The baby peered up at her from her arms. Elia smiled at the little girl. She looked so much like Aegon, with her silver hair and violet eyes.
Elia felt a tug at her skirt, and she looked down to see Viserys standing there.
"Who is that?" Viserys asked softly, and pointed at the third baby in the room. Her chambers had become a sort of nursery, it seemed. Aegon was being rocked to sleep by a nursemaid, and Jaehaerys was being changed into a fresh cloth by another. Viserys pointed at him.
"He is your nephew." Elia murmured, and handed baby Danaerys off to the third nursemaid that had taken up residence in her sitting room. "His name is Jaehaerys, and he is Rhaenys and Aegon's half-brother."
"What a half-brother?" Rhaenys asked. The toddler was seated by herself where she played with a stuffed horse.
"A half-brother is just like a brother, Rhaenys." Elia murmured. She inwardly cursed herself. She shouldn't have made a distinction between brother and half-brother. Jaehaerys would be their brother, regardless of who his mother was.
But Viserys seemed unconvinced. He wandered over to the ottoman where the nursemaid knelt and finished changing Jaehaerys. He peered down at the baby boy, whose dark hair stood out amongst so many fair-haired children. All except Rhaenys, who carried Elia's own brown hair.
Elia could feel herself growing uncomfortable. She did not expect to be saddled with five children all of a sudden. Rhaegar was punishing her for some reason. As though she had done anything that deserved punishment!
And yet, these children needed care. Two were her own, after all. She would keep them comfortable. And she would call back her friend Ashara Dayne.
The loss of Rhaella ate away at her. She found that she needed a friendly face in the Red Keep, somebody she could confide in. Ashara had often been a voice of reason, and reason was something Elia lacked, particularly when it came to Rhaegar Targaryen.
With Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister eerily absent and likely planning another sacking, everyone was on edge. Rhaegar, whenever she saw him, was silent and so obviously struggling.
It was difficult to see him that way, but Elia could not bring herself to go to him. Not after all he had done. Not when this was his duty, and he needed to do it regardless of whatever pain he may feel at the loss of his love and his dream of the 'three-headed dragon'.
Elia often wondered if that obsession was all that fuelled him. Had it been all that he had cared about? Had he been using her to get what he wanted? Had he done the same to Lyanna?
She doubted that Lyanna meant so little to him. He had loved her, Elia knew. But something was wrong with him. He had not yet come to see Jaehaerys. Perhaps Ned Stark would take him back to Winterfell if she told him how Rhaegar cared so little for the boy.
But for some reason Ned Stark had seen it fit to give the boy to her. He had always seemed a reasonable man. And if Elia could put herself in his position, to steal the king's bastard son and raise him in Winterfell in secret, would have brought much pain and trouble to his already broken family.
Perhaps it would be the first and last selfish act of Ned Stark. But it had been selfish nonetheless.
Danaerys started wailing then, and the nursemaid that carried her rushed to the door to take the baby away. She knew, just as Elia did, that if Danaerys disturbed Jaehaerys and Aegon then chaos would ensue.
Danaerys and Viserys should be with their brother. But Rhaegar was absent. Even from Rhaenys' and Aegon's daily lives, he was missing. She could not let this go on, she knew. But Elia was afraid. She was afraid of that weakness that came over her when she saw his face, or heard his voice. She was afraid of the grief that gripped her heart when she thought of what he had done to her, what he had done with Lyanna.
How could she be so blind? She had forgotten herself here in King's Landing.
Rhaella's body had returned from Dragonstone. And she had been burned alongside her mad husband, who had beat her and raped her and tortured her so.
It made Elia angry, and it only stoked that fire inside her. Perhaps she was becoming a dragon after living for so long amongst them?
The thought left her head as soon as it entered as a knock sounded at the door. She moved to open it and held up a hand to stop the maid who had rushed forward to get it.
She expected Jaime again, or perhaps another of the Kingsguard. She couldn't deny that a part of her hoped for Rhaegar to be knocking at her door, but she doubted it.
