay sweetie, Uncle Oberyn won't hurt you," she whispered softly to his ear, but Aegon still didn't seemed to want to face Oberyn who was smiling at the little prince.
Seeing that Aegon wouldn't budge, "He will get used to you," Elia said turning to Oberyn who didn't seemed bothered by Aegon's antics.
"He will eventually get used to me, I'm good with children," Oberyn patting Aegon's back.
"Yes, because you have so many," Elia said.
He laughed and the two of them turned to face Rhaegar.
Doran approached first.
He was as polite as ever, although he was curt with him. Only Elia and Oberyn could tell, but Elia was grateful for his courtesy.
Rhaegar smiled politely as Doran welcomed them to Dorne and introduced his family.
Then Oberyn approached. He stood beside Elia, his black eyes roving over Rhaegar before him. Elia nudged him in his side and Oberyn cleared his throat.
"King Rhaegar," He bowed shallowly. His smile was snake-like.
Rhaegar opened his mouth to speak and Elia winced almost immediately. Whatever he had to say would fall on deaf ears. Oberyn would not want to hear it.
"Prince Oberyn. Thank you for welcoming us here. Both you and Prince Doran are very kind."
Elia's gaze travelled behind Rhaegar to meet Barristan's brown eyes. The Kingsguard gave her a small smile and lifted a shoulder in a shrug. Let him get his anger out now rather than later.
Perhaps Barristan had a point.
"Of course. I always welcome my good-brother, he has shown to be quite Loyal,"
"Oberyn," Elia hissed immediately at him, Arthur moved forward glaring at Oberyn who ignored Elia, and turned to look at Arthur, the man once he considered a brother. Opening his mouth ready to talk...
"Oberyn, Enough," Doran ordered with a sharp tone, cutting through the tense atmosphere.
"We shall show you to your chambers, Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys must be tired." Doran said.
Elia took Aegon as her husband and older brother walked side by side. She let her son stare at Oberyn with big purple eyes as her brother attempted to make him smile.
Mellario walked up beside her. "So, I assume you won't be staying in Rhaegar's chambers while you're here?"
"Of course, I will, he's my husband," Elia spoke sharply, she heard Oberyn snorting, while Mellarion didn't try to hide her surprised face.
"As if he..." "OBERYN," Elia hissed, her tone with venom like a snake, her eyes sizing him up. Oberyn gulped at her, taking a step back.
Aegon hearing his mother's tone started crying.
"Shhh, sweetheart. I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Elia spoke sweetly while glaring at Oberyn who for the first time looked down in shame and guilt.
Elia walked ahead, she knew where her chambers were.
Mellario watched her curiously. The Norvoshi woman had always been keen, and Elia felt she could read her mind when she stared at her this way.
"You don't hate him."
Elia sighed, "No. It's very complicated. I will speak to you about it soon." She smiled. "I have missed our conversations."
"As have I. Your brother has been driving me mad."
"Oh?" Elia watched Doran and Rhaegar, her brother a little shorter than the Targaryen king, but just as lean and graceful.
"We will talk about it soon." Mellario winked at her.
They were led through the palace and Elia was given her old chambers. The only difference in it was a cot in the corner for Aegon who was currently fussing after the long journey. Elia had to tug Oberyn out of the room to let her son rest.
"If you are in need of anything, my king, please do ask." Doran spoke to Rhaegar outside their chamber. "We will have a dinner tonight in your honour. As you are family, it will be an intimate affair. I hope this is acceptable to you?"
"Of course, of course. Thank you again for your hospitality, Doran."
Her brother smiled and bowed, leaving Rhaegar, Elia, and Oberyn in the corridor together.
Her husband looked between the siblings, his violet eyes lingering on their faces.
"Elia," He spoke, "Oberyn. Please excuse me. I must rest before this evening's meal. And I will leave you two to catch up." He smiled.
Once Rhaegar had retreated to their room, Oberyn turned to her. "I cannot believe he had the audacity to come." He hissed under his breath.
Elia watched Rhaenys out of the corner of her eye. Arianne was with her.
