Sunspear/The Narrow Sea/ King's Landing 297 AC.
Oberyn Martell
After his brother officially signed the marriage alliance between his niece and Prince Steffon, he and Doran went to break the news to the rest of their family.
To say that Arianne was happy would be an understatement, she basically lunged at her father like a little girl who had just received her best birthday gift, giving him a big hug that his brother happily reciprocated. Then her niece wrapped her arms around Prince Steffon to give him a long kiss.
That same night his brother organized a banquet to celebrate the engagement between her daughter and the prince. The Dornish nobles who were in Sunspear joined the rest of the Martell family for the celebration, although most were surprised that the ruling prince of Dorne would betroth his beautiful daughter to the Usurper's son, but they were still respectful and the prince's flattering and sincere comments regarding Dorne and his people seemed to diminish the disdain that the Dornish nobles had for him, as did the affectionate acts he had towards his niece during dinner.
At the end of the banquet Doran called him and the prince to his office to inform him that Arianne would go to King's Landing accompanied by her cousins: Obara, Nymeria and Tyene, along with Oberyn, Ellaria and two hundred Dornish guards, in addition to Ser Daemon Sand, who would serve as Arianne's sworn shield. Prince Steffon refused the latter, arguing that taking one of Arianne's former lovers to the capital, it would be counterproductive, since it would cause rumors and possible conflicts, Oberyn laughed as he saw Prince Steffon trying to hide his jealousy from him and his brother, while he spoke. In the end Doran ended up accepting, after the young prince promised to name Asher Forrester as Arianne's sworn shield. According to Prince Steffon the northern knight was now in King's Landing supervising certain business that the prince had there.
The three agreed to wait to tell Arianne the truth about the Queen and the Kingslayer.
The next morning Arianne said goodbye to her father and her younger brother Trystan with a big hug, while Oberyn and Ellaria said goodbye to her youngest daughters, promising to see them for their cousin's wedding with the Baratheon prince. Oberyn promised to keep his brother up to date with everything that was happening in the capital. And so everyone boarded the ships heading to King's Landing.
The trip, despite being long, was quite favorable. Oberyn, like Arianne, took advantage of the time to ask the prince everything about how to act towards the prominent nobles of King's Landing.
"My mother hates everyone who isn't Lannister." the black-haired prince began. "No matter what you do, she will never like you. She is hateful and paranoid." Oberyn noticed the disdain in her voice as she listened to him talk about her mother, just like when he talked about her uncle the Kingslayer. "He is my mother's lapdog, he does absolutely everything she tells him, his great skill with the sword has made him one of the most arrogant men in the capital."
"My uncle Tyrion is a nice man, he is friendly and likes to drink a lot of wine and visit at least two brothels a day, you will like him Prince Oberyn." Oberyn laughed along with Ellaria and Arianne, "but don't let that confuse you. He is the most intelligent member of the Lannister family, as he lacks my grandfather's pride and his stubbornness to admit when he makes a mistake, and his loyalty is completely with House Lannister. My mother hates him, as does my grandfather, but he and the Kingslayer have a good relationship between them."
"My uncle Renly is also a nice man, he has the charisma that my father had in his youth, which it means that he makes friends easy, but he lacks of discretion and the ability to keep a secret, he doesn't take many things seriously either. And he is too close to the Tyrells for his own good, especially to Ser Loras." the young prince said the last thing raising an eyebrow, Tyene looked at Arianne with a mocking gesture, they both shared a laugh.
"My uncle Stannis and Jon Arryn are good, honorable men, the only ones on my father's Small Council who truly care about the well-being of the kingdom, and give my father wise council, but unfortunately my father almost never listens to them, preferring to listen to the sycophants and conspirators who sit in his council."
"Pycelle is completely loyal to my mother and grandfather, he has been even before my father was crowned king, after all he was the one who convinced Aerys to open the doors to the Lannister Army at the end of the Rebellion." Oberyn clenched his fist upon hearing this last bit. "He acts as if he were a frail old man and that way he makes most people underestimate him."
He is a very observant boy. Oberyn thought.
"Baelish is the most treacherous and corrupt person of all, he has no true loyalty to anyone but himself, he smiles all the time, complimenting my father and whispering cruel ideas and suggestions to my mother. He has absolutely no sense of honor or morality, and enjoys turning people against each other. Although he doesn't have much time left in the capital." The young prince mentioned that last thing, with a mischievous smile on his face.
