AN: This was a little hard to write for me... but it is done and it will be the last of Dorne - at least for now. Please leave a review if you liked it!

A few days passed until Samaya's world would be turned upside down once again. She had started to trust Oberyn a little, even let him teach her some use of the spear he so favoured. It was a very strange weapon for her, and to wield it masterfully was like a dance in her eyes. She had never been good at dancing.

"Stop thinking so much, and just let it guide you!" Oberyn shouted from the side-lines as she once again tripped over the weapon while trying to twirl it behind her back. She threw the simple spear to the ground in anger.

"It's a wooden thing, how can it guide me? It does not have a soul, it feels completely foreign to me and I was always bad at dancing!" she shouted at him. He looked befuddled for a second before bursting into laughter.

"Why would you talk about dancing?" he finally asked.

"Because that is what it feels like to me. A complicated, foreign dance. And I have neither the rhythm, nor the patience for it," she explained and let herself fall to the ground.

Lying on her back in the sandy training ground, she surveyed the white clouds overhead. A shadow clouded her face and she saw her trainer hovering above. Faster than she could even comprehend, he bent down and hoisted her up by the shoulders. With firm grip, he held her hands in his own and twirled them around in the small arena. Sam could not help but mirror his movements, and she felt a feeling of exhilaration, almost as if she was flying, soaring. He stopped just before they would have hit one of the stone walls and looked at her with panting breath.

"You can dance, Lady Samaya, you just need the right partner. Let the spear be your partner," he said and smiled. Sam let out a loud chuckle, releasing his hands and taking a step back. She felt a little out of breath as well, but smiled at him happily.

"Lady Samaya!" their moment got interrupted by Ser Bayard, who was heading towards the pair. "From your grandmother," he said and handed her a tiny scroll. Sam eagerly opened it and began to read immediately.

"My dear child,

all of our family is safe, you do not have to worry. Since the Martells are treating you perfectly fine, I instruct you to stay in Dorne, at least for now. Stannis is preparing an attack on King's Landing, I fear it is not safe on the roads anymore with so many kings in every corner. Unfortunately, I heard that the roses in the North will die soon. But do not worry – in the South, the rose is just now in its spring. Sending you my deepest love,

Olenna of House Tyrell"

Sam stared at the letter with confusion. Whatever did her grandmother mean with these cryptic words?

"Troubling news?" Oberyn piped up from where she had left him and tried to spy the letter from over her shoulder. Sam did not remove it hastily, but also did not let him read it. It was not anything secret, but she feared that the Martells could think so if she acted suspiciously.

"Have you ever met my grandmother, Prince Oberyn?" she asked him cheerfully.

"Yes, on a few occasions I have had that pleasure," he answered with a smile.

"Then you will know that when she does not speak bluntly, she speaks in riddles. This is the latter, and I have no clue what she means, besides the instruction for me to stay in Dorne. Could I trouble your family a little longer for shelter and food?" she said with a playful grin. Oberyn just laughed loudly.

"I see some of your grandmother has rubbed off on you, Lady Samaya. How could I say no?" he answered and took her by the elbow. Guiding her out of the training grounds, they started walking through the lush gardens of this palace. And even though Sam did not know what her grandmother really had planned, for now she felt happy just being able to stay a little longer.

A few days later, as Samaya was enjoying another lazy breakfast on her balcony, pondering over what she was still doing here, a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Myrcella entered, and she seemed nothing like the shy little girl she met a few weeks ago. Under Sam's discrete guidance, she had succeeded in making Prince Trystane fall madly in love with her, and now had all the behaviourisms of a teenager at the height of their power.

"Prince Doran requests your presence in the Great Hall," she said with a monotonous voice as she let herself fall down in the chair next to Samaya.

"Did he say why?" Sam asked and the girl just shrugged her shoulders, examining her fingernails. "What happened?" the older girl dug deeper.

"Oh, I am just getting very tired of boys. It is always the same. Handholding, walking around together, sitting on benches talking about our future… it's a little dull," Myrcella answered and Sam started chuckling.

"And what else would you expect? That he takes you on adventures every day of the week?", she said.

"Well yes… maybe. I do not know… just a little more… passion, I suppose. I saw you and Prince Oberyn in the training grounds the other day. I want that. Excitement." Sam blushed upon her words. She had hoped nobody else was witness to her little intimate dance, but she should have known that almost nothing remains unseen here in Dorne…

"That's different, Myrcella. Prince Oberyn is much older, much more experienced, and much bolder than Trystane. But you know the good thing about it?" Myrcella shook her head, "They share the same blood. Whenever you grow bored, just think of what he will be like once he's lived a couple more years on this earth. Look at Prince Oberyn and you will see a version of your future husband."

"But he's not Oberyn's son, what if he turns out like his father? Crippled and weak?" the blonde girl said and Sam's brows furrowed.

"Will you hush, child? Do not overestimate your privacy here. You just insulted the Lord of this House, you should feel ashamed!" she chastised the girl who just looked back defiantly.

"I do not care who hears my words, it is true. He's crippled and he does nothing to stand up for his family. I heard the stories about his sister, Elia. He did nothing when she was slaughtered. Did he even love her?"

"It is not for you, or me to understand the workings of his mind. You cannot know that he did not love her, and you never will know why he did not act. Do not think you know what goes on in other people's heads. And since you are being very rude, I shall take my leave. Good day, young girl. Think about what I've said," Samaya got up and walked away, leaving the teenager sulking at the table. Myrcella uttered a loud groan and slouched back in the chair. She felt completely misunderstood.

