Who: Kaelyn, Elia Where: the queen's chambers When: Afternoon, day 69 Rating: PG13 Status: Complete- IM log.
Kaelyn regarded the lady before her. She had heard that Elia of Dorne was held as the lesser beauty when compared to her sister Aeria but it took no imagination to see how Elia had been crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty so often, even if she had not been the heiress to Dorne few lords could ignore her. A pity she’s a whore. “Princess Elia, I am glad to see you are well.”
Elia curtsied. Kaelyn Stark was not on her list of favorite people, but she couldn’t help pitying the lady so obviously out of her element and now bereft of her children as well. “Your Grace, I am honored to be invited. But I fear your messenger did not mention sewing, else I would have brought my work.”
She didn’t miss the spark of pity in the lady’s eyes. Kaelyn’s back straightened. “That is no matter, my lady. Here, you may help me with mine.”
Elia sat without obvious reluctance and took up the other side of the tapestry. The maid fixed a hoop on the area and gave her a set of needles. Elia smiled sweetly and thanked the Seven her brothers couldn’t see this. They’d choke themselves with laughing. “Has there been any news at all of Lady Celia or the little princesses?” She asked after a long silence.
Kaelyn wniced and nearly stabbed her finger with a needle. “No, none,” she said mildly. “I fear we are all here only waiting the latest searchers’ reports. Lord Polonius told me you have always enjoyed sewing- I admit I was surprised you did not prefer the hunt or other such things as my goodsister Lyanora does.”
Polonius had more likely said Elia traveled with her sewing needles, she thought bitterly. Damn spider. “Indeed, my lady. I find the patterns can often help calm the mind and let one think more evenly.” It was the same lie Aeria had often told. “But I fear the dancing master has much of my time as I can spare from my other duties.”
Duties? What duties? She was unmarried and spoiled beyond measure. Perhaps she thought that planning a party or cavorting half naked constituted a duty. Perhaps it did in Dorne. “Ah yes, I believe you’ve stolen the castle’s former dancing master?” Kaelyn smiled.
Stolen him? The man had been all but fired since the Starks apparently had no thought for dances or entertainments. Fools. Idle nobles only brooded on old slights, old grudges, or new plots. “I fear you have caught me. I apologize for it, but he was a favorite of my sister’s and taught me much as a child. “
Of course, remind everyone that your family is more closely related to the Targaryens, that you know this castle, that we are the interlopers. “It is quite understandable, princess. We all have such lingering fondness for our childhood homes… and he is a good teacher. I am glad he will be with Genna in Sunspear. It is… difficult to remember I shall not be managing her education.”
Elia smiled. Genna’s stars were kind to let her escape that fate. “I promise you, my lady, your daughter will want for nothing. The Water Gardens holds a number of wise teachers, and Genna will have her own tutors as part of her household, of course. If there are any particulars you wish to have addressed, I’ll be happy to see it is included.”
A pity Lyanora’s arrow hadn’t hit her, Kaelyn mused. Elia would have been dead and the Dornish would have made swift work of Lya. Gods, where did these thoughts keep coming from? She hadn’t always hated Lyanora had she? No, it had been easier in Winterfell; it hadn’t mattered… but here…
“Thank you, Princess Elia.” I’d like to address you not turning my daughter into a Dornish slattern. “I confess I am concerned for Genna’s faith. Our family has never followed the Seven and there are no Godswoods in Dorne, are there?”
How very simplistic. “I fear not,” Elia said with a troubled frown. “But we have gardens and courtyards. I could have one set aside for Genna’s use. Weirwoods are not likely to grow in Dornish sand.” Thank the Seven. Elia had never found weirwood to be anything other than unsettling and alien.
A courtyard? Well, it was something. “That would be a lovely idea, lady.” Kaelyn made herself smile and turned back to her work. "Maege, please hand me that purple thread..."