"Varys, he is the most dangerous of all, his true loyalties are unknown to me, although I have someone investigating them, his network of spies or little birds as he calls them is the largest of all. He knows King's Landing better than thanks to that it has been Master of Whisperers, for more than twenty years, and I'm pretty sure he knows all the secret passages of the Red Keep. He talks to everyone, using a sweet effeminate tone, dropping ambiguous phrases or indirect mockery."
For several days they just continued like this, listening to the prince about how to behave in King's Landing.
Oberyn and Prince Steffon also discuss how they would take the marriage proposal to King Robert.
For the rest of the journey Oberyn watched as the prince trained hard with Ser Barristan, rising each time the old but skilled knight knocked him down, sparring with a two-handed greatsword as well as a one-handed sword and dagger.
Adopting different moves, which he claims he learned from his uncle Stannis soldiers and the Warriors of Light who came with Lady Melisandre from Volantis. He sometimes trained with several of his own soldiers at a time. He even asked Oberyn to train with him again, and even though he was quickly knocked down due to the Dornish prince's great skill with the spear, the young Baratheon prince, got up each time ready to keep trying.
In just two weeks they reached Blackwater Bay and saw the city of King's Landing.
The entourage of guards that accompanied Prince Baratheon got off the ship along with Lady Melisandre, Ser Barristan, Prince Steffon and the rest of the Martell family, as well as the Dornish entourage of guards that came on the other ships.
At the main gate of the city they met Ser Asher Forrester.
"My prince, it is good to have you back." said the northern knight, bowing his head.
"It's good to see you Asher." The black-haired prince said smiling. "Although, I can't say the same for this city, I certainly didn't miss the smell." They both shared a laugh.
"Prince Oberyn, Princess Arianne, this is Ser Asher Forrester, the captain of my company of soldiers and a good friend of mine." said the blue-eyed prince.
"My prince, princess." said the haired man bowing.
"You brought the horses, I suppose."
The northern knight nodded and motioned to a group of soldiers with the colors of House Baratheon, who approached with horses.
Oberyn, Arianne, Ellaria, and the three Sand Snakes mounted the horses, along with Prince Steffon, Ser Barristan, and Lady Melisandre. Asher also rode one, while the rest of the Baratheon and Martell soldiers were on foot.
As they entered the city, the people of the common town came forward to receive their prince, shouting praise.
"The Prince of Storms has returned."
"Hail Prince Steffon."
"The Black Lion returned."
Prince Oberyn laughed at this last nickname, remembering what the prince told him and his brother about Queen Cersei's children and rode until he was alongside the prince.
"I see you're quite popular." Prince Steffon smiled, as he gave a few pennies to a woman with a baby in her arms. Oberyn noticed how Ser Barristan smiled as he observed this.
"I learned to endear myself to the common people when I was a child. Jon Arryn taught me that the well-being of the common people helps maintain the order and peace of the kingdom. Sometimes I give them coins, other times I bring them food, I even took people off the streets to work for me. Many of my own soldiers were homeless people from Flea Bottom."
"Jon Arryn is right." answered Oberyn simply, who sometimes couldn't believe that this boy was half Lannister.
"The mountain destroyer."
Oberyn and the rest of the Martells laughed at that.
"It seems that your exploit in Lannisport has already become known." Oberyn said to the young prince who was smiling at the compliments of the common people.
"This is King's Landing, Prince Oberyn, news and rumors spread as fast as fire."
The entourage continued riding until they reached the Red Keep, where they were received by the prince's uncle Renly Baratheon.
"The prodigy son finally returns." said the king's youngest brother. "and he comes accompanied I see." He looked toward Oberyn, Arianne, his daughters, and Ellaria.
"You already know me, dear uncle, I'm like you, I like to make friends."
"Oh really?" Renly raised an eyebrow, watching as his nephew dismounted from his horse to help Princess Arianne off hers. "Because I think then, that you want something more than friendship."
"Where are your manners uncle? This is how you greet our guests."
"You're right." Renly approached the Martells. "I apologize for my lack of hospitality Prince Oberyn, Princess Arianne, but we had no idea you were coming." He bowed his head.
"That's good Lord Renly, your nephew invited us, after giving us a very good gift and making us a very good proposal about an alliance between our two Houses." Oberyn said friendlily, shaking the hand of the youngest of the King's brothers.
"Yes, I heard about that gift, it's part of the reason I'm actually here." Renly looked at his nephew. "Your father and mother are waiting for you in the throne room."
"Let's not keep them waiting then." The prince kissed Arianne's hand and then gestured to Asher, who proceeded to gather his men behind the prince. "You lead the way uncle."
Renly snorted. "Follow me" Steffon walked alongside his uncle while Asher and his men followed behind.
