ARTHUR

Sunspear was beautiful in it's own way. As he entered through the gate he could see the shadow city lurking inside. The closest thing to a true city that the Dornishmen had, the shadow city was no more than a queer, dusty town to those north of Dorne although to Arthur it held a special mysterious, alluring charm of its own, reflecting the nature of Dorne's people in it's every fragment. The city was a labyrinth of narrow alleys, homes, and bazaars. Sunspear was a walled settlement, protected by three massive Winding Walls, encircling one another and containing miles of narrow alleys, hidden courts, and noisy bazaars. He entered through the main entrance of the castle gates and was led to the court of Doran Martell who was surprisingly astonished to see him here. Arthur had dressed in common man clothes, it would've had simply been absurd to come here in his Kingsguard armor with the sigil of the house proudly adorned on his breastplate. A sigil not favored much currently in the city. He had taken care not to draw unwanted attention to himself as the Dornish people were infamous for their temper.

It seemed that for all his efforts at concealing himself, Prince Doran had his city well drilled as Arthur found himself escorted to a room immediately after entering Sunspear. After that he was 'kindly' requested to 'stay as a guest' till the Prince called on him. It was well into Dawn by the time he was led to the solar to find both Prince's Doran and Oberyn occupying the room. Arthur stood awkwardly for a while as neither men said nothing as they stared at him. Doran had a steely gaze in his eyes, while Oberyn altered between staring at Arthur furiously and then fiddling in his seat in frustration while keeping a goblet of untouched Red at his table. It made Arthur realise that the younger prince was not all too comfortable with sitting and talking. Which was not all that much a surprise. Oberyn had always been the fiery one as Arthur well knew. He and Ashara, like many other noble Dornish children his age were forced by their parents to spend time in the Water Gardens getting to know the Prince and the Princess. Doran was fairly old by the time Arthur came to the water gardens. He had went to Essos to travel and whatever Arthur knew about him was mostly by reputation. Still, there was a grim determination to the prince's eyes, a strange ailment had started to grow on his legs, it pained him most certainly but did nothing to deter the steel in his eyes. Oberyn meanwhile was the complete opposite and had lived a life of opulence, Arthur disliked him somewhat, the second prince was hedonistic in nature cared little for how his actions affected others. He was fiery, flickering anger to Doran's patient determination and also, infamously lewd and perverted. Oberyn Martell was mayhaps everything the Westerosi hated in a Dornishman. Such generalization hurt Arthur sometimes, there were honorable, humble Dornishmen other than the stereotyped lewd and cunning. His thoughts then diverted to sweet Elia, who if asked, he would publicly deny he felt anything for, but deep down something stirred inside him, something warm, whenever he thought of her. She was soft, weak and not even particularly beautiful but she was also kind, not fierce but determined, much like Doran, considering she had come alive out of two wrecking childbirths. Before he could dwell more on Elia though, Doran brought him out of his reverie by announcing, "Ser Arthur, I wish I could say I am pleased to see you, but the actions of the family you protect have dismayed Dorne itself. To what may I ask brings you here? "

Arthur waited a heartbeat before uttering everything he knew so far, of Lord Stark's trail, of their vile abduction of Prince Viserys, of their suspected intention of using him as a puppet for their own machinations, of Prince Rhaegar's bid to rise against his father and he almost spluttered about Lyanna but controlled himself.

Doran mulled over his words while Oberyn looked at him curiously, "You would betray your king over his son? "

"Prince Rhaegar will be a better king than his Father", he said his rehearsed lines word for word but he had started doubting whether Rhaegar was really worth it all, was he even a good man let alone a good king. The things he was doing to lady Lyanna were beyond despicable and yet Arthur would raise his banner for him, not out of duty though, that value would had meant him still staying by Aerys's side. But if not for Rhaegar there was simply nowhere to go. He had exchanged his life for his oaths and he wouldn't dishonour them and become the first Sword of the Morning to do so.

