It seemed King's Landing was more interesting than before. When Oberyn had arrived in the stinking city, he expected the usual: long feasts, a wedding, plotting, more plotting…a trial though? A Lannister trial? When Oberyn first heard of it, he laughed. Finally, a Lannister brought low!

As a loyal brother would, Oberyn wrote about it gleefully to Doran – Doran did not reply yet, but he had always been slow in replying. No doubt there'd be a vast stack of letters on his letters before he would respond to one.

"My prince, the trial will start again in ten minutes."

Oberyn languidly stirred his goblet of Dornish red with a spoon. He glanced up at the sixteen year old Perros Blackmont, one of his new squires that had came to King's Landing with him. "What do you think, Blackmont?" Oberyn said casually, moving the spoon and sipping his wine. "Reckon she is guilty?"

"You are the judge my prince," Perros responded. "Do you think she is guilty? I hear Lord Baratheon will present more evidence today. Detailed evidence. I don't know how he got his hands on detailed evidence, but he did."

The children are his evidence. "The men here think themselves honourable and chivalrous," Oberyn said thoughtfully, standing up. "Protecting their women from danger and cruelty – which happen to not include themselves. Blackmont, do you know what the people here call love?"

"No my prince."

"They call love the deadliest of poisons in the world." Oberyn couldn't resist a small disdainful laugh. "What do they know of poisons?"

"Not as much as you my prince."

Oberyn grinned. He liked Perros Blackmont – the young man was never afraid of stating a blunt opinion or two from time to time. Besides, Perros was always a good drinking companion. "Love is no poison," Oberyn declared, standing up and leisurely walking out of his well-furnished guest chambers. Someone had put two tapestries – both depicting House Martell's sigil – on the wall. How thoughtful. He wondered if it was the Baratheon king's idea. He dismissed it immediately. From close observation over the last couple of months, Robert Baratheon had cared lot more about his whores than even his wife. Why would he care about the Dornish lords and ladies? Did he care about anyone but his string of whores and that long dead Stark girl whom he hardly knew? Oberyn shook his head. Only a bloody fool would love the dead more than the living.

But you love the dead too. Elia, Rhaenys…

"Ah! My lord of Dorne! Just the man I need to see. Now." Oberyn did not know whether to smile or scowl at the Fat Flower of Highgarden who stood barring his path to the Great Hall. Oberyn slyly grinned at Mace Tyrell. "Lord Tyrell," he said as pleasantly as he could muster. "I have been here for months and now you wish to welcome me! How…delightful."

The Fat Flower didn't even try to smile back. "Tell your Dornish friends to stay away from my niece," he said bluntly.

Oberyn frowned. "Your niece?"

"Lady Desmera Redwyne. My sister's only daughter. I caught a couple of your men leering at her in the most dishonourable manner. Tell them to stay away or they will feel the wrath of Highgarden and the Arbor."

"They are not my men, Lord Tyrell. They are friends, or relatives, or both." He chuckled as Lord Tyrell seemed a little confused. Fool. "I can assure you, my lord, that all of them are honourable. None of them will even think to harm one hair of your precious niece."

"She is to be betrothed!" the Fat Flower warned, wagging a plump finger as an over zealot septon would to a sinful man.

"Oh?" Oberyn couldn't resist saying. "To whom?"

"Not a Dornishman!" snapped Tyrell. He gave him a curt nod and marched off, almost colliding into Lord Dagos Manwoody who was heading into the Great Hall with his two sons Mors and Dickon and his brother Ser Myles. Shaking his head a second time, Oberyn sauntered into the throne room, his vibrant orange and red robes swirling around him. He winked at Ellaria who was watching in the gallery before sitting down on the king's left. Lord Eddard Stark had already claimed the seat to the king's right.

"Prince Oberyn," Lord Stark acknowledged with a nod.

"Lord Stark," Oberyn returned. "Have you decided upon a verdict of yet? It had been made clear to me that as you are the Master of Laws, you will have the final say. Even over His Grace." He smiled as King Robert grunted, "I told Ned that he's to have final say over this damn trial. Stannis insisted on fair justice – I would've declared Lady Cersei guilty in a minute if he wasn't so bloody adamant on having his wife judged guilty fairly. I never understand Stannis." Oberyn tapped a few of his fingers on the table thoughtfully.

"You cannot deny that Stannis is just," said Lord Stark reluctantly.

The king snorted. "Just," he growled unpleasantly. "Let's get this trial done."

Oberyn watched the doors open and over a dozen Baratheon guards usher Ser Jaime and Lady Cersei in. He saw Stannis line the children in front of them and he winced. Using children as evidence…so cruel. Baratheons are never kind to their children, Oberyn thought sadly, catching a glimpse of a tear running down young Tommen's cheek. Though Robert Baratheon did not kill Rhaenys, he was glad she was murdered. If Rhaenys had lived, would he have killed her? Yes. Even with one Targaryen girl huddling in the shadows of court, Robert Baratheon would not be able to sleep at night until she was disposed of. What of the king across the water, the true king? Would he have all the Baratheon children executed for the crime of being the children and nephews and nieces of the usurper king?