"I wanted him to come."
"Why?" Oberyn frowned.
"Because I loved her just as much as I love Rhaegar." Elia said, turning to walk down the corridor. She wanted to be outside in the garden. Oberyn seemed to understand, because he walked along beside her. Elia was aware of Barristan behind them, the clink of his Kingsguard armour echoing in the orange stone corridor they strode down.
"Is that really what you think?" He asked.
"Yes."
He scoffed, eyes wide in disbelief.
He paused as the corridor opened up into a courtyard, a large pool of water shone like a mirror in the centre and the large trees surrounding it provided shade from the hot Dornish sun. Elia remembered how she would lounge out there under one of the palms, Mellario by her side, the two of them discussing marriage, love, sex, and Elia's uncertain future.
"Yes, I loved her, and I would have loved Visenya as if she was my own flesh and blood" Elia stated, showing no lies in her eyes.
"You're mad."
"Perhaps. I am married to a Targaryen after all. Perhaps their famous insanity has rubbed off on me."
"That's not funny, Elia. The Mad King burned people-"
"You think I don't know that?" She snapped at her brother. Her venom was enough to shut him up. They both knew she could never forget what the Mad King had done.
He stared at her, black eyes searching. "I trust you. But I don't know how you can be okay with all this."
"You will be able to understand soon enough. Seeing as you'll be spending some time with Rhaegar as you act like the good brother you are." Elia smiled, and in her eyes shone a smugness that made Oberyn scowl.
"You planned this, didn't you? The two of you. King's Landing has changed you, sister."
Elia smiled sweetly, "Rhaegar had some input as well."
Oberyn let out an exasperated sigh. "You are just like mother."
"You take that back."
"I will not. It's true."
Elia pinched his arm and he cried out in surprise.
She glanced behind her, catching Barristan's eye and noting his amused smirk as he pretended not to be watching the siblings. She bit back her own smile and turned back to her brother.
"I said my part and made my decisions, I love you Oberyn, but don't make me choose between you and Rhaegar." She said kindly.
Oberyn paused for a moment, then nodded, and Elia knew he would try for her. He led her out into the courtyard, the sun catching in his hair and turning his skin golden.
Elia stepped out after him and into the warm embrace of the sun.
Her sun.
Elia had never been more content.
Tomorrow
Aegon was on her knee, watching his sister, Rhaenys and Arianne play in the pools of the Water Gardens. Arianne seemed to get along with Rhaenys, Elia hoped Doran would approve of Arianne fostering in King's Landing for a few years, Rhaenys needed friends, Daenerys was still only two name day, Rhaenys was much older than her.
The sunshine was stronger in Dorne, the heat more keenly felt. Rhaenys loved it.
Mellario was with her, the two of them sitting on a wrought iron set of chairs with a matching table between them. There was a platter of fresh fruit set out for them, which they both picked at before the flies could get to it.
"So, what is this between you and Doran?" Elia asked.
It had been obvious at dinner the night before. It had been a tense enough affair as it was without Mellario shooting Doran glares throughout the meal. Oberyn had made an attempt at humour, but when Rhaegar would speak he would comment on what they had said with a thinly veiled insult.
Elia had been exhausted by the end of the meal and had retired immediately.
"Norvos is very different from here." Mellario sighed, her beautiful face tilted upwards into the sun. She closed her eyes, "Doran doesn't understand the struggle I go through trying to assimilate."
"That sounds like Doran." Elia sighed. Her elder brother was a born ruler, a just man, and a kind soul. But he had expectations of everybody, as high as the ones he held for himself. Mellario was a carefree spirit and Elia could see how she would respond badly to the rules he set for her.
"He barely spends any time with us. He's always off doing something or other." Mellario waved a pale hand, her eyes opening to look to Elia. "I don't know if he has taken a mistress, but the thought has crossed my mind."
"You know he's not the type."
Mellario hummed, not a sound of agreement or disagreement. She closed her eyes again. Elia always loved how beautiful Mellario looked in the sun. Sometimes she had wondered what it was like to be so beautiful.
