30

CHAPTER 30- Exaggerated rumours or the truth?

ARIANNE MARTELL POV

Soft lips pressed against her own, pulling and pushing in a dance of tongues and lips as she she snaked her arm around her kisser in an effort to get a more comfortable position.

She exhaled softly as she was pushed against the bed, her friend dominating the kiss despite her best efforts to stay ahead, a reluctant moan tearing out of her throat as soft, dextrous fingers went up and under her silken dress until they reached her budding breast and softly caressed her nipples.

Her back arched in pleasure even as she broke the kiss and glare at her friend who gazed back at her with a smug and superior look. At having her moan in the bed while she failed to make her do the same.

"That's cheating." She said even as she felt the growing wetness in her core and the racing of her heart. "This is a kissing game, not a groping one."

Tyene looked at her with her with those pure, innocent eyes and tutted. "Oh, silly Arianne." She said, her voice so gentle and sweet that no one would ever suspect her of any wrong doing. "Everything is fair in love and war. And kissing games. Don't you know."

She huffed as she pulled her knees up to breasts, hoping that Tyene won't notice the growing wetness in her nether regions. Otherwise she would never hear the end of her teasing.

"That makes no sense." She huffed. She knew that Tyene was a better kisser than her, with how often she practiced it with the other foster girls. But she was never going to admit it. She had her own pride after all.

"You make for a sore loser Arianne~" Tyene said in a gentle singsong voice as she sat down beside her, her arm snaking around to rest against her waist, almost touching her breasts. Almost.

The anticipation was far more arousing than a simple touch could ever be. And she noted down this technique in case she'd ever have to seduce a man. Or a woman. She wasn't choosy.

"I don't." She huffed before she glared at her cousin and her best friend. "So, have you found the boy?"

"There are boys all around us Arianne. Like a buffet. I'm not sure which one to pick." Tyene whispered, her hot breath caressing her ears in a way that sent shudders down her spine. A hand tried to snake down to her core until she slapped it away and mock glared at her cousin once more.

Her cousin for her part, looked just as gentle and innocent as she ever did. Giving her a look as if saying 'who me?' As if she would ever fall for that trick, knowing what danger lay beneath the surface.

There was a reason why she always thought that Tyene was the most dangerous among the Sand Snakes.

Obara was deadly with a spear, and would skewer you if you're found lacking.

Nymeria had all the beauty and grace that Obara lacked, but is no less deadly with all her hidden weapons and her vengeful personality.

But neither Obara nor Nymeri even came close to the danger than Tyene represented.

Tyene, with her otherworldly beauty, her gentle voice, and her innocent, pious persona. Tyene, who shared and revelled in the knowledge of poison, inherited from her father the Red Viper himself.

Tyene, who she considered the most dangerous, because you would never see her coming.

You would kiss soft lips, hear her gentle soothing voice, and then fall into eternal slumber, never knowing who even killed you.

"Pick the one who'll disappoint us the least. I want our first time to be memorable at least." She said with a huff.

"Our… oh sweet cousin. I didn't know you wanted to share." Tyene said softly before he voice took a teasing turn. "Are you perhaps, scared, to do it alone."

She rolled her eyes at her cousin. A cousin who she considered her sister in all but name. "We've have shared everything from a young age Tyene. We learned how to read together, ride together and dance together. Does it really surprise you that I want to share this experience with you as well."

"Oh, so you are scared." Tyene said and then burst into soft giggles as she pushed her to the side and started hitting her with a pillow.

It took a while for them to recover and she gave a questioning look to Tyene.

"I'm leaning toward Andrey." Tyene revealed in the end and she frowned.

"Andrey… isn't he a virgin as well?" She asked, a bit confused by

Tyene's choice. "I thought you would pick someone more experienced."

"I would… but the ones who are old are too old. And the ones who are young are too young." Tyene shook her head in feigned sadness. "And Andrey might be… inexperienced. But he's also in love with you. And loyal."

"Hmm, that he is." She muttered, knowing that discretion would be important. After all, she didn't want her lover to brag to all of Dorne about having claimed her virginity.

Dorne might be more open when it came to matters of sex. But

having the reputation of a woman who sleeps around too much would still be of detriment to her.

Especially with what her father has been planning behind her back…

A fire of rage burned in her heart as she remembered that letter once again. That proof of her father's betrayal to her. To all of Dorne's customs and traditions.

