“Our Queen to be,” Rhaenys remembered the tenderness in which her grandmother had said the words. Not only once, but repeatedly all through her childhood. The Red Keep had been as much of a home as Dragon Stone had. The halls had been her playground. The Throne Room had been her school room, where she had learned of all the lords and strongholds.
Her footsteps echoed as she stepped into the Throne Room. Empty, quiet. It no longer felt quite as free as it had when she was young and sitting on her grandfather’s knee. A soft chuckle rose to from her throat, what a distraction she must have been. Rhaenys stepped closer to the Iron Throne. Her father hadn’t lived long enough to ascend to the throne. Would her place in court be different if he had? Rhaenys wasn’t sure, wasn’t sure she even wanted it to be different.
Rhaenys turned to look at the pillar depicting her beloved grandfather. She was the oldest descendent and now she and Corlys were the only ones left. She grabbed her gloves from her belt, her intend to go down to Meleys and take her out, however her feet had carried her to the Throne Room, as her mind had wandered off.
Visenya knew she should be asleep. The bells of the sept had tolled long ago, the sun hung low in the horizont and she had called her muña back, not one, not twice, but now thrice. She had heard it once more, the rumours surrounding her coming into the world. A seamstress had whispered it to another, when she thought Visenya was too far away or too preoccupied in a conversation with Rhaena. But Visenya had heard her.
Scales
Wings
Tail
Was she supposed to have been born a dragon? Or something much worse? A freak of the gods? Visenya had seen babies. Her younger siblings, mainly little Aemma, but she did not remember seeing scales on her baby sister. Not hint of a tail nor of wings.
After her bath Visenya had taken a moment alone to look at her shoulders in the mirror. Could they be what was left of her wings? Did they clip them off when she was little?
“Muña?!” She called out again, not ready for her mother to leave her bedchambers just yet. The room was vast, and the candles cast shadows around. Not normally afraid of darkness or shadows, the young princess’ mind was troubled with worry.
Visenya sat up once more. She knew she shouldn’t. She knew she might get herself into trouble. She had been tucked in, kissed goodnight and she was expected to go to sleep. “Muña…” She began in a whisper, unsure of how her muña would react to the question that stood at the front of her mind at bedtime. “Was-I-born-with-scales-wings-and-a-tail?” She blurted out quickly before her courage could and would fail her. Her vision blurred from tears forming, having finally said this horrid maybe-truth out loud. Visenya grabbed the covers and hid under them, fear and worry of her muña’s reaction clouding her tired mind.
Following the first Small Council meeting under the reign of Rhaenyra Targaryen, came the inspection of the navy. Corlys had tagged along. Not truly invited or needed, however he had a vast knowledge of the royal navy, he was Master of Coin and he had just gifted the navy five-and-twenty new ships of his own design.
They had moved fast, in a pace Corlys could bare keep up with on land. His old knee injury had been acting up lately, making him rely on a cane, while on land. On board a ship however he felt like he was twenty again, rather than his seventy years.
When the inspection came to an end, Corlys paused before the navy’s pride and joy. A fine ship that would stand the journey worthy of The Sea Snake’s. Parts of him longed to journey out on new adventures, to discover new parts of the world, new trade routes, new passageways.
“Lord Greyjoy?” He asked as the group slowly dispersed, each moving on to a new task. “Would you mayhaps do me the honour of showing me some of your own fleet?” He asked curiously. “I’ve unfortunately never had the chance to acquaint myself with the Greyjoy navy and I would very much like to learn more. In return I can offer a bottle of Dornish wine and of course, my company.”
The hours after Madeline’s birth passed slowly. As if time had frozen. Jamie laid next to Claire in the small hospital bed, barely enough room for the both of them. Madeline lay sound asleep on Claire’s chest, and both of them couldn’t take their eyes off her.
“She really is perfect,” Claire whispered, her thumb stroking her small pink cheek.
