Arianne Martell waited at court for the foreign delegation to arrive, dressed in her best. Her father insisted she be present to welcome the King's younger brother Renly to Dorne. He had made his wishes very clear so Arianne knew better than to try and defy him and try to wriggle out of her duties. She just hoped the visitor wasn't going to be too boorish and dull.

"Do you know anything about him Father, what is he like?" she asked her father, pouting slightly in an attempt to get out of greeting their new visitor. "Surely you do not need me to pay court to him? Can't Quentyn do duty for me, just for today?"

"He's a young man of around your age."

Just what she didn't want. Some stammering fool staring at her and drooling. Boys of her age bored her. They didn't have the sophistication and intelligence she demanded, and it was doubtful they would have to skill to interest her in the bedroom. She was tired of fumbling youthful kisses. Arianne wanted a man to show her the passion she demanded as her right. Young boys merely irritated her and gave her a headache.

"Try and be pleasant to him, Arianne. You can do that for me, can't you?" Doran cajoled her, seeing the stubborn jut of her lip.

"Very well. Since it will please you, father."

Doran smiled as he lay back on his cushions wincing a little at a twinge of the gout coming back. His joints were swelling fast and the punishing heat wasn't making it any better. Seven help him, he was a martyr to his joints! He hoped Arianne would be pleased by the visitor. It boded well that Robert had sent a member of the royal family to treat with Dorne and had not sent of those dreadful Lannisters. Perhaps a cordial peace could be on the cards while they regrouped and decided what strategy to use next.

"May I present to you Lord Renly Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and brother to the King, Robert Baratheon: first of his name." the herald announced.

Arianne stared at the young man who had stepped forward from the group at her father's greeting. She couldn't stop staring at him, mouth slightly parted and eyes wide. What was wrong with her? She was a woman of the world, near grown and flowered so what was it about this man barely more than a boy that had her breath coming short?

He was tall and lithe, not as broad and powerfully built as his brother the King but more than pleasing enough. His long glossy hair, as black as a raven's wing was pulled back into a sleek tail, although the slightest wisps of silky hair managed to escape his tie. The elegant cut of his slim-cut brocade doublet highlighted his broad shoulders and the length of his legs. Perhaps this foreign delegation might be a bit more interesting than she had first thought. She perked up at the thought.

She sank into a deep curtsey, giving him her most winsome look. "My Lord Renly, such a pleasure-" He smiled back at her, an open guileless smile that lit up his face and made his bright blue eyes twinkle. "My Lady Arianne-"

"Well, I think that went well on the whole, Lord Renly. May I welcome you all to Dorne. I hope you have an enjoyable stay." Doran said shaking the young lad's hand.

How very like Robert he looks. The same dark black hair, dark as a raven's wing, those Baratheon vivid blue eyes. If he was not mistaken by the look on his daughter's face as soon as she laid eyes on him, the young lord would be in great demand here at court. And after all it would be an advantageous match. If we can't arrange a match for Arianne with the Targaryen lad, perhaps the new king's younger brother would equally as suitable, would it not? After all Arianne will be Princess of Dorne when I am gone. She deserves a consort worthy of the name.

"I've been looking forward to coming here for so long. Thank you for inviting me."

Doran approved of the boy's flawless manners. There something in his voice and demeanour that was so welcoming and engaging, Doran couldn't help but like him. Robert was clever sending this brother here instead of Stannis. Already Stannis Baratheon had quite the reputation for being graceless and tactless, but this young lad… He would fit in well here in Dorne.

"This is my brother, Prince Oberyn of Dorne-"

Oberyn was staring at the young man with a faintly predatory look Doran was quite familiar with. Doran gave him a sharp look as he moved forward to greet their guest.

I hope he will be sensible and not get involved. It could make things rather awkward all round.

Doran knew that to say anything to his brother would be wasting his breath. Oberyn was a law unto himself, and if he spotted something he desired he would stop at nothing to gain it. Right now he was looking at Lord Renly as if he were a snake and the young lord was a particularly delicious morsel neatly served up for his pleasure. Doran tried to subtly catch his attention but Oberyn paid him no mind exchanging a hot eye meet with the young lord.

Renly's cheeks turned pink and he swallowed with nerves, but he met the older man's gaze.

"You must promise to come and visit us at the Water Gardens. Nothing is more cool and inviting, especially in the summer heat. I'm sure Ellaria and the girls will be so pleased to meet you-" His hand lingered in Renly's as he spoke, and his voice was a sensual purr.

"Thank you Sir, I really do appreciate the invitation. You've all made me feel so welcome here."

Arianne couldn't wait to discuss the new arrival with her cousin Tyene. She was all a fever with excitement, flushed and fluttering like a maiden. Even though she knew that she was being ridiculous, she couldn't help herself.

"Did you see Lord Renly at court?" she asked her cousin Tyene who sat demurely finishing off her hoop. "He certainly made quite an entrance."

Tyene smirked at Arianne's enthusiasm."How could I not? He certainly made an entrance, didn't he?" she fanned her self lazily taking a sip of her cup of iced sherbet. "It's boiling. How can you be fretting on a day like this?"

"Tyene!"

"I'm listening. I promise you I am." Her clever blue eyes widened with mock sincerity. "Patience, dear cousin!"

"Maybe this is it. Maybe at last Father might find me a decent husband!"

"If it were him? Would you really want to be married to Lord Renly? Become Lady of the Stormlands?" asked Tyene.

Arianne didn't even have to think about it. Was she jesting? Of course she'd want to marry him. Hadn't Tyene even paying attention at court? "Why not?"

