The air smelled heavily like oranges and was filled with children's laughter. A little girl fought on a boy's back against two other children, trying to push one them into the pool.

-"Ellaria?" The young handmaiden asked sofly, knowingly skipping the title. "Prince Oberyn will arrive at any second now. Do you wish to eat?"

Ellaria Sand looked up from the parchment she had been reading. Lost in her worries, she had forgotten the presence of the handmaiden. "Yes, thank you sweetling." She muttered and gratefully accepted the food she handed.

She always missed Oberyn when he was gone, his voice, his touch, his sharp mind... But the closer he was, the more anxious Ellaria got.

-"There he is." She whispered, watching her Prince arrive. Her daughters squirmed delightfully and fell into Oberyn's arms.

-"Here are my sweet girls" he said, blinking playfully at Ellaria.

Cora thought she had found the entrance to the Seven Heavens.

Children ran around, playing in a turquise pool of water, while the marble reflected the soft sun of the dawn. It smelled foreign, like fruits, and it made Cora think of endless food and richness.

She could hardly pay attention to the girls embracing Oberyn or the beautiful darkskinned woman kissing him deeply until her voice cut through Cora's toughts.

-"Is she a present for me, love?"

It wasn't the first time Oberyn returned with a little distraction for her, but this one seemed particulary interesting. Ellaria was immediately intrigued by the young woman. Suspicion and admiration were mixed in shining blue eyes, while her pale, sharply cut face was framed by long black hair. Her clenched fingers and the roaming, nervous look reminded Ellaria of a threatened cat.

Ellaria wondered how Oberyn had made her follow him, but then again Obernyn's charms melted every women's composure away.

-"May I present you my new bodyguard, Coraline of Oldtown." Oberny introduced her smoothly.

-"Cora." She corrected. The girls voice betrayed a lot more confidence than her posture, Ellaria noticed.

-"Welcome to the Watergardens, Cora." Ellaria Sand pourred and kissed Oberyn quickly on the mouth before approaching Cora.

An interesting encounter, Oberyn mused. He was eager to see how the two of them would react to each other. Ellaria smiled lightly and roamed her eyes over Cora without any trace of resentment or shame. She was deciding whether Cora was worth to be in his bed, Oberyn tought with amusement.

Cora on the other side tried so hard not to move as Ellaria walked around her that she looked like a marble statue.

-"A bodyguard. I'm excited to hear your story, Coraline."

"Coraline, love, one of guards will escort you to your chambers where you will recieve food and clothing. I will attend you later." Oberyn explained lightly, sawing the relief in thief's eyes.

-"Thank you. Ober.. My Prince. My lady." With a stiff nod, Cora followed the guard, leaving Oberyn and Ellaria behind.

-"What have I done?" Cora exclaimed with a shaky breath once she was on her own. The room was a tresure vault for a thief like her. Yet it was the first time Cora was scared in her usually familiar hunting ground.

They had dressed her in red silk with golden but modest jewellry, bathed her in scented water and braided her hair around her head. Although every servant had shown nothing but kindness, Cora felt like an introuder. Like the criminal she was. And the urge to steal a few trinkets wasn't helpful as well.

Cora watched her face in the mirror. How could Oberyn take interest in someone as plain as her if he had the gorgeous Ellaria Sand? That woman had watched her like prey, and the look reminded Cora of Oberyn. If Oberyn had a tigress at his side, why did he chose a ragid cat from the streets? Because even a pretty dress and a clean face couldn't change who she was.

A knock on the door interupted her thinking, and the young woman who entered was as impressive as Oberyn and Ellaria. She was slender, elegant and clearly related to Oberyn.

-"Coraline. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Nymeria Sand. My father, Prince Oberyn demands me to show you a selection of weapons." A voice as soft as the silk of her dress, Coraline thought. The thief tried to look as composed as possible and nodded. "The pleasure is mine."

Cora selected two thin daggers. One larger to show at her hip, one to strap around her thigh. Nymeria raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't you need more weapons as a bodyguard?" She asked, and Coraline gave the taller woman a quick look.

-"My weapons are hidden. As are yours, mylady." It wouldn't hurt to let Nymeria know that Cora had detected the sandsnake's hidden daggers quite easily.

She had removed her own daggers and tools she had brought from Oldtown in the matress of her bed before the servants came in to bath her. A simple gesture of precausion.

Nymeria smiled softly.

-"I knew my father had a reason to hire you, Coraline of Oldtown. Although I doubt he needs protection at all."

Coraline hesitated. "We live in dangerous world, my lady. Everyone needs protection."

-"Indeed." Nymeria stated while her black eyes pierced through Cora's. "One of father's guards told me he was attacked by a hired killer and you saved his life. I thank you with my whole heart."

Her warm hands grabbed Cora's and the thief resisted the instinct to jump back. Cora couldn't afford to insult Oberny's daughter.

- "I do not judge you for your background, Coraline. My father chose you, which makes you already interesting. But you also managed to save his life, which makes you outstanding."

