"Elia," Doran said, surprise evident in his tone.
She'd given in to the urge to laugh, seeing the look on his face as she rummaged through her trunks, searching for the one that held the brewed potions. She and Harry had spent the better part of a year brewing them, Narcissa and Astoria helping as they placed a number of everyday - and some emergency use - potions under stasis. Linfred's portrait had been most helpful, the elder Potter directing them to his journals and the additions made by various Potters as Fleamont and Euphemia added their input.
"It works, then?" She questioned. She had worried the lack of magic might prove harmful, but blood rang true and Doran was able to safely take them.
"I've not felt like this in years," he told her, wonder on his face.
Seeing the relief in his features had been painful, and it was for that reason Elia sat at the table a week later, a tome of healing potions opened before her as the children looked through their belongings. Having the portraits on hand would have been better, nearly half the Potters being experts on potions, but it looked as if they would have to make do without until Harry found them.
The sound of footsteps pulled her attention, and Elia smiled at seeing the stack of books Teddy was floating in front of him.
"Is that all?"
"No," he said, shaking his head as he placed the books on the table. "There's a pile of them in the trunk, but these are the only ones I could think of off the top of my head. I don't think there's a potion specifically for gout."
"Probably not," she said, turning to look at the first book in the pile. Magical Regrowth, it read, and she raised a brow at seeing the different titles within. "Skele-Grow."
"Never taken it, thank Merlin. Dad swears it tastes disgusting," he told her, shadows crossing his eyes before he perked up. "Think Uncle Doran would let me vanish his bones?"
"Not anytime soon," she retorted, shaking her head at the small smirk on his face. "Stop torturing your uncle."
"S'not my fault he's scared," Teddy muttered.
"What's not your fault?" Aegon asked, sidling next to Teddy as he grabbed the book closest to him. "Uncle Doran freezing whenever he sees your wand? Have you forgotten the bit about dangling his very skilled sworn sword by the ankle?"
"See if I keep you from anymore accidents," Teddy sniffed. "You'll have to find another knight to protect you now."
"You're not a knight," Aegon quipped, squirming as Teddy put him in a headlock.
"Blasphemy, little brother," he teased, laughing as Aegon broke free. "I guess I'll be Rhae's protector."
"I hope you're ready to take her place then," Aegon snorted. "Wouldn't want a Kingsguard who so willingly harms his king."
"Boys," she cut in sharply, hearing their chorus of "Sorry, Mum."
She sighed, seeing the quick glance they shared. "Are you planning to dance around whatever it is for another week or have you finally decided to ask?"
Teddy sent a pointed look at Aegon, lifting a shoulder as he took a seat at the table.
"We've been here for over five weeks now," Aegon said, pacing as he gathered his thoughts.
She knew where this conversation was headed, and she felt a twinge of regret at taking so long to get there. Hearing of Rhaegar absconding in Dorne of all places had thrown her off balance, and Elia had thrown herself into finding an answer to Doran's ailment.
"Find your sister," she told Aegon.
Teddy waited until Aegon had left before he turned concerned green eyes on her. "Are you sure? We can wait until…" he trailed off, a dark look on his face.
"We've waited for weeks," she said, taking hold of his hand. "He'll be fine, Teddy, but Aegon is not a child. Not for long, and we are in a completely different situation than we were in England."
He squeezed her hand, nodding firmly as if she were the one in need of reassurance. "If Egg goes too far let me know."
"You're not hexing your brother," she said wryly, seeing the look in his eyes. "The last thing we need is an accidental fire."
He grimaced in acknowledgement, leaning back against his seat as the others made their way inside.
Maia ran ahead of them, dodging Teddy's arms as she scrambled onto her lap, her hair shifting from the pale silver-gold to it's original black curls, eyes flashing black as she grinned at her.
"Having fun, sweetling?" she asked, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Mama," Maia began, eyes green and wide. Elia hid her smile of amusement, seeing the others openly smirk at the little girl's attempts. "Can I go flying?"
"Flying where?"
"With Iacomus," Maia said, pouting when she heard Teddy snort.
"Not this time, little sun," she told her, seeing Maia turn the full force of her pout on her. "No flying with Auriga or Iacomus for months."
