Stelsa, the girl crafted from the broken leftovers from the Gods, is far from the expectations of a normal lady. Her father, Aaeron Meryls, and her uncles sought to train her in the way of the blade. Many whisper about her origin - is she bastard li...
"It was easier to turn a blind eye when it was not happening TO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE."
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RHAENYRA WATCHED AS STELSA shifting her arm slowly, adjusting Joffrey's head into the crook of her elbow, "He looks... odd." The comment makes Rhaenyra giggle softly, her heart warming at the sight before her. Rhaenyra rubs her thumb over her newest son's head, looking down at the bundle in Stelsa's arms. He had been a relatively easy baby like Luke, but Rhaenyra sensed he would have his moments like Jace.
"All babies look odd after birth." Rhaenyra tells Stelsa, looking up from her son to her. Stelsa had not taken her eyes off of the baby the moment Rhaenyra guided him into her arms. It was something Rhaenyra noticed she did more recently — kept an eye on those around her. A pang runs through Rhaenyra's heart at that thought. She moves and sits down in the chair behind her once Stelsa was situated with Joffrey. A wise man flees the storm. That is what Leanor had said when she told him of Harwin's departure. It had been weeks now, and Lord Strong was set to arrive by nightfall. Yet those words haunted her every step.
What if it meant leaving behind men? What if fleeing meant leaving behind her? Rhaenyra shook those thoughts from her mind. No. Stelsa was one of her children, the last piece of Ilya she had. The moment Stelsa had been placed in her arms, she vowed to protect her. How could she do that far away? No. Rhaenyra would brave this storm that brewed on the shorelines of their home. She is a dragon after all. Through the harshest of rain, the windiest of storms, Rhaenyra would remain. Nothing would keep her away from her children. Nothing.
Rhaenyra took a moment to imagine Dragonstone, the dragons etched into its pillars above the mountain. A safe haven away from King's Landings horrors to raise her children safely. The image of Jace being chased by Stelsa around the halls entered her mind — the two could make it their home as they had here. Wherever those two landed, Rhaenyra was sure they would make it work. As long as they are with each other. Rhaenyra wondered what they would be like if time ever separated them. Would they forget each other? Would they mourn for the other? Feel betrayed? Rhaenyra hoped not. Those two had long walked the path with each other. Luke, her sweet boy, would follow their lead and Joffrey was a baby. He would only know the halls of Dragonstone as home, but he would never have to deal with snakes nipping at his heels. Rhaenyra sighed, eyes still locked on the quiet baby and Stelsa. She could propose the idea to her father, but the council would find it odd. Why must she leave to Dragonstone? Rhaenyra could hear it now — the accusations that cling to the tips of their tongues. They would not dare speak them to her or her father, but they would whisper them behind closed doors. She would need people here to listen to them, but she could not bear to part with any of them. Aaeron, Rhyk, Aba, and Stelsa. They had lost a member of their family just weeks ago, and Rhaenyra was determined to keep that from happening again. It already messed with Stelsa and Jace - her precious children.
It would look like Rhaenyra was hiding something too, leaving after the incident in the training yard and Harwin's departure. The snakes may bite at her heels, but that is all they can do. She was the heir to the Iron Throne and would one day be queen. They would need a serpent to swallow her whole, and Rhaenyra doubted Alicent could ever rise to that. Rhaenyra felt a pang of guilt thinking of her old friend in such a way, but that was all Alicent was now. An old friend.