Now she had grown older, and she knew her own worth.
"I just feel-" Mellario sighed, "I feel like I do nothing here. I'm a mother and a wife, but that is all I am. I watch the children play, I feed Quentyn, I brush Arianne's hair. And I love them, I want to spend time with them. But that's not all I want."
Elia looked to her good-sister curiously. She could understand what she was saying, she had felt the same.
"What else do you want?"
Mellario smiled, "Things I can't have."
Elia took the hint and changed the topic. "Rhaenys and Arianne are getting along nicely. She usually doesn't like strangers."
"She's like her mother." Mellario grinned, "Charming and friendly. And too loud."
Elia laughed, kissing Aegon's head when he whined and reached for a grape. She handed it to him and he munched on it, watching his sister curiously.
"And what about you?" Mellario asked. "How are you coping with all that has changed?"
"I don't know. At first I was confused, I was unsure about what to do. Then, I meet her and everything worked out for the best,"
Her good-sister looked to her in surprise. "Really? I would never let another woman-"
"Yes, I know. Believe me, I've gotten enough judgment from Oberyn to last a lifetime." Elia plucked a grape, toying with it on the silver platter between them.
Elia shrugged a shoulder lazily, "I only need Rhaegar as a husband and a friend. I need my children. And they deserve what they were born to have. A life in King's Landing with their father and mother beside them. And now," Elia looked to Rhaenys.
Mellario chuckled softly, "I'm not judging you, Elia. I'm just confused. Westerosi custom doesn't usually allow for your sort of family. Back home in Norvos this thing happens often."
"It does?" Elia frowned.
"More often than here. In fact, sometimes the women marry one another."
Elia blinked in surprise. "What?"
A snort of laughter behind them made both women turn to see Barristan standing there. He was in the shade, where Elia had ordered him to stand so he wouldn't burn under the sun. The dappled sunlight lit up his white hair and his armour and brightened the brown of his eyes.
He caught them looking and immediately schooled his features into a blank mask. That of the Kingsguard. But Elia smiled at him and before she turned back to Mellario she caught a hint of an answering smile on his lips.
"Ah, the dragon approaches." Mellario murmured. Elia followed her gaze to find Rhaegar striding across the courtyard towards them.
He looked so relaxed, it brought a smile to Elia's lips. His silver hair glowed in the light, his usual black tunic swapped for a light linen shirt and breeches. He looked like he had been sparring, because his hair was a little disheveled and his eyes were bright with energy. Elia could see it in his body, in the lightness of step and the brightness of his smile. Followed closely by Ser Arthur.
"Good afternoon, Princess Mellario." He bowed his head as he came to a stop before the two women.
Mellario grinned and lazily got to her feet. She reminded Elia of a wild cat, long and languid. She bowed her head to Rhaegar, "Good afternoon, your majesty." She purred.
Elia rolled her eyes at her good-sister and shared a look with Rhaegar. He seemed bemused, if a little embarrassed. He cleared his throat. "May I speak with my wife alone?" He asked.
Mellario nodded, turning back to pick up an orange segment from the platter. The bangles on her wrist clinked as she moved her arm to bring the fruit to her mouth. "You need not ask. She is your wife, after all." She popped the fruit in her mouth, raising a hand to Elia in farewell before she sauntered off towards the covered pathway leading back into the palace.
Rhaegar sat in Mellario's place beside Elia. He sighed, watching the children play. "I took you from all of this, didn't I?"
Elia hummed, popping a grape in her mouth. "I was going to have to leave it eventually. I could have been married off to some lord in Essos. But instead it was you."
"Do you think you would have been happier with an Essosi lord?" Rhaegar asked.
"No. I fell in love with my husband. I wouldn't change that." She murmured. At her honesty, they both fell silent.
"Tell me about what you would do here."
She smiled, thankful for the change in subject. "Mostly this." She said, "Sometimes my mother would hold a grand feast, and the nobles would come and go. I was friends with many of the maids here. But when Mellario arrived it was her I spent most of my time with."
