Hello, everyone.
It's high time I gave this one attention once more. The thing is, most of the chapter was done, but at the time it was brought down by other ideas and life. Still, I keep it in the back of my mind, and here it is.
Late(very late) shout-out to Dan Trachtenberg, Amber Midthunder, and the whole "Prey" crew for their amazing work.
So, let's get to it.
Dorne - Sunspear
What started as a simple day in the city, as the people thought, would soon come to an unsettling end note for all.,
News spread as fast as a fire in hours. Prince Oberyn's discovery caused such a commotion that others beyond Dorne knowing about it wouldn't come off as a surprise.
Murders were nothing new, there or in any land beyond the desert. But one in such a gruesome and cruel way? Enough to make even seasoned warriors damn near empty their stomachs? Those were the ones none wished to live through.
As a result, there was a tense feeling in the air throughout the rest of the day. A few merchants chose to close their trades earlier. Families stayed inside their homes until further notice. And after hearing of the case, plus seeing the bodies herself, the princess, worrying the killer was still in the city, ordered Sunspear's gates to be closed. With guards scouting the grounds, searching for any signs of them.
The night had taken over, causing tension and anxiety to grow. While the footmen kept their attention on the streets, their rulers worked on the matter in private.
Within her study, situated at the lowest point in the tower of the sun, Loreza was restless. Pacing back and forth, she occasionally looked outside the window, hoping to calm her thoughts, to no avail. As much as she tried, the sight of bodies wouldn't leave her. She dreaded even imagining the state of the one Oberyn hid away from the public's eyes.
Doran, who sat on one of the decorated sofas in the room with the hearth's fire crackling ahead of him, showed a calm conduct in contrast. Yet, upon taking a closer look, it was clear he shared his mother's worries. The small, almost invisible, clenching movements of his jaw. Hands firmly pressed together over his lap. Eyes intense while also staring a nothing. Tapping his foot nonstop against the floor. The thought of Mellario and his little Arianne being safe in their room, with guards at the door, and his sister being away from the city, gave him a short amount of internal fortitude .
"It's disturbing," Loreza's voice pulled him back.
"Mother ?" Doran turned, seeing her staring at their city again.
"The silence," She stated.
Returning home was meant to relieve the princess of the stress her trip caused. Their warmth meant to be a comfort. Now all she had from it was fear.
Loreza had half a mind to amuse the notion that a divine sentence had fallen upon her, for whatever crime she had committed unknowingly.
Signing and turning away from the window, she asked. "Anything ?"
What helped to put Doran in his current mood was the latest report of progress from Hotah. Or lack thereof. His face seemed to be enough to answer the question for Loreza. Shoulders sagging, she went sit down next to her son.
Both kept to themselves until Doran voiced his own thoughts.
"Wanna know what disturbs me ?" He said quietly. Loreza hummed for him to go on. "How - perfect it was,"
Loreza frowned at his words.
"The murders, I mean," Doran clarified to her. "Think about it. That was nothing less than a butchery. Blood everywhere. Still, there were no signs of struggles. No one heard a scream or sound. And not a trace left behind of who did the deed," He went there to see for himself, while also helping to isolate the area, and when they first searched for clues. After some time and a strange ache in his knee, the older Prince decided to leave things in better hands and go back to the palace.
The Martell matriarch found the description to be appropriate. She was not unfamiliar with death by no means. However, not to this level of brutality. Those men were treated like animals. Skin stripped and left hanging for time to dry them to bones and flies to feast on their bare flesh.
For their killer, it may as well have been a sick work of art. Displayed for all to see. Or a simple task like putting a utensil back in it's place. She was deciding which could be the worst of the two.
Holding back a shudder, she hears Doran continue.
"Makes me wonder what did those men do to end that way," There was no way to discover their identity for obvious reasons. Doran doubted even the maesters would fare better. The inn's landlord not being present also made things more complicated and confusing. "To be gutted in a way that doens't -"
"Feels human ?"
Doran and Loreza both turned to the third individual in the room.
"Son ?" The latter asked.
Arms crossed, leaning against the walls, in uncharacteristic silence compared to his boisterous personality, Oberyn stood at the back of the room, unmoving, with his gaze directed at the ground.
Things were a bit of a blur during the afternoon. But Doran noticed his brother's state after finding the bodies, even for a quick beat. More nervous than he tried to hide from others and with a haunting expression. A mask of fear fit for a man who saw a ghost.
He was not the only one. The head guard, Hamid, shared his concern about Oberyn too. Neither could speak on it with him, however, as there were matters that are more important at the moment.
Now, with just them, Doran could get an answer.
Going by the lead his mother gave, he put it to his brother. "Oberyn, do you know something about this?"
Oberyn did not reply at first. Doran saw his lips press together and his fists clench his red sleeves. Getting up from the sofa, Doran went towards him and pushed further.
"You know it, don't you ?" It more of a statement then a question at this point.
"Doran, how can -"
"Because, mother, back there, one of your guards told me how he reacted to the bodies," He interrupted, saying straight to the point, turning to Loreza. "Just as I noticed that look on his eyes afterward," Moving back to Oberyn, he added. "And I know very little which could truly scare you. So whatever secret you're hiding, for whatever reason, it better not be a secret anymore."
