Oberyn had never needed more of a release than he did today. After his fight with Reyna, he had visited Tyrion to talk about his trial. This could be his only chance to get revenge on the Mountain. Tyrion had cautioned him against it and when Oberyn demanded to know why the imps only answer had been Reyna. The prince had felt guilty for not thinking of it earlier. He and Reyna had only been married for a few days; what if he died in this trial? But Oberyn knew his skills much better than Tyrion, so he was sure he could win against the brute. Ellaria had found him later and invited him to the brothel with her. She had been feeling lonely lately, but Oberyn had been spending time with his new wife. Ellaria would have to learn to share him.
"I have missed you, my love," she purred as the women paraded themselves in front of them. Oberyn smirked back at her and gave her a deep kiss. It felt strange to compare the two most important women in his life, but he couldn't help it.
Ellaria was almost predictable in her ways of loving him, while Reyna was intense and uncontrollable. He never knew what Reyna would do or say next and that was what intrigued him so much. Every day would be a surprise with her.
"Who should we pick?" Ellaria whispered as they looked over the girls. Before Oberyn could make a decision, one of his men opened the door and bowed before them. Oberyn sat up and frowned at the interruption, but a small smile graced his lips when he saw his wife enter.
"You've come to join us," Ellaria smiled, but both of their faces fell at the sight of Reyna's expression. Oberyn had never seen his wife so angry and yet so calm at the same time. Her eyes held an inferno of rage, while her face and body remained exceptionally calm.
"Leave us," Reyna demanded with all the grace and control of a queen. The women, sensing that there was danger, quickly grabbed their clothes and rushed out of the room. Oberyn's servant closed the door behind them, a look of terror on his face. Oberyn stood and went to touch his wife, but before he could reach her, she stepped forward and smacked him across the face. Ellaria gasped and Oberyn remained silent, his own rage bubbled up along with his arousal.
"When were you going to tell me?" She growled, her eyes narrowing. Oberyn was thoroughly confused. Reyna must have known that he and Ellaria were still seeing each other, he would probably never stop.
"You know I often visit brothels," he replied confidently. Reyna released a long shaky breath as if she was barely containing herself. Ellaria stood and took a cautious step towards Reyna, but the younger woman shot her a warning look that stopped the Dornish woman in her tracks.
"I just had lunch with my grandmother and decided to take a walk on the beach. Bronn found me and gave me a very interesting piece of information. Do you want to know what he told me?" She asked, her voice wavering as she tried to keep control. Oberyn glanced at Ellaria, but the woman only shrugged her shoulders. None of them had spoken to or about Bronn since the wedding.
"He had just been with Tyrion…," Reyna continued. Now Oberyn's stomach dropped and everything became clear. Bronn must have told her about Tyrion's new champion.
"I'll ask again. When were you going to tell me?" His wife asked, her hands balling up into fists. Oberyn reached for her again, but Reyna smacked his hands away, her face going white.
"Forgive me, wife, I…," Oberyn began but Reyna interrupted him.
"Don't you dare! How could you!?" She screamed, finally snapping.
"What did he do?" Ellaria asked, still in the dark. Reyna's eyes softened when she looked at Ellaria like she was sympathizing with the woman.
"Oberyn has offered himself to be Tyrion's champion against the Mountain," she explained in a strained voice. Ellaria whipped around to look at her lover, disbelief shining in her eyes. Reyna began pacing up and down the room, her eyes never leaving Oberyn. She looked like a wolf getting ready to pounce.
"Why would you do such a thing?" Ellaria asked, her hands gripping onto his shoulders. Reyna scoffed and the two lovers turned to her. She had stopped her pacing and was generously filling up a wine glass.
"Revenge," she snarled. Oberyn was never usually surprised, but he found himself suddenly stunned. He and his wife had known each other for the better part of three weeks and already she knew him better than most.
"He wants revenge for what the Mountain did to Elia," she hissed before draining her glass.
"You don't know what it felt like to lose her," Oberyn choked out, his memories of his sister flashing through his mind. Reyna slammed her cup down, startling Oberyn.
"I know better than anyone why you want revenge!" She snapped. A moment later her face softened like she had not meant to say the words. She turned away, almost embarrassed and placed her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook and for a moment Oberyn thought she was crying, but when his wife looked up again, he realized that she had been shaking with anger.
"Did you think of nothing but revenge when you decided this? What about Ellaria? Your children? Your house? What about…?" She yelled and then stopped. Oberyn quirked his eyebrow at her last question. He had a very strong feeling that she had been about to ask about herself, but had stopped short, not wanting to reveal her true feelings.
