Sorry it's been so long! I hope everyone is enjoying the new season of got but I doubt it. :/
Anywho I really love this story and this odd pairing I have really been thinking about what to do when this story ends. (Because focusing on one of the million of other stories I have started doesn't sound like me.) So let me know what you think if you would like more from these two a different way of putting them together or maybe in the same AU just later on or a drabble. Let me know.
I will be adding to my other stories soon I never start one I don't plan on finishing. Thank you as to my wonderful beta Voodoomarie for editing this chapter and putting up with my craziness.
This chapter was hard to write so please leave me a review of what you think! i have been so lucky with this story that there are a few of you who leave wonderful incite full, thought full comments about almost every chapter and I look forward to reading them so thank you so much to those awesome people. Thanks everyone for reading this story I am so happy I am not the only person that can see this pairing! Please enjoy!
Renly greeted me upon my arrival he was trying to be formal with all those annoying pleasantries but I walked past him to a private room and he followed with a sigh.
"Where is she?" I demanded.
"Good to see you too!" Renly teased. "She is asleep like every sane person at this hour, the sun hasn't risen yet."
"Take me to her chambers." I demanded.
"The queen regent can choose to admit you when she is awake." Renly said. It was evident he had grown into a man while I was away, not a man I respected but I supposed he was a man.
"I am her husband Renly! I will see her now!"
"It is not that simple anymore." Renly sighed but he stopped talking and looked past me. I turned to see Aegon. He had grown since I last saw him, he was almost 11 now, and was tall, with piercing violet eyes.
"What are you doing up Your Grace, did we wake you?" Renly asked.
"No, I like to rise before the sun and do the rounds of the castle early in the morning. A Lord must be vigilant and what is a king if not a lord of lords?" He turned to look at me. "Would you like to join me?" He asked and I nodded, proud of him. So proud but like always I didn't have the words to tell him I could only utter. "Fine." We walked through the ominous black halls together. Dragonstone and its odd looks were not something I missed much, but I wasn't sure if Storm's End would ever feel like home again either.
"Is your mother alright?" I asked. Perhaps he knew what was going on. All I knew was she was the only thing on my mind, and nobody would tell me anything and men have gone mad from far less.
"She is adjusting." Aegon said softly.
"To what?" I asked and looked at his very serious face. "What happened here?"
"You don't know?" He questioned and looked at me. His eyes were filled with devastation and then he looked away and squeezed his eyes tight before opening and blinking away the tears.
"I heard rumors, the kind of garbage that always comes out of a war like this, they say you killed Robert. Don't feel bad for not, these tales of heroics are made for idol gossip, you are just a boy and you won the war, that's all that matters." I told him.
"But I did kill him." Aegon said in all seriousness my eyes widened. "Are you angry?" He asked after a moment.
"No, no!" I told him, and without realizing it I grabbed him by his shoulders to properly look him over. His guards came toward us but he waved them away with a flick of his hand. He acted like a king that was for sure, some said it was just in him, but he learned it. Not from me by any means and certainly not from Rhaegar. I was not sure even Elia knew the power she exuded every day of her life. She was kind and good for true, but she had been born a princess, and it showed in the way she walked, talked, and held herself. She is who I always saw in Aegon. He had a bruise on his cheek, but he looked alright. "Why would I be angry?"
"H-he was your family." Aegon said.
"No, you are my family." I told him pulling him into my arms and felt how he clung to me.
"Really?" He asked with a shaky voice.
"Of course, you, and your mother, Rhaenys, and the little ones." I told him.
"And Renly." He said he had a boy's sense of fairness I hoped he would never lose.
"Fine, and Renly too." I told him. When I let go I looked at him. "How?" I asked. How did a little boy kill a one of the finest warriors alive? Even if Robert was a horrid man, he was always brutal on the battlefield. Or perhaps he was because of it?
Aegon led me up to a room with a painted table. My eyes were drawn to the blood on the table. It was on the Dornish marches. It probably could not be removed without ruining the table so I supposed my brother's blood would mark the lands where Dorne and the Stormland had fought over for hundreds of years.
But I was surprised when my little king's hand tugged on mine to follow him under the painted table and I humored him. He opened a hidden chamber under the table.
"That's where I found this." He said, pulling the sword at his side out of its scabbard, and I looked at the Valyrian steel.
