Baelon The Cruel And His Queen Of Love And Beauty || ASOIAF

Chapter Three

It was as if he could sense its arrival before it materialized.

Baelon found himself strolling alongside Elia and her young spawn, who had expressed her desire to venture into the gardens and play with her sticks and mud. Initially, he had no intention of accompanying them, already growing weary of his niece's constant presence. However, when Elia requested his company, he simply couldn't refuse the future queen of Westeros.

The little girl toddled ahead, her maid dutifully by her side, while Elia and Baelon walked together in harmony. The atmosphere exuded tranquility, and Baelon himself felt a sense of serenity wash over him.

But then, abruptly, the air shifted. A sinister presence seemed to materialize in the gardens, seemingly emerging out of thin air.

"Elia," the voice called out, prompting her to pause in her steps and scan the surroundings, attempting to identify the person who had called out her name.

Baelon observed as a radiant smile illuminated her face, her dimples prominently displayed. "Oberyn," she exclaimed joyfully. The object of Elia's affection approached them with confident strides, his yellow robes adorned with House Martell's golden suns billowing in the wind. He halted right in front of the pair and enveloped Elia in a warm embrace, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Elia giggled. "Oberyn, I saw you just yesterday. Is such affection truly necessary?" she playfully teased.

Oberyn pulled himself from the hug, flashing one of his mischievous smiles. "What? Can't I give my sister a hug?"

Elia rolled her eyes in response.

The Princess of Dorne glanced at Baelon, then shifted her gaze back to Oberyn. "Oberyn, you remember Prince—" she began to say, intending to remind Oberyn of Baelon's presence.

However, before Elia could complete her sentence, the mischievous man swiftly bypassed Baelon and called out for his niece. "Rhaenys!" the Dornishman exclaimed.

A surge of betrayal coursed through Baelon as he witnessed Rhaenys running towards him. Disappointment and disapproval escaped his lips in the form of a sigh, as he watched his niece babble excitedly in Oberyn's presence.

He is not a good influence, Baelon thought to himself.

Oberyn scooped up the little girl into his arms, playfully tossing her towards the sky. Rhaenys giggled, blissfully unaware of any potential danger.

"Oby!" Rhaenys squealed in delight. So she gave him a nickname?

A sense of satisfaction washed over Baelon as Elia scolded her brother.

"Oberyn, don't do that. You could drop her," she reprimanded, striding over to her daughter and brother to retrieve Rhaenys. In a moment of clumsiness, Elia nearly dropped Rhaenys onto the ground, but Baelon quickly stepped forward, catching the child before she hit the ground.

"You shouldn't carry her anymore. She's too big for you, especially when you're heavy with child," Baelon suggested, gently wrestling the girl from his arms. However, Rhaenys clung to him tightly, and Baelon couldn't find it in his heart to drop her in front of Elia.

He knew she would despise such an act. Yes, she would hate me if I dropped her spawn onto the ground.

So he held onto the little girl in his arms, her constant stream of random words providing some amusement as the foursome continued their walk through the garden.

"Ugly!" the little girl yelled, pointing at a girl nearby. Baelon and Oberyn burst into laughter, while Elia appeared mortified, swiftly lowering Rhaenys' pointing finger.