As much as Sansa had dreaded it, they had to leave the next day. She had thought that she would be with her family for a longer span of time, but Robb could not be absent from Casterly Rock for too long while they had to be back in Dorne as soon as possible to avoid any complications from the Lannisters.

"Where will you go?" Oberyn asked his daughters during breakfast. "You are free to choose, my dears, to stay with Robb or to go back to Dorne with us."

Obara and Nymeria looked at one another. They had made their decision a long time ago. "A little bit of foreign air would do us good," Obara told Oberyn, smirking towards Nymeria. He had three adult daughters, and the two oldest were closest in age and they had always worked together. They were a perfect team. Obara often talked with her fists, but Nymeria was calmer and more analytical. Tyene, the third Sand Snake had wanted to come with them badly, but Oberyn knew that she would be too brash and would instead cause undue danger to herself.

"Tell Tyene that we miss our little sister," Nymeria added. "She must miss us having to beat her up all the time too..."

"B... beat her?" Sansa asked, her blue eyes widened.

"Oh no, Sansa," Nymeria immediately added. "It's just some sisterly competition."

However, Obara rolled her eyes. "They're vicious bitches, those two," she explained further. "I have to constantly watch my back."

Sansa chuckled. "I used to be like that with my sister, Arya, too," she told Obara and Nymeria. "We'd used to fight all the time. One time, Arya put sheep dung into my mattress without me realizing it and I smelled bad for weeks until we flipped the mattress over and found it what she had done."

Nymeria grimaced while Obara scrunched up her face in disgust. It seemed that they would have understood that it was a terrible fate to have suffered, but smiled when their new stepmother was able to at least relate to them. She was probably younger than they were, but they knew that she held a certain strength in her that all Dornishmen had. They had come to know that the Northmen had them too, after fighting by their side and observing them for months now. It was then when they decided that they rather liked Sansa, despite the fact that she looked like a huge doll beside their father, especially with her almost white skin and her fiery red hair. It was a strange match, but by the way Oberyn and Ellaria had looked so comfortable and... sated... around her, the Sand Snakes would be happy for their father.

"I'm sorry to be so late," Catelyn announced when she got to the table, taking her seat next to Sansa. "The Queen has had a bout of morning sickness, the poor dear. Robb is still with her, so he asks us not to wait for them." She then turned towards Sansa and said, "You will know all about that sooner or later."
"Motherhood is a beautiful gift," Ellaria offered. She had dispensed with the words "my love" for now, especially when she was in Catelyn's presence. "But for some, it is a terribly uncomfortable one."

Luckily for her, Catelyn seemed to agree. "When I had Sansa, I was bound to my bed for months. Nothing agreed with me and I only ate oats with milk until I delivered her." There had been a change in Catelyn. Although she was not immediately accepting of Ellaria, she at least seemed to be tolerating her presence and was talking to her civilly. In fact, she seemed to be very deep in thought, but tried to hide it by making small talk. She then looked towards Oberyn and asked, "Will you have Sansa's children by you be warriors like their older sisters?"

Oberyn cleared his throat. "They will all learn to fight, girl or boy, as is the custom of House Martell," he said. Equal opportunity was the gift of the Dornish, and being the overlords of Dorne, every child born to the line was martially trained. It was a way for them to bond together, as not only brothers (or sisters) in blood but also in arms. "If they have other talents, then they would develop them freely." After all, he was a second-born son. He had no responsibilities other than to serve Dorne. He had technically done so by marrying Sansa, to forge a bond with the North. His two daughters are willing participants in Robb's army as well, to add to his list of accomplished responsibilities. However, he took Sansa's hand in his and said, "However, I regret to say that Sansa and I will not be having children until this war winds down, if we can help it."

Catelyn was surprised to say the least. "I had Robb right in the Rebellion," she recounted. "But, perhaps it would be wise to raise children in times of peace." Even if they were all vicious snakes, Catelyn could at least understand that the Dornish loved their children.

"You should come with us, Mother," Sansa offered, knowing that it was only for the sake of offering. Even if she did not sit in Robb's war councils, she was now helping his queen through her first pregnancy and she knew that it would be an important one for Robb. A healthy child would mean more healthy heirs, and the Starks were already dwindling as it were.

