281 AC
Enroute to the Tower
With one hand, Elia clutched the edge of the carpet so tightly her knuckles turned white; while the other held little Aegon with a vice-like grip. At first, her stomach lurched - a panicked flip - as the carpet shivered under her and shot upward, carrying her into the open air. The palace rooftops and the empty morning streets of the city below blurred into a smear of gold and grey. She wanted to scream, but the air stole her breath away, and all that escaped was a stunned, shaky laugh.
"WOO HOO!"
A joyous yell drew her eyes towards her daughter. Rhaenys was leaning forward, shouting into the wind with a huge grin on her face. Elia's heart soared at seeing her daughter's carefree smile after what seemed like ages. Then it almost jumped out of her chest when Rhaenys took her hands off the carpet and flung her arms wide.
"Rhaenys! NO!" she screamed, terrified for her daughter's safety.
"It's alright, it's alright!" Ben quickly raised his hands to reassure her. "It's fine. See?" He waved his hands. "Completely safe! You can take off your hands. There are Sticking Charms all over the carpet. Nothing to worry about." he smiled.
Elia heaved a huge sigh as she felt her soul travel back down her throat and settle into its usual place in her chest. Turning to the cheeky boy responsible for her current situation, she gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Well, in that case...," her sweet smile morphed into an scowl as she reached out and grabbed his ear. "Why didn't you tell us that we were flying to the Tower? Hmm?"
"Ow, ow!" he winced. Elia made sure not to tug too hard, and given that he was still smiling, Ben didn't mind their playful banter. "It was a surprise!" he laughed. "Wouldn't be much of one if I had told you, now would it?"
"He's got a point." Oberyn briefly stopped gawking around to support his kindred spirit. Elia graced her favourite brother with a light glare, before retracting her hand with a hmph.
"Incredible!" Doran uttered, looking dazedly as the world below became a patchwork of colors and light. Elia could see her brother's tense form slowly unwind, his fearful eyes gradually replaced by a look of wonder. "This must be how the Valyrian Dragonlords would've felt in the days of yore. Do your people usually travel this way, Ser Benjamin?" He eagerly asked Ben.
"Not really, no," Ben shook his head while looking down on the map of Dorne he was holding. He checked their heading and the carpet shifted slightly to the right. Satisfied with the result, the map disappeared just as mysteriously as it had appeared. "Flying carpets are mostly used for scenic tours, they are too slow otherwise."
"Too slow!" Oberyn yelled in disbelief. "This..." he gestured wildly to the arid landscape passing by in a flash, "This is too slow?"
"Yep," smiled Ben. "Most people use the Floo, while those who can, use Apparition."
"What are those?" she asked curiously.
"The Floo Network is a transportation system using fireplaces and a magical substance called Floo powder," said Ben. "All the fireplaces in a country are magically linked. You throw a bit of floo powder into a hearth, which creates a magical flame. You then step into the flames, which are harmless by the way; say the name of the exact place you want to go to, and you are magically transported to a fireplace in that area instantaneously."
"You can travel from one place to another...by stepping into fire?" Oberyn asked doubtfully.
"By stepping into a magical fire in a fireplace linked to the Floo Network," corrected Ben.
"Hmm...sounds fascinating," decided Oberyn. "Here, you only get burnt to a crisp by playing with fire."
"What about the other one?" said Doran.
"Apparition. It is an advanced magical art with which we can instantly travel from one location to another," said Ben.
"How?" she asked.
"You visualise the place you want to travel to in your mind's eye and focus your magic on getting there," answered Ben. "You then disappear from one place and reappear in another."
"Just like that?" said Oberyn with raised eyebrows.
"It's not as easy as it sounds." Ben shook his head. "You have to focus really hard without getting distracted. Otherwise it won't work, or worse, work with horrible results. It's a very complex magical process that requires significant skill, which is why usually only adult witches and wizards can do it. And even then, most prefer the Floo."
"Begging your pardon, ser," Maester Caleotte began after a while. "But, how fast are we going?"
Maester Caleotte had been serving House Martell since Elia's mother ruled as Princess of Dorne. Despite his girth, he was nimble enough and clever as they came, but meek. He had been sceptical about Ben's magical abilities, however those doubts seemed to have been put to rest based on the euphoric expression on his face.
