Chapter 21
They rode for a few hours with little being said.
Ginny made sure to ride beside Elia Martell and the two began to engage in quiet conversation about her time in Westeros.
The red head liked the Martell girl. She seemed sweet and gentle and reminded Ginny a good deal of one of Luna's friends Padma Patil. She hadn't known the Indian girl well but she had seemed to be sweet and studious and loyal. Ginny remembered being a little envious of the fact that she and her sister had gone to the Yule Ball with Harry.
But that had been a long time ago.
Elia Martell seemed genuinely interested in Essos which she had fascinatingly enough had never been to.
"Was it a bit of a shock coming to Westeros?" Elia asked quietly as they rode along on the southern road leading to Sunspear.
The day was warm and calm leading to a light breeze blowing towards the royal party from the ocean and the sound of bird cries high overhead in the afternoon air. It was an atmosphere of calm which reflected Ginny's own personal state after spending most of the day with Rhaegar and Septimus.
If her father had been there it would have been a perfect day.
Spending time with Rhaegar lightly had become far more natural and she had become more comfortable in his presence since they had decided to go on this little trip and the pressure of living at court had diminished significantly.
He still made her heart flutter and seeing more of his mind and his own heart had been helpful in assessing his person and seeing if he was the sort of person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
Right now if she had had to give an answer as to whether or not she would marry him Ginny was leaning towards an affirmative answer. She had become increasingly more comfortable and happy in his presence and she was glad to have it continue.
She cast a look at the handsome dragon. I have yet to see how he handles a crisis and knowing that is important. Running a kingdom is a stressful thing and I want to see how pressure molds this man, whether it will crush him or make him a diamond.
"Not really," she said turning back to the Dornish princess. "In many ways, Essos is far more liberal than Westeros in that there are no hierarchies outside of cities before my father and I came along. Magisters were the only sort of power aside from the Wise Masters in the eastern cities before my father and I wiped them out. There were a majority of them that were so full of their own importance that they were unable to see beyond their own noses much like it is with some of the nobles here. Different hierarchies but the same people. It wasn't too much different."
"My, you're bold aren't you?" Elia asked.
"To quote a famous phrase used by the great Tywin Lannister," Ginny said lowering her tone exponentially so that no one around could hear them. "The lion does not concern themselves with the opinion of the sheep. I am only giving voice to the thoughts and actions of every noble in this country who believes they can do whatever they want without any sort of consequences."
"A form of political mockery then?" Elia asked.
"Political satire at its finest," Ginny concurred. "I find it so amusing that nobles pay lip service to all those in power over them but when someone talks about what they are really thinking they become shocked and call it bold. It's not bold at all, its realistic and those who deny that are fools."
Elia chuckled. "I have a feeling my brother is going to like you."
Ginny smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "The more allies we have in Westeros the better. And who better than Dorne to fill that role?"
She could practically hear her father's chuckling in her head as the words left her mouth. When he had still been in Westeros, she and Sirius had made it a habit to keep an eye on Dorne as they were the most liberal territory in Westeros and would present the most reliable allies.
Ginny herself wondered whether or not he was still considering the idea of making an alliance with Prince Doran through marriage.
From what she heard his daughter Arianne was only around the age of her brother Godric and what sort of woman she would grow up to be. The Dornish were more of a liberal people than the rest of Westeros and had more respect for women than any other of the regions and lord in the realm which was what made her more receptive to them.
Ginny was still a Weasley and like her mother, she liked to cut through the nonsense by treating people as they actually were and not as their title dictated. She had cut through the nonsense with Malfoy, with the Death Eaters with Snape and with her own family when they started to get too big for their britches.
Unfortunately now that she was a princess she had a responsibility to watch her words and make sure that no one was given a reason to rebel against the crown; not that that they actually could but the principle still applied.
However at the moment she was not queen of this realm and it was somewhat fun to have a private joke or two at the nobles' expense.
"After anyone who likes to make fun of Tywin Lannister is someone that my brother will wish to meet," Elia muttered and Ginny frowned at each other.
"I sense there is a story there," she said and Elia gave her a sad smile.
"Before Joanna Lannister and my own mother died they were very good friends and it the wish of both of them to see the Martells and Lannisters connected through marriage. I was to potentially marry Jaime and Oberyn was to potentially marry Cersei. However after Lady Joanna passed away in child birth with the youngest Lannister Tyrion, myself and Oberyn came for one final visit in which Lord Tywin insulted us and House Martell by offering me the youngest son to wed which was a deformed dwarf."
Her tone didn't contain contempt or scorn for the person that she had been offered to, instead she seemed rather sad. Her tone however took on an icy hue when discussing the actions of the Hand of the King and what he had done.
Ginny who already hadn't like Tywin Lannister even before her dinner with him in which they had had to cross verbal swords was somewhat affronted by the atrocious manner in which the man had treated his guests.
"Oberyn and I have not been back to the Westerlands since and to this day he cannot mention the name Lannister without his lip curling into a sneer," Elia continued.
Ginny sighed and cast a look at Rhaegar and the Dornish prince who were riding close together and speaking quietly in tones that she could not hear. He didn't seem like he would be able to hold a grudge with his easy smile and feline virile manner but Ginny knew enough to not judge a book by its cover.
Interesting, she thought to herself.
A feud between the Lannisters and the Martells was an interesting prospect especially since Ginny's mother herself had almost been part of an arranged marriage that she would have hated. In the end however it would have proved a bridge between two ancient houses.
I wonder if there is a way to bridge this feud, she thought absently to herself. Jaime and Elia seem to be the most sane Martell and the most sane Lannister…I wonder if they would make a good match.
"Would you have had any objection to becoming Lady Lannister?" Ginny asked slowly.
Elia didn't seem to be aware of what she was doing.
"No your grace," she said. "I wouldn't. We were friends when we were children as our mothers were very close and we were great playmates. Cersei even was not so controlling when her mother was still alive. But after Lady Joanna died…it changed her, it changed all of them to be honest. Lord Tywin was always a hard man before the death of his lady wife but he did love her a great deal and he was never the same after she was gone. Because of that I couldn't find it in my heart to judge her too harshly."
Yes I think you and I are going to be very good friends Elia.
"In fact," the Dornish princess went on. "Jaime wrote me after the last time his father had insulted us and sent us on our way to apologize for his father's actions. I never showed it to Oberyn as I knew he wouldn't understand but I accepted his apology. And we've kept in touch after all of these years in letters."
"You have?" Ginny asked an idea beginning to percolate in her mind. "That's good."
Elia was about to answer her when all of a sudden Rhaegar suddenly drew his horse to a halt. "I believe we shall stop here for the night."
Ginny glanced up at the horizon and noted with surprise that the sun was indeed sinking behind the clouds.
"Good lord have we traveled that far that fast?" she asked.
Elia chuckled. "It appears that we have. Another week or so and we should be in Sunspear."
Ginny remembered that her father had told her that Dorne and Sunspear were a little bit like Egypt in terms of the desert and oasis's scattered throughout. There were no pyramids but the ancient city and palace of Sunspear were supposed to be a sight to behold and Ginny recalled that her adoptive father had called it his favorite place in all of Westeros when he had been a merchant.
She hoped it would be one of hers too.
The red head assisted with the tent erection by waving her hand and seeing that they were put up within the blink of an eye.
The look of surprise and awe on Elia's face was a sight to behold and Oberyn's gaze on her seemed to grow even heavier.
Though Sirius had told her that she shouldn't feel the need to hide her magic while she was in Westeros as it would make people less likely to cross her, Ginny was still amused at how new it seemed to people.
She had no doubts that word of her abilities had travelled throughout the country since she had arrived in the capital weeks earlier. It was a little funny seeing how different people reacted to it.