"Dark Sister." He told me. He was lucky to find it instead of Blackfyre as he would probably not be able to lift his namesake's sword. Dark Sister was lighter, with a slender handle made for a women's hand, a boy would be able to wield it much better then Robert suspected. Aegon crawled out and I followed him.
"He was hurting Mother, she told me to hide…..but I couldn't let him hurt her." Aegon told me softly. He was embarrassed that he'd disobeyed his mother where most would be boasting of their kill, but that was not Aegon. At his core he was good.
"You did the right thing; he didn't hit you with that blasted hammer did he?" I asked. Plenty of Robert's victims died after from the wounds they sustained within, and if I had to watch this boy die in his bed I didn't know what I would do and the worry filled me.
"No, I'm fine. He could not aim once he had lost an eye." Aegon said simply.
"You took out his eye?" I asked with far too much pride.
He shook his head. "No Mother." He said simply, going to the table and picking up a stone carving and handing it to me. It was a statue of his mother's house, a sun with a spear piercing it.
"My lady mother pushed one of those through his eye when he threatened me." Aegon told me. I had to close my eyes and remind myself he was dead because hate boiled my blood.
My hands shook with anger and I put the piece down quickly patting Aegon's back.
"You did very well. I'm proud of you." I told him.
"Will you please take me to your mother?" I asked and saw his hesitation.
"You know I would never hurt her; I would rather fall on my sword." I said and he nodded. We went down the stairs and through the halls, where even the torch holders were shaped like dragon heads. As we walked through the halls, the now active maids were opening thick, dark red curtains to let the dim light in.
As we walked quietly, I kept staring at Aegon. He stood to my shoulder now, I remembered when he was just more than a babe. When Elia had stepped out of the carriage my eyes had gone right to the white haired prince that I was to be warden to, who I was to raise as a loyal servant of the king until he was old enough to join the Night's Watch or become a septan or a maestor. It didn't matter, as long as he was hidden away in obscurity and left to never to cause trouble. If I had done my job he would probably be sent to the Wall around now, instead I made him a king. It was the best thing I had ever done because though he was young. Aegon was worthy to be a king and Robert was just an embarrassment.
"Mother stays in there with the girls." Aegon said as he stayed back like a little gentleman.
"We will talk more later." I promised him. He grabbed my hand and looked at me intensely with those purple eyes.
"You will go with me to King's Landing when I claim the throne, won't you?" Aegon asked.
"If you want." I told him. I had thought about returning to Storm's End to make sure Orys' inheritance was under order but I saw the need in his eyes.
"I do. When they are all look at me, and wait for me to speak, I feel sick." He admitted quietly so only I could hear. Perhaps he was more like me than Rhaegar. I was about to tell him I felt the same but a thought occurred to me.
"But you're a fine speaker. Better than most." I told him. He was better than I by half.
"I just pretend I'm you and hold my head up high like I don't care what they think of me." He admitted and I smiled, I would have to tell him I felt just as unsure but not today, today I would stay his hero.
"I will be by your side whenever you need me Aegon, that's my job as your-" I started but the door opened and I saw little Shireen, not as little anymore. "Father!" She greeted happily hugging me tightly. Rhaenys was next in the door way. Both girls were in their nightgowns.
"We will speak later then." Aegon said touching my arm before nodding to his sisters respectfully then walking away.
I tried to listen to Shireen's chatter and Rhaenys's worry for me which somehow morphed into reasons why she should be allowed to marry Lord Velyron before I just had to move past both of them.
"Elia." I called walking in. Maids were moving frantically around the room packing. A little silver haired girl called Daenerys was still sleep in the bed next to a little baby.
Elia was in her dressing grown with a shawl messily pulled around her. I looked over my beautiful wife, with her tan skin and full pouting lips, those black eyes that seemed to seep into my soul, and her long messy curls free down her back.
"When do we leave?" She asked she spoke to me like a queen not like a wife.
"We do not need to leave immediately Queen Regent." I told her softly. I did not approach her as my greatest fear would be her pulling away from my touch, but she came to me and I was still as the dead when she touched my cheek.
"I need you to get us away from this horrible place Stannis." Elia told me simply, but the feel of her skin was so very soothing. "There are too many ghosts here." She said softly and I was relieved to see she was still my Elia who would confide in me.