Oberyn and her family followed them as they listened to both Baratheon's speak.
"You know your mother is furious with you."
The young prince let out a dry laugh. "She's been furious with me since the day I was born."
Renly laughed and patted his nephew on the shoulder. "Maybe, but now she is much more so. She heard what you did to her father's two banners."
"I just gave them a glass of wine and took them to Dorne, I don't see anything wrong with that. Although it's true that they didn't eat much during the trip."
Renly laughed again. "I hope you have a better answer than that, although your father might find it funny."
"Has my grandfather arrived to the city yet?" the prince suddenly asked.
"No, but Varys informed us that he is on his way."
"Well, that means he received my letter."
"What?" Renly said surprised. "You sent him a letter, so he would come here."
"Of course I did. I figured he would be upset about what I did, so I sent him a letter, explaining my actions and informing him that I had some information about something he would like to know."
Oberyn and Arianne looked at each other remembering what the young prince said in Dorne.
He'll probably be angry but it doesn't matter, 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.
"And what is that?" Renly asked curiously.
"You'll know when he arrives."
Renly snorted again, rolling his eyes as they reached the door to the Throne Room, the doors opened and Renly approached his nephew to whisper in his ear. "Good luck."
And so the youngest of the King's brothers went to join the rest of the members of the small council who were standing to the left of the Iron Throne.
"Prince Steffon Baratheon." announced the herald of the royal court.
Oberyn watched as Ser Barristan stood behind the prince who sighed and walked towards his father who was sitting on the Iron Throne. Oberyn and his family followed him and watched as the people gathered in the throne room began to murmur as they watched them accompany the prince. Asher Forrester and his soldiers surrounded them, covering them and positioning themselves in front of the City Watch men, who were in the Throne Room.
The first thing Oberyn noticed was how the Queen looked at him and her family with disdain, as did the blonde-haired boy who was next to her.
That must be Joffrey.
Oberyn also saw a plump blonde boy and a girl with golden curls, looking at the prince Steffon with a big smile.
And little Tommen and Myrcella.
Oberyn saw the Kingslayer among the members of the King's Guard, and noticed how the prince gave his uncle a look of hatred.
The members of the small council had an impassive look on their faces, while Jon Arryn and Stannis Baratheon looked worried, as did Renly.
Prince Steffon stood in front of the Iron Throne and looked at his father. "Your Grace." bowing with his head.
"I told you to stop calling me that, boy." the Fat King spat.
"My apologies, your Grace, I'm just trying to be respectful."
"I piss on respect; do you have any idea what you did?"
"No, I do not know."
"¡You kidnapped two of your grandfather's bannermen!" The Queen exclaimed, looking at her son, angry. The prince looked at his mother with a look of resentment before answering her.
"The way I see it, I kidnapped two war criminals, one was a murderer of little girls and the other a rapist and murderer of babies." The prince continued to glare hatefully at his mother. "I think many here will agree with that, including Ser Barristan."
The King and Queen looked at the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
"I agree with Prince Steffon, your Grace, Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch are two cruel men without honor, who finally got what they deserved thanks to the prince."
"And of course you helped Steffon with this betrayal." said the Queen, letting out an ironic laugh. "We should strip you of your golden cloak and..."
"Silence, woman! You've spoken enough." roared the King, then looked at her son, Oberyn enjoyed the Queen's look as she was silenced by her husband. "Whatever they did, you can't attack two banners of House Lannister."
"I didn't attack them." The prince hastened to respond. "I poured them each a glass of wine and they fell to the floor." Renly laughed at this and the Queen glared at him.
The fat deer let out a humorless laugh. "So you used poison to kill them, the weapon of cowards," Oberyn clenched his fists upon hearing that. "I thought you were better than that."
"I never said I killed them. After they fainted I locked them in boxes built perfectly for them and proceeded to hand them over to Dornish justice."
"For which we are very grateful, Prince Steffon." Oberyn took a few steps standing to the right of Prince Baratheon.
The king, as well as his wife, the rest of the royal family and the members of the Small Council, turned their gaze towards prince Oberyn.
"The people of Dorne are eternally grateful to Prince Steffon for giving us the justice we have long awaited." Oberyn said looking directly into the Fat King's eyes. "And I am pleased to announce that the dismembered bodies of Gregor Clagane and Amory Lorch are crucified in the streets of Sunspear," everyone in the Throne Room began to murmur in astonishment, Oberyn enjoyed seeing that the Queen's face was red with fury, so that continues. "But they are not dead, I myself made sure that they remained alive so that the people of Dorne would delight in their suffering."