His suspicion was confirmed when Oberyn signed shakily.
"Believe me. I wished it was as simple as a secret." The young Prince said with a bit of sarcasm.
Tilting his head to the side, Doran said. "Explain." He gestured for Oberyn to come along. Soon, the three family members were in a circle to hear his story. Doran was on his feet just like his brother, while their mother stayed on the sofa.
Oberyn rubbed his hands, gathering his thoughts.
"Remember the time I spent on Lys just a few years ago ?" He started, getting nods of confirmation
In a humorous way, his temporary exile was what sparked the explorer in Oberyn. Loreza, over the years, came to learn that, no matter what, her son's heart now desired a new adventure. So all she'd ask of him was to promise to return home safe. She would not even mind if a new grandchild came back as well. Doran already had done so with a spouse.
"Well, during my stay, I used to visit a local tavern a lot," Doran and Loreza didn't even bother to guess why. "The nights were standard, nothing out ordinary. Until one day, there was a man. He was old, long bearded, with copper skin, and he was loud, very, very loud. It got worse when he had a few full cups."
"Strange as he was, it was a change of routine. Therefore, after drinking my own share, I decided to approach the man and make conversation. To satisfy an innocent curiosity only. You can imagine my surprise when learning he was no other than a Dothraki himself,"
That gave the older Martells a pause. The Dothraki were well known for their savage and cruel ways. Just as their supposed uncertainty of the narrow sea. The water that no horse can drink, as the saying goes. Many could say Westeros hasn't had an invasion by them for that very reason. How did one end up on an island outside of their domain?
"He spoke the common tongue quite fluently, even if drunk. I tip-toed a lot around the subject I wanted to know. To not cause a harsh reaction from him., Then came the second surprise of the evening. Asking ended up being unnecessary. The man himself told me, through tears, he was drinking to forget,"
"Forget ?" Loreza asked, leaning forward, intrigued.
"Forget what happened there, was what he said. And it was how far it went before he walked away," Oberyn stated. "Safe to say, I wasn't going to let that go so easily, especially with his parting words,"
He proceeded to tell a full-length recap. Starting with getting as much information as possible about the mysterious Dothraki. Luck seemed to be on his side., The man visited all the other taverns on the island. And all of those visits were for the same reason.
Amidst those bits of information, he got some leads for a bigger picture involving the man.
Apparently, there was an emigration of the Dothraki people decades ago. A phenomenon that was unheard of until that day., When he asked for more details, his sources had very little else to offer.
Taking what he had and putting the pieces together, Oberyn soon had a clear idea of where to go next. In days, he was on his way to Essos. As soon as he stood on land again, Oberyn saw firsthand a rich confirmation of the reports.
The masters of the free cities always treated carefully with their nomadic neighbors. Going at any length to stay on their good side to avoid a sack of their homes. Gold, supplies, feasts, anything the horse lords desired, they would get.,
So seeing hundreds of Dothraki walking casually through the streets like everyday citizens could be a natural shock for many who didn't live there. It made Oberyn wonder if the old King's spies knew about this change and decided to keep it to themselves to this day.,
After getting over the surprise and more curious than ever, the Prince went to continue his investigation. This time with plenty of the right people for him to ask.
All to end up being harder than he thought.
The younger generation was oblivious to the subject. The Dothraki elders, however, seemed even afraid to speak on such a thing. Some even slammed their doors at Oberyn's face, telling him to go away with a few specific and crude words.
It was only after a long search that he, at last, found one willing to talk. Or, actually, he was found by said person.
A man, slightly at the same age as the one from Lys, tall, long hair and hard brown eyes. His question (demands) were straight to the point. What was Oberyn's business with their people?
The Martell wasn't intimidated and spoke in a casual and friendly manner to show he didn't want problems. Though, he would like the challenge in another situation if it came down to it. A Dothraki veteran against the red viper. Now that would be a sight and one for the history books.
His attitude seemed to do the trick. As both found themselves chatting while going over the market's streets soon after.
The Dothraki, Yusuf, was a mix of honest and cryptic, when it came to his answers.
The former, when revealing the presence of so many of his people in the free cities.
His Khalasar, along with two others, were outright banished from their society in the grasslands when he was but a young lad after their Khals perished.,
It was a dark period for them. Many Bloodriders followed tradition still. Which usually was to take their Khal's wives to Vas Dothak. But their sacred and only city no longer accepted them within its gates. That left them one choice, the Free cities.
Their transition to a new way of life had many issues. But they had to make it work. After all, they arrived with nothing, just wanting to survive. The struggles paid off in the end, and new life graced the exiled Dothraki. Others even when further beyond Essos.
The cryptic started when Oberyn asked once more for the cause of such an event.
"Did he gave you an answer in the end ?" Doran, who stayed quiet during the tale, asked.
"Even better." Oberyn said, leaning down at a small table next to the sofa, pouring himself a glass and taking a sip of wine. With the sweet and strong taste running down his throat, he readied himself to bring back what he had long ousted from his mind. "He showed me."
