I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire, or any of the characters. Those belong to the amazing George RR Martin.

The Princess of Dorne had arrived three days past, with her children. His Lord Father kissed Princess Loreza fingers with cold courtesy, and Mother had hugged her like a long lost sister. After them, Jaime and Cersei were introduced to the dornish princes. Elia and Oberyn were very much alike, with hair as black as raven feathers and sharp noses. Jaime knew there was an another brother as well, Doran, who was his mother's heir and had stayed at Sunspear; He was betrothed to a Norvoshi lady he had met traveling through the Free Cities. In the welcoming feast, Jaime escorted Princess Elia to the high table, and sat by her side, while Oberyn did the same with Cersei. Mother told him he was supposed to entertain Elia during the feast, but it was Oberyn who caught Jaime's eye. He was tall for a ten year old, quick of wit and quick to laugh, and it seemed he could not care less about formalities. When he was introduced to Cersei, Oberyn hugged her which such enthusiasm he swept her off her feet. Cersei looked quite stunned, but it was his father's face the one that worried Jaime. His green eyes flicked with gold stared at the dornish lad with displeasure, as he took seat in the high table.

Dornish food was served, to honor their guests; minced lamb with dragonpeppers, sour dornish wines, peppers stuffed with cheese, lemon cakes, boiled eggs with onions and peppers, duck with lemons and garlic, and peppers, peppers, peppers. The food was full of queer hot spices, and when uncle Gerion burned his mouth with dornish peppers, Oberyn laughed so hard that his wine was coming out of his nose. Uncle Gerion did not seem to mind and laughed as well, jesting with the young prince.

Jaime decided he liked Oberyn. He had come to practice in the training yard with his longspear and round shining shield, in the dornish fashion. His spear was a good six feet tall of turned ash, the shaft smooth and heavy. Some boys offered to try him, laughing at his choice of weapons. Ser Benedict warned them not to take lightly the dornish fighting style, which proved to be a wise advice. The dornish lad moved in ways Jaime had never seen, jumping and sliding, and his training spear, even lacking leaf-shaped spearhead, sent Elys Westerling bruised and bloodied to the floor.

Some of the men whistled and clapped, as Oberyn offered his hand to Elys to help him up.

"You broke my nose, bastard!" yelled the lad, his hands covering his face. Blood was leaking from his fingers, and he smacked away Oberyn's hand.

"Ser Benedict will not like that" said Addam in a low voice. The master-at-arms was yelling at the boy, who was now trying to stand up.

"Is that the way you speak to Lord Tywin's honor guest, Elys? " said Ser Benedict, furious "If you kept you shield up were it belongs, the spear would not have hit your nose." The lad gave an ugly stare to Ser Benedict, but he paid him no mind "Apologize to the prince, Westerling. Now!" The lad turned around, rolling his eyes, and met Oberyn's face.

"I apologize, my prince" he said in a low voice. Oberyn himself did not seem to mind. He smiled, and bowed his head mockingly to the lad.

"No harm done, Elys" he excused himself and turned his head to Jaime "Are you done training? Would you walk with me back to the castle?" Jaime looked at Ser Benedict, who nodded. Jaime left his wooden sword and his shield, and ran to catch up with Oberyn.

"You were amazing in the training yard" said Jaime after a few seconds, as both boys walked to the castle.

"You are too kind, Jaime" said Oberyn, smiling. "From what I saw, you will make a great knight one day" he flushed, pleased with himself. Oberyn stopped and sat on the grass, his back against a stone hedge "Come, sit with me" Jaime sat by his side, shielded from the sun by a great elm.

"That boy, Westerling. Is he always bad tempered?"

"Not really" said Jaime "But I think he wasn't expecting to be defeated that easily." He did not mention how many jokes about dornishmen Elys knew.

