299 AC

Elia had always wanted a lot of children. Spending her days surrounded by playmates in the Water Gardens primed her for that. Still, she could admit that the number of children that now flitted around the Red Keep was ridiculous. Oberyn had dropped in on the royal family, completely unannounced because he knew it annoyed Rhaegar that the Red Viper of Dorne could slip into the city without alerting a solitary person. It chaffed her husband even more now because Oberyn had managed to do it with his paramour, the Sand Snakes, Arianne, Quentyn and Trystane to boot.

Elia's children were excited at their arrival. They did not get to spend much time with their cousins, but they all got along. Elia remembered a time when it was not so smooth. Oberyn was not pleased in the beginning that Elia raised Rhaegar's child. He felt it was an insult to her honor. After he found Ellaria, who acted as a mother to his older children, he was much more understanding about things.

Rhaenys fit right in with her cousins, especially because she was as fierce and dedicated to training as they were. She was often bringing Allyria along with her for spear practice with Obara or learning how to throw blades with Nymeria. Elia wondered if Rhaegar regretted allowing Rhae to train with the boys. At nearly nineteen, she was more a warrior than Egg was.

Aegon was fast friends with Quentyn and Trystane, learning Volantanese from the older boy and cyvasse from the younger. She could walk past his bedroom now and find him and Loras sitting down for hours playing the board game. She would be surprised at the patience if it were anyone other than Egg. He was young, but he had always been an understanding person, and he had a good head for politics. Elia was proud to say her son would be a just but dogmatic king, the best the realm could hope for given his two predecessors.

Jaehaerys found himself in the company of Tyene and Sarella more times than not. The two girls were a lesson in contrasts: Tyene with her pale skin, wavy blonde hair, delicate features and a sweet smile that might as well be a weapon. Then there was Sarella with her ebony skin, rough-textured hair, sharp features, and expressive eyes, always holding curiosity at everything she saw. Sarella was inquisitive but quiet, much like Jae and his best friend, Samwell, so she fit right in. Tyene was clearly trying to seduce Jae. Elia wanted to tell the girl she was wasting her time but left them to figure it out amongst themselves.

Visenya was often running around causing all kinds of mayhem with Dorea, Loreza, Alysane, and Alanna. She was a wild one, her youngest. Rhaegar thought it was the dragon's blood in her. Jaime thought it was the lion's blood. Elia thought it was the sun that lighted a fire under her daughter's feet, kept her running, and it was the spear that kept her sharp and oft times prickly. She enjoyed occasional chaos but also liked silent moments to herself where she could play with her animal friends in the gardens. It bemused Elia, Visenya's love of animals. She could find her daughter holding full conversations with cats or birds or horses. She left her to it. It was harmless.

The visit from Oberyn did not just serve to overflow the castle with children, but also present an opportunity for Viserys to meet Arianne. Viserys and Daenerys were visiting from Dragonstone for a short while. Daenerys was pleased to be in the company of other children again. She grew up in King's Landing until Rhaegar sent her and Viserys back to Dragonstone. She must've been lonely on that island with no family but her bratty older brother.

Arianne and Viserys should've been married already, but the meeting had been postponed. Elia soon realized why. The two got along as well as anyone with half a brain figured they would. Viserys was his usual arrogant self. Arianne had no shortage of arrogance either. They clashed more than not, screeching at one another like a pair of toddlers rather than 23-year-old adults.

Rhaegar didn't worry about it, but Elia recognized the willfulness in her niece. It was the same willfulness she saw in her elder daughter. Rhae should've been married by now too, or at least betrothed, but she had found a way to subvert every suggestion made or rumored by embarrassing her prospect or making herself seem unattractive. Elia was certain Rhaegar allowed it because he planned to marry Aegon to Rhaenys and Visenya, have them be the original conquerors come again.

It wasn't going to happen. Elia would make sure of that. Whatever her feelings on her children marrying one another for no reason other than Rhaegar's songs and scribbles, they had no intentions of following through with his wishes. Rhaegar didn't notice the relationships developing with his children, even though they would be obvious if he only paid attention. Elia had been spotting Rhaenys sneaking out of Robb Stark's bedroom with kiss-swollen lips for quite a few months now. Aegon's match would be handled most delicately by Elia if she wasn't wrong about the gleam she caught in his eye when he stared at his friend Loras. Jae had been in love with Talla Tarly for as long as Elia could remember, not that she thought Rhaegar had given any thought to a match for him, but Elia noticed it all the same.

It was to be expected, Elia supposed: Rhae and Robb, Egg and Loras, Jae and Talla. They could not have so many boys and girls of age with one another spending time together and not expect them to find themselves feeling emotions and urges beyond childish friendship. Her two sons were fast nearing adulthood, and Rhaenys was a woman grown. Matches needed to be made correctly. Rhaegar had no idea what any of his children wanted or how to make sure both their happiness and the realm was preserved. He wasn't after both he would not know. He didn't seem to notice much about his family more and more these days, save for Visenya who he coddled and cherished above the others as his miracle child, his proof of prophecy given life. Little did he know. He'd see the truth if he looked closely at the girl, would see no Targaryen features in her face. The Martell blood overpowered the Lannister blood in her youngest mostly, she looked like Elia's spitting image with echoes enough to Rhae and Egg that people accepted that she was Rhaegar's, giving no thought to Jaime Lannister at all. Rhaegar never saw things he didn't want to see, especially where his family was concerned.

Case in point: Viserys.

Viserys troubled Elia. He was vile as a child years ago after Rhaella died, an entitled brat of a prince. But now he was cruel and almost manic. He threatened people for the littlest things. He always spoke down to Aegon as if he were not to be his king. He was a bad influence on Aerion, the little boy following in his uncle's callous footsteps and alienating himself from his half-siblings and his sweet-mannered twin to a lesser extent. Lysa had reported that Lord Baelish told her Viserys had a penchant for beating his whores which was good for Baelish's business since the Prince of Dragonstone had to shell out more money for his compulsions, but bad for the whores under his abuse. She noticed that Daenerys was meek around him, meeker than usual anyway. The young princess withered under her older brother's gaze. Elia had her suspicions, though she saw no marks on the girl.

She was not particularly happy to have Viserys at the Red Keep, but she promised Rhaella she'd care for her children. Rhaegar was no child, and truthfully Viserys was a man grown now, but Dany was different. She was quieter than before, her smiles meager at best. Cersei seemed to take wicked pleasure in watching the girl slowly wilt and trail off into silence. Out of sight, out of mind was all the better for her. Dany enjoyed being invisible to everyone, but she was not antisocial. Margaery and Talla attached themselves to Dany quickly, striking their old friendship back up. Daenerys also spent a fair amount of time with Quentyn and Jaehaerys, all of whom were quieter souls and so they seemed to enjoy each other's company. Besides, wherever Talla was, Jae tended to be close, so that was not surprising. What was surprising was how well Dany and Arianne got along. Arianne would often take the younger girl away and chat her up about this or that in private. She was sure her niece was plotting something. Elia did not know what, but she thought it had something to do with Viserys, who Arianne hated more and more. She could not blame her, especially after what she had walked in on the other day.

She was passing by the corridor where one of the children's playrooms were when she heard scuffling, struggling and outraged cries. She went towards the noise with much concern. As she walked down the hallway, Quentyn came out of the room, his arm around Dany's shoulders. The girl was crying. Elia paused as Quentyn met her eyes before continuing down the corridor. She approached the room and pushed the door open, freezing when she took in the scene. Jae was on the floor struggling under Viserys' weight as the elder boy tried to hit his face. Aerion was egging them on.

"Punch the uppity git, Uncle," Aerion urged, a gleeful smile on his face.

Daeron knocked his shoulder into his twin's.

"Stop it. He's our brother."

"He's not my brother, he's Father's urchin off some Northern savage. He's just a bastard," Aerion replied, spitting the last word like it was the lowest thing in the world.

She marveled at how a nine-year-old could speak with such venom and hatred. Daeron appeared to wonder at it as well before shaking his head, his blonde hair falling into his purple eyes. He started pulling at Viserys' arm to get him off Jae. Viserys lashed out, pushing the boy so he fell on his back. The older boy raised his hand to hit Jae again, but Elia shook out of her stupor. She walked into the room and stopped Viserys, her hand wrapping around his wrist before he could lower it again. He looked up at her with a sneer that turned to surprise as he realized it was her. She saw a wealth of emotion pass through his eyes, everything from anger to fear before he tempered it with disgust and defiance.

