Chapter 54 - Reaction from All Parties (IV)

"My body, soul and mind will be yours, I will protect you with my life, my king." Leda Dayne, kneeling before Aenar Targaryen.

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Dorne, Sunspear.

Old palace.

"Damn, burning forty thousand men in less than fifteen minutes is madness." Obara, Oberyn's eldest bastard daughter and leader of the Sand Snakes, spoke. She was tall and had a strong body, her voice was strong and thick, not very girlish and not at all like a woman.

"Choose your words more politely, Sister." Nymeria, the second eldest daughter, replied with an elegant smile on her red lips. Though she looked like a virtuous lady from a noble house, you never knew if she was hiding a dagger in her hands until it was too late.

"Don't fight, my ears are calloused from all the fighting you've done on this journey."  Tyene, the third daughter of the Serpent of Dorne, spoke in a sweet, silky voice. Small and delicate, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes, her appearance was deceptive about her skill with poisons.

Oberyn's third daughter was as deadly as her sisters, her delicacy perfectly hiding her mastery of poison, which she manipulated with deadly skill.

"Stop arguing, my father is calling us all." Arianne, wearing a flowing red silk gown, spoke in a sensual tone as she walked gracefully toward the dining hall.

Obara and Nymeria looked at each other and snorted at the same time, both following Arianne with quick steps. With a tired sigh, Tyene followed everyone with her small, graceful steps.

When Arianne entered the hall, the first person she saw was her cousin, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, who was hiding in Dorne under the alias Rhayna Sand. The girl had grown a lot in the last year and a half, taller and more voluptuous in all the right places, and just as deadly from what she had seen of her and Uncle Oberyn's battle.

Another was the Prince of Dorne himself, her father, Doran Martell.

Though he had his usual calm, deep expression, she could see the slight sense of relaxation between his eyebrows. He was in a great mood, which Arianne could understand; Prince Targaryen was more remarkable than anyone expected.

Even she thought that Prince Targaryen had stepped out of one of the stories from the Age of Heroes.

After all, traveling to another continent at the age of twelve to protect his family and burn forty thousand men was truly something to be written down in history. How could anyone not admire a person who could do that?

However, knowing the secret identity of the Targaryen prince, Arianne couldn't help but be surprised that such a powerful and honorable young man had grown up as a bastard in the inhospitable lands of the North.

Frankly, she thanked the gods that Aenar had been raised by Eddard Stark, for if he had grown up resentful and angry at the world like most of the bastards of Westeros, she could only imagine the disaster that would have ensued.

"Lord Father, did you request my presence?" Arianne asked, a seductive smile on her lips.

"You and Oberyn will meet Prince Aenar and attend his coronation at Volantis. Oberyn will serve as the Prince's general and advisor. As for you, you will serve as Queen Rhaella's Handmaid until the Prince marries his wife." Doran spoke in a calm tone, remembering the raven he had received from the queen.

The queen's intentions were clear; she wanted to see which side Dorne was on and whether they would fight on the side of House Targaryen while holding Oberyn and Arianne hostage to prevent House Martell from betraying House Targaryen.

Doran couldn't help but notice that exile in Essos had sharpened the queen's political sense and made her extremely wary of betrayal. Which he understood; after all, House Targaryen had collapsed under treachery and conspiracy.

Arianne's smile remained the same, but there was a deep bitterness in her eyes. Handmaid? Have you ever seen the heir to a kingdom become a handmaid?  In her eyes, Doran was pushing her off the throne of Dorne in favor of Quentyn.

"Father, you will regret keeping me from what is rightfully mine; I will watch with pleasure as you see me take what is mine by force and violence." Arianne thought with clenched fists.

Why had Arianne remained pure and virginal despite all the temptations of sex? The reason was right before her eyes: her father did not want her to inherit the throne of Dorne.

If Doran wouldn't give her the Sun Throne, she would take it by force, even if it meant becoming the secret lover of the Targaryen prince across the sea.

Arianne knew how to use her natural advantages and would use them to get what she wanted, and knowing how to win a man's favor, she had the confidence to make Prince Aenar accept her.

Rhaenys didn't know that her cousin had planned to seduce her brother years ago, when she saw that Doran had not wanted to pass the Sun Throne to her for many years.

In that moment, she was happy and full of joy. Unlike Oberyn and Arianne, she would go straight north to finally find Moonfyre and then fly directly to Volantis to find her family.

How could she not be happy, her family would finally be reunited after decades of separation, blood, sweat and pain.

“Lord Father, I heard that a new Sword of the Morning is coming to Sunspear.” Arianne asked, causing all eyes to focus on Doran.

The Lord of Dorne nodded and spoke in an admiring voice. "Leda Dayne, daughter of Ashara Dayne, defeated twenty men in a single fight and became worthy to wield the Dawn and become the new Sword of the Morning."

(Note: OC character inspired by Needle Knight Leda from Elden Ring.)

Even his brother, a great warrior, could not claim to have fought twenty men and come out unscathed, but Leda did, killing them all without a scratch.

Sighs of admiration rang out all around, and the Sand Snakes were filled with awe as they listened to the Lord of Dorne's words.

"What is she doing in Sunspear?" Arianne asked curiously. It was normal for any Morning Sword to spend years without leaving Starfall. They only went out to challenge great swordsmen and warriors of great reputation.

"She will go to Essos with you and Oberyn. She wants to serve in the Kingsguard like her uncle did for Prince Aenar." Doran answered without pause. He remembered the Raven sent by Ashara Dayne, who had told him the purpose of the woman's daughter.

"Is it possible that all Morning Swords will become Royal Guards in the future?" Tyene commented in an amused tone, her laughter accompanied by more giggles from her sisters.

"But will the prince accept a woman in the Royal Guard? There have never been women in the Grand Order of the Royal Guard." Nymeria asked, looking curiously at Rhaenys, the only person who knew Prince Targaryen's mind despite never having met him in person.

"My brother doesn't care what's between someone's legs if that person is useful, even a blind man can hold the position of Master of Whispers." Rhaenys shrugged and replied with a hint of amusement. "Besides, the Royal Guard was created by Queen Visenya."

Arianne in particular was pleased to hear her words; the more open mind of Prince Targaryen, her future husband, could make her plans much easier.

They all nodded, but formed a clear picture of the mysterious Prince Targaryen. Although he was young, he didn't look like a young man, but a mature man, very wise for his age.

Rhaenys knew very well why her brother was more mature than he seemed; he had the burden of carrying humanity forward with his prophetic visions and future wars that would determine whether humanity would continue or perish.

While everyone was discussing Prince Targaryen, the doors opened and Oberyn and his wife, Ellaria Sand, entered the room with their arms intertwined. Both had slightly disheveled hair and sweat was still visible on their faces, causing the dining hall to erupt in laughter.

"Looks like we got in the way of something important, Lord Father." Arianne commented in a friendly, laughing tone.

Doran just snorted and didn't mind getting in the way of his little brother's fun time. He still remembered the words he had spoken a few days ago.

"I assume the preparations are finished; you'll leave for Volantis immediately. We don't want to miss Prince Targaryen's coronation."

Oberyn couldn't help but sigh at the implacable look on his brother's face; his brother was particularly vindictive when he could be. He only joked that he could no longer make love to a woman.

Because of those words, he now rarely has time to rest or even sit still for a moment.

"Yes, my brother." Oberyn replied in a sad and despondent tone, causing the laughter to grow louder.