No stags could sleep well knowing the dragons were still alive and no dragons could rest comfortably with the knowledge of stags still roaming around.

"Lord Stannis," Lord Stark spoke. "This morning you told us here about Robart Baratheon and Lanna Lannister, Joren Baratheon and Malora Lannister, Stanwell Baratheon and Alysane Lannister, Roland Baratheon and Meredyth Lannister and Gowen Baratheon and Tya Lannister. They were Baratheon-Lannister matches in the past. You had also read from this book" – he tapped the huge, heavy book on the table in front of them – "written by Grand Maester Malleon. You stated not all of them had issue, but those who did, yielded children of black hair and blue eyes, features present in you yourself my lord, His Grace and Lord Renly. Do you have any other evidence connecting to that, my lord Stannis?"

"I do my lord," Lord Stannis answered. "It is well known that Her Grace Queen Catelyn's family have auburn hair and blue eyes – look at her niece Lady Sansa of House Arryn. The late Lord Arryn was said to have blond hair yet Lady Sansa has inherited the Tully trait. Lord Tully's sons and daughters by Lady Leyla also have auburn hair and blue eyes. Only the queen's children do not inherit the Tully hair. The Lannisters too have the familiar traits of blonde hair and green eyes in their family, but how often do those traits appear in the children of ladies of Lannister and other nobles?" He pointed to the book. "My lord Stark, if you look inside, you will see that the children of many Lannister women take the hair and eye colours of their fathers, not Lannister mothers." He waited as Lord Stark opened the vast book and flipped to a page on House Lannister. Oberyn glanced at it briefly a few seconds before Lord Stark flipped to a page on House Marbrand. Johan Marbrand, Oberyn read silently, born the first son to Ser Jason Marbrand and Lady Johanna Lannister. Brown of hair and brown eyes.

"How do you know Myrcella and Tommen are bastards of incest though, Lord Stannis?" inquired Lord Stark. "The Lannister traits are strong – perhaps it seeps in Myrcella and Tommen."

Lord Stannis grinded his teeth. He then pointed at a tall young man with thick, black hair, blue eyes and a confused expression. "This is Gendry Waters," he said calmly, "one of His Grace's illegitimate children. His mother was a worker in one of the alehouses in King's Landing. According to the detailed notes left behind by the late Lord Jon Arryn, the woman had blonde hair."

"How do you know Lady Cersei committed incest?"

Oberyn leant forward with interest. It was one thing to accuse one's lady wife of adultery, but incest?

Lord Stannis pulled out pieces of paper. Oberyn snuck a glance at Lady Cersei. She no longer carried that haughty look she had in the morning. "This one is from Lady Cersei to Ser Jaime," Lord Stannis announced. "It was written after Tommen was born." He walked up to Lord Stark. "Read it if you do not believe me my lord Stark. It is written here, clear as day." He produced another letter. "This is a letter from Lady Cersei to me. Same handwriting I believe."

Lord Stark glanced at the two pieces of parchment before giving both of them to the king who in turn handed them to Oberyn. "My dearest Jaime," Oberyn read aloud. Lord Stark hissed at him to cease talking. Oberyn ignored him. "It had been months since I last tasted you," Oberyn went on with a snicker, "or felt you inside. I feel so incomplete without you, dear brother. I need you. I had another son, Jaime. A future heir of Casterly Rock. A full-blooded Lannister, this one. A little cub. I named him Tommen before Stannis could give another one of my sons a horrid Baratheon name like Borros or Raymont or may the gods forbid, Davos, after his precious little Onion Knight. I wanted to name the babe Loreon – a true Lannister name – but as I was not allowed to name my firstborn Joffrey, I doubt Loreon would be accepted. I'll be eagerly waiting for your reply. Your sister, Cersei of House Lannister." Smirking, he gave that letter and the other one back to Lord Stannis who remained stoic as the courtiers present tittered and whispered.

"How did you find it?" Lady Cersei uttered, her face white with rage.

"You acknowledge that you wrote it, my lady?" Lord Stark asked.

"I never sent it! I never even wrote it!"

"It is in your handwriting my lady," Lord Stark pointed out. "You did ask, 'how did you find it' too. Now I'll ask you again my lady: is this letter yours?"

"No!"

Lord Stark looked unconvinced. He looked at King Robert who said loudly, "Is there anyone here who will speak for the Lady Cersei?"

A dark, shoulder-length copper haired man in his thirties stepped forward, his silk tunic emblazoned with an orange burning tree, on a smoky field. "I will speak for the Lady Cersei Your Grace," he declared. "I am Ser Addam Marbrand, the sole son of Lord Damon and heir of Ashemark."

