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Chapter 2: Arthur, 287 AL
When a laughing Robert Baratheon spills out from behind Princess Elia's door Arthur's expression hardens. Baratheon gives him a smile that is more of a smirk. Arthur would like nothing better than to drive Dawn through Baratheon, but, his hand stays where it is. It always does. The glee Baratheon takes in knowing why is as potent as it was the first day of his return to King's Landing.
Just as quickly, Baratheon rights himself and turns back to look inside the room he vacated. Now with a soft look on his face he walks back through the door, leaving it half open behind him. What now, Arthur wonders.
He learns what when the other man sits down next to Princess Elia was seated with a soft, "M'dear."
Princess Elia's lips curl into a smile when Baratheon kisses her hand. These few years, he has seen plenty of tender moments between them; far too many. He grieves seeing it. He also grieves how the number of men who share his sentiments continues to shrink.
Even now, he curses that night in the middle of the Red Mountains.
Ser Gerold spoke first. "We do not believe the word of traitors."
Eddard Stark countered, "You would not risk treason for wrongs done to your family and to keep yourself alive? No matter. Little changes King Aerys is dead and there is a new king with three of the Kingsguard missing."
"Why you made your choice is no business of ours and ours none of yours."
"That child is my business."
"The child is under our protection."
Stark's face twists in grief and anger. "Protection? My father, brother, and now my sister. Dead. Clearly your protection is lacking, Ser Arthur."
At that he raises Dawn. Everyone's swords join his in the air.
Oswell sneers, "You expect us to trust you with a child of our prince?"
Once more, Stark pleads, "The child is my blood. You heard my sister's dying wish. He should be with me. I will keep him safe. I swear it. It is safer for him with me than this tower or King's Landing will ever be."
"Trust you? A man whose friend killed his father? What do you take us for? We are not men who run from duty."
For one so young the scowl on Ethan Glover's face is fierce. "What duty is this of yours, you who hid while other men died fighting? Even your king is dead too!"
"You dare!"
William Dustin breaks his silence. "You belong in King's Landing. Quickly now, before someone less amiable to this farce comes. Leave this hovel and its history to the silence it deserves. That is the only honorable choice."
Oswell spit out, "We would never call Baratheon our king."
"Consider yourselves fortunate you do not have to."
Would that he chosen differently then. He knew returning to King's Landing would be difficult, but, the day he knelt though it was for Aegon he did…There had not been a choice, not truly; and now Rhaegar's wife is on Baratheon's arm while his children call him, 'Father'.
"I thought you were leaving." She had always been 'dutiful'. To see it directed towards this man...
Baratheon's laugh grates almost as much as the not-quite muted warmth in her tone.
"I was. The council can wait for a few moments. I would rather be here than at one of those boring things."
"That is not an appropriate sentiment for a Regent to have." A well-worn argument, however, Arthur nearly retches hearing it again.
Baratheon snorts again. "They are."
Prince Rhaegar was never this petulant, but, Baratheon would never be Prince Rhaegar. Still, she grins. "Even so."
Baratheon presses a hand to Princess Elia's neck and kisses her.
He looks away. Baratheon does this deliberately; daring him. He wants to shout or pull them apart, but, he does not. That should be Prince Rhaegar there; though his prince had never been so demonstrative with the princess, even in her own rooms. Only, Prince Rhaegar is not here and Baratheon was. The part which burns even more is Rhaegar's wife, and to him Princess Elia is still that, seems content.
"He killed Rhaegar and you wish to marry him."
How could she be shocked he would question this? "I do nothing because I wish it."
"Then, how is it that you would do this? You let him do as he likes. Even with Rhaegar's children and you…"
Her face twists and she glares at him. "I what, Arthur? You are so eager to take offence. Please, tell me why!"
"You would marry him. And I have to stand by and watch. Why?"
"Is your objection that you have to stand by and watch while I let Robert Baratheon take his husband's rights with me? Did you ever object when Aerys took his with Rhaella? Did you argue with Rhaegar when he took rights not his with someone he had no business bedding?"
Elia Martell is gentle and kind. More often than not she was, so much so that he'd forgotten she was a daughter of Dorne. For it, she punishes him now.
Seeing him flinch, she laughs. "Why do you object to this, then? Has he been cruel to me or my children?"
"How can you marry him when he is the reason you have no husband?"
Arms crosses, chin raised, she replies, "I cannot afford to think of Rhaegar. I have my children to think of." This is sister of the Red Viper though this pragmatism mirrors Prince Doran's. He does not know which is worse.
He moved to step closer. "How can you be so callous?"
She holds up a hand, ensuring distance between them. "I never asked much from him. Perhaps it was my own failing, but, why should I concern myself with what he would have wanted when he cared not for me when he was alive?"
