Chapter Text
Doran was the big brother she admired, the big brother who made her feel safe, always calm and constant and wise ; but it was Oberyn she was the closest to.
They were only one year apart ; she was his big sister, but it was like they were the same age.
As children they would hardly spend a day without the other, voicing their disappointment when they had to be separated. She remembered days running around the Water Gardens, Oberyn carrying her on his back — she remembered the friends they made then, low born and high born alike.
She remembered stealing his toy spear and running until he’d catch her, and she remembered calmer days, when she felt too ill to get out of bed. Oberyn was always outside — except on those days. He would stay with her, sitting on the bed to read stories or telling her everything about the last snake he had tried to catch. He would skip spear fighting lessons to keep her company. Even when all she did was sleep all day, he was there.
"I just don’t want you to be lonely," he would say with a smile when she would tell him he could go outside if he wanted, "Besides, it is no fun without you."
Her little brother was never a calm child, and sometimes she would wake up to him running around the bed pretending to have a fight with whatever imaginary enemy he had invented. It always brought a smile to her face, and then he would show off to make her laugh.
She missed him, she thought as she sat up in her splendid bed. Here in King’s Landing they had everything she needed. Beautiful bedchambers, several maesters, handmaidens to keep her company — but her handmaidens were never as fun as him. Rhaegar came to visit her sometimes, but he was always busy. Rhaegar did not share stories of snakes and spear fighting, and Rhaegar did not have a laugh that made her feel like everything would be alright.
She missed him, but she was not totally alone, she thought as she watched Rhaenys skipping around the room with a kitten perched on her shoulder. Whatever she was playing at, Elia did not know — but she did remind her of a little boy, who several years ago, would skip and run in very much the same way until she’d tell him to come and sit with her. Rhaenys was a ray of sunlight, much like Oberyn. Rhaenys would laugh, too. One laugh from her little girl and her whole day would be brightened.