In Dorne…
Sailing into the Dornish harbor from the Greenblood River, King Daveth I Baratheon, Queen Sansa Stark and their household attendees had finally arrived in Dorne. The weather was hot, dry and contained a fair certain amount of humidity in the air; as such, some had small beads of sweat trickling down their faces and necks due to the heavy cloth and armor. Sers Lucius Blackmyre and Jaime Lannister slightly squinted their eyes to avoid the sun's rays.
"Seven hells, this place is hot…" Olyvar Frey complained.
Being of the North, Sansa wasn't used to the heat nor had she ever ventured this far south before—yet her primary concern were the babies in her arms, Prince Lyonel and Princess Cassana. Acting on maternal instinct, Sansa acted to keep her children cool and hydrated. Lyonel and Cassana stirred, apparently uncomfortable with a new, unfamiliar environment.
"It's okay, little ones," Sansa gently reassured her son and daughter. "We'll be out of the sun soon, don't worry."
Meanwhile, Ariyana Dayne felt a warm breeze flow past her long black hair, sniffing the air in nostalgia. 'I'm home,' she reminisced before turning to the King and Queen. "Welcome to Dorne, Your Graces."
Daveth loosened his collar, adjusted the leather strap around his shoulder which attached his late father's war hammer to his back; his Valyrian steel sword Stormbringer remained sheathed at his waist. Despite feeling hot and somewhat thirsty, the Young Stag was certain of the objective at hand.
"You ever been to Dorne, Ser Lucius?" Olyvar asked.
Lucius didn't move. "One time," he said.
"What about you, Ser Jaime?"
Jaime shook his head. "No."
"Ariyana—"
"I was born here, Frey," she cut him off. "A rather dumb question to ask me."
"Is it true that the Dornish are crazy?"
Ariyana frowned. "Clarify."
"I've heard from Oberyn that all they want to do is fight and f—"
Sansa quickly turned her head and cast a long, hard death stare in Olyvar's direction, prompting him to clamp his mouth shut when he noticed the twins in her arms.
"Don't even think about using such foul language in front of the children," she hissed.
Olyvar waved his hands. "I-I'm sorry, Your Grace!" he apologized. "I… I was just curious about Dornish culture. It's just… I-I've… never left the Twins before."
"You'll have time to ask them soon enough," Lucius pointed to the port. "Seems they've been expecting our arrival."
Indeed, standing at the pier stood Prince Doran Martell, his brother Prince Oberyn Martell, his brother's paramour Ellaria Sand and three of his nieces birthed by Ellaria, all of whom were fathered by Oberyn. Daveth was certain to have some questions about why Oberyn abruptly resigned his post on the Small Council and left without informing him first; but that could wait for a while. He noticed the Red Viper's jaw angled in the opposing direction and retained a slight discoloration in his cheek. No less as a consequence of getting punched by the Mountain.
"We're here," the Pentoshi merchant captain pulled the boats into the harbor.
Stepping up, Daveth raised his arms out to Sansa to transfer one of the twins over to him. Cautiously placing his right arm underneath Cassana's head, he brought his arms closely and brought his daughter up to him as Ariyana and Olyvar assisted Sansa onto the docks, with Lucius and Jaime close behind.
"Well, well. We meet again, Oathkeeper," Oberyn greeted them.
Daveth nodded. "Prince Oberyn," he returned. "You left King's Landing without saying so much as a word to anyone. I trust it was nothing serious?"
"It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. You kept your end of the bargain, it's true, but I had to report back to my brother in Sunspear."
"Still, a head's up would've been nice." He turned to the Prince of Dorne. "Prince Doran," he greeted.
Doran Martell remained seated in his wheelchair. "Welcome to Dorne, Your Grace. On behalf of House Martell, we thank you for accepting our invitation. I trust your journey here was not a weary one?"
"Not at all. In fact it was an anticipated moment most of us at court had been waiting for."
"Your country is quite lovely, Prince Doran," Sansa complimented. "Exotic, exciting… the Dornish must be very proud."
"Oh?" Oberyn noted. "Well if that's what you believe of us, then perhaps we should schedule a touring of Dorne one day so you could be… fully acquainted with the rest of us."
"One day, but that could wait until the negotiations are concluded," Doran said.
Sansa raised a curious eyebrow. 'Negotiations? Daveth, is that why we're really here?'
