Act I of Devotion: Love
Chapter VI: The Gods Gave Me A Rare Man And I Loved Him Well.
"One of the many things the White Queen had told me as a child was how she had held her love for Prince Oberyn all her life. Regardless of what had come between them. I asked her how could she love so much when one only has one heart. She chuckled and said,
'I don't need a many hearts to love others. I need a big heart. For when the gods give you these people in your life, you don't ask why they were sent. But I realized too that it is because love is rare in the world I dwell in, child. One can never truly live without an inch of love and so I loved him. The gods gave me a rare man and I decided that I shall love him well.'
One will pity a woman who had such affection for others.
She suffered for them more than one would hope. Leila Lannister had deserved more than that.
-Master Maekar, Chapter III of the White Queen
THE OUTSKIRTS OF SUNSPEAR
A WEEK LATER
LEILA LANNISTER FELT TIRED AS SHE GOT OFF HER HORSE. She smiled tiredly at Mors Manwoody as he gave her his hand to hold, her body relying on his strength as Oberyn eyed them from the distance of his mount. They had been travelling non-stop through the sceneries of the Dornish lands since a week before after they had received a summoning to the court of Oberyn's mother, the Princess of Dorne.
As soon as they settled the matters there in Sunfire and left Oberyn's own personal Maester as Castellan until they returned from Sunspear. The three quickly arranged the travel as soon as they got changed and packed up clothes in sacks which they neatly tied to the side of their saddles. They did not bring too much, only enough for them to change into when the weather becomes humid and sweat takes over. They brought provisions enough for the three of them, lasting at least two weeks. They brought enough gold and silver in order to find a suitable place to rest in at night. And they were unlucky, they brought a tent with them so that they may be able to rest their bodies for the night at the very least before riding out again in the morning.
The entire trip was that of nervousness and fear of the unknown. Leila most especially felt that feeling most of all. Loreza Martell wrote the letter herself, signed and sealed on her own and not with the help of any of her ladies. She never did that unless it was of personal and deep importance. But that was not the thing that worried Leila most. She feared what the letter contained when it arrived to them in Sunfire.
The accusations of Lord Edgar's son upon his father's death had haunted Leila's mind most through the time they spent on the road. She could not forget the anger that came through that demand Loreza Martell had mentioned. Oberyn was being accused of poisoning his spear during that duel he and the aged lord had contested in. Leila sighed. No, he was not accusing Oberyn. He firmly believes Oberyn did it.
"Ye still alright, lass?" Mors questioned her in a small whisper as they made their way through the steps, Oberyn following behind them. "Ye look so pale, as if someone drained ye of blood."
"Thank you for thinking of how beautiful I am." She joked in response as her sworn sword sighed. She pursed her lips in a line. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood, dear Mors."
"And ye saw that it didna work, no?"
"Mors, I'm fine." She insists to him, causing him to scoff.
"Ye lie so badly, Leila." Mors told her in reply. "Ye ken that a Dornishman can see the depths of yer soul, no? Others may believe yer bluff but no a Dornishman."
"I just feel tired, that's all." She forced herself to try and hide her worries, putting them aside. Finally entering the building with the two closest Dornishmen by her side. "I haven't been sleeping well."
"You best rest then." Oberyn tells his betrothed, looking to her with a gentle look. Mors nodded to Oberyn and removed his touch upon Leila and soon, the warm arm was warmer with Oberyn replacing Mors' flesh. The prince placed a small kiss upon her forehead. "I'm not certain I wish seeing you stress yourself, my lioness. But you must see the Maester later, to ensure your health."
"I merely lack sleep, my dear Oberyn." Leila retorts to him, looking upwards meeting his eyes. "Surely I can take my self down on my bed and gain my strength back."
"No, I'll would not take risks when it comes to your health, my dear lioness." He declares to her. "You will see the Maester before you rest, alright?"
"He does have a point, Leila." Mors finally butted in, feeling himself set aside the awkwardness of having to watch two people lovingly in front of him. He was happy for the two of them, but he sometimes felt out of place. A chariot's useless third wheel. Leila looked at him, as if feeling a siege of sorts from the two men. "Best have a Maester see to ye, lass. Better safe than sorry when yer dead."
"I am fine." She insisted again. Oberyn paused, which caused her to pause as well. Mors took the opportunity to walk forwards and leave the couple be to talk the matter between themselves. He didn't want to interrupt a conversation rightfully only for their own ears to hear. He returned to help with the items in the wheelhouse.
"Oberyn, you must not worry-"
"How can I not worry for you when all I can think of is your being, Leila?" Oberyn asks her, causing her to look a bit defeated at his question. "Leila, I know that look always. Especially when you lie."
"Oberyn.." She whispered to him, her eyes filled with fear. He finally saw it. Her heart softened as she then moved to look away from, ashamed of her fear. Oberyn was strong, a viper who can kill his enemies easily. She thinks he deserves a better wife than him, one without fear. Her father would be ashamed to see vulnerability within her at that moment. She was of the lions, a lioness. She should not be afraid. Never. But she was and she would never forget to shut the door on that fear ever again.
"You are frightened of what might happen." Oberyn easily guessed. He knows me too well. "Leila, nothing will happen, I am sure of that."
