The Day Of Departure

Lady Dayne

Ashara opened her eyes in the cool darkness of Elia's chambers. It had been nearly two moons since she had slept in her own chambers, instead sleeping next to Elia every night whispering among the sheets. It was like they could not help but spill every thought, every story they could think of before departing to the watchful walls of Kings Landing.

"Elia? Are you awake?" She whispered to the small form curled beside her. A small groan gave her the answer she was expecting.

"It's not even light out yet, let me sleep just a little longer." Elia mumbled. Ashara rolled her eyes and rose to stretch. The light outside was lightening from a dark blue to a lighter one with edges of yellow and orange.

She smiled to herself as she pulled the blankets off of her friend, "A lady of Dorne must rise with the sun, and bow with it as it sets." Elia shivered at the sudden flush of cool air on her skin, her thin shift doing nothing to help. Ashara could already pick out the bitter look on the princess' face.

"My mother has too much influence on you." She mumbled. Ashara smiled at her and walked to the wardrobe that housed the dress the princess would wear as she boarded the ship to take her away from Dorne, and the dress she would meet the Prince of Dragonstone in.

Ashara and Elia had picked it out themselves, wandering the streets of the market while head to toe in veils to hide their appearance. It was their last day of freedom, and they spent it entirely unknown.

"I wonder what my mother will say when she sees it." Elia whispered behind her. The dress was a deep red and tightened around the bodice, then subtly flowed out around the hips. It was edged in golden myrish lace all around both the sleeves and the neck-which plunged in a v-shape, something that the princess' mother would never approve.

"Thankfully she will not see it then." Ashara smiled and folded it gently and placed it in the bottom of the trunk. Elia pulled a robe on from the wardrobe and helped Ashara pack the rest of her dresses. It took no time, Elia was only taking six of her twenty gowns that she owned, for she was going to have many more made for her as Princess Regent and none of her gowns were thick enough for Kings Landing.

After they finished packing Elia shed her robe and reached for the dress that was laid out by her mother the previous night. It was deep red and thick, made of 3 layers of silk and wool underneath, with black fur lining the sleeves. Ashara eyed it with slight disdain. It was not a style Elia would wear, nor anyone who lived in Dorne. Elia turned towards Ashara and they both giggled at it. It was heavy but soft to the touch, it was ridiculous but it was a traveling gown.

Ashara helped Elia into it and laced it up as comfortably as she could. Elia snorted at her reflection in the looking glass when the dressing was done.

"Ashara, I actually look like I have a body!" Elia exclaimed as she turned around. Ashara smiled at her friend and pulled on her own dress, less extravagant but thick just the same.

The rest of the morning they finished packing everything else that they needed until the servants came to carry away their seven trunks. They broke fast with the Princess and Elia's family. Doran made light conversation, but it was Mellario and Oberyn who kept up most of the talk. Ashara watched from her place across from the small Arianne as Adrielle kept her mouth in a thin line as she ate her orange slowly. Elia was all warm smiles and made sure to touch each one of her family's hands. Ashara glanced at Lord Daeron, his hand was placed over his lady wife's hand, every so often he would rub circles into her wrist. A voice interrupted her staring:

"Are you delighted at the thought of seeing your brother again, Ashara?" Mellario asked as she handed Arianne a slice of an orange. Ashara smiled at the Norvosi and nodded.

"It has been too long since I've seen my brother, I think it was his four-and-tenth name day when last I saw him, so six years at least." Oberyn smiled at her.

"He is close with the prince as well." Oberyn noted. Elia looked lazily at her brother, his attempt a joke falling flat as the heavy emotion everyone was trying to ignore was beginning to choke them all.

"Your ship leaves soon, my dear." Lord Daeron said. It was the first think Ashara had heard Lord Daeron say all morning and it broke her heart. Ashara glanced quickly around the table and saw the life drain out of every member of the table save the babbling Arianne, and of course Mellario's ever present guard Areo Hotah who never showed any emotion at all. He stood behind the table with his eyes focused on the wall.

"Papa.." Elia whimpered. A voice inside Ashara her told her she was too old to sound this small, but Ashara knew she how she felt. Lord Daeron looked away and tightened his grip on his wife's hand.

"You are right, my lord. Elia and I must ready ourselves for the journey." Ashara spoke up and smiled tightly at her lady. Elia nodded and took a deep breath. She stood and walked over to kiss her father on the cheek. Her mother grabbed her hand with her free one and put it to her sunkissed cheek.

"Remember my daughter, you are a dornish, never let them forget you are a Martell." Elia nodded and kissed her mother's hand and cheek. Both Oberyn and Doran stood and walked with Elia and Ashara to the gates where the carriage was waiting with all of their things already prepared.

"You will give my love to the new babe will you not Doran?" Elia asked in a soft voice as she held her elder brother's hands in hers. Doran nodded and brought her close to him and whispered something in her ear that Elia could not here. Oberyn opened the door to the carriage and helped Ashara in first. She could feel his uneasiness in his hands.

"I am to accompany you to the docks, my dears." Oberyn said quickly, trying to hide his fear. It nearly worked.

Elia smiled at her younger brother and took his hand to climb into the carriage.

"Glad I am not rid of you yet little brother." She joked and Ashara saw a genuine smirk from the Viper.

"Not yet" She heard him whisper as he climbed in.

Soon they were leaving the walls of Sunspear and passing through the streets. All the while Elia had her eyes glued to the window as they passed every building, every market, even every hobble. Ashara watched as her closest friend tried to memorize every inch of her home and felt a deep sense of regret swell in her belly.

Please let this journey be easy. Please let it all be worth it, she prayed.

Ashara looked out her window and saw parts of the sea begin to show and the great sails of the ship that would take them on their voyage.

Brother, I am coming.