15
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294 AC
Braavos - Ragman's harbor
Elia Martell
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"Gods am I glad to be off that damned boat, my stomach is killing me. I am already dreading our departure." I hold my stomach as it feels like it's flipping around internally. A hand holds my shoulder and keeps me from falling over.
"If you need to throw up go ahead and do it, we don't want you to puke all over my friend's floors. I don't know if they are still staying in the same place, but he should have some relevant info since he also keeps eye on the city for the Sea Lord." I nod and lean against him as I try to regain my balance and wait off the seasickness.
"Can we sit somewhere while we wait?" He helps me over to a ledge by a staircase and I sit down and hold my pounding head. He keeps his eyes on everyone else so I feel fine resting for a bit without someone stabbing me for my coin purse.
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"Hey, does he look a little familiar to you?" I groan as I open my eyes and the light feels like it's going to cause my head to explode. Looking where he is pointing I don't see anyone that even remotely looks familiar.
"Who, I don't think I can see anyone that we might know." I stand up when I see his serious look as he narrows his eyes in the same direction. He points once again and I can only see some dock workers unloading cargo off a ship.
"I don't see anyo-." My words die in my mouth as I spot a face that sends a chill through me. A kid that is a little stocky with medium-length silver gold hair that shines, and a face from a dead man. My dead man, Rhaegars face.
"It couldn't be that convenient, could it?" My brother speaks but I can't find any words as I watch the boy who looks to be around my own son's age work alongside some dock workers. It's definitely not Viserys since he is a man grown by this point, it would have to be one of the twins born on Dragonstone, Eragon.
"You saw him last time you came didn't you? Is that the youngest boy?" I ask but I don't take my eyes off the kid.
"Elia my sweet sister, he was a fat-faced child the last time I saw him. I don't know, it could be, but there are also a ton of Valyrian children all over Essos. Why would one of your good mother's children be working at a dock, to begin with?" I don't know, but the more I see of him the less he looks like Rhaegar but the resemblance is there. This child has a more visible jawline even with him being young, he also has very pronounced shoulders.
Rhaegar was definitely in shape, but this kid's young body looks crafted by the smith himself. My sweet little Aegon takes more after me than his father and so it isn't a good comparison.
"What do you want to do Oberyn? Surely we don't just walk up and ask him." He looks back at me.
"Are you feeling better?" I smile at his concern and nod my head even if it is still pounding.
"I am feeling better, what do you want to do?" He looks back and thinks about it for a moment.
"My friend should be able to point us in the right direction, no reason to stalk a child. Let's go and give him a quick visit, for all I know they are still in the same house." I nod and wrap my arm around one of his and we head off, I look back one more time and don't spot the child, and put it out of my mind.
I am looking forward to seeing my good mother and sister.
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"Oberyn my friend, it has been too long!" A puffed-up peacock of a man walks over to my brother and pulls him into a hug. "Who is this fine lady?" He turns quickly toward me with appraising eyes.
"My sister." Oberyn says in a chilling voice that causes me to smile. The man quickly nods and walks back to a desk while gesturing to two chairs.
"Sit friend, sit!" He waves the servants over to pour wine. "Is this a curtsey visit or business?" He asks with a certain glint passing through his eyes.
"Business." Oberyn looks at the serving girl and after she pours the drinks she quickly leaves the room. When the door closes Oberyn stops watching her and looks back at the man. "I am here for my sister to visit her 'family'." I glare at the dismissal in his voice, I love them and I don't like the way he puts them down.
"The exiled ones huh? Not as much action around them as I expected, kind of too quiet if I am honest." That gets a raised brow from my brother who ignores my pointed look.
"What does that mean?" He picks up the wine and takes a quick sniff before drinking some and discreetly signaling me it's safe. I take a sip of mine to not be rude to the man and he continues to ignore my presence.
"I expected assassins or someone to cause them problems but it's the opposite. They haven't had any problems on the surface from what my people tell me and even are getting occasional gifts from people within the city. A bit too warm of a welcome for a family that had a member threaten to bring the titan to its knees if you ask me." Do they have friends here? That is useful information, it could be why they haven't reached out to Doran about the marriage alliance.