Leila easily frowned at her betrothed as he continued to lead her onto the Maester's chambers. Oberyn was never good at avoiding confrontations and yet the way he says the things he had to assure her that nothing will go wrong, it worried her even more. Leila knew that there was more to this thing than just a wish of familiar faces. No. It was something deeper than that and it worried her. It worried her that Oberyn was not telling her knowing fully that she too deserved to know about it. Leila wondered if Oberyn was right to keep it to himself.
Is it such a thing he can handle on his own? Leila did not know but she wished she did. So that she can ease the weight of his shoulders. It was already heavy enough from the things he had to deal with. Being a prince, being a father to his two daughters Obara and Nym and so much more. She hoped that she could help him and only wished that he would allow her to.
"Oberyn, saying such thing to me will not stop things from happening." Leila tells him, her sigh evident from her lips. "Has it ever stopped Aegon the Conqueror from coming to the Seven Kingdoms? Does telling me not to worry stop the time from ticking? I do not think so, my dear."
"Leila, everything is fine." Oberyn assures her again. "What ever may come, it is nothing against us. It cannot lay a finger on us nor hurt us."
"I know that." Leila admits to him, her eyes lowered from being narrowed as she placed a hand on top of his, avoiding the surroundings and focusing only on him. "But still."
Oberyn stopped his movement and so did Leila but he did not let go of his hold on her body. He merely turned to face her, his taller height making him certain to bend his head to look into her beautiful youthful face. Leila was so breathtaking, Oberyn observed. No matter how she looked, he always found her so painstakingly dashing.
Whenever she lay on bed, her hair curled about her face and sometimes he saw how she would snore in her sleep. Or when she would eat much freshly cooked venison pie drizzled with pepper sauce and would have her cheeks filled like one of those squirrel animals he saw when he traveled. He found her beautiful still and he wondered if love did that to him.
He adored the way her lips would quirk when they were irritated, mourning the way she would smile like the Maiden come among them and yet the irritated look was one he adored very much. He adored the way she would worry too but he did not love seeing that expression in her face. He didn't liked her worried.
Oberyn admits he had never been in love before. He had never known how to feel it. Sure he loved his sister and his family but that was a different kind of love. That was not how he felt for Leila. He..he felt more than what he had hoped. It was overwhelming, like a hit of the ocean wave when the storms come. Oberyn couldn't explain the feel of it, but his mother had said love was hard to explain. You feel it but you can never describe it.
And every time he looked at Leila, he felt his heart skip a beat, slow then fast. His chest felt warmer, his stomach filled with churning movements that felt like moving butterflies. He had the urge to always want to be by her side. It wasn't just lust. It was something more. It was as if he had felt the very essence of a life fulfilled. A life of satisfaction. A life of never ending happiness. Oberyn liked it, no.. he loved it.
Oberyn wanted this feeling and wanted to keep feeling it. He was willing to do anything to keep it with him always. He was willing to risk it all for the sake of Leila Lannister and her love.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you?" Oberyn breathed as if there was no air in his lungs, as if the scarcity of air made death such a prospect. Leila's green eyes glistened with light like a fresh day on a meadow hill. Leila's eyes made Oberyn feel so breathless. Every bit of her made him breathless. "Do you, my dear lioness?"
"I don't like it's easy to explain how we feel about one another." Leila's response was. Her lips quivered in a small bow, unable to say anything at the intensity of the feeling of his tightening hold. "I don't like I will ever be able to explain how much I love you, Oberyn. Nor will you."
"No." Oberyn agreed. "I don't think that I will be able to explain how much I love you. But I do. Gods, I do love you so much that I'm willing to renounce whatever I have just to have you. I'm willing to run away from everything if you wanted me to. I would do anything and everything just to be with you always. Because I don't think that I would be able to breathe knowing that you aren't by my side to breathe with me. I don't think I would be able to feel the happiness and the beauty of this world without seeing you. Leila, I am willing to face what ever worry you have and take it away just to see your face light up with joy. Trust me now. Trust me that nothing will ever happen to you so long as I am here by your side."
"Oh, Oberyn." She heard herself mutter.
The way he spoke to her always made her feel so much of his love without having to see it, sometimes she only needed to hear the swell of affection in his words. The deep longing she had for his voice sometimes made her wonder how could such a small heart be able to feel something so magnificent and big.
Leila did not understand anything about the matters of the heart the way her Maester at the Rock had but she did understand that what her heart feels is only for this man in front of her.
"I have always trusted you. Always. I know you and I will get through all of this together. I just, I worry for all that we will face. I don't want to lose you, my love. I don't want to be separated from you, ever."
"I vow to you that it will never happen." He says to her, his hands removed from the flesh of her back and into her beautiful strong face. "Not even wild horses can pull me away, not even the gods. I promise you that we will always be together."
"I love you." Leila says to him in reply as he smiles, allowing his fingers to feel the way her face had enrapture him with its wonderful never ending fascinations. Oberyn would always remember this face, always. "Very much, I love you, Oberyn." The way she said those next words had been like a prayer, a promise that can never removed. So divine and eternal. He would remember those too.
