"There is no need to carry me," the woman insisted, holding onto the headboard, nails biting into the wood. Her slender frame, wrapped tightly in a fur-collared bilaut seemed that much thinner to the point where her weight would likely be that of a feather. But the again, Elia had never been particularly corpulent.

The stubbornness, however, was not new. And certainly not any more acceptable than it had previously seemed. Oberyn glared back at her, eyes full of reproach. "You've nearly fallen over," came the protests, spearing past his lips with all the ferocity of an attack on the battlefield.

It had been said about him, and rightly so, that he had a slaying wit. Oberyn took pride in that, in the sharpness of every edge and the slight fear and subsequent revulsion in the eyes of his enemies. But his sister was no such enemy. And he was trying to protect her. From herself if need be. After all, his dear sister's obstinacy could lead her to trouble.

Elia's response to his earlier words was an annoyed sigh. She did not attempt in the slightest to spare him the notion that she might take issue with his approach towards the matter. "If you shan't be on help, then I've no need of your presence," the Princess said in no uncertain terms. Dark eyes turned back towards gripping fingers. She straightened her frame slowly until her back was ramrod straight. "There, you see? I've no trouble at all."

No trouble standing, it might well be. But as soon as she moved her foot, all balance fled and her body gave in to the pressure of exhaustion. Oberyn, without saying a single word, launched his fame after his sister's and caught her mid-fall, arm strong about her middle and shoulders. It was natural, to him at least, that he should doubt the validity of her claim, solely based upon previous experience. It mattered not that her child had been born a moon's turn past or a hundred ago. Women, but especially his sister, needed time to mend. Albeit, if he should tell the full truth of it, the very fact that she'd managed to get to her feet so fast had been astounding.

Certainly he should feel glad for the progress. "Give it time," he advised, holding her lightly. "You needn't force the recovery. So what if the servants shall see you carried down the staircase? What matters that to them?"

"It matters to me," Elia snapped. "I've little desire to appear the broken spear before them." A matter of pride, as much else was. Oberyn nodded his head in understanding. "The King is ill. If he should die," she paused there, eyes trailing towards the door. A long creak split the silence as it opened. "Come, my child," she invited softly.

Oberyn looked over his shoulder. Little Aegon stood in the doorway, eyes wide. He shuffled slightly forth, but did not fully enter. "Lady mother," he spoke softly, eyes glinting in the light, "my brother is not feeling well."

His sister stiffened in his hold. "What mean you child? How is he unwell?"

But the one to answer was Ellaria who had come just a moment in the boy's face. "'Tis naught, Your Grace, the babe suckled too much to fast. It is something they do, my little Prince," the Dornishwoman assured the child, placing a hand atop his silver curls. "He was most insistent that Your Grace know about it."

Elia smiled down at her eldest son. "Come to me," she said once more, holding one hand out as Oberyn moved to allow her more freedom. Aegon, without waiting for aught else, hurried within and caught onto his mother's skirts. "He is stop weeping either,' the child complained, the sullen cast of his features striking in that it reminded much of his father.

Chasing the thought away, Oberyn laughed boisterously. "It shall be some time before he is content enough to stop weeping." Children usually were. Without much care, the man went on. "Now, let us be on our way, least we turn to dust before the journey begins."

As if to emphasise the direction, he picked his sister up despite her protests and gave Ellaria the task of leading the children. Once they reached King's Landing he could rest more at ease in the knowledge that his sister would be given the best of cares.

His lover gave her hand to the Prince. "What shall you do in King's Landing, child?" she asked by way of conversation, falling behind Oberyn and Ellaria.

Despite the rather enthusiastic manner in which Elia's son went off upon the subject, Oberyn could only make out half of what he said. The other he imagined to be something similar in nature. It needed him though that the boy spoke of stars and dragons. There was too much of his father in him at times. The Silver Prince, for all that the Dornishman could tell, had been careless enough to encourage a passion that was just as likely to led to disaster as it was to bring success.