Not much shocks him, but, the acrimony in her voice…"How could you say this?"
He frown recognizing what the look she gives him means. "Is that what this was about? You do this because of anger or jealousy? Listen then, he had no plans to put you aside to marry the Stark girl."
She turns from him to look out a window. He does not go after her. He was close enough to see her shaking. "How comforting! Was he going to apologize for this foolishness? Had the girl lived was my husband going to keep her here or attempt reconciliation with the Starks by providing a handsome dowry and help with tucking her in some corner like Kings do with 'mistresses'? Was he going to answer my daughter's questions about where he had been? Was he so great a man he could erase the memories of his father telling me that I been less than worthless he would not have taken the girl or that I was only alive because he needed my brother's spears? He thought it perfectly acceptable to keep another man's woman where my family governs and to leave my children and me to the mercy of his mad father. You expect me to pity him now when it will do him no good?"
How long she had been storing this bitterness? Harrenhall. Or rather, it compounded since then. Now she would be wife to a man who would encourage her not keeping silent of her previous husband's supposed failings.
Still, he has to try to fix what he could. He cannot allow her hurt to fester when Baratheon's presence will taint the memory of Rhaegar for his children by her. He owes his prince and friend that, at least. He failed him enough. "He never meant to hurt you. He never thought there would be danger. You were protected here!"
She turns back to look at him, fury and accusation in her gaze. "Ser Jaime, the only other Kingsguard in the city left, would do whatever Aerys wished. Am I to trust the household servants? The Goldcloaks? They could be bought. Between my husband and his father what currency did I have? Of course, his father was planning to burn the city down with us in it. What sort of protection are you talking about, Arthur?"
"He did not anticipate-"
"He used to put more thought towards beggars in Flea Bottom than he had for my children and me. Had he lived perhaps I would have tried come to terms with it, but, he did not. I do not have the luxury of thinking of what he would want or what suits your sensibilities. Be angry with me all you wish, but, I am willing to pay any price to keep my children safe and with me."
At first, he wanted to believe she said that to rouse his anger enough to leave her to her fate. Now, he knows she meant those words. She rarely speaks of Rhaegar and as far as he can tell has not insulted him to the children, but, she has not forgiven neither her husband nor him. He regrets it came to this, but, he tries to understand it. Others he loves are no different. What he cannot understand is how she would be so hurt by them and continue to accept Baratheon's less than gallant behavior which started not so long after they married.
"A brothel, Robert? What would your wife think?"
He hears a laugh. "Jon, you think she wants to share my bed every night?"
"What? She knows about this?"
"She pleases me, yet, she knows it was not her I wanted to marry." Baratheon ends; bitter. Gods, Baratheon thinks of a woman who gave him so little thought when she had been alive. Then, he hears Baratheon's laughter again. "I never did tell you, did I?"
"Tell me, what?" Even if Arryn made no further inquiry, Arthur had to know.
"'I will not fight you if you are going to bed other women. However, I would prefer it if you were discreet and discriminating in your choices as to who you bed. Scandal is inescapable here, but, I tire of it and I do not wish to see my children further disturbed.' Those are her words."
Arthur hears the humor in the man's voice. "Having to go out to a brothel isn't much of a hardship if it keeps a good woman sweet."
Now, the look on Baratheon's face is as close to sincere Arthur has ever seen from the man. "I should go. After, I want to give Rhaenys and Mya the gifts I had made."
It had been shocking when Baratheon's bastard girl was installed in the household. Even more shocking was how the Princess smiled at Baratheon then. "Is your Mya not of age with my Rhaenys? It is good of you, my lord, to think of your daughter."
Ashara, when she deigned to write, told him she truly hadn't minded. After all, what was a baseborn girl birthed before marriage? Arthur nearly lets out a sigh thinking of the bastard boy in the north Stark claimed as his own. Thankfully, despite their going to Winterfell some moons ago the pair remains ignorant of the boy's identity. Rhaegar made him promise to keep the Stark girl safe, but, he cannot protect anyone from death. Keeping the child safe means he has to keep a lie. Elia Martell does not mind Baratheon's girl, but, she would mind the existence of the boy as much as Baratheon would. They are not the only ones and so he keeps silent.
"You'll spoil them."
Would that Arthur never hears the softness in Princess Elia's voice directed to Baratheon again.
"I like to spoil my girls, all of them." Something bitter settles in Arthur's stomach at how she allows that man to press closer and kiss her again.
He tries to ignore the scene in front of him, but, her voice cuts through the air. "And for my son?"
Baratheon smirks again. Gods, he was always smirking. "Must you be so demanding, woman?"
"It is a question, not a demand, husband." There was no fear in her voice when she speaks to Baratheon. Once Arthur might have been grateful.
