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Suns and Stars Both Light the Way

Chapter 10

Rhaegar made himself useful but alas, Elia had no time to acknowledge this right now. Two men opened a path for her better than one and she vaguely realized that Rhaegar was quite good at elbowing his way through a crowd now. For a man who had spent twenty-four years with every path and road cleared broad and vast before him, it was not bad at all. She could swear that she even heard him spatting an obscenity at someone without one spat back previously at him. The three of them – and Dyanna – went across the square pretty fast. At one point, Rhaegar reached for the girl's hand to help her walk faster but she avoided his hand and latched herself onto the guard's hand instead. The Baratheon guard. The realization that to her daughter, these men were not enemies and spies but a part of her life stunned Elia but before she could ponder on this, they reached the scene that Dyanna had run from.

Of course Aegon had to raise hell in the middle of a square. He simply had to. Elia looked wildly around this sea of silver heads and her heart went faint with relief when she recognized him: he was standing in the middle of a circle of laughing, shouting men, so close to one of the smaller fountains that splashes of water pasted his hair to his skull. A man in rich robes glared at him, tapping on the hilt of his sword impatienty. Elia immediately recognized his intention: he was about to use the weapon as a rod. Unfortunately, her son either did not know or did not care. Another look showed her that Ulrick was just where she expected to find him: not far from Aegon, embroiled in an argument of his own. With a grown man as well. Naturally! Aegon tended to embroil himself in the most ridiculous adventures, as Edric put it, or sheer silliness, as was Elia's preferred wording. And where Aegon was, Ulrick couldn't not follow. And here they were.

She vaguely realized that Rhaegar had stopped dead in his tracks next to her. When she glanced at him, he was looking at their son as intently as every father who had not seen his child for long. Elia hated him even more for this because he had no right, no right!

"I am taking the kittens," Aegon said as loudly and imperiously as if he were in Starfall. "I saw them first and he took my money."

"You can take your money back," the man in the velvet robes replied. "Or not. If you don't stop strutting like a turkey-cock, I may reconsider. You're starting to annoy me. Take this mite and go away before I've the mind to whip your buttocks with this."

"I'm no mite!" Ulrick put in, indignant.

"I won't," Aegon declared stubbornly. "I bought these kittens for my sister and I got here first. You're just too late."

Kittens? Elia looked around and sure enough, the contested property was there, in a basket that shook in Ulrick's hands.

Kittens?

"I'm breaking off the deal," a man from a nearby stall called out and when Elia looked in his direction, her eyes went wide and wandering at the sight of the selection exposed in stalls near his main one: dogs, cats, some snakes, a few birds that resembled parrots but were not… The cats were not… quite cats. In fact, neither of his animals were.

"You can't," Aegon declared and the men around burst out in another bout of laughter. Elia noticed that Ulrick made use of the fact that his opponent was busy laughing and was quietly making his escape. With the kittens.

The seller tried to push some coins onto Aegon but the boy would simply not open his hand. The laughter intensified. Quarrels rose, some supporting the seller and others, the boy. Elia knew that the man in the rich robe must have made a vastly overwhelming effort right in the wake of her sons paying for the basket. Of course the seller would rather take his money… There were also bets just when the rich buyer would start whipping the boys with his sword.

"Stop!" someone barked. "Where do you think you're going?" An arm was raised in the air, a hand bearing down to slap the escaping Ulrick.

Elia stopped it in the air in less than a half-breath later, right before it hit her son. She had moved without thinking and just stood there, looking from the man's stunned face to his palm, still in the grip of her own. She had grasped it so tight that there was blood trickling under her nails.

Rhaegar quickly stepped forward before the man could realize the truth about his situation and push her back. He was so sturdy that Elia was bound to fall flat on her back. The sharp voice of the Baratheon guard behind her told her that the man was trying to gather her sons to him.

"Not without Rhaenys' kittens!" Aegon protested and Elia stifled a groan. Rhaegar turned to look behind them.

"Are they looking for the damned kittens?" he asked, incredulous.

"Yes, most likely," Elia said. In the commotion, Ulrick had likely dropped the basket and the kittens were trying to make their escape. "I'm buying them," she added. "I'm giving three times the price my son offered," she said and looked at Galena, only to have the maidservant turn white as she desperately fumbled with her pockets. "Have you lost the purse, Galena?" she asked, quite calmly, and the laughter started anew.

