The Brightest Sun

Chapter 7

Rhaenys's first time flying had Elia worried, much as she said she trusted Harry's words, but she had joyed at seeing her daughter so carefree. King's Landing had been a den of snakes waiting to remove what little childhood she had.

Harry had been present, the cooling weather outside and constant rain over the past fortnight had kept them inside, and he had commandeered the ballroom for that day. There were no portraits hanging about, and James Potter had been so terribly disappointed at not seeing the children fly he had gone to wallow elsewhere, Lily merely rolling her eyes at his dramatics.

Rhaenys's purple eyes had been aglow with delight as she whipped around the room. Harry stood near with his wand in hand in case of an accident, though he had reassured her that the likelihood of that happening was very slim.

Still, he had apparently used cushioning charms on the floor and walls in case they fell.

She had been so preoccupied with Rhaenys's sheer glee at flying, the little girl rambling as she shared her joy, that Aegon had managed to walk over to the broom and get on.

It had been Teddy's shout that alerted them, and Elia's heart had very nearly stopped at the sight of Aegon flying. Harry still had his wand in hand, but there had been an odd smile on his face, and as Rhaenys and Teddy chased after the laughing boy, their cheers encouraging him, Elia whirled on her host.

"You saw him get on," she hissed, eyes flashing in anger.

"Princess?" he asked, confusion on his face but for the glint in his eyes.

"You let Aegon fly that broom," she said coldly, and the infuriating man merely smiled at her.

"He's a natural. They both are," he said, head tilting to the children, the three laughing in delight. "I don't think I'd be able to keep him away from it after he saw Rhaenys fly."

She saw red, and it was through sheer force that she kept from striking him. Images flashed through her mind of Aegon, face unrecognizable from his head having been smashed, and she felt nauseated fury at the thought.

"I'll not tolerate your carelessness near my children," she seethed.

Elia had nearly died bringing her son into the world, had nearly lost both children to the Sack of King's Landing, and she was in no mood to allow a careless wizard to harm her children.

His face changed, the small smile disappearing as his features hardened into a cold mask. It reminded her of the night they first met, this man she had thought a skilled killer, yet she refused to back down.

"Careless," he said lowly, green eyes darkened in anger. "Is that what you think?"

"What other word would you use to describe your actions? Irresponsible? Malicious?" she pressed, a vicious delight passing through her as she saw his anger grow.

The air was crackling with energy; something primal swirling in the depths of his eyes before he suddenly closed them as he breathed in deeply. When next he opened them, Harry's green eyes were blank and she could not tell what he was thinking, though she could feel his anger as something heavy lingered in the room.

The children had come closer at some point, an apprehensive look on their faces as Teddy warily approached his father.

"Papa?" he questioned.

"Just an adult conversation, Teddy," Harry said to his son, a false smile on his lips. His eyes were still cold, and Elia stepped back to grab Aegon before ushering Rhaenys from the room.

Dinner that evening had been an awkward affair, and lunch the next day had nearly been unbearable, though thankfully he had proved capable of masking his emotions from the children. The three youngest were relieved at the seeming lack of tension, happily recounting their flying experiences as they ate, and Harry had continued to be a constant presence as he worked on whatever it was a magical lord was responsible for.