Chapter 2
~Lyanna Stark~
Lyanna had been in Sunspear for five days before she realized Torrhen was avoiding her.
Admittedly, it should have been obvious given how she hadn't seen or talked to him since they all landed in the courtyard of the Old Palace but it had been a busy time. As soon as she had gotten off the dragon she had been accosted by House Martell's maester, a very short man named Caleotte, and what felt like every midwife in Dorne. While it was nice to know the Martells were taking her pregnancy seriously, the constant attention had begun to grow stifling. Even now, Lyanna still wasn't allowed to go anywhere without at least one midwife present. Though they traded shifts, they even sat in her room while she slept, keeping watch the entire night.
The midwives were not the only ones following Lyanna's every step. She was always followed by several of the Martell guards, who had least had the decency to be discreet. Arthur Dayne made no such attempts, he was quite blatant in the fact that he was following her around. On the one hand, she wanted her former jailor out of her sight. But on the other hand, she wasn't sure he was her former jailor. As Torrhen pointed out at the Tower, Arthur wasn't acting like he previously had. On the few occasions Lyanna had engaged the Kingsguard in conversation, the man had seemed befuddled, as if he was on milk of the poppy. The only thing he had seemed clear on was that he was to protect her from anyone that would do her harm, on Torrhen's orders. Given that Torrhen was the one who killed him, Arthur's loyalty could only be explained by the magic that brought him back, which Torrhen had admitted when questioned about it at the Tower but it was one thing to be told about it, it was another to constantly see the results following her around.
It was after the third time yet another member of the Martell family attempted to get information from her about Torrhen that she decided to seek the bastard out because he clearly wasn't going to come to her.
At least Elia and Doran were nice about it, Lyanna thought as she stomped down the hall, trailed by her ever present shadows. That Norvosi could learn a thing or two about manners. If I say I don't know, snidely insulting my intelligence is not going to make me want to tell you, which I can't do anyway because I don't know anything.
"You!" Lyanna growled at a young servant boy who was walking by. She guessed him to be a messenger or cupbearer of some sort.
"Ye-yes, m'lady?"
"Where is Torrhen?"
"To-torrhen?"
"The fucker that controls the dragon. He's still here, right? Or has he left and flown off somewhere?"
"He's st-still here m-m'lady. Or, his dra-dragon is, it's do-down in the co-courtyard. I don't rightly know where Lord Torrhen is."
"Well, I want to talk to him," Lyanna snapped. "I'll wait in his room if I have to. Where does he normally stay?"
"We-we set up a be-bed for him in th-the dun-dun-dungeons."
Lyanna's anger disappeared like a puff of smoke in the wind, replaced by confusion. "What?"
"He re-requested it, m'lady. Sa-said he wa-wanted someplace dark, away from the su-sun."
I wonder if his stutter is habit or just because he's talking to me. Lyanna banished the random thought and refocused her attention on the facts of the statement rather than the delivery. "Take me there."
Arthur spoke before the boy could. "Lady Stark, the dungeons are not a place for a woman in your condition. You cannot mean to wait there until Torrhen's return?"
"If that's what it takes to talk to him and get answers, yes."
Lyanna could see Arthur had no response to that. He kept opening his mouth to start a sentence before closing it and thinking and then starting the process over. She was about to order the servant to take them to the dungeons when she heard someone deliberately clearing their throat behind her. Turning around, she saw one of the three midwives currently following her (she hadn't bothered to learn any of their names, there were just too many of them) pointing at one of the Martell guards further down the hall who was pretending not to listen in on the conversation.
"Pardon me, m'lady," the midwife said. "But before we left your room I overheard that fellow say he had just finished guarding Prince Martell. I heard him mention Lord Torrhen."
"Is this true?" Lyanna hollered at the guard. She would have walked over there but her babe at chosen this moment to give a couple of kicks to her stomach and she didn't want to risk losing her meal.
"Aye, though he's no longer with Prince Doran," the guard said, walking closer. "We were only assigned to guard them while Lord Torrhen was breaking his fast. Once he finished and left, only Areo remained with the Prince, who was tired and needed a rest."
"Do you know where Torrhen went or not?" Lyanna ground out. She didn't know if it was her wolf's blood, the pregnancy, the too-hot weather, or the fact that no one around here would simply say what they meant in a simple manner, but her temper was becoming harder to suppress with each passing day.
"He's been traveling out to the shadow city, though I don't know what for. Rumors have him visiting Septs, brothels, and blacksmiths but you know how rumors are. Any, all, or none of those could be true."
Lyanna resisted the urge to shout in frustration. Instead she said, "He's a man, of course he's visiting brothels. Let's go to the dungeons already."
"My lady-" Arthur tried to protest but Lyanna cut him off.
"I've made my decision. If you're concerned about my health you can go find me comfortable furniture to sit on down there while I wait."
One of the other midwives spoke up, "I'll go arrange that."
"Good." Lyanna refocused her attention on the servant boy, who was looking rather nervous. "Now, I believe you were about to take me to the dungeons?"
"Um. . ." He glanced around at the Martell guards and then at Arthur, seemingly looking for someone to give him an excuse out of the situation. When no one spoke up he simply nodded. "Th-this way, m'lady."
