Christor Martell sat overlooking the gardens with his niece Vaena sitting beside him. She had been in Dorne for almost a week now and was settling in nicely. Christor had short brown hair with tanned olive skin and brown eyes. He had thick eyebrows and a strong jawline and was well toned for his age of forty eight. Christor sighed as he reread the letter from his sister, Nyrissa, things were not going well with Aeryn, they hadn't been for a while. But now he had consummated his relationship with the Stokeworth girl? He ran a hand through his hair.
"Your father's throwing aside a princess of Dorne? Titles never mattered to me before, but a common girl over Nyrissa?!" Christor said angrily.
"I know, it doesn't make sense to me either." Vaena said. "Mother's still capable of giving him a son, and I don't know what he sees in her. I mean, she's pretty, but I think she just goes along with whatever he wants. I think he likes controlling her."
"We both know how much your father likes control." Christor said. "I'm glad you're here in Dorne with me, it's much safer for you than in King's Landing. Who knows what will happen now that Aeryn is serious with his whore?"
Vaena sighed, "What about my marriage to Eliar?"
"That I don't know, it's up to your father who seems otherwise preoccupied." Christor replied. "Rhaelys should be relatively safe married to Rhaerion, I doubt your father will do anything to her."
"I can't believe what he's doing to my mother." Vaena said as she crossed her arms. "It's not fair."
"You're right, it's not. I'm going to arrange a safe passage out of King's Landing for her should your mother need it. I'm not sure what your father's obsession with a son is about. A woman is my heir. I see no problem with it, neither do my people as long as a Martell sits on the throne they don't care. The Seven Kingdoms should learn a thing or two from Dorne."
"Mother has tried countless times to convince my Father to name me heir, he won't budge." Vaena said.
"Your father's a fool for pursuing this girl so relentlessly. If only someone could get rid of her." Christor said as he leaned back in his chair.
"You aren't suggesting killing her are you?" Vaena asked.
Christor shook his head, "Not unless it comes down to your mother's safety, I don't want to start a war but I will if I must."
"Then let's hope it doesn't come to that." Vaena said.
Rhaerion sighed as he made his way to Brileigh's room. He hadn't seen her in days and was starting to worry. What if something happened to her? What if she was sick? He knocked on the door and was surprised when a tan girl with wavy brown hair opened the door instead of Brileigh. She curtsied to him and looked him up and down.
"Good afternoon, my prince." She said.
"Let him in." Rhaerion heard Brileigh say. Lehna sighed and stepped aside so Rhaerion could enter the room.
"What do you want?" Brieligh asked as she glared at him.
"Can I speak with you? Alone?"
Brileigh turned her attention to her handmaiden, "Leave us."
"I think it's better if I stay, my lady, you wouldn't want to risk your reputation by taking a visitor unchaperoned, would you?" Lehna said.
"Thanks to Rhaerion everyone's already calling me a whore." Briliegh said, turning her anger on Rhaerion.
Rhaerion sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I was upset."
Briliegh crossed her arms, "You're right, you shouldn't have. Why are you here?"
"To apologize, and to talk. I haven't seen you around much." Rhaerion said.
Brileigh had isolated herself in her room lately, despite Lehna's attempts to get her to go outside and do things she had locked herself in her chambers. Tired of the dirty looks and whispers that followed her at court.
"I haven't felt like going outside much." Brileigh said.
"Why? Are you okay?" Rhaerion asked.
"I'm fine." Brileigh lied. In truth she felt miserable, Aeryn had slept with her most nights for the past week and she hated it and hated herself for allowing it to happen. But she didn't know what else she could do, her brother was thrilled the King was sleeping with her and she couldn't let him down.
"Are you sure?" Rhaerion asked, sensing something was off.
Brileigh nodded, "You can go now."
"Brileigh wait-"
"She asked you to leave, my prince." Lehna cut him off.
Rhaerion sighed then left the room. Something wasn't right, he just wasn't sure what was wrong.
Asher went to Brileigh's room, he smiled and nodded and Lehna before approaching Brileigh who laid in her bed. She was curled up under the blankets, though fully dressed in case she needed to see the King. Asher sighed as he sat on the side of the bed.
"What's wrong, Brileigh? You're not acting like yourself." Asher said as he rubbed her shoulder. "Are you sick?"
Brieligh shook her head, "I want to go home, I'm tired of being here."
"I thought you were happy with the king?" Asher said.
"I am," Brliegh lied, aware of Lehna's presence. Brileigh hated that she stayed when she had visitors, she could never get rid of her handmaiden. It was annoying.
"Then what's the matter?" Asher asked.
"I'm tired of everyone seeing me as the King's whore." Brileigh said as she sat up then said quietly so only Asher could hear. "I don't want to sleep with him anymore, I want to go home."
Asher sighed, "I can speak to His Grace and see if I can take you home for a few days. But your place is here now, look at this room that His Grace has given you and all of the wonderful gifts. He wants you here, Brileigh. Just think about how much our family has prospered."
"At my expense." Brieligh said miserably.
"I've heard you aren't eating, why aren't you eating?" Asher asked to change the subject.
