2nd Month of 300 A.C. King's Landing

Prince Oberyn Nymeros Martell

King's Landing always seemed to be brimming with activity whenever he visited, the last time had been just before Harrenhal when he had sat right next to the Lord of Casterly Rock and plotted treason, the time before that for his sister's wedding. Elia's ghost haunted him still as she haunted Doran. This time though, he was here for a wedding and now as a judge over his former squire to see whether Lucion had truly poisoned the King, the charges were ridiculous, Lucion would never be so foolish as to get caught if that were his true aim, no doubt whatever was going on his former squire had the hand on it.

Of course listening to those false white knights Meryn Trant and Balon Swann had been very enraging for Oberyn, especially as he knew that it was the Lannister whore speaking through their mouths. Such things disgusted him, and when they had resumed proceedings Ser Boros Blount yet another white sword who did not deserve the cloak once more spoke such ridiculousness it was insulting, so much so that once the man was finished speaking Oberyn felt compelled to turn to Lord Tywin and ask. "Are you trying to insult my intelligence my Lord?"

The man looked at him in surprise. "Whatever do you mean Prince Oberyn?"

Oberyn smiled slightly and said. "Allowing your daughter one dud witness is enough, but two? Surely you must realise what this makes this all seem like."

Of course the fat flower had to speak then. "I do not think Ser Meryn and Ser Boros were dud witnesses at all, they gave highly credible statements that match up with some of what we have heard from other secondary sources."

"And perhaps that is because you wish them to match up?" Oberyn snapped.

The fat flower began sputtering, but then Lord Tywin interrupted. "My lords, please we should have silence. Bring forth Ser Tygett Lannister."

Oberyn perked up then, once the rebellion had ended and Lucion had gone to squire with his uncle, they had communicated infrequently, but still there were words of praise for this man who had come into his former squire's confidence. "Ser Tygett," Oberyn began as a judge. "Do you hereby declare that what you say now is the truth and nothing but the truth."

Ser Tygett nodded and said grimly. "I do swear."

Oberyn nodded and then asked. "What do you make of the accusations against Lord Lucion? Do you believe him capable of killing or even poisoning a boy at his own wedding feast?"

Ser Tygett was silent for a long moment and then he said. "These accusations are nonsense. Cooked up by those who wish to see my nephew gone from here. Lucion did more than half of these snivelling idiots to save King's Landing from Stannis Baratheon, and he made sure there was still a city for Tywin and the Tyrells to come to. He defeated the rat, the hawk and the pig. He is a hero. And this trial is a farce."

Oberyn nods and then asks. "But do you think he could have killed Joffrey?"

Ser Tygett shakes his head. "No, Lucion is many things but a child killer and a Kingslayer is not one of them. If anything there are others in this room who are more like to be responsible and they are sitting right in front of me."

At this Mace Tyrell burst out angrily. "I do not like the sound of your tone Ser."

Tywin spoke then. "Enough. Very well thank you Ser. Now bring forth Grand Maester Pycelle."

Grand Maester Pycelle was old and near deaf and blind or so it appeared yet he was sharp of wit. "I do not for one second believe the accusations levelled against Lord Lucion. The man did all he could to help keep poor King Joffrey alive and safe. From the Blackwater to the Rat and the Hawk and the Pig, he did everything within his power to keep the boy alive."

"You examined the body did you not maester?" Oberyn asked. The man nods and then Oberyn asks. "And did you find anything of suspicion in the boy's bowels or throat?"

Pycelle nods. "There was nothing suspicious in his bowels my prince. But there was most definitely something wrong with the wine. Its contents were mixed in with another substance that caused the king to die. But of course it could not have been Lord Lucion who did the deed, for he was nowhere near the king when the wine was served."

There was some murmuring at that and then Oberyn asks. "So whom do you think could have served that poison into the chalice that both the king and queen were to drink from? Clearly someone who knew to be close enough to do so at the right time."

Pycelle is silent for a moment and then said. "Well someone who clearly had enough anger at the king to want him gone. Or perhaps someone who could benefit from having him gone."

Oberyn nods and then Pycelle is dismissed. The rest of the trial is spent listening to other witnesses brought forward by Cersei Lannister, men and women who Oberyn knows are her spies, and as such they would be heavily biased, and so he discounts their testimony. Eventually the first day of the trial comes to an end and Lucion is taken back to his cell and Oberyn leaves for his room in the Red Keep, when he enters he finds Ellaria and Nymeria both seated. They both stand and Nymeria asks. "How did it go father?"

Oberyn greets Ellaria with a kiss and then looks at his daughter and says. "Well, as good as it can go with the patsies Cersei Lannister is throwing at us. The evidence against Lucion is becoming more and more scant as the trial progresses."

"SO he should be free before the end of the month?" Nymeria asks.

Oberyn looks at his daughter and replies. "All being well yes. I understand you care for him, but why the sudden desire for news?"

Nymeria looks at him shyly then and says. "I am with child father. Lucion's child."

And it is then that Oberyn swears to see Lucion freed no matter what, no grandchild of his will grow up without a father.