Author's note: So this is my first real Game of Thrones fanfic, based on my favorite character Oberyn Martell! I just adored Oberyn in the books, and Pedro's performance of him on the show was fantastic, so that led me to start writing little drabbles about him and his family. The love he has for Ellaria and his girls is unmatched, so I thought it'd be fun to put them in a modern day AU. We'll go through the Sand Snakes growing up, and all the troubles that modern day Westeros has to offer. I have changed a bit of the characters ages, as I just found the stories easier to write with my own set ages. I'll try to incorporate book events into my drabbles, but a lot of them will be little scenarios I thought of. Reviews are always welcome, enjoy the story!

The Sun Still Rises - Chapter 1, "Ellaria Sand"

It was an unusually cool morning for a summer day in Dorne. The sky was bright and clear, the wind light but welcoming. The grass had recently been cut, the smell still in the air, lingering with that of fresh squeezed lemons and the slight aroma of horses. The fountain had been scrubbed so that the dark marble of a spear piercing the sun shone in the light of the morning. The barns and arenas beyond the fountain were immaculate, with horses hanging their heads lazily over their stall doors.

The events of the day had yet to start, but Oberyn Martell could already hear his older brother Doran shouting commands in the main arena, breaking the easy silence of the morning. Stepping into the shade of the covered arena, Oberyn could see his brother sitting in a golf cart, already done up in his suit and tie. Oberyn hopped over the white fence and cockily strode over to Doran, leaning against the golf cart.

"You know brother, if you had set the jumps like I'd suggested yesterday, you wouldn't be having this problem."

"Good morning to you too, Oberyn," Doran responded bitterly.

"No need to get grouchy, I think the course looks good. Challenging."

"Good. Perhaps today another team will win and be able to wipe that cocky grin off your face."

"That stung, truly," Oberyn said, giving his brother a fake pout. "I intend to win the jump-off today, just as I've done for the past several years," he added with a grin, turning and walking from the arena, ignoring his brother's smart remarks. He headed for the second barn, where he housed his personal competition horses. He didn't like the idea of having a massive party at the family estate, but he very much enjoyed the thrill of winning the horse jumping competition against the opposing teams who had travelled from all of Dorne to try and best him. Doran considered it a great opportunity to find new partners for the family wine business, as after the horse competition finished, the wine tasting took place at the Martell mansion. However, Oberyn had long detached himself from the family wine business and taken to doing whatever he wanted. He'd probably hang around the mansion for a bit and chat, maybe try the new wines his brother put together, but then he'd leave and head straight for downtown Sunspear, the hot spot for a Saturday night.

Entering the barn, Oberyn walked to the stall of Zeena, his prized mare. She was a typical Sand Steed; her body slender, her legs long, and her coat a metallic gold. He slipped on her halter and led her out of the barn, hoping to get a quick glance at the teams that had arrived the night before. He saddles Zeena quickly, fitting her in black tack, with the bright orange Martell sigil embroidered on the saddle pad. He mounts and they walk to the barns housing the visiting horses.

Different banners hang from almost every stall, signifying which stable the horse and rider compete for. Oberyn spots the gold quill on light and dark green checkers, the banner of the Jordayne stable; the yellow and orange flames of Uller stable; the gold hand on gyronny red and black of Allyrion; and the black portcullis grill over sand of Yronwood just to name a few. There's others, belonging to the smaller stables. Anders Yronwood is the only one Oberyn truly cares about though, seeing as he's the one who's always come closest to beating him.

Rounding the corner of the last barn, Oberyn nearly collides into another rider, but the rider reins her horse in and steps aside while Zeena tosses her head in the air, breaking Oberyn from his musings of beating Anders Yronwood.

"My apologies, my lady," he says, bowing his head.

The other rider laughs. "I'm no lady, my prince."

Oberyn eyes her curiously. She seems so familiar, yet he doesn't know her name. And there was something about her that just captured his attention, made her so intriguing and so appealing to the eye. Her mount is a vibrant dapple grey, his neck thick and arched. She wore a loose, long sleeved yellow blouse with white riding breeches and black boots. Her hair fell in easy waves down her back, its black tresses mesmerizing. Her eyes were almost as black as his own. At that moment, he decided that he must know her name. Before he gets the chance to ask her her name though, she's urging her horse forward and a young Jordayne boy is calling for his attention.

He turns to the boy quickly and mutters "Just a second," before turning Zeena around, but it is too late. The rider is already gone, lost amongst the many grooms pulling horses from their stalls and readying them for competition. He curses under his breath and turns back around, trotting Zeena past the boy and heading for the small tent that houses the beverages for the event. As was his custom, he needed to drink some wine before the start of his jumping classes.


The gala started later that evening, with even more people in attendance than the horse competition earlier that morning. The great hall of the mansion had been turned into a dance floor, with a string quartet in the far corner. The dining hall was full of different wines and cheeses for tasting, the kitchen a bit chaotic with cooks preparing the dinner, and the back patio littered with tables and chairs set for the said dinner.

