Welcome to chapter 2 of Southron Ambitions! If you didn't know, the main POVs of this series are Robb, Margaery, Wilas, and Ned with maybe a few more. I hope you like the chapter, and please review even if you didn't.
Robb, 292 AC, Highgarden
Nine year old Robb was saying goodbye to Loras, who was going to squire at Storm's End for Lord Renly Barartheon. Wilas was currently in charge of Highgarden as Mace Tyrell was an advisor on the small council, and he had taken Garlan, now Ser Garlan, with him. Wilas and Margaery said their goodbyes before Robb walked up to him.
Loras clasped Robb on the shoulder, "Robb, don't fuck up Highgarden while I'm gone," He joked before turning serious, "Take care of Margaery, Wilas can't do everything." Robb nodded and Loras rode off.
Ned, 292 AC, Sunspear
Ned was in Dorne, visiting Prince Doran Martell to discuss an alliance and possible marriage contract. Ned personally did not like marriage contratcs, and the only reason that Ned even left the North was due to his father, Lord Rickard Stark's will. It spoke of his southron ambitions to have an alliance with many of the other kingdoms in case the Stark family was ever threatend. His father spoke of how he manufactuered a three-way pact with The Vale and The Riverlands, and now Ned was following in his footsteps. With two marriage contracts, one having a Stark desendent on the Iron Throne, he almost would have six of the seven kingdoms on his side, if he could get this marriage contract of his young daughter Arya and Doran Martell's son Trystane.
Ned thought of Sansa, his little six year old girl, and knew that she would become just as beatiful as her mother, and have a massive hand in the future of Westeros, as future Queen. Ned arrived in Sunspear with only eight guards, led by Ser Jory Cassel, one of the Greyjoy Rebellion's "Heroes".
"Ah, Lord Eddard Stark, we've been expecting you for some time. How was that very long trip to Dorne?" said Prince Oberyn Martell, younger brother of Doran.
"Not terrible, it only took a month, the time was saved when I traveled from White Harbor to Starfall on a ship. I hope there are no hard feelings from the joust in King's Landing?" Ned asked.
"Of course not, it was only a joust. I do fear the hard feelings House Tyrell would have had for me had I accidently crippled young Wilas. You must send your boy my thanks for preventing such a terrible accident." Oberyn said.
"I will." Ned replied.
Oberyn led Eddard through the halls, until they reached the chambers of Prince Doran. Oberyn took a seat next to his brother as Ned sat across from them.
"Lord Stark, I welcome you to my home, though I do wonder why you've come." Doran asked.
"Well, Prince Martell, I have come for two reasons. Berothals and alliances, but if you think about it, berothals form alliances." Ned said.
"And what berothals are those?" Doran asked, intrigued.
"My daughter Arya to Trystane, and Ser Wilas Tyrell to Arianne." Ned answered.
"You ask on behalf of the Tyrells? Do they know of this?" Oberyn asked, confused.
"Lord Tyrell found out I was traveling to Dorne, and asked that I make this offer in his place, as he is on the small council and can not afford to go himself. He sends his apologies." Ned told him.
"Arya to Trystane, you say?" Both third-born, neither with any particualar traits...We can do that. They will marry on your daughter's first flowering." said Prince Doran, to which Ned agreed.
"And Wilas to Arianne?" Ned questioned.
"That is a problem. Viserys Targaryen was berothed to Arianne before the war, but now that he is an exile in the free cities, I consider it terminated. I do have a question, they are both heirs to their respective kingsdoms, where will they stay?" Doran spoke.
"That is not for me to know, Prince Doran. I would have to guess Highgarden, due to Wilas being the future Warden of the South." Ned told him.
"Aye, but what is more South than Dorne?" Prince Oberyn asked, but Ned felt it was rhetorical.
"I am not the decison maker of that match, but I can inform you of an option that will make the deal sweeter." Ned told the two Princes.
"And that is?" Doran asked.
"If the contract is accepted, and the pair stay in Highgarden as ruler of the Reach, myself and Lord Tyrell can and will give Dorne a seat on the small council, for you to fill with whoever you like." Ned told them.
Ned thought he could see the slighest trace of a grin on Doran Martell's face before he answered, "We will consider this offer and mmet with you soon. In the meantime, please enjoy all that Sunspear has to offer." Doran replied.
"Thank you, Prince Martell." Ned said as he left the room.
After Ned shut the door, he walked right into Arianne Martell.
"My apologies, my lady." Ned said, startled.
"No it was my fault. Who are you?" Arianne asked.
"Lord Ned Stark of the North." Ned told the Dornish lady.
"Well my apologies, it was my fault, not yours." Princess Martell walked away.
Theon, 292 AC, Casterly Rock
It had been three years since his father's rebellion, and to be honest, Theon was glad it turned out the way it did. Theon was eleven when the group of men burst into the war room and killed everyone but him, his father, and his uncle. Theon had begged Victarion to take the black, as he did not want to be the only Greyjoy left. He was sure that Euron was still alive, but no one likes Euron anyways.
