Sniffling as she clung to her mother, Elia couldn't believe how cruel her uncle was for forcing them to separate; she had not expected this after hearing that her mother was being banished for what Elia had done.
At first, she had held hope that meant that they'd leave the Sunspear together and live in her grandfather's keep until Oberyn ordered them to return; she held hope that her father would be outraged by how they were being treated.
I do not wish to go," Elia pleaded shaking her head, pulling back from her mother and looking up at her with tears starting to stream down her face.
She did not understand why they couldn't stay together nor why her uncle insisted on sending her to where that horrible woman was from; she just wanted to be with her mother and forget that her father had managed to save Amara.
While she did not know how he had managed such a thing, Elia had prayed that the Gods would take her; then her parents could be together like they had always been.
"I know but we must do as we are bid by the Prince," Ellaria told her daughter, she truly wished that things had worked out but she could admit defeat when she needed to.
As much as she had loved Oberyn, she knew that she had lost as soon as Elia had done what she had; all fingers had been pointed in her direction and without her deal with Doran then it was likely that someone would have been executed.
Ellaria wasn't sure whether it would have been her or Elia, even Oberyn wouldn't have been able to intercede on their part without facing a backlash.
Looking to the carriage that was set to take Elia to Fairmarsh, Ellaria prayed that her daughter would find kindness there; as there were no doubts in her mind exactly why Elia was being sent to Amara's family home.
Her daughter would be a political prisoner in all but name, should Ellaria's father press any claim against the royals or attempt to do what Elia had failed in then there were no doubts to Ellaria that her daughter would come to harm.
As much as she wished that Elia could come back to Hellholt with her, it was just not possible and Amara's righthand lady had been tasked with escorting Elia away from Sunspear to Fairmarsh.
Elia would be welcomed by Amara's brother and his wife, who from the letters that Ellaria had intercepted were only interested in what could benefit them from the marriage of Amara to Oberyn.
There was no word on how Ammett and Laerra had taken the news that Amara had been poisoned, other than the news that they had accepted Doran's order that Elia would come to stay with them.
Ellaria wasn't stupid, the word that she was too leave court and Elia was being sent to Fairmarsh had already spread throughout the court; there were many to point the finger and there were tales being spun that did not show her family in a good light.
Saying goodbye to her youngest children had been hard, they would remain here under the care of Amara and Ellaria hoped the other woman would not do as she would have.
If their roles had been reversed then Ellaria would have sort revenge by killing any child that Amara had left in the capital; she would have wanted the other woman to suffer.
"You must be brave now Elia and remember that you are my daughter, nothing will ever change that," Ellaria encouraged cupping her daughter's face, she didn't know when she would see her again and she prayed that this would not be the last time that they saw each other.
Brushing her thumbs against Elia's face, she stared at her trying to remember every detail of her face; no painting nor memory would ever do her daughter justice but they would have to do.
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Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
FanfictionSold off to the highest bidder by her brother, Amara Cantrell is forced to leave the place that she has called home all her life to head to the Sunspear ft. Oberyn Martell