Chapter III
A/N: Finally there will be some kid povs! Which I hope turned out well. Thank you to SAL Stratton for your help! SSD
Oberyn breathed in the salty ocean spray, a cold breeze pimpled his bronze skin, as he watched his children play around on the deck of the ship, barely doing their best to not get in the way of the sailors.
The young dragon, his sister's good-brother, Viserys, sat beside him, his nose deep in some book about the Targaryen dragons. The boy was mostly good-natured but preferred to keep to himself rather than play with Oberyn's boisterous brood.
Not that they minded.
Tyene and Sarella were currently pressing their half-brother, Jason, into abandoning Obara and Nymeria's pirate crew and into joining their own, and he was stuck between a rock and a hard place as none of Oberyn's daughters were ones a sensible person would want to be pulled between.
"I'm a better captain, my birth mother is an actual pirate!" Sarella cried, tugging Jason by his hand towards her.
"But he was part of our crew first!" Nym argued back.
"My suns and stars, finish your game and leave your brother with his arms still attached! I'm sure Elia and Dorea have woken from their nap with your Ommi, and will want your company," Oberyn interjected, breaking up the inevitable fight before it even began. His children all loved each other dearly, but all inherited his short temper. "I'm sure the crew will appreciate having the deck to themselves for a while also, hm?"
"But we're not done playing!" Sarella whined.
"And it's better up here! It's boring in the cabin, Abbi" Jason added, but all the children let themselves be ushered into the guest cabin below anyway.
Ellaria, her belly slightly swollen with child and glowing with motherhood despite sea sickness, smiled gently as the children all piled onto the makeshift bed on the floor that they had made to accommodate all of them.
Nym plucked little Dorea from Ellaria's lap onto her own, as they all settled down, while Elia crawled towards Oberyn, already a father's girl.
Jason plopped himself down in front of his father, Tyene and Sarella claimed either side of Oberyn's paramour, and Obara and Viserys found their own spots on the sea of furs and pillows.
"Why couldn't we stay upstairs and play?" Tyene complained, nuzzling into Ellaria's shoulder as the woman petted her blonde hair.
"Why don't we talk about what we're going to do on our trip in the North?" Ellaria suggested, "I heard that Winterfell has hot springs in its Wolfswood. I'd very much like to explore those."
"I would like to visit their Godswood. I have read about the North's Old Gods in books Maester Caleotte lent me, and I want to see the Heart Tree! They have faces in them, that bleed tears of blood!" Tyene answered, excited to discover more about a different religion.
"What about the rest of you?" Oberyn questioned, cuddling little Elia in one arm, and wrapping the other around Jason's shoulder. "Jason?"
"Areo Hotah has a shield made from Ironwood that only grows in the North. I want to go see the Ironwood groves and get a shield of my own."
Oberyn nodded, intrigued himself as to how the Northerners tempered the wood to make it so strong.
"Sarella will want to explore the library, right, little sister?" Sarella bobbed her head yes to Nym's words, "And I want to see Winterfell's glass gardens. Maester Caleotte said it's so warm underneath the ground from the hot springs that they can grow all sorts of plants and flowers there!"
"Obara, what do you want to see?" Ellaria pressed the quietest of their brood.
"I wish to sail to Bear Island. The women train as warriors and mate with bears. I want to spar with them and ask them if the second part is true too."
The older of the children and the two parents chuckle at the thought.
Oberyn knew that it was unlikely to be true. The North was not Dorne, and bastards were not as freely accepted by the nobility, not as he had accepted his children. Obara, Nymeria, Tyene and Sarella all had different mothers, different lovers of his from all walks of life, and Ellaria, his one, his true love, his paramour, had given him Elia and Dorea, with a new blessing gestating in her womb. The Mormont children rumored to be sired by bears were likely just bastard children, and their she-bear mother had come up with a bold lie to excuse their lack of a father.
If the North accepted it, who was he to judge?
