She'd woken to the feel of Aegon shifting restlessly, the younger boy fidgeting in equal parts excitement and sadness at the thought of what was coming.
"Egg, if you poke me one more time I'm going to kick you," hissed Rhaenys, a spark of fire playing at her fingertips.
"Not poking you on purpose," Aegon muttered, shifting and bumping his elbow into his sister.
Elia felt her hand quickly grasping Rhaenys's, a small bit of water dousing the flame as she shot her daughter a warning look. The sheepish look and murmured apology was enough to get Rhae to sit up, and Elia met amused green eyes as the two siblings left the room, their light bickering heard as they shuffled to their bedrooms to get ready.
"Alright kiddo?" Harry murmured, eyes drifting to where Teddy still lay in bed, the boy's arm sling over his face.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
"It's alright to feel sad about leaving, Teddy," Harry soothed, a hand smoothing a loose curl over his forehead.
"Were you?" Teddy asked, arm shifting so that he could look at Elia, the green irises changing to mimic her dark orbs. It was startling, at times, the way Teddy fluidly shifted between their looks, small parts of Elia making itself known in his features. Warmth filled her every time, knowing it was his way of showing his love, something that became more obvious as the days passed.
"Very," she told him, scooting closer to hug him to her. She felt Teddy bury his head in the crook of her neck, and Elia placed a soft kiss on his head. "A good thing we have letters and holidays, hmm? You'll be home before you know it," she whispered.
They lay there for a few moments until the roars of the dragons seemed to breathe excitement into him.
"Thanks Mum," he said, pressing lightly against her before he was clambering over his father, a soft groan leaving Harry as Teddy gave him a swift hug before running out of the room.
A soft chuckle left her, Harry's arm wrapping around her waist as he pulled her flush against him. Her head settled against his chest, and she could hear the strong thrum of his heartbeat.
"He'll be fine," she told him. "You've raised him well."
"We," he corrected, arm tightening slightly before he released a sad sigh. "I didn't want him to deal with the burden of being my son," he murmured, "not at Hogwarts."
"It's not a burden," she replied, tilting her head back to look at his face. "Teddy certainly doesn't see it as that, nor would he ever. He'll be fine."
A small grin twitched at his lips as he said," Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"
She poked his side, ignoring the twin roars outside as he leaned forward to steal a kiss. Elia felt herself arch into him, a hand reaching to cup his jaw.
There were moments like this, when they had a number of things waiting for their attention that were ignored for a brief minute, that Elia felt how deeply they had lodged themselves into her heart. Teddy was not a child of her body, but he had become hers in every way that counted, and she was filled with the anxious joy of a mother watching her son embark on a new adventure. They pulled apart, bodies still tangled together as she felt his hand twitch, the ghostly whisper of the time forcing them to get moving.
Having one child off to Hogwarts was saddening enough for them, and as they entered King's Cross Elia was faced with two despondent children, each competing over who was more upset over Teddy leaving.
"You've got your wand?" She asked when Harry left to place his trunk aboard the train, ignoring the countless eyes that drifted to the small corner they stood at. They had debated using a notice-me-not, but Harry had spent long enough hiding behind his wards that he wanted Teddy to not feel as if they still needed it.
"Right here," he confirmed, tapping the pocket of his trousers.
Rolling her eyes, Rhaenys pulled a package out from her robes, turning to hand it to Teddy. "Egg and I got you this."
"So you don't blast your butt off," Aegon added, a cheeky smile on his face.
"Not gonna blast my butt off," he muttered, a small pleased smile on his face, and Elia shot an exasperated look at Harry as he came to a stop beside her.
"It's a real concern," he defended, and Aegon nodded seriously in agreement.
They had gifted him a dark leather holster, Rhaenys reaching forward to help him strap it onto his forearm before Teddy slid the twelve inch English Oak and Phoenix feather wand in place.
"Thanks," he said, before with a slightly mischievous grin he elongated his arms, wrapping them around the two before he held them close.
He buried his face in their heads, a streak of silver flashing in his hair. She couldn't hear what he murmured to them, but Elia saw Aegon nodding, his arm tightening around his brother even as Rhaenys released a huff of laughter.
The whistling sound of the train rang loudly, a five minute warning for them to board.
Teddy released his siblings, pressing forward to wrap his arms tightly around her.
"You'll do wonderfully," she murmured. "I expect letters often, sweetling, else I'll think you've forgotten me."
"Never," he vowed, eyes black and hair shifting into Rhoynish curls. "I love you, Mum."
"I love you too," Elia responded, squeezing him lightly before nudging him over to Harry.
He threw himself in his father's arms, Harry murmuring soft words into Teddy's hair before he stepped back, hands reaching to adjust his robes.
"Try not to get in too much trouble, yeah?"
"Bar's at the floor for that, Papa," he replied cheekily, eyes glinting in slight humour. He stepped closer to the train, ruffling Aegon and Rhaenys's hair before darting on board as the shouts began to close the doors.
"Bye!" He yelled from his window, hand waving rapidly as the doors closed and the hiss of the engine was heard. "I'll send a letter tonight."
"Send a rock cake!" Aegon cried, grinning at the sound of Teddy's laughter floating through the window. They waited until the train began to speed up, Teddy's arm no longer visible as the express took pulled out of the station.