"For a few days, we rode across the grasslands. Yusuf knew where to go through to avoid any scouts from the other Khalasars near. That was at first. At one particular region, he said we would be safe. None dared to venture into that place for decades,"
"Finally, we reached the place, going up many hills under the sun. It did not take long for me to feel a change in the air. That something felt wrong. And as we continued, Yusuf stopped in his tracks, not daring to go further, saying to me: Find your answers….Gods, and that I did," Oberyn took a breath to recompose himself, and new and longer sip. His mother saw the little tremors in his hands.
Taking one on her own, she anchored him enough to continue.
"It was a tree," He breathed, voice just above a whisper. "A tree made out of bodies,"
Loreza and Doran froze, eyes growing and lips curling in horror and disgust.
Whatever image they were conjuring in their minds would possibly be just a fraction of the real one. Of how the skeletons were pieced together so artistically. Of no matter the years of decay taking its tool in the bodies, vultures, flies and other beings still came down to pick up the remains of dried flesh left behind.
It haunted his mind in the weeks afterwards, even as he tried to get rid of it, drown it by laying with many a women and men in the pleasure houses, almost for entire days. Or following, but quickly abandoning it, the first Dothraki he met in wines or any other strong liquid he could find or buy.
"I ran back to him as fast I could, hoping to not empty my stomach along the way. He was still as a statue and did not even look at me for a long time. It was then he told me everything."
The banished Khalasars were, at their prime, some of the biggest in the land. Their numbers at the thousands, bet it warriors or slaves. In addition, those numbers were rivaled by their conflicts only. It was a long and bloody feud.
Until it all changed.
When he was little, they started finding dead Blood riders. For a time, it seemed like a continuation of their rivalry. But soon, the fields became soiled with blood from all three Khalasars, casting the notion to be, unfortunately, casted away.
Someone or something else was responsible for the deaths.
The victims, be it a lone rider or a group, followed an unfamiliar yet consistent pattern in the violence inflicted upon them, only ever changing their intensity from individual to individual. It shifted between lacerations, large holes burned into their chests, and bodies brutally broken beyond a normal man could do.
An animal was out of the question for the blame. No beast could be so precise or go unnoticed for so long before leaving a trail.
Unrest grew within the Khalasars as the pile of dead kept getting bigger by each day. The Khals had their hands forced soon enough. Against one enemy they couldn't track or fight, they agreed to a last logical solution for the dilemma. A period of peace between them.
It would be the day that would seal their fate.
The three Khals, their sons, and best Blood riders went to meet on neutral grounds. And after five long days, there was no signs of them again.
Until a young rider found out why. On the same hill he brought Oberyn decades later, now as a man.
"Word spread across the grasslands. Of the massacres and the tree. After that, the Dothrakis saw those Khalasars as bad omens. That ruin was following in their every step. Thus, they were exiled. For the sake of all others. And the bodies were left there. Some say as a warning, others as a reminder."
"Yusuf told me the elders, mainly women, started saying strange things while praying without rest, day and night. Also repeating the same phrase each time: Jin iblis fin yapar kupular ki mahrazhi," The words held a dark and terrible weight for old the Dothraki, Oberyn recalled. Now he felt such weight himself. A fear that spread like a poison at the tip of his weapons.
"What does it mean ?". Loreza asked, even if dreading the answer.
Oberyn said grimly. "The demon who makes trophies of men,"
While his mother had the expected reaction. He was not surprised to see his brother expressing the most disbelief and doubt afterward. Doran's statement showed so.
"A demon? Oberyn, please, you can't go believing in stories made to scare children at night." He said with a shake of his head.
"A story ?" Oberyn scoffed in reply, challenge in his voice. Years of travelling the world, witnessing much more than Doran ever would, taught him to never disregard the impossible in some instances. "Do tell me, brother, will this sound familiar to you? The bodies Yusuf found. Some at the base? Torn apart. Along with the skulls of their horses placed around them. Those in the middle ? All without their skins. At the top? Three men. Spine and head missing!"
Oberyn looked between them. The older Martell's fears reached new heights at their realization. Loreza, in particular, for learning why Oberyn hid the body.
"Forgive me if I'm inclined to believe in those stories. Even more after we saw today."
Gathering her wits, Loreza spoke. "You've never mentioned any of this before," Lose lips were one of his attributes. It was out of character to think Oberyn would keep such a dark discovery close to his heart.
Oberyn lowered his head. "Turn this place away from your thoughts, boy. Better to keep some things in the past where they belong." He quoted Yusuf. "It was his last advice for me before going our separate ways."
He signed, considering how it was a case of delaying the inevitable now.
And who's to say he didn't bring this to Dorne ?
There was never a explanation as of why it all started on the other side of the world. Yusuf himself said many of his Khalasars still wondered what they could possibly have done to receive such a violent ruin. What law did they break, what offence had been made, for a demon to set its eyes and fill its hunger on them as punishment?
All they knew is that a star fell from the sky days before the kills started.
The young prince had in mind journey all the way to the free cities again to search for a true answer for those thoughts.
Obara played a large part in that.
