"Careful!" Rhaegar called from the edge of the field. The grass was crisp and brown beneath their feet, the hot sun drying it up and leaving behind a sea of brown.

Viserys was currently stepping over the dry grass, a wooden sword in hand. He was showing off for Oberyn who watched patiently from Elia's side.

The young boy swung the sword around him, but stumbled slightly and lost his balance. He straightened and regained his composure before sinking into another stance. Rhaegar was off, jogging towards the boy to help correct his footwork.

Oberyn took the opportunity to lean over to Elia and say, "The boy isn't a fighter."

Elia shot him a look. "The boy," She raised a brow, "is practically my son."

Her younger brother rolled his eyes. He was wearing a bright yellow tunic, the colour reflecting the light so much that he almost glowed. Elia had already joked that he was blinding her and he had quipped back that it must be because of his radiant beauty.

"Just because he's like a son to you does not mean I should lie about his talent. Or lack thereof."

"I didn't know you to be mean to children." Elia huffed.

"I'm not being mean." Oberyn frowned, "I'm just saying-"

"You sound like Mother."

Oberyn huffed. "He's a talented artist." He said. "There. A compliment. You wouldn't hear that from Mother, would you?"

Elia snorted a laugh and shook her head. Her long braid brushed her shoulder blades and she was reminded of how she used to braid Mellario's long hair for her when they would talk together in her youth.

"Mellario told me about Quentyn."

Oberyn's face soured and he let out a heavy sigh. "Our brother can't be swayed. He wants to send him away to be fostered."

"He should listen to Mellario. Quentyn is as much her son as he is his."

"You know I agree." Oberyn's eyes returned to Rhaegar and Viserys. Rhaegar had stepped back, watching the boy go through the steps properly. He smiled and clapped his younger brother on the shoulder. "Doran doesn't care."

"He's so strange." Elia sighed. She caught a glimpse of that familiar brown hair approaching them from the sandstone buildings that made up the Water Gardens. Elia's heart beat a little faster, but she pretended she hadn't seen Lyanna yet.

Oberyn did not notice as he kept talking. "We always knew he was an odd one. Even as children there was a reason we rarely spent time with him."

"He's still our brother."

Oberyn let out a sigh, "Why are you so defensive today? You're arguing with me for the sake of arguing."

Elia swallowed hard, unable to keep her eyes from straying to Lyanna as she came closer. She could see her smile from here. It was as bright as Oberyn's ugly tunic.

Her brother followed her gaze and his brows rose in understanding. "Ah." He looked back to his sister. "Don't fidget. You look like a horse about to bolt."

Elia hadn't even known she had been moving. She stopped shifting her feet in the grass and looked up in time to see Lyanna before them. She was in training gear and Elia almost did bolt from the leather breeches she wore.

"Hello." Lyanna greeted, "I'm surprised you're not showing him a few moves, Oberyn."

Her brother grinned, looking almost feral. "You just want another go with me, don't you?"

Lyanna rose to his silent challenge, "Oh, of course. I know you better now. It may not be such an even match any more."

Elia laughed, "I'd like to watch so do let me know when you get around to it."

Lyanna grinned at her, making her stomach tighten. She wondered openly for a moment what it would be like to take her hand and press her lips to her skin. To run a hand through her brown hair. To see that grin in the darkness of a bedroom.

Elia watched as Lyanna turned and walked over to join Viserys and Rhaegar.

"You need to do something. I've never seen you so tense." Oberyn said. "You did fine propositioning the Lannister boy."

Elia shot him a look, "Yes, well… Lyanna is different."

"Rhaegar could give you a few tips." Oberyn chuckled.

At Elia's cocked head and thoughtful expression he frowned.

"I was joking." He said seriously. "Do not ask your husband for tips on how to seduce his other wife."

It was a ridiculous statement and enough to make both of them burst out with laughter.

The three figures standing further infield turned to watch the siblings for a moment and Elia caught the wild grin Lyanna threw their way.

She knew it wasn't a great idea, but she couldn't shake it.

Rhaegar was lounging on a chaise lounge on a raised platform near the pools of water the children currently splashed in. Elia approached and waved when Rhaenys spotted her from far away.

Rhaegar turned his head to see who it was his daughter saw and he gave Elia a smile. "I thought for sure you would be spending the day with your twin." He said.