"Don't touch me," he snarled at her, scrabbling up and stepping away from her.

Elia looked down at Jae who would not meet her gaze. His lip was busted and he would have a bruise under his eye. His knuckles were also red and as she looked back at Viserys, she saw his cheek was bruising.

"What do you think you're doing?" Elia asked, her voice calm and her eyes set in a hard glare.

Fear flashed in Viserys' face once more before disappearing.

"I don't have to answer to you. You're just my brother's broodmare."

Jae stepped in front of Elia then.

"Don't talk about my mother like that," He warned, his voice as cold and hard as Elia's had been.

"Your mother is dead because of you, Jaehaerys. That woman behind you isn't your mother, and she's even less deserving of my attention than my brother's golden whore."

Aerion and Daeron made noises of outrage at the slight against their mother while Jae went to take a step towards his uncle, probably to strike up their fight again, but Elia placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. She stepped around her son and approached the entitled prince who shrunk minutely under her blazing glare.

"You can call me whatever you like, Viserys. I don't care. I know myself. However, if you ever put your hands on Jon or any of my other children again, I will have you stripped of your title, named Waters, and shipped off to Essos so fast you'll barely know it's happening when it does. Do you understand me?"

Viserys scoffed in response.

Elia grabbed the younger man's face, her nails digging into his flesh.

"Do you understand me?"

He glared down at her before his face shifted to discomfort at her grip and he wordlessly nodded. She let him go and watched him brush a hand against his face. Her fingernails had cut into his flesh. A bead of blood formed from the wound and trickled down his skin. He stared at the blood on his fingers for long enough to worry her before he shot her a look and stalked out of the room angrily. Aerion paused, glancing at Daeron, before running off after his uncle. Elia shook her head at it. Aerion would grow to be a problem without proper influence. Cersei wasn't an adequate role model, Viserys wasn't either and Rhaegar was barely more of a father to his twins than he was to Jae. They needed a proper parent. Elia wouldn't even mind guiding young Aerion down a better path, helping to raise him. She'd done so with Jae after all. Cersei would hardly ever allow Elia around her children.

Elia looked at Daeron, the young boy glancing between her and Jae and shifting nervously. Elia wondered that such a sweet boy could be born of a woman as vicious as Cersei and a man as absentminded as Rhaegar.

"Are you alright? I saw him push you."

Daeron nodded in response.

"I'm okay, Queen Elia. I tried to stop him, but…"

"It's alright. I know you would if you could," Elia replied, ruffling the boy's hair lightly and earning a smile in response from her stepson.

Daeron walked over to his older half-brother with a sheepish expression.

"I'm sorry about Aerion. He's strange sometimes. Stranger with Uncle Viserys here. He knows you're our brother, Jon. He just… forgets himself sometimes."

Jae gave the younger boy a smile.

"You don't have to apologize for him. If you start now, you'll be doing it for the rest of your life."

Daeron took in his brother's words with wide eyes.

Elia felt a ghost of a smile on her lips. Daeron may have parents that left much to be desired, but perhaps his siblings could make up that difference. She'd hate to see the little boy lose his gentle soul, even if it wouldn't do him favors in King's Landing. Daeron nodded at Jae's sage words before giving him a quick hug and running out of the room.

Elia approached her son and lifted his face, her thumb brushing against the drying blood on his lips.

"What was that about?"

Jae's eyes glanced to the left quickly and his nostrils flared, telling her he was about to lie.

"Nothing. It's not important," he replied.

Her children didn't lie to her often. It concerned her, but she decided not to pull his teeth about it and instead brought him to the maester to be looked over. He'd tell her in his own time.

She did not have to wait long.

Elia sat in front of her mirror, brushing her hair before going to sleep when a hesitant knock came at the door.

"It's Jon," she heard on the other side of the door.

She bid her son entry, and Jae walked into the room with a look of conflict on his face.

"What's the matter?"

Jae shrugged lightly in response. Elia nodded to herself, understanding his position immediately. He wanted to tell her but didn't have the words yet.

"Help me with my hair, will you?"

Jae nodded as Elia sat in the chair before her vanity, handing the brush to her son. They used to do this all the time when he was younger. His hair used to be much longer and with his soft face, Rhaegar did not like it. He said it made Jae look too effeminate and pretty. Jae liked it that way, so Elia never forced him to cut or trim it. She used to brush and braid his hair along with Rhae's before they went to bed so it didn't tangle, and in turn, they would do hers together. However, as he grew older, he began cutting it to cheek-length and pulling it back before bed, ending their ritual.

He brushed through her shiny locks gently, making sure there were no knots as he went along. As he did, she wracked her brain for what could be bothering him.

"Is it your father?"

He didn't bother asking what she meant, just shook his head in response.

"Have you dreamt of Lyanna again?"

Another headshake.

"Is it Talla?"

Jae blushed but shook his head.

"Are you having an argument with Egg or Robb?"

"No."

"Viserys?"

Jae paused then, his fingers stuttering in her hair before he continued running them through the tresses so he could part it in sections to braid it.

"Ah. Well, Viserys is a bother to everyone. What's he done now?"

Jaehaerys said nothing for a long while, silently plaiting her hair before tying off the end with a band so it didn't loosen. She allowed him his quiet reflection, strutting over to her bed and letting him follow. She laid down on her side, propping herself up on her elbow. He sat in front of her, leaning against her stomach lightly as he wrung his fingers together before he steeled himself.

"I will marry Daenerys," he said suddenly.

That threw Elia for a loop. She knew she was right in thinking her son to have affections for Talla, so where was this coming from? And why did his voice sound like that? Grimly determined?

"What are you talking about?"

"The king will make Egg marry our sisters when Enya's of age. I don't know what betrothal he will have in mind for me, but I will tell him that I will marry Daenerys."

"I'm not blind, you know. I see the way you look at Talla. You like her. There's nothing to stop your betrothal."

It would be much more complicated if it were Margaery that Jae's heart belonged to. Alerie and Olenna wanted Margaery to be queen, but Talla was not betrothed. Rhaegar's second and unfavored son could afford to marry the eldest daughter of a secondary house in the Reach. Jae paused before answering.

"I don't like Talla, I love her," he answered.

If she were anyone else, she might scoff at it, her son of ten and five proclaiming himself in love, but Jae had always been the most realistic of her children, the most grounded. If he said he was in love, then she believed him. That made his proclamation make less sense.

"Then why are you suddenly so determined to marry Dany? And what does it have to do with Viserys?"

He stared down at his lap and didn't answer her.

"Jon."

"She made me promise not to tell."

She could see that fact caused her son pain. She brushed her fingers through his curls and stroked a soft hand over his cheek before gently pulling on his chin so they were looking at one another.

"I know promises are important to you, as they should be. Sometimes, better judgment must be put first. I want to help you, and I want to help Daenerys, but if you don't tell me what's going on, then I can't do anything about whatever is wrong."

Jae heaved a heavy breath before speaking.

"Viserys says that Dany belongs to him. That, as is our family's customs, she will be his even if he marries Princess Arianne. But he's horrible to her. He puts her down and makes fun of her all the time. And... he hits her. She's shown me the bruises on her back, on her stomach and her chest, where people won't see. She says he sneaks into her room at night and tells her that she's his. She says she has been hiding her moonblood for months because he has told her that when she flowers, she will be his in every way. He threatens her every night and… and he touches her. She's afraid of him but she doesn't think His Grace will care. She thinks King Rhaegar will give her to Viserys like so many other Targaryen women were given to their brothers against their will. But… but if I were to marry Daenerys, then I could keep her safe."

Elia felt a part of her heart break. She was failing to keep her promise to Rhaella. It was harder to keep the former queen's children safe when one child was hurting the other and another did not seem to care or was too blind to see it. However, Elia also felt pride. Her son was willing to put his happiness aside for the good of someone else because that was who he was.

"You want to know something, Jon," Elia asked after a moment.

He looked at her curiously.

"It's moments like these that mystifies me because I can hardly believe that I've raised a son as good, kind and selfless as you."

A blush colored his cheeks as he looked down. Elia lifted his face so his grey eyes met her black ones.