The murmurs were heard once again and they were louder, the Queen stood up from her seat, furious, but before she could speak the prince did so.
"You see, father? Nobody cares about the death of a mad dog or that of an idiot who doesn't even know how to read." The Queen's eyes shone with fury, upset that her son did not recognize her feelings. "The people of Dorne are happy, as are the people of King's Landing, the citizens cheered me when I arrived calling me the: destroyer of mountains." The king snorted at this as did his brother Renly, the Queen glared at them both. "What I did was justice, Ser Barristan agrees with me and you can ask Jon Arryn and your brothers and I'm sure they will too. After all, their opinions are the only ones that really matter." The prince looked from him to Varys, Baelish and Pycelle. And then he gave a look of disdain to his mother and his uncle Jaime. His mother gave him another angry look.
"But I assure you that you have nothing to worry about," the prince continued, ignoring the looks of his mother. "I already sent a raven to my grandfather in Casterly Rock explaining my actions and invited him to the capital to discuss it with him, from what I was told he is already on his way, so you have nothing to worry about, I will take care of him. "
Everyone in the Throne Room looked at the King who looked at his son intently.
"Very well, then this matter is concluded." the king said with a tired tone.
"WHAT?!" the Queen and prince Joffrey screamed at the same time.
"I said this matter is concluded," the king said, looking at his wife who was obviously bewildered by her husband's decision. "You heard the boy, he will take care of settling this matter with your father."
"But he..." Prince Joffrey tried to say.
"Shut up boy!" The king gave him a look that made Joffrey step back. "I said this matter is concluded and it is." The King tried to get up from his seat, ignoring the Queen's gaze, annoyed that Robert spoke like that to her son.
But before the King could get up from his seat the prince spoke.
"Actually father, there is something else I would like to talk about." The black haired prince said causing all eyes in the Throne Room to be on him again. The prince took out a wrapped paper and handed it to Ser Barristan who proceeded to hand it to the King.
"Read this Jon, it's your job." The King said annoyed, handing the paper to his Hand of the King.
"The seal of Prince Doran, unbroken." said the old Lord of the Valle. Queen Cersei's eyes landed on Arianne, probably suspecting what the contents of the letter were. "I Prince Doran Nymeros Martell, ruling Prince of Dorne, give my consent to the marriage proposal made by Prince Steffon of House Baratheon," the eyes of the King and Queen rested on Steffon as did the members of the Little Council. "Therefore I agree that my daughter and heir Princess Arianne Nymeros Martell will marry Prince Steffon Baratheon, thus uniting the Houses Baratheon and Martell in marriage, to rule Dorne as ruling princess and prince consort of Dorne."
King Robert snatched the letter from Jon Arryn to read it himself, Oberyn enjoyed the panicked expression on the Queen's face.
"This is supposed to be some kind of joke." said the fat King looking at his son.
"That letter has Prince Doran's seal, so no." Prince Steffon responded smiling. "Prince Oberyn himself witnessed the signing of that letter. As did Ser Barristan." The King looked at the old knight. "I'm thirteen years old, almost fourteen, I think it's time for me to get married." The young prince finished saying bluntly. The Queen looked at her husband, obviously expecting her to reject the proposal.
"I already have the perfect wife planned for you." The King said, Oberyn noticed the Queen, Joffrey and Littlefinger smiled.
The prince laughed humorlessly "Let me guess one of the Stark girls. No thanks, I have no desire to marry any of them, I already met them once and none of them piqued my interest."
"This is my wish, and if I say it then you will do..." the King began to say.
"¡I WON'T!" the prince shouted so loud that it echoed throughout the Hall, the smile of the Queen and her son was erased from their faces, while Baelish's remained. "I have made my decision and chosen Princess Arianne to be my wife." Oberyn smiled as did his niece. "And if you think you can force me to marry someone I don't want to, then you don't know me at all, Your Grace."
"I am your father! You will do as I say."
Prince Steffon began to laugh. "My father? You have never been a father to me." The Fat King's face turned red. "Ever since I was six years old you sent me away from here. Don't you remember? First to Casterly Rock, then to Dragonstone. You call yourself my father but you never acted like one. As far as I'm concerned Uncle Stannis has been more a father to me than you ever were, even Uncle Renly." Oberyn noticed that Stannis and Renly seemed more frightened than moved by the prince's statement. "For me you are just the man who sent me away like a dog you no longer wanted."
Robert Baratheon took the Iron Throne red with fury. "¡You think it was my decision to send you away! That I wanted that?"
