Elia Martell shuddered when she slept, not in a good way nor in a sad way.
Every time she would close her eyes, all she saw was her baby boy being bashed against a wall and Ser Gregor tearing her clothes and shoving his member in her groin.
The knight had been made by her husband, and he was riding her like a bitch in heat.
She wished he would kill her when he was done. She'd all but become numb when her saviors cut down the false knight. She relished in the bastard's blood spraying on her as Gregor went still.
He had spilled his seed before dying; she had moon tea made to ensure he would not leave her with such an accursed gift.
She yet lived, and thanks to Lord Corwyn, so did her daughter.
Jon Arryn will be making a trip to Dorne. The new king allowed her to go home, but not Rhaenys. "She is for the Silent Sisters or to become a Septa when she is of age. I am sorry, Princess."
Elia did want to go home, but not without her daughter, and it's been hard to leave her side or for Rhaenys to leave hers.
She had tasted their food, every grape, porridge, and meat. She had become convinced that the Usurper was going to finish what Gregor and Amory tried to do.
"Come, Rhaenys, a trip to the Godswood." She took her daughter's hand and, together with their guard, Andar Royce, who had been chosen by Lord Arryn to watch them closely.
Robert had recently married Cersei Lannister, Lord Tywin's daughter and so began a royal progress throughout the kingdoms. It was the reason why she was so free to move about the castle with her daughter.
Being outside, she found herself thankful for one thing, "At least this place feels brighter, since Aerys died."
The reign of the Mad King was a poison that robbed her of a husband, of a son, and of an uncle, and most of all was her dignity. She was happy the man was killed by the protector he thought would defend him, even if Ser Jaime was a turncloak.
Elia walked about the garden and sought a spot to sit for a while, but upon reaching where she wished, she gasped at the sight of a child no older than Rhaenys.
The boy was cheerful, with fair skin and curly silver hair. His eyes were a stormy blue, and his doublet had a stitched silver seahorse.
She gasped because he looked a little bit like Aegon, mayhaps a young Viserys. "Addam? Come here, or your father is going to, oh!" A girl turned a corner, following the boy, then reached for his hand; she curtsied delicately, "Princesses."
"You are... "
"Jeyne Longwaters, Princess."
Elia knows of the House, descended from Elaena Targaryen and Alyn Oakenfist. She looked down to the boy, "And the child?"
Jeyne smiled and knelt to the boy's level, "Addam Baratheon, Lord Stannis Baratheon, and... My late Lady Alyssa Velaryon's child." she remembers, now.
Rhaegar had once been thought to wed Lucerys daughter, but Aerys refused.
'Oh, Rhaegar... '
She loved her husband and was ever faithful; she was hurt when he absconded with Lyanna during the first few months of the war, but when her love returned with the Dornish host, they spoke at length.
He was always a believer in prophecy. The Prince that was Promised was passed down from King to heir, or so it was said when Rhaegar wrote to his great-uncle Aemon at the Wall.
"Why take her? Why shame me in such a way and bring peril upon us?" She shouted at Rhaegar, who stood opposite of her with a solemn face.
"Giving birth to Rhaenys and Aegon nearly killed you, my love, and the dragon must have its three heads... "
He spoke of how he met Lyanna, who was young and of fertile stock. The Lady was engaged to Robert but wanted out, so a pact was made beneath a weirwood tree. They fled to the South, and a few moons later, the war started.
Rhaegar, her sweet love, promised that things would change for the better after the war.
It did change, he was right... But it was not for the better.
Their son was murdered, his mother and father were dead, his siblings lived in Essos as exiles, and their daughter was to be separated from her arms at the end of the day.
"Mama, he looks like Aegon." Elia tensed when Rhaenys spoke up, and Jeyne and Ser Andar cringed at the mention of her young baby boy, who was killed not three moons past.
"Sorry, Princess, but I should really be heading back with Addam. Come, Addam, let's go." Addam held his caretaker's hand but kept his eyes on Elia's daughter as they left the garden.
The day was ended, and so was her time in King's Landing; she spent every moment with her daughter until the knock came on her chamber door, and Lord Arryn entered. "It is time, Princess."
