every time you smile at me, i get this flutter in my chest. from robb !
early morning fog rolls over the hills of her home, a wispy blanket of grey over lush green, covering the grass and trees as far as the eye can see. the cold clings to her skin, her woolen cloak, its dew fresh and sweet on her lips. in the distance a lone bird calls, its song filling the thick air. it is silent otherwise, every creature great or small clearly aware of their presence, and that of robb's men no doubt close behind them.
elia descends from nimwe, gently petting the mare's neck. she bristles and shivers underneath her touch, nickering softly – still alert after the gallop up the hill, a race lost to the northern king's larger, more agile steed. she gives the mare another reassuring pat before glancing over her shoulder in search of robb, a smile pulling at her lips. he's standing closer than she thought, head turning from the horizon to meet her gaze. she notices that his eyes are nearly the same shade as the sky, a shade of grey touched by blue. the silver is mirrored by the shining surfaces of his armor, gleaming in the light of the watery sun. it is easy to imagine why they called him the young wolf. he looks like one.
he takes another step closer. a twig snaps under his foot. although they are still a foot apart, elia has to crane her neck to keep his gaze. his brows knit in and he chuckles suddenly, reaching to pluck something from her hair, shows it to her; a crumpled leaf, no doubt caught there sometime during their ride. despite the stutter of her heart and the sudden flush of her cheeks, elia laughs and shakes her head, about to speak when he beats her to it. every time you smile at me, he says, slowly, thoughtfully, northern brogue rolling off his tongue, i get this flutter in my chest.
elia's smile falters and fades. silence falls between them. his words are not intended as flattery or seduction, instead enveloped with wonder and something not unlike accusation, as if the feeling has snuck up on him. and of course it has. his heart belongs to the past. it is buried somewhere in the cold dark earth of the riverlands, with his wife and child, his mother. yet here she is stealing it back like a thief in the night.
she recalls her grandmother's words the night before. olenna redwyne had stared at them all evening over dinner, taking small sips of her wine, intelligent eyes glimmering with some idea. her wrinkled hand, dripping with jewelry, had laid over elia's suddenly, a gesture of rare affection. my dear, why don't you take his grace out riding tomorrow morning ? the fresh air will do you well. and highgarden is so lovely in the early hours. you must see it.
the suggestion seemed innocent enough at the time, but clearly the queen of thorns had known something. is this why she sent them out together – in the hopes that something might blossom between them ? the thought perturbs her. what did her grandmother want with the king in the north ? elia cannot help but think of her dead half - sister. margaery would doubtlessly have understood. she would have known the importance of winning robb's affection. an assured alliance, at the very least. quite possibly a throne and title. indeed, margaery would have played this game perfectly, if her grandmother's stories are to be believed. she would have told robb that in that case, she would make an effort to smile more. she would have found a way to wrap him around her finger, slowly but surely. but she is not margaery. she will not play their game.
elia hesitates. slowly she reaches out to take his gloved hand, placing it over her chest so he can feel the unsteady patter of her own heart. her thumb reassuringly strokes his knuckles, tracing a familiar pattern. this, at least, is real. " i seem to suffer from a similar affliction. " a moment's respite, just the two of them in the clearing, their warm, huffed breaths clouding the air between them. a minute passes before she lets him go, bowing her head to break their gazes. " we should head back. your grace. "
@bygold requested for robb stark ♛