The route to the dungeons wasn't that long but Lyanna's feet were aching by the end of it. She knew that it was because of the child she was carrying.
If I'd known then everything I know now. . . Lyanna shook her head. There was no point dwelling on the past, she couldn't change it. She could only do better, do smarter, going forward.
Luckily for her body, the room right before the dungeons was the gaoler's office which meant a chair for her to sit down on until the midwife arrived with something comfier. The gaoler had been confused about why Lyanna had arrived until she mentioned she was waiting for Torrhen. That had caused the man to go pale in the face and quickly find an excuse to leave, leaving Lyanna and Arthur alone in the small room with her remaining gaggle of followers out in the hall.
It took several minutes for Lyanna to find a way to sit on the rickety wooden chair that wasn't completely uncomfortable. So, of course, right as she was finally settling in was when she realized she needed to use the privy.
No way I'm walking that far.
"Arthur, I require a chamberpot."
She watched as he slowly turned his head away from the door he had been watching to look at her.
I could have sworn his eyes were violet. Why do they look so pale?
"Very well my lady, I shall have a servant fetch one for you."
Arthur opened the door and poked his head out to have a few quiet words with the people outside before withdrawing back into the room and closing the door.
They waited in silence. Lyanna had gotten good at ignoring Arthur during her time at the Tower of Joy so this wasn't as awkward as it would have been with a different guard.
Should have brought something to read though. If Torrhen doesn't come back till evening it will be a long, boring wait. Come to think of it, this is Dorne so I bet they have a number of books that aren't available in the rest of Westeros. I should spend a day browsing the library.
Lyanna was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice the knock at the door, nor Arthur letting Prince Oberyn enter the room. She was only roused to attention when Oberyn snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"A beautiful woman such as yourself ignoring me in favor of staring at a piece of furniture? If I wasn't so confident in my looks I might be offended by that. It's not even that nice of a desk, why it would probably break if two people were to. . . sit upon it."
Lyanna could help but smirk at Oberyn's comments. Despite his reputation being not that dissimilar to the oaf her father betrothed her to, she liked the Prince. He was polite but not groveling, sociable but not gregarious, bawdy but not crude, all in all a desirable man to most women. But she was not most women, not anymore.
"You flatterer. I'm the size of an auroch and if a servant doesn't show up with that chamberpot soon I'll make a mess of this dress, which I hope you don't find beautiful. I'd like to think there are limits to what you'll take to bed."
There was a knock on the door before Oberyn could say anything, which was a shame because Lyanna was sure his response would have made her laugh.
After shooing Oberyn and Arthur outside, Lyanna made use of the chamberpot with the aid of the midwife. It was so much easier to take care of herself with the extra hands available. Back at the Tower of Joy, even something as simple at wiping took at least twice as long.
"You can come back in," Lyanna called out once she and the midwife had gotten her dress back into a presentable condition.
"Actually, you might want to come out here," Oberyn responded. "The servants have brought a couch for you to lay on but it won't fit in there."
"Thank the gods," Lyanna muttered as she heaved herself up out of the chair.
The hallway was certainly crowded. Oberyn, Arthur, several midwives, several Martell guards, the servants that had brought the couch, and now the couch itself which was long enough for Lyanna to lay down on it and have space left over.
As Lyanna eased down onto the couch all she could think was,So much better than the Tower. I could fall asleep on this thing. . .
~Oberyn Martell~
Oberyn watched with amusement as Lyanna Stark's eyes started to flutter almost as soon as she sat down. By the time he counted to ten her breathing indicated she had fallen asleep. He and Arthur gently tilted over her so that she could sleep on her side. The last thing they wanted was her being startled while sleeping in a sitting position and risk falling forward onto the floor.
"I suppose I'll have to postpone my plans for a conversation with the Lady Stark," Oberyn said to the assembled audience. "Let her sleep but once she awakes inform her that she's invited to dinner with my brother and I."
Oberyn left the group behind, wondering what he should do to occupy his time until the evening. Train with his spear, have fun with his other spear, see what his daughters were up, see what his sister was up to, see what his niece was up to, see what his other niece was up to-
Doran did mention that Arienne had managed to get some stories out of Torrhen. Yes, I think I'll check in on her.
Strolling through the Old Palace, Oberyn contemplated how abruptly things had changed in so short a time. They had been forced into a war that shouldn't have mattered to Dorne but they had had to send troops because Aerys held Elia and her children. Unfortunately, the troops they had sent had been killed on the Trident but with Elia and Rhaenys back, the main motivation to fight the rebels had disappeared.
Most of the rebels, anyway. We still owe the Lannisters a debt for Aegon.
There was no way two of Tywin's bannerman, landed knights no less, would sneak into the Red Keep and try to kill such high value hostages without his permission.
The question is when and how to do something about it? Should we make demands as part of the peace agreement? Or should we bide our time and strike later? It would feel good to watch Tywin squirm now but that will also let him know we're coming for him.
Truthfully, the latter option was much more likely to be the better one. Dorne just didn't have the power, militarily or economically, to threaten the Westerlands very much at the moment. They did have access to a flying, dead dragon and its rider, which counted for a lot, but they hadn't yet formally tied him to Dorne. Something that would have been easier if they could just get a firm grasp on Torrhen's motivations, goals, and what he was willing to do.
