Marvelmyra: Yes he'll meet Jon, not soon, but eventually, as for the other questions, read on, you'll find them out soon enough.
Dipsyy: Orins a very strong fighter, but like both Robb and Jon at the beginning, he's yet to experience an actual battle so he's not exactly ready to take on Jaime Lannister. But that's not to say he won't get better with time!
Thank you to all those who reviewed, I appreciate the feedback and kind words. Also, thanks to all the other readers.
Chapter 8
Orin gasped at the contact as he lay back on the bed with the princess straddling his waist. It didn't take long for her to drag him to her bedroom and take what she wanted. She had always been a demanding woman and he was beginning to understand how powerful that resolve seemed to be.
His senses started to overwhelm him as the princess pushed his torso back, showering him in hot kisses. His chest, neck, and then claiming his lips, Arianne wanted it all it seemed.
"Arianne," Orin whispered through the kiss. "We shouldn't…"
"Shhh," She whispered, slowly grinding on top of him. They were both still clothed from the waist down, but the thin material left little to the imagination. "You talk too much."
Grabbing his hands, Arianne guided them to her breasts, as Orin cupped them with a groan. She knew how to get what she wanted and was using every asset possible to succeed.
Her skin was so smooth as Orin slowly caressed her. He felt her nipples harden under his touch and started to feel dizzy. It was wrong, he knew, and the voice in his head kept telling him to stop. Yet all he thought about was how good it felt to be wanted like this.
Arianne's hands traced along his chest before they made their way lower until they rested on the top of his trousers. Pulling tightly, Orin grasped and quickly sat forward, pushing the princess off him gently.
"What's wrong?" Arianne mumbled angrily at the loss of contact. She needed this, and refused to move from his lap. "Did you want to be on top?"
"What? No!" Orin argued, trying his best to compose himself. It was difficult with the princess half nude on his body. "We shouldn't do this."
"Why not!" Arianne countered, taking his hand in hers. "You were enjoying it."
"I was not," Orin lied.
Letting his hand go, Arianne grabbed his member roughly through his pants, giving it a tug. "This is all the proof I need."
Orin spun out of her grasp to rise, leaving her on the bed defeated. He paced back and forth trying to calm down and figure out the situation. It wasn't often he found himself in the chamber of the princess waiting to claim her.
"Orin, it's okay to be nervous," Arianne smiled from the bed, a little amused at his actions. "I'll be gentle, I promise. For the most part…"
The subtle innuendo was not lost on him as he rolled his eyes. "I am not nervous."
"Really?"
He caught her piercing eyes and knew she was right. Sighing, he took a defeated seat on the edge of the bed. He didn't bother to fight her as she slipped her way towards him, caressing him from the back and resting her face a top his shoulder.
"Maybe I am," Orin whispered. He'd had plenty of chances growing up, but each time something pulled him back. "It isn't right."
"Why?" Arianne asked, her walls coming down. She wasn't angry anymore, just curious.
Orin shrugged, trying his best to put into words of what he was feeling. "I never knew if my mother loved my father. She never spoke of him or how they came to be. He was there one moment and then he was gone. Yet deep down she loved another. I saw it in her eyes the moment I told her Ned Stark died. I had never seen her break down like that."
"I don't understand," Arianne whispered.
"My mother loves me, more then anything," Orin began, knowing that to be the truest thing he's ever known. "But I do not believe that we have to choose between the one we love and the children we have. The two belong together. My mother chose me, and because of that, she lost out on the chance of being with the one she loved. I don't know if Ned Stark felt the same about her, even though my mother pressed the matter that he loved another many times. I just want to be with the person I love, and only her if the moment should ever come. That way our children never have to question if they decided that their parents were unhappy. It's a horrible burden thinking that you are the cause of your parents sorrow."
"You don't know that."
Turning to look her in the eyes, Orin smiled sadly. "You're right, I don't know if that's true. However it still does not change the way I feel. You don't love me, nor I you, and we both know this isn't the beginning of a happy marriage. It's lust, and as good as it feels, it would never last."
Arianne cupped his face, her eyes hard. "It does not need to. People can make each other feel good Orin, it isn't a crime."
"Of course not," Orin understood. He could see the hurt in her eyes at being rejected. "Believe me you're the closest person I've ever come to being with, and I've thought about it many times in the past."
Orin saw the small smile on her face as he continued. "But you don't love me Arianne, and my mother raised me to do the right thing, even if that means sacrificing your own happiness."
"Damn you!" Arianne shouted in frustration. Throwing her head back on her bed, she tried her best to compose her emotions. She didn't want to talk; she wanted this great beast of a man to conquer her like she had planned. "Damn you Orin."
"I'm sorry," Orin laughed, watching her act like a bratty child. Feeling a little better, and perhaps a little mischief, Orin slowly caressed her bare leg as he crawled towards her. "Maybe time will change that."
Arianne laughed as his face rested above hers, inches away. "You think I'll wait for you? You don't know me very well."
"I know," Orin whispered, planting one last tender kiss. His body pressed against her, he could feel her arms and legs wrap around him like a trap. Pulling away before it got too hard, he rested his forehead against hers. "Just in case that's are last."
"It better not be," Arianne whispered, a small smile on her face.