The king nodded. "Speak, Ser Addam."

"Your Grace," Ser Addam began, after the High Septon had sworn him to speak only the truth, "I had the honour to have served as a page in Casterly Rock during my youth. During that time, I became familiar with both Ser Jaime Lannister and Lady Cersei Lannister. Whenever I saw Lady Cersei, she was a perfect lady. She'd never act wantonly or unseemly and was virtuous."

"And Ser Jaime?"

"Always wanted to be a knight in his childhood Your Grace. He'd focused more on learning to be the best swordsman than sleeping with maidens and harlots. A lot of maidens offered themselves to him too."

"After hearing all of Lord Stannis's evidence against Lady Cersei, what do you have to say about it?"

Ser Addam hesitated – only for a second but Oberyn caught it. "Lady Cersei's a good and virtuous woman," he said without falter. "If she says that letter was not written by her hand, then it isn't. Perhaps my lord Hand thinks that accusing the Lady Cersei of adultery and incest will weaken House Lannister enough for all of the debts to House Lannister can be forgotten or forgiven. If that is the case Your Grace, then all the evidence said is false, even if Lord Stannis swears it to be true. Maybe Lord Stannis desires for his heir to inherit both Casterly Rock and Storm's End thus forcing his second son to embark on a martial career. Noticing Tommen having the Lannister blonde hair instead of Baratheon black, maybe Lord Stannis decided to have him disinherited on some ridiculous charge."

"That is outrageous Ser Addam!" snapped Lord Stannis, crossing his arms.

Oberyn could not help but scoff. The grim Stannis Baratheon concocting such a shocking plot just to secure Casterly Rock for his heir? "That is quite a thought," he smirked. "What makes you think it is true?"

"What other possibility is there Prince Oberyn?" said Ser Addam testily.

"Will anyone else speak out for Lady Cersei?" said the king loudly.

To Oberyn's surprise, a septa stepped forward. Though she was covered from head to toe in grey cloth, Oberyn suspected she was highborn by the gracefulness of her walking. He was also reminded of the time he bedded Tyene's mother, that fair-haired septa with the plumpest red lips he'd ever kissed. Oh, that was quite a memorable night at Oldtown.

"I'll speak for the Lady Cersei Your Grace," she said calmly. "I am Septa Adalais. I taught Lady Cersei in her girlhood and supervised her. Whenever she was in my sight, she acted with proper decorum."

"What of the time when she wasn't?" questioned Oberyn. "Can you still swear by the Seven that she was as virtuous as the Maiden?"

Septa Adalais stared at him icily.

"Well, Septa?" prompted Lord Stark.

"Only the Seven knows," the septa answered, "but it was my duty to watch the Lady Cersei from dawn to dusk, which I did. She'd never displayed inappropriate actions under my watch my lord."

"We will resume tomorrow," the king declared, standing up. "Return Ser Jaime and Lady Cersei to their cells." He headed out of the throne room. Oberyn turned to Lord Stark. "No discussion?" he asked.

"I believe the king is bored," Lord Stark said uncertainly. "I'll be happy to hear your input, Prince Oberyn. Do you believe Lady Cersei committed incest?"

"I have no love for the Baratheons or Lannisters," said Oberyn bluntly. "That is a fact. I would not be here if it wasn't for my brother Prince Doran wishing for us Dornish to have better and more peaceful relations with the Iron Throne. I heard I am to be an advisor on the Small Council – the king's idea?"

"Lord Stannis's actually."

Of course. "I do not like Baratheons, but I cannot believe Lord Stannis to be an excellent liar, or even a good liar. Did Ser Addam seem a little hesitant to you?"

"Yes. I found his testimony…useless. People change and Lady Cersei could've. I am willing to believe Lady Cersei was a virtuous maiden in her youth, but what of now? Her defence rests on her childhood, even with the septa's testimony. I don't think that will help Lady Cersei very much."

Oberyn nodded in agreement. "Lord Stannis's evidence is quite strong. All that about the Baratheon traits was quite clever. I must say, Stannis Baratheon knew what he was doing during that trial. You think she's guilty my lord?"

"That letter proves incest and adultery. However, I don't believe she would've left it lying around in her chambers for Lord Stannis to find."

"Oh?" Oberyn's black eyes gleamed with interest. "Reckon it was planted?"

Lord Stark frowned. "Planted?"

"A marvellous word I learnt from a Summer Islander. Do you think that letter was put there on purpose?"

"Perhaps by one who despises Lannisters." Lord Stark's grey eyes lingered on Oberyn. "Lord Stannis wouldn't write it. Maybe someone who wishes to cause an unnecessary amount of discord between Houses Baratheon and Lannister."