Prince Doran was sitting in his chair in the great hall, looking down at the scroll he'd received earlier this morning. The door opened and he looked up to see Samaya Tyrell enter. She had a furious swing in her step, and he briefly wondered why. But then he realised that there were more important things for him to wonder about than her feelings. She walked up to him and gave a polite curtsey.

"You sent for me, Prince Doran?" she said and looked straight at him. In the last few weeks, he'd noticed her confidence growing, a flame starting to kindle inside her.

"We received a wedding invitation this morning. One that puzzled me. You see, we both know why you were sent to Dorne, but it seems that your family has forgotten all about that initial plan," he said vaguely. She looked surprised.

"What do you mean by that? What wedding?" she asked. He unfolded the scroll and started reading.

"The Hand of the King, Tywin of House Lannister, commands your presence to the royal wedding of King Joffrey to Margaery of House Tyrell," he stopped to watch her reaction. Indeed, her eyes grew wide and she gasped slightly.

"Margaery… it cannot be!" she said and came a little closer. Areo moved forth, but Doran waved him away. The girl clearly did not intend to harm him, she was merely shocked.

"I assumed you knew about this fortunate alliance, but it seems I was mistaken. Reports were made that after your father saved the crown from Stannis' attack at the Battle of the Blackwater, the Tyrells had made themselves quite cosy in King's Landing. Now we know the reason why," he concluded.

"I honestly had no idea, Prince Doran. I never thought this would be an alliance my family wanted. I assume you asked me here to bid me farewell? Clearly, I am not as welcome here now as I was yesterday," she said quietly, having regained some of her continence.

"Oh, dear Lady Samaya, you will always be welcome here. I have seen you feel at ease here in Dorne. My brother has grown quite fond of you as well, and I hear your spear skills are improving every day?" he asked and the girl nodded. "Well then, I will not command you to leave Dorne, even though I assume you will leave anyway, to attend your sister's wedding."

"I most certainly will have to, and will prepare to depart immediately. Thank you, Prince Doran, for your hospitality. I will carry very fond memories of this place," she said and bowed her head. Doran chuckled lowly.

"Ah, do not speak of goodbyes so soon. This was an invitation for the head of House Martell, but since I cannot travel such a long distance, I have to send someone in my stead. It just so happens that my brother has agreed to represent us in this matter, and has insisted that you travel with him to King's Landing," he finished and saw the girl surprised for the second time. After a few moments, she swallowed hard, and even though her face remained perfectly polite, he could see the joy hidden behind the straight lines.

"I will feel very safe sharing the road with your brother. It would be my honour to make this journey together," she answered and after curtsying, turned to leave.

"Lady Samaya?" he called after her, shortly before she exited the hall. The girl stopped in her tracks and turned around slowly. "I do hope this will not be the last we see of each other. I wish you good fortune and may your path lead back to Dorne in the future."

Samaya bowed her head once again, and with those cryptic words in her mind, raced out of the hall and back to her chambers. She instructed one of the servants to find her two companions, and once she had reached her chambers, closed the door behind her and leant against the hard wood, panting heavily.

So many surprising events… she should have known that there was a motif behind her family's assistance against Stannis. Why had she not put two and two together? Her grandmother's letter… "The rose is in its spring in the South"… that's what she meant. She groaned loudly and walked towards her bed when a deep voice startled her.

"I assume you have heard the good news?" Prince Oberyn stepped out from behind a pillar. She nodded at him and started packing her things. Jovial conversation was the last thing on her mind. He, however, had a different idea. Stepping silently behind the girl, he took her by both arms and slowly turned her around to face him. She looked at him defiantly, silently. An unspoken plea in her eyes to understand how confused she was by all of this.

"I think it is time that you tell me who you really are, Samaya. We are travelling to a very dangerous place, and I want to protect you. I can only do that when you tell me the truth. Who is your father?" he said with command in his voice.

Samaya felt her throat close and tears swell up in her eyes. She did not, she would not… she just could not tell him. Vehemently, she shook her head, but that just made him grip her tighter.

"Trust me, Samaya," he whispered close to her face and the next thing she knew, he sealed his lips over hers. Her eyes shot open in shock, but after the initial surprise, she could not help but relax into him. Firm lips were caressing her own, and he tasted sweet, like honey. Sam almost collapsed into him, while he gripped her tight around her middle, and buried one hand in her hair. He kissed her for what felt like hours, tasting her, teasing her, but most of all, he made her feel safe. She had been kissed before, but not like this. When he finally let her go, he leant his forehead against her own and locked eyes with her, the question still evident in his gaze.

Sam took a deep breath and decided to throw her caution to the wind. This man made her feel safe and so… free. She wanted to tell him, she wanted to get a little bit of this burden off her shoulders. She did not care that he could be her enemy, that he would tell his brother, or that the whole kingdom would find out. Oberyn had made her taste a new future, had given her the promise of a carefree life, one where she could be who she really was, not who her mother wanted her to be. She thought her voice would be silent and unsteady, but instead, it came out strong and clear.

"My father was Aerys II Targaryen, the Mad King."

*GASP* - your thoughts? feedback? critique? anything? please leave a review and fill my black, empty heart with joy...