Rewrite the Stars
A/N: To those who are wondering, this is a mini story I will be writing when I need a break from my other GOT Stories. Just like Dothraki Moon Festival, it is another universe of one of my stories. Part of the "What if Series…" I've been making. What if Elain was in the world of Sister's Keeper. What was her small journey be like that lead to the aid of the Long Night? As she has been mentioned in Sister's Keeper as a small Easter Egg and Cameo. Let me know what you think?
Summary: What if Elain was not born as Robert's daughter but the daughter of Ser Gareth Wensington? How would she live her life as a Lady from the Stormlands? Also, how would she find her true love again?
Prologue
The Gods have their way of telling a story. The world remains the same. The plot remains the same. However, the characters have always changed. They seek to find the story that is good for their world. Either it is a king to rule the mortal realm or a queen? Maybe it is not the same King or Queen who wins at the end of the story. Sometimes it can be one of inheritance, rebellion, or simply conquering what the mortal's desire.
The gods watch the story over and over again. And once more they want to make some changes. Should the world be more modern or ancient? Should there be magic or not? Shall there be a common enemy for the mortals, or the enemies be amongst themselves?
The story is never the same.
It is constantly changing and rewritten again.
A monarch in one life and a peasant in the next.
A mighty warrior to a cowardly thief.
Alive until death claims from age to die in a battle.
Nothing is secured.
One story the gods found interesting was Elain Cassana Baratheon. A simple thought of "What if…" What if Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister had a daughter? They saw how she was as a queen, a successful who did wonders for the realm. However, the Gods wanted to see another story from Elain. They wanted to see her outside the walls of the Red Keep. A free spirit trapped inside customs of the monarchy wasn't enough. They noticed how she formed a bond with Ser Gareth of House Wensington, and with that, the story was rewritten.
Don't take harsh from the gods, for they are curious beings. Every story is written and preserved for them to reread again. They are curious entities who want to see another perspective on things. Although these souls have meaning, some are forever to live in the same fate, along with their soul mate.
Elain was meant for Willas. No matter where their lives are in the gods' stories, they always seemed to find one another. Either it is Westeros in any kingdom or in Essos. No matter when in time or where in the world, they seem to find one another. Unaware of the many versions of themselves.
In the story, their eyes met before they knew who they were.
In this life, Willas remained the same. He was the eldest son of Mace Tyrell, the Lord of Highgarden, and Lady Alerie Hightower. He showed signs of great intelligence and was sent to live in Oldtown under the guardianship of his grandfather Leyton Hightower, the Old Man of Oldtown. There, Willas was close to the Citadel and knowledge. However, that was not enough for Lord Mace, who wanted his son to be a knight. So, when Willas was ten, he squires under his uncles Baelor and Garth. They taught Willas how to use a sword, how to fight, to use many weapons. Although, Willas learned other hobbies with his grandfather of breeding animals and falconry.
Primarily when Robert's Rebellion occurred. Being loyal to the Targaryen since Aegon the Conqueror anointed Harlen Tyrell as Lord of the Reach, after surrendering Highgarden when the defeat and Death of King Mern IX Gardener and his ale kin died at the Field of Fire. Willas squired for them, earning his ranks as he served his uncles as they fought through the war, as Lord Mace had the Reach help under House Targaryen.
As Robert's Rebellion Continued, Willas aided his uncles in getting their armor ready and passing messages. He learned the simple things in life that ordinary people go through and never took them for granted. When word came of small victories from battles in the Reach, Willas was ecstatic yet frowned in disappointment when his father took the credit when not even being there. For one example, taking credit for vanguard under Lord Randyll Tarly's command put Robert to flight. Willas even witnessed the taking of Storm's End, yet all the efforts Lord Mace put in the war were all in vain.
As Robert Baratheon killed Prince Rhaegar at the Tridents.
And the murder of King Ares II by his own Kingsguard Ser Jaime Lannister.