"What of your brothers?"
"Oberyn and I were barely apart when we were younger. My mother hated it when we were together. He was mischievous and it only got worse when I was around to witness his antics."
Rhaegar laughed at that. "Your mother, from all I've heard of her, sounds like a very strong woman."
"She was." Elia let out a breath. "I miss her sometimes. But she was a hard woman and very rarely showed any kindness. Oberyn was my heart. Doran, my sanity. And when I met you, you are my love and my home."
His purple eyes met hers over the table. He looked at her with love, she knew that, she was happy to have him as a husband, as a friend, as someone she could trust with everything.
"Now I have my children. I have you. I have Dany and Rhaella, You all are enough for Me."
Rhaegar held her hand, he looked so happy now, Elia knew Rhaegar had been afraid that she might want to stay in Dorne but she didn't wanted that. She wanted the father of her children in her life, she wanted the man she loved.
"I only want you to be happy. Thank You for thinking of me as your happiness," Rhaegar spoke before giving her a kiss in the lips, she gladly returned it, her tongue licking his lips in hunger, wanting more...
They kissed for a long time, Rhaegar suddenly stopped knowing they weren't exactly in a place to do this.
"If Oberyn has his way you would be remaining behind when it is time for us to leave here."
"Oberyn is used to getting his way. He won't be this time."
Rhaegar smiled, relief in his eyes. "He is remarkably venomous."
"He is 'The Red Viper' after all."
Her husband laughed, the sound cut off by a cry of pain from the pool before them.
"Aunt Elia!" Arianne called, her arm on Rhaenys' back as her girl cried. She was clutching her elbow.
The other children had gathered around, watching in concern, but they made space for Rhaegar who was already running over to the children.
Elia stood as well to see what was happening.
Rhaegar crouched down in front of Rhaenys and looked at her elbow. He turned back to Elia, "It's just a cut, Elia." He called back to her. Elia let out a sigh of relief and sat back down, keeping an eye on Rhaenys as Rhaegar wiped away her tears gently.
"Hush now." Rhaegar said, "It's okay." He hugged the little girl and smiled to Arianne over her shoulder. "She will be fine, Princess Arianne. Don't worry."
Elia watched as Rhaenys slowly calmed and Rhaegar took her hand to bring her inside and clean her cut.
Arianne came over to sit beside Elia and she let him finish off the fruit.
"Is this where you are living now?" Arianne asked her after a while.
Elia had been resting, her eyes closed in the warm sun. She opened them to look at the little Princess. She met her gaze with steady eyes, a new certainty shining in them that she had never seen in her before.
"No, Arianne. We're only visiting."
"I want you to stay here." She said.
"Do you? Why?"
"I like Rhaenys. Why isn't Princess Daenerys here?"
Elia smiled, "She's too young to bring along, Arianne. She'll be safe back in King's Landing."
"I hope Rhae wasn't hurt,"
"Rhae?"
"That's Rhaenys' nickname. We came up with it together." The little girl said proudly.
Elia couldn't help but smile. She let out a small chuckle, the motion shifted Aegon where he lay fast asleep against her chest. A comforting weight.
After One Month
The rain poured down on their final day in Dorne, as though the gods knew how much it pained Elia to leave.
Oberyn had been glued to her side all day, but she didn't mind. It distracted her from all the thoughts running through her mind. Once she got back to King's Landing she wouldn't have her brothers here with her.
They sat in Doran's chambers, Oberyn strolling about the room idly. He flipped through books, lifted scrolls to read through them, and hummed a tune.
Elia was sat opposite Doran who was seated behind his desk. Her older brother kept glancing at Oberyn in irritation until finally he set down his quill. "I cannot work when you are walking about making so much noise." He said.
Oberyn turned, eyes wide in surprise. "I'm not making that much noise. Am I, Elia?" He asked.
"I'm not getting involved in this."
Doran shot Oberyn a glare, "A wise choice. He is insufferable."
"At least I'm not boring." Oberyn walked slowly over to where his siblings were seated.
"Grow up, Oberyn."
