The floorboards creaked under Lyanna's light footsteps as she followed the maid that had come with the summon. She still could not believe her ears. It seemed that her mind was quite incapable of wrapping itself around what she'd been told.

"Are you certain the man said that?" she asked once again hoping against hope that the answer would be different. "Perhaps you have misheard him."

"He was quite clear, Miss," the maid said in an apologetic manner. Lyanna bit her lip in frustration. Of all the rotten luck. "He said loud and clear that his name was Oberyn Martell."

"And he did not say why he wished to speak to me?" she tried for more information.

"Not a word other than that it was of some import," was all the reply she got for her efforts.

And it seemed that the gods were unwilling for Lyanna to know more than that. For some reason Oberyn Martell had seen fir to intrude on her life. Lyanna was aghast at his impertinence and she would let him know that as soon as she set eyes on him. How dare he disturb her quiet life? She would throw him out on his ear.

Lyanna entered the room where her guests had been allowed to wait for her arrival. Tea had been served, as was customary. Had her current company been any other man than Oberyn Martell, Lyanna would have been amiable and pleasant. As it was she barely restrained a growl at the sight of him. The fact that he'd brought his paramour only served to further aggravate her.

"Lyanna Stark," he greeted her in that overly familiar manner that was quintessential Oberyn. He rose from his seat, the woman on his arm remaining seated. "I am glad to find you at home."

"I am not," she replied tersely. Her eyes fell on the other woman in the room. "You must be Ellaria Sand." Lyanna nodded her greeting to her. With Ellaria she had no quarrel, thus she could afford to be civil on that account.

"You have heard of me," Ellaria noted softly in a slightly accented voice, "I hope they were all good things. I would hate to make a bad impression."

Finding that she could do naught but smile, Lyanna agreed silently. "I am very curious at to why you have arrived at my door." She willed them to state their business and be done with it. Their very presence vexed her beyond belief. "Today is an important day for my family, you see, and we are expecting guests."

"The nameday of the twins," Oberyn said, startling Lyanna. She had never told him about their nameday. "The hospital kept records," he clarified. Lyanna's expression must have darkened some for Oberys hurriedly added, "I found that when I was searching for an address."

"And you would have done well to forget it," she snapped. Indeed, she would have been much more pleased by that. "Is that why you came? Because you knew it was today?"

"Not at all." He looked back to Ellaria and she nodded her head slowly. "I wish to speak to you."

Lyanna took a seat and invited Oberyn to do the same. "I cannot say I return the sentiment, but since you are here say what you have to say and be done with it. I haven't all day."

He took a sip of his tea, then placed the cup back on its initial place on the table. Oberyn proceeded to search his pockets until he found a small, rectangular piece of paper. Lyanna watched him pull it out. He held it out to her between two fingers.

"I have come to bring you this." He waited patiently for her to reach for the paper. Lyanna was in two minds about that. What did she care about any message he would have for her? Yet she was curious. Giving in, she stretched and wrapped her fingers around it. Oberyn allowed the paper to slip in her care.

Opening it of paper, Lyanna was struck by the content taking form before her eyes. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded in a frail, breathless voice. "Why would you bring this to me?"

"Because regardless of what you may think about me, I am not a heartless monster," he said quietly. "And you deserve to know this."

"I thought you wanted me to stay away from him, that you would not accept for him to have a paramour." Something ugly sparkled in her eyes.

"It was never about him having a lover," Oberyn protested.

"Of course it wasn't," Lyanna replied sharply. She could see Ellaria making a grab for Oberyn's arm. "It was not that he had a lover, just that the he in question was your sister's husband. Because if you protested to the idea of a lover, you would be a hypocrite." She eyed Ellaria pointedly then. "After all, you yourself keep a lover.

"She was my sister," Oberyn ground out. "I would have done anything to protect her. And if I had to make that choice again, I would still choose this path."

"I'm sure you would," she agreed with him. Despite her own pain, Lyanna did understand. No brother would sit by and let a cherished sister suffer. Her brothers too had tried to comfort and protect her, each to their ability. She looked down at the paper again. "I am sorry for your loss," Lyanna finally managed.

She was still not sure why he had come to tell her that Elia Martell was no longer of the living. And she would not ask. If he wanted to tell her anything else he was free to do so. Lyanna would not push for more.

But Oberyn had nothing else to say. He and Ellaria left Lyanna in the room with the tea and the books on the shelf. She was left to her own thought and memories which did not hesitate to make their way to the front of her mind.

It had been more than a decade ago, yet she could remember every detail with so much clarity. It was all vividly playing out in her mind. Lyanna leaned back against the chair and drummed her finger on the armrest. So very clear, indeed.