Sirius seemed to enjoy viewing the reactions even more than she did and that was no more evident than when he had changed the chair he had been given with a wave of his hand on their first night in Westeros.
I'm sure that soon enough people will become used to seeing and hearing about it, Ginny thought to herself.
In the meantime, she left her horse to be cared for by her guards and made her way over to where the other three royals were standing.
"This will be your first trip to Dorne your grace?" Oberyn Martell asked, his eyes raking over her form in a completely inappropriate but at the same time telling manner.
He's going to require some careful handling, Ginny thought to herself. However he seems entirely devoted to his sister and that is a point in his favor. He might prove to be a good friend…in time.
"Yes," she said. "But my father has told me so much about it on his trips here before he claimed the throne of Essos that I am all the more eager to see it."
"We were fortunate to have King Sirius with us more than once before he was a king," Elia said casting her brother an odd look to which the prince smirked even more wickedly. "He did seem to enjoy it."
What the bloody hell does that mean? Ginny thought to herself.
Sirius always had a lazy smile on his face whenever he talked about Dorne and how much he had enjoyed himself there and Ginny had always assumed that that was because the women were more talented than any other place that he had visited in Westeros.
She was not blind to the fact that Sirius had had a past even before he had fallen through the Veil and had been at school. Remus had often rolled his eyes when talking about it and Ginny had never asked though from seeing all the pictures of what a looker a younger Sirius Black was, it wasn't hard to guess that he had had his pick of the females in the school.
The red head wasn't sure to be amused at how in character that was, or offended on behalf of the people whose hearts he had broken.
In the end she decided it wasn't worth worrying about.
Instead of letting all of her thoughts be known and having an odd feeling that Oberyn was simply trying to get a rise out of her, Ginny decided she wasn't going to come to the bait and simply gave the prince a lazy smile.
"He did tell me that it was unlike any other place he had visited and it was his favorite place to trade whenever he did come to Westeros, perhaps when I come to Sunspear I will see why."
Oberyn's eyes darkened with an unknown emotion although Ginny had a feeling that she knew what it was. She almost felt sorry for Rhaegar who was looking back and forth between them as if they were discussing a joke unknown to him.
His violet eyes focused on her blue ones and he raised a pale brow to which she gave him a gentle smile.
Thankfully, Elia changed the subject. "How is your father your grace? We were sorry that we were not able to come for your joint stay in King's Landing."
"I'm sure he will appreciate that," Ginny said easily as the four of them stood apart from the rest of their party. "He does like to make an impression my father."
Rhaegar chuckled to himself prompting Ginny to glance at him. "King Sirius does seem to have a flair for the theatrical."
I wonder how he would react if he were to meet Professors Snape or Dumbledore?
"He does," Ginny supplied. "But I like to think that a good deal of it calmed down when he met and married my mother. She helps temper him I think."
"And what man doesn't need that?" Elia asked giving her brother a pointed look that said he might benefit from the same thing. "After all when the men require some guidance, we are always there to provide it."
Ginny chuckled to herself and caught Rhaegar's eye, who was giving her an almost heated look. "That we do."
The prince's eyes darkened and Ginny unconsciously shivered.
Elia continued to talk, but the red head was no longer paying attention…her mind having shifted to other things.
It wouldn't be long before there was only one thing on her mind however and it would have nothing to do with the new friends she had made and the atmosphere around them.
Ω
Rhaegar was having a hard time sleeping.
He didn't think it had anything to do with the fact that he was sleeping on hard ground as they had done that more than once throughout the last week since he and Ginevra had left the capital.
And speaking of the princess…
He sighed and sat up from his bed roll running a hand through his hair which was already mused beyond belief.
It was useless…sleep was proving far too elusive and even after his fantastic ride on Septimus earlier in the day he still did not feel tired.
Perhaps that was going to be the feeling he always had when he was around her…never ending exuberance.
I can't say that a feeling like the one she brought out in me this morning would be a bad thing to have, the crown prince thought to himself rubbing the side of his face wryly.
With one simple act Ginevra had made him feel more alive than he had felt in a long time of living in the capital.
Septimus was truly a remarkable creature but it wasn't just him that Rhaegar was having a difficult time putting into words.
He was very touched that Ginny had chosen to share such a personal experience with him. He had a feeling that he was the first person that she had ridden her dragon with and that was a profound indescribable experience for him.
He hadn't had words to express his gratefulness to her for such a mind boggling experience other than thank you which seemed entirely inadequate. But he had been able to tell from the soft look in her eyes that she had understood.
What they had shared was very personal and intimate and something that no one else would be able to replicate.
Rhaegar had a feeling that he wouldn't be able to replicate what he was building with the gryphon princess with any other woman.
And that part that was somewhat worrying was that he wasn't sure he would want to.
The prince sighed again and crawled out from his tent, pushing the flap aside and putting his shoes on.
Immediately, Ser Arthur who was standing outside the tent jumped to attention. "Are you well your grace?"
Rhaegar chuckled at his friend's attentiveness. "Fine Arthur, I just needed some air."
He glanced around at the makeshift campsite that had been erected and chuckled some more. He was a little surprised the Martells had brought tents of their own as opposed to staying in inns but their four tents were erected in a circle with his next to Ginny's, Elia's next to hers and Oberyn's on the other side of his.
The prince's eyes landed on the red head's tent and he sighed again before striding off to the edge of the cliff so he might look out at the water and the moonlight beyond.
They hadn't strayed away from the cliff throughout their travels during the afternoon when the Martells had come upon them and Rhaegar was glad for it.
He had always liked the ocean and the fact that the consistency of the waves crashing on the sand gave him ample chance to think. His mind was still whirling from the events that had happened that morning and he knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep until he had processed them all.
Now with the moonlight on the water and the silence of the horses only a few feet away on the cliff face as well as the complete silence in the air barring the faint sound of the waves from farther down the cliff the prince took a breath.
Arthur came and stood next to him on the edge of the cliff as the two looked down on the dark waves below and the moon that was like a silver coin high in the sky.
There were no stars in the sky but somehow that didn't diminish the beauty of the night in any way. In fact in some ways it seemed to enhance it. The wind was gentle and the breeze refreshingly cool that it took the heat off the prince's skin from being wrapped in blankets inside of his tent.
He had a feeling far out to sea, a dragon was flying through the air and he smiled slightly at the thought, remembering the incredible few hours he had had with Ginny on Septimus. Then he grimaced, knowing it was a luxury that he would not have as often after he assumed the throne.
And then he had a troubling thought.
Suppose Ginevra is not by my side while I do it?
"You seem troubled your grace?" Ser Arthur observed. "Are you well?"
The prince sighed and ran a hand through his hair that was already mused from sleep. "When did I become that easy to read Arthur?"
The knight chuckled. "I speak from experience your grace. All these long years I have served you could not have come without me knowing a few things about your personality."
"So it is," the prince said chuckling. "I am not troubled, merely…considering a few things."
Arthur nodded and remained silent, obviously waiting to see if Rhaegar would air his troubles without the asking of questions.
A few minutes later the blonde obliged. "I can't help but think that what I experienced this morning was merely a taste of what I could have with princess Ginevra if we do wed."
"If your grace?" the knight asked.
"Yes…if," the prince muttered. "The one word that has the power to tip the scales, end or start wars and upset whole kingdoms. It is a word that presents endless possibilities and a great deal of heartache…and it is only two letters."
"Are you considering what might happen at the end of your time with the princess?" Arthur asked in his abrupt manner, tone lowering exponentially even though it had already been barely a whisper to prevent anyone from hearing them.
"Indeed," Rhaegar said sighing. "Perhaps it is only my own insecurities coming through but I cannot help but wonder what I might do and who I might wed if at the end of this six months she decides to return to Mereen for good."