Areo Hotah stepped forward. "As a precaution, the Prince has asked that you relinquish your weapons to us. He wouldn't want a rather… unfortunate incident to occur in our lands."
Daveth looked at the tall, halberd-wielding captain of the Martell guard. Of his Kingsguard, only Ser Jaime Lannister was the one who appeared visibly uncomfortable at being stuck in a distant land surrounded by a noble house that despises his own without having a weapon to defend himself or others. The Young Stag gave a brief nod.
"Very well," he spoke. "I'll give mine as a gesture of good faith, but I'm afraid that I must insist that my Kingsguard be permitted to keep theirs for security purposes."
Areo frowned, gripping his halberd. "The Prince insists—"
"Captain. It's fine."
Turning to Prince Doran, Areo reluctantly steps aside as Daveth hands over his iron spiked warhammer and Valyrian steel sword Stormbringer to the Dornish guardsmen—noticing with some amusement at the sight of how some were actually straining under the weight of the Baratheon warhammer as they carried them off. Ser Lucius nodded his head in approval as the Kingsguards kept their weapons locked in their sheaths; it was a small compromise, but a fair one nonetheless.
Doran turned to Ellaria. "Have our handmaidens prepare a bath for the Queen."
"You're very kind to offer, Prince Doran," Sansa curtsied, "but I must see to my son and daughter before—"
"We'll get them settled in," Ellaria offered. "Trust me. I've got four children of my own with Oberyn so we've more experience in raising children."
Sansa was rather uncertain, but opted to follow Ellaria Sand and a dozen Dornish handmaidens to bathe her twins before taking a bath herself. The Dornish climate was a rather hot one, and both Lyonel and Cassana were fussing about—whether for attention, to cool off or for food. Either way, Sansa looked back at Daveth who nodded his head motioning her to continue on ahead of him. Once out of earshot, Doran Martell looked at Daveth more closely as the assembly began their stroll towards the Water Gardens.
"Your sister Princess Myrcella has been asking for you lately," he mentioned.
Ser Jaime watched as his nephew tensed up a bit.
"I know. I haven't seen her in over three years. Has she been giving you trouble?"
Oberyn chimed in. "Not at all. She's looked uncertain at first, but your sister's adjusted to Dorne quite nicely."
"That's… good to know. I want to believe Myrcella's been happy here."
"You have my word," the Red Viper nodded. "We don't hurt little girls in Dorne."
Daveth glanced at him. 'If only that were true; everywhere in the world, they hurt little girls.'
"Would you like to see her?" Doran asked, catching the Young Stag off-guard. "The talks can wait at least for another day until you've at least settled in."
"You'd do that?" he let word slip before recomposing himself. "I mean…"
"Oberyn will show you the way."
The Red Viper led Daveth, Olyvar, Jaime, Lucius and Ariyana in the other direction away from Doran and the Martell guardsmen. "The Water Gardens are this way," he implored.
As the royal host followed Oberyn Martell through the catacombs of the Dornish vineyards and swimming pools, the Young Stag felt as if his nerves were becoming unsettled at the realization of actually reuniting with his sister Princess Myrcella Baratheon. Indeed, it had been many years since they last saw each other. Daveth had planned to make it up to his sister for not being able to keep in touch with her as he promised. There was so much he wanted to tell her.
His uncle Ser Jaime, on the other hand, continued eyeing his nephew whilst on the way to reunite with his "niece". Jaime knew Daveth would be a man of his word and keep her true parentage a secret, yet he also understood that there would eventually be a time when some people would start talking about it.
At the Water Gardens…
Converging on the Water Gardens with Oberyn Martell leading them, Daveth adjusted his collar—still not used to the Dornish heat. Indeed, only he, Jaime and Lucius were somewhat bothered by it, but not Ariyana. Being the only Dornish in the Kingsguard, Ariyana was more adaptable to her homeland's climate. Even so, the Young Stag was led into the Water Gardens before ultimately stopping in his tracks.
"Here we are," Oberyn announced.
Daveth felt as if the wind was knocked out of him; before his very eyes he saw his sister Myrcella snogging with the young man he assumed to be Trystane Martell.
"Well, well. The Princess seems to have made herself at home," Lucius quipped.
