𝐁𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐫 & 𝐌𝐚𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐫 —Follow up to Echoes
(still not a proper fic, working on all details)
The shock that had been felt during the tourney had been for more than just knowing. More than feeling the heartbeat slow feet away when approaching. Hadn't needed to see Baelor to know that he had fallen and wouldn't rise. Hadn't said a word since holding the helm he'd worn. Nor when Maekar had questioned why she couldn't have healed him. Had been silent.
At the departure from Ashford, she left with Maekar, who later chose to withdraw from court life and retreated to Summerhall. His children scattered, Aegon had disappeared. Again.
Daeron returned to his duties. Aerion had been banished to Lys. Aemon at the citadel. Daella and Rhae at the Red Keep.
Eretria remained with Maekar at Summerhall. After a couple weeks, she revealed that she was with child. Baelor's. One he'd never meet and would never know him. She'd felt the life begin to take shape not so long before the trial that had ended with the fallen Prince. Maekar had known they'd grown close since meeting, a short time, but meaningful.
When the babe was born, a boy. He had white blonde hair. And mismatched eyes, like Baelor. His father had had dark hair, his Uncle had white blonde. Dornish and Targaryen heritage.
When Maekar came later to see her, she presented his nephew. He didn't hold the boy but sat near.
"Baelor loved you." She said quietly. The grief that Maekar carried was heavy, she didn't need to look into his mind or even try to sense anything about him. "It wasn't and never will be what you intended. He'd know that."
Maekar just exhaled. "I will still hear the lie until the end of my days. That I meant to deal the blow that took him."
Neither had looked at the other when speaking, watching the babe shift in the blanket in her arms. "His name is Maekar." They hadn't exchanged further words that day.
Maeker II would grow close to his Uncle and namesake.
Over the years at Summerhall, Eretria and Maekar were each other's company and steadiness. Never coming close to healing from their pasts, grief, self hatred, pain carried with no inclination of being let go. But with little Maekar, there was some ray of happiness for both. For the Druid, nature came first, didn't mean it gave happiness at all times. For Maekar, his grief over his wife was great, over his children's states was added, but over Baelor he would never recover. Knowing that he had dealt the blow that took his life, not knowing it until after Baelor lay dead.
About five years together passed, unwed, but close enough to have been thought of as if they were. Little Maekar had been attending his reading lesson.
The Druid told Maekar she had felt life growing. Better known sooner than later. The grunt of acknowledgement came, his hand moved to her still flat abdomen.
A fifth child for her after her eldest three sons and little Maekar, her other children, they'd kept in contact by raven. Or other means. Magic had its complications.
For Maekar it would be his seventh. After the six with his past wife.
Another boy was born, in late summer. This one now with dark hair. Maekar had looked at him, and at his nephew nestled near Eretria while she held the new babe. Leaving the room to conceal tears.
He returned when hearing soft sobs and little Maekar asking "Does it still hurt mother? I can fetch the Maester." Eretria told him not to.
She held both boys close, then Maekar's hand in hers when he came close. Shifting his nephew into his lap, draping his free arm around her.
"What will you name him?" Maekar said, his voice not much higher than a whisper.
"Baelor." She'd replied.
Maekar II and Baelor III. The boys were cousins and half brothers at the same time but would grow more as brothers.
It hadn't needed to be said, The Druid had started sobbing when realizing what Maekar saw when seeing the two boys together. His memories of himself and his own brother had come back. She'd seen them without meaning to. And he had let her, knowing she'd see them from his mind.
He saw Baelor and himself again.
Only this time, he was the elder. Baelor was the younger.