"About 117 knots," Ben replied in an easy manner. "It can reach a top speed of 130 knots, but I don't want to tire it out," he said, patting the carpet.
"Upon my word! That's almost as fast as the Targaryen dragons recorded in the archives!" Maester Caleotte uttered with wide eyes. Then he frowned. "But how come we are not feeling any strong winds up here? I had imagined that one would experience a lot of rough air currents at this height and speed."
That's right, thought Elia, looking at the rocky mountains below passing by at impossible speeds. Yet, she felt nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing past her, when by all accounts, they should be experiencing a gale storm right now.
"Magic, of course," smiled Ben. We waved his hand and pale blue ghostly barriers flickered around them briefly before fading away. "All flying artifacts, especially those designed for luxury, such as carpets, are incorporated with shield charms to reduce turbulence...along with a plethora of other spells to ensure user safety and comfort."
"I wish magic in our world was so useful and convenient." Oberyn let out a sigh. "But whether it be the Faceless Men of Braavos, the Warlocks of Qarth, the Shadowbinders of Asshai or the Red Priests of R'hllor, all of them use their magic to only bring death and destruction."
"Perhaps that's because there was no one to teach them better." Elia theorised. "Like you said, you were able to learn magic because a thousand years before your time, four great sorcerers decided to open a school and spread their knowledge freely." She looked at Ben, who smiled at her words. "If the people of our world had a place like Hogwarts to go to, maybe they too would've accomplished wonders with their magic."
"Perhaps." Ben agreed with a thoughtful look.
No more words were spoken for the remainder of the journey, everyone too busy trying to carve this once-in-a-lifetime experience into memory. Elia welcomed the quiet. It gave her time to contemplate how surreal her life had become since Ben walked in through that door.
She still had nightmares of that night. The fear, the helplessness, the sheer despair. When the Mountain broke through the door, Elia had been prepared to die, to be humiliated even. All she wished for was her children to be safe, yet in her heart she knew that to be a childish hope.
Then out of nowhere, their champion arrived. Not a knight in shining armour, but a wizard of otherworldly might. He laid low the monster sent to harm them and escorted them safely home. And yet, for all his power, he didn't hold a smidge of the arrogance that she had seen minor lords flaunt all her life.
His easy-going manner, instead reminded her of Oberyn, only with the steadfastness of her brother Doran. And the way he treated Rhaenys, like a little sister of his own, warmed her heart. She respected Ben for his power, but she admired him for his kindness and compassion. Looking at the young boy who brought smiles to everyone around him, Elia hoped her Aegon would grow up to be more like him than his late father.
She lifted her head to see the world stretched out in every direction - an endless canvas of clouds, golden sands and the shimmering Sea of Dorne to her right. The wind pulled at her hair, tugged at her cloak, but it didn't feel cold. It felt alive, like it carried every secret the world had ever whispered. In that moment, Elia felt small and limitless at once.
//////////////////////////////////
Three hours later
Tower of Joy
Roughly three hours later, we laid eyes upon a small, isolated tower amidst the Red Mountains near the Dornish border of Reach. It was a narrow structure made of pale stone, sitting in an area with sparse vegetation under a hot, cloudless sky.
There were three figures standing watch at the base of the tower, clad in the white armour of the Kingsguard. Thanks to the Disillusionment charms weaved into the carpet, they didn't notice our dramatic arrival as we touched down softly about a 100 ft away from them. The moment we stepped away from our transport however, they immediately perceived us.
"Halt!" barked Ser Oswell. "Who goes there?"
"Come now, Ser Oswell." Elia boldly walked forward with the rest of us following behind. "Surely you haven't forgotten who I am in a few short months?"
"Your Grace?" said Ser Gerold doubtfully. The same scepticism marked the faces of his fellow knights. "We received word that you did not survive the sacking of the capital."
"You received those words because that's the truth we wanted the usurper and his allies to believe," said Elia. "Faking our deaths was the only way to ensure our safety."
"How did you escape the city, your grace?" enquired Ser Arthur.
"With sheer luck." Elia voice was laden with her pent up frustration. "It was only because of the timely arrival of Ser Benjamin," - she gestured to me - "that my children and I are still alive." The knights looked at me and I gave a jaunty wave in reply. "Of course, we wouldn't have been in such dire straits in the first place if three of the finest knights of the seven kingdoms had been protecting us, as they were sworn to do."
