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The Brightest Sun by Witless Maester
 Harry Potter & A song of Ice and Fire Xover Rated: T, English, [Harry P., Elia M.], Words: 216k+, Favs: 2k+, Follows: 2k+, Published: Feb 24 Updated: Jul 10 431Chapter 39: Interlude: Egg, Rhae and Teddy II
Unknown Time
Rhaenys
She woke on a bed of sand, the grains falling through her fingers as Rhaenys struggled to sit up, the breath knocked out of her. Egg was lying on the floor next to her, Maia squirming in his arms as Teddy groaned in pain.
"Mama!" Maia called, the little girl crying as she searched for their mother, her knee digging into Egg's side as she scrambled off him.
"Come here Maia," she said, grabbing hold of her before Maia could start screaming her displeasure. "It's okay. You're fine."
"Rhae, where's Papa?"
Rhae closed her eyes, heart aching in pain for her sister – for them all – as she thought of where their father might be, what he might be dealing with.
"He'll be here soon," she answered firmly. She walked in small circles, seeing Egg continue to lie on the floor even as Iacomus's hulking body nudged him, their mother standing closest to Auriga.
He had to be fine; Herakles Potter-Black was not the type to renege on his word, and Rhae had to believe that he would find them – no matter what lay in his path – that he wouldn't remain trapped in the Wizarding World. Maia would not be left calling for a father that would not return.
"Where are we?" Teddy asked, eyes darting around their surroundings.
The sea was spread out in front of them, waves crashing softly against the sand as a cool breeze drifted across the water. Rhae tightened her hold on Maia, moving closer to Auriga's warmth as she tucked her sister beneath her cloak.
"The Water Gardens," Mum told them, an odd note in her tone as her eyes stared at something far off into the distance.
It was there, visible underneath the pale light of the moon that Rhae could make out the hint of a castle of some sort, pale walls glowing softly in the night.
"What now?" Rhae asked, turning to her mother.
There was no hint of fear or grief in Elia Martell's face, nothing but the barest hint of sadness and wistfulness, and even that was covered by the steely determination in her dark eyes.
"We find a way inside," Mum answered, a contemplative look on her face as she looked at them. Teddy was already moving, face shifting to look more like their mother's when she shook her head.
"Keep your natural form, Teddy," she said, and Rhae felt her brother's hesitation.
Teddy's face returned to the sharper image of their father's, hair sitting in unruly curls and his skin lightening until it mimicked the lightly bronzed hue he and Aegon usually sported in the summer.
"Is it safe to go?" Rhae asked, glancing once more at the castle – palace, she corrected herself – seeing the openness to it. She could probably have Auriga bring them closer, the dragon's scales blending in with the night, but Rhae felt uncomfortable at the thought of leaving them so exposed.
"The Water Gardens represents all of Dorne," Mum answered softly, "and Dorne is ever loyal to her children."
"We'll fly closer," Rhaenys said, moving to hand Maia over to Teddy as Auriga prepared herself. Egg and Teddy would fly behind with Iacomus before sending the dragon into hiding in the mountains that lay to the west, and Auriga would join them once she had taken the three closer.
She climbed on top of Auriga, feeling the small thrill that she got each time she prepared to fly, Teddy handing her Maia as he helped their mother climb up, scrambling on behind Egg as Iacomus spread his wings.
Fly, Auriga, she thought, feeling the Horntail respond as she carried them away.
They pulled to a stop closer to the palace, their mother pointing out a place large enough for them. The sun was almost rising, a faint hint of light on the horizon, and Rhae climbed of Auriga with the others before sending her away, dark wings flapping gently as Iacomus followed her higher up into the sky where they could be mistaken for birds.
"You'll have to walk the rest of the way," Mum told Teddy, her hand on his shoulder as he nodded firmly. "Once you are inside the palace, look for the castellan. Doran might have another, but many of the servants will have been from my time at the Water Gardens."
"What if we're not in the right time?" Teddy asked, lifting Maia into his arms.
"I trust your father did the ritual correctly," Mum answered.
She'd not thought of that possibility, and Rhae felt her stomach clench at the thought of possibly returning to Westeros when it was embroiled in war.
Teddy
He shifted nervously, swallowing his fear as he held Maia in his arms. The little girl wanted to explore their surroundings, but Teddy had strict instructions that he was meant to carry out now that the sun was high enough.
If his uncles were present it would be easier, but most likely it would be a Martell castellan or servant that had known his mother when she was a young girl and would recognize her in Maia.
