Chapter One:
297AC
Fourteen Years After The Targaryen Exile

Obara Sand stood in the training yard watching her ada have a go at a few of the soldiers. They had been in heavy training since she was but a girl. Obara now stood a woman of 23 summers and she was just a beautiful as her naneth always said she would be. She was dressed in dornish leather armor, boots and her black hair was braided back tightly from her face and bound in bun at the bottom of her neck.

Nymeria stood next to her, slim and slender as a willow, with straight black hair worn in a long braid which pulls back from a widow's peak. She has dark eyes of their father which are large and lustrous. Her full lips are wine red and curve in a silken smile and she has high cheekbones. Areo Hotah describes Nym as having olive skin and how much she looks like their aunt Elia. Nymeria had the obvious beauty that her elder sister Obara lacked but was no less deadly. Although elegant, Nym is vengeful. Something their ada teases her she got from her naneth.

Finally Tyene, she is fair, with golden hair and deep blue eyes. Dimples bloom in her cheeks, and she has a gentle, sweet voice. Despite her innocent and pious persona, Tyene is regarded as devious and treacherous. Her soft pale hands are just as deadly as Obara's callused ones. She shares her father Oberyn's knowledge of poisons, her chosen weapon.

Their sister Sarella was the vision of their father with breasts, only instead of fighting with weapons, she fights with words. Oberyn sometimes jokingly wonders if she is his daughter with her insatiable curiosity. It makes them all laugh as you only have to take one look at her and you know who her father is.

Obara watched as her ada floored another soldier before the Maester handed her a letter. She takes it from him and almost drops it when she sees the wax seal. It is a blue one with little birds pressed into it. Obara knew that letters only came from The Spider to disguise the letters sent from their naneth.

Their naneth. Obara could remember her laugh and her gentle hands that had woven through her hair braiding it. She could still remember smiling purple eyes and the soft voice that used to hum to them before they slept. She could still see her ada spinning their naneth into a dance. She still remembered dancing in the rain. Obara also knew there was a gaping hole in all of them. They all missed her and it was because of him.

Obara had never hated anyone more then she hated Robert Baratheon. The Usurper who had killed her family and made her naneth flee. She also hated his bitch of a wife, Cersei Lannister. They were also responsible for everything that had happened to her Aunt Elia and cousins Rhaenys and Aegon.

Their naneth had wrote every three moons at first talking to them, missing them, passing information. Then they decided to travel to the remains of Valyria looking for answers. They had had no contact between them for three years. Then in 296AC they received a letter telling them they had returned to Essos and had found answers. Then they spoke of how they were staying in Astapor hoping to build support for the Targaryen family. They hadn't had a letter since then.
The letter in her hand looked like it had been through a lot.

She waved it catching Nym and Tyene's attention. Their eyes widened and they gathered closest to their older sister as she cracked the seal to the spiders message.

I have only now been able to send this letter to you. But Jon Arryn is dead, I have a feeling things are finally come together and plans must be made. -Varys 'The Spider'

They looked at each other with devious smiles. One of the people who pushed their mother away was dead. Next they cracked their naneth's letter.

My Dear Sand Snakes;
It has been many moons since our last letter. I write now with all haste, you uncle is being stupid. He has sold your Aunt Daenerys to someone, I have yet to find out who. We are getting ready to leave Astapor and we are heading to Pentos to stay with Illyrio while I try to figure out what is going on.
I'm writing to you know to let you know that things are now looking up. I have been successful in building allies across the Narrow Sea. Soon we will be ready to head for Westeros. Jacaerys has grown into a fine young man and is soon ready to become the King he was born to be.
I'm sending another letter on to Prince Doran. It is a breaking of the betrothal between Viserys and Arianne. It is not done to demean Dorne, it is done in protection. Viserys has become as unstable as our late father. I have also sent orders for him to offer her hand to the Tully Heir. He is a good man and Hoster Tully was always a supporter to the Targaryen Family. I tell you because there is likely to be shouting and fighting soon.
I worry for my girls and I miss you.
Oberyn had written that Sarella is in Oldtown undercover at The Citadel, I couldn't help my smile when he told me. I heard the Tyene had taken after her ada with playing with poison. Please be careful. I have heard you have done well in weapons training Nym, good work and keep working hard. Obara, my eldest daughter, you ada wrote that you were actually able to make him yield. I am very proud of you. Oberyn needs his cocky attitude knocked about sometimes.
Things are finally coming together my girls. If things go the way I am hoping, Eddard Stark will become Hand of the King and will go to Kings Landing. Wolves do not do well in the South. Things will come together soon.
I have to go now, but if you want, send a letter to Illyrio, he will make sure I get it as soon as I arrive.
All my love
Your naneth
-V

