Arianne IV

Her daughters tried to hold back the tears without success.

"Is father going to come to say goodbye?" asked Shireen. Just looking at her watery blue eyes made her want to cry too. This is all your fault, a voice said to her in her head. You're going to leave your daughters without a father because you couldn't settle for Dorne, you wanted Westeros.

"Of course, he'll come, " replied Arianne trying to comfort her with a smile. "He has to organize the last preparations to set sail tomorrow, so he's taking so much delay, that's all."

"Why does he have to leave so soon?" asked Nymeria by pulling her arm. "Can't he stay a little longer? He promised me that when he came back, he'd take me for a ride on one of his ships."

"Your father has... very important issues to attend to that require all his attention," Arianne said. Shireen was old enough to understand what war was and what it could suppose for her family, but she didn't want little Nymeria to think that was the last time she could see her father. "I'm sure as soon as he gets back, he will take you on that trip he promised you, and if he doesn't, I'll do it in his stead."

"But he promised me!" squealed her daughter.

"And he will keep his promise," she answered as she tried to soothe her by stroking her hair, as black as hers, Stannis's and her older sister's.

"Are you going to leave too?" Shireen inquired. The worry and sadness in her voice was completely palpable.

"No. Not for the moment at least. With your uncle out and your grandfather so weak, I have to stay in Sunspear to organize certain matters."

At least until I find someone I can entrust them to.

She didn't want to abandon her daughters, but to tell you the truth, staying in Sunspear made her feel terribly powerless. With a fledging war, the last thing she wanted to do was stay there directing finances and palace affairs while her husband, uncle, cousins and friends fought thousands of leagues away. She may not have the ability to lead Stannis's armies, nor the fighting ability of Obara or Nymeria, but she was sure she could be useful in some other way.

"Then ... won't you come with us to the Gardens?" said Nymeria.

"I'm sorry, but I have to stay here. Although I'll go see you as much as I can. You'll have to take care of your grandfather for me. Do you think you can do it?"

They both nodded, but that didn't make the sadness disappear from their faces.

"That's the way I like it, now you should be getting your luggage ready for tomorrow. Shireen help your sister, will you? In the meantime, I'll see if I can find your lord father."

"You won't have to look much, then," said a voice behind her back, from the door.

"Father!" exclaimed her daughters rushing quickly to hug him. Arianne kept surprising how much they both loved Stannis with how distant he used to be with them. Arianne knew that he loved them despite how much it was hard for him to show it and was glad to see that both Shireen and Nymeria recognized that as well.

Although she was taller than Arianne at her age, Shireen's arms could barely surround him above his hip and Nymeria's arms only reached his knees, but that disparity in heights made the scene seem terribly tender.

Hopefully, in a few years they'll be as tall as he is. Gods, let him come back safe and sound.

"You're done sooner than I imagined, really. Have you finally dared to throw out all those lords and petty knights who keep begging you for your time?" asked Arianne curiously.

"It has been several days since almost all of them left to meet with the rest of the army on the Marks. It was just one last meeting with the captains, nothing more," Stannis replied as he tried to hug his daughters awkwardly. The gesture would have been funny if he hadn't been doing the same thing since Shireen was born.

"Bah, you could have followed my lead. My version seemed so much better to me."

"If you're so upset about the time I spend in those meetings, maybe you could attend in my place. For the nonsense I have to hear them say, anyone might as well go " complained Stannis.

"Not in a million years, that's much more fun. I love how they then come to see me, full of sweet words, trying in vain that I can change your mind. Oh, my princess, couldn't you talk to your husband about taxes? My beautiful lady, there is a matter of some lands that I would like to deal with you... And on and on. Sometimes I get the feeling that those poor things are going to cry on me seeing how bad you leave them," Arianne replied approaching them.

"If you feel so bad for them, you could always talk to them in the first place. I remind you that you are the princess of Dorne, if I do this it is on your orders."

"And I remind you that you are now the king of Westeros, you could stop if you wanted to. I'm afraid I no longer have any power to order you to do those boring tasks," she said, pretending to be sorry.

"Precisely because I am king now, I have to keep doing it."

"You could leave it to someone you can trust," Shireen interjected. "All kings have had a Hand of the King that helped them rule. Now that you're king, you should have one too."

Her husband was pensive for a moment before the advice of his eleven-year-old daughter. "Yes... you're quite right, Shireen. It's about time I picked a Hand."

"I pray for the wretched poor man who will receive the post" laughed Arianne.

"If I'm honest with you, you're one of the first people I've ever thought of to fill that position, Arianne," Stannis said. If she didn't know him well, she'd thought it was a joke, but the moment those words came out of his mouth, Arianne knew he was completely serious, which made it even funnier for her.

"I'm sorry, honey, but I'm afraid I must reject your generous offer," she said with a laugh. "People would talk too much. Besides, I'd be the first woman to hold office, I'm sure many of the lords of the kingdom would disagree. No, all of them will."

