The Water Gardens, DorneUnbowed, Unbent, Unbroken Doran Martell
Prince of Dorne, Lord of SunspearIt was evening in the Water Gardens and they sat eerily silent. The sun had set and the cool embrace of the night joined with the ocean breezes. Night was one of the few times Doran allowed himself to walk the grounds freely. His deteriorating condition was a well kept secret, only his immediate family and closest advisers and servants were aware of exactly how debilitating the Prince's gout was. Every step was a trial and Doran greatly tested the strength of his cane. Trailing a few feet behind him was Areo Hotah, the Bearded Priest of Norvos. His loyalty was unwavering and his skill with his wife-ax unparalleled in Westeros. Areo constantly kept watch over his prince and had proven his worth one-hundred time over. Doran trusted this man as much as anyone he had ever known.
Their quiet stroll was interrupted by the clinking of chains and the patter of leather on stone. From behind them a short bald fat man in maester's chains hurried towards them. In his hand he clutched a scroll. Wheezing from the exertion of running the maester handed the letter to Prince Doran, who had taken a seat on a bench to regain his strength. "A raven from Highgarden, my Prince." The maester handed over scroll from his fat fingers.
"Highgarden?" Doran was intrigued. He knew that his brother carried on correspondence with the heir to Highgarden, but Doran and Mace rarely spoke. The animosity between their two houses stretched back ages. He opened the scroll and began to read what was written. His showed little expression as he folded up the letter and inserted it into his robes.
"Maester Caloette, send word to Sunspear. My daughter is to present herself here." The Maester bowed and began to turn back to his tower. "She must leave tonight, Caloette." The Maester turned and bowed again before departing. After several minutes Doran could hear the cry of a raven and the flapping of wings. He turned to Areo. " Rouse Oberyn, and summon him to my chambers." Doran rose to his feet, his legs trembling.
Areo moved to aide him. "Please, my Prince allow me to help you."
Doran brushed away his hand. " I am still able enough to walk, Areo. Please see to my brother. And keep your discretion."
Several minutes later Oberyn and Doran sat in the Prince's chambers and spoke at length. It was nearly dawn before Arienne arrived and the three began their conversation anew.
The Greenblood, DorneUnbowed, Unbent, Unbroken Oberyn 'the Red Viper' Martell
Prince, SerThe murky waters of the Greenblood slowly rolled past Prince Oberyn as he and his party followed the road towards the Red Mountains. His black hair lightly danced in the breeze. At his side rode his niece, the Princess Arianne Martell, eldest child to his brother and heir to the throne of Dorne. Accompanying her were several handmaidens and attendants. In addition Oberyn had brought a score of household guards from the Water Gardens and planned to meet more at the Stone Way. Chief among these men was Ser Daemon Sand, former squire to Oberyn and one of the finest swords in Dorne. Oberyn was fond of Daemon it was no secret, but such feelings were not appropriate at this time. As his mind wandered, movement in the distance caught his eye. On a hill not far ahead of them three riders had appeared a cloud of dust and sand billowing behind them. Oberyn could not make out their faces from this distance, but the sat high in their saddles and had intentionally blocked their path. He would have to confront them. "Arianne." He looked to his niece. "Stay here with the men. If swords are drawn ride hard back to Godsgrace, don't spare the horses. Lady Allyrion will give you shelter." Ser Daemon nodded, Lady Allyrion was his grandmother and a leal bannerman to the Martells. "Ser Daemon ride out with me."
"Of course, my Prince." Ser Daemon placed his left hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. "My sword is yours."
"Pray we don't need it, ser." Replied Oberyn as he grasped his spear firmly in his hand and spurred his steed on. Ser Daemon followed closely.
The three riders waited some two hundred yards away their horses still and calm atop the hill. As the distance closed Oberyn could make out more and more of the figures. The front rider was a large man strongly built. But, as the yards disappeared Oberyn broke into laughter. He stuck the spear into the ground beside him and told ser Daemon to wait there. The knight seemed ready to protest, but Oberyn rode on before he could speak. As he closed in Oberyn could now clearly see their faces. The largest, could be easily mistaken for a man from afar, but up close Oberyn could recognize the hard features of his eldest daughter Obara Sand. Flanking her were her sisters Nymeria and Tyene. The two had all the beauty Obara lacked, but all three were as deadly as any creature in the desert.
The prince drew his horse to a stop before the three of them his smile wide. "Obara, Nymeria, Tyene. How good to see you. But, I must confess, your presence in this place causes me some confusion. Please relieve me of this perplexity."
Obara was the first to speak, as was her way. "We have heard you and Arianne left the Water Gardens in a rush."
"We came to see what we could learn." Added Nymeria.
"Trying to learn anything from Oberyn is as pointless as trying to a house of sand." Tyene chipped in, her voice soft and lyrical.
"I did not know you three were so scholarly, I had thought Sarella was the only one among you to care for such things." Oberyn said his eyes narrowing at their intrigue.
"When it concerns Dorne and the House Martell we care for all things." Obara barked at him.
"Then understand, what I intend to do and what my brother has asked me to do is for the good of Dorne and House Martell." Oberyn replied his smile fading.
"Pray tell father," Nymeria cried. "what is it you intend to do? Why you have brought Arianne here?"
"If it will cease your prodding and prying I will tell you then." Oberyn's voice sounded tired. "Word was sent to Sunspear from Highgarden. Lord Mace Tyrell has offered his son Willas to Arianne in exchange for our support of his daughter's new husband, the proclaimed king Renly Baratheon. I have been tasked to bring her to meet these men and negotiate on behalf of our house."
Tyene's pale face had turned bright crimson. "Willas! Willas Tyrell!" Her horse dug nervously at the ground as she shouted. "Not five years ago, less than ten leagues from were we now stand you chased me and Arianne down and dragged us back to Sunspear, for attempting this same task!"
"Calm yourself Tyene." Oberyn's voice was mellow and soothing to the ear. "Five years is a great amount of time. Plans fall apart in such a span of time and new plans must be forged to take their place. Yes, the task I undertake is eerily similar to the one you once attempted. But, this one differs in one key aspect. I have not spirited away Arianne in the dead of night against her father's wishes."
"And why were we left out of this task, father? You have brought so many men and said scarce a word to us."
"Obara, is that why you have tracked me down and block my path? You thee wish to join us?" Oberyn asked a laugh in his voice.
"We wish to see to Arianne's safety and secure the future of Dorne." Obara answered.
"Very well then. You three may join us. I shall take you with us. You three shall take the guise of handmaidens to Arianne. Best that none know your true identities or purpose." Oberyn awaited as the three exchanged whispers and glances.
Obara spoke on their behalf. "Tyene will wear the robes of a septa, Nym will act as a handmaiden, and I shall bear my arms and armor."
Oberyn sighed. "These Andals won't take kindly to a woman of arms, Obara."
"That never deterred any of us before. You should know that." Chimed Nymeria. "So what do you say?"
"Very well. We ride to Storm's End to meet the Tyrells and their king. I'm sure Arianne will be glad for the company."
Soon enough they were off again following the course of the Greenblood towards the Stone Way.