demoncryptspanties

[demoncryptspanties]

bending to the honeysuckles.

William "Ironhead" Miller x f!reader

rating: explicit. 18+ only. length: 17,216 content: reader has a prior drug addiction, drug addiction recovery, drug rehab, mentions of past abuse in a relationship, pining, fluff, Will is a simp, smut [oral, unprotected p in v] summary: while you insist you don't want a relationship, Will Miller falls for you like it's his destiny to do so. he's willing to meet you where you are while he waits for you to let him love you.

Life had been hell for Frankie Morales since he’d returned from Colombia. While he was able to keep decent control of himself for the first couple of weeks, the things he’d done caught up to him – they always did. He’d retreated into himself, away from his friends and into the confines of his house, numbing his feelings with whatever he could. At first, it was several beers every day, and when that wasn’t enough it was liquor. When the liquor wasn’t enough, he’d remembered what could truly help him – cocaine – and it had all just sort of spiraled from there. 

Three months after his return home Frankie staggered into his birthday dinner with dilated pupils, a running nose and an air of confidence only to be met with an intervention from Pope, Benny, and Ironhead. The reminder of how pathetically few people cared about him stung initially, but he quickly remembered he deserved even less than that. He found himself in a rehabilitation program then, spending the next 90-days of his life with far-too-nice people trying to help him get his shit together. 

As he expected, Santiago had taken up residence in his spare bedroom in Frankie’s absence, deciding to stick around in the states to ensure his best friend actually recovered this time, found a career for himself, and didn’t lose his house. He’d started attending a group session for recovering cocaine addicts the same week, and that was where he’d met you. 

You were at least a decade younger, quiet until you were directly spoken to, and sarcastic and quick when it was your turn to talk. The message deciphered from your introduction of yourself was that you had just moved to take over your grandfather’s company, you were coming up on six years of sobriety, and you did not like to be around people. His second meeting, a week later and your six months of sobriety, you’d approached him at the end of the meeting to propose being his sponsor. 

The two of you had been friends since. Wednesday nights you met for dinner before you made your way to group together, and Sunday nights you had a quick phone call to check-in with one another. As much as it helped Frankie to have someone outside of the Delta Force to understand his situation – that he trusted to understand him – it helped you just the same. You had moved to the area a month ago and finding people tolerable was difficult. He quickly became your closest friend, and he was more than happy to introduce you to the other people in his life. 

When Will had first suggested coming along to group with Frankie to offer some support, it was a surprise when the older man agreed and mentioned you immediately, almost proud to have someone to introduce to the man he looked up to so much. You’d agreed it was fine to skip dinner that week so Frankie could come along with Will, almost relieved for the extra time alone between work and group. It gave you a chance to shower and change into something a little better than your pink work overalls, ready to meet the first additional person in Frankie’s life. 

Frankie walked in much later than he normally would, and while you would normally jokingly call to him from across the room for cutting it close, you lost whatever wit you’d planned on using when your eyes landed on the gorgeous blonde following behind your friend. When Frankie spotted you he raised a hand to wave, which you returned feebly, eyes a little too focused on the newcomer. 

“We’re cutting it close, I know,” Frankie breathed when he approached you, your senses suddenly returning and forcing you to your feet in politeness. “This is Will. Will, this is my friend I’ve been telling you about.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you were late for your own birth, Frankie,” you greeted him with a quick hug, fixing your eyes on Will with a smile as you mentally swooned under the gaze of his blue eyes. “Nice to meet you, Will.”

William Miller did not get distracted.

When he had a responsibility – a job to complete – Will was laser-focused, in-control, and driven. Whether he was in an active combat zone or giving a speech to a group of veterans trying to rejoin society, he was always able to stay on the task at hand until he’d completed it – until he’d excelled at it. Tonight, his task was to support his friend, his brother, Frankie – and tonight was the first time in months he felt he’d truly failed at his task. 

He couldn’t pull his attention away from you for the next two hours. No matter who was talking, even Frankie, Will found his eyes glancing to you, eager to see your reactions and expressions and your body language. On one particularly long-winded monologue from a woman about how she had just tried cocaine for fun, and it ended up ruining her marriage (she cheated on her husband, that’s what really ruined the marriage), you rolled your eyes in Will’s direction while mouthing:

“Are you having fun yet?” Will nearly laughed at the question but opted to respond with a much more situationally appropriate light smile and subtle thumbs up. Your eyes flashed with mischief as you mouthed again. “Liar.”

He couldn’t get you out of his head after that meeting and found himself asking Frankie if he could go with him again the next week, and again, and soon enough he was a regular supporter of the meeting, showing up early to set up snacks and coffee and keeping track of the sign-in sheet. Each time he found himself falling more and more into whatever trap you’d seemingly laid out just for him, and even though he really didn’t get the chance to talk with you much, his interest was sparked enough to want to get to know you more. It was after the fourth meeting he’d joined that he lingered in the parking lot with you even after Frankie had left. 

That was the night he’d begun to understand the depth of his fascination with you. Sitting in his trunk bed drinking bottles of water Will permanently kept in his backseat he marveled in you as you opened up to him and showed him who you were…at least as much as you were willing to share. As much as he hung on your every word, you did the same for him, unable to look away from his face as he spoke and enamored by the things he told you about himself. 

“I like hanging out in parking lots with you, Will Miller,” you’d complimented, eyes sparkling under the full moon’s light. “You’re good company.”

“Yeah, we should do it again sometime,” came his reply before he could stop it. Reaching to scratch the back of his neck, he opted to continue – there was no going back now. “Maybe the parking lot of a restaurant…after dinner?”

You felt your cheeks burn immediately and, even more embarrassing, the smile that spread across your face like the sun breaking through clouds on a stormy day. All too soon, though, the clouds returned, the melancholy filling your voice. “I’d love to say yes but I…can’t. I’m not looking for anything serious right now with…well, everything. And I don’t want to give you the wrong idea.”

While it wasn’t the reason you’d given, on your drive home you had to think about the fact that Will Miller deserved far more than a recovering addict who was just figuring out how to really take care of herself. If you had only seen his thoughts on his own drive, about how long he’d wait until you were ready, you may have turned around and given into him. 

Things settled a bit over the coming weeks. You offered Frankie a job helping you out with jarring the honey and making local deliveries for you, which he’d been happy to accept in the meantime until he could get his license back. It was nice to have him around – he was often the one to remind you to take a moment to hydrate, but he never bothered you while you worked. He even took it upon himself to make some minor repairs to your barn in some of his spare time. Another month had passed faster than you could believe, the time filled with settling into your business and spending time with Frankie and his best friend, Santiago. 

Frankie had offered many times – at least once per week – for you to join them for drinks, or dinner, or at the beach. You’d refused every offer, unwilling to face Will again for fear of your wavering resolve. But this week, a Friday, it was different when Frankie asked you to join them before he headed out in the morning to spend his day making deliveries. The loneliness was finally catching up to you, and you figured some time out with other people would serve you well. Plus, despite the bickering you and Santi often found yourselves in, you knew Frankie surrounded himself with good people, and you could trust spending time with them. You agreed to let him pick you up at 7:30, and he agreed with a nod and a smile. Even if you had a miserable time, at least going would ensure Frankie’s happiness for the night.

By the time Frankie’s shitty truck had pulled into the driveway of the old farmhouse you now found yourself living in, you were moments away from sending a text that said you’d changed your mind, the nerves of your horrible day making you dread an unfamiliar place. As you pulled a jacket on and locked the door behind you a sigh released from your lips before you began to make your way to him. While you were finalizing your mental argument about whether it was too late to cancel you saw Frankie’s face peering out of the driver’s side window, an earnest smile on his lips. He was unrelentingly kind and made the decision you faced easy – there was no way you could cancel on Frankie Morales and sleep at night.

“Hiya, Crankie,” you greeted as you climbed into the front seat, rolling the window down before you’d buckled yourself in. Your use of the nickname you’d bestowed upon Frankie made the man shake his head, a quiet laugh sounding as he began the drive.

“Hi, abejita,” came his usual reply, glancing out of the corner of his eye to take in more of your expression. You’d obviously tried to get in the mood to go out, but the tired expression was one Frankie recognized – you probably just wanted to be alone tonight, and yet you were still seated next to him. “Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Of course he knew – he always did. The two of you had spent the last few months bonding over a similar addiction background, and it was nice to have someone that truly understood you. There were no niceties with you and Frankie, and it was the reason the two of you had become such close friends.

“Oh, you know me, Francisco…’I’ll sleep when I’m dead,’ yada yada yad,” you turned your head toward him, offering a falsely reassuring smile. “What’s your excuse? I swear there’s at least five more greys in your hair.”

“I only counted three this morning,” he matched your taunting, chuckling softly at your joking. 

“Yeah, well, I’ve told you that you need glasses, and this just proves my point,” you joked, rolling your head back the other way to rest it on the cool glass of the window. “I probably shouldn’t even let you drive me around…talk about self-destructive behaviors.” 

He laughed again and the comfortable silence set in, the rest of the drive to he and his friends’ chosen bar passing with light conversation about your days, and both of you agreeing to keep one another to the one drink maximum you’d set. Frankie thanked you for deciding to come with him, and it was a sincere show of appreciation – having someone unbiased and understanding of his situation there to support his recovery was important. And, truthfully – he was helping yours just as much. 

Plus, there was the promise of seeing Will again. While it was annoying, it was also impossible to admit that the mere thought of seeing his pale blue eyes again in the flesh caused your stomach to fill with butterflies. It was ridiculous – you’d meant what you said when he’d asked you out a month ago, you didn’t want to pursue anyone or be pursued right now. That didn’t stop you from thinking about his sparkling blue eyes, or the lines of his smile, or how he’d looked at you like you were the only thing he wanted to look at. You wanted to see him, and could only hope, maybe cruelly, that he wanted to see you as well. 

“What are you over there thinking about, abejita?” Frankie pulled you back to reality with a quiet voice as you pulled into the bar parking lot, glancing over at you briefly. “You didn’t complain about my driving at all.”

You smiled and shook your head, unwilling to admit to Frankie you’d been thinking about one of his best friends – one of his brothers. The question of whether Will had told them about asking you out flashed through your mind, and fortunately Frankie shifting his truck into park gave you a feasible reason to not answer his questioning. “Let’s go do this. And remember, if someone offers you cocaine in the bathroom…just say no.”

Frankie laughed in bewilderment nearly the entire way into the bar, a bright smile still spread across his face when the two of you made your way through the door. The sounds of Metallica from the jukebox confirmed Santiago was there before your eyes even landed on the mess of grey and black atop his head, drifting over to the golden locks of Benny Miller with his girlfriend sat beside him. As you walked toward their table you released a sigh of relief, though at the same time your stomach knotted in disappointment – no Will. 

After your hellos and introduction to Benny’s girlfriend, Frankie excused himself to grab both of you a soda from the bar to start with – it was refreshing to see that this group didn’t even bat an eye at the two of you not ordering alcohol, and you had to mentally commend Frankie for his taste in company. Leaning on the counter height table with an elbow you met Santiago’s lingering gaze. 

“You better not be standing to do what I think you’re going to do,” he warned, his words met with a mischievous smile from you. His arms crossed over his chest, eyes narrowing at your body language. 

“Oh, I’m definitely standing to do what you think I’m going to do,” you taunted, sticking out your leg slightly to block him into the booth. “And you are just going to have to deal with it, Santiago.”

His hand twitched toward the glass of dark liquid in front of him, taking a sip as his eyes stayed on yours. You offered another smile, lazily drumming your fingernails on the table beneath you. Benny’s voice interrupted the stare down, both of you turning to look at him. “I’m sorry, what is happening here?”

“I refuse to subject the people of this bar to Santiago’s Greatest Hits playlist all night. I’m picking the next song,” you replied, offering another smile to the man you were blocking in the booth. Benny was the first laugh you heard, but from behind you another laugh rumbled – and Frankie still hadn’t returned from the bar. 

“Nice to see someone keeping Pope in his place,” the older Miller brother commented from behind you, immediately sending a chill up your spine and a rush of heat to your cheeks. Forgetting to leave your leg planted you turned to greet him with a smile, eyes brighter than they should be for someone who’d turned him down a month earlier. He didn’t care to hide the smile he offered you back. “Sorry I’m late. Got a little hung up at work, hope I didn’t miss anything.”

Your willingness to spar faltered, and all you could manage under his gaze was a nod, your bottom lip pulling between your teeth. He turned to greet Benny, who had stood, with a hug before saying a quick hello to Danielle and offering her a gentle hug. Even Santiago got a quick version of a hug. You tried to ignore the jealousy that twisted your stomach. 

“You were just about to miss the musical showdown of the century,” Benny remarked, planting himself back into the booth with an arm around Dani’s shoulders. “Someone is finally standing up to Santiago’s musical monopoly.”

“Just because you people don’t know how to appreciate the American classics,” Santiago began, ready to fling himself into a grandiose monologue before Benny beat you to the punch, entering an argument with the older man about the definition of “classics”. You took that as your sign to exit to the juke box, unnoticed by Santi, but not unnoticed altogether – William had followed closely behind you. 

“Are you my escort for the evening, Mr. Miller?” you questioned, attempting a playful tone to cover the nerves you felt around him. “I don’t think I’d get lost on the way to show up Santiago. There’s too much at stake.”

Another laugh rumbled in his chest – it was nice to make someone laugh as much as you made him. “The buttons on that old thing stick sometimes, and I wanna make sure you can use it.”

You couldn’t help but smile a little slowing down your steps to join at his side and glancing up at him as you walked. He had to mentally remind himself not to wrap an arm around you, no matter how badly he wanted to. “You know, helping me figure out the machine makes you an accomplice. I wonder how Santiago will feel about your mutiny.”

“Probably about the same way he feels about most things.”

“Forlorn and personally affronted?”

He laughed again in response, siding up to the juke box with you. He allowed you a moment to get your bearings on the machine, and though you likely quickly realized his white lie about the buttons sticking, you didn’t call him on it. “I was happy when Fish said you were coming out,” he admitted, leaning on the machine on his side next to you. When you broke concentration to meet his gaze briefly, he had to remind himself to breathe. 

“I almost cancelled. Had a bad day at work and didn’t want to look miserable and stupid,” you replied with a shrug, returning your focus to the juke box and flipping through albums. What Will wanted to do was sit down somewhere quiet with you and talk to you about your day, to listen to whatever complaints you wanted to hurl to a listening ear – but it wasn’t the time or place. He lowered his voice as Santiago’s previous choice finished up. 

“Miserable may be one of the last words I’d use to describe how you look,” he drawled, removing his appreciative glance from you to focus on what album you’d sought out. He felt you glance upward at him and could swear he heard the quick catch of your breath. 

“You’re very distracting,” you joked, eager to break this tension. You pulled your bottom lip between your teeth slightly in an attempt to stifle the smile that was threatening to break under his attention, but it was to no avail – your burning cheeks gave away the fluttering in your stomach enough. “It’s impossible to put Santiago to shame when I can’t focus on this very important song decision.”

He hummed in understanding, nodding his head as he fixed his eyes on you again. Gazing up into the blue pools that waited expectantly you were met with a slightly raised eyebrow. It was infuriating how he managed to look effortlessly flawless. “Should I go back to the table and leave you to it, then?”

“No,” came an embarrassingly immediate reply. “No, just…shut up. Stand there and…keep…looking like a fucking magazine cover, but shut up.”

Will smiled first, a rumbling laughter sounding in his chest. It was impossible not to smile at the laugh you’d pulled from him, eyes taking in the lines of his smile at the corners of his mouth and own eyes. You felt the pull at your heart and had to swallow down the feelings building in your chest, forcing yourself to look back at the juke box – though the smile he’d earned lingered as well. He wanted to reach out to touch you in the short summer dress you’d worn, to hold you closer to him with a hand on your hip – but it wasn’t his place to do so.

Once you’d queued up your song choice you made your way back to the table with Will, glad to see Frankie had returned with a lemonade for you. When you slid into the booth you were delighted to have Will slide up next to you, the warmth continuing to pool from him. As he moved in a little closer, perhaps, than he needed to your song choice began to play over the speakers.

“No way she’s embarrassing you with Donovan right now, Pope!” Benny called, his laughter loud over the music. You smiled a victorious smile across the table at him, eyes bright now that you had confirmation at least one other person at the table agreed with you. 

“She thought really hard about her decision,” Will added, taking a drink of the bottled beer sat in front of him. You nudged him with your elbow lightly adding in a playful eye roll. 

“I took my duty serious,” you explained before turning your attention back to Benny. “At least someone in this group has good taste. Sometimes Frankie’s music is shit, too.”

“Hey now,” the named man intervened, offering a raspy laugh at your call-out. 

“You could try to tell me I’m wrong, but you haven’t reached six months of sobriety yet and your opinions are, understandably, questionable,” you joked, giving him a playful nudge to communicate you were joking if it wasn’t clear. 

“So, you have Frankie working down at the…is it called a bee farm?” Benny questioned, pulling Dani in closer to plant a kiss to the top of her head. In the far end of the booth Santiago rolled his eyes, scoffing out a laugh as Frankie nodded.

“Yeah, I took over the business…about five months ago now. It was my grandfather’s, and he passed away,” you explained, taking a drink of your lemonade and wishing you’d had Frankie get you something stronger to get you through the questioning. “I was looking to move, anyway so it…kind of worked out, though I’m not sure my grandpa would appreciate that phrasing.”

Will loved how easy it was for you to find your place in the group. 

“Where’d you move from?” Dani questioned, sipping on her hard seltzer to savor it. “I don’t hear an accent, really.”

“Middle of nowhere Montana,” you answered, anticipating the next question. Might as well answer it before someone asked. “I’d been in a relationship but…well, it wasn’t a good one. I left him earlier this year and ended up in a rehab program for cocaine addiction. When I got out…I had a couple of months in sanctioned housing, but I needed a change of scenery. It wasn’t long after that the family lawyer called to say the farm and business were passed to me in the will.”

Will caught the way you chose your words carefully as you spoke about your relationship, noticing how your voice had a slight shake to them. The possibilities of your cryptic words tore into him, festering in quiet anger as he ran through what that could mean. It was possible you’d simply been incompatible, perhaps fighting frequently. It was possible he’d broken your heart by being unfaithful. Or, and Will seriously hoped this wasn’t the case, it was possible your ex had been abusive toward you. The thought made him dig his fingers into the table’s edge.

As he allowed the thoughts to consume him for longer than he’d intended the conversation carried on, Benny beginning to understand why his friends had spent the last few weeks talking up this woman. His thoughts were broken by Santiago slapping his fist to the table quickly. 

“Let’s play a round of darts. Winner picks the next five songs. Loser deals with it,” he offered, reaching upward to run his fingers through his hair. With a shrug you finished your lemonade, offering a mischievous smile once again.

“Let me drag up a chair for you to sit in while we play so your knees don’t give out with all that standing, peepaw,” you joked, pulling a round of laughter from everyone at the table except for Santiago, of course, and none louder than Will. The latter took his cue to stand and let you make your way across the bar with Santiago, bickering back and forth as you went. His gaze lingered far too long to go unnoticed. 

“I know our mom taught us that it’s rude to stare, Will,” Benny chimed in first, throwing back the remainder of the whiskey in his glass. Will returned his attention to the men and woman still at the table, reaching to scratch the back of his head as he searched for an answer. 

“Just trying to hear her give Santiago a piece of her mind,” he attempted a cover, reaching again for his beer and swallowing a large drink. He immediately felt the familiar twist of guilt knot his stomach for his white lie. 

“Bullshit,” came Frankie’s retort, a scoffed laugh pulled from his chest. Admirably, only a water sat in front of him still. Benny nodded his head in agreement, and even Danielle raised her eyebrow at the blonde man’s lie. 

“You’re into her,” Benny concluded, setting his empty glass on the table. There was no point in trying to cover himself, and even if there was…it wasn’t in his nature to lie to his family.

“I’ve been into her since I met her,” Will conceded, directing another longing gaze in your direction. You stood with your arms crossed, the smirk on your lips evident even from the side as you watched Santiago struggle to take the perfect aim – his eyes weren’t what they used to be. He saw your mouth move and the glare Pope shot your way, and he wished he could hear what you’d chosen to taunt him with. “I asked her to dinner. A month ago,” he began, taking another drink. “Said she’d love to say yes, but turned me down anyway. Said she didn’t want anything serious right now.”

The genuine disappointment in his eyes had Frankie and Benny sharing a look – it had been a long time since Will Miller had acted so bent out of shape over a woman. 

“It’s a recovery thing,” Frankie offered some comfort, reaching to pat his back carefully. “She’s afraid if she doesn’t get far enough and the two of you don’t make it, the disappointment will make her relapse. At least…that’s what I’d think.”

“You should have seen her face when she realized you were behind her,” Benny added. “That’s not a woman who wants to turn you down.”

“I’m going to wait for her until she’s ready,” Will sighed, pulling his eyes away from you to look at his brother. “I don’t care if that sounds stupid, or desperate. I’m gonna wait.”

On the other side of the bar, you’d tied with Santiago and split the next five song choices – two from you, one decided together, and two from him. While he made his individual choices after you, you made your way to the bar to order yourself another lemonade to take back to the table. It was while you stood there waiting that a man decided to bother you, standing far too close and making incredibly lewd offers that no one wanted to hear from a stranger. 

“Why don’t you come on back to my table with me and my friends? We’ll show ya a nice time, darlin’,” he drawled, moving closer to run a hand down your arm. “Pretty thing like you needs something stronger than a lemonade, and a strong man to show you a good time.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” you replied, taking a step back which he chased with a step forward. 

“’fraid I don’t take no for an answer, little lady,” he retorted, reaching to grab your arm and pull you closer to him. “You won’t regret it when I have you in my bed later, I can promise you that.”

A large, flattened hand on the back of the man’s neck cut his sentence off before more vulgarities could come through his lips. From behind the man, William Miller kept his icy gaze on your face, searching for any sign of true distress. When he saw the slight quiver to your lip his grasp on the man noticeably tightened, fingers digging into the sides of his neck. 

“Let go of her arm,” he ordered, his tone free of any room for argument. It was a tone you’d not heard yet from him, and one you felt bad for anyone that was on the receiving end. The man’s sweaty hand released your arm, the red mark from his tight hold prompting Will’s jaw to tick briefly, a deep breath releasing from flared nostrils. “I should kick your ass for that, but that would ruin our night. Instead, I’m going to give you the opportunity to apologize.”

His eyes were burning into yours, yet he still didn’t miss the man’s attempt to turn and land a punch on his jaw. Catching the incoming fist with his free hand he pushed the man’s head downward, forcing it to the bar top as he twisted his arm behind him. Shifting his intense eyes to look at the back of the man’s head he shook his head, taking hold of the man’s hair to twist his face to look at you. If he was angry before, he was irate now – but he was controlling himself for your benefit. The man’s nose was unbroken but bleeding, and he spit blood onto the bar as he began to beg. “Look, man, we were just having fun…just let me go and she’s all yours.”

“It doesn’t look like she was having fun,” Will corrected, his grasp unfaltering. “I’ll give you one more chance to apologize to her.”

“I’m…I’m sorry, okay? I’ll leave, just let me go, man,” the man begged, breathing shaky and anxious as he feared the wrath of the man behind him. Will used his remaining grasp to lift the man straight upward again, pushing him toward the door with disdain. 

