Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
welcome to my first ever upload on here. Today, I had my last oral exam in English, so I thought I could make this memorable day even more special. As you have probably guessed, English is not my mother tongue so please do correct me! I hope you will like the story, though I have only just started, so you can have pretty much of an impact on it, if you want to by simply writing what you wish for to happen.
Lots of love
scaffie
Disclaimer: I don't own Game of Thrones nor A Song of Ice and Fire (as well as the other books and all of the characters); those belong, as it is well known, to HBO and/or the incredible G.R.R. Martin.
It was a beautiful day. Well, most days in Dorne were beautiful, the sun was shining every day and the sky was so very blue that no one could be hiding inside all day.
Iryna Martell had just finished her stroll through the gardens of the Water Gardens and decided to sit by the fountain near her quarters, opening the book in her hands to read.
She had only turned to the page where she had left the story, when her older brother was advancing.
"Iryna", Oberyn greeted her with that typical smirk she had always been fond of „we are invited."
"Where to?", she closed the book and put it on the bench next to her, trying not to roll her eyes at Oberyn's questions and answers game.
"The royal wedding", he grinned.
"Oh", she could not manage to speak any further. Irina had a slight idea of why Oberyn was so happy about this invite, though the Royal Family, nowadays merely consisting of the Lannisters, were their sworn enemies. They had once had Elia Martell killed, Irina's older sister, a princess of Dorne.
Now, her brother would have a chance at revenge. No doubt Oberyn would take it. He had always had quite a temper.
"Doran refuses to go", he went on, still not mentioning a word regarding the suspicions of his sister.
"So? You want me to join you and Ellaria?", she quirked an eyebrow. Irina had never left Dorne for Westeros; she had only ever travelled to the Free Cities. Though she had to admit, the Seven Kingdoms did not tempt her as a designation. Especially not King's Landing, for many reasons, but it would be nice to have a change. Additionally, it was probably expected of her to know at least some part of Westeros – and without Oberyn it might also become incredibly tiresome around here, she thought.
"Well", Oberyn said and took a seat next to her "I guess it would be nice."
She looked at him. The siblings never talked much, and neither did their older brother, but they understood each other on another level where no words were needed. Even know, in Oberyn's short statement there were so many things hidden, that another person would never see. From this sentence Irina could tell, that he knew why she did not want to go and also why she did want to. That he knew she seeked relief but on the other hand feared the Capital with all the scheming and plotting and, especially, the thought of their beloved, dead sister.
"Take some time", he advised and leaned back, relaxing against the fountain and closing his eyes.
"Did he speak with you?", Doran did not even look up when his sister entered his chambers. She sat down, facing him, without saying a word, but Doran took her silence for an answer.
"I take it, he did. And now you come to me, craving advise", he said finishing the letter he was writing. Again silence rose in the room, while the prince sealed the letter. He took a dove out of a cage next to him and bound the letter to its leg, while Iryna was watching him quietly.
When he had sent the bird on its way Doran's sister finally managed to speak: "You know, you are right. It is a difficult desicion for me to make, though I wish it would be different."
He nodded solemnly: "Those...people. They have killed our sister."
"I know", she answered, not daring to break eyecontact "but I feel like I should go because of that."
Doran wrinkled his nose.
"Oberyn will do something stupid", she explained.
"Yes", he answered "he always does."
The sat again in silence, each thinking about their brother. Once given the oppertunity, Oberyn would hardly be held back from revenge. None of her other siblings loved Elia as much as he did, and losing her had hurt him horribly.
"I have asked him to take my place in the Small Council", Doran said after a while.
"The Small Council?", Iryna repeated densely. She could not recall the last time Dorne had been given influence like this.
"I fear", Doran went on "he will not want to stay there for long, even though he promised me, he would. Oberyn seeks only to destroy the Lannisters and once he has realised his plan will not work, he will wish for nothing more than to leave this disgusting lion den."
Iryna nodded in agreement. Doran new his brother and sister both so very well, it often amazed her how much he knew. In this case it was obvious, though.
"I want you to take over then", the Dornish prince finally concluded.
"Me?"
Seven hells? Well, that came unexpected.
"I am nothing but a woman to them, Doran, a young one at that. They will never..."
"They must", he simply declared "Dorne was given a seat in the Council and Dorne will take that seat. There is no rule against having a woman advising the King; indeed, I guess that's what his mother does all the time. Horrid wench."
The dislike for the Lannisters had by now manifested in hate agains the Boy King and, especially, the Queen Regent. Both Oberyn and Doran had met Cersei Lannister before, and had come to disdain her arrogance and hypocrisy.
Especially Oberyn hated her with all of his heart, since he had been but a young boy.
"So, you want to send me to that place you have just called yourself a lion den? Besides, I would do Dorne no good, I am at most agreeable when it comes to politics", Iryna said but Doran would not hear anymore of her.
"Do not underestimate yourself, Iryna. You have the blood of Nymeria herself running through your veins. You might be young, but your youth, your wit and your beauty are better weapons than Oberyn nor I are blessed with. Additionally", Doran shifted in his seat "our brother will stay for a while, and I have already appointed some guards and" he paused "I have send a message to the House of Black and White."
Later, after Iryna had returned to her chamers she thought a bit more about the offer. Well... offer...
Certainly her brother would never command her to do anything she did not want to do at all in any way, but he wanted her to do him a favour and she tried her best. Now she would have to go to King's Landing, anyways, and, though, she hated the thought of it, she hoped she would manage.
Sitting down at her vanity, Iryna's thoughts went on a bit further.
She would have to behave appropriately and to be strong. Here, she had always been the younger sister to two overly protective and strong brothers, who no one even dared to question. There she would only be some Dornish wench, longing for power – but she did not even want power. All she tried to do was help her brothers, and if Doran saw her fit for the position...
Someone knocked at the door and Iryna motioned to open it.
It was Oberyn.
"What now, brother?", she asked, and though those words might seem harsh, she said it with a pinch of love no one could deny.
"Have you decided?", he stepped into the room, looking around mildly interested.
"I have, indeed", she answered and added: "I will come with you and Ellaria."
Oberyn smiled broadly and took a seat. His sister poured them both some wine and they drank in silence.
"I know, you don't like Ellaria much", Oberyn said, slowly and quietly, after a while.
"I don't", she answered straight away, knowing Oberyn would not be hurt „but I do not dislike her, either."
"You are different", he agreed.
"We are", she said, and it was true. While Ellaria was so very fierce and passionate, knowing what to expect from life, Iryna was still young at only 23 and a dreamer, though she was well-read and intelligent. Doran had taught her well.
"Beautiful, both of you, and strong women, but so different", Oberyn mumbled.
"I'd much rather have it, she would not join us; just being the two of us, brother and sister, you know? But you love her so much."
"I do", he looked her in the eye and she could see how torn he was.
"She makes you happy", Iryna added, with a slight smile.
"She does", Oberyn smiled, too, but bitterly.
"She should come with us, then, no matter if I like her. I like you", now her smile broadened.
"And I like you", Oberyn grinned.