Winter is Coming: House Stark Quest

"You want me to rule Dorne?"

The Lord of Starfall had been named for your father. As he told it, it was out of respect for the honor he showed in returning Dawn to the Daynes at the end of Robert's Rebellion (along with Ser Arthur's bones). Had father not told the truth of Jon's parentage, you might have suspected the late Ashara Dayne to be his mother.

"I do. The Martells rose up in favor of House Targaryen yet again. The late Prince Oberyn murdered the Yronwoods when they stayed true to the crown."

The boy bit his lip. "I have no claim to proper claim to Dorne. My grandfather's grandfather was a Martell but any Dornish noble can boast of similar ties. The Daynes of High Hermitage have one, but even theirs is centuries old."

"The Tarlys did not have the strongest claim to Highgarden. Florent, Rowan, Oakheart, all of them could boast more recent descent from House Gardener. But I chose House Tarly because they held true and because as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms I can make and unmake those who show honor to their vows. Are you afraid?"

The boy looked at you with those dark-blue, almost purple eyes. "One day I want to be Sword of the Morning. But I can only do that if I live my life with honor. A Sword of the Morning wouldn't steal another's land for the crimes of one family member. Prince Oberyn betrayed the crown to help the Targaryens but Prince Oberyn died. Trystane and Elia Sand were my friends when I was little. And Arianne and Quentyn did nothing wrong."

A Ned lecturing you on honor. "Perhaps-"

A voice from outside the tent. "Pardon, Your Grace. Lord Tarly has sent the Red Viper's daughter. And another rider for you. From Dorne."

You raised an eyebrow. "How fortuitous. Bring them in. Both of them."

---

Prince Oberyn's daughter was hauntingly lovely. There was a gentleness to her features and a lightness to her coloring which could not have come from her Martell father. Her eyes had a hint of pink to them but she would shed no tears in front of you. The rider was another woman, this one a curvaceous beauty with thick black hair and darker skin.

Dacey Mormont nudged her with her foot. "Tell His Grace what you told me."

The woman raised her chin proudly. "I am Arianne Martell, Princess of Dorne."

That was... rather unexpected. The sort of ballsy move everyone would have criticized you for making until it paid off. "I'm Robb." She blinked. "I'm King of Westeros."

She straightened herself, looking briefly to her baseborn cousin. "I have come before you to negotiate a peace between our Houses."

"A host of Dornishmen marched to join with the false Targaryen. Your uncle led them into battle with my predecessor's army. Are you here with your father's permission?"

Her brow furrowed in annoyance. "My father will lead Dorne to ruin! He is paralyzed with indecision. He does not know whether to join with the boy who calls himself my cousin or to bend the knee to your great host and so he sits there as Dorne screams for vengeance."

"Vengeance against me?"

"No!" This from the bastard, and even her cousin looked surprise at the fervor in her voice. "Dorne heard of your father's outrage when Princess Elia and her babes were butchered by Lannister men. It was the Lannisters who our spears hungered for the most. For their crimes and their murders." She paused. "But it was not the Lannisters who killed my father and those who followed him."

There was a moment of silence. Was she to name Stannis? You would be honor bound to defend your betrothed, and besides she was innocent of her father's decisions. Or perhaps Lord Tarly. If so she would be disappointed. His competence was worth more than a peaceful reunification with Dorne. You were not Daeron the Young Dragon and would not make his mistakes should it come to a war.

"The boy who calls himself Aegon - the Lyseni or Blackfyre who wears our cousin's name like a hide cloak. It was he who deceived my father. He lied and sent us to our deaths as a distraction. He sought to use our anger and loss as a weapon so that he could call himself our kin and steal what was not his to take."

She stepped forward, and Dacey's grip on her mace tightened. Tyene Sand did not attempt to strike you or draw a weapon (a feat which would have been impressive given the thorough searching she had already been through). Instead she knelt, her soft hand taking yours as pain and longing rang through her words. "Let me avenge my father, Your Grace. Let you my serve in this. In everything."

Her eyes were very blue. Um. What had you been about to say. The other girl was approaching you too. What was her name again? Arya? No Arya was the sistery one, you were pretty sure.

"I know my family has made mistakes. But I believe you can understand why. When the Lannisters stole your father you raised an army to rescue him. They stole my aunt, her daughter and her son." Her fingers were gentle on your arm. "And Dorne has mourned ever since. Forgive us. Forgive me, Your Grace. Let me rule Sunspear in your name. Let us destroy our mutual enemy. Our loyalty and our gratitude will be yours."

[] Well... that's all very persuasive but you're quite set on killing some Dornish. Have Dacey take these two away in chains. You'll depose Prince Doran and set up Edric when you're done with the Golden Company.
-[] Blood claims do matter though. The other girls ought to become Septas or Silent Sisters, but one (perhaps Elia Sand) should wed him to secure his rule over Dorne.
-[] Edric should marry Arya. She would do well in Dorne and your nieces and nephews would rule over one of the Seven Kingdoms.
[] A good king is merciful. A good king doesn't punish the innocent for the crimes of the dead. Right? Right? Ok fuck it, send Edric and Dacey out of the tent.
-[] Don't send Dacey out of the tent.

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