Dearest mother,
I am only writing to tell you the children and I are well. So do not worry about us, I am far too young to have a mother with worry lines.
I saw birds flying south today, they made me think of how you and I would watch the birds when I was little. I used to wish we were birds and could fly away from Kingslanding and now I wish I were there if only to be in the viper pit with you.
Aemma is not a baby anymore she walks and talks better than her father can. She is so sweet and gentle like you but rather shy which reminds me a little of my own baby brother in that way. I wonder if it's a youngest child thing. Lord Arryn does not wish her to be a youngest child for long, he is sure we need to keep trying for a son. I will not let that old man into my bedroom, he said he would only trouble me for an heir and a spare and so he has. ( He said nothing of them being male heirs at the time.)
As sweet as little Aemma is Sharra is strong and bold. My daughters are complete opposites in every way. At only 5 Sharra is daring and not easily swayed, she does not talk softly or speak only when spoken to she instead demands what she wants and is not afraid to take it. I love her with every bone in my body. Everyone else seems to think she will make the most intolerable wife. If she wore born a boy, she would be thought to be a great future lord. The double standard is laughable. In Dorne Sharra would be the heir no matter if boys followed or not. Come to think of it, in Dorne I would be the heir too and Aegon and Jon could be given away, like property and marry them to someone ancient.
Not that I would want that for either of them I really miss those idiots, although I have recently informed Aegon by Raven that Jon is my favorite because he visited me last.
I miss you terribly, if we said my old man husband was dying do you think father would let you visit me?
All my love
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Elia read her daughters letter over again. She missed her so much. At least Rhaenys letters were detailed, she was beginning to think her sons did not receive proper writing skills. Jon wrote very little and Aegon had terrible handwriting. She missed them all horribly. She began reading the letter again because it was the only thing that has brought her joy recently.
She was startled hearing the armor clang. She looked up to see Jamie come in she smiled at him softly he was one of her heroes.
"Rhaenys is doing well." She told him. When Rhaegar sent her Dornish ladies back to Dorne she had less people to talk to she knew that was the point to make her as lonely as he was. To alienate her from her allies after he realized she sent their sons away so he would have no one left to torture. No one except her. She found there was always someone to talk to, Serving girls, handmaidens, ladies of the court. She was finding she had quite the network. Still her favorite people to talk to had to be Uncle Lewyn, Ser Arthur, and Ser Jamie. They had been exceptionally good to her over the years.
"How are her daughters?" Jamie asked.
"She says they are well how very kind of you to ask." She left out Rhaenys more colorful details. She was very proud of her daughter that Rhaenys never let Rhaegar take away her will power, she had Nymeria's strength. Elia wished she were more like her daughter in that regard.
Her smile did not last it never did. "She mentioned Lord Arryn was bothering her about a son, you don't think he would ever…."
"No he's a good man even if he is an old one." Jamie assured.
"Is he?" Elia asked with a scoff. She never quiet forgave him for not finding a way around marrying Rhaenys. Lord Arryn had been shocked as Elia about the match why would a king give his first born to an old man. He told Elia he could not turn down the offer in fear of angering the king. He thought Rhaegar was trying to trap him though Elia knew this cage was meant for her. To take her daughter far away from her.
The idea was not Rhaegar's own. It came to him at a dinner they had long ago. Lord Tywin suggested since he lost his heir, he could marry Rhaenys for new heirs even willing to disinherit his other son. Elia could not help her reaction of disgust. Rhaenys was only 12 years old a little girl and this horrible old man wanted to take her away. Rhaegar had smirked at her and she was so angry at herself for giving away her feelings.
Rhaegar did not trust or like lord Tywin and instead found an older man. Elia argued that it did not make since to give away a princess to a traitor but Rhaegar was sure he should appease his angry lords he wanted their love but Rhaegar would have better luck bringing a man back from the dead if you asked Elia. The Rebels were still rare to appear at court.
"He still believes it was a trap and that he was being set up by Rhaegar." Jamie reminded. Jon Arryn had suggested many other more suitable matches for the princess including but not limited to Harold Hardying, Edmure Tully, countless valemen of high birth and even suggested a bastard son of his brothers be legitimized and made his heir. Rhaegar refused them all and was very annoyed at being questioned and Jon Arryn gave in. Jamie had been there when Jon Arryn went to Elia and swore to her not to touch Rhaenys until she was of age. Elia thought he should wait longer but before Rhaenys 17th nameday she had Sharra and three years later she had little Aemma and as far as Rhaenys and her mother were concerned she was done.