As if realising that her thoughts were taking a dark turn, Tyene gently rubbed her back until she was calmer.

"If Andrey is not up to the task, then there is Daemon Sand as well." Tyene suggested, as if her earlier lapse of control didn't happen. "He's handsome and gallant enough. And he's my father's squire so I doubt that he'll betray your trust."

She sighed at those words.

Oh how she would love for her an experienced, handsome and rugged man like her to uncle to take her virginity. To spirit her away from Sunspear in the middle of the night and have his way with her.

But alas, she knew it was not to be. She might see her uncle as the epitome of manliness, but he was also her uncle. And she was not into Targaryen customs despite how much her heart might desire otherwise.

She hummed at Tyene's words before she remembered something. "You told me that you heard some interesting rumours this morning. What were you talking about?"

"Hm… did I?" Tyene asked sweetly, an innocent mischievous glint in her eyes. "I can't seem to recall it~ Maybe a kiss will help me remember."

"You're incorrigible." She told her cousin but made no move to kiss her. She'd lost the mood after remembering her father's betrayal and didn't want to play anymore.

Tyene waited for another moment but when she didn't make a move, she huffed. "Fine, be it that way." Tyene pouted. "And this particular rumour was interesting as well. A pity I can't share it with you."

"I have other means to pry open you lips you know." She told her cousin, her fingers dancing in a tickling gesture.

Tyene looked down at her fingers, her eyes narrowing at the memories of their past tickle fights and a bit of hesitation entered her eyes.

"I will do it, and I'll not stop until you're thoroughly surrendered." She promised as she got up in a pouncing gesture, watching as the hesitation in Tyene's eyes increased until she finally huffed and raised her arms in defeat.

"Threatened by my own cousin. Woe is me~" Tyene moaned softly, her words dripping with seduction as she moved forward to sit closer to her.

She knew that she'll have to pay for forcing Tyene's hand like this. And might have to watch her meals more closely in the future. But she didn't care right now.

"Well, what was the rumour about?" She asked seriously.

"Hm… Stephen Baratheon is coming here." Tyene said, her voice soft and dreamy as if she was talking about the fine weather.

She shot up at once at those words. "Stephen Baratheon. The son of Stannis Baratheon. Saviour of Kings Landing. The one who destroyed the Iron Fleet."

Tyene raised a gentle brow "You know of any other Stephen Baratheon?"

She growled, not in the mood to play Tyene's games right now. "He's coming here. As in, to Dorne, or to Sunspear."

"Both." Tyene said before a flicker of hesitation entered her eyes.

"I think."

"You think?"

"Well… I know that he's coming to Dorne. He's set out on a voyage with a flotilla of ships from what I've heard. And is stopping at each and every port town for trade in the Eastern shores of Westeros. So I doubt he'll would skip Sunspear, considering what kind of message such an act will send to all the lords and ladies in Dorne."

"We'll bar him from all the ports in Dorne if he dares skip

Sunspear." She huffed before she looked at her cousin "When is he coming?"

"I don't know. He's moving slowly from what I've heard. Could take him a few weeks to a few moons depending on how often and for how long he stops in each of those ports." Tyene said before a dreamy look entered her eyes. "A voyage. I wish someone who take me in one as well. To show me around the world."

She could admit to herself that the thought was tempting. To go on a voyage. Stopping on each port to witness its beauty, eat the tasty local fruits, and be hosted by various lords and ladies.

But… would she even be allowed to do such a thing? Especially now that she knew of her father's betrayal.

A part of her envied Stephen. For how free he was. For how powerful and influential he must be, to gather a flotilla of ships for himself and set out on a voyage.

She closed her eyes and dreamed of leading a flotilla of ships on a voyage as well. Or maybe an entire fleet of it.

Like Nymeria Martell and her 10,000 ships. Except it'll be Princess Arianne Martell, sailing her people across the known world for trade and prosperity.

She shook her head at that silly thought and opened her eyes to notice the excited look in Tyene's eyes.

She raised an eyebrow in question. "And what has got you so excited?"

Tyene looked at her like she was mad. "This is Stephen

Baratheon. The vanquisher of the Ironborn. It is said that he wielded a sword that shone as bright as the son and killed over a thousand men in that battle. Don't tell me you're not interested?"

She rolled her eyes at Tyene's words, more than a bit disappointed in her cousin for believing such obviously false rumours. "Don't tell me you believe those rumours Tyene. I thought that you were smarter than this."