"I just want to meet my niece and nephew. I never got to meet Daemon and Visenya before Lord Stark took them back North." Viserys looked sad at that, and Oberyn felt for the young man.
Before becoming a ward of Dorne, the young dragon had been isolated by his mad father, having only his mother and his septa for company. Now he was constantly surrounded by people who were not quite family, yet more than his father and brother had ever been to him.
"Do you think it's true that they're half-wolf savages? That they were born with little furry tails?" Tyene giggled at the thought.
"Where did you hear that?" Ellaria questioned, amused, however, at the image of two little human babies with stubby puppy tails.
"We heard Morra and Mellei talking about it while they were packing our trunks." Nym shrugged, not as bothered about the two young wolf-dragons as her siblings, or Viserys. She was happy for him, however, as he had wanted to meet the newest additions to House Targaryen for quite some time.
"I met a child once that was described to me as this wretched, little monster. His elder sister showed him to me, and it had turned out to be just a baby, as pink and as normal as any other. Perhaps smaller than most other babies, but still just a babe," Oberyn told them, thinking back to his visit to Casterly Rock all those years ago. Elia, his sister, had been with him, and she had cooed over the little dwarf babe, regardless of Cersei Lannister's vile words about him. His wife had been a hateful thing, even as a young girl. "I think young Daemon and Visenya will be just like that. Maybe you will even make friends with them. I think that would make your Aunt Elia and cousin Rhaenys happy."
"Prince Oberyn…I heard someone say that the twins were Sands, like Ellaria and the girls are. That they were really Ser Arthur Dayne's children, not Rhaegar's," Viserys hesitated, likely afraid he would be punished for his unasked questions. Aerys had been a violent man, and, while his mother had done everything that she could to keep her son from facing his wrath, Viserys had sometimes suffered the brunt of it. "That isn't true, is it? Rhaegar is their father, isn't he?"
"Where did you hear any different?"
"Lord Connington and Lord Velaryon."
Oberyn sighed.
Jon Connington had too much to say about things he knew extraordinarily little about. Even as Rhaegar's favorite advisor, Connington had been kept out of Ned Stark's negotiations with the King as the wolf did not trust him and had insisted upon his lack of involvement.
His sister wrote to him often about how the new Hand of the King abuses the power that comes with his position, as the Master of Whispers often has his little birds report their secrets to the Queen, and how Rhaegar refused to see it. If he thought that he wouldn't be the first person suspected, Oberyn would find a way to slip manticore venom into his food.
And now, it appeared, the man was even spreading spurious rumors about innocent children, but for what purpose?
"King Rhaegar signed a document declaring that the children are his, that Lady Lyanna and he were married by a Septon and thus both babes were born legitimate. Lord Connington is an ass."
Changing the subject quickly Oberyn reminded, "On a happier note, it will be Daemon and Visenya's tenth birthday during our visit."
This brought a smile to the face of his squire, who said, "I already have their gift with me. It is a book on the voyages of the Sea Snake, Corlys Velaryon."
Daemon had climbed up one of Winterfell's towers to see if the Dornish were near yet. He had been doing this for the past several days.
Having never been outside the North, he and Visenya were more than happy to see people from other parts of Westeros. The two of them had been born in Dorne, but raised in the North.
Dorne was even further away from Winterfell than King's Landing. And yet they were making the trip. Why hadn't their father ever visited when the Capitol was closer?
Both he and Visenya knew better than to ask about their father. Questions about him only infuriated their Uncle Ned and Ser Arthur.
Unlike the days before, Daemon saw the banner of the sun and spear of the Martells. A smile on his face, he began to make his way back down to where Visenya was waiting for him. She only liked climbing trees to jump into the hot springs in the Godswood. Visenya was motioning with her hands for him to hurry before their aunt caught them.
His feet had barely touched the ground when she came into sight. Both he and Visenya gave her winning smiles that did not fool her at all, judging by her narrowed eyes.
