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Chapter 22
Dorne 297 AC
The candlelight illuminated one of the many rooms in the Old Palace, the castle where the ruling family of the region lived. In that room, two people were conversing calmly, but their chat was, at least for them, of utmost importance.
"So, brother, do you like how things are going in your little tournament?" asked Oberyn with an amused smile as he mentioned the tournament organized by his brother.
"Everything is going as planned, Oberyn. The tournament has allowed the houses of Dorne to attend, which will make it easier for our spies to discover their loyalties. Additionally, we show unity, and we take the opportunity to measure the martial skills of the contestants, in search of potential prospects to be Arianne's consort princes."
"That has caused some resentment among some of our vassals, as they have noticed that you reject, almost without hesitation, all attempts at engagement, considering only those you know Arianne would also discard."
"Yes, but you know well why it was so." responded Doran, looking at him seriously.
"I know. However, you should have foreseen a contingency plan in case Viserys died." commented Oberyn, seeing his brother with a critical expression.
"I had one, but that piece has also been lost to us. It wasn't Viserys's death that destroyed any plan with the Targaryens. Although it delayed us, I could still have married his sister to Quentyn, but with the princess's disappearance, any plan involving the former ruling family has vanished."
"Do you really think she's dead?" asked Oberyn, intrigued.
"Do you doubt it? We're talking about a girl who is barely thirteen days old. Do you think she could survive alone? No, brother, she is not like your daughters, she hasn't been trained to fight nor does she have the means to sustain herself. With luck, at best, she will be dead in some corner of Essos."
Doran's words made Oberyn frown. He still hoped the young girl was alive, to fulfill the pact he himself had signed on behalf of his brother years ago: a marriage agreement that betrothed Arianne to Viserys Targaryen, promising Doran's full support to Viserys. However, the sudden death of the last son of the mad king had made the pact invalid, or so they thought. As his brother had told him, the alternative plan was to marry Quentyn to Daenerys once she became queen. Unfortunately, the princess's trail had been lost since her brother's death, so she was also presumed dead.
"What is your plan now, brother?" asked Oberyn.
"For now, continue pretending loyalty to King's Landing and move in the shadows, avoiding attracting the king's attention." responded Doran while looking at the ceiling of the room. "But only until the right moment comes, and when that day arrives, the Lannisters will know they are not the only ones who pay their debts."
While the Martell brothers continued their conversation, in another room of the Old Palace, a different meeting was taking place, this time among the members of another family. The room was decorated with high-quality furniture and some tapestries from Myr and other parts of Westeros. Present were the Lord of House Dayne, his son, and his younger sister.
"How are you enjoying the tournament?" asked the Lord of Starfall, a man named Ulrick. Ulrick's appearance was similar to that of his brother Arthur, although he had light blonde hair, a trait inherited from his mother of Valyrian descent, a color that his son Edric had also inherited.
"Well, father. I'm enjoying it a lot." replied Edric with a smile, as he was having a great time with his aunt's betrothed, whom he served as a squire, aiming to earn his spurs in the future.
"Likewise, brother." said Allyria Dayne. The young Allyria had black hair and, like her sister, eyes of a peculiar purple hue. She wore a simple yet elegant light purple dress, which, despite its simplicity, was of great quality, reflecting the power of the Daynes, one of the most influential houses serving the Martells and possessing a strategic location in Dorne. They controlled much of the Torrentine River, thanks to Starfall at its mouth and High Hermitage, a castle found in the Red Mountains of Dorne.
"I'm glad to hear that." said Ulrick with a smile, which soon faded as he addressed a more serious topic. "By the way, sister, how is your relationship with Lord Beric Dondarrion?"
The mention of the Lord of Blackhaven made a slight blush color Allyria's face; although the engagement was political, she was beginning to feel comfortable with her betrothed.
"Well. We've talked a lot before and after the jousts."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm sorry for involving you in this engagement, but given the political situation in Dorne, it's prudent to have an ally among the Marcher lords."
"Father, I still don't understand why Aunt Allyria had to get engaged to Lord Beric." intervened Edric.