In King's Landing maters would stand much different. If on Dragonstone, a maester could adequately help a lord see to the needs of a keep, in the capitol it would take an army and much lager amounts of time. Surely that would allow for the better instruction of the future king of the Seven Kingdoms.

"Doran must come as well." His sister's voice caught his attention. "I should be much pleased to see him."

"If he can spare the time to make the journey," Oberyn answered with a light shrug. Though he rather thought it would not be the case. "We would be best served to think about our own, however.

Little ways ahead, the Septa stood with Rhaenys. The Princess looked towards them with a bright smile upon her face. Only the nursemaid was missing and the babe. Oberyn checked his steps impatiently as he reached them. "Where is His Grace the youngest prince?"

Fortunately the nursemaid was quick to arrive, the swaddled babe in her arms, still mewling softly. Oberyn was quite certain he'd never heard a child to weep as long and hard as his sister's infant. Nonetheless, it was good that they might be on their way. He nodded towards the woman and signalled to Ellaria that she should come at his side. With a nod of her own, his beloved advanced, taking Rhaenys' hand as well.

"Is this not exciting?" she asked of the children, mayhap striving to keep good cheer among them all.

Within the courtyard the servants had gathered to bid them a fair journey. The well-wished were accepted in a hurried manner, as no one had any sort of patience. The long awaited call for Elia to make for King's Landing was far more important. Oberyn carried his sister all the way to where the great vessel had been made ready. They boarded upon it and within as short a time as possible were accommodated in small within the small, crammed cabins.

"I leave you to your rest," the Dornish Prince told his sister, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. Her older children were determined to remain by her, so he need not even worry that she might fel out of sorts.

Once without, he was met by Ellaria who, much changed since he'd gone inside, cast him a grim look. "I have been trying, quite desperately to speak to you for the past few days." Her dark eyes cut right through him, a reproach somewhere in the back of them. "Now that your lady sister is comfortable, might be you shall give me my due."

He had not noticed. For a man who prided himself on being a skilled lover, to have failed in that was quite disturbing. "My dear, might be we should make for our own cabin." The unvoiced suggestion was summarily dismissed by a cool look from the woman. She straightened her back, holding herself stiffly.

"I haven't much to say," Ellaria assured him, "but this, I mean to return to Dorne as soon as I can. You may be content to keep me away from my own dear child, but I shan't have it." When he attempted to place a hand upon her, she shrugged it off. "Nay, you shan't convince me a second time. I have been understanding, for she is you dear sister and needed your aid."

She was also quite envious he presumed. Oberyn laughed lightly. He did not stop even at her cross look. "Ellaria, you wound me. If it is little Elia you've been wanting, then let us send for her." A spark of interest was lit in her eyes. He pressed on. "I shall write from King's Landing. Surely you lord father can spare a few household members."

"Nay," she countered, softly, without conviction. I shall go to my daughter."

"Our daughter, beloved," he corrected her, fingers brushing against her cheek slowly.

Ellaria had not forgotten, as she was certain not many had, the viciousness of the Viper. She was not a fool and knew exactly what Oberyn had told her. She understood it. And now, the choice was hers. She supposed there was no one to blame but herself and her foolish heart.

If he so wished, he could snatch Elia from her and carry her off. And no one would try to argue, to him or to any other, that it was Ellaria who was best suited to hold onto the babe. So indeed she could barely hold in the shudder running down her spine as he pressed soft, thin lips upon her, coaxingly.

Her heart thundered, galloping fast like a pair of race horses. Eyes closed and body gave in, she did not wish to fight a battle she could not win. Certainly not with a foe who held her heart in the palm of his hand.

"Our daughter," she repeated after her lips were freed. "Of course." A tremulous smile climbed upon her face. "I miss her, Oberyn, is all." Excuses. She longed to have Ellaria with her, but was somewhat worried as well.

"As you should," the man answered, thumb pressing upon her full lower lip. "'Tis understandable. You are a mother." More importantly to his mind, she was the mother of his Elia, Ellaria considered not without a prickle of dissatisfaction. But it was dine. Her hands were tied. They been tied since the moment she took seed and refused to wash it away with a brew.