Jaime and Daveth both nearly frowned, but the Young Stag redirected his gaze at the scene. Myrcella had grown into a beautiful young woman, having inherited their mother Cersei's looks but none of Cersei's cruel personality. Last time Daveth saw Myrcella, she was but a girl; looking upon her now… the Young Stag found himself struggling to find the words.
"There she is…" Daveth reminisced almost breathlessly.
Oberyn almost seemed to detect his brief sense of hesitation. "You sound conflicted. Don't you even want to say hello?"
"It's… not conflict, per se; though I suppose it's a bit hard to accept the fact that Myrcella's a woman grown now."
"And that makes you sad?" asked Lucius.
"Not in that way," he denied. "Seven hells… this is harder than I thought. She's got a new home now. A new life. Has been for years. Given everything that's happened, I'll just complicate that for her."
Lucius, shaking his head, gripped his King's shoulder. "Listen to me, lad. We know you'd never intentionally jeopardize your siblings' future or livelihood. Princess Myrcella doesn't need to know any of the details, but would it really be so difficult for her to know she has an older brother who loves her? A brother who practically raised her?"
The Young Stag's head spun with debate; whether or not to go. His face turned, glancing at his feet before returning his eyes towards Myrcella. "No, I suppose not…" he confessed reluctantly.
Oberyn joined in, giving Daveth a nudge forward. "It's all right, Oathkeeper. Talk to her."
Daveth inhaled through his nostrils and out his mouth. "All right. Here we go," he readied himself. "Ser Jaime? I'll need you to back me up here."
Not understanding exactly why his own nephew would call out to him for reinforcements, Jaime Lannister accompanied Daveth through the Water Gardens to approach Myrcella and Trystane. He noticed with slight amusement at noticing the fact that his own nephew was more nervous than he was, but then again… so was Jaime.
Daveth approached with Jaime at his side, mentally preparing himself for the long-awaited reunion. Luckily for the two, neither Myrcella nor Tyrstane heard their approach. Stopping in front of them, the Young Stag stood tall.
"'Cella," he called out.
Myrcella and Trystane immediately stop kissing and turned around. Myrcella's ears perked up at the familiar nickname she was called during her childhood; her eyes widened in surprise and slowly released herself from Trystane's embrace.
"Daveth? I-is it really you?" Myrcella asked in disbelief.
Daveth looked down briefly before returning to meet his sister's gaze. In turn, Myrcella recognized her eldest brother standing before her. Last time she saw him he was clean shaven and stoic, but now here he was bearing noticeable scars and had grown physically stronger. Both Myrcella and Daveth had changed over the years, though they were still able to recognize one another.
Giving a brief nod, Daveth confirmed his presence was real. Myrcella felt a wave of emotion wash over her at first before her face broke into a huge smile and rushed over to embrace her brother, catching him momentarily by surprise. Daveth glanced down at Myrcella and ran his fingers through her lush long blonde hair.
"I've missed you, big brother," Myrcella sighed in his chest.
"I missed you too," Daveth replied.
"You looked different when I left. You had… less scars."
"I know. But look at you. You've grown into a lovely young woman."
"And you look like an old man."
Daveth blinked. "Wha…?"
Myrcella giggled cheekily.
Lucius laughed. "She's got you there, Your Grace."
"Laugh it up, Ser Lucius," he grumbled sarcastically.
Even Jaime found his "niece's" Myrcella quick-witted barb amusing. Just as Tyrion was the only one of Lord Tywin's three children to inherit his keen mind, both Daveth and Myrcella were the only two of Cersei's four children to inherit the famous intellect running in the family – meaning that Myrcella is essentially the intellect of Tywin or Tyrion put in the beautiful body of a young, teenaged Cersei; Daveth was quite similar, though his intellect was put in the powerful body of a young, stronger Robert Baratheon.
Once Myrcella was done with her chuckle, she cleared her throat and decided to introduce her betrothed to her brother.
"Allow me to introduce my intended, Prince Trystane of House Martell," she introduced him. "Trystane, this is my older brother, King Daveth of the House Baratheon, the First of His Name."
Trystane approached and knelt to one knee. "It's an honor to finally meet you in-person, Your Grace. Indeed, I am Trystane Martell, son of Prince Doran Martell and heir to Dorne," he spoke politely. "Your sister speaks highly of you."
Daveth grew more serious. 'At least the boy knows his manners.' "You may rise."