"He should never have come to Kingslanding he could have ignored Rhaegar for years in the safety of the Eyrie." Elia grumbled pouting.
Jamie smiled. "Yes I suppose I agree with you there. "
She folded the letter delicately. She began to put it in her jewelry box. When Rhaegar came in.
"So, these are your rooms. Not sure I knew where they were." He mused they did not visit each other often.
"Well I suppose I will have to move now that you found them." She said getting an insincere laugh from him as he flopped onto the cushions Elia made no effort to invite him into the room staying at her vanity hoping he would leave.
"What do you have?" Rhaegar asked he had spotted the letter before it was fully stored away. Elia had hoped he would not.
"A letter from our daughter."
"I supposed mine got lost." Rhaegar laughed darkly. "Why is Viserys the only one who writes me?"
"Because he is the only one kissing you ass." She reminds her days of being afraid of Rhaegar were over and he knew that he did every horrible thing he could think of and she never gave up or in. She had nothing left to lose and someday her son would be king, and he could not take that from her despite his best efforts.
"What's he doing here." Rhaegar said eyeing Jamie.
"Protecting my person, I assumed, is that not what kings guards do?" Elia said with a shrug she would not let Rhaegar know whom she favored, or he would probably torture them for his own amusement.
"I meant what's he doing in the room Elia." Rhaegar asked annoyed. "I can never tell if you are the stupidest person I have ever met or the stubbornest."
"I came on the Commanders behalf, he wanted to ask the queen what kind of detail the princess was supposed to have and what ladies should stay in her rooms with her?" Jamie asked.
Elia turned to Rhaegar. She did her best not to look hopeful. "Rhaenys is coming?"
"No Daenerys is to come back from Tyrosh."
Elia cursed in her head she had Daenerys sent away to protect both Daenerys and Aegon. "The Achron of Tyrosh is a dear friend of my families and he was very kind to foster Daenerys." Elia reminded.
"She's not a child anymore." Rhaegar reminds. That's what Elia was afraid of, Daenerys was still young but Rhaegar did not seem to think so.
"Well maybe we should send Aegon to Essos to make up for it?" Elia suggested before going. "No I don't want him so far away." To see if he would take the bait. She would rather he was far then in danger in the capital.
"Every time I send him away to Essos your family swoops in, Doran writes all his friends to make sure he is cared for, and Oberyn goes with him to hold his hand threw the whole thing." Rhaegar said annoyed.
"Most men would be happy to know their son was safe." Elia reminds.
"I am not most men; I am a dragon. Besides Aegon is weak because you made him weak, Jon too." Rhaegar says simply.
"They are good men the both of them." Elia swore.
"Well you will be happy to see them again; they should be back soon as well." Rhaegar said he sent for Aegon and they both sent for Jon. Elia worried Jon would not arrive in time, when Aegon wouldn't listen to anyone else he would listen to Jon and that has saved his life more often than not. A thought crossed her mind.
"What about Rhaenys?" Elia asked.
"What about Rhaenys?" Rhaegar asked annoyed.
"It seems you are gathering the family-"
"No." Rhaegar said simply.
"Rhaegar she is your only daughter, its bad enough you married her to that old man, but you will never let her come home. Do you really hate your own daughter so much or is it that she reminds you what you did to her out of your hatred for me?" Elia asked turning to look at him.
"You've never been a woman with a mind for politics Elia. Daughters are born to make alliances. If my great grandfather were not so weak willed he would have made his children marry his banners it would have united us with the rest of Westeros and they never would have rose against us."
"Mayhaps then, but it is far to late to unite them now." Elia assured at least not under Rhaegar.
"Jon Arryn has stayed in line and your daughter is lady of the vale and should she ever do her duty and give him a son she will be the mother of the next Lord Arryn. How can you not understand that?" Rhaegar asked annoyed.