"Whose decision was it then?'" Steffon challenged him. "You are Robert Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms. Or are you going to tell me that the great Demon of the Trident is tamed by his wife."
The people in the Throne Room were surprised by the prince's audacity. "YOU DARE!" the King began to say.
"¡Yes I dare!" The prince challenged him again. "Or am I lying? you are the King, no one can force you to do anything and yet you let a trio of liars and sycophants tell you what to do with your children." The prince laid his eyes on Varys, Baelish and Pycelle, something his father noticed. "I'm going to be perfectly clear with you father." Oberyn, everyone present noticed how the prince said the last word with disgust. "I'm going to marry Princess Arianne, and there's really nothing you can do to stop it." Oberyn swore he saw smoke coming from the King's nose. "After all you can't disinherit me, I'm not your heir, Joffrey is, and you've never given me absolutely anything." Strangely, those words seemed to calm the King's fury. "It was Ser Barristan who taught me how to fight, my grandfather Tywin who taught me about economics and politics, Uncle Stannis who taught me about honor and duty, and Uncle Renly about chivalry and the value of friendship." Steffon stopped but the King said nothing. "You have never given me anything father, everything I possess: gold, ships, soldiers despite not being as numerous as those of a Lord with a castle, I obtained by myself without your help."
The Throne Room became completely silent, the King's brothers looked at their older brother expectantly, while the Queen had an impassive look. The King looked deeply into his son's eyes for several seconds and then took a deep breath before speaking.
"Is this what you really want?" The Queen looked at her husband in disbelief.
"It is." the prince answered simply.
"It's settled then. You have my approval and my blessing. Not that you care much." The faces of Jon Arryn, Stannis and Renly Baratheon expressed relief, while the Queen looked like she wanted to take over.
"I thank you father."
"I'm not done boy." Oberyn smiled, while Steffon acted confused. "Tell me something Prince Oberyn, would your brother agree to his daughter marrying a Lord Paramount?"
"Yes, Your Grace, he would agree." Oberyn said smiling, holding back his laughter as he saw the faces of the Queen, Joffrey and Baelish.
"Very well then. Princess Arianne, step forward please." Arianne obeyed and stood alongside Prince Steffon who quickly took her hand to give it a kiss and then hold it firmly. King Robert drew his sword. "I, Robert of House Baratheon, First of my Name, King of the Andals, of the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, name my son, Prince Steffon Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands."
All the surprised nobles bowed their heads in respect and acceptance, the King directed his gaze at the members of his Small Council, who soon did the same, Oberyn noticed that Renly seemed a little bothered by that.
"Don't look at me like that, boy," the King said to his son, who was standing with his now official fiancée. "You're my son, damn it, you're the only one of my sons who really looks like me." Oberyn had to stop himself from bursting into laughter, which was difficult when he saw the faces of the Queen and the false prince Joffrey. "And I have always said that our ancestral castle should be ruled by a Baratheon, your uncle spends a lot of time here and is not even married, and no son of mine will be a prince consort, we Baratheon were born to rule, now it will be up to you to have an heir for our family castle." The King looked at his and Arianne's son. "You have my blessing; I wish you both happiness." Then he looked at Jon Arryn. "Send the ravens Jon." Then he proceeded to hug his son and his new betrothed, and then left the Throne Room.
Oberyn watched with a smile as the prince and his niece shared a long kiss in front of everyone present, who applauded thanks to Jon Arryn who started the applause, the prince's uncles applauded, as did his little siblings Myrcella and Tommen, and his brother Joffrey, left the Throne Room upset and the Queen looked at them as if she couldn't believe what she had witnessed. After his niece and the prince separated, Oberyn came forward to hug them both, which surprised everyone in the Throne Room, who were quite aware of the enmity that the Martells had towards the Baratheon and the Lannisters.
And so it begins.
King's Landing 297 AC.
Steffon Baratheon
Steffon would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the look on his mother's face when his father named him Lord of Storm's End and Lord Paramount of the Stormlands. He as well as the rest of the members of the Small Council, especially Baelish, Varys and Pycelle.
The three rats. Steffon thought.
After sharing a long kiss with his now fiancée, receiving a hug from Prince Oberyn. Steffon looked towards his little siblings, who ran to hug him.
"I missed you too." The young black-haired prince laughed as he saw how Myrcella and Tommen clung to him. After a while the two children separated from their older brother. "Myrcella, Tommen this is my betrothed Princess Arianne. Arianne I present to you my little sister Princess Myrcella and my little brother Prince Tommen."
Myrcella greeted Arianne politely, while Tommen blushed as he did so, which made her laugh.
"Did you really go to Dorne?" he quickly asked Myrcella.