They walked to the gates, a pair of guards standing ramrod straight with tall spears in hand. They glanced at them, and Teddy shifted before he motioned to Maia. Before he could speak, they opened the gates, ushering him inside with a short, "Find the castellan and inform him of your arrival."
Teddy nodded, murmuring his thanks as he entered, aware of the various eyes on him. There were guards placed at every corner, an odd placement considering the light atmosphere here. The Water Gardens was an apt name; smoothly paved roads lined the path to the large palace, walls separating the different sections, and Teddy weaved his way through the walking gardens and one of the small pools, seeing children of an age with Maia playing joyously.
"I want to swim, Teddy," Maia pouted, watching the others splash about.
"Not yet, Maia," he told her. "Soon, once Mum comes inside."
Maia stared at him with identical green eyes before she nodded, seemingly agreeing to his words.
If only I believed it, he thought wryly, though hopefully their new surroundings would force Maia to heed his words.
He came across the palace proper, wide arches leading to the outer patio and the great doors that lay beyond. There was a short line of people entering the palace, parents with their children as they brought them to foster.
He shuffled forward, holding Maia closer as he saw the man waiting at the door to the palace.
"Apologies, my lord," a woman said, her hand settling on Teddy's shoulder as she steadied herself.
Teddy turned to apologize before he froze, eyes widening in surprise at the purple orbs locked onto Maia's face.
He had seen enough of his mother's memories to know who she was, and her intent stare at Maia – her eyes flashing with recognition and hopeful sadness and something else, darker – was enough to convince him he was right.
Very few Dornish had seen Rhae as a baby, but Ashara Dayne had been his mother's companion and if anyone could recognize Maia's features, it would be her.
"Apologies, my lady," Teddy said, flushing slightly.
"Is this your first time at the Gardens?" she asked, eyes glancing between Teddy and Maia as she picked out the features they shared in common.
"Yes. My mother wished for me to bring my sister," he told her.
She smiled slightly, face devoid of anything he could see to gauge her thoughts before she gestured to the palace. "Your mother? Is she not with you?"
"No," he said firmly, eyes warily staring around him. His mother trusted these people, was certain Dorne would never turn hostile to them, but Teddy was still a bit leery after their harrowing escape.
Lady Ashara led him inside the palace, the wide hall adorned with tapestries and candle fixtures. The inside reflected the sandy exterior, and Teddy could see why his mother spoke so fondly of the place.
"Unfortunate that," she said, leading him up a set of stairs. "No matter, we shall have you settled in a room before someone comes to confirm your sister's presence."
"I'm sorry," he said, halting slightly. "Who are you?"
Her smile grew, a twinkle in her purple eyes as she gave a fluid curtsy, "Lady Ashara Dayne."
"A pleasure, my lady," he said, placing Maia on the ground so he could bow, hand outstretched for hers and placing a soft kiss on her knuckled. "I am Edward."
"Who is this little one?"
She was smiling at Maia, the little girl curtsying proudly as she introduced herself. "Maia Andromeda Potter-Black."
Teddy stifled the urge to roll his eyes, smiling indulgently as he saw his sister beaming at their mother's old friend.
She led them to a large room, unlike anything he had expected in the palace, and Teddy relaxed slightly. He had done it; he'd found someone friendly who would make sure the right people knew. Hopefully, he thought.
They were summoned some hours after they had arrived.
A servant had brought a platter of food to them, and Teddy had made sure to taste everything before he handed it to Maia, ignoring the irritated stare she sent him. He'd kept watch, exhausted as Maia slept, his eyes bouncing between the view of the pools and the door, waiting to hear from the guards no doubt posted outside.
Lady Ashara brought them to another room, this one opulent and clearly meant for the likes of the Martell family. There was a guard, tall and hulking, his hands on the shaft of his axe as he stood in place behind an older man seated on a wheelchair, a large blanket covering his legs.
He didn't see any other guards; just the two men, Lady Ashara and another woman, of an age with his parents who's eyes remained fixated on Maia's face.
The man in the wheelchair wore an orange doublet, the spear and sun of House Martell etched into the breast, and Teddy felt his breath catch at seeing familiar dark eyes.
"Prince Doran, might I introduce Lord Edward and his sister, Lady Maia Andromeda Potter-Black."
He was staring at Maia, slowly watching the little girl take a curious step and Teddy gripped her hand tightly, unwilling to let go.