Doran leant forward, "Answer me Ser, I find it extremely curious how you were able to make your way here without my notice, to make way for the capital so fast and not to say of your disguise which was laughable. Had you made your way through the Boneway I would have had known, the only way I couldn't have had known was if you were inside Dorne for some time-'

Arthur sucked a nervous breath as Oberyn leant forward too.

' Tell me, what in the Seven hells have you been doing in Dorne of all places for so long, surely not to visit Starfall, in such a case the king would had notified me as the Lord Paramount of a kingdom about a Kingsguard visiting his region, it is done to grant you immunity from crimes as you're a Kingsman, but I received no such raven so you can understand I'm fairly curious about this matter."

Arthur felt uneasy, he should've covered his tracks better now he found himself at a road with no end, he couldn't lie to the Prince of Dorne, that would look bad on House Dayne should the Prince probe it further. So he took a deep sigh and told them unflinchingly -

"Prince Rhaegar married Lady Lyanna and annulled his marriage to Princess Elia, the newly made Princess rests in Dorne-"

Before he could even finish his sentence the aforementioned goblet of Red was thrown in his direction which he deftly dodged with ease, he sensed chairs being pushed back and fists banging on tables, swords of the guardsmen to were out in alarm as he finished his words -

"and prepared to birth a new child for Rhaegar. "

He felt Oberyn bellow out in rage, come near him and raise him by the collar while screaming in rage.

"He dares! He dares coming here and uttering that drivel, expecting us to raise banners for that silver bastard after what he did to Elia. "

"You would release him Oberyn. "

"Do you have no care for Elia! That Bastard humiliated her, we must kill this traitor here and now! "

"You would release him if you care about Elia", Doran intoned, "How do you think the King will react if he hears we manhandled his protector, especially with Elia in his custody. "

But the angry prince held on for a few more moments before shoving Arthur to the ground. Arthur could've finished Oberyn then and there but his worry about the aftermath of his family held him back, he saw Doran clutching Oberyn and fiercely whispering to him. He had never seen Doran so angry and yet he made the mistake of asking, "Would Prince Rhaegar expect your support, my Prince? "

Clutching the edges of his table, Doran raised himself painfully and growled out, "Tell the Silver Bastard that he will have no spear of Dorne, till him instead that we will rise for his father and Aegon because that's all Dorne cares for, now begone from my sight and go serve that fool! "

And so Arthur raised himself and strode away, ignoring the glares coming from all sides, somewhat relieved even though he heard Oberyn incredulously asking as to why he was let away freely. He didn't wait to hear Doran's response. He had failed in his duty and if not for Rhaegar at least he could try to protect Lyanna now.

XXXX

MACE

Everyone thought him a dullard. Oh they praised him plenty, they knew their livelihood depended on the Lord of Highgarden's. Unfortunately for him even his own mother would constantly chide him for being a fool. But he was not, if only she knew how much Mace worked for House Tyrell's growth, Growing Strong indeed. He could only sigh and forget about her barbs, she was his mother after all, men like Tywin Lannister would've become grateful kinslayers if they had a mother like that. But the ever patient Mace shrugged her insults and kept loving her. Always trying to convince her about his brilliant ideas, as he was now, and yet she was reluctant.

"This is folly"

He sighed, "Mother! We would never have another chance like this, who knows, if we win this game, Janna and Mina could even be Dragon brides."

It had so happened that on a sunny bright day, Ser Gerold Hightower had chanced upon Highgarden. He came from the south which put his Mother into some confusion but Mace shrugged it off, perhaps the legendary ser just had to see a few sights, which is why he came all the way round Dorne. He was gushing immensely when the Ser came striding in Court but the knight seemed of other mind, instead asking about some alliance and some other words that Mace drowned out. You see it hurt his head hearing about such things, he wasn't a dullard, he just wasn't interested in ruling. He still remembered the bad memory the day when he had drawn that beautiful rendition of Highgarden, he had wanted to ply that same trade for his whole life, but his mother had laughed it off the next day and his dreams had gone down the drains like that. Now he hoped to earn some glory on the battlefield in future wars, some way to make Mother proud.