Deciding not to scold them this time, she asked, "Did you see the Martells coming?"
"Yes!" Daemon was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Come along, it's time to get you two ready for their arrival." Aunt Cat shooed them along to their rooms."
Ned had been more than a little concerned as to how the pack of children would get along, given that their families had been on opposite sides in the war. He was delighted that the kids were integrating well. The training had taken a new turn with learning how to combat a different fighting style particularly against spears.
Arthur was a part of the demonstration of fighting with a sword against a spearman. Prince Oberyn was using the spear. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the guards making bets about the outcome of the fight. Daemon, Visenya and Robb were watching with eyes the size of serving plates and cheering Arthur on. Whereas the Sand Snakes and Jason Martell were busy cheering their father on.
By the time Ned arrived at the sparring match, it was well underway with everyone cheering on their favored contestant. Arthur was having to work at it for a change.
Still the outcome was what he suspected it would be: Arthur standing on his feet and Oberyn stumbling back up from the ground. They said a few words in Rhoynish to each other and left the arena.
Ned then saw everyone exchanging money over the results of the betting. No one particular person seemed to be getting all of the money. He noticed his niece, nephew, and oldest son eying the betters exchanging money. All he said was, "You are all way too young to gamble."
His niece and nephew's birthday celebration had been energetic to say the least. Kids running amok and adults drinking a bit more than they usually would. Still it was clear that Lord Stark was happy that Daemon and Visenya were letting their guards down more than they usually would.
Viserys suspected that even they had heard the rumors that disputed their parentage in the South. Here in the North, they were seen as Starks by the other Lords, their clothing clearly represented as such.
Many it seemed, had forgotten that they were Targaryens as well. Probably on purpose. Both North and South preferred to think of them as either Starks (in the North) or worse Sands/Snows (down South).
It was time everyone was reminded that Daemon and Visenya were just as much dragons as direwolves. That was why Viserys was making a trip to Wintertown. He had gotten the name of the seamstress who had his niece and nephew's measurements.
Viserys was going to pay her handsomely to get some clothes with Targaryen colors for Daemon and Visenya. He already had the pins to hold up the capes to go with the outfits he had in mind.
Viserys had to get back to Winterfell quickly. Apparently, there were some late gifts from Great Uncle Aemon from the Wall for the twins. And oddly, himself.
The gifts had to be of great value, especially since his great uncle had delivered them himself.
Aemon watched as the trio he had requested entered Lord Stark's study and took them in.
Viserys seemed to have escaped the dynastic madness that had taken his father and elder brother. For now anyway. He was proud of his heritage.
Then there were the twins. Rhaegar had started a war to have them, raped their mother, and then cast them away when they were no longer of use to him. As happy as he was that Daemon and Visenya were being raised in the North, Aemon probably was not the only one who thought that it was foolish of Rhaegar to have them being raised outside of his purview. They knew more of their Stark heritage than their Targaryen. They certainly favored their mother more in looks, their eyes and bone structure were more their father.
The gifts he had brought would educate them more on the latter. He wanted to give them these gifts before he lost his sight completely.
Lords Stark and Reed were the only others in the room. The twins, despite having just turned ten were fidgeting.
"I am losing my sight. There is no way around that. However, I have some gifts to give you, so that you three might have a chance at showing Rhaegar that his prophecy is untrue."
At that he said, "Lord Stark, would you open the trunk?"
As soon as it was open and the three objects were in sight, even with his failing vision, Aemon could tell that that Viserys, Daemon, and Visenya's eyes were the size of serving plates.
"Seven hells, are those-" Viserys started before Lord Reed interrupted, "Your Highness, those are exactly what you think they are. Perhaps now it is time to pick your egg?" The Crannogman glanced towards Aemon, who nodded.
"Ladies first," Viserys motioned his youngest niece forwards.
Aemon eyed Visenya closely as she took in the eggs. They were dark blue, forest green, and silver. After a short time, she picked up the dark blue egg saying, "This one feels warm to me."
