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Sequel to Lady of Winterfell.
Chapter Nine: The Alliance.
"House Lannister is supported by House Tyrell, they seek to marry the Lady Margaery to the new King and unite their houses again," Stannis stated reading the letter that had arrived from his spies in the capital, it seemed that so far Tywin was rather distracted by the murder of his grandson. Though Stannis wondered if anyone would truly mourn Joffrey, perhaps his mother but Stannis doubted she was even capable of love for what she had done to his brother; Robert's legacy destroyed by an incestuous whore.
"They're plotting to execute Tyrion Lannister for the poisoning of the last one," Stannis mused wondering how they could use that to their advantage, he very much doubted that Tywin cared for the loss of the imp. He had always insisted that he would never leave Casterly Rock to his dwarf son despite the fact that his heir had sworn vows and entered the Kingsguard which meant that he would have no children to be heirs. The ones that Jaime did have were bastards to his sister, those who now claimed the throne that should have passed to Stannis upon his brother's death.
"It is rumoured that your sister, the Lady Sansa, has escaped the capital," Stannis concluded with a frown wondering just how she had escaped despite the capture of her husband who was now named a murderer. To slip away must have meant some sort of plan, she had fled the capital and it made Stannis wonder just how mad Tywin was with these series of losses despite the fact that he still had no moved against them.
"That leaves Arya who we cannot seem to find," Robb murmured fearing the worst for his youngest sister, his mother would be beside herself but he could not imagine just where or how his sister had fled the capital. For years since his fathers execution, there had been no word of Arya and at times Robb had pondered the fact that perhaps there had been some sort of accident that had befallen his headstrong sister. Though, he would not say such things to his mother fearing her reaction despite the fact that things were not what they seemed; the idea of losing any of her children would destroy her.
"They crowned Tommen quickly enough, the trial against Tyrion has begun and I have no doubts that they shall promptly find him guilty," Robb added staring over the map, they were still stationed at Casterly Rock and he had yet to hear back from Sanira. They had taken the back roads to the Vale to avoid detection and Robb was eager for news of her safe arrival; he remained hopeful that she would be able to talk Lysa into siding with them. A guard stepped into the tent disrupting the two of them, he looked nervous and he paused for a moment making the two men stare at him wondering what he wanted.
"Prince Oberyn Martell is demanding to speak with you both," the guard announced, he glanced back behind him almost hesitant to reveal that the man from Dorne had managed to slip past their guards and had almost reached the tent without anyone noticing him. Sharing a look with Stannis, Robb waved his hand curious as to why the Dornish Prince had come to them; from what he had heard things were looking good on the alliance that they had with the Lannisters.
Stepping into the tent, Oberyn Martell eyed the two men pleased to see that they had agreed to meet with him; if this meant that he could avenge his sister then he would do whatever he had to do.
"I come on behalf of my brother. We hear you plan to unseat the Lannisters from the throne," Oberyn mused taking a seat at the table, he eyed the map surprised at how much they had taken and how little the Lannisters were doing about it. He had to admit when the whispers had reached him, he had been rather surprised and had quickly written his brother with such news.
The murder of Joffrey had truly brought the Lannisters to their knees, they had Tommen left and Myrcella was currently in the care of his brother; set to marry Trystane who refused to be parted from her. Despite the fact that she was a Lannister, true feelings had developed between the two and no matter the outcome Myrcella would remain safely in Dorne where she would marry Trystane in the near future. However, this was the closest that House Martell had been in years to striking back at the Lannisters for Elia.
"And what does your brother seek from such an alliance with us," Stannis asked knowing that he had to be careful, the Dornish had not liked his brother for it was his rebellion that had led to the death of their kin.
The fact that he had gone on to marry into the family that had carried out those murders and had not brought Elia Martell's killer to justice; now for their mistake it seemed that House Martell would turn on them further.
"We seek only what the North has," Oberyn replied easily, the country of Dorne had long since been ruled by Princes and Princesses; if they were to stand as equals in this alliance then it was time for an upgrade. Doran knew that he would be the first in a long time of Kings and Queens, he had no doubt of that especially since he had three children himself despite his separation from their mother.
"The King in the North, The King of the South and the King of Dorne," Stannis mused at the titles, he did not see why that could not happen since it was not like he would have ruled Dorne anyway. If he could grant independence to the North and gain another ally to the South then who was he to deny Dorne the right to do the same; they would need each other should the Targaryen decided to reclaim a throne and land that no longer wanted her.
"The Three Kings of Westeros," Robb agreed, he had no care what happened with Dorne and the boundaries were still being agreed upon with Stannis; he might have been King in the North but he was also recognised as King of the Trident as well. That meant that the North and the Riverlands would fall under Robb's rule, Stannis would rule the Crownlands, the Stormlands, the Reach, the Westerlands and Dorne would now fall under Doran's rule as it always had been. The only unknown at the present time was the Vale, though considering that they were kin to the Starks; it was likely that they too would come under the Northern Kings control.
"Then we have an agreement?" Oberyn mused leaning back in his chair, he was pleased to see that the offer for an alliance was so ready accepted; he had feared that the bull-headed Stannis might disagree. However, it appeared that he was eager to put an end to the Lannister rule and he would not object should the Dornish seek their revenge on those responsible for the deaths of Elia Martell and her children.
"How do we know that you have not come here to betray us?" Robb asked not wanting to believe such a good offer, what if he had been sent as a spy by the Lannisters; his hand moving to rest on his blade unsure of himself and their alliance. He would not let the Dornish Prince walk out of here especially if it could endanger his family further, Robb could not afford to be so trusting especially when there was so much at stake.
"If I wished for your death, young wolf, then you would already be dead," Oberyn replied easily, he would do anything to bring down the Lannisters and it had been them taking Casterly Rock that had made his decision. The war was turning and soon there would be fighting again, they had moved carefully and Dorne would not side with the Lannisters when there were better options out there.
The fact that a Lannister bastard now sat on the throne again, pretending to be a Baratheon was enough for them to make their move; a child puppet King would be easily overthrown. The Lannisters seemingly only had the Tyrells as their allies, which would not offer them much in the way of armies despite the fact that they had money and were feeding the capital.
"Though perhaps I would give you a kinder death than Joffrey's," Oberyn mused, he eyed the two men knowing that it was still early days for their alliance and they did not have to like or trust him to get his job done. Whoever had murdered Joffrey had ensured that his death would be a slow and merciless one, he had slowly choked to death; dying in his mother's arms and giving her the justification that she had always desired to kill her brother. And that had given Oberyn an idea, he reached into his pocket and set something on the table knowing that from this moment that they would be working together; he looked to them both for a moment in silence.
"The necklace that poisoned Joffrey Baratheon was found by where your sister was seated, we find out who murdered him and we may just break apart the Lannister alliance," Oberyn said looking to Robb, he did not believe Sansa to be guilty but she had been a pawn in someone else's plan. If they could prove Tyrion innocent then he could be swayed from his family's side, they could use him to break the Lannisters.
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