"But you don't have to throw yourself on a knife for Dany. You needn't have worried yourself over this. All you had to do was come to me. I'm glad you did. I'll handle everything. That's what I'm here for," she reassured him.

His brow creased in confusion.

"But how? Viserys is—"

"Viserys is fifth in line for the throne and believes himself much more important and smarter than he actually is. Do not worry yourself. You will not have to marry Daenerys and she does not belong to Viserys. Trust me, it's already fixed. I want you to find Ser Jaime or Ser Barristan before you go to bed and tell them that I wish for them to guard Dany's door tonight and not let Viserys in if he should come," she replied, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

He nodded after a moment before standing up and walking to the door.

"Mother?"

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Elia smiled back at him.

"You don't have to thank me, my little wolf. I'm your mother."

He smiled at that before continuing out the room.

Elia let her face fall into a frown once he was gone. It was worse with Viserys than she thought. She knew he had a sense of entitlement that knew no bounds, but she hadn't imagined just how much like his father he was. Elia got a sudden flash of Aerys standing in her doorway, his gaze heavy with loathing and lust. She imagined poor Dany feeling the same fear and disgust Elia had at that moment and felt her heart ache even more for her goodsister.

Watching Viserys reminded Elia frighteningly of the Blackfyre rebellions. She did not want to see another war in her lifetime, not after Robert's Rebellion. She did not want to see the realm torn apart, people choosing sides and dying in droves. She did not want her family to be ripped apart again. It was barely holding on now. It was stitched together loosely, the threads coming out in places, but it was still her family and protecting them was her prime initiative, even if it meant against other family members.

She could not go to Rhaegar. Jae was right, they couldn't trust him to act accordingly with this. It wasn't like she could talk Viserys down from his abusive obsession with his sister. He would never listen to her, who he viewed as beneath him. He was all but beyond reason from anyone except perhaps Rhaegar. Viserys resented and admired him all at once in the way second sons tended to do towards their older brothers.

Elia needed to make sure Daenerys was protected, was far out of the reach of Viserys. She also wanted to keep her promise to Rhaella all those years ago and that meant protecting Viserys as well. If he married Arianne, Elia was certain he'd be dead as soon as a baby was put in her niece's belly. Elia sighed to herself. She promised Jae she would fix this, but she didn't know where to start.

Elia had long ago had a separate sector installed into the gardens of the Red Keep to afford her some privacy. It was not an easy find for those who did not know where it was. Her clearing was surrounded by a maze inspired by the ones of Highgarden Alerie told her about. Only Elia and the children knew the exact way. Not even Ashara or the kingsguards were privy to it. Even so, Elia was not surprised when Oberyn came strutting into the clearing as she listened to birds chirp and sipped a mug of lemon tea.

"I see you've made sure these gardens have their touch of Dorne," he commented as he swaggered up to her with a wine goblet in hand, taking in the lemon trees, rockroses, red carnations, bluebells, water lilies and orange bougainvillea blooming in her hideaway.

"I am a Martell. It was a small part of my duty to my house."

"Now, now dear sister. You are Queen Elia Targaryen, Queen of the Andals, the First Men and the Rhoynar," Oberyn said, his voice teasing as he pressed a kiss to her cheek and sat across from her.

"I will always be a Martell, no matter what my name is," she replied, placing her mug down.

"You've got the worry lines for it, I suppose. You're just as bad as Doran, brooding by yourself about this or that."

"Have you considered that it might be that you're too carefree?"

"Never once. Everyone should be more like me."

"I don't think the world could survive that."

Oberyn smiled a little at the comment before it fell away.

"What's wrong?"

"What isn't wrong?"

Oberyn gave her an expectant look and Elia sighed. Perhaps telling her brother would help her.

"Jaehaerys came to me and told me that Viserys has been abusing Daenerys for years. He was ready to throw himself into the line of fire, marry her against his wishes to protect her. I told him I'd take care of it, but I haven't the faintest idea where to start. If it were anyone else, he'd be dead by now, but I told Rhaella I'd protect all her children. Bang up job I've been doing of it. One abuses the other, and the oldest doesn't pay enough attention to realize it. Besides which, Aerion seems to be going down the same path of Viserys. I can practically see history repeating itself before my eyes, if not with Viserys than Aerion. The first Aerion was mad, wasn't he? He drank wildfire thinking he'd become a dragon. Daeron is sweet, almost too sweet. Not enough dragon or lion in him. He'll get eaten alive in this place if he's not careful. Rhaenys has too much fire in her. She's going to set her own path in life and what the consequences of that may be terrifies me. Aegon is closer to sitting on a throne every day. There is such potential in him, but the closer to it he gets, the more Rhaegar will groom him. What if he fills his head with songs and prophecies and I lose my son like I did my husband? And Cersei's plotting as much as ever. I could just as likely lose both Aegon and Jon to her scheming and manipulation. She's been trying to convince Rhaegar to disinherit Jon for years. I promised myself I would never let that happen. I—"

Oberyn reached across the table and pressed a finger to her lips, effectively stopping her ranting. He wordlessly took her lemon tea from her hands and replaced it with his goblet of Dornish red. Elia did not imbibe much, but she found herself taking two long gulps of the wine before placing it down on the table and looking back to her brother.

"You're certainly more forthcoming with your problems than Doran," Oberyn commented after a while.

"What should I do?" Elia asked, defeat in her voice.

"What do you think of all this?" Oberyn asked.

"I think my family is one act from falling apart and it feels like I'm the only one keeping it together."

"Not a position you're unfamiliar with."

"One I take up far too often, left defending a member of my family time and again by myself until something else comes up."

"Did it ever occur to you to ask for help?"

Elia glanced at Oberyn before looking away.

"I know you, dear sister. You are not egotistical, but you've always had your pride. Ever since you were a little girl, having to ask for help chaffed. You would work yourself to exhaustion rather than admit you may need assistance for fear of appearing weak. I don't imagine that is something that's changed. But do you know why I came to this stinking, shit-pile of a city?"

"To annoy my husband?"

"That, yes. But mostly? For you."

Elia met Oberyn's black eyes and saw the sincerity in them. She felt her lips quirk into a smile.

"I need help," she admitted.

The words did not burn her throat or leave a bad taste in her mouth as she had thought they would. Oberyn nodded to himself and spent time silently thinking. He had a reputation for being a hothead, and he was, but he was no fool.

"Well, there are already certain things in motion."

"Such as?"

"Arianne."

"Yes, I noticed her making her plans. I assume the marriage between her and Viserys will not go as planned."

"The second she met the Prince of Dragonstone, she decided she wouldn't marry him no matter what plans Doran and Rhaella cooked up. She's tried to run away from Dorne before to Highgarden with intentions of marrying a friend of mine, Lord Willas Tyrell."

"A Martell and a Tyrell?" Elia asked incredulously.

"I know, but Arianne has no care for history. I know Willas to be a worthy man. The match could've been made if he were not heir to Highgarden, but since when has Arianne cared about propriety or complications? Obella tells me she overheard Tyene and Arianne planning another excursion. To escape Doran's ire, our niece has been putting notions of Princess Daenerys' betrothal to Quentyn in the girl's head. Arianne would rule Dorne no matter who she marries, whether Prince Viserys would've thought himself ruler or not. I don't think he'd be able to withstand the sun of Dorne anyway, not the right kind of fire in him."

"No, he would not survive Dorne. I see something in Daenerys though. I think it would be a better match, Dany and Quent. I can propose it to Rhaegar after Arianne runs off."

"And there is the other matter. Visenya."

Elia paused and looked up at her brother. He wore a knowing expression on his face. She leaned back in her chair, not bothering to deny anything.

"How long have you known?"

"I knew the moment I laid eyes on her. I see a lot of you in her, but the parts that aren't was easy to tell who they belonged to. I don't underestimate your husband's willful blindness on things that actually matter, but he isn't the only person interested in your daughter. Cersei pays her no mind now, but when it comes time for Aegon to take the throne, she will do whatever she can to clear the way for her children. If she pays enough attention, she will realize the truth and she will tell Rhaegar if it suits her."

"I always thought I would… I was going to tell him before she was even born, but he made me so angry and I…"

"You wanted to get back at him."

Elia sighed to herself, shaking her head at her own actions but not at her brother's words.

"I love Jon. He's my son in every way but for blood. I've never held hate in my heart for him, not even in the beginning."

