Chapter 10 (295 AC)

Kyra POV

It had only been a few days since the priestess arrived in Dorne. Kyra thought nothing of it, because she was the least of her concerns. All she thought about was the bitch and how her words sank in. Inject your enemies with your venom before they get the chance, and then strip them of whatever pride they have left. She did not know what to make of it at first, but she now knew that there was no way she would ever let the princess get away with it. Kyra knew she had to do something, but what?

She didn't care as her sword swung down on Sarella. The young Sand Snake blocked it by bringing her two daggers up. Sweat trickled down Kyra's brow as she continued to push her sword, but Sarella stood her ground, so Kyra had to come up with another way. She knelt down to sweep her legs with her foot, Sarella must have anticipated that, because she jumped to the left before she rolled her body into a ball and then stood back on her two feet.

Even though she appreciated that Sarella agreed to spar with her, she much preferred her husband. He was much more skilled, but he had other matters to attend to, so whenever he did not have time, Kyra trained with Sarella.

"Hah!"

Sarella charged forward and lunged at Kyra, but Kyra sidestepped repeatedly with every swing that the Sand Snake gave her. Eventually, the princess of Dorne blocked one of her attacks as their blades clashed against one another. They both gritted their teeth and grunted.

Something then caught Kyra's eyes in the training grounds. A red woman stared at her with a playful grin. Sarella used the opportunity to bring her sword to the ground and punch Kyra with so much force that she fell to the ground. Kyra shook her head and grabbed her chin, grimacing at the pain.

"You were distracted." Sarella said.

Kyra stood back up and huffed in frustration as she glared at the Sand Snake until she heard, "She will rise as the sun one day."

They turned their heads to see Priestess Melisandre. She was accompanied by two Dornish servants. The red woman extended her hand out, stopping the servants from moving any further. Kyra raised a brow, eyeing her as Melisandre sauntered over to her. The princess of Dorne was not appealing to look at. Sweat creased her face, strands of her hair fell out place when it was tied up, and she wore a plain, orange dress with a leather bodice around her ribcage and bright orange pants, but she didn't care.

"Princess Kyra," the priestess spoke. "may we spoke alone?"

The princess of Dorne looked at Sarella and nodded her head, gesturing her to leave. Sarella stared at the red priestess before she walked away. Kyra then glared at Melisandre as if she was a dangerous beast.

"There is no need to look at me that way, princess."

"Forgive me, priestess, but I had enough of outsiders telling me what I can and can't do." Kyra replied.

"You may do whatever you like. No one will stop you."

When the priestess extended her hand out, gesturing for Kyra to follow her, the princess did so as they strolled along the beach. The sun had just come out, awakening Dorne, while the tide brushed itself along the sand, moving in delicate strokes. The breeze wafted through the air. Kyra was glad for that, because it put her mind at ease.

"So tell me what you want to discuss with me." Kyra said, refusing to meet the priestess's gaze.

"The dead play a part in our lives, princess." Before Kyra could say anything, Melisandre continued, "You truly do resemble Lyanna Stark."

"Have you met her?"

"No," Melisandre said. "but it does not mean that I am not aware of her. My Lord works in mysterious ways. He is the only one that tells me what must be done and who I must search for."

Kyra remembered what the priestess said on her arrival, so she asked, "have you come to Westeros then to look for the one who would ward away the darkness that you spoke of?"

"Yes. He is Azor Ahai. Are you familiar with him, princess?" When Kyra shook her head, she continued, "it is said that he is a champion who will be reborn to awaken the dragons from stone and reforge Lightbringer through his wife's heart. The Lord of Light told me through the flames that he is across the Narrow Sea. I will go wherever he tells me to go to."

"Is that all you wished to say?" Kyra asked with a slightly bored tone.

"No." Melisandre replied. "He also said that a new arrival will reach the sun, and an age of anarchy and a reunion of enemies will bloom when the great serpent's eggs hatch. Nineteen will roam the earth and nine will fall."

Kyra snapped her head at the priestess. She had no idea what she meant. Her lips parted, but no words came out. It was unusual even for Kyra, because she always had something to say, and when she saw Melisandre's thin line turn into a wicked smile, her heart thumped wildly against her chest. Kyra was too afraid to ask what she meant, but at the same time, she wanted to know.

"Thank you, priestess, but I am afraid that I must go."

As Kyra walked away from her, she stopped in her tracks when she heard Melisandre say, "do not turn away from your destiny, princess. We all have a role to play, and that includes you."

Oberyn POV

The Red Viper sat at a table with his wife. They finished their training thirty minutes ago, and Oberyn could not help but notice how she did not look his way once. She never once gave him a sarcastic remark or mocked him. It was unusual even for him.

When the servants placed a variety of dishes on the table. There was a flatbread with chickpea paste and purple olives, creamcakes, white cheese, and stuffed grape leaves. He turned to look at her again, and she still had the same look on her face. Oberyn grabbed the pitcher beside him and poured himself some Dornish red wine. He raised his hand up, gesturing for the servants to leave. They bowed their heads and left the room. When Oberyn brought the goblet to his lips, he felt the liquid amber coiling around his tongue, while his eyes never left Kyra. She stared at the food with an empty look on her face.