“You should walk off this mood you’ve got yourself in,” Will began, moving to stand closer to you but keeping his eyes on the staggering man now. As the man made his way toward the door, Will left him with another parting threat. “If I see you back in this bar it won’t be good for you.”

Subconsciously William slipped an arm around your waist, turning you to face him as his other hand reached to lift your arm gently. The handprint around your wrist was now bruising lightly – barely there – but it was too visible for Will. His eyebrows pulled together in frustration, trying to steady his breathing and heart rate so he could ask you if you were okay. You beat him to the punch. 

“Shhh,” you soothed, removing your arm from his hold and placing your hand on his bicep gently. Your eyes met his again, releasing a shaky breath once you realized how close he held you to him. Chests pressed firmly together you could feel the rapid beat to his heart and his fight for a normal breath – he needed to calm down, and Will being calm was far more important to you than a bruise. It’s not like this was the first one in your life. “I’m okay, Will. I’ve had worse from bumping into the coffee table, it’s alright. Breathe with me.”

Storms darkened his eyes, his hands grasping at your sides now as his chest gave a solid heave. Brushing your thumb against his arm you reached your other hand to rest against his cheek. You pulled him backward with you toward the quiet hallway by the bathrooms, offering a gentle smile once you were alone. Drawing in a deep breath as your eyes remained locked on his you gave his arm a light squeeze, encouraging him to pay attention to you – only you, not on following the guy outside and knocking his teeth out. 

He could follow orders, though – that was something that no situation could turn off in him – and he soon began to mirror your deep breaths, hands still clutching you to him. By the time he’d released his fifth deep breath his mind was less clouded with anger, but that didn’t mean it was clear. If anything, it was even more clouded, but now it was clouded with you. You’d never been this close to him. He’d never felt the way his fingers could dig delicately into your skin. He’d never felt your chest pressed to his. 

He’d never been only inches away from claiming your lips with his – and that’s exactly what he did as the adrenaline rushed through him. Grasping your hips tighter he anchored you against him, his lips soft and rough as you stood frozen, a quiet gasp slipping through your lips in shock. The quiet sound brought Will back to his senses, immediately pulling away from the kiss with a shock-laced look of horror on his face. 

“I’m…so sorry,” he began, though he still hadn’t released his hold on your hips, his eyes transfixed on yours. The concern behind his eyes was unmistakable – he was terrified of how badly he’d just messed things up with you – and yet that didn’t stop his cheeks from darkening slightly, or his tongue from running over his bottom lip briefly for another desperate taste of you. “I shouldn’t have – mmph.”

Your hungry lips cut off his words quickly as you grasped at his bicep, the hand you held against his cheek sliding to the back of his head to hold him closer. He returned your kiss like it was something he’d been waiting to do for years, his hands sliding to rest on your lower back and pull you into him completely. A pleasant sigh slipped through your lips as he ran his tongue across the seam, granting him access to explore your mouth. When he’d kissed you breathless, he withdrew from your lips, his own curving into a smile as he bumped his nose against yours lightly. Leaning his forehead to rest against yours he took in a deep breath, savoring the moment he'd fantasized over for weeks.

“I still don’t want anything serious,” you whispered, eyebrows pulling together in frustration at so many things, none of which were Will’s fault, all of which fell on you and your past. ‘Live in the moment!’ a voice screamed in the back of your head, begging you to see that the man in front of you was a direct pathway to happiness. You’d silenced that optimistic part of you long ago. “I’m sorry I just…don’t. I can’t.”

“Sh,” he cooed, sliding one of his hands to rest on the top of your back to hold you closer. He bumped his nose against yours again lightly, pressing a gentle kiss to the corner of your mouth before looking deep into your eyes. “I know. I don’t care.”

Your teeth bit into your bottom lip lightly, a sign you were nervous and uncertain. “It’s not fair to you.”

“I don’t care.”

“I can’t even promise…what this would look like, Will.”

He shushed you again, shaking his head before he rested his forehead against yours again. “I will take whatever you want to give me for as many days as you want to give it.”

He’d followed through on his word throughout the weeks that followed, thankful that he had turned out to be a very patient man. Even with the generally negative outlook on life you maintained, always finding a fault in every situation – you couldn’t find one with Will. Yes, it was adorable that he’d show up at the farm during lunch to see you, wanting nothing more than to simply see you in “work mode” and to kiss you as he ran a thumb across your cheek to wipe the dirt away.

Frankie didn’t mind at all that you’d started up this…whatever it was with Will. He enjoyed the fact that both of you were happy, and he wouldn’t complain about the lunches Will dropped off when he visited. Frankie wasn’t the only one in the group to know about the time you spent with Will, of course – Will didn’t believe in keeping secrets between the four of them. 

You’d joined them for nights out a couple of times since but remained purely friendly with Will while in the view of others. The car rides home were when he would kiss you breathless in your driveway, holding you close, greedy for every moment you offered him. Things had never escalated past heavy kissing and touching, and that was comfortable – you still felt you could quit him any time you needed to, and it was safer that way. 

It was Frankie that had asked you to take a Saturday off with him to spend time with them at the beach before the weather started cooling off a bit for the winter. You weren’t really one for the beach, not having lived anywhere near the ocean or going into the ocean much for most of your life, but Frankie’s pleading brown eyes won you over. It would be cruel to leave Dani alone with the men, anyway. When you’d walked onto the beach with Frankie that Saturday afternoon, Will thought his heart was going to burst from his chest. You and Frankie had elected to keep your presence a surprise, which worked in your favor as he smiled the brightest smile he’d offered you yet as you made your way over to their umbrellas, chairs and towels. 

“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” he greeted, unable to help himself from hugging you. His voice was teasing as he continued. “You know I don’t like secrets.”

“Oh, well I’m full of ‘em,” you smiled, wrapping your arms around him and tilting your head to look into his face. “Like…I actually assassinated JFK, and I helped fake the moon landing. I admit it. All me.”

He smiled at your joke and allowed a soft laugh to leave his chest, shaking his head slightly as he released you before the hug lingered too long for your comfort. “I wish I’d known you were coming; I could’ve grabbed some lemonade for you. I’ve got water in the cooler, though, and I’ve always got a pack of those cashews that you like in in my truck.”

You nudged his arm lightly with your shoulder, cheeks turning red under his thoughtfulness and sweet intentions with you. Before you could thank him, Benny had joined up with you, picking you up in a crushing hug as Danielle said hello from behind. Will had never really envied his brother until he got to witness your effortless acceptance of him, and the way Benny could hug you however he wanted. 

“Benny, Jesus, you’re going to crack one of my ribs, you behemoth,” you laughed, gasping for air through his hug as you attempted to wiggle free. Benny placed you gently back on the ground and offered a wide grin, immediately draping his shoulder back around Dani who rested her head on him gently. “Hope you guys don’t mind Frankie bringing me along. I couldn’t leave Dani alone around all you men all day.”

“And that is so appreciated,” the named woman replied, here signature sincere smile on her face. “I am going to work on catching up with Benny’s annoying natural tanning abilities, if you want to sit with me. You don’t seem much of a ��get in the ocean’ kinda gal.”

You did sit on the beach for most of the day with the woman, getting to know one another more deeply, your conversations free of the hindrance of men being present as the group of four gallivanted about the shore and in the waves. Every so often, Benny would yell a quick “hi, baby!” from the water, causing Dani to smile, roll her eyes and wave, a small laugh falling from her lips. It was well past 4 p.m. and the seventh time he’d done it when she gave a different reply.

“He’s an idiot!” she yelled back, her voice full of laughter and love for the man she’d spent just less than a year with now. She quieted her voice back before she added to you. “I knew that when I agreed to date him, though. I can’t complain.”

“You’re perfect for one another,” you asserted, watching as Benny smiled and blew her a kiss before returning to the group. Your eyes wandered, briefly, only to confirm Will had stopped in his tracks to gaze at you, too. Danielle wasn’t the only one with attention focused on her today. Several times now Will had reminded you – gently but firmly – to reapply sunscreen and drink water. As the men set to work on building a fire, he had called to you again to remind you about the water, pulling a quiet giggle from Danielle.

“That’s five times for that one, then,” she counted aloud, watching as you grabbed the water from beside you to take a large drink. “Benny and I aren’t the only ones perfect for one another. That man loves you, you know.”

You felt the heat in your cheeks and knew they must be several shades darker. You finished the bottle of water and released a deep breath before you chose your words, not wanting to be taken off-guard and say something stupid. “He doesn’t…love me. We just…we get along well.”

“He loves you, and no amount of self-deprecating denial from you is going to change that,” she remarked, taking another drink of one of several hard seltzers she’d had that day. You knew those things barely contained alcohol, but you also had to wonder if it was contributing to her willingness to be so open. “You should let him.”

“I should let him what?” you questioned, feeling the answer in your stomach before she spoke it. 

“Love you. You should let him love you,” she replied, rolling her eyes with a soft laugh. “He seems pretty good at it.”

As you pulled your bottom lip between your teeth you turned your face away from her, noticing that the other half of this conversation’s topic had found his way back into the water alone. Finally cracking under the pressure you felt to be alone with him for even a minute you decided the ocean couldn’t be that bad, really, and made your way to the chilling water. You really didn’t want to find your way into the ocean, but if it meant time with Will, so be it.

You’d almost made your way to him when something touched your leg, sending you into an immediate panic as you made your way to him, essentially launching yourself into his arms as you screamed his name. William immediately cradled you against him, smiling down at you with an all-too amused smile.

“I’ve got you; I’ve got you,” he cooed, raising a thumbs up to the shore so no one worried after your scream before he brought that arm to hold you as well. “What’s the matter?”

“Something touched my foot,” you whined, unused to being in the ocean like this. The chuckle that rumbled through him shook his chest, his reminders to reapply sunscreen not influencing him – he’d gotten some color on his cheeks and nose. Even in your distraught state, it was impossible to not recognize how handsome he was. 

“Well, there are fish in the ocean, honeybee,” he drawled, his voice full of amusement. His nickname for you caused your stomach to flip in the most annoying way, and you felt yourself curl into him more despite yourself. “What do you want me to do, hmm? How can I fix it?” 

“I want to get out. Carry me out,” you stated, clinging to him. Whether it was him holding you that felt so good or genuine fear keeping you to him, he really couldn’t say. He nodded, but instead of going toward the shore he moved away from it, swimming out with you further. “William! I said OUT!”

“I thought you said you wanted me to take you further out!” he replied, his tone too full of amusement. You moved to wrap your legs around his waist instead, narrowing your eyes at him and setting your face to be serious, eyebrows furrowed. He wanted to lean in to kiss the lines. “Hey, hey, hey…” he cooed, turning his back to the shore and leaning his forehead against yours with a light smile. You could see the light freckles on his cheeks that the sun had brought out throughout the day, his eyes light in the fading sunlight as he gazed longingly at you. No one had ever talked to you as soft as he did. “’m not gonna let anything happen to you. You don’t need to worry about a thing as long as I am right here with you.”

His lips pressed to yours in a gentle, reassuring kiss briefly before he returned to simply leaning his head against yours. You lightly bumped your nose against his, resting your hands on his chest gently. It was impossible not to believe him. “Still not nice, William Miller.”

“I know, I just wanted you alone for a minute,” he conceded, angling his head to press a kiss to the corner of your lips. You couldn’t help but smile under his affections, maintaining that hard exterior proving difficult as his kisses chipped away at it. “I’m sorry, honey. Let me make it up to you?”

You tilted your head and raised an eyebrow in curiosity, slipping one of your hands to his bicep. “How do you plan on doing that? I was pretty distraught.”

“Let me take you home,” he offered, his eyes so sincere it hurt. He pressed a gentle kiss to your lips before he continued further. When you didn’t give him a response, he continued. “I have feelings for you.”

“Well…stop it,” slipped from your lips before you could stop it, your cheeks immediately burning at your own callousness. It was second nature to push people away now…especially Will, who was getting closer than anyone was allowed right now. Instead of being hurt, Will could only smile at your attempt. 

“Yeah?” he questioned, pressing a gentle, lingering kiss to your lips. His words came between kisses as he spoke. “You want me to stop?”

As the kisses grew deeper and you felt the warmth of arousal spreading through your body you had to shake your head, knowing he’d recognize the longing in your eyes and call your bluff if you insisted. He smiled as his hands slipped down from your sides to grasp your ass under the water, pressing you into him firmly as you shook your head and released a defeated sigh. 

“You can take me to your house,” you conceded, running your fingers through his hair as you looked at him through your lashes, devouring him with an unashamedly lascivious look. His eyes lit up even further, finally listening and carrying you closer to the shore so both of you could leave the ocean and get to his truck as soon as possible. As you wrapped yourself in a towel and gathered the items you’d brought with you in a bag you ignored her quiet giggles, unwilling to even consider the conversation Will was having with the men behind you. You supposed you owed Frankie a conversation as well on Monday. Dani called to you to have fun as you walked to Will’s truck. 

When he had you secured in his truck, he leaned to press a kiss against your lips as he buckled you in. He was a safe driver and had incredible reflexes, you reminded yourself of this frequently as he drove back with one hand rested on your thigh, kneading his fingers into the soft flesh occasionally. He pulled into his driveway sooner than he should have – he’d never speed with you in the car again – and immediately had you cradled in his arms again as he carried you into his house.

When he began to make his way up the stairs he finally spoke, trying to cover the happiness in his voice with seriousness. “You’re sure this is what you want?” You responded by reaching your head to plant kisses on his shoulder, trailing them to his neck as best you could as you nodded. As he opened his bedroom door, he gazed down at you finally, not taking another step forward just yet. “Have to hear you say it.”

“Yes, Will,” you confirmed, and those two words melted his resolve. He placed you on his bed carefully before he crawled between your legs, keeping one hand on your hip and cupping your cheek in his hand as he kissed you deeply. You returned his kiss immediately, just as desperate for him as he was for you at this point. His fingers began to work at the ties of your bottoms as he traced the seam of your mouth with his tongue, groaning appreciatively as he slipped his tongue into your mouth. When he was satisfied with the taste he’d received he released your lips, trailing his kisses to your jaw and neck as he removed the bottoms. 

His kisses trailed lower on your neck, Will fighting the urge to suck purple marks into your skin in such an obvious place. Your hands ran up his back to the back of his neck and head, holding him closer as he trailed his kisses to your chest just as he’d worked that tie free as well, removing the fabric from your body and leaving you finally bare for him. He leaned back to run his eyes down you appreciatively, one of his thumbs rubbing gently over one of your nipples slowly. 

“You look so fucking pretty in my bed,” he complimented before leaning forward again, claiming one of your nipples in his mouth with a flick of his tongue. He happily familiarized himself with each of your breasts, earning the most beautiful moans that had ever graced his ears from you as your hips pressed up into his in desperation for friction. When your hot core was met with his obvious erection in his swim trunks you moaned in unison, Will pressing his waist into you further. He released your nipple from his mouth to trail his kisses downward again as he whispered. “Bet you’re gonna taste fucking delicious mixed with salt water…”

His hand that had been holding your hip moved to spread your legs as his lips reached your hip, smiling against the skin before kissing it gently. Experimentally he spread your already soaking folds with a swipe of his fingers, groaning appreciatively as you gasped. “Will…”

“All this for me, baby?” he cooed, lowering his head to swirl his tongue around your clit before sucking the sensitive bundle of nerves lightly. “You always get this wet for me? Is this pretty pussy this wet every time I kiss you?”

You whined your confirmation as he ran his tongue through your folds, an appreciative groan rumbling in his chest as he finally tasted you. His name fell from your lips again and he nodded in encouragement before setting in on his first task of the night, devouring every inch that your hot core had to offer him. For as many times as you’d imagined Will’s head between your thighs, nothing compared to the way he tended to every inch of you, groans and grunts vibrating through his mouth as he fucked his tongue into your velvet entrance. 

He had your legs shaking on either side of his head in no time, his lips curving into a smile as he connected his thumb with your clit, continuing to swirl his tongue inside of you as best he could. When your breathing became erratic and your hands reached to grasp his hair, he knew he had you on the edge, nodding in affirmation when you warned him you were going to come. When euphoria rocked through you with a loud moan your hips arched off the bed, giving him a much better angle to appreciate the nectar he’d earned.

The ceiling above you turned to a white light as pleasure rushed through you, your moan turning to a scream when he didn’t relent at your entrance or clit, continuing to stimulate you through your orgasm. By the time he’d crawled his way back up your body and removed his trunks you had come down somewhat, only enough to be somewhat aware as he rubbed the head of his cock through your folds with a low groan. 

“I can get a condom…” he offered, whatever his full sentence was intended to be cut off as you pressed a lazy, half-aware kiss to his lips as you shook your head, quiet please leaving your lips. Briefly arguing with the responsibility of the decision he was about to make. When you quietly begged him to fuck you again all reason escaped his mind, lining his already throbbing cock at your entrance before thrusting in carefully. Your wet heat welcomed him in like you were meant to do so, the heat of your velvet channel caressing him inch by inch until he was buried in you. He groaned low in appreciation as he pressed his lips to yours in a loving kiss, stilling his movements to give you both a moment to savor the feeling of him filling you. “Better than I could have fucking imagined…”

One of his hands slid carefully up your body to rest on your cheek, pulling you closer as gently as he could to claim your lips in a kiss as he withdrew from you almost completely before thrusting back in, grunting as your walls fluttered around him. As your lips and tongues entered a dance they had done so many times now your bodies came together fully for the first, his cock massaging your walls with each of his well-purposed thrusts. You wrapped your legs around his waist to draw him in closer, holding him against you as close as his thrusts would allow you. He pulled away from the kiss to bump his nose against yours gently before running it along your cheek affectionately, placing a kiss just below his ear when he’d reached the sensitive spot. 

“Like you were made for me,” he whispered in your ear, his thrusts increasing in pace as he neared his finish much sooner than he wanted to. He reached to grasp one of your legs, sliding it so your ankle hooked over his shoulder so he could angle into you deeper. The new depths he reached pulled you closer to the edge, his thumb connecting with your clit again, causing your walls to flutter around him. 

“I’m on the pill,” you offered, feeling a second orgasm approaching you as he rubbed steady circles around your clit and the velvet head of his cock brushed against the coveted spot inside of you, sensing the end approached for him as well as his thrusts became more erratic and desperate. Your quiet suggestion pulled a groan from his chest, his head turning to claim your lips again in a messy kiss. 

“You want me to fill you up, princess? That what you’re asking me for?” he questioned between deep thrusts accompanied by deep breaths, his hand sliding from your cheek to your neck as he pressed soft kisses to your lips. “You tell me that’s what you want and I’ll give it to you. I’ll give you anything you ask for.”

You could only bring yourself to nod as you kissed him deeply, your own orgasm rushing through you as you moaned against his lips. Feeling your walls tighten around him he couldn’t hold his own release back, spilling his seed into you with a groan as he pulled away from your kiss to lean his forehead against yours. He could have told you that he was falling in love with you right then. 

As you both came down from shared euphoria he rolled to his side next to you, wrapping his arms around his waist as he went to hold you against him gently. You listened to your instincts by tucking your face into his neck, breathing in deeply to steady your breaths as Will pressed gentle kisses to the top of your head and whispered quiet praises and thank yous to you. One of your legs slid up between his to cuddle closer, your arms wrapping around his middle as your eyes slid closed. 

You probably could’ve fallen asleep right then, if his words hadn’t woken you from your peaceful lull. “I’ve got extra clothes and…we can shower before you change if you want.”

The sweet suggestion snapped you back to reality, and you forced yourself to let him know you'd have to go home now. In all honesty, it was the last thing that you wanted to do, but you were unwilling to relent just yet on your insistence to not pursue something serious. Will, of course, didn't want to tell you no because he wanted you to feel comfortable with him - he wanted you to know that he would listen to you, and support whatever you felt was best for yourself. That included you leaving him for the night, even when he wanted you more than he had any night before.

Not hearing anything about accepting a ride home from him, insistent on being independent for the night, you sent Frankie a text to grab you on his way back from the beach if he hadn't made it home already. 15 minutes later Frankie was in Will's driveway, a sympathetic look on his face as he waved to the younger man through the windshield as you climbed into the truck.

Will watched silently as the truck backed out of the driveway and you disappeared down the street, mentally vowing to himself that he would willingly spend as long as you needed waiting.

When November’s curtain call came and the evening chill of December rolled in, you’d found your match with William Miller, who was acting by his promise and providing you with consistency, with reverent tenderness. No matter what distance you tried to maintain from him he was just as unrelenting, finding ways through your obstacles day after day. He never pushed, never overstepped, but he was always there, ever willing to cherish you in entirety whenever given the chance. Lately those opportunities had grown, proliferating into prolonged post-coital kisses and embraces that could hardly be passed off as anything less than adoration any longer.

Falling wasn’t enough to describe the feeling – falling was too subtle. A plummeting nosedive, a cascade…an avalanche, a crashing meteor – so consuming it swallowed you until all that was left was Will, his affections blanketing you with unwavering warmth.

“Honeybee!” Will called as he entered through the front door, the sound of him removing his boots and setting them by the door causing you to smile as you crushed candy canes in the kitchen. All your meetings had been reserved for his home but today you’d offered to host him and his friends at your farmhouse for dinner – Christmas Eve dinner.

“In here, Will,” you replied from your place at the counter, taking a deep breath as you started sprinkling the candy canes atop the cupcakes you made for dessert. An immediate advantage to having Will in your home was the sound of the creaking floor beneath his large frame – even without shoes – meant you could hear him coming behind you. “Don’t mess me up, Will. This is serious business.”

A laugh rumbled through him as he delicately wrapped his arms around your waist anyway, resting his chin on your shoulder for a moment before turning inward, burrowing his face in your neck with a deep breath. He pressed a gentle kiss behind your ear, assessed your response, and then repeated the motion when he realized you remained focused on your task, smiling into your skin lightly. When you finished you slid the cupcake stand back further on the counter for safety before turning in his arms, a playful smile lighting your features. It was only now Will noticed what remained of a candy cane in your mouth, his mind spinning already at the thought of what your lips must taste like now.

“Did I mess you up?” he questioned, leaning forward to press his lips to your forehead with a quiet hum of appreciation as your arms found their way around his neck, not before your hands slid over his chest. He opted to forego the ugly sweater party – you knew that was coming – but he did at least wear a red sweater, the color bringing out the coolness of his eyes. Even in the winter he was managing to keep up plenty of color, but not enough to hide the redness to his cheeks as you held his gaze.

Sometimes he couldn’t decide if it was better you could hold his eye contact now or not – he still hadn’t grown used to feeling somewhat embarrassed just under a woman’s gaze. The way you removed the candy from your mouth          with a pop and placed it in the trash behind you certainly didn’t help.

“Nearly, but I’ll let it slide seeing as it’s Christmas and all,” your fingers found their way into his hair, pulling him closer so you could press your lips to his in a gentle kiss. One thing he would never grow accustomed to was the clench in his heart whenever you initiated affection – some of his favorite kisses sparked by you.

“Christmas Eve, honeybee,” he replied when you released him, pressing a kiss to his cheek as best you could from standing on your toes. He tightened his hold on your waist to hold you against him tighter, relishing in your attention and uncaring about the inevitable mess that would transfer from your apron to him.

“Mm, you look handsome in this little red number, Will,” you teased, bringing more color to his cheeks. It was too easy for you now – you loved it.

“I wore it just for you,” he drawled, seeking out another taste of peppermint on your lips with a gentle kiss. The fact that you knew that was true only made your chest swell more.