"I am a skilled fighter. I have no doubt that I'll win," he said confidently.
"I grew up watching the Mountain fight, Oberyn. He's a living demon. No man has ever beaten him," she hissed back. And now true terror fought its way across Reyna's face. The terror of him dying, the terror of being a widow, the terror of truly being alone again.
"I will not stand by and watch you die," she whispered, her voice cracking as tears filled her eyes. Oberyn gripped her by the shoulders and this time she did not flinch away from him. Instead, she allowed him to envelop her in a tight hug and even let her arms wrap around his waist.
"I will die one day, but not that day," he promised her as he pressed his lips to the top of her head. Reyna tilted her face up and caught Oberyn's mouth in a deep kiss that was unlike any that they had ever shared. It was not filled with heat or lust or even happiness. It was a sad, longing kiss that almost felt like a goodbye. When they parted, she let her head fall and Oberyn glanced behind him at Ellaria. There was a strange almost possessive look in her eyes, something that he had never seen before.
"I need to do this, and no one can convince me otherwise," he announced to both women. Reyna let out another shaky breath and shoved Oberyn away from her. He stumbled backward into Ellaria and gave his wife a shocked look.
"Then you cannot convince me to be there to watch your slaughter," she snarled. And with that, his wife picked up her skirts and stormed out of the brothel, the page boy tripping over himself to follow her.
"I need to do this Ellaria," he whispered to his paramour. Ellaria nodded her head but otherwise remained silent. He and Ellaria spent the next few hours together in the brothel before returning to the Red Keep. While they were traversing the gardens, they were approached by the most unlikely of visitors.
"Prince Oberyn, may I speak to you in private?" Jaime Lannister asked politely. Ellaria gave Oberyn a strange look but let the two men walk forward together. Oberyn was brought back to the last time he walked with a Lannister. It had been with Cersei, just before his wedding and Tyrion's trial. It had been an uncomfortable talk, but something told the Dornish prince that this one would be just a little more awkward.
"What did you wish to discuss?" Oberyn asked, finally breaking the silence.
"I wish for us to be open and honest with each other. Does that sound agreeable to you?" The Lannister asked, stopping near a fountain and running his real hand through the water.
"Let me take a guess, this is about my wife," Oberyn snarled, dropping all attempts at being friendly. As far as he was concerned Jaime already had two strikes against him. One, for being a Lannister, and one for being in love with his wife.
"You cannot do this to her," Jaime snapped, splashing water over the lip of the fountain.
"I thought that this is what you would want. You surely think that the Mountain will kill me. With me dead, your father might ask you to renounce the Kingsguard and take a wife. Reyna would be a perfect choice. A noble lady of good birth and from a good house. And it must help that you're absolutely in love with her," Oberyn ranted, snatching a rose off a nearby bush. Jaime tensed up at that and turned to gaze up at the castle.
"Reyna won't admit it, and you probably haven't noticed, but she's hopelessly in love with you. I saw it at the wedding, and I saw it when you were together at the trial. Even when she's angry with you I can see how much she loves you," Jaime explained, tracing the designs on his golden hand. Oberyn took a moment to let everything Jaime said sink in. He had always known that Reyna was attracted to him, but he had never considered her deeper feelings, that is until earlier in the brothel.
"I need to do this. You wouldn't understand," Oberyn snarled. He tried to walk away but Jaime stepped in front of him and stopped him.
"I wouldn't understand? I know exactly how it feels to want revenge. But you also have to realize what there is at stake. You're newly married, you have a lover and a family to look after!" Jaime yelled.
"I will not lose, but even if I do, they can all take care of themselves," Oberyn growled and turned on his heel. He hadn't made it four feet before Jaime spoke up again.
"Not Reyna!" He called after the viper. Oberyn stopped, his shoulders tensed and spun around the face the Lannister.
"I know Reyna, she's stronger than she looks," he spat, suddenly feeling extremely protective and possessive.
"You've known Reyna for what, two months? I've known her my whole life. Reyna puts on a brave face but if you die it will destroy her. I'm not sure if she'll be able to survive that. It pains me to say, but I think you're the first person she's ever truly loved."
"I never thought that you of all people would try to convince me not to fight. I thought you hated me," Oberyn countered, still a little suspicious.
"I do hate you, but I love Reyna more, and I won't stand aside and watch her heart get broken," Jaime explained proudly.
"Then what do you expect me to do? I have to fight," Oberyn sighed. Jaime simply smirked and began to go through his plan. When everything was said it seemed like the perfect plan, now to put it in motion before tomorrow.