Sorry about the long delay. As you know, sometimes RL just takes over.

Suns and Stars Both Light the Way

Chapter 6

Elia declined the wine but accepted a goblet of water. The new King looked surprised. "I suppose you don't want wine to cloud your judgment?" he asked. "With me, it only makes me think more clearly. But you will have your water."

Edric also declined the wine which surprised Robert even more and perhaps made him detest the Dornishman. Undoubtedly, holding one's wine was a sign of masculinity for him. Edric, though, barely tasted any wine, ever, because it was known to trigger his headaches. He took the seat that he was pointed at and Elia wished that it was closer to her own. His very presence gave her courage. Now, she felt terribly alone, with three pair of eyes staring at her: the new King who judged worth by love of wine; Jon Arryn who had not hesitated to declare the war and had been the driving force of the whole rebellion; and the brother of the woman who had had her pushed aside to climb to her place.

"Could Lord Stark leave?" Elia suddenly asked, to her own surprise. "I'd really feel more at ease without him here."

Robert Baratheon stared at her with narrowed eyes. "You are in no position to make demands, Lady Dayne."

"I wasn't," she said. "I just asked. I don't feel comfortable discussing my children's future with him here, considering the part his sister played in shaping it. I think House Stark's participation in this has been active enough already."

She could feel that he wanted to agree. Perhaps he now felt as uncomfortable around his friend as she did. But pride and distrust won over. "He's staying," he said flatly and she nodded.

"As you wish," she replied equally flatly.

Eddard Stark rose, his back stiffened. "Far be it from me to stay where I am not wanted," he said, avoiding to look at the King, who did not try to stop him.

Jon Arryn started to say something, but Lord Stark shook his head. "We'll talk later, Jon," he said and headed for the door. He had already crossed the threshold when he abruptly turned. "Lady Dayne?" he said.

"Yes?" Elia replied, surprised.

"I'm sorry about the way my sister influenced your life."

Her breath caught. He would not look at her but his sincerity could not be doubted. No one apart from her own people had ever thought how the entire horrible sequence of events would influence her. Not the Kingsguard who had only recently left Starfall, still convinced that she should have accepted Rhaegar's wishes as wordlessly as they did. Not the lords fighting on either side. No one but him. Lyanna Stark's brother.

She only nodded because if she tried to reply, she would, to her horror, start weeping.

"It's fairer this way," Robert Baratheon said. "We're two on two now."

She raised an eyebrow, anger coming right back. "Why, Your Grace, I think it's three on two."

"Ah yes," he murmured, a little embarrassed, and Elia wondered if he had such an attitude to women in general, or just the ones sickly from birth and discarded by their husbands in a fashion most humiliating. "I still haven't decided what I ought to do with your children," he announced and she sipped from her goblet to give herself some time.

"Why don't you leave them with me?" she asked and he barked a laugh and looked at her with something like respect.

"And why should I do this?"

"Because a court isn't a nursery," Edric said. "The children are still babes. Who better to raise them than their mother? They will not be brought as enemies to you, I can promise this much."

Robert snorted. "A Dornishman's promise," he spat.

Edric was not impressed. "Am I to understand that your wish is to make the kingdoms six again?" he asked. "If so, say it. My lord, the Prince of Dorne, will be most interested to hear it."

Robert left his goblet on the table with more force than usual and it splashed. No one cared to wipe the small red puddle. 'I am your lord!" he thundered, glaring at Edric as if he wanted to cower him into submission.

"Of course you are," Edric said. "And Dorne is ready to pledge its allegiance to House Baratheon and raise Princess Elia's children as your most loyal subjects."

"Loyal!" Robert huffed.

"Well, whom should they be loyal to?" Elia asked. "Their father? He made them bastards, this severing any ties of affection my son and daughter might have had with House Targaryen."

"This sounds about right," Jon Arryn spoke. "And I don't think you'll be inclined to raise them in love and respect of him, my lady. But you're young. You'll have other children. Would it not be easier on you in time if you leave these two in the care of the Iron Throne, with our pledge that we will always treat them as well as we know how?"

