So big Rhaegar fans might want to flee now. Just a heads up. I've always been pissed for his treatment of Elia and I think it is noticeable. Anywho I had a poll up for what couple I should do next and Ned and Elia won. There are some different options up now feel free to go vote. Please give me a comment on what you thought about the story and thank you so much for reading!
Elia had no idea what had come over her husband that he wanted to travel with her only weeks after giving him their son but he insisted she come, and she said she could not be away from her newborn and so he had both the baby and Rhaenys come with them. Elia didn't want to be traveling in the winter to the north with their new born and he knew it, she also wanted to be away from him after the Harrenhal betrayal, he was quite fond of Elia when she was amusing and cleaver and made him laugh and she would dance when he sang and most importantly she had absolutely adored him but now she could bare him no children and sang none of his praise and he had little use for that. She wished he would ride with the other men and leave Ashara, the wet nurse, and herself to tend to the children but of course he didn't think of her wishes he wanted to sit in the carriage and read so he did. He did not help the women soothe the children as they cried or help cover them in furs and it was a very silent ride as neither Ashara or Elia could stand to speak to him and only spoke when Rhaenys asked something to either of them. Ashara kept worrying of Arthur he had seemed off before they departed, and it was still winter and he and the other Kingsguard and their household guard from Dragonstone was out on their horses.
Winterfell was such a welcome sight when they had finally arrived on it. They arrived and Lord Stark awaited them in the cold with his four children but none of them or the rest of their household did not seem to look too cold, to them the winds were subsiding and even if not yet, summer was not far away and they suffered much worse than this when the snow gets so high as the farmers houses and the animals die from the cold, this was like a summer snow to them.
When Rickard got the raven from the prince, he did everything a good lord does. He had rooms ready and a feast planned, and he even had Eddard come home from the vale, they all expected the prince's visit was a rouse to apologies for his behavior at Harrenhal but he did not come to apologize. He stepped out of the carriage and watched everyone kneel into the snow, Elia had thought he would allow them to skip that for the weather, but he did not. He gestured for them to arise and they did he made small talk with them and Rhaegar was amazing at amusing and beguiling people with his stories but only the girl looked in awe the Northmen didn't seem to care for Rhaegars silver tongue. Elia came up with Ashara following behind her dutifully and Arthur next to his sister since the princess held her son and heir, or at least that was the reason he told himself he stuck by the princess dutifully she was visibly shivering and was still tired and pale from her troubled labor she offered her hand to Lord Rickon Stark who took it.
She saw even the northerner's noses turn red and shiver as the wind whirled and Rhaegar talked and talked one of his favorite things.
"My love perhaps we should go inside with our hosts instead of keeping them in the cold." Elia said she only called him love to be polite and everyone could see it he nodded walking in with Rickard Elia followed thanking Ser Arthur for picking her daughter up out of the snow and handing Catelyn Tully Aegon whom she was eager to hold.
"After we've warmed up you will have to take us to your Godswood." Rhaegar declared. A serving girl brought mead and spiced milk in for everyone." The hall at Winterfell was nothing like Dragonstone, Elia did not find the room to intimidating or grand for that matter but it was well built and kept the gold out and instead of stone dragons carved into the walls Winterfell had beautiful tapestries each looked to tell a tale, but Elia didn't know any of them and wanted to learn their secrets.
"I did not think you of the old faith prince." Rickard stark said simply not to eager to take a none believe to such a sacred place in his home.
"Rhaegar loves to learn of myths legends and other religions." Elia answered softly taking her baby back making sure he was tightly bundled in his fur blanket, she chatted with Brandon's wife Catelyn by the fire. "Enjoy yourself husband but I will stay inside with the children." Elia said finally no longer feeling the sting of the cold in her hands. However, since the entered the north her usual labored breaths had softened as cold air filled her lungs.
"No." Rhaegar corrected her. "The Godswood is where northern marry, and you will marry Eddard Stark tonight." He said looking straight at her brown eyes she was confused and everyone else was shocked and did not utter a word or move an inch. Rickard wondered if this was some sort of unfunny southern joke that went over their heads.
"We are married Rhaegar!" Elia said impatiently pushing away the silly notion looking down at her squirmy baby because she could not bear for her eyes to accidently meet Eddards. Rickard realized this was no joke at all and Benjen and Brandon looked at their father for what they were to do but he didn't say a word and poor Eddard just starred at the tan princess warming herself by the fire.
"You won't grant me an annulment, you won't let me take a second wife! The hand says I cannot annul our marriage unless you consent or Dorne will leave the fold Elia, how am I to deal with Dorne, my father, and being stuck with a wife who cannot bare the third child I need!" Rhaegar said in front of their northern hosts and their own companions humiliating Elia further.
"You cannot just marry away your problems I'm the mother of your son! You'd make them bastards?" She asked almost a cry.
"No! Aegon is my heir. He needs his two sisters by his side like the conqueror. He may remain here with you till he is five then he will have to return to me. Rhaenys May stay with you till she has flowered."
"Your ma-"She started but became as quiet as the grave. Her Nobel gallant prince was losing his mind in front of her. She had seen so little of him after Harrenhall he would leave for weeks to go to kingslanding and even when he was home they had not spent time together like they once did. She couldn't even tell when it had happened when her husband had gone mad.
"We will have no part of this!" Rickard Stark hollered at Rhaegar at last. He would not be any part of the prince's madness, of him trying to rid himself of his true rightful wife, no Rickard was to good of a man to help freely shame this girl. Rhaegar waved his hand and his 35 household guards and two kings guard grabbed their swords in the room only the four Stark men themselves and the four Stark guards in the room had swords to defend themselves with.
"This was not the plan!" Lyanna cried.
