NOTE! I decided to rewrite all the published chapters (not entirely, change/add details or improve the story logic), but it will be slow process and I don't want to pull everything off and publish it again at the speed of dying sloth. Therefore, every revisited chapter will be marked as revisited.

To the plot: I had to change the season (I didn't want to deal with winter that was in the books at this time, so it's summer) and the age of some characters. Oberyn has to be few years older - in this story he must be at least 32, rather more. Which means Doran is older too and Elia married unusually late, because she is still the middle child. And their mother, who Mr. Martin can't be bothered to name, is Loreza.

Next, Oberyn has just 4 daugters for now - OC Jeanna, Obara, Nym and Tyene. Maybe Sarella, I'm not sure yet, and Ellaria is not yet his paramour.

Then, I don't like the show from the season 5, but I didn't avoid some of show lore instead of book, because it was simplified (stupidified) and fits better in my story. But it's mostly according to the book. And last thing, I made Jon Connington Hand of the King earlier, already in time of peace. The rest you will find.

Sitting in a saddle of her horse, she tried to get herself next to her father as quickly as possible through the city streets, but to no purpose. There were too many people all around and the streets to the Red Keep were so narrow, that she couldn't ride faster than by walking speed. The only reason she didn't dismount was her fear, that there could be thieves and rapists among the passers and they could rob her of anything from the pearls on her dress to her bridle. Not that she couldn't defend herself or start a fight if needed, not that she hadn't her father and guards nearby, but she simply didn't want to face unnecessary conflicts.

But she couldn't overlook and mainly overhear some bard sitting with his harp on the stairs in Baker Street and singing a slow and sad song about a young girl lost among dragons. First, she only listened to his pleasant but little bit gloomy voice. Then she realized, how dangerous it could be in present times. The bard could be marked as a traitor for such lyrics.

But when she rode around him, she thought, that it would be a shame. And not just for his evident talent. Man like him shouldn't sit on streets but play in halls of the loftiest castles, she told herself. His hair was hidden under his hood of a dark red cloak but his pale skin was lightened up by mysterious dark eyes, maybe black, blue, grey or completely different, she couldn't tell. And when he raised those eyes and met hers, he stopped singing and gave her similarly mysterious, not quite cheerful smile. He was simply very handsome.

And then, he unexpectedly extended his arm and handed her one red rose. After that, he sat again, touched the strings of his harp and other tones of another song sounded. But by that time, princess Jaenna Nymeros Martell was drifted away by the crowd and her sand steed.
"Very talented bard," she said to her companion when the streets were free enough to ride side by side. But prince Oberyn, man in his prime, feared warrior and adored lover of all Dorne, just smiled.
"It is a shame, that I couldn't dismount. I could invite him to us. Gods know aunt Elia would welcome some distraction."
"Surely Elia?" Oberyn grinned at his oldest daughter, who had recently celebrated her sixteenth name-day. "Surely not some other young lady looking for distraction in young bards, who will whisper nonsense about knights and fair maidens in her ears?"
"I do not know, do you know such lady, father?" she returned the same grin and same coin. "But it is a shame to waste talent on the streets. He would already sit in Water Gardens, if he was in Dorne."
"If you long so much for his singing, I am fairly sure he will find his way into the palace. This one certainly knows it," he stopped her, as if he knew something more, but didn't let her ask, because they were close to the gate of the Red Keep, the royal palace in King's Landing. They and the rest of their retinue forcing their way through crowds. Oberyn's personal guards, now serving also to Jaenna, lady Toland, lord Uller, without his son, thank gods, lord Qorgyle, lady Allyrion and their own guards and servants. Jaenna wasn't sure whether other nobles from Dorne unwiling or unable to be in their retinue decided to go to King's Landing too, but that didn't concern her anyway.
"Once we arrive, we let them lead us directly to Elia, whoever will welcome us. I don't want to be unnecessarily in King's sight, do you understand? I know how you love wandering around and I am not afraid in Dorne or in the middle of the Oldtown, but here you must stay away from him."

