The Red Viper and Dragon Princess Edit

Prologue: Part Two

Prologue Part Two: 283 AC, Dorne

End Robert's Rebellion

~!~

It was hot in Dorne.

It had been a moons turn since the Battle of the Trident and Daella had been on horse back for all of it. The moment Robert's war hammer had slammed into her brothers chest, she had known everything would change. Lewyn and Ser Jonothor Darry had managed to get to her through the fighting bodies and got her away, the last she caught sight of them, they were being overwhelmed by rebels. She had been on her way to Kings Landing to speak with her father, only she had gotten news a week away from the city that the Lannister's had sacked it and Robert Baratheon had been proclaimed King.

Elia and her children had been slaughtered and Jamie Lannister, the seventeen-year-old Kingsguard who she had taken under her wing in the last two years, had murdered her father. News had also come that Robert Baratheon had been named King and she had been forced to change her plans, as their was a price on every Targaryen's head. Before they had left for the battle, Rhaegar had told her and Arthur that Lyanna Stark, who was party responsible for this foolish war, was hidden in Dorne in a broken-down tower just passed the Princess Pass, on the edge of the Dornish Marshes, which had been named the Tower of Joy, pregnant with Rhaegar's third child.

She had wanted to curse herself. For the last year, she and Arthur had been trying to find the missing Stark girl and she had been in Dorne the whole time. It was an insult to the country and to his own wife. Elia had been devastated after the Tourney of Harrenhal when he had run off and they found of Lyanna was missing, especially given she was newly pregnant with her second child. Aegon Targaryen had been born only a few moons ago and Daella's heart ached when she thought of her niece and nephew, the rumors surrounding their deaths were horrific. She swore if she ever got her hands-on Tywin Lannister, he wouldn't live to tell anyone about it.

She had decided to head to Dorne, to the three Kingsguard still alive and to the new heir of the Iron Throne. Oh, it burned her to know that Rhaegar and Lyanna's child would be heir to the throne instead of Elia's precious son Aegon, who she had almost died to give birth too. She knew just as all Targaryen Loyalists did that their time in Westeros was over for now. Daella had no intention of allowing the rebels to go unpunished, especially with what happened to Elia and her children, all of whom had done nothing wrong, but the realm needed to heel and she needed allies.

Sweat trickled down her back, her armor heavy as she rode hard. It had taken a little longer to reach Dorne, given she had to stay off the main roads, as Lannister soldiers were patrolling the Crownlands. She had little doubt they were looking for her, as she had been declared missing after the Battle of the Trident, just like her brothers body. She choked down a sob as she though of her brother. They may not have been getting along in recent years but he had been her best friend when they were children. It was easy to hate Lyanna Stark, she was a child and didn't realize her actions had consequences, not to mention she knew Rhaegar had a wife. Elia had kept smiling that day, when all the smiles died, but Daella had saw what it cost her.

She looked up, hoping she was coming upon a tower soon and signed with relief as she saw a small tower rising in the distance, a body apparent in the window even from her spot down the road. With a thankful sign, she urged her horse into a trot and headed for the tower, noting the three men emerging to stand guard outside, white cloaks flowing in the wind and felt relief fill her at their familiar shadows.

~!~

Arthur Dayne, the Sword of Morning, felt despondent from his position in the Tower of Joy, where he was keeping watch. Word had come weeks ago about Rhaegar's death, the Sacking of Kings Landing and the disappearance of Princess Daella. Ser Gerald Hightower, the Commander of the Kingsguard, had wanted to leave for Dragonstone, where Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys had been sent but Ser Oswell Whent had changed his mind. They needed to know wither Lyanna had a son or a daughter, because if it was a boy, he would be King of the Seven Kingdom's with Elia's son Aegon now dead.