"I understand that traitors should not be rewarded with beautiful princesses to marry, what about the men who fought for you who put that crown upon your head Rhaegar? You should have married Rhaenys to Willas Tyrell she would someday be lady of Highgarden a just as noble title and is it such a bad thing that he is with an age with her, that they could be happy?" Elia asked she no longer tried to reason with Rhaegar often, but he once would listen to reason long ago.
"You would give our daughter to a cripple? She is blood of the Dragon and a Targaryen has never married a Tyrell before there is no precedent." Rhaegar said making Elia roll her eyes wondering why Targaryens feared new blood so much.
He walked over to her grabbing her shoulder. Elia's eyes met Jamie's in the mirror telling him silently not to react though in that brief moment she saw how his hand itched for his sword. Rhaegar turned her around to face him before she could stress it much more. She did her best to hide her fear not letting him have the satisfaction of provoking her. His hand only softly caressed her face but at this point his touch made her feel ill even when he was gentle.
"Besides wife, we are within an age are we happy?" Rhaegar asked his hand held her face gentle but firmly to look at him, he was still so beautiful on the outside but all she saw was his cruelty seeping through his porcelain skin, purple eyes, and long flowing locks. Elia knew Aegon kept his own silver hair short because he did not want to look like his father.
"No, we are not." Elia tells him. "I could never love a man who would hurt his own children. And you have found every way possible to hurt ours." Elia said staring up at him she gritted her teeth as he pulled her hair, she did her best not to react. He lost interest and moved away with a scoff he began walking to the door.
"After whatever it is you are planning, I will be going to Dorne." Elia told him instead of asking.
"What!" He snapped turning back to her. "You cannot leave me!"
"Why not?" Elia asked the reason nearest to her heart was the children were not in Danger anymore. Rhaenys was in the vale, Aegon had Dragonstone, Jon had the north once she found a place for Daenerys, she would no longer need to be here to keep them safe, but there were plenty of other reasons too. "You do not heed my advice; your mistress of the week can serve as lady of the court and as of just recently I am finally past child baring years." Elia said triumphantly she knew most woman hated this, but she had been successfully avoiding Rhaegar impregnating her since after Aegon was born. Not that Rhaegar tried much anymore. He only laid with her on the rare occasion to remind her she still belonged to him.
"No, I mean you cannot leave know after you fought every attempt to rid myself of you!" Rhaegar hissed Elia only smiled.
"Congratulations then, your hard work has finally paid off." She told him with fake sincerity.
"I won't allow it!" He bellows.
"Then throw me in a cell Rhaegar, though you might end up angering Dorne and my allies in the reach, you know the very people who actually fought for you and got nothing in return?" Elia asked no longer did his threats have any depth when he already destroyed her.
"I will marry Aegon to worse, a frey girl? A peasant girl? Mayhaps a northern girl you would hate that!" He tried more desperate then scary.
"Aegon is very aware you will not make him a good match, Jon to if you have not forgotten hm all together." Elia reminds.
Rhaegar has nothing to say and storms out.
"Is it wise to provoke him?" Jaime asked finally.
"Was the message received?" Elia asked.
"It was sent, I haveno idea if it was understood." Jamie says. "There are simpler ways to go about this." Jamie reminds.
"No, we must be smart and apart of that is making Rhaegar think we are not." She says softly she looks back at the mirror her once neat hair was now messy, she took the tiara off her head letting it clatter against the floor without a care.
Jamie was shocked to see the tears run down her face he had not seen her cry in years. She had not seen her daughter in so many years now. Jon Arryn was not man enough to take her to Kingslanding without the kings blessing.
Jamie came over offering her a handkerchief and she wiped her tears but she waved him away pulling out her own embroidered handkerchief a sun on a field of green. When you look at this remember we are under the same sun and whenever I feel its heat on my skin I think of you.
The words still made her heart jump when she thought of them. Her children were not the only ones who would have to forgo true love. Elia was to smart to give into her desires and give Rhaegar a reason to disinherit Aegon and Rhaenys. Aegon could lose his rightful throne but they both could lose their heads, Jon Arryn was not the rebel he once was he was old and afraid.
"If the message is not understood…we may need to get a message to Oberyn, he will understand but I did not want to get him involved. No matter what happens the children cannot get involved especially Aegon." Elia said simply she was growing desperate.
After a moment she fixed her hair and weary as it made her put the crown back on her head.
