Reyna had never felt more nervous in her entire life. She could finally see the outline of the Dornish mountains, and she could make out the large fishing village that they were to dock in. A huge crowd of people had gathered to welcome home their prince and new princess. Last night Oberyn had slept with her as he had promised, but it had done nothing to calm her racing heart. Reyna hadn't seen Dorne since she was eighteen, and she had planned never to see it again. Now here she was, the newest Princess of Dorne, about to descend the gangplank and meet her people.
"Will they like me?" Reyna asked as her husband appeared at her side. The Dornish people cheered when Oberyn appeared and he wrapped an arm around Reyna's shaking frame.
"Do not be afraid. The Dornish cannot hate a beautiful woman," he whispered before nipping at her ear. That earned a roaring cheer from the crowd and Reyna chuckled.
"And your daughters? Can they?" She asked, a new wave of nerves flowing through her. Oberyn stood behind her and wrapped his arm around her middle.
"My daughters have no reason to hate you. And I doubt that you'll give them one," he chuckled into her ear. Reyna rested her head against his shoulder and tried to draw in some calming breaths. When the ship finally docked Oberyn was the first one off, clearly excited to be back home.
"What a most glorious welcome!" He shouted happily as the people gathered all bowed to him. Now it was Ellaria at Reyna's side, the older woman giving her a comforting pat on the back.
"Your husband is right. You have nothing to fear from our people," she smiled and followed Oberyn off the boat. Reyna took one last steadying breath before walking down the gangplank to join her husband.
"Please welcome my wife, the Lady Reyna of House Tyrell! Your new princess!" Oberyn yelled out to the crowd. Reyna couldn't suppress her smile as everyone knelt to her. She bowed her head in respect and the people jumped up clapping.
"Prince Oberyn's new wife is so pretty!" A little girl smiled up at her mother as Reyna neared Oberyn. Reyna turned and took in the small child who could be no older than six. Oberyn turned and watched as Reyna knelt in front of the girl.
"Hello, what's your name?" Reyna smiled. The child hid behind her mothers' skirts, her thumb in her mouth. Reyna tilted her head patiently and soon the little girl poked her head out.
"Jelissa," the little muttered, still tugging at her mother's skirts.
"That's a beautiful name. Is this your first time meeting the prince?" Reyna asked, holding out a hand. Jelissa hesitantly took Reyna's hand and allowed the princess to lead her over to Oberyn.
"My Prince, this is Lady Jelissa," Reyna smiled down at the child. Jelissa hid partially behind Reyna's skirts but she smiled when Oberyn leaned down to greet her.
"Hello, my lady, it is a great pleasure to meet you," Oberyn smiled, first at Jelissa then up at his wife. Reyna returned the smile and knelt once again, so she was eye level with the child. She reached up and pulled one of the diamond pins Margaery had given her from her hair, handing it to Jelissa.
"A present from your new Princess," Reyna smiled before tucking the pin in Jelissa's curly brown hair. Jelissa squealed excitedly and turned to stare at her mother.
"Thank you so much, my princess," Jelissa's mother smiled as she led her daughter away. Those assembled clapped and Oberyn helped his wife to her feet.
"If they didn't love you before, they sure do now," he murmured in her ear, pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek. The couple was presented with a fresh pair of horses and the two began the short ride to Sunspear. Reyna had only seen the castle once before so when it finally came into view she gasped. It was as if the whole area was bathed in perfect golden light, with every tower and spiral reflecting in red sandstone.
"My beautiful home," Oberyn smiled. Reyna reached out and grabbed onto the hand that held his reigns. Oberyn met her look, a warm smile overtaking his lips.
"Our home," she replied sweetly. Oberyn whooped and kicked his horse into a gallop. Reyna, never one to back down from a challenge, kicked her own horse and easily caught up to Oberyn. Her husband seemed to sense that they were now racing and leaned forward, spurring his horse on. Reyna laughed and leaned forward as well, her horse entering the castle just a foot before Oberyn's. Reyna sat up in the saddle and pushed the hair out of her face. She turned at the sound of clapping and saw Prince Doran approaching them in his wheelchair. Oberyn had mentioned that his gout had become much worse in recent years.
"Well done Lady Reyna. Not many can beat my brother in a race," Doran laughed as Oberyn dismounted and came around to help Reyna down. After she had dismounted her horse Oberyn kept her pinned against the animal, his lips coming crashing down into hers. Reyna let a little moan pass her lips as Oberyn's hands traced across her hips.
"Okay, enough of that. There will be plenty of time for that later," Doran chuckled as he approached them. Oberyn groaned and pulled away, giving his wife the kind of eyes that she had come to know meant that they would continue later.
"Welcome home, sister," Doran smiled as his guard helped him out of his chair.
"Thank you, brother," Reyna laughed as she met him in a hug. He fell against her slightly, but Reyna was quick enough to let him fall forward a little so she could support him.
"You remember my weapons master, Areo Hotah?" Doran asked as he gestured to his guard. Areo smiled as he bowed, and Reyna happily returned it. Areo had been a great friend to her after she had left the Dayne's. He was the first person to make her feel safe after her ordeal.