"You're not eating."

Kyra snapped her eyes at Oberyn and said, "sorry. I-I just have something on my mind."

When Kyra reached for the pitcher, Oberyn used the opportunity to take her hand. "You may tell me anything that is troubling you."

His wife did not meet his eyes. She simply gazed at the hand that took her own. Oberyn swore that he would protect her now that they are husband and wife. He could not imagine how scared she must be to not have anyone from home to comfort her, but he was there for her, and he knew that his paramour and his youngest daughters looked after her too from what Ellaria told him.

"I spoke with the priestess today."

"Have you?" Oberyn asked with a slightly bored tone as he let her go to lean back in his chair and tasted his Dornish red again. "What did she say?"

Kyra released an intake of breath before she replied, "she told me I resembled my aunt and how the dead play a part in our lives."

The Red Viper could not deny that. When he first met her in Sunspear, he also thought how she was the spitting image of Lyanna Stark. Perhaps that was why at the time he did not like her as much back then. He could not help but recall how her aunt captured the heart of Rhaegar Targaryen. Oberyn smashed everything in sight when he heard of his sister's death, because if Rhaegar had not fallen in love with her, then perhaps his sister and her children would still be alive.

"Is that all?' Oberyn asked, finishing his wine and pouring himself another.

"No." Kyra replied. "She also said that I have a destiny, and that-" she cut herself off to look down at her lap. Oberyn set his drink down, because he had never seen her so nervous before. His eyes were hard-rimmed and fixed on her as she said, " a new arrival will reach the sun, and an age of anarchy and a reunion of enemies will bloom when the great serpent's eggs hatch. Nineteen will roam the earth and nine will fall." Oberyn's face had not changed even when she looked at him and asked, "what does it mean?" He did not want to answer her, because he also did not know, so he stood from his seat and walked out of the room. "Where are you going?"

He heard her calling after him and heard her, telling him to wait. Oberyn did not stop his feet as they continued to move forward until he made it to his destination. The priestess stood there with a grin on her face, while Oberyn stood there. It wasn't long before he heard Kyra, trotting behind him. He already imagined her eyes widening as she stood face to face with the priestess.

"Hello, princess." the red woman greeted.

Her smile grew wider when Kyra did not acknowledge her, so Oberyn asked, "what have you said to my wife earlier today, priestess?"

"That is between your wife and I."

"Hmph." Oberyn smirked, yet his eyes glared daggers at her. "She told me of this...prophecy that your lord spoke of." The red woman stared him down when he asked, "why don't you tell us what exactly what it means?"

"My lord works in mysterious ways as I have said before, Prince Oberyn. Your wife plays a part as we all do."

"Tell me what it means." The Red Viper repeated. "I am a prince of Dorne, and I will not allow you to frighten my wife." He felt his wife's eyes on him, but he didn't care. All that mattered was receiving answers. "Now tell me."

"Forgive me, Prince Oberyn, but I'm afraid I can't no matter how much you ask me."

Both of their grins never wavered. Oberyn wanted to use force, but it was against his conscience. He considered harming women to be distasteful, but it all depended on who exactly she was. He wanted to kill the red woman right then and there, however, what held him back were the answers that he wanted, because he couldn't help but pity his wife for being scared for not knowing behind the meaning of the priestess's words, so he thought of a new alternative.

"As Prince of Dorne, Priestess Melisandre, you are banished. Do not ever show your face here again for the next time if we meet, I will not be so merciful."

"Hmph. As you command, Prince Oberyn." Melisandre's grin never left her face as she gave him a curtly bow.

Oberyn looked at his wife and gestured for her to follow him, so she did. He stopped in his tracks when he felt something warm grab his hand. He turned to look at his wife as she grabbed his hand and met his eyes.

"Thank you, Oberyn."

The Red Viper gave her a small smile before he cupped her cheek and stroked it tenderly as he replied, "you are my wife. I swore to the gods to protect you."

His eyes widened for a moment when the corner of her mouth curved up. He thought how she was no longer "The Tempest" that everyone, including him, made fun of her for. She was just a scared girl. When he leaned in to kiss her, she shut her eyes and tried to turn her head away. Oberyn smirked at her behavior, so he brought his lips to her forehead. She opened her eyes with a shocked expression on her face, and all he did was grin as he led her away from the priestess's room and thought how wonderful it was for Kyra to trust him.

Arianne POV

The panting of ragged breath filled the air as one of the guards pounded himself inside her. Arianne's back was up against a column outside, while her legs intertwined together to keep herself from falling. Her eyes slowly shut as the wave of pleasure increased, and the one she imagined who she was fucking was The Red Viper. She pushed her hips up to meet his as he thrusted himself inside her at a steady pace. The heir of Dorne took his face and parted her lips to coil her tongue around his tongue. When he grunted and moved faster inside her, she heard, "pr-princess!"

Her eyes snapped open to meet the guard's. It was disappointing to her how she could not imagine it was her uncle much longer, but she bared it. Her eyes did not meet the smile she wore. They were empty, almost lifeless.