"True enough. But the circumstances he came to exist under are not the ideal. Then there is Cersei and her boys. I don't believe you to hold any ill will towards Rhaegar's sons, but that does not mean you are okay with Cersei and your husband's relationship any more than his and the Stark girl. Visenya was your vindication. You should not have been able to have children again, but you did, and she is who she is. I'm certain that has brought a smile to your face every now and again."

"It has," she admitted, her voice cracking a little in the middle.

"Does that make me a bad mother? I love my daughter. I love all my children. And yet there have been times when I've seen my daughter as a tool, a weapon against my husband."

"I think that makes you human."

"He loves her so much and if I told him, it would break him."

"Do you want that?" He asked, no judgment in his voice.

"When I was laboring with Enya, do you know what got me through it? What kept me fighting to stay alive? It wasn't the realm. It wasn't you and Doran or the children or Ser Jaime or the prospect of seeing my daughter's face; it was Rhaegar. It was the thought of his face. I kept thinking about what his face would look like years down the line when I finally told him the truth about her. I thought of the heartbreak and hurt he'd feel at his prophecy turning to ashes in his hands. I latched onto that image, and I made it through. It's faded over the years; dealing with Rhaegar and everything he's done, everything he wants to do, it gets so exhausting. Him and this bloody prophecy, I don't care anymore. If he wants to chase it to the ends of the earth he may, I just want to care for my children. I want to make sure they take no damage from his exploits. But at the same time…"

"At the same time?"

Elia smiled wryly to herself.

"At the same time, I don't think that telling him the truth will bring me much joy. I think I just deluded myself and filled the hole he left in my heart with bitterness for him because loving him hurts too much, it still does. It always will. But it means nothing to me now. It's just a weakness. I have no use for it. Isn't that what Mother always used to say? There's no point to useless pain? If it can't make you better, cast it aside and move on."

"Granted it had a different meaning to a sickly little girl, but that was the gist of what she used to say. Hear me now, Elia," Oberyn said, his fingers gripping her chin.

"You will be fine. You play your games differently than Doran. You play in service to your children and there is no dishonor in it. You're one of the best mothers I've ever known. You love your hatchlings, pup, and cub just the same. No one can deny your efforts to raise them right and make them happy. This place has corrupted many a man and woman, but not you. You are still you. You are still alive, and so long as there is breath in your body, you will fight. You are the sun and spear; you are Elia of House Martell. Do what you feel you must and feel no shame when you do. I have faith and confidence that you'll do what you know to be right and fair."

Elia smiled at her brother's confidence in her before leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek.

"Thank you."

Four moon turns found the Red Keep in almost utter disarray. Arianne did run away with Tyene. The princess made her way to Highgarden and soon word reached Rhaegar that Arianne married Willas Tyrell in a secret ceremony in the Reach. Doran hadn't been pleased about it, Elia could tell from the letter he sent her. Viserys was not upset about it so much as offended that the Dornish whore would insult him by passing him over for a flowery cripple. Ultimately, he decided he was better than Arianne anyway and thought to go back to his usual ways with his sister. Elia had been quick to throw out a betrothal between Daenerys and Quentyn after she got the girl's approval on it. Rhaegar and Doran were content with that compromise and though Viserys fumed over it, a delighted Daenerys was sent to Dorne along with Oberyn, the children, a very self-satisfied Arianne and her new Prince Consort.

Jae, Egg, and Robb had their nameday celebrations not long after that, Jae and Robb's sixteenth and Aegon's seventeenth. They combined the festivities into one feast. The crown didn't need the weight of two celebrations despite Lord Baelish's wish to borrow from the Iron Bank to supply for the parties. Elia squashed that idea. They were in enough debt as it was.

That celebration had been where things took a drastic turn.

Rhaegar announced that his nameday gift to Robb would be to release him from his ties to King's Landing. He would no longer be a political hostage. Instead, he would be returned to Winterfell to live with his birth mother and his half-siblings Sansa, Minisa, Edwyn, Brandon, and Rickon. He would learn all he could so he could become the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North one day; a warden that would be loyal to the crown unquestioningly.

Elia had been as blindsided as Robb's parents were. Ned had gone stock-still at the announcement and Ashara's tawny skin went silvery-white like the Daynes of old. Robb too was dumbstruck. Poor Rhaenys barely had time to recover from the future loss of her lover before Rhaegar announced both she and Enya's betrothal to Aegon to be carried out when her youngest daughter came of age. That had sent tongues wagging, not so much because of their familial relationship, but because the lords without daughters available to marry Aerion and Daeron were not pleased about losing the prospect of marrying into the royal family. That could become a bigger problem later.

Elia didn't even have time to talk to Rhaegar about it before it was discovered that both Rhae and Robb were gone, having fled the capital together. Elia was both unsurprised and concerned. Rhae was a woman grown, but Elia worried about her daughter being out in the world without her mother there to protect her. Rhaegar was exasperated than anything else and sent out guards and alerts far and wide that Rhaenys should be returned to the capital and Robb be brought to his mother and stepfather/uncle Benjen in the North.

It was more months after that Elia received several documents by way of a messenger from the Riverlands and made haste to Rhaegar's solar.

Four moon turns found the Red Keep in utter disarray. Arianne ran away with Tyene. Soon word reached Rhaegar that Arianne married Willas Tyrell in a secret ceremony in the Reach. From the letter he sent her, Elia could tell Doran was not pleased. Ever since he and Mellario separated, his relationship with Arianne deteriorated. This stunt of her niece's looked like it may be the straw to break the camel's back. She could only do so much to help them reconcile from King's Landing. She hoped Oberyn would be more of a help than a hinderance in the months to come, but she doubted he would do much more than sit back, amused with the silent war between father and daughter.

Viserys was not upset about it so much as offended that the Dornish whore would insult him by passing him over for a flowery cripple. He decided he was better than Arianne and thought to go back to his usual ways with his sister. Elia had been quick to throw out a betrothal between Daenerys and Quentyn after she got the girl's approval on it. Rhaegar and Doran were content with that compromise. Though Viserys fumed over it, a delighted Daenerys was sent to Dorne along with Oberyn, the children, a self-satisfied Arianne, and her new Prince Consort.

Jae, Egg, and Robb had their nameday celebrations not long after that, Jae and Robb's sixteenth and Aegon's seventeenth. They combined the festivities into one feast. The crown didn't need the weight of two celebrations, despite Lord Baelish's wish to borrow from the Iron Bank to supply for the parties. Elia squashed that idea. They were in enough debt as it was.

That celebration had been where things took a drastic turn.

Rhaegar announced that his nameday gift to Robb would be to release him from his ties to King's Landing. He would no longer be a political hostage. Instead, he would be returned to Winterfell to live with his birth mother and his half-siblings. He would learn all he could so he could become the Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North one day, a warden unquestioningly loyal to the crown.

Ned had gone stock-still at the announcement, and Ashara's tawny skin went silvery-white like the Daynes of old. Robb was just as dumbstruck. Poor Rhaenys barely had time to recover from the future loss of her lover before Rhaegar announced both she and Enya's betrothal to Aegon to be carried out when her youngest daughter came of age. That had sent tongues wagging. Not because of their familial relationship, but because the lords without daughters available to marry Aerion and Daeron were not pleased about losing the prospect of marrying into the royal family. That could become a bigger problem later on.

Elia didn't even have time to talk to Rhaegar about it before it was discovered that both Rhae and Robb were gone, having fled the capital together. Elia was both unsurprised and concerned. Rhae was a woman grown, but Elia worried about her daughter being out in the world without her mother to protect her. Rhaegar was more exasperated than worried. He sent out guards and alerts far and wide that Rhaenys should be returned to the capital and Robb be brought to his mother and stepfather/uncle in the North.

It was many weeks after that Elia received several documents by way of a messenger from the Riverlands and made haste to Rhaegar's solar.

She did not knock on his door even though she probably should have. She did not often find herself in this place, but she was still his queen and his wife. She wouldn't knock. If he were in an important meeting, there would be guards posted at the door. As she entered, she saw Arthur in the corner of the room standing sentinel for Rhaegar.

There was gray at the edges of his hair, probably more from stress than age. When did that happen? She paid such little attention to the kingsguards, save Jaime. Arthur was once her friend. Duty and their respective roles in Rhaegar's life drew them apart. Ashara was a point of some commonality between them, but not enough to mend the gulf his actions during the Rebellion caused between them. Arthur took note of her, that hint of guilt that had been there since the War of the Usurper flashing in his eyes, before he nodded discreetly and looked ahead again.

