Sun and Stars
Year 283 AC King's Landing
Elia
Fool a word reserved for idiots and imbeciles. Yet here she was, trapped in the Red Keep feeling very much the same. Her dear uncle Lewyn was off at the Trident fighting a battle caused by the actions of her late-husband and crown prince Rhaegar Targaryen who had went out and abducted Lyanna Stark.
The mere thought of his actions caused a grimace to appear on Elia's sickly face. There was no love in their marriage, sure they were cordial but that much was expected of those with noble blood.
One of the only good things to come from their union were her children. The effects of Aegon's birth were still apparent to this day. Elia knew her time was nearing its end she had been a sickly girl ever since she was born. The difficult birth of her second child had more than assured Elia of her inevitable fate.
King's Landing was burning the screams of babes for their mothers and the distinct smell of fire all but affirmed this theory. According to her guard the Lannisters had betrayed them which meant only one thing. Rhaegar had lost, Tywin Lannister would only strike if he knew who the victor of the war would be. And the Battle of the Trident would be the one which would ultimately decide the war.
Elia shed a tear for her children who would have to deal with the loss of a father and sent a prayer for her uncle. She knew he wouldn't allow himself to be taken prisoner he was of the Kingsguard and the Kingsguard do not run.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the gentle shuffling of her daughter, "Mommy where's daddy?" whimpered Rhaenys.
There was no immediate response Elia simply moved to embrace Rhaenys, doing her best to calm her daughter. She burrowed her nose into her daughter's ebony locks...locks that looked so much like her own, and carefully formulated a response.
"Do not worry my sweet he will come to save us if not for me then most definitely for you my child."
Confused at the wording but seemingly satisfied with the answer Rhaenys responded by ending her incessant whimpering and burying her head into her mother's chest. Elia mentally cringed at the false hope she had given to her elder child.
Maybe if she had not tossed him away like a common vagrant he would appear, with his smile wide enough to outshine the symbol of her house. He would arrive and save his daughter and her son. If only daughter and father had a chance to meet, what she would do to see that. Thoughts of Rhaenys' father reignited the feelings of guilt and regret Elia had felt ever since she had first set foot into the Red Keep.
If Elia had been told that she out of all people would be the one to send him away her best friend, he who protected her, he who provided a warmth much needed to her icy heart she would've laughed at them. Shame, childish fear, and dreams of becoming queen were all that it took for her to throw him away like trash.
Ashara Dayne her headstrong and stubborn friend had been utterly furious, threatening to run her through with a sword for throwing him away. She recalled the memory of the day he left vividly.
Year 279 AL Water Gardens
"In all my years Elia I have never been more disappointed how could you?
How could you do such a thing to him. He loved you, cared for you, he would fight an army of Unsullied for you and yet here you are leaving for the dragon's den!" Ashara nearly shouted.
"I never forced him to leave he left on his own accord I even suggested that he could stay with you...You know that this is is my duty and..." a loud slap was heard throughout the room.
Elia slowly raised a hand to her now reddened cheek in shock and looked to Ashara who was on the verge of tears. "Don't you dare. No one would ever force you to marry he was the very reason you were given that right!" Ashara threatened.
The look of pure hate and jealousy in her eyes all but affirmed Elia's ever growing suspicions, "You love him don't you you've always loved him haven't you?" the silence was the only answer she needed to the question as she roughly stood up and left the room. Elia was set to leave the Water Gardens for King's Landing the following day.
They were never able to reconcile after that specific incident. Life in King's Landing would never be the same without her childhood friend. Her appointed handmaidens were nothing but blustering imbeciles or women seeking to simply use her as a way to further their standing.
Rhaenys and Aegon they meant the world to her, yet one of her last regrets was not being able to whisk them away out of this hell hole. Now here she was waiting for what would be her imminent doom. There would be no second chances, not this time she had assured of that back when she was to be betrothed to Rhaegar.
What a naive child she had been, her mother had trained her and Ashara in the game since they were young girls. Yet she was not immune to those locks of silver hair, a body shaped in the image of the warrior, and violet eyes that held such mystery and hints of sorrow.
Ashara who at the time was being fostered to act as a companion to Elia had warned her of the dangers of involving herself with the dragons, yet like all advice at the time she ignored it, pushed it away, just like she did to him.
Elia was broken out of her revelry at the crashing of her quarter's doors. She had drilled herself ever since news of the Lannister's betrayal was revealed that she would remain unbent and unbroken just like her house's words, yet in the face of such a monster she was left speechless and terrified.
For in front her there stood a monster dressed as a man, full plate armor with great sword in tow Gregor Clegane or The Mountain as some would describe him was accompanied by the lecherous rat Amory Lorch with beady eyes and a snake-like face that would send chills throughout grown-men, these were the last people she had hoped to see.
"It took a lot of steps up this damn castle to find you but alas we've found the dragon's whore and his spawn," Lorch sneered with malice dripping from every syllable.
At the man's words Rhaenys moved to further burrow her face into her mother's embrace, yet Aegon's echoing cries immediately knocked Elia out of her stupor. She moved to reach him, yet it was all for naught.
Lorch was upon her in an instant, "No no no you sit here with your daughter and stay pretty," his grotesque fingers assaulted her body sliding through her ebony locks and he moved closer to her body molesting it with his grimy and filth covered hands. Tears threatened to spill from Elia's eyes as he continued to abuse her body.
