The Throne Room always reminded me of a hunting ground. The nobility and their spies scavenging for any crumb of scandal or gossip. Naturally the royal family were their prey but I never buckled under the pressure.
I could feel their stares following my every move, each step being examined and each breath being scrutinised. I kept walking, one foot in front of the other until I took my place next to Oberyn and Papa, who sat on the Iron Throne. Of course I knew the cause behind their constant gawking, the wedding was only a sunset away and Oberyn was a fine suitor.
The women's gazes were envious, I could hear their quiet whispers and I could practically see the rumors tumble from their mouths. Half truths swirled around the room and I was suffocated under their presumptions.
"Sorry I'm late." I whispered, keeping my gaze on the arriving dignitaries and smiling to the approaching Harte family.
"Don't worry yourself my stag," Papa smiled, he caught my eye for a moment before summoning Ser Elwood Harte forward to receive his gifts. "Do you know the cause of their stares?"
"The wedding?" I guessed, my voice quiet as Papa called forward the next noble house.
"No." He spoke making a tutting sound at the back of his throat. I watched his eyes flicker around the faces at court, his gaze causing grown men the shiver in fear and young debutants to hush their words. "They know Oberyn shares your chamber."
A small gasp escaped my lips but it was quickly covered by a cough and a neutral face, "How?"
"For all they know it's speculation" Oberyn interjected, taking my hand and squeezing it gently.
"Partially it is." Papa's gruff voice stated, his hand grasped at his jaw harshly rubbing his beard. "You've never touched my daughter."
"Of course not, my King." I heard Oberyn say, quietly snickering to himself. I sneaked a look in his direction to see the halfwit fighting a smile, I looked away before his mischievous look could spread to my face as well. But before I could fight against it I was already looking at him, and he was looking at me, and we were both biting back laughter.
Thankfully before Papa could continue his embarrassing comments his attention moved to the sound of a heavy footed man entering the hall. His face was solemn and his grey eyes looked as hard as stone, he had dark hair to match with a closely-trimmed beard that had began to grey. Next to him stood a beautiful woman; with fair skin, long auburn hair and blue eyes. The couple made their way forward but not before Papa met them halfway where he clasped the man's shoulder fondly.
I glance at Oberyn, my lips pursed in confusion towards the unknown couple and their relation to my father.
"The Starks," Oberyn whispered into the shell of my ear, "Eddard is a close friend to the King."
"Oh yes, I remember them now." I said smiling at the memory of Papa recounting the joyful times with his foster brother in the Eyrie.
As Papa and the Starks busied themselves with chatter, Oberyn tugged on my hand nodding towards the side doors.
"Everyone is watching" I whispered, biting my lip in an attempt to stifle a giggle at his plans of escape.
"So?" Oberyn challenged me, his eyebrow raised and a large smirk making its way across his face. My satin skirts swayed against my ankles as I scurried alongside his guidance, I could hear a few men and women chuckle at our tactical retreat but we were far gone before anyone, including Papa, could stop us.
We kept a steady pace as we walked through the main route to the private royal gardens. Along the way maids and guests bowed as we passed them, muttering 'My Prince' and 'My Princess' under their breath.
I sighed happily as we made it through the guarded archway towards an array of pillow seats on the patio. Oberyn sat across from me as the warm summer breeze danced along my skin and I soaked in the sunbeams.
"Are you nervous?" I spoke the words before my brain recognised the question.
Our marriage ceremony was fast approaching, in less than one moon I would be a Martell. I was willing to put my whole being in the hands of my lover and I didn't think twice about doing it. Was I just being an obedient princess or was this a side effect of love?
Love.
I was in love with the man gazing at me with a curious smile, a smile that could render my entire body useless. It was as if I had an epiphany, my eyes seeing more than they had before. For once it all made sense and I couldn't believe I was only just realising it.
The feeling was so strange, overwhelming my whole existence. And with that the dread set in. The fear of ending up like my parents, hating each other with every fibre of their being. My mind replayed memories of their fights, Mother's tantrums and Papa's stubbornness on a short loop over and over.
"For the wedding?" He questioned, raising his eyebrow at my blank stare.
"To answer a question with a question is very bothersome, Martell." I laughed, trying to swallow the anxiety of my discovery from eating me alive, but the look in my eyes was enough for him to realise something was wrong. "But yes, are you nervous for the ceremony?"
"A little," Oberyn admitted. He took both of my hands in his and squeezed them comfortingly, "But then I remember you will be the one I give my cloak to and all my worries disappear. We will be in our own cocoon up there."
I whimpered at the thought of being so exposed in front of the Court and the Kingdom at large. Giving myself into the protection of another, it was an intimate thing to show my trust and love so blatantly.
"Sunbeam, please you need not worry yourself so," He continues in an attempt to calm my rapid breathing.
"I don't..." I muttered. My heart was hammering inside my chest, thumping against my ribs as if it were to tear through my skin in an escape. "I don't understand... Oberyn what's happening? What's happening to me?"
"Come now, you have to calm down." With my mind turning itself into a mental soup of conflicting thoughts, his voice was my only anchor and I held onto it as best as I was allowed. "Please Kendra, breath."
"Keep talking." I spoke between quick gasps and wild eyes.
"Keep talking? Okay, okay, I'm good at sweet talking." He muttered to himself before continuing more certain and confident with his words, "I think you're the most beautiful human being to walk the Seven Kingdoms, and I've seen a lot of people. You're so very caring, you've accommodated the children better than I could have ever imagined. They adore you, especially Dorea. Sometimes I sit back and just think, 'how did I manage to catch a woman like you?'. Then I remember your Father arranged our marriage."
His sweet words made me laugh, his humor cracking the walls of anxiety that tightly caged me. "You're a silly man, Oberyn Martell."
A chuckle escaped his lips, charming and carefree. "Ah but your silly man nonetheless."
We both smiled at each other, and slowly I closed the gap with a kiss. His lips washing away my fears and nerves. "Thank you."
"You scared me there." He breathed, his hands cupping my face. "Whats wrong?"
"I don't know," I leaned into his touch, finding comfort in the warmth of his hands. "This is all new to me Oberyn, I've never felt this way before, I don't think I could bare it if our marriage turns out to be like Papa and Mother's."
"We won't hate each other Kendra."
"How do you know that?" I lowered my gaze, not wanting to see his reaction.
"Because your Father doesn't love your Mother like I do you." He admitted, I felt my heart leap as his words sunk in. I let out a shaky breath before raising my eyes to take in his genuine smile, capturing his lips into a kiss. He let out a surprised gasp before his lips began to move against mine, his hands wrapped around my waist pulling me closer into his lap. I pulled away and rested my hands under his ears, stroking my thumbs against his cheeks.
"I love you too." I whispered, pressing my lips fully against his once more.