Tyene looked annoyed at her words. "I know what all this sounds like Arianne. Believe me, I do. But I've heard enough rumours in my life to differentiate between the true ones from the false."

"If you think that the rumour about a young boy killing thousands of men is true, then I truly doubt the validity of that statement dear cousin."

Tyene pursed her lips at those words. "If you doubt the validity of my statement Arianne, then step out of your castle, go down to the Planky town, and talk with all the sailors that've come from Kings Landing. One man can lie. Another can be fooled. But if dozens of sailors from dozens of ships tell the same story, then it is the truth Arianne."

"Or… it means that the Baratheons are just that good at spreading false information." She said with a sigh. "Come now Tyene. Do you truly think that it is possible for a boy to kill thousands of men? Your father is one of the most renowned warriors in Westeros. Do you think that he's be capable of killing that many people?"

For the first time in their conversation, a slight bit of hesitance entered Tyene's eyes and she her took her cousin's soft hands into her own.

"There's nothing wrong in being fooled by your enemies Tyene.

And make no mistake, that's exactly what the Baratheons are to us. Our enemies." She said and scoffed. "This is probably just a propaganda spread by them in order to divert our eyes away from the fact that the Ironborn almost killed the Royal Family. A way to hide and compensate for how weak they truly are, and nothing more." Tyene still looked hesitant at her words so she continued. "How about this… if Stephen Baratheon is truly coming to Sunspear, then once he does, we can have him fight some of our knights and see how skilled he truly is. And if there is some validity to all these rumours or if they're simply hot air."

Tyene nodded at her words and she smiled at her cousin, even as she tried to hide the disappointment in her heart. To think that those blasted Baratheons had fooled even her own cousin.

Or maybe it was her cousin who was too naive. After all, despite all her bravado, Tyene was still a young girl, sheltered from the wide world in the closed halls of Sunspear.

She tried not to delve too much on it as she didn't want to look down on her cousin but she decided that from here onward, she'll take Tyene's 'rumours' with a bit more skepticism.

"Come now Tyene, don't look so broken over something like this." She's said upon noticing the pout on Tyene's face. "I mean, I can see why people who spread such exaggerated rumours about him."

"Really?" Tyene asked, giving her a sceptical look.

"Of course. I mean, even I have to admit that the Battle of Kings Landing seems like it came right out of a Fairy Tale." She said with a giggle. "Like how Prince Stephen gathered poor quality of levies, sailed them on poor quality of ships, and despite all the odds, he destroyed the Ironborn and emerged victorious. Saving the day, as well as the Royal Family. It is the kind of battle that'll be remembered for generations to come. So, is it really so surprising that all manner of ridiculous rumours would spread in the aftermath?"

Tyene still looked put upon for some reason. "I suppose I see your point."

She smiled. "Of course. No-" *Knock Knock Knock*

She frowned as she stared at the door.

She then to look at Tyene and noticed her disheveled hair and her bunched up clothes. No doubt she looked even worse than her cousin.

They immediately started helping each other to make themselves look presentable.

A minute later, when she didn't look like a thoroughly kissed mess, she cleared her throat and spoke out. "Come in."

The door opened and she was surprised to see that their visitor was none other than Areo Hotah. The Captain of her father's household guard. What was he doing here?

"Princess." Aero spoke in his baritone voice as he gave her a respectful nod. "Your father has summoned you to the Water Gardens."

"Has he?" She asked, some of her rage at her father's betrayal come to fore. "What does he wants from me?"

"That, I do not know Little Princess. It is for the my Prince to command, and for Hotah to obey."

She sighed as she felt her anger slipping at his affectionate nickname of 'little princess'. Something that he'd called her ever since she was a little girl, playing in the water gardens without a care for the world.

No, she should not be taking out her anger at her father on others.

"Only me?" She asked as she side glanced at Tyene.

"Only you." The tall, broad shouldered Norvosi said and she nodded.

"Very well. I'll see you later Tyene." She said as he got up from the bed and nodded to Hotah. "Lead the way Areo."

It took an hour of travelling on horseback before they finally arrived at the Water Gardens. A Palace with gardens and waterworks that served as a private retreat to House Martell.

The Water Gardens were built by Maron Martell as a gift for his bride Princess Daenerys Targaryen. And upon her arrival, Daenerys began the tradition of hosting children at the water gardens. Of both Lords and small folk alike. A tradition that has continued up till this day.