“Well, you’ll have to wear something else for me, too, since technically…you are out of dress code,” you remarked, eyebrow raised slightly in a manner he knew to be playful. Whatever you had in store he would play along with, as long as it meant this mood you were in would continue, particularly with how the two of you had left things last time – an argument that had been eating at both of you for days.

"You’ll have to make a decision sooner or later,” he’d stated as he leaned against his truck in the parking lot after one of Benny’s fights, trying to appear much cooler on the outside than he was on the inside where frustration bubbled under his skin. He’d slipped – called you his girlfriend, and it had been too much of a reality check for you to handle. Despite his harshness he reached a hand toward you, beckoning you closer – you did not follow.   A wild animal backed into a corner – hissing and feral and scared. So many questions remained in his mind about why it was so hard for you to accept love, but he’d never push for those answers. You’d give them freely in your own time. The topic at hand remained to be that Will had spent weeks earning your affection, and while he was patient, it had been worn somewhat thin. “We don’t spend the night together…months now and I’ve never woken up next to you,” he continued, eyebrows pulling together as he crossed his arms again. “And if that’s not frustrating enough, I can’t even slip and call you my girlfriend – to my brother – without you getting upset. I’m doing everything I can here, I just need you to give a little back. Anything.”   Your lip had quivered, tears pricking at your eyes. Will hated to see you that way, hated to have caused it – it would gnaw at him in the days that followed, as would all the words that followed, so unimportant now. As much as the argument shredded his heart day after day the same was true for you – perhaps if he knew how guilty you felt because you were still resisting what was right in front of you, he could have gone easier on you.

Even now the guilt festered.

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, unwilling to spark any sort of disagreement today. You reached behind you to the counter to grab a Santa hat before lifting it onto his head, smiling a sweet smile before flattening his hands against your lower back to pull you closer. He offered you a smile in return, withholding any fussing about the hat as his eyes met yours again. One of his hands left its position to lift to your cheek, callused fingers lightly dusting across your cheekbones. “I’m sorry about Friday night, honey. I shouldn’t be pushing you like that��I knew what I asked for when I asked for it.”

It was in your nature to lean your head toward his hand, your eyes drifting shut briefly to enjoy the moment. You only met his gaze again when you’d chosen your response, words leaving your lips quiet and sincere. “I’m the one who should be sorry, Will,” you sighed, leaning forward to lay your head on his chest, calmed by the familiar rhythm of his heart. “I do need to make a decision, you were right.”

“Yeah, but I…lost my temper. I raised my voice,” he rested his hand that had been on your cheek on the back of your head, stroking your hair and internally smiling at the streaks of flour leftover from your day in the kitchen. “I should never do that to you, there’s no excuse.”

“Apology accepted,” you whispered, burying your face into his chest to inhale the smell of him – saltwater and oak, subtle and resolute. He leaned to press a kiss to the top of your head, holding you for a moment before the day needed to continue. “Can you help me get the star on the tree and put presents underneath while I set the table? Dinner should be done by the time everyone else shows.”

He nodded, pressing a final kiss to your forehead before releasing you so you could get back to work. “You know at least one of ‘em will be late.”

“I included an extra twenty minutes on the cooking time to accommodate,” you quipped back cheerfully, removing your apron and hanging it on its rightful hook, giving the kitchen one final look over to ensure nothing was forgotten before setting off into the living room, remarking how Will needed to hurry because you had everything planned to the minute.

He’d never been more certain he loved you.

“Why’d you get a tree you couldn’t reach the top of, shortcake?”

You turned to throw him a look, cheeks burning with heat despite the amused smile that broke out across your face. He returned it with one of his own, straightening the Santa hat on his head before walking over to where you stood by the tree. He adored the mood you were in today, and wondered briefly if you were this way every Christmas. Your playful tone had returned. “Size does matter with some things, love. No one wants a wants a tiny tree with no needles.”

It wasn’t the first time that nickname had slipped, yet his chest still tightened. He wrapped his arms around you again, unable to resist pressing a kiss to your forehead as he pulled you in close before lifting you up so you could situate the star atop the tree. Satisfied with the state of the living room you tasked Will with starting the fireplace, putting music on via the record player in the living room, and lighting some candles while you finished cooking.

It was easy being domestic with you.

Everyone’s arrivals staggered from there forward. Benny arrived next, early and eager to spend time with his brother, with an arm slung around Dani, smiling and remarking how fantastic your house was before giving himself a tour. By the way his eyes kept raking over her you could only assume they found a hallway to defile. Dani joined you soon after with a smile and offered to help in the kitchen, which you accepted with some relief.

As Will and Ben broke into a bottle of bourbon and eggnog (Benny had threatened not to come if there was no eggnog available), Santiago showed up – surprisingly not in an ugly sweater after weeks of talking trash about how his was going to put yours to shame. You opted not to even bring it up given the expression on his face – today was clearly not the day to pick at Pope – and instead greeted him with a sweet smile instead. Frankie was last – really to no one’s surprise – and everyone had found a seat at the table as you loaded it up with food.

Santiago had jokingly requested an entire turkey – the largest one you could find – perhaps as a challenge, and you’d agreed to make it without second thought. Frankie was simple and asked for macaroni and cheese, Benny sheepishly requested sweet potatoes and dinner rolls, while Dani was sensible and requested “any kind of vegetable.” Will had shown his sweet tooth by requesting something sweet for dinner, hence the cupcakes you’d finished earlier.

“This looks incredible,” Benny complimented, pulling his eyes away from the food in front of him to look toward where you sat at the head of the table. Frankie and Dani both voiced quick words of agreement while Santi nodded, checking his phone quickly. “You have to give a toast.”

“Oh, no,” you laughed, waving your hand dismissively as you shook your head. Your face burned so badly you felt like all your head had become was a flaming ball. “No one wants to hear me do a toast, seriously. Dig in before it gets cold.”

Ben crossed his arms and Frankie’s face set into concrete resolution. It was the younger Miller who spoke, tone unwavering and serious. You weren’t entirely sure you’d heard him be so serious before…even before his fights. “We’re not eating until a toast is given.”

“Will can give a toast,” slipped from your mouth, nervousness causing the words to spill freely – maybe a little too freely. With a nervous laugh you continued. “He’s basically the man of the house.”

Will’s eyes noticeably widened up at you to your right, his mouth falling open slightly in surprise as his cheeks mirrored the fire in your own. Ben’s head snapped toward Will, giving a light smirk as his brother stood, never pulling his eyes from your face as he lifted his glass from the table.

The toast he gave was short, and yet he still struggled to make it through its entirety. Several times he cleared his throat, feeling the tingle in his tear ducts that threatened to pour with each passing moment, each beat of his heart causing a tightness in his chest.

“And…” he began the final sentence, releasing a shaking breath as he looked around the table. His eyes settled back to you like it was the most natural place in the world for them to be. You reached out to where one of his hands grasped the edge of the table, sliding your hand atop his and giving a gentle squeeze. The simple act spurred him through the rest of his speech. “And here’s to hopefully many more Christmases with all of us together.”

Dinner went smoothly from there, the table’s mood lighthearted and happy as everyone ate, light conversations being passed around – which included stories from both Will and Ben about their Christmases growing up and the trouble they used to get themselves into. Once the table was clear the group relocated into the living room to sit around the tree to complete the Secret Santa gift exchange you’d all planned.

Santi gave Frankie the gift he’d gotten him first – a new fishing pole, a hat (it was the same one he’d always worn, just a new version – you had to wonder how many times he’d been gifted the exact hat), and a pack of new socks. Frankie was enthralled by each of them, saying they’d have to plan a trip soon. As a result Frankie went next, handing Danielle her gift in a bag (he’d tried to wrap it, truly…he gave up when half the roll had been used). Danielle’s face lit up at the various candles and candy inside the bag and waved the spa trip for two pass in your direction with a smile.

Dani gifted Santi with tickets to a concert he’d been complaining for weeks he didn’t secure tickets to, which brought his trademark soft smile to his face as he thanked her profusely. Not before multiple comments were made about how the group hoped there was seating in the venue, so he didn’t have to stand on his shitty knees the entire time, you announced you’d go next since Santi had already handed out his gift. Passing a sizeable box to Ben with a wink and a smile you leaned back against the fireplace, watching as the younger Miller tore into it with excitement.

“You did not get me an original Nintendo 64,” he exclaimed, eyes wide as he pulled the old console out of the box. As Will watched on his chest tightened as you smiled at Ben, the word family seeming to repeat itself in his mind.

“You’ve been complaining about how the new model isn’t the same,” you explained with a shrug, taking a drink of the cider you held in your hand. “I can’t wait to kick your ass in Mario Party.”

“Next weekend, you’re on. Hope you’re not a sore loser,” he smirked, digging through the games that littered the bottom of the box as well. Wrapped up in admiring his gift he almost forgot to pass the envelope he was holding to his own brother with a playful smile. Will laughed – your heart swelled – and as he opened the envelope, he shot his brother a smile. “I know we usually say no gift cards…but you’re impossible to buy for. Figured you could use it on dinner or…somethin’.”

The brothers shared another knowing look and smile before Will reached out to pat his back, mentally noting to give him a proper hug when they weren’t sitting later. Which left Will to give the gift he’d purchased for the only person that remained without…you.

He moved closer to you on the couch, draping an arm around your shoulders and pulling you in close as he slipped his phone from his pocket, glancing down at you first to offer you a smile. “So, you’ve been saying that you miss the snow…”

As his sentence trailed, he turned his phone screen so you could see it, the sight of a small, warm-looking cabin surrounded by snow and pine trees filling your eyes. You turned your head to look up at him, eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion and questioning as your mouth opened briefly. Will beat you to talking.

“Now, obviously…I didn’t buy it, but I did rent it for a weekend…next month when there still should be plenty of snow,” he offered, crystalline eyes transfixed on yours as he spoke. “I thought we could take a nice trip…together, especially since that weekend will be your anniversary of going to rehab. It’s big enough for people to join –“

“Not a single one of us wants to be in that cabin with you two that weekend,” Santiago interrupted, quickly dismissing the thought with a shake of his head.

“…no offense, of course.” Frankie chimed in, elbowing his best friend.

“Oh, full offense intended,” Ben joined in, his words chased by a laugh. “You two in a cold ass log cabin somewhere in the fuckin’ Rockies? Count all of us out.”

Your cheeks burned at their teasing and yet you couldn’t bring yourself to look away from Will, your bottom lip pulling between your teeth briefly as you grasped his hand gently. There were a lot of words that ran through your mind in appreciation – three not-so-little ones squeaking quietly in the back of your mind. You tried to silence them – something you had to do often now. It was getting more and more difficult to do.

Everyone else was ignored, even their taunting. As was so often the case, it was only you and Will.

“Thank you,” you whispered quietly, melting at the gentle curve of his lips. Without thinking you leaned upward to kiss him once quickly and gently, a small action that quickly silenced the group. They knew it happened, but seeing it was far different than hearing about it.

It was thanks enough for Will.

Now the gifts had all been received you excused yourself to gather plates and cupcakes from the kitchen. Once everyone had plates with multiple cupcakes each, it was time to watch a movie – the choice of which was yours.

The movie you chose really didn’t matter – your focus was almost entirely on Will. Taking the loveseat close to the fire, Will had his arms wrapped around you tightly seemingly from the moment you’d sat down, pulling you back against his strong chest to support you while he balanced a plate of cupcakes on his knee. He left no room for you to protest such an obvious display of affection, keeping one arm slung around your shoulder and seemingly pulling you closer and closer by the second.

After everyone had eaten their cupcakes and really settled in, you had to wonder if the other men and woman in the room minded the state you found yourself in with Will. His arm remained around your shoulders, your hand reaching up to lace your fingers with his…which allowed you the ability to press kisses to his fingers with ease. Several times Will turned your head, to press a gentle kiss to your lips, your nose, your forehead…smiling earnestly each time and pulling at your heart.

Halfway through the movie Will leaned to whisper in your ear, his breath hot against the shell. The mint lingering on his to his breath and huskiness in his voice send a chill up your spine – you knew he felt it when a quiet chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Let’s split the other cupcake on the plate.”

You turned your head to flash him an amused look, raising an eyebrow. “That’ll be your third one.”

“We’re splitting it,” he defended with a shrug of his shoulders, his other hand reaching for the aforementioned plate on the table beside the couch. “It doesn’t count.”

“Mm,” you smiled, taking the cupcake to unwrap it before taking a slow bite. When you offered it to him his eyes flashed with a look entirely indecent for company, his voice lower as he held your gaze. A subtle shake to his head confirmed what your mind had already begun to infer. “Gimme a bite.”

You fed him a bite slowly, eyes locked with his as you pulled your bottom lip between your teeth slightly, watching his pink tongue dart out to run along his bottom lip to collect the peppermint icing there. He offered another smile with an appreciative hum

“Would you two get a room?” Benny questioned over the movie, shooting his older brother a playful look. He wasn’t serious, he truly didn’t mind seeing his older brother finally loosen up a bit and be happy – but that didn’t mean he couldn’t give him hell. It was, after all, the responsibility of being a younger sibling.

“They’re all my rooms, Benjamin,” you taunted, shooting the man a bright smile that Will took the moment to cherish. Taking another bite of the cupcake with a smirk on his lips he opted to settle back in then, wrapping his arms around you and resting his chin on the top of your head.

The two of you remained that way for the rest of the movie, his arms clutching you against his chest and rubbing gentle circles on your stomach occasionally. There was nothing stopping him from pressing kisses to the top of your head, either – which he considered fair, given that you were irresistible this close to him.

Santiago cleared out first in a haste, jaw clenching through his goodbyes which he seemed less-than-focused on as he checked his phone’s screen several more times. It was then that you offered a room to anyone who wanted to stay, which was quickly shot down by both Ben and Frankie who shared a knowing look.

“We do not want to be in this house when your…canoodling escalates,” Ben asserted, glancing between his older brother and you, who were now standing a few steps further from Will in an attempt to be less obvious. It was far too late for that.

With a hug and kiss on the cheek from Frankie and a promise to call you tomorrow, Dani gave you a gentle hug which was quickly contrasted by a crushing hug from Ben, who then only had to hug his brother goodbye before the two of you were alone. Will immediately wrapped his arms around you when the front door was shut, pulling you into his chest while releasing a deep breath.

He loved his brothers – but solitude with you was bliss.

“Let’s go clean up that kitchen,” he began, pausing his sentence mid-way through to press a kiss to your forehead. “Get it over with so we don’t have to worry about it, darlin’.”

You’d do almost anything he asked so long as he asked in that molasses thick tone.

You pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, teasing him by pulling away slowly with a light smile on your face before you removed yourself from his arms, making your way to the kitchen with him following. When you began to run the sink to fill it you glanced to watch him lean against the counter to wait, his arms crossed like he was trying to control himself. Following his gaze your eyes landed on the cupcakes that remained (you’d made extra knowing he would be this way), and a smile passed over your features.

“I see you eyeballing those cupcakes, Mister Miller,” you teased, smiling further when he turned to you with red cheeks and a bashful gaze. You leaned across the counter to grab one, taking a slow bite as your eyes stayed on his. He wasn’t quite sure the cupcake was so important anymore. “C’mere and share this one with me before we do the dishes.”

He was good at following orders.

He didn’t need to tell you to feed him bites this time, you gladly taking up the task with adoration pooling in your eyes as you fed him almost the entire cupcake. He offered you a gentle smile as you reached upward to remove icing from the corner of his lips, popping the digit into your mouth with an appreciative hum before handing him the kitchen towel.

“I’ll clean, you dry.”

The rhythm the two of you entered was the same as every other way the two of you seemed to effortlessly fit together these days. Will could reach cabinets you couldn’t which made the task go much faster, and while he found himself quietly humming seasonal songs you soaked in the relaxation the sound brought.

“Today was good, yeah?” Will questioned from beside you, drying off another dish before placing it in its rightful place in the cabinet. “I think that’s the best Christmas this group has managed in years.”

“Benny said he’s going to pay me to make him those cupcakes every week. That Miller sweet tooth is something fierce,” you joked, rinsing out another glass. His cheeks reddened at your teasing. “Did you talk to Santiago? Something was up with him, he looked at his phone at least twenty times an hour, and he was bragging for weeks that his ugly sweater would put me to shame and then he just…didn’t wear one.”

“Mm,” he mused, taking another glass from you to dry it. “Pope is doing a poor job at keeping a secret he thinks he’s doing a great job at. He’s on edge.”

“Doesn’t he know better than to try to keep secrets from you?” you questioned, handing the last dish and turning to fix your attention on him as he dried it. At some point, damn him, he’d rolled the sleeves of his sweater up, and he looked so natural in your home it was starting to make you feel sentimental. Whole. “But today was great. We did a good job.”

“We, like I had hardly anything to do with it,” he hummed, smiling lightly as he put the dish away before leaning on the counter with his hip to face you. “It was practically all you. But…I’ve been telling you we make a good team.”

He reached out his hand gently toward you, pulling you closer to him to press a kiss to your forehead, not expecting a response. Wrapping your arms around his waist you stepped in as close as you could, resting your head on his chest and closing your eyes. He held onto you tightly, shifting to lean his back against the counter to hold you closer. Flashes of the day spent together ran through both of your minds –you’d sat in his lap on the couch in front of everyone – because the living room didn’t have enough seats (lie) – but the feeding him bites of your cupcake was entirely optional.

Will loved you. It was a fact that was growing harder and harder to ignore by the day, the ache in his chest growing every time he heard your name or saw your face.  He didn’t want to say his next words, but he had grown so used to them – so used to this routine now that he accepted when they needed to be said.

“It’s getting late. I should probably head out, before the idiots get out on the road.”

It was a long pause, putting William on edge for a moment as he waited for your words. Even hesitation like this wasn’t normal for you. Your voice was soft, slightly wavering as you tilted your head back to look up at him.

“I don’t remember asking you to leave.”

Will paused, brief confusion flashing on his face before he smiled lightly, clearing his throat as he gave a slight nod. He was truly doing his best not to look overjoyed, though that’s exactly what he felt. “Are you asking me to stay, honeybee?”

“I thought it’d be a good Christmas present.”

“Maybe the best one I’ve ever gotten,” he smiled, leaning closer to brush his lips over yours again. His hands slid lower, pulling you closer to press a kiss to your lips gently. You couldn’t help but smile into the kiss, at his desperation to be close to you now that the two of you were alone, and his poor attempt at hiding how happy he was. His hands slipping lower still he ran his fingers over your thighs, eyes searching your face for a response. You were getting far too good at the poker face you’d developed against him.

“Are you trying to take me up to bed this quickly, Ironhead?” you cooed, looking up at him with a hooded gaze through your lashes. You hoped your face remained straight despite the burn that surged toward your core – feeling a bit proud of yourself again as you noticed him swallow hard. “You’ll miss out on the matching pajamas I picked up for us…”

“I’ve waited all day,” he pointed out, dragging one of his hands upward to push your skirt up, trailing kisses down your neck and chest. You grasped the edge of the counter to steady yourself, his eyes glancing up into yours again as he began to sink to his knees, using one of his hands to lift your leg over his shoulder. “I’m still starving.”

An embarrassingly wanton moan fell from your lips, one of your hands reaching to slide your fingers through his hair as his hand slid up your thigh to push your underwear to the side. “Is this what you thought about all day, Will?”

“You know it is. That little stunt you pulled earlier wasn’t very nice,” he drawled, eyes hungrily running over your already soaked cunt. “Look how wet you are for me, honeybee. You’ve been thinking about me today too, haven’t you? You sweet thing.”

You whimpered as he ran his fingers through your folds, his lips curving upward into a light smile as he taunted you slightly – waiting for you to answer. “Thought about me all day and now you can’t stop talking.”

He chuckled as he leaned forward, running his flattened tongue through your folds with a low groan as you rocked your core against his face, his nose bumping your clit and causing you to moan. He set in on his task then, satiating the hunger he still felt by licking and sucking and kissing every inch of your sex he could, relishing in your fingers tangling into his hair as you threw your head back with a moan. “God, this is a Christmas present…” The muffled laugh he released vibrated through you, the sensation causing you to buck your core into his face with a gasp as you pulled his hair slightly. “Fuck, William, you’re so fucking…so good at that.”

He removed his mouth from fucking his tongue into your entrance to smile up at you crookedly, his lips and facial hair glistening with your arousal. Slipping a finger into your tight channel he turned his head to press a gentle kiss to your inner thigh. “Love when you tell me how good I make you feel.”

He began to thrust his finger into you as he connected his mouth with your clit, giving the sensitive nub a flick with his tongue before sucking it gently. You whined his name quietly, keeping a hold on his hair as you moved your aching core against his face and hand, already desperate for more. He groaned against your skin with a particularly slow swipe of his tongue, adding a second finger to begin to stretch you.

The tips of his fingers massaged against your walls perfectly each time he pushed them back into you, particularly against the perfectly blinding spot behind your clit. You cried out, hands grasping his hair to steady yourself as you rutted against his mouth desperately. His tongue circled around your clit again, one hand slipping behind you to cup your ass and hold you against him closer, his blue eyes still burning up at you.

“Fuck, Will, I…” you began, words trailing off with an uptick in pitch as your thigh began to shake behind his head. Ensuring he tightened his hold on you he nodded, flicking his tongue against your clit with more fervor. Not long after you moaned his name again loudly, your eyes rolling back as heat rushed through you.

He removed his fingers but continued to lap at your folds, groaning appreciatively at the taste of your release coating his tongue. When he’d drank enough of you down he began to kiss up your body again, holding you close by the hips with one hand and undoing his belt and pants with the other as his lips connected with yours again. You tasted yourself on his tongue and – damn it – all of the cupcakes he’d eaten that lingered as well. After pushing his pants and briefs to the floor and kicking them aside.

Before he could lift you to the counter you broke the kiss, trailing your kisses down his neck before sucking a light mark above his collarbone with a smile. His chest rumbled with a groan, his hands slipping to your lower back to hold you closer. Your hands moved to hold his shoulders, applying pressure to encourage him to swap positions with you, smiling as you looked up at him through heavy lashes.

“Where you goin’, honeybee?” he asked, voice heavy as he reached his hands toward you again. Widening your smile you reached to wrap your fingers around his hardened length, eyes flashing with adoration when his hips jolted forward to meet your touch, a low groan sounding in his chest again. As you continued to rub along his length you sank to your knees, not breaking eye contact as you ran your tongue along the slit of his velvet head to taste the precum leaking from him already. His hands immediately grasped behind your head, fingers lacing into your hair. “Fuck.”

You removed your hand, running your nails down his thigh lightly as your tongue traced the thick vein on his cock, a light smile tugging at your lips when he moaned out another profanity. You continued to lick up and down his length and suck only on the head briefly, enjoying the frustrated huff to his breath that grew as you teased him slightly.

His usual sense of self control was obliterated by his need to feel the warmth of your mouth around his length. Before you could pull your lips free of him again he grasped your hair tighter, holding you in place as he slipped more of his length into your mouth. “Do you like teasing me, sweet thing?” You moaned in affirmation around his length, managing to run your tongue around as much of his length as you could manage. He pushed more of his length into your mouth, head falling back briefly before he corrected himself, eyes meeting yours again. “This is what you want? For me to fuck your mouth?”