"But you do not think she will do you?"
"I don't know what to think at this juncture Arthur," Rhaegar replied. "I feel like the two of us have reached a critical point where I am just as lost about what is in her heart as I am about what is in the depths of the ocean."
"If you'll pardon the expression your grace," the Dornish knight said, "my sister did tell me once that a woman's heart is an endless sea of secrets. It is true for all women."
"I know that was meant to be encouraging Arthur," the prince replied. "But right now I am feeling more confused than encouraged."
"Confused about what your grace?"
"I wish," the prince said and then paused. "I wish there was some way of knowing without asking what she intends to do."
"Is there a possibility that she might not know yet herself your grace?" Arthur asked.
"That is more than a possibility Arthur," Rhaegar replied with a wry smile. "And that is what makes me a little anxious."
"Anxious?"
"Aye," the blonde said. "Suppose…Suppose at the end of this six months she does decide to return to Mereen?"
"That is a possibility," the Dornish knight supplied.
"But I am beginning to realize that I do not want it to be," the prince said and then took a deep breath. It felt good to admit that out loud.
The ghost of a smile crossed the knight's face. "You wish for her to stay?"
"I do," the prince said and there was not a doubt in his mind. "I feel secure in saying she is unlike any woman I have ever met and I very much doubt there is any female in Westeros who could match her."
"In what way your grace?"
"In every way Arthur. In personality, in charisma, in political skill, but most importantly in inner beauty and compassion. She has the same nurturing caring spirit that my mother does and I have not met a single woman out of the ladies who come to court who possesses that. They are all obsessed with power and I am simply their means to get there."
The knight nodded but said nothing.
There had been times in the past when he had confided in the knight something and his friend had simply said nothing at all. But Rhaegar knew it was just Arthur's way of processing everything.
"Have you simply tried asking her?" he asked and Rhaegar wanted to roll his eyes at the blatantly obvious question.
"I thought we had already decided that she might not yet know herself," he quipped before sighing again and running a hand through his hair once more. "But what I know is that I don't…I don't think I would be quite the same if she left. I feel that she has made an impression on me that is not going to be dulled with time."
Arthur wanted to smirk but he wisely controlled himself and simply looked at the ground, not saying anything.
Rhaegar was stating what he had seen all along in the last several weeks since the princess had come to King's Landing.
She had had his attention right away with her stunning looks and then kept it right away with her ability to be both coy and honest at the same time. The attention grew to something more with his seeing her care for the children of King's Landing his own brother included and then had turned to admiration and fondness as he saw her in her role as a princess and her agreement to come on this trip with him. This ride upon her dragon had only cemented his view of her as a woman and Arthur had a feeling that the prince was in deeper than he realized.
This could either end very well or very badly, he thought to himself wishing all the best for his friend. I wonder if the princess realizes the power she has in this moment.
Arthur had had a strange feeling ever since the prince had laid eyes on Ginevra that this would be one woman who would take hold of his heart and not let go.
Their eyes in the throne room seemed to have been drawn together like magnets and since then they had hardly looked away.
One of the things that had stuck out to Ser Arthur about the visiting princess was that she seemed to burn with a light far brighter than he had ever seen. She was consumed with a driving passion to be someone different than any other stereotypical woman of court…perhaps someone better.
Rhaegar was strangely enough on the same wavelength. He was considering all he had done and learned since Ginevra had come to court and was both surprised and delighted to acknowledge that he had enjoyed himself far more than he thought he would when he had heard of the arrangement of this marriage. Septimus and the incredible feeling the dragon had given him aside, Ginny had showed him a side of his kingdom that he had not thought of before.
Rhaegar had known that there were needs in the city which was why he had often made it a habit to go out into the streets and play his harp to see what money he could make. Sometimes he gave his earnings to a beggar or to those in need even an orphanage or two.
But he had never gone inside of one to see how those children lived. He had never sat down with them and taken them on his lap and talked to them or listened to them before.
He had never looked into their eyes and saw their whole life reflected in those shining orbs. He had never seen their hopes and dreams and what they hoped to accomplish.
He remembered the bright little eyes of Alys and smiled to himself right before grimacing at his own ignorance.
Ginny had demonstrated to him that it wasn't enough to simply give them money, knowing the children and investing in them as well was worthwhile.
He had felt…fresh after she had taken him that one afternoon to the orphanage and he had seen the innocence of the littlest members of the Seven Kingdoms.
Such innocence, he thought to himself. And no one notices. Why is that? It shouldn't be like that.
The truth was, he was beginning to realize that he didn't want it to be like that. Those children would be a part of his kingdom one day and he was responsible for not only vast land holdings, lord, politics of the different areas of the realm but also for the souls in his kingdom. He was going to be a leader whether he wanted to be one or not and people would be looking to him to see what it was that he would do.
I wish to be different, he thought to himself. I don't want to be like my father and part of me feels as if Ginevra has shown me a different way to do it.
He didn't want to her to leave with their still being so much to be done. The prince was beginning to realize that he wanted her to be his wife, he wanted her to help him rule a kingdom, raise children with her and begin the construction of a dynasty that was built on principles far better than the ones his father believed in.
Rhaegar had a dream…and he wanted Ginevra to be a part of it.
"Perhaps the princess deserves to know some of what you are feeling your grace," Ser Arthur ventured and the prince nodded.
"Perhaps," the blonde said. "But…But something is telling me not yet."
"No?"
"No. Something…Something needs to happen first but I don't know what it is yet. But I suppose I'll know when it does come."
Arthur didn't know what to say to that so he wisely kept silent and let Rhaegar stew in his thoughts.
He would voice them before long.
Ω
Three weeks later…
Merlin this has been a lot of traveling, Ginny thought to herself.
They had passed over what seemed like miles of desert passing over oasis after oasis and camping in some for the night so that they might rest.
Ginny began to realize why it had been so difficult for the Targaryens to conquer Dorne despite their dragons and armies. No matter how big both grew and how vast, there was always one enemy that they would not be able to overcome…the heat.
An army travelled on its stomach and Ginny knew that the lack of water in Dorne would have presented a challenge for invading. The lack of water throughout the country and the fact that Sunspear was located at the southern tip of the country would have had heavy detriments when the dragons came to try and conquer it.
She was secretly a little impressed that the Dornish had managed to resist the dragon invaders for as long as they had.
It was only through marriage that the Dornish had fully submitted to the Targaryen rule. They and the North had not had to fight but had submitted of their own free will which was also impressive.
I believe I will have to see the northern half of this kingdom before all is said and done, the red head thought to herself.
But that could wait as the ancestral city of the Rhyonar came into view.
Shining in the midday sun with the azure sky high above and the faint outline of the moon in the sky not far away and the sand all around along with the high sloping dunes,
Ginny felt as if she were seeing Egypt again like she had seen it the summer before she had gone to Hogwarts with her family.
A feeling of nostalgia rose up in her chest and she swallowed it down quickly allowing her eyes to take in the city.
Sunspear was a walled settlement surrounded by three massive winding walls encircling one another.
Elia must have seen the surprised look on Ginny's face for she smiled. "Most have that expression when they see Sunspear for the first time your grace. Do you see the three walls?"
The red head nodded.
"The walls encircle one another and contain miles upon miles of narrow alleys, hidden courts and bazaars. I'm certain there are places that even I haven't seen. The Threefold Gate is where the gates are lined up one behind the other and allows you to bypass the labyrinth of all of these passages and instead allows a straight path on the brick walk to the Old Palace."
"I'm looking forward to seeing it," Ginny said and turned to see that her potential betrothed bore a similar expression on his face. She had a feeling he had never been this far south to see Sunspear either.
"Do you see the towers?" Oberyn asked taking up the telling and pointing into the distance. Both Ginny and Rhaegar nodded.
