Elyssia Thorne
"I hope you know you've made the correct choice, Lady Thorne. It won't be long before we can send you home to your uncle. He's asked after you several times you know. I've assured him that you are perfectly safe under our care" Herman Uller said, fanning himself to fight off the smoldering heat.
"I sincerely hope you wrote to that Greyjoy boy as well. It would be best if you forgot all idle thoughts of the north and focused on your home here in Dorne" Lady Uller nodded her agreement. The woman had been treating Elyssia as a handmaiden for several days, starting just after Elyssia signed and sealed her letter to Theon.
Elyssia refused to respond, sitting tensely in the cushioned seat she'd been assigned to. The Ullers were throwing a festival in order to commemorate some holiday or another that was approaching in the coming weeks. As their prisoner, Elyssia had been forced to attend. It just wouldn't do for the Uller's smallfolk to see their princes being held hostage, so both Martell men were also in attendance as the Uller's watched a parade thrown in the honor of a saint.
"I'm sure Lady Elyssia is very pleased that you've held a knife to her throat and forced her to sign away her title" Oberyn Martell took a long sip of his wine, evenly meeting the furious expression of Lord Uller.
"Lady Thorne is an heiress of Dorne. She has no need for petty titles in Tyrell lands.
"Heir to a city that she knows nothing of. Sandshrine was meant for Lady Laskly's daughters. Not her grandchild by a traitor." The prince of Dorne shot back, ignoring the raised eyebrow from his nephew.
"Alavane Thorne helped overthrow the Dragon Kings." Lady Uller said, opening a silk fan to try to relieve some of the heat.
"And then tried to toss the Baratheon's out too. I see no difference. Traitor to one king, traitor to all" Oberyn shrugged. "Are you not a true son of Dorne? My sister died the day they marched into King's Landing and slaughtered hundreds. I wasn't aware you flew the crowned stag. I'll make sure to inform my brother."
"You'll never see Sunspear again with an attitude like that" Lady Uller said nastily. "Guards. Please escort Prince Oberyn to his quarters. I believe the viper has grown ill from the sun.
Both Quentyn and Elyssia watched in a tense silence as Oberyn was lead from his seat. The Red Viper was scowling brutally, causing more than a few cringing expressions among the guards. The Ullers turned in their seats to return to the parade, clearly enjoying themselves as their children oo'd and awe'd over the colors and music.
"My father won't stand for this" Quentyn whispered quietly into Elyssia's ear. "I'm sure he'll be here soon to rescue us and arrest the Ullers"
Elyssia wasn't so sure. They'd been held captive in the castle for nearly a month as far as she could tell. The warden of Dorne had been given plenty of time to reclaim his brother and son from a rebel castle. Instead they'd heard rumors of the great feast Doran Martell had been planning for the very holiday the Ullers were throwing the parade for.
"Prince Quentyn, Lady Elyssia" Lord Uller's expresion had soured as he stared at something in the distance. "You are both excused. Do not leave your quarters until a member of our household guard comes to escort you. Go. Now"
Elyssia was jerked to her feet by a hefty man in full armor. She barely had time to protest as he shoved her, and Quentyn along with her, into the small room just off the balcony. The cheers of the crowd continued to echo as they walked down the narrow hallway that lead further into the castle. Both guards were looking grim as they turned the corner.
The commotion happened quickly, leaving her no time to scream as both guards fell crashing to the floor. They'd been struck over the head by the two other guards, both dressed in full armor with the sigil of House Uller painted on their shields and breast plates. Neither man spoke as they turned to Quentyn, bowing low to the Dornish prince.
"Thank you" Quentyn said, shrugging off the thick robe he'd been dressed in for the parade. Underneath he wore a simple embroidered overshirt, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He took the brilliantly gold sash from the festival robe and tied it over his shoulders. Elyssia stood, stunned, as the prince revealed a dagger's sheath hidden in the sash. "I missed my chance to slay him. He seated Elyssia between himself, Uncle Oberyn, and I. There was no time to remove her from his grasp and kill him"
"Forgive us, my prince. Several guardsmen had to be cut down on our way here. We did our best to leave them alive, as Prince Doran requested, but they resisted..." One of the guardsmen did not rise from his bow as Quentyn brushed past them.
"No matter. They chose the wrong household to serve" Quentyn waved a hand in dismissal. "Lady Elyssia, come"
When she did not respond, Quentyn grabbed her hand, pulling her down the hallway at a quickened pace. The prince seemed to have the route through the maze of hallways, stairwells, and seemingly empty rooms memorized as he puled her throughout them. The palace should have been crawling with armed guards, but they met none as they hastened their way to the ground floor.
"Quen...Excuse me. Prince Quentyn, what is going on!" Elyssia hissed as they reached a small entrance hall on the bottom floor of the Uller's castle. The room was filled with guards, all of whom seemed unaffected by the appearance of the two hostages. One handed Quentyn a short sword and it's sheath, which he promptly tied around his waist.
"My father is at the gates" Quentyn said, the expression in his eyes told her that the assault had been planned for weeks, maybe since the day they'd arrived in the forsaken city. "My uncle has ridden to the south gate with a patrol of my father's men. You and I will ride for the north gate to meet his forces and head to Sunspear. My Uncle will take Hellholt, arrest the Ullers, and then return with them to face my father's justice. Now. Do you prefer a sword, a dagger, or a bow?"
"I...you." Elyssia thought back to what he'd said on the balcony. Then it had seemed as if his head were firmly nestled in clouds of dreamwine. Now it was obvious that he'd been warning her of the escape. A note she'd missed in her judgment. "You could have told me! I wouldn't have embarrassed myself trying to appease Lady Uller!"
"Acting as her servant is hardly as embarrassing as being forced to sit and wait patiently for your father to come fetch you from an enemy castle" Quentyn said matter-of-factly. "Now I'll ask again. Sword, Dagger, or Bow?"
"A bow" Elyssia answered, clearly stung by his remark. One of the guardsmen stepped forward, handing her a hunting bow and a full quiver. "Where are we going?"
"To the stables to get a horse. My Uncle should be halfway across the city by now" Quentyn smiled, a near smirk that hinted his amusement at the situation. "Welcome to Dorne, my lady. Now. Let us make our escape."