I know he enjoys our verbal spars but so far they've been rather spare in relevant information. Though I do wonder about that 'gay chicken' he refuses to play with me, whatever that is. Why is he convinced I'll win a game that I don't even know the rules of?
After rescuing Lyanna, Oberyn was convinced Torrhen was not showing the full extent of his power. Arthur had been killed, utterly and completely. Oberyn remembered the hole in the man's chest, he had seen straight through it to the ground below when he checked the corpse. And yet Torrhen got him back up and moving as if it was just a flesh wound. He clearly intended to do the same with the other two Kingsguard, as well as Clegane. It was the only possible explanation for why he was holding onto their bodies after admitting he wouldn't be returning them to their families.
But after he brings them back, then what? He told Doran he doesn't desire a politically powerful marriage so what is his goal? Will he head back to the North? Travel the Seven Kingdoms in search of skilled knights to kill and bring back as loyal servants to him? Set sail on a pleasure cruise around Essos? I could accompany him, if he decides on that last one.
It was not an exaggeration to say Torrhen's actions had changed the course of action for much of Westeros. And he'd done it all in a week's time. What else might he do in the future? And how could they make sure it benefited Dorne or at the very least didn't weaken Dorne?
Doran told me about Torrhen's need for blood. I'll happily offer some of mine but that's really just a temporary fix. We need some continued way to ensure he considers us allies. If he has a home he plans to return to, mayhaps we could consider sending him someone to foster? Obara is the right age for it, though Nymeria probably has the better temperament. Is that a thing Northerners let bastards do or is he too low status to be in charge of such a thing? He saved a Stark, he should be able to make a few demands I would think.
Not for the first time, Oberyn wished Torrhen was more like most men and thought with his cock. It would have made things so much simpler. But Oberyn was only able to imagine Torrhen naked for a brief period of time as he had arrived at his destination, the parlor where Arianne was playing with her friends.
There's Tyene, Andrey Dalt, Sylva Santager, and oh what was his name? I know this, it'ssssssss GARIN. Yes, that was it, Garin.
"Hello children, what are you all doing?" Oberyn said as he strode into the room.
His daughter looked up from her hands. "Father! We're trying to learn the coin trick Arianne said Torrhen did for her."
Sure enough, all five of them had coins on their hands and were attempting to flip them over their fingers. Andrey seemed to be having the most success.
Oberyn grinned. "It's a good way to keep your fingers nimble, I know several musicians who do it for that reason." And not just for their instruments, women are very appreciative of that skill.
There was a clink as the coin Arianne had been practicing with fell to the floor and she let out a growl of frustration. "Uncle, do you have any advice? I want to show Torrhen how quickly I learned this but it's hard."
I know she wanted to learn about Torrhen because of the dragon, but that almost sounds like she fancies him. I hope she doesn't get her heart broken when she learns he isn't interested.
"If it was easy to learn it wouldn't be impressive that you learned it quickly," Sylva pointed out.
"Exactly," Oberyn agreed. "As to advice: don't bother attempting to use your thumb yet. You're tilting your hand when you reach under which is what is causing the coin to fall. Just send the coin back and forth along the top of your fingers first. Once you get the hang of that, then you can work on the thumb transfer."
Oberyn watched as all five children followed his instructions.
"So Ser Oberyn, what brought you here today?" Andrey asked. "Come to tell us stories?"
"Was that a request? No, don't answer," Oberyn said before Andrey could respond. "Stories are the reason I'm here, but not to tell." At the confused looks he received, Oberyn laughed. "I heard that Torrhen told you some stories the other day, Arianne. I wanted to hear what they were."
"He told me several, but I bet you want to hear about the dragon!"
"You know me too well," Oberyn said as he ruffled his niece's hair and then took a seat in one of the spare chairs.
"It's a good story," Tyene said. "I'll enjoy hearing you tell it again."
The others nodded and focused their attention on Oberyn's niece.
Arianne put the coin she had been playing with on the table next to her. Then she ran her fingers through her hair, making it more presentable before adjusting her clothing. Straightening her back, Arianne adopted the same posture Doran used when meeting visiting nobles for the first time.
I wonder if she realizes how much she copies my brother.
"Torrhen said once he heard about the war he made his way south. He missed his chance to join the Northern Army so he was travelling alone but he had to keep stopping to help people in need and that kept delaying him."
Oberyn smirked. She has to be aware of it. There's no way she would put so much gravitas into her tone of voice for a story otherwise. It's the same way Doran delivers important news.
"He helped smallfolk, typically defending those targeted by bandits and deserters but Torrhen told me of one time he carried a cart for a family that was fleeing."
"He carried a cart? What?" Does she mean he took the place of the horse and pulled it?
Arianne nodded. "The wheel had broken and they didn't have a replacement so they were going to have to abandon it and most of their possessions. So Torrhen picked up the whole cart and carried it for two days to Raventree Hall."
"He must be the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms to be able to do that," Sylva said with a wistful sigh.
Boy, do I know that tone of voice.Torrhen is gathering quite the collection of admirers without even trying.
"If I heard any other man claiming he could pick up and carry a wagon, for two days, I would call that man a braggart and a liar," Oberyn said. "But considering that I saw Torrhen beat Arthur Dayne in combat using only a rock, I believe his claim."
