Twelve Years Later

Daughter of the Sun

Elia walked slowly through the streets of the dusty Shadow city next to her mother as they stopped at each stall they came upon. The bazar was filled with the noise of Lyseni shopkeepers and silk traders and women arguing over prices. It smelled of spices and sweet meats and the baking of bread. The hot sun beat down to heavily it made Elia feel lightheaded, but she would not swoon. She tucked her veil a little tighter to shield her eyes from the sun. Her mother on the other hand, wore no veil, and let the sun darken her skin.

They passed a stall filled with dolls and necklaces and something caught Elia's eye. Her mother, not noticing her stopping continued on. Ashara stopped with her and stayed by her side

"Mother, wait." She called and immediately reached for the small snake-shaped bracelet with red ruby eyes. It fit Elia perfectly

"Is it not a perfect?" Elia asked both her mother and Ashara as she tilted the sword toward them. Adrielle Martell cocked her head and smiled as well.

"If only your brother was a girl instead, he would adore it." The Lady snorted and looked at the other baubles and chains of glass.

Elia rolled her eyes at her mother, who was more superficial than the Lady admitted too, "I meant for me, mother."

Adrielle Martell stared at the bracelet momentarily before looking at her daughter's expectant face. She sighed then motioned for the shopkeeper, who flushed at the sight at them, especially Ashara. Elia paid the bronze for the bracelet with much persuasion on her end to actually pay for the item then just accepting it because of who they were.

They passed by other stalls and Elia raised her chin at some Tyroshi man's sneer that looked her up and down as they passed by his silk stand. Many others jeered and shouted supposed flattery to her and Ashara, and even her mother. They were all silenced by a look of their guards. Elia Martell walked among many vipers in this city, and none would dare strike her.

When the sun began to set behind the tower her mother decided to move the litter inside and drew the day to a close. Ashara had her arm hooked into Elia's as they walked slowly up through the Threefold Gate, the main entrance to the their home from the streets of the Shadow. Elia wished deeply in her soul that her life would always be like this. Covered in the smells of Sunspear and drenched in silks and Myrish lace, with the jingle of bells around her ankle. The coolness of her new bracelet kept her calm and at peace with herself.

Unfortunately for her, the Gods had a different story in mind or her.

A fortnight after their shopping trip, Elia's lady mother Adrielle received a letter sealed with a three headed dragon the color of the Stranger himself. She immediately called the entire family in the read aloud the words that would change her life forever.

Oberyn had been the first to announce that their mother was a mad as the king himself, which earned a sharp reply from both their mother and their father. Then Doran, the wiser and more methodical of the three of them announced that he would never make as wild of a decision as that, even though he was the one who married without mother's consent.

Oberyn had already killed a man once before and, their mother never uttered a word about it. It was a fair death, but still. She never discussed it.

And she chose now to show her children how truly mad she really was?

They argued most of the night. But was it really an argument? Elia thought to herself. The entire moment felt as if it had happened in a blur.

Adrielle Martell was as stubborn as any Lady of Dorne should be. Oberyn and Elia were both the evidence of that. In the end even the pleadings of even both Ashara and Mellario alike could force no hole in her mother's decision. Even Daeron, her father could not persuade her otherwise.

Elia felt the fight suddenly drain from her and was washed anew with a sudden realization.

She would be queen someday. Her children would sit on the iron throne with a Dornish mother and Dornish influence.

Her mother was smarter than any maester or scholar had ever existed.

Elia rose slowly, which caught the attention of her family and they silenced their arguing.

"I accept" she announced with a raised chin. Her mother made a noise of satisfaction and clasped her hands together in a clap. Her brothers hissed in disgust while her father and Ashara balked in shock. Only Mellario looked upon her neutrally, and with no judgement on her face. The older woman seemed perfectly serene in this time of absolute chaos.

Oberyn immediately turned to her and began to storm off. Elia raised her hand to try and grasp his sleeve but he jerked it away and shot her a dark look. She felt anger bubble in her and called out for her brother.

Her younger brother gave her a dark look and took two long steps and stood directly in front of her. She could feel the heat radiate off his skin as he closed the distance between them. Elia turned her chin upwards and stared into those identical dark pools, so much like her own. She saw her reflection in her brother's eyes as he opened his mouth to speak. Elia hissed before he could even utter a word.

"I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong. I have made my decision and you must live with it." She said in a hard voice. Her brother's jaw tightened.

"Your sister is right, son. She needs your support now more than anything." Her father broke through the thick fog of anger and intensity. Elia inwardly thanked her father. Next to Elia, he was the only one who could persuade her brother to do anything.

Oberyn gave their father a pained look, and then swept his eyes over everyone in the room.

Elia saw the anger drain from his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. She reached for his hand and this time he allowed her to grasp it.

The sound of a clearing throat caused everyone to suddenly look at Adrielle, who had grabbed a parchment and quill.

"I will write to the king immediately. We will discuss our preparations for the journey in the morning, when we've all had a full night's rest and thinking clearly." Her mother directed the last word at Oberyn, who nodded quickly and dropped Elia's hand and briskly walked out of the solar and into the dark night.

"Oberyn if you leave me at this moment you will regret it for the rest of your days!" Doran came to Mellario and sat next to her on the chaise.

Later on that night, as she laid next to the sleeping Ashara, Elia prayed for sleep. She prayed to the Seven for sleep and reassurance that she had not just made an error in judgement. She agreed to marry a man she had never met, from a family she was, albeit distantly, related to.

She knew such luxuries like love and courting were far too grandiose for her, no, the gods must have other plans, surely they must.

Elia fell slowly into a deep slumber, dreaming of dragons and suns and indigo eyes.

(A/N: The Shadow city is the large market city built on the walls of Sunspear. More info can be found on the ASOIAF wiki!

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