"Apologies, your grace, but we were following our Prince's orders," said Ser Gerold in a regretful yet firm tone.
"Evidently," Elia remarked sourly. "That is why we are here. How is Lady Lyanna?"
The Kingsguard exchanged glances. "She is well, your grace," said Ser Arthur.
"Does she know what happened to her father and brother?" asked Elia.
The looks they gave each other became tad uncomfortable. "She knows, your grace," said Ser Gerold.
"Then she is not well," retorted Elia. "The poor girl must be blaming herself for what happened to them, which means she hasn't been eating or sleeping properly. Am I right?"
The knights dressed in white didn't answer this time, far too interested in examining their boots.
"How close is she to giving birth?" asked Elia.
"Any day now, your grace," said Ser Gerold.
"Is there a maester in there?" said Elia, looking at the tower.
"There is a midwife and some maids to assist her," said Ser Oswell.
"Is there a maester in there?" repeated Elia, looking directly at them.
They shifted their feet. "No, your grace," said Ser Oswell, looking down.
Elia sighed. "Gentlemen, your loyalty to your Prince does you credit. Rhaegar was a good man, but he was not without his flaws. My husband made mistakes, for which he and others paid with their lives," she said in a tired voice, before drawing herself together again. "I'm here today for my husband's family. Deep down, you know that Lyanna and her unborn child stand a much better chance of survival with us here. So please, if you care about our family, if you care about Rhaegar's legacy, I urge you to stand aside and let us pass."
The Kingsguard stood undecided. They communed among themselves for a while using frowns, furrowed brows and minute shrugs. Finally, Ser Gerold turned to Elia and gave her a small nod before taking a few steps to the side. He was soon joined by his fellow knights and the barricade was thus lifted.
"Bloody well done," I whispered softly to the Dornish Princess.
"Thank you," smiled Elia.
I held onto Rhaenys while Elia deposited young Aegon to his uncle Oberyn. She then climbed the steps leading up to the Tower with Maester Caleotte in tow, leaving the rest of us in the company of the stoic knights.
I was gazing at the tower, wondering what state Elia would find Lyanna in, when I felt a gentle tug on my trousers. Looking down, I saw Rhaenys beckoning me. With a smile, I went down on one knee to hear what she had to say.
"Yes?" I said.
"Can you show me some magic?" she asked.
"Really?" I smirked. "I thought you would've had your fill of magic for the day after flying around for hours."
"Please!" she implored with big round eyes, a skill she must've picked up from her cat. The feline was not here at the moment, having been left behind at the palace.
"Oh, very well," I acquiesced. Looking around, I spotted a decent sized rock on the ground. I have used Telekinetic Pull/Push so many times now that the spell has become ingrained in my mind. With a thought, the stone came flying into my hand.
"Wow!" Rhaenys uttered in amazement as the lifeless rock turned into a small parakeet in my hand. The beautiful green bird crooked its neck, preened its feathers and began walking about on my palm.
"Would you like to hold him?" I asked Rhaenys. She nodded eagerly and extended her tiny palms joined together. The little parrot regarded her for a moment before hopping onto her hands. Rhaenys gave a bright laugh as the parrot took flight and circled around her a few times before alighting on her shoulder.
"How did you do that?" Ser Gerold's voice drifted over. Turning around, I saw the Kingsguard looking at me with various degrees of caution and curiousity.
"Magic," I smirked, while the knights frowned.
"Ser Benjamin Carter happens to be an extremely powerful wizard." Doran declared in an authoritative tone. "He is the one who duped the usurper's men into believing that the royal family was no more. It was also because of his magical prowess that we made the journey from Sunspear to here in merely three hours time."
At Prince Doran's validation, the caution in the eyes of the Kingsguard lowered, although I could see it was still there. Meanwhile, Elia walked out of the tower and approached us.
"It's not good." She said at once. "She has been going through a lot of turmoil ever since she received news of what happened to her family at King's Landing. And she appears to be running a fever," Elia said worriedly.
"It's the weather," said Doran. "The Dornish heat is antithetical to the Northern cold and snow she grew up in."
"What should we do now?" asked Elia. "It would be best if we can relocate her to Sunspear. Either way, we must get her out of this desert heat."