His son's words made the Lord of Starfall recall the reason for that engagement.
"You see, Edric, Prince Doran may pretend disinterest in justice for his late sister, but I grew up with him. My sister was a friend of Princess Elia and Prince Oberyn; we played together in the Water Gardens. I know Oberyn and Doran. Oberyn is like a volcano, always ready to explode at any provocation; Doran, on the other hand, is different. He is like a calm field, but even the most peaceful landscape can hide terrible things." explained Ulrick solemnly. "I know Doran pretends loyalty to the Throne, but when the time comes, he won't hesitate to launch Dorne's spears against the Lannisters. That's why we need an ally in the Marches, to have close support if we need it. And not just because of the Martell issue, but also because of a matter with our relatives in High Hermitage."
The mention of the cadet branch of the Daynes made both Edric and Allyria frown, as they did not have a good relationship with their relatives. Moreover, the current leader of that minor branch of the Daynes had a somewhat dark reputation.
"I'm afraid some of our spies report that Gerold Dayne might be plotting something against us. He might even dare to launch an attack on Starfall. Although it would be unwise, having the Dondarrions as allies would allow us to attack him from the rear without major problems, forcing him to reconsider any plan he has in mind."
"I understand now, father." said Edric, finally understanding why his father was marrying his aunt to a Marcher lord, despite the bad blood that existed between Dornish and Marchers.
"Good, but don't worry, that matter falls on me. For now, enjoy the tournament, as I suspect the appearance of that mysterious knight is just the beginning of the things that will happen here."
"Speaking of the mysterious knight, did you see he has a star on his shield, brother?" asked Allyria.
"Yes, I noticed, and not only that: his name «the knight of Dawnstar» also has a star in it." replied Ulrick, looking at his sister. "Many have started to think he is a member of our house, but those rumors have no basis. Our family is not many: in the Starfall branch, there are only three of us, and in the High Hermitage branch, there is only Gerold. Everyone knows us and knows that Edric has been with Lord Beric, so it can't be him; Gerold is an active participant in the tournament, which immediately rules him out; and you have always been with me in the assigned box. So, any suspicion that it is us makes no sense."
"Well, there is one more member in our family." commented Edric quietly, bringing up a delicate topic for his father.
"It can't be my sister's son, Edric. We haven't heard anything about him for years, and he has been considered dead for two. All because of Lord Stark's negligence." responded Ulrick, gritting his teeth, reviving the anger he felt when he learned that his nephew was missing.
"But, father, don't you think there might be a small chance he is alive?"
"Maybe, Edric, maybe, but I prefer to assume he is dead. I don't want to fill myself with hope only to find out he is really gone." Ulrick lied, for although his nephew was missing, he never stopped hoping he was alive. However, he had to be strong and bury those desires deep in his heart, reserving them only for his moments of solitude.
The words of the Lord of Starfall filled Edric and Allyria with sadness, but they decided to improve the atmosphere by asking Ulrick what his siblings were like. This made Ulrick smile nostalgically as he began to talk about Arthur and Ashara.
Like many people at the tournament, the princess heir of Dorne was also conversing with her private circle about the events.
"And what do you think of the participants, cousin? Has any of them caught your interest?" asked Nymeria, seeing her cousin, who was sitting with a cup of Dornish wine in her hand.
"It has been... interesting." responded Arianne with a somewhat distant and dismissive tone, accompanied by a gesture that downplayed the events of the tournament.
Her cousin's tone provoked laughter among the others.
"Ha, ha, ha... Your imitation of the queen is very convincing, cousin. I'm sure the Lannister speaks like that to everyone." said Sarella, laughing.
"Ha, ha, ha... Yes, you definitely sound as bitchy as the queen." added Obara, recovering from her laughter.
Her words made Arianne drop the act and join in the laughter of her cousins. When the laughter subsided, Tyene asked another question that Arianne had not answered.
"So, cousin, has any of the participants caught your interest?"
Arianne got up from the chair and approached her cousins, who were sitting on a large bed. Sitting next to the Sand Snakes, she brought a hand to her chin and pretended to think, although she knew well who had caught her attention.