She begged Robert to let her daughter come with and swore they wouldn't press any claim, but Jon Arryn said that His Grace refused, stating that he would allow it as Dorne, as far as they all knew, was still for the Targaryen cause, and Jon taking her to Dorne was a show of faith to mend the breach.
Rhaenys cried and tugged on her skirts, "Mama, please don't leave! I don't want you to go!" It broke her heart to part from her child; she reluctantly had Andar Royce take Rhaenys away, and Elia tearfully left with Lord Jon, so they fled quickly.
285ac
Stannis was deep into his work, writing letters, approving permits, and rejecting petitions of captains and vessels coming and going from King's Landing.
His four-year-old son sat down by the hearth, playing with his wooden knight.
It had been a full year since the rebellion truly ended; Lord Arryn's venture to Dorne and bringing Princess Elia Martell back to her family brought House Martell back to the fold somewhat, and just a moon ago, his brother welcomed his first son, and the new Crown Prince, Joffrey.
Robert commanded for a tourney to be planned to celebrate the birth of his son. Lords across the realm came for the jousts and melee,
He thought nothing of it and recused himself from the celebrations to work and spend time with his son.
"Papa! Look!" He turned from his work and saw Addam had broken the shield off of his knight.
The boy was bright, though it was still too early to get a sense of who he would be when he was older. That doesn't mean he won't rear him right; Stannis means to make his son a just and fair knight and, when the time comes, an equally just Lord of the Narrow Sea.
Before he could say anything, the door to his chamber opened.
Robert and Jon Arryn entered the room. "Brother, Lord Hand, what do I owe this visit?" he asked, standing in attention.
"We have some pressing business to speak of, brother." Robert started and then sneered at Addam, and Stannis noticed this and was going to say something until Jon continued.
"Stannis, your wife, she has been gone for two years. We've left you to mourn for such a period, but the Crown requires your hand." Marriage?
Stannis vowed never to take another wife, "I have no desire to remarry, Robert. You know this as well as knew what Alyssa meant to me."
"This isn't on a whim, Stannis," Robert leaned on his desk. House Tyrell is the last House behind the Martells, who had remained loyal to the Targaryens. Yes, they swore vows and whatnot, but what if Viserys returns? Will they simply retract their words and starve us of food and men?" It is true that the Reach supplies the most food, the second coming from the Riverlands.
"Where does this involve marrying another? Speak plainly, Your Grace."
Jon sighed, "The Tyrell influence in the Reach is vast; we need a counter to them, and House Florent offers just that."
"Lord Florent's two daughters are married." One to that blasted Randyll Tarly, and the other to Leyton Hightower. "He has no one to marry to." Stannis hoped the matter would end, but Robert chuckled as if he had some ace up his sleeve.
"Ser Ryam Florent has an older daughter, and she is a maiden." Damn you, Robert, thought Stannis, who wanted to refuse, but it was the command of his King, the command of his elder.
However, he won't go without his own terms, "I will do it, under some terms."
His Grace and the Hand looked confused, "What are you on about?" Robert questioned.
"Storm's End, Robert... I want my rights restored." His brother hopped up from his seat with a huff. I care not for the honor you imposed on me. I don't want to rule Dragonstone; I want what is mine."
Robert was heated, and so was Stannis, "What is yours? Nothing is yours, only what I choose to hand you. Gods, Dragonstone is a finer seat for you and your son." Jon Arryn rose and pulled Robert aside for a moment, but his brother wasn't interested in haggling, "No! Stannis, as your King and elder, I order you to take this Selyse Florent to wife and to do so without quarrel."
Stannis cursed his brother and swore he would not forget this and wouldn't forgive it.
287ac
Axell Florent walked along the corridors of Dragonstone. He had a smile while settling in as the castellan for Lord Stannis Baratheon. He was equally glad his niece chose to have her baby in these halls; it was symbolic, and Lord Stannis' son and heir, Addam, arrived a fortnight prior to little Shireen's first name day.
The family's marriage into House Baratheon was a boon to them; he was just put off that his niece and her future sons would be behind Addam Baratheon in the line of succession of Dragonstone.
His niece didn't much like the Red Keep, she said as much a day before going into labor, Stannis obliged her but to more or less not have to spend time with his new wife.
A neglectful husband, a joke floated about how the Master of Ships marched to the bed chamber like a soldier going to war.