Arianne's facade cracked at Oberyn's words, an eager smile spreading across her face as she leaned forward. "He never told me how you two rescued Lady Stark. You say he beat the Sword of Morning with a rock?"
"I'll be more than happy to tell you all about it, once you finish your story."
Oberyn saw a hint of disappointment in her expression before Arianne schooled her features and she resumed her storytelling pose. "A fair trade Uncle. Ahem. After leaving Raventree Torrhen continued south to King's Landing. He beat the Westerland army to the city by a single day. He snuck into the Red Keep through a servant's entrance."
"That worked?" Oberyn asked. "I realize the Red Keep requires a lot of servants to function but shouldn't the gate guards at least know who comes and goes?"
"I guess they didn't think anyone would want to sneak in like that? Regardless, once inside the Red Keep, Torrhen stayed hidden by climbing along the ceilings. He said very few people ever look up." Arianne paused with a frown. "After he told me the story, I've been watching our guards. He's right, I haven't seen any of them look up when they enter a room."
Oberyn could help it, he reflexively looked at the ceiling. It was simple stone, he couldn't imagine anyone hiding up there, there was nothing to hold on to. Still, she has a point. They don't have to check every ceiling but there are rooms with rafters a person could hang from. Hmm, hanging. If I attached ropes to my bedroom ceiling I could probably hang from them, since Ellaria isn't strong enough to hold me up herself there are limits on what we can do. Something to look into later.
"Anyway, Torrhen worked his way through the keep. It was slow going because he didn't know his way around so often had to backtrack. Eventually, Torrhen found himself down in the cellars. It was there that he found where the dragon skeletons were being stored. Or, most of them."
"Yes, as I recall all the dragon skulls were hanging in the throne room."
"You're getting ahead of me, uncle," Arianne chastised. "Anyway, Torrhen knew his time was limited so he began grabbing the bones of the dragon that was stored in the most organized manner. He said some of Balerion's bones were in the room but were so mixed up with other bones and he needed a complete skeleton from the same dragon for his magic to work. Torrhen admitted that he doesn't actually know which dragon he controls, which is one reason he decided to name it. Or rather, why he had Rhaenys name it."
"I still can't believe he agreed to call his dragon Soves," Tyene grumbled under her breath. "Maesters are going to write books, bards are going to sing songs, and parents are going to tell stories to their children about a dragon named Soves. I bet Torrhen would name a warship Sail and a Valyrian sword Stab."
Oberyn chose not to comment on his daughter's opinion, it was rude but it wasn't like she was saying it in front of Torrhen or Rhaenys so he didn't see the harm in it.
"If he didn't know which dragon it was, how'd he know which dragon head to grab?" Oberyn asked. "Actually, how'd he grab a dragon head at all?"
"Again you're getting ahead of me," Arianne said with a pout. "Just sit back and let me tell the story."
Oberyn laughed. "I'm just so eager I can't help myself. My apologies. Please continue."
"Torrhen carried the bones of the dragon through the cellars into the tunnels. He found an exit out to the beach, or a cove to the beach, or maybe an underwater cave? He wasn't clear on that part exactly. Point is, he spent the rest of the day smuggling the bones out. It would have taken longer if there had been people down in there, but he was lucky that no one tended to go that deep."
"I suppose one person having to carry all the bones of a dragon, regardless of their strength, would take a long time," Oberyn agreed.
"Once he got the skeleton down to the beach, Torrhen had enough room to use his magic to assemble and animate it. He cast his spell but he still needed the head to complete it, but he knew that time was growing short, the Lannister army had entered the city by that point. Rather than run through the tunnels where he might get lost again, Torrhen decided to just climb up."
"Wait," Oberyn interrupted. "The ground outside the city walls that abut the Red Keep are sheer cliff sides. How is climbing that faster than the tunnels?"
"Torrhen said he made his own handholds at times, which is also how he scaled the walls of the Red Keep. I. . . don't actually know what he meant by that or how it would be faster," Arianne admitted. "But I didn't want to appear ignorant so I didn't ask."
"Luckily, I am utterly lacking in this thing people call shame," Oberyn proudly proclaimed, drawing grins from the others in the room. "I will happily ask Torrhen about it next time I see him. So what did he do after he scaled the walls of the Red Keep?"
"He ran along the rooftops," Arianne responded.
"Have you noticed the theme yet?" Tyene drawled. "Because you already know how he rescued Aunt Elia: he went up."
Oberyn chuckled but didn't say anything to this comment from Tyene either. She's developing quite the sharp tongue, it's safe here but I hope she knows to moderate herself when in less trustworthy company.
His niece continued. "So Torrhen snuck into the throne room and grabbed one of the dragon heads off the walls, I think his magic told him which one, and then he sprinted away, deciding not to bother with stealth anymore at that point."
Andrey laughed. "I wish I had been there to see that. Just imagine the looks on the servants' faces as he ran by, an enormous dragon skull held above his head. It'd look like something out of a mummer's tale."
"So Torrhen ran what, to the tunnels? Or to the walls?" Oberyn asked.