"I would love to," Catelyn replied pointedly. "But I'm needed here, even more so by Talisa and the baby. Perhaps when the war winds down, we can all come to Dorne to see you."Sansa smiled. It was a good thing to hope for. "You would always be welcome in Dorne, Lady Catelyn," Oberyn said, stopping abruptly when Catelyn tutted.
"I think you should call me 'Mother'," Catelyn corrected him. "Or aren't you married to my Sansa?"

"You'll always be welcome in Dorne, Mother," Oberyn repeated. Oh, she was a formidable woman, Catelyn Stark. Whoever knew that trouts from the Riverlands could carry such deep barbs. She wasn't merely making him part of her family, she was asserting her dominance over him as his mother-in-law. It was an underhanded move, one that was now difficult to undo. At least he now knew where Sansa had inherited her polital acumen and sharp instincts from.

Sansa sighed. In the very least, there was peace now between her mother, husband and Ellaria, however watchful and turbulent it was. It would set much of her worries aside. "I leave my family in your care then, Obara and Nymeria," she told her husband's daughters.

"It is our honor, Sansa," Obara replied. "Rest assured that they are in good hands."

"Maybe you should join Robb's Kingsguard, Obara," Oberyn teased. "Lady Commander Obara Sand sounds nice."

"I said I wanted foreign air, not foreign service, Papa," Obara responded bluntly. She felt no compulsion to bind herself to anyone, and would serve as long as she saw fit. If anyone wanted to be technical about it, she knew that she and Nymeria would be considered to be "political hostages" in the Stark-Martell alliance. They would serve until it was no longer needed for them to do so.

When Oberyn's eyes turned to Nymeria, she raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me, I'm just here to make sure that Obara doesn't make a mess of things," she said.

"Watch it, Nym," Obara spat.

"See?"

"I'll miss you girls arguing all the time," Ellaria sighed, absently caressing Nymeria's braid. "It is such good entertainment."

"Give Robb hell for me," Oberyn added. When Sansa balked and tutted, he asked, "What? Someone has to make sure that he doesn't overwork himself!"

Afternoon came, and it was time for them to go their separate ways.

"I'll miss you all very much," Sansa told her mother and brother as they gave one another a final embrace. "May we see each other again soon." There were no tears, because they could now at least hope to see one another again. That day would come when they would take King's Landing together with Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons. She was certain of it.

"The days will just fly past," Catelyn told her daughter. "We'll be together in no time."

"Perhaps we should all go back to Winterfell together," Robb suggested. "It's been years since we've been home."

Sansa nodded. When she had left Winterfell, she was a stupid little girl who only hoped of being Queen, dreaming of the capital, of lemon cakes and fancy gowns. If she had known the price of her dreams coming true, she would have bolted her door in her room and begged her father to stay and not leave with the King. She then turned towards Talisa and said, "All the best for the rest of your pregnancy, sister. I hope the Gods will bless you and Robb with a healthy baby."

Talisa smiled. "I thank you for your prayers," she said, holding Sansa's hands in hers warmly. "I pray that you will be very happy in Dorne with your new family." She could see many similarities between Sansa and Robb. They were both polite and strong-willed, both prodigies in either warfare or statecraft and they learned on their feet. If those two days they had were any indicator, she knew that Sansa would be a pleasant sister-in-law and a wonderful aunt to her future child and the ones that might follow.

Robb, on the other hand, was regarding Oberyn with his usual distrusting glare. "If Sansa has any complaints at all, I'd march my men to Dorne and take her back to Winterfell where she belongs," he threatened Oberyn.

"You will have to contend with Ellaria before you even try," Oberyn returned with a playful smirk. The boy's mouth turned agape, surely the memory of their fight night in Bitterbridge surfacing in his memory. He turned as red as Sansa's hair and even Nymeria could not help giggling at his reaction. "Don't worry, Your Grace, your sister is in loving hands."

"We'll certainly take care of Sansa, Your Grace," Ellaria replied. "You have my word." She shared a glance with Catelyn and gave her a curt nod. Her gesture was duly returned and she knew that Sansa's heart was lightened.

"We'd best be on our way then," Oberyn said, getting on his horse after he had helped Ellaria and Sansa get on theirs. Brienne of Tarth was already on hers, ready to follow Sansa to Dorne. "I leave my daughters in your care, King Robb. With any luck, perhaps I should send a third your way."