Cersei sat perched on Rhaegar's desk, leaning forward over him as he read missives.

"What's the point of him staying here? He is not a part of your original prophecy, is he? The ungrateful Stark boy has run off with your daughter, but that boy is more Northern than even his cousin. He follows their pagan god, he has their look, knows their stories. His mother was Northern. He may as well be a Northman. Send the bastard to Winterfell. It's where he belongs."

Elia felt a chill come over her before anger swiftly replaced it as she realized what Cersei was talking about.

"Actually, he was born in Dorne," Elia said, making herself known to the couple who looked at her with surprise.

"Some amongst the Stony Dornish follow the Old Gods. He has many of Lyanna Stark's Northern features but has the blood of Old Valyria as well. He could probably tell you the Targaryen history front-to-back, his knowledge only surpassed by Daenerys. At the same time, while he knows enough Northern tales to keep the children up at night, he knows just as much about Queen Nymeria of the Rhoynar and the First Dornish War and the failed Conquest of Dorne by Daeron I. Not so far off from Aerion I's birth. Aerion the Monstrous, his brother Daeron III called him."

"Elia," Rhaegar said in a warning tone as Cersei's lip curled into a sneer.

"I only mean to say who can know where Jon belongs besides Jon. His blood and upbringing is vast and varied. He will find his place on his own, not because someone who barely knows him thinks they know his place for him," she replied, her voice turning hard towards the end as she glared at Cersei.

"Besides, he is second-in-line for the throne."

Cersei smirked again.

"He didn't tell you? Your precious bastard abdicated his claim, says he has no wish to sit on the throne if something should happen to Rhaegar's heir."

Elia felt shocked. She glanced at Rhaegar behind Cersei. His calm face confirmed it.

"Besides, who will he marry?" Cersei continued.

"You've seen fit to send Princess Daenerys to Dorne, Princess Rhaenys is gone, Princess Visenya is betrothed to Prince Aegon and who among the noble families will want to marry their daughter to a Northern bastard?"

"Cersei, enough. Jaehaerys is not a bastard. He is as much my son as Aerion or Daeron are. As for his marriage, I will leave that in Elia's hands."

Elia was surprised that Rhaegar spoke up, though his voice sounded tired and annoyed as if their bickering vexed him.

"I wish to speak with you. Without Lady Cersei."

Cersei silently fumed at the use of the title lady rather than queen, but Elia gave it no mind. Rhaegar stared after her for a moment before nodding.

"We will continue this at a later date, Cersei."

"I'm your wife, whatever your children's mother needs to say to you—" Cersei started.

"You are the queen consort. She is the queen and my first wife. You will respect her as such."

"You weren't so worried about titles a moment ago when she called me a lady rather than your queen."

"We can continue our conversation later if it so concerns you. I will speak to the queen alone, now."

Elia watched them share a heated look before Cersei left, almost stomping her way out. She turned to Rhaegar with a lifted eyebrow.

"She has not been herself lately since Rhae was taken. She wishes to protect her sons. They will be sought after all the more with the children's betrothals and Jaehaerys' abdication."

Elia was sure that was not the source of Cersei's behavior. No doubt she was scheming, trying to find an angle to remove as many of Elia's children from her path as possible, but she did not say so. Politics and court matters rarely mattered to Rhaegar.

"What do you mean taken," She said instead, sitting across from Rhaegar.

"Robb Stark took Rhaenys away from here, away from her duty, her destiny."

Elia barely restrained an eye roll.

"The boy didn't force her to go anywhere. She left with him because she didn't want to marry her brother like you were going to force her to. She wasn't kidnapped, she ran," she said, giving Rhaegar a pointed look that said he should understand the situation all too well.

He glanced away with what she thought might be embarrassment before he spoke again.

"How do you know for sure? How do I know this boy didn't just whisk her off to some cold, barren wasteland to do what he pleases with her?"

Elia glanced at Arthur. True enough, there was no connection between him and Robb by blood, but that hardly meant much in Elia's experience. Ashara loved Robb just as fiercely as she did her daughters. It was as if he had come from her womb as well. He was the only son Ashara had to raise. She was more mother to him than Catelyn Stark, who only got to know her son through letters and brief visits to the capital because Rhaegar would not let him leave the Crownlands. To have her son labeled a rapist and a kidnapper would break Ashara's heart. She wondered if Arthur cared at all. Did he even remember how to have his own opinion?

Those questions sometimes flitted through Elia's mind on the nights she could not sleep. She knew Jaime felt and felt deeply. Ser Barristan had a charming wit and irreproachable honor, but she did not know that she could ever say she discerned his feeling on any matter of the heart. She barely paid much attention to Ser Addam, Ser Aurane, Ser Caspian, or Ser Adrian. Their appointments were purely political. She did give them some credit. They weren't among those standing outside Aerys' chambers listening to Rhaella's pleas and doing nothing to stop her suffering. Arthur was among those bystanders. He stood by for years. He ran off with Rhaegar to Dorne, leaving her and the rest of her family alone in King's Landing. Elia noticed his jaw twitch minutely at Rhaegar's insinuations about Robb, but his eyes stared straight ahead.

She expected no different.

"It seems your daughter had that thought up. A messenger from Riverrun brought me this yesterday," she said, holding up the papers in her hand.

"What is that?"

"A letter from Rhae. It bears the Tully seal. Look at how she signed it."

"Signed Princess Rhaenys Stark," Rhaegar said, looking up at Elia with an unreadable expression on his face.

"She says that she and Robb's marriage was officiated on the Isle of Faces by a septon in front of a weirwood tree. She says that before they left the Riverlands, Lord Edmure's maester said the babe in her belly is healthy and strong. She is about twenty-five sennights into the pregnancy, meaning she was with child before they fled. She says that they will not return until after the babe is born. Even then, she does not know if they will come back to King's Landing, or go to Winterfell, Sunspear or Dragonstone," Elia said as she passed along the copy of the marriage certificate.

She had the original stashed away for safekeeping in case a day should come when her daughter, goodson, and grandchild needed it.

Rhaegar was silent for a long moment before he suddenly began laughing.

"Should I be concerned for your sanity?" Elia asked dubiously.

Rhaegar shook his head with an undeniably fond expression.

"She is so much your daughter."

Elia rose an eyebrow.

"I didn't run off with anyone. I wasn't wed on the Isle of Faces, that was you," she said with no malice in her voice.

"She knew what she wanted and damn me if I got in the way. She is a force on her own. She didn't learn that from me."

Elia let a reluctant smile pass her lips.

"She fell in love," she said simply.

"It seems so," Rhaegar said, his eyes skimming Rhae's letter.

"You are not angry?"

"No. I will not have Robb Stark arrested. I will recall most of the men back to the Crownlands and leave only an elite few that I can trust to bring Rhae back."

"What?" Elia asked with a frown.

"Her place is in King's Landing with her family, by Aegon and Visenya's side."

Elia did not even realize that hope had begun to rise in her heart before she felt it flee from her.

"Rhaegar—"

"I know you believe this prophecy folly. You think I'm somewhere between insane and stupid, but I have something that would tell another story," he said, excitement in his voice.

He stood up and walked over to a trunk that rested under the window. She hadn't noticed it before. It was black for the most part with red accents and a dragon-shaped lock.

"Come," he beckoned eagerly.

Elia felt something she hadn't in a while with Rhaegar: fear. She had decided not to fear him the day she received his summons to Dragonstone after he laid siege to King's Landing and yet now walking towards him felt like a daunting task. She made herself approach the trunk. Rhaegar paused before opening it with a flourish.

"What do you think?" He asked excitedly.

"Where did you find these?" She asked, her voice deceptively calm.

"An associate of mine from Essos, Illyrio Mopatis, sent them over. They were discovered in Asshai-by-the-Shadow. He knew they belonged with me."

Elia stared down at the six dragon eggs: ash black, moss green, snow white, platinum-silver, blood orange, and crimson red.

"One for each of the children. I always thought there would just be three, the dragon has three heads, but six eggs for six children. My children will win the War for the Dawn. They will unite the kingdoms with these dragons, and the legacy of the Targaryens will live on, uncontested for centuries to come."

Elia shook her head slowly.

