Dorne, Sunspear 297 AC.
Ser Barristan Selmy
The Fury docked at the harbor of Sunspear. Ser Barristan, Steffon, Lady Melisandre and a group off twenty men at arms stepped onto the docks carrying two boxes, one made of metal and the other made of wood. The knight observed the city that he had visited so long ago in the company of another prince. Prince Steffon himself was surprised by the sight of the city that until today was unknown to him.
As they got off the boats they saw a group of Dornish soldiers approaching, one of them was wearing a dornish armor with cooper disk and leather over silk robes. The man handsome, with a strong jaw, sky blue eyes, and light sandy brown hair. Steffon approached the man to introduce himself. "I am Prince Steffon of House Baratheon," the prince declared with a firm voice. The Dornish was surprised by this statement while the prince continued speaking. "These are my companions, Ser Barristan Selmy and Lady Melisandre of Asshai. "
"My name is Ser Damon Sand," said the violet-eyed man. "What matters do you and your companions have in Sunspear, Prince Steffon? " He demanded glaring at Steffon with disdain.
Steffon maintained his stance and firm tone. "I have business to attend to with Prince Doran and Prince Oberyn," he emphasized, looking the Dornish in the eyes. "Then he looked at the boxes his men were carrying. I also brought gifts for them."
"And what are those gifts," the Dornishman replied suspiciously.
"That's none of your business," Steffon replied, annoyed. "You're going to help us or you'll continue wasting our time."
"They would have to hand over their weapons," the Dornishman commented after a moment.
"There is no way we will do that," said Ser Barristan, who had remained silent throughout the exchange of words. "We did not come to Dorne with any bad intentions. We will accept the right of guests if it calms your concern."
"Very well," said Ser Damon, nodding, "Follow me."
Ser Barristan followed his prince closely as they entered the gates of the Dornish capital, attentive as always, watching how people looked at them and murmured as they watched them pass by, always keeping his right hand on the handle of his sword.
Finally, they arrived at the Three Gates. Before the doors stood Areo Hotah, the enormous captain of Prince Doran's guard, holding his enormous ax as always in case of any threat.
Ser Damon approached Areo to whisper in his ear, low enough so that neither Ser Barristaan nor Prince Steffonn could hear them.
"Wait here," said Ser Damon, who entered and returned minutes later with a tray of bread and salt. Watching the prince and his companions receive it, Areo spoke:
"You may enter the Throne Room, Prince Steffon, but your men will wait here."
"King Robert made me the Prince's sworn shield for this journey," replied Ser Barristan, looking steadily at Areo. "My place is at his side."
"Only you, Ser Barristan, the rest will wait outside."
"Fine," said the prince, looking at Areo, and then nodded to his men and Melisandre to wait here.
Steffon and Ser Barristan followed Areo, while the Dornish guards carried the boxes towards the throne room.
Upon arriving at the Throne Room, he was received by Prince Doran Martell who, despite his age and fragile state of health, still retained the determination of his face as well as his calculating gaze. His brother Oberyn was a completely different story, as he Looking at him you could tell what he was thinking. Ser Barristan watched as Oberyn looked at him with disdain while he gave his prince a look of disgust.
The knight did not miss the look of curiosity that the princess and heir of Dorne, Arianne Martell, gave Prince Steffon, there were three other women in the throne room, Barristan guessed that these were the famous Sand Snakes, so He kept his guard higher than ever.
"Prince Steffon," Doran said with a small smile, "Welcome to Sunspear, I apologize for the lack of reception, but we had no idea you were coming."
"It's okay, Prince Doran. Actually, I wanted to arrive unnoticed, although something tells me that my family will soon find out about my arrival here."
"And what business can the son of the Usurper have here?" Oberyn growled.
"¡Oberyn!" Doran warned his brother "Don't start."
"It's alright, Prince Doran," said the prince, smiling, "but before I go on to my business here, I have a gift for all of you."
"It better be a fantastic gift to waste our time," Oberyn growled again as his brother gave him another warning look.
"Oh it will be worth it, I promise you," the prince responded confidently while at the same time a group of twenty Dornish guards entered the throne room carrying the two boxes.
"Ser Barristan would do the honors," the prince told him, giving him the keys to the locks on the boxes.
"It would be an honor, my prince," the knight replied as he went to open the boxes.
"Fourteen years ago," Prince Steffon began as Ser Barristan opened the boxes, "a heinous crime was committed against House Martell, my father, the newly crowned King Robert, refused to give them any kind of justice, but I am not my father.
At that moment the locks on the box opened and two men fell out.
Steffon Baratheon
Dorne, Sunspear 297 AC.
Steffon looked at the Martell brothers. "Prince Doran, Prince Oberyn, I Prince Steffon of House Baratheon, I hand over to you, to Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch the assassins of Princess Elia, Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon."
The atmosphere completely changed in the room. Both princes stood up from their seats in a state of shock, but not without looking at Prince Steffon in surprise.