"Did you bring us gifts?" Tommen asked, Steffon and Arianne laughed. "You always bring us gifts when you leave."
"¡Tommen!" Myrcella scolded her brother. "Steffon just got back."
"Yes, I brought you gifts, both of you." The two children smiled. "I'll give them to you after I settle into my chambers." He ruffled Tommen's hair and gave Myrcella a kiss on the cheek, then proceeded to leave with Arianne to her chambers. During this entire exchange, Steffon felt her mother's gaze on him, but decided to ignore it, as usual.
His uncle Renly was in charge of accommodating the rest of the Martells and showing them his rooms.
"They're quite charming." Arianne said, directing her gaze to Tommen and Myrcella.
"Not as much as me, I hope." He responded with a smile, so Arianne gave him a kiss.
"This place needs a little more life, don't you think?" said the princess of Dorne, looking at the prince's room, where there was nothing but a closet, a table, a small chest and a bed.
Steffon laughed "We'll only stay a couple of days I promise, I never spend much time here" he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I have a mansion in the city, I spend more time there than here."
"Really? How can you stand the smell?" Steffon laughed again.
"You get used to it." He kissed her neck.
Arianne turned to look him in the eyes and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead. "Really? Now."
Steffon grabbed her waist, pulling her closer to him, sounding, "We didn't have much time to do it on the boat."
"It's true." She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him.
Steffon rushed to return her kiss with the same intensity, drawing her even closer to his. Arianne moaned and pulled away to look at him.
"Should I call Tyene to join us?"
"Are you planning on having her sleep with us?"
Arianne raised an eyebrow. "Do you need to ask?" Steffon leaned in to kiss her again, but a voice outside the room stopped him.
"Lord Stannis, my prince." Asher's voice rang out as the door to the room opened. Steffon and Arianne saw Stannis Baratheon enter.
"Uncle, you're quite inopportune, I'm afraid."
"So are you." He replied with his serious tone, "What you did in the Throne Room was quite risky."
"The only thing I did was tell the truth, it's not my fault that my parents don't like to listen to them."
Stannis looked at him for a moment and then at Arianne. "Well, I guess I have nothing left to do but congratulate you on your engagement." Stannis hugged him. "Congratulations, son." Steffon smiled upon hearing him call him that and hugged him back, Stannis then took Princess Arianne's hand to kiss her. "Welcome to the family, princess."
"It is a pleasure my lord." Arianne said smiling. "I feel honored to be part of your family."
"Now that I have expressed my congratulations." Stannis looked at them both. "I would like to know how you convinced Prince Doran to accept this proposal." Steffon smiled. "I really doubt that handing over Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch would be enough, considering the hatred the Martells have for us. I would also like to know what you plan to say to Lord Tywin when he gets here, because he will see this attack on both of his banners as something personal."
"The Martells, we only have hatred for Tywin Lannister, Lord Stannis." Arianne was the one who answered him. "We have no ill will towards you, your brother Renly or his family." Stannis looked at Steffon who only raised his eyebrows.
"That still doesn't answer my question, Princess Arianne." Stannis looked back at Steffon. "I'm waiting, Steffon."
"Yes Steffon," said a voice outside the room. "I'm also dying to know what you'll say to Old Lion when he gets here." Lord Renly ended up entering the room. "Congratulations to both of you, on your engagement, by the way." Steffon and Arianne laughed.
"Are you okay uncle?" Renly didn't say anything. "You sound upset."
"Well I should be, considering your father basically just disinherited me." Renly looked at Steffon and Arianne. "But at least our ancestral castle will be ruled by someone worthy." Renly seemed to want to say something else but Stannis interrupted him.
"I'm still waiting Steffon." He sounded upset.
"As for how I got Prince Doran to accept my offer. I'll tell you, but not here."
"Because?" Renly asked. Steffon took a paper out of his pocket and showed it to both of them.
Ears everywhere. Stannis looked at Steffon with a serious expression, while Renly laughed. "I hope I can get you used to my nephew's paranoia, Princess Arianne." while Stannis just rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry Lord Renly, my father is also someone who keeps most of his thoughts to himself. He trusts very few people." Arianne kissed Steffon on the cheek.
Renly snorted and Stannis spoke again. "And what about Lord Tywin? How do you plan to resolve things with him? You know very well that he considered Gregor Clegane his best weapon."
"Yes, Steffon, Ser Gregor had served us well all these years," her mother's voice rang out and she saw her enter to the room, accompanied by the Kingslayer. "I thought your grandfather taught you that."