In particular, the red head noted the odd differences between two of the towers surrounding the palace that seemed to rise like a hovel above the city.
"There is the tall and slender Spear Tower," Oberyn said with a touch of pride in his voice. "And the great domed Tower of the Sun, the two sigils of House Nymeros Martell. The Spear Tower is one hundred and half feet high and houses noble prisoners. However it is not occupied for the moment."
He said these last words with the direction towards Ginny but the red head did nothing but smirk.
"If you are trying to scare me Prince Oberyn then I fear I will have to disappoint you. I have seen far more abhorrent dwellings where political prisoners are held than a tower."
The prince grinned at her over his horse causing Prince Rhaegar to bristle. "I am merely testing your mettle your grace."
"Hmm."
"And in the Tower of the Sun there is the high seats of the Prince of Dorne," Elia broke in, sending her brother a glare and obviously trying to break up the tension. "One has the Martell spear inlaid in gold upon its back and the other bears the blazing Rhoynish sun."
I look forward to seeing them, Ginny thought to herself.
She was liking Dorne more and more the more she saw of it. She had always loved Egypt when she went to visit it with her family but now this place reminded her of a strange yet all too familiar version of it.
She suddenly missed Sirius.
"Come then," Prince Oberyn said. "There is far more to see than simply the three walls and the two towers."
He spurred his horse onward and Ginny, the prince and the rest of their guard along with the Martell soldiers trailing behind him.
This trip to Westeros certainly has turned into a cultural event, Ginny thought to herself in amusement. But I can't say that I dislike it.
She patted the neck of Gavreel who snorted as they rode over the sand towards the towering city that rose over the golden dunes like some great and ancient giant waiting to meet them.
Ginny cast a glance at Rhaegar who was looking grim as they rode toward the gates and frowned. "What is it?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. This trip is simply being extended far longer than I had anticipated and I am worrying about the time…that is all."
Ginny chuckled to herself. "There is nothing to worry about, your mother is protected and there is no harm your father can do to her."
"I know," the prince replied but he still looked worried.
For his sake, Ginny decided that she would be a little more sensitives.
"Would it make you feel better if after we have stayed out the week here that I use my magic to take us back to King's Landing? I can do that in the blink of an eye and it will not take three weeks to get there."
The look of relief on the prince's face was almost palpable but he controlled himself after a second so Ginny doubted anyone had seen it. "Could you?"
"Of course," she said gently.
He then did something unexpected.
The two of them were riding quite close as they approached the gates and closer to the rear of the Martell guard so Prince Oberyn and Princess Elia could ride ahead. In the span of the time they had alone he leaned over quite quickly atop his horse and kissed her very briefly on the cheek. "Thank you."
Ginny froze in the saddle for a moment before she was embarrassed to feel a slight blush coming over her cheeks at the rather unexpected gesture.
She could tell from the prince's low chuckle that he had noticed it as well and she fixed him with a mock glare. "What was that for? Are you trying to charm me my dear prince?"
"Perhaps," he said with a slight smirk. "Is it working?"
Before Ginny had time to reply, they passed through the first set of gates into the city and the noise assaulted her in all of this shouting bright shiny glory.
The smell of cooking meat, and exotic spices as well as fresh fruits assaulted her from the marketplace and she looked around with a smile.
The space between the first wall and the second was several thousand feet wide and long and almost chalk full of people in a marketplace fashion. There was a sea of brightly colored tents where people milled beneath them and purchased wares. Ginny couldn't even see the curve of the space as the city itself was enormous.
She could see houses dotted between the tents as well and the low rumble of hundreds of people brought back a feeling of nostalgia to her.
This place reminds me somewhat of Diagon Alley, the red head thought to herself. It seems to have the same amount of organized chaos and discombobulation.
"What is it?" Prince Rhaegar asked, noting the look on her face as she reined her horse in for a moment.
"Nothing," the red head replied. "Just feeling somewhat nostalgic I suppose. In some ways it reminds me of Mereen."
"Is the marketplace there the same size?" Rhaegar asked.
"Bigger," Ginny chuckled. "The markets in Mereen are so large it seems they go from one end of the city to the other and the sounds of shouting, merchants selling wares, the exotic scent of spices and flashes of strange and beautiful clothes go as far as the eye can see…much like here."
"I look forward to seeing it," the prince said quietly.
They rode through the second gate and towards the palace of Sunspear that was located at the heart of the city and the sweltering heat struck Ginny.
She was used to it living in Mereen and all and in fact it was a welcome change from the coolness of King's Landing.
The royals and the Martells carried on through the streets and through the second gates until they reached the palace of the Sandship.
The palace itself was somewhat low to the ground but it was domed and Ginny thought that some of those domes that rested atop the place were made of ancient gold brought long ago by the Rhoynar from over the sea. The palace itself was all white with golden tops and rather impressive in its looks.
Interesting, she thought to herself as the gates to the place were opened and the royal party along with the Martells were allowed in. A long wide cobble stoned path led up to the main gate where guards in Dornish armor were situated carrying long vicious looking spears.
Oberyn fairly leapt from his horse the moment they were inside the wrought iron gates and cast a lazy smirk back towards Ginny and Rhaegar. "Come your graces. My brother has no doubt heard of our arrival by now and wishes to greet you in person."
He helped his sister down from her horse and Rhaegar dismounted quickly to do the same for Ginny, but she had already gotten down from Gavriel at her own swift pace.
Already attendants bearing the gold and bronze colors of House Martell stepped forward to attend to their horses, all of them bowing low before the prince and Ginny.
"Come your graces," Elia called. "My brother is waiting."
Both the dragon and the gryphon exchanged glances before following the two sun siblings into the sandship palace located between the Spear tower and the Sun tower.
I believe this will be my first lesson in diplomacy with a noble of Westeros who is not a king, Ginny thought to herself. I think I'm looking forward to it.
The Martell siblings led the two royals into the long low domed palace that was decorated in themed white marble and bronze and golden sandstone.
Ginny was rather impressed with the age but also the upkeep of the place. The creed followed behind them at a pace and Oberyn led them into a long low room with two thrones atop a dais at the other end.
The red head knew right away that one was the throne of the spear and the other throne of the sun.
However she was more interested in the person sitting upon one of the thrones than the thrones themselves.
She saw the striking resemblance right away to both Elia and Oberyn, in the eyes of this man especially. But it was also obvious that he was a good deal older than them, perhaps ten years at least.
There was a weathered look in his face that could only have been stress from the running of a large territory such as Dorne. However his dark eyes gleamed with an intelligence that Ginny had only ever seen in the eyes of Sirius and Tywin Lannister.
She was instantly on her guard.
Sirius had told her that though many Dornish led a liberal lifestyle, they were some of the shrewdest bastards in the Seven Kingdoms and were not to be underestimated.
And prince Doran seemed to have a patent on that exact thing.
"Prince Rhaegar," the man said calmly, his voice low and calm like the tide coming in at night. "Princess Ginevra. What a pleasure to have you in Sunspear."
Rhaegar seemed to take the lead then. "Thank you Prince Doran and thank you for your hospitality. We had not intended to travel this far south but found your invitation to be impossible to refuse."
Ginny smirked slightly to herself but wiped it from her face when the prince smiled graciously at Rhaegar and then turned to her.
"And Princess Ginevra, what a pleasure to have a foreign monarch with us. I had feared that you would spend all of your time in King's Landing and not see any of the lands outside of it."
Ginny eyed Doran carefully before returning his gracious smile. "Of course not my lord. It is my desire to see all of the Seven Kingdoms."
"And now you have seen the first and the best of them," Doran said with something of an imperious manner but it was obvious to Ginny that he was very proud of his home, a notion that made the red head smile.
