Little hope

Arianne POV

Nothing, no one knew where Edmure was. How long will it take before I lose hope for him to be alive? I wished I could say I would never lose hope, but each day was harder to endure. I had to know what happened to Edmure. I couldn't even face our children anymore. There was a limit to how often I could tell them their father was coming home soon.

Every time they asked when Edmure would return, it broke my heart. That fool, he just had to go missing. He just had to go to war. He had to rush and sail back to King's Landing for the wedding. He didn't have to. He could have been late and come back for the tourney. Now almost two months are gone since he went missing.

The Ironborn, damn them all to the seven hells. I will have their little islands sink to their damned god. Nobody fucks with my family and gets away with it. I will find Edmure and who took him, and they both will wish they were dead. My patience wavered with each day, I had much work to do, but I couldn't keep my focus for long.

"My lady," I stopped pacing in my solar at the knocking at the door.

"What is it?" I asked, not bothering to open them if the reason wasn't serious.

"Prince Oberyn wished to know if you would join him for breakfast."

Breakfast? I looked out the window and saw the sun rising from the east. I didn't sleep tonight again. I haven't even realized that I stay in my solar the whole night going through all the information my spies have gathered, trying to find something. Yet there was nothing, information from Essos travels for a long time, but I was tired of waiting for it.

If I don't find anything soon, I will take all the men and ships I can find and sail to Essos. If Edmure were still in Westeros, I would have found him already. Iron Islands were mostly within our grasp, so the Ironborn who took my husband was not there. The only place where I didn't have much information was from the lands beyond the Wall.

"My lady, what should I tell Prince Oberyn?"

"Nothing," I opened the doors.

I walked past the messenger and went to the dining hall. I already got annoyed by how big the Red Keep was, and I had to waste time walking through all these hallways and climbing the endless staircase before I reached the dining hall. I wouldn't have bothered to come if I didn't feel hungry. Even if I could work without sleeping, I still needed to eat sometimes.

"Arianne, here you are," Uncle Oberyn had plates full of food waiting for me.

"You look like shit, cousin," Nymeria didn't hold her words back.

"Did you need something from me, uncle?" I asked, taking a seat.

"You look tired," He answered to my annoyance.

"Tell me something I don't know," I took big bites of the stew before me. "Or don't waste my time."

"I leaving tomorrow."

"To Stormlands, I know, uncle," I replied.

"I thought I could meet you before I left."

"A small council meeting will be held before you leave, uncle."

"Arianne, you need to rest."

"Don't tell me what I need!" I slammed my hand on the table. "I know what I need. I need to know where Edmure is. I need to know where are the bastards that took him from me are. So I can kill them."

"Who? Edmure or his killers?" Tyene asked.

"He isn't dead!" I couldn't control my voice. "He can't be dead before I kill him myself."

"He's been gone for two months, Arianne," Oberyn said. "The last message about him was of the attack on his ship. I am sorry to say, but there is little chance he is still alive."

"No matter how small a chance it is, I know he is alive," I replied. "He isn't someone who would die so easily. He would swim back from Essos to the Westeros shores if he had. He will endure everything to come back. So, don't try to tell me he is dead, for I will never believe it."

"I am leaving tomorrow," Oberyn repeated himself. "I don't want to leave with you being mad at me, so I won't say something like that again. But I beg you to look at yourself. You are tired. You need to sleep. Elia, Axel, and Geralt need you. They are your children. It hurts them to see you like this."

Damn him for being reasonable for once. He was right; I knew it because I was avoiding my dear children for the same reason. I didn't want them to see me like this. I was pathetic. I couldn't do anything but wait for the information. I feared that someone would bring Edmure's Valyrian sword to me, and I would have to pass it down to Axel.

"You're right, uncle," I said, calming myself down. "Tyene, can you make a potion to help me fall asleep? I think I am too tired to fall asleep by myself."

"I knew you would say something like this," Tyene smiled at me and took a flask. "So, I already made something. It isn't strong, but after a few gulps, it should relax you enough to fall asleep."

"Thank you," I took the flask. "I should take a bath first, though. Wake me before the meeting, uncle, if I don't get up on time."

I could smell the filth on me. And I didn't want to show this part of myself to others. I had to be a proper lady, beautiful and elegant but strong and proud. I couldn't show any weakness. Not to my enemies or my friends. And especially to my servants and agents. And most importantly, to my children. They can't see me weak when they need me the most.

…

"Arianne," I opened my eyes to knocking at my chamber doors and my uncle's voice.

"I am awake," I shouted and got up from the bed before dressing in silk garments.