“Aye, she is mo ghraidh.” Jamie turned slightly, bringing them both closer to him, holding them both in his arms. Bending his head down, Jamie placed a gentle kiss to his daughter’s head and a small smile broke out on her lips.
“She’s smiling!” Claire whispered excitedly.
“Jenny says I do that in my sleep,” Jamie said, watching his daughter.
“Jamie,” Claire said softly and she turned her head slightly to look at him. “I love you. I wouldn’t want to do this with anyone else. And… well, I’m just glad it’s you.”
Jamie kissed her deeply, “I’m no goin’ anywhere, lass. Yer stuck wi’ me now.”
Laughing, Claire kissed him and then laid her head against his chest. “I think we should do a paternity test though, just to be sure,” she looked up at him.
“The red hair is a dead giveaway,” Jamie smirked, cupping Madeline’s head. “But it would give me peace of mind and I’m sure ye as well.”
“Now we just have to get Frank to agree to one,” Claire rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he’ll be demanding that she’s his no matter the outcome.”
“Frank canna have ye, nor can he have Madeline,” Jamie kissed her forehead. “Yer my lasses and I will never let ye go, no matter what.”
Together as a family, they fell asleep for the next several hours until they woke to the squirming and gurgling of Madeline in between them.
“Someone’s hungry,” Claire said and moved her to her breast. It took a few tries, but thankfully Madeline latched on to her nipple and began to suck. It was an odd sensation, but a beautiful sight no doubt to look down into her daughter’s beautiful eyes. “Jamie,” Claire said. “I think she had your Fraser cat eyes too, I wonder if she has anything of me!”
Jamie laughed at that and looked over at Madeline — cat eyes, red hair and smiled in her sleep, a Fraser through and through. “She has yer fair skin, Sassenach.”
“Well she’s a baby,” Claire snorted. “She’s not goin’ to come out bronzed and tanned.”
“Aye, of course no. She has yer lungs though, that’s for sure… did ye hear her screamin’ and wailin’ when she came out of ye? Yeesh!”
“Ha ha, very funny, Jamie,” Claire narrowed her eyes at him. “If I hadn’t just given birth and you hadn’t just proposed to me hours ago, I would punch you.”
“I’d like to see ye try, Sassenach,” Jamie smirked, his lips hovering just inches away from hers.
She closed the distance first, pressing her lips against his, then moaned as his tongue slid between her lips. Sighing, Claire cupped his cheek, feeling the scruff of his cheek. She had wanted to kiss him like that for so long, ever since they’d had that first night together. Now she felt a bit silly for having waited all this time to be with him, but it was better late than never.
Jamie pulled back, his eyes dark and Claire saw a look of love and lust staring back at her.
“Jamie,” she said breathless.
“I ken,” he sighed and laid his head back on the pillow. “We must wait at least two months. Well yer doctor did say six weeks, but I ken ye said ye’d feel more comfortable wi’ eight weeks.”
Claire laughed, momentarily looking down to switch Madeline to her other breast and then returned her attention back to a restless Jamie. “Tis been nearly nine months ye ken,” Jamie looked up at her. “I just… I want ye so much, Claire.”
“I want you too, Jamie. God I want you, but now we have to wait. Just because we can’t have sex though, doesn’t mean we can’t kiss,” she said shyly.
“Oh aye, I ken that,” Jamie leaned up onto his elbow. “I plan on doin’ a lot of that at a later time.” Just as Jamie leaned up to kiss her again, Madeline came off Claire’s breast with a small ‘ahh’ sound, one of complete satisfaction. They both looked down at her, seeing how she smiled again as she fell back into a deep sleep.
“I think this parenting thing is going to be a piece of cake with this sleepy baby,” Claire laughed. Jamie reached out and touched her tiny hand with his finger. Madeline opened her hand, taking his finger and holding onto it.
“We’ve plenty of restless nights ahead of us, Sassenach. Tis only the beginning,” Jamie said. “A new beginning for us all.”