"Go ahead." Arianne said with a huff. "Spill everything inside."

Her last words sent him over the edge as he thrusted one last time with an audible gasp. She tightened her hold on him and gripped his clothes, while he bursted himself inside her. Arianne steadied her breathing when he placed her back on her feet. The skirt of her dress dropped to the floor, and the guard fixed his breeches. She couldn't help but notice how he was staring at her.

"What is it?" she asked with a slightly bored tone.

"Princess I-"

"If you wish to confess, then don't" Arianne cut him off without looking at him. "We only fucked. Nothing more." His eyes casted downwards in disappointment. "Now get out."

The guard stood there for a moment before he processed what she said, so he bowed his head and left the area. Arianne sighed to herself and sat on a nearby bench. She gazed out to look at the waves crashing against the shore and her young cousins laughing together in the sun. They splashed water on each other, having the time of their lives. The princess of Dorne had nothing against the youngest Sand Snakes. She simply did not like the fact that they were not her and Oberyn's children.

A scowl appeared on her face when she saw her uncle's paramour and his wife together. There was no doubt in her mind that Ellaria wanted to make the northern girl comfortable. The bitch would do anything to seek pleasure even if it is from Kyra Stark. What amazed Arianne, however, was how quickly the Stark girl attached herself to Dorne already. After what had happened with her direwolf, Arianne thought the northerner in Kyra would come out and isolate those around her.

"What are you doing?" Arianne turned to see her brother, Quentyn. He approached her cautiously when his sister smirked at him. When pointed down at the beach, she noticed his eyes widened for a split second before he turned to glare at her. "I will only say this once, sister. Leave Kyra Stark alone."

Her lips split into a wicked grin as she replied, "I haven't done anything to the poor girl."

"You think I don't know that it was you who killed her direwolf?" Arianne's grin never left her face as he continued, "I never once had a suspicion that it was Tyene. You may have had everyone else fooled, but I know it was you because of the love you have for Uncle."

As he turned to walk away, Arianne stopped him by saying, "so then why haven't you told her if you are so sure?"

"Because I do not wish to be involved in your madness."

"Oh," Arianne stood from her seat and walked over to him, swaying her hips as he turned to glare at her. "you should tell her." When she leaned into his ear, she whispered in a low voice that only lovers used for each other. "You would be a hero in her eyes, and perhaps then she would no longer look at you as a boy but as a man."

Quentyn slapped her hand away from him when she glided it against his shoulder blades. "What?"

"I know you love her, brother. Don't try to deny it." When Quentyn looked away, Arianne smirked in satisfaction. "I can help you get what you want." Her hand traveled lower, past his naval as she continued, "I can make you a man, because nothing entices a woman more than someone who knows how to fuck a woman properly."

Her brother grabbed her wrist in time before it reached its goal. "Don't. You may fool men with your trickery, but you won't fool me. I am not your puppet, sister."

Arianne's smirk never left her face. In fact, it grew too wide to fit. She looked down at his grip on her wrist before she met his eyes again. "You're very protective over her. That's good." She twisted out of his grip before she sauntered over to the railing to look out the beach again. "However, you also need to have care on how you treat women. There needs to be passion to send them over the edge of the world where not even the gods can reach." She bobbed her head to the side to look at him as she said, "You still have much to learn, brother. I can help you with that."

"No thank you."

When he turned to walk away, he turned to look at her when she announced for his ears, "she had not slept with Oberyn. She still remains a virgin."

"What?"

"I heard her confess it to Ellaria Sand not too long ago."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want to help you so that you can help me." He glared at her when she said, "Make Kyra Stark fall in love with you and then take her maidenhead. If you don't, I'm afraid it will be too late before uncle claims her."

"No." Quentyn responded immediately. "I won't do it, Arianne. You can't make me."

"Fine, but before you go, let me give you a piece of advice." Her brother never took his eyes off of her as she said, "the more you watch her from a distance, the painful it is, and soon your heart will receive multiple scars as you watch the one you love fuck someone else. It makes us mad, and we grow angrier by the day, because we know that they will never love us unless we do something about it."

Her younger brother's lips parted, but no words came out. They just stared at each other for a moment until he finally walked away from her. Arianne stared him off before she looked back at the northern girl. She was laughing when little Elia Sand splashed water on her, so Kyra charged forward, grabbed her, and spun her around before they fell in the ocean. All Arianne wanted to see was a big wave to crash on her and carry her to open water, where she would sink to the bottom, but it never came, so she simply narrowed her eyes at Kyra Stark.

Hi everyone! I would first like to say that I do apologize for the long awaited chapter, so I hope you all enjoyed it. A lot of things have been going on that I just did not have enough time to update any chapters for a while. It may be a while now to keep posting up new chapters since I am juggling with my work, school, and writing my first book, but I promise you all that The Temptress will be finished. It will never be forgotten. The year 295 AC is almost done too, so I am also trying to figure out what else will happen before 296 AC begins, which means that it would only be about two more years in the fanfic before season one officially starts. Let me know what you guys think in the comments, and thank you all for patiently waiting!