"She has his nose, don't you see?" Selyse asked and was so happy.
It was a miracle that they conceived shortly after the wedding at Storm's End, even when the marriage bed was ruined when His Grace bedded his other niece, Delena Florent.
She gave birth to a boy, a bastard named Edric Storm and should be marrying Hosmon Norcross within a fortnight.
"She is stunning, my dear." he complimented and looked both ways before asking, "It won't be long before you have a son, an heir for Dragonstone."
Selyse looked at him as if he were out of his mind, and maybe he was; his ambition was great. "Addam is heir, and strong and healthy." Aye, that is true.
Nearly six, the lad was tall and strapping. Axell had met Rhaegar once, and the boy certainly had a Valyrian look, yet he was a Velaryon, and being a Velaryon meant he enjoyed sailing his little skiff and swimming in the sea along the beach.
"Young boys die all of the time, and I am only looking out for you, Selyse." Not just him.
Alestor had also taken some interest in the match, and his brother had said he regretted marrying Rhea to Leyton a few years prior to the rebellion.
"What will you do?" she asked with some curiosity and confusion.
He means to put aside Stannis's firstborn to make way for his Florent-born son. Hopefully, his lordship will soon take to Selyse's bed again and conceive another lordling House Baratheon of Dragonstone.
"I have it all planned, my dear. Pay no mind and be with your daughter," he asked, patting Shireen on the head and kissed his great-niece on the forehead.
The sooner the Lord Addam is dead, the better.
A toymaker from Dorne arrived at the island to sell his wares to the castle, Axell purchased a wooden knight and a girls toy for Addam and Shireen.
Reaching his chambers, he prepared his weapon by dipping the knight in a jar of blood, gotten from a prisoner who had contracted a disease known as greyscale.
Called Garin's Curse, greyscale rapidly scars the body, making it hard as stone. The disease drives those who get it mad and feral. It would be a long death, and Axell would make it seem like a terrible accident, as Dragonstone is a damp, cold place.
Gently putting it in a box, he took it to Addam's room and placed it on the ground before scurrying off and waiting for it to spread.
Stannis arrived back at Dragonstone when he heard about what happened.
His new daughter had recently contracted greyscale, from what he didn't know, so he had all the children's clothes, toys, bedding, and everything that could have been removed taken to the beach and burned.
A pair of other servants caught the disease, Jeyne including who had served as Addam's caretaker for years and truthfully was the last remaining symbol of his wife's memory (other than his son).
It was later surmised that a trader had brought infected objects, and his family bought several items from the merchant's wares.
A Dornish trader, so Ser Axell tells, and Stannis declared that no merchant may sell their wares at the castle or to the family or staff. The Master of Ships spent the latter few days on the island watching over his little girl.
Cressen was with her now. He sat outside the child's chamber with his wife and her uncle, and his son sat by his side with a solemn look.
"Is my sister going to die?" his son asked with wet tears on his face, Gods, Stannis didn't know how to answer.
Very few who contract greyscale rarely recover; most are forced to either end their lives (or have it ended for them), and most choose to live out their lives within the broken peninsula of Valyria, where none who go there ever return.
Yet Shireen is just a babe.
Selyse took offense to what Addam asked, "Don't say that about your sister!" Stannis narrowed his wife to take down her tone to his son, "This is the Gods cursing us, my love. It is all Robert's fault for defiling our bed."
"I'll not have such talk, be silent or go to your chambers," he ordered with a tight stare on her and her uncle who looked to say something, silence a moment later.
Gods, he cursed and wished he didn't need to go through this. He didn't care to remarry and was settled with a single son to carry on his lineage. He looked at his second wife. She was no Alyssa and not even remotely attractive, which made it a chore to bed her.
Selyse sighed, and Addam kept his eyes down, "Go and rest, Addam. I will wait on Cressen." he knew his son didn't want to go but he did as was bid.
Another few days of agony went on when Cressen emerged, Stannis awoke and approached, but Cressen bade him to keep back.
"What's happened, Maester? Is my daughter well?" Selyse demanded with tears falling from her cheeks.
Cressen had a frown but slowly if reformed into a smile, "I believe she will be fine, now... However, the disease had spread over her face," Selyse despaired at what they heard, but Stannis was gladened that his daughter would live.