Reyna stood beside Maester Caleotte as he introduced the Lords and Ladies of Dorne's finest families. While she greeted them and put on a friendly face, on the inside she was terrified. She kept looking around for any sight of Aren Dayne, or even his sister, Alora.
"Lord Uller, father of Ellaria," Caleotte explained as a large, burly man bowed before Reyna. She held out her hand, admitting the way her orange ring flashed like fire in the light. It had been a wedding gift from Oberyn and she found that she could rarely take it off.
"Lord Uller," Reyna smiled as the large man took her hand and kissed her across the knuckles. Lord Uller chuckled against her skin and looked up at her with a seductive grin.
"Prince Oberyn is indeed lucky. To be able to come home to a beautiful mistress, and an even more beautiful wife," he growled. Reyna blushed and chuckled awkwardly, glad when Lord Uller left and she and Maester Caleotte were alone.
"Is that it?" Reyna asked, straightening her necklace. She saw Oberyn and Elia talking in the corner and desperately wished to join them.
"These are the last. Lord Aren Dayne and Lady Alora Dayne," Caleotte smiled. Reyna felt her heart drop as she turned and took in the two people walking towards her. Both were seemingly unchanged, their features only sharpened with age. Alora was still as beautiful as ever with her raven hair and pale complexion. Unlike the rest of the Dornish people the Dayne's were descended from the First Men and resembled many families in Westeros. Her violet eyes sparkled and crinkled in the corners when she smiled at Reyna.
But it was Aren who ultimately seized Reyna's attention. His dark brown hair was tousled carelessly, his green coat an obvious nod to her former Tyrell name. His dark purple eyes held no warmth and very little emotion. He still walked with a young man's swagger and his lips held his all too infamous smirk. Very subtly Reyna glanced around for anyone who could be of some assistance. Oberyn and Ellaria were talking to Lord Uller over by the entrance to the gardens, Elia was sitting on a low couch with some of her sisters, Doran was seated by the door with his back to Reyna, and Areo and his guards were nowhere to be seen. Didn't Doran promise her that there would be many guards here to ensure her safety?
"Hello, my princess," Alora smiled and dipped into a curtsey. Reyna tilted her head in acknowledgment, her eyes never leaving Aren. The young man leaned forward, gripping Reyna's hand in a way that told her he was in charge and leaned down to press his lips to her knuckles.
"How very lovely it is to see you again, Reyna," Aren purred in that sickly-sweet voice of his. Reyna's entire body went cold at the sound of his voice. Memories came flooding back and her protective wall cracked.
"What a surprise to see you here," Reyna croaked out as Aren straightened back up. She realized that he hadn't let go of her hand and she gave it a tug, but he only pulled her in and tucked her arm into his elbow. He started to lead her around the party, leaving Alora to fend for herself.
"When I heard that you had married Oberyn I was quite shocked. I remember telling you that you were only allowed to marry me," he sneered, leading her further away from her husband.
"My marriage was arranged by Lord Tywin himself. I could not refuse," Reyna replied, trying to keep her voice from shaking. Aren squeezed her arm painfully and pulled her into a dark corner.
"You told Prince Doran. I thought we had an understanding?" He asked, narrowing his dark eyes.
"I did not tell him everything," Reyna explained in a panic. Aren raised a dark eyebrow and searched her face as if he could decipher if she was lying or not.
"What exactly did you tell him?" Aren whispered, leaning in so close that Reyna could feel the heat radiating from his body. In hushed tones, Reyna reiterated the story she had told Doran long ago. Aren's mouth quirked up into a small smile and he finally pulled back enough to look into her eyes.
"Why do you continue to play with me?" Reyna whispered, her eyes scanning the room for some kind of escape. Aren chuckled and squeezed her elbow so hard that she thought it might break.
"I'm not playing with you, Reyna. I love you and you belonged to me first. I'm just trying to take what belongs to me. But if we were playing a game, then I've already won. And I'm just trying to collect my prize."
"The guards will be back any second. Leave me be," Reyna snarled, sounding braver than she felt. Aren chuckled with his mouth closed, leaning down so that his lips brushed her cheek.