"We shall not harm your sister," he said, dark eyes glancing at Teddy. "In Dorne, we do not harm children."
He must have read something in Teddy's face because he raised a hand, his guard taking a step back.
He let Maia go, his sister wavering for a moment before her curiosity won out. She stepped closer to Prince Doran, moving closer to him as she asked, "Are you okay?"
He blinked, glancing curiously at Teddy as he hastily explained her meaning before smiling. "I am well. You remind me very much of my niece, Rhaenys."
"That's my sister's name," Maia told him, "and you have the same name as Mama's brother."
Teddy watched with baited breath as Doran Martell reached a hand to Maia, the little girl climbing onto his lap as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Your mother…" Lady Ashara trailed off, hope in her eyes as she watched Doran wipe a tear from his eyes.
"Alive," he told them.
Aegon
He leaned against the tree, thankful it provided some shade as he watched his mother pace anxiously, glancing every so often at the palace.
They sat covered by the bushes, a small grove of trees about a third of a league away from the palace walls providing more cover as he picked at a blood orange.
Maia and Teddy had been gone for hours, the sun beginning it's descent after battering them for hours. Egg was a jumbled mess of emotions; worry for his siblings and father the most prominent.
I'll never forgive myself if something happens to them, he thought, burning the peeled skin in a whoosh of flame.
"Careful, unless you want to burn the tree down as well," Rhae joked, dropping down to sit next to him.
Egg flinched, hands clenched tightly to the charred remains of the blood orange as he turned to glance at the palace once more.
"Egg," Rhae said softly, her hand grabbing hold of his. "Aegon. It's not your fault."
"They saw me Rhae," he said lowly, self-loathing evident in his tone. "They saw me; not you, not Mum, not even Papa with his, but me. Why wouldn't it be my fault?"
His father was missing, no longer with them as he had been for as long as Egg could remember. Papa had been a constant in his life, and that they were now in Westeros while their father dealt with whatever the Wizarding World threw at him was entirely his fault.
"Did you start the fire?" she snapped lowly, not wanting to grab their mother's attention. They had their wands, but the feel of a silencing ward, as sluggish as their magic felt, would get her attention quickly.
"I didn't have to—"
"Save someone's life?" she asked sarcastically. Rhae's eyes were glowing slightly, her emotions no doubt spilling over to Auriga, and Egg sighed, turning away to give her a moment to calm herself.
"I could have stopped the fire immediately," he rebutted.
"No, you couldn't," Rhae countered. "I felt the fire afterwards, Egg. Fiendfyre is dangerous for a reason."
"But—"
"There was nothing else you could have done," she said, hand gripping his face tightly as purple orbs stared intently into his. "Nothing but what you did – which was the right thing, Egg."
He pursed his lips, feeling furious tears prick at his eyes, his gaze dropping to the floor. "What if he doesn't make it?"
"Don't think like that," Rhae told him. "When have you ever known Dad to break a promise?"
"There's a first time for everything," he muttered.
"Not this," Rhae said firmly, and Egg couldn't tell if she truly believed her words or was trying to convince herself as much as she was him. "He'd battle through armies to stay with us."
He would, Egg knew, and he had to have faith in his father, else Egg was unsure whether he could truly do this – whether they could all remain in Westeros, unknowing if he would be joining them.
He fell asleep on Rhae's shoulder, dozing lightly as she covered his head with a scarf when he heard the hoof beats, the sounds of men in armour making itself known.
Egg felt Rhae stiffen, hand drifting to her wand as they glanced at their mother. She did not look outwardly worried, though Egg saw the slight clenching of her fist as she straightened, eyes carefully watching the approaching riders.
There was a small wheelhouse in the retinue; it's dark wood blending in with the dark hair of the horses as a guard stepped forward to open it. A woman walked out – tall and willowy with the same dark hair and purple eyes as Egg had seen in his mother's memories – and he watched his mother's shoulders relax at the sight of her.
"Elia," she whispered, eyes pooling with tears, as she made her way forward, her arms wrapping around his mother's frame as she returned the hug.
Egg turned to face Rhaenys, feeling as if he were intruding on a private moment.
His mother stepped back, their hands still clasped as she introduced them. "Ashara, I'm certain you remember the children."
Lady Ashara smiled at the sight of them, the guards' eyes widening as they hastily bowed, murmurs of "Your Grace," leaving them.
Egg forced a smile on his face, feeling the weight of his future settle heavily on his shoulders.
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