His mind was basically everywhere during the afternoon, so much that he may've blacked out during several moments. Once there was some sense of order, Oberyn finally took notice of his first-born's state. Like him, as Doran said, or any of her sisters at that, Obara was never one of quiet. So seeing her, and he couldn't describe it any other way, in shock, as if stuck in place after the afternoon events, rightfully worried Oberyn to his core.
When he tried to get through her while walking back to the palace. It was only in her room that she only spoke once. Words enough to make his worry turn to fear.
It was in the roof, looking at me. They were red.
What was red ? He had asked.
The eyes.
Oberyn felt his heart skip a beat once more in the present. Downing the entire cup and refilling it.
The thing Obara spoke of before. The one he did not see.
Sense would ask him to be rational. She was but a child, her imagination was fertile and grand. But no made-up fantasy could cause such a reaction.
Gods, he needed to sit.
Loreza moved to the side to give him space in the sofa. Taking another sip, Oberyn kept his torso forward, staring at the swirling red liquid. Again, he thought that it was somehow his fault. The signs were there showing that his search was leading to a dark history. Still he pressed on to the end. Now years later, with the falling star and the way the man were killed, there was a chance of the Dothraki's demon crossing half a world, hiding and moving on shadows in his city, hunger anew.
Damn his fucking curiosity, he silently raged.
As he was about to finish the wine, his mother reached forward taking the glass away. In his haze, Oberyn did not even felt his own hand moments away from crushing it. He had very little doubts that words may have been met with deaf ears, and touches with no response.
Loreza spoke before he could.
"We should retire for the night." Came her command to both her sons.
Maybe it was the many drinks, maybe it was how tired and desperate he was turning by reopening that part of his memory, but Oberyn did not take well her words.
"You think me mad, mother ?" He asked with bite in his words.
Loreza shook her head, as if the disrespect shown from him was non-existent. "No. What I do think, is that the day extracted heavy a toll none of us were ready carry. Now, all of us, especially you Oberyn, deserve to rest. Come tomorrow we will discuss more of….what you revealed here."
Doran placed a hand on Oberyn's shoulder, both to stop him from starting a argument with their mother, and in comfort. "Come, brother." He urged.
Reluctantly, the youngest Martell gave in, even accepting the help to get up from the sofa. He did not leave without asking about a detail, or in this case someone, they had forgotten.
"And Elia ?" His voice was low and neutral now.
"Let us leave your sister in peace in the gardens for the moment. She needs it just or even more then us."
Fair, Oberyn nodded in full agreement. In hindsight, Elia being away from the god's forsaken sight they had to witness was a blessing.
"I…will you see you in the morning."
"We will be waiting."
Bidding good night for his family, he went to take his leave.
A few paces from the door, the sound of utensils and small objects shaking covered the air in the room. All three Martells snapped their heads around the area, taken aback by the sudden change. The tremors got stronger, making the walls themselves shake, particles of dust spreading. Their cups, wine fills, ink quills and books fell to the floor heavily, shattering upon impact, causing them to gasp in alarm.
Oberyn held on to the furniture while Doran embraced their mother, pushing both to the floor. The young prince was left dumbstruck. A earth quake ?! In Dorne ?!
They stayed on their positions until it finally ceased, still none dared to make a move.
At the window, sounds of horror were heard coming from the city bellow, by guards and common folk alike.
This day truly was a nightmare.
Water gardens
Where were they ?
It was what Mellario asked herself so many times that she had lost count by that point. Well into the night.
She should have expected it to happen.
During dinner, the girls acted excessively calmly than they usually were. Especially Nymeria.
Being tricked into the plot, Mellario foolishly believed the day's activities and escapes had tired the trio's energy to last. That they would eat in peace, relax with some table games they liked, and all would soon find themselves in a peaceful sleep in their beds.
But no.
Mellario, after the plates were taken away by the staff, left for a few moments only. Next thing she knows, Tyene, Nymeria and her little Arianne had vanished through the air. Even invading the guards along the way.
She juggled between being impressed by their skill, or pulling her hair out. Settling for a bit of both as a reasonable reaction.
Impossible, the lot of them!
She blamed Oberyn.
His daughters took after him in plenty of ways, even as young as they are, and now that influence bled to her first born. They were just children, those phases of mischief would come to arise inevitability. The little snakes did not need to make it come faster, however!
Mellario walked by herself through the vast corridors of the palace, as the maidens looked in other parts, leaving no room or corner unchecked in her search for the small fugitives. Crouching to see under the beds. Opening boxes big enough to fit them inside. Pulling clothes in wardrobe's aside. Hells, even inside the kitchen's pots. The only one she was thankful to be wrong.
With nowhere else to look, it meant only one thing.
Exhaling disheartened, she grumbled lowly, accepting what had to be done, and went outside the palace.
Now going through the steps leading down to the pools, she took a moment to stare freely.
The gardens were as breath taking at night as they were under the sun. Mellario had wondered why no one had commissioned a painting of it yet. The blues from moon light clashed with the bright red from the spread torches along the walls, leaving the pools, fountains, and trees clear for all eyes to see. Many a artist would beg on their knees for a chance to capture such beauty.