"Umm... Actually, some have piqued my interest. There are some old familiar faces." she replied, referring to participants who had once been her lovers.
The princess's romantic and sexual past was so famous that it was said that to list those who had shared her bed, more than five scrolls would be needed. At least, that was the rumor; although the truth was different. While Arianne had had several lovers, they were not as many as people said. However, her relationships had been with somewhat controversial figures in Dorne. Among them, Ser Daemon Sand, known as the «Bastard of Godsgrace» and Ser Gerold Dayne, also called «Darkstar». Although controversial, these men had some influence, and those encounters were more than moments of passion: they were also a way to gain their favor for something she was planning.
Arianne felt she needed the support of some houses in Dorne because she believed a civil war would break out upon her father's death. Although she was the heir, she found a letter her father had sent to her brother Quentyn when he was a ward of the Yronwoods. In the missive, her father told him that he should apply his knowledge and learn everything he could from Lord Yronwood, for one day he would succeed him as ruler of Dorne. This devastated Arianne, as she believed her father planned to disinherit her, although the reality was more complex.
The truth was that, in secret, she had been betrothed to Prince Viserys Targaryen. If it had been realized, the marriage would have made her the queen of Westeros, and her brother Quentyn would have assumed the throne of Sunspear and Dorne. However, with Viserys's death, that plan fell apart, forcing her father to explain the whole truth: the reason for offering her older suitors and his clear indifference to her actions. However, with Daenerys's disappearance, any plan involving the Targaryens was no longer practical. To strengthen her family's and Dorne's position, Arianne had to marry, and the tournament would allow evaluating potential candidates while measuring the loyalty of her vassals to Sunspear.
"Cousin, what do you think of the mysterious knight who has appeared?" asked Sarella with a smile, knowing that if something caught her cousin's attention, it was usually attractive men with an air of adventure and danger. Although the knight's face was a mystery, he met the other two criteria: he had an aura of an adventurer, and his skill with the lance was such that even her own father, Prince Oberyn, said he was not a green knight.
"Ummm... I don't know what to say, but I am interested in him." responded Arianne with a coquettish smile. "His combat skill seems good, and he doesn't seem to fear anything."
"You say that because of the little incident with House Yronwood when he had to joust against him, right?" asked Nymeria, recalling the moment.
The incident Nymeria referred to occurred when the knight of Dawnstar faced Lord Anders Yronwood's son, Cletus Yronwood, in a round. It all began when Cletus, after being unhorsed in the first pass, tried to attack him with his sword, something that surprised the spectators, as it was not typical of him to be so reckless. The battle, however, did not escalate, as the knight of Dawnstar reared his horse slightly, making it turn and kick the breastplate of Cletus's armor with its hind legs, sending him flying a few meters and leaving him unconscious. The act caused a commotion among the attendees, and the guards of House Yronwood were upset, trying to enter the field to punish the mysterious knight. Fortunately, her father intervened quickly, calming the situation before something worse happened.
"It's a shame Uncle Doran intervened; I would have liked to see that idiot, Quentyn's best friend, beaten a bit more." commented Nymeria, smiling. Her comment provoked laughter in Arianne and a grunt from Obara. Noticing this, Nymeria looked at her before asking. "What's wrong, sister? Don't you agree with me?"
"It's not that, it's just that it would have been boring to watch. Even I can knock that idiot out." responded Obara with a petulant tone.
Obara's words made Arianne look at her for a moment before smiling, entertained by an idea that occurred to her for the next day.
"By your words, cousin, I understand that you could defeat that knight, right?" asked Arianne, catching her cousins' attention.
"Of course, cousin. You know I'm very good with the lance. Do you think a mere hedge knight could defeat me? I'm sure he's just a good rider; hedge knights don't have the same martial skill as knights in a lord's service."
"And you, cousins? Do you think the same as your sister?"
Arianne first received silence as a response, and then each of the Sand Snakes shared their opinion.
"I think so." responded Nymeria, almost indifferently.
"I think so too. Experience and training are the key to victory." said Sarella, trying to justify her answer.