"I love you too." Oberyn responded, affection swelling in his chest and in his very soul. He kissed her then and there, unable to stop himself from doing so. He yearned to feel his lips linked to her own, feeling the grace that binded the two of them. Oberyn would remember the way she kissed him back, returning all the love she felt for him creating something bigger with his own love. How can any man forget that?
"Oh, the gods gave me a rare man." She whispered against his lips. "And I loved him well."
"Then I am very gifted." He panted to her as she looked up and met his eyes. "For I was loved well by the woman I love."
"Indeed you are."
As they stood there in the empty room, holding each other tightly as the passion between them blossomed with a thousand prayers echoing in their minds for a future that would include nothing but each other, forgetting the visit to the Maester. It didn't matter now they decided.
The lioness felt her strength return with the viper's kiss.
But they didn't know something.
The sun was becoming eclipsed by darkness.
Time was running out.
LEILA WOKE UP WITHOUT OBERYN BY HER SIDE. But she did not worry as she sat up, Oberyn's tangerine gold robes wrapped about her as she felt the warmth, reading his words to her against the bright morning light. A white rose was beside her, which she adored and smiled the soft innocent essence of it. He remembered her love for the flower, as always. Oberyn and her spent the night together, talking and feeling the warmth of one another in bed. Oberyn even told her many of his poetic works about her. She blushed the entire night, his words praising her and the love he had for her.
The way her curls shone like the bright yellow sun. Her beautiful lips like the beautiful curve of a bow. Her brows thick and sharp as a man's steel. Her soul as beautiful as the lively white rose. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by it and Oberyn chuckled and gushed about her adorable reactions. Leila could admit last night to be one of the best nights they had together. Oberyn was too good with making her feel so joyous and carefree. But she knew that the night before will be eclipsed by the many more nights they would have together. They will be more happier than last night, she just knew it.
'My dearest lioness,' It read as she walked over to his side of the bed, feeling the musk and the smell of him, sitting on the pillow he used. 'I am saddened that I have to leave your side, even just a moment. But knowing how late we had slept last night, I did not want to ruin your health by waking you in such an early hour. I prioritize your health above all my dear. As much as I wished to have you by my side, I need you to rest. I have instructed that they have you undisturbed. I have also asked my Maester to see to you, since because of our overwhelmed affectionate night, we neglected our purpose and so I ask of you to see him when he comes to you. I will be mostly gone today and that is because my uncle Lewyn had visited and arrived just this morning and wished to go out for a ride. I know you would want to see him and greet him but you may do so when we return later. He would be angry with me if I did not take your health into account, my love. Nevertheless, I implore you to do thing that you want today. Elia will likely want to see you, my dear lioness. And so will Ashara Dayne. My dearest sister had gotten a new handmaiden and companion when you were away. She is from Starfall and sister to Arthur Dayne who is a Kingsguard since many a year. I do hope you and her become good friends. She is a great woman of wit and friendship. I pray you don't miss me too much, my dear Leila. I will return to you and with a gift. I love you, my dear. Yours for all eternity, Oberyn.'
Leila couldn't help but smile to herself at her beloved's words. Oberyn had always been good with everything, the best Leila judged in making her fall in love with him each and every day. Oh how Leila had never found anyone like Oberyn. He was too kind to her, too challenging, too energetic, too strong, too much. And yet she loved him and she hoped to have him for the rest of her life. Leila closed the letter, neatly as she could and kissed it with all the love she could muster from her heart.
Walking over her dresser, she placed the letter inside the chest with a viper's mouth locking the chest along with every other letter he had written for her. She smiled at the neat piles of them, knowing every letter contained all the love Oberyn had for her. She was content with him, she thought to herself. Even if Oberyn had been nothing but a simple man, she thinks she would have loved him still. He was too good to ignore, too unique. Too brilliant of a man for Leila to look away from. Had he been nothing, Leila would have preferred to be nothing with him than not have him at all.
Leila's ladies maids entered then and there and helped her dress herself. She promised to have breakfast with Oberyn's family that day, especially Elia had vowed to her that she was to meet the illustrious Ashara Dayne. Leila thought of the older youth as her long gold hair was brushed, it's curls carefully flowing through the fingers of her lady's maid. Ashara was described by Elia to be brilliant, beautiful and cunning. Leila wanted to meet her after what Elia had told her in her letters. Leila had grown up with her aunt Genna and she was a woman of exceptional wit and intelligence and her own mother Joanna had been a quiet woman but was a sharp tongued woman with many opinions.
Leila decided to remove all trace of thinking, fearing that she would over think and instead focused on what she would be wearing. Leila knew that if she was to come back to the Westerlands wearing such clothing, her father would curse the Dornish for what they had turned her into. But Leila could hardly care to wear thick long dresses with heavy fabrics and billowing sleeves. It was hot in Dorne and she would prefer to survive the heat by wearing cool clothing. Leila was a tall woman, five and six inches tall, just near her betrothed own height who was at least five or six inches taller than she.
And so looking at her dress, the long scraps of cloud-like linen. It was transparent, easy to see through but Leila had decided that she would wear underneath silk undergarments in the shade of light tangerine to keep her womanly devices hidden. Leila knew how Oberyn would react for any man looking at her that way. He would drive a dagger to the man's throat. Leila choose a neutral color, a faded shade of pink with shortened sleeves, ending just before her shoulders shrouding with the elegant embroidery of beautiful sun disks.