"Don't you understand yet dear? No amount of guards can keep us apart. I love you Reyna, and no man, prince, or even your precious Sand Snakes can keep us apart," he promised. Reyna felt like she was about to pass out, but when she looked over Aren's shoulder she saw that Oberyn had finally noted her absence.
"Here comes my husband, why don't you tell him your promise," she smirked, watching as Oberyn's face became dark as he stormed towards them.
"Silly girl. He's too blinded by suspicion to always be on guard. He'll be the first target," he responded before strolling away. Reyna felt her face freeze and before Oberyn could even reach her she was on the run. She heard Oberyn call her name and felt several people's eyes on her, but she couldn't stop. She passed by Elia and the young woman looked up in concern, calling he name. She passed Doran and he briefly looked up, his eyes widening when he saw her terrified face, but again she couldn't stop. She finally slowed when she was deep in the gardens where no one could find her.
"Calm down," she whispered to herself, fanning her face and wiping the sweat from her forehead. She leaned over a plant, her stomach tossing and turning until finally she gagged and emptied the contents of her stomach. It wasn't much, mostly wine and a few pieces of bread. Now she was panting, bent over a potted plant with little red droplets of wine rolling down her chin. This is how Oberyn found her when he finally managed to track her down.
"Reyna!" He exclaimed in shock. He rushed over and placed his hands on her shoulders, rubbing them in the hopes of comforting her. Reyna let out an extremely shaky breath and tried to straighten up, but just as she did her stomach turned and she vomited again. Oberyn pulled her hair back, rubbing soothing circles in between her shoulders. When the last of Reyna's stomach had emptied, she sank to her knees, Oberyn falling to his own beside her.
"Are you alright?" Oberyn whispered, stroking her hair and trying to get her to look at him. Reyna was still panting, her entire body wracked with shivers.
"Too much wine," she finally croaked out, her throat sore from puking. Oberyn frowned, clearly not believing her, but Reyna didn't care. Her mind was still far too occupied with Aren's threats. Of course, he would try to go for her husband first. Anyone with eyes could see how much Reyna cared for him, even if she didn't was to admit it. She had told Oberyn on the ship to Dorne that she cared about him, but she hadn't exactly told him how much. She was afraid of her own feelings, especially given everything that had happened with Aren, Bronn, and Jaime. Reyna wasn't about to allow herself to get hurt again.
"Aren Dayne was talking to you, why?" Oberyn demanded, his voice becoming deep and ragged. Reyna finally looked into her husband's eyes and saw that his obsidian eyes were swirling with rage and protectiveness, but instead of comforting her it only scared her. What Aren said about Oberyn's suspicion was true. Her husband couldn't always be on his guard and sooner or later sniffing around for the truth would lead him to his death.
For a very quick moment, Reyna contemplated telling him everything. Things would be much easier if Oberyn knew and then they could come up with a plan together. But just as she began to form the words in her mind something else Aren had said once in the past bubbled in her memory.
If you tell anyone what has transpired here, I won't kill you. I'll kill your family, your friends, everyone you have ever held dear. Torture them and tell them that it's all your fault. Tell them and you'll wish I had killed you here…
Granted he knew she had told Doran already, but what he didn't know was that Doran didn't even know the whole truth. Nor did her own family. They didn't know the worst of what she'd gone through.
"He was welcoming me back to Dorne. He told me that he had missed me," she finally replied to Oberyn. As she tried to stand, she stumbled and Oberyn grabbed her elbow to steady her. Reyna flinched at the contact and Oberyn growled.
"I've never known you for a liar, wife. But ever since we've come here, I feel that everything that comes out of your mouth is a lie," he hissed at her, squeezing her arm. Reyna jerked away from him and he released her. Reyna's heart dropped at his angry tone towards her, but this was the only way to protect him. She knew it wouldn't make any sense to anyone else, but in her mind, it was the only solution.
"Keep your fucking secrets!" He growled, his lips curling up in disgust. As Reyna watched her husband walk away, a wave of despair washed over her. There went her only champion, and the only one she had to blame for the loss was herself.