I spent a moment to consider the best course of action as they turned to me. Taking Lyanna to Sunspear was out of the question. Eddard Stark was riding for his sister, along with six of his men. The news of their arrival at the Martell stronghold will draw unnecessary, even unwelcome attention. No, Lyanna Stark had to stay here, but that doesn't mean she had to stay in the tower.
"I have an idea," I smiled and extracted my tent from the storage ring. Finding an even spot a few metres away, I tossed it. It flew lazily through the air, pitching itself as it came down.
"Tada!" I proudly presented one of the hallmarks of the Wizarding World. My actions didn't seem to garner as much wonder as I had expected. Sure they were shocked that I had seemingly conjured a tent out of thin air, but that was about it.
"Seems like a simple two-man workers' tent, doesn't it? Well, here is an important lesson for you all: when it comes to magic, nothing is as simple as it appears." I said in a no-nonsense tone, before walking inside the tent.
I could hear everyone's shocked gasps as I seemingly disappeared into an impossibly small space. Feeling slightly smug, I popped my head out and called, "What are you all standing around for? Come on in. You as well, Ser knights," I said to the Kingsguard. "We wouldn't want you to be worried for Lady Lyanna's sake now, would we?"
The denizens of Westeros looked at each other, hesitant over entering the mysterious canopy. All except one little girl, who happily skipped ahead. Watching her daughter go forth without fear, Elia forcefully dispelled her own unease and entered the tent alongwith Rhaenys.
"By the Gods!" the words came unbidden as she gazed at the impossible sight laid out in front. She had entered a canopy that looked like it could barely fit two people, and yet somehow she was standing in a fully furnished room far bigger than its modest exterior. "How is this possible?"
"With Undetectable Extension Charms," I answered, watching the others walk in with similar slack-jawed expressions. "It's a fairly complex spell that extends the inner dimensions of a hollow object or place without affecting its outer size. Where I come from, we use it everywhere - bags, boxes, rooms even entire buildings."
"This is the living room." I gestured to the warm, inviting space with crystal spheres hovering mid-air casting a soft white glow. Overstuffed armchairs and plush sofas were gathered around a floating fireplace that crackled with smokeless blue flames.
"Wait!" Oberyn called out, having suddenly realised something. "How is the air so cool here? I feel like I'm not in Dorne, rather somewhere in the Riverlands."
"Temperature Regulation Charms." I said, pointing to the round knob-like object marked with glowing runes near the door. "Doesn't matter if you are in a dry desert or an icy wasteland, inside they maintain an ideal temperature of 26°C." I opened a door that led to a cozy wood-panelled room.
"Now here, we have the kitchen. Those are enchanted cabinets that organise ingredients on command. The spice rack alphabetically reorganizes itself. The countertops are enchanted marble that resist stains, while the pots stir themselves over a levitating hearth." I pointed out each object as I went over their functions.
"Your utensils can cook...by themselves?" Maester Caleotte asked doubtfully.
"Yes, they can," I smirked and moved on to the next room.
"That is my Potions lab," I pointed towards a sealed room. "There are precious ingredients in there which can become extremely volatile if mixed improperly, hence why the room is heavily warded. I ask you not to approach the place." I warned them.
"This is the bathroom." A modern yet luxurious bathroom came into view. "The bathtub is self-filling: it will automatically be filled with water as you step into it, while the water temperature charms will make sure that the water is pleasantly lukewarm. The mirror is enchanted to offer compliments or grooming advice, if need be."
"Where does all the water come from?" asked Doran.
"It's magically condensed from the water vapour in the atmosphere," I said, before moving on.
"This is one of the bedrooms. There are three in total. Each room reflects a magical creature. This one," - I pointed to the phoenix motifs decorating the room, glowing in soft reds and golds - "depicts the pheonix - a mythical immortal bird that is reborn from its own ashes."
"Really?" Rhaenys asked in wonder. "Does it really exist?"
"Oh yes," I said. "In fact, the headmaster of my school has a phoenix familiar. They are very wise and powerful."
"This room is centred around unicorns and this one on thestrals," I showed a room bathed in silvery light with unicorn tapestries and another with earthy tones and darker-themed decor for a more mysterious ambience. "The curtains of the canopied beds are enchanted to dim or brighten the rooms on command." I displayed the visual effects much to the delight of Rhaenys and even Aegon. "Each bedroom has an adjoining washroom." The adjacent rooms contained a simple toilet and a floating wash basin.