She had found that she loved how Oberyn wore his own clothing, with the wonderful bursts of sunlight pierced by a spear in light tan like yellow and his brown leather belt made from skins of snakes tightening on his stomach where he hanged his dagger. Leila wanted that. Though she was inclined to make it a bit more feminine and fitting to her style. The golden rings on her green orbs made the pink stand out more, that and her lush cheeks with its red rose bloom.
The knock on the door came and one of the lady's maids took the mantle to open the door, slightly opening it as one of the other lady's maids walked over and placed a cover with rampant lions in a red and an orange sun beaming behind it to hide the lioness. This was Leila's own sigil as a lady of Dorne and of Sunfire. Leila was naked at this point, only in her linen shift with her own dress being presented in front of her. She heard the clinking footsteps and soon smiled at the sound.
"Good morning to you, Mors." Leila greets cheerfully as she huffed, removing the shift with the helping hands of her servants. "I would have thought you would come later."
"I came at a wrong time, dinna I?" One of the lady's maids smirked at the redheaded man who blushed as red as his hair as he saw her holding Leila's evening clothes away.
Leila bursted into laughter as she was being sewn into her corset. Leila did not like seeing the clasps and the disturbing things passing through her already see through dress. "Oh Mors, you have known a woman's body before, no? Surely you need not blush like a virgin man."
He coughed loudly. "I ken what a woman's body looks like....Only.."
"Only?" This made her intrigued, causing her blonde brows to raise upwards. Her corset was now finished and laced, now her underclothes were being placed on her. "Only? What only, my dear Mors?"
"Ye want me to say it out loud?" His blush grew deeper than his hair color.
She smiles to herself. "No, you don't have to. Now, what have you got for me early this morning, my dear friend?"
"Well, ye ken that ye have to go have breakfast with the princesses and lady Ashara, no?"
"Yes, I did not forget that." She nods to him, though she knew he could not see her. Her arms went through the sides of her dress as she was being helped into it. "Then we shall go riding, yes?"
"To the Water Gardens, aye." Mors replied to her most graciously. "Obara and Nym would be most delighted to see ye."
"As I would to." Leila joyously remarked, thinking of her two young future stepdaughters. She would be delighted to play with them in the cool waters once more. Oh, what joy it would be she thinks. She missed them dearly. She had hoped they had not grown too big so that the dresses she had made for them fit. "I shall be done in a moment then we can have some breakfast."
Mors did not respond and so she assumed he nodded his head. The laces were but few for Dornish fashion truly did not permit being laced too much. Opposed to what Leila is used to with the Westerlander fashion, this is loose and see through. Leila was at least happy to wear something new and not too much considered as a destroyer of breath.
As Leila finished placing her jewellery, Mors saw the covers go away. Her jewellery for the morning was consisting of long golden ringlets differing in size as they got deeper and deeper into her arms. While here in Dorne, she managed to get her ears pierced and Oberyn gave her these beautiful earrings with light colored rubies. Proudly around her neck was a viper, with red eyes gleaming.
She found it in the markets in Planky Town. Mors saw how she was beautiful she was. Her beauty was so inhumane, so much far away from what human kind is. Her long prideful gold hair was braided heavily, the top looking like a gold gilded crown.
Aye, Mors thought to himself. She looks every inch a queen.
"So, would this be acceptable?" She asked as Mors returned to reality. "It seems too...plain."
"No, ye look fine." Mors says to her in reply, eyeing her with a gentle brotherly smile. "Ye could outdo any woman in even plain rags, Leila. Ye have the gift of beauty, inside and out."
She blushed slightly when she gave him a thankful smile. "Oh, my friend you flatter me."
"Ye deserve it, ye ken? Any good woman deserves all the praises of the world."
"I do hope I think that way one day." Leila tells him, causing his smile to fall. Leila thought so little of herself, he thinks. She was a bright young woman with beauty and so much love in her heart. Why does she not see that? Was it because she was a Lannister? Mors thinks not all people will see her the way people see the house of lions. She is the exception. Leila noticed his break from the moment and said, "We should go. We must not keep them waiting."
"Of course."
Mors escorted her there, she in the front and he just behind her. Further in the back were Lannister guards who are meant to protect and serve Leila to whatever means possible. At least fifty came with Leila, including the second in command of her father's household guards her cousin Willard Lannister. Many of them were trained with great skill, lance and sword. Hand to hand combat and cavalry as well. Along with many of Leila's newly hired guards at Sunfire, they make up her entire strength.
Sunfire boasts at the very moment five thousand people and more were coming in after she asked her father for people to migrate from the Westerlands to her own lands. Her father was more glad for it considering it reduced problems of overpopulation and Tywin would have an army behind him from the South should he need it. Leila felt safe under their watchful eye. They would never betray her. For she was as much as a Westerlander as they were and as the daughter of her father, well no one would dare touch her without facing the roaring lions.
"Ah, Leila!" Elia cheerfully greeted her as she and her entourage reached the great hall. Elia wore orange from head to toe, like a beautiful marigold flower in the gardens of the Stone Gardens. Her smile was the brightest thing that lit Dorne, Leila happily thought. "You are here!" She looked away from her and turned to a tall woman with fine black hair and purple eyes. "Leila, I would like you to meet the beautiful Ashara Dayne!"
