playιng: [honeymoon fades] - [sabrina carpenter]

2:25───────────ㅇ──── 3:15

┌──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────┐

slight nsfw content ahead!

└──────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────┘

-March, 279 AC- DORNE

"And as for your last question, Princess, no. I would not mind addressing you by your name."

Elia grinned and turned around on her back, tossing her arms as she squealed. The letter flapped around before she held it close to her face, rereading the last lines in a mumble and holding it close to her chest.

"What has gotten into you, girl?" One of her Septas asked, too absorbed in her sewing to truly care.

Elia tripped over the pillows and kneeled in front of her Septa, sticking the letter into the woman's face, "the Prince," she pulled the letter back, going over it again. "He's endearingly shy, even in writing. He's so formal, but he's agreed to call me by my name."

"As opposed to what?" her sister through marriage, Lady Mellario, asked as she combed weeds out of her daughter Arianne's hair.

Elia made a sound, "well he's addressed me as Princess Elia."

"Thash yo name," Arianne said, pointing to her aunt.

Elia smiled warmly at her niece and she held her chubby hands in hers, "yes it is, but," her eyes flashed up to the women. "But now it makes things more intimate."

The Septa glanced at Lady Mellario, "you are too old, my Princess, for this girlish behavior."

Elia scowled at the woman, "you're never too old for these things, and besides, what do you know about such matters?"

The septa's eyebrows raised, she sighed and picked at her work, "it isn't exactly a hard concept to understand."

Lady Mellario pulled tightly at Arianne's hair, her scalp red hot as her mother braided her hair into intricate patterns, "giggling over boys is the thing of pubescent girls. You are a woman grown, behave that way."

The letter slipped between her fingers and onto Elia's lap, "well I hardly had a normal girlhood, I deserve to behave girlish now."

The woman hummed, "except you are not a girl and will be given adult duties and an entirely new life now. They'll thrust responsibilities into your face you were never prepared to handle, and they'll stuff you with someone else's issues."

The sweetness she'd carried from the letter had burnt into bitterness as she said, "but you surely must've come with my brother out of love. That is why you followed him here."

Mellario threw her head back and cackled. "I came with your brother because I believed I was with child. I am a Lady, do you know how scandalous it is to have relations before marriage? With a foreigner no less." She shifted then, sinking further into her cushions and dismissing Arianne from the room. "I loved the way your brother made me feel when we...engaged in certain activities. I loved the attention and the gifts. But your brother, well-" she let the thought linger unfinished.

The older woman made grabbing motions at the air, "let me see that."

Elia handed her the letter. She studied Mellario's expressions. The woman was stoic, the only emotion she showed was when her eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up as she huffed. "Well, you'll be marrying the dullest man in Westeros."

The Princess took the parchment back and carefully rolled it. She meant to leave them there, let them keep each other's miserable loveless company. Then Mellario held her back, "there are ways to brighten a marriage, even arranged ones. You do not have to love him. But being able to tolerate and even like him will make it easier for you. Befriend him, get him to trust you."

"I will try," the Princess said and tucked her letter into her skirt.

Once in her room, she pulled a green box from a chest beside her bed. Here, nearly two months' worth of letters were stored. Some of them were severely crinkled (her favorite ones), while some still had a mostly intact seal.

She read through her letters once more out of order, setting the newest one at the bottom.

January 28

"...certainly man finds things other than comfort in religion."

February 14

"...then I believe you will find great pleasure in the extensive research literature kept in the Sept of Baelor."

"There is not much on Dragonstone that I believe you would enjoy, it is a dull grey place.

...once you arrive there, you may accommodate and arrange it as you please."

These were the more bland letters. Even she had to admit the first month's worth was far too cordial to spark any interesting conversations aside from what would be considered appropriate to disclose to a stranger.

February 23

"...passions and fear alike can drive entire kingdoms..."

"We have great Maesters that will see to your health, Princess Elia, you needn't worry about that."

March 3

"I do not find your questions intrusive, it has allowed me to know you better as well."

"The sun catcher was a delightful gift and greatly appreciated, though I must confess its beauty has caught my mother's eye and it now resides with her."

"Elia, I am happy you decided to write to me so when we see each other at last, it will be like reuniting with an old friend."

March 11

"This may be the last letter in a while."

"In my stead, I have sent an annotated copy of my favorite compendium of Westerosi history. This way you can still have my words and thoughts during my absence."