Their eyes got wider the further they read. When they got to the last part, Obara couldn't help but feel her naneth knew more than she was letting on. However, the option of being able to write their naneth was to good to pass up. They were able to receive her letters but they had never been allowed to write her back because it wasn't safe.

Obara grinned through, "Naneth said things should start coming together, what do you think she means?" she wondered as she looked out over to the sea. Nym gave a slight smile, "I think naneth has had plans in place since the Rebellion and things are just now falling into place. When had naneth ever lied to us?" she asked cleaning off her dagger as she watched her ada drop another soldier.

Tyene frowned, "She never has. But we haven't seen her in fifteen years, she might have changed," she said softly before sitting down at the table. Obara leaned against her spear, "I don't think she has. If she never forgot about us, I don't think she would forget herself. But if everything she has said is the truth, that means she'll be coming home soon," she said, delight filling her as she thought of seeing her naneth soon.

"Whose coming home soon?" her ada asked behind her.

The three spun around to see their ada standing close to them. They hadn't even heard him finish his spar or come up behind them. Now they all looked guilty as they looked at him, Obara with the letter fisted in her hand. Nym had dropped her knife and Tyene was sitting there trying to hold an innocent smile to her face. Oberyn looked at them all individually and frowned at them.

"Whose going home?" he asked again.

Obara looked at the letter in her hand and then looked at her ada, who had followed her eyes and seen the Targaryen sigil on the wax. "Naneth wrote us," Obara said with a swallow. Happiness and sadness filled his eyes all at the same time as he held his hand out. Obara handed the letter over and then watched his face go through the emotions. Happiness, anger, sadness, hurt and then happiness again before he looked up at the girls.

"Sounds just like your naneth," he said softly his eyes glassy. Oberyn felt the hole in his heart as keenly then as he did when she had to leave him. He also felt guilt fill him. His four oldest daughters called Visenya their mother, but his youngest four didn't even know about her. To keep her and the Sand Snakes safe, Doran had banned her name from even being spoken in the court. He also felt guilt about his Paramour Ellaria. The mother of his four youngest daughters. She was the bastard daughter of Harmen Uller, Lord of Hellholt. They had met in 284AC when he was still mourning his love being forced to flee. Nine months later, Elia had come into their lives. Ellaria had kept the loneliness away from him but he never loved her as he would a wife.

He already had a wife in his heart.

Obara smiled, "I can't wait to see her," she whispered softly. Oberyn and the girls each smiled thinking about her before Aero came out onto the grounds. He rushed to Oberyn, "My prince needs to see you," he said before hurrying Oberyn away from his daughters. The girls all shared a look before bursting into laughter and started to practice again.

Oberyn entered the throne room where Doran was sitting in his chair and Arianne was standing before him. He had never seen them look so serious with each other. He entered the room and bowed his head to his brother, "You wanted me?" he requested information as to why. Doran grimced, "A raven came from the Queen. The betrothal has been broken and a new one offered," he explained. Oberyn nodded, "I heard. Visenya has written to the girls. Who did she offer?" he asked already knowing.

Arianne smiled, "Edmure Tully, Heir of Riverrun" she said watching her father frown again.

Oberyn nodded, "It's a good match," he said. Doran scowled, "It is a good match, but not to a prince or king. I wanted her to have the crown Elia should have," he explained. Arianne's temped spiked, "I am not Aunt Elia! I am Arianne Martell, I am not her and I never will be!" She exclaimed angrily at her father. Doran's face fell into grief for a few seconds before smoothing out, "I never wanted you to be her," he whispered. Her face softened, "I know. But papa, you keep saying I will marry the Targaryen Prince. That never turned out well for Aunt Elia. I don't want to constantly wonder if I am enough for my husband," she explained softly.