Ashara Dayne had a smile that made the brightest of stars be put to shame. She had skin like the most perfect marble, smooth and pure without a hint of flaws. Her long black hair suited her, with it curling around her strong cheekbones. Her purple eyes reminded Leila of the Targaryens for a moment though there was something upon those eyes that made Leila wonder.
It looked like grief swimming across an ocean of wonder. Leila had never seen that sort of eyes before but having seen it now as she looked into the Dornishwoman's eyes, they look more haunting than anything Leila had ever seen. Her features were that of a queen, Leila judged. They were more than enough to make any man want to give her all the crowns in the world.
The beautiful woman of Starfall wore a plain purple dress made from the softest thin silk Dorne has to offer, sleeves shortened which was similar to Leila's own dress. She wore her house sigil proudly upon her neck, a falling star made in pure silver along with a hair pin that was similar to that of her necklace. Leila could have not seen a more desirable woman.
"Ah, finally I get to meet her!" Cheered the youthful beauty, a smile so soft that it was that of an innocent babe's own smile. Pure to the smallest bit. "Oh Elia, you did not tell me how beautiful she is!"
"She is, isn't she?" A proud smile appeared on Elia's long lips. "My brother is most lucky to have her as his lady."
"Dorne will earn another flower that grows without needing the water." Ashara says, taking Leila's hands. "I am Ashara, my lady. I am most glad to finally meet the lioness of Dorne."
"I am most glad to meet the beauty of Starfall." Leila smiles in reply. "Elia spoke of so much good about you, my lady."
"Oh, please, no more formalities!" Pleaded Ashara, causing Elia to grin. "I have had enough from these fools at court!"
"I hope you would not mind then if I call you by your name?"
Ashara gladly shook her head. "Oh, please do call me by my name. I hope too that you would not mind if I called you Leila?"
"Not at all."
"Ye haven't aged a bit, Ashara." Mors Manwoody grinned at the young woman of Starfall, towering over her with his superior height. "Ye still look small, ye ken that? Ye haven't grown an inch!"
"Oh shut up, Manwoody." Grumbled Ashara, her tone filled with fire as Mors grinned even wider at her reaction. "Not everyone can get your bloody tall figure. Not everyone can have a giant's lineage."
"Oh aye, ye ken that my grandsire claimed that he was a descendant of Duncan the Tall, no?"
"Oh I wouldn't believe that." Elia says to Mors, who raised a brow. "You probably are descended from the giants of the far North."
"Ha ha ha, Elia." Sarcastically remarked by the heir of Manwoody, his mocking laughter resounding which caused Elia to chuckle at his reaction. "Oh, dinna laugh ye wee princess. It's no hilarious."
"Oh, but it is, Mors Giantsson." Leila winked at Mors who immediately blushed causing Ashara and Elia to burst into more amusement. "Don't worry, I won't tell them about the-"
"Leila, I swear to the Seven, ye have to keep yer trap shut-"
"Oh, you sore loser." Ashara said to the tall redheaded man as she took Leila and Elia in both her hands and said with a gleeful smile to each young woman in hand, "Oh, how happy I will be with the two wittiest women in all of the Seven Kingdoms."
"Oh, gods." Mors looked horrified at Ashara's words but his reaction gave them more amusement than anything they did earlier.
They sat together in breakfast, talking and making certain they know more about one another. The princess Lorezaand her consort had already finished before them and had went away immediately. This made Leila feel odd since they usually were very attentive and warm towards their children. Today they seem...reserved.
Though that disturbed her, she thought that Elia was truly right. Ashara was a wonderful woman, bold and witty, she was one of the women who defied all manners of restrictions Leila had been brought up to know as a member of the elite women in the West. Leila was glad to feel the shackles fall off, feeling no more restrains as she sat beside the two friends she had loved most dearly. They finished their fasts and continued talking but Doran's wife Mellario interrupted them.
"It makes me very delighted to see you are gaining friends, Lady Leila." Mellario said as Leila looked at her, poker faced. No, Leila thought solemnly. You are annoyed with the fact that I have been gaining friends.
She forced herself to smile convincingly as Ashara glared at the princess consort. "I am most glad that the people
"Do you know why you have been called to court, Lady Leila?" Mellario questioned as Doran turned to his wife, glancing at her as if telling her to stop speaking.
Leila smiled so tightly that she thought her cheeks would crack. "Yes, my lady. I know the cause. And I believe in my betrothed and his words. He is innocent by all accounts for nothing has been proven."
"Yet." Mellario smiled as Leila had the urge to frown and attack the woman but restrained hersel. Doran offered her a soft gaze, his brown eyes expressing sorrow and apologies.
"I suppose you are being so dreadful, good-sister." Oberyn Martell finally entered the chambers, eyes sharp like a viper's even with a smile on his lips. Leila looked at him as Lewyn entered behind him. Oberyn walked over to Leila and placed a small kiss upon her brow. "I believe that it is only morning. You do not have to turn it into night just yet."