"It wasn't that easy. Is just that you westerman aren't taught how to fight a spear"

"Yes, I guess"

"And he gave me an ugly bruise on the thigh, see what I tell you" added Oberyn, pointing his left leg were Elys hit him "Which one of the boys managed to get you in the face, anyway?" Jaime felt his cheeks reddening. The bruise in his jaw had been one of Cersei's gifts, when she came to his chambers at night a few days ago. The bruise was now yellowish, almost completely faded, but it embarrassed Jaime all the same. The guards told his mother what Cersei did, which won her a few more hours reading the Maiden's book, under the watchful eye of septa Jeyne. Mother threatened as well to make Septa Jeyne share Cersei's bed, should she try again to sneak out of her chambers. Jaime saw no point in lying to him; Oberyn had a sister, anyway. They probably fought from time to time as well.

"It wasn't in the training yard" said Jaime, after a few seconds "It was Cersei who hit me"

"She did?" Oberyn laughed. Jaime stared at him, a little angry. He didn't like when people made fun of him. "Oh, don't take me wrong. I'm not laughing at you. Elia told me as much, anyway. Your sister is fierce, isn't she?" Jaime thought of Cersei's fingers, running through his hair.

"Not all the time. She was angry with me"

"She would do well in Dorne" said Oberyn. A strand of hair dangled in his eyes, limp with sweat. He pushed it away with the back of his hand "We Martells, come from a line of warrior women. Have you heard of Princess Nymeria, and her ten thousand ships?" Jaime nodded. Maester Creylen had taught him about her.

"She was a Princess of the Rhoynar. When the dragonlords conquered the Rhoyne, Nymeria led her people to Dorne, in ten thousand ships. There is a star named after her" Oberyn smiled again.

"Queen Nymeria herself wasn't a warrior as much as a commander, but many in her army were warrior women. They are still dornishwomen who learn how to use whips and daggers, to better defend themselves."

"I think Cersei would like that" said Jaime, remembering how they used to dress in each other's clothes.

"She's still eight. Is not too late for her to learn, if she wanted to."

"Nine. And my Lord Father would never allow that" said Jaime "Nor my mother. Besides, there is no way Ser Benedict is teaching her." Oberyn gave him an odd look.

"They would not need to know" said the boy. Jaime stared at him a few seconds, wondering if Oberyn was making fun of him.

"You should learn the dornish way as well" continued Oberyn "It would make you quicker"

"Ser Benedict said none of the knights in Casterly Rock know how to fight with longspear" said Jaime. He had been talking with the master-at-arms, while Oberyn faced Elys.

"Makes no matter. Ser Ulwyck could teach you" said Oberyn "He is and Uller of Hellholt, and Elia's sworn shield."

"I guess I could ask Father" said Jaime, wondering what his father would think of the dornish fighting style.

"Why haven't we met your little brother yet?" asked Oberyn, suddenly. His question took Jaime unawares.

"He's still a baby" he said, unsure "A feast is no place for babies" That's what Father had told his mother, anyway.

"Yes, but Elia hadn't seen him with your mother, nor have we heard his cries, and babies cry all the time. When Lady Joanna invited my mother, she said we would meet his baby. Elia loves babies, and she was very happy when my mother told her." Jaime did not know what to say. Father had forbid them to speak about Tyrion, when he told them about the Princess' visit.

"I do not know" he said, miserably "I cannot tell"

"We know he's dwarf" said Oberyn, watching him concerned. "You know that?"

"Don't call him that!" yelled Jaime, jumping to his feet. He could feel his heart beating hard, as Oberyn stood up as well.

"I didn't mean to offend you" said Oberyn, raising his hands, conciliatory. "We don't care. We were just wondering."

"This is no business of yours"

"Well, we think is just stupid. Elia will meet him anyway, eventually."

"No, she won't. Father forbade it." Oberyn seemed confused.

"He cannot keep your brother out of sight forever. Will he ban him from feasts, the Sept or training when he grows older?"

"I guess not, but it does not matter. You'll be gone by then"

"Yes, but Elia won't" Now it was Jaime's time to be confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't your mother tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Why we are here. Elia and I." Jaime shook his head, and Oberyn smiled.

"That's should explain a lot"

"Tell me" said Jaime with annoyance. Oberyn took a deep breath.

"We are to be betrothed. Cersei and I, or Elia and you. Mother and Lady Joanna had been talking about it for months. Cersei will come to Dorne as my mother's cupbearer, and Elia will stay here, with you."