"Because I'm not hungry." Brileigh answered.
Asher sighed, "You need to eat."
"I don't want to." Brileigh said annoyed.
"His Grace wants you to join him for dinner." Asher said.
"Do I have to?" Brileigh asked.
"He's the King, Brleigh, of course you have to." Asher replied. "I promise I'll take you home soon, okay?"
"When?"
"I don't know, I need to talk to His Grace." Asher said as he stood. "Try and do something other than lay in bed today."
Brileigh rolled her eyes as Asher walked away. He didn't care about her, he just cared about keeping the King happy.
"Your brother's right, you should get out of bed, my lady." Lehna said as she approached Brileigh. "We could paint? Or go for a walk in the gardens?"
"I don't want to." Brileigh said as she laid in bed and rolled over, turning away from Lehna. Lehna tried a few more times to get Brileigh out of bed, but she refused every time. Lehna sighed, the King wouldn't be happy to hear this.
After the Small Council meeting Asher pulled the King aside. Aeryn seemed to be in good spirits lately, and Asher knew Brileigh played a large role in that. But he could also see the effects this was having on his sister. Maybe it's too much for her, maybe she's too young, Asher thought. But he could think of no way out of the situation, if Aeryn wanted Brileigh then he would have her. He was the king after all, and kings got what they wanted.
"What is it, Lord Asher?" Aeryn asked.
"I was wondering if I could take Brileigh home for a few days, Your Grace. I think court life has become overwhelming for her and she could use a few days to rest up." Asher replied.
Aeryn thought for a moment, "I've never seen Castle Stokeworth, and I could use some time away from court myself. Tell your sister we leave in two days time." Aeryn said.
"Of course, Your Grace." Asher said immediately. "It would be an honour to have you as our guest. Should I prepare rooms for Her Grace as well?"
"No, Nyrissa will remain here." Aeryn said. "Was that all you wanted?"
"Yes, Your Grace." Asher replied.
Aeryn nodded then walked away. Asher sighed as he watched the King leave. Brileigh wouldn't like it, but at least she was getting the chance to go home.
Aeryn and Brileigh took supper in his chambers. Brileigh was dressed in another revealing dress, which she had gotten used to wearing. She still hated that Aeryn dictated what she wore and how she did her hair, but she knew complaining would get her nowhere. Aeryn frowned as Brileigh ate very little, Lehna told him that she had often been refusing meals as well.
"Is everything all right? If you don't like it I can have something else made." Aeryn offered.
Brileigh shook her head, "Everything's fine, I'm just not very hungry."
Aeryn frowned and patted his lap, "Come here."
Brileigh sighed but nodded. She approached Aeryn and sat on his lap, he immediately wrapped an arm around her and started stroking her hair with his free hand.
"What's the matter, Brileigh? Aren't you happy with all of the gifts I've given you?" Aeryn asked.
"I am, Your Grace." Brileigh said quietly.
"Then why do you barely leave your chambers?" Aeryn questioned.
Brileigh shrugged, "I don't want to."
"I want you to go out more, you're my mistress, it's nothing to be ashamed of." Aeryn said sternly.
Brileigh nodded, "I'll go out more." She said quietly.
Aeryn kissed her on the cheek, "Good. I want you to be happy, and you won't be happy cooped up in that room of your's."
Brileigh nodded. Aeryn kissed her and she kissed him back as the door to the room opened. Nyrissa cleared her throat and Brileigh pulled away from the kiss, blushing.
"What is it, Nyrissa?" Aeryn asked annoyed. He made a point of playing with Brileigh's breasts in front of his wife, while Brileigh stared at the floor.
"I need to speak with you. Leave Brileigh." Nyrissa said, her voice stern.
"Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of Lady Brileigh." Aeryn said.
"Very well then." Nyrissa said, she shot Brieligh a glare before she looked at her husband. "I'm with child."
Aeryn's eyes snapped to Nyrissa's, "What?" He hadn't slept with her in nearly a month, he never expected a child out of his visit to her bed and now he regretted every lying with her. "You're certain?"
"I've had enough pregnancies to know the signs." Nyrissa said.
"Brileigh, go to your chambers. I'll join you shortly." Aeryn said.
Brileigh nodded as she climbed off of Aeryn's lap. She avoided eye contact with Nyrissa as she left the room.
"Did you sleep with anyone else?" Aeryn asked as he approached Nyrissa.
"Of course not, I'm loyal to my husband, even if he can't say the same about me." Nyrissa replied.
Aeryn clenched his jaw angrily. Brileigh was supposed to give him his next child, not Nyrissa, not in the middle of an annulment. "Very well then, thank you for telling me." Aeryn said. This changed nothing, he would go through with the annulment as planned if Nyrissa managed to have a boy he would deal with it then, but she had failed thus far and Aeryn doubted that she would succeed this time.
"Was there anything else?" Aeryn asked.
"No, I'll be going now." Nyrissa replied, then left the room.
"Damnit!" Aeryn cursed as he banged his fist against the table. He wanted to be rid of Nyrissa, this baby would cause nothing but problems.