Princess Arianne also looked at the prince in surprise, but unlike her father and her uncle, she gave the prince a smile.
The Sand Snakes were a completely different story, the three of them looked at Clegane and Lorch with hatred, but gave him a look of disbelief as if they couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. Even the guards were visibly surprised by what they have just witnessed.
Prince Doran was the first to recover from the current shock. "I must admit, that was the last thing we expected to come out of the boxes." Now he looked at Steffon with more curiosity than ever.
Oberyn kept his gaze on the two chained men still lying on the floor of the throne room, while he caressed the handle of his dagger. He must be thinking of all the ways he can kill them.
Finally, he was able to compose himself and speak, "How did you capture them? I doubt your grandfather would have given up his two filthy animals so easily.'' His tone only radiated hatred.
Steffon smiled again "I simply disembarked in Lannisport..." now everyone was listening to him attentively "then I just had to send someone to find them to inform them that I had a task for them, as the grandson of their liege lord they immediately responded to my command. After they both boarded my ship, I served them... let's say a special wine."
Oberyn looked again at the two chained men. "Why give them to us chained? Why not just give us their heads?"
The young prince stared at the two men in front of him. "The people of Dorne have been waiting for justice for over fourteen years. Who am I to deny them the pleasure of watching the two most hated men in Dorne receive the punishment they deserve?"
Oberyn sat back down now he was much calmer, he had a mischievous smile on his face "I had no idea that you had so much respect for Dorne, Prince Steffon."
At least he no longer calls me the Son of the Usurper
"But I really doubt that you gave these two to us out of the goodness of your heart."
"And what exactly do you know about me, prince Oberyn?" Steffon challenged him. "I handed them over because it was the right thing to do, I never understood why my grandfather was so insistent on keeping them both alive, they only serve to massacre people who are incapable of defending themselves and many people in the Westernlands hate them."
"What will your grandfather say when he finds out that you gave us two of his banners?" Princess Arianne said looking at him with an adorable smile.
"He'll probably be angry but it doesn't matter," said Steffon, smiling at her. "I'll deal with him when I have to, but I already have something ready that will make him direct his anger toward something else, or rather someone else."
The room was silent for a moment, the Martell Family seemed lost for words.
Once again Oberyn decided to break the silence. "Then Prince Steffon, why did you come to Dorne? I doubt you made this trip just to give us justice."
Prince Steffon kept his serious tone. "Justice is the only reason I am here, Prince Oberyn, but as I mentioned before, I have a preposition for you. An alliance"
Doran gave him a mocking look before speaking, while Oberyn laughed. "And this alliance involves my daughter I suppose?"
"Technically speaking, it involves all of us," Steffon said before looking at Arianne who had an even bigger smile on her face. "Although I admit that it will be difficult for us to reach to an agreement, considering the plans you have for your daughter that involve the beggar on the other side of the Narrow Sea"
The prince's last words erased the mocking smiles from Oberyn and Doran's faces.
"¡Get out all of you!" Upon hearing Doran, Arianne and the Sand Snakes quickly left the room. "Get these animals out of my sight and chain them tightly in the dungeon." The guards obeyed and each of them left the room with the two chained prisoners. Leaving the Dornish princes guarded only by Areo Hotah, while Ser Barristan remained loyally at his prince's side.
Prince Doran was now watching Steffon intensely and thought carefully about his next words. "What makes you think we have such plans?"
Steffon smiled once again "To begin with, your daughter is one of the most beautiful women in all of Westeros, as the daughter and heir of the ruling Prince of Dorne she is one of the best matches, even though she is already twenty years old. She still remains unmarried, and the only matches you have introduced her to are people who are too old and, I must say, unpleasant, such as: Ben Beesbury, Walder Frey, Gyles Rosby. Did I forget someone?" Steffon paused but neither Doran nor Oberyn said anything so he continued. "All of those men were obviously rejected by Arianne, but you nevertheless rejected the proposals of Hoster Tully and Mace Tyrell to marry Arianne to her respective heirs, men whom Arianne would have accepted as husbands."
"That still doesn't answer my question, Prince Steffon," Doran continued with his impassive gaze, carefully choosing his words. "While I admit everything you've said is true, I'm pretty sure it's all well known in the court of King's Landing, but I still don't understand what made you draw such a conclusion."
"After the fall of King's Landing your brother Oberyn wanted to continue the fight in the name of Viserys Targaryen," both princes looked at each other cautiously. "Obviously you rejected that because you could never defeat my father's armies alone, but that didn't stop you from continuing to plan your revenge against my family, so you signed some kind of pact with Ser Willem Darry." Doran didn't say anything, his gaze refused to reveal his thoughts. "You should have chosen a place further away from Westeros to do that, because Bravos is quite close, that kind of news can still reach the ears of people from Westeros, like the Master of Ships, Stannis Baratheon" Doran Martell's face finally reflected an emotion: frustration, while Oberyn's was only anger.