"I apologize, dear Oberyn." Her tone made Oberyn want to deaf rather than be able to hear her dreadful tones. "I was merely stating facts-"
"Facts are not facts until proven true." Oberyn reminded her, although his tone seemed like a warning. It alarmed Mellario but she did not show it. Oberyn was not someone who was easily defeated. "Remember that is law, good-sister."
"I shall take my leave." Mellario said, standing up and leaving with haste. Oberyn wanted to laugh out loud at her act. She did not take losing well.
"I apologize for her behaviour." Doran said to everyone with a heavy sighed. "She's not truly adjusting to life here in Sunspear."
"She has been here a while, nephew." Lewyn reminded him, "Make sure she understands that she cannot do as she pleases forever. She had no right to do such things, especially to someone who will be her good-sister. I will excuse this one last time. But if I do hear more demeaning things from her mouth, your mother will be handling it instead of me. Do you understand?"
"I understand, uncle." Doran nodded his head and turned to his future good-sister. "I apologize again, Leila. I truly am."
"You have no need to apologize, brother." Doran had asked her to call him brother the moment she arrived. She and him got along very well, but his wife was always an obstacle. "It was her own act. I do think that she can do such a thing like apologizing for her own acts on her own. She is after all her own person and I shan't force her into something she does not want to do."
"Of course, Leila." Doran mumbles in reply. "I do hope that she will come by and apologize to you."
"She should not apologize to Leila, Doran." Ashara exclaimed. "Oberyn too was insulted."
Elia nodded. "Mellario may be family but we should not tolerate such a thing. Family must love one another."
"I agree." Doran said in reply. "I shall speak with her later."
"Thank you, brother." Leila smiled at him thankfully, which in turn made him smile too. Her smile affected him always.
"I shall go now." Doran says to them, standing up and saying his farewells to them with gestures. "Mother will want to see me."
"Of course, brother." Oberyn smiled and bid farewell in reply. "You may go."
Doran nodded and left, followed by some Martell guardsmen. Lewyn sighed as he took one of the rolled bread stuffed with lemon creme and cheese. "Well, if that wasn't a damn entertaining breakfast then I would not have not come."
"Mellario has been more unbearable lately." Ashara sighed. "If you only saw what she did to one of the lady's maids who had to do her hair this morning."
"She won't try anything when Loreza hears of it." Lewyn sighed, eating a bit of the bread. "She can't afford to lose any favor from my sister."
"Then one more obstacle remains in this forsaken place." Mors said, causing everyone to look at him while he drank his tea.
Oberyn's look hardened with determination. He and his uncle had spoken about his approach on what is to come and he knew he had to be good or he will lose. He saw many things that could happen and he knew as he looked at Leila, he could not afford to lose. For the sake of their future and the life they would share as one soul. He nodded at his friend.
"Yes, that is all that remains." Oberyn says aloud, drinking his own beverage. "And I am determined to win."
Leila smiled at him encouragingly. "I have no doubt you will win."
"Me too." He says to her, taking her hand and kissing it lightly. "Me too."
But how wrong was the two of them?
Very wrong.
LEILA HAD NEVER FELT MORE UNCOMFORTABLE THAN HAVING TO SIT THERE, IN BETWEEN ELIA AND ASHARA, AS THE COURT CONVENED WITH OBERYN BEING TRIED BEFORE ALL. Leila had never expected that this would happen at all, considering it was the princess of Dorne herself who was the juror and the new lord of Yronwood the one to try him. She wondered deeply as she eyed Oberyn, who yawned as he sat on his chair as straightly as he could. What was going on his mind? Was he nervous because his own family was going to watch him be tried for something so dangerous? Was he afraid at all? Leila did not know. Oberyn only showed her confidence, strength and calmness that morning when they broke their fast. He even jested and promised her they'd go to the Free Cities after this is all and done, where they could travel and see the world together. But she supposed that Oberyn was being strong for the two of them.
Leila knew clearly she was the one in result worrying for the both of them. Princess Loreza may love her son with all her heart but if her son was proven guilty, she would have to treat him less of a son and more of a servant to the crown. The crown must always win and yourself defeated.
"It will be fine." Elia assured her friend, taking her hand, squeezing it to give her some comfort. "Oberyn is innocent, we all know this."
Ashara nodded, taking hold of Leila's other hand into her own. Her purple eyes beaming with hope. "Oberyn has never failed to defend himself before. He has always won the arguments he enters in. He will win this one too."
"I don't know how to feel." Leila admits to the two of them. "I do not doubt him or his abilities. But others will try him. His mother, the princess, cannot do anything but sentence him the verdict."
"Our mother will not do anything to harm, Oberyn." Elia tells her. "Oberyn is her own blood, she would never dream of harming him."
"But others will harm him." Leila replies in a frantic mumble. "The Yronwoods want to hurt him, Elia. I cannot allow that."
"It will not happen." Ashara softly tells her new friend. "He will be safe in the end of the day. We swear on the altar of the gods."
Leila sighed and nodded at the two of them, taking deep breaths and fixed her seaform green orbs back to the court proceeding. The princess and her consort walked in, everyone standing excluding Oberyn who merely shifted in his seat and yawned once more. Behind them was Doran and his wife Mellario, who was with child for many months now. The princess sat as did her consort and heir, everyone doing the same.