The last to respond was Tyene, who became the center of attention of her sisters and cousin due to her silence.
"So, Tyene, what do you think of what Obara said? Do you think she would defeat the mysterious knight?" insisted Arianne.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Skill is important, but the favor of the gods also influences the outcome. And since my sister is almost a heretic, I don't think they will help her." responded Tyene, smiling innocently while casting amused glances at her sister.
"You little..." began Obara, but was interrupted by Arianne, who took the opportunity to present her idea.
"And that is my plan for tomorrow." said Arianne. "What do you think?"
"That it will be very fun." responded Obara, Nymeria, and Sarella in unison, while Tyene added with a smile. "May the gods protect those poor knights."
While many nobles were conversing in their meetings, the crew members of the «StarWolf» were also having theirs in the ship's dining room. They were seated around some fresh fruits from the Summer Isles, accompanied by freshly baked bread, ham, cured cheese, and a bit of wine that Daenerys had bought.
"I have to say the wine is very good. It's somewhat tart, but you can taste the blood oranges." commented Samwell as he savored it in a silver cup. "From the taste, I think it's worth what you paid for it."
"Really?" asked Daenerys, relieved, as she feared she had overpaid.
"Yes, the flavor is noticeably different from other wines we've tried. Also, it's aged, with a strong and concentrated taste without being cloying."
"Thank you. Honestly, I was afraid I had been swindled." said Daenerys with a smile, before turning to Jon, who seemed lost in thought. "Jon, is something wrong? You look very pensive."
Jon sighed before looking her in the eyes.
"Actually, yes." Jon confessed. "When you asked me to enter this tournament, I didn't understand the reason. But now I see it clearly."
"Re-really?" stammered Daenerys, fearing she had upset him by making him fulfill his promise to enter the tournament.
"That's right. The reason you almost begged me to take part was because of the Daynes, wasn't it?"
The question left Daenerys frozen; she didn't expect him to figure out so quickly her plan to bring him closer to his maternal family.
"I-I-I..." she tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come out. She feared Jon was upset, although that fear dissipated like clouds in the sun when he continued speaking.
"Relax, I'm not upset or anything like that." said Jon, catching the attention of the other crew members, who were watching the interaction with Daenerys with amused smiles. "Although I would have liked you to tell me your plan from the beginning, I'm glad you tried to bring me closer to my maternal family. However, if we're honest, a direct contact would have been better than one with this approach."
"You might be right." intervened Pyp, who couldn't resist and pulled a bag of money from his enchanted pouch. His smile was wide and triumphant. "But if that were the case, we wouldn't have made so much money betting on your rounds."
"Cheapskate..." muttered Grenn, looking away.
"Hey! Don't talk like that! I saw you betting on Jon and you also made a good sum." protested Pyp, offended.
"At least I'm not bragging about my winnings!" shouted Grenn, standing up and preparing to lunge at Pyp.
"Come on, try your best punch-!"
Pyp's words were cut short when he and Grenn ended up with their faces slammed on the table, immobilized by Jon, who held them firmly.
"I've told you a thousand times that I don't care about your winnings, but I've also told you that we eat in peace at the table. If you want to fight like idiots, do it outside."
The room fell silent. Sam, Edd, and Daenerys exchanged worried glances while Jon kept his two friends pressed against the table.
"Damn, Jon is angry. I'd better start writing my will... I think I'll leave everything to one of my brothers." murmured Edd, resigned.
"O-okay, Jon... we won't do any more stupid things, but please don't kill us." said Grenn, with a slight tremor in his voice.
"Yes, please... I don't want to die without having married and having at least five children." added Pyp, looking at him with pleading eyes.
Jon sighed and let them go. Both stood up and began rubbing their necks where Jon had held them.
"Sorry, guys, for the outburst. It's just that I've been a bit tense since the tournament started."
"Is it because of the number of houses from Dorne that have come?" asked Sam.
"Or because there are houses from the Dornish Marches participating?" inquired Pyp as he and Grenn returned to their seats.
"More the latter, especially because everyone knows that the Dornish and the Marchers hate each other like cats and dogs." responded Jon, sitting down again.