"I see, and where could I find these dragons' nests at?" The man sits back in his seat causing it to creak and pop.
"Same house, bright red door. I tell you, for an exiled royal family you would expect them to be a bit more nonchalant with the choice of abode." He shakes his head and I notice Oberyn is already set on leaving now that we have the location.
"Thank you, I appreciate this." We stand up and the man waves it off.
"No need friend, no need." a smile is all he offers before going back to some papers on his desk.
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"He seemed nice." I comment dryly, Oberyn snorts and pulls me along.
"He is alright, or at least was alright." I reach over and pinch his waist.
"Why are you so negative about my good family?" His eyes narrow before looking toward me with a wide smile.
"Rhaegar left you in the red keep with his crazy father, if not for a lion taking pity on you then you and your kids would have died. I won't forget that just because the terrible fate was avoided, they will pay and his family who was safe at Dragonstone are just as liable." I stop and pull his arm stopping him in place.
"Oberyn, Rhaella begged for us to be taken with her, Aerys took great joy in making sure she didn't get her way. Shaena was even struck when she talked back to her father, I have no ill will toward them. They were powerless to stop the madness and you have no right to blame them, I don't." He needs to get this through his thick skull, if he wants to be angry he should be angry at the real enemies. He lets out a sigh and looks up at the sky.
"Alright, I will try to forgive them, for you." I want to retort but I also know this is the best I will get at this point. I will just work on it with him from now on, he will have to put aside this pointless anger when we have real enemies who will kill my kids just for them drawing breath.
"Let's go." I nudge him and he nods and guides me once more.
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"It really is a tacky door." I comment once we make it.
"Yea, let's get this over with." He knocks on the door and we wait for a response, after a few minutes have passed he knocks again. "Are they not home?"
"I don't know." A noise is heard on the other side of the door, almost like something heavy is being moved. The door creaks open and I see a familiar face of an aged knight.
His eyes move over Oberyn first and then look at me and when his eyes meet mine they widen a bit.
"Elia?" I nod and the door opens a bit more as the Kingsguard steps out. "I see you made it safely." I nod and he looks back at Oberyn and seems to be checking him for weapons with his eyes.
"I only have a few daggers on me, didn't want to draw too much attention." Oberyn pulls out a knife and spins it around.
"You wouldn't mind handing them over before coming inside would you?" Oberyn shrugs and pulls out a few more and hands them to the knight. I look at him and cross my arms causing him to hiss in frustration and pull a few more out and hand them over. Ser Barristan gives me a thankful nod and an aged smile and opens the door for us. "Thank you for cooperating." A grunt escapes Oberyn and he slips past the man as I follow behind with a shake of my head.
A servant is standing Infront of us and bows.
"I will show you two where you will be meeting the Ladies of the house." we nod and follow behind but I wrap my arm around my brother to keep him close and calm.
We make our way through the small house and into a very spacious room that only has a table and some chairs and drinks. A few snacks are on a tray and I ignore all that when I see two familiar faces and feel happiness brewing inside me.
"Elia." My good mother smiles at me, the other almost rushes across the room and I have to let Oberyn go to make room for her. Her arms wrap around me and she squeezes me tight while rubbing her head into my neck. I have missed this.
"Hello Shaena, I am glad to see you." I look at Rhaella who looks almost ready to cry but keeps a straight face. I also spot a woman I didn't notice before as she leans against a wall with a curious gaze passing over my body.
Shaena releases me but keeps a hand on my arm like she is scared I will disappear. She looks where I keep taking glances and nods after seeing who I am looking at.
"That is Cynthia, she teaches the kids water dancing." A fierce blush crosses Shaenas face when this Cynthia woman raises an eyebrow toward her with a slight grin. I am sure she is teaching many things from what that look tells me.
A pair of arms wrap around me taking me from my less-than-appropriate thoughts and I notice it's my good mother this time.
"Since Shaena started the hugs I want mine." she says as she runs her hand through my hair and pulls me in tight with the other. "I missed you." I fight back the tears that have been threatening to come out when she pats me on the back.
"I missed you too." I nestle my head into her neck and feel grateful that not everyone is gone, it's good to see them again.