She had not expected to see her little brother waiting for her.
"Oberyn?"
He didn't say a word. Instead, he enveloped her in his arms and hugged her tight. She swallowed the lump in her throat, holding onto his golden tunic and breathing in the smell of sweat and the scent of oranges that followed him.
"Oberyn, why have you come?"
He laughed, and the sound brought her such relief. "I thought my reception would be a little warmer than that."
He peered into the chambers behind her and frowned. "That is a lot of children."
"That's rich coming from you. How many bastards do you have now?"
Oberyn grinned. "One day you will meet them all."
"I don't think I can ever meet them all. There would be too many."
Her brother waved his hand dismissively.
Elia sighed and eyed him seriously, "Really, Ob-"
"Uncle!" Rhaenys' called from behind them. Elia heard the patter of her feet as she came running to greet Oberyn.
She had met him once before, at the same tourney where Rhaegar had crowned Lyanna with the crown of flowers. It seemed Oberyn had left an impact on the young girl as she recognised him and ran to him to hug his legs.
Elia remembered how she used to do this with Rhaegar. But it was rare to see now that he was no longer around.
Oberyn smiled and lifted his niece up to rest upon his hip. "I'm glad you are well, Rhaenys." He whispered. Elia could see the sincerity in his face. He must have thought they were all doomed when Tywin had invaded the city.
"Rhaenys." Elia glanced back to find Viserys watching them closely. Elia felt for the young boy. He was old enough to know what happened to his mother. He understood that she was gone. It would be difficult for him to adjust.
"Rhaenys, why don't you play with Viserys while I speak with Uncle Oberyn?"
Her daughter nodded and Oberyn set her down gently.
The two Martells left for the gardens together. They both were most comfortable outside, although the sun was not strong enough for the both of them in King's Landing.
Oberyn tucked his hands behind his back as they moved through the gardens. He spoke first. "I have heard the news about Lyanna Stark. Many are rallying to Baratheon's cause. They think Rhaegar is a monster. They believe he kidnapped Lyanna, and betrayed you."
"He did betray me." Elia said.
"What I am trying to say is you cannot believe that this is over."
"I don't, Oberyn. Do you think I am a fool?"
He eyed her, and answered her question with a question. "So, what are you going to do?"
"Against Robert Baratheon and Tywin Lannister, and whatever schemes they are coming up with?" Elia scoffed, "What can I do?"
Oberyn stopped in the middle of the garden path, and took her hand in his. "We both know what mother would say."
"I don't." Elia whispered and she raised her eyes to her brother's. "I've forgotten her face, and her voice. And what she would say and when she would say it." She murmured. "I didn't think I would forget so quickly."
Her brother's eyes softened. "Mother would tell you to think of your children."
Elia scoffed, "Children." She turned to keep walking down the path. "Has my life amounted to this? To care for all the children in my life until they die or I do?" She looked to Oberyn. "Baratheon will not let my children live. Or any Targaryen children, for that matter."
Oberyn seemed lost in thought for a moment, "You're right. He won't stop hunting you should he usurp Rhaegar as I am certain he intends to."
The thought didn't make Elia as upset as she thought she would be. Her husband was not the same man, and he would not last long as king if he was as lost in his grief as he was.
"Do you know what I say?" Oberyn asked. "I think you should come home. Bring your brood of hunted children. Dorne will protect you."
Elia couldn't help it. She threw back her head and laughed. "Dorne?" She asked. "Dorne is nothing compared to the army Robert Baratheon has amassed!" She rolled her eyes, "You think you can do anything, Oberyn."
He scowled at her, "Now you sound like mother. Are you sure you don't remember her?"
"Oberyn." She frowned.
"Either way, I think you should come to Dorne. And leave behind that fool you call a husband."
"If I go, he will come with me. It may be good for him."
Her brother snarled, "Why do you still care about him after what he did to you?"
"Because," Elia took a deep breath, "He is our best chance of keeping safe from Robert Baratheon. If he can find a way past his grief, and become the king I know he can be. Perhaps we will have a better chance."