"Come here Maia," Teddy said, grinning as she continued to pout at him. He summoned her miniature quidditch set, waving his wand to set it up in the seat between his and Rhaenys.
All of her children were obsessed with flying, no matter their parentage, and Elia watched as Maia looked torn for a moment before she gave in to Teddy's peace offering.
He waved his wand, the soft pressure of magic whooshing past her as she felt a silencing ward snap into place.
"Do you have the map?" she asked, waiting as Teddy summoned the parchment to them, spreading it our along the table.
They had drawn this two years past, she remembered, the memory of the Chamber of the Painted Table inspiring them into having their own visual of Westeros, and it had taken the three of them the entire summer to draw it as close to detail as they could.
"We are in Dorne, and for the nonce we are completely isolated from the rest of the kingdoms," she told them, hand gesturing to the point labelled King's Landing. "Robert Baratheon holds the crown and has two sons to succeed him; the Stormlands belongs to his brother, Lord Stannis. Dragonstone…Dragonstone was given to Renly Baratheon."
She saw Rhaenys's jaw twitch, knowing what must have happened to place him there. Aegon's brows were furrowed, the hair growing back in as he glanced at where Teddy placed conjured stags on the map.
"Robert's queen is a Lannister, which places them quite firmly in his camp, and the Riverlands – while divided – are married to the Arryns and Starks and Robert's cause."
"They've surrounded the South," Rhaenys murmured, leaning forward to look closely at the map. "Dorne only has the Reach, and everything north of there is either in the hands of the Usurper or contested."
"Dorne doesn't have the Reach," she admitted, seeing the flash of surprise on their faces. "Lord Tyrell has bent the knee."
"His bannermen let him?" Teddy asked incredulously.
"Like Rhae said, they're surrounded," Aegon pointed out.
"His House only holds the Reach because of yours," Teddy countered. "They've not declared for your uncle either."
"Viserys is in Essos."
At those words, Rhaenys stilled, hand clenching slightly as Teddy glanced at her in concern.
"Alone?"
"With some of the Kingsguard," Elia reassured her. "A sister as well. Rhaella named her Daenerys."
"She didn't make it," Rhaenys said flatly, emotions stubbornly hidden behind her occlumency.
"She passed about a year after the Rebellion ended," she clarified.
Elia smiled sadly; for all that Aerys had been a wretch, Rhaella had adored her only granddaughter, taking joy in Rhaenys's presence in those dark days, and her little girl had loved the woman in return.
"He can't be safe in Essos," Aegon muttered. "Neither of them."
"Not when there's a throne they can claim," Teddy agreed. "Else they would have let one of you take it instead of putting someone else on it."
"They would never have allowed that," Rhaenys added. "Not once Lord Stark and his heir burned."
They grimaced in unison, thankfully not having a full visual of that day. If she closed her eyes, Elia could vividly recall the stench of burning flesh and the terror that perhaps it would be them to fall under Aerys's gaze next, the man seemingly convinced Rhaegar and Dorne had betrayed him, no matter the ten thousand spears that had fought and died at the Trident.
"We can't hide," Aegon murmured, his chin resting in the palm of his hand as he frowned at the map, a storm brewing behind his eyes. "And if we show ourselves no doubt there will be an army at our doorstep."
Elia frowned, glancing down at the map as her mind worked through the various alliances. The Ironborn were keeping quiet; there were the odd reavings as they took advantage of the chaos of the Rebellion, but they had been firmly kept in place by the Lannister fleet and the threat of a united realm.
She hated to steal the rest of their childhood from them, but the game of thrones waited for no one and would kill them if they were unprepared. Aegon was fourteen - three and ten to the rest of Westeros - and nearly old enough to rule in his own right.
The crown or death, she thought darkly, knowing to consign them to the crown might still bring about their deaths, but it was the best chance they had – bar being forced to hide – and Elia would much rather plan a restoration than be dragged unwilling into the game. She glanced at Maia, knowing their actions would place her youngest in a dangerous situation as their sister.
"Keep Auriga and Iacomus to the mountains," she told them. "We don't need whispers of dragons flying above the Sea of Dorne bringing attention to us. For now, we wait and prepare."