Elia's heart was beating fast. This was the moment she had dreaded. What amazed her most was the fact that he looked so sincere. Even Robert Baratheon's nod seemed sincere. How could they not understand? These were her children, her babes. She would rather die than give them up in the care of a man who had no reason to wish for their wellbeing – even giving them into the safest hands possible would sicken her almost unto death, as she well knew…

"Who do you take me for?" she asked in a voice meant to sound angry and managing only scared. "My former husband who undoubtedly thought it would be easier on him if he left the children in my care – if he even intended this? A lord who spills his seed wherever he pleases without caring about the resulting children? If I can't be sure that their own father would not have given them over to the Faith, how can I be sure in your everlasting good intentions?"

The new King looked mildly uncomfortable and Elia realized that he had likely taken her words as a slight against his own character. Elia, you fool!

"My children are no obstacle for me," she said, softly this time. "And I will raise them as your most loyal subjects. Please."

"This is what you say now, my lady," Lord Arryn said kindly. "But a mother is prone to want the best for her children. How are we to believe that once the fear that has you in its hold now weakens, you will not wish for a throne to give your son? In time, you will get used to live without them – and they will get used to live without you which is what we'll have to do if ambitions takes hold of you. Now, they're young enough to forget and not feel pain but if we have to do it once they're older?"

The cruelty of his kindness made her gag. Lewyn made a sharp movement as if he was about to rise from his chair but Edric shook his head. "Do you share these sentiments as well, Your Grace?" he asked, as sure as Elia was that the new rulers had discussed this in advance.

"Yes," Robert said but he would not look at him and he seemed to make an effort not to give as much as a stir in Elia's direction. Out of the two, he was the one who could be won over and the shock of it made her mind reel. This angry bear of a man was her better chance as opposed to a lord known for his fairness. "And what if I decide not to fulfill her plea?" he demanded, his eyes moving from Edric to Lewyn and then, finally, Elia hereself. "What then?"

This was the sublime moment on everything that had been taking place since the day Edric had come to this same castle with the news of her annulment. The moment that would decide the faith of all of them. Elia tried to fashion her face into an expressionless mask and she had clearly succeeded because Robert Baratheon looked questioningly at Edric.

"This plea was more a courtesy than anything else," Edric said calmly. "Do not forget, Your Grace, that the children are not in the palace now… and they won't be brought here, ever."

"Are you defying me?" The new King's voice was dangerously low.

"That's quite right," Edric confirmed. "Rhaenys and Aegon are in Dorne and they will stay there."

"You think Doran Martell would take the risk of challenging the crown over two lives, as precious as they might be to him? He isn't this mad or irresponsible."

Elia wondered if the man heard himself. Edric stared at him, stunned. And Lewyn just looked from Robert Baratheon to Jon Arryn who suddenly looked uncomfortable. "It was… different," he said.

"How?" Elia demanded. "Except for the fact that my children are far more helpless than your wards, I really see no difference. I can trust your good intentions as much as you could trust Aerys'."

"Let me show you a difference," he snapped. "I did have all the allies and strength that your brother lacks."

Elia wanted to remind him of another differences, like the fact that Mariya Martell had never traded Dorne's independence for a flight on a dragon back and the hard losses the Valley of Arryn had suffered in flesh the last time a king had thought Dorne weak. But it would do her no good. It was not about her pride, so she kept her tongue.

"I think you have another difference in mind as well, Lord Arryn," Edric said coolly. "You think you're better than us. You think your capacity to love is stronger than Prince Doran's. That your affection for your foster sons is far greater than Prince Doran's for his kin. Well, you're wrong, my lord. We hurt the same way. Our princess gives up her children to no one."

Lord Arryn started to reply but the King raised his hand. "Enough about this," he snapped. "I am not a monster, to do harm to children who are in no position to do harm to me… and taking them from a mother who does not wish to be parted from them is such harm."

And it will paint you in a good light with your subjects, Elia thought. Being kind where Rhaegar was cruel. But what did it matter when it meant that her children would be allowed to live? With her. She forced herself to listen to the King's next words attentively. "I place no trust in you, so the children will be educated by maesters and septas chosen by the Crown. At any given time, there will be guard around them, guard that will only answer to the man I have chosen. My uncle Eldon Estermont. I expect that he's going to split his time between Starfall and Greenstone… and of course, he'll strengthen the ties between the stormslands and Dorne. I am sure he'll be delighted to take a bride as lovely as Lady Ashara."

"No," Edric said firmly and although Elia supported him wholeheartedly through his argument with the new people in power, she was painfully aware of the differences between them. She wanted young Aemon Estermont for Ashara, of course she did, but she also knew that she would have never dared brook an objection out of fear for her children. Edric would not have done it either… if the children had been his.