You moaned again and he took his command, thrusting his length into your mouth greedily and with almost embarrassing speed. He seldom got to enjoy the feeling of your mouth around his length as he’d always opt to bury himself in your tight cunt before he got the chance, but on these occasions when you insisted – when you wanted him to bruise your throat – he was never one to resist. When his velvet head hit the back of your throat and you gagged slightly he huffed out a deep, sustained groan as his cheeks flushed, one of his hands moving from your hair to cup your cheek and stroke it gently.

It only encouraged you further.

You reached your own hand to cup his balls, fondling them gently as he began to thrust repeatedly into your mouth – gentle as he could manage in his clouded mind. “Fuck, baby…” he began, hitting the back of your throat again and holding your hair slightly tighter to keep you in place for a moment. “God, you’re doing so good. You look so pretty. Going to make you feel so fucking good soon.”

You moaned around his length which spurred him to brush your cheek again before he returned to fucking your mouth, some part of his brain keening at the sight of you drooling around his length. He may have been a clean freak, but there were some messy sights when it came to you that he loved.

He continued to praise you while he enjoyed your mouth, lasting for several more thrusts before he removed his cock from your mouth, gently tugging you upward to your feet again. “Let me fuck you right here. I can’t wait for the bedroom.”

There was something so intrinsically commanding – and sexy – about his tone that had you scrambling to allow him to lift you onto the counter, removing your skirt and underwear and tossing them to the pile with his pants as you went. “You’re fucking me in every room in this house, William Miller. This is just the start.”

He used his hand gently to raise one of your legs and hook it over his shoulder, his other hand fisting his cock to smear your remaining spit around his length as he groaned at your words. Leaning forward he lined his cock up with your tight entrance, releasing his length to grab the hand towel on the counter beside you, holding the fabric behind your head gently as he pressed a kiss to your lips gently.

“Don’t want you hitting your head,” he explained before beginning to push his throbbing cock into your velvet walls, groaning deeply as he leaned his forehead against yours with his eyes screwed shut in concentration. You leaned your head back, grateful for the cushion of the towel and his hand rather than the cabinet as you gasped, keening at the feeling of his cock splitting you open again.

When he’d bottomed out in you he stilled for a moment, kissing you again deeply and hungrily as he enjoyed the feeling of being fully wrapped up in you again. When he released you from the kiss he lowered his head to burrow into your neck, breathing in the smell of you deeply as he began to thrust into you carefully, perfectly. Even with you on a counter he knew the perfect angles to enter you, each thrust knocking the head of his cock against either the spongey spot that made you moan or your cervix, which always made you cry out his name.

It was impossible for him to say which he preferred.

After thrusting slowly and carefully for a while, enjoying the steady beat of your heart against his chest and your pulse beneath his lips. He raised his head to kiss you again, picking up the pace as his tongue danced across your bottom lip again, a deep groan sounding in his chest when your walls fluttered around him. He was unwilling to release you from the kiss fully so he muttered against your lips – how beautiful you were, how good you felt, how wonderful you sounded moaning for him, how fucking perfect you were…

He was burrowing into your mind and heart now. You were letting him.

You intentionally clenched your walls around him slightly, wrapping your other leg around his waist to force him deeper into you, pulling what was practically a growl from his chest. His hand on your hip grasped tighter as he gave several deep, pointed, slow thrusts, his forehead falling to lean against yours as he released a shaky breath.

“Wanna fill you up again,” he breathed out desperately, fingertips digging into you roughly as his pace became sloppy. “Can’t stop thinking about seeing my cum leak out of your pretty pussy.”

“Will, fuck…” you moaned again, hands grasping his shoulders to help ground yourself somewhat, feeling the building pressure again and knowing euphoria approached. His hand left your hip to slide lower, his thumb rubbing quick circles around your sensitive bundle of nerves to coax you over the edge.

“You like that? You like hearing me talk about filling you up, my love?”

“Yes, Will, fuck, f-f-fu-fucking love it,” you moaned out, your eager-to-please tone scratching an itch in his brain and causing his pace to increase – he now pounded into you relentlessly, knowing full well you wouldn’t walk well tomorrow. He’d be here to care for you anyway.

“I know ya do,” he groaned, nipping at your bottom lip lightly. “Means you’re mine.

”You could only nod up at him as your lips stayed open, eyelids heavy. He managed a light smile at the sight, losing himself in the fantasy of filling you so often that one day it would really take and that the two of you would fill this big farmhouse with a family – one day, he thought. For now, he could at least enjoy claiming your womb in practice.

Your orgasm washed over you quickly and powerfully, walls tightening down around his cock causing him to stay buried to the hilt as you cried out his name loudly, eyes rolling back. He ground his waist against you best he could with your tight, hot walls spasming around him until his own release came, ropes of his hot seed spilling into you. He kissed you throughout your orgasms, pulling you in closer to his chest to have you as flush against him as possible.

He continued to kiss you repeatedly, gently, reverently, worshipful as both of you came down from your shared high.

“You still want me to stay?” he questioned quietly against your lips when both of you seemed to have your breath returned to normal. You offered a gentle smile, pressing a kiss against his bottom lip – it was lazy, tired. Some of his favorite kisses from you were such – when you had no energy left and you still tried to give it to him.

“Only if you carry me to bed, soldier.”

He smiled – one of his pure and genuine smiles – as he scooped you up into his arms bridal style, holding you closer to his chest as he nodded. Flipping the lights off, Will began to exit the kitchen to make his way to share your bed for the first time, before a final thought ran through his mind. For a moment he questioned if he should voice the thoughts – but he knew you wouldn’t judge him.

“…You want me to grab more of those cupcakes before we go up?”

full masterlist. triple frontier masterlist.

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[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne Chapter 5

A/N: I'm not even sure why this took so long to get out. I have no concept of time or anything tbh but I'm not dead so that's great.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Warnings: Bad spelling, violence, bad grammar, smut.

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Chapter 4

Word Count: 6649

Chapter 5

Secret secrets

The servants seemed to have vanished for whatever reason, and her brother and father appeared to be missing once more. She didn't want to sit in her thoughts and spiral without the facts, so she took one of the Dothraki children's stories, a translated dictionary, and a journal to sit in the garden. Her plans to educate herself were short-lived, as she instead went to look at the clouds and fell asleep under the morning sun.

Around midday, a shadow fell over her. She shifted her gaze away from the sun to allow her eyes to adjust, then up at the figure, patiently waiting for her to fully awaken.

“I was starting to believe that you no longer had an interest in me.” She looked up into his bright blue eyes with a frown. 

"That, my dear, would be impossible.” She sat up to accommodate him, taking note of the small box in his hand but feigning a lack of interest. He sat to her left, holding out a hand, which she ignored, but was still staring right at her. “You command my full attention. How am I supposed to think about the duties I have when in your presence?” 

She softened at his words, “There will come a day where your flattery won’t work.”

“And clearly that day is not today.”

She chuckled, unconsciously leaning into him, glancing discreetly at the box. He caught her gaze and smiled to himself.

“A gift for my lady.” He presented the box to her, simple and made from wood. There was no extravagant and detailed engraving, only the clear hand of an amateur wood carver. 

She took the box from him slowly, twisting it in her hand before slowly sliding open the top panel. There was a simple ring inside, cushioned by what appeared to be silk. The ring was silver and in the shape of a sun. There was a shallow engraving of a snake in the middle of the sun,  but aside from that, the band was plain. 

“It is truly beautiful, Jaquen.”

“Consider it a promise as well as a representation of a formal question.” He said while she put the ring on the middle finger of her left hand. 

“What promise?”

He let out a small hum, looking at the deep smile on her face before answering. "A promise that whenever I see or feel the sun, I will think of you, and, of course, this is me formally asking you to be my life partner and wife."

“Have you spoken to my father?”

“I will ask your permission first. It is a union; of course, I want you to be willing.” She put the box, which was still in her left hand, on her lap and turned to face him. His eyes were wide and his smile soft. There was a certain type of vulnerability that she hadn’t seen on anyone before. 

"The only answer is yes," she took his hand in hers, closing her palms around his larger ones while maintaining eye contact. Take me to your home and show me your culture, freedom, and world. I am and will always be wanting and willing."

He let out a quick sigh, smiling and looking away from her. He muttered something under his breath, but it didn’t appear to be the common language. He cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers.

The lady jerked backwards slightly before leaning into him. She put a hand on his shoulder and caressed the back of his head with her other hand, tangling it in his hair. He pulled her toward him. They were so close, she thought she could hear his heart beating in time with hers. 

She pulled back slightly and hiked her dress up so that she could straddle his thighs. She pulled him again into a searing kiss, her hands braced on his shoulders. He leaned back a little too far and lost his balance, falling onto the soft grass. She giggled and gave him a soft peck, rolling off of him and looking up at the clouds. 

“Please, tell me about your travels. Tell me what you have already told me and what you have not.” She looked at him with a genuine interest, head cocked to the side, watching his lips with a small smile. 

“In due time, my love. Let me first ask you how your time was spent here without me.”

She sighed and shifted her gaze away from him, not quite in annoyance, but close. “Oberyn is to have another child.”

“Congratulations, he already has one?” The smile that had vanished so easily returned. 

“Two, this will be his third. I think a girl, yet again. I believe that man is incapable of producing boys.”

“And how do you feel?” His words were slow, and his eyes held a kindness that lacked the judgement of a normal man. 

"Of course I'm delighted; this is a new beginning for both him and me. I hope we can settle easily into this new dynamic.” She hoped to convey how much she meant that, but he watched so carefully that she was sure he saw the slight twitch in her smile. She trusted that he would see that as nervousness and not irritation. 

He made a note to himself to ask her again at another time and opted to change the subject instead, “You don’t think it is too soon?”

“Too soon?” She sat up on her left elbow and waited for him to laugh, though when he did not, she giggled and leaned into him, saying, "If my father was to have any say, we would have been formally engaged after our second meeting. Things that are right, that are fate, never come too soon; they only come when the time is just right."

“It sounds like there is much to be learned about your customs, and I look forward to discovering every part that is important to you.” 

She beamed down at him, not noticing how close she had ended up to him, not noting the way his eyes travelled to her lips, and definitely not feeling the light touch of his left hand tracing soft circles on her hip. The only thing she could concentrate on was the promise of his previous words, the pledge to always make an effort with her. She was unsure of what it was about the notion of something so basic that caused her to become lost in images of their future, her eyes fixed on the sea blue hue of his in the waning sun. 

He recognised the look in her eyes—the undercurrent of lust that she, herself, likely did not notice. “My love, the nights these days are cold, I wish for you not to become ill.”

“Jaqen, do you not want me?”

“Is my ring not proof enough?”

"No, but do you not want me?” 

He thought about teasing her with his faux ignorance of her feelings for a little longer, but decided against it. “I only want you; I will only ever want you, but I wish not to disrespect you until I’ve spoken to your father.”

“You will not be disrespecting me. We are not like the others in this kingdom, and I will not be tainted. It is not improper.”

“It would be improper of me not to talk to your father before we join our energies and spirits.” She conceded at that, nodding slowly but still bending down further so that her lips ghosted him.

He closed the distance and kissed her softly, letting their mouths move in languid and quiet motions, pulling her so that she was completely atop him. He let his hands wander conservatively, caressing the small of her back but stopping just before meeting her ass. She let her tongue run across his bottom lip, and he opened his mouth to accommodate her. A hand snaked up to the nape of her neck, and before she knew it, their positions were reversed, Jaqen trapping her on the ground. His lips swallowed her gasp, and his hair tickled her cheeks.

He jerked away, sitting up with his legs on either side of her. He was breathing hard but still took both his hands to the side of her face to kiss her again. She couldn't place the emotion in that kiss—not quite lust but also a certain type of desperation. He once again pulled away and leaned over her, tucking his hair behind his ears. 

“I fear I cannot kiss you any longer. You truly are intoxicating.” She looked up at him with a soft smile, running a finger over her bottom lip. His eyes followed the movement, and his thumb traced her actions. She puckered her lips, but his thumb had left them, instead tracing her jaw gently. 

“Cannot or will not?” He smiled at this, standing up and putting a hand out for her.

“You are a little vixen.” 

She took his hand, pulling herself up a smidge too hard and stumbling into him. “And I fear that you love me for it.”

“That I do.” She couldn't stop herself from leaning into his arm, hiding her face slightly. There was a childlike giddiness in her smile and step, though she could not tell whether he noticed that or not.

She walked through the back doors of her home, scanning the somewhat empty rooms as she led Jaqen to the front door. Her movements slowed, and she peered into one of the corridors that led to the kitchen. The sound of her brother's steps was burned into her memory, and she laughed to herself, pulling Jaqen in that direction instead. 

The kitchen doors were wide open, and the smell the space elicited was almost sickly sweet. “Aneera I think I burned it. I don’t think it’s supposed to look like that.”

“Aneera spun around, putting the rolling pin in her hand down. She winked at the two by the door and walked over to the fire that Oran was standing over. “It's not supposed to smell like that either. I turned around for less than a minute. How did you manage to burn it?”

Y/N gently tugged Jaqen towards the pastry on the table, putting her hands in a bowl of water near it to wash them. “What are we making, Aneera?”

Oran waved without looking at the sound of her voice and grumbled something under his breath. “They were supposed to be pastries, but this is the second time I've burnt the filling, so I’m not entirely sure they’ll have a centre." 

“They’ll be fine. Roll out the dough for me, my dear.” Aneera left the lady to her task and turned to Jaqen, who was watching with a smile, and said, “it is magnificent to finally meet you properly. You are just as handsome as I thought you would be.” 

"Aneera, please,” the lady said, smiling at the light pink tint on Jaqen’s cheeks. 

"I truly wish I could stay and talk to you properly, but I have somewhere to be," he said shyly, bowing his head slightly.

“I know, we have plenty of time to get to know each other properly. And you have plenty of time to practise your wood carving.”

Y/N immediately looked up at the box, which she had left on the far side of the table. “You carved it by hand and didn’t tell me?”

“I forgot; we were occupied with other things.”

"You're disgusting, in the garden, seriously," Oran whirled around, looking between the two lovers.”

“We didn’t do anything, Oran, stop being such a prude.” The siblings traded a look, which made both Jaqen and Aneera chuckle.

Jaqen walked up to the lady, putting his hands softly on her shoulders and  placing a tender kiss on the top of her head. “I am working tomorrow, but you are welcome to come for lunch.”

“I’ll bring some of the desserts if Oran does not burn them all.”

Oran grumbled something under his breath, and though nobody heard his exact words, everyone let out an easy laugh. Jaqen gave her another kiss and walked out of the room, showing himself out. After a minute, Y/N finally spoke up.

“Aneera, will I have children?” Her eyes were glued to her mother, and thus she missed the slight look of concern on Oran’s face. 

Aneera had a smile that became larger and larger until she was laughing to herself. “You, my child, are one of the most fertile women in all of the seven kingdoms. You should be happy about the divine timing of the Gods because you will never have any trouble in that regard.”

The lady's smile came back as quickly as it had left, and she continued to roll out the dough. “Aneera, your feelings for my father are so clear, why do you deny yourself that happiness?”

“I have never seen my own future, nor do I want to. It is the only area about which I am unsure; I guess you could say that I am afraid of the unknown.”

“You should take that leap. Since love is so unpredictable anyway, I guess for once you will be experiencing what the rest of us do. It is too beautiful and too brilliant a thing to deny yourself just because of fear.” Y/N looked at him with a slight surprise but let out a hum of agreement.

“At the very least, move into our home; you practically live here anyway.” Aneera thanked the two of them for their wise words but said nothing more on the subject. 

“I think that the filling is done.” Aneera rushed over to Oran, looking over the pan, and patted his back lightly. 

“I believe it is indeed.”

By the time that there were enough desserts made and packed for the servants and maids, the moon was high in the sky. Aneera retired into her room at the back of the house, leaving Oran and Y/N in the kitchen.

“Have you any plans tomorrow after your morning class?”

“No, why?” She looked into his eyes for any sign of mischief, but there was none. 

“Ayenna is free, and I am busy all day. Perhaps you could deliver these to her and spend the day with her because I remember the last time the day was cut short."

“Of course, Oran.” He smiled, nodding his head slowly. He got up, pulling the lady into a hug, and put the packaged desserts in her lap so that she would not forget. 

The lady studied the wooden box that Jaqen had given her while lying in bed. She hadn't noticed the shallow dips from where he probably tried to carve something but decided against it. She imagined the way he measured the lid and sanded down the sides. She wondered whether there was a reason he had chosen that wood, and that material for the interior. From what she knew of him, everything he did was intentional and calculated. She'd have to ask him about it the following day.  

The next day, she rode quickly after Oran told her that Ayenna wanted to meet her at the bakery. She didn't need an excuse to smell the freshly baked bread and pastries, and she was glad they could spend some time eating at one of her favourite restaurants in King's Landing. 

Ayenna wore a scarf in her hair, likely to keep her hair out of the food. Her brow had a hint of sweat on it, but she seemed calm rather than frazzled. The minute she noticed the lady watching her, a magnificent smile graced her face. 

“Y/N, I made some honeyed bread fresh for you.”

“Ayenna, I pray to the Gods that you stay in our family forever if you continue to spoil me like this.” Y/N swiped the bread from the counter, taking a generous bite. It was still warm and soft, with just the right amount of sweetness to make it seem unbelievably light.

“Did you make this? It tastes different than usual.” She said, tearing off another liberal piece. 

"Oh, if it's not to your taste, I’ll use the original recipe.” 

The lady shook her head in response, trying to finish the piece in her mouth before she began speaking. “No, no, it’s wonderful. Whatever you did, please keep doing it.” 

She thought that Ayenna’s smile could not get wider, but it did and she nodded shyly to herself. The lady finished her meal with a glass of honeyed wine, asking questions about the baking process and the shop itself, as Ayenna shaped dough and pastries with a delicate hand. 

The lady turned at the light footsteps that entered the cafe and saw the familiar face of Ayenna’s mother. “Ah Maliya, your daughter makes the absolute best honey bread.”

“My lady, that is precisely why I am happy it is her rather than her sister who will take over this place.” Maliya’s face revealed a slight frown. She turned to her daughter and opened her mouth to say something more, but decided against it, instead choosing to grumble to herself. 

“I have yet to meet this elusive sister.”

“She was sick the last time we met, and she remains just as evasive to us. That woman is hopeless, truly. The only person who can ever catch her is Ayenna here.”

Ayenna said nothing, instead finishing the batch of food she was cooking before taking off her apron. She whispered something to her mother and excitedly led the lady out of the door. “Is there somewhere specific you wish to go, or shall we wander around the streets of Dorne.”

“I have been meaning to go to the market again. There is something I wish to inquire about.” She began unlacing her horse, but Ayenna stopped her with a gentle hand to the shoulder.

“Oh, is it possible that we do something else today? There is someone I wish to avoid.”

“A jealous past lover.” The lady said with a smile. 

Ayenna smiled politely in return and said, "Something like that.”

“Perhaps a walk then? Down one of the rivers? We can stop by the grape brothel so that I may drop off these desserts to Jaqen. Oh, I forgot to tell you about yours. I left them on the counter.”

“That is fine, my mother would have noticed them, and of course, a walk sounds lovely. It would give us time to talk.” Ayenna was wringing her hands together, fiddling with one of the many rings that adorned her fingers. 

The lady turned to her in an attempt to catch her eye. "Is there something in particular that you wanted to talk about?” 

“Yes, I’ve been meaning to tell you since we met, although I wanted you to get to know me first.” The lady still kept a soft smile on her face, there was no hostility or anger within Ayenna that she could tell and thus she felt as though whatever the problem may be, it would be something that was easily fixed. 

“In your own time, Ayenna.” 

Ayenna bowed her head graciously and let a cheeky smile engulf her features. “Though you seemed extremely cheery this morning.”

The lady took a minute to answer, eventually nodding to herself and saying, “If I tell you, you mustn't say anything to my brother just yet.”

“My lady, I wouldn't dare now, please; I am dying to know.”

“I am formally engaged now. Jaqen designed the ring and carved the box himself; I could not have asked for a better partner than him, and now I am truly to be married." Once the words started flowing out of her mouth, she could not stop. Remembering to hold her gesticulations as her teachers had taught her, she let her excitement show through her smile and tone.

“Well, I never doubted that for a second”

“Yes, well, as much as it feels like I have known you forever, we only met a few moons ago. I never imagined myself in this position or feeling this content. Of course, my mother is well known as an oracle throughout Dorne, and yet I couldn't bring myself to believe her after I fell in love with Oberyn, but this just feels so deeply right; I finally know the direction my life is taking, and I can hope and dream and imagine a different type of happiness."

“That is truly beautiful, my lady, and I am so glad that you feel this way,” Ayenna’s features were soft, not quite displaying the same enthusiasm but still polite and happy.

The lady had not noticed how close they were to the brothel until the women in sheer purple walked towards them in the street. The lady practically ran, with Ayenna chasing reluctantly behind her, and walked into the brothel. The lady gently refused the services of the women she knew and asked where Jaqen was. 

The two were led by a woman, whom the lady did not recognise, into a small office at the back of the building. One would think that Jaqen had wished to keep his business and pleasure separate, but the sheer curtains that led into a room with a plush bed said otherwise. 

The lady shared a look with Ayenna before motioning to the seat at the desk. Ayenna sat down while Y/N looked around the room. It was mostly barren; he clearly didn't spend much time here, and she felt that there were little secrets in this place waiting to be discovered. 

Jaqen walked through the door with a slight flourish, a smile on his face as he made his way to the lady, not pausing to acknowledge Ayenna. He gathered her in his arms and gave her a long kiss before the lady pushed him off, motioning vaguely towards Ayenna. 

“I apologise, my love. We are only here to drop these off.”

“Will you not enjoy them with me?”

“Not this time; I wish to talk to my sister, and I wanted to run this errand first.” Y/N missed the small smile that graced Ayenna’s face. She sat uncomfortably in the seat as though she were waiting for Jaqen to throw her out of it. 

“Is that all I am to you? An errand.” He said slyly, laying a hand lightly on the woman's chin to tilt her head towards him.

"Yes, an errand that I am quite finished with for the moment.”

He scoffed and let her chin go, looking at her with his head tilted and saying, “I shall miss your company until we next meet.”

“No need for the dramatics; you will be waking up next to me every day until we die as soon as we marry.”

“And that will not happen soon enough.” Neither woman could hide the smile at his words, albeit for different reasons. 

Ayenna stood up, drawing attention to herself, and began to leave the room when Jaqen called out, "Ayenna, is it? Sorry, but you look strangely familiar, though I'm almost certain we've never met."

“I have been told I have that sort of face that you see constantly in a crowd. I can assure you, my lord, that we have never met.”

Jaqen's disgust was obvious, and his change in expression made the lady laugh heartily. “Please, I am no lord; I am just a commoner like you, a merchant and traveller. Please do not address me with formalities that are inappropriate for my position."

"You heard him, Ayenna; he is but a traveller," she gestured for Ayenna to leave the room and moved to follow her, Jaqen taking steps in time with her and sliding his arms around her middle. “If the traveller is ever weary enough to warrant a certain type of relaxation, he knows where to go,” she whispered into his ear, kissing his jaw lightly. 

She attempted to slide out of his arms, but he only held on to her tighter, waiting until Ayenna turned back to the two and then moved so that she would leave the brothel. “Must you truly leave now?”

“You are acting as though I am going on a long journey away from you. I will see you soon.”

“It will not be soon enough.”

“You truly have a way with words, my love.”