Oberyn stood in one of the many guest rooms on the third floor of the mansion, adjusting his tie and listening to Obara tell his other daughters a bedtime story of the Children of the Forest. She changed the words a tad, making the story a bit more frightening then it really was, and Oberyn chuckled when he heard a gasp from Tyene. He turned to them, all lying on the bed, eyes wide as they stared at Obara.

"I don't think those are the exact words, Obara," he grinned.

"I'm just making the story more interesting! Miss Fern's version of the story is boring."

Oberyn regarded his eldest daughter, who had just turned 9 last month. She was ever the fire he was, whereas Nymeria was already poised like a lady at age 7, Tyene was as innocent as a butterfly at age 5, and young Sarella was all giggles and smiles at age 2.

"Miss Fern is old and wise, she knows many good tales and lessons that you should all remember," he said, looking at each of them. They all giggled and nodded their heads. Miss Fern was one of Doran's nannies that watched over his own children, but it seemed wherever young Arianne and baby Quentyn went, Oberyn's little Sand Snakes followed.

Oberyn turned back to the large mirror and finished adjusting his suit. He didn't plan on staying at the gala very long, and it had been arranged that his girls would stay the night with Arianne so that he could go about his usual weekend routine of crashing clubs in downtown. He turned back to his daughters.

"I'll be gone most of the night, so you all be good and don't cause too much trouble, got it?"

He was answered by four series of "got it!" and he moved to kiss each girl on the forehead before leaving the room.


Oberyn sat with Doran and his wife Mellario at the front table during the feast, idly wondering how long a damned dinner could take, seeing as it had been an hour and dessert hadn't even been served yet. A few individuals had come up to sit next to Oberyn and Doran throughout the dinner, making light conversation and business inquiries. Oberyn was rather tired of it all already, and found himself thinking of the rider from earlier, and wondering if she too were bored at this dinner.

After dessert, Oberyn left the dinner table and made his way around the pool to the back entrance of the grand hall. He'd make sure to find Anders Yronwood and taunt him for winning the horse competition earlier this morning, then find his favorite butler Edwyn and have him bring his car around.

Entering the hall, Oberyn maneuvers through the many dancing couples in search of Anders. He spots him dancing with Myria Jordayne in the far corner, but someone standing a ways behind him catches Oberyn's eye; the rider from earlier whose name he did not know. She was standing off in the corner, chatting with Larra Blackmont. Oberyn didn't hesitate in moving swiftly in their direction.

"Ladies, lovely evening, is it not?" he asked, coming to stand next to them.

"Oberyn! How nice of you to join us," said Lara, and Oberyn smirked as he picked up on her sarcasm. "I must be going to find more wine now, excuse me." She shuffled away, holding her empty wine glass in the air.

"I'm afraid Lara's had a bit too much to drink already," said the rider from earlier, her dark eyes regarding Oberyn as he turned to face her.

"She's a lightweight, can't hold her alcohol," he said with a chuckle. He turned so that he stood directly in front of her and outstretched his hand. She placed her slender hand in his, expecting him to shake it, but he instead brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "Oberyn Martell, part owner of this fine establishment," he said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Her eyes sparkle as she gives a small curtsy. "Ellaria Sand."

He didn't release her hand, instead pulling her towards the other dancing couples. "Lovely to meet you Ellaria. Care to dance?" he asked with a charming grin. He gave her a quick glance, appreciating the contrast of her deep orange colored dress against her olive skin. It had a low neck line, but was long and flowy, almost sweeping across the floor. She wore silver bangles on each wrist, and her hair was tied up to expose her long neck. Her eyes were a vibrant copper under the light of the chandeliers, her thick eyeliner and dark eye shadow adding more flavor to her already exotic features.

"I can't turn down a prince now, can I?"

"Oh, I'm no real prince. Varys just has too much fun giving everyone of high status these lousy nicknames in his damned magazines."

"Prince Oberyn has a nice ring to it though," she says, placing her left hand on his shoulder.

"I suppose it does. So, Ellaria, have you been enjoying yourself this evening?" He moves his right hand to her waist and they move into the flow of the other dancers.

"Your estate is rather extravagant, and the wine is fantastic. The stables are my favorite, though there was a rider this morning that was utterly oblivious and almost ran right into me," she replied, giving him an easy smile.

"He sounds like he was preoccupied…but I'm sure he was very handsome, yes?"

"As only a Dornish billionaire should be, though he did seem to of lost his ability to speak."

"That only happens when he is in the presence of a very beautiful woman; the words just seem to disappear from his tongue for a few moments. Though he's had quite a bit to drink tonight, and his confidence is out-the-roof."

"Ever the viper," she whispered, thanking the gods above for her tan skin, as she could feel the heat rush to her cheeks.

"I find my brother's parties rather dull. I was planning on going downtown, I know this club that is the best spot on a Saturday night. Might I ask if you'd care to join me?"

"I thought you'd never ask. Shall we leave now?"

Oberyn grinned and dropped his hand from her waist, pulling her with the other hand towards the front doors. "I think you and I will get along very, very well, Ellaria Sand."


P.S. I'm not very good at writing first chapters, so I'm sorry if this was dull/cheesy hehe. It will get better, I promise.