"At present most of the lords of the kingdom are traitors in the service of Joffrey or Renly. If they keep their heads when this war is over, they can be considered lucky. And the Dornish lords will not protest, on the contrary, that the future ruler of Dorne being the Hand of the King will seem much better to them that it being a northerner, a Stormlord or any other for that matter," Stannis replied.

"You seem to forget that Dorne's future ruler is also your wife. Many will consider it nepotism," Arianne said, reminding him of the obvious.

"They will think the same of whomever gets the post. Anyway, we'll talk later, your father wanted to see you now. Meanwhile... think about it."

"I will, but I promise you nothing. Did my father tell you what he wanted to see me for?"

"He didn't mention it, " replied her husband. And of course, it didn't occur to you to ask him either…

Arianne suspected that her father's intention was not to say goodbye to her. If so, he could well do it tomorrow before they departed to the Water Gardens. No, she was sure her father had another motive. Any more revelations about his past plans perhaps?

The fact that her father knew about her plan from the beginning was something Arianne had not yet fully assimilated. That and that her dear cousin could have betrayed her. Ever since her father told her everything, Arianne had been unable to even speak to Tyene, and virtually everyone who roamed the palace seemed like her father's spies. How long have you been watching my movements?

Arianne felt like a ghost as she swarmed around the Old Palace towards her father's quarters. The corridors of the palace had been practically deserted for several days, except for a few dozen guards and the usual servants who came and went. When they bowed to her as she passed past them, Arianne studied their faces and all she was able to think about was how many of them she could trust.

Probably none.

"Arianne" Daemon Sand greeted her when he crossed her as she came down of the stairs.

"In public you should speak of me as Your Grace, Sir Daemon," Arianne told him in a tone perhaps too abrupt. "I didn't expect to have to remind you of that."

"Your Grace" repeated Daemon obedient, but she perceived some anger in his tone. "Your father sends me to accompany you to his rooms. If you have the goodness to accompany me."

"I know the way," Arianne said coldly, leaving him behind. "War must be extremely dangerous if I need escort even here."

"The Spider has spies everywhere," Daemon said as he tried to keep up with her. "And Lord Renly could also have sympathizers in Dorne. Every precaution is short, my princess."

"My queen" Arianne reminded him for the second time. Daemon's impertinence was beginning to disturb her deeply and all she wanted was to get to her father's rooms at once so he would leave her alone. When they were young, she and Daemon had been very good friends, but as the years passed, they became more and more estranged. When Arianne married, their relationship became ice-cold. Years later she discovered from Tyene that Daemon had been in love with her since they were children. He had even been about to challenge Stannis for her hand, though in the end her uncle stopped him.

Seeing it in hindsight, the signs were obvious. I had to be so blind so I couldn't see them.

"Oh, but you're still princess of Dorne, aren't you?" said Daemon smiling.

"If my uncle and my cousins didn't have you in such high appreciation, I swear I'd make that smile disappear from your face, Daemon. Don't think that because we were friends, I'm going to tolerate this lack of respect. Tell me, has my father really sent you or have you just come to annoy me?"

"Sorry Ari... my queen. I didn't mean to bother you. If my jokes have caused you any discomfort, I beg you to forgive me. I saw you so stressed and I thought..." answered her once-friend.

"That your stupid jokes would cheer me up? If you really want to cheer me up, bring me Renly and Joffrey's head, saying which... shouldn't you be with my uncle and the rest of the army? Why are you still here?"

"Your husband..."

"The king."

"The king asked me to go with him and the fleet tomorrow when they set sail. I am one of the few Dornish who knows what a fight is on the open seas and he thinks that I might be more useful to him in that way, although... I'm worried."

"Worried? About what?"

That surprised her to some extent. Daemon had always been bold and impulsive, that something would cause him concern was not common in him.

"You, the war... All. Nobody knows where we set sail, Arianne. Some say we're going to attack Lannisport, though most people think it's King's Landing where we're headed. There's only silence."

"As you said yourself a moment ago, there may be spies everywhere," Arianne said. "It is vital that the enemy does not know where we intend to attack. The fewer people know, the less risk we are taking."

"Do you know?" asked Daemon.

Yes.

"No," lied Arianne. "I have attended some of his court-martials, but not all of them. I imagine only his closest generals and captains will know."

"Perhaps he should expand his circle of trust. Rumors are heard among the soldiers, and not exactly good ones. It is said that the Onion Knight has defected, among others. That the war is lost before it even starts."

"And you, what do you think?" replied Arianne. "Do you really think Sir Davos would abandon us? Do you really think the war is already lost before we begin?"

"No, but it's hard not to do it when our chances seem so slim."

"The Starks and the Tullys have joined our cause. And soon more and more lords throughout the kingdom will join us. It's still too early to give up."

"I... I will trust you, my queen," Daemon said.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, old friend, " replied Arianne smiling. "We will triumph, have no doubt. You'll soon see the gods smile at us."

"Heh. Looks like I've managed to cheer you up in the end, Arianne."

