Chapter 1
Eleana Hill (17) portrayed by Gabriella Wilde
Niklas Baratheon (16) portrayed by Patrick Gibson
Eleana
A young woman laid on her side next to the fireplace with her hand laying flat against the small leatherbound book just inches away from her delicate face. Her golden-spun hair sprawled itself against the cobbled floor, not minding the soot tattering her dress, her cheeks, and her hair. It wasn't her fault, though. She simply enjoyed the book that her uncle gave her a few days ago.
Her eyes squinted when the sun's rays advised her to rise, forcing her thick lashes to flutter open to reveal the emerald hue of a lively forest after the passing of wintry days in her iris. She stretched a bit before heading over to a small basin in the corner of her room to wash any unwanted soot or dirt away from her face. It would certainly be problematic if anyone in The Red Keep realized that she slept on the floor when she had a perfectly warm bed anxiously waiting for her to sleep in.
When she cleaned herself, Eleana noticed the state of the dress she was wearing, so she thought it'd be best if she changed. Her fingers moved swiftly to unclasp the belt around her waist before undoing the thread and ribbons in a rush so that the fabric dropped to the floor, leaving her in her slip. She then grabbed it and tossed it carelessly to a nearby chair as she headed over to her chifferobe to put on the first dress she saw. A lemon-green dress with gold and beads to hold the draping back in place with embellishments of leaves plunged down her neckline, and a belt with a metal clasp tightened around her waist just below where her breasts were. Now, she just needed to do something about her hair.
After braiding two front sections of her blonde hair, she twisted them together using the ends with a braid wrapped around it. To complete the style, she took the back of her hair to form a long, narrow braid before twisting it into a bun. Only a few strands sprung out, but it was durable, especially with the pins holding almost everything in place. Eleana then turned to the mirror to take in her appearance and noted how her hair resembled a crown stretching across her head. It was the style of what most of the southern ladies wore in King's Landing, and Eleana was a handmaiden to Queen Cersei, so she must be presentable.
The Queen was an intimidating beauty who often held a critical eye on anyone she came across. Her gracious smile feigned ignorance to those she deemed inferior. All Eleana ever wanted was her approval ever since she came to court at the age of ten, but Eleana was simply fooling herself to ever believe it would ever happen. Still, she always maintained to fulfill her duties and responsibilities by even going above and beyond to ensure that Princess Myrcella and Prince Tommen were taken care of. It was the least Eleana could do since she cared about her youngest cousins deeply.
Slipping into a pair of sandals, she grabbed the book she slept with and headed out into the hallway before shutting the door. Elena then proceeded down the hall, passing by a few guards and a servant to reach her destination. She made her presence known by opening the door, alerting her uncle, Tyrion Lannister, and his squire, Podrick. He sat at his desk with a quill set aside on a blank page from a book on his desk, while his squire stopped pouring the finest arbor red in his goblet.
Her uncle was known to be a drinker, but he was also incredibly wise despite his stature. Many noble lords mocked him behind his back for being a dwarf. It always angered Eleana hearing them since she loved her uncle dearly like a doting daughter. He may not be her father but she often saw him as one. After her mother, Ayleen Kenning, died in childbirth, Tyrion claimed Eleana as his ward, to which she was thankful for. He treated her very well and gave her his passion for knowledge. She often wished he was her father rather than the Kingslayer.
Ever since her uncle told her many stories about her father, Jaime Lannister, back in Casterly Rock when she was a child, she admired him. Her heart hardly contained its joy when she laid eyes on him in court for the first time. He was quite dashing and gallant in his armor. It reminded her of the many heroes she read about like Durran Godsgrief, Bran the Builder, and Lann the Clever. However, all dreams died hard, and Eleana certainly was not expecting for her own father to ignore or dismiss her every chance she met him. It made her realize that he never claimed her for a reason, leaving her to question why. Could it be perhaps that he was disgraced for fathering a child, or maybe he couldn't stand the idea that his own child killed her mother? Then again, every time she asked her uncle if her father loved her mother, he never acknowledged it, leading her to believe that he didn't. It was already bad enough she was a bastard, but being the Kingslayer's bastard was far worse to many nobles not only because of her father's betrayal to Aerys Targaryean but also because her name, Eleana Hill, was a constant reminder of her illegitimacy-a disgrace to House Lannister.