As this was occurring the Mountain moved to Aegon's cot to strike down the wailing babe. But Elia's face was one of abject horror when Rhaenys decided to throw her wooden dragon at The Mountain causing him to turn his sights on her daughter.
Whether it be maternal instincts, adrenaline, or even both, Elia was able to escape the grasp of Lorch and in an attempt to shield her daughter from Clegane moved to stop him
There was simply no chance.
He was a monster trained to be a cold-blooded killer while she was a princess. Elia was immediately shoved to the side, her back bouncing off the stone walls like a ragdoll. She found herself struggling to maintain any type of consciousness.
Rhaenys' sobs grew louder for every step The Mountain took towards her and as he raised his sword to end her Elia cried out.
She cried out for someone to save her daughter, for anyone to come save them but she knew no one would come, they never would. Time suddenly slowed down as Elia's thoughts moved to that of Rhaenys' true father.
What would he say to her if he were to know that Rhaenys was of his blood? What would he say to her if she were to tell him that Rhaenys' violet eyes were not those of Rhaegar's but instead originated from the women he called mother.
Elia let the tears spill out for denying him of his first child, his only family in this world. Sadly this secret would die with her and he would be left unaware. She only hoped that if they were to meet in the afterlife that he would be able to forgive her.
As Clegane raised his sword to strike Rhaenys down she felt a sudden indescribable warmth that reminded her so much of him. With a smile on her lips a yellow flash was all Elia saw before unconsciousness overtook her.
Year 284 AC Dragonstone
Rhaella
It burned like wildfire, her seventh child had just left her body after tearing her apart and her loins were still burning. The storm was raging outside the castle, ever since her water broke the sounds of rain and thunder that threatened to destroy the island never ceased to stop.
Surrounded by a band of wet-nurses and a maester whose name she did not bother to remember Rhaella let out a pitiful chuckle at her current circumstances. Rhaella's thoughts were interrupted by the maester's shouting, she had no strength left there was simply no amount of willpower she could muster to push on not even for her children.
She would die during this storm and her children would be left orphans in this cold unforgiving world. A warm hand entwined itself into her own, she barely managed to turn her head to the left, sleep was slowly overtaking her.
"How ironic," Rhaella whispered a smile threatening to appear on her face. "A maelstrom dare appear at this specific time don't you think...Na-ru-to? Said ninja's simply smiled at the queen's pronunciation of his name.
Rhaella was prone to teasing, a queen she may be yet, banter with the blonde was always amusing.
"Of course my queen, but out of all the times for you to regard me as a maelstrom you decide to choose now?"
"Why wouldn't I? It only seems fitting considering the current circumstance don't you think, and please don't call me...my queen, you know how much I despise that title."
"My apologies...Rhaella."
Rhaella suddenly felt the all-too familiar warmth rush throughout her body as Naruto's chakra took effect. A whimper threatened to leave her lips as she felt the constant pain in her loins subside. The maester and wet-nurses were left speechless at the sudden entrance of the blonde ninja who for all appearances sake looked as if he were a mere commoner. A handsome commoner if the red faces on the ladies in the room were anything to go by.
The man was talking ever so casually to a woman who just so happened to be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Add onto the affection laced in their tone and speech, they looked as if they were lovers. The queen's next words did nothing but strengthen that theory.
"Leave me please," Rhaella ordered to the occupants of the room.
"But my queen this man," the maester stammered.
"Did you not hear my order maester? Leave now, and you." Rhaella pointed at the wet-nurse who had just finished feeding Daenerys.
"Give me my child."
The wet-nurse and maester were quick to exit the room after the queen's stern words.
"She looks like you don't you think?"
At Naruto's words she couldn't help but agree, there was not a single characteristic of Aerys in her child and thanks to this second chance she was given she would make sure Daenerys would not end up to be like her father.
"Where have you been all this time?" Rhaella suddenly questioned the blonde.
At her words Naruto became silent, "She's dead, I tried everything I could, but I failed to save her...and I couldn't leave Rhaenys by herself she can somehow tell the difference between a clone and the real me. She wouldn't let me leave without her. I failed them; Rhaenys, Ashara, and most of all I failed Elia, I tried everything possible, yet she was too far gone. And when I felt your pain through the seal I knew I had to come I wouldn't lose any more loved ones in this world.
Rhaella felt her heart tear in two for the man who had been a constant source of light for her, watching him break down she knew there were no words that could console him, instead she placed Daenerys on the bed and stood up Naruto's chakra working its magic.
She looked at the man, her pillar of strength, her golden knight who looked so broken...and embraced him, his sudden sobs tore at her heartstrings. He was always the one to provide comfort and strength whenever she needed it, Aerys' insanity made sure of this.
Wrapped in his embrace, there was only one word to describe how Rhaella currently felt...warmth, the difference here was that she was the provider not the receiver.
The sudden creaking of her chamber door interrupted the moment causing her to stand up and separate from the blonde. Rhaella would have whoever dared to intrude on her room hanged for their gall, "Do you have a death…" were the only words to come out of her mouth as she spotted the head of her grand-daughter peeking into the room.
Rhaella only needed to open her arms before Rhaenys entered the room and jumped into her arms sobbing much like Naruto had done. With the young girl in her arms she sent a questioning glance to the ninja who only shrugged and joined the hug.
The queen did her best to provide comfort, she knew these two broken souls were in need of it the most.