"Yes, it may be. It seems to be reciprocal, though. I'm glad I saw you before you leave, Daemon. Take care."

"That, I always do, ha, ha. By the way, you should talk to Tyene. She told me you haven't spoken to her since you came back, and she's worried about you. I know you're very busy lately but try to make some time for her."

"Goodbye, Daemon" cut him Arianne. She didn't want to hear about Tyene. Not that day.

She left Daemon behind and finally entered her father's rooms. As usual, Hotah stood guard at the door, with his large halberd in hand. Arianne wondered how he could continue to do that work day after day without even looking tired. And not to mention how boring it had to be to be to be all day looking after someone who could hardly move by himself. If she had been in his shoes, she would have died of boredom years ago.

"Captain" she greeted him.

"My queen. Your father is waiting for you inside," Hotah replied.

At least someone still has manners in this palace.

Hotah struck the floor with his halberd and let her pass.

When she entered, her father was lying on his bed, covered with a blanket up to his waist. His eyes were closed and for a moment Arianne thought he was asleep. However, as soon as he heard her coming in, Doran Martell opened his eyes to look at her.

"Arianne. I thought it would take you longer to get there," her father said.

"Did you think Daemon would entertain me? Is that why you sent him? Or was it to spy on me?"

Arianne didn't want to have started that conversation so abruptly, but when she saw her father she couldn't contain herself. She had been with that accumulated rage for several weeks now and wanted to let go of it before her father went to the Water Gardens.

"No, I just thought that seeing an old friendship again would help. These last few days I have noticed you... changed."

"I wonder why it will be, " replied Arianne with cold irony.

"Don't be so insolent, Arianne. If Tyene told her father what you were planning, it was because she was worried about what your plan might entail, not because she was disloyal. If she did what she did, it was to protect you."

"She betrayed my trust. What do you call that but disloyalty and betrayal?"

"Your husband knows a lot about law and justice, do you want us to ask him? I'm sure it will give us a very interesting point of view."

"Don't you dare threaten me with that, Father. Don't forget your hands are as bloodstained as mine. You wanted revenge on Robert and Tywin Lannister, and you saw that my plan was pretty convenient for you. Now we're accomplices, whether you like it or not."

"What do you want?"

"I want to know everything. I want to know who you're spying on, who your informants are and what you're planning. Others may consider you a weak, harmless old man, but you don't deceive me. And finally, I want you to stop spying on me."

"Believe me or not, I don't spy on you or follow your movements. You are my daughter, Arianne, and it is my duty to protect you, including from yourself. It's the same thing your uncle and your cousins do. We are a family, and we must protect ourselves and help each other. Don't forget."

"Enough of the secrets then. Tell me everything."

"The same goes for you. When were you going to tell me that Stannis wanted to name you Hand of the King?"

And you said you weren't spying on me, were you?

"He just told me. How did you know?" Arianne asked.

"He told me before he went to see you. He also asked me to occupy that post, but I told him that with my current state of health I am not the right one to hold that position. You on the other hand..."

"I'm not the right one either. Dorne's customs are very different from those of the rest of the kingdom. The nobles of Westeros will not accept it. If we want to attract more allies to our cause, I must not be The Hand of the King."

"Hmmm..." sighed his father. "Yes, it will definitely be hard for many to accept it, but I still think you should take the post. You've spent quite a while away from Dorne since you got married and know how to move in court."

"I am no longer in King's Landing, " Arianne reminded him. "Here there are no arrogant nobles to please or ambitious advisers to contempt. Stannis needs someone to help him in his battles, and there I am completely useless."

"You're wrong, Arianne. Wherever a king goes, there will be ambitious power-hungry individuals who, in many cases, will be needed on our side. Your husband may be many things, but he has never been charismatic and has never been able to negotiate when it has been necessary. Not all wars are won on the battlefield, Arianne, you know it."

"Hmph, it's okay, I'll think about it. Although I still think it's a terrible idea."

When she finished talking to her father, the sun had almost disappeared on the horizon. Returning to her daughters' rooms, she observed that they had already went to bed and were sleeping peacefully.

Damn it, I'm too late. I hope Stannis is still awake.

She looked at them as they slept for a few moments and closed the door gently so as not to wake them. Luckily for her, her husband hadn't gone to sleep so soon, even when he used to get up early. When she entered their rooms, Stannis was sitting eating what appeared to be dinner that day.

"Hmm? Oh, you're back. And you say that I spend too much time in my meetings," Stannis said.

"I've been thinking about it," Arianne said, ignoring her husband's pun. "And I'll accept your offer."

"I'm glad to hear that. What made you change your mind?"

"What do you want me to tell you? I'm incapable of resisting your charms," Arianne said provocatively. "But before I accept, I have a condition."

"What is it?"

"I don't want you to leave me behind. I don't want to stay here while you go from one side of the continent fighting battle after battle."

"It is not wise for you to come with me. War is not a game; it will be dangerous..."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to fight. But my duty as Hand is to advise you, and I cannot do that if we are each on one side of the continent."