Doran finally spoke. "I had heard that the Prince of Storms had a great intellect. Although after being fostered by Tywin Lannister, Ned Stark and Stannis Baratheon I should have guessed. " Steffon simply smiled at the compliment, but realizing that neither Doran nor Oberyn had claimed anything yet, he decided to try another approach.
"I must say that he was quite surprised when my uncle Stannis told me, I thought that you would be quite reluctant to form another alliance with the Targaryen, considering what happened last time"
"Your father took the throne that belonged to our nephews" Oberyn spat, Doran gave him a warning look but he ignored it "and when he saw their bloody corpses wrapped in Lannister cloaks he laughed."
Steffon looked at the ground in shame. "Yes, he did." Doran noticed the shame on the prince's face. "But tell me, Prince Oberyn. Who was the man who shamed his wife and then ran away with another man's betrothed? Abandoning his wife and his two children."
Oberyn stood up abruptly from his seat, Ser Barristan was just as quick and stood between both princes ready to draw his sword if necessary.
"Enough!" Prince Doran roared in frustration. "This is getting us nowhere!"
"In fact, Prince Doran, I think we are making progress. I came here to talk and that is what I will do." Steffon remained seated, not even fazed by Oberyn, who looked at him with hatred. "If your brother wishes to yell at me or insult me, he is free to do so, as long as both of you listen to what I came to say."
Doran nodded to the prince "Sit down, Oberyn." Oberyn looked at his brother, annoyed at him, but obeyed, so Steffon continued.
"Since both of you are reluctant to my words, you might prefer to hear my reasoning from someone else." Steffon looked at Ser Barristan.
"Ser Barristan, I am going to ask you some questions and I want you to answer them honestly. Do you understand?"
"I will not speak ill of Prince Rhaegar, my prince.
"I'm not asking you to do that, I'm just asking you to answer with the truth, can you do it?" Barristan took a long sigh and then nodded.
"Do you believe that Prince Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped and raped Lyanna Stark?" Oberyn gave a snort of displeasure upon hearing the last name.
"No, I don't believe that."
"Why?"
Ser Barristan seemed to hesitate before speaking "Prince Rhaegar loved his Lady Lyanna" the latter infuriated Doran as well, Oberyn was red with anger "unfortunately thousands died for them."
"How do you know that, Ser Barristan?" Doran spoke, surprising both Steffon and Oberyn.
"We talked on the way to the Trident" a tear appeared on the man's face "when I asked him about the rumors that Robert had spread throughout the Kingdom, he told me that he loved her, that she was safe and that he would bring her with him when the battle over." Doran was just as red as Oberyn, who was clawing at the arm of his seat. "When I asked him about Princess Elia he said she would understand."
Both princes remained silent, the knight's words left them stunned and at the same time they looked at Steffon in a way that he could not decipher. So Steffon spoke again.
"And Prince Viserys, what kind of person was he?" Doran raised his gaze to Ser Barristan once more.
"From his youth Prince Viserys gave signs of being his father's son." Steffon smiled at Doran's expression and spoke before Doran could do so.
"Aerys took you under his wing didn't he?" Barristan nodded "So that he was just like him and I assume that he taught him to treat women the same way he did. And what he had to do to them if they dared him: wake up the dragon"
"Yes," said the knight, in a tone so low that it seemed like a whisper.
He is remembering Queen Rhaella
"Well," Oberyn finally regained the strength to speak, "some fathers are worse than others, there are some who spend their time getting drunk and sleeping with whores, shaming his wife and fathering bastards every year."
"Do I look like my father to you, Prince Oberyn?" Steffon challenged him: "If I were my father we wouldn't be talking right now, if I were like him, right now I'd be in a brothel with four women and a bottle of wine."
Doran finally spoke "No, Prince Steffon, you have made it quite clear to us that you are not your father. In the same way that you have clarified certain... matters to us" Oberyn looked at his brother, surprised at him.
"But even so, why should we give the hand of our beloved Princess of the Sun to you," Oberyn stressed, the anger on his face having calmed but not dissipated. "Especially to a second child."
Steffon gave both princes a huge smile, which confused them. "I can give you both a reason, in fact several, but not here, let's find another place to talk."
Doran looked at him cautiously again. "I assure you, no one can hear us here."
"I don't care; it has to be somewhere else, the walls have ears everywhere." Oberyn gave a little snort when he heard that. "If you really want to hear what I have to say, let's talk somewhere else, it could be on top of one of the walls or in the middle of the beach, where we can be sure that no one is listening, but not here."
Doran and Oberyn looked at each other for a moment, not knowing what to say. So once again Steffon decided to do it
"If you need time to think we can continue this conversation tomorrow...
"No!" Doran said, raising his voice for the third time. "We will continue this conversation now. Come with us, Prince Steffon."
And so the three princes and the two knights left the throne room.