●•●•●•●

Excerpt of the final letter from Rhaegar to Elia

December 21

"Sweet Elia, I will keep you to your promise and count the days until it comes to fruition. Write back swiftly as I grow evermore impatient to have this part of you in my life. I madly ache for your companionship and pray for the day our union is realized."

Excerpt of the final letter from Elia to Rhaegar

December 30

"My darling Rhaegar, I too ache for our closeness, though our time apart will soon come to pass. Though if it were up to me, I'd walk bare if that meant we'd be together sooner."

●•●•●•●

January 280- KING'S LANDING

The ceremony was as lustrous as the word could describe. Shades of red, orange, and black decorated the Red Keep where the wedding took place. After the ceremony, everyone moved to the dining hall where the festivities and dinner would take place.

At the festivities, Elia's brother and his wife took the place of their parents, standing beside her as she was greeted by the guests. A table behind her towered with gifts and behind that a cake.

Her uncle had also taken a place beside her wedged between the Martells and the Targaryens; the color of his cloak showed his loyalty to the crown, but he'd remain faithful to his house and family above all.

At this celebration, only Rhaella was allowed to attend, Aerys had grown a very paranoid man and in his words "wouldn't allow his line to be jeopardized". Rhaella fought him on this, of course, mainly on the grounds that this was a celebration meant to show the kingdom that he was still a good king, and less so on the evergrowing implications that it was Viserys whom the king saw as his true heir.

In truth, Aerys seemed to have grown mistrustful towards his eldest son the moment he decided to wield a sword. His suspicions only grew when he overheard Rhaegar speak of prophecies and songs yet to be fulfilled.

What an arrogant brat! To think he is any more important than his father allows him to be. Besides, it was no secret the Targaryen king disliked the dornishmen, so when the betrothal to their Princess was arranged, it came as a surprise for everyone who knew him.

"My great ancestors conquered the dornishmen through marriage, and we'll do it once more." said the King.

Rhaella on the other hand was elated with the new member of the family. She cooed and caressed Elia, telling her how much she looked like her mother did in their youth. How the love they'd once had for each other was enough to keep her going when things got too hard.

"Do not take it as a slight that my father did not attend," Rhaegar said to Elia once the greetings had settled a bit. "He's been... he upsets easily. The Maesters have said it is best not to put him in situations that can upset him."

Elia took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze, "do not worry. There will be time for formal introductions."

He squeezed her hand back, "it is just that I did not know he would not be in attendance," he turned his head only slightly. Elia was shorter than him by a head, but when he gazed over her, their eyes met. "I just assumed he'd be here for me," he sulked.

Elia brought her hand up to her face and gently touched her knuckles to the side of his face, "Rhaegar-" she was interrupted by a man she hadn't even noticed approaching.

"Your Highness, Princess," he tilted his bald head downward, his hands clasped in front of him. "I believe your mother would like a word with you, your highness," he said to Rhaegar.

When he saw hesitance in the young Prince's eyes, the way he held onto Elia, and how he sought her approval, he said "do not fret, I will keep the Princess company," he smiled.

Rhaegar kissed the side of her head and excused himself to find his mother.

The man dipped his head once more, trailing the prince with his eyes, "congratulations, Princess" he said eyes still on the Prince.

"Thank you, uh-" she trailed off, hoping he'd offer up his name.

"Varys. Some call me Lord, but I have no land, no subordinates I must look over. So You may call me simply Varys."

"Yes, Varys," she stretched her arm to shake his.

He moved to stand beside her, "do you know who I am, child?"

She thought for a moment, "the master of whispers. The Snake, they call you?"

"The Spider," he corrected. "Such a horrid moniker for such a humble profession."

Elia waited a beat before she continued, "Then I assume you must know everything there is to know, secrets."

"Yes, and it is my job certain secrets do not leave the walls of King's Landing. Some secrets can become a man's weakness, especially in the hands of those with I'll intentions."

The man looked around, then without looking at the Princess said, "your secrets and wellbeing are my priority, Princess. You can trust me."

Elia blinked, "but I do not know you."

"Then we will get to know each other when the time is right." He dipped his head once more as the Prince passed them without glancing over.

"How do I know I can trust you?" Elia asked.

"You need allies, your highness. I will be your ally as I am your husband's and the realm's."

Elia stepped closer to Varys, "I do need allies. I am in an unknown place with even stranger people. But I must know the barter for this allyship."

Varys looked offended. He turned to the Princess, his hands still clasped in front of him. "Princess, my services come with no price. I serve the Realm because I wish to see it prosper and in peace. This kingdom needs a good King and Queen and I believe with my guidance-" he let the thought float between them. Unfinished.