Trystane stands up.
"This is Ser Lucius Blackmyre and my uncle Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard," Myrcella pointed out.
"Excellent. Good to meet you," Jaime said shaking hands with Trystane.
Myrcella noticed Olyvar staring at her. "And you are…?" she asked curiously, having never met this stranger before.
"Oh! Ah, um. I'm Olyvar of House Frey, my Princess," he introduced himself. "I'm His Grace's squire."
"A squire? Well, that's a new one."
The heir to Dorne glanced to his left and saw a familiar face. "Aunt Ari?" he acknowledged. "You're in the Kingsguard too?"
Ariyana nodded. "Good to see you too, Trystane. And yes, the King appointed me to his Kingsguard some years ago."
"Good to see that Dorne gets a voice in the Kingsguard again," he noted.
Daveth looked at Ariyana. "I take it you've been acquainted with young Prince Trystane?"
She nodded. "Of course, Your Grace. 'Aunt Ari' was what he always called me when I was his father's ward."
Embarrassed, Trystane scratched the back of his head. "Ahem!" he cleared his throat. "I'm sure you all must be tired from the long journey here. Please, let us go inside. House Martell extends to you our hospitality."
Daveth nodded as Myrcella looked up at him.
"Please tell me you brought the twins with you," her face lighted up.
"They are," he answered. "Sansa's giving Lyonel and Cassana a bath right now. They'll be joining us momentarily."
Myrcella nearly squealed. "Oooh! I can't wait to see their little faces!"
'Ah… apparently she's been in touch with Sansa.'
"How's it like? Being a father?"
Daveth shrugged. "A lot harder than you think."
As Trystane and Myrcella led Daveth, Olyvar, Jaime and Lucius inside the private leisure palace, Ariyana stayed behind with Prince Oberyn. Once they were certain Daveth was out of earshot, Oberyn turned to Ariyana.
"You're certain about your reports on this boy?" he asked her. "My house was gracious enough to take you in after your mother and uncle died."
"I know, Prince Oberyn," she replied.
"So, what will you tell my brother?"
"I'll tell him the truth." Ariyana hands over a rolled up parchment sealed with purple wax. "Here's what I've been able to gather on the Young Stag. It could be useful during the negotiations."
Oberyn noticed. "Then let's hope our gambit pulls off."
As the Red Viper leaves to inform Doran, Ariyana is left in the Water Gardens alone.
'I'm sorry for the deception, Your Grace,' she somewhat lamented, 'but it was necessary. All of us in Dorne needed to know more about you first.'
Somewhere in the Dornish desert…
Locke along with the Bastard's Boys and the Bastard's girls had already helped themselves to whatever wildlife they were able to hunt along the Dornish coastline. Snakes, fish, whatever they could catch. The wanted fugitives chewed on the small amount of meat as the vicious hounds barked and snapped at each other fighting over scraps; Ramsay Snow's advice of their aggression flaring up upon their arrival in Dorne.
"Vicious bitches," he observed, cooking a snake while watching the Dreadfort's kennelmaster Ben Bones reigning in the hounds.
"Down girls. Down!" he shouted.
The more common a large, muscular, black-haired dog bit down hard onto a bone contested by a smaller, more slender brown-haired dog. The Bastard's girls were indeed a ferocious bunch even when hungry; but this small meal did little to satisfy their hunger.
"Be a shit way to die, eaten alive by one of those bitches," Damon Dance-for-Me said indicating Grey Jeyne.
"There is always shittier ways to die," Skinner noted. "Nothing's worse than having your back against the wall and an entire continent huntin' ya."
Locke spat. "Don't care how a man prefers his method of death, so long as the winner reaps the reward."
"How disappointing," Sour Alyn noted. "Thought you'd want an exciting life not a boring hunt."
In a fury Locke punched Sour Alyn, startling the hounds and caused them all to begin barking loudly.
"Quiet! Shush!" Ben Bones ordered.
A horse neighs in the distance. Locke looks around and spots a group of Dornish riders approaching.
"How many do you count?" he asks.
Damon Dance-for-Me observed. "Four," he answered.
"We can take them."
"The hounds are always hungry for more meat. Figured we'd give 'em more before we march on the move again."
One of the riders notices them. "Halt!" The rider holds up his hand and the party stops, having spotted Locke and his men. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
Locke was running out of patience.