The Lannisters had been good to him. Tyrion, the dwarf, was a friendly person, and Theon couldn't help but feel bad for him, so they were friends. Lord Tywin decided that becuase Tyrion was a dwarf, he would disinherit him. When Tyrion found, he wanted to go to a brothel, but Theon didn't let him, stating that Tywin would change his mind. Tywin did actaully like Theon, from what he could tell. Lord Lannister taught Theon the ways of politics, and Theon learned to fight from Kevan and Gerion Lannister, Tywin younger brothers. So when Gerion anonced that he was going to Valyria, Theon decided to go with him. Tyrion was hurt his only friend other than Jaime was leaving, but Theon promised he would be back soon.
It took a month to get to Oldtown, where they stopped for supplies. Baelor Hightower, one of the men that killed his family was there, but Theon bore him no ill will. Besides Gerion and Theon, the other members of the crew were Gerion's bastard daughter Joy Hill, Stafford Lannister, and ten other Lannister men or bannerman that Theon did not know the names of. The Laughing Lion sailed past Sunspear, where Gerion and Theon glimpsed a Stark direwolf on a ship.
"Uncle Gerion, why is Lord Stark in Sunspear?" Stafford Lannister asked.
"I don't know, most likely a berothal." Gerion answered back.
When they sailed past the stepstones, Theon realized they had changed course, "Gerion, are we not stopping in Volantis?" Theon questioned.
"Aye, on our way back. We have enough supplies to last two years if need be." Gerion told him.
When they reached Valyria, their ship caught on fire while still in the water. Theu rushed to put it out, but the water spalshed back and burned a man's face off. The ship was okay, but the man had to be put underdeck for at least a year.
What did I get myself into?" Theon wondered.
Robb, 292 AC, Highgarden
Robb was watching Wilas deal justice in Lord Tyrell's place while he sat next to Margaery and Grey Wind.
"M'Lord, bandits have been attacking my home, and I need help to defende myself," A farmer told him.
"Robb, will you take twenty of the guard to dispose of these men near...?" Wilas asked the farmer.
"Near Bitterbridge M'Lord." The Farmer answered.
"Near Bitterbridge. Can you go, Robb?" Wilas asked.
"Of course, My lord." Robb answered.
Robb picked twenty men at arms at Highgarden to lead to Bitterbridge. Robb didn't know what he was doing-he was only nine! Robb said goodbye to Wilas and kissed Margaery goodbye, and he was off to Bitterbridge. It took three days to get there, and when they did, it was madness. Fifteen bandits were terrorizing the town when the men-at-arms charged them. One charged Robb, and Robb dove to the side and stabbed him in the back. Robb fell down after what he had done, he had killed a man! Luckily he didn't have to kill anyone else, as the men-at-arms killed the rest, with only four injuries and no deaths. Robb led the men back to Highgarden, where Robb reported to Wilas and the men were treated by the Maester.
Margaery noticed something wrong with Robb, "Robb, are you okay?" His berothed asked.
"I killed someone, Margaery. I killed someone and I'm nine years old." Robb told her.
Margaery gave him a hug, "Robb, if you didn't kill him, he would have killed you. Its okay." She told him.
Robb looked up and thanked her before walking away.
Ned, 292 AC, Sunspear
Later in the day, Ned was called into Prince Doran's room. When he got there, Prince Oberyn was also there. Ned sat down across from Prince Doran.
"So, Prince Doran. Have you accepted Lord Tyrell's offer?" Ned asked, starting off the conversation.
"I have. You should send a raven to Lord Mace that we will be coming to Highgarden for the wedding. I wish you to come with us, you are returning North, I presume." Doran asked.
"King's Landing, and then Winterfell, yes." Ned answered.
"I would also like my represenative on the small council to be my brother, Oberyn." Doran told him.
"He can travel to King's Landing with me, then." Ned replied.
"Yes, I will." Oberyn said.
"I will send a raven to Lord Tyrell immediatly." Ned said as he got up.
"Exellent, we leave on the morrow, you should prepare your things for the journey." Prince Doran said as Ned left the room.
Theon, 292 AC, Valyria
Theon could see the red mountains that some said caused the doom.
"Gerion, what did cause the doom?" Theon asked.
"Some say the mountains had lava pour from them, others say the waters burned, and even more say that fire fell from above." Gerion answered the Ironborn.
"Are near King Tommen's last recorded location?" Theon again.
"Yes, if you can see, his ship is in the distance." Gerion said.
Theon was shocked to see the massive ship, and it looked beautiful, or it should have been, if centuries of fire hadn't decayed it. Gerion was first on board, followed by Theon, Stafford, and all men except the burned one and Joy Hill. The men explored the ship until Theon found the corpse of what could have been King Tommen.
"Gerion, I found the king!" Theon called to the Lannister.
Theon oberserved the body, it was a skeleton now, with robes and jewels on it, and a Valyrian Steel greatsword strapped to his back. Gerion ran into the room and took the sword and its sheathe of its back.
"Brightroar, I finally found it," Gerion muttered, "Take what you want Theon, I came for the sword." He said.
Theon found several other Valryian Steel weapons, including a bow and a Greatsword. He named the bow Iron King and the Greatsword Ironborn. Just as he took all the gold and jewels and weapons he could carry, and the others did the same, Gerion roared from above.
"We need to leave, NOW!"
Dun Dun Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun. Okay, I'm bad at cliffhangers. I hope you like the chapter, I really liked the first part of Ned in Dorne. I can't do much with Robb/Margaery until they get a little but older, so...review?