"Indeed," she said. "And I am told by my father that this is the best of the Seven Kingdoms when he was a simple merchant. I am curious to see why."
She didn't miss the almost predatory grin on Prince Oberyn's face and wondered at it for a moment before Doran spoke again.
"I hope your curiosity is soon satisfied your grace," he said. "And when you do meet King Sirius again, do give him the regards of House Martell. It is our wish that good relations between our houses continue."
"Of course," Ginny said graciously. "I know that is my father's wish as well. I am sure he will make it a priority to visit Dorne again, especially when matters of state are not so pressing."
"Indeed," Doran replied. "Sunspear and the Water Gardens are open to you upon your stay your graces. A servant will show you to your chambers."
"Thank you my lord," Prince Rhaegar said.
He had been looking increasingly uncomfortable with the way the exchange was going and for the life of her, Ginny didn't understand why.
As soon as they had left the room accompanied by their guard, the red head turned to the dragon. "Are you alright? You looked almost pained while you were in there."
Rhaegar chuckled and it seemed almost dark before he shifted his eyes to the right and to the left. Ginny responded immediately by throwing up some silencing charms and muttering the word, muffliato under her breath to ensure that they would not be overheard.
"I have an…understanding with Prince Doran," he explained calmly and Ginny looked at him warily. "And understanding?"
"Aye, just as there is a sort of understanding with Tywin Lannister. Both Martell and Lannister have daughters of marrying age and I knew from exchanging words with Lord Varys months ago before this marriage was proposed with House Gryffindor that both houses were keen to see their sisters' and daughters with crowns on their heads."
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "I knew of Tywin Lannister's daughter to see his daughter a queen, but not of the Martells."
"That is because their ambition was much more subtle and covert than those of the lions. The ruling princess of Dorne, the mother of princes Doran and Oberyn and Princess
Elia was once a good friend of my mother's. They always made jests about a marriage between Elia and myself and there were a few times when Elia came to the capital. I knew her well and called her friend for a time."
Ginny nodded calmly and wondered carefully to herself whether or not the calm courteous princess that she had seen was really a carefully crafted ruse.
"After the ruling princess died however and her eldest son took the throne of Dorne, all suggestions of a marriage proposal were halted. And since my father has turned down both houses in favor of a match with House Gryffindor, relations between the dragons, lions and suns have been somewhat…strained. Of course my father does not see it this way."
"I see," Ginny said. "You do not think the prince to be one who seeks retribution do you?"
The prince was quick to shake his head. "Of course not. Doran Martell however is a man who is cunning, as cunning as Tywin Lannister and much more subtle about it as well.
Though the Martells cannot count themselves as a Hand of the King, power is ultimately what they seek. And they are not wrong for doing so. Power is what every one of the great houses seeks."
Ginny mused for a moment. "So do you think the princess was being dishonest in her kindness to me? I would like to know if someone I wish to call a friend is two faced."
"No," Rhaegar said. "Elia Martell is many things but vindictive is not one of them. No formal agreements were made or contracts drawn up between my father and her brother so there is nothing to be vindictive about."
"Well good," Ginny replied. "I would hate to be cautious around everyone I may grow to have a friendship with."
"And it would be good if you did," Rhaegar replied as they stopped outside the doors of their rooms. "I would much prefer for you to have Elia Martell for a friend than I would Cersei Lannister."
Ginny laughed. "I believe that makes two of us."
Ω
A few hours later, the red head found herself walking through the Water Gardens with the princess that Rhaegar had called a friend earlier in his life. She kept the prince's words in mind but at the same time decided to make her own judgements on the Martell girl, whether she would be a genuine friend or a silent enemy.
Ginny certainly hoped that it was the former.
"What do you think of Westeros so far?" said princess asked and Ginny blinked before tuning back into the conversation.
"It's very different from Essos," she explained. "While there are power politics and noble families, none of them have sworn banners and vassals like Westeros does. Essos is very much a place where you rise and fall on your own merit. That makes it simplistic enough to unite under one banner, but expansive enough that you can have a good deal of troops under your command. The Second Sons have been disbanded and Braavos now is where the royal Gryffindor fleet is housed. The slave trade has been abolished and schools are now in the process of being built in every major city along the coast, something my mother is heavily involved in. After all, an educated society is an advanced society."
"You won't find that sort of thinking here," Elia said. "In Westeros, hierarchies are how the people in power keep control. If the common folk had access to books and schools and reading materials they might think that this could become a society of equals…and that is the sort of thinking to them at least, that can breed rebellion."
"Do you agree with that sentiment?" Ginny asked.
Elia paused as they passed a particularly elaborate fountain and ran her hand over the surface of the water.
"I think it's a matter of perspective," she said finally. "Dorne is the most liberal of the Seven Kingdoms and as it stands, my niece Arianne who was just born stands to inherit this kingdom when she comes of age. We have no problem with a female in power as that is how the Rhoynar have operated since Nymeria came to these lands. It has always been the eldest child, not the oldest son. But we are the only majority that thinks this way. All the lands north of Dorne are steeped in the ancient tradition of the males inheriting everything."
"Unfortunate isn't it?" Ginny muttered and Elia chuckled.
"In this country you have wardens and their sworn vassals. That is the problem when you have a country that was once seven kingdoms becoming one. Everyone gas ab agenda and everyone wants power. That is what you are in for if you become the queen of this land."
"Don't I know it," Ginny muttered causing Elia to snort in agreement.
"Politics are one thing," the red head explained to her new friend. "But the people of Essos follow my father because he is someone they trust to make the right decisions. King
Sirius is not interested in lessening the education of the weak in favor of the nobility who do not have as much power there as they do here. Places like Myr were not as receptive to the changes but after my father and I demonstrated the benefits of an educated society and how it improved the quality of labour and the advancement made, they thawed out a bit."
"What is an example of the changes you and King Sirius plan to make?" Elia asked.
Ginny paused for a moment, wondering how much she should tell the Dornish girl but then decided that the knowledge of an educated society all over the world wouldn't be a bad thing.
"My father and I are currently in production of a machine known as the printing press," she said and watched Elia frown at the unfamiliar words. "Instead of having a maester or a scribe copy a new manuscript which can take months, the machine my father and I would like to see built would cut the time in half. More books would be printed per year than before and it is both of our wish that those books be distributed to the schools the queen is seeing built."
Elia blinked at the knowledge of what such a machine was capable of. "You would be able to do that?"
"We intend to try."
"You certainly don't do things by half measures do you?" Elia asked with one eyebrow raised.
"That's not really my style," Ginny explained. "An educated society is an advanced one and the edifying the next generation is what promotes a culture that doesn't turn to slavery and prostitution and war as a means of entertainment or coin."
Elia looked at her for a long moment. "Is that what you would want to do here? Because the process of bringing about change to Westeros would be far different than it would to the east. The elements that would make it easy to conquer that country is exactly what it would make it difficult here. You will meet leaders that aren't receptive to this change. Tywin Lannister is one of them. My mother often told me that he was a strong son born to a weak man and that Tytos Lannister nearly succeeded in destroying the Lannister name and fortune before his son built it back up. He is a man for whom power is everything and poverty is nothing. The people of the west fear and respect Casterly Rock because he rules with a rod of iron and crushes those underfoot. But he is not a man that is loved. He will protect his people but not out of love for them, out of a desire to not be seen as weak. That's not what the realm needs."
"And what do you think the realm needs?" Ginny asked.
Elia sighed. "Both of my brothers have told me that I have a tendency to be too soft hearted. They are not like Tywin Lannister in his fondness for power either because I know Doran cares for his people. But power politics are everything in this country and Dorne is only a small territory compared to the rest of Westeros. The realm doesn't need a Tywin Lannister in charge but neither do they need a weak minded fool like Mace Tyrell. I take it you haven't met the Lord of the Reach."