"So does mine," Daemon said as he picked up the silver egg that had been Aemon's own.
"My egg as well, Viserys continued as he cradled the egg in his arms.
These three are likely the hope for new dragon riders. Rhaenys as well most likely. Gods help us if Rhaegar's chosen ones get their hands on dragons, Aemon thought to himself before saying, "I would suggest that you three keep what you just got quiet. I do not want them taken from you."
Of the time that Visenya had spent in her room, much of it was spent looking at her dragon egg that she hid in a new trunk that her Uncle Ned had gotten her specifically for that purpose. Daemon and Uncle Viserys had also gotten new trunks.
Daemon had been spending little time with her of late. He, Robb, and Jason Martell were tearing all over the place. She missed having her brother and cousin to herself.
The Sand Snakes however were fascinating company. Among other things, they were teaching her to take advantage of her smaller size than most of her potential opponents. In other words, they were teaching her how to fight dirty. Especially Obara.
Upon hearing a knock at the door, Visenya quickly put her egg back in its trunk and shoved it back under her bed before calling out, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Vis. Uncle Viserys has some new clothes for us and he wanted to give them to us together," Daemon answered.
She crossed the room to open the door, her brother and uncle entering. Both her and Daemon sat down on her bed.
"I had ordered these made for you two before we got our… gifts," Viserys continued on with, "I thought it was high time you two reminded Westeros that you are as much dragons as you are anyone else in the royal family."
Visenya took her package after her brother. Upon opening it she saw that it was a suit of clothes in Targaryen colors with a cape. There was a pin of the three headed dragon sigil of the royal house that they belonged to.
"Why don't the two of you get dressed for the evening meal? Show off your new clothes." He left the room.
Visenya was glad that Uncle Viserys had not gotten her a dress. It was a little more feminine in style than Daemon's attire, but it was still easy to get on her own.
Daemon also got dressed equally as quickly. As they made their way out of her quarters, they were trying to secure their capes with the pin.
"Here let me help you both," their uncle said and quickly secured both of their capes, before saying with a happy smile, "Let's go show the castle that there are three dragons in residence!"
Visenya exchanged a glance with her brother, who nodded with a smile of his own. She took her twin's hand and followed their uncle to the Great Hall.
Ned had agreed with Viserys that people needed to be reminded of the fact that Daemon and Visenya were still a royal prince and princess without mentioning the dragon eggs. When they entered, it made everyone take notice.
Looking around the hall, he took in his guests. Catelyn was unbending some of her misgivings about bastards and was talking with Ellaria Sand about their children. Prince Oberyn was talking with Sansa and his daughter Tyene about plants and their various uses. Obara and Nymeria were talking with the older Mormont women. It took everything to get Sarella out of the library.
The girl would sleep in any library if her father allowed it! Ned thought. Daemon, Robb, Jason, Visenya and Lyra Mormont were talking amongst themselves happily. Ser Arthur was well within range if something happened.
Arya had snuck into the hall to pester the older Sand Snakes about fighting. Both took it in stride.
The door had opened, and it was Maester Luwin with a letter and a grim look on his face. When Ned was given the letter, he knew it would not be good.
It had the royal seal on it, and the paper the letter was written on was of the highest quality.
Briefly scanning the letter, fury boiled up inside him. Barely suppressing an outburst, he caught the eyes of Arthur, Oberyn, and Howland. He motioned for them all to come with him. This was a topic for his solar, and not within the earshot of curious children.
"What is it?" Arthur asked upon arriving and shutting the door once they were all in.
"I just got a letter from King's Landing. It seems that our illustrious king has summoned his twins for presentation before the court like they were animals in a menagerie," he said, voice emanating anger.
A/N 2: So… What do you all think of the kids? What do you think of their gifts, from both Aemon and Viserys? Valyrian steel will come at a later date.
I have cast Arthur Dayne, it is Henry Cavill as Geraldt from the Witcher.