They had taken the children out to eat, their minds occupied with their missing third, before an exhausted Aegon asked, "Can I take Iacomus for a ride now? I'm sad, Papa, and flying makes me happy."
"Iacomus is not going flying with you yet," Harry answered firmly.
"Come," she told them, ushering the children upstairs as Harry went to check on the dragons. "Time to get ready for bed."
They did not protest, the two giving her swift hugs before trudging upstairs.
"Bet he'll be a Gryffindor," Aegon said to his sister.
"Fat chance," Rhaenys scoffed faintly. "Teddy's going to Ravenclaw."
"I'm going to be a Gryffindor," Aegon boasted, voice drifting as he walked further away.
She had stiffened at their words, forcing herself to keep moving to the sitting room before sinking into the couch, her hands reaching for the needle that was kept on the table, absentmindedly embroidering the handkerchief she had left there.
Elia had known, being with Harry as she had, that there would come a time when she was forced to make a decision. Loving Harry and being loved by him was like living a continuous stolen moment, the world trying but unable to intrude on the life they had built together. It was addicting knowing that she, even as princess and mother and loved by a man who was both lord and father, was Elia here first and foremost, was herself and not what the world expected of her. That Aegon and Rhaenys were not forced to be what others expected them to be; that they had been a boy and girl living as if they were in the Water Gardens and sheltered from the childhood the Red Keep would have given them.
He's the Prince that was Promised, her mind taunted.
She had a life here that she had not expected in her marriage; someone she loved and who loved her in return, equal parts lover and partner and something that surpassed the expectations many in Westeros had of a husband and wife. Her children were safe, she had gained another child when she had not expected such, and more and more, Elia was realizing that her reasons for returning did not hold up in the face of all she had now.
The couch dipped, the warmth of Harry's body encompassing her as he wrapped his arms around her.
"You're brooding," he said, green eyes staring at her in concern as he saw the needle in her hand. "Are you alright?"
"I don't want you to finish the ritual," she answered, surprising them both.
"Yo-you don't?" He asked, surprise and confusion evident in his voice.
She left the comfort of his arms and returned the thread to the table, shifting so that she faced him even as his hands reached forward to grasp hers. His brows had climbed his head in surprise, and Elia was certain she was doing what was best for them all.
"They're happier here. Aegon doesn't have to face the burden of being king after a war his grandfather and father sparked, and Rhaenys is free to live her life without the possibility of being forced to marry her brother," she told him, hands tightening slightly on his. "I'm happier here. Far more than I thought was possible. What would we have in Westeros?"
"Your family," he answered softly, his words bringing a pang to Elia's heart. She loved her brothers, knew Doran and Oberyn were most likely going mad the longer they couldn't find her. If they even know I'm not dead, she thought. She missed them, as she missed her niece and baby nephew. Oberyn could have children of his own now, for all she knew, but Elia knew returning to Dorne would bring trouble to her and her children, to her family and people.
"They'll want to fight for a throne that could be lost to them," she said, "and I'm not sure I want the ugly chair."
"You don't have to choose now," he said fiercely, green eyes darkening with a number of emotions as he saw the sadness thinking of Dorne brought her. "England, Westeros; you could go anywhere, pick any of them at any time, and I will go with you. If that means we stay here then we stay, and if it means returning to Westeros then we go and I'll curse anyone who tries to harm our children, throne or no throne, whet—"
She cut him off, yanking him forward into a searing kiss that was eagerly reciprocated. She didn't know what she had done to have someone like him in her life, much as Harry told her how lucky he was, and she thanked the Seven for him.
"I love you," he murmured, mouth trailing a line of fire down her neck. "I love you with everything I am," he continued, mouth returning to hers as he whispered against her lips. "For however long you'll have me, I go wherever you go."
For however long you'll have me, rang through her ears, her senses overwhelmed with Harry.
"Marry me," she murmured, feeling him freeze at her words. Her eyes were tracing his features, their faces so close she could see the slightly freckled dot on the corner of his cheekbone that was never noticed, his lashes tickling her face as he opened his eyes.
They were blown to black, only a thin slip of green showing as she saw them swimming with love and want and a sprinkle of joy and hope. The green was gradually returning, but still Elia saw only the same emotions in them, her heart oddly calm despite the life-changing words she had voiced.
It had been just over a year now, since that night when their lives had become further entangled. Perhaps it might be too soon, but they had spent years dancing around each other and she did not want to return to a life where limited days together were a possibility.
"If you would have me, then I would have you for the rest of my days," she said softly, voice even and low so as to not break the ambiance. There were portraits most likely listening in, the dragons outside and their children upstairs, but she saw nothing beyond Harry, his eyes focused intensely on hers. Elia felt her breath catch at the sheer want in his eyes, knowing without having to ask for an answer.
"Yule?" He asked, a slight upturn of his lips lighting his features.
"Only if we use copious amounts of warming charms," she answered, a smile growing on her face.
"As my princess commands," he said before pulling her into a toe curling kiss, her leg slung over his as she straddled his lap.
She was brimming with happiness, heart fit to burst at the joy she was experiencing. Things weren't perfect, but they were far better than Elia expected, and she thanked the Seven for throwing her into Potter Hall.