The Lannister forces sacking King's Landing.
There were many victims of the Targaryen families, with barely a handful escaping and never be heard from again.
Willas witnessed Lord Mace bend the knee to Lord Eddard Stark after the sacking of King's Landing. Although King Robert accepted the Tyrells back into the king's peace…there was a consequence of a debt that needed to be paid. To which they accepted, under Lady Olenna's supervision, in getting their money back in time.
Willas continued as a squire crossing between Oldtown and Highgarden, living as a future pawn for his father and grandmother. He knew he would be used when he came of age. Yet his mind and skill were his own, and he is damn to let his father and grandmother take advantage of it. So, on his fifteen birthday and the Greyjoy's rebelled, he took the opportunity to prove himself in the war.
And thus, he was knighted at the age of sixteen.
Oh, how proud he was. He proved himself to be a knight and thanked the Seven and his uncles.
Unfortunately, everything changed a few weeks later. Lord Mace insisted he compete in a jousting tournament to show his young knighted son. Willas knew he was a fair jouster and was a bit nervous since he was more trained as a battle knight and not a sportsman. But he did so to please his father.
So Willas practiced for the following weeks with his brother Garlan. As he tried on the ornate armor, Lord Mace purchased despite the useless fillagree. He trained hard, riding his best horse, and used the proper lances and shields.
When the time came for his first tourney, he was excited and nervous. He made his way through the rounds against knights, squires, and lords. Until he competed against Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne. The Red Viper, as many whispered behind the prince's back. Willas squire, having heard tales of the Red Viper, secured Ser Willas in place. And thus, the jousting commences. The white steed of Highgarden against the black stallion of Sunspear. Each round, their lances blow with splinters splattering. Both men actually enjoying this, for they each received a point tying with two points each. It wasn't until the fifth round did everything changed.
The horn blared, and the flag dropped. Ser Willas kicked his horse's sides and galloped for the charge aiming for the sun on Prince Oberyn's shield. The moment the two met in the middle, their lances collided in each other's shield, except there was more force from Prince Oberyn.
It happened so fast, as Willas felt the wind knocked out of him. He heard the crack of his lance, the massive impact on his shield, and he was falling. At first, he anticipated the fall, knowing the air would leave his lungs when he collided to the ground, the pain on his back and head. Except it doesn't happen as he anticipated.
No, his right foot got caught up on the stirrup. His weight and armor during the fall caused the horse to collapse on top of him. There was a massive crack, to which Willas thought it was the armor…the shouts and screams booming throughout the field. He blackout from the whiplash.
Everything was numbed. The world was spinning. Until he felt it the moment his horse tried to get up, and a cry of pain escaped his lips.
The pain he has never felt before.
Men rushed in, trying to stop the horse while trying to free Willas from the stirrup. Throughout the commotion, Ser Willas' eyes felled onto the stands. He was trapped, and the pain became too much that he thought of a trick Baelor taught him to distract the pain. His brown eyes fell upon a girl, who had curly black hair, missing a front tooth, and her blue eyes that were the color of the sky watched in horror in what she was seeing.
Ser Willas wanted to assure her everything was alright. Yet, the moment his leg was free from the stirrup, agony consumed him.
Prince Oberyn had jumped off his horse and rushed over to the young knight, quickly examining his condition. As the prince removed the cuisse and greave to examine the damage.
"Quickly, we need to get him to a Maester." Prince Oberyn demanded. "Before it is too late."
Men rushed with a stretcher. Yet Willas eyes focused on the little girl to ignore the pain. The little girl is no other than Lady Elain Wensington.
Lady Elain is the daughter of Ser Gareth Wensington and Lady Syrena Estermont. Lady Syrena was the cousin to Lady Cassana Estermont and was very close until Lady Cassana passed away by drowning in a storm along with her husband, Lord Stefan Baratheon. Lady Elain held connections to the Baratheons, and the Wensingtons would on occasion marry into each other's house for marital convenience. Yet house Wensington did not need much aid in being rich in connection.