Lowering his goblet on his desk, Eleana watched her uncle grab his quill before he glided it swiftly across a parchment. He was rather meticulous with his movements, and it nearly amazed Eleana to see him so focused. He shifted his eyes at her once when she sat across from him before turning his attention back to his writing. She speculated that he was either writing a letter of importance to one of the lords or to her grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister. Then again, it wouldn't be surprising to see him compose a poem to one of the whores he bedded. He may want to maintain certain boundaries towards his niece, but Eleana was well aware whenever he brought a woman into his bedchamber.
It didn't take long for Podrick to approach her with a pitcher and a goblet, but she refused with a polite smile and doe eyes. When he heard her sweet voice ringing through his ears, he stopped and gave her a hurried bow. It was quite entertaining to see him refusing to make eye contact with her while his ears reddened when he caught a glimpse of her. Her uncle's squire had always been modest and kind even when others insulted him. It was different whenever her uncle did it to him simply because it was in his nature to mock someone, but she knew that her uncle never meant to offend his loyal squire. To Tyrion, he was having a bit of fun.
At least Podrick's reaction to her was much better than what she normally received from other men. Their terrible breaths made slide remarks about her body while their wandering eyes shaped her form, scouring every inch of her. It always made her uncomfortable especially when she reached around twelve years of age, but Eleana learned to deal with it. However, the one incident she would never forget was when her uncle threw a guard in the Black Cells for cornering her in the gardens just to have a taste of her.
"You're late to rise. I trust you slept well then," her uncle finally said after setting his quill to the side.
"Very. With the book you gave to keep me company."
As she placed it on his desk, her lips curled into an elegant smile when he noticed the cover. "Ah, The Dance of Dragons. The civil war between Aegon II and Rhaenyra over their father's throne."
"It is a shame really how it tore their family apart. To think, all because of their claim to the throne."
"Well, the point of history is to learn from our mistakes so we don't make them twice."
"Except it has happened."
He finally looked at his ward and noticed her expression. It was clear what she was implying to—the eradication of the Targaryen line. Through Robert Baratheon's Rebellion, most of the country united to slaughter the Targaryens after Prince Rhaegar kidnapped and raped Lyanna Stark when she was already betrothed to Robert. Eleana was also aware of what her grandfather did by ordering Ser Gregor Clegane to kill Rheagar's children and his wife, Elia Martell, but Eleana grew a sickening feeling when she believed how he may have forced himself onto her considering his horrible nature. Now, two of The Mad King's children were fugitives across The Narrow Sea. No doubt they were plotting to reclaim their throne. Eleana just had no clue when it would happen, but everyone in court was anticipating it as they were ready to fight back whenever the opportunity presented itself.
"We cannot change what happened. The only thing we can do is move ahead to the future."
Even though her uncle always did what he could to keep her in the dark, she was no fool, and he knew it too. "Yes, but no doubt the small council has been plotting to end the Targaryen line."
"That's nothing for you to worry about. Your concern should only be looking after the royal family."
Tyrion only reprimanded her whenever she stuck her nose where it didn't belong—a trait she inherited from her mother. Her uncle often told her how Ayleen tended to get into trouble many times by her own family. After all, Tyrion and Ayleen were not only dear friends, but they were also very close through their blood. After all, Ayleen's mother, Margot Kenning, was Tywin's twin.
A conniving woman from what Eleana heard, but she was also a striking beauty—similar to her aunt. It was what Eleana imagined at least. The only positive outcome about Margot's death during Robert's Rebellion was that Eleana didn't have to deal with another Cersei. It wasn't that Eleana didn't necessarily like her aunt, but no matter how hard she sought after her approval, her aunt tended to dismiss her accomplishments or criticise her in front of her own children without any shame.
"So, Niklas will be king?" Eleana questioned.