And she had known what it was she was strapping herself to, the life she'd chosen. "I shall be glad to have Elia back in my arms," she allowed herself to say, pulling away from his touch. "I do believe this is rather stifling. I shall take some air."

Oberyn smiled at her, appeased that the understanding had been restored between them. He offered her his arm which Ellaria took without a moment's thought. She kept pace with him as he led her atop the deck where the sailors were at their work.

They were not paid much mind for, as on any ship, all men had their own duties to see to. Oberyn led them to a seclude spot from which they could watch the waves. Allowing herself to relax, Ellaria leaned into her lover, not quite certain herself on how to proceed.

The matter was, after all, one of acceptance, as far as she could see. If she could live the life that the Prince offered to her than it fell to her to square her shoulders and carry on. If not, she must prepare herself for the worst.

Yet for the time being, the Dornishwoman wished to do neither. So she simply chased the thought away and closed her eyes, opening her other senses instead. She had always loved the sea with its moodiness and peculiar scent. Much like a woman, as the sailors often insisted.

It was quite the loveliest thing, she decided.

Jon slipped past Betha who was quite busy heaving. She had little patience these days for any sort of antics. But if he was quiet and she took no notice of him, then he could well be on his way to finding those dragon eggs. He had to. It was all that he knew at the moment. Betha lifted her head and he stopped in his tracks, but soon enough she was back at it and Jon dashed out the door. Behind him the door closed with a soft sound.

Within the hallway he saw no trace of Renly. It was rather strange as his uncle had promised he would be waiting. And yet there was not even a shadow to be seen. Jon, knowing well he could not linger, made his way to the far end and descended the stairs two steps at a time, jumping much like a frog, he imagined.

Dragons were somewhat like frogs too. They were cold and scaly. At least that was how the child imagined them. Unlike frogs, they could fly. That was better than jumping, faster too. If he'd been able to fly over the stairs, then he would have been at the foot of the last one sooner. With a swift move, Jon landed upon the tiled floor. He looked over his shoulder at the head of the steps, waiting to see Betha rushing after him.

But the servant girl was not following him. Assured of his safety for the time being and of having evaded mother's edict that he was not to go seeking trouble, within which category she had quite firmly placed hunting for dragon eggs, Jon congratulated himself and decided to wait a little while longer for Renly.

He sat down upon the last step and placed his chin upon his knees.

Before long, however, he had grown quite bored with the endeavour. Like children were wont to do, he amused himself with walking about the hall a couple of times, before suspicion kicked in and he thought he heard the sound of steps. That was all the encouragement Lyanna's son needed to be off. With all the speed he could muster, Jon raced to the second flight of stairs and these ones he cleared in an even shorter amount of time.

And then he found himself quite lost as he made a right turn. Going by memory he should have reached a set of large doors, but what he did find was a dead end. With an annoyed complaint upon his lips he turned around.

A shriek tore through the relative silence.

Before him, smiling, stood a little girl clad in a thick dark dress. Her silver tresses tumbled gently over one shoulder and she clutched a doll to her chest. "I've found you," she announced, quite pleased to herself. Jon made to dash past her, but the Princess simply placed herself in his way. Much too mild mannered to knock her off her feet, Jon stopped just before they could collide. "I won."

"Didn't," he denied, glaring at her quite frighteningly. "Make way," he ordered, utterly unaware that dragons, especially young ones, did not take well to being ordered.

In turn, Daenerys jumped at him, catching the sleeve on his arm and clutching him with in a tight grip. Despite any attempt to shake her off, she was much too determined, throwing a barrage of questions at him. "Where are you going? Can I come too? I want to help. And I want to play with you. Shall we play together? Father said I may order you to."

"Fine!" Jon yelled at a long last, voice straining to cover hers. Anything to stop her from twittering on and driving him off the edge of sanity. It was worse than anything the stranger had ever showed him. The boy grimaced. "You can come along, but you have to keep quiet."

The girl nodded her head solemnly, beaming up at him. Or rather in his face as the height difference between them was almost negligible. Jon stepped backwards but accomplished little by it as Daenerys held tightly onto him. He only dragged her along as well. "Let go."