"That's a lot of chances to take, Elia. And a lot of faith put into a man who has already betrayed you."
"I know. Regardless, you may have had a good idea. Surprisingly." Elia smiled, and Oberyn raised a brow.
She nodded suddenly, "On the night of the sacking, I asked Varys to spirit Aegon out of the city and replace him with a peasant child."
"Varys?" Oberyn frowned in thought. "You think he can replace all of you with peasants?" He asked, a smirk pulled at his lips.
"No." She thwacked him on the arm. "But Dorne has ships. If you really want to keep us safe you can get us to Essos."
They had reached one of the gazebos that overlooked Blackwater Bay, and they stopped and overlooked the water. It shimmered blue and white in the sun, but still it all looked so pale and bleached to Elia's eyes. Her brother's tunic held more colour than this land.
"Robert Baratheon's arm reaches far. He will chase you across oceans." Oberyn murmured.
Elia nodded, "I know. But you wanted me to give him a fight." She smiled to her brother, but Oberyn watched her seriously.
"Elia, how are you going to get five children across the Narrow Sea without being identified?"
"We get four children across the Narrow Sea. And we separate them."
Oberyn leaned in closer to her and braced his hands against the low stone wall that separated them from the undergrowth leading down to the shore.
"Who will you leave behind?"
"Jaehaerys. Lyanna's son." Elia murmured.
"Lyanna's son?" Oberyn blinked. "Lyanna and Rhaegar?" He exclaimed.
Elia cursed herself for mentioning it. She gripped her brother's arm hard enough to make him wince. "Stop it, little brother. I am not going to abandon an innocent child simply because he is Rhaegar's bastard."
Oberyn snarled, "You should be abandoning your treacherous husband!"
Elia shushed him and pinched his forearm hard. When his eyes still blazed with that familiar anger, she twisted his flesh till he clenched his fists and took a breath.
"When Rhaegar is beyond help, and when the time is right. I will." Elia whispered.
She had begun to realise that this was her only path. To remove herself from Rhaegar entirely. He was a weight tied about her ankle, and she was drowning. He wouldn't stop until he had a daughter, and Elia would slave away until it was her time to die at the hands of those who wished to see her husband dead.
"Why do you want to help him?" Oberyn asked.
"Because my children deserve a father. And I deserve to be happy. Do not think I want to help him for his sake. I want to help him for my sake, for Westeros' sake."
Oberyn scoffed, "I don't believe that, Elia. And you were unconvincing." He eyed her and then sighed. "But you should come to Dorne. And stay there. Whatever happens, it will happen here. You'll be safer in Dorne."
Elia nodded, "You're right." She sighed, "I'll speak to Rhaegar about it. How long will you be in King's Landing?" She asked.
"I leave the day after next." Oberyn said. He took her hand in his and squeezed. His voice lowered till his words were only a breath. "I thought I would never see you again."
Elia smiled and embraced him again. "How is Doran?"
"Angry. But he is as reasonable as ever."
She laughed, and pulled back to look at her brother. "If I go to Essos… You will never see me again." She said.
His smile faded, but her brother nodded. "I know." He took both her hands in his then. "Before we leave here, and return to normal conversation," He smiled. "I need to know that you know how this will most likely end. And if you do, I need to know you will be alright."
Elia rolled her eyes. "I'm capable of managing my emotions, little brother. I know that Rhaegar will die. That is most probably what is to come. And I know that I will have to do all I can to save the children. Or I will have failed myself."
Oberyn sighed and kissed her cheek. "Let's go back, then. I want to spend all the time I can with Rhaenys and Aegon."
They rejoined the children in Elia's chambers, and she began a new piece of embroidery as Oberyn entertained the children. It was easy to see when they were growing tired. Rhaenys could barely keep her eyes open.
Elia lifted her and Viserys onto the bed so they could nap, and the three nursemaids busied themselves with ensuring the three babies could sleep. Elia couldn't help but snort a laugh at the state of her chambers, and how things had come to this.