"With Robert Baratheon's death, the crown will go to his eldest son, so yes,...Niklas will be king."
It had only been yesterday since King Robert Baratheon's death, and no one seemed to know how. Through his lecherous behavior of being with two other women, he doused himself with the finest wine before groaning in pain and fell on his bed with the women screaming for help. Maester Pycelle believed that the king's heart gave out. Even though many members in the small council raised some concerns, no one spoke of it. Not even Tyrion raised any suspicions, or at least, she'd never heard her uncle discuss the matter. If he did, it was done in private without his ward present. If there was a conspiracy, Eleana knew that her uncle would not want her to get involved. After all, King's Landing was a nest of vipers. One bite was all it took to root out all the ones who would dare oppose the new regime. Still though, Eleana always wondered how strange it was for the King to be fine one day and then end up dead the next.
"Now go serve the Queen. I wouldn't want my own ward to be in any sort of trouble, especially during the prince's coronation day."
"Well, we wouldn't want that, do we?"
"No, we don't."
They both smirked at each other as Eleana stood from her seat before noticing how her uncle's squire glanced at her with his lips slightly parted as she left the room until she overheard her uncle, "Podrick."
"Yes, milord."
"You're staring again."
Eleana couldn't help but plaster a sheepish grin on her face, when she imagined the boy's reaction after getting scolded by her uncle. All that was left was to prepare her cousin's coronation. She wondered what kind of king Niklas would make. There was no denying his intelligence, but for some reason, Eleana always grew tense with the hairs on the back of her neck prickling every time his gaze turned intense when he turned to her.
Niklas
The Throne Room was a room where any monarch dreamt to have. Niklas certainly did as the eldest prince strided through the large bronze and wooden doors. His boots clicked against the marble floor, passing by each column and arch on the towering vaulted ceiling. His blonde hair shone in every shade from a white sun to golden brown, all married into curled locks through the stained glass on the left side of The Red Keep. His green eyes observed his subjects making their way for their prince to witness his coronation ceremony.
His demeanor became stronger and much more powerful when he drew himself closer to the Septon by the Iron Throne. He anticipated the greatest moment in his life when his eyes flickered over to the throne. The Spider once told him how it was a monstrosity of spikes, twisted metal, and jagged edges of the broken blades surrendered by Aegon the Conqueror's enemies, but to Niklas, it was a symbol of authority-a beacon of sovereignty.
When he reached the steps, he ascended his way to the throne before facing his subjects with the Septon behind him. Niklas watched them all bowing when the Septon proclaimed Niklas as the new King. His mother smiled proudly at her son along with his youngest brother and sister. However, he couldn't help but notice how one of his brothers, Joffrey, stared lowly at him like an ant quarreling with a boot. Niklas was not surprised. His brother had always been jealous of him simply because he was destined for greatness.
"May the Warrior grant him courage and protect him in these perilous times. May the Smith grant him strength that he might bear this heavy burden. And may the Crone, she who knows the fate of all men, show him the path he must walk and guide him through the dark places that lie ahead. In the light of the Seven, I now proclaim Niklas of the House Baratheon First of His Name, King of the Andals and the First Men and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Long may he reign!"
As the Septon carefully placed the crown on his King's head, Niklas felt the cold weight of it. It was large and robust-completely made of gold and incorporated amber gemstones with a very prominent stag-based imagery. It appeared as if it was made of antlers, but Niklas knew the style was meant to symbol his late father's House.
When Niklas ascended the steep iron steps to the throne, he sat in his rightful place and turned to his subjects. Lord Varys, Lord Baelish, Lord Arryn, and Maester Pycelle gave their new king a brief bow and addressed him as "Your Grace." He nodded his head in acknowledgment and stared down at the people below him, ready to rule them all.
Hi everyone! I originally wrote this fanfiction a while ago, but I am rewriting it after I wasn't too pleased with it since I was rushing by not providing enough exposition, but I am happy with it now. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please let me know your thoughts by putting it in the comment section. I should have the second chapter out soon. Stay tuned!