“And I will make an effort to make you feel this way with them until the end of my days.” He pecked her lips and walked back into his office, allowing the lady to leave the premises. 

She was still in clear sight of the brothel when Jaqen called out to her, “I am taking you for the evening. Be ready by dusk, I’ll pick you up from home.” The lady nodded to convey that she had heard and went on walking with a smile on her face.

“He truly seems obsessed with you.” Ayenna said, walking in time with the lady.

“I suppose, in the way that my brother is with you, correct?”

Ayenna smiled to herself but looked down towards the ground. “He loves differently, but I suppose yes, in his own way he is indeed.”

“Have you met Jaqen? He is not one to forget a face.” Ayenna looked directly at the lady with her response. 

"No, I have not; I truly believe that I must look like someone else that he knows.” The lady looked for any sign that Ayenna was lying but hummed to herself when her face was as honest as she would have expected. 

The two walked across one of the canals, talking about the men in their lives, until the sun was at a point where the lady needed to be home to be ready. Ayenna said that she would walk the lady home so that she could talk to Oran. The lady took this as a chance to ask what she really wanted, as Ayenna would have little time to skirt around the subject before they got to the house.

“Your sister, why is it that I have yet to meet her.”

“I didn’t want to take the chance that you knew each other. I just wanted us to be secure in our relationship first to decrease any possible awkwardness. I hope that she will be less busy soon so that I may properly introduce you to her.”

“Your sister, what is her name?”

Ayenna hesitated, which the lady caught, and she said her name under her breath. The lady hummed to convey she had not heard the woman, and Ayenna said again, louder this time, “Alaiana.” 

The lady searched her mind for recognition in the sound of the name, but there was none. She figured she'd have to talk to Mara at some point to see if she knew who this Alaiana girl was. 

“Sorry to ask so many questions, but you have wanted to tell me something for so long. I fear that if I don’t push for it now, we will never get to the bottom of this matter.”

“Honestly, it was about my sister. I believe it would be better for you to meet her first and then you will know.”

“I had a feeling.” 

“You are known to be something of an oracle or soothsayer. Some say your family is descended from Gods.”

“Do you believe that?”

“If I believed that, I would not be keeping secrets from you like this.” Ayenna smiled nervously, hoping that the lady would understand her tone and how she meant her words. She let out a small sigh of relief when Y/N laughed heartily. 

Oran seemed to get back from whatever he was doing all day at the same time the women did. He rode onto the grounds with a small entourage of people the woman did not recognise but did not question, letting dust and sand gather in the air.

“Oran, do you wish to ruin all of my clothes with your foolery?”

One of the men with Oran laughed and then bowed his head politely at her, saying, “my lady, he was simply losing a race.”

“I won actually,” the other men all grumbled in disagreement as Oran laughed. He lowered himself from his horse and pulled Ayenna into a passionate embrace. 

“I believe I will leave you and your friends to whatever it is you wish to be doing and take my leave.”

"Bye, my lady,” Ayenna said with a grin, and the rest of the men echoed a similar response. 

She walked the winding staircase into her room and flung open the wardrobe to look at the evening dresses she had yet to wear. She called in one of the maids to help her look, and the two discussed what would be good for an evening that you could not prepare for. 

They chose a simple silver gown, which they paired with silver bodice jewellery, the stones Jaqen had gotten her, and a massive gem of a necklace that Oberyn had insisted she own the moment he saw it. The woman looked into the glass on her far wall and decided she reminded herself of the moon. She walked to her balcony to relish the colour of the sun in the clouds. It made her wonder, how those who believe in the Lord of Light, must have looked at the sun and seen its power. She decided it was most likely dusk by now and pulled one of the shorter books that she had yet to finish and read. 

Her immersion in the world provided by the pages, however, was brief, as a servant quickly knocked on the door, saying that her visitor had been accosted by the group of men with her brother. 

She practically ran down the stairs, not being too careful with her steps, and stopped short of the last step right in front of her betrothed. 

“Hi,”

“Hello dearest.” He extended his arms and drew her into a hug off the steps. Neither of them noticed the look that her brother was giving them from behind one of his friends. 

“Stay safe sister.”

“I can handle myself, brother.”

Jaqen held out an arm and led her to his horse, gesturing her to the brown stallion she had seen before but had no name for. “Your horse has a name yes,”

“If he does, I do not know it, when he learns to speak, that will be the first question I ask,” she hit his arm playfully and mounted the horse.

Jaqen sat behind her, speeding the horse through the dirt roads and lush fields. They seemed to go completely out of the city, and the lady just let the wind in her hair lull her into a sense of peace. She would have spoken but was sure he would not be able to hear her, so she leaned back into him, caressing one of his hands that were on the reins, and smiling up at him as gracefully as she could at that angle.

The journey seemed brief, but she was unfamiliar with her surroundings. They were in a clearing, and there were hedges by a river that made the area seem isolated and private, as if it were their own private garden. He'd laid out a large piece of cloth for her to sit on, along with a basket of fruits and two bottles of Dornish wine. The area was lit up with candles, and the basket held a bouquet of flowers. 

He got off the horse first and then helped her down with strong arms. 

“Jaqen, this place is beautiful; where did you find it? Who set it up for you?” The smile on her face was unmatched, and she had to stop herself from gasping every time she took in a new detail. The entire area seemed as though it had come from a dream, and she realised that this was exactly how she was supposed to feel whenever she was around him. 

“I had a few conversations with your brother; he said that he had travelled the area around your home and found it accidentally.” He led her to the cloth on the floor and sat across from her, pouring wine for both of them into silver goblets that were also in the basket. 

"I was so taken with your beauty when I first saw you that I didn't tell you how lovely you are. I cannot wait to see you reflected in the moonlight.”

“You flatter me in a way I am not entirely sure I deserve. You are a God among men, a lover from the legends."

“Must you try to one-up me even in compliments, dearest?”

“I wish to see your cheeks redden and lips pull into a smile as often as I can, Jaqen.”

“You do that simply by existing; I need no flattery from you.”

“And you're complaining about my flattery. By the Gods, Jaqen, I feel as though you wish for me to collapse.” The two laughed heartily, and she began to lay out the fruits but squealed when she saw what was under them. There was a selection of cheeses, some of which she had not seen before. They were a delicacy she was somewhat used to, but Dorne only had so many types, and she was certain she had read about one of them that was from Highgarden, judging by its shape.

“Is everything alright?” He had taken in her expression but misread it, leading to a look of concern.  

“Is this cheese from Highgarden?”

“Yes..” He was unprepared for the force she used to propel herself towards him. She wrapped her arms as tightly as she could around his shoulders as he stumbled back into the grass behind them, taken aback by the gesture. “If I knew something as simple as cheese would have made you act this way, I would not have spent this time courting you.”

“Jaqen, I have hardly known you for a time normal enough to result in a proposal.”

“We, dearest, are not normal people, and thus there is no reason that we should behave as though we are.” She leaned into him, giving him a soft peck, before sitting up and immediately beginning to gorge herself on the foods that he had brought. 

“So tell me, Jaqen, about your travels, and do not leave out a single detail.”

"We'll be here for a long time then," he said softly.

“And I will cherish every moment that I get to be with you.”

By the time she noticed that time had actually passed, the food was mostly gone and the stars were high in the sky. They had moved so that Jaqen lay in her lap; his white hair shone as she would have imagined snow to, and his red waves seemed the colour of blood. She gently ran her fingers through his hair, twirling the ends. 

She looked up at the sky and pointed upwards, “would you like to hear a story, my love.”

“I would like anything as long as it comes from your lips.” She cleared her throat and attempted to hide the smile but by the look in his eyes she knew she didn't well enough. 

“It’s a love story about the north star.”

“Are those not the best kind?”

“The north star is the brightest star in the sky,”

“Yes,” she stopped at the sound of his voice and raised an eyebrow. He put his hands up and laughed to himself.

“It guides us home, and that is all because of a sailor who loved harder than any person thought capable. His wife was a barmaid at a seaside tavern, which is how they met. One time, just before he left, she asked him how he always found his way back to her on time, and he said he just always knew. He closed his eyes and thought of her, and she always showed him his way home. She was pregnant at this point, their first child, and he was to do one final trading journey before he took a break to take care of her. She said she had a bad feeling, but he said that he knew the sea just as well as he knew her, and so he left. ” She looked down at his blue eyes and lost her concentration at the pure and complete attention he was giving her. Unable to stop herself, she bent over, met his plush pink lips, and whispered an 'I love you' before continuing without giving him a chance to speak..

“Anyway, they inevitably blew into a storm. One that was wild and dangerous, more dangerous than any he had encountered in his lifetime of sailing. The majority of the crew survived, but they became so disoriented that this man, who knew the sea better than anyone, couldn't figure out which way to go. He was now panicking because the storm had caused him to be gone for much longer than expected, and he didn't want to miss the birth of his child, but the days turned into weeks and they still hadn't seen land. He accepted the fact that he would most likely miss his child's birth and prayed to the gods to show him the way home. That same night, he had a dream in which his wife told him she loved him and asked him to come home, and when he said he was lost, she told him to look up to the night sky and she would show him the way home. That is exactly what he did. The stars were bright, but there was a new one in the sky, brighter than the moon, and every member of the crew swore they'd never seen anything like it before. They waited for it to move before following it on a whim. It eventually led them home, but what awaited him was a baby with grey eyes like a constellation of stars and the grave of his wife, who had led him home to his son."

“That was rather sad, don't you think?” He sat up, gathering her in his arms so that she sat in his lap.

“It's sad, but it is truly beautiful. Would you become a star for me, Jaqen?" She trailed kisses along his jawline, and he lost his concentration for a moment. 

His right hand came to cup the bottom of her jaw, tilting her head up at him. “I would become the moon if the gods would allow it.”

“And I hope you should never have to ask.” 

“Do you think you will have a love like the stories?”  He asked, cupping her face in his hands. 

“I believe that this is only the beginning of one.”

“You truly have a way with words, dearest.”

“It is from the stories and lives they have allowed me to live.” He ghosted over her lips, but she spoke again before they could lose themselves in each other. “How do you envision your future?”

“That is a big question, dearest. I only wish to love as much as I can and discover the world in more ways than one lifetime will allow. I never knew my true parents, and so I want to live enough lives for them as well.”

She hummed at him and did not allow him to ask her the same question back. Instead, she gave him a soft and slow kiss before she rose, holding a hand out, and said, “It is getting late; I believe that I am due home.”

He gave her the same hum and took her hand, pulling her back down and kissing her again before reversing their position. She giggled, and the two rode home calm and full of joy.

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne Masterlist

Chapter 1 - Beginnings

Chapter 2 - Dreams

Chapter 3 - Moments in Love

Chapter 4 - Look at the Moon

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne Chapter 4

A/N: Sorry for how long it took me to write this but I'm back to regular writing so we should be okay. Btw I graduated guys.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Warnings: Bad spelling, violence, bad grammar, smut.

Word Count: 6880

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Look at the moon

Her muscles hurt by the time she got home; she could have stayed in bed for days if her family had let her, but she had lessons and responsibilities. There is always something to do and somewhere to go. She was not fortunate to have her brother's company until the night she returned. She was reading a book in the corner of her chair where Jaqen had been. It waswas in Dothraki, but the story was disjointed in translation; she had intended to get it in Dothraki, but it was always tough with a language that was not often written.

"Sister, I have some news." He sat next to her before she could finish the page she was on, beaming even more than he had previously.

“She’s not pregnant, is she?” 

He scoffed and made himself comfortable, “would that be so bad?”

“No, but it would be rather soon.” She set the book down next to her, the name still retaining the vivid bronze it was inscribed with. Oran frowned at the book and returned his gaze to his sister.

“I set up a day, next week, for the two of you to talk.”

"That's very kind of you." She smiled and nodded slowly, waiting for him to say more. He scowled, mistaking her tone for irritation.

“It’s just tea, and you can do what you want after.” He was gesticulating and wasn’t quite able to meet her eye. 

She put a hand on his arm to stop him from moving and looked him in the eye, “I look forward to it.”

“I want you to like her.” His voice was small. 

"I do," she said as she grabbed his hand in hers and sat back into the side of the chair.

"No, I really want you to like her.  I value your opinion and remember seeing you with Jaqen, Oberyn, and that foreign priestess a few suns ago. I want to love like you do, and you always make sure that when things get serious, we all meet them, get along, and that we are sincerely glad for you. All I want to do is the same."

“I will get to know her properly and I will love her because you do and that in itself is enough.” She gestured for him to hug her, and he did, resting a head on her shoulder. 

“Thank you.”

She pulled away suddenly and ran around the room to the end of the bed, picking up a box. “Now want me to show you the sword that Oberyn had made, he called it a scimitar.”

She opened it and showed him, then handed it to him to move around. He felt its weight and motioned for her to move away before standing up to swing it about. The weight for him was off, just a little too light, yet his motions were similar to hers, and his wrinkled expression melted into a relaxed smile. He eventually scrutinised it thoroughly before returning it to her and placing it back in the box.

“It looks familiar.”

“Does it?” He was running his finger down the hilt before an idea came to him.

“Hold on.” He left the room as quickly as he had come, and she heard the loud sounds of his footsteps going into her father’s room. 

He had shouted something she couldn’t hear through the walls and then came bounding back, a book in his hand and a triumphant face. “I think it's similar to what they use in the Summer Isles.”

“It’s a big place, they can’t all use the same thing.” She moved to sit on the bed instead.

“That’s not what I’m saying,” He opened up the book sifting through the pages lightly and kneeled over the bed. “Here look, it’s a curved blade. Not like the long swords we have here.”

“Where’s that from.” She peered over him at the paper though at the angle the words looked jumbled. 

“I’m not sure, I don’t recognise the language.”

He twisted the book to face her, letting her try and decipher it but she just looked over at it and shook her head. “Neither do I, call father.”

He bolted into one of the other rooms as if there was some sort of emergency. He returned a moment later, at a leisurely pace, waiting for his father to enter with another book in his hand. He motioned to the scimitar and rolled it over in his palms to check the design.

“The blacksmith who made this is very skilled.”

“It’s from Oberyn, of course, they were.” He frowned at that but placed it back in the box carefully and flipped through the book in his hand. 

He splayed the book out, displaying the page with the Dothraki swords on it. “I know this is not the same because they wield double swords, but it sort of looks like them right.”

“Sort of. I guess.” She studied the drawing again and ran a finger over the silver of the blade.

“It seems to be a new weapon, though I don’t know why he would be giving these to you when you’re getting married.” Her father said the last bit under his breath, but Y/N just rolled her eyes preparing herself to once again have this little conversation. 

“I am not yet and is he not allowed to gift me whenever the desire strikes him. Do I not do the same.” She tried her best to not whine or raise her voice.

He looked down at his daughter, eyes softening at her hard stare. She sighed deeply and tilted her head, “What does one gift a prince who has everything?” He said softly. 

“My relationship with him won’t change after I marry. I’ve already had that discussion, you taught me better than to keep secrets from people I love. He already has me father, I have given him everything and I will continue to until the day I die.” 

"By the grace of the God's" "You two are so dramatic, I can't tell who got it from whom." His words caused her to quietly laugh and relax in her seat. "So you've made the decision to marry?" He inquired, sitting next to the girl and gazing her in the eyes with a knowing smile.

"I haven't said anything like that. You must first speak with him. Well, he needs to speak with you. He has not yet spoken with me. We had an interesting encounter, and I'm not sure if it altered anything for him."

He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes, instead, he cradled the girl kissing the crown of her head. “Dearest, there is not a person alive who would not have you if they could. I am certain this has not changed anything.”

"Thank you, father," she said as she clasped his hand and rose to her feet, but he stopped her.

“The prince, he has yet to have a son, though.”

"They both respect each other passionately, look at the sword," she groaned, turning to face him. " The hilt bears Jaqen's sigil. If I ever find myself with a child, I will simply have a conversation with them. Oberyn doesn't care if his children are male or female, and I doubt his feelings will change. He adores and would raise his children equally. Do you have no faith in me, Father? I'll just take care of it when the situation arises."

He stood up and headed towards the door, squeezing her hand once more. Her assurances seemed to be enough. "I only have faith in you, child," he said once he was at the doorway. "After all, I raised you."

Oran had chosen a tea parlour she had never visited before for her date with Ayenna the following week. The floor cushions, like the majority of the other décor, were a deep blue. The cups appeared to be fully green, and the bulk of the fabrics had green highlights. Ayenna entered the modest shop through the doorway and sat across from the woman. She was dressed in a soft yellow gown and had her hair loose over her shoulders. She appeared much more at ease, which was most likely due to the absence of anxiety that every first meeting carried.

“Hello Ayenna, it is wonderful to see you.”

Oran has been talking about our meeting for a full week now. I believe he is eager to ensure that you like me." She fiddled with a bit of red string while smiling down into her hands.

"He values my input, but he doesn't need to be concerned since I already do." Do you know why he chose this place? I'm not sure how he knows it exists." She motioned to a woman behind Ayenna, who rushed off to bring another cup and a honey-filled glass bowl.

"On our first official date, we passed by this area. He'd gotten himself into some sort of trouble, and instead of telling them who he was, he took my hand and went down odd pathways to get away." Ayenna's grin was gentle, and she couldn't quite meet the other woman's eyes. Much like Y/N couldn't while recalling specific memories of Jaqen and Oberyn.

Y/N laughed airily to herself, “that sounds like him. He likes adventure and trouble. He’s fortunate that we are who we are for that exact reason.”

"I absolutely adore that about him. Every day, he strives to feel alive and to make others feel the same way. My happiness is dependent on his happiness. "I've never seen such pure joy in someone."

“I have never heard someone talk so poetically about my brother before.” She tilted her head to the side, with a sly smile.

“It is him that brings it out of me. He does it as well, I asked him about it once. He says the prince talks to you like that.” Ayenna looked down at her hands, trying her best to hide the bright smile she had. 

“Ah, those two are as thick as thieves sometimes. The prince does love to be dramatic.”

"I am aware; I recall him planning your birthday a few suns back." The lady found the subject of her birthday to be amusing. Oberyn had failed to consult her on anything, and Doran seemed concerned every time she mentioned it. While large gatherings with wine, food, and music were something the prince adored, it made the lady feel slightly uncomfortable to be the centre of attention. People brought her gifts while she barely knew them. She ended up giving most of them away, discreetly, to servants and merchants.

“I never should have let him do that and just asked Doran to take over, but he insisted and how could I deny him.”

“Why? His displays are so grandiose because he wants to express how much he adores you, no?" Ayenna cocked her head to the side, perplexed. The inequalities in their status that Lady Phassirah worked so hard to conceal became obvious.

“Yes. But he has never been successful in this endeavour, and neither have I. Our love is too great to be shown by festivities, words, or presents. They are never sufficient." The lady hid her smile in the cup of tea. 

“Sometimes I feel that way about Oran. In that, I am not enough. He deserves so much.”

“He deserves someone who he has chosen and who loves him. Is that not you?”

"Yes, but consider who I am. Who am I? Your lover is the prince." Her eyes were slightly teary. The lady felt compelled to console her; how could this woman be hiding something cruel when she seemed to care so much about her brother?

"Your name is Ayenna, and you are a gorgeous, educated, and compassionate woman who makes incredible bread and pastries.  The prince would be a man without his birth, and I would be a woman without mine. Nothing else matters except that we are two people in love. Not your wealth, your social standing, or your connections. You are plenty.

“I need to tell you something.” She suddenly became very serious, pushing her tea to the side of the table and leaning forward into the lady, as if she were about to reveal a secret.

“I asked Oran whether you were pregnant, I can’t believe that he lied to me.”

“No that’s not it.” Ayenna appeared to be preparing to say something, so the lady waited calmly, allowing her to gather her thoughts.

“Lady Phassirah,” a voice said behind her. She looked up to see one of her guards who she had asked to make scarce with a letter. 

“Yes.”

“Lady Aneera sent this from your home, saying you will likely want to see it.” The man handed her the letter. The wax seal was white, round, and had the unmistakable engravings of a spiralled snake. 

She seized the letter harsher than planned but instantly apologised. The guard left the shop with a gentle bow of his head. The lady opened the seal with the little dagger connected to her hip, displaying Jaqen's exquisite and delicate calligraphy.

“I do apologise Ayenna, but I would really love to read this letter and I fear I won’t be able to concentrate until I do. Perhaps we can continue this another time.”

“Of course, my lady, please do what you need to.” The lady got up, taking a few coins out of her purse and leaving them on the table. She smiled at Ayenna before she turned to leave, gesturing for one of the guards to get her horse. 

She rushed home, raced to her room, and sat on the balcony with a smile. She was nearly bouncing, much like she used to when Oberyn sent her letters about his trips and exploits. Doran would even send one or two on something intriguing he'd learned while away.

She traced the broken seal and opened the letter again. 

My Lady, 

I know by the time this letter reaches you, I will be soon back, but I felt a sense of calm at the prospect of writing words only meant for your eyes. I can envision you now, watching the sunset from the balcony. I hope you’re thinking of me when you look towards the sun, or in the evenings when you try to see what is beyond the stars. I think of you here, through the way a woman’s dress moves, a piece of jewellery that seems too flawless to truly exist, in the stories I read and hear, and in the books with worn spines. 

Here is beautiful, it is home, and I have decided that I will never come back here without you again. I stepped off the boat and imagined what you would say to me, all the places and things I wanted to show you. I see you now, wandering through alleyways, racing your horse against your brothers, and watching the sunset at the docks with me. I can't now imagine stepping onto the dirt floors without you.

While it may be dramatic and far too soon, I miss you terribly, utterly, and completely. It's as if I'm missing a piece of myself, and without you, I'm hollow. I'm missing your laugh and the way you gaze up at me. I'm empty without your taunting and mysticism. It's the things I miss and the things I remember fondly that make me realise we're destined to be together.

I will look at the moon and remember that it is one less night I have to be without you, and I’ll look at the magnificence that is the setting sun and think that it doesn’t hold a candle to you. 

May I have the honour of laying my eyes upon you soon, 

Your Jaqen 

The lady couldn’t help the smile that filled her face. She read the last two lines over and over again, your Jaqen. The thought of him being hers made her fantasise about the life they would have together. How they planned to travel and marry. The foods they'd try, as well as the things he'd show her. She imagined his face in front of her during their wedding, the way his eyes would sparkle in the sunlight and glisten slightly with tears at how she looked. She saw herself looking past him at Oberyn and hearing him applaud and laugh with joy. Aneera's knowing smile came to mind as she pictured Oran lifting and spinning her in the sunshine. The idea of a perfect day with him filled her with a type of euphoria she had never known before.

She retraced the broken seal before unlocking the chest at the foot of her bed and laying the letter on top of one of her heavier clothes. Oran burst into the room with a smile at that exact moment.

“One of the servants told me you were back.”

“Oh yes. I’m sorry I came back early, Jaqen sent me a letter and I simply could not concentrate.” She gave him an apologetic smile, but he did not seem to notice and instead sat on the chair nearest to the bookshelf.

“That is fine. So do you like her?”

Y/N took a seat near him and gave herself a light hum, “I have always liked her Oran.”

“Yes, but you know what I mean.” His eyes were bright in a way she hadn’t seen for a long time. 

“She truly is an incredible girl. I mean that completely. She is calm and pleasant, and I am confident she would be an excellent wife and addition to this family."

Oran breathed a sigh of relief and bent over his own legs to catch his breath. "I intend to marry her," he said as he sat up gently, leaning into his sister, his carefree and cheerful look turning serious yet hopeful.