Fury crossed Doran's face at the thought of anyone treating his only daughter the way his sister had been treated. Then he calmed down and watched his daughter intently for a few seconds, "What do you want then Ari?" he asked softly. Arianne Martell's eyes sparkled and she smiled at her father, "I want to meet Edmure Tully before I decide. But you should write to Lord Tully and tell him that my betrothal has fallen through and I would like to meet his son," she explained waiting for her father to blow up again. Instead he just nodded, "Okay. Arianne, you cannot tell anyone who you were betrothed to before now. It could bring war to Dorne," he said.

Arianne Martell nodded before quickly leaving the room, happiness almost exploding out of her. Ever since she had been told she was to marry Viserys Targaryen, she wondered if he would be like the Mad King or Rhaegar who had taken another women not his wife. She was thankful that Visenya Targaryen had intervened on her behalf.

Lord Hoster Tully,
I write to you wondering if you proposal for your heir Edmure and my daughter Arianne was still open to you. Arianne's betrothal has fallen through and I would not blame you for denying my request. However, Arianne has expressed her desire to meet Edmure Tully before any plans are made or finalized. I am writing now to see what you make of the idea.
Hope you are in good health,
Prince Doran Martell of Dorne

Visenya Targaryen had finally arrived in Pentos with Ser Oswell, Ser Gerald, Ser Arthur and her nephew Jacaerys. The were coming up to the opening of Illyrio's estate when they heard hooves behind them. She turned to see four dark riders coming up behind them. She knew they would arrive a few minutes behind her party, so she rushed them forward wanting to figure out what was going on.

As she stopped she noticed, Illyrio frowning at Viserys who was standing next to him and Dany who was standing at the bottom step. Visenya got down from her horse and then turned to look at her, she hadn't seen Dany in a few years because they had gone to Valyria and Ser Willem had died leaving the two to fend for themselves. Now she stood there, blonde hair long and beautiful like their mother but even from there Visenya could tell she was not happy.

"What are you wearing?" Visenya shrieked gaining everyone's attention as she rushed towards a stunned Dany. As her older sister rushed towards her, Daenerys was filled with relief at the sight of her. She knew her sister would protect her from Viserys. Now she was grabbing her by the arm and her nephew Jace was wrapping her in his cloak.

Dany trembled as Visenya swung around to see Viserys, who was beginning to look very afraid. "Jace take Dany inside, get her out of that dress and put her in something more presentable," she order stalking towards her wayward little brother. Jace took Dany inside without protest and Daario Naharis following them protectively from behind. The Stormcrows had been a surprise she wasn't expecting. They had met outside of Astapor and they had parlayed as she asked them to fight for her in Westeros, Prendahl n Ghezn, Sallor the Bald and Daario Naharis, arrived as the captains. Prendahl had asked for the night to think it over. However in the middle of the night Daario brought her their heads and pledged the Stormcrows to her cause because he believed in her.

For the first time in a long time she thought they would have a chance.

Now as she stalked towards Viserys, her anger was almost a living flame. Fear flashed across his face as she stopped in front of him glaring, "What do you think your doing Viserys?" she demanded as Illyrio's signed in relief. He had not wanted to go along with this plan in the first place, it was why he had written to Visenya as soon as he could. He was surprised she had arrived in time.

Viserys snarled, looking very much like their mad father, before speaking, "What am I doing? I am buying an army to take across the Narrow Sea and win back the Iron Throne. I am the Dragon, I do not answer to you. You are a bastard and are not a Princess or anything of the Targaryen Family. I am King! Bend your knee now," he shouted before pulling a sword on her.

Ser Arthur, Ser Oswell and Ser Gerald all drew their swords ready to protect her. Visenya held out her hand halting them and then stroke out with her hand, depriving Viserys of his sword and then kicking his feet out from under him. Viserys ended up kneeling in front of his bastard sister who had her lips pulled back into a snarl, "I am Visenya Targaryen, Princess of Summerhall, Third of My Name, of Houses Targaryen and Umber, Queen Regent of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm and Beloved Mother of the Sand Snakes. I was named so by Rhaella Targaryen, my mother. You are no dragon little brother," she snarled her claim at him before she took a step back leaving him kneeling on the ground.