Robb smirked in reply. "I will gladly welcome any one of Sansa's nieces if they are willing to join me," he said. "Obara and Lady Nym have proved to be excellent warriors. If you don't mind, I would like to raise Obara as a formal Captain and Lady Nym as her lieutenant." Those were new ranks in his still-renewing army, because he realized that age-old oaths were no use to those who were so distant to him.

The Sand Snakes looked at each other in surprise, while their father nodded in appreciation. "Do not let King Robb down, my dears," he told them. "I wish you well, Captain and Lieutenant Sand."

"Safe journeys," Catelyn wished them all. "Please try to write back when you've arrived."

"I will, Mother," Sansa promised. "Safe journeys back to Casterly Rock as well."

Talisa held Catelyn's hand as they watched the Dornish party ride away. From Bitterbridge, they would go further down the Roseroad until they reached Cider Hall, and then turn towards the Prince's Pass into Dorne. Catelyn was forcing back tears, no doubt. It was hard on her, to be reunited with her daughter only to be parted from her again. In those two days, Sansa had not even told her of her suffering in King's Landing, but she could see it in her eyes. Her daughter had become completely different person, one that she had not known, but one that Oberyn (and Ellaria to whatever extent) had loved. Sansa was now more confident, and no longer shied from what was different, out of the ordinary. Her daughter used to wish for elegant dances, but now she understood strategy and statecraft as if she was born for it. Just listening her talk about the comings and goings of King's Landing was more than enough.

"Come," Robb told his wife and mother. "We'll need to be heading back as well."

"They are taking too long," Tyene grumbled as she was having tea with Prince Doran, Oberyn's brother and Princess Myrcella, her cousin Trystane's intended in their family's private living quarters in the Water Gardens. It had been two weeks since word had been sent out that the Dornish party would be leaving King's Landing, and yet there was no sight of her parents at all.

"Patience, Tyene," Doran advised. "The roads will be a little bit difficult to traverse, particularly with the turning weather." With the long summer at an end, the weather was beginning to take a colder change. In Dorne, it did not mean plummeting temperatures, but more rain and moisture. It would make the deserts are more hospitable place, but the passages in the Dornish mountains difficult to travel in.

"Will Prince Oberyn be bringing San... er... Princess Sansa along?" Myrcella asked. She had fumbled over Sansa's title for a moment. Sansa had never been a princess, although she was once meant to be Joffrey's queen.

Doran nodded. "But of course," he said. "Dorne will welcome her new princess with open arms. You are a friend to Sansa Stark, are you not, princess?"

"Yes, she was so lovely and kind to me before I came here," Myrcella confirmed. She remembered that Sansa was quite excited to be married to her brother, not knowing how unkind he could actually be. Joffrey puzzled her. He was nothing like her or Tommen, and he was always mean to everyone, even their mother at times. A part of her thought that it was good that he had died, so that no one could be hurt again. It was bad enough that he had started a war...

Doran smiled. "There, you have nothing to fear, Tyene," he told his niece. "Your father's wife will not be likely to seek to usurp your mother's position." Tyene looked at him half in surprise and half in shock. It was evident to him that it did not occur to her for him to know her thoughts. The Sand Snakes were all bastard daughters, all eight of them, no matter how much Oberyn loved them. If he and Sansa had any children, those children would take precedence over them. "She is a girl of sixteen, Tyene, even younger than you are. What could she do to your sisters and Ellaria?"

Tyene sighed. "I hope you are right, Uncle," she said. "They say that this Sansa Stark is beautiful. Her hair is red like fire and her skin is white like snow... Is it true, Princess?"

Myrcella nodded at the description, but somehow, her expression seemed to disagree. She never particularly thought Sansa as to being beautiful. She found her too pale, so pale that her skin looked splotchy. But she had not seen Sansa in a long while now, and perhaps during then Sansa would have changed somewhat.

Just then, Sarella and Elia came into the seating area excitedly. "Trystane's seen them! He's seen Papa and Mama riding here from Sunspear. He's gone out to meet them!" Elia announced.

"Well then, what are we waiting for?" Doran asked. "Get all your sisters, we are welcoming them home!"

Sansa had never seen such a structure before. Her journey into Dorne had been eye-opening, and she had learned much of her future home from Oberyn and Ellaria, but when they came into the Water Gardens, she could not believe that such an oasis could actually exist. The Water Gardens were aptly named, there were several large pools and also fountains, surrounded by lush gardens. However, she could also see that it was a working fortress. The walls were thick and high, enough to withstand attack, she reckoned.