The Water Gardens were one of the most beautiful sights in all of

Dorne. But as she walked through the long open corridors of the Palace, her mind was filled with the thoughts of betrayal, and she felt none of joy that she usually did upon coming here.

She eventually arrived at the place where her father was waiting for her. An open verandah from where you can view a good portion of the water gardens, and enjoy the sights of the children playing around and hear their giggles and laughter.

None of that distracted her as she glared at her father, Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne. "You summoned me father?" She asked curtly, showing none of the respect that she would've once shown him. The guards around her dispersed at that point until only Areo Hotah remained close, hovering protectively over her father.

Her father didn't look like he even noticed her lack of respect as he nodded calmly and gestured for her to sit on a luxurious chair beside his own.

She had half a mind to tell him that she would rather remain standing. But she knew that talks with her father might stretch out for hours and she didn't want to remain standing that long, so she took the seat.

"You seem well." Her father observed and she continued glaring at him.

"Were you hoping for otherwise, father. After all, it would be easier for Quentyn to inherit Dorne if I'm dead, and isn't that what you want."

"And I see that your tongue remains as sharp as ever." Her father replied calmly, as if he hadn't even noticed the barbs in her words.

She wanted to scream at him, to cry at him, to pull him by his collar and ask why. Why did he plan to make Quentyn the next ruler of Dorne? Why had she done wrong? Why was she not good enough?

Why did he ignore her? What did she need to do to earn his approval? But she hid all her thoughts away behind a steely expression and asked. "Why have you summoned me father?"

"Prince Stephen is on a trading voyage to the Iron Islands. He'll pass through Dorne on his way there. Planky Town will be one of his stops." Her father spoke and then went silent, not giving her anything more than that.

"And?" She asked impatiently even as she noted down the words about Stephen going to the Iron Islands (why would anyone even want to go there?). "What am I to do with this information? Do you want me to dance for his entertainment?"

Her father was silent for a long moment, thinking, before he spoke up. "I want you to ascertain the truth behind the various rumours about him."

An unamused chuckled escaped her lips at those words. "You want me ascertain if he was destroy a fleet with a fart or if he can spew wildfire from his throat? I didn't took you for a jester, father."

Her father slowly turned his head to look in her direction. And she hated how much that simple gesture intimidated her.

"The rumours about him are true." Her father told her, his expression utterly serious as he look dead into her eyes. "Not the outlandish ones. But all my informants in Kings Landing have sent me the same report. Prince Stephen used a shining sword in the battle. And he killed numerous Ironborn with it."

She held back a sigh and continued to sit straight despite the continued urge to facepalm herself.

First Tyene, and now her own father.

Was she the only sane person left in House Martell?

How is it that her father, whom she considered to be one of the most intelligent man in the world, fall for such obvious lies?

"A cheap trick to blind his opponents. I heard that a Red Priest in Kings Landing uses the same trick in tourneys. Putting his sword on fire in an attempt to scare away his opponents." She said dismissively. "And he's a great warrior who has killed many men. What of it?"

Her father continued to stare at her, a deep frown etched on his face. A long moment passed like that and just as she was starting to fidget in her seat, he asked. "Do you know how old he is?"

She raised an eyebrow at his question and shook her head. "No." And then she suddenly realised something profoundly wrong with all these rumours. None of them mentioned Prince Stephen's age. And she'd never put too much thought into it.

Except… she knew that Stannis Baratheon was caged inside Storms End during Robert's Rebellion. And she was sure that he only married once the war ended.

Meaning, even if Stannis married immediately after the end of the war, and his wife produced Stephen 9 moons later… that would still make Stephen a few years younger than her.

And considering that she was only 10 and 4 years old, and she was born before the war… it meant that Stephen couldn't possibly be older than 10 and 1.

"Prince Stephen is 10 years now." Her father spoke up, his words falling on her and shattering her thoughts like a great hammer. "And he was 9 when he fought in the Battle of Kings Landing."

She stared at her father in disbelief as she finally realised the enormity of this entire situation as a single word escaped her lips.

"…Oh"

"Oh indeed." Her father nodded with a knowing look before he went back to gazing at the children playing the water gardens.

There was silence between them as she looked at the all the rumours and news she'd heard from Kings Landing in a new light.

It was… almost impossible for a boy that young to lead an army from the front and survive till the end of the battle.