Oberyn left to venture into the city, and Elia didn't ask him what he planned to do. For all she knew he would find another girl to have a bastard with.
Rhaegar, she was told, was in his chambers. She knocked on his door before she entered, and found him seated by the window. He turned to look at her as she approached.
"How are the children?" He asked.
Elia raised a brow, "If you came to see them then you would know."
Rhaegar sighed, "I am too busy to see them."
"Hm." Elia nodded, and stood on the other side of the table that he sat at.
"I have been thinking… About all that has happened." He murmured after a moment. Elia felt herself tense as she prepared to hear whatever it was he had to say. She could imagine it wouldn't be pleasant to hear, whatever it would be.
"You are right about my treatment of Jaehaerys. And of you, and of Lyanna." He said. "I am not blind to my own failures. My own mistakes." He looked up at her. "Elia, I will try to be better."
She hesitated. "You are not in the right state to make those sorts of promises, Rhaegar."
He swallowed hard. "I cannot turn off my grief and pain whenever I wish. I cannot forget what has happened, or my mistakes, and the hurt it brings me to see you hate me so. You are my family, Elia. I care deeply for you, and always have."
"Then why did you find it so easy to break my heart the way you did? To cast aside all thoughts of me, and my love for you, and betray me?"
"It wasn't easy."
"You are blind, Rhaegar. You can apologise for your actions and mistakes, but you will not acknowledge why you did what you did."
He frowned at her, but he made no move to argue. He was listening to her, and Elia was relieved. If these were their last few days together, and his last few days alive perhaps, she would have them be peaceful.
"The 'three-headed dragon' that you dream of. It is your obsession with this that has convinced you to betray me, and to shun Jaehaerys."
Rhaegar squeezed his eyes shut so tightly that for a moment she reminded him of Viserys. He looked like a child.
"You don't understand."
Elia scoffed, "I understand more than you do."
Rhaegar sighed, placing his head in his hands. Elia ran her eyes over him. She could remember the feel of those hands on her skin. The crinkle of his eyes when he smiled. The deep resonance of his voice in his chest as he whispered in a darkened bedchamber. She could feel the ghost of a touch on her fingertips, as she remembered what it felt like to run her hands through his pale hair.
"We should go to Dorne." She said suddenly, in an attempt to stop herself from falling prey to him again. He had spoilt her. He had ruined her. She should be filled with fury. But he was a dying man, and she was sure even he knew it.
"I can't leave here."
"You're of no use here in the condition you are in."
"And Dorne will somehow change that?"
"Have you ever been to Dorne?" Elia raised a brow and winced at her own attempted humour.
Rhaegar looked up at her in disbelief. "You're insane."
"No, that would be you."
His jaw clenched, but the fight was not within him. "I'm not insane. I just…" He laughed, "I don't know what I am."
"I know what you are. What you can be now. A father to your children. Who will be the ones to remember you when you and I are gone." Elia said.
A moment of silence passed between them, and Rhaegar stared out the window until Elia thought he had fallen into some sort of stupor.
"Alright." He said. He stood from the chair and gathered his composure. "We shall go to Dorne. I am of no use here. Not when…" He swallowed, "Not when I can see her everywhere."
"Dorne will fix that. That is where I will be. She cannot reach you there." Elia whispered. Still, bitterness coloured her words. Rhaegar heard it and said nothing.
"We leave the day after next." She said. "See your children." It was an order, and Elia found she did not care. He was too weak. And Oberyn had come to lend her his passion. She could feel it pressing behind her eyes, and burning in her belly.
As she passed him by to leave the room, she gripped his arm tightly. She almost smiled when she saw him wince. Was her touch so despised by him now? Or perhaps he could feel her anger raging through her very fingertips to reach him?
Rhaegar's violet eyes met her own. "You will see all of your children." She spoke firmly.
Elia left her husband's chambers with fiery determination burning in her chest and her mind. She wondered whether it was the fire of the dragon, or that of her sun.