"I want princess Daenerys to have a full guard should she leave the red keep, we will find her a few ladies for companions who can sleep in her rooms with her and I want you at her door at night." Elia told him.
"If I may speak plainly?" Jamie asked making Elia smile.
"The trick dear ser is getting you to stop." She said making him laugh as she rose putting her golden bangles on. "Go on Jamie."
"With Ser Lewyn in the vale and ser Arthur ordered to stay with the prince when he arrives, I should stay at your door at night. "
"I believe if Rhaegar still wanted me dead he would have done it by now, besides there has not been an attempt on my life in years. I think in his own horrible way he made his peace with me." Elia said simply walking forward her orange Dornish dress clung to her as she did.
"How long will it take for Jon to return to the capital?" Elia asked.
"Another few week's your grace."
"I must admit I am happy to see them both after so long." Elia said happily.
"I doubt another woman could love her husband's bastard." Jamie said getting a look from his queen as if to tell him that was the mouth of his she had been referring to.
"Jon is not Rhaegar or Lyanna he is Jon." She says simply. "I will not blame a child for his fathers' actions and as it were Rhaegar has done much worse to me then have a baby with another woman."
"Her you must hate?" Jamie asked.
"That's the good thing about being so old I have had time to feel it all, first I was enraged by the thought of her as if Rhaegar's behavior was her fault, it had seemed to be the start of it after all. Then as I got older, I realized she was a young girl following her heart and that Rhaegar is nothing if not persuasive and manipulative and in the end, I pity the poor girl." Elia said as she went to the door.
"Do not pity her to much your grace, she is dead, and we are the ones who have to put up with him." Jaime grumbled before opening the door for her.
"I suppose I never looked at it that way." Elia said with a smile. She assumed today would be like most others giving alms to the poor, listening to the troubles of women both high and lowborn though without much power to help them, writing her many correspondences and everyday she went to the sept everyday to pray for her children as well as Daenerys and Viserys, her brothers, and the realm in that order.
His laughter set off the course of her entire day as she changed course to instead go towards it.
Jamie followed behind her unsure where she was going.
Elia would know her son's laughter anywhere and followed it until he was there before her. His head bent back in laughter like it did when he was a boy, but he was a man now. He stood taller than his mother he had high cheek bones and chiseled features like his father, but his skin tone was much more golden in color and his eyes were the darkest purple Elia had ever seen it was almost black. He wore black clothes and boots he was not one to be covered in jewels and precious metals like his father, mayhaps that was why.
"Aegon." She called and her son turned to her, with him was Baelor Hightower and an accompany of reach men. It was in fact Baelor who was making him laugh. He stepped forward happily looking at her and bowing. "Your grace." He said with excellent manners but a mischievous look in his eye.
"You must call me mother." She insists pulling him close to hug her child, she would have to warn him Rhaegar was up to something and hopefully Jon would arrive before she had to tell him Rhaegar was using Daenerys in his plot. However, this moment was just for them a mother and son to long separated.
They parted and she was reminded Baelor was ever present by his bright smile watching her greet her son.
"Ser Baelor and I traveled here together he is quiet the interesting companion.
"Why were you near Dragonstone Ser Baelor, its out of the way of Hightower." Elia said though she was hoping she knew the answer.
"Yes I was headed to Essos when my plans changed, funny how a little raven can turn the course of a boat, your son was good enough to let us restock our supplies on Dragonstone and when he said he was headed to Kingslanding I knew I had to seize the opportunity to get to know him better." Baelor said he patted Aegon on the shoulder. "Quite a man you raised Elia."
"I am very proud." Elia assured she knew he was quiet the man, thoughtful, compassionate, intelligent, and brave. She was very proud, and she knew he would make a great king someday. She was hoping it would be sooner than later.
It was really hard whose chapter was going to come next I really thought Rhaenys or Aegon but I decided to show Elia because most of her concern is about her kids so you still get some of them, and I wanted to show how Elia would change from a gentle lady to the woman surviving Rhaegar's torment.
Again I know some people will be mad about Rhaegar and possibly Lyanna's treatment in this story but there are plenty of stories glorifying them which is fine to different strokes for different folks. Mine is personally the Rhaegar sucks Backstroke but your mileage may very.
Anywho getting back on track, thanks for reading let me know what you think so far!