Oberyn was beginning to like this brothel that Littlefinger owned. The women were fit and frisky and even the manager Lord Baelish had left in charge was beginning to grow on him.
"So you like guys and girls equally?" The manager asked confused. Oberyn smiled and took a sip of his wine.
"That surprises you?" Oberyn chuckled.
"Everyone has their preferences," the man purred.
"Half the pleasure of the world is lost when you choose," Oberyn replied, stroking the man's defined jaw. He motioned with his head to the two whore working on Ellaria.
"The gods made that and it delights me," he smiled. He ran a finger across the other man's hips and down his back.
"The gods made this and it delights me," he said and gave the man a sharp slap to the ass.
"One day you will wake up, old, fat, impotent and realize all the pleasure you have missed out on," Oberyn finished, glancing over at his paramour.
"Even the prince of Dorne?" The man asked. Ellaria chuckled and flipped over, crawling over the man to get to Oberyn.
"He is the prince of Dorne. Boys and girls alike will line up to fuck him until the day he dies," she purred, straddling his waist.
"They will all have to line up behind you," he purred right back. Ellaria chuckled and pressed her lips to his. Just as they were getting heated up Oberyn's ears picked up the sound of clanking armor. He pulled away from his love just as eight Lannister soldiers strolled into the room.
Tywin Lannister entered behind the storm of guards, his expression unreadable as usual. With just one look all of the whores and manager left, the only person remaining besides Oberyn was Ellaria. She shot her lover a questioning look but the prince only nodded his head for her to leave them. Tywin watched in boredom until Ellaria left and didn't speak until Oberyn had dressed in some pants.
"Would you like to sit?" Oberyn offered, still casually lying on the bed.
"No thank you," the old lion growled out.
"Some wine?" Oberyn tried again, rolling off of the bed and walking towards the small table near the window.
"No," Tywin barked out, placing his hands behind his back. Oberyn poured himself a generous amount, a small smirk playing across his lips.
"I'm sorry about your grandson," he announced, turning back to the lion.
"Are you?" Tywin asked though Oberyn knew that it was no real question. Oberyn chuckled quietly and made his way over to the window, looking down on the steaming shit pile that was King's Landing.
"I do not believe that a child is responsible for the sins of his father… or his grandfather," Oberyn hissed out. Tywin shuffled his feet, not out of nerves, possibly out of guilt? It was hard for Oberyn to tell exactly.
"An awful way to die," Oberyn continued, taking a long sip of wine. Tywin's head tilted curiously to the side, playing right into Oberyn's hand.
"Which way is that?" The lion grumbled.
"Are you interrogating me, Lord Tywin?" Oberyn asked suspiciously.
"Some believe the king choked," Tywin offered, but neither one of them believed that rumor.
"Some believe the sky is blue because we live in the eye of a blue-eyed giant," Oberyn joked as he flopped back down onto the bed. Tywin shot him an unamused look, blatantly ignoring his statement.
"The king was poisoned," Oberyn stated with finality. Tywin's eyes shifted back to the prince, a newfound curiosity in his eyes. Something told Oberyn that this emotion was fake in the old lion and that Tywin already had some notion about him concocted in his head.
"I hear you studied poisons at the Citadel," Tywin stated in an accusatory tone.
"I did," Oberyn snapped back. "This is why I know."
"Your hatred for my family is… rather well known. You arrive in the capital an expert in poisoning, some days later my grandson dies… of poisoning."
"Rather suspicious. Why haven't you thrown me in a dungeon?" Oberyn asked curiously. The blank facade of the lion started to crack with frustration. The prince could tell that Tywin was unamused with his walking around the questions.
"You spoke to Tyrion in this very brothel on the day of your arrival. Of what did you speak?" Tywin demanded.
"You think we conspired together?" Oberyn smirked.
"Of what did you speak?" Tywin repeated. Oberyn smiled and approached Tywin slowly, feeling like a viper ready to strike.
"The murder of my sister, Ellia," he stated. Tywin's eyes never left Oberyn's and for a moment Oberyn felt like the lion was about to crack.
"I'm here to ask a favor." Tywin quickly changed the subject, looking out the window. Oberyn's chest constricted angrily, even though Tywin turned away first it seemed like Oberyn had still lost.
"I have a favor as well," Oberyn snapped. Tywin glanced back at the young viper and waited patiently for him to continue.
"I would like to speak to the Mountain," he snarled.
"I'm sure he would enjoy speaking to you as well," Tywin smirked. Oberyn's entire body tensed, ready to strike, but Tywin held up a hand to stop him.
"If you do what I ask then I could arrange something," he finished.
"What is your favor?" Oberyn asked curiously.
"More like two favors. One you will actually enjoy," Tywin chuckled lowly to himself. Now Oberyn was extremely intrigued. Besides the Mountain what did Tywin have that Oberyn really wanted?
"First, I want you to be one of the three judges for Tyrion's trial. I will be presiding and Mace Tyrell will be the second judge. You will also be appointed to the small council chamber," Tywin explained. Oberyn mulled it over in his head. It was a very tempting offer thus far.
