The Bloodied Wolf (Lion's Wolf Book 5)

Chapter 3

~ House of Black and White part 2 ~

I raised my eyebrow as Ser Ashter lost what used to be his breakfast, we'd been on the sea for the past week, the boy was yet to learn that eating as much as he does was only going to make him have his breakfast revisit hours later, his groaning and cursing at the sea was damn near hysterical "boy needs to learn" Ser Rylen shook his head in disbelief as the younger man heaved over the side of the ship once more.

"I don't think he will" I commented as the wind caught my loose hair and caused it to whip around my face "how far now Captain?" I asked the man who was manning the wheel of the ship, the man looked older than 100 but he was spry for his age.

"You'll be seein' land soon, don't you worry M'lady, this old girls got a fine wind in her sails" the older man grinned at me showing what was left of his teeth, "winds from the North rise an' the world shivers" he cackled in delight as another gust of wind caused the ship to shutter forward, I grabbed onto the wooden railing that lined the outside of the deck and shook my head at the crazy old man, he was from the Iron Islands of course so it made sense that he was as mad as the rest of them.

~~

I stepped off the gang plank that was laid out on the dock to the ship and was greeted by Areo Hotah, Doran's personal guard, the man had barely aged and the stern face he wore was exactly the same as it used to be "when Prince Doran received your raven stating you were coming to visit I thought the same thing that he was thinking" the taller man said as he touched the back of my hand to his lips, his orange garb made his ebony eyes appear like deep pools of nothing "that you are more stupid than you used to be as a child" he let go of my hand and I swatted his chest, not taking his insult to heart.

"It's good to see you too old friend" I said sarcastically as he eyed Ser Rylen and Ser Ashter, they weren't in their usual Lannister armour but you could still tell who they were loyal to "my guards, you can understand" I said making Areo scoff at me but lead the way to Doran's palace.

"You're not dressed for this weather" the man muttered, "you come unprepared, uninvited and unaccompanied save two guards" he looked at me "something is brewing Wolf" I nodded in agreement.

"Yes, well I'm sure you can understand that I needed to get out of that shithole as soon as I could" he huffed his own agreement and continued to lead the way to the rooms I'd used when I'd last stayed here, "I'm surprised that the Prince accepted my request"

"Prince Doran does not hold a grudge" Areo all but grunted as we passed by a few servants who were whispering amongst themselves "he understands the rules of Trial by Combat," he swung open the door to my rooms and gestured for me to go in, "your guards have rooms down the hall" Ser Rylen immediately shook his head.

"We'll be staying in this room, there is a chair I'm sure the boy can sleep in it while I take the floor" Ser Ashter nodded his head and made a beeline to said chair and flopped down in it to make sure the point was coming across.

"I'm sure Lady Anaris' lord husband is delighted to know her guards are demanding to sleep in her chambers" Areo scoffed making Ser Ashter stand up and come forward.

"Ser Ja..." Ashter began but I interrupted him with a question.

"I take it Prince Doran is in his usual place?" I shot Ashter a look that all but screamed be quiet and the younger man sighed and nodded in understanding.

"Enjoying the view of the Water Gardens," he told me, ignoring my guard "Lord Gargalen's lady wife has sent some items of clothing for you" he bowed and left without saying anything else, as soon as the door was closed and his footsteps were fading from my hearing I looked at Ashter.

"We must work on that temper" I told him as I rounded the bed and walked to the changing screen where a dress was laid out for me to wear "it's best keep who I'm married to a secret for now, the Dornish hate the Lannisters more then they hate an empty brothel" I removed my clothes and began to put the new dress on while Ser Rylen stood with his back to me.

"A fine idea, my lady" Ser Rylen said as I finished dressing in a dress that left little to the imagination but helped beat the heat of Dorne, "are you sure we beat Ser Jaime and Bronn here?"

"Knowing Jaime he would've taken the long way, made their way here on foot" I fixed my hair and sighed as my thoughts went to Jaime, he was a fool but he was my fool and when he made his presence known I was going to hit him with his own hand "he'll try to be sneaky" I turned to the door and pulled it open and lead the men out, "I'll need to find Myrcella but first I think it's time an old friend and I had a chat" unlike the Red Keep Dornes castle was more open and airy, sunlight filtered through every corridor, archways where windows would be were left open so the sea air could flow through easily, the air was fresh and clean, the gusts of wind helping to keep the palace from smelling like shit and death.

I stepped out from a small grotto and came face to face with Ellaria, her hair was cut short, her face was pulled into an angry sneer "when Doran said you'd be paying a visit I almost thought it was a joke," she looked me up and down before sparing a quick glance at my guards.

"I needed a break from King's Landing" I replied making her scoff, "I'm not here as your enemy Ellaria, I wish what happened didn't, truly" she almost chocked on her fake laughter.

"The Mountain destroyed Oberyn's eyes, not just damaged them, destroyed" her glare turned as hostile as I'd ever seen it "they were oozing from his face as the Maester was moving him"

"I did not make Oberyn fight" I told her sternly, my understanding of her anger was fizzling out faster then sand in an hourglass "he made that decision, I was busy being poisoned and loosing my baby" I stepped closer to her and for a moment she looked back at me with a flash of sadness "Jaime told Qyburn to save Oberyn, we tried to help" she shook her head and made her way past me.

I walked up the small steps and took in the Dornish Prince, his dark hair had flecks of grey in it but he looked exactly as he did when I was a child, save for the wheelchair that he was sitting in, his infected foot bare to the sun "she's bloomed into a precious flower" Doran commented as I followed his eyes to where Myrcella was playing a game with her handmaidens, their giggles reached us like a soft breeze.

"She and her brother Tommen are the best of them" I said as I leaned on the railing of the balcony and watched as she continued to giggle and play the game.

"Even the best of them can be twisted into a beast like no one has seen" I glanced at him and met his dark eyes "even a Wolf is in danger of being twisted" I scoffed and turned back to the sight before me.

"I'm sure if you brought my father back to life he would tell you that I'm not who I once was" I spoke with a wistful smile on my face "then again, you are not the same either" a squeal of laughter erupted from the water gardens as Doran's son Trystane scooped Myrcella up in his arms and twirled her around in a wide circle.

"The princess has been asking about you" Doran said as he moved his chair closer to me "she was afraid to write because she thought you hated her for what her brother did to your father and family" I glanced at Doran and then at Trystane and Myrcella who were talking animatedly about something, Trystane still had his arms around Myrcella and she clearly didn't mind the contact.

"I cannot hate an entire family for the actions of a few, I said the same to Tommen" I glanced at my old friend once more and contemplated telling him Cersei's intentions to steal away his sons intended "I'll go make myself known" I turned and curtsied to him and went to leave with Ser Ashter and Ser Rylen when Doran's voice stopped me.

"I'm sorry Wolf, no parent should ever outlive their child" I looked over my shoulder and met his intense eyes and nodded once in a silent thank you before going to see my niece.