"Mother." Steffon adopted a cold tone. "Kingslayer." His tone was even colder than before. "I don't remember asking you to come here." Renly laughed and the Queen glared at him.
"Get out, all of you." the Queen spat, she looked for only a few seconds at Stannis and Renly, but she kept her gaze on Arianne.
"As you wish, my Queen." Stannis said with a cold tone like his nephew, and proceeded to leave, taking Renly by the arm, who did not seem to have any intention of leaving the room.
"Uncle Renly." Steffon said looking at his youngest uncle. "Tell Ser Loras that I'll expect him at the sparring yard in an hour."
"Of course, nephew." said his uncle smiling. "Good luck." Renly glanced at the Queen, so Steffon laughed.
After the two Baratheon brothers, Queen Cersei glared at Arianne who seemed to have no intention of leaving. "I said I want to talk to my son alone." Her tone expressed nothing but disdain, but Arianne didn't move.
"Wait for me outside, my love." Steffon kissed Arianne's hand.
"As you wish, lover." Arianne grabbed Steffon by her clothes, kissing him and biting his lip before leaving.
"So this is why you betray your family," the Queen began, "so you can marry this one..." Steffon slammed her fist against the table.
"¡You better watch your words, mother!" Steffon said angrily, then four men dressed in the symbols and colors of House Baratheon entered, all four carrying crossbows. The Queen looked at her son, surprised by her outburst, and then at the men who entered the room.
"I said I wanted to talk to you alone, tell them to back off."
"As long as the Kingslayer is in my chambers, my men stay here." Steffon responded to his mother by looking at the Kingslayer with hatred and distrust.
"Are you so afraid of me? Your Grace." said the Kingslayer humorously, smiling.
"I don't trust you in the least." Steffon responded with a serious tone. "And if you try anything, anything at all, these men will kill you." That erased the smile from the Kingslayer's face, as he watched the four men staring at him and the men holding their crossbows ready to fire. "What do you want, mother? I'm busy, in case you haven't noticed." The prince poured himself a glass of water.
"¡Don't talk to me like that!" The Queen snorted. "I want you to explain yourself and tell me what you were thinking when you kidnapped two of our family's banners, to hand them over to some..." Steffon glared at her again. "to the Martells."
"I only did what my father and grandfather should have done almost fifteen years ago, the fact that they refused to punish The Mountain and that idiot Lorch for his crimes, only caused all of Dorne to hate us." Steffon paused but his mother said nothing. "Now thanks to me, the Martells returned to the royal fold." Steffon took a drink of water. "And I got one of the most beautiful women in Westeros as a wife. And as for Grandfather, I already have something that will make him focus his anger on something other than me, maybe he will even forgive me."
The Kingslayer laughed, but the Queen ignored him. "And what is it that you have? What will make your grandfather forget what you did?"
"You'll have to wait to see." He responded simply.
"¡Tell me!" she demanded. "I command you as your Queen and your mother."
"My mother?" The prince said with an expression of mockery and sarcasm, he approached her to look directly into her eyes. "You have never been a mother to me." The Queen tried to slap him but he dodged her hand with her reflexes and he looked at her furiously. "The next time you try to slap me for telling you the truth, I'm going to find Joffrey and punch him in the nose, as punishment for your hypocrisy." The Queen looked at him scared. "And I'll say it again, you were never a mother to me," he spat resentfully, "you never comforted me when I was sad as a child, you never sang to me, nor showed me affection at all, in fact it's one of the things you and father have in common." " A hurt and angry expression covered the Queen's face. "My Aunt Alysanne has been a more mother to me than you, during the year I was a ward at Dragonstone, she showed me more affection than you did in thirteen years. You don't even care when this bastard," Steffon I look at the Kingslayer. "threatened to kill me, when I was six years old. But if it had been Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella you would surely have cared" The Queen looked at him in shock without saying anything, so Steffon stepped away and took a pen and paper.
"Steffon…" the Queen tried to say, approaching him.
"¡No!" he said angrily and she stopped. "Whatever excuse you're about to say, keep it to yourself, I don't want to hear it, I'm done trying to win your affection I don't want it anymore, I'm sick of you looking at me with resentment just because I physically look like my father, when I already proved to you, more than once, that I am nothing like him," the Queen looked at the ground as if she were ashamed but Steffon didn't care. "From now on I'm only going to worry about making my future wife happy and strengthening my position as the Prince of Storms." Steffon smiled at this and looked his mother in the eyes again. "Now both of you leave my chambers before I tell my men to shoot the Kingslayer." Her mother looked at him, apparently not believing her threat, so Steffon nodded to his men, who quickly pointed their weapons at the Kingslayer. His mother jumped and then she and the Kingslayer proceeded to leave the room.