But not only did Prince Stephen do that, he also led his army to victory, killing numerous Ironborn with his own shining blade, if the rumours are anything to go by.

A part of her, the more rational part, immediately discarded these rumours.

It couldn't be real. Boys that young aren't even allowed to wield live steel in sparring yard. So how could a 9 year old do even a 10th of what Stephen is rumoured to have done in that battle.

But another part of her remembered Tyene's words.

If dozen of sailors from a dozen different ships, tell the same event, then it couldn't be a lie, right?

What was more probable, the fact that both her cousin and her father have been fooled into believing the impossible. That all those sailors were fooled into believing a stupid propaganda. Or… that she was wrong and they were right.

She licked her suddenly dry lips and looked at her father.

"Suppose for a moment, that all these rumours are real… what do you want me to do with this information?"

Her father remained silent for another long moment, carefully weight each thought and word into his mind before he finally spoke.

"Despite being 9 years old, when that battle took place, it is said that Prince Stephen looks like a 3 and 10 years old." Her father said, giving her a meaningful look. "It is also rumoured and he has a mistress back in Dragonstone. Though I've yet to confirm the validity of this particular rumour."

Meaning that despite his age, the boy might be interested in women.

How subtle, father.

"You want me to seduce him." She said, her voice filled with accusation even if she didn't really dislike the idea all that much. Instead of replying to her question, her father asked one of his own instead. "What do you know about the Long Night?"

"The Long Night?" She said, not happy with him changing the topic, though she decided to let him go time time. "It was said to be the longest winter the world has ever seen. A Winter that lasted an entire generation. Though considering that it took place thousands of years ago, and there are no written documents about it, the fact that such a thing even happened could be put to question."

"No written documents. Yet everyone still knows about the Long Night." Her father pointed out. "As well as the hero who finally defeated that darkness and brought back Summer to the world."

She shrugged. "Fancy tales to entertain children. What of it?"

"Various religions from all across the world have knowledge of the Long Night, as well as the hero who defeated that encroaching darkness. I assure you, that this is more than just a fancy tale used for the sake of entertaining children."

She pursed her lips at the lecturing tone in his voice. "I still don't see where you're going with this father."

Her father grimaced slightly as he put a hand on his legs, the only sign that his gout was acting up once again. He stayed silent for a full minute this time as he gently massaged his legs before he looked at her once again.

"The religion of R'hollor, the most widespread religion in Essos, has a prophesy about a man known as Azor Ahai. The reincarnation of the man who once saved this world from the Long Night. A man who wields a sword named Lightbringer. A man whose arrival will herald the coming of the Long Night. A man who'll fight the forces of the darkness in order to save the world."

Another fancy tale, she wanted to say but paused as she realised that he might not take kindly to another dismissal from her. So she tried a different method of attack instead.

"The Seven Pointed Star talks about how Hugh's wife gave birth to 44 sons and how the Smith created a suit of Iron Plate for him." She pointed out. "I've read enough religious texts to know that they are not known for their reliability, father."

Her father pursed his lips but nodded. "Indeed daughter. For all we know, this entire story is a huge lie, created by the Baratheons to fool us all. But I somehow doubt that. Which brings us back to why you're here."

"I need to get close to Prince Stephen and find if these rumours have any validity." She said and her father nodded.

She thought on it for a moment before she asked. "What if the rumours are false?"

"I doubt that they'll be false. But even if they are, Prince Stephen is still a prince of the realm. Host him in our halls, treat him with respect, and then send him on his way."

"You don't wish to take this chance to humiliate him and House Baratheon?" She asked.

Her father gave her another one of those looks. "If he is indeed a fraud, then he'll humiliate himself before long. Though as I said before, I doubt that he's a fraud."

She hummed at his words as she felt some tension forming in her body as spoke. "And what if the rumours about him are true?"

Her father tapped his chair as he stared at the Water Gardens with a great intensity. And despite his face holding no emotion, she felt that he was… agitated.

"Then you need to find just how true these rumours are. Is he capable of defeating 10 men. 100. Or 1000s, are the rumours claim."

"And if he is indeed capable of killing thousands of men?" She asked, her throat dry all of a sudden.

Her father stared deep into her eyes and spoke with utmost seriousness. "Dragons are the only creatures in the history of our world, who're capable of killing thousands of men. If Prince Stephen is indeed capable of doing the same… then I would trust you, as a daughter of House Martell, to know and do what is best for our house."

She gulped.