"The second one," Arianne answered. "Once he got to the edge above where the dragon skeleton was, he threw the skull over the side. Either he has fantastic aim or he used magic since the skull clearly made it to the dragon. After that, he ran to Maegor's Holdfast but. . ."
"But he didn't make it in time to save Aegon," Oberyn said quietly.
"But he did save Princess Elia and Rhaenys!" Garin said, clearly trying to end the story on a high note.
"That he did," Oberyn agreed. "Something that I willalways be in his debt for."
"Now then, uncle. I told you a story, I believe you owe us one about how you and Torrhen rescued Lady Stark from the Tower of Joy."
~Elia Martell~
Elia sipped on some watered wine as she watched Rhaenys play with Sarella. The two were pretending to be dragons, Rhaenys was Soves and Sarella was Vhagar, and were giving rides to their dolls.
It's taken a month, but I think she's finally forgotten about King's Landing. Good, she doesn't need that burden.
Flying on a dragon, getting to name the dragon, and meeting her cousins had done wonders to return Rhaenys to her normal self. The most noticeable resurgence of melancholy for Rhaenys had been at Aegon's funeral, apparently up until then Rhaenys had assumed Aegon was simply elsewhere and would return to them soon. Elia had been so thankful that her brothers were there, that Oberyn had been able to gently inform Rhaenys that Aegon was truly gone, because she hadn't been able to speak. Even now, her throat still closed up when she tried to imagine telling her tearful daughter that she was an only child.
Happy thoughts, come on Elia. She brought her hands up and gently slapped both her cheeks.Don't focus on things that will make you sad. Smile for Rhaenys.
Elia brought her cup up to take another drink and by the time she set it back down on the table next to her, a pleasant smile graced her face in case her daughter looked over at her.
How long can her childhood last? She's a Targaryen, and our side has basically lost the war. Will I have to send her to the Silent Sisters?
Elia's thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of multiple footsteps approaching. Twisting in her chair, she saw Torrhen, Areo, and an unknown man in mismatched full armor with a face covered helm coming out into the courtyard.
"Areo, finally managed to track him down?" Elia asked, her tone teasing.
Areo was supposed to stay with Torrhen 'as a guide' anytime her rescuer was in the Old Palace, something Torrhen hadn't objected to, but the Northerner seemed able to disappear whenever the mood struck him. He always claimed it was because he had an errand to run out into the shadow city, but Elia didn't know a single person that believed that. That said, she wasn't about to call him on the lie and neither was anyone else, other than possibly Lyanna.
Assuming she ever manages to find him. I really wish he'd just meet with her already, the stress can not be good for the babe.
For all the trouble that Torrhen had gone through to rescue Lyanna, Elia could not understand why the man was hiding from the poor woman.
She's just as uninformed as the rest of us when it comes to Torrhen's motivations. Only difference is her mood swings make her brave enough to try and confront him about it. . . which might be his reasoning.
Areo gave a deep sigh. "Indeed."
"Elia," Torrhen said. "I have a potentially awkward question for you and then I'll get out of your hair and let you get back to watching the kids play."
"My hair? What?" Elia asked as she ran a finger through her locks.
"You people don't have that turn of phrase either? Ugh, nevermind. It means I'll stop bothering you. Sorry."
"Oh, it's no bother. What was your question?"
"How long ago was it that your mother took you and Oberyn on that betrothal tour of the kingdom? Tyrion Lannister was a baby then, I'm trying to figure out how old he is now."
Surely our voyage wasn't enough of an event that they heard about it all the way in the North? Just where does he get his knowledge? Is Torrhen friends with the Spider?
"It was just under a decade ago. Tyrion should have celebrated ten name days by now."
"Excellent!" She couldn't see it, but Elia was sure Torrhen was smiling under his hood based on his happy tone. He turned to the unknown man beside him. "In that case you had best be off Gerold, you have a long trip ahead of you."
Elia blinked as she gave the armored man a closer look. Under her scrutiny, some parts of the outfit became more noticeable. Several pieces were old Kingsguard armor that had been recolored while others were clearly local Dornish styles.
"You brought another of the Kingsguard back from. . . from the dead ?" Elia asked tentatively as the man in question turned around and left. Not for the first time, she wondered if Torrhen could use his magic on Aegon. Based on how queer Arthur was whenever someone engaged him in conversation, Elia knew that being raised from the dead clearly impacted the mind. But that didn't stop her from wondering, hoping, thinking, about what would happen if Torrhen used his magic on her son. Would he be able to grow, have a childhood, become a man, start a family? Or would he come back as wrong Arthur, a near emotionless body that did whatever Torrhen told it to? Maybe one day Elia would be brave enough to ask Torrhen. But she would not risk it now, not when she was still in debt to him for everything he had already done, demanding even more from him could be the spark that started the fire of his anger.
"I did, sorta. He's still kinda dead. Eventually, Clegane and Whent will also be back up and about but that won't be for a while. Wights take a lot of, heh, wind out of my sails."
"I see," Elia said, even though she wasn't sure that she did. "So you're sending Gerold to what? Deliver a message to Tyrion? Take him hostage against his father? Kill him?"
Torrhen waved a hand dismissively as she finished speaking. "None of the above, at least right now anyway. Gerold is just going to Lannisport to wait. It won't be until Tyrion's wedding that Gerold needs to involve himself."
