Chương 27: To Dorne
Decision to make for all of you. Should he have a dragon? Dragons?
"Princess Elia." I said lowering my head.
"Lord Dustin." Our relationship got a bit different after the memorable day few years back.
Not good or bad just... clean? Pure? That might be the word I was looking for.
We both knew what we were playing for and what to expect from each other. It didn't mean that there was no closeness between us.
It's more like we knew what the other party was capable off and felt the goodwill from both sides.
Even if I was not her match, my mother was a clear deterrent for her.
"It's time to get you home..." I said with a smile and watched as the tears dropped down her face. It was one of the moments when she showed her true feelings.
I watched as she sobbed, came closer to me and hugged me tightly.
"Big brother!" a shout came just as the doors opened and little princess slammed into me.
"Did we disturb something little lord?" Lady Ashara still had her mischievous smirk as always ready to play pranks with her little accomplice Rhae.
"You're going home sister." Ser Arthur that was close to us smiled and told the ladies.
We gave them time to process the information while sitting on the sofa.
"Tomorrow morning we will board my ship from Neverwinter and leave for Dorne. Please ask the servants to pack your things. It's time to reunite you with your family." I smiled and got up. I need to get ready as well.
We left Neverwinter as planned. 89 carracks with a a shadow onboard, filled with goods left the port in a neat formation just after the sun came up with my Sea Glory in the lead.
The rest of our fleet was out all the time between Essos and Westeros transporting good, but it was still enough for our purpose and the spices run to Yi Ti after I disembark in Meereen.
"That's a beautiful ship you have here little lord." Princes Elia came up to me while I was watching the sunset.
"Princess." I stopped calling her aunt long ago. "Is there anything I can do for you?" I turned my head while leaning on the rail and looked at her beautiful face.
"Do you regret saving us?" She leaned next to me as well watching the setting sun slowly hide behind the horizon.
"No. Not even for a moment..." I was convinced about my decision.
"You know there will always be and probably even a lot of people that would say you made a mistake by saving us if they found out about that. That you risked your whole family and endangered everyone you love. Or that you simply wanted to own me and my daughter..." I looked at her when she said the last sentence but she was still keeping her eyes watching the painting the nature painted before us.
"I do admit that you are a beautiful woman and I'm attracted to you. I wouldn't mind bedding you when I grow up. Hell! That would be great!" I laughed to myself ashamed to look at her.
"Maybe I would let you, you know." Well that escalated quickly and if not for her laugh and mischievous smile on her face when I glimpsed at her I would believe her.
I think it's the first heartfelt conversation we had in years.
"You know Princess... I will write my own life story the way I want it too be written. No one will tell me how to do something if they don't have the guts to write their own stories." I smiled a bit and said fuck you in my mind to everyone who would want to control me. "We live in a dangerous, but at the same time magical world, almost like a fairytale, fantasy or fiction. But it's our world. I'm sure I will make a lot of mistakes in my life, no one is perfect after all, they can advise and support me or they can fuck off. I'm not keeping anyone by my side with force." She turned her head shocked and met my eyes. "It's my story Princess Elia..." I smiled at her. "You watched me for the last three years, you know what kind of person I am. I suck at scheming and prefer to fight head on. But what about you? You showed your... "talent" few years back." She was hesitating if I read her body language correctly.
There was only silence between us, but it was still nice to spend time with her with the sound of waives and sea breeze brushing our faces.
"When I was young I always dreamed of marrying a prince on white stallion. Give him children and rule happily by his side." She laughed in depreciation. "When I thought my dreams came true it was too late to realize that it was a snake pit that I came inside of.
Scorn because of dark hair and olive skin by my new family. Used, abandoned and divorced by my husband that I loved with all my heart." She met my eyes. "When Rhae was born you know that the Mad King was furious that she had black hair? He didn't even speak to her. You all are more of her family than the Targaryens ever were. The rumors and schemes behind my back. When you live like that can you relax and let go?" She was crying.
"No. You can not..." I said feelings sorry for her and patted her back gently. "Look at the sun princess, tell me what do you see?" I said and she did just that.
"Setting sun?" She asked while cleaning her tears from her face.
"Aye, that too, but what I see is the end of something and inevitable beginning of something else that will come with the next sunrise..." I grabbed her hand. "You are not alone Elia." It was the first time I called her by her name. I could feel her body tensing for a moment when I gently said her name. "You have people that will be there for you when you need them. All you have to do is ask." I squeezed her hand and she placed her other one on my and did the same.
She looked at our hands and asked.
"Are you one of these people Brendan?" she waited for my reply.
"Aye. That I am."
After that sunset she was like a different woman, all the pretentiousness was gone. Like her shell just got broken and everyone close to her could see it.
Her smile was real, her anger was real and her feelings were real.
The years of torture and keeping guard up in Red Keep finally drifted away with that sunset.
The other thing that surprised everyone was that we called each other by names.
"We will be arriving in Dorne soon my lord." Ser Arthur came into my cabin when I was checking the notes from my Valyrian language lessons with ex slave Volantis tutor that was bought and freed by my people during one of their merchant trips.
"Thank you Ser Arthur." I was still checking my writing, but didn't hear him leave so I lifted my head and he stood there clearly wanting to say something. "You know I can't read minds Ser Arthur so is there something you want to say to me?" I placed my chin on my hands.
"My lord... it's... it's about little princess..." I heard him and was curious what the little prankster did now.
"What did she do now and how much will it cost me?" I said preparing for the worst.
"Are you planning on marrying her my lord?" Well that was not something I expected him to ask.
"No Ser Arthur. I want to marry..." I could see him waiting with anticipation for my answer.
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