Chapter Text
Darkness. That was all there was. Impenetrable darkness. Elena drifted limply through the black liquid. Was this death? Would this be where she spent the rest of eternity? She could not bear such a lonely existence.
I must’ve done something to do deserve this.
Death was not as cold as Elena believed it would be. There was simply nothing, which was surely worse. At least if there was a chill she would feel something instead of desperately reaching for a sensation that would never come.
Seconds. Minutes. Hours. Or maybe even days went by before something happened.
Harsh red shattered through the darkness, the heat made Elena recoil. Bloody tendrils wrapped around her arms, legs and waist. Burning at her flesh. She opened her mouth but could not scream. Elena struggled as the vines dragged her towards the tear, was she going to hell? Was this truly her fate? She didn’t want to die. There was still so much she needed to do, so much she needed to say. She would give anything just to live again. She would allow herself to be confined in her bedchamber if she could see the light, hear the laughter of her children, she didn’t want to die!
A scream ripped from her throat as she was brought through. Elena felt her blood boil and her body thrashed uncontrollably. She sobbed as agony crashed over her. Yet once Elena’s eyes adjusted, she realised she was not in hell. No. She was in a stone hall. It was dark. Nighttime. The walls had carvings of The Seven, The Mother smiled calmly at her, her stomach large and round, breast bared as though ready for a babe to be placed upon it. Elena was lying on a cold platform in the centre of the room, she turned her head and saw a man slumped on the ground beside it. “Gwayne?” Elena rasped, her throat was raw and dry. She drew in gasping breaths, greedily swallowing all the air she could.
The man looked up, meeting her eyes. It wasn’t Gwayne. It was Bryce, no that was not his true name. Varyn, that is who he was. Elena was unsure how she knew that name, she couldn’t remember being told it. “Elena!” He gasped happily, “oh thank the gods it worked.” He hugged her tightly.
“Who are you?” Elena asked, not returning his embrace.
“Your brother.” Varyn told her as he caressed her face. “Well, half-brother. But that matters not, you are okay now. I saved you.”
“Where is Gwayne?” She pried herself from Varyn’s arms. “I need him.”
“Abed, I imagine.” He said calmly as he ran his hands along her arms. “Do not trouble yourself with that, sister, rest. You have had a very long journey.”
“What happened to Mr. Costler’s grandson?” Elena asked.
“You needn’t worry about him,” Varyn assured her. “He wanted to travel the world but knew his mother would never let him, so I agreed to take his place under Mr. Costler’s tutelage.”
“What happened to me?” She asked, “where was I?”
“I do not know.” He whispered, “but you are back now, that is what matters.”
“Where’s Gwayne?” Elena asked again. “I want to see him… can you bring him to me?”
“I cannot.”
“Why not?”
“He can never know I was here.” Varyn told her, “he thinks me a mere servant, he could send me to The Wall if he knew I was alone with you.”
“I need to see him.” Elena insisted. “Now. If you will not bring him to me I will go to him.”
“There is no rush, Elena,” Varyn carefully took hold of her arm. “He will come by in the morning.”
“I do not want to wait until morning!” She snapped, sliding off the stone platform. Her legs were weak and nearly gave out from underneath her. Elena’s eyes darted around the room again. “Oh…” she breathed out shakily as she realised what this room was. It was where they left the bodies for viewing. “I… I died?”
“No,” Varyn murmured, helping her stand up. “Not at all, you almost did, truth be told, but I saved you.”
“How?” Elena rasped, “what did you do?”
“Do not fret, my dear sister.” Varyn kissed her temple, “all will make sense, in time.”
Elena pushed him off of her. “Do not touch me!” She snapped, “where is my husband? I need my husband.”
Varyn said nothing more, he only watched as she staggered out of the room and went down the hall. It was empty, quiet and dark. As though the house itself were mourning. “The baby…” Elena whispered. Did her baby survive? She felt her flat stomach and nausea flooded over her. “Why would he…” Elena heard footsteps and her head shot up. Gwayne stood mere feet away from her, his eyes wide and posture stiff. “Gwayne!” Elena sobbed with relief and ran towards him. Elena threw her arms around him but he did not return her embrace. Her husband fell to his knees and stared up at her. “Gwayne?” Elena whispered and caressed his cheek, wiping a stray tear.
“Is…” his voice was raw with grief. “Is it really you, my love?”
“Yes.” Elena nodded tearfully.
“You are not… you are not an apparition?”
“I am not.” She confirmed with a slight smile. “It is me,” Elena took Gwayne’s hand and pressed it against her heart. “I am alive.”
Gwayne rested his head against Elena’s stomach and sobbed. “Oh my love, my light, you have been returned to me.” She kneeled so they were face to face. “I thought- the maester said- you were not breathing.”