“A fresh start,” Claire echoed his thoughts and leaned her forehead against his. It was them against the world now and nothing would stand in their way. A year ago, they didn’t even know each other, and now they had a beautiful daughter and a firm foundation of love between them.
Hours later, when it wasn’t the middle of the night, Geillis dropped by to check in on them, followed by Jenny, Ian and Murtagh who all came to meet the newest member of the family.
“What did ye call her?” Murtagh asked, smiling down at their daughter in his big arms.
“Madeline Elizabeth Fraser,” Claire smiled.
“Fraser?” Jenny said, her brows raising.
“Oh yes,” Jamie smirked and then reached back into his pocket, pulling out the ring, sliding it back onto Claire’s pinky finger. “We’re gettin’ marrit.”
“Marrit?” Jenny said, surprised. “It’s about damn time!”
Everyone cheered quietly so not to disturb Madeline with too much commotion and came over to hug both Claire and Jamie. It was a happy day, one of the happiest days of Claire’s life that she would always remember.
For so long, she had closed off her heart — not allowing herself to fully love Jamie. Now it seemed she was overflowing with love, for her daughter, for Jamie and for all of her new family.
Madeline was gently passed around for the next several hours to all her new family members. Thankfully she was asleep for most of it, but when Murtagh held her in his arms, she took one look up at the grisly man’s face and let out a howling cry.
“Ah Dhia!” Murtagh cursed under his breath and walked quickly back over to hand her to Claire. “She doesna like the beard.”
“Probably thinks yer a bear or something,” Jamie laughed.
“She hasn’t even seen a bear ye wee numptie,” Murtagh hit him on the arm.
The next day, the Fraser’s got the all clear to leave the hospital. This was it, out into the real world. Claire was terrified, not only did she now have a baby in her arms, but Jamie was the one holding her heart.
It took some time and a few colorful Gaelic words, but Jamie managed to fasten Madeline’s carrier into the car. She was dressed in the cutest little pink onesie that Jamie’s sister had picked out. It was time to go home.
But as they started driving, Claire realized that they weren’t taking the route back to her home, the one she had been sharing with Geillis.
“Where are we going? You missed the turn…”
“Did ye really think ye and the bairn would be stayin’ wi’ Geillis?”
“I… well, I didn’t really think that far ahead, you know. I suppose with everything that’s been going on, I thought she would just sleep in her crib for at least the first few months, she doesn’t need a room or anything.” Claire glanced over at Jamie, one hand on the wheel.
“Aye, she does need her own room and I ken just the place.”
“What?” Claire asked him, but he wouldn’t say more, he only kept his eyes on the road ahead, driving throughout the city. A little later, they pulled up in front of a house, and it occurred to Claire just then that she had never been to Jamie’s place. “Is this yours?”
“Aye,” he smiled as he shut off the car. “I’ve got a wee surprise for ye. Both of ye.”
Jamie picked up Madeline, not bothering with her carrier for now and then took Claire’s hand, leading her up the stairs. Releasing her hadn’t briefly to unlock the door, Jamie then took it again and pushed the door open.
It was a lovely home. White walls, decorated with beautiful portraits and landscapes. It wasn’t perfectly clean either, but a home well lived in and loved. So unlike the home she shared with Frank — with not a thing out of place. There were stairs that led to the second floor that Jamie was now walking up and Claire followed closely behind — the tour would come later.
“That’s my room,” Jamie nodded his head down the hall to the left, but turned right instead towards another door. “And this…” he pushed it open with his foot. “This is Madeline’s room.”
Claire took a step forward, her eyes darting around the room. It was a nursery — fit with a crib, rocking chair and all the soft new baby things. The walls were covered with a light pink wallpaper with giant peonies taking up the space.
“Jamie…” Claire looked at him, words failing.
“I meant to tell ye, to ask ye to properly move in wi’ me months ago, but…” he trailed off. “I’m askin’ ye now.”
“Well of course I’ll move in with you!” Claire laughed. “You asked me to marry you didn’t you?”