"Members of our dear court," the princess began to speak as she eyed her youngest son who was not paying attention whatsoever. "Today we must do what we are supposed to, no matter how it heavies the weight in our chests. Today we try the second prince of Dorne."
Oberyn felt the daggers of his mother's gaze and returned it back to her, annoyed. "Lord Yronwood will be the one to ask him the questions and the prince will answer to the best of his abilities. Just enough to justify his position."
"Your grace." Lord Yronwood bowed his head to the direction of the princess, her consort and his heir. "I formally ask to begin my interrogation in front of the Dornish court."
"You may proceed." The princess of Dorne's tone seems done with the entire thing. The lord nodded and turned his attention to the prince. "State your name, age, place of birth and occupation, ser."
Oberyn raised a brow. "You already know that do you not? Why do you need to know it when something is already known? Isn't that rather dull?"Snickers went about the court as Oberyn's father sent a warning glare.
Oberyn sighed."Fine." He whispers, his look not pleased at all. "Oberyn Nymerios Martell, age of ten and nine. Born in the Old Palace of Sunspear in our beloved Dorne. Occupation, your beloved prince and superior." Snickers got louder, amused talk came into the room as Yronwood frowned. Leila couldn't help but smile at Oberyn's attitude.
He looked adorable when he slouches and pouts."You should not do things that can be used against you in a trial, ser."
Oberyn snorts. "Please, lord Yronwood. There is no need to call me ser. I am your princeship or your grace. Isn't that how you refer to a prince?"
"That is enough." Loreza Martell warned as she eyed her son. "The accused must keep his remarks to himself until a question is asked."
Oberyn suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at his mother and kept quiet, folding his hands upon his crossed legs, the rich linen tangerine colored fabric adorning his look. Leila warned him earlier to keep his wits to himself, but he did not listen. She sighs. That's just the man she loved, she supposed. The man of all vipers, the Red Viper.
"You sit there accused of murder, your princeship." The deep venom of hatred echoing the lord's tone. "Accused of murdering an innocent man, my lord father."
It was as if time stopped as Oberyn merely eyed the blonde. Everything and everyone was frozen. Even Leila, who gasped aloud. That was such a high accusation to be said aloud. Everyone already knew about it but to hear it and be said towards the prince was shocking and intriguing. But instead of what they expected, the echo of the stomach churning up and down as eyes went wide with the sight of Oberyn laughing aloud, his slouch deeper with his head down on his chest.
"Oh, my good lord!" He whizzes in the middle of his laughing fit. "Oh, what a terrible joke." His mother's face begged him to stand down. But he would not stand down. It was his honor that's being questioned. He knew that they were going to try him but he had many things to say about it.
"Truly, do you have any idea how stupid a notion that is, my lord?"
"You will answer when que-"
"I said." The prince's laughter died out and turned into a serious gaze, his joyous demeanor barely evident. "Do you have any idea how stupid what you said is?"
"I heard you."
"Then you aren't deaf, swell for you." Oberyn retorts as he sarcastically clapped briefly. "But unwell for you, you will hear me say this: I am innocent of all charges pressed against me."Whispers blew like the autumn leaves, annoying Leila when she just wanted this over with. There was no need for others to gossip.
"My lord, there are many things you do not know. Many things you'll only hear in one side. You have never heard a tale other than the fact that maybe I had killed your lord father. But I did not." Oberyn spoke. "I am not a killer, my lord."
"His wounds did not heal." Yronwood exclaims loud. "A Maester as well trained as ours, unable to heal my father's wound-"
"Now you're just acting out, my lord. In your grief, you wish to point fingers at me. But I swear before my life that I did not kill him."
"Liar!"
"Call me all the names you wish but I insist upon my innocence." The Red Viper says. "I was defending my betrothed and my honor of my house, Ormond Yronwood. I am defending what I have and what I am."
"I know it is your fault that my father died." Ormond insists again. "You have committed a crime of this yourself, Oberyn Martell. You bedded my own mother and then his paramour! What right do you have to take revenge on my father?"
Oberyn's anger grew and soon, he soon stood up from his sitting position and into a viper's movements. Before Ormond even blinked, Oberyn was in front of him. It caused gasps, guards to move and words to grow louder around them. Oberyn really did not care. How dare this man bring up something he doesn't clearly understand? Oberyn's eyes were that of a viper's, everyone knows this. But it frightened Ormond. This man was a dangerous man, capable of many dangerous things.
"My lord, you bring up things you don't know about fully. That is as dumb as bringing me to trial." Oberyn tells the lord. "But you would never believe a word I say, won't you? You would never take a Martell's word. You never have, my lord. You have always resented my family."
"Oberyn, stand down." Loreza ordered her son as she eyed him, though he ignored her. Leila stood up too, letting her hands fall to her side. "Oberyn, I order you to stand down!"
"I admit, I slept with your lady mother and your lord father's paramour but I did it knowing I had consent. In Dorne, consent is the most important thing, isn't it not?" Oberyn hissed like the snake he was named for, angry and bold. "And they consented. Their own will is away from your own lord father's control, Ormond. You may blame me for that but I will tell you that the way your family prances about and makes comments of shameful content towards my betrothed and towards my family, that is where I draw the line. You dare make such remarks about your liege? You will behave worthy of a bannermen to the Princess of Dorne. Or I will force you to. On your grave if I must."