“I am well now,” Elena caressed his face, soaking in the warmth of his skin. “My Gwayne,” she whispered and rested her head on the crook of his neck. Elena deeply breathed in his smell, the darkness had been so lonely, she would cling to Gwayne and never let go of him if she could. He was warm. He was safe. Elena could feel his heart beat beneath her hand, a steady, lively rhythm. “My husband.”
Gwayne leaned back and stared into her eyes, “I love you.” He whispered, “I love you.” Gwayne blinked and wiped his tears, “I should take you to the maester.” He stumbled to his feet and took Elena up with him. “I need-”
“Where is the babe?” Elena asked, “our boy?”
“She is in the nursery.” Gwayne replied. “The babe is a little girl, I have named her Odelia.”
“A girl.” Elena smiled, she thought she would be disappointed with another daughter, but Elena was overjoyed. “Odelia is a beautiful name.”
“I will take you to her after we’ve spoken to Maester Elwin.”
“I’ve no time for maesters.” She insisted, grasping Gwayne’s hands. “Only us, our children. I must see them.”
“Come morn you may,” her husband replied. “But first we must see the maester, he must… he must say you live, that you are not but a dream. Please, for the sake of my weary heart.”
Elena wanted nothing more than to see her children, to meet the babe she nearly died bringing into the world. She did die. Elena was dead, yet now she was alive again. Her mind wandered to the deer in the woods, that creature who was so beautiful and now Elena stared into the anguished eyes of her beloved husband. The same sad beautiful eyes but he was alive and the creature was dead. She should be dead.
She did not know what Varyn did to return her to life.
Would Maester Elwin know what was done?
What would he do?
“Elena?” Gwayne caressed her cheek. “Come back to me, where have you gone?”
She blinked. “I am here,” Elena pressed a kiss to his hand. “I am here, my love, there is naught but here for me.” She took his face into her hands and kissed him long and slow. “For the sake of your weary heart, my husband, we shall go to the maester.” Elena murmured against his lips.
“Thank you.” Gwayne kissed her temple and lifted her up into his arms. “Thank the gods you have been returned to me.”
I wish it were the gods, Elena rested her head on his shoulder and felt his heartbeat with her hand. It was beating quickly and steadily.
Gwayne climbed the steps to Maester Elwin’s quarters. Elena closed her eyes and took in all she could hear; the padding of Gwayne’s boots on the stone, his beating heart and loud breaths, there was a strong wind clattering the windows, the latches must’ve broken. She could hear the sounds of the maester’s hearth, roaring and crackling, the scratching of his pen. At least they would not be waking him. Gwayne’s fist pounded against the door. There was no need for such urgency, yet Elena saw no reason to admonish him.
The door creaked as Maester Elwin stepped out, the candle he held slipped from his fingers. “Ser Gwayne!” The maester exclaimed. “Have you lost your senses? Taking her from the sept?”
“She lives!” Gwayne shouted. “Can’t you see it? My wife is alive!”
Elena opened her eyes and tilted her head to face the aged, worried face of the maester. “By the gods…” he gasped. “Bring her inside, place her on the bed.” Gwayne set her down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Step aside, Ser Gwayne.”
“No.” Gwayne whispered, “no, I am afraid that if I let her go she will fade away.”
“She will not fade, Ser,” the maester promised. “I must examine your wife so I may understand what happened.”
I pray that you never do, for that would do much harm. “I feel quite well, maester, I can assure you.” Elena smiled, “I only wish to see my children.”
The maester said nothing and simply began his examination. Elwin murmured as he went through the motions, trying to make sense of her situation. This went on for some time, Gwayne’s eyes never left her, his hand never slipped from hers. She was alive, undeniably so. A miracle, mayhaps, Elena – much like the old maester – could not be content with that. She knew her half-brother had done something, he said so himself. The darkness, the red tendrils of blood that pulled Elena from death. Varyn’s creation no doubt, but how did he do it? How could he take control of The Stranger’s scythe?
Elena stared into the perplexed gaze of the maester. He knew perfectly well her waking was unnatural. “I have heard rumours of some waking when previously believed dead.” Maester Elwin said. “I have never seen it myself, though my understanding is that one’s heart can slow to the point where it is undetectable, as a means of keeping oneself alive.”
“Is that what happened?” Gwayne asked. “We were mistaken?”
“I cannot muster any other explanation.” Maester Elwin spoke cautiously. “Unless the lady herself can provide an alternative?”
Elena sat up, “I do not know what happened to me, maester, only that I am here and that I want to be with my daughters.” She slid off of the bed and headed towards the door.