Elia laughed. She couldn't blame him for the observation. It wasn't the first time she and Oberyn had been spoken of as twins. They were so close after all.

"I'm sorry to disappoint. And to disturb you when you look so comfortable." She said.

Rhaegar smiled sheepishly, but made no move to sit up. He tucked a hand behind his head and lifted a knee. It shifted from side to side and Elia looked him over as she took a seat on the chair beside him.

"How beautiful do they look?" Rhaegar smiled, eyes on the children.

Elia couldn't help but grin. Aegon chased Jaeherys around the pool, the gravel keeping them from slipping. The little boys squealed, the sound filling Elia's heart with joy.

"Even Visenya and Dany are joining in." Rhaegar laughed, pointing to where the two toddlers sat playing in a shallow pool of water, the sun turning their silver hair almost translucent.

They sat together in silence for a moment. Elia couldn't bring up Lyanna while he was so happy watching the children. It felt wrong. But she knew she must.

"Rhaegar," She began, "I have to speak to you about Lya."

He looked to her, his violet eyes serious. "You've come to a conclusion?"

She nodded.

He searched her face for a moment and a small smile pulled at his lips. He looked back at the children. "You love her. You've decided to try."

It wasn't a question. After all the time they had spent together it did not surprise Elia that he could read her so well. But she could see the tension return to his body. It made her lips move before she could think about what she was saying.

"She still loves you, Rhaegar. It doesn't have to be one or the other."

He raised a brow. "And you...would be okay with that?"

She looked away and felt a slight flush come over her. It heated her cheeks. She remembered when Rhaegar had first suggested it to her after the war. When he had said he could have two wives. And she had reacted with outrage. And now she was the one suggesting something very similar.

"I would." She nodded.

Rhaegar smiled and reached a hand to her. She slid her hand in his and he squeezed. She knew then that she had his blessing. Now she had to find the courage to act.

"Mama!"

They both turned at the sound to find Dany running towards them. Elia and Lyanna exchanged a look and burst into laughter. They didn't know who she was calling for. Perhaps both of them?

It was Elia who sobered first and lifted Dany into her arms. "What is it, my love?" She asked.

She could feel Lyanna's eyes on her, the grey in them a warmer colour in the glowing sun that was just starting to set.

Dany wrapped her arms around Elia's neck. "Enya no share." She grumbled.

Lyanna sighed, looking back to where her daughter sat with a blue bucket of water in hand. "I'll go speak to her." She walked over to Visenya, the little girl looking up with clever eyes as her mother approached.

Elia kissed Dany's cheek. "Did you just have a turn with the bucket?"

Dany pulled back to look at Elia and shook her head.

"Ok. Lyanna will speak to her. She should share."

"Yeah." Dany nodded. "Jae shares."

"Well, Jae and Visenya are different. Don't worry, she'll learn." Elia stroked a curl of silver hair behind the little girl's ear.

The memory of Rhaella hit her out of nowhere. Just the sight of the silver curl resting over her finger was enough for Elia to remember her friend and good-mother.

She closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to Dany's soft cheek. Her eyes stung with tears, but she took a deep, shaking breath and pushed the emotion down.

Once Visenya had been successfully chided Lyanna made her way back over and Elia set Dany down. The little girl ran back to the other toddler and Visenya apologised, her eyes downcast.

Soon the two were playing happily, Dany holding the bucket this time.

"Are you alright?" Lyanna asked, her eyes searching Elia's face.

Elia nodded. Her instinct was to keep it hidden, to not say what had been on her mind. But a look at Lyanna's concern was enough to tell her that that was a stupid idea.

"She reminds me of Rhaella sometimes."

Lyanna's eyes shone with understanding. She reached for Elia's arm and she let her take it. The two started back down the path they had been walking down.

"She must have been an incredible woman. I wish I could have met her. Known her." Lyanna said softly.

"I know she would have liked you." Elia smiled. "She was a mother to me in the palace. Living with Aerys was not easy. For either one of us. But she..." Elia took a deep breath. "What he did to her was unforgivable."

A darkness clouded Lyanna's eyes. "He really was an evil man."