Thanks to their background.
House Wensington was almost as old as Aegon's Conquest. From the union between House Durrandon and Orys Baratheon. As Orys won Aegon victory of the Stormlands against the Storm King Argilac Durrandon. When Princess Argella declared herself Queen, her housekeepers betrayed her and gave to Orys naked and in chains. Orys could have his way with her. Instead, he showed chivalry and unchained her followed by his cloak to cover her up. Aegon the Conqueror awarded Orys Storms Ends and the marital hand of Argella. The two married as Orys adopted the Durrandon Crest and motto "Our is the Fury."
Together they sired three sons: Davos, who inherited the responsibility of Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. Raymount became a member of the Kingsguard during King Aeny's reign. And lastly, Wesley, the youngest son. Wesley aided his father in the Second Dornish war, aiding his father the opportunity to seek vengeance against the Widow-Lover, who chopped off his sword hand and defeated the Dornish Outlaw who went by the Vulture King.
Wesley aided his father along with Davos to be their father's sword hand. Although the Widow-lover, once named Wyls of Wyl, was no longer alive, Orys got his revenge by chopping off Lord Walter Wyl's sword hand. Since Orys had to resign his position as the Hand of the King long ago without his hand. Unfortunately, Lord Orys died from his wounds during the war, with rotten limbs hanging upon his tent.
Wesley, being there for his father to the very end in the Second Dornish War, was awarded a title and lands. As he made his crest of House Wensington of Hailstorm. Two golden trumpets crossed on a blue field beneath a gold chief with three black stags as the crest became. Each Stag representing the three houses of Baratheon, Durrandon, and Wensington. The motto goes, 'Sound the Charge' in how both Baratheon and Durrandon charged into battle.
Over the years, House Wensington stood by House Baratheon's side. The Cadet branch is ready at the sound of the charge. Serving their leading house during the many wars in support of House Targaryen. As the sons become strong and their daughters sharp. It wasn't until Lord Winston Wensington had his son Gareth.
Gareth was a strong and determined lad who held House Wensington with pride. Based on their connections through blood, he grew up training with the Baratheons, befriending Stannis, and kept an eye on Renly. At the same time, Robert was a ward to Lord Jon Arryn, while Gareth was the Ward to Lord Stefan. Yet fate was cruel as the Stormlands lost their warden in a terrible storm at Shipwreck Bay, and Robert Baratheon returned to Storm's End, to which Gareth squired too.
When Gareth almost became a knight, he met a beautiful woman named Syrena of House Estermont. She was from a cadet branch of House Estermont, yet when her father died, she became the ward to Lord Estermont of the time. They met at a gathering when he was free from his squiring and training. Ever tempted to stop his training of being a Storm knight and to be with Syrena.
At first, Brandon Stark headed south days before his wedding to Lady Catelyn Tully to seek justice and return his sister home. However, Prince Rhaegar of House Targaryen did the unthinkable and took Lady Lyanna Stark, who was betrothed to Robert. Lord Rickard Stark of Winterfell was summoned to explain his sons' actions and retrieve his daughter…only for the two men to perish a horrible death being burned by wildfire. The Mad King demanded Lord Jon Arryn to hand over Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon to prevent war. Yet Lord Arryn saw his two wards as his own sons and declared war on the Mad King. And through the bloodlines, Robert had a claim since his grandmother was Rhaella Targaryen.
Cousin, as Robert called him, since their connection was through Gareth's grandmother, who was rejected by Prince Duncan Targaryen. Gareth fought alongside Lord Robert throughout the rebellion. During the War, Robert made Gareth a knight, and after the war helped, he secured a marriage with Syrena Estermont. Although Robert enjoyed his cousin's company, he knew Gareth would do better in the Stormlands and prepare himself as the Lord of Hailstorm when the time comes.
