The Bloodied Wolf (Lion's Wolf Book 5)

Chapter 5

~ The Dance of Dragons ~

I raised my fist to the door in front of my and hesitated, after my tryst with Jaime he suggested I go and see Oberyn, as I helped my husband re dress I'd confessed that even though I'd been here 4 days I had yet to see my old friend, he'd listened to me lay out my anxieties about how he would be angry at me, how I would feel about seeing him in such a state, how Ellaria would feel about me even being in his presence, Jaime had listened and gave me his input, a view I could not ignore, how would I feel if I had never been to see him even though I was here now.

"M'lady, you don't have to do this" Ser Ashter said quietly as i steeled my back and looked at him with a forced smile, he knew I absolutely had to do this he just didn't like seeing me struggle.

"He's my friend" I said before knocking on the door loudly, there was nothing for a moment before Ellaria swung the door open and looked at the men at my back and then at me.

"Oberyn, the wolf is here" she stepped away and gestured for me to enter, I eyed her as I walked past but all she did was nod her head "you cannot stay long, he is still weak" she said as I spotted my friend sitting on a chair by the window, he looked like he was taking in the beauty of Dorne except for the bright white bandage that was covering what was left of his eyes.

"Wolf" Oberyn sat up straighter as I moved closer to him and took his out stretched hand gently, his skin was sickly pale, his face looked slightly lope sided under the bandage and he looked deathly thin in his face.

"Viper" I whispered back in response, my eyes burned with unshed tears as I took in the damage that had been done to him by the Mountain, I took his hand in mine and gently rubbed his knuckles with the pads on my thumbs "I wish I could've done more"

"You did what you could, given your condition" he rasped, he smiled sadly he pet my hand "now why are you here Wolf?"

"Cersei sent Jaime to get her daughter back, I came to make sure he didn't get killed" I looked at his scared hands, my only thought had been making sure Jaime was safe, not once had I thought of Oberyn or Ellaria.

"You'd think we'd hurt your husband? Or the girl?" Oberyn asked, what was left of his eyebrow raised in question and I sent him a look before I remembered he'd not see it so I scoffed instead and removed my hands from his.

"The Dornish hate the Lannister's almost as much as the North hates the Bolton's" I glanced at Ellaria who shuffled to him and helped Oberyn with his drink "I wonder where I got that from" she met my eyes and huffed.

"Yes, I heard what happened, I know my daughters are in the cells as we speak" I could see him almost look at Ellaria "they never should've been there, they know better" he sighed and shook his head "what do you plan on doing with the Princess?"

"I have a few ideas" I muttered, I leant toward my old friend and he sent me a wicked smile that I immediately recognised.

~~

"Your mother wants you back in the Capital" I said to Myrcella as we sat in Doran's solar, she sat next to me, back straight, wearing Dornish clothes while Trystane sat on her other side holding her hand "but it's not safe there, it's not safe here either" I met Doran's eyes as the door opened and Jaime was escorted in by Areo.

"Prince Doran" Jaime said bowing to Doran who nodded and gestured Jaime to take a seat.

"Forgive us, we started without you" Jaime met my eyes and I winked, my plan was already in place, now I just needed to get Myrcella and Trystane out of here and to safety.

"Nothing to forgive" Jaime said, he looked to Myrcella and smiled at her gently "princess Myrcella"

"Uncle" she said back with the same smile, I touched her hand gently and squeezed it, she knew he was her father, she said as much when we were alone in the Water Gardens, she looked back at me "where would we go if no where is safe" she asked me genuinely, she, much like Tommen, was too sweet for this world.

"I have friends, friends who would protect you and give you a home of your own, somewhere where your mother can't get you" I glanced at Jaime's gaping mouth and chuckled "your uncle Jaime doesn't know this plan yet" I told her in a mock whisper making her look at him and laugh.

"Dorne has been my home for years, I don't understand why she wants me to come back now, I left because she told me to, she told me it was my duty" she shook her head and I put my arm around her shoulder.

"My sweet, your mother loves you dearly, sometimes when we love that much it clouds our judgment, sometimes we don't see reason or care about what others think" I looked to Doran who nodded his consent "to make this work you'll have to give me your word that no matter what happens you will not come back to Dorne or Westeros, for this to work you will be dead" I let my words sink in and then continued "my friends will give you a new name and they'll protect you"

She nodded slowly and asked the question that was on her mind "what of Trystane?" I smiled, and looked at Doran again and then at Jaime, much like her father she loved hard and was loyal to those she deemed worthy.

"Trystane was so overwhelmed by his grief that his father sent him to get a clear head and to train with the best swordsman and strategists in the known world, you'll remain together and when the time comes and Trystane has to take his place here you may come back" she and Trystane shared a smile and Jaime cleared his throat.

"And when Cersei demands to see her daughter's body?" Jaime asked and I grinned at him.

"The Lannister's have many enemies in this region and there are always people who are willing to kill, Lord Gargalen had a servant girl who has passed on, she is blonde and we'll make it so she is dressed as Myrcella, make her unrecognisable and bring her back to the Capital" Jaime looked suspicious of this plan but I continued "the story will be that Myrcella was in the markets when a man recognised her and attacked her, she was killed but so we he by the guards" Areo nodded in agreement.

"We have a man in our cells who is due for execution, it'll be done" the man said with a grumble, clearly unhappy with the idea that this story had his guards move slowly to save the princess.

"We'll send Myrcella to the home of my friend across the Narrow Sea and then Trystane will follow in a week or so" I finished looking at the couple who made eye contact and from the looks they shared it was obvious that they were having a silent conversation.

"I hope this works because Cersei will kill you for scheming" Jaime said gruffly, I stood from my place next to Myrcella and walked to him, taking his golden hand I kissed it gently and met his eyes.

"I want Myrcella safe and happy, the Capital is not safe" I said as he leant forward and nudged my nose with his in a gesture that spoke louder than any words he could have said, he trusted me with his daughters life.