Elia furrowed her brow. "His wedding? The boy is only ten, to my knowledge he isn't even betrothed."
"He's not," Torrhen agreed. "I don't know when Tyrion will get married, but when he eventually does Gerold will be there. But until then, he'll hang out around Casterly Rock and Lannisport."
Elia tried to understand the mindset Torrhen had, that he would send one of the most skilled knights in the Seven Kingdoms on such a pointless errand. Gerold would likely be waiting for years. Torrhen was either insane to waste such a valuable resource or so powerful that he didn't consider Gerold to be that important. She couldn't decide which she hoped was the answer.
"Like I said, that was all I needed you for. I'll leave you to watching the kids play."
Torrhen started to walk off but paused as a servant rushed up to him. "M'Lord, Princess, Prince Doran requests both your presence. A party of Northerners has entered Sunspear alongside Lady Ashara Dayne and her men-at-arms."
"What? Isn't it too early for-" Torrhen cut himself off and started counting on his fingers while muttering to himself until he eventually threw his hands in the air with a groan. "I had Arthur tell Ashara to tell Ned that Lyanna was safe, she even saw Lyanna was safe with us herself. He should still be dealing with Mace at Storm's End."
Elia gazed at Torrhen out of the corner of her eyes. Surely, he wasn't really this simple minded? Even if he hadn't told her to send a message, of course Ashara would inform her lover that his sister was saved by men on dragonback, and being taken to a city that had declared for the other side of the war. And of course such a message would result in a rapid response. Whether or not she had told Eddard that Lyanna was 'safe' was irrelevant given the other details of the story, and unlikely to be believed regardless.
Although, I do wonder why Ashara is here. She should have given birth by now, travel can't be good for a babe so young and I doubt she would leave it. I hope she didn't lose it.
"Let's go greet them and you can get answers as to why they're here," Elia said, standing up from her seat. "Rhaenys, Sarella! I have to go meet some visiting nobles. Do you two wish to stay here?"
The pair stopped in their playing to look over at her and nod.
"Very well. Just make sure you listen if she tells you anything," Elia said, gesturing at a nearby servant that Oberyn trusted to to keep an eye on Sarella when he wasn't around. Elia would have referred to her as a nursemaid but she was pretty sure the woman was a former sellsword from Essos and Elia didn't want to insult her, so 'servant' would remain her title.
The walk through the keep was remarkably quiet. Areo kept a silent vigil, ready to act if Torrhen attempted anything hostile. For his part, Torrhen seemed deep in thought, tugging on the hems of his sleeves and grumbling about butterflies. Eventually, they reached the Tower of the Sun. However, they did not go to the throne room but one of the smaller meeting rooms. Elia saw that waiting outside the room were two of the many midwives that had been assigned to Lyanna. As the group approached, one of the guards at the door opened it without announcing them. Inside, Oberyn and Doran were both seated with glasses of wine in their hands while Lyanna stood off to the side, arms behind her pushing into her lower back. Arthur was off in the corner, doing a very good impression of a statue.
His skin looks paler every time I see him. What will he look like in a month from now? A year?
As Torrhen and Areo entered behind her, Elia heard a series of pops coming from somewhere inside of Lyanna, who let out a groan of happiness. "Oh thank the gods, I think my back might actually let me sit down without hurting now." She turned to look at the three that had entered the room and Elia saw Lyanna's gaze focus on Torrhen. "YOU!"
"Lady Lyanna," Torrhen said as he walked to the nearest seat and sat down. "Good to see you again. I hope our hosts have been treating you well?"
"Don't try to distract me," Lyanna said through gritted teeth as she walked forward to stand in front of Torrhen. "Why have you been avoiding me for the past month? I know you know I've been looking to talk with you."
"Because I didn't want to talk with you," Torrhen said simply.
Elia resisted the urge to blink at him in confusion. There has to be some deeper meaning as to why he just said that, he's not an idiot. Maybe he wants her to be emotional? On the backfoot and not thinking clearly?
Lyanna's face contorted in anger. "You-"
"Should not have said that to the Lady," Oberyn interrupted. "But we are about to have numerous guests so mayhaps you both can put the conversation on hold for the time being? This should be a happy time, Lyanna is being reunited with her brother, after all."
Lyanna grumbled wordlessly but walked over the chair opposite of Torrhen and eased herself into it. Areo moved to stand behind Torrhen while Elia took a seat between her brothers.
"Will Mellario and Ellaria not be joining us?" Elia asked.
Oberyn shook his head. "They are out in the Shadow City, shopping with several of the children. Doran and I didn't want to delay this meeting any longer than it took for you and Torrhen to get here."
"Speaking of," Doran said to the guard outside, who still hadn't closed the door. "Go get our guests and bring them here but only-" Doran paused and looked at the remaining chairs. "Lord Stark, Lady Dayne, and one other. The rest will have to remain where they are."
Once the door was closed, Lyanna spoke, "Why are we doing this here? If we did this in the room with your high seats, the entire group could be present."
"In case, during the meeting, you and your brother get emotional and need to be left alone, it'll be quicker and easier for fewer of us to leave the room," Doran answered.
"Oh," Lyanna said, surprise clear on her face. "Um, thank you."
Doran gave a light smile in response.