"And the second favor?" He finally asked.
"We wish you to marry," Tywin answered immediately.
"Who?" Oberyn asked in confusion. Tywin turned to one of his guards and they opened the large doors. To Oberyn's surprise, Lady Reyna Tyrell came sweeping into the room accompanied by a guard, her chestnut hair was pulled up and her body clad in black fabric. Her steel grey eyes were trained on the floor but she stopped just beside Tywin and sank into a deep curtsy for them both.
"Lord Tywin, Prince Oberyn," she announced before slowly lifting her eyes to Oberyn. Was this what Tywin thought Oberyn would enjoy? Marriage to the eldest Tyrell girl?
"Mace and Olenna Tyrell have both given their blessing and Lady Reyna has agreed to it. I've spoken to your brother as well. He consents if you do," Tywin explained breezily, acting as if Reyna wasn't even in the room.
"Has the Lady Reyna really consented to this?" Oberyn asked in confusion. From what he had heard she had no intention of marrying. She seemed perfectly content to sleep with the sellsword and flirt with every available man at court.
"If it helps my family and the king, then I will gladly agree," Reyna replied in a slightly stilted voice. Her eyes were looking just to the left of Oberyn's head. He had spent enough time talking with her to know that this was a sign that she was lying.
"The Lady Reyna should have been married years ago, I suppose she is happy to have such an advantageous match," Tywin said, obviously leading Reyna to agree with him.
"Of course my lord. Prince Oberyn is indeed a fine match. I know we have only known each other a few days, but that is more than some high born ladies get. Some don't even meet their betrothed until the day of the wedding," she answered back. Her eyes met Oberyn's and for a moment the prince let the images of a life with Reyna wash over him. He could see them happy together. He had no need of children, he had enough bastards, but seeing as Reyna had no children of her own yet he could see her becoming a good mother. She would run his house near Sunspear and he would provide for her.
The only thing he could not picture was how Ellaria would fit in. He had seen how Reyna reacted to Ellaria flirting with her sellsword. She had become jealous and possessive and had snapped rather harshly. Oberyn wanted to make his future wife happy, but things would be complicated with his paramour.
"So… do we have a deal?" Tywin asked, stretching out his hand to Oberyn. Oberyn stared at the lion's paw for a very long moment, silently contemplating. He took one more long look at Reyna before deciding.
"You have a deal Lord Tywin," Oberyn replied before briefly shaking the Lord's hand. Some unreadable emotion passed across Reyna's face, but it was too quick for Oberyn to decipher.
"Good, you and Lady Reyna shall be wed in a week's time. My son's trial begins the day after you wed," Tywin explained curtly before turning to Reyna and offering her his hand. Reyna shot a look at Oberyn, a mixture of pity and sadness in her eyes, before taking Tywin's hand and letting him escort her out of the brothel.
So, Oberyn would be married within a week. He wondered how Ellaria would take that. She had never seemed put off by the idea that he would marry one day. In fact, she seemed excited to add a third person into their mix, but something told Oberyn that this would not be as fun as his love had pictured.
"What did I miss?" Ellaria asked as she sauntered back into the room. Oberyn, who was still standing by the window, didn't immediately turn to her. He was deep in thought about what had just happened. Being a judge and being appointed to the small council seemed promising to him, the only thing that still puzzled him was his new betrothal. He always assumed that his older brother Doran would choose his wife, he just thought that he would have some input on it.
Not that he was complaining about the choice. Reyna was a beautiful woman and a skilled courtier. She would charm all the noble lords of Dorne and she would make a lovely princess. But something about the way she had acted made him suspicious. If she had come with her father instead of Lord Tywin then it might not have seemed as strange. Oberyn never knew what Tywin's true intentions were. Was he trying to use Reyna as a spy? As a tool to use against Oberyn and Dorne? Or was this a punishment for her? There were too many questions to ask and not enough answers to give.
"My love?" Ellaria asked, finally getting Oberyn to turn.
"I am to be a judge at Tyrion's trial, and I will be appointed to the small council," he repeated, still a little distracted. A small smile appeared on Ellaria's lips, clearly excited by the news.
"Is that all?" She asked, clearly already expecting more.
"I am to be married," he answered a little quietly. Ellaria's eyes widened slightly and she sat down on the bed, waiting patiently for him to continue.
"I am to be married within a week… to Lady Reyna Tyrell," he finished. Ellaria face flushed slightly and her lips pursed. Oberyn couldn't tell if she was excited or angry.
"Why so soon?" She asked.
"Either to punish me or Reyna, I'm not quite sure. The lion can sometimes be mysterious like that," Oberyn explained. Ellaria looked down at her hands, an unreadable expression on her face.
"I hope you make each other happy, but I will not give you up easily," she smirked, looking up at him with a new fire in her eyes. Oberyn smirked back, feeling himself swell with satisfaction. How lucky to have two such beautiful women to love and fawn over him.
The boys and girls would still line up for the Dornish prince, but now they would be behind Ellaria and Reyna.