"Nay." The little Princess pushed her doll in his arms. "Where are you taking us?" she questioned, stars shining ion her eyes.

Resisting the urge to fling the toy away, Jon scowled and mumbled under his breath. But Daenerys would not leave him be until she'd gotten a clear answer of him. "I want to find dragon eggs," he finally admitted when he was no longer able to stand the racket.

That seemed to gladden her further to his utter distress. The she-dragon sank her claws into him, dragging him after her. "I know where to begin," she promised. "I will show you."

Where was Renly, Jon wondered, not at all comfortable. If he were here he would know how to shake the pesky girl off. Unfortunately Jon had been left alone on the battlefield. Not quite willing, he followed along, begging the gods to somehow aid him.

And then it occurred to him that Daenerys, being a Targaryen, must know the keep better than he did. Then it might well be that she was speaking the truth and knew where the most plausible spots to find the prize were. It calmed him somewhat, certainly enough for him to continue on his way.

With that in mind, he followed the other child through the mazes of the Red Keep, reminding herself every time she put to him a question he had no desire of answering that he was keeping company with her for a good cause. And it worked well enough until they had reached the inner courtyard.

There she stopped. "I'm bored," the Princess claimed, looking sideways at him, as if he had some duty to entertain her. Jon bridled at the prospect. "I do not wish to do this anymore." A bright grin split her face. She was challenging him.

Rhaegar had not meant to find her. He had not set out to deliberately come upon Lyanna Stark. And yet there she was, standing before him, her visage caught somewhere between worry and a glower. Her middle brother had joined her. As expected, he was quite uncertain as to what he should do.

"Your Grace," the she-wolf greeted, her voice grazing against him, settling pleasantly against his ears. Her brother followed suit, no doubt reminded of his better manners.

He nodded towards the both of them and should have walked away if he had been able to help himself. However, one look at Lyanna, and he checked his pace. "Is aught amiss?" he questioned looking between the two of them.

"Not at all, Your Grace," Eddard Stark answered. "My sister is merely exaggerating in her worry." At that his sister treated him to a mean glare. The effect was lost on the older sibling. "Although she insists to the contrary," he deliberately articulated.

"I am not," was her response.

Far be it from Rhaegar to interrupt a siblings' spat. He raised one eyebrow though. "And what cause would you have to worry, my lady?" he went on, eyes trained upon the young woman. He thought he saw something change in her face but before he could determine what it had been, it was gone, leaving behind only what he had seen before. Namely annoyance.

"The very fact that Your Grace had allowed by some to traipses around the Red Keep in search for dragon eggs." She stared at him unflinchingly. "On his own."

That was rather unexpected. Who would have though that free spirited Lyanna Stark would be quite so concerned over child's play.

"Then let us look for him."

A/N:

The clues:

1) 20-8-5-18-5 9-19 19-15-13-5-20-8-9-14-7 8-9-4-9-14-7 9-14 20-8-5 23-1-12-12-19 15-6 20-8-5 18-5-4 11-5-5-16 1-14-4 9-20 19 1 2-9-20 2-9-7-7-5-18 20-8-1-14 6-15-19-19-9-12-9-19-5-4 5-7-7-19

2) 4-5-19-16-9-20-5 18-5-14-12-25 19 7-12-1-18-9-14-7 1-2-19-5-14-3-5 8-5 9-19 17-21-9-20-5 23-5-12-12 1-14-4 1 2-9-20 3-1-21-7-8-20 21-16 9-14 23-8-1-20 20-8-5 18-5-4 11-5-5-16 8-1-19 20-15 15-6-6-5-18 8-9-13-19-5-12-6

3) 12-25-1-14-14-1 1-14-4 18-8-1-5-7-1-18 1-12-15-14-5 20-15-7-5-20-8-5-18 19-5-1-18-3-8-9-14-7 6-15-18 10-15-14 1-14-4 6-9-14-4-9-14-7 1 2-9-20 13-15-18-5 1-12-15-14-7 20-8-5 23-1-25

Thank you for reading.