"Not yet."
"You will," Elia laughed. "And when you do, you will see exactly what I mean. The man is obsessed with furthering the Tyrell name and though it is easy to say that his formidable mother runs the Reach behind his back, the man has just enough power to do some damage. He is also a terrible snob and is very easy to control. Someone like that is dangerous in power."
"More dangerous than Aerys?"
"I concede your point," Elia said lowering her tone. "But the fact of the matter is that this realm is going to be far more difficult to change than Essos. The Seven Kingdoms need someone stronger than Mace Tyrell, but gentler than Tywin Lannister. Someone who can command respect from the nobles and love from the people. Even though you have not accepted the prince's proposal of marriage yet, is that something you are prepared to deal with?"
"I've never been one to shy away from a challenge," Ginny replied suddenly remembering the struggle she had had to go through to prove to the Gryffindor Quidditch team that she was Chaser material. Having to live up to the example sent by Angelina Johnson was difficult as she found herself being constantly compared to her.
Granted ruling a country was far different but the same principle of not giving up still applied.
And she knew what it meant not to give up.
It had taken Ginny two years to dig herself out of the depression and guilt she felt for living when her family and friends had died. She knew what it meant to make something of herself and how to be strong.
It would take more than threats and intimidating from a few pompous and self entitled lords who had never known poverty to stop her.
"I think I'm up to it," she said causing Elia to smile.
"Good, you'll need that sort of attitude with a good father like Aerys."
"I haven't even said yes to the proposal yet," Ginny replied raising her eyebrow at the other princess.
"I know," her new friend said. "But you will."
Ginny opened her mouth to reply when all of a sudden, there was a rustling in the bushes and three forms came barreling through the underbrush.
The smallest of them threw herself at Elia and wrapped her arms as high as she could reached around her legs.
"Aunt Elia!" she cried. "Papa said you were back but we couldn't find you."
"I haven't left the Water Gardens Tyene," the Dornish princess replied with a smile. "I've been with Princess Ginevra the whole time."
It was then that Ginny got a good look at the little girl who was now holding on to Elia for dear life. She appeared to be no older than three and had short bouncy curls all over her head. Her eyes looked suspiciously familiar and she was dressed in a plain brown tunic with a small delicate gold chain about her throat.
There were two little girls behind her, all of whom looked a little older and were dressed in varying shades of beige and bronze. Their hair was done in a different style as well. One of them had her hair pulled back into a tight bun and had fierce dark eyes that were staring at Ginny warily. The other had left her hair long with two long braids on either side of her head.
What they had in common however was that they both seemed to be a bit more cautious than their smaller companion.
Elia had no such qualms however and she hoisted the little girl into her arms without a thought before turning to Ginny. "Your grace, may I introduce my nieces Tyene, Obara and Nymeria Sand? They are Prince Oberyn's daughters. Tyene, Obara, Nymeria, this is Princess Ginevra Gryffindor."
The little girl who had previously borne a smile as bright as the noon day sun suddenly went slack jawed upon seeing Ginny.
"You're the princess with magic from across the sea?" she asked.
Ginny raised an eyebrow at Elia who merely shrugged. "Word of your reputation precedes you your grace."
"I see," Ginny said before turning back to Tyene. "I am."
"And can you really do magic?" the girl called Obara asked looking at Ginny carefully before her sister next to her elbowed her in the ribs.
"Obara don't be rude," Elia chastised her niece.
"She wasn't being rude," Ginny said. "She was just curious."
She turned back to the child and then surprised Elia and both of them by kneeling down in front of the girls. "I can. Would you like to see?"
Nymeria's eyes widened slightly and Obara's expression didn't change but Ginny could tell she was curious. When they both nodded, Ginny smiled.
"Look over there," she said gesturing to a bench further off down the path. On either side of it was a gilded pot with handles on either side of the neck. "Do you see that pot?"
Both girls nodded.
"Keep your eyes on it carefully," Ginny said and deliberately raised her hand slowly in the air.
Tyene who had been watching the whole thing from the arms of Elia gave a dramatic gasp as the pot rose into the air about five feet before Ginny slowly lowered it once more to the ground again.
Obara who had been looking back and forth between both Ginny's hand on the pot blinked several times in surprise.
"Wow," Tyene breathed causing Ginny to chuckle.
"What else can you do?" Nymeria asked causing the red head's grin to widen. "Watch my hand closely this time."
When both Nymeria and Obara had focused on her hand, Ginny whispered the word: "Lumos."
Instantly a light appeared in the center of her palm causing the eyes of both girls to widen.
"Well you two?" Elia asked, amusement plain in her tone. "Are you satisfied now?"
"Yes Aunt Elia," Nymeria said.
"Mama said that only the red priests and priestesses across the sea have magic," Tyene piped up and Ginny frowned.
"That is a lie Tyene. Most of their tricks are illusions or the result of magic they have stolen stored in talismans that they keep on their persons."
"They steal magic?" Obara asked.
"Yes," Ginny replied. "When Valyria fell many of its sorcerers like my ancestors and secrets were lost. However like the Targaryens, my family escaped. But we weren't the only ones. Those sorcerers who were lesser dragon lords managed to escape and some were captured and killed by the red priests for their magic. It is why there are so few magic users in Essos. The red priests and priestesses somehow managed to take their magic and transfer it to inanimate objects that they could wear in order to use whenever they wanted."
"You know an awful lot about the religion of R'hllor," Elia said.
Ginny sighed. "Yes well, that's what happens when Asshai is part of our empire and the priests of this insane religion view my father as Azor Ahai or the promised prince."
Elia's face cleared in surprise. "They do?"
"Yes, but this fanaticism has got to come to an end before it becomes even more ridiculous and we have hordes of red priests showing up in Mereen to swear some sort of fealty to my father."
"Yes I can see how that would be annoying."
"Anyway," Ginny went on looking down at Obara and Nymeria. "What do you girls do for fun around here?"
Nymeria and Obara exchanged glances. "Well…sometimes when it gets too hot we go in the water and swim. We were on our way to do that when we saw Aunt Elia."
"That sounds like fun," Ginny said. "I've been traveling for weeks and I love to swim. I do it all the time in Mereen."
"Well then why don't we go down to the shore?" Elia suggested. "I don't know about you your grace but I have had enough of politics and an afternoon of fun is just what I need."
Tyene gave a squeal of joy and Ginny smiled at the sound. "Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
She held out her hand to Nymeria who looked at it warily for a second before smiling slightly and taking it.
As the five females hurried off however, they were unaware of the fact that they were being observed from the balcony overlooking the Water Gardens.
Ω
Rhaegar was keeping a careful eye on his betrothed as she hurried off with Princess Elia and her bastard nieces. Well...she wasn't his betrothed yet but that was something to think on later.
At the moment he was sitting on the terrace overlooking the Water Gardens with Prince Doran and Prince Oberyn on either side of him sipping from glasses of wine. The terrace was being guarded by the captain of Doran's guards Areo Hotah and Ser Arthur and Rhaegar was glad for the extra measure of security as what they were discussing was of a delicate nature.
"Princess Ginevra has a gentle disposition your grace," Doran observed and Rhaegar snorted before bringing the glass of wine to his lips. "When she wants to Doran…when she wants to. I have a feeling I am going to have my hands full with her."
"Are you not scheduled to visit her home of Mereen in a moon's turn?" the prince asked.
"Aye," Rhaegar replied. "And I find I am looking forward to it. It will be nice to get out of King's Landing for a while."
"And your plans?" Doran asked lowering his tone.
"Are still intact," Rhaegar said speaking barely above a whisper so that their voices did not carry. "I still fully intend to see them through, its just that with news of this impending betrothal things have hit a bit of a snag."
