Shattered Rubies

Chapter 6

Walking the halls of the Keep felt  different to Elinor, she lived here, grew up here and yet now of felt different. People wandering around.

Where were they when they took her son?

Where were all of them when she watched her son scream for her?

Where were they?

She felt numb, she cried, screamed, threw things and when Aegon told her he killed the murderer she felt some sort of joy that he was no longer breathing air. Maybe she even wanted to kill him herself.

She burnt the black clothing the night before, burnt them and watched. Now all she wore was green, green for her son, green for her daughter, green for Aegon, green because now she wanted more than revenge, she wanted them all dead.

As she walked up the stairs, Maelora tightly holding her hand, Elinor was quite happy that Maelora didn't understand what happened, that Maelora was not as traumatized as she was.

She smiled down at Maelora, she smiled  back a toothy smile, as Elinor looked up she saw Aegon walking down, two Kingsguard behind him.

She was now appointed a Sworn Protector and so was Maelora. Aegon became overprotective with his girls, his precious girls.

Elinor stopped in the middle of the stairs, looking at Aegon, waiting for him to say something but all he did was kiss her cheek, kiss Maelora's cheek and walk off.

Elinor nodded, she knew it was hard for him to show his grief, that he was putting up a shield so no one might see his broken self. She understood.

"Say bye to daddy" Elinor whispered to Maelora, who turned around and waved, "Bye daddy" Aegon turned around, "Bye sweetheart, I'll come read you a story tonight ok?"

Maelora nodded her head and smiled happily and the two walked up the stairs, towards her bed chamber, where Vaegon's crib was being taken out.

Elinor's footsteps slowed down the closer she got to the room, the sound of things being dismantled, covers being drawn off.

Elinor finally reached the room, and just as she thought Vaegon's things were being taken out, his things packed away. Slowly she entered her chambers, her eyes not leaving the busy men.

Taking Maelora into her arms she went over to sit on her bed, keeping Maelora's head from everything as Elinor watched them.

One of Vaegon's toys rolled over to her, it kicked against her foot, slowly she picked it up, her thumb slid over the wood, knowing Vaegon's little fingers were on it.

She took in a shallow breath, hoping that tears would not fall, even though they brimmed her eye, "Ma" Maelora whispered as she turned around, noticing the toy, Maelora took it into her hand.

"May I?" Elinor asked a squire holding a box of wooden toys, bowing the squire handed the box to Elinor. She placed Maelora onto the bed and stood up, taking the box.

She sadly looked down at the box and took in a breath, making her way over to a chest, filled with Vaegon's blankets and clothing.

Slowly Elinor placed toys into the chest, her hand brushing in the process, she missed him, gravely, desperately, yet she couldn't have him.

Loosing Aelora was nothing compared to loosing Vaegon, she got to know him, his touch, that she'll never get to feel again, his smile, she'll never see again, his giggle, that she'd never hear again.

Vaegon, that she'll never see again.

Her boy, her precious boy.