Chapter Text
Her father would have warned her that it wasn't her place to criticise the late and lamented King Aegon, but Artemisia Martell had to bite back curses when she saw the state of Princess Rhaella after the birth of her child and Prince Morgan was not in King’s Landing. Her mother would have agreed. She's too young to have a child of her own. Artemisia had spent several years in Summerhall with the princess when she was Rhaella's age and Rhaella a tiny slip of a thing, barely older than her Elia, and she'd always felt oddly protective of the youngest Targaryen.
At least Rhaella wasn't alone anymore. Artemisia was the eldest of her ladies by far, but there was another girl with the golden hair and green eyes of the Lannisters who shadowed the princess, carrying books and possets and whatever other trinkets she might want.
And, of course, carrying the child. The newborn prince, silver-haired and perfect, and so much quieter than Artemisia's youngest, soon to celebrate his first name-day. Elia was fascinated by him, but Elia was fascinated by all people. Oberyn scarcely noticed, too caught up in his own mischief--and basking in pretty Joanna Lannister's attentions.
"He's such a wild little one, isn't he?" she'd asked Artemisia one day soon after her arrival in King's Landing. They were all seated in the godswood, Prince Rhaegar asleep in the nursery and Oberyn squirming in his nurse's arms until she started walking him through the trees. "So different from the prince."
"He's the youngest," explained Artemisia. "Perhaps he thinks he needs to make himself heard." Elia was more like Doran, sitting quietly in Lady Joanna's lap and watching as she expertly transformed embroidery floss into a golden Lannister lion on a piece of red silk. With a pang, Artemisia desperately missed her eldest son, leagues away in Salt Shore. By the time I return, he'll nearly be a man.
She didn't dare wonder what might happen if the threatening army of sellswords actually crossed the Stepstones and reached Sunspear. The gods protect Dorne. Nymeria, if you watch over us still, let them turn away their swords.
She realised after a moment that Joanna was watching her curiously. "Do you mean to leave them here? Oberyn and Elia? Oberyn is the right age to be a companion to Prince Rhaegar."
Artemisia had to fight not to shake her head. Instead she shrugged. "We Martells prefer to keep our children with us when we can. Do you know the story of Princess Daenerys and the Water Gardens?"
When Joanna shook her head, Artemisia smiled. "She was the youngest sister of King Daeron II and she married Prince Maron Martell. When she first came to Dorne, she was desperately homesick, as of course she would be. To distract her, he had a great palace built some three leagues from the shadow city of Sunspear, filled with fountains and pools and gardens intended for their children and their children's children."
Joanna was listening raptly, her head resting on Elia's dark curls. "It sounds lovely."
"It is. And Princess Daenerys made it lovelier still. One day it was especially hot, and she took pity on the servants' children, telling them to join hers in the pools. Since then, all children have been welcome in the Water Gardens." Her eyes met Joanna's. "Yours too, when you should have them."
"I might take you up on that," said Joanna. "There is much to love in Casterly Rock, but it's perhaps not the best place for children. Too easy to get lost. Too many rooms and tunnels. Unless, of course, one is my cousin Tywin. I don't think he's ever been lost there."
"I couldn't picture it." Tywin Lannister, who had been cupbearer to the late king and was now Prince Aerys' closest companion, was more self-possessed at seventeen than most men twice his age. "Or if he ever was, he'd not admit it."
"No, never," Joanna agreed with a grin. "Perhaps you should invite Princess Rhaella to your water gardens once it's safe. They seem like they would do her good."
"I might. If you promise to come with her," she added. When Joanna looked startled, Artemisia laughed. "You're good for her, Lady Joanna. She needs that more than anything now."
Joanna nodded. "I don't think anyone paid much mind to what she needed before."
"No. But we will make sure they do from now on."