"Dragons are not pets. They are dangerous. They are killers."

"The children will bond with them and control them."

"They live for centuries. Who is to say who their grandchildren or great-grandchildren will be? This could cause another Dance of Dragons. Civil wars amongst this family have been bad enough without dragons. That is if they grow. The last dragons were the size of cats."

Rhaegar turned to her with a strange look on his face.

"Why are you acting like this? These eggs cannot be a coincidence. Years of nothing, no sign of them existing besides the bones in the throne room, and now six eggs. Then there are the whispers from the North. An uptick in wildling raids. Melisandre believes—"

"Melisandre?"

"A priestess from Asshai. Illyrio got the eggs from her. She has seen things in the flames."

"A red priestess," Elia said, realization dawning on her.

More prophecies, and yet another interpretation of the same prophecy that had been haunting her for the last seventeen years.

"There are temples to R'hollr in Dorne." Rhaegar pointed out.

"And what does Melisandre say about the children?"

"All she says is every one of them has a part to play in this war. Aegon, Rhaenys, and Visenya's parts, however, cannot be downplayed. They are the conquerors come again. They must be together."

"Rhaenys is married. She has a child on the way."

"The child can return with its father to the North. Rhaenys can visit them as often as is possible."

Elia looked down, shaking her head. She could not let him force Rhae to leave the life she'd made for herself. She could not allow her children's lives to be pawns so Rhaegar could prove this prophecy right. She took him by the hand and pulled him back over to his desk, sitting in one of the chairs and motioning for him to do the same.

"Elia, I know you think all of this is mad. I know I've put you through more than you've deserved. I haven't been a good husband to you. I haven't been a good father to any of the children, but especially to Jaeha— to Jon. I want this to be over just as much as you do. Once it is, we can all start over... if you want. We can be happy again. That's what I want, that's what I've always wanted."

Elia opened her mouth to speak before sighing to herself again.

"This is harder than I thought it would be," she mumbled to herself.

"What is?" He asked with some confusion.

"Telling you the truth. Even after everything you've put me through, how angry I have been with you, I still don't want to hurt you. And this will hurt, very much."

"What are you talking about?"

Elia took a deep breath.

"There is one huge flaw in your proclamations of prophecy, in your logic for Aegon to marry Visenya and Rhaenys. The truth is Enya…" Elia trailed off, the words getting stuck in her throat.

"Visenya is more dragon than any of the children," Rhaegar said with fondness in his voice.

It hurt Elia's heart.

"But she's not. She's not a dragon. Visenya is not your daughter."

The air felt like it was sucked out of the room after her admission. It was so silent a pin drop could sound like thunder rolling through the Stormlands. Elia could not bring herself to meet Rhaegar's eyes. Instead, she listened to his stuttering breaths as he tried to regain his composure.

"What are you— what do you mean she's… you're lying."

Elia shook her head in response.

"I'm not."

"You are, you have to be," Rhaegar replied with finality in his voice.

He stood up to pace towards the door as if to escape from the truth. Elia stood up as well.

"Everyone thought she was born early, but she wasn't," she called after him.

He stopped walking, but wouldn't look back at her.

"The maesters remarked on how healthy she was for a babe born more than a fortnight earlier than she should've been, especially to a woman with such notoriously poor health. They put her premature birth down to my health and her healthiness down to happenstance, but the truth is she wasn't born early. She came right on time because you aren't her father."

Rhaegar stood stiff as a board, his back still to her. She glanced over to Arthur and saw he was just as shell-shocked and frozen. Elia looked down, shame growing in her. She did not conceive of this conversation going this way.

"I used to dream about you dying. I used to dream that Robert Baratheon smashed your ribs at the Trident. I would be happy to have those dreams because at least it meant I wasn't dreaming about them. You left. You ran away. Aerys blamed me. He wanted to see what it was about me that bored you so quickly. He came into our room one night. I still have faint scars from his nails on my arms. Rhaella came before he could do what he wanted. She made him leave me alone and took the punishment for me. Then there was what happened at Maegor's Holdfast with that oversized beast. The way he looked at me and how he touched me… it was too much sometimes… most times. I sought comfort from the memories elsewhere. Falling pregnant was just as much of a surprise to me as it was to everyone else. I went to your room one night to tell you the truth, but then I just didn't. The words wouldn't come out. I was angry enough at you that I wanted you to find out the truth one day so you would hurt the same way I was, but this isn't about you anymore. It isn't about me. It's about the children. I was being selfish. I was thinking of myself and my own satisfaction, but I have to think of them now. Visenya is not yours. She's not a dragon. She's not the girl of your prophecies," she explained, letting out a thick breath after her words.

Rhaegar stayed motionless for a long moment more before speaking.

"Who?" He asked quietly.

Elia did not answer.

"Who?"

"I won't tell."

"Elia."

"I can't."

"You will tell me who you—"

"I will not give up—"

"Tell me who it is!" Rhaegar shouted suddenly, turning around to face her.

Elia felt herself jump at the shift. Rhaegar's eyes blazed with anger and fury. She saw it then, the embodiment of his house's words in his eyes: Fire and Blood. It was all the more reason for her to keep mum on his question. She steeled herself with her own house's words: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. House Martell never fell to House Targaryen. She wasn't going to start that trend now, even if the bed of nails was one of her own making.

"Why should I? What's the point? So you can kill him?"

"A man has shared my wife's bed, has fathered a child under my roof, and you refuse to give me a name because you fear for this man's life," he asked incredulously.

"You share your bed with Cersei often. You did so before you two married under my roof. You fathered children with her under my roof. You never once asked me what I thought about it before you did it. I will not tell you who it is."

Rhaegar glared daggers at her. Elia felt an acute pang, wondering if this was how he felt all those years ago on Dragonstone being the target of her ire for his actions. Hers decidedly hurt the realm far less, but they were meant to hurt him, and they had. After a moment, the fury melted away to melancholy and heartbreak.

"I can't have any more children," he admitted in a broken tone.

Elia drew back, taken by surprise.

"What are you talking about?"

"The Grand Maester informed me of this a year ago after a routine physical, which means that the Visenya of the prophecy will never be born."

"Or it means the prophecy is not real. You've interpreted it three different ways over the years. First, you were the Prince That Was Promised, Now it is Aegon. Then everything hinged on the three-headed dragon, three dragon eggs, but there are six. You were certain Lyanna was pregnant with a girl, but she wasn't. Cersei didn't have a daughter. Enya's not… Maybe this is all just not meant to be. Your children should just be your children. They're your family. They have loved you for years and watched you barely return any sort of regard towards them. They don't deserve to be pawns in some game of thrones, prophecy, and fallacy. They deserve a life. This thing you're working towards, maybe it's all just been a fool's errand. I don't mean to hurt you, but—"

"You keep saying that. 'I don't want to hurt you.' It's too late."

"You're right. It's just… too late. I think it's always been. There's too much. Lyanna and Cersei, Jon and the twins, Aerys and the Lannisters and their dogs, now Enya. It's all just... too much."

They stood silently across from each other for a long moment, neither speaking, before Elia made a quick decision.

"I haven't seen Doran in so long. Seeing Oberyn those months ago made me miss my older brother. I miss Dorne. Enya's never seen it."

Rhaegar's eyes flickered to her for the first time since her confession. He slowly nodded after a moment.

"Yes. Dorne. Vi… Enya would like it there."

Rhaegar never called her Enya before. He said the name with frost in his voice. He always said her name with warmth, always love. She was his favorite. Elia felt her heart constrict that she might have taken that away from her youngest daughter. Jaime could not be a true father to her. He could protect her as much as he protected any other member of the royal family, but he was sworn to protect Rhaegar above all else. That was his place.

Rhaegar had been a present and warm figure in little Enya's life. He never minded that she was rough and brash. He didn't care that she stared at the sky wistfully. He didn't mind the stray animals that took to following her daughter around. He didn't find it odd that she could hold full conversations with birds or woodland creatures as if she could understand them. He saw everything she did as endearing. Ironically, he was the father he never was to his biological children towards the daughter that was not his. Elia didn't know if the loss of his prophecy or his favored child hurt him more.

She did not think she wanted to know.