"He's young, strong, incredibly handsome. His brother is King of the Seven Kingdoms. Why wouldn't I want to marry Lord Renly?"

"It seems like you've more than half made up your mind, Arianne." Tyene sounded amused, that smirk quirking the corner of her mouth.

"I know what I want." Arianne was firm.

"But how are you going to get him to want you?"

Though Tyene was simply being practical Arianne couldn't help but feel a little insulted by the lack of faith her cousin had in her feminine charms. She knew she was a fair maid with the promise of becoming a beautiful woman. Once she gave him a taste of her charms Lord Renly would have to be blind deaf and dumb not to want her for a bride.

"That's where I need your help. Come on, Tyene. You've got to help me!" she cajoled, attempting to charm her cousin into aiding her in her endeavour.

"I don't know anything about him." Tyene said with a serene smile. She fanned herself again the ostrich feathers brushing gently against her skin in the punishing heat. "I have to say Lord Renly is quite the mystery."

"But you're clever. You can help me find out. Advise me. You do want me to make a good match, don't you?"

"He's a man of Westeros. Will he let you rule Dorne as he should? They are sticks in the mud over there. They want their women all demure and quiet, and with all respect dear coz that is the last thing I would ever describe you as."

Arianne was unperturbed by her warning. Her eyes shone with excitement as she envisaged her future with Renly. "He'll know our ways and if he does not I will teach him."

"Good, because I don't want any husband of yours treating you anything less than you deserve."

Renly settled into his apartments at the palace. He couldn't wait to get out of these clothes, which were more suited to the climate of the Stormlands or King's landing at last. He thought he was going to stifle in his brocade doublet and breeches. He faintly envied the Dornish attire of silks and light gauzes. Very revealing, he'd had to stop himself from staring outright at the bronzed bodies casually on display in their loose finery. The gleam of a golden chest, a flash of a slender limb on display, the planes of a flat stomach tantalisingly just within sight.

"Would it be possible to have a bath before dinner?" He asked one of the attendants politely.

He was impressed by the attentiveness of the servants who sprung to do his bidding. "Certainly. We took the liberty of drawing one in the other chamber. If you would like to follow me this way, my lord."

Renly followed them into another lavishly decorated room, airy with large windows veiled with fine coloured drapes to let as much of the cool air filter in. Everything was so grand, a world away from the rich but austere furnishing he was used to at Storm's End. The room was a riot of textures, rich velvets, light sumptuous silks and chiffons with embellishments of gold and silver that appealed to his love of beauty and keen aesthetic sense.

Renly felt like a man who'd survived on a diet of dry bread and nibbles of cake for most of his young life; and then been suddenly presented with the whole thing. He didn't know where to start looking, his eyes distracted by every new delight.

"Your bath is ready my lord. Will you require an attendant?" intoned the servant.

Renly was distracted from his awed reverie. "No, I'll bathe myself, thank you."

"Very well, Ser. Just through here-" the servant closed the door as he departed, leaving Renly alone to enjoy his ablutions.

The scent of orange, jasmine and musk floated from the steaming water. Renly inhaled deep feeling the pleasure, the tension in his muscles draining away leaving him relaxed and blissful.

This is the life. I could seriously get used to this, I think. he thought.

He slipped his small-clothes off leaving them carelessly on the floor. Maester Cressen would probably nag him about being untidy and rude but Renly was impatient to get into the bath and the maester wasn't here. He could pick them up afterwards. He stepped into the tub and slid into the water with a satisfied smile.

Renly lathered up the fine soap and smoothed over his body.

There was nothing so indulgent and sybaritic as a nice hot bath especially after a long journey. Renly stretched out letting the warmth of the water soothe his tired body and relax him in his new surroundings. He took a deep breath letting the scent enter his lungs. He ducked his head, drenching his long dark hair until it was as sleek and wet as a seal's pelt down his back.

The thought of Oberyn Martell watching him just excited him more made him stiff as an iron bar, his cock rising out of the warm water and suds. His soapy hand slipped along his length, lingering over the sensitive ridge of the head. Imagining it was Oberyn's hands touching him, stroking him and whispering sweet intoxicating words into his ears in that smoky seductive tone of his. I mustn't do this. Mustn't think of it. Someone will see, he thought making an effort to resist but his body knew what it wanted and didn't care. Renly's hands kept sliding over the flat planes of his body.

The slight splash of the water as his hips moved minutely in the tub. His hand moving steadily. Not rushing- Oberyn would want him to take it nice and slow at first, tease and tantalise himself. His eyes fluttered closed as he lay in the tub, his head lolling back against the edge of the tub.

I want you to look at me. I want you to touch me. Show me everything-

He closed his eyes the erotic images flashing behind his eyelids, every one a spur to his inflamed imagination, becoming more and more turned on by his own thoughts and fantasies about the man. The last thread of his control snapped. He was kneeling up in the tub, one hand holding onto the edge, the other stroking his prick with firm swift strokes, water splashing dangerously close to the edge as his hips moved. At this point he couldn't have stopped even if he'd wanted to. So close, I need it, oh god look at me, touch me. I want your hands on me. I want your mouth-

His climax took him by surprise arriving with a strength that left him wrung out and drained. Renly gasped, seeing stars behind his closed eyes. He sagged and let go of the edge of the tub drained by the strength of his response, the water clouded by the release of his seed.

Renly shivered a little, feeling the cold. He stepped out of the bath looking for a towel to dry off.