“Aye,” Jamie chuckled. “I did that.”
“It’s beautiful, Jamie. Did you do all of this by yourself?” She asked as she walked over to the crib along the wall.
“I asked Geillis for some ideas of what ye might like and such, but I put everything together myself, ye ken,” he said proudly and came to stand by her. Gently, he placed Madeline down in her crib. She stretched her little arms and legs, adjusting to her new surroundings.
“She seems to like it alright,” Claire smiled down at her.
“There’s somethin’ else I want to show ye,” Jamie grabbed her hand and led her back out into the hallway and down to the door he had pointed out earlier, his room — their room.
“Oooo, very nice,” Claire smiled as she looked around the room. It was simple and neat. Very masculine and Claire couldn’t wait to bring her touch to the place, to settle in and help make it their home. “A very nice big bed you have there.”
“I’m a verra big man, ye ken,” Jamie smirked and walked over to the bed, sitting on the edge. He opened his arms to Claire and she sat on his lap, hooking her arms around his neck. “Oh God, Claire… I want ye so much I can scarcely breathe.”
“Not yet, my lad,” Claire said softly as she leaned in to kiss him. Jamie’s grip tightened on her waist and he leaned back on the bed, taking her with him. They lay there, kissing and touching, laughing and sighing — content to be in each other’s arms at last.
++++++
The next month was filled with late nights and early mornings. Time seemed to slip through their fingers from one feeding to the next. It was one night after Claire had finally put Madeline to sleep that she remembered they still need to request the paternity test.
“Have ye found the place?” Jamie asked, brushing his teeth.
“Yes, it’s called Hawkins Lab, it’s one of the places recommended at the hospital. I can call them tomorrow,” Claire walked into the bathroom, placing a kiss on Jamie’s shoulder. “Then I just have to contact… Frank.”
“Will ye call him? Or see him in person?”
“Call him, definitely. You’re working all this week and that would mean I would have to take Madeline with me to see him and that is not happening.”
“Do you think he’ll argue wi’ ye?”
“Probably not,” Claire squeezed out a bit of toothpaste onto her toothbrush. “You saw how he was months ago, drunk, but he’s always wanted a child. He’ll leap at the chance to have one.”
Jamie was quiet as they both finished brushing their teeth and then he turned to Claire once she rinsed her mouth out, wrapping his arms around her.
“No matter what happens, Jamie… you will have some rights as my husband,” Claire kissed him, minty and fresh. “But I know it, in my soul — I know that you are her father.”
“If ye say so,” Jamie smiled softly and held her for a long while, fearing that everything was going to change with the results.
++++++
1 month later…
“Sassenach?”
“Hmmm?” Claire glanced over at Jamie who had laid his book on his chest.
“Are ye tired?” He asked, his fingers tapping against the book.
“Always,” she laughed. “Why do you ask?”
His cheeks blushed pink, as did the tips of his ears. “Well… not that I’ve been countin’ the days, but today Madeline is two months old now.”
“Two months already?” Claire smiled as she let her own book fall against her chest. Two months of crying and wiping spit up off clean shirts. It had been the most exhausting two months of their lives, but they wouldn’t change a thing.
They had crawled into bed each night, barely able to kiss each other goodnight before dozing off to sleep.
“And ye had yer check up a couple weeks ago and the doctor did say everythin’ was lookin’ good,” Jamie said shyly.
“Yes he did. Everything looks perfectly in order,” Claire teased him.
“Well…” Jamie finally looked over at her, his eyes lighting a fire deep in her belly. Claire felt far from sexy — sitting in bed in a stained t-shirt and sleep shorts. Her hair was a mess and she hadn’t shaved her legs in a few weeks. But the look Jamie was giving her was enough to melt her on the spot. “I ken ye said ye wanted to wait another few weeks…”
“You really want to have sex with me when I look like this?” Claire asked.
Jamie blinked several times, as if it only just occurred to him that Claire wasn’t dressed in lingerie and holding a whip. “Ye look beautiful, Sassenach. And besides,” he snickered, “There is never a time when I don’t want ye.”