“I thought so.” Y/N only nodded slowly and picked up a goblet delicately from the table in front of her, filling it with wine and taking a small sip.

Oran took her moment of silence as a question and immediately attempted to explain himself. “If something goes wrong, I can always separate from her. I will keep the engagement long. I won’t marry before you.”

"You may do so if you wish. I'm not holding you back in any way." Y/N spoke carefully, looking him in the eyes, attempting to convey her confidence in his judgments.

“I want her to be completely mine and me entirely hers. The time of the engagement will mean that we can get to know each other better.”

“I support your every decision, Oran. Though have you spoken to Aneera?”

Oran let out an exaggerated sigh after a moment of silence, “I’ve been putting it off. I hope she hasn’t figured out what Ayenna is hiding. I wish to live in bliss a little longer.”

"I can't imagine it's anything too terrible.  The girl is far too nice. Perhaps it's a child from a former lover or something along those lines."

“That would be the best result.”

“It would.”

“So my sister, you are truly okay with this?” He reached out and grabbed both her hands, pulling them to him.

The lady's hold was firm, and she curled her right hand upwards, interlocking their thumbs as if they were preparing to engage in an arm wrestle. "Again, Oran, you are my brother, I have taught you everything I know, and I love you more than words can express.  I trust every decision you make since I know you have carefully considered them."

Oran took their clasped hands and raised them to his brow for a second before quickly standing up, smiling at his sister and exiting the room. Y/N smiled as she shook her head and took a book from the bookcase. She sat on the balcony reading the words in the late afternoon sun, watching it set and wondering if he was staring at the pink and orange hues and thinking of her, even though the answer was obvious.

Time passed with no noteworthy events. Oran had yet to reveal his wedding intentions, but she assumed he would wait until she was officially engaged first out of respect. Of course, the lady spoke with him, but he insisted on doing what was right in his own time.

The house was in disarray as Jaqen was due to return. The lady persuaded her father that a large celebration was unnecessary because Jaqen would not enjoy it, and while the number of people invited decreased dramatically, the extravagant décor and food did not. To ensure that everything was completed on time, preparations had to be finished the day before the celebration, and thus Y/N began to curse herself the instant Oberyn arrived through her front door.

“Not that I do not love to see your face, but today is not the best day for us to go on an adventure.”

She had glanced at him, but not close enough to see the expression on his face. “I wish to instead just have a private conversation.”

"I know how your private discussions ended, Oberyn, and I don't think that is the best idea today." She could hear a soft laugh behind her as she arranged many different flowers on the surface in front of her, attempting to find the ideal colour combination.

“I really need to talk to you, my flower, just for a minute.”

"Please tell me which of these pairings seems better. Maybe I should stick to all white. Is that alright, or does it seem too formal? Should I use the orange to add some colour?"

Unphased by her change of topic, Oberyn wrapped his arms around her waist, looking over her shoulder at the various flowers. “Use the white and light yellow as a base and then have orange accents.”

She nodded and waved to one of the maids, instructing them to do just that. Oberyn leaned into the lady's hair, taking a deep breath, before planting gentle kisses on the space not covered by fabric along her shoulder. "You know I can't resist you, Oberyn, so please let me finish."

He let out a hum and reluctantly let her go, taking a step back to give her space. 

"Oberyn, we can have dinner tonight if I finish everything I need to do."

"All right," he said, tilting his head and looking down at her. "Please let me stay."

"Of course, I'd never deny you. Just promise to be helpful and refrain from distracting me too much." She now turned to face him. He approached her, making her lean into the surface. For a brief moment, the smirk on his face appeared almost cruel to her, and she regretted allowing him to stay.

“By the old Gods and the new, how can I ever promise that. You find me a distraction by just existing.”

The lightness of his words didn't seem to match his smirk, but she responded with a hearty laugh. "I truly do love you, Oberyn Martell," she said softly as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Y/N Phassirah, you already know my heart belongs to you." They could have stayed like this forever, but someone tripped on the other side of the room, jolting her back to reality.

"Right, now that the flowers have been finalised, I need to refine the food and then figure out the seating."

"Isn't this your father's area of expertise?" Oberyn raised an eyebrow at her and smiled down at her.

"Yes, but I can't find him or Oran, and Aneera doesn't seem to want to be at our house for once." She suspected it was Aneera's fault that everyone seemed to be absent for the day.

Oberyn stopped the lady, holding her face in his arms and looking straight into her eyes. “You’re nervous. Why?”

“How can I not be, I haven’t seen him in quite a few moons, I want it to be perfect.” There was a certain vulnerability in her frown that he wasn't expecting, but his smile became reassuring.

He tucked her hair behind her ear and gave her a soft kiss. “You’re perfect and that is more than enough.”

“That is very kind of you to say, my love, and yet today, in this moment, I’m not entirely sure I feel like that.”

"It's just nerves, my flower." You're as beautiful as the setting sun. The universe will not allow him to think of you otherwise." She was almost moved to tears by his kind words, and she was surprised she didn't cry given the way he was looking at her.

“Is that how you think of me, truly that I’m perfect?”

“Yes, truly, utterly, and completely. You are my life partner, more beautiful than any woman alive or dead, smarter than even the oldest scholars and wiser than even Aneera.” She laughed at the mention of Aneera.

“You flatter me too much, Oberyn Martell. Though I appreciate how I can see that you truly believe that.”

He pulled her into a hug, speaking into her hair, “and you deserve to truly believe that too. I will do everything in my power to ensure that you do.”

After their conversation, the evening flew by, and she almost forgot why Oberyn was there in the first place. But his actions reminded her that he did, in fact, have some news to share with her. In that way, he was predictable. Though he was always attached to her, when he was worried about something, his easy nature became more scattered and his nerves became more visible.

She chose to eat dinner in the palace, instructing one of his servants to bring the food and wine into his chambers, where she sat on a cushion next to one of the low tables. He sat across from her, picking at his food.

“Oberyn, you are acting like a child. Please just tell me what is wrong.”

He put his fork down and sighed deeply in response. “I was thinking instead, why don’t we wait until Jaqen is back so that your emotions are, you know.”

“No Oberyn, I don’t know.” She looked up at him, holding his gaze. 

"Okay, just please.”

“Please what?”

He muttered something under his breath, but she made no sound to indicate she was aware of it. He sighed again after a minute of silence. "Another child will be born. I found out yesterday."

“Oh, who is the lucky mother?” The lady immediately picked up her goblet with raised eyebrows and continued with her meal.

“You are not upset.”

“Children are blessings, Oberyn. You are the one who told me that.” 

He tilted his head to the side and nodded gently. His demeanour changed almost immediately, and he leant back in his chair. “Yes, but I thought you might be upset that me and you have not had a child yet.”

“While we have been careful, and I am surprised that we have not yet, it is not a race. The Gods gave us these children for a reason, and while I am not their mother, they are still my children.”

“You are truly a woman too good for me.” She was unable to hide the smile in her drink. 

“Too good for the prince of Dorne. I’m not entirely sure that’s possible.” He let out a hearty laugh and took her free hand across the table. 

“And yet here we are.”

He took her hands to his lips and only pulled harder when she tried to pull away in slight embarrassment. “Do you have a feeling about the gender?”

He knew she was trying to change the subject but indulged her anyway. “Should I not be asking you that?” She raised an eyebrow and tipped her head to the right. “A girl.”

“Again.”

“Would that be so bad?” he almost whined. 

“Of course not. I am just becoming convinced that you are only capable of producing girls.” She left the food that was left and took her goblet of wine, opening the large glass doors on his balcony. There was a long seat with an abundance of pillows with light orange netting around it. 

“Well, I suppose on the day I die, we will know.” He said while following her, he instead took his plate with him and handed her his goblet so he could make himself comfortable. He put the plate on the small table and sat on the opposite side of the seat, letting Y/N curl up in the corner closest to the railing. 

“The mother?”

“A septa,” he said slowly,

She frowned and grumbled something under her breath before locking her eyes with him. “Was I?”

“No, she’s from the reach.” 

She hummed and smiled slightly, wondering about the type of woman that held his affection when she was not around. “Are you going to send the child to the water gardens?”

“Yes, I think that would be best.”

“Nymeria would like that, no?” Nymeria, named after her father, had looks that were sure to rival the lady herself when she came of age. Cheeky and deadly but a lady no less. Someone had once referred to her as Lady Nym after an incident in her infancy, and the name stuck. 

“I think it’s time we go and see them.”

“Hmm, I’m sure Obara has a lot of new skills she wishes to practice with you. Our little sand snakes, who are not so little anymore,” They both smiled at each other.

“We should bring her back to the palace. What better bodyguard to have than Obara with a spear in her hand? " Y/N let out a hearty laugh at the thought of the 10-year-old girl with such a serious face escorting her around the palace.

“I am certain she’ll love that.” The two shared another smile, and Y/N leaned further into her goblet, putting her legs out so that her feet lay on Oberyn. 

He pulled her dress up just enough so that he could caress her calf with his free hand. The lady leaned back into the pillows behind her, bathing in the luxury of such expensive materials. 

“I truly think these pillows would feel so much better on my bare skin.”

“Then please, my dove, by all means, allow yourself that luxury.”

She set the now-empty goblet down on the ground and began untying the strings that held her dress together. The white beige fabric fell to her ankles, giving the impression that she was standing on sand. Her underclothes were short and thin, and the cool evening breeze revealed her nipples beneath the cloth. She sat back down in her bed of pillows, relishing the hungry look in his eyes.

"Truly, you are a queen to behold.”

“A queen perfect enough for this prince?”

“A goddess perfect enough to rival all.” She giggled at his sweet words and crawled onto him. He slowly put his own goblet down along with the plate of long forgotten food. 

He put a hand under her chin, slowly guiding her to him. He whispered something but she didn’t catch it and instead hummed before he pulled her into a slow kiss. The feeling was lazy and familiar, his movements practised and steady but still honey sweet. He pushed her underclothes so that they were sitting just above her hips, her left thigh completely on display. His left hand was moving from her cheek to her hair to the back of her neck while his right hand sat on her hip, thumb tracing small circles into the front of her pelvis. 

“I truly do love you, my Lady of Dorne, the true Dornish beauty.” She stopped the movements of his hands and pulled them, so they were both in front of her.

“I love you more than life itself, my dear Dornish prince.” This time, she pulled him into a slow kiss, their movements languid with the speed of those who had all the time in the world.

Despite that, the lady was aware that her prince was not a patient man and let her hands travel downwards, across his chest and then lower. His hands rested on his thighs, and she looked up at him, asking with her eyes. 

“My lady, I have given you news that I thought you would not be happy about. Let me pleasure you first.”

“Today is a celebration for you to become a father once more. Today, you will allow me to treat you as your title deserves. I am yours to use as you please, but first I wish to please you. Allow me that.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

She wasted no time in pulling him out of the tan trousers he wore. He was impressive. She had seen this view more times than she could count, and yet he still amazed her. He was already semi-hard so she pumped him a few times, letting out a small moan and looking up into his eyes. His pupils were blown, his eyes practically black. The vision of him left her breath shaky, and she resolved to focus on the task at hand before she became too engrossed by him. 

The minute her mouth met his tip, he let out a quiet groan, shifting slightly in his seat. She glanced up at him and noticed the grip he had on the side of the couch and smirked at herself. She gave him a few kitten licks while trying to decide how she should play this, but at his already frustrated groan, she decided to be kind. 

Relaxing her throat, she took as much of him in as she could handle. Immediately, his right hand went to her hair, but seemingly remembering himself, he relaxed and his grip softened. She bobbed up and down, swirling her tongue around his tip at a steady pace, though this only lasted a moment. She knew exactly what he liked, exactly what would make him finish the quickest, so she added her right hand to the base of his cock, twisting and moving up and down. 

She leaned back, putting her weight into her legs so she could move her left hand, which was on his thigh, to cradle his balls. Drool was dripping down her chin as she sped up, but instead of letting it drip onto the red fabric, she wiped it with her left hand to coat his balls in spit. 

Oberyn was never shy about pleasure, and she was confident that anyone in the corridor or a room or two over could hear him. Though not shy it was rare that anything that was not ‘my beautiful girl’ or ‘princess’ left his mouth. She once again looked up to meet his eyes, but they were closed, so she hummed with her mouth still around him. He didn’t seem to hear that either, so she sucked one final time and lifted her head off of him, still pumping him with her hand. His eyes snapped open at the change of sensation, and he cocked his head to the side. 

“My love, please.”

“My prince, I wish only for you to watch me. There is no need to beg.”

He chuckled lightly at her words, clearly trying to maintain a sense of self-control. “My eyes are tied to you, though that may mean that we will need a break before our next session."

Instead of saying anything, she smiled widely at him and once again led his cock down her throat. She knew exactly how he would like to see her, so instead of using her hand, she pushed herself down so her lips met his base. He groaned loudly, and once again a hand tightened on the back of her head. She gagged slightly trying to pull up after a moment, but he kept her there for a few extra seconds. The moment he let go, she pulled herself off him and, wasting no time, slid one of his balls into her mouth, pumping him with her right hand. 

She returned her attention to his cock after both of his balls had been thoroughly coated with liquid. Deep-throating him and bobbing up and down. She paused to change the rhythm, speeding up, meaning she once again had to twist her hand in the places she couldn't reach. She glanced up at him, and just as she asked, his eyes were fixed on her. The look of concentration was heavy on his face. The sound he was making made the lady drip onto the fabric of the couch. 

She knew every sound he made better than her own, so when his pitch changed, she knew to quicken her pace, fondling his balls in her left hand. She anticipated the movement of his hand on the couch and braced herself for the pressure, which met the back of her head and pushed her down until she gagged. Her throat was coated with warm and salty spurts of his release. She swallowed around his cock and pulled herself free as soon as his grip relaxed, licking her lips as she did so.

Before either could say anything, he pulled her to him, into a searing kiss, tasting himself on her tongue and lips. He let out a hum of satisfaction as he pulled away, and his eyes looked tired under the evening light. 

“My love, you must be getting old. You look tired.”

“The satisfaction you bring me is unmatched. It is natural  to be tired after being pleasured by a goddess.”

“You flatter me too much, Oberyn.”

“It is one of my greatest joys.” She giggled, curling up to his naked form, her underclothes leaving little to the imagination. He relished the feeling of her nipples against his skin and allowed himself to completely relax under her embrace. 

They stayed like that, watching the sun completely set outside the Dornish castle. His thumb was tracing circles on her hip, and the slight breeze was beyond calming. Unintentionally, Oberyn fell asleep, and though not looking at him, the deep breathing and soft snores made it obvious. She tried not to disturb him, pulling herself carefully out of his embrace and taking a blanket from on top of the chest at the end of his bed. She took in their goblets and his plate and then curled back up into him, letting him tighten his hold and adjusting the thin blanket over the both of them. 

She woke up to the rising sun tickling her face. She liked sleeping outside. The natural awakening made her want to stay out there forever. She looked behind her at Oberyn, who was still softly snoring. He looked so relaxed and calm like this, though with her he usually did, and yet she still noticed that the tightness in his face that was probably due to his princely duties had disappeared. 

She untangled from him, slowly gathering her dress and putting it on. She resolved to leave early so that she could bathe before Jaqen showed up. As she slipped on her shoes, she noticed a movement behind her, turning to see Oberyn leaning on the balcony doorway with a sleepy smile on his face. 

“I truly wish I could wake up to you like this every morning forever.”

“Marry me then.”

“If I didn’t think there was a bigger purpose for you, I would have insisted the minute I walked back onto the shores of Dorne.” He slowly walked over to her, pulling her into a soft kiss. They whispered ‘I love yous" to each other, and she gathered anything else she had left, including a handful of grapes, and left the room, leaving him still in the doorway with a small wave and a smile. 

Stationed outside the door was Essino once again. He put his head up as soon as the door opened and nodded at her. 

“I have been told to pass on the message that a Jaqen has returned.”

“He’s already here?” She was almost bounding with happiness. Her steps became quicker, and it took a moment for Essino to once again step in time with her. 

"Yes, some time ago, I believe. He is now at one of his brothels, doing the rounds I suppose. "

She hummed to herself and then let out a small cough as though clearing her throat. “Did he come to the house when I was not there?”

“To my knowledge, no.” Perhaps it was slightly ridiculous, but the idea that he didn't walk off the ship to immediately meet her made her deflate.

Even though he wasn't looking at her directly, Essino noticed and tried to comfort her. "My lady, I'm sure he just had an urgent business to attend to and didn't want to disturb you in the early morning."

She hummed in response but chose not to continue the conversation, so she remained silent. He interpreted this as her desire to be alone with her thoughts and chose not to change the subject. She mounted her horse outside the palace and waved to Essino before riding slowly back to her home.

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne - Chapter 2

A/N: Hi guys, here's the second part, a shorter chapter this time but I hope you enjoy it.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Warnings: Bad spelling, violence, bad grammar, smut.

Word Count: 6009

Masterlist

Series masterlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Dreams

She had half expected to see Oberyn waiting for her when she had officially arisen. He had a habit of loitering in her gardens when he wanted to see her. Oran was the same, loitering or flirting with one of the handmaidens who were certainly too old for him but the house this day was almost empty. Silence filled the usually filled halls and laughter was not heard. She felt a shift in the energy of the air, something had changed and yet it was unclear what.

Her dream still made her body heat up to an uncomfortable amount meaning the clothes she wore were loose and comfortable. Usually, she would have classes or other work to attend to but today there was nothing scheduled. A free day for her to do what she pleased. She resolved to wonder around until something took her fancy but that did not take long. With a book in hand, she got as far as the stables and looked inside at her black mare.

It was a gift from Aneera and smarter than most horses. She called it Wind. The mare seemed to look at her with a sense of knowing and bent its head down while she redyed the saddle. She rode fast, the reliable mare like a gust of wind under her touch, it was her namesake after all. She prided herself in that the horse would not let anyone that was not her ride it.

It was only a short time later when she reached the gates of the palace as she had done the day before. The gates opened for her yet again, but she was asked to wait at the entrance mostly likely for her new bodyguard. The man came as the Lady handed her horse over to the nearest person.

“If you’re going to follow me around like a lost dog you might as well tell me your name.” Despite her hostile tone, she took a step closer to him, so they were walking side by side.

He shifted at her movement and took a step away from her. “It is my job my Lady, and my name is Essino.”

“You’re Dothraki. You look it.” She took a step closer to him again, an amused smile on her face.

To be polite, he stayed where he was. “Partially Dothraki. You know the language.”

“Somewhat, it means to be different I believe.”

“Yes, it does.” They had stopped in front of a large door which she knocked on hard. There were no guards outside the door but that was fairly normal. Oberyn had once said that he didn’t like to feel watched or encaged, the palace he had said before was a gilded cage, the title of a prince even more so. Expectations upon expectations and he had broken almost every single one.

He opened the door with a book in his hand, head cocked to the side and missing a garment to cover the top half of himself. “Who’s he.”

“Ask your brother.” She nodded at Essino while Oberyn made a face and grabbed onto her arm gently, pulling her into the room and into a searing kiss. She smiled against his lips as he shut the door with his free hand. The two made their way over to the large bed with its still tousled sheets.

She put a hand on his arm gently pushing him off her, “wait, I think we should talk first.”

“I think we should too,” he pulled back for a moment and then gave her a chaste kiss, giving her space to pull herself together.

His smile was just as playful as it usually would be, “so, how are you feeling,” she asked chewing at her lower lip.

“Not jealous if that’s what you’re looking for.” His expression did not change. He lay down pulling her into his chest.

She took a deep breath in and out before answering, “I’m not looking for jealousy.”

“I know you’re not but - I’m happy for you. Truly. As long as this doesn’t change anything between us of course.” He took her hand in his own drawing small circles gently.

“He said it wouldn’t.” It was his turn to sigh, his jaw tightened, and he looked away from her. She removed her hand from his grasp and stroked his jaw.

He waited a moment, “Then I’m fine, my sun.” She looked up at him unconvinced until he smiled, she searched his face for a sense of concealment, but he seemed as calm as he was when she first asked to talk.

A smile graced her face, wide and childlike, “I love it when you call me that.”

“I know that’s why I do it.” She let herself be lost in the moment, looking up at her lover, waiting for him to make a move. She almost let herself go but a glance at the book on the table made her groan.

“The other thing is your brother.” She sighed and lay down next to him, the action like an annoyed child.

“I’m assuming it has something to do with the guard that’s following you around.” He had a small smirk on his face.

“I am very capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know that.” He placed a light kiss on her cheek and lay down next to her, so they were side by side.

“He’s doing something dangerous, that putting all of us at risk and he asked me to marry you instead of letting Jaqen court me. I don’t understand why. What is he trying to secure? I think he planned to marry you to me so that you cannot be used as a political pawn later on in whatever deals he’s brokering.”

“I think you are thinking too far ahead. While I am not happy about whatever he is doing that requires these guards he would never use me as a pawn. He cannot. I would simply refuse.” He had an air of easy confidence about him, he was completely and utterly certain about his brother’s actions.

“You didn’t see him that day. He seemed worried. He is a smart man and a good one and yet when the circumstance calls for it a smart man would keep an eye on every piece they have in the game. He is the patriarch of an important family, he does not have the luxury of not treating the people around him like objects.” She held her breath waiting to see whether he would be quick to anger in this matter.

“I understand your concern, but he is my brother. He would discuss it all with me beforehand. There is only tension in the other kingdoms. Nothing worrying of yet. My sister is safe and Dorne is safe. He is not one to incite conflict.” He looked at the ceiling but held her hand in his.

She lifted herself onto her forearm, staring down at the man who had taken her heart. “That does not mean that conflict will not come to him.”

“Did you see something, in a dream?”

“I think it was a fire, I felt my skin melt and the heat was so intense it made me sick afterwards. I didn’t see anyone, just the feeling.” She shook her head at how vague the dream was, groaning lowly to herself with the realisation of how useless her ability was in this moment.

“Something to do with those dragon people most likely. It’s too little to be worried about.” He dismissed her with an easy smile and a soft touch.

“I’m not entirely sure about that, if anything becomes clear I shall tell you but for now you are right, too little to be worried about.” She smiled down at him, his soft brown eyes staring back at her own.

Her movement was slow and soft, fingers tracing his side as she hovered over his face. Their lips touched for a moment before she pulled away to look at his eyes again, his smile was curious and so he did not move to touch her. She lowered herself again, this time with more passion but still, the movement was lazy as though they had all the time in the world. He took this as a sign to move his hands undoing the ties on her garment, the whole piece slipping down to her waist after she pulled off the sleeves.

His fingers immediately went to the exposed skin, caressing knowingly, in motions and patterns that only he could. She pulled away for a moment to pull her dress completely off of herself, he stared at her exposed body with wonder as though this was the first time he had seen her so vulnerable. He gestured for her to come closer, once he had had his fill and again moved to caress her breasts.

“You move as though you have never seen me before.” Just at that moment, he attached his lips to her nipple, sucking gently while looking at her through his lashes.

“How can I help being in awe every time I see you.” He smiled at her before biting her nipple gently. The sound she made would be considered vulgar anywhere outside of Dorne.

He moved on to the other while she ran her fingers through his hair lightly moaning in content every few seconds. Her hand snaked down his chest to the waistband of his trousers. He stopped her with one hand making her whine in annoyance. “Why did you do that. I want to taste you.”

