The White Dragon

THE SUN AND THE DRAGON

THE WHITE DRAGON CHAPTER 30 : THE SUN AND THE DRAGON

A FANFICTION ON HBO'S HOUSE OF THE DRAGON

ELLIANA MARTELL 

She was glad her lords look upon her rule favorably for when the news came of her accepting the betrothal between her heir Dorian and Aerys' eldest daughter Aerea, only the Yronwood's of Yronwood complained that it would give the Targaryens claim to Dorne and in secret they would claim that the spear pierced sun banner would soon fall and in it's place a dragon banner would rise.

Sitting in her study within the Water Gardens, Elliana comforts herself with the sounds of the splashing of water and the sounds of children giggling and squealing in delight. Three raps sound at her door and she glances to it. She was not weary for she knew that there was only one who would knock in such a distinct pattern "Come in Arianne."

Elliana smiles as her daughter enters wearing a dress of blood orange with copper bangles and ringlets that almost blend into her auburn hair "How do I look mother?" Elliana stands from her seat and runs her fingers through her daughter's hair, tucking parts of it behind the young 15 year old's ears "Like a true Dornish beauty. Why have you dressed up so well?"

"Well with Prince Aerys and the royal family arriving soon I wanted to look my best, but Lord Vorian said that due to their family's abhorrent luck with bastards I would be better suited out of their sight." Elliana sighs and wrings her hands together. She had heard of the girl Visenya's death and the aftermath of the loss. How the young Jaehaerys and his wife Helaena brought a set of twins one a boy and the other a girl into the world and that the royal family of house Targaryen remained strained to this day.

However she would not hide Arianne out of sight for while she was also born out of passion like most bastards in the world, Arianne was also niece to Alicent Hightower through her brother Gwayne making her just as much family as Aerys' sister's children.

"I will not hide you away my darling. Not even to sate the dragon. Now come, our guests are to arrive shortly and I want your brother to make a good impression for his bride, unless you were planning on upstaging him?" Elliana says with a soft smile before leading her daughter out from the room and down the steps towards the pools where Dorian tosses a giggling child into the water before splashing another and wades his way towards the two with a smile beneath his growing black beard "Mother. Sister. How nice of you to join me."

"You do realize you are going to have to change if we are to meet our guests and make a good impression." Elliana says with a raised eye and her son takes a sip of wine and smiles before cupping his hand and splashes Arianne who squeals and glares at her older brother "Cock!"

"There see, now we are all giving off the same impression." Dorian says and Elliana hands a towel to a red faced Arianne before taking a seat and takes her son's hand "Please, you know Aerys is a dear friend to me. I'm sure he would like to see that I have raised a good man for their daughter to marry."

Dorian sighs and licks at his lips "Ah but have they raised a good daughter for a future prince of Dorne to marry. Gods help me if she's boring. The last thing I would want from a wife is an object who sits there all ladylike with her sewing in hand and a scowl on her face. I want someone wild and free thinking."

Just then the sounds of a collective roar runs through the water gardens and five shadows fly overhead, each varying in sizes. She turns to see her son's eyes widen slightly and Elliana smirks "Well I doubt you will find any more wild and free thinking than one who rides a dragon. Get dressed and be ready to meet your intended."

Dorian nods and rushes out from the water gardens and Elliana takes Arianne's hand in hers and together they make their way towards the entrance to the private retreat to see Aerys standing there with his wife and children waiting some standing tense while others are more relaxed. Elliana steps towards and places chaste kisses against Aerys' cheek and smiles warmly "You don't visit enough."