Doran's eyes narrowed. "Could you explain that your grace?"
Rhaegar sighed. "My father's insistence that I wed so that I may produce an heir to the throne has brought to light several things."
"Which are?"
"The Targaryen line is hanging on by a thread," Rhaegar explained as he stared out over the Water Gardens. "Currently it is just my father myself and Viserys. Now my mother is expecting again but I have no way of knowing whether or not this child will be a boy or a girl and I have no intention of carrying on my father's…traditions."
Strangely enough Doran who had a face that was a difficult to read as Tywin Lannister's looked somewhat pleased. "And so what is the problem."
"As much as I do not share my father's obsession for carrying on our line through incestuous means, having as many offspring to strengthen our lines is important. If Princess
Ginevra does not agree to this proposal of marriage than I am back to square one. I wish to know that our line is secure enough before I…eliminate one part of it."
They had been speaking so softly they were barely moving their lips and in the back of his mind, the prince was convinced that they must have looked like total fools but for the moment he did not care.
"May I be candid your grace?" Doran asked.
"Please."
"Is it the…fertility…of the princess that you are worried about? I merely ask because a woman's ability to carry a child is an important facet when conducting a marriage alliance.
Unfortunately it is the only thing you will be able to learn of after the bedding ceremony."
Rhaegar sighed. "I have no reason to believe that Ginevra…fertility as it were is lacking but as you said I will not know until after a bedding ceremony. But perhaps I am simply being paranoid."
"And if it turns that that she is in fact…unable to carry a child," Doran said skimming over the words as he seemed to wish to make this as painless as possible, "have you a separate plan."
Rhaegar ran a hand through his hair making it even more unruly than it already was and in the heat of Dorne that was saying something. "At the moment any plans I have are loose ends needing knots to be tied. I suppose I have put all my hopes in this one boat."
"Then let us hope that it succeeds and that the bottom does not fall out from under us," Doran said sipping his wine.
"Indeed."
Rhaegar had been planning to supplant his father for a long time but he also knew that such things were delicate and required time and careful planning. He would also need the right lords around him so that when he was ready to make a move, none of them would leap to the defense of his father, who though while mad was still the king.
Rhaegar's love for the man had long since dwindled when he saw what he was capable of and he had no intention of letting Aerys torture his mother and the realm any longer.
The problem was that their line was so small already and at the moment it was just him and his brother to carry it on.
The prince didn't really want to be the one to end his family line just after he saw that his father answer for his crimes.
But family lines aside, if she agreed to this proposal and he managed to get on the good side of King Sirius thus marrying his daughter, it would ensure that he had far more powerful support that just the nobles of his realm. The support of the Gryffindors would be vital and Rhaegar could imagine the look on his father's face when he realized that the marriage he arranged for his son had led to his downfall.
He quelled those thoughts instantly before they got out of control and took a deep draught from his goblet.
"Have you called upon other nobles in this endeavor your grace?" Doran asked and Rhaegar chuckled.
"If you mean have I spoken to Mace Tyrell and Tywin Lannister the answer is no. But I think you know why."
"The Fat Flower does not seem the type to be one who can keep a secret of this magnitude," Oberyn muttered over the top of his wine glass.
"No, but I would not entrust these plans to the knowledge of Tywin Lannister until I have the necessary resources to move," the prince went on. "This must be handled quickly and quietly. I do not wish to cause civil unrest among the realm by removing my father from the throne and yet it must be done. I had been doing a good deal of reading before the princess's visit. There is a long winter coming."
"Indeed?" Doran asked raising an eyebrow.
"Aye, one that could perhaps last a decade."
This time even Oberyn put down his wine glass with one eyebrow raised. "A decade? Are you certain?"
"I'm not certain of anything at this point," Rhaegar sighed. "But I do know that the Starks are always right in their belief that winter is coming. And winter is coming. If my calculations are correct then it will be a bad one and I have no intention of meeting it with the realm in chaos as a result of my father. Unfortunately until the princess accepts my proposal there is nothing I can do but wait."
"Are you of the mind that she will your grace?" Doran asked.
"I'm not sure at this point," Rhaegar said. "Ginevra is a hard person to read at the best of times and there are instances in which her magic makes her somewhat intimidating for the other nobles. I cannot help but think that if I were to take her as a queen, the small folk would love her and the nobles would fear her. I will admit that notion is in itself amusing."
Doran's gaze turned shrewd. "And is the period for her to make a decision drawing to a close?"
"Not yet," the prince replied. "I am to spend another three moons in Mereen with her family on a mission of international diplomacy between the two kings. Ginevra came here as a sign of good faith and now I am to do the same."
Oberyn then muttered something about being glad he was not a ruler and thus free to do what he wanted causing Doran to scowl at him.
"So for lack of a better expression, our hands are tied for the next three moons."
"Indeed," Rhaegar muttered before raising the glass of wine to his lips and downing the rest of it in one go. "I believe I will go in search of Ginevra. Thank you for your time prince Doran."
"Not at all your grace, should you wish to continue this discussion I will be here."
"Thank you."
Doran watched until the dragon prince had left the terrace and descended into the Water Gardens with Ser Arthur Dayne before his expression turned pensive."
"I recognize that look," Oberyn said suddenly as he drained the rest of his wine. "You are doing it again brother."
"And what am I doing?" Doran asked turning to the youngest prince.
"That is the look you always have when you are scheming," Oberyn said with a smirk and Doran raised an eyebrow.
"I never scheme, I merely muse."
"Indeed and what are you musing about this time?"
Doran swirled the wine in his glass around before taking another sip. "Is it true that you knew Sirius Gryffindor before he ever became a king?"
Oberyn's smirk became even wider. "Indeed. We served in the Second Sons for a time together before he left and became a merchant. He was an…interesting man. His magic of course set him apart from the rest of the blood or money hungry fools that were a part of the company."
"I can imagine that such differences appealed to you," Doran said still looking out over the Water Gardens.
Now Oberyn's grin became almost predatory. "What can I say brother? I am a man of many tastes."
"Hmm, and you have not seen the man since he left the Second Sons?"
"No," he made it a habit to travel into the Smoking Sea several times with his merchant crew and I imagined that would be the end of him as no one has ever returned from that place alive. However he was the one that did and it seemed returned with treasures beyond the lot of men."
"And now he is a king," Doran said.
"Yes."
Doran was silent for a long time. "I may have a task for you soon Oberyn. I am intrigued by the prospect of an alliance with House Gryffindor and your past connection to the Gryphon King makes you an ideal candidate to speak with King Sirius about what I have in mind."
"And that is?"
"King Sirius has three sons yes?"
"I believe so."
"And the eldest of them is just slightly older than Arianne is he not?"
It didn't take Oberyn long to catch on and to say that he appeared surprised was an understatement. "You wish to make Arianne a queen? She is already set to rule Dorne when she is older."
"And if our plans come to fruition, than she will assist in ruling a kingdom far greater than Dorne. My grandchildren would sit one the throne of Essos."
"Now you sound like Tywin Lannister," Oberyn scowled. "Was it not his ambition to make his daughter a queen before Princess Ginevra and her father came along?"
"It was," Doran replied. "But the Gryffindors possess something that Tywin Lannister does not…an empire. And I would be lax if I did not say that I would wish for the Martells to miss out on this golden opportunity. Arianne could be the queen of an empire far greater than Westeros and seeing as how you knew King Sirius before he ever enjoyed that title makes you ideal to talk to him."
"You wish for me to be your ambassador?" Oberyn asked.
"I wish for you to achieve an opportunity for this family before someone else comes along and takes it away from us."
"These plans are all very well brother, but is it not the common practice of King Sirius to be very cautious in his dealings with other nobles. This six moon…exchange between Rhaegar Targaryen and Ginevra Gryffindor certainly seems to suggest so."