Her appreciation for the view given, Mellario noticed one of the night sentries walking towards her general direction, spear and shield of steel and copper in hand. No doubt as part of his designated perimeter to patrol until dawn. How many times he had gone through the gardens by now, she could not truly say.
But it was a timely boon for her, if luck was at her side.
Catching the man's attention with a wave, he made a short detour to stand at the bottom step.
"Good evening, my lady." He greeted with a short bow.
"To you as well." Mellario replied. "Forgive the interruption, but could you assist me ?"
"What would you need ?"
"My daughter and her cousins have…been missing." She said.
"Ooh." From the way it came out, this wasn't his first time with the girl's tomfoolery. "I see."
"Indeed." Mellario nodded, a weary sign escaping her lips. "Do you know if they went through here ?"
The man hummed, tapping a foot against the ground. "No, I didn't see anything, neither did the others. To my knowledge, of course, my lady."
Damn you Nymeria.
"Of course it wouldn't be so easy." Mellario uttered downcast. "Thank you for time." She then said, straitening up. "Alert the other guards that, should they see any of the girls, to not let them get out of their sights, and return them to me or to the septa."
"At once." The guard gave her another bow in goodbye, resuming his track from before.
As Mellario walked the last steps to continue on her chase however, the guard turned around to her once more.
"Oh, my lady, I've meant to say." He started in a rather casual manner.
"Hmm ?"
"It will be quick. I couldn't help but notice during the afternoon that the blood orange orchards are bound to grow one of the best harvest this year."
What ? Mellario frowned in confusion. As of why he was mentioning that out of all things to her. Arianne held a great liking to the fruit, that much all of them knew, but it sure was not an important information in the present moment.
"Personally I don't consider them the best of what the garden can offer." He continued. "I am much more found of the berries growing in the bushes."
Mellario honestly did not know what to say about that.
"Well, that would be all. I wish you a good night, and luck, my lady."
Still speechless, she watched as he turned around and went well on his way with no care in world. And she swore he was humming to himself too.
Shaking her head, Mellario tried to refocus on finding the girls once more. Yet, the abruptness of the man's statement kept pulling on her thoughts. First, he says he did not see any of them, then right after is talking about fruits, trees and bus-.
Oh!
Her jaw dropped when it all made sense. Fighting off slapping herself for the over sight, Mellario chuckled behind her hand, sending a silent thanks to the guard for his unorthodox aid.
Maybe it would be that easy after all.
"What is going on ?"
"Shh!"
"Is she still there ?"
"Ari, don't speak so loud."
Standing as vigilance, Oberyn's second born, Nymeria, watched closely behind the small openings between the leaves, sharp to any movement or anyone heading their way.
Her younger sister, Tyene crouched by her side, with an expectant look, head going back and forth between the leaves and her. Behind both, Arianne sat, legs crossed, in the grass with a similar expression, no doubt getting dirt and possibly fallen berries at the end of her small bright yellow gown. Eventually, if they end up found, it would add to many a sermon from her aunt. Already the blame was almost only on her.
Nymeria wanted to make a escape from bed time on her own at first after supper, but Tyene and Arianne weren't going to let her go without taking both along. With no other choice but to comply to their wish, but not before making clear they had to follow her every command, all three sneaked out as quietly as possible. Experience helped Nymeria in guiding them away from any guards or servents passing in the palace halls.
But even she knew that timing had to be their most important weapon. To avoid the risk of being spotted, she decided the best place to hide was the gardens. Enough space and spots for them to hide.
It did not go as she originally planned. And very early at that.
As they stepped outside of one of the palace's entrances, one of guards was simultaneously passing by. There was a great pause as they stared at him, and he stared at them.
Nymeria was forming an excuse, when Arianne exclaimed out first. Her little cousin implored him to not tell anyone that they were there, with Tyene following suit. While that wasn't the tactic Nymeria would normally use, it worked. The guard left them be with a promise to keep the little princess's secret to himself.
After a while, when they settled in the bushe's shadow, the sand snake started to have her doubts about his word.
From there, she saw as her aunt appear on top of the pale pink marble steps. And, as if fate would have it, the same guard they came across was doing another sweep in the gardens. She, making her tense, soon called him. Warning her sister and cousin about it, Nymeria thought for a moment both had stopped breathing.
She watched with close attention. While she knew what the two adults were discussing, she still grumbled about not being able hear what was being said. Until.
"She's going back inside." Nymeria said over her shoulder, sharing the relief felt afterwards.
"See ? I told you we could trust him." Tyene smiled in regards of the guard's promise.
That is still to be decided. Turning over to sit, Nymeria thought, not wanting to take away her sister's pride.
"We have to stay here for long ?" Came Tyene's question, as she brushed small grass out of her sandals and picked a lone leave stuck on her golden hair.
"Maybe." Nymeria answered. "Don't know anywhere else where they would find us quickly." She leaned back with her arms behind her, watching the sky and the other trees nearby.
A smile found its way on her lips. Many of the other children in the gardens never dared to go outside after dusk, mostly because they were afraid of the dark. Nymeria was the opposite. She did actually love it, even not having an explanation for why. The view just pleased her.