Elia looked to the woman beside her. She remembered when her brother had arrived at the palace. Brandon had been a hurricane, sweeping into the Red Keep and demanding Rhaegar's head. What had happened to him and Lyanna's father had been heartbreaking. Elia remembered how terrified she had been after hearing about it. Knowing that the man responsible was in the castle with her and her children. That he hated her for her skin, for where she came from, for what he knew her family could do to him should he hurt her.

"I'm sorry. This is such a sad topic. And we're in such a beautiful place." Elia said.

It was enough to shake the shadow from Lyanna's eyes. "It is hard to think about."

Elia nodded her agreement. She tried to take a deep breath, and recalled what she had discussed with Mellario the day before. Nerves gripped her. Internally, she chided herself. Why was she acting like a child? She was a grown woman? Could she not ask for what she wanted?

They passed beneath palm trees in comfortable silence, the shade bringing small relief from the hot sun that had burned that day.

"How do you feel?" Elia asked after a moment.

Lyanna smiled, "I feel well. This place..." She sighed, "It's full of joy. I don't know how anybody could feel sad in a place like this."

Elia smiled, "I have felt sad many times in this place. But I understand what you mean."

"Have you caught up with your family? I am sorry to steal you away."

Elia watched Lyanna, her face so close to her own. Her grey eyes were bright, her pale skin so smooth. She was beautiful and sweet. How strange it was that this woman had come into her life. How strange it was that they had become family.

Elia who had yet to marry Rhaegar, who lived under her mother's rule, who sat in the Water Gardens with Mellario and discussed possible matches would never have thought that one day she would be so close to Lyanna Stark. Or that she would feel this way about her.

"Elia?" Lyanna asked softly and slowed her walk until they were still.

A soft breeze rustled the trees and blew the sweet scent of blooming flowers through the gardens.

"Sorry, I was thinking." Elia said softly. She met Lyanna's eyes. "Jaime and I are not together any longer. I'm sure Rhaegar told you."

Lyanna nodded, "He did. I am sorry about it."

"No, don't be. It was my choice."

Surprise passed over her delicate features for a second and then it slipped away. Lyanna nodded and a hand fell to the light skirts she wore. She rubbed the fabric between two fingers, the only indication of her nerves.

Elia took her hand without thinking. She swallowed her nervousness and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Slowly, she brought her hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to her palm.

Lyanna was staring with wide eyes. She watched as Elia turned her hand over and pressed another kiss to her wrist. At that, her grey eyes closed for a moment.

"Elia." She breathed.

The sound sent Elia's heart soaring. She shook her head, "Don't say anything." She whispered, barely finding her voice. "I am sorry if I was too forward."

Lyanna opened her eyes and let out a soft laugh, the noise bright and light like the crystal clear water of the fountain through the trees behind them. "How can you apologise? I have been waiting...I have been praying for that for so long." Lyanna's cheeks were flushed with heat.

"I am glad to hear it." Elia let her hand go gently. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Lyanna flashed her teeth in a way that reminded Elia of her wolf grin. How she had hated that grin at first. Now it made heat flood through her.

The Northern girl leaned towards her and Elia's eyes found her lips.

Why not?

Elia leaned forward to meet them.

Lyanna sighed into the kiss almost immediately. Her arms came around Elia, one hand tangling in her dark hair.

Elia was stiff for a moment before she relaxed. She cupped Lyanna's cheek, the skin soft beneath her palm. Her lips were soft against her own and she smelled like lilac and wildberries.

It made Elia smile against Lyanna's lips.

The Northern girl pulled away, her grey eyes bright with light from the rising moon. "How was that?" She asked, a hint of teasing in her tone.

Elia laughed, "I don't know why I waited so long for it."

"Torturing yourself."

Elia hummed in agreement. "I must be mad."

Lyanna gripped her hand tightly. "This place is magical. It opens your eyes. Fills your heart with love." She smiled, "I love it here."

There was something else in her words. Elia didn't cringe away from the admission. Lyanna loved her and after all the time they had spent together there was no way Elia could deny her love for Lyanna.

"It's better to be here with you." Elia replied.

The two turned back down the path without talking. They held hands while they collected their children and took them inside. Elia held Aegon in her arms. The little boy was exhausted from playing, but his knowing eyes peered up at her.

He smiled, "Mamas happy."

Elia nodded, "Of course I'm happy, my sweet boy."

"Both mamas." He said quietly, already having tucked his head against her neck.

Elia glanced back at Lyanna, who shone as brightly as the moon.