She had just reconciled herself with the necessity of turning to Rhaegar for help when, to her great relief, Edric asked from her left, "Do you need some money, my lady?"

She nodded, watching with rising concern as her three children were darting here and there. Chasing the kittens, of course. She just knew that they would not…

"What did I just buy?" Edric asked.

"A basket of kittens that have just escaped," she replied pedantically and he sighed.

"I knew they were up to something as soon as I heard that there were some well-clad boys creating problems. They could only be ours."

But the tide had turned in their favour. Edric was accompanied by three men of esteem, as it seemed, with swords that they held their hands on meaningfully. The Baratheon guard following him was here which made Elia wonder where her children had lost theirs. They had to find him as well… if he did not speak the language, it was not sure that he would find them…

By the Seven! Had she started taking care of the guards?

Edric had now caught Aegon's eye. "What did I tell you?" he asked evenly.

Aegon blushed. "These were a present for Rhaenys!" he protested.

For a moment, Edric's face softened but when he spoke, his face was just as even as before. "Rhaenys would rather prefer the two of you alive and well, I'm sure. We're going out of here. Now. With whatever number of kittens the three of you have managed to retrieve!"

Aegon raised his chin. "You should not give me orders," he announced. "You aren't my father."

This argument had never managed to defeat Edric before and it did not do so now. Instead, he stared hard at Aegon. "But here is your father," he said. "And I'm quite sure he's going to tell you the same thing. Should we ask him?"

As angry as Elia was for his brutal way of introducing the truth to Aegon, she could not deny that it was helpful: Aegon slowly shook his head. "No," he said.

Edric nodded. "Very well. Let's get out of here. You two as well!" he snapped because it clearly innerved him to watch Ulrick's attempts to catch the last kitten as Dyanna kept the other ones in the basket.

It chilled Elia to consider the probability that Robert Baratheon's constant watch on them had basically made her children unable to get the feeling of danger. The men spied on them – but they also protected them. The very fact that they were never unattended made them overly bold since the worst thing they had ever had to encounter had been their parents' ire. The twins were still very young but Aegon did not know any better either. Suddenly, Elia wondered if she should not have let the two men have their way with her sons… to some extent.

The pitiful mewling coming from the basket got her nerves on edge but she had more important question to ask. She looked at Edric – and saw how one of his companions grinned. "It was always interesting around you, Westerosi," he said, addressing Edric. "And this is no exception. I'm sorry, my lady," he said as an afterthought, looking at Elia.

"It's nothing," she replied and looked at Rhaegar. "Thank you," she said reluctantly because after all these years, she still railed at the thought of ever being beholden to him for anything.

He nodded, clearly deciding not to push her right now. Elia stole a look at Aegon but her son was walking by Edric's side, scrupulously refusing to glance at his father.

"Why are you here?" she finally asked, turning to her husband. "It's still morning."

Edric pressed his lips together, hesitated, and replied, "Because, as you know, I had some friends to visit here and they told me some… interesting things. I had to find you and Aegon before things got out of control."

Elia bristled. He could only refer to one thing. They had been so happy this morning when they had parted. "Him?" she asked, lowering his voice, not quite looking at Rhaegar.

"Hush now," her husband replied. "Aegon, you too," he added without looking at the boy but knowing that Aegon had opened his mouth.

Elia stared at the brick tower ahead of them, rising taller with every step they made, and wondered what they should do now. The kittens finally quieted down, leaving some blessed quiet, only broken by the usual street noises that, thankfully, had nothing to do with them.

"I need to talk to you," Rhaegar told her, ignoring the presence of everyone else, and Elia's gratitude evaporated. It seemed that he had developed some street smarts about him after the last time they had seen each other. Could he not see that he was placing her in untenable situation? A danger for her entire family?

"No," she replied curtly and to her relief, Aegon did not try to dissuade her. It would have been harder for her to refuse him than Rhaegar. She looked to make sure that the twins were walking close to her and missed the silent looks Edric and his companions exchanged.

"Elia," he said slowly. "I think it's better if we do."