The same could not be said to others present. Her attention moving to the small circle they formed, her sister seems well at ease. However, the Sand took notice of Arianne's clear fear of the surroundings. The torche's fires creating moving shadows, the wind making thin branches and twigs crack and shake, and the fact that they were, in a way, alone.
Moving closer, Nymeria took both of her hands on her own.
"You don't need to be afraid." She said confidently.
"I…I am not." Arianne stated as firmly as she could, even with the minor waver of her voice.
The Sand shook her head, but used it to her advantage.
"I know." She put it to Arianne. "Think of aunt Elia." Mentioning their aunt caused her to pay even more attention to Nymeria. Like "She is out in the desert, and she's not afraid of it. Just like you right ?"
Arianne nodded quickly.
"And why you think she's not afraid ?"
"Uhmm…Because she doesn't need to ?"
"Yes." Now Nymeria nodded. "There is nothing here or there to scare us. And besides." She held Arianne's hands closer. "If there was….it would have to go through me to get to Tyene and you!"
She boops Arienne's nose, drawing a happy giggle out of her. Right away, the tension is gone, and she see the heir of Dorne becoming more relaxed. Noticing Tyene also doing the same out of the corner of her eyes, the second snake pats herself in the back for a task completed with a resounding success.
They do not say much for some time, until Tyene, with the thought fresh in her mind, voices it aloud.
"Why did aunt Elia leave ? No one says anything about it." From her usual attitude, it made sense for Nymeria why she would be the one to know everything there. Most times she did. Not this one.
With a shoulder shrug, she shook her head. "I just saw she leaving with guards. One of them was that guard…what was his name ? he always gets oranges for us."
"Oh, Brude!"
"Yes, him." Humming, Nymeria recalled something her father once said to her. The trick was always on the details. And she wondered if she forgot anything in particular about her aunt.
"I think aunty was sick again." Came Arianne's gently voice, making the snakes turn to her.
"What ?" Tyene asked.
Nymeria was aware of her aunt's health, from the times her father, grand-mother and uncle all rushed to her room, with their maester on their hells. They never allowed any of them, not even Obara, to enter to see her during those moments. Some were worse than others, from the small bits she heard after the ordeals were done. But her aunt always came out alright and with a kind smile, even if very tired.
It made no sense for her to leave the gardens if it was that. How would they help her from so afar?
"I wanted her to play with us after she arrived." Arianne revealed to Nymeria's to surprise. "But mama said she couldn't. That she was tired."
Testing a theory, Nymeria asked. "Did she tell you why ?"
"No. But she did say that after her aunt had rested, she would play with you all day."
"Yes, that's what she said." Arianne nodded in agreement.
…
…
…
…
…
…
Ever so slowly Nymeria's brow eyes, along with her sister's deep blues and their cousin's blacks, grew in size. In dread they forced themselves to look up with a gulp. There, standing over them with an unamused brow raised, was Mellario. The older snake's first instinct was to make a run for it. And she would. If Mellario was alone.
Surrounding the bush was a group composed of guards and the palace servants, all staring down on them with mixed reactions. Some closer to her aunt's, others looking like they struggling to not laugh at their situation.
Nymeria physically deflated, realizing the waste of energy it would be to try anything now. Cursing herself for getting distracted with their conversation to not notice them approaching. While at the same time giving Tyene a heated stare that screamed I told you!
That guard could just wait until she finds him again.
It was Arianne that broke the silence, meekly speaking between them.
"…Hello mama."
"Hello, love." Mellario replied simply enough. "I think is time to go to bed, would you agree?" She said for group next, earning nods of agreement. "Very well, up all of you."
"…Uurgh."
"Don't you give that now, Nymeria, on your feet."
Begrudgingly she did as it was said, pulling Tyene to her by hand. Mellario on her end, bend down to pick Arianne in her arms, holding her close to eye level.
"We were just playing." Her cousin explained.
Mellario shook her head foundly.
"My little princess, is it not better to play during the day ?" She asked.
"…Maybe."
"Hmm. And you think you can still play now ?"
Arianne opened her mouth to reply, but a yawn came out instead. It only gave more reason for Mellario. And Tyene doing the same right after only sealed their fates for the rest of the night. Nymeria refused to let her own break through.
"I shall take that as a no."
With that said, she started walking back to the palace. The Sands following right behind with the guards and servants on their heels. Nymeria paid them no mind, holding her sister close, as she robbed a hand over her eyes.
Staring ahead at Mellario's back, seeing Arianne lay her head on her mother's shoulder, she immediately thought of her father. He was in Sunspear now, from what she heard, but hoped he would come to see them with Obara soon. The letters he sent during the two years could only do so much. And she had a thousand things to ask him about the other kingdoms and everything he saw during the travel. Had him brought them a gift ?
The possibility was exciting.
Maybe tomorrow would be the day. She thought, now willing to sleep off the hours for his arrival. Yes, tomorrow.
Now in a more fast passes, she lightly pulled Tyene along, to reach their quarters quickly.
Just as her feet went over the last step.
BOOOM!