Elia rolled her eyes, "Will you two stop fighting for a moment? I'm leaving today. You could at least try to make my last moments here pleasant."
Doran turned to her, "Yes, we should try to make this as nice a day for you as possible." He said pointedly.
Oberyn walked slowly over to where his siblings were seated. "But think of it this way, Elia. You won't see us together for a long while. Don't you want to hear us fight? You'll miss it when you're back in the capital."
She laughed and even Doran smiled at that.
"I will miss you both. Please come and visit."
She looked to Doran, and he nodded. "If I can."
"He won't visit. He's too busy." Oberyn said.
"At least he writes to me. You never write." Elia said, looking up at her younger brother with a raised brow.
Oberyn opened his mouth to reply, but paused when he caught sight of a figure by the door. The three siblings turned to see Rhaenys and Arianne.
"Arianne, what did I say about coming in here while I'm working?" Doran sighed.
"But Uncle Oberyn is here!" The little girl protested. "You never work when he's around."
Oberyn frowned, looking to Doran. "I wonder where she picked that up from?"
Doran ignored his brother, "Arianne." He said firmly.
"Oh hush, let her sit with me." Elia smiled, holding her hand out to her niece.
Arianne flounced over to her and Elia lifted her up onto her lap. Rhaenys took that as a sign that she was welcome too and she walked up to her mother.
"Is my study a nursery?" Doran murmured, but turned back to his work.
Oberyn grinned as Rhaenys came over to him with her wide purple eyes. She lifted her hands and he obliged, picking her up.
Elia smiled, "You're her favourite,"
"I told you I was good with children. Particularly this little Dornish girl. She's may be a dragon as well, but it helps that she's the first one I have liked." Oberyn smiled to his niece, bouncing her gently. The little girl giggled and hugged her uncle around the neck.
Rhaenys left her uncle's arms before she came up to Doran, her violet eyes peering over the edge of his wooden desk.
Elia's older brother glanced down at his niece. "Hello." She greeted, setting his quill down. "What are you looking for?"
Rhaenys linked her hands behind her back. "Nothing." She said.
Doran exchanged a look with Elia, then turned back to Rhaenys. "Do you enjoy drawing, Rhaenys?"
The girl shrugged a shoulder, "A little bit." She said, eyes cautious still and watching Doran curiously.
"Here." The Dornish Prince took out a small wooden box of charcoal and a thick wad of paper. "Take this back to the capital with you. And the next time I see you, you can show me what you've drawn."
Rhaenys hesitated, but at Elia's encouraging nod, she took the box and the paper. "Thank you." She said.
Elia smiled, standing with Arianne in her arms. "Shall we leave Doran to work?" She looked to Oberyn pointedly and her younger brother nodded, heading to the door.
"I will see you off later, Elia." Her older brother said as they left the room.
Elia smiled to him, carrying Arianne out and setting her down to let the children play together a final time before they were to leave.
Barristan followed along behind her and Oberyn.
"What will you do in King's Landing when you return?" Oberyn asked, bringing her back to the present.
"The same as I usually do. Spend time with the children, Rhaegar, draw, paint, ensure the court gossip doesn't involve me too much."
"Such an exciting life."
Elia shrugged a shoulder, "It has its moments. Although, there are other things I've been thinking of doing."
Oberyn raised a brow, "Such as?"
"I can't tell you just yet."
He frowned, "Now you're keeping secrets? You really are changed, Elia. King's Landing has done this to you."
"Did you expect me to remain the same?" She asked seriously.
"No. I suppose not."
She took her brother's hand and smiled, "Please visit. You always bring me the most comfort. I can always count on you to be on my side. Only my side."
Oberyn grinned, "I have no other loyalties."
"Not until you are married."
"Married?"
Elia laughed, "You will marry someday, surely."
"Never." Oberyn shook his head.
"But-"
"Never, Elia."
She blinked in surprise. He said it with such conviction.
The sound of armour drifted towards them, but not from Barristan who was positioned behind them. Arthur Dayne rounded the corner, alone and walking with purpose.