Elia kept her face blank but avoided looking at Lyanna to be on the safe side. This girl would be eaten alive in King's Landing, she's hopelessly naive. Doran is limiting the number of Northerners so that we'll have an easier time controlling and directing the conversation. Though there is the danger that Ashara might not be as helpful as we want. Not to mention whatever Torrhen might end up saying.
Smoothing some wrinkles out of her dress, Elia gave herself a quick lookover to make sure she was properly presentable. Doran gave her a nod of approval when he saw what she was doing.
Eddard will want to know that we're treating Lyanna well, obviously. And he'll have questions about Torrhen and the dragon which. . . well, I doubt Torrhen will be any more forthcoming about his motivations with Eddard than the rest of us. Still, I imagine that topic will take up quite a bit of time. When he realizes he won't make any headway, what will Eddard want to talk about? Hmmm, probably the succession rights of Lyanna's soon-to-be child.
Elia's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. One of the guards stepped through. "My Lords, Ladies. Lady Ashara Dayne, Lord Eddard Stark, and Lord Howland Reed."
The guard stepped aside as the three nobles entered the room. Ashara looked as beautiful as she always did, but Elia could tell her friend was not happy. Howland was a surprisingly short man, neither handsome nor ugly. And Eddard-
Elia's jaw dropped and she blurted out, "Torrhen!"
Sure, Torrhen was skinnier and had a large mouth filled with teeth a lion would be jealous of, but Eddard was practically identical to her rescuer. As Elia saw everyone in the room staring at her, her brain finally caught up with her mouth.
I can not believe I said that out loud. And after I just judged Lyanna for her inability to understand political intrigue.
"Have - have you met my brother, my lady?" Eddard asked softly.
If Torrhen had wanted to let his family know he was alive he would have said something, but now Elia had outed him. She had to fix this but she didn't know what to say.
The decision was taken out of her hands when Lyanna struggled to her feet and marched over to where Torrhen remained motionless in his seat. She grabbed a hold of his hood and yanked, pulling it off his head.
Torrhen let out a long breath and looked up at his sister. "I admit, keeping my identity hidden was rather spur of the moment so I guess I shouldn't be surprised it didn't last. Hey Lyanna, how's it going?"
SMACK.
It was a good slap, palm connected to the cheek at just the right angle to produce an incredibly loud sound. Torrhen merely blinked in response and said, "Yeah, I probably deserved that."
Lyanna let out a sob and practically fell forward onto Torrhen, wrapping her arms around his neck. He stood up as she did so, catching her in a hug.
"Torrhen? Is that really you?" Eddard whispered.
Torrhen, still holding Lyanna, nodded over her shoulder. "Yeah, Ned. Little different from before, but I'm still me."
Eddard stepped forward without another word, joining his siblings in a three way hug.
Elia looked to her own sibligings for guidance. She had already screwed up once, she wasn't about to take initiative now. Doran's brow was furrowed as he looked at the hugging trio while Oberyn had a dopey smile on his face.
Of course that's their reactions. Oberyn draws a parallel to us while Doran tries to figure out how to use this information to our advantage.
While Elia wondered whether they should leave the room to give the Starks some privacy, as that was what Doran had told Lyanna after all, the Northern siblings broke apart from their hug.
"Torrhen, just. . . how?" Eddard asked, his voice a mixture of pain and happiness.
Torrhen grinned, showing off his teeth, though the smile didn't reach his eyes. Everyone in the room reacted, Elia shuddered while her brothers looked away. Torrhen's siblings stared, their eyes wide. Ashara stared as well, but seemed to keep her composure better. Areo shifted his weight around. Howland just quirked an eyebrow.
What does the craggoman know? He should have more of a reaction than that. Oberyn did say Lyanna mentioned the people of the Neck were a possible origin of Torrhen's magic.
"The Dreadfort's library includes a number of books of forbidden knowledge," Torrhen explained. "Turns out, some of those can be pretty easy to read if you have the right context to understand their references. Something the Boltons never did apparently, so they didn't mind me looking."
After a moment's pause to recover himself, Eddard asked, "And, that forbidden knowledge. It made you immune to the gray plague?"
I admire your ability to avoid asking your twin the question you so obviously want to. 'What happened to your mouth?' would be the first thing on my mind if Oberyn or Doran looked like that.
"Hmm?" Torrhen cocked his head to the side as he regarded his brother. "What are you talk- oh! Right. I uh, I made that up during one of my moments of lucidity, freed some of the smallfolk and sent them running. Figured it would keep people away."
Lyanna rubbed her hands over her eyes, and Elia noticed that her fingers came away damp. "Torrhen, I'm trying to be understanding but if you don't start making sense real quick I'm kicking you in your manhood."
Elia was having difficulty reconciling the Torrhen that had rescued her from King's Landing with the one standing in the room. One of them was a monster that killed a fully armored and fully armed Mountain That Rides with his bare hands, the other was flinching at the threat of a blow from a pregnant girl that barely stood up to his shoulder.
Is this why he's been avoiding Lyanna? Because he knew he couldn't keep the mummer's act going in her presence? He's not nearly as terrifying as he was five minutes ago.
"Let me give you the simplified story," Torrhen explained. "I found a book about magic, lots of people died, I'm now a corpse sustained by magic and blood. If I expend some of my magic I can animate other corpses, like the dragon outside."