They would have to continue their lessons while Elia made contact with the rest of her ladies and those who were likely feeding Doran information. Daenerys and Viserys would have to be found; Rhaella was dead, and Elia wouldn't let the last pieces of her fall to harm for something they couldn't control.
As well as find out what happened to the last of the Kingsguard, she thought, unsure whether they had remained where Rhaegar left them or had fled to defend the last of the Targaryens.
The sound of doors slamming in the distance woke her, pulling her from the short sleep she had fallen into as she put Maia down for the night. She eased out of bed, tucking the covers around her daughter as she made her way to the hall.
Aegon and Teddy were in the hallway, Rhaenys poking her head out warily.
"Keep an eye on your sister," she murmured, seeing Aegon nod and take off into the room as Teddy ducked back into his.
"Mum?"
"Stay here," she told them. "We don't know who it is."
"Nor do you," Rhaenys said, eyes hard as she glanced at the far end of the hall. Their rooms were placed next to each other, Teddy and Aegon across the hall from Rhaenys and Maia, Elia's rooms the furthest from the entry.
"The guards won't harm me."
"Yes, well. Just in case," Teddy said, popping out into the hall with a familiar cloak in hand. He shrunk to her height, throwing the cloak over them as he walked, forcing Elia to keep up.
"Edward," she hissed.
"Better safe than sorry Mum," he whispered unapologetically, wand held aloft.
The sound of voices grew louder as they crept past the door to their section of the palace, and Elia inhaled sharply in recognition as they came to the doors of Doran's private rooms.
It had been fourteen years since she had last heard his voice, but she could never forget the cadence of Oberyn's drawl, nor the heated passion in his tone.
"Go back Teddy. I'll be fine," she said, ducking from beneath the cloak and opening it, feeling the flutter of the cloak as she entered.
He spun to face the door, freezing in stunned surprise as the others with him broke out into murmurs, some of them hastily bowing.
He's aged, she thought, seeing a man hardened by the past decade and not the spitfire she'd left behind. There were faint lines on his face, a few additional scars lining his arms, and she wondered on all she had missed.
She didn't know which of them moved first, but in the blink of an eye she was in his arms, blinking back tears.
"All this time," he whispered, voice thick with tears. "I knew you couldn't be dead."
She tightened her arms around him, feeling tears on her shoulder as he cried in relieved joy.
"I'm home, Oby," she whispered, taking a shuddering breath.
It was expected that seeing him again would send her emotions in a spiral, but Elia had underestimated how very deeply she missed him.
They settled on the couch once it was just the three of them, Oberyn gripping her hand as if she would disappear if he let go, and Elia leaned into his side, her heart easing at seeing him alive and well.
"I expected you would be here days ago," she said, remembering that he had gone to the Pass over a month ago.
"There was a small attack in the Boneway," he said, glancing at Doran. "A few men from Blackhaven and Nightsong came across Lord Yronwood's men. But enough about that; where have you been? When the raven came—" his voice cracked, swallowing harshly as his eyes told her everything he had feared.
"We're fine," she reminded him. "It's a long story."
Doran glanced at her, curiosity in his eyes as he waited to hear the full details. He only had the bits and pieces; the existence of Maia and Teddy, the small show of magic and the use of the potions to convince him that she had ended up someplace so very different.
"For one, I ended up in a very different land," she said delicately, seeing his eyes narrow. How could she explain magic when her own felt so lethargic? Aegon and Rhaenys had bounced back much quicker, able to conjure some flames and use their wand for the most basic of spells for now. Perhaps a small show of it, but Oberyn would need to see it in full, as Doran had, and even that was better than explaining what it was Aegon and Rhaenys could do.
Perhaps they would take their powers better, she mused. The benefits of their Valyrian ancestry, shrouded in fire and blood, was far easier to understand than what the rest of her children could do.
Not to mention Harry, she thought.
"A different land," Oberyn said quizzically.
"England. Somewhere far enough that it required years to plan a return," she added.
He had stilled at the admission of her marriage, glossing over the years she had spent living in Potter Hall as his brows furrowed in thought and his jaw clenched.
"What is it?" she asked, stopping her story before she could tell him of Maia upon seeing the look on his face.
"Nothing," he denied, and Elia leaned back to stare him down, lips twitching slightly as he caved under her gaze.
"A husband?" he questioned, eyes flashing in dislike.