The sun was still in the east, and I could feel a morning chill, so I couldn't have been asleep for long. Maybe an hour or two, but I felt much better. Yet I did feel hungry and thirsty. Have I not eaten much at breakfast? It didn't matter; I would have someone bring me food later, and now I had to see what my uncle wanted.

"You look a lot better," Oberyn said after I opened the doors.

"Why are you dressed in your armor?" I asked.

"I am leaving," He answered.

"Not until tomorrow morning."

"It is tomorrow morning, Arianne," Oberyn smiled at me. "You have slept for the full day."

"What?" I asked, shocked. "I asked you to wake me up if I didn't get up."

"Aye, you did, but I never agreed," Oberyn said. "And I was right in doing so. You needed that sleep."

"What of the small council?" I asked.

"The king said that he will have a word with you at dinner, so don't worry," Oberyn answered before hugging me. "Anyhow, I need to be going. Love you and goodbye."

I wanted to chase after him and berate him for not listening to me, but instead, I turned back to my chambers and ordered servants to prepare a bath for me and bring me something to eat. I had a long day. I need to check on all the information I missed yesterday. Then I should have lunch with my children and see their training.

"My lady," A servant came in as I washed myself.

"What is it?" I asked, reaching for a hidden dagger in the bath.

"A merchant came in the first thing in the morning and said he had information for you."

"Was it a sailor?" I asked.

"Yes, my lady."

"Bring my clothes and fetch Clegane," I ordered. "Tell the merchant to wait for me by my solar."

"As you wish, my lady," I didn't take my eyes off her until she left the bath.

I will have to check on my guards for letting someone inside without informing me first. It was an honest mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. In my household, mistakes couldn't be tolerated. Even if that girl had been a servant for me for a long time, it didn't take away a chance that she could have been waiting for such an opportunity to kill me.

…

My visitor was well dressed, but I could see his stern expression that didn't like bullshit. He was muscular but not as big as Clegane, who stood by my side. His skin was tanned, telling me he had been in the sea for some time now. When he stood to greet me, I noticed his hands were scarred and callused. He had some training with a weapon.

"I am Moredo Prestayn," The merchant introduced himself.

"You accent, are you from Braavos?" I asked.

"You are as keen as I heard, my lady," Moredo answered with flattery. "I am the captain of Vixen and take voyages regularly. I have heard from some friends that you want to buy information."

"I am if that information has value."

"I think it does, as it partakes information about Ironborn," He replied, and I motioned for him to continue. "I came from Lys, where I saw a small fleet of Ironborn ships in the harbor."

"I am interested," I said. "Continue."

"Well, I have inquired some people and discovered they were sailing to Astapor to sell some slaves. But what is interesting is that there was a fight in the harbor before the Ironborn left. Some even swear that they saw the Ironborn take someone highborn."

"Do you know what that highborn looked like?" I asked.

"No, before anyone could do anything, the Ironborn took them and left immediately."

"Hmm," I hummed. "It is valuable information, and it is worth a pretty coin. But before I give it to you, I will warn you that if your information is false, you better not show yourself again in Westeros. And if you blatantly lied to me, I will find you no matter where you go and take away everything you ever held dear."

"Lie, I wouldn't dare," Moredo replied. "I might not be honest, but I don't care about the politics of foreign land to make up a lie. And I would like to get the pretty gold coins for other valuable information, should I acquire it."

"Then let's hope for a good partnership between us, Moredo Prestayn of Braavos."

"That's what I like to hear. It almost sounded as good as the clatter of the gold coins."

I liked simple men like Moredo. He knew his place and only cared for the coin. It was hard to find someone like him for a long time. Most merchants wanted to climb up in society. It wasn't hard to give some of the honorary noble titles, but I always could tell when someone wanted more than they were worth and could handle.

So many I had to get rid of because they started to ask too much. At least there weren't any who asked for my body since the last time. Just remembering it made me sick in disgust. Even if women in Dorne were more open-minded, they still had limits. And Edmure satisfied me well enough to let him have three children with me. Damn, I miss him so much. Once he comes back, I will fuck him until he is dead.

"Clegane," I looked at the sword Edmure acquired. "I will provide you two hundred men and a ship. I want you to sail to Astapor and look for Edmure. I don't care whom you must bribe or kill to bring my husband back. Do you understand me?"

"Aye," Clegane nodded.

Finally, I had something to work with. A little hope that I could grasp. It will take months for Clegane to get to Astapor and get back, but I can be patient when I need to be. At least I will feel better when I tell my children that their father is coming back soon. I will have more conviction when I say it. All I needed was that little hope.

A.N. As always, If you want more, up to seven advanced chapters, you can support me on pa treon. com \ ironwolf852, and I might miss uploading on Sunday as it is my sister's birthday.