"Gods, I saw it, saw the light glowing in its eye sockets, and I still barely believe it. It really flies? Ashara told me but-" Eddard trailed off as he looked at his lover, who had been silent since she entered the room.
"If I hadn't watched it land in Starfall and later watched it fly away, I wouldn't believe it myself. It's something out of the Age of Heroes."
"Riding it is. . ." Lyanna paused as she searched for the right word. Having experienced it herself, Elia couldn't blame the Stark for the difficulty she was having. "Comparing it to riding a horse is like comparing the summer at Winterfell to the heat here in Dorne, the difference is so staggering it's insulting. Flying through the sky is, it's - pure freedom."
'Pure freedom' is a good way to describe it. The ability to go anywhere, to escape from any of the cares down below. It was so exhilarating and yet so peaceful.
"While I agree the dragon is a big thing to talk about, I think you all are focusing on the wrong piece of information," Howland said. Elia noticed that for such a short man he had a very intense stare, not frightening exactly, but his eyes held focus. "Torrhen, did you just say you were a corpse sustained by blood and magic?"
Elia replayed Torrhen's words in her head. Oh, he did say that. Weird how I didn't notice it. I guess any mention of the dragon does tend to draw attention.
"I was hoping nobody would catch that," Torrrhen muttered before speaking more clearly. "Yes, I am what's known as a vampire. I am just as dead as Arthur over there."
Wait, so Arthur is, in fact, dead? But he can move and talk, how does one draw the line between life and death?
"Wait, my brother is dead?" Ashara asked. "But he told me he was fine after you rescued Lyanna."
"It depends on your definition of dead," Torrhen explained.
Eddard furrowed his brow. "What do you mean 'it depends on your definition of dead'? You're either alive or you're dead."
"Not really," Torrhen countered, waving his finger back and forth "There's alive, mostly dead, all dead, undead, and vegetable. There's a range, is what I'm saying."
"And now you're deflecting onto the Kingsguard that guards you," Howland said wryly.
Torrhen snorted. "Can you blame me? This isn't something I enjoy contemplating, let alone talking about it."
"I'd be a poor host if I let my honored guest be forced into a conversation he wished to avoid," Doran interjected. "So what do you wish to discuss?"
"How about the political ramifications of everything that's happened?" Torrhen suggested as he sat back down and gestured for everyone else to do the same. "There are Targaryens still alive on Dragonstone, so the war isn't over yet. Will Dorne continue to support the dragons or will you bend the knee to the stags?"
"That depends entirely on what we're expected to do with Elia and Rhaenys," Doran said solemnly. "King's Landing has shown itself to be unsafe for Martells, so I'll not send either of them back into that wretched hive of scum and villainy."
Torrhen started coughing but waved off the attention when Doran paused.
"I have no desire to put Rhaenys on the Iron Throne, not that the rest of Westeros would accept her if I did," Elia said. "I will happily have her renounce any claims and rights of inheritance from her father's bloodline if I get to raise her safely here in Dorne."
And Elia meant it. Her marriage hadn't been terrible, Rhaegar treated her well and wasn't abusive towards their children which was why Rhaenys deserved to grow up knowing about her father's heritage and what that entailed, without demonizing or hating it. But Elia would do whatever was necessary to keep Rhaenys safe, and if that meant cutting out that part of their lives and just being Dornish, that was what she would do.
"Well Ned, you know Robert the best. Think he'd agree to that?" Torrhen asked.
"Out of sight out of mind? Possibly," Eddard said, running a hand over his face. He glanced back and forth between Elia, Doran, and Oberyn before sighing. "The issue is when Robert found out that a Lannister knight was found dead, another missing, and that Rhaegar's family had escaped, he was not happy. He felt you all had, well - escaped justice, for what happened to Lyanna."
Elia felt herself tensing as her emotions battled with each other, each trying to win out. Anger, fear, indignation, envy, protectiveness, and so many others. Elia saw Oberyn start to rise out of his seat, a snarl on his face, but someone beat him to the punch.
"What the fuck, Ned!?" Lyanna shouted. "That's the man you've been trying to talk up in your letters?"
"He was worried for you-"
"He doesn't even know me! Elia's been nothing but kind to me since I got here, and Rhaenys is an innocent little girl. I wouldn't wish ill on either of them, the fact that the oaf doesn't know that just-"
Lyanna paused in her rant and clutched at her stomach.
"Lady Stark, should we call a midwife in?" Doran asked, worry clear in his voice.
"I think-" Lyanna stopped with a whimper and a tremor ran through her body. "I think that's a good idea."
"That is absolutely my cue to leave," Torrhen said firmly, standing from his chair.
"What is it with men that have no fear of blood on the battlefield, but the potential of blood on the birthing bed sends them running in terror?" Ashara snarked.
That was rather out of character for her, I really need to sit down for a talk with her when we get a moment alone.
"I drink blood, my lady," Torrhen snapped as he pulled his hood back over his face. "I'd rather not risk losing control and sucking my sister dry just because I caught her scent."
Torrhen walked out of the room at a quick pace, Areo following silently behind him. The pair stopped only long enough to send the midwives in before disappearing down the hall.