This was the last thing she expected to hear. She stared at him, wondering if this was some kind of jest. But he looked serious. Very serious.

"We?" Rhaegar asked coldly. "I wasn't asking you, Dayne. I want to talk to my children's mother alone."

Now, Elia laughed. Angrily. Oh, this was beyond the pale! "Talking to your children's mother?" she repeated. "Alone? If you had cared to keep at least somewhat abreast with the news of these children, Rhaegar, you would have known that there is no alone for us anymore. Certainly not with you here."

"Elia," Edric warned. "Don't. The matters are more serious than you know. We'd better get in the clear now. There are some troubling news that I heard."

Yes, yes, Rhaegar was trying to forge alliances to regain the Iron Throne. Elia knew this. It was no news and it was hardly troubling. No more than usual.

But Edric was not a man who fretted and saw things as darker as they were. Elia's throat went dry.

"Are you going to come with us, Targaryen?" Edric asked and Elia saw how Rhaegar bristled. Even in this exile, he had likely remained His Grace for those who had followed him and the Essosi had probably used the Westerosi title that seemed exotic to him. But he had learned some things, clearly, since his face became impassive.

"Yes," he said. "And quickly, if you please. I'm sure you wouldn't know much about this…" His eyes went meaningfully over Edric's dark skin. "But my son should not be exposed to this kind of sun for long."

"I've grown up under the Dornish sun," Aegon said icily. "And somehow, I managed not to catch fire or something."

Rhaegar's eyes met hers and for a moment, Elia saw in his a reminder of what she herself remembered with fear and disgust still: Aerys. Aerys and his love for fire. She was lucky that her son had been spared this sight.

In the pale-stoned walled manse where one of Edric's friends from before had received them, they were served some refreshments. Elia was just preparing mentally for the conversation when her husband surprised her: he opened the door and nodded at the guard there. "Hey, you. Eavesdropping?"

"Well, it's just part of my job," the man replied, apologetically, and Edric waved him over.

"Come here. As your master's good subjects, we don't mind helping you in doing your job." His friends laughed. "And you can have a goblet of wine as well."

The man accepted gratefully and Elia saw realization dawning on Rhaegar's face, followed by something that resembled shame. She was surprised that after these eleven years, she felt hurt and enraged by his surprise. He should have cared enough to know that his children were followed everywhere! Even as she was thinking this, she knew what a fool she was. To him, she had probably achieved her heart's desire and everything had happened as it should have in her dreams. Only, these dreams, this life had been changed and tainted. They would have remained the same only if he had never entered her life at all. And he had not cared enough to take care and check what had happened. She drank deeply from her goblet. It was a good thing that the wine was very diluted, else she would have gotten drunk before noon.

"There were some interesting news that were brought to my knowledge," Edric finally said. "It looks that Rhaegar Targaryen here could do two things at the same time – supporting his family and himself by teaching some youths swordsplay and seek support from the most unusual allies for his plans."

Rhaegar only shrugged. "What would you have done in my place, Dayne?"

"Never allowed myself to inhabit your situation," Edric replied. "Were you not told that your daughter was betrothed to King Robert's son and heir?"

Rhaegar slowly shook his head. "No, I didn't know." He hesitated. "But it doesn't change much. This… this is something I have to do, no matter the cost. Too much depends on this."

Three things at the same time, Elia thought desolately and just for a moment, as she met his eye, the pain was as piercing as it had been then and the betrayal, just as sharp.

He seemed to have read her mind, for he turned to her directly. "I would have taken care of them," he said. "No matter what. You must believe me. I would have ordered all breeds of cats that she could possibly desire."

"This, I do believe," Elia replied. "But you won't hesitate before stealing her future, will you?"

"There isn't going to be any future for anyone if I just let things be!" he answered, raising his voice. "It's true that Robert and his son do have the blood of the dragon but it isn't strong enough in them."

The guard looked uncomfortable and Elia wanted to snap at Rhaegar for placing them in this situation. Only the gods knew what the man would think of this scene! She felt that cold distance was her best bet, so she shut her mouth and did not even ask who he thought his precious heads of the dragon were now since his faith looked unshaken but when Elia had last heard, Lyanna Stark's performance in this breeding duty had been even worse than her own. Just one son and nothing more.