Epilogue I (Chapter XXV)
Arianne – 1 year later
The sun blazed as Arianne smiled widely, seeing the walls of Ghost Hill appear on the horizon.
"It's been a while." She said, expectantly, as Jae chuckled.
"I forgot how hot it was down here, even during the winter." He answered.
"Well, it's been two years, and much has changed since then."
Jae nodded.
"I just worry about Daeron, Visenya and Aemon." He said. "Maybe we should have taken them with us?"
"Nonsense, Ser Brienne is perfectly capable of protecting them." She waved him off. "Besides, we haven't had a trip together in months, this was the perfect occasion."
"Aye, I couldn't miss my cousin's wedding." He smiled. "To be honest, I didn't even know he'd get married one day. And certainly not to a dornishwoman."
"Well, I didn't think I'd marry a northerner…and here we are." Arianne smiled in response.
"The Tolands will have gotten two northern matches in the end, not bad." Jae mused
"And your cousin will become the Lord of the Wolfsport, and help Dorne rebuild its navy ahead of the campaign in the Stepstones." She retorted. "Besides, is this still a thing?"
"I'd rather wait till we are fully out of the woods for this. The realm is still fragile and winter is still here."
"A sound decision." She nodded back.
As they entered the courtyard, they were of course met with a lot of agitation, with Lady Valena and Lord Roger welcoming them. Besides them were the ones that were to be wed.
"Bran." Jae hugged his cousin tightly. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, Jon." The northerner replied, unnerved by the display of affection. "I'm just disappointed Robb and Rickon won't be here."
"Oh, shut up, you have me!" a voice came from behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"How have your trips to Essos been, Arya?" Arianne asked as she finished greeting Teora.
"Oh, fascinating, your grace." She turned back to Jae. "You know, your aunt, Daenerys? Really nice person. Kind of freaky at times, but nice to be around for a moment."
"I'm glad you get along." Jae chuckled.
"Cheer up, Bran." Arya continued, slapping him on the head. "Sansa will be here as well. And we can have our reunion for Rickon's marriage."
"If he ever gets married." Bran shook his head.
"You're the one saying that." Jae scoffed. "I know Arya never will. But there's still a chance for Rickon."
"There's always a chance." Arya sighed. "Sorry for Summer, by the way. I never got the chance to say it."
"T..thanks." Bran sighed. "I nearly got it out of my memory."
"Well, if it makes you any better, Nymeria is pregnant. It seems Grey Wind has also been trying to be a father." Arya chuckled. "The pups will go to Robb, but I can save one or two for your newborns, depending how you fare in bed. Consider it my wedding gift"
"Arya!" Jae replied, shocked.
"What?" she winked at Bran. "We're in Dorne, we can have this talk. And mother isn't here to tell us off. Besides, Jae knows what he's talking about."
"Be careful, Arya."
"Just repeating some rumours." She smirked triumphantly. "Well, I don't know about you lot, but I've been on a ship for a moon, so getting a bit of rest wouldn't be out of the question."
That offer Arianne could take. She needed a comfortable bed after the road from King's Landing, since they had been on ships and horses for the past moon now. And with a wedding the next day, she'd have to be in the best shape possible.
The wedding was a grand affair, by Dornish standards anyways. Usually this marriage of a second son and second daughter would have been overlooked, but because Brandon was cousin to the king, and Jae had wished to attend…well all of the Dornish nobility and more was there.
The newlyweds were seated at the seat of honour, while Arianne got to sit next to Jae, with Bran at his side. Teora on the other hand was seated next to Quentyn, and the new princess of Dorne, Gwyneth Yronwood, who was quite pregnant by the looks of it.
Once the feast was over and the dancing started, she rushed towards her brother's side and embraced him.
"I'd never thought I'd say this one day, but I've missed you, Quent." She smiled.
"I could say the same for you." He chuckled. "I didn't think I'd miss your snarky comments that much."