The sound of a gasp drew their attention. Daenerys was standing in the doorway, dressed much more appropriately, Jace and Daario were standing behind her and Jace grinned at the women who raised him in approval. He had wanted to punch his uncle the last few times he had seen him because he knew that his uncle abused his aunt, even if she hid it well. Visenya had known too but could do nothing about it. He knew that whatever had happened was going to cause lots of fireworks.

They heard horse hoofs on the ground, reminding Visenya of the riders she had seen coming up behind them, coming up into the opening garden. Dany moved over to her sister, "Viserys sold me to Khal Drogo to try and gain an army," she whispered as their eyes landed on four dark skinned men riding on horses coming to a stop next in the entrance. Dany heard the shock of breath from her sister before the dark eyes of the Dothraki landed on them.

Like most Dothraki, Khal Drogo has copper-colored skin, black hair, and black eyes. He was tall and muscular, and moved gracefully even in the saddle. He had a long, drooping moustache and a long braid hung with tiny bells that hung down to his thighs, symbolizing his status among the Dothraki as an undefeated warlord. He was also someone Visenya knew well.

"Drogo," she called in Dothraki.

Khal Drogo, the Khal of Khal's looked over at the sound of his name. She was standing there, as beautiful as he had last seen her, curly hair hanging down around her thighs, dressed in riding cloths and her purple eyes smiling at him. He dismounted quickly and strode over to her. She met him half way wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders and he picked her up off her feet.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered to her in his mother tongue as he released her and dropped her to her feet. The smile never left her face as she gazed up at him, "Daenerys Targaryen is my little sister," she explained. Drogo pulled away in surprise before looking to the small blonde haired beauty standing next too a man and a boy he knew very well, it was his riding brother Jace. "Brother," he called out. Jace swung around to face them before rushing over to join their group. The khalasar that had traveled with Drogo joined him in greeting Visenya.

"Drogo, it is good to see you again. I was sorry to hear about your father," Jace greeted in perfect Dothraki. Visenya lost her smile and Drogo's face darkened. His father had been killed four years before just after the Targaryen party had split from the Horde. They had been looking for her, and when his father denied knowing her, the assassin had killed him but Drogo never blamed her for it. If his father would have had his way, Visenya would have been his Khaleesi, but because she could not bear a child, and it wasn't from lack of trying, she refused. Drogo lost count of how many times he walked in or seen them having sex. They used to watch it happen in the open in Vaes Dothrak, their sacred city.

Now he looked at her, she didn't look much older then when he had last seen her but she was still beautiful. He then looked to the women he had arranged to marry and he was angry. She looked like a women freshly flowered and he could see the thought of this marriage terrified her. So he looked to Visenya who watched with a small smile, "I will not take her against her will. Ask her if she will accompany us to Vaes Dothrak and if she still agrees, we will wed. If she does not, there will be no ill will to her from my part. They told me she was okay with this, it is the only reason I consented" he said in Dothraki. Visenya nodded and then moved away to speak with Dany as the rest of her party greeted their Dothraki friends.

"Dany," she said softly drawing her sisters attention.

Dany looked to her waiting, "He has asked if you will accompany him to Vaes Dothrak, their sacred city, to learn of their people. If you are agreeable to it later, you shall wed. If you do not want to wed at all, that is alright too," she explained to her terrified sister. As she spoke Dany tensed and then relaxed at the end. After she was finished speaking Dany looked to Drogo for the first time without fear in her eyes and offered a timid smile to him to convey her thanks. Then she turned to her sister, "Why offer me this?" she asked.

Visenya's face turned sad, "When we separated, we lived with Drogo's Horde. His father Bharbo, took us in. About a year after we met, Bharbo and I became lovers. Slowly, I was able to show them that their way of life was acceptable but raping women and having no respect for them, was a mistake. I took five of his riders at once and I won. Their behavior began to change. I was close with Drogo, he was almost a man grown but we were still close. Eventually Bharbo asked me to wed him and I declined as I couldn't bare a child. It was not from lack of trying either. So I declined his request and to make life easier for all, we began planning to leave. He was killed six moons after we went to Valyria. We only found out after we ended up in Astapor," she explained their history of the last fourteen years and then smiled as Dany soaked up each word.