"Always a pleasure, Areo," she welcomed. He bowed his head respectfully to her, his smile never waning.
"Father!" A young girl screamed. Oberyn's face lit up as his eight daughters ran up to him. The youngest jumped up into her father's arms and Oberyn twirled her around. The three eldest daughters, who were either older or the same age as Reyna, eyed the new princess suspiciously, while the younger ones smiled sheepishly at her.
"I missed you, father!" The young child in Oberyn's arms squealed.
"I missed you too, little one," he smiled back, now turning towards Reyna. The little girl now noticed Reyna and gave her a large toothy grin.
"I'm Loreza! Are you father's new wife? Uncle Doran told us about you," she laughed.
"Yes, I am. It's very nice to meet you Loreza," Reyna smiled as she approached the two. Oberyn set down the child and went about making introductions. Reyna learned that five of the eight girls were mothered by Ellaria, while the other three had been mothered by other women. There was Obara, Nymeria, Tyene, Sarella, Elia, Obella, Dorea, and of course Loreza.
"Lovely to meet you all," Reyna smiled. The eldest three, Obara, Nymeria and Tyene looked her up and down, almost like they were assessing her. It made Reyna feel uncomfortable, but the remaining five seemed to warm to her nicely.
"Let's go inside. We had a lovely meal prepared for the two of you," Doran announced as he wheeled them towards the great hall. There was quite a scuffle to see which of the younger girls would get to sit next to Reyna, but Oberyn settled it by sitting Reyna between himself and Doran. That way no one could fight about the arrangements.
"How does it feel to be back, my lady?" Elia, Oberyn's middle child, asked. Reyna took a sip of Dornish wine and smiled when Oberyn placed a hand on her knee.
"Please just call me Reyna. And it feels strange. I haven't been here since I was eighteen," she answered, looking happily around at her new family.
"You stayed with the Dayne's, did you not?" Obara asked, taking a long sip of wine, her dark eyebrow raised warily. Suddenly Reyna's heart dropped, and she felt herself tense up. Doran cleared his throat and quickly changed the subject, but most of the people at the table had sensed the mood change. Oberyn squeezed her knee, but it was too late, Reyna was too far gone in her own memories. Being in Dorne had made so many emotions come to the surface and the protective wall she had put up around herself started to crack. The fire, the darkness, the blood, so much blood…
"Are you alright Reyna?" Elia asked. She was sitting across from Reyna and noticed how cold and quiet Reyna had grown. Reyna raised her eyes and focused on her new stepdaughter and it was like her brain restarted. The color flowed back into her cheeks and she sent the young woman a quick smile.
"Yes, I am. Thank you, Elia," Reyna responded before draining the rest of her wine glass. Oberyn leaned over and kissed his wife's temple, making sure that he kept his lips near her ear.
"May I visit you tonight?" He growled into her ear. His husky voice went straight to her core and she had to hold in the shiver that threatened to take over her body.
"Tonight, and every night," she purred back, rubbing a hand up to his thigh.
"Don't tease me or you'll end up flat on your back on this table with my head between your legs. Then I'll have to blame you for scarring my children," he growled, burying his nose in her hair.
"I'm sure they've seen, and some of them done, worse. It's the little ones that I'll be worried about. But if you insist," Reyna sighed and removed her hand. Oberyn reached out and grabbed her hand, this time placing it right onto his hard manhood.
"See what you do to me?" He asked, nipping at her skin. Reyna, feeling extremely bold, grabbed his hand and placed it in her lap. When he pressed down, he could feel the faint hint of her wetness underneath the silk.
"See what you do to me?" She asked right back.
"Are we interrupting?" Doran teased from Reyna's other side. Reyna blushed and turned to face her good brother. Oberyn chuckled and turned to his other side to talk to his second daughter Nymeria.
"How do you feel about being in Dorne?" Doran asked, taking Reyna's hand in his. Reyna glanced back at her husband, just to make sure that he wasn't paying attention.
"Will I have to see him?" She whispered, glancing around the room as if the person in question was about to jump out from behind a pillar.
"We are holding a party with all the nobles to welcome you to Dorne. He will most likely be there. Areo and many of my other guards have been warned. Does my brother know?" Doran asked, glancing past Reyna. Reyna heard her husband laugh at something one of his daughters said and she flinched.
"No, he does not," she confessed. Doran sighed and turned away, placing his elbows on the table before him.
"The longer you wait, the worse it will get," he told her, motioning for someone to refill his wine.
"It was long before we ever married. I don't see the problem," Reyna argued, her anger rising.
"The longer you're together the more his feelings will grow. I see it already. He's falling for you," Doran said, a small smile gracing his lips. Reyna turned and took in her husband's profile. She had seen him angry before, but she could only imagine how he would react when he found out. He had already shown how possessive he could be of her. If he found out about her past, then who knows what would happen.
"It won't become a problem. Trust me. Oberyn has more to worry about than me and my past," Reyna said through clenched teeth as she took a sip from her now full wine glass.