Baratheon looks at her fondly. He would rather Baratheon not look at her at all. "Isn't it enough I go to those endless meetings for our son?"
Arthur feels both of his hands clench into fists. This murderer dares call Rhaegar's son his own?
But, even as he feels himself lurch forward he stops when she speaks softly. "Absolutely not."
Baratheon admits, "I have something for him, too." Of course. Generous. How many times has he heard it said about Baratheon? However, Arthur knows there is no true generosity in the man.
"Not a horse, I hope."
Baratheon groans good-naturedly and Arthur's sword arm twitches. "It was one docile, little pony and I only let the girls ride her once. You saw how happy they were, but, no. "
She huffs out a sigh, "Oh, very well." She gives him a look. "It isn't a weapon is it?"
Baratheon laughs riotously. "I will leave that to your brother for now." Oberyn Martell came to King's Landing a fortnight ago. To his frustration, this Prince of Dorne got on well with this husband of his sister's; far better than he ever had with Prince Rhaegar.
"You are too kind."
"Kindness has nothing to do with it, wife." Arthur has to close his eyes after she lets Baratheon brush an errant hair out of her face.
"What does it have to do with, then?"
"Not the best timing, but, I wanted to take your brother on a hunt and there is an audience. Jon will be there in my stead, and yet…"
Arthur sees one of Baratheon's hands encircle one of her smaller ones. The other drapes across her shoulder. The man is the very picture of solicitousness and no matter how many times Arthur thinks it, he hates the man even more. He hates how she looks pleased at this behavior of Baratheon's.
"Oberyn has been bored. Likely you as well. I suppose both already agreed?" Baratheon nods, looking stupidly hopeful.
"When?"
"Two days. You needn't stay for very long. I would not want to you to."
Arthur sees a knowing look on her face. "The day the contingent from the Reach is set to leave?"
"Yes."
It is a fool's hope to think she would refuse when she rarely refuses Baratheon much of anything and he is proven correct. "I will say your farewells for you."
"Thank you, wife. I suppose I have to go now." The reluctance is real, yet, Arthur wants to believe it is only because the man detests meetings.
She nods. "You should not keep the council waiting."
"Do you think I could take the boy along?" The Seven take the man and his shows of affection.
"I see no harm in it, yet, he is so young, and he will find it dull." Must she be so agreeable?
"I find it dull."
They share a laugh. She says, "Get going."
"Be careful while I am gone." One final kiss between them and with a hand brushed over Princess Elia's swollen belly Baratheon gets up, at last.
When he reaches the door again whatever gentleness Baratheon showed mere moments ago disappeared. When Baratheon sees he does not follow, he barks, "Come, Kingsguard. My wife is perfectly safe. I have that meeting attend."
With that, Baratheon saunters down the hall. Though Arthur does not see it, he knows Baratheon is smirking.
When he was finally free of the oaf, and the silver haired boy who all but clung to him, he goes to Prince Oberyn.
"My Prince, I hear you are going on a hunt." He tries keeping the accusation out of his voice, but, suspects it is a near thing.
Prince Oberyn looks up lazily and smiles. "Good, he finally got around to telling her. He was sure she'd argue against it."
Arthur narrows his eyes. "It is true, then?"
Prince Oberyn snorts, "It would be a stupid thing to lie about." He rolls his eyes, "Did you wish to join us?"
Arthur wishes he could understand this madness which affects the Martells when it comes to Baratheon, but, knows any explanation will be unsatisfying; as they have always been. "No, my Prince. What I wish is to know is why are you going?"
"My sister is in no condition to go and my niece and nephew are too young for that. It is rare I am here, let alone free to hunt with Robert. Besides, I can't blame him for not wanting to see the Reachlords off." He ends with a laugh.
Years ago, perhaps he would have understood gratitude, but, this…
"Have you seen him at all today? Playing at such saccharine attentiveness with the Princess."
He gets another laugh. "What of it? Gods, and to think Lannister looked half as dismayed when he learned my sister was with child as you look now, Arthur."
He barely manages to stifle his irritation. Even if Princess Elia gives Baratheon a child, with his dwarf son now shuffled off to Oldtown, Lannister still has an heir in Cersei Lannister's son, Steffon, by her Baratheon husband. He also heard the lady was with child once more. However, he does not care to discuss Tywin Lannister's legacy.
"Does his behavior not concern you?"
"He is her husband. I would be disappointed if he acts otherwise." Then Prince Oberyn looks at him and sighs. "What has he said or done now?"
Incredible! "What has he-He is a killer!"
"I hope so. It would be a boring hunt if neither of us get any game."
At that he clenches his jaw and just as quickly the Prince's ardor rises. "I beg of you, if it is about Rhaegar Targaryen, stop now. We are not having the argument again; if not for our sakes or my sister's, then yours."