Finally Dany nodded, "Will you be accompanying us?" she asked softly without looking at Viserys who had stood up and was glaring at everyone. Visenya smiled and turned to Drogo, "Drogo, do you have room for more riders?" she called in Dothraki. She knew he could speak some common tongue, but felt more comfortable using his mother tongue. Drogo grinned at her, "For the dragon Khaleesi?" he asked with a disapproving look before smiling, "Always," he said. She knew he meant it too.

Plans were made to come together the next day to celebrate their reunion and then they would begin their journey to Vaes Dothrak. That night as Dany sleeps peacefully with a guard of Stormcrows outside her door, Viserys plots murder and Illyrio catches Visenya up on everything she had missed from Westeros. Varys sent a letter about Ned Stark becoming Hand of the King and his eleven-year-old daughter Sansa becoming engaged to Prince Joffrey. Although Visenya knew he was actually a bastard son of incest between the Queen and the Kingslayer.

Visenya went to sleep that night thinking of her daughters and how badly she wanted to see them.

Prince Doran Martell,
I was surprised to receive your letter. I am sorry to hear of the breaking of your daughters betrothal. We have heard rumors of your daughters beauty and Edmure would very much like to meet her before anything is arranged. He always hated that his wife would be chosen for him, knowing there is a women who agreed with him, has made him very excited to meet your daughter. I would like to invite Arianne to Riverrun in two moons so they may meet. If this is agreeable to you, please send reply and tell me who I am expecting.
Waiting eagerly,
Lord Tully

That night after supper, Obara was heading to her room when she was ambushed by Ellaria Sand. When they had first met, she had been kind wanting to make a good impression on their ada. Later after Elia had been born, she turned into a bitch wanting them to treat her like their mother. After Obara got in her face about them already having a mother, someone they missed very much and would come back to them one day, killed any chance of them getting along.

That's not to say the Sand Snakes hated their siblings, they didn't, they loved the little ones. But they hated Ellaria Sand and her behaviours too all Oberyn's children. Obara had lost count of how many times she had gone to her ada about something only for Ellaria to brush it off and their ada to tell them not to bother them again. It had got to the point, Obara was only around her ada when they were on the training field.

Nymeria and Tyene had given up trying to keep their ada aware of everything going on around him. Sarella had gotten so fed up with Ellaria and ada's behaviours that she spent as much time as possible outside of Dorne.

"What do you want Ellaria?" she asked exasperated.

Ellaria gave a sly smile, "I noticed that you looked upset at dinner. I just wanted to ask if there was something you needed to speak about?" she asked gently. At that moment red hot fury blew through her, "If I need to talk to someone I will write my mother," she snapped before turning to walk away. Ellaria grinned, "I am your mother, or at least I will be. Your father asked me to marry him," she said in triumph. Obara froze, unable to move. Why would her father ask Ellaria to marry him after all these years? He always said that Visenya was the wife of his heart and now that she thought about it she couldn't remember the last time she had heard him say that.

Obara spun around the anger making her eyes flash just like her ada's and she snarled, "You may become his wife, but you will never be my mother. You will never be Nymeria's mother or Tyene or Sarella's. We will always love her, we will always need her and we will never leave her," she spat between clenched teeth. Then she felt hands taking hers and turned to her Nym and Tyene looking at Ellaria from her side.

Nymeria had heard furious words being spat at someone and had rushed with Tyene down to where they were heard. To see Ellaria with Obara made their blood pump with fury. They hated the bitch and had tried to tell their ada many times, only to be turned away. Now they just did everything in their power to avoid her. They knew if she was seeking Obara out, it only meant trouble.

Unknowing to all present, one of Varys little spiders heard the whole thing and knew that it's master needed to know as well. As the girls retired to their rooms, as Ellaria made her way furious to Oberyn's rooms, a small child was passing information to someone at the docks that would make sure the information ended up in the spiders hands.