"We will leave before the last light." I promised " I should go and prepare." I said awkwardly moving away from her touch. Sometimes I still felt like the dour man who could not talk to girls, but her hand gripped my wrist keeping me in place and I froze, her lips touched mine gently as if posing a question I let her stay in control of the kiss. I kissed her back, lightly sucking at her lips as we pulled apart but she immediately came back kissing me again with a little more force but it was still just a peck and she pulled away. She looked over me for a moment before kissing me again. This time her free hand went to the back of my neck. I felt the scrap of her teeth against my lips and a groan escaped my lips as hers left them.
"Elia, what are you doing? Besides tormenting me." I asked and she laughed. It was good to hear her elegant but warm laughter. Her hands were wrapped around my neck and her head rested against my chest for a moment before she looked back at me.
"I had to try it, to see if it was different, but its only you." She said relieved. I had no idea what she meant by that, but she seemed happy about it and pulled me down to kiss her again. This time I kissed her back, my hands roamed her hair and my lips crashed against hers. We continued this way for a few moments before I realized I was being a bit rough and I pulled away to make sure she was not scared and I saw an endearing smile on her lips that said 'nothing about you scares me', and I would not have it any other way. Her shawl slipped off her shoulder and I saw bruises.
"Are you alright?" I asked, examining them.
"I don't want you to worry she murmured against my mouth as she kissed me.
I pulled back. "You know me Elia, I am going to worry. There's no stopping it, you might as well show me, so I know how much to worry." I told her. She looked away and clutched her shawl tightly, but then looked back at me and seeing my concern, she nodded.
She moved her hair back to show the bruise on her neck, which had to be from his hands. High on her jawline there was a bad bruise that had been covered with her hair, it had to be where she was struck. Her arms and shoulders were littered with little bruises from the struggle I expected, the bruises on her wrists were nasty and then I saw her left hand, wrapped tightly with a splint. He had broken her fingers. I gently took her left hand in both of mine, looking it over closely. It would never fully heal, it would probably always hurt her.
"I wish he was alive so I could kill him." I grumbled angry.
"It is over. He is dead." She said simply.
"You are so strong." I told her softly and she smiled appreciatively. "I have to be for the children, it would not do to fall apart and weep." She told me but as she said it she looked exhausted.
"Well I am here now I will take care of you and the children. If you need to fall apart and weep, I will be here to hold you, you know I'm rubbish at making things better but I will try." I told her and she smiled.
"I have too much to be thankful for." She said turning away from me and going to the bed. She picked up a healthy, fat little baby with olive skin and black hair. When the child's eyes opened they were bright blue and the baby yawned.
"Her name is Cassana for your mother." She told me as I stared at our daughter. Elia quickly handed her to me. Cassana, in her turn, stared up at me trying to figure me out before she decided to just pull at my chin and giggled.
"She is perfect." I told Elia.
"She will be our last." Elia said combing a hand through our babe's hair. "So, we really must enjoy her for as long as we can." She told me and I nodded. I was glad Elia agreed that it was too dangerous for more, but it made me wonder how our marriage would work from now on, if she no longer wanted me to be with her I would respect that. I should be glad she could even stomach to look at me let alone kiss me after all that happened.
"I hate him Elia I-" I began but she calmly put her hand to my heart.
"What's done is done, he is gone, we will move on." She said softly.
"I failed you." I admitted.
"You did not, you took back Aegon's throne, you have done more for my children and I then anyone ever."
"I left." I reminded her. I should have been here to protect her.
"I told you to, if you keep blaming yourself all day we will never set sail." She teased with a soft smile as her hand gently grasped mine.
"You said it first, when I was too scared to, but I will say it for the rest of my life. I love you Stannis Baratheon. I love everything about you. I love how strong you are, how honest, I love that you do nothing for attention or fame, I even love your scowls and bluntness. I wouldn't change a thing aside from the teeth grinding." She teased as she fell into my side, wrapping her arms around my waist. Cassana pulled at her mother's hair as Elia just looked up at me.
"I don't grind my teeth much anymore." I reminded. I was less annoyed all the time and angry, even Robert's hatred had meant less to me. How could I be worthless when someone like Elia could love me? That was before, of course. Now Robert's hatred was nothing compared to mine for him.
"I love you too Elia, I always will. You know you're the first person in life who brought me happiness? You are the great joy of my life." I admitted.
