Elia Martell was dead brutally slain with her children. All because her dragon had desired a wolf bitch. He had dishonoured his wife, murdered his children and brought an end to a dynasty so great it would me a millennia it seemed till one would rise again. A loan tear slid down Doran's cheek as he looked into the blazing fire doing all he could to stay sane and not completely crumble. Elia, beautiful darling Elia whose only crime was not having fair skin, piercing blue eyes and Stark for a last name. The door to his chambers opened as his sister Larissa Martell walked through it a young girl of two and ten. Her large brown orbs filled with grief and strife hair tussled in a mess of Wohlen curls and caramel skin damp from tears and sweat. Where Elia was timid she was strong, where Elia was sickly she was healthy, where his sweet Elia was dead she was alive. It was only them left now orphaned and humiliated before the seven kingdoms. Oberyn Martell hadn't left his rooms in days always loving Elia best. Doran supposed he was taking it the hardest they shared a bond one he and Elia never did. It was up to him Doran thought bitterly to plot revenge and ensure house Martell's survival. Not even the dragons concurred Doran Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken he thought to himself. But what could he do? In a world where the enemy outnumbered him in a world where his blood was being scrubbed off the walls of the red keep. He choked back a sob thinking about his niece and nephew barely able to form sentences murdered draped in red and presented to the stag.
Dragons, wolves, stags, roses, lions, krakens…. The lot of them what did Elia and her children ever do to them? Or better yet what did they ever do for Dorne apart from murdering its royalty his blood. Oberyn, Larissa and of course himself the ruling prince were all that was left of House Nymeros Martell of Sunspear. Taking one Last look into the flames of that draped his chambers in warm orange light Doran took his hand and whipped away the dampness from his cheeks. He was a prince and he was done feeling sorry for himself. He had no interest in dragons they could all burn for all he cared fuck all the noble houses of the seven kingdoms spat. They had all done nothing but couse dornish blood to spill. He wanted nothing to do with them but revenge he would bide his time and ensure that all who crossed the Martells would curse the day they ever heard the name.
Doran, stepped back from the fire and faced his only sister without saying a word he walked over to her and lifted her into his arms. With nothing but her quit sobs filling the air he walked toward Oberyn's chambers. The halls were dimly lit with the occasional ward breeze blowing through the grand place. The halls where empty save for the household guard each one bowing their head in mourning as the prince and princess glided past. The news had already spread across Dorne it seemed like the wind itself carried it he though as he came to stop in front of his brothers door pausing briefly before pushing into the room. Oberyns, chambers were dark with no sign of life in them. It was a miracle he managed to spot his brothers salute by the large window only the moon light streaming in for light. Hoping, to get his brothers attention Doran cleared his throat but his brother didn't even shift. Doran, instead decided to join his brother by the large window shifting his sister ever so carefully.
"She's dead Doran… she's gone" Oberny, finally said breaking the silence between the remaining Martells.
"I know" Doran replied.
"What do we do bend the knee to that stag!" Oberny yelled causing Larissa to jump. His eyes landing on his sister for a long moment as if realising she was there for the first time.
"We don't bend the knee that's off course until they come knocking"
"You would have us be bought remain complacent"
"Oberyn we are outnumbered and manoeuvred"
"Don't you think I know that? You're not the only prince in Dorne brother!"
"They will come seeking alliances probably offer a match for Larissa"
"You would have as sell our last sister! Have her leave the safety of Dorne where she walks amongst vipers and is not bitten. Have her throne into one of those retched houses and their loyalty for that usurper!"
"The next time a daughter of Dorne leaves its borders will be to destroy our enemies"
"Then what brother what are we exactly doing here?"
"We are mourning our sister and creating alliances for the future. Larissa, must marry we all should its past time but one of our trusted dornish houses we look weak and need to ensure our power hear in Dorne" pause "We have enemies hear too brother and we have been brought to our knees"
"So you would rob her of her childhood?"
"I want revenge too and I will marry whoever you tell me too" Larissa's soft voice spoke up cutting the tension. She was only a little girl but she wanted to avenge the only mother she had ever known and that was her big sister Elia. The woman who had sang her to sleep and kissed her scrapes and bruises. The woman who had sent her home to Dorne after the tourney insisting she leave with Oberyn instead of remaining with her at kings landing.
"I know you want to protect me and you will anyone is better than Rheager" she spoke again after a long while when her brothers remained mute.
"We can speak of it tomorrow Larissa. Tonight we go pray for Elia and our niece and nephew for mother and father as well" Doran replied staring at his siblings his remaining family. Oberyn was a free soul and Larissa innocent the world they lived in now demanded they survive. In order to do that and ensure house Martell lived on they would all have to marry not only for children but for safety. They had to replenish the bloodline including the name it was a miracle Oberyn hadn't fathered a gaggle of bastardy children. Doran supposed it was due to their mother on her death bed forbid her sons from having children out of wedlock. He could hear her words echoing in his mined 'I have left my sons unwed and free in this life but don't spit on my memory by fathering bastards if you can't marry the girl don't leave your seed with her I forbid it!' she had said to them hot with fever before begging them to look after their sisters. She worried for Elia the most far away in land full of monsters. Doran, looked out towards the moon the gardens bellow radiant in blue light cascading down from the big round circle in the black sky. He would ensure his family was safe and growing at home in Dorne before he would turn his eyes to Kings landing.