"Swords in the sand! Now!"
"Over my dead body," he growled.
They pull out their swords. Damon Dance-for-Me puts his down in the sand, and then flings a knife into the throat of a rider. He then kills another, stabbing him and knocking him off of his horse. A third charges him, and Locke knocks him off of his horse as well. However, he survives. The Bastard's girls barked and lunged forth, clamping their jaws tightly around the fallen Dornish rider and tear him to pieces.
"AAAAAHHH!" he screamed in terror before his throat was torn out.
Outnumbering the Dornish riders 15 to 4, Ben Bones unleashes all the hounds on their attackers.
"Rip 'em, girls! Rip 'em!" he ordered.
One by one, each of the vicious hounds attacked the riders, one of whom is revealed to be larger than Locke. Surrounded on all sides, each of the Dornish riders are pushed back down a hill and falls off their horses before each are individually mauled by the hounds. Ignoring the sickening sounds of the hounds chewing meat and bones crunching and blood spurting everywhere across the sand, Locke picks up each of the Bastard's Boys' fallen adversaries' weapons along with their Dornish attire for disguise.
"This should get us inside," he examined.
Damon Dance-for-Me wiped his face of the blood. "So… where to now?" he asks.
Locke's face scrunched and readily sharpened his blade. "Sunspear. Abduct the Princess, and if we spot the Oathkeeper… kill him. Leave no witnesses."
Chapter End
Author's Note: Sorry this took a while guys, but lately I've been called back into work so uploading each chapter might take a while. Besides that we've got a brother-sister reunion, a Kingsguard keeping a hidden secret and Locke finds his way into Dorne—potentially diverting from the original plan and plotting to carry out an assassination attempt. What are your opinions on the viper and stag's first encounter and what of the secret Ariyana's kept hidden to herself that only Oberyn himself knows about? Think it'll affect her standing in the Kingsguard? Thoughts? Let me know.
Guest #4: Please continue
Guest #3: I really do not see how the thing with Daenerys going to play out, Daveth will pretty much have all the seven kingdoms on his if Dorne become loyal and fights for him.
Guest #2: Is Dorne going finally join the seven kingdoms again.
―Stay tuned.
Guest #1: Great Chapter can not wait for more.
Mac55: Uh... a Prince demanding A King to give up his weapons?
―Diplomatic relations between the Martells, Baratheons and Lannisters are strained at best; so best not to push their luck.
C.E.W: Will Locke's ship captain sell him out to the Sand Snakes. like that ship captain sold Jaime in series?
―Stay tuned.
Crusade: All I want in life is thick thighs and longer chapters...
Zurver: Dorne better be staying in their line and not up to anything against Daveth
kira444: The plan failed the moment he said kill the king. Because it's not like the Mountain got wrecked by that same king and his peeps. Oh wait...
chase manaena: this was very interesting cant wait for the next chapter
The Last Kenpachi: 15 idiots think they can kidnap the princess and kill the king? Laughable.
RHatch89: Awesome update :)
―Thanks.
mpowers045: They better be dead before they start their mission
Silent Wolf Singer: Love this chapter. The awkward reunion and realizing they each have grown up.
10868letsgo: Ohh! wonder will drama happens and Ramsey finally be killed?
The Three Stoogies: Have to agree with zabuza what is dorne up to keep up with the good work
Moshi: Does Ramsey really think they can out smart the Dornish and just easily smuggle into Sunspear, kidnap and kill someone and no one would know?! Besides, they are at the Water Gardens...oopsie guess they didn't do their homework. They just need to die already. A couple of white guys in Dorne, with dogs, oh yes they stand out like a sore thumb.
Hear My Fury: Yeah great job Locke. No really a brilliant move. Kill the king when he's surrounded by warriors who could take you with their hands tied behind their back plus the freaking Red Viper of Dorne. And the Sand Snakes. Brilliant. Aside from that. Holy Shit is Ariyana Sansa's Half-sister? Oberyn said her mother and her uncle died. That must mean Brandon Stark right? She couldn't have been raised as Doran's ward for only a few months after Ned died. In fact, Ned was alive when she was introduced. I am loving this story. Can't wait for the next one!
ZabuzasGirl: ok what the hell is Dorne up to? They better not be causing trouble.