We set sail to claim Aegon's throne before the last light as promised. I was very impressed with Aegon and though he would be a boy king there was really not much left about him that was boy. It was good talking with him, but I stayed up long past when he retired.
Rhaenys sat joining me at the table as the ship rocked back and forth in the night.
"You should be in bed." I told her.
"Will Aegon let me marry Lord Velyron?"
"I don't know, but I would advise him against it." I told her and watched her hurt face at my honesty.
"W-why?" She asked, first sad and then angry. The girl had her uncle Oberyn's temper when she got mad.
"Because it's an uneven match. You are a Targaryen princess, sister of the king. Besides it would be awkward with him as your bannerman." I told her.
"What?"
"You are aware you should be named the Princess of Dragonstone?"
"Everyone knows Aegon will name Viserys." She sighed.
"Not if I can help it." I promised.
"He is a very good man and he is a sailor like you-" She started up again for this Lord Velyron.
"Hate me for it if you must Rhaenys, but he isn't good enough for you and that's final." I told her kissing her head.
It did make me think about how mismatched my own marriage was. The unloved second son of House Baratheon, to the only daughter of the ruling Princess of Dorne and the Crown Prince's widow, and the mother of the rightful king. No, by titles we seemed very mismatched indeed. But I had to remember as I entered my empty chamber that our marriage was used to degrade and control Elia. She had mentioned over dinner that she enjoyed sleeping with the little ones, hearing their breathes, keeping the girls close. Her dark eyes studied me to see if my feelings would be hurt. I looked back at my food as I told her I didn't mind.
It wasn't until the third night of our travels of laying alone I started to wonder if this was my life now. I heard the door creek and sat up in bed reaching for my sword, I dropped it when Elia walked in. She only wore her night dress with a robe over it.
"Elia it's dangerous to go about a ship like-" I started.
"Renly and Loras walked me." She promised. "May I join you?" I nodded slowly, moving over she slipped into bed next to me. I watched her careful controlled movement. It was almost as though I could see all the thought she was putting into every move. She closed her eyes as she started pulling at her night dress hesitantly.
"Elia if you are uncomfortable with any part of this…..if you're not ready-" I said as I sat back up. She stopped in her tracks letting her hand fall against the bed. Laying next to me on the bed she looked frustrated but there was something incredibly beautiful about her thick hair spread around her, the heave of her chest and how she bit her lip that was not entirely lost on me.
"I have no idea what I am comfortable with." She admitted. "I liked kissing you but at dinner the first night… I got nervous, and said what I said but I regretted it, I want to be with you Stannis truly, but I am scared of being scared." She said softly. I had to suppress the strong urge to wrap her up into my arms.
"I just want you to know I would be content if it was, if you never touched me again, I would still love you." I promised.
"That is very sweet of you to say Stannis." She said with little hope.
"I am not a man who says things I don't mean Elia you know that." I told her defensively. She sat up, wrapping her arm around mine and taking my hand and intertwining our fingers. She brought them up to her lips and kissed the back of my hand. I closed my eyes and and held my breath at the feeling of her hot lips against my skin.
"I know my love but it may be harder in practice than in word, don't you remember? We fell in love with our bodies before we feel in love with each other, before we had anything else, we had intimacy. Maybe it is selfish of me, but you truly show your love for me in bed and I would hate to lose that." She admitted quietly, and I felt a tightness in my chest from her words. She slumped over on my shoulder in defeat and I wrapped my arm loosely around her.
"Well forcing things is not going to make you feel better in any capacity, We will get there when we get there, but as for my love of you I will work hard to find other ways to show it to you, but as much as I do love you wife you are for once wrong." I told her looking down at her startled yet skeptical face. I kissed her forehead.
"I fell in love with your kindness and good nature before I even knew what love was, it's the reason I got on that horse with your son, you were so good to my daughter and Renly. You were kind to the people who were keeping you prisoner, and the only person good enough to soften my sour heart. I truly believe that."
She pulled me into a tight embrace. "I love when you call me your wife." She told me.
"I know." I promised her.
"Stannis, I want to stay with you."
"Of course."
"Can….can we just sleep?" she asked hesitantly.
"Of course, come here. We have busy days ahead of us." I told her, laying back down. Soon her head was on my chest again, and I felt so happy because I hated sleeping without her there. I had become accustomed to her there, and now I yearned for it. As long as she slept against my chest my life was as it should be.