Packing for Dorne was an arduous task, partly because Elia was not sure how much she should pack and was concerned about the message it would send to people. She could not let people know the truth. It would put Enya in more danger than before, though she was sure people speculated enough already about what had suddenly sent her to Dorne so soon after her brother's visit and Rhae's absence. Rhaegar hadn't made a formal announcement, but it had quickly spread that Rhaenys and Robb were married, Jaehaerys had abdicated the throne and that the betrothal between Enya and Aegon was severed. Alerie had been particularly happy about that from her self-satisfied grin, though Lady Olenna had stared at her like she was the dumbest thing to walk on two legs. Gods, she hated her gooddaughter.

Enya was excited about the news that she and her mother were soon to visit Sunspear. She had enjoyed her cousins' company immensely, and she wished to meet her Uncle Doran. Cersei and Viserys were also happy that she was leaving, though for entirely different reasons. No one else seemed glad.

Egg got it in his head that Elia was leaving because she spoke out against his and Enya's betrothal, and Rhaegar had banished her. He had taken to glaring at his father and not speaking to him.

Ashara was upset about it too, though Elia had been quick to tell her best friend the truth of things. That had made Ashara want to go with her all the more and bring her girls as well. It had been a long time since they visited Starfall. However, Ned could not leave the capital, and there was no way for Elia to know how long she'd be gone. If worse came to worse with Robb and Rhaenys, Ash and Ned should be in King's Landing. Ashara had reluctantly accepted that reasoning.

Daeron was dejected, though Elia thought it was because Enya was leaving. Daeron was closer to his half-siblings than Aerion was. He frequently sought Enya out when Aerion ran off after Viserys.

Jaime was angry, both with her and Rhaegar. He did not think it was a good idea to put their lives in such a precarious position. Elia assured him that Rhaegar would not harm them, but he had still wanted to go with them to Dorne, despite knowing it was impossible. Elia appreciated the sentiment.

Jae was the one taking it hardest. He barely spoke to anyone and spent his time in Ned and Ashara's wing. His quietness troubled Elia, but he would not talk to her either. She could not approach him. Every time she tried, he would somehow disappear without a trace.

The day before Elia was meant to leave found her in the gardens, walking through the rose hedges. It was fitting that that was where she found Lady Olenna.

"Queen Elia, fancy finding you here among the roses," she said from her spot surrounded by younger Tyrell girls and relations fast at work with their embroidery.

"Lady Olenna. I was just passing through."

"Please join me if you would," she said cordially enough, shooing the girls away.

Elia made her way to Olenna's nest, taking a seat across from the elderly woman. She offered her fig tea and lemon cake. Elia took it graciously, knowing that there had to be a reason for the Queen of Thorns to beckon her over for a conversation.

"Your departure to Dorne comes quite suddenly," Lady Olenna said, not bothering with small talk.

"I always figured I would return one day. I have not been to my home since the war. I never thought to be away so long, but matters in the capital kept me."

Olenna smirked slightly then.

"I found myself in your home quite unexpectedly. Before Willas became Prince Consort of Dorne, the last Tyrell there was poisoned to death. I did not think to ever wed Martell and Tyrell. It's been an unspoken rule for quite some time in my family, and it's broken under my watch."

"According to Oberyn, Arianne's been trying to run off to marry your grandson for some time," Elia replied.

"Willas acted as if he was none the wiser, swooning about with surprise like a blushing maiden. My idiot son might have bought that act, but I saw right through it. Even his twit of a wife could see the truth. I allowed Willas his fancies, whatever they've been born from. Willas will remain heir of our house for now. Further arrangements for succession will have to be hashed out, but Willas is a sight better than his brothers at any rate. And ever since your brother permanently damaged my grandson's leg, marriage prospects have not been as fruitful as I would hope. Prince Consort is more than he has hoped for in some time and an acceptable title along with heir to Highgarden."

Elia knew Lady Olenna would not say such a thing to her without having a reason to. She was certain she knew where this conversation was going, but she played it off.

"Arianne knew what she wanted and made sure she got it."

"A family trait. Your daughter shares the same quality."

Elia nodded with a fond smile.

"She made her way for herself."

"And helped clear a path to her brother's hand. One that is getting all the clearer with you taking your youngest away to Dorne and the only other Targaryen female already betrothed to your nephew. House Martell has fostered quite advantageous matches: a Targaryen twice over and a Tyrell. Your daughter has managed to make herself a Stark. Dornish blood, your blood, is seeping its way into every major house of Westeros. Well done, My Queen," Olenna said, raising her goblet a little towards Elia.

Elia took a moment to think about it before realizing Olenna was right. Her blood had mixed and aligned itself with dragons, lions, wolves, and roses, four of the major houses in Westeros, all without her realizing it until now. She released a breathy chuckle at that.

"Would you believe me if I said it was completely accidental?"

Olenna rose an eyebrow at that. Elia corrected herself.

"Almost. Mostly, anyway."

Olenna stared a moment before seeming satisfied with this correction.

"I pay closer attention to my ladies' activities than people seem to think, especially after being betrayed by one. I know you want Margaery to be queen. Whatever you've done to make that happen, I know not. I know Alerie has made her deals, spoke into whatever ears she's needed to curry favor. She's never been particularly quiet about it, not enough for whispers and birdsong not to make its way to me."

Olenna let an eyeroll slip through.

"Twittering fool," she mumbled.

Elia let a smile slip through.

"Alerie's not so bad. I'm never foolish enough to believe I have her loyalty, but she loves her children. She wants the best for them."

"She doesn't want the best for them, she wants her daughter to be queen. I don't blame her, I want Margaery to be queen. No point denying it. Everyone already knows. Most everyone wants their daughter or granddaughter to be queen."

"Margaery would be a good, fair queen," Elia replied.

"If a rarely bedded one."

Olenna's eyes glittered knowingly.

"Well, you have two unmarried grandchildren. I'm sure they'll both find their place in the Red Keep," Elia replied, her own eyes shining with knowledge.

Olenna nodded with what might be approval at her statement.

"The Starks in the North, they like to say they are a wolf pack. Benjen Stark still petitions every year to have his brother, his paramour, and children released to the North. Most others would give up by now. Roses? Well, they rarely ever bloom or grow alone. My grandchildren have always been close, Marge and Loras in particular. They've made arrangements amongst themselves before to suit Loras'… predilections. They'll do so again I expect."

"You do realize that I won't be much help to you in this endeavor, my lady? I will be in Dorne. Aegon's betrothal will be Rhaegar's discretion. He won't hear from me about it."

She did not feel unsafe with that admission. She was sure no one truly believed her relationship with Rhaegar was happy and loving after Lyanna and Cersei.

"You've done enough to help me already, My Queen. There are no Targaryens or Martells to marry. I hear Sansa and Minisa Stark are Tullys through and through, no Stark coloring to be found, so it is less likely Rhaegar will feel inclined to marry his son to the Stark girls so he can try and recapture his time with Lady Lyanna. Emme and Alicent Tarly can swoon all they want, but House Tarly is too small to wed the heir of the Iron Throne to. Talla Tarly has her eyes on a smaller prize. Cersei would sooner fling herself into Blackwater Bay than allow marriage with Tyrion Lannister's daughter. Who else is there? The Greyjoys? The Freys? I won't have to go to Rhaegar, he will come to me if he has any sense at all."

Elia nodded in agreement.

"If he has sense. I'll leave it in your capable hands, my lady," Elia replied, standing up.

Ashara would keep her updated on any developments. Olenna bid her fair-well, and Elia made her way through the gardens back to the keep.

She saw Cersei as she made her way to her chambers. The blonde woman smirked at Elia as she passed. She probably thought Elia's departure was to do with her. A foolish part of her wished to tell her of Visenya so she could see the look on her face when she realized the truth about Elia and Jaime, but she was not that crazy. If Rhaegar didn't tell her, there was no reason why Elia should.

As she walked towards her bedroom, she passed Jae's room door. She paused as she caught sight of him through the cracked door. He was folding clothes and packing them into a case. Elia's eyebrow scrunched.

"Jon?" She asked, walking into the room.

He turned to look at her, his face stuck in that angry pout it had been since Rhaegar announced that Elia and Enya would be leaving. She looked pointedly at the case.

"I'm going with you," he said, his voice leaving little room for argument.

Elia watched him turn back and carefully pack his sword. She paused, unsure of how to proceed.

"Did you tell your father about this decision?"

He gave her a look that clearly indicated he hadn't, and he didn't care to.

"Are you sure? Aegon will be here. So will your uncle, Talla, and Arya."