“Me first,” he waits for a beat before adding, “please.”

She sighed deeply at him, looking at the smile on his face and the colour of his eyes against the sunlight. She pushed him down gently, climbing up his body before hovering over his head. She waited for his action and it came. He pulled her hips down harshly, his tongue immediately coming out of his mouth and moving just as roughly. He moved like a man starved, one hand caressing her ass and the other moving up and down her back.

She threw her head back putting a bit of weight into his arm and tried to stop herself from grinding too hard down on him. As though he could feel her restraint, he pulled her down harder, sucking hard on her clit. She braced herself groaning lightly, “Please lover.”

He hummed in response picking up the pace as her breathing became more erratic. The slurping and sucking sounded just the right amount of erotic to both their ears and she noticed as she bent further backwards, one arm on the bed and turning slightly to put a hand on his growing length. He groaned into her making her legs shudder and causing her to clench around nothing.

He was always attentive, noticing the fluttering clenching and the tightness that her leg muscles seemed to have. His tongue went in and out of her causing her to almost pulse and the lack of something substantial. “My love, please. I cannot, not right now.”

He pulled away and she whined loudly, pushing herself further upright to look at him. He watched the furrow of her eyebrows, the way her mouth parted, her breath shallow. He was never too cruel a lover but he always loved these moments, of slight desperation. He waited for the confused furrow to be a frustrated frown and for her head to cock to the side just slightly. “You look magnificent like this my love.”

“I can look magnificent later, please, my prince, please.” Only in these moments did she call him that, they were equals in every way except rank and it was only here that she would make it clear that she was at his mercy. Only here would she give him the choice, as though he would ever deny her.

“Only because you asked my love,” his head disappeared again, and she jerked at the touch of his lips. A viper he was in more ways than one. His pace was unfair, tongue flicking against her clit.

It didn’t take long for her to pause completely, tendons taught and muscles tense. He carried on this pace as she cried out and only pulled her down tighter as she went through her high. He looked up, waiting for her to open her eyes and for her breathing to slow, laying his head on the inside of her thigh.

“Are you alright my love?” She waited for a beat and moved off of him, slowly lowering herself to lie next to him.

“You know what you do to me Oberyn, am I ever okay when you’re finished with me?” He chuckled lightly and she swiped a finger over his bottom lip capturing what was left of her release and letting him suck on it.

He leaned back onto the bed looking at the ceiling with a soft smile on his face before turning to her suddenly, “that is a good question, you’re beautiful when you finish, head tilted back and...” She cut him off before he could go into a detailed description.

“You don’t need to describe what has just happened my love, I was there.” She chuckled lightly to herself and held his gaze.

“Can you move?” She almost scoffed in response.

“Of course, you deserve to feel this as well,” she scooted down the bed so she could reach the band of his trousers.

“You seemed like you were thinking really hard about something during that release are you sure?”

It made her smile, the way he could catch how tension caught differently in her muscles, the differences in her moans, just the way he knew her body. “Giving you pleasure always gives me pleasure.”

She stayed the night as per usual and they were just as engrossed in each other the next morning. It was only the next evening where she forced herself to leave so she would have a day to herself to prepare herself for her meeting. She was restless, unable to sleep, bewitched by an emotion she hadn’t felt since Oberyn came back all those years ago.

By dawn she was already dressed and had eaten, she thought it easier to go to the market before he came to give her something to do. Though when she pulled her other mare named dagger, a gift from Oberyn of course, down the hill she caught a glimpse of red hair she stopped as did he.

“If you’re not careful I might believe you’re eager to see me.” They both chuckled, bringing their horses so they were trotting side by side down the dirt path.

“Is it so bad that I am eager?” The smile on his face made her look down at her horse, fiddling with its reigns. This was new, not that Oberyn had never said things to her like this and not that many other men and women hadn’t, but this felt different. Like in the early days when it felt like Oberyn was courting her.

“No, in fact, it is welcomed, I know I’m brilliant company, but it is nice to hear it.”

“I didn’t expect you to be leaving, especially not alone.” He said, looking at the path in front of him.

She scoffed lightly, “I am a busy woman with things to do, and I am capable enough of protecting myself.”

“I am very sure of that.” He said with a slight smile on his face.

She huffed a laugh, “you sound like Doran.”

“The prince Doran.” He asked in question.

“Is there any other Doran I would know personally?”

He chuckled to himself and breathed in heavily, “I suppose not. Where were you going?”

“Since you wanted to interrupt my morning, we are going to the market.”

“Let’s make a day of it.” He took a moment seemingly pondering something before gesturing to her, “I’ll buy you anything you want.”

“How about I buy you anything your heart desires, and I mean anything.” She said, pulling her horse as close as she could to his and leaning towards him.

“Perhaps we should wait a moment for that anything but fine, anything within reason.” She smiled, pleased with herself.

She waited for a moment before speeding up, pulling her horse off the dirt path. She had expected to see him quite the ways behind her but when she glanced back, he was there, just a little to her right. She let out a loud laugh and sped up again, seeing whether she could lose him until eventually, they got back to a dirt path, and she slowed.

“I am an expert rider you know.” The smile on both their faces were mirrors of each other, there was a sense of amazement that the two had of each other.

“Well, I know that now.”

“Was that supposed to be a test?” He asked

She giggled at him, “Of course not, just a bit of fun.”

While they were moving through large paths, none were as busy as the one they were on now. She got off her horse as did he and then pulled them both to the nearest stable, paying the man and walking outside to Jaqen who was looking around for something.

“An arm my lady,” he pulled out an arm for her to hold and looked at her when she didn’t take it.

“A hand would be better.” He nodded slowly and put his arm down, laying out his hand instead.

She led him right through the market choosing to work her way from the back forward. She took note of anything he seemed to be looking hard enough at and decided she would go back when they were separated to get him something. While she had not known this man for long, it seemed as though he would be apprehensive about spending her money.

“Did you come to get anything in particular?” He asked.

“No, I like to look around when they have new shipments, to see whether they have foreign objects.” As she was talking, they came across a small stall hidden between bigger ones selling jewellery. “As much as I adore my homeland, there is always a want to leave it, and when I cannot these foreign things do that for me.

She looked over all the jewellery before settling on the ring section. The worker looked at them with a tired smile but bright eyes, “exactly like here. One would never find these rocks in Dorne, where would they even come from. I personally prefer Dothraki jewels but where do you think this one is from?”

He was running his hand over some necklaces but looked up at the ring in the woman’s hand, the jewel a bright green. “I am not well versed in jewels, so I am not sure. Why do you prefer the Dothraki ones?”

She picked up a different one, seemingly engrossed in the glow of the white jewel within a silver band. “There’s a story, not necessarily a good one, about a Dothraki king and how he would adorn his wife with these jewels to show his love for her. While that wasn’t a large point of the story I loved the idea of that, that he loved to see her adorned with the most precious things he could find. That maybe one of these precious things would match her in beauty. They never did of course.”

“I didn’t expect that of you.” She looked up at him to find him looking straight at her.

She frowned with a confused smile, “expect what?”

“That these stories play such a huge part in your life. You seem so rooted in truth and reality, I like this side of you.” He nodded slowly and turned back to the necklaces.

“Stories told me what was possible. That the impossible was possible. They taught me about the beauty in ugly things, that there is always an ending even if it is a cliffhanger. Stories are my comfort and my guide.”

“And why is that?” He took a step towards her so that if he reached up he could touch her face.

She sighed with a slight laugh, “because stories are only able to exist through the limits of our imagination. There is truth to all of them if you know where to look.”

He hesitated before speaking, seemingly pondering his own words, “I may not have known you for as long or as intimately as others in your life but in you I only see greatness. I feel as though you would make my impossible possible.”

“What does that even mean,” she giggled.

“I’ll know it when I see it.”

She put a hand on his chest looking up at his eyes, “ thank you Jaqen, in you I see and feel freedom, knowledge and wonder. You are the start of something great.”

Now it was his turn to laugh heartedly, “and what is this something great.”

“I'll tell you once I know.” She captured his lips in a soft kiss, forgetting herself in him. Taking a deep breath she pulled him away from the stall and led him back through the market.

“Why are we walking away you looked like you liked those rings?”

“You may not have a trained eye for jewels but you’re an inquisitive man. Those jewels were fake, likely just glass.” She laughed at him, and he joined in after a moment of mock frowning.

They moved through the small crowds of people, her choosing garments and a few accessories, him picking up a thing here or there before she led him down to a back alley towards the bakery, she knew all too well.

“There’s a baker here that makes the best pastries. The Gods themselves I’m sure would love them.”

“If it is fit for the Gods, I’m sure it will be fit enough for me,” she giggled and walked faster, a small pep in her step.

“One thought you were in the mood for tea,” they both turned at the new voice coming from the alley to their right. A woman walked out into the light; her clothing was all dark green with black accents. She wore a scarf but no veil the same as her dress with black trim pulled partly on her head. She was adorned with jewels and even with her trained eye the Lady could not tell whether they were fake or not, each seemed to shine as though they were something in it and the longer, she stared at the pendant at the woman’s chest the hotter she became.

There was a tug on her arm and only then did the Lady notice that she had taken a few steps forward almost now directly in front of the woman and yet she was still in a haze. Not even Aneera had had that effect on her, almost as though someone had slipped a herb into her drink.

“There is something you must see; a woman must show you.” The woman turned down the alleyway waiting no moment for the two to follow.

Lady Phassirah looked at the man next to her, almost asking him what to do. “She’s from Lorath.” He said and then turned and started walking after her with no reservation.

She jogged a few steps to catch up and captured his hand again, “I know. I never asked why you don’t speak the same way.”

“I came here for trade, it’s like speaking another language, I learnt to blend in. To not seem too foreign, people are more likely to trust you that way.” He said offhandedly, watching the woman in front of him. He turned a sharp corner almost pulling the Lady into a wall and walked faster. He finally stopped at a door and turned into it.

The house had a staircase directly in front of them which they did not go up, instead, Jaqen turned to the room on the left which had a low table with cushions across the floor. The woman was standing up at a higher table at the far wall pouring what both Jaqen and Lady Phassirah assumed to be tea into 2 cups. She knelt at the head of the table setting the cups down in front of the two guests who sat opposite from one another.

The room itself was too dark, see-through draping’s of dark materials in purples and greens hid the windows and the candles were too few around the room. Lady Phassirah found this to be a little unnerving. though Jaqen seemed calm, looking down at the Lady with concern.

“If you do not wish to do anything we can walk right out of that door and leave.”

She reflected for a moment before smiling brightly, “I always love a little adventure.”

“Then let us have one.” His smile did not quite match her own, but he seemed content enough with her answer.

“What is your name, woman.”

The woman only nodded slowly, “There is power in a name.”

“Yes.” Lady Phassirah said slowly.

“Yours is known but a woman’s is not.”

“No.” The Lady drummed he fingers lightly on the table making the other woman frown deeply.

“It is not to be told today.” The woman said sharply, gesturing to the drinks.

The Lady frowned but nodded slowly, “alright.”

“You must drink if you wish to gain knowledge.”

She put her hand palm up on the table and instead of taking it Jaqen drew patterns across her hand, looking at her with a tilted head and hooded eyes. She slowly brought the porcelain cup to her lips and sipped. The liquid was sweet, just short of being sickly so. She glanced up at Jaqen who was doing the same. A hand went to the cup at her lips and pushed it gently upwards and she drank the rest of the liquid putting the cup down gently on the table.

It wasn’t immediate, it took a breath or two for the change to fully happen. She felt happier like she could break into manic laughter any moment. She looked up at Jaqen, the colour of his hair swirling in her mind. She must have collapsed, ended up with a head on the cushions as though she had fallen asleep. Her head was heavy and hard to lift but she did anyway. Jaqen was exactly where she left him in those few seconds, his hair floating around as if he were underwater, his eyes so dark as though she were looking into the depths of the sea from the side of a ship. She had the sudden urge to kiss him, to let herself meld to him completely, to let him consume her in any way he wished.

There was a sound behind her, like a whisper and she stood and turned. The room was now one long corridor stretching out further than her eye could see, only lit up by torches for a few steps. She took a torch off the wall and followed the whispering, still unable to make out the words. The corridor kept going until it opened up into a large staircase.

She followed the staircase up and found herself on a balcony looking out, it was cold, and the floor seemed covered in snow, if it weren’t for the red of his hair, she would have missed Jaqen, making steps in the snow wearing white. She called out to him, but the wind seemed to carry her voice away. There was a pull deep in her stomach asking her to jump, so she did, like a bird over the balcony and let herself fall and fall until something grabbed her hard from behind.

A man was towering over her in full armour with a white cape of the king’s guard holding on her hard, she struggled and fell but his grip never faltered. He took a step backwards and then another, dragging her with him and in a state of panic, she threw herself forward trying to get out of his grip. Somehow in this mess, she managed to land on the floor and as he bent down to grab her again, she kicked him hard in the knee making him falter and fall, there was a large rock beside her and his helmet had fallen off, he was looking to the side, hair covering his face. She moved to turn his face so she could see his face, but her vision went black and now the man on the floor was Oberyn, a smile on his face but his eyes so empty and skin cold to the touch.

She took a step backwards, and then two, walking into the chest of someone. The smell was somewhat familiar and the red hair in the corner of her vision made her visibly relax. Before she could fully turn she felt a heat harsh under her feet in such a way it made her jump. She teetered backwards but it felt as if there were a hot poker at the back of her neck and a fire began around her. There was a screech above her, and she looked up to see a dragon as large as the legends flying above her. She could only smell smoke now and there was no presence behind her. She took a step forward out of the fire and towards the crowd of people that seemed to have just appeared in front of her.

While she was outside before, she now seemed to be in some sort of hall. Two jaguars were sitting at the head of the room near what looked like a throne, before she could look at them too closely, however, a woman with red hair pulled her to dance, they twirled and jumped to the cheery music that had started up seemingly out of nowhere. Every time the woman twirled, however, the room and outfits were different colours, red and gold, orange-yellow and red, green and black and finally all white.

She looked over at the jaguar and instead of the two of them snuggled together black as ink, the other was replaced with a lion, pacing slowly in front of the jaguar, his attention at the crowd of dancing people. The intensity of its gaze made her stop and run out of the arms of the dancing woman and instead walk away from the crowd.

She was looking around the room for something and through the dancing people came a woman with long black hair, dark eyes and a slender figure looking right at her. The woman turned and walked quickly away and Y/N followed her, pushing through people and eventually down the corridors of what seemed like a palace that was very unlike that of Sunspear until she turned into a room. The Lady looked at the doors which were only partially open. They were shaped like an arch and golden, a large sun of the same colour was carved into the middle.

The Lady walked through the door, pushing it lightly closed behind her. The woman beckoned the Lady forward to a bed underneath a large window. There was a man on the bed, leaning against the frame, as the woman moved out of the way, her lover tilted his head chewing a mouthful of fruit. The woman curled up into the arm furthest away from the Lady and beckoned her forward.

“Lover, we may have forever ahead of us, but I would like to use every moment of that with you that is possible.” The softness of the woman’s voice made the Lady relax and she took a few steps towards them, kissing Oberyn lightly. He tasted of honey and wine. She felt almost emotional, her eyes filling with tears as she curled into his chest to match the woman on the other side of him. She reached a hand out to her almost out of instinct but the other woman had bent over her and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

She must have blinked for the image had changed. She was back in the room she had drunk the tea in. It smelled faintly of honey which made her sigh lightly. She looked around, the room had changed from before, the furniture was older and the cloths at the windows had gone, as was the woman. Had there not been two cups on the table she would have thought the whole thing was a bad dream.

She hadn’t registered Jaqen behind her until he stirred, the hand that was around her stomach tightening as he was interrupted from what seemed like sleep. It took him a few breaths to sit up and release his hand from her.

“Are you alright?” She asked, turning to face him and caressing his face gently with her hand.

He put a hand on her wrist to stop her movement at his cheek, causing her to cup it and kiss him lightly, first on his lips and then between his brows that had furrowed into a deep frown. “That was weird.” He spoke.

“I have dreams like that. Seemingly prophetic. They’re usually vague but it was like having a bunch of them at once.”

“Are they ever useful?” He drew her into him not wanting her to pull away and kissed the top of her head repeatedly.

She leaned further into him, putting her arms around his torso. “Sometimes. They’re vague so often I don’t know what they mean until the event is happening. These ones had people I had never met in them; places I had never been to.”

“Perhaps they will make sense in the future then.”

“Perhaps, how about yours. Was your journey the same?” she asked looking up at him. His eyes were tired, but he pecked her lips just once

“No, a man was having a very long conversation.”

“A man?” She asked, a slight smile on her face.

“Sorry.”

She squeezed him gently before asking again, “are you alright?”

“Shaken but I’ll be fine. Let us not follow random women into houses and drink poisoned tea again.”

“It wasn’t a poison.” He looked at her smiling face and laughed lightly, standing up and offering her a hand.

“I don’t mean to cut this day short, but I would like to go home. I have a few things to think about.”

“My lady not to hurt your feelings at all but I was going to suggest the same.” They both let out a light sigh and looked at each other with a smile. He offered his hand which she gladly took as lovers would and left the empty house.

The Lady retraced their steps back to the top of the market collecting their horses and in silence, they both rode gently back to hers. He had expected him to diverge at some point but the constant and steady beat of his horse's hooves were all she heard the whole way home.

“I’m sorry that today went like this.” He had gotten off his horse as did she, giving hers to the stable boy. He pulled her gently to face him.

“There are a hundred better days to come and a thousand other journeys to take. I’m glad we both had the experience.” He smiled at her gently, tilting his head a little to the right looking down at her. She had expected him to maybe kiss her softly, but he only squeezed her arm with a sad smile and left. She didn’t call out to him, instead, she watched as he rode down the hill and away.

She had expected Aneera to sense something, an energy shift but the woman was not in the house. Her father didn’t greet her and the door and her brother missing per usual. The whole day seemed to see a change in energy, and it made the lady uneasy as she slept.

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne Masterlist

Chapter 1 - Beginnings

Chapter 2 - Dreams

Chapter 3 - Moments in Love

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne - Chapter 3

A/N sorry for the wait it has been a mad Christmas time. Also, this is not beta-read so sorry for any mistakes.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

18+

Warnings: bad spelling, bad grammar, swearing, smut.

Word count: 7488

Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Moments in love

The next day was different, the air was calm, and the house stayed somewhat quiet. She had remembered that in the rush to rummage through their thoughts, neither she nor Jaqen had discussed when they were to meet again. She felt a craving, dull but still there for his presence, she wondered what it would be like to wake up to him in the mornings. What he would look like when his mind was truly free, how the light in the room would change the colour of his hair. She wanted to see his eyes through every stage of the day.

It was only when she looked outside that she realised that it was earlier than she had expected, getting dressed she sat at the window watching the people come to and from her house and down the mostly empty dirt path that led to the rest of the city. The position of the sun made it hard to see who people were until they appeared close to the door, and she watched a man in a white hood walk to the house. He didn’t look up, so she dressed quickly trying to listen to the hushed voices and to see who they had been visited by.

She hung over the railing of the staircase trying to work out who was in the next room before muttering expletives to herself and going back upstairs. After getting one of the servants to tie her hair and veil the bun she stared at herself in the mirror for a full minute before deciding to go downstairs.

“Ah, daughter a pleasure to finally see you.” Her father winked and sat down in his usual spot.

“Father, Jaqen. I was not prepared for a meeting today.” She met his smile with a raised eyebrow but sat opposite him in Oran’s seat.

“Forgive me, I wished to have your presence during my errands today.”

She fiddled with the food that was placed in front of her before answering. “You wished?”

“Yes.” He said slowly.

“Well, while I may not be a spirit who grants wishes this one seems to be within my capabilities.” He chuckled lightly and stood offering her a hand.

“Give a lady a moment to finish her meal.” He slowly sat down as her father laughed starting a conversation about something to do with the brothels. She took that as an opportunity to watch the way he explained things, the way he spoke to others that weren’t her. It made her smile.

The errands were mostly visits to the brothel, she stood back and stayed quiet choosing to watch as he walked in with a half-smile to check conditions, prices and other miscellaneous things. She enjoyed watching him work and took the time to study him closely.

With every bad thing that happened she watched his level tone, the words he used to get people to admit they were lying. Everything about him was calculated, you could see the years of practice that allowed him to be like this. He was truly a master at this craft and yet in this business the lack of morals was often apparent, but it seemed not to be with him.

He made sure to check on her every time they stopped. When there was a spare moment he would offer her fruits, bread and cheese, make a small joke to make her smile and when she touched his arm or smiled right at him, he would look to the floor before returning to his tasks. She appreciated every second of it and every moment she spent with him made him more intriguing than the moment she had first met him.

She noticed after he had given her a small cup of honeyed tea that she was hanging off his every word and uncharacteristically timid. For the first time, she wanted to impress him and took that as a sign that she should.

Before he could even offer to buy dinner, she invited him to her house lightly touching his arm and shoulder until he said yes.

“You truly just wished for my presence today.” She said handing the reigns over to the stable boy as they walked to the house.

He gestured with his hand, “you make me feel calm…. collected.”

“You are calm and collected enough when I am not around.”

“Well yes but I like myself around you. I like you to be around me.” She looked away so that he could not see the wide smile on her face and instead held his hand, looking out for signs of her brother.

She asked the servant to bring dinner to her chambers and led him to the carved wooden doors that held her haven. They were intricately done much like Oberyn's own but done by a woodworker who thought it would win her affections.

The bedsheets were new, and servants came in with a jug of wine and water. There was an array of fruits, cloths had been changed from green to deep reds and golds. While she poured out half a cup of wine, Jaqen walked straight past her to the extensive personal library. She tried to guess which spine he would be drawn to the most, but he just ran a hand over all of them, pulling out a few to read the title and then returning them.

“This library has a lot of books in many languages. I didn’t realise you were so well-read.” His hands lightly traced the spines of the sections that were in Braavosi and Lorathi.

“Why would you think I’m not well-read. I’m a new world noble they always try to teach you many languages and unlike my brother, that is something I’m particularly good at. Especially those spoken in Essos since Oberyn insists on travelling there at some point.” Though she said the last bit like an afterthought a look of concern appeared on her face, but he did not turn around to see it. She draped herself on the side of the large seat, her hands just about able to reach the bookshelf.

“There are so many books in Lorathi here, I think I might have to visit your chambers more often.” There was a soft smile that made her eyes light up and be drawn to his lips.

“Well, we can arrange that in any way you want. Though this is just my personal library, I can always borrow from the palace.”

He chuckled lightly and pulled out a thin book. The cover was wooden with intricate carving on the cover and spine. “This is a child’s story. I’ve only ever heard it told and not seen it written down.”

“Lorathi is a language a struggle with, children’s stories are much easier to understand, though this one, I have not read.” She moved to the other side of the large chair still draped over it but leaving space for him to sit. He sat on the corner she was previously on and tapped his leg lightly for her to lay her head.

She looked up at him with a sweet smile on her face and he held out the opened book in his left hand, with his other hand on her hair. It was strange, how normal this felt, how easily she dropped into his lap and how simply he’d asked her to.

The story he read in the original Lorathi. She recognised some of it but tapped him at the bits she couldn't work out so he would translate.