"Speaking of the Marchers, how is the knight you were going to heal?" asked Edd.
"He's fine. I managed to stabilize him so he wouldn't die, but as expected, the eye was left in an irreparable state."
"At least he didn't die; being blind in one eye is better than dying." pointed out Daenerys.
"Some wouldn't agree." joked Pyp.
"Maybe, but let's focus on what's happening here." said Jon, looking at his friends seriously. "I have a feeling something is being plotted in this place. It's not common to see so many Dornish houses gathered."
"Do you think they're planning a rebellion?" asked Grenn, taking a sip of wine from his cup.
"I don't think so." replied Sam, attracting everyone's attention.
"Why not?" asked Daenerys, intrigued.
"It's simple, princess." replied Sam, unfolding a map of Westeros and placing some empty cups on the points of the castles of the most powerful houses. "Dorne's military power is not the strongest. When the 'Young Dragon' conquered Dorne and wrote his book, he exaggerated the numbers of the Dornish armies to make his conquest more glorious. In reality, Dorne doesn't have fifty thousand soldiers; it has a little over twenty thousand."
"Twenty thousand soldiers?" asked Daenerys, impressed.
"Yes, but that's not many troops." commented Jon, catching Daenerys's attention. "The North can summon a similar number, but recruitment takes longer because it's the largest region in Westeros. With a quick call, the North would gather the same number as Dorne."
"What is the total number of soldiers in the North?" asked Daenerys.
"Approximately forty thousand." replied Jon.
"Forty thousand soldiers...? That sounds like a huge army..."
"Not really, princess." intervened Sam. "The Reach can raise between eighty and a hundred thousand soldiers."
The number made Daenerys open her eyes in astonishment. That number of soldiers was impressive. However, she wondered something: how had her family lost the war against the Baratheons with such large forces supporting them from the beginning?
'Maybe if I ask, I can get an idea...' thought Daenerys, who was about to speak but was interrupted by Jon, who smiled mockingly.
"They may have that number of soldiers, but their Lord Paramount is not the brightest." said Jon, provoking giggles among Edd, Grenn, and Pyp. "And you can't deny it, Sam. Tell me, what do you think of keeping an entire army besieging Storm's End throughout the war without taking it?"
"I can't refute that." replied Sam with a smile, remembering what was said about the Lord of the Reach, who only obeyed his mother's orders. "Some in certain castles say that if Lord Mance had been at the Trident, the battle could have ended differently."
"Of course, Sam. No matter how seasoned the rebels were, being outnumbered almost four to one, and considering that the Reach has the most knights in Westeros... it's an army to be feared. But, as Edzard says: 'Don't fear an army of brave men led by a fool; fear an army of fools led by brave men.'"
Jon's words confused Daenerys even more, who asked why he had said that. The answer she received was that his master taught him that no matter how good an army was, if it was led by an idiot, it was destined to lose; however, an army of mediocre soldiers with a good general could use tactics and strategies that, although they wouldn't win immediately, would wear down the enemy until they were forced to retreat to recover from their losses.
"I see... having a good army isn't everything in war..." said Daenerys, reflecting on Jon's words.
"That's right. It also matters who leads them..." commented Jon, whispering the last words as an idea formed in his mind. Seconds later, he opened his eyes in surprise. "I think I know why all the houses of Dorne are here..."
"Really?" asked Samwell, and all his friends looked at him expectantly.
"Yes, I think this tournament is a test to measure the martial skills of the young. Think about it... why impose an age limit? It would only make sense if they wanted to evaluate the new generation of knights in Dorne."
"Then, perhaps those who excel will be selected for their skills as commanders, in preparation for a possible war..." added Samwell, understanding what Jon meant.
"Exactly, to have the best strategists in Dorne ready for any eventuality." concluded Jon, causing astonishment among those present.
"But... are you sure?" asked Daenerys, still doubtful.
"No, but it's a good guess." said Sam. "We'll find out tomorrow."
"Yes. I need everyone to be in separate points tomorrow." requested Jon. "Try to listen to any interesting conversations, but don't give yourselves away; just be subtle while you're in the stands."