Jaenna nodded and kept all her remarks for herself. Her father had warned her before they left the Sunspear to keep away from the rest of the royal family during their visit of her father's sister, princess Elia. Maybe except prince Rhaegar. And especially from King Aerys, whom his subjects called Mad King in whispers.

"I don't know, what I will do all days, then."
"You undoubtedly can find some entertainment. I, for example, heard of certain madam Chataya from Summer Isles and her business..."
"Oh, you really think only about this?" Jaenna rolled her eyes because she knew, what business it would be, that caught the interest of her father. She didn't particularly like his shows such as this. She thought he always deliberately violated the manners, it was one of his worst customs, and according to her, he really didn't have to provoke her in the same fashion as other lords he didn't like.
"No fear. I also hope for someone to cross my sword with. Or rather spear."
"Of course. A bed and then battlefield. Or battlefield and then bed.-"
"-Show them the Dornish way," they said together. Jaenna had never been attracted to activities her father loved, perhaps except her training with sword and spear, and still maiden. She also disproved, that Dornish reputation was exaggerated in the rest of the realm. Not all were the same. She remembered one of many breaks in their journey, when lord Uller asked, whether she would soon grace Hellholt with her presence again and variegate his son's days. Jaenna almost declined the offer. Lady Toland cut in, however, and declared, that if all young maidens think only about men and men's pleasure, it wouldn't do any good. Men think about it more than enough, indeed. Jaenna had to smile again. On the other hand, Dorne was hot-blooded and didn't avoid pleasures as other kingdoms either way, and she didn't take her companions amiss. She even loved Obara, Nymeria and Tyene as true sisters, although they were an outcome of her father's many philanders all over the world and none of them, unlike her, come from wedlock.

Maybe it was better, she thought. At least, she didn't have to worry, that the fate of her mother would repeat itself. That woman died and left young prince, who was said to marry her because of sudden impulse and recklessness (that he could afford to an extent as younger – and wilder – brother), with a small child. And even before that, her health didn't let her see her daughter too often and travel from Lys to Dorne. Therefore, Jaenna even doubted, whether her father told the truth and really settled in Lys during his exile, where he headlessly married a local noblewoman. Because the only thing, that she remembered about her mother, was a nice face, silver hair and brightly purple eyes, while lysene Pleasure houses are famous for valyrian looking whores.

Of course, Oberyn and prince Doran had always assured her. They used to tell her, that if she wasn't Oberyn's true heir, who couldn't stay with her mother, her grandmother would not let her unruly son to return home earlier just because of concern about his child. And even if she knew, that the late princess Loreza had never protested against Oberyn's other children - she, as the rest of Dorne, didn't see bastards as inferior and despicable - she understood. She would not stir the dispute, that got Oberyn to exile, up again only for a Sand Snake.

Then they finally rode through the gate and were welcomed by some red-haired man in tunic and cloak with white and red griff.
"Prince Oberyn, princess Jeanna, welcome in King's Landing. I hope, your journey was comfortable."
"Not worse than usual. Summer on the Dornish Sea is quite peaceful. Jeanna, I present you lord Connington, the Hand of the King," Oberyn dismounted, politely gave a hand to his daughter, who followed him, and introduced the very first citizen of the city, which whom she actually talked.
"The Hand of the King himself came to greet us? That is an honor," she smiled and let him kiss her hand.
"Unfortunately, not as big honor, as the family of our princess Elia deserves, I am afraid. But prince Rhaegar is now outside the palace and princess herself is still bedridden, so this task is mine. Please, follow me. I show you the way to your chambers. Your companions will be cared for by our servants. You are all welcome."

Jaenna looked at her father, but couldn't read anything in his face. It seemed to her, that this lord Connington was not so thrilled about their arrival as he pretended, at least according to his tone, which was polite, but didn't cover certain coldness and distance. It could be just all his work, that the Hand of the Mad king had to do, and their royal visit was simply too much of disturbance. And as soon as lord Connington nodded at men around him and headed back into the palace, she too entered the chilly passages in front of her.