-"I have knowledge most people don't have. There's nothing else special about me, Lady Nymeria." Cora muttered.

-"We will find out when we find the man who tried to murder my father." Nymeria replied lightly.

Cora frowned. This was definitely an interesting conversation. "We, my lady?"

-"Yes, Coraline. My sisters and I won't leave our father's safety to the hands of fate. Come to me with every clue you have about this man."

The sandsnake looked like a women who was used to give orders, Cora tought. Unluckily for Nymeria, Cora was a women who never listened to orders, exept of Cery's and Oberyn's. This was a new life, and it required Cora to adapt.

-"Of course, Lady Nymeria. I fully understand your concern." Coraline smiled, thinking of Evana's dashing fake smiles.

-"It reliefes my heart to know that, my dear."

They stopped in front of Cora's chambers. "I will leave you, Coraline. The servants will attend to your every wish." With an elegant movement, Nymeria gestured towards the door and her white teeth flashed a last time before she removed herself.

Again, Cora felt slighlty overwhelmed. Oberyn's mistress and daughters were dangerous women.

After a while, Cora started walking up and down in her room, staring at the floor until the nervousity was too much to take. It was already dawn and the light painted orange shadows on the marble floors. On tiptoes, Cora left her room and began to wander around in the palace. The watergardes were the most beautiful place Coraline had ever seen, open and full of artful details. No guard stopped her, and after a while Cora began to relax and enjoy the silence and the warm wind of Dorne on her skin.

-"She should be trialed for being a thief. Yet father offers her luxury way over her standing." Cora recognized Nymeria's voice alongside with steps walking into he direction. Quickly, the woman pressed herself into an alcove.

-"The girl is nothing but one of father's distractions. You should not worry about her. The guards will make sure no silver dissappears from this place." The words were accompagnied by light laughter.

-"Maybe we are underestimating her. Or worse, the person behind the attempted murder." mumbled a third woman.

-"Ari, since when can anyone best the Viper of Dorne?" The second voice sounded again, childish and sweet yet somehow venimous.

-"I am just pointing out that we should not take any risk." Arianne said. At least Cora supposed it was Arianne Martell.

"Talking about risk, how is Ethan? I heard rumors he was cheating on his wife with a beautiful princess..." The lighter voice replied playfully and the three women bursted into laughter.

Cora decided it was the right moment to leave. Her steps got faster ans faster while her brain processed the sandsnakes' opinion on her until she suddenly bumbed into someone.

"Oberyn?" Cora gulped, realizing he was standing in the corridor right next to her chamber.

"Coraline?" he mocked with a smug smile. "How surprising that I don't find you in your chambers." Using her moment of discomfort, he played with the tip of her hair, making her even more nervous.

"Uhm, I was just taking a walk." Cora mumbled, cursing Oberyn's effect on her. Normally lies came smoothly over her tongue, now she stuttered like a caught child.

"I see." Oberyn answered with obvious sarcasmn.

Cora has not asked to overhear the girl's conversation. It was nothing forbidden or secret, yet she felt a sting in her heart thinking of Nymeria, Arianne and the third girl judging her as the criminal she was.

"You are trubled, my dear. Speak to me." Oberyn pleaded, the mocking expression leaving for soft understanding. He took her hand and walked into her chambers, almost dragging Cora into the room.

He expected to see her features like cut in stone. The wall was up again, and everyone outside was in danger to die of frostbite. Oberyn thought he had gained her trust, but she appeared even colder than before.

"Cora, love, I promised I would care for you. I understand this must be a lot for you..."

-"Oh, the fancy Prince thinks this is too much for a street girl like me? That I can't behave properly inside of marble walls surrounded by spoiled nobles? Or maybe you're afraid I will steal your precious golden chandeliers and chamberpots? Of course you must have thought that!"

Now Oberyn was completely abashed. Coraline's cheeks were reddened and covered by tears of angers. She was furious.

-"I never said nor thought that, Cora!" Oberyn defended himself, but his usual eloquence was missing in front of this woman. The nobles dressed themselves in manners and nice words while Cora's outspoken honesty formed an unbreakable armour. It reminded him of Obella's boldness, paired with Sarella's wits. But Coraline was not his daughter.

-"I think this was a bad idea. I doubt the killer is going to strike again here, and you have the gorgeous Ellaria Sand to take care of you!" She spat.

-"Are you jealous?" Oberyn immediately regretted the question. He saw Cora's skin changing from bright red to pale white.

-"Not every women's world evolves around you, Oberyn Martell."

-"Now you insult me, sweet Coraline." Oberyn tried to return to a more playful tone.

-"I'm not your ‚sweet Coraline'. My name's Cora and no one will respect me if the Viper keeps calling me like that." she replied angrily.

-"Please Cora, you worry too much. Let me show you how much you belong here." Oberyn just bend in to kiss her, pushing her on the bed. And although Cora was tempted to let him go on, the smile against her lips unnerved her. He wasn't taking it serious enough.