"I would rather, my Prince, Ashara was not brought into this!"
Through gritted teeth Oberyn hisses, "Ashara is my wife and this insistence of yours to dredge up matters best alone upsets her. It also upsets my sister and it disturbs the children. Arthur, by the gods, it's been years. Let the damned matter rest!"
He growls out, "'Let the matter rest?' How could you expect this of me? It is bad enough you expect me to kowtow to Robert Baratheon!"
Oberyn's face darkened. He ground out, "This has nothing to do with how beastly Robert Baratheon could be and you know it." The laughter he hears now is cruel. "But, what else can I expect from you? After all, you helped Rhaegar Targaryen make a joke of my sister and our people for all the seven kingdoms to laugh at."
He hears a rushing in his ears. Not even Princess Elia dares… "You know that was not intend-"
"You told me he insisted you stayed behind on his order and it was your duty to obey him. I accepted that, we all did. How is it, then, you forget once they married, my sister cannot disregard her duty to Baratheon? At any rate, think of how she is with child at her age. This is to be her third. You know what the Maester said the last time. I would have my sister at peace however she finds it."
Near the day of that damned wedding Prince Doran espoused views similar to his younger brother does now. "Rhaegar Targaryen used my sister for children and later shamed them all and himself by his behavior. Aerys used them to force my hand in the war he and his son started. I mean to ensure the damage done to our house and our people in these previous years does not escalate. So long as he does right by my sister and her children, whatever minor failings Robert Baratheon may have will be tolerated."
They can couch it all they want in fraternal concern, but, he knows their objections to his doing anything comes from the Martell brothers' inability to forgive Prince Rhaegar, or him by extension. His own family is no different. His brother has not stepped out of Dorne in years and rarely writes to him. One sister shares many of her husband's opinions. His youngest sister had been a baby the last he saw her. He can appreciate their sentiments, but, to allow Baratheon so much?
"I understand the Princess' position. I truly do, but, this is about Baratheon and how he takes liberties he has no right to and how she allows it."
Prince Oberyn opened his mouth to rebuke, but, sighs again. "My sister and her children live on Baratheon's sufferance. We both know this. The entire realm knows this. If Baratheon is cruel like Aerys was or as dishonorable as Rhaegar was, do your worst, I will be the first to help you. Until such a moment occurs I advise you to do nothing, as you have been."
Before he can argue, the other man gives him a look, "Arthur, know that I appreciate your concerns. Therefore, I say it would be best if you accept things as they have stood for years. Robert Baratheon was acknowledged Regent to my nephew before you made it back to King's Landing. If it pleases my sister to keep him sweet even now, you will let her, no matter how she chooses to go about doing it."
"Except she is not only doing that." With her children, she built a life with Robert Baratheon.
Now, bridled temper seeps into the Prince's clipped tone. "You wanted to be Kingsguard, Arthur, so be Kingsguard. What goes on between a wife and husband should be no concern of yours. Your only duty should be to ensure my sister and her children are safe from bodily harm and Aegon grows to become king in more than name. That is the only thing expected of you."
He closed his eyes. All they expect. No, it is all they want from him because he lost their trust long ago.
He leaves the room without another word, knowing they will have this argument again. He has to continue it. He cannot bear the thought of allowing Rhaegar's children to grow to think of their true father as a raper and who abandoned them to the mercies of their mad Grandsire. But, the task proves difficult when no one will hear different.
Tiredly, he leans on the closed door behind him, uncaring if anyone saw him. He has nowhere to be and nowhere to go. When he is not on duty he avoids Baratheon and has no desire to see Baratheon sitting in what used to be King Aerys Solar with Prince Rhaegar's son, helping the boy with his letters. Rhaegar's daughter, Arthur knows, is sitting with her needlework in the Princess Elia's room with her mother and Baratheon's girl. He has no reason to venture there again when Jaime is at his post.
It is days like this when Arthur looks upon the vows he swore with bitterness. He used to be a proper knight once. Now, his thoughts are of no consequence to those who once valued his input. He has not felt like the Sword of the Morning for years.
He can do nothing to change it. He cannot leave because he would be leaving two of his Prince's children to the mercy of that man who would revel in his "dereliction of duty". Not even his kinsmen would forgive that. He cannot go North to the other child who does not know him because it would mean danger for the child. He cannot go back to Dorne without a reason and there will not be any when Baratheon will not send him.
Even being alone in his sleeping cell will be no comfort. He loved being Kingsguard once, but, now Baratheon rules while Rhaegar's son is too young to do it himself. There is nothing he can do about it without looking like the villain some see him as.
He thinks of his Prince often, but, even those thoughts are tainted because Baratheon is here where Prince Rhaegar cannot be and no one else seems to be bothered by it.