"What do you think?" Oberyn asked her. "Impressive, is it not?"

"It is," Sansa said in bewilderment. "It's beautiful!"

"You will love it here, my love," Ellaria said. "And so will you, Brienne."

Brienne managed an awkward smile. "It's a little too hot for me though, but I'll manage," she said, trying not to complain too much. Already she had switched into Dornish leather armor, but she was still unused to the heat.

"When will I see the rest of your daughters?" Sansa asked Oberyn. She had hoped that the other six Sand Snakes were as easily used to her as Obara and Nymeria. She did not expect them to take to her immediately, but she prayed that she would have pleasant dealings with them.

"Almost immediately if they can't help it," Ellaria chuckled. "They love their father dearly." She went on to explain how Tyene and Sarella, whose mothers had left them at Oberyn's feet at the same time when she was heavily pregnant with Elia, had come to acknowledge her as their mother as well. So, although she was technically the mother of the four youngest Sand Snakes, she had mothered six of them. "Don't worry, my love, they will grow to love you too."

Sansa nodded in understanding. She knew that she would never be able to replace Ellaria as their mother, but she hoped that they would look upon her as part of their family as well. Perhaps it would take a long time, but she was willing to take upon that journey. It was the least she could do for her husband's family.

They took a left turn and were met with a strapping young lad who had an air of poised nobility about him. "Uncle, we have kept us waiting for too long!" he said to Oberyn after a warm embrace.

"We've hit a patch of rough weather at the Prince's Pass," Oberyn said before introducing his wife to his nephew. "Trystane, I'd like you to meet my wife, Sansa of Winterfell, as well as her sworn-sword Lady Brienne of Tarth."

Trystane promptly kissed Sansa's hand, calling her "Auntie Sansa" in the most charming manner. "Lady Brienne," he said with a curt nod after Brienne indicated that she did not want her hand to be kissed. He'd gave Ellaria a quick hug as well. "Come, my father and the girls are all waiting for you," he said, personally leading Sansa by the arm.

Sansa let Trystane guide her into what seemed to be a well-guarded section of the Water Gardens, and the first thing she saw was a row of girls, all dark haired and dark eyed. Although their faces differed slightly, they all had Oberyn's eyes. The man seated upon the grandest chair was no doubt her brother-in-law, Prince Doran. Furthest to the right was a familiar face. It was Princess Myrcella, Joffrey's sister. She was taller than what Sansa had remembered, but no less beautiful.

"Welcome to Dorne and the Water Gardens, sister," Doran proclaimed when Sansa gave him a low curtsy and kissed him on the cheek. "I am glad to see that you have made it with my brother and Ellaria."

"You sent me off to King's Landing and the Riverlands to acquire an alliance and a wife, and I bring you Sansa Stark, Princess of the North," Oberyn told Doran. "Where is my reward?"

Doran smiled widely. "You heard him, girls," he turned towards the six Sand Snakes. "Go to your father." Immediately, Oberyn and Ellaria were swarmed by chuckling girls of varying ages. Sansa felt a bit overwhelmed. She had never seen so many children in one go, and they were all her stepdaughters, even the older ones who looked as if they could be older than her in age.

"Sansa, come," Ellaria gestured to Sansa, and took her hand. "Girls, this is Princess Sansa, and she is Papa's new wife. You are to give her the same respect you give to your father, Uncle Doran and I, am I clear?"

"Please, call me Sansa," Sansa said, repeating the same thing she had said to Obara and Nymeria. The four youngest rushed to Sansa and happily gave her hugs and kisses, while Tyene and Sarella eyed her curiously. "Let's just start from being friends first." She offered her hand to them and Tyene took it.

"Welcome home, Sansa," Tyene said. "I hope that you are happy here with Papa and all of us."

Sarella shook her hand as well, but also kissed her cheek for good measure. "She's a little paranoid, don't worry about her," she whispered into Sansa's ear.

Doran cleared his throat. "Now that we're all properly acquainted, perhaps we should have dinner served? You must be famished from your journey."

HAN: Hmmm, I wonder what made Cat change her attitude about Ellaria?

Many shots were fired in this chapter, heh heh. I had fun writing them.

There are so many Sand Snakes I cannot keep track of them. Urgh.

P.S: I miss Jon Snow already.