( Gerris )
With Gerold's death, Elinor had only grieved for a brief period of time. It seemed their relationship wasn't strong, and Gerold mostly dismissed Elinor as no threat to him. The bastard even mocked her about her shyness a few times. Needless to say that Gerris would shed no tear for that man.
...
Life moved on in Sunspear, and both he and Elinor felt like time had stopped for a while. They traded stories about their families and laughed about their friends.
They laughed about Arch's boasts of how many casks of wine he could drink, talked about what Lord Anders had planned for Cletus, how long Gulian could keep his paramour secret, discussed who would finally conquer her cousin Ned's heart, and of course, took bets on who between Quentyn or Nymeria would finally admit they loved the other first.
However, life went on, and Gerris was called to go accompany Quentyn northwards, in his mission to Bitterbridge, right at the moment Elinor's pregnancy was confirmed.
It was no secret that, although Elinor had insisted Gerris go, Quentyn felt terrible for having asked him to come along in times like these.
Several times his friend had made the offer for him to go back. Several times Gerris felt that he'd be betraying his friends if he did so. However, watching the snake's belly grow larger and Quentyn starting to give all of his attention to her, so much that she actually would get annoyed at him, made Gerris reconsider.
Finally, though, Quentyn forced his hand after Lorch's execution, by sending him back with Gulian.
This would suit them both, since it wouldn't violate the oath he made at Yronwood to always serve Quentyn as well as House Yronwood loyally, and Gerris had the opportunity to go back and be at Elinor's side during her last weeks of pregnancy.
He rushed down the halls of Sunspear, quickening his pace at every hallway. He was inching closer and closer to their rooms. Finally, he saw the door that Quentyn had had painted with the sigils of both houses Drinkwater and Dayne of High Hermitage.
It was part of a few gifts his friend had given them, which also included a wonderful Volantene dress for Elinor, and an ornamented dagger for him.
Pushing the door slightly, Gerris widened his eyes in surprise as he entered.
Elinor was there, sitting on a chair, looking as bright as ever. However…her belly had gone from round to completely flat. For a moment, Gerris choked.
No. It couldn't be.
But she was smiling at him. If she was smiling, then surely…
"Hello, love." She let out.
Gerris didn't give her a chance to get out of the chair as he rushed to kneel by her side while kissing her hands.
"Elinor…" he whispered, half-worried, half-excited. "What happened to…"
"Come with me." She rose from the seat, adjusted her hair and chuckled. "Welcome home, by the way."
"I'm sorry, I couldn't come earlier. I…"
"Yes, you were stuck at Ghost Hill, I heard." Her voice lightened. "I was worried that after what you did to Lorch, a woman would've taken you for herself."
"Never." Gerris shook his head. "Believe me, I have received a few offers. But the only woman I want is you, and only you."
"I was joking, silly." She laughed, and slapped his shoulder, leaning on it for an instant.
While the Salty and Sandy Dornishwomen were smaller, the Stony ones were tall. And Elinor was no exception, standing exactly at Gerris' height, which was about a head above Quentyn and a head and a half under Arch.
She took him by the hand and lead him to their bed, where another, smaller bed, had been put.
"I didn't want to tell you because I wanted to leave it a surprise." She smiled and pointed to the small bed. "I gave birth a moon ago. Here is your…well…our son."
Gerris didn't speak a single word. He'd forgotten how time had flown by, and how much time they were away for. But it did make sense since Elinor had not taken any moon tea or anything that would stop her from bearing a child. And their marriage was quite an ancient affair…
Too shocked to speak, he instead moved towards the smaller bed, where a small figure was awake and laughing as Elinor picked it up.
It was a boy, with bright, blonde hair, and a pair of dark, blue, eyes. Their child had inherited more of Gerris' side than Elinor, but it made sense considering Edric's Blackmont mother had influenced him more than his father.
Elinor passed the baby into Gerris' arms.
He felt the tug of the boy on his vest and looked at it in the eyes.
It was his son. He was now a father.
He resisted the urge to cry as Elinor took him in her arms once more and placed it back into the bed.
"He needs to rest." She told him.
"Elinor…I…I don't know what to say…" Gerris struggled. "I would have wished to be there with you…to hold your hand…"
"Don't be sorry, love." She smiled. "You had a duty to Dorne and a duty to me. I will not hold it against you that you chose the first, just as long as you do the second from now on."
"I'll do anything for you." Gerris kissed her right on her lips, feeling her soft skin with his hands and smelling her lavender perfume. "I love you."
"I love you too, Gerris." She answered when he broke the kiss.
"Does he have a name?" he asked.
"I didn't think it would be wise to decide before you came back." She shook her head. "I thought about something that would please both our families. Like Arthur, or Addam."
"How about Julian?" he asked. "Julian Dayne was the Lord of Starfall during the First Dornish War, but Julian is also my maternal grandfather's name, from house Kingfisher."
"Julian…" Elinor seemed thoughtful for a moment. "I hadn't thought of it. But you may be right, it could be a good name. Would you leave me the night to think about it?"
"Of course."
That night, Gerris and Elinor shared a bed for the first time in months. They didn't engage in any acts, as it would have been too risky for her, and instead just talked about the mission to the Reach and Stormlands, Lorch's execution, Quentyn finally confessing his feelings and, to Elinor's amusement, getting Nymeria with child.
They also talked about the developments in Sunspear, and of how they would deal with the succession and rule, now that she was heir to High Hermitage.
It was a short night for the both of them, but neither regretted a thing as they drifted to sleep in each other's arms.
The next day, Julian Dayne was officially given the title of heir to High Hermitage, and fifth in line to Yoricksbank.