She went numb for fractions of moments. Her ears ringing intensely. The ground was not beneath her feet anymore. There were small pokes all over her face…sand. Was she screaming ? Was it someone else ? She could not figure, a white light caused her to close her eyes tightly. Where was Tyene's hand ?
Then it all came back in a crash.
Her back and head hurt as she hit solid stone, the pain bringing some life to her dulling feelings.
Nymeria! Tyene! Oh gods, Nymeria! NYMERIA!
It was muffled by the ringing, but she heard enough. A call. From who ?
She opened her eyes to see the sky, it looked brighter then it was. Looking towards the right, was her sister, also on the ground, with tears running down on her cheeks, panic in her face, with a guard rushing in to aid her. On the left, a desperate Mellario was kneeling down close to Nymeria, holding her face in one hand gently, speaking to her fast. While holding a weeping Arianne tightly in her other arm.
It was her who called.
Wet ran down on her cheek, right on the side Mellario was holding, it seemed to scare for a reason. Confused of why, Nymeria brought a hand over her ear, touching it slowly. There was blood at her fingertips when bringing it back to her front!
Her heart started racing, thundering in her chest, she breathed short and fast. As her senses started to refocus, she tried to get up, but Mellario call out for one of the servants, and both held her down in place.
She began to hear clearly by now, even if the ringing was still present. Then sand heard the faint drumbeat of boots. Felt the vibration of the stomping against the marble.
Guards
But those weren't the usual sharp steps they marched, those were frantic and disorganized. Helmets passed through the side of her vision. Strangely, Nymeria now noticed, outside of Mellario and the servant with her, no one else was speaking.
Lifting her head as little as she could, she saw all with their gazes drawn to the same thing, into the horizon.
She followed, gasping loudly.
The reason was sky seemed more bright was before her now, in a horrifying display. Never before had she seen a cloud of fire so tall, blue tinted in color and with lighting dancing over it.
Her voice died in her throat. Yet, in her mind she repeated the same question.
What is happening ?!
Madness.
Pure and complete madness.
That was what the last pair of hours were made of.
Standing at the a entrance of used to be a simple living room, Mellario looked down, heart heavy, with whatever exhaustion she had evaporated. All of the children, high born and common alike, were huddled together in a large pile of blankets and pillows set up for them to get some rest.
She could never blame them for having a hard time doing it so after what happened. Her and other adults would probably get none even if they tried.
One bundle in special held her attention more than others.
Her Arianne laid between her counsins's embrace. The three didn't want a mere moment apart from each other, their tiny arms grasped tight in their clothes. Arianne and Tyene suffered most from fright and confusion, but poor Nymeria had to go the healers before joining them. The fall from the stairs opened a gash on her forehead, covering her ear and face in blood. Now she had to sleep on one side only, so she would not disturb the bandage wrapped in the area. Even then, from the constant frown she had on her face, there was still pain present.
She signed, if there was someone who did not deserved his or her day to end such way, it would be then.
Moreover, they could not even have the illusion that it did not happen for a few precious hours.
Looking to the roof, the large crack marks still scarred the pristine stone that built the palace long ago.
All because of that fire explosion.
At that moment outside Mellario felt fear like never before squeeze her heart. Like her, all wondered repeatedly just what in the gods name was that ? Even if they were just mentions, she knew it wasn't the foul wild fire king Aerys used for his twisted entertainment in court. Witness had spoken of its green color, and how it was product of a alchemist's experiments.
What she saw there was fury, quick, swift and devastating.
And she feared to discover who or what caused such.
No more than she feared that Elia and her guards were out there.
Fear wasn't even a fitting word to picture what she felt for that.
Where are you, Elia ?
Mellario bit into her nail to calm herself. Giving one last glance at the children, she silently walked away, leaving them to their sleep.
Once again, she found herself outside. She stopped to observe the gardens, thought, this time, it was like staring at a broken mirror.
Like on the inside, the explosion tarnished the beauty of it. Many of the tree had fallen down, spilling countless fruits on the shattered and raised ground. Fountains were almost split in half. Lines running across the pools, as if a great sword slashed against them, the walls not fearing better either.
A sacred place for many, now a sight of destruction. With many of the guards and servents displaying signs of lament, standing infront of areas they most likely spent most of their times, or were always visiting in their youth.
Come day light and the children will certainty have same expressions.
The only positive side of it was that the structure showed the quality of its craft, as it was still tall and strong after the impact. Maybe in time it could be rebuilt to the former glory it had. New happy memories would bury the day's incident.
She hoped at least.
Not wanting to bother the people in this personal moment, she went past them, towards the garden's gates.
The night's wind blew, smelling like the sea, sand and, if she focused, a minor scent of scorched. No doubt from the base of where the cloud stood, which Mellario didn't bother to spare it one more glance of hers.
So there she stood, watching the waves from the distance, alone with the weight of her thoughts and worries, with tomorrow getting closer on the horizon.
Horizon….
With her gaze at the waves breaking upon each other close to the sand, Mellario thought of home. Half way across the world, between the cities of Pentos and Qohor, Norvos could never truly be forgotten.