Giving her one last tender look, Orin swiftly grabbed his things and made a quick exit out the room. Any longer, and he would have given in to his lust for her. He was a fool he knew, walking away from a beauty like Arianne. And not just a beauty, she was fierce and independent, and he knew her well. Yet he knew she just wanted to bed him and be done with it. It wasn't cruel; it was just the way she was. He respected that she knew what she wanted, but he respected himself too much to go against everything he believed in.
Everyone around him could do as they pleased. If Prince Oberyn wanted to fuck have the country, then best wishes to him. Orin wouldn't follow though, he'd hold out, no matter how difficult, and pray that one day he could feel something for someone the way his mother felt for Ned Stark.
Doing his best not to get lost, Orin found himself back in the gardens with no one in sight. He contemplated heading back to Arianne, but thought against it. It wouldn't be wise to see her again until he left.
Heading deeper into the garden, Orin heard voices a few yards away carry towards him. The words were lost in the wind as he approached the bush that separated him from them. Stopping in his tracks to peak around, he noticed his mother and Prince Oberyn talking alone.
The two were close he knew, and just as he was about to address them, his words died in his mouth.
"And your son?" Oberyn asked. After his spar with the young man, he realized how much the boy needed to know the truth. "He needs to know Ashara."
Ashara glared, not caring whom it was she were talking too. "I've made my decision. He'll never know."
She watched Oberyn smile sadly at her, before he passed her the letter he'd been holding. "This war, it's coming for us. All of us."
Grabbing the letter, Ashara eyes scanned over it quickly. She remembered another letter she'd gotten a while ago that nearly broke her. This one wasn't as frightening, but more so confusing.
"A wedding?" Ashara read. "Or weddings?"
"Yes," Oberyn nodded, taking the letter back. "It seems war wakens peoples eyes to love. King Joffrey is to marry the Tyrell girl."
"And Edmure Tully is to marry Walder Frey's daughter," Ashara finished, a little impatient. "What of it? Why is it you called me here Prince Oberyn?"
"My brother has been invited to the royal wedding," Oberyn explained. Gesturing around, he eyed the garden with love. "My brother loves his city, and his people. But I'm afraid he could never leave even if he wished to. His strength leaves him here bound forever. I will travel in his place."
Prince Oberyn at the capital was a dangerous thing Ashara imagined, and waited for the dreaded news.
"Of course other Dornish banner man will accompany me as well."
Understanding the news, Ashara shook her head, tears starting to fall. "I will not go back and celebrate a wedding for the evil child who took Ned's head. You cannot force me to go."
Ashara's hand began to shake as Oberyn quickly held them gently, trying to sooth her. "Nor will I my Lady. Do you really think I'd ever ask that of you? I lost my sister to those animals; I would never ask you to go back there."
Her breath started to steady as she relaxed. Ashara knew Oberyn would never hurt her, they'd been friends for so many years. Yet she knew how deep his hatred and revenge went for the Lannisters, and she was just glad she wouldn't be in the crossfire.
"Then what are you asking?" Ashara finally said.
"I plan to bring those who've wronged me to justice, and as it so happens, all of them will be at the royal wedding," Oberyn explained.
"You'll die," Ashara understood the consequences of his soon to be actions.
Shaking his head, Oberyn rose from his seat. "I have no plans on dying. For too long the Lannisters have been in power. A bastard boy who killed the man you loved sits on the throne ruling us under the guidance of the man who murdered Elia. That cannot go unpunished."
"You'll start a war?" Ashara whispered, hating the words coming from the prince.
"Dorne cannot do this alone Ashara," Oberyn admitted. He paced for a few moments before turning to her seriously. "You love your son, as I love my family, but for too long we've allowed lions to prey on the rest of us. Ned Stark's son still plans on seeing the Lannisters answer for their crimes and eventually he will turn his eye to the capital and bring the war to their door. Dorne will march with him after we've solidified our alliance."
The pieces tried to fit together in Ashara's head as she thought out Oberyn's plan. "Robb Starks already married."
Oberyn grimaced; knowing what he said next would hurt the woman he cared deeply for. "Robb Starks not the true heir to the North."
Eye's widened, Ashara stood angrily. "NO!"
"Ashara please…"
"I said no!" She yelled, tears starting to fall from her eyes.
"My brother will never allow his men to fight a war they could not win," Oberyn whispered, trying to reason with her. "If Orin were to marry Arianne, then maybe…"
"Maybe?" Ashara repeated. "You want to gamble my son's life so you could have revenge!"
"Never," Oberyn argued. He spun around to see if anyone was around, before he grabbed Ashara tightly by the arms. "He's a Stark Ashara, Brandon's only heir. He's ready for this, to lead; I can see it in his eyes. The Lannisters have taken almost everything from us. It's time we started doing the same."
"The second the realm knows, I lose him," Ashara whispered, hugging the prince. "Forever."
"If we do not do this, we lose everything," Oberyn mumbled back.
Tears continued to fall down her face as she cried in the prince's arms. It was all too much for her as she played out the scenario in her mind. In a moment she would lose everything she held dear and it'd never be the same again.
She couldn't do it.
Trying to wipe the tears away, Ashara readied herself to refuse the prince but her breath hitched in her throat as she pulled away. Standing behind a bush, almost hidden, someone stood staring at her, his face hard and unmoving.
"Orin."