Jae paused in his packing but continued as he was.

"It's not that I don't want you to come, little wolf, but I want you to be sure."

He stopped then and turned fully to look at her. There was a look on his face of annoyed exasperation.

"We wouldn't be leaving if you didn't tell the king about Enya."

Elia paused and saw the truth on her son's face. He knew.

"How long have you known?"

Jae rolled his eyes in response.

"I've known about you and Ser Jaime since I was a child, Mother. Why do you think I would ask him to guard your door when you had bad dreams? I saw it in Enya when she was born because I knew to look for it: the Lannister cheekbones and jawline. King Rhaegar never noticed, because since when does he notice anything? I wasn't about to tell him. We could've gone on just like that, and everything would be fine. Why would you tell him?"

Jae sounded angry. He rarely ever was and never at Elia. It surprised her almost as much as learning he knew the truth.

"I told your father because it was the right thing to do to stop the betrothal between Aegon and Enya."

"He could've killed you, you understand that, right? He could've had you executed as a traitor and an adulteress. He still could."

"Rhaegar wouldn't do that."

Jae didn't look convinced.

"I know he is difficult, but I needed to make sure he didn't make a mistake with your brother and sisters. And he deserved the truth."

"You don't owe him anything. He's been no husband to you and no father to any of us except for Enya, which is probably why the truth bothers him so much."

"Jon—"

"What would I have done if he did something to you?" He asked, his voice suddenly losing his anger and leaving the vulnerability behind.

"You're all I have. If he took you away…" he trailed off, shaking his head with a lost look.

A part of Elia scolded herself, told her it was not good for Jae to be so dependent upon her, but wasn't every child that way with their mother? Aegon had to grow up quickly because he was the heir. Rhaenys was a married woman with a child on the way, but Jae was still ten and six with no betrothal. He hadn't ever seen a battlefield or known death firsthand or even made a progress without her. Yet he understood the world in a way Aegon and Rhaenys probably never would. It was an interesting dichotomy, if a confusing one, to be so young and yet so old at the same time.

More than questioning her parenting, Elia felt the same compulsion she felt when she first saw Rhaegar look at baby Jaehaerys with disgust, whenever he was shunned by his father and Cersei, or when anyone derided him and put him down. She felt the urge to protect him and to love him. She quickly crossed the room and pulled him into her arms as tears started falling from his eyes. She rubbed a hand down his back soothingly.

"No matter Rhaegar's faults, he would never put his hands on me or physically harm me. I know him that well. I would not have told him if I thought he would hurt Enya or me. He says he wants to start over with all of you. He wants to be the father he wasn't before. He wants a chance."

She felt Jae shake his head against her shoulder.

"It's too late. I will not stay in this place without you. I've already renounced my claim to the throne. I decided long ago wherever you go, I will go too."

Rhaegar and Elia had come to the conclusion that there was little chance of salvaging a relationship between. She was not sure that was true of Jae and Rhaegar, but she would not force Jae to do anything. Truthfully, she'd feel better with at least half her children with her if she couldn't bring the other half.

"Okay, my little wolf. I wouldn't want you anywhere but by my side anyway," she replied comfortingly.

He held her tighter, and she took what comfort she could from her son's embrace.

Rhaegar did not look surprised when the day came for Elia to leave, and Jae walked down the stairs dressed for travel with servants carrying his trunk.

The walk down to the bay was a quiet, solemn one. Even Cersei and Viserys were quiet. Elia hugged Aegon tightly when they reached the ship, Red Breeze, a nameday gift from Doran. The crew was Salty Dornishman rather than natives of the Crownlands. Elia had decided she would take Togaria, Melessa, and Petra with her and leave Lysa, Alerie, and Darlyssa behind along with Ashara. The last thing she wanted was to bring spies to Sunspear. She was not happy to leave them with Aegon, but she trusted Olenna to watch him for her own interests.

"I'm going to miss you," her eldest son whispered to her.

Elia would bring him too, but she could not afford for him to be as attached to her as Jae was. He was to be the king. He needed to learn to stand on his own and seek her guidance only when necessary. With she, Jae and Rhae away, this would be a good test for him and an opportunity to grow. At least that's what she told herself to assuage her guilt.

"I'm only a raven away. Write to me frequently, my love."

Aegon nodded against her shoulder before moving to say goodbye to Jae and Enya. She and Cersei nodded coolly to one another. Viserys sneered in response to her farewell. Daeron looked up at her with sad but determined eyes.

"I will watch out for Egg," he promised her.

"I trust that you will," she replied warmly, ruffling his hair and drawing a smile from him.

Aerion stared up at her uncertainly with a hint of the look Viserys had. It saddened her.

"Listen to your twin, Aerion. He's got a good compass about him. He'll be a great mind one day," she counseled.

Aerion cut his eyes to Daeron, who blushed at Elia's praise but didn't answer her.

Elia swept Ashara into a hug.

"You come back to me, Elia Martell," she whispered into her ear.

Elia quirked a smile, remembering that she had said the same thing to Ashara when she sent her away.

"You wait for me, Ashara Dayne," she said in return, recalling her friend's words even now nearly eighteen years later.

"Take care of her for me," she told Ned as she passed him.

He nodded in response.

"Always."

She nodded in return. She never doubted that. She pressed kisses to Allyria, Arya, Alysane, and Alanna's foreheads as she passed them. Lysa, who was starting to show her pregnancy from her recent marriage to Petyr Baelish, smiled beatifically at her.

"I await your return eagerly, my queen," she said.

Darlyssa Marbrand had the same fake smile for her. Elia didn't bother trying to make niceties and instead nodded curtly to them and Alerie.

Then she was standing before Rhaegar. Jaime and Arthur stood behind him. She only met their eyes very briefly before laying them on her husband once more. He was not quite meeting her gaze.

"I wish you safe travel. May your journey be swift and uneventful," he said in a formal tone.

Elia didn't expect anything less.

"Thank you for the well wishes, Your Grace."

Rhaegar nodded curtly before taking a small chest from Varys who stood beside him.

"I ask that you give this to Daenerys, tell her it is a wedding gift from me."

Elia already knew what it was and so nodded in response as Enya and Jae came to stand beside her. He took another chest from Ser Aurane and handed it to Jae. The teen stared down at it. Elia thought he wouldn't take it, but after a while, he did. He opened it and then gasped.

"A dragon egg?"

That got everyone's attention. Elia observed that it was the white egg.

"Yes. It belongs to you."

Jae seemed gobsmacked. Aegon, Daeron, and Aerion didn't seem surprised, which meant they probably already received their eggs. Viserys eyed the chest in Elia's hands with envy and loathing, knowing what it probably was and that he would not get one. Enya tutted beside Elia.

"Do I get a dragon egg, Papa?" The little girl asked.

Rhaegar flinched a little at her voice, causing Elia to wince.

"No," Rhaegar replied simply.

"Not just yet. Maybe one day, darling," Elia reassured her.

Enya stared between her parents before her eyes zeroed in on her father once more.

"Are you mad at me, Papa? Is that why we're leaving?" She asked, her voice breaking a little.

Elia felt her heart constrict, and she met Jaime's eyes only briefly. Rhaegar softened and crouched in front of the girl.

"No, my dear. I'm not mad at you. Never you."

Enya threw herself at Rhaeger, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Rhaegar stiffened before returning the embrace.

"Dorne will be a good experience for you. You will like it very much."

"I want you to come with me, Papa," Enya mumbled.

"I cannot," Rhaegar replied with regret in his voice.

He pulled Enya away from him to stare at her.

"I want you to behave well for your mother and listen to her. Keep up with your studies and your training. Enjoy your time with your cousins. We will see each other again," he promised.

Elia didn't know if that was a promise he would keep, but Enya accepted his words and returned to Elia's side.

They boarded the ship. Before long, they were off. Elia stood on the deck beside Jae, who was Rhaegar's son but wasn't, while he held Enya up to watch the waves, who wasn't Rhaegar's daughter but was.

Fifteen years ago, when she last found herself on a ship, her life had recently fallen apart. It had again now, though less violently. She didn't know what the future held anymore. Mayhaps leaving was a mistake, but as she watched Jae and Enya smile brightly at the water churning under the ship, she decided that she had made the right decision for her children. They were happy, or soon would be, and they were not alone. She couldn't bring herself to find much fault in that.