The Brightest Sun

Chapter 11

First Snows: Elia
Chapter Text

The first clump of snow came flying above her head, Elia barely managing to duck beneath it.

They had woken to a blanket of snow covering the grounds, and the children had cheered at the sight. Gloucester had become progressively colder, and with them almost at the New Year it had been expected for some time.

She had been slightly baffled at the sight; winters in Dorne had not seen any snow so far south, merely a chill in the wind, but the world she found herself in constantly cycled through the seasons in an almost uniform pattern.

Harry had enthusiastically bundled the children in winter cloaks, stuffing them to the brim with warming charms that radiated a comfortable heat as he led them outside.

The past few days had been spent in the Wizengamot, his face lined with stress and anger whenever he returned from mandatory sessions. Teddy had told her his father spent a few times performing his duties, and seeing the weight he returned with she could see why he disliked them. If the outright staring did not bother him, than the difficulties of his position as well as his fame hampered him.

“Come on Papa!” Teddy shouted, hurling a handful of snow at Harry. Rhaenys stood next to Teddy giggling in delight as she scooped up snow and chased after Aegon, her son laughing as he threw himself behind Harry’s legs.

Rhaenys shrieked in laughter as Harry threw his arms around her, piling snow around the girl as Aegon made his way behind their makeshift fortress.

“Mama, look. Snow!” Aegon called, giggling as he attempted to throw the snow at Teddy. It fell flat, the older boy being too far, before Rhaenys suddenly yelled, “Charge!”

Elia found herself laughing at the surprise on Harry’s face as the children swarmed him, tackling him into the snow as even Aegon joined the pile.

He managed to shake them off, a flick of his hand building a solid wall of snow as he called, “Prepare yourselves!”

Laughing, he made his way to where Elia stood, raising another wall of snow as he began packing snow into balls.

“Enjoying yourself?” she asked, an amused lilt to her tone.

“I’ve been ambushed,” he laughed, green eyes sparkling in merriment. “I might just end up losing to them.”

She glanced over the wall at the children, unable to see them but knowing they were most likely packing snow as he was.

“How long do you reckon until they get tired?” he asked, shifting closer as he peered over the wall. A snowball came flying at them, and Harry laughed as he easily ducked beneath it, the clump of snow hitting her in the arm.

The cold was beginning to get to her as Elia felt herself shiver slightly, and the sudden draft of warmth let her know Harry had noticed.

“I’m fine,” she told him, waving off his concern. “Don’t use me as an excuse to lose against the children Harry.”

He looked offended at the thought, eyes flashing in challenge as she smirked in amusement.

“It’s getting dark out anyhow,” he murmured, green eyes glinting. “I suppose it’s time to finish this.”

They were bombarded with handfuls of snow, Teddy obviously using his magic to help fling it harder and faster. She felt the hand on hers, yanking her down so she was sat beneath the wall next to him.

“I imagine you don’t want a face full of snow Princess,” he teased, though she had the last laugh as he stuck his head out only to be hit with two successive snowballs.