Oberyn chuckled and rubbed his hands. "You sound like you are accusing me! I admit I am a strong suspect, but I can assure you my lord Stark, that I have never set foot in Storm's End. Well, I have visited the Stormlands with Elia, but as there were no Baratheon girl suitable for me, my lady mother decided not to take us to Storm's End." He quietened. Perhaps they should've went to Storm's End. Maybe Elia would have married Robert Baratheon. At least then she wouldn't have been raped and murdered by Tywin Lannister's ruthless dogs. No, Robert Baratheon's as bad as Rhaegar Targaryen. He wouldn't love Elia or care for her; he would still turn to fuck his favourite whores.

"…Lady Cersei is still guilty though," Lord Stark was saying.

"Quite so," Oberyn murmured, his thoughts occupied by Elia. They were more sadder reflections, not the contemplations of revenge that had oft consumed him since the day he received news of Elia and Rhaenys's deaths. "Who'll be the brave one to inform the old lion of Lannister? One of us will have to tell him that both of us – and His Grace most likely – plan to announce the verdict soon."

"He already knows."

"Oh?" Oberyn was more bemused than surprised. "Is there anything else that I need to know about, Lord Stark? When did you tell Lord Tywin the news? Was it done to rob me of a chance to see the proud lion fall?"

"Not at all Prince Oberyn. Surely you were at court the day Lord Tywin arrived, seeking an audience?"

Oberyn was disappointed. "I see. Did he grovel at least?"

"He offered to forgive the king of all the Crown's debts to House Lannister. It'd been quite generous of him but Lord Stannis refused to negotiate. He said naught will change his mind from getting justice or something."

"That's not surprising. I admit I do not know Lord Stannis that well, but from a brief chat with him the other day, I learnt he loves justice as much as his brother the king loves his whores." He smirked again as Lord Stark's expression changed from solemn to uncomfortable. "Come now Lord Stark, you know it is the truth is it not? One brother loves his harlots and the other justice. Aren't all brothers like that? Well, Doran loves patience more than justice."

"Forgive me Prince Oberyn, but I promised to watch my son Bran train today. I am afraid I'm already a little late."

Oberyn nodded. "Until tomorrow then Lord Stark."

Lord Stark dipped his head. "Prince Oberyn."

Feeling the need for another cup of Dornish strongwine, Oberyn headed to his chambers. Perros Blackmont was nowhere to be seen. Probably off to spend time with Lady Myria Jordayne, pondered Oberyn, opening the door of his room. Over the last few weeks, Perros had spent more time with the Jordayne heir. The Lord of the Tor didn't seem displeased with him either.

"Prince Oberyn."

Oberyn instantly reached for his dagger. He laughed as he saw his unexpected guest was the Spider. "Lord Varys," Oberyn said cheerfully. "We meet again."

"It has been some time Prince Oberyn," said Varys the Spider softly. "I thought it is time for us to meet here at King's Landing and talk. I believe the last time we met and had our…little chat, was in Blackhaven. You went to visit the young Lord of Starfall and I went as a beggar." Oberyn nodded. He poured himself a goblet of wine. He poured another and offered it to Varys who declined with a smile. "How fares the trial for Lady Cersei?"

"You are the Master of Whisperers," Oberyn pointed out. "You tell me."

The eunuch giggled like a girl. "Was my letter well-received?"

Oberyn was taken back. "Your letter? Why do you want her deemed guilty? Do you know what will happen to Tommen and Myrcella?"

"For the good of Westeros, my prince. For the true cause. Both the honourable Lord Stark and the king will declare Lady Cersei guilty of adultery and incest. You, my prince? Innocence? I can assure you that she is guilty, but say you declare her innocent, what then?"

Oberyn crossed his arms. "Why will I save the life of a Lannister?"

Varys lowered his voice to half a whisper. "The Old Lion will not live for much longer. Do you not wonder why the Imp Tyrion did not speak? If he does, he will lose his chances of inheriting Casterly Rock. When he sails, there will be war. The Lannisters won't fight for King Robert, but what if they fight for him? A Lannister always pays his debts. Declaring Lady Cersei innocent is enough for you to earn a place in his debt list."

Oberyn considered it. Either way he was to fight against the Baratheons when the fateful day came. "It will be good to have another ally, no matter how uneasy," he said at last.

The Spider smiled. "Indeed my prince." His smile disappeared when he placed a heavily powdered hand on Oberyn's. "My condolences too."

"Your condolences?" Oberyn frowned. He wasn't aware that someone close to him had died. "For what?"

The plump eunuch's eyes widened. "You haven't heard, Prince Oberyn?"

"Heard what?" said Oberyn impatiently. He hated being in the dark.

"I am so sorry Prince Oberyn. Your brother Prince Doran…he is dead."


I haven't actually written a court scene before, with judges and witnesses and everything, so it was interesting and a new experience for me :)