“Oh you sodding man,” Claire snorted, playfully hitting his arm. Jamie caught her hand and placed his over his heart.
“I’ll wait as long as ye need to, mo nighean, but I—“ he rambled. “I just dinna ken how much longer I can lie next to ye, feelin’ yer sweet smooth skin against me and not have ye. To feel yer curves and that fat wee bum wedged between my thighs… God, yer arse makes me want to do indecent things.”
Claire’s mouth dropped at this confession. “Well, if you say you’ll wait as long as I need…” she bit her bottom lip. “Will you allow me a few moments to freshen up in the bathroom?”
Jamie perked up at hearing this, almost like a dog being told he was about to go on a walk. “Aye, Sassenach. Take all the time ye need!”
Laughing, Claire leaned over and kissed him, eager as he was, it was charming and also a little arousing at how badly he wanted her. The man had been counting the days and Claire would be lying if she hadn’t also kept track.
She would also be lying if she didn’t admit that she was a bit nervous. Jamie and her had sex just the one time, almost exactly a year ago. Back then they had both been drunk and Claire’s body had just gone through nearly nine months of growing another human being and then delivery of said baby.
Taking a deep breath, Claire looked at herself in the mirror. The way Jamie had looked at her earlier made all sorts of feelings rouse in her body. “You can do this, Beauchamp,” she said quietly to herself and began by splashing cold water on her face.
She was quite sure that Jamie would take her as she was, hairy legs and all, but he had waited patiently and this was a special occasion. So Claire hopped in the shower and shaved her legs as quickly as she could without nicking her skin. Once she was smooth as Madeline’s cute wee bottom, she dried off and grabbed her robe from the hook. It wasn’t sexy or glamorous, just a soft linen, but she didn’t want to put on her grubby clothes from before.
Another quick check in the mirror, pushing back curls and a few deep breaths and Claire was ready. Her heart hammered as she opened the bathroom door. Jamie had gone back to his book, but let it fall to the ground as he caught sight of her.
“Sassenach,” Jamie rose from the bed. “Yer the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Blushing, Claire walked over to stand in front of him and placed her hands on his chest. “Ever?”
“Aye,” he smiled softly and grabbed her hands. “I knew I loved ye from the moment I saw ye standin’ outside Lallybroch. Yer wee curls flying around yer face. And I’ve wanted ye every day since.”
“I wanted you too, Jamie,” Claire admitted. “I think… it took me a little longer to realize that I loved you, but it’s always been you. Always.”
Jamie leaned down, kissing her deeply as he moved his hands to settle on her waist. He gripped the belt of her robe, pressing her against him. They stood there kissing for what felt like hours and Claire moaned as she felt something hard against her stomach.
“Hello there,” she laughed and Jamie glanced down at the obvious bulge in his pants.
“I told ye, ye are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Sassenach,” Jamie smirked, tugging on the belt of her robe.
“You weren’t lying,” Claire said a little breathless as he pushed his hips against her. Letting her hands move from around his neck, she slid them under the hem of his shirt, feeling the hard planes of his stomach and lifted the material up and over his head. Leaning in, Claire placed her face against his chest, breathing deeply. “Mmmm, you smell delicious.”
“What?” Jamie laughed.
“You just smell,” Claire laughed as she leaned back to look at him, now running her fingers through the dark golden chest hair. “You smell really good. Like — oh I don’t know, like a bloody man!”
“Och, well I’m glad I smell like a man!”
Their laughter died as they both looked into each other’s eyes and that burning feeling returned once again deep in Claire’s stomach and between her legs. Suddenly, Jamie dropped to his knees, his hands still on her hips. Looking up at her, he untied her robe, letting it fall open. Jamie leaned in, pressing his lips against her stomach — scarred with stretch marks and still not quite as flat as it once had been. “Beautiful,” Jamie said and kissed her stomach once again before inhaling her scent.