Oh, how she missed gazing upon the great Noyne river, walk throught the dark forests, spent entire afternoons in its hills, contemplate the city's waterfall as the sun was setting.
Not to mention the food.
She gave Doran many thanks, and more, when he organized a surprise, getting the cooks to learn the ingredients and make her favorite desert, the wintercakes, after she mentioned them one time. One more piece of her land to stay with her.
Mellario planned, after she got older, to take Arianne there, to learn the other half of her heritage. Today just made it more clear she should do it. A time way to make things better, for all of their sakes. Maybe the entire Martell house would follow in the idea, after they see for themselves what transpired.
Grimacing, that thought made her beg once for Elia's safety, wherever she may be now. Mellario could already see Oberyn turning the land upside down in hopes of finding her. That it Loreza herself doesn't beat him to it.
Again, madness.
It could very well be what awaits them in the following days.
A colder breeze from the desert made rub her arms to keep the dropping temperature from staying longer. As it was a sign for her to go back to the palaces warmth.
But she stopped at a sound.
Frowning in confusion, she tilted her head to the side. Once again it came, with some distance in it.
On instinct, Mellario turned towards it. The cloud remained mighty in the sky, but her focus was more down to the earth.
Hidden by the dark, with the moon light casting shadows over them, Mellario saw the outline of a horse. The poor creature was no doubt hurt, from the lipping of one of its forelegs. The person, a slim figure from what she could see, was not faring much better.
A straggler ?
One who suffered a harder effect of the blast ?
The two kept walking a slow exhausted march, coming towards the gates.
Looking for shelter, Mellario concluded. There were enough rooms and space in the palace. And for tonight, she could not even entertain the thought of turning those in need away from a some form of safety.
When they stood a few feet away from, Mellario said out loud.
"Are you hurt ?" The figure didn't respond, but she could her a heavy breath coming from it. "It's alright, if you nee…"
Mellario froze, as they got closer to the torches' light, the figure's face was revealed.
"Elia ?"
The princess name being called snapped her back to attention.
She opened her mouth to speak again and again, but no words came out. It was the last of her strength, as her eyes became defocused and Elia fell unconscious to the ground.
"ELIA!"
Mellario was instantly by her side, even ignoring the horse, holding the princess in her arms searching for anything wrong. Her hair and clothes were wet and filled with…stone bits ? But what made her heart drop was in the shape of a set of long claw-like cuts in her arm, and the side of her abdomen also bleeding.
"GUARDS! GUARDS!" Mellario shouted for help not daring to take her eyes from Elia. Holding her close while waiting, she whispered words of comfort and care in ear, hoping the princess would listen to them.
To all hells with this dammed day.
The ship's ramp hadn't even finished lowering in full as he pulled in with the hover across it to get inside.
Not bothering to turn it off, Noc'ture took a squared sized compartment from the hover's side, and tossed it in towards a random area in the cargo hall. Before taking a more important load.
Easily putting it over his shoulder, not paying any mind as it tarnished his armor, he heard the doors closing behind him as he strode on to the ship's section he most needed now.
His long steps hitting against the metal floor made getting there a matter of seconds.
The doors opened automatically in his presence, and he wasted no time. Pressing a series of commands in the control painel in the room, he heard soon after the inner machines answering. In the middle of the room, a long bed-like chamber opened itself, with vapor purring out as it came to life with energy.
Noc'ture was over it instantly. Dropping the load inside with a new set of commands.
He watched as it filled quietly, closing once more to jump start the process with a loud hum of power.
For it, there was nothing else left he could do but wait.
Something he would have to go along, even with the dire situation he discovered in the temples. A part of him lamented what had to be done with them. Perhaps he had overlooked much there, and plenty of resources were now lost. Still Noc'ture steeled his resolve, the laws were clear to any desecrated structures, no matter their history or importance. Let their memory be guarded in their times of glory and might. Not of what had become of them afterwards.
Leaving the room, giving chamber one last look, he went to the ship's cockpit. Lights came to live as he entered, taking of his helmet, placing it close to the main table of command.
Noc'ture's breath rumbled across the area while he sat down. The pain in his chest caused by that serpent was an afterthought. It would be ridiculous for it to not be. Looking on the outside from the digital cameras, he focused solely on the hive which crawled and slugged across the land and beyond, hidden beneath all who didn't know better.
How many of them were there? Rotting the world from the inside in their insatiable hunger? In the shadows, tirelessly hopping to attack an oblivious prey. It still infuriated him how similar their kinds were in some aspects.
But like countless other times, he would prove in the end how he was the true predator in the ground.
The mystery of how they got into this isolated planet, and how those dammed bad bloods and the humans were involved, would have to come later in priority.
For now? Noc'ture would rest.
He would center himself.
The game was loose.
A great hunt awaited.
And there it is.
Took a little longer than expected, because I wanted to add some more details and whatnot. Don't really like to make a "rush" chapter most of the time. My greatest flaw in writing honestly.
Anyway. Speaking of details. If you go to chapter 3, I also made a small addition to fit what I had established here. Nothing big really, it's already spelled out in this one.
Hope you all enjoyed reading it. Sorry again for taking so long to get it out.
See ya next time.
Peace.