"Understood." responded Grenn, Pyp, and Sam.
"Dany." Jon called Daenerys, and she looked at him at once. "I want you to be with Sam tomorrow."
"O-okay."
"Thank you." said Jon, standing up. "We'd better get some sleep. Something tells me tomorrow will be a busy day."
The sun of Dorne shone intensely over the sand, affecting those not accustomed to its strength, like Jon, who found himself surrounded by several knights. He recognized one bearing the emblem of House Dayne, showing he was a relative.
'Something strange is happening here.' Jon thought, noticing that many seemed to be watching him. While analyzing those around him, the herald announced that Princess Arianne Martell wished to address everyone.
When Arianne appeared in the box, Jon and many others opened their eyes in surprise. The princess wore a silk outfit that, due to its fluidity, revealed more skin than they considered proper. However, Jon sensed an imminent danger, as if something was approaching.
'My skin is tingling; that always happens when trouble is coming.' he thought, looking around almost paranoically. His observation was interrupted when the princess began to speak.
"Subjects of Dorne! This tournament has been organized to reunite the houses of Dorne, to restore trust among our houses. But how can we trust each other if a mysterious knight takes part in the tournament with a star in his heraldry!"
Hearing her words, Jon understood what Arianne was planning. A feeling of anticipation, not fear, arose within him as he felt the gazes of everyone present in the arena and the stands fixed on him. His hands sweated, and his fingers seemed to anticipate what was about to happen.
"So, as a test of trust, I ask the mysterious knight to step forward and reveal his identity, if he has nothing to hide!"
Arianne's declaration intensified the gazes on Jon, who pretended not to have heard anything. Knowing that if he did not act, distrust towards him would increase and possibly the guards would be forced to intervene, he made a decision. He held the reins of his horse and slowly advanced until he was a few meters ahead of the other competitors.
Upon stopping, Jon brought his hand to his helmet and, loosening some straps, began to lift the visor slowly, stopping halfway while flashing a mocking smile.
"I am flattered that you think my presence in this tournament could destabilize the trust of the Dornish houses. But it seems you have forgotten something, my princess... I am a mysterious knight, and the only way someone will know my identity is by defeating me."
His words drew a collective gasp from those present, who did not expect such a bold response. Before anyone could react, Jon continued speaking.
"Besides, it would be very boring for those enduring this sun if I revealed myself immediately, don't you think? Why not add a bit of excitement to the tournament?"
The spectators roared in approval, wishing for Jon to continue fighting as a mysterious knight until someone defeated him or until he decided to reveal himself.
Jon's smile remained firm as the princess responded with a smile of her own.
"You are right, my good Ser." said Arianne in a tone low enough for only Jon to hear, causing him a slight shiver. A moment later, with a firm voice, she proclaimed. "It seems you and I think alike, my good Ser! So, to increase the excitement, I make the following announcement: to the knight who manages to unhorse and unmask the mysterious knight, I will grant my favor in tomorrow's finals!"
Hearing the princess's announcement, Jon felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Turning his face, he saw that all the knights were looking at him with the intensity of wolves stalking prey. The sight could intimidate anyone, but not him, who returned a defiant smile. Lowering the visor of his helmet, Jon looked at the princess and whispered. "Challenge accepted, princess... I hope you have enough beds in the infirmary for the knights who will end up there by the end of the day."
Author's Note:
To those who have made it this far, thank you for reading. To be honest, my English writing skills are not strong, and I'm relying on Google Translate and the dictionaries that come with Office 2019.
Well, chapter 22 is done
As we can see, it seems that Jon has caught everyone's attention, from the Martells to the Daynes. But if you're wondering why no one knows that Jon is still alive, remember this is the Middle Ages, information takes a long time to travel and often arrives distorted.
Finally, it seems the tournament has turned into everyone against Jon, XD. Now we just have to see how the encounters will be and who they will be against. XD
I apologize for any spelling errors. Please don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, or if there's something that needs improvement, or if you have any questions about the story. Any constructive advice is welcome. With nothing more to say, see you in the next chapter.