"Is that so terrible?"
"No man is worthy of you," he said lowly; gaze distant as he no doubt thought on her previous suitors.
"He's a lord in his own right," Doran pointed out. "Twice over, in fact."
"A prince before that, and look where it got us," Oberyn retorted.
"They are not the same," she said sharply, unwilling to let them entertain the thought. "I think you would get along with Harry."
Oberyn pursed his lips, nearly pouting as he shared a glance with Doran.
"Does he treat you well?"
"Like a treasure," she said softly, squeezing his hand at the resigned look on his face.
"I suppose I can give him a chance," he grumbled.
"You are eight and thirty Oberyn. Did you think I would remain in Sunspear forever?"
"I had hoped so after the last one," he muttered, sighing in reluctant acceptance.
She rolled her eyes at the dramatics; some things never changed, it seemed, and Oberyn's open dislike of any man who sought her hand had remained strong all these years.
How would he fare when faced with Harry? She mused, knowing it was difficult to dislike him once you got to know the man behind the title.
"Tell me, little brother," she teased lightly, dragging her mind away from the dark mood that inevitably came when she thought on her husband's continued absence. "Has someone managed to entice the Red Viper of Dorne into marriage?"
Doran snorted, eyes showing his open amusement as Oberyn told her of the many nieces she now had.
They sat together at the dining table the next morning, Aegon and Rhaenys stiffly greeting their uncle before they thawed to him. He'd spent much of the morning telling tall tales of his adventures in Essos, and Elia had watched as the two of them asked enough questions to distract him from questioning what they had been doing these past years.
Maia's chatter drifted down the hall, hearing her wheedle a promise from a sleepy Teddy before they entered the room.
She felt Oberyn stiffen, eyes wide as he stared at the two of them.
Teddy dropped a kiss to her cheek, mumbling a greeting as he took the open seat next to Rhaenys, Maia crawling into her sister's lap as he piled food on their plates.
"Say hello, Maia," Rhaenys said, the little girl glancing curiously at Oberyn.
"Hello," she chirped, turning to the plate in front of her.
"Hello," Oberyn awkwardly echoed, brows climbing into his hair as he glanced between Maia and Teddy. "You have another child."
"Two of them," she corrected. "Edward and Maia."
"'lo," Teddy mumbled around a mouthful of food, and Elia did not have to look to know Rhaenys had kicked him beneath the table. "What? I'm tired," he defended.
"And why are you tired, Edward?" Rhaenys drawled, a smirk playing at her lips as he glowered darkly at her.
"They have the same eyes," Oberyn murmured, watching as the Aegon was roped into their conversation.
"Their father's," she told him.
They'd not been paying attention to Maia, the three siblings bickering lightly as she tried to grab their attention, and Elia closed her eyes and counted to ten as the room was rendered silent, the only sounds being Oberyn choking lightly on his drink.
"Maia," she sighed, seeing the little girl turn wide green eyes on her.
"They were too loud," she said indignantly, and Elia stared disapprovingly at her.
"Silencing spells are not nice, sister," Teddy grumbled, waving his hand to release the others.
"Elia."
"Oberyn."
"Spells?" he questioned shakily.
"Magic," she answered. She'd hoped to ease him into it, but this was a far better way to discover magic than what had happened to Areo.
"Maia," Aegon chided, her youngest turning an unrepentant stare on her brother.
"Egg, you have to listen," she insisted, and Elia turned a warning glare on her son as he opened his mouth.
"Ask, next time," he muttered, purple eyes flicking to the clearly rattled Oberyn before he frowned. "You haven't told him."
"I was getting to that," Elia said, glancing at her brother as he stared incredulously at Teddy.
"Would you like a demonstration?" Teddy asked dryly, a spark of mischief in his eyes.
"No," she quickly said at the same time as Rhaenys reminded Teddy that they couldn't very well hang their uncle from the rafters.
"Elia," Oberyn said, clearing his throat as he glanced between the children. "Can they all do that?"
"Yep!" Rhaenys told him, an impish grin on her face as a small flame flickered in her hand.
"Your husband?" he asked, an odd note in his voice.
"Where do you think we get it from?" Teddy said, and Elia saw Oberyn swallow nervously.