He longed for the day he would strode in into the hall and Mother would look at him pridefully regaling his illustrious deeds to her friends, that would a day to dream off, but presently he was brought back to attention by a slap on his head by the same women, in front of his wife and children and even Ser Gerold nonetheless! Oh Mother! Why would she insult him so again and again!

Ah! Then he remembered Ser Gerold's intent to visit. The silver prince Rhaegar Targaryen had wanted to raise his banners against his father and become king faster than he eventually could be, it mattered little to Mace considering Janna, Mina or even a daughter of his could become a Targaryen bride in the future. And that would be his masterstroke, his armies for more power.

Of course his mother had to ruin it.

"This is treason! I can't believe a Knight of the Kingsguard himself is advocating people to rise against his king!"

Oh no she would ruin everything again, he leant close to his mother, "This is our chance Mother, why not take it?"

"A chance, at what? Fighting against all the rest of the kingdoms? No one will fight for Rhaegar you fool. Don't commit this folly."

The dinner ended and a decision was made with Lady Olenna sadder by the end of it. Ser Gerold went packing back south noticeably more happier.

In the morning he kissed his mother in greeting even as she spoke of doom and destruction for the Tyrells and more insults for him. He would love her still, she was his mother after all.

When the Maester came as requested, Mace promptly told him to call the banners.

The Rose would grow strong, and Mother would be proud.

He hoped.

XXXX

ARTHUR

The last thing Arthur remembered before losing consciousness was riding through a rough road back to the Tower of Joy, back to the grim duty he had come to despise. He was slightly sleepy but long hours of Kingsguard duty had reined in at least some restraint. And then he heard sudden hooves of at least two dozen sand steeds. Remembering about it now, he blamed his sleepiness. He should've known the vipers wouldn't just let him leave like that, if he had been aware he would had even sensed them following but now was not the time to dally, he turned his steed around to face the first man who he swung dawn at, the first kill raised a shield in defense but it wouldn't stand the might of Dawn and the man was put down, the second prey came and was killed too, then the third and fourth and so on. When Arthur started killing, the flow inside him just wouldn't stop, it went on and on, and he went swiftly dodging spear thrusts and lance pierces as he cut through the men till he he was cornered by three men from all sides who were all formidable, he killed the one to his right, then the one to his left, it was too easy but then he felt his moments slow, such things would only happen if cut with poison.

Poison.

Oberyn.

As he came to the conclusion he also realised he was now swinging Dawn comically slow and the man he presumed most likely to be the Prince slammed the butt of his spear to his head to land him in his current state.

As he groggily tried to refocus as he heard voices,

"Cut through 12 of our men m'prince.. Should kill him..."

" We brought two dozen m'prince only half remain because of the scoundrel, let the traitor die screaming"

"No', cut through an aristocratic voice, 'we need him yet"

A sharp slap rang through his ears as his tired eyes awoke to see a maliciously smiling Prince Oberyn.

"What do you want", Arthur found himself rasping.

"You see me and Doran had a brief discussion, the annulment you mentioned between Elia and Rhaegar cannot happen, Aegon must be king and for that we must have a better ground to negotiate on, Lyanna Stark sounds like a great bargain piece don't you agree?", spoke the Prince.

" You will never get her through me. "

The prince smirked," Then I suppose the inhabitants of High Hermitage will be happy to settle in Starfall. Quite sad for the family to fall on your indecision. Choose Ser Arthur, Family or Duty, I'd choose the former any day.

Artur eventually made that hard decision, one which would he did to save someone and inevitably condemn someone else to the seven hells. He was not a Knight anymore. A traitor was all he was now, forsaking duty for family.

XXXXXX