“My lady I must protest-”
“I will not suffer this farce any longer!” Elena shouted. “I do not know what happened, you do not know and nor does he. I live and there can be no other explanation! I have been gone from this world for many a day so I must go to my children, so they may know that I am alive. So they may know that they are not motherless!” Gwayne approached her slowly, “I am a mother before I am maiden. You cannot keep me from them! Ponder the how and why if you must, but I will not linger.”
Elena hurried from the room to where her daughters slept. She could hear Gwayne was following, quick as always he overtook her and blocked her path down the stairs. Elena came to a halt, man and wife being mere inches apart.
Her eyes narrowed. “Move.”
“I would implore you to turn back and listen to what the maester has to say.” He said steadily. “Whatever has happened is a rare occurrence, I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you.”
“Nothing will happen to me, I assure you I feel quite well.” Elena lifted her chin, taking advantage of the height the step provided her. “Though I cannot promise you the same if you continue to stand in the way of me and my children.”
Gwayne did not move. His sharp eyes were full of intense pleading and a harshness Elena had not seen from him. He was afraid, Elena deduced, though for good reason. But as Gwayne’s fears may be, Elena would not wait a moment longer.
“I will not ask you again, Gwayne, get out of my way.”
“Elena, please-”
“Move!” She shouted and shoved him aside.
Gwayne’s back hit the wall as she quickly moved past him, his hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled Elena back, their chests pressed together and breaths mingling. “You know what happened, don’t you?” He asked quietly.
“I know not what you are referring to,” Elena lied desperately. “Please do not make me go back to the maester, I just want to see my babies.”
“My love, talk to me, please.” Gwayne pleaded with her. “Do you not trust Maester Elwin? Is that it? We can find a new maester for you if that is the case.” He let go of her wrist, Elena was tempted to run but she stayed. She slid down the wall and sat ungracefully on the steps, Gwayne followed suit and reached his hand out to hers. “What happened to you?” He asked as their fingers intertwined. “After you sent me away, what was done to you?”
Elena squeezed her eyes shut and flinched away as the memory of the blade came unbidden. The sharp agony as her pelvis was cut to free the babe. Odelia. Her name was Odelia. Odelia who made all the pain worth it, all Elena wanted to do was to see her sweet little face. It was all worth it.
It had to be.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered tearfully.
“For what?”
“Sending you away,” Elena rubbed her face. “For saying those awful things… I was… no, nothing can justify what I said. I’m sorry, my love, truly.” Elena lifted her gaze and found Gwayne weeping.
“I thought I’d lost you forever,” he sniffled, wiping away his tears. “That killed me, I… what would I have done without you? I couldn’t be the father our children needed if you were gone.” Gwayne gave her a strained smile. “But that matters not, the gods have blessed us, you are alive against all odds.”
Elena averted her eyes and hugged her knees to her chest. “Yes, yes, you are right.” She felt no physical pain, thanks to Varyn no doubt, but there was a hollow phantom ache in her core. She shuddered at the thought of any remnant damage, or was that fixed during…
Gwayne’s expression softened. “Come, my darling,” he rose to his feet. “The children should know that you are alive, they’re all in the nursery.”
She nodded and took his hand, leaning against him as they walked. Elena’s eyes drifted to the window, an owl was perched on a branch, watching their every move.
The owl’s eyes were violet.
Elena glared at it as she entered the nursery.
The room was quiet, she could see three of the toddlers all gathered in a pile at the corner of the room fast asleep. Alyrie on the other hand slept separately from the rest, she lay on the chair next to Odelia’s crib. Elena sat next to her and gently shook her awake. “Alyrie?” She whispered, “my sweet girl.”
Alyrie woke slowly and rubbed her eyes sleepily. “Mummy?”
“I’m here, dear one,” Elena sighed happily, taking Alyrie into her lap. “I’m here.” She kissed the toddlers head, “oh my lovely girl, I have missed you so.”
“Grandfather said we would not see you again.” Alyrie whimpered. “You’re not going to leave again, are you?”
“No, never,” Elena promised. “I could never be gone away from you long, my sweet girl.” She caressed Alyrie’s face, “why don’t you wake your sisters, little one? We can all sing songs and read pretty stories.”
Alyrie nodded excitedly and hurried over to where her sisters slept. Elena smiled at Gwayne as she went to Odelia’s crib, she was small, heartbreakingly so. Elena gently picked the little girl up and cradled her to her chest.
“She is a good babe,” Gwayne murmured. “She very rarely cries and sleeps easily.”
“That is good.” Elena kissed the top of her head, the babe blinked her eyes large and violet. “Hello, my sweet Odelia.” In her eyes Elena could see her own reflection, the same pain and torment of being ripped from the grasps of death. She smiled at her daughter, hoping it would provide comfort and reassurance to the wee thing. “You surely are the darlingest girl in the realm.” Elena whispered, “I love you very much.”