"Indeed," Doran said. "Which is why we need to propose this first. If it is the desire of the king that Arianne spend some time in the Gryffindor court so that she and his son might become better acquainted than perhaps we should indulge him."
"And what if Arianne does not wish to be a queen when she is older?" Oberyn asked.
"What little girl does not dream of being a queen?" Doran asked. "And from what we have learned of Sirius Gryffindor so far, he is a very liberal man when it comes to the roles of both women and men in power. By the gods has it not been his daughter who has helped him conquer Essos and keep the peace between the major cities? Something tells me that Sirius Gryffindor values the happiness of his children more than power and that is something that makes him effective as a ruler. His compassion for his people ensures that his realm will never suffer from civil unrest or rebellion."
"Never?"
"There are always eventualities, but comparative to the king that we know, it is unlikely."
Oberyn looked as if he didn't know what to think. "And you want me to propose the prospect of this marriage to him when?"
"Soon," Doran said easily. "We simply need to become better acquainted with Princess Ginevra before we make our move. But when I say to move, you move. Understand."
"There are times when you frighten me brother," Oberyn muttered.
And then Doran did something that he hadn't done in a while.
He smiled.
Ω
Over the course of the next week Ginny would say that she greatly enjoyed her time in Sunspear. It reminded her of Mereen a great deal and as much as she was wary of Oberyn and his brother and their agenda of which she was certain they had, spending time with his daughters was a great way to blow off steam.
Tyene was a sweet little girl and very trusting, so innocent of the world and yet so full of joy than it made Ginny smile just to look at her.
Obara was the one who had the most difficult time trusting people but Ginny learned why when Elia privately expressed to her that her mother had been a peasant in Sunspear who had been very poor and who lived with her for a time before coming to the royal court of Sunspear.
Nymeria was the one who was the one with the most confidence thus far. She sometimes spoke for Obara which had given her sister the moniker Nym's shadow.
In that week, Ginny felt as if she got to know the Martells far better than she had before and was slightly more prone to trusting them.
Doran she could tell was a schemer who always had something on his mind and he seemed to be quieter than usual of late which prompted her to think that he was in the process of planning something.
But at the moment, she didn't want to think of politics.
The past week with Rhaegar had been wonderful as had this entire trip. They could simply focus on getting to know one another better and Ginny could admit that her feelings for him were becoming tenderer with each day that passed.
She got to know Sunspear and explored the markets with Rhaegar and the Martell siblings which also allowed her to become closer with Elia as well.
For the first time, Ginny felt as if she didn't have a care in the world.
But that all changed on the eighth days of their stay in the capital of Dorne.
She had been sitting in the private terrace reserved for herself and Rhaegar where they usually broke their fast every morning, the two of them enjoying some leisure time together when all of a sudden she felt a burning sensation in her wrist.
The red head broke off what she was saying and glanced down at her arm and saw that the bracelet she was wearing had grown hot.
"Ginny?" the prince asked. "Is everything alright?"
The red head didn't reply as she was caught by surprise for a moment. She and her father mad multiple means of communication and had set up some portable ones for when she was away. The bracelet was one of them.
She immediately knew he was trying to contact her.
"One moment please," she said to the prince before getting up from her seat and all but running from the room. Thankfully her chambers were not that far away and when she had dashed inside and shut the door behind her she was able to race for the hand mirror that was beside her bed and take it in her hand.
She immediately spoke the charm that would allow her father's face to appear.
Ginny breathed a sigh of relief when Sirius's face came into view. "There you are! Thank goodness, is everything alright?"
Her adoptive father's face in the glass appeared pensive and Ginny could tell right away that he wasn't in Mereen. The background behind him was quivering slightly as if a breeze was pulling at it, prompting her to think that he was in a tent of some kind.
"Not exactly Gin," he replied. "I promised Vellaena that I would inform you before I commenced with my plans but the last few weeks have been insane with preparing the troops and the dragons to march."
"March?" Ginny demanded, her heart beginning to accelerate. "March where? Where are you going?"
Sirius sighed. "A few weeks ago, I received a message from Magister Areo in Kosrak informing me that since you took Khal Barbo's head before coming to Westeros, his son Drogo has sworn revenge and is in the process of amassing an army of forty thousand blood riders in Vaes Dothrak. Gin, they are preparing for war…war against House Gryffindor."
"Merlin save us all," Ginny whispered in horror.
"Indeed," Sirius said appearing grim. "As such Areo and the surrounding cities have implored me to come forward in my full strength and deal with this problem before the cities surrounding the Dothraki Sea are laid waste with Drogo's fury. He will not stop until either one of us is dead. I am marching to Kosrak now and will arrive within two days."
"I will meet you there," Ginny said.
"No!" Sirius all but shouted causing her to look at the mirror's reflection in surprise. "I do not want you involved. We have fought Dothraki before Gin but never such a large problem as this that will require the dragons."
"You are bringing them all?" Ginny asked in shock.
"Only five," Sirius replied. "Septimus is in Westeros with you and I left one behind with your step mother and brothers to guard the city. But the remaining five Faebian, Regulus Orion, Arcturus and Nymph are with me."
"Do you intend to use them all in battle."
"Only if I have to," Sirius replied suddenly looking tired. "But I do not wish to be known for a second field of fire. Instead of four thousand souls burning alive, it would be forty thousand souls."
Ginny swallowed hard. "It would be a massacre."
"Indeed, but we have been patient enough with these barbarians and they don't seem to understand that the Free Cities are not Free any longer. If I must remind them of that…than gods help me I will."
"You will face Drogo in battle."
"I will, and I will attempt to convince him to stand down. But if he does not…then I know what I must do."
"I am coming," Ginny said vehemently. "I took Barbo's head, not you. Drogo's fight is with me."
"And that is why I did not want to tell you what I was doing as I knew you would respond this way," Sirius replied. "Gin, the situation is well in hand. You are safe in Westeros and it is my wish that you remain safe."
"I am not going to lose you Sirius," Ginny ground out between clenched teeth. "I already lost one father and I am not going to lose another. Give me time to inform the prince of my decision and I will meet you in Kosrak. We will face Drogo and his hordes together or not at all."
Sirius was silent for so long that Ginny wondered if he had heard her.
"Very well," he said finally. "Do what you must, but I will not have you face Drogo in pitched battle. I will see you soon."
Ginny bid her adoptive father goodbye and then slowly put the mirror down as if in a trance before sinking down onto her bed.
She had wondered whether or not her killing Barbo would have ramifications but she had never imagined something like this.
I have to go, she thought fiercely to herself. Drogo's war is with me, not Sirius and I won't have my father pay for something I can take responsibility for. It seems I will need to be a ruthless as possible.
For a long time there was silence and then there was a knock on the door.
"Ginny?" called the voice of Rhaegar. "Is everything alright?"
The red head took a deep breath and got up to open the door to see the prince's worried face. "I'm afraid not Rhaegar."
"What is the matter?" the prince asked stepping into the room and Ginny shut the door behind him.
Ginny sighed. "That was my father. House Gryffindor is preparing for war."
Ω
So in this chapter, we see the arrival of Rhaegar and Ginny in Sunspear and their connection with the Martells. Like you might know from my profile, the Martells are my favorite family in Westeros so I want Ginny to be close with them as well. Rhaegar and Doran scheming about supplanting Aerys will be dealt with in more detail later but the reason Rhaegar trusts the Martells for their support will be explained in further on. Also in the next chapter we will spend more time with Sirius in Essos in his war against the Dothraki. Ginny will be present for that as well, and perhaps an unexpected guest. Also, Doran's scheming about Arianne perhaps wedding Godric will be further explained in future chapters. Anyway, that's all for now. I hoped you liked the chapter and don't forget to review!