"You believe you can guide Rhaegar and me, is that what you were about to say?"

Their heads were a hairpin away from touching. On a different occasion, the sight of Varys speaking so secretly with a maiden would've been amusing. The onlookers would only try to guess what they were speaking of.

How to get rid of pregnancy? How to get rid of an overbearing exhausting husband?

But this was no other occasion and she was no ordinary maiden; this was Elia Nymeros Martell and they were at the center of her wedding day festivities. To the few keen onlookers, they witnessed conspiring between the Spider and the daughter of a country known for its troubled history with the crown.

"The King, he is unwell-" he licked his lips to elaborate, but Elia's sister by marriage interrupted.

"Elia," she smiled at the younger woman, pulling her into her arms for an embrace.

Varys began to move to leave before Elia stopped him, "I need friends, Varys."

He dipped his head, "I will be your friend, Princess Elia. We shall speak again soon."

"What did that egg-head want?" Mellario asked.

"He's the Master of Whispers. He offered his friendship to me."

Mellario scoffed, taking a few steps until she was beside Elia and she wrapped an arm around her. "Be careful who you ally yourself with, Lili," she called her the nickname only Doran and Arianne used regularly.

It wasn't that Mellario was cold, she simply reserved her affections for her family. But on rare occasions, she graced others with her warmth.

Once the festivities had died down and they had seen their loved ones off, Rhaegar stole a kiss from Elia.

It took her by surprise, but she reciprocated.

"You looked beautiful today," he said, pressing his face to the side of her hair. He could smell cinnamon and citrus on her and sweat from the dancing. "Are you tired?"

She hummed.

"Then shall we go to bed?" He asked, kissing her cheek and trailing it to her neck before coming back up to smack a kiss on her lips.

A flock of handmaidens followed them up a flight of stairs in Maegor's Holdfast that led directly to Rhaegar's chambers. There the group set up a translucent screen between the newlyweds and split, one half helping the Prince out of his wedding clothes and the other helping the Princess.

When the screen came down, the couple stared at each other. Elia was left in a white nightgown while Rhaegar was left in an untucked shirt and the same pants he wore for the wedding. Both shoeless slowly closed the distance and the handmaidens left.

Once Rhaegar heard the doors close he said "if you are too tired, we can sleep."

She looked down at the small pink ribbon on the neckline of her nightgown. Rhaegar got closer, wrapping a hand around her, "Elia, I must confess I have never been intimate with anyone before."

She looked at him, truly shocked at this revelation. Chastity was commonplace among women, but for men, it was as rare as a blue winter rose growing in the south. "Neither have I," she confessed, realizing issues could arise from this.

Rhaegar noticed the shift in Elia's expressions and reassured her by telling her "I do have an idea of what to do. It is the finer details that are lost on me."

Elia held his hand, "we can figure them out as we go. Unless you'd like to wait."

He moved a strand of her hair to the back of her ear"I don't want to wait, Elia. I want to have you and I want you to have me."

She kissed him, their breathing grew labored, and she pulled away from the kiss, looked at him, and asked "tell me what you like, where you want me to touch you."

Rhaegar placed Elia's hands on his chest, urging her to feel him, her hands hovered above his waistband. He breathed roughly but did not stop her as she undid the strings of his pants. "Tell me how you feel," she asked.

"I'm, I I feel-" his voice cracked.

Elia kissed him once and then again, and then she got lost in the plushness of his lips, the fading sweetness of wine still lingering. They couldn't even bother moving to the bed and instead sunk into the carpet in front of a large window.

"Elia," he called her name, frustrated at how her hands had stopped their initial task. "Elia," he called her again but Elia was too caught up in getting drunk off the alcohol on his lips. "Elia, Princess Elia," he said more firmly.

The Princess stopped kissing him and looked into his eyes.

"Elia, I want you to ravish me," he undid the laces, bows, and knots in her dress as he said this. "I feel pure bliss at having you this way," then his voice lowered, "I want you to ride me, princess."

She straddled him as he sat on the carpet and cradled his head in her arms. With the golden light that the fire gave off, she looked divine as she looked down at him. "Take me," he pleaded. He grabbed one of her hands and kissed her knuckles, "I'm yours."

•●•●🌿●•●•

A/N: OK this was a bit hard to write cuz idk how to write more smutty things!!! I felt so weird and I didn't really want to get too into it. Also, idk where I got the subby Rhaegar headcanon from so yah!. again thanks for the reads and votes!!!!