With all the determination she could gather, Cora pushed the Prince away, her hands pressed against his chest.

-„Oberyn! You can't solve every problem by kissing someone until he shuts up." She protested, even though she was fighting to give in. Oberyn's scent and warmth was simply intoxicating.

-„Is it still about Ellaria? Coraline, in Dorne, we..."

-„I don't care what you do in Dorne! I care for you, Oberyn, but you are mistaken me for lovesick girl! I'm not jealous."

Oberyn watched her sheepishly and took a step back. His voice sounded softer, younger, when he muttered the next words.

-„Apologies. I have been caught up with my own pleasures instead of being reasonable."
Cora nodded, calming herself.

-„So you care for me?" Oberyn asked again. The thief took a deep breath and placed a chaste kiss on Oberyn's lips. „You would be dead by now if I didn't." she muttered. „Believe me, I am not jealous of Ellaria, but you belong to her. It is wrong to lay with you with her and your daughters under the same roof. She seems like a good woman."

Instead of answering, he took a strand of her raven black hair and tugged in behind her ear. It was such a banal gesture, Cora tought, but there was a softness and affection in which made Cora's heart beat faster.

„You have a very high sense of honor for a thief, my dear. I like that very much in you. Yet Ellaria is not my wife. She's my paramour, which makes it not a crime for the neither of us to be together." He explained but continued as Cora pressed her lips together.

„In the other Kingdoms, some believe love only exists in little girl's dreams. Others believe it can only grow in a marriage. In Dorne, we know love has no such limits. We can love many persons and we can share carnal pleasures without betraying this love. Lay with whoever you want to, love whoever your heart tells you to. A man, a woman, your husband, a prince – you are free to chose."

Oberyn was getting passionate with his speech, his eyes sparkled while his voice rose. Cora felt the power of his words, and the truth in them. In Dorne, people were open minded. Maybe Ellaria was accepting Cora's relationship with Oberyn because it didn't mean she was losing him.

-„And Ellaria...?" Cora tried to phrase her concerns, and Oberyn gently stroke with his thumb over Cora's cheek, as if he was wiping away tears.

-„I love my paramour like I should love the mother of three of my daughters. I share her bed. But I also want you in it. Do you still think it is wrong to have you both?" he asked. The tension rising run a shiver over Cora's spine. Was it bothering her? Even if Ellaria could share, could Cora do the same? Oberyn clearly loved Ellaria. Oberyn and Cora... they trusted each other. They had saved each other's life.

-„I can see you are thinking... maybe I should let you to your thoughts." Oberyn suggested, and with the idea of him leaving, Cora found the strenght to make a decision.

-„Stay."

A single word was enough to make shivers run over Oberyn's spine. Cora's intense blue eyes banished everything else from his mind. Oberyn was reliefed his lifestyle wasn't scaring or rejecting her. The delicate woman had more strenght of character than most people, Oberyn thought and watched as Cora slowly opened the laces of her dress. The fabric fell down and pooled at her feet. Although Coraline's pale body was tempting to look at, Oberyn was still absorbed by her sparkling eyes, framed by heavy, dark lashes. After the bath, her hair fell in soft, shining waves down her back.

Coraline was slender and possessed no noticeable curves, yet Oberyn loved how firm her muscular body felt under his hands, how gracious she moved under his touch. Cora removed Oberyn's robe and roamed her long fingers over Oberyn's chest, her eyes as observant and curious as always. Yet they seemed to darken as Oberyn cupped her breasts and kissed her passionately.

Coraline's coolness and seriousness was fading under Oberyn's kisses and she pushed him on the bed, placing herself on his lap. Cora straddled the prince while opening his breeches. Oberyn watched the women in awe. Her eyes shone bright like jewels, her lips were swollen and parted, and her cheeks stood out pink against the dark hair which she brought to one side to expose her neck. She offered him a teasing little smile before guiding him into her. Oberyn burried himself in her neck and while she slowly began to rock her hips. „Sweet Coraline." Oberyn moaned and her pace quickened when he grabbed her back to push himself deeper inside. Cora burried a hand in his black hair and slightly tugged it. Her other hand rested on his shoulder as she continued to move faster on his lap. „It's Cora." She whispered into his ear.

When Oberyn simply smiled, hardening his grib on her hips. „Say it. Cora." She commanded as she felt she was coming to an delicious end.

„Cora." Oberyn groaned, not longer able to hold himself. „Cora, Cora, Cora." He breethed before finally finding the awaited release in Cora's arms.


Hey guys, I'm sorry you had to wait so long for part II. I'm working as an au-pair in Spain and everything was so overwhelming that I didn't have any time to write. It's actually quite exciting that Dorne is based on moorish influenced Spain. The setting for Dorne in Season 5 is seriously amazing!

Anyways, I'm back with new chapters:) Thanks for reading!
Have great christmas holidays!

xoxo & liebe Grüße