"Oh and mother." she turned around "You better watch your words regarding my betrothed, because if that ill born of Joffrey repeats them, I'm going to knock out all his teeth myself." The Queen looked at him surprised and then she left.
Steffon ran his hand over her face and let out a sigh, Home sweet home. At that moment, Arianne entered to his chambers. "Are you ok?" Her tone showed concern and she caressed her face.
She must have heard everything.
"I will be." He said smiling and then gave her a short kiss on the lips. "Come, I have to write a letter and then I will show you the rest of the Keep." She smiled at him.
After writing the letter, the two went to see Jon Arryn, who was writing letters to the Storm Lords, informing them who their new liege lord was. Steffon requested that Jon Arryn cut him the letters to send them himself, since he did not trust Pycelle, something to which Jon agreed. After finishing sending the letters, Steffon and Arianne walked around the gardens, always being guarded by eight men, four crossbowmen and four swordsmen.
Minutes later they headed to the training yard. Ser Loras Tyrell was waiting for them there, with his armor already on.
"Prince Steffon, Princess Arianne." the Flower Knight said politely.
"Ser Loras." they both said, at the same time.
Steffon put on light armor and her gloves and proceeded to confront the Tyrell knight. "Shall we?"
And so quickly the two young men began to fight, Ser Loras used a one-handed sword and a shield. While Steffon used two swords, one for each hand. Steffon took advantage of his speed thanks to his light clothing and launched attacks against Ser Loras who managed to block them each time, either with his shield or his sword, the flower knight soon got tired of receiving attacks and began to charge at Steffon who managed to Dodging it soon their steel collided with each other and the fight became much more intense. Ser Loras launched increasingly stronger attacks, and Steffon responded in the same way, he was even about to knock him down but Loras managed to push him away and tackle him, throwing him to the ground, putting his sword on his neck.
"I give up." Steffon answered, holding his hands.
Loras lowered his sword and offered him his hand to help him up, to which the prince accepted. "Well fought, my prince." Loras shook his hand. "For a moment you almost had me. Your movements improved a lot since the last time."
Steffon smiled at the compliment. "Not enough, it seems."
Steffon took off his light armor and gloves and went to where Arianne was, she greeted him with a kiss and congratulated him for his movements during the fight. They both looked at the balcony and saw Prince Oberyn watching them with a smile on his face along with Ellaria and Tyene. Steffon also noticed Tommen and Myrcella and he smiled at them both, but that smile faded shortly after when he saw his mother.
Steffon and Arianne returned to their rooms and ordered the servants to bring a bathtub so they could take a bath. They both took a bath and although Arianne tried to lengthen it by taking her hands and putting them between her legs, Steffon convinced her to go to dinner, promising to reward her later.
The two dined together with Prince Oberyn, Ellaria, the Sand Snakes, Tommen and Myrcella, whom Steffon ordered to bring personally. Dinner went quite well and Myrcella peppered Arianne with questions regarding Dorne, while Tommen blushed every time Arianne or one of the Sand Snakes spoke to him. At the end of dinner Steffon gave his little siblings gifts. To Myrcella he gave her a violet and rolled dress along with a gold necklace, while to Tommen he gave him a small lion cub.
Both children hugged their brother very tightly in gratitude for the gifts. Myrcella went to look for her mother to show her, his new dress and her necklace, while Tommen went to her room to play with his big kitten as he called and whom he gave the name of Ser Pounce.
The rest of the Martells then proceeded to each retire to their chambers. Steffon told Arianne to go to her room and wait for him there.
She smiled and kissed him. "Don't take too long lover." Tyene walked over and kissed him too. "Or I'll have to start without you." Arianne kissed Tyene and enjoyed seeing the reaction of desire on Steffon's face.
As Arianne left, Steffon found Asher waiting for him outside. They both headed to the Eunuch's room, looking around to make sure no one was following them.
"My prince, Ser Asher." Varys said, greeting them both with a courteous tone and a bow. "My congratulations on your engagement, my prince."
"Thank you Lord Varys." Steffon said with a small smile. "But I suppose you know why I'm here."
"Of course my prince." Then the eunuch proceeded to take out a hidden box from a hiding place behind the wall. "Everything you asked for, is there my prince."
Steffon opened the box, looked at its contents and smiled. "Thank you Lord Varys. Have a good night." And with that Steffon and Asher left the eunuch's chambers.
Steffon headed to his chambers with the box in his hand, the smile never leaving his face.