The Martells paused to meet the Kingsguard, who slowed when he caught sight of them. It was obvious who he had come to find. His violet gaze found Elia's face and did not stray from it.
He bowed low, "Queen Elia. Prince Oberyn."
"Have you come to change shifts with Ser Barristan, Ser Arthur?" Oberyn asked. "A little early, is it not?"
Arthur shook his head, "I have come to speak with Queen Elia."
It didn't surprise her. He had been trying to speak with her for months now. Elia nodded to her brother when he turned to her with a raised brow.
"I will speak with him. Barristan, please allow us some privacy."
Oberyn and Barristan left together and Elia was glad she wouldn't have to witness the conversation between the two of them. She sent up a small prayer to the Seven that Oberyn wouldn't be too stupid.
Elia and Arthur talked for an hour, soon she returned back to her husband, showing him all the love she could.
Tomorrow
Elia tried not to cry when she said goodbye to her family, but when she climbed into the carriage and they rode away she watched the shrinking figure of Oberyn from the window and it was too much for her.
Aegon crawled into her lap and lay his head on her chest as Elia stared out the window to hide her tears. A gentle hand landed on top of her own and she turned to find Rhaegar.
"I hope you feel better,"
Elia wiped her tears away and mustered a smile, "If anything it was an interesting trip."
Rhaegar nodded.
King's Landing had begun to shut its collective eyes as the moon heralded the transition of evening to night. Artisans and traders had shutterted their stalls, septons and septas ceased their continous prayers for the reprieve of sleep, and each candle in the city's sprawling red castle had been blown out. Well, all except one.
Thirteen years ago, the peace of walking his own home at night was a foreign idea entirely; a hard concept to imagine when Westeros bled. The Red Keep felt different than the castle he had grown up in, the former bastion of intrigue, paranoia, and anxiety replaced by a palace teeming of life, the future of his family all under one roof, safe, together.
Just two days ago, Rhaegar's eldest dragon, the sun of the next generation of Targaryens, had returned from her fostering in her maternal homeland. The capital had been postively buzzing with energy since then, as the world was introduced to Princess Rhaenys as a young woman, rather than the girl she had left as six years prior.
Each member of the royal family processed her entrance in different ways; Rhaegar failed to miss his two sons rooted to their spots with their mouths momentarily agape, smiled when his sister and youngest son slammed into Rhaenys with a force that two children shouldn't have been capable of.
The King of the Seven Kingdoms replayed the scene in his head as he ascended towards his quarters, observing the serenity of the halls as a warm summer breeze gusted through the open windows of Maegor's Holdfast.
Upon reaching the second level, Rhaegar paused. Resting in the six apartments that lined the corridor were the future of House Targaryen, and the future of mankind itself. The first door on the left had not been used for quite some time, the childhood quarters of Prince Viserys Targaryen.
In the most recent raven exchange with his brother, Rhaegar learned that Viserys was still in Volantis, approaching his second year in the city. Across the way stood the room of Rhaella Targaryen's youngest, the Princess Daenerys.
While all of his children's growth brought him a gauntlet of emotions, Rhaegar was especially unprepared for the ongoing metamorphsis of his little sister, born in the most fragile time of their family, into a kind, beautiful scion of Old Valyria.
However, as the king drew his eyes further down the hallway, one room in the corridor still burned with light.
Gracefully, Rhaegar glided towards the last door on the left, hearing soft curses and floating musical notes from beind the composite wood and iron door. Rapping gently on the dragon-direwolf symbol engraved onto the barrier, Rhaegar was greeted by a tired, motivated, and clearly frustrated son.
"Oh, uh, wait Father I promise I was just going to be-"
Only raising his hand silently, the king's action was enough to cease the young prince's hasty explanation, and allowed Rhaegar to look over his son's head to survey the room.
No wineskins out, no whores, Viserys was a continent away, thank the god, and only one candle illuminated the corner of the room. The light revealed the object of his son, next to a wooden stool sat a harp, not too large and not too small, that glowed like the moon with its weirwood frame, adorned by strings dyed blood red.