" Drop your swords." Arthur said to the four starkmen he did not want to dispatch.
"I only need the second son alive Arthur, if the rest must die so be it." Rhaegar said and Rickard dropped his sword and Eddard and Benjen followed their fathers silent command and followed suit their swords making two more thuds on the ground and the four guards in the corners dropped their swords creating a loud ruckus but the wild wolf did not.
"Brandon please!" His young wife begged with tears in her eyes and he looked at Eddard who nodded his agreement before dropping his sword. Elia held her baby close to her with one arm and the other was around little Rhaenys pulling her in protectively.
"Excellent!" Rhaegar said with a clap. "Time for a wedding."
Elia was crying and shaking as she walked down the alter with Rhaegar arm and arm as he prepared to give her to another man. Lyanna was screaming and being held by ser whent. She already regretted her part in this plot as they had walked out there the stark guards came to help and several were soundly slaughtered before Rickard shouted for them to yield.
Catelyns held Brandon's arm to keep him from acting.
Ashara glowered at her brother but she had not needed to, he was already ashamed of what he had done for the oath he had sworn. He had northern blood on his swords blood of good men who came to aid their lord and his children and now they laid on the ground at this sham wedding.
"Please Rhaegar you can't do this!" Elia cried as they made it to the end of the alter.
Rhaegar nodded for her to walk to Eddard and he was infuriated when she just stood their crying and shaking instead of following his every gesture precisely.
He reached for his sword deciding he could be widowed as well but Eddard grabbed her hand pulling her up to where he stood. Even though it was not apart of a Northern ceremony Eddard wrapped his cloak around her because she was cold.
"Who comes before the old gods this night?" Rickard asked solemnly.
"Elia of houses Martell and Targaryen comes here to be wed, she comes to beg the blessings of the gods." Rhaegar said. He forgot apart of it but he just wanted to get it over with. "Who comes to claim her?" He remembered.
"Eddard of house Stark, second son of Rickard Stark of Winterfell. Who gives her?" Eddard said asking his question an odd one to ask to her first husband.
"Rhaegar Targayen prince of dragonstone, heir to the iron throne, son of the dragon, the blood of old Velyria, the prince who was promised." Rhaegar responded.
"Princess Elia will you take this man?" Rickard asked. "She does." Rhaegar quickly informed.
"I take this man." Elia said as it was already done anyways.
"Eddard Stark will you take this woman." Rickard asked and he knew what his son would say before he said it out of duty to save the family, out of honor to save the shaking girl in front of him. "Aye, I take this women."
He smiled a sad smile putting his hand on his son's shoulder. "You may kiss the bride." He told him and he gently patted his second boys shoulder before letting his hand drop back to the side.
He leaned forward and gently kissed her just barely, he found her to be beautiful but she had tears running down her face so he hadn't wanted to over step and he was surprised when she kissed him back deeply, Eddard wanted to keep kissing her but it wouldn't have been polite so he pulled away when she did but it was an amazing kiss and he wanted another but he had to wonder if the first was for him or for Rhaegar, when he looked back at the prince he did not look as happy as he had moments ago.
Their arrival feast became a wedding feast. Ned and Elia sat at the high table just staring into nothingness not believing what was happening.
Eddard broke his stare first looking over at her she had dark black hair with messy thick curls and tanned skin, she had big eyes and a long nose and big dornish lips. She was a very slender woman with small features, she absently was trying to grab at her goblet and he moved it closer their hands touched.
"Your hands are cold my lady or do I call you my princess?" He asked softly staring at her, but she didn't meet his, instead she was looking at his hands her delicate soft cold hand picked up his big calloused hand. "Yours is warm." She said touching it delicately he took both of her hands in his rubbing on them and blowing on them to warm them and she finally remembered his question. "It doesn't matter, I suppose you can call me your wife now, I'm sorry you were dragged into this I had no idea." She said softly.
"It is not your fault my lady." He said simply. He let her hands down and looked out at the room Rickard was trying to hide his fury but it was there, Brandon's wife had already whisked him off to bed before he lost his temper and got himself killed which was probably very smart. He hopped Catelyn and Elia could be friends. He wondered where Lyanna had went she probably rode off like she did when she was upset or needed to think.
There was no dancing this was not a merry wedding and the feast was quiet with only the occasional murmuring's.
Awkwardly enough Rhaegar called for a bedding but Eddard refused it making everyone stare at a man brave enough to stand up to a prince who just had men put down like dogs because he could.
"Apologies your grace." Eddard said quickly. "It wouldn't be right for me to break another man's jaw on my wedding night." Eddard said and Rhaegar to everyone's surprise laughed before he changed his mind Elia took Eddards hand and let him lead her out of the uncomfortable hall.
"Where are my children?" She asked him quietly.
"We had your wet nurse take them to the nursery old nan is there to help care for them." He promised.
He took her to his room and as she walked in she looked around it was clean and simple with a big wooden framed bed filled with furs, there was a fire with a chair next to it a dressed tucked away in the back of the room and that was it.
"Will my children be warm enough through the night?" She asked.
"They will be Nan raised all four of us." Eddard promise the princess had moved near the bed her hand touching the furs softly. "We know how to stay warm in the North my lady." Eddard promised.
"Elia is fine." Elia told him she started to untie her dress.
"Go ahead and take the bed I will sleep in the chair." Eddard said.
"What has happened to us won't be undone, I know him or what is left of him." She told him solemnly.
"Then we have the rest of our lives for that." Eddard said.
Elia went over to him with something mysterious to him in her eyes. "Goodnight Eddard." She said moments before her soft plump lips hit his own in a very gentle simple kiss that made him want more, but she turned back to the bed leaving him to sigh out. "Goodnight Elia."