"You cannot speak to me like that."
"But I can." Oberyn glared at him. "I can do that and much more. I have no respect for people who have no respect for me and my family. Tell me, do you even have proof that I have killed your father, my lord? I expect this is nothing but a farce. You have nothing against me, only the wish to see me fall, no? I expect you to have something strong as evidence my lord. Because if not, I will-"
"Oberyn Nymerios Martell, that is enough!" His mother finally shouted to him, the entire court quieting as Oberyn rolled his eyes to turn to his mother. He had seen his mother only a few times but truly she was angry. Her face was red and contorted as she eyed him. He knew he went too far but he allowed his anger to get the best of him. She was a very calm woman but when she gets angry, she can be unforgiving. He could see the disappointment in her eyes. He promised her that he would try to be calm and collected through the ordeal. But he couldn't and the shame filled him but he tried to hide it away inside of him. "Take a step back. I have my sentence now."
Oberyn did as he was told and moved back to his seat, calming himself and looked towards his mother, trying to prepare himself for what she has to say. Leila blinked and narrowed her eyes towards Oberyn with eyes filled panic and uncertainty. She doesn't know what happens now. What her betrothed did was allow himself to be taken over by his own anger and she knew it would not bide well with his mother. Oberyn was going to be punished for something she believed he didn't do. Leila walked out of the booth she and the women sat in and ran towards Oberyn's side, much to Oberyn's surprise and protests. She allowed herself to kneel in front of the lord, not caring if her dress wrinkled or gets destroyed. She was going to beg for the man she loved.
"Your grace, I beg you." Leila said aloud, her hands intertwined up to her chest. "I beg you, please don't take him away from me. Please, I beg you."
"Leila, my love, get up." Oberyn begged her, turning to her. "Please, get up."
"No!" Leila said as the tears finally rushed out of her eyes. "Your grace, your son the prince had admitted innocence to you and all of your court. There is no proof he did the thing he is accused of. Knowing he is innocent, I implore you to listen to him and see his innocence assured. I beg of you, do not punish him. Please."
Loreza frowned at the sight of this. She looked very much like her mother when she wept. And many times had Loreza seen her friend cry when Aerys said something to her that demeaned her femininity and her person. Even once knowing that her father had just died, Aerys joked her father died having intercourse with the enemy's sword. Loreza did not like seeing Leila cry. In the course the time she had been here, Loreza had seen herself to be her own mother. It pained her to see Leila to do something like this because of love. She wondered what Tywin Lannister would say knowing that the daughter he had so much pride in, loss herself and begged for someone else's life on her knees. He would not be delighted at the thought of it, she knew.
"Lady Sunfyre, get up." Loreza commanded as Leila shook her head and allowed it to fall to face her chest. "Lady Lannister, you will do as I command. Or consequences will be severe. Stand up."
"Please Leila." Oberyn's voice was filled with begging. "Please, do as my lady mother says."
Leila looked at Oberyn and finally nodded, with his hand on hers, stood up and wiped her tears. Oberyn continued to hold her hand.
"Now, my sentence shall come." Loreza says once more, clearing her throat. "I must be fair to all and so, my sentence must be agreeable for all." She then turned to her son, a grim look on her face. "Oberyn Nymerios Martell. I sentence you with banishment from Dornish land for three years. You will be taken to Oldtown by ship in a few days."
"No!" Leila gasps aloud as the whole court gasped and shouted while Ormond's lips curled into a smirk. Leila with all her might, angrily shouted to the lord of Yronwood. "You! You disgusting pig, you dare cause this havoc to plague my betrothed! Oh, I will make you pay one day, my lord! I swear to it! I will make you pay!"
"Guards, escort lady Leila out of the chambers and take her to her chambers. Let her stay there until she calms." Orders the princess. Leila looked at the guards approaching her as Elia and Ashara walked towards her. Leila shares a glance with Doran who looks sorrowed by what this young girl has to suffer. Even Mellario felt bad for her. "Take the prince to his chambers as well. Make sure he is well guarded."
"You will not touch me!" Leila exclaims to the guards as she held onto her betrothed and he to her. They took her away from Oberyn, despite Oberyn's protests. He turned to his mother who stood up and left with her father, brother and sister in law. No doubt his mother will speak with him tonight. "You will not dare or I will make sure you are not here tomorrow!"
"Leila, I will come to you tonight, I promise!" Oberyn screams as his voice became merely an echo as she was taken away and he was held by the guards to prevent him from following after her. "I will come to you, I swear to it!"
Leila Lannister's dreams were falling apart.
And she would never be the same again.
Because she knew that she will never be the same again.
ONE CHAPTER REMAINS FOR THIS ACT OMG
GOOD TIMES ARE OVER FOLKS!
BE PREPARED FOR BOOK II: ENDURANCE!
BTW, I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR READING THIS BOOK! I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH AND I AM SO THANKFUL YOU LIKE IT. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE AN HP FANFIC AND WOULD BE VERY DELIGHTED IF YOU WOULD CHECK IT OUT SO I HOPE YOU DOOOOOO!
ANYWAY LOVE YOU
xoxoxoxo Author