“Ye smell delicious too, Sassenach.”
“Jesus Christ,” Claire muttered and then ran her hand through his curls. His face was so close to her, and this all felt so incredibly intimate. Jamie put his hands on her hips again, turning her so that she sat down on the bed. He came to kneel before her and reached up, his hands tugging on the robe from her shoulders.
The material fell from one shoulder and then the other, pooling around her waist to reveal her sizable breasts, tender and nearly full of milk again. Jamie touched them gently, only softly stroking and then slid his hands down to her waist. Claire took her arms out of the robe and finally she was bare before him. His eyes raked over her body, and then he rose.
“I need ye, Sassenach,” he said as he pulled off his sweats and boxers in one fluid movement. He was more than ready — his cock hard and throbbing, curved slightly against his stomach.
“I’m yours,” she admitted as she moved backwards on the bed, laying herself out for him. Jamie was there, his thigh wedged between her legs and she trembled with anticipation. So many nights she had dreamed of him, of his touch and now finally he was here, again in her arms.
“I love you,” she said as she reached between their bodies and took hold of him. He gasped at her touch, biting his bottom lip at her firm grip.
“Oh God,” he moaned. “I love ye, mo nighean.”
And then he was home. Claire arched her back, pressing herself against him, feeling the heat radiate off his body. It was too much and not enough all at once. The fullness of him inside of her.
Jamie held still for a moment, simply enjoying the warmth of her, trailing his hands along the smooth curves of her body. Then he leaned down, capturing her mouth against his and began to thrust gently, still mindful of her sensitive body.
Limbs entangled and hearts racing, they gave into one another. Unlike the first time, they held each other’s hearts in the other’s hand. Their first time had been primal and they had devoured each other. This time — they joined together almost languorously, all those sleepless nights making it hard to stay awake, but the intense feeling of being one keeping them awake and desperate for more.
“Sorcha,” Jamie mumbled against her lips — her name in Gaelic — steadily thrusting deep into her. Claire wrapped one leg around his waist, shifting the angle of his hips. He moved his mouth to her neck, gently rubbing his scruff along the exposed skin as she liked. She was putty in his hands and he brought her to the edge only to jump off with her, following her wherever she saw fit to take them.
Claire ran her hands along Jamie’s scarred back, pressing gently as he rolled over onto his side, his arms still cradling her. Leaning in, she kissed him deeply, tracing his lips with her tongue. Just as she thought he might be ready for a second round, a small cry came from down the hallway.
“Madeline,” Claire immediately started to sit up, but Jamie put his hand on her shoulder.
“I’ll see to her, Sassenach,” he kissed her nose. “At least she waited until I was done wi’ ye.”
Claire hit him on the arm, “Oh you think you’re done with me, Fraser?”
Jamie leaned down, his lips brushing hers, but then another, louder cry came from Madeline’s room and he groaned. “I love her, I love her, I love her.”
“You keep saying that,” Claire laughed and moved back to settle under the covers, sighing as her legs trembled slightly. Jamie made her feel so complete, as if all her life there was a missing piece.
Soon the cries stopped and Jamie returned to their bedroom, rubbing his hand over his sleepy eyes. Claire yawned and then realized that Jamie was still naked, not bothering with any clothes as he attended to Madeline’s needs.
“Get back here,” Claire said softly, sitting up so the sheet fell from around her. “Now.”
Jamie’s eyebrows rose as well as something else further down and he laughed, nearly jumping on the bed and Claire as they made love for the second time that night.
++++++
2 weeks later…
December 6th, 2019
Everyone had come round to their house to help decorate for Christmas. Claire had never cared much for decorations, her parents usually just put up the tree and that was it. But she quickly found out that the Fraser’s went all out for Christmas and Hogmanay.
Murtagh was in the living room with Geillis trying to hang garland to Geillis’ exact specifications. Jenny and Ian were in the kitchen cooking with their children running around the house shouting “jingle bells” at the top of their lungs. Claire wanted to cry at the festive scene before her.
