"We tread the ground softly. Never disturbing the grass, but always ensuring that we know where the wind blows. For too long have we been considered nothing more than an addition. A burden to the rest of the realm. They took our family, and now we shall take theirs. We will rise. Unbowed, Unbent and Unbroken."

Prince Doran Martell

The Palace of the Sun was a distant memory, or at least it had been. He had come back to Sunspear, determined to sort out the issues that needed addressing. He did not have long, he knew that, but there were things only he could do. And as such, he had summoned Oberyn to the Palace as well, away from his explorations in Essos. This was too important, his brother needed to know. The time was coming. And they would all need to be ready, Arianne was doing her part, but now his brother would need to play a role.

"You asked for me brother?" Oberyn asks, sat opposite him in a chair decked with sparseness.

Doran nods. "I did. We have had word from our friends at court. It seems that Petyr Baelish has been executed for crimes against the crown."

As expected, Oberyn laughs. "What of it? The man did us more of a favour than anyone else in that sinkhole, by ensuring the usurper was in debt. The man's forced invasion of Braavos has ensured that now the King will not need to deal with the debt."

Doran nods. "This is true. And yet, Stark was the one who acted on Baelish. The council that judged against Baelish was made up of Lannisters and roses. Not Baratheon men."

Oberyn looks at him somewhat surprised. "So Stark has allied with them then has he?"

Doran sighs. "Our friends in the capital, say that they do not know for sure. But it certainly seems that the Lannisters used him to get rid of Baelish and that Stark was more than willing to allow them to do that. It seems he wanted Baelish gone."

Oberyn laughs. "Well, I cannot say I blame him. The man was most definitely a treacherous bastard. But then, if Stark is willingly working with the Lannisters, perhaps we misjudged him? Arryn barely managed to keep the Lannister influence out of the court of the usurper, if Stark is unable or unwilling to, do you think that will change certain people's allegiances?"

As always his brother cuts to the heart of the matter. Doran considers the question for a brief moment, then responds. "I think that it certainly presents an opportunity that had not presented itself before. If the people of the Riverlands and the Lords of the Marches, see that Stark is willingly allowing the Lannisters to influence proceedings then I think they might well begin looking elsewhere." He pauses and then asks. "What word do you have from across the sea?"

Oberyn takes a moment to gather his thoughts, when he does so, his words are clear and concise. "The King enjoyed the fight in Braavos, he felt that it gave him a chance to test what he had learned. Prince Viserys also enjoyed the fight. The Company rallied behind them and now respects their decisions and their calls. I think that they are preparing for another opening. An opening we might need to make."

Doran nods, he has never met his nephew, the boy was a babe when the sack happened, but he did meet his niece once, when she was very young. Oberyn has met them both, many times, and so he considers what his brother says. Eventually he asks. "What sort of opening do you suggest?"

Oberyn has always been someone who would prefer to go with the physically approach, the war approach, therefore Doran is surprised when he says. "Why not merely play up on the obvious tensions that are there. We have agents at court, why not use them to whisper into the ears of different people? The Baratheon brothers are not close; they are always at one another's throats. It would not be too hard to simply make them see one another as enemies even more so than they do now."

"And what of Stark?" Doran asks.

"Stark will be harder. He will blindly follow the usurper's son out of some misguided sense of loyalty. We must make him see where his true loyalties lie. We must remind him of everything his father stood for and what his brother stood for as well." Oberyn replies.

Doran hesitates then. "And how do we do that without revealing our hand?" he has an idea, but it is not one he truly wants to consider.

As he suspects, Oberyn has reached the same conclusion as him. "We propose a marriage. Or a betrothal. Between his daughter and either Quentyn or Trystane. The girl is said to be exactly like his sister. She will thrive in Dorne. And unlike his father, Stark is not immune to ensuring the happiness of his children."

Doran looks at his brother and says. "And you wish for me to use the girl to force his hand when the time comes."

Oberyn sighs. "I want you to do what you know needs to be done brother. You are the Prince of Dorne. You are our leader. The people, they whisper, they whisper about how you sat aside whilst Elia and her children were held hostage. How you sat aside when they were murdered and their killers were rewarded with honours beyond count. I know the difference. But no one else does. The whole of Dorne looks at you and they see a pale shadow. They do not see mother, or father. They just see a shadow. Be the Prince you are, the Prince who knows what needs to be done."

"And if Dorne bleeds? What then? I will be blamed for it." Doran replies, the old grievance coming to light in his words, the old fears, his mother's words.

"Then it bleeds. But at least then you would have fought for it." Oberyn states.

Doran looks at his brother, and in his brother's eyes he sees something he has not seen there for a long time, hope. It is that, that makes him say. "Very well. Send the letter."

"Perhaps now we shall have the revenge we have long hungered for."