"I was thinking that I could conjure up some extra beds and we could share these rooms," I proposed. "Prince Doran, Oberyn and I could take one room; Princess Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon and Lady Lyanna could take another and Maester Caleotte, Areo and the Kingsguard could take the last one."
Everyone agreed with the arrangement, except the knights.
"We appreciate your kind offer, ser." Ser Gerold briefly dipped his head. "However, we would prefer to remain at our current lodgings. It offers a better vantage point for our watch."
"Very well," I shrugged. "That concludes the exhibition, folks. Now, does anyone have any objections to moving Lady Lyanna here?"
I looked around at the gathered audience but none raised any protest, not even the Kingsguard who had so far been keeping her in that stuffy tower.
"Alright then. I will get this place set up for everyone, while you go and bring the expectant mother to her new accommodations." I stated.
//////////////////////////////////
It was twilight. The sun was going down, the world about to be engulfed in darkness. The desert does not have much to offer in terms of traditional beauty such as trees and forests and lakes and valleys, but the clear, dry air allows unobstructed views of the transition between day and night.
I was standing at the top of the Tower of Joy, watching the sky transform into a vibrant display of colours while the desert landscape was bathed in soft golden light. The serene atmosphere and stark beauty of the desert at this moment created such a captivating scene.
"Enjoying the view?" enquired a voice from the top of the stairs behind me.
I turned around to find Elia smiling at me.
"I am," I smiled, before turning back to the enchanting vista. "The desert is a harsh, unforgiving place, yet it has its own distinctive charm."
"That it does," she agreed.
She came and stood by my side. Together, we watched the sun go down.
"There are people in my world who leave the comfort and safety of their homes to venture into the great outdoors. They climb the tallest mountains, cross the hottest deserts, wade through the wettest rainforests. I have never understood those people," I confessed, watching the day slowly give way to the night. "I think I understand them a little now. Any kind of endeavour seems worth it, if it can bring you a moment's joy that will last a lifetime."
"How is Lady Lyanna?" I asked her.
"Better...a lot better," said Elia.
"Good," I remarked.
I had been very surprised when I laid eyes on Lyanna Stark as she was carried into the tent. She didn't look like the actress that played her part in the show. Instead, she looked like that actress in Prince of Persia. I had to remind myself that this was not a TV show, that going forward I had to be prepared for such changes.
"I could literally hear her sigh of relief when she was brought into the tent," I said, making my way down the stairs. "The heat of Dorne must've been hellish for her."
She nodded in agreement. "Your potion helped a great deal," said Elia, following behind. "Her fever has gone down."
"Yes, the Pepperup potion is very effective for common cold and fever," I said.
We came out of the tower and stood at its front steps. At this height, we could easily view miles in every direction as the tower was built on a hill. The tent was sitting a few paces away from the bottom of the tower, yet everyone was outside, enjoying the few hours of the day when the desert wasn't too hot or too cold.
"Where are Rhaenys and Aegon?" I asked, noticing their absence.
"Asleep. They had a very exciting morning, after all," she said. "Besides, I couldn't remove Rhaenys from that glowing bed if I tried."
"She really took a shine to that phoenix bed, didn't she?" I smiled, remembering the little girl jumping on the red and gold bed yelling "mine".
"That she did." said Elia happily.
"So, what do we do now?" I said after a few moments of silence. "There's still some time before dinner."
"Hmm... I suppose we could read," suggested Elia. "Thank you again, for gifting me that book. I rather enjoyed A Midsummer Night's Dream." she said. "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended. Such beautiful poetry!"
"I know. There's a reason Shakespeare is called 'The Bard'. But I'm not really in the mood for reading right now." I mused, before an idea came to me. "How would you like to see a story?" I asked her.
"You mean hear a story?" she said.
"Nope," I smirked.
20 minutes later, we were all sitting comfortably in the living room. All except Ser Oswell, who was keeping watch outside and Lyanna, who was in restful slumber. I set up the projector and joined the rest as a woman's voice, tinged with sadness and regret, rang out in the darkness.
"I amar prestar sen,
The world is changed,
han mathon ne nen,
I feel it in the water,
han mathon ne chae,
I feel it in the earth,
a han noston ned wilith,
I smell it in the air,
Much that once was is lost,
For none now live who remember it."
I felt giddy at the prospect of introducing the greatest fantasy movie to the characters of the greatest fantasy show.