"Oh, that can still be arranged."
"I'll pass." He chuckled. "Twenty years of it were enough."
"I've seen that you were productive while I was gone." She smirked back.
"We only recently consummated the marriage." Quentyn nodded. "I didn't want to rush things."
"Did you think of any names yet?" Arianne asked her brother as they watched the dornish lords make their way towards the dancing floor.
"Not really." Quentyn replied. "I've got a hard time thinking how I'm going to be a father."
"You'll do fine." She patted him on the shoulder. "Trust me, I've got three children and no idea how to be a mother."
"You have an army of wetnurses." Quentyn replied. "And seven kingsguard to watch over them. I've got one wetnurse and Areo."
"Point taken." She chuckled. "Speaking of problems…would you excuse me?"
"Of course, fly away."
Arianne nodded and sprinted towards her husband, which had been delving into conversation with the two Daynes: Edric and Sansa. And she knew where the conversation would be heading, very fast.
To her surprise, she saw that they were having a calm conversation, nothing out of the ordinary. As she joined the conversation, she saw that they talked about reconstruction efforts in the North, the birth of the future heir to Starfall, Alexis Dayne, and the future of Starfall.
Sansa excused herself to go dance with a few dornishmen, and then Jae's face fell immediately.
"Why?" he simply asked.
"I don't know!" Edric defended himself. "It just…happened. It was war. I was tired, we'd just fought. I…I don't even remember what happened once I laid down in my tent…or not much of it."
"Well, we both know what ensued."
"Sorry, your grace, but I am no Eddard Stark. I am still a dornishman, through and through." Edric admitted. "I am not perfect, far from it."
"Does she know?" Arianne asked. "About Samira, I mean."
"No, and for the love of the seven heavens don't tell her." Edric sighed. "I love Sansa, I really do. What happened at Summerhall was a mistake, a mistake I don't even remember. As far as Sansa is concerned, Samira is yours, your grace."
"As I feared." Jae sighed, eyeing Arianne. "Well you need not to worry, Prince Quentyn has offered to raise the girl, but you'll have to see her one day."
"I will. Just…" Edric pleaded. "Don't tell anything to Sansa."
"I won't." Jae replied. "But be careful where you tread, Lord Dayne."
Edric nodded, and before Arianne could say anything, the bedding ceremony had started. Teora and Brandon were carried away to their rooms, where Arianne would hope they'd seal their love with a new heir to the Wolfsport.
Meanwhile, she and Jae continued dancing with the various lords and ladies for a time, before taking their leave and heading towards their chambers, accompanied by Ser Olyvar.
"You may take your leave, Ser Olyvar." Arianne smiled at the young Frey knight. "Ghost will guard our bed tonight. Enjoy the festivities, dornish hospitality, and dornish women. We like knights over here."
She winked at the lord, who flushed.
"I…thank you, your grace."
"My cousin Elia looked at you the whole evening if it helps." She smiled as she closed the door behind her.
"Now, Jae, I have a surprise for you." She rubbed her hands together.
"Pray, tell." He crossed his arms. "Is it Tyene again? Or Nymeria?"
"Too easy." She smirked. "Ladies, you may come out, now."
Jae's expression turned from confident to shocked as he saw the Fowler twins come and into their rooms, clad in only their night clothes.
"I did tell you I would get my revenge." She smirked. "My cousin has graciously offered them to join our bed for tonight."
"Aren't any of you married?" Jae asked the two blonde girls.
"Betrothed, your grace." Jennelyn smiled. "My sister will marry Kyth Manwoody and inherit Kingsgrave, while I will retain Skyreach and marry your grace's brother, Trystane, when he comes of age."
"In other words." Arianne smirked. "They are as free as the wind. And I am going to enjoy this night very much."
End of the first Epilogue.
Second epilogue will take us to smut territory, and the third will take us a full 15 years after the events of Chapter 24.