She was in the hallway, trying to decide what wreath to put on the front door, when Jamie came up from behind her, holding mistletoe above her head.
“A Christmas kiss?”
Claire smiled, and turned in his arms, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss him.
“Don’t you look cozy,” she placed her hands on Jamie’s chest. He was wearing the new cream colored sweater she had bought him and it fit snug in all the right places.
“And ye look rather cozy as well,” Jamie kissed her again, moving his hands around to her waist and settling his hands on her arse. “Those jeans dinna leave much to the imagination, Sassenach.”
“I’m just glad I fit back into them!” Claire laughed. “Can you believe it’s already Christmas?”
“Nah, Sassenach. It feels like just the other day when I bumped into ye at the cafe,” Jamie laughed against her lips, his arms coming to wrap around her. She sighed then, a sound that was music to his ears for it meant she was happy and he had a small part to play in that.
They pulled apart and Claire leaned her head against his chest before remembering something, “Oh did you get the mail?” She asked. “The Lab said that we should be getting the results sometime this week.”
“Aye, I just brought it in a little bit ago, tis on the front table,” Jamie said. “Want me to take a look?”
Sounds of squealing came from behind her and they both turned to see young Jamie running circles around Madeline’s basinette. “I’ll just go check on that,” Jamie smirked.
The pile of mail was exactly where Jamie said it was and she flipped though, finding bills and junk mail. Then the top left corner of an envelope caught her eye. Hawkins Laboratory.
The results.
She opened it, her heart pounding and read.
Claire only shook her head slightly as she read again and again the words on the document in her hands. It was a whole bunch of numbers she didn’t quite understand, with Madeline’s name, Jamie’s name and Frank’s name at the top. But there at the bottom where it said “Probability of Paternity” next to Frank’s name it read 98%…
“Claire? What’s that say? Ye dinna look so good,” Jamie came to stand beside her and finally looked down at the paper.
“It’s Frank,” was all she could manage to say.
“Christ…” Jamie took the document from Claire, his eyes racing over every word. His heart sank as his biggest fear came to life. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
Her hands clenched into fists and she wanted nothing more than to punch Frank Randall in the face — anywhere… just as long as he suffered.
“He won’t take her, Sassenach. I willna let him, I made ye a promise and I plan to keep it.”
“It’ll be alright, Jamie,” Claire turned to him, cupping his cheek. “Madeline is your daughter. I know. She has your red hair, your slanted eyes… she is half of you and me. Frank can’t possibly be her father…”
Jamie brought her close, kissing the top of her head, “We can go somewhere else, to confirm.”
“But what if the results say the same thing,” Claire turned her head to look at him. “What if—“
“Shhh, mo nighean, dinna fash about it now,” Jamie pulled her in close, hiding her face from his only so that she wouldn’t see the tears that spilled down his cheeks. It had all been perfect, nearly too perfect. What now?
Rhaenys had always been good at noticing details about the people around her. Friend and foe. At times it was not a blessing, but when it came to protecting her family, Rhaenys used what she observed to do what was needed.
Dinner had been a drawn out affair, as it often was when the family was gathered. Not quite a feast, but still a joyous evening. She had noticed the not-quite-so-hidden-stolen-glances between Rhaena and Aemond all throughout the meal, which brought back memories of her own youthful flirtation with the Heir to Driftmark. She had said nothing, curious to what was playing out in front of her.
“Rhaena, come see me before you retire for the night?” She requested softly of her granddaughter as she walked past her, leaving the table as the meal concluded.
Rhaenys retreated to the south facing balcony with a goblet of wine. She placed the goblet on the bannister before she leaned against it and let the breeze run through her hair, easing her mind after a long day. She inhaled deeply and slowly, missing the scent of the sea, the salt, the seaweed; already longing home for High Tide. For a moment she was tempted to venture down to the dragon pit and fly out into the darkening sky on Meleys, but that would require another bath and the hour was already growing late.
