Sisterly chat Who: Aeria Martell, Elia Martell When: May 22 What: A discussion Where: the queen's garden Rating: PG-13 Status: Closed.
Elia stood by the fountain, half-turned toward the door. She was waiting for her sister, and with each passing moment her muscles felt tighter, as if tensing up to run. She tried to concentrate on the fountains and the play of water in sunlight, the sound of them… but for once it did not soothe her. Instead the memories of the Water Gardens it evoked were bittersweet and tinged with worry. Myrwin lay all but dead- Jaehaerys urged her to mourn him even now and even though she feared her king was right, she could not bear it. Her brother would make sense of this, would calm Aeria, would tell Elia what the best course was… he would. Once. And now… A sound beyond that of water and breezes caught her ear and she turned.
“Good morning, sweet sister.” Aeria kept her voice pleasant as she entered the courtyard, her skirts rustling with each step. She swept over the threshold and toward the fountain where the younger woman stood. In the light, Elia’s eyes were nearly incandescent- she truly was a beautiful girl, her little sister. Beautiful and naïve. What had Jaehaerys done? “You know why I sent for you?” she asked Elia.
It felt like some bizarre continuation of the lessons Aeria had so often conducted for her and Jaers. Elia looked away from her sister’s too-knowing eyes. “You want to know my answer for Lord Tully’s son.” She took a breath before she continued. “My queen, you have my answer: our king has announced that he and I shall wed.”
Annoyance flashed in Aeria’s eyes. “You are both children,” she snapped, “playing games you do not understand—“ she stopped herself. The lash would do no good here. “You must obey me, Elia. I am not asking this as your sister but as your Princess: We need the Tully’s swords. There are too many flowers, and our other allies are too far afield should need arise.”
Elia regarded her sister with more calm than she felt. She had spent her life obeying Aeria, Myrwin, Henry , all without question for love and for duty but now she shook her head and held her ground. Jaehaerys was right: she was only a pawn for them. “I’ll have none of your precious trout, Aeria. If you want to go fishing, find outher bait. Karlyx, perhaps, or you could marry the Riverlord yourself.”
“Don’t test me, Elia.” Aeria fought to keep her composure lest she slap her sister. What in the mother’s name was wrong with the girl? Her eyes narrowed. This had rather a scent of dragon to it. “I don’t wish to lose a sister as well as a brother.”
“That is up to you, your grace, but I will marry the king and no one else.” Elia kept her voice even, but just barely. Aeria meant it- it was right there in her sister’s expression.
“Then you will do it without a dowry, without my blessing, and without an rights to Sunspear or to the protection of House Martell.” Aeria spoke in tones that brooked no argument .
“If that is your wish, my princess, then so be it.” I won’t cry, Elia swore. I won’t.
Aeria studied her sister’s face and added, “Your Dornish retinue will reture to Sunspear after the wedding.”
Elia nodded. “Of course.” She bowed her head meekly and kept her thoughts on breathing and holding the tears at bay.
Aeria eyed her little sister. This was not like Elia to give up without a fight, without a tantrum. She should be gnashing her teeth, yelling loud enough to be heard in Ashai, and muttering Lyseni curses under her breath… but that might yet come. Perhaps she was waiting til she was in her rooms? Myrwin was so much better at reading the child. Aeria sighed- she’d come to rely on him too much, especially in matters concerning their sibling. She pulled out the last card she had: “What would Myrwin say to all this, Elia?”
She winced at her sister’s question, shying away from it for a moment. “He… he would be pleased to be a brother to two queens and tell you to make nice with Lord Baratheon and seduce Lord Tully. Or vice versa, if it pleased you.”
“Elia.” She gritted her teeth. “He would tell you to act less like a childish brat and obey.”
“Or all of that, all at once?” She tried to smile but it didn’t work. “Besides, I am a childish brat. It’s best if I act honestly.”
“Leave me, ‘Lia.” Aeria sighed. “Be glad I’m not ordering Ser Arron and Lord Santagar to drag you back to Sunspear by the heels and lock you in the Spear Tower.”
Elia watched her sister for a moment. She almost spoke again, offered another remark, an apology but she thought better of it. Instead she curtseyed and hurried through the door, disappearing back into the halls of the Red Keep.
Aeria watched her go and closed her eyes against the image of her sister’s figure being swallowed by the dark and gloom of the building. I didn’t want this for you, she thought. A safe, dull life in Riverrun- children and a muddy but placid husband. Better that life for you, sweet, silly Elia… She rubbed her neck and turned her thoughts to other matters. There was Selester to see about, and Polonius would need to get word to Tyrith of course. Oh and there would need to be a party sometime soon to distract everyone from just how boring Kings Landing could be… She too turned and went back into the building. And last but not least, I must remember to throttle my son.