A present of his son's tenth nameday, the boy had shown a love for his father's music from a young age, a topic that bored Aegon to no end. For three years now, the boy had become a better player each time his fingers plucked the strings, but judging from the scattered sheets of music that the breeze had propelled throughout the room, the developing player had run into a big of a snag with his playing.
In two long strides, the Targaryen patriarch transversed the distance to his son's harp, stopping to collect the angrily-thrown sheet music. Collecting and neatly stacking the parchment, Rhaegar's violet orbs began to scan the page, silver-blonde eyebrows slowly raising up his brow. Rhaegar ventured a look up at his younger son, finding his brown , almost dark eyes eyes staring back. They were so much like Lya's eyes that it was frightening sometimes.
"Now I can see why you were having so much trouble, son. A beautiful song, but so, so sad, why this one in particular?" asked Rhaegar, one brow still cocked as he took his son's place on the wooden stool.
"I know it's sad Father, but when you asked me to play at the feast tomorrow for Rhae, I wanted to pick a special song," his son replied, "and this is the most special one I know."
Inwardly, a warm smile spread through Rhaegar, a pride in his son's intellect and affection that were culminating in this moment. Nodding slowly, Rhaegar's body language gave his son the encouragement to continue, words pouring out after hours and hours of plucking the blood red strings.
"A couple of moons ago I heard Ser Arthur talking to Ser Barristan about Harrenhal, and when you met Mother, and how you played this song and she cried it meant so much to her. Now I want to play it and have someone think it's special, like you and Mama."
As his son blurted out his last sentence, his face became incredibly red, and seemed frozen to the spot.
Rhaenys, Rhaegar immediately knew. The two were inseperable. The sudden cacaphony of Targaryen teenagers presented problems that Rhaegar never had to experience growing up, and he supposed there was some sense of inevitability to their current situation.
Rising from the stool, Rhaegar beckoned his son over with a wave of his hand, gesturing for the prince to resume his seat and to pick up his instrument.
As his son raised his hands to position, Rhaegar mirrored the motion just next to his son, guiding each pluck and note. Slowly, almost magically, the sounds became a melody, a captivating, consuming psalm.
In a quiet voice, Rhaegar offered his final piece of advice.
"Anyone can play these chords, but the voice is what makes this song so special. You can use it to tell Rhaenys how important she is to you, that this song is for her."
Clearing his throat, and gulping twice, the still-deepening voice of his son joined the melody his fingers were producing, closing his eyes to leave his father as an observer, leaned against the tapestry behind the wooden stool.
"High in the halls of the kings who are gone
Jenny would dance with her ghosts
The ones she had lost and the ones she had found
And the ones who had loved her the most"
Rhaegar Targaryen - 286 AC
"And The ones who had loved her the most" Opening his eyes, he felt the light hitting his face, covering his eyes, What was that? Rhaegar asked himself.
Who was he? Why did I call him my son, we had a Daughter? Rhaegar didn't know the answer, unknown to him, another member just woke up dreaming of a dark haired prince singing for her.
Closing his eyes, Rhaegar took a deep breath, it had been almost a year since he had dreamed of Lyanna or their daughter.
Rhaegar had been so happy to have Elia and his mother close, they were what kept him standing, and his children.
Rhaegar thought of Rhaenys with a slight frown, when she had been told that Lya and Visenya would not come, Rhaenys had cried and thrown a tantrum, yelling at them.
No, Don't lie. I saw him, I saw my brother, he would never leave me alone, she had cried, always stating that had been a brother and not a sister.
When asked by Rhaegar and Elia, where she had seen him, his little girl had been silent, not saying anything despite Rhaegar asking many times until he eventually gave up.
Turning to his right, he was meet with the sleeping face of Elia, Rhaegar moved a strand of hair away from her face, kissing her forehead, he held her close to him, her warmth warming his heart, she hummed in her sleep, Rhaegar shed a tear as he whispered.
"I love you Elia,"
Comments
Drinor
Thanks for reading my story
Nerozaz
Keep up the good work