Ser Gareth saw many things in the war. He was not proud of, especially when arriving at King's Landing with King Robert after the sacking of the city by the Lannister forces. As he entered the throne room, finding the remains of Princess Elia Martell and her two children brutally butchered under Lannister cloaks. As if the red fabric could cover up the blood. Hence his lack of trust in the Lannisters. Before he was sent back, he advised his cousin not to marry the Lannisters, for the red cloaks would cover him if he did.
When Ser Gareth returned home, he married Syrena and not long after sired their first daughter. Most men would be proud to have a son as their firstborn. However, Gareth's child was a daughter, and together they named her Elain.
He sired another child name, Robert, two years later, though everyone called him Robt, a variant name to Robert.
Ser Gareth and Lady Syrena cherished their children. Despite their opposite gender, Ser Gareth made sure his children knew how to defend themselves. Elain was no ordinary girl, as her parents noted. She was definitely a Wensington and an Estermont. As she craved for an adventure like a boy and enjoyed lady duties. She rode horses with her father, climbed trees, and learned to shoot a bow and arrow. Ser Gareth let this happen, not restraining his daughter from being a broodmare. Along with Lady Syrena, who prepared her daughter to be a lady of a keep. Independences were important.
When the Greyjoy Rebellion happened, King Robert asked Ser Gareth to fight along his side. Elain didn't want him to go, but he promised to come back. However, Elain hugged him deeply, saying she wanted to come. Oh, how the spirit of Princess Argella lingers in his daughter, but atlas he left telling Elain to keep an eye out for Robt and their mother.
Elain stood there, being only six years old.
It would be a year when her father returned, injured with a scar on his face. Elain heard what happened to her father. How he fought against Rodrick Greyjoy at the Seagard during a tempest of a storm the Riverland's have ever had. A duel that left a reminder of a dead Ironborn. Elain tried her best to cheer her father up, especially when she lost her tooth. Although Ser Gareth barely smiled when he got home, a slight grin lifted his lips from his daughter's innocence.
Once he recovered, Ser Gareth's house was invited to a tournament in the Reach. Although Ser Gareth was in no condition to compete and not one for competition, he let his brother compete in the jousting. They arrived as they partook in the stands observing the tournament.
Elain was ecstatic since this was her first jousting tournament. Jousting was not very common in the area of the Stormlands where she grew up. Hailstorm and the neighboring cities were more about melee of swords, axes, and arrows. The rain always made the ground slippery for the horses to galloped in jousting, so it was man-to-man combat instead. She and Robt cheered for the house of the Stormlands, especially their uncle and cousin, who sadly lost in the early rounds. Yet Elain enjoyed the tournament, seeing how different it was from her Kingdom.
Until she saw the match between Ser Willas Tyrell and Prince Oberyn. She always thought jousting to be a nonlethal sport, especially when men are knocked off and have the wind knocked out of them. However, when the fifth round transpired, Ser Willas was knocked off his horse, she sensed something was wrong, and squeezed her father's arm. She witnessed how Ser Willas was swung down as the horse fell on him and a strange sound muted by the crowd's shock.
Elain cried in horror as she watched the tangle between the knight and his horse. Ser Willas helm partially off, struggling with his horse until his brown eyes laid on her storm blue orbs. Elain couldn't grasp the emotions of shock and pain, if not comfort, as if he was trying to reassure her all was well…until his horse tried to get up and his leg turned into a strange angle.
Many rushed to the young knight's aid, and Elain sat there in horror. She saw the Prince of Dorne rushed to Ser Willas's aid and order for a Maester. Meanwhile, Ser Gareth and Lady Syrena try to assure their children everything will be alright.
"No, he won't be," Elain said.
"No, but the gods will be there for him," Lady Syrena comforted.
While Ser Gareth nodded.
What do you all think about this story? Are you curious to see Willas and Elain's story plot in the world of Sister's Keeper?
Let me know.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review.