The story was familiar in that she felt someone had told her this before but from what she knew it was native to Lorath and she had never even been to Essos. It was about a woman cursed as a baby with immortality so that every time she would fall in love they would die, and the cycle would continue till the end of time. After saving the witch who cursed her the witch tried to reverse the curse in thanks, but she could not, so she made the woman’s lover immortal as well. Hundreds of suns later, after a few children they turned themselves into trees so while they would be alive forever, they could rest and still be together. The people of the kingdom starting with their children, began to worship the trees who lived and bared fruit even in the worst droughts and the lovers existed in harmony together.

When he had finished reading and eating the sun had almost disappeared under the hills and the lady stood to the curved balcony and opened the windows beckoning Jaqen closer. He drew her into him, and she lay her head on his chest. To her, the sunsets were one of the most beautiful things in all of Dorne and while the palace provided the best place to see them the curved balcony on her house in the hill was definitely second. They stood in a comfortable silence on the balcony until the sky was rid of the oranges and pinks.

“So, what’s beyond the sun,” she said quietly, he was thinking about something, but her voice brought him out of whatever he was planning.

“Beauty, people, magic.” He gave her the smirk that made her smile the whole day.

“Sounds like an old story” She put her hands on the railing of the balcony and he settled his hands on her hips.

“Maybe it is. The stories that being in Essos allowed me to tell makes me an interesting man.” His smirk turned into a smile, and he turned her towards him.

“You are definitely interesting without the stories, but I can say that they add a mysterious charm.” She leaned into him so that her lips were a mere finger length away from hers.

He leaned into her, letting their lips meet gently and then moving the hand that was not on her back to caress her face, leaning her back slightly. When she moved back to breathe, his eyes were bright even without the setting sun. She looked at him completely in awe.

He was smiling softly at her and took a step back with a shallow bow, “my lady, while I wish I could extend this moment forever I must prepare for a journey back to my home of Lorathi. ” He made a move to step away, but she gently pulled on his arm. “I’ll be sure to bring back books and something beautiful that reminds me of you.”

“There is not a need to be so overly polite. I see your soul and I enjoy it. Let your trip be joyful and let the time go quickly so I may see you again.” She kissed him once more, softly, full of the emotion she couldn’t describe. Once she was finished, she walked him to the great wooden doors of the front of the house.

“Until then my Lady.” He said leaning in to kiss her cheek.

“Until then.”

There was a certain type of lightness that engulfed her like when she had dreams and the event was happy and obvious, A comfortable satisfaction with a hint of familiarity as though she had watched him ride away hundreds of times, the knowledge clear in her that he would always come back. There was a yearning for his loss of presence though it did not fill her with the passion that Oberyn’s did, it was equally as important. A domestic feeling, one of unconditional love, one that was calm and slow, one that set her heart on a permanent rhythm.

It all seemed clear when she lay in her bed, the reason Aneera had done everything. This man was her domestic, her partner and though this did not change the love she has for Oberyn it was clear that Jaqen was key to her entire being.

She was in a daze, repeating his action of running her hand over the spines of books in her library. The maids and servants noticed and with winks and smiles decided not to ask or disturb her. Letting her bathe and sleep with little chatter. Her smile was present in every action and her heart was obvious in every movement.

The next day, with pressing from her father, her brother had decided to get every detail out of her as if he were a gossipy servant. She sat and recounted the whole day with a smile, the maids joining the two of them for breakfast and her father walking in halfway through with interest.

It was unlike her to be so animated when talking about someone who was not part of Dorne’s royal family. Her brother had frowned at the end, annoyed that he would be leaving for the month, but with the various travellers and the work that people did these days, it was obvious that he would have to leave eventually.

“Oran, you’ve been quiet about your own love life. I am often subjected to your countless talk about the girl from here or there, the travelling girl or the one with almond eyes and yet there has only been silence from you for the last few months.” He had been absent which was unusual for a boy that liked his tight nit circle.

“Am I not allowed to enjoy my own company.” He said smiling.

“When have you ever enjoyed your own company.” Her father chuckled quietly at that.

“Fine. I am in love.” Oran seemed joyous at his admission.

“When have you ever been in love.” While a kind man, Oran often used his position and contacts as a selling point for himself.

“Never, which is what makes it so great.” His smile was sweet and rather unlike himself.

“So, when do we learn about or meet this mysterious girl,” Y/N said, a teasing smile on her face.

“Tonight.” Their father stood up fast muttering under his breath.

“You tell me this now, I cannot prepare, I need food and wine. Who is her family? Is she a noble?” Their father had a habit of making any guest feel like a king, which although was endearing, did not help when there was only a days’ notice. “We must leave, I must send a letter to Aneera.”

At that moment, Aneera was escorted into the room by a servant and sat down next to Oran. “There is no need, I am already here. Her whole family is coming, and the servants are unloading the food I brought.”

“The fact that you can do that is really off-putting,” Oran muttered into his goblet.

Once breakfast was eaten, Y/N decided to take Oran into the market to buy a new outfit for the evening. While this usually wasn’t a thing that he worried about, this girl must have been important because he had asked her directly for help.

As another hand, she stopped by the palace, enlisting Oberyn to help and tried to get Doran to join them but he had other duties to attend to. She missed the presence of Elia, it was nice to have another girl in their group of 4, previously 5.

Elia had sent letters, but there were only so many letters to be sent and so many things to say without seeing each other. While they were not exactly close, Elia being older it would have been nice to see her, to ask another woman that was not her mother for advice. She did seem happy though, living in luxury. Her family went as often as they could, often to complete other duties at the same time like visiting the Lannister’s but they would be gone for months at a time and with only her brother for company those months were never particularly enjoyable.

“You have to wear traditional dornish colours.” Oberyn was taking this entire experience a lot more seriously than she expected.

“I think it should be that creamy yellow and not the red.” She had already picked out her outfit, a tanned piece that was a gift from Oberyn. The embroidery was intricate, and this would be the first time she wore the dress outside of a royal function. A headpiece to match, however, was proving hard to find.

“I think he should go for the red. This is a meeting with the whole family.” Oberyn had a habit of disagreeing with her but that may also be due to his flair for dramatics against her calmer nature.

“Okay well then we need to match and I’m wearing that tanned dress you gave me and headpiece if I can find one. Anyways she’s a baker and he’s not getting engaged this is hardly something that needs to be so dramatic.” She was looking at the stall next to them at the jewellery they offered but none seemed to speak to her.

“So, wear a red headdress, what is the problem.” He chuckled lightly.

“You think that is going to match with a tan dress because it won’t. Why does he need to wear red?” she turned to him hands crossed in her chest. The two were almost matching in a beige top and brown pants, without Oberyn’s jewellery they would technically be wearing the same outfit.

“Because it’s a lucky colour.” She looked at him unimpressed.

“No yellow is a lucky colour and the other one is yellow.” She said matter-of-factly.

“That is barely yellow, it's beige at the best.” Oberyn had a habit of talking with his hands the more animated he got and thus flung his hands out in an exasperated manner.

“Well, it's yellow enough and we’ll match.” She took a step closer to him, her brother forgotten while he was looking at more outfits.

“He’s not marrying you,” Oberyn said quietly, looking down at the woman, he couldn’t even pretend to be annoyed with her.

“It called putting on a united front.” She laughed.

“This isn’t a political dinner.” He said sighing, even in a casual outfit, she looked breath-taking.

“It isn’t a wedding either.” The thought made her smile and she pecked Oberyn lightly on the lips as he smiled softly at her.

“She may be right, go with the yellow.” He called out in the direction of Oran.

“I think I found something, it’s yellow with red accents.” Oberyn and Y/N looked at each other shrugging and looked back at the two-piece tunic Oran was holding. It was a light yellow with light red embroidery detailing on the collar, sleeves and buttons.

“That does look pretty great, I cannot deny,” Oberyn said, nodding.

After Oran had paid, the group moved towards the side with more options of jewellery. There were painted metal pieces and beaded pieces in a large variety of colours. Oran settled on a leather bracelet and beaded one as well as a gold neckpiece that some traveller had sold to him at a ridiculously high price by saying that it would bring luck in love.

With the way the man was talking and the looks that all their servants were giving each other, they decided that they would not help Oran should he choose to ignore all his surroundings and buy the ridiculous piece of jewellery.

When they got back there was a flurry of action around the house, her father shouting orders at various people. The lady was still without a headpiece and despite Oberyn’s cheery nature, her mood was not lifted.

He walked into the house before remembering he needed to get back to the castle and pulled her into him before he left. He held her face in his hand, “smile my beautiful flower, for you will look magnificent in anything.”

She pulled his hands off of her with a sigh, “you’re just saying that.”

“I never lie to you.”

She looked up at his wide smile with a raised eyebrow before giving in, “that I cannot deny.”

“Goodbye, my flower.”

“Goodbye, my love.” He kissed her quickly and rushed out of the home calling for his horse.

Once she was ready she looked in the mirror, the servants commenting on how good she looked and while they weren’t wrong, since she had the idea of a headpiece in her head the outfit seemed incomplete. Being the empath that she was, Aneera knocked on the door, peeking her head through before steeping through completely.

“There is hardly a need to be so nervous, she’s a lovely woman.”

“Oran is in love with her. He doesn’t even admit he loves me. I just want to make the best possible impression; I want us to get along.” She said looking down at her hands.

“That and you want to make a friend that you are not sleeping with, related to anyone you’re sleeping with or living days away.” They both chuckled at that.

“Oran was right, it is unsettling when you do that,” Y/N said softly, a smile evident on her face. She moved from her spot to sit next to Aneera instead.

“That is just normal observations, it has nothing to do with my abilities,” Aneera admitted, her tone the same.

“Am I that easy to read?” Y/N asked.

“Normally no.” She said with a smile.

“I suppose that’s good to know.” She said looking again down at her hands.

“Yes. I suppose this is irrelevant to the topic of conversation, but I was told you were in need of a headpiece that fits the dress you’re wearing.” She held up a gold headpiece. The medallion settled on her forehead while the chain went down the middle parting. There was more gold and white chaining that almost seemed woven which hung at either side of her face. It matched the dress perfectly and was understated enough that it didn’t display the wealth of their family.

“Where did you get this.” She said quietly.

“A gift from your mother, I thought you might want it someday.” She embraced the woman in a passionate hug, then let her place it smiling at her from the mirror.

When they had made their entrance downstairs, it was clear by the moving of the servants that the girl was already here. Both women walked hand in hand with their heads held high. Y/N made a b-line towards the younger girl in the woman.

“I apologise but I seem to know everything except your name.” she offered the girl a large smile. She was tall, with brown eyes and light olive skin.

“It’s Ayenna. It really is a pleasure to meet you, I’ve heard so much.” The girl just about curtseyed to which Y/N thrust a hand out to pull her up.

“That is highly unnecessary. I am not royalty.” It was a common thing for people who had not met the family to do. The house they lived in; the people they were around often around made it look like they were part of the royal family. It made everyone feel uncomfortable when others proceeded with unnecessary formalities.

“Sorry, I just wanted to make a good impression I suppose.” Ayenna offered a nervous laugh, almost scared at the fact that she had made a mistake.

“I suppose me, and you are in the same position then. Perhaps you would like to take a walk with me around the gardens before we eat.” She asked the girl.

“I would be delighted.” Ayenna gave her a big smile, reminding her of a happy child.

The two walked to the fountain at the centre and Y/N sat down on the bench, offering the other side to Ayenna. “So how did the two of you meet, you seem to take up all his time I have hardly seen him these days and when I do, he is full of smiles.”

“Well, I started to work at the bakery that you like your pastries from and he came in and asked to court me. My mother had warned me against him, but he can be so charming.” Ayenna was smiling softly at the memory, unable to look Y/N in the face.

“I love that I have unintentionally played matchmaker. The fact that I can now hold this over him for as long as the two of you are together, makes me like you even more.” They both chuckled at her words and Ayenna seemed to relax.

“I hope that we get along after today. Your brother has spoken about you a lot and you know the prince.”

“Trust me, if you ever meet him, he is not nearly as amazing as people describe. That and every person in every brothel has probably met him.” Y/N chuckled. Ayenna seemed to perk up at the mention of a brothel.

“My sister works at one of the fruit ones.” Ayenna perked up but immediately shut down after hearing her own words.

“Oh, who is she. My fiancé owns them.” Y/N asked curiously.

“Would you mind if I didn’t tell you, it would make things rather awkward?” Ayenna said looking down at her hands. “Although I had no idea that you are engaged.”

“I suppose you’re right, that would make things a little awkward.” Y/N sighed. “And yes, it is rather new, but I suppose both me and my brother are both in love.”

“But how does that work with the prince.” She asked head cocked to the side.

“Same as it has been working now, we both frequent brothels do we not.”

“That is true. I did not mean to offend.”

“And you have not Ayenna.”

“Lady Phassirah, the food is ready.” One of her maids had come out to say.

“How many times have I told you to stop calling me that,” Y/N whined.

Both women walked back into the hall and sat down in their places. The dinner was about as eventful as expected, Oran was strangely shy around Ayenna’s parents despite apparently meeting them before. Y/N spoke about the bakery and any other small points of interest that they had. Overall, the family seemed rather normal, although not revealing very much about themselves they were polite enough. Their quietness was mostly attributed to the presence of the lady. While her brother wouldn’t tell her this, she was known as the beauty of Dorne. The single continues paramour of the insatiable prince.

When the dinner was over, the lady gave Ayenna a warm hug with a promise to see her again soon, or at least visit the bakery again instead of sending Oran.

“So, they were nice. Nervous but nice. Ayenna is very pretty. She looks familiar though.”

“She is, isn’t she.” There was a dazed smile on his face.

“I can’t tell what it is but there’s something off about her. Not in a good way. She does genuinely like you though that much is clear.” The fact that this was coming from Aneera made everyone turn their head. Her instinct was always right, and they always took her advice seriously.

“What should I do.” Oran's face was a mixture of concern and sadness.

“Nothing yet. Enjoy her company, she is fond of you, just be wary about anything that does not feel right.” She said softly in response. Oran hummed lightly and left without a further word.

“Aneera, perhaps me and you could talk in our chambers, while father finishes up for the evening.” Y/N gestured towards the staircase and the two ascended it. Their father standing thoughtfully in a seeming daze at the bottom until he was tapped by one of the servants.

“You seem tense what did you want to talk about.” Aneera had a look of concern, beckoning the other woman to sit on the chair next to her.

“Is it normal to be so devoted to someone so quickly? I’m not sure what to do, there’s also Oberyn, this is new territory for our relationship. I wish not to make a mistake. There are more feelings to think about than I have had before. I love him too much but Jaqen makes me feel different, I’m not sure how to explain it.” She was on the edge of tears, sniffling quietly.

“Oberyn will love you until the day you die. He will also love others, as will you. Never, in the same way, your love is unique to every person but his love for you will always be there. These people are all needed in your life and your love for them is also needed. The unfamiliar is terrifying but in a few years, it will not be. The best thing you can do to ease your doubt is to talk to him, from what I understand he is an understanding man beneath the arrogance.” Aneera held the crying girl in her arms, stroking her hair gently. “In regard to Jaqen. Just enjoy the way he makes you feel. Fall into it.”

“It’s annoying that you always seem to know what to say.” She looked up at the woman who could just as easily be her mother and wrapped her arms around the woman’s waist. They stayed like that for a moment before Aneera spoke up.

“I am here to act as your mother when it comes to any of your worries my love.”

“You are my mother Aneera.” Y/N smiled up at her and sat up.

“I suppose I fulfil that role quite nicely.” There was a small chuckle from both women before Aneera kissed Y/N’s head and left the room.

She was invited the next morning to spend time in the palace. She was never there for just a day and so if this kept up, the month that Jaqen were to be gone would go by rather quickly. She dressed quickly and took a horse alone to the palace. The gates opened up for her immediately and it was Doran who met her instead.

“Though I love your company I believe it was your brother that I was to spend time with.” She smiled up at the man who gave her back a sly smile.

“Well so did I but it seems he is setting something up for you. I shall be your escort to his chambers.”

“Don’t you have other people who can do that, I’m sure you have more important things to get on with.”

He gestured behind him at Essino and another man she had not seen before. “I always have important things to do, and this is one of them.”

She changed the subject and the two spoke about Doran’s duties and his wife until they finally reached the chambers of the other prince. “Just so you know, I always thought that we would share the same name one of these days, though I’m glad you’ve found your intended happiness.” Lady Phassirah smiled again up at the man and gave a mock curtsy before opening the door herself.

“Ah, my love, my dove my joy,” Oberyn showered the woman in kisses before she was able to fully step through the door.

“You seem excited to see me.” She kicked the door closed and looked up at him with hooded eyes.

His smile was wide, full of mischief, “am I not always excited to see you.”

“Yes, but you seem enthusiastic.” She giggled, walking further into the room.

“I have not seen you for a while.” He pulled her over to the bed and pushed her to sit down.

She watched him for a moment, moving around the room looking for something. “You saw me yesterday my love.”

“We’ll talk about that later.”

“Talk about what.” She was leaning against the pillows now, feet tucked underneath her and eyes moving with him.

He finally picked up a package, covered in a white cloth. “I have a gift for you, I was going to give it to you on your birthday but think of it as an early wedding present.”

“Is this what this is about, my wedding.” She leaned over to him without putting a hand on his leg, letting him guide the mood.

He put his two hands against her cheeks looking deep inter her eyes as though he could convey his feeling through the air alone, “while I would marry you today if you asked, I’m happier that you do what your heart desires. This is not about your wedding.”

She bowed her head slightly to allow him to kiss it and sighed deeply. “Fine show me the present then.”

He gestured for her to open the box and she did, dragging away the white cloth and opening the wooden lid. The box held what she assumed to be a sword, but the shape was curved, unlike the ones she was in the seven kingdoms. She looked up at him first and he made a gesture towards it with his head. She picked up the sword, twirling it around her wrist and eventually looking down at the hilt holding it by the sheath. On the hilt was a carved snake in silver making just the right finger marks for her grip. She took the blade by the hilt again admiring the black sheath with small yellow and white suns surrounding the edges.

“It’s called a scimitar, Doran helped me create it. The black is for your house, the suns for mine of course but the snake, that is your new husband's.” He looked incredibly pleased with himself, with bright eyes and a wide smile.

She however frowned deeply taking in the intricate patterns. “We haven’t even officially agreed to get married yet. This gift is too much. I didn’t even know that was the sigil of his house. I don’t even know what colours his house is.”

He groaned loudly falling back onto the bed with a flurry of his arms, “spontaneity is what we’re known for. If you hate it that much break the union or I could kill him, should you prefer?”

“Please do not kill him.”

He looked at her with a serious face, contemplating something before laughing at her furrowed eyebrows, “I said should you prefer. His house is a white snake he created it since his family isn’t exactly noble or known really.”

“You spoke to him.” She sat back looking at him straight on.

“Briefly.”

“Without me.”

His face fell a little and he tilted his head up, “it was one conversation.”

She groaned loudly matching his earlier action and lying on the bed. “I hope you didn’t take Oran, when was this? You didn’t embarrass me did you.”

“You know I would never and no it was just me and him.” He leaned over her and presented a branch of grapes to her, she frowned at him for a moment but opened her mouth.

She sat up a little to finish the grape and lay back down again. “Anything else I should know about.”

“Not particularly no.”

She hummed lightly but pulled her down once they had both finished the branch in his hand. She hovered over him, and they both tilted their heads in the same direction. She laughed at the mirrored movement and pulled him into a searing kiss immediately moving to untie his pants. She hadn’t noticed the box fall on the floor or the scimitar falling out of it too drawn into his movements. She kicked off her own undergarment but kept the dress she was wearing on.

Once he was bare, she fiddled with one of the rings on his finger, on the hand that was on her thigh. He watched her for a moment with interest but took the hand she was not concerned with and put a firm hand onto her jaw. Usually, she would say something here, but he noticed she were pliable, waiting for instruction. He, more roughly than expected pulled her jaw to meet his and their kiss was more passionate than usual.

Rough with clashing teeth and harsh touches. Her kisses moved down his body, first his jaw and then his neck but by the time she got to his shoulders, the kisses turned to sucks which turned to light bites. He tilted his head back and sat up not letting her go further, instead gesturing for her to lift herself. She did with a questioning hum, but he just looked up at her and grabbed her hips. Lining up with her, she pushed down lightly sighing into it.

He was already breathing heavily jaw clenched, a small groan escaping his mouth. She moved slowly, not so much that it was frustrating but so the build-up would be slow. He only moved his hand to her thighs and watched the movement. She was staring at him, with heaving breaths but not saying a word.

“Just say it.”

She groaned but did anyway, “I think I’m falling in love with him.”

“You weren’t already in love.” He raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. She had slowed down so he gripped her hip to move her back into rhythm.

“No.”

“Well hurry up then.” She let out a sigh of relief and laughed lightly.

He slapped her knee lightly prompting her to move her weight there. When she did, he put a hand on her back, flipping her over while still inside her. He pulled the bottom of her dress up so it sat on her stomach and pulled one of the straps to the side so that he could put a mouth on her nipple.

She let out a small sigh, calm and satisfied, sinking into the feeling of fullness and concentrating on the warm sensation of his tongue on her. Her eyes closed but he watched her, listened to the small content sighs that left her mouth and thought about what he wanted to do to her. There was a bit of him that would have left her like this, had he have not been thinking of something else, had he not wanted to convey that.

He pulled his mouth off her and straightened up, speeding up immediately, her eyes shot open at the change and her hand immediately went down to her clit but he pulled her hand away roughly. She whined but he didn’t let up, gripping her hips where he knew his hands belonged, watching himself going in and out instead of her face like he usually did.

She let him without too much struggle until his hips stuttered and he came deep inside her, a few more thrusts and he pulled out eyes wide and an apology already on his lips, but she just watched his eyes and put two fingers inside herself, pulling out a bit of his release and putting her fingers in her mouth. He let out a groan at her small movements and put his own two fingers inside her. He started slow, getting used to the feeling and gradually sped up his lips meeting her clit. The flicks of his tongue and the pace of his fingers in a spot that only he knew that well, sent her squirming, legs locking around his head but he was prepared, already with an arm to push down her thigh.

He loved her like this, vulnerable, desperate even. While he loved to relinquish his control, he was rarely like this with her, there was always a balance of giving and taking but at this moment he wished he could have her completely, take her entire being with him and he did. He felt the clench inside of her the small sounds she made as she tried to quieten down, but he did not stop.

He didn’t give her a moment to calm down, instead slowed down his pace to long out her release and started up again with just as much force as before. She came much faster the second time, weakly asking him to stop and waving her hands down her which he happily slapped away. Her back arched off the bed and he pulled her impossibly closer to him.

This time he let the pace slow until she was completely done and left her. Her legs still twitched but she seemed content catching her breath under the mess her hair had become. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him and missed the way he licked his fingers and then his lips, crawling up the bed to lie beside her.

“Are you alright my dove,” he asked, brushing the hair out of her face.

“Almost, yes.” She smiled softly at him still taking in deep breaths before her eyebrows furrowed. “You aren’t usually like this, not that I didn’t love it, but I could feel it. The thoughts racing in your head.”

“We can talk about it in a minute let me ask for a bath.” He walked out of her vision, she could hear his whispered voice and before she knew it, he was back beside her, pulling so her head was in his lap.

It didn’t take long for them to prepare the bath in the next room, he had one built into the ground, marble tiles in a peach-like colour. Flowers were floating in the water and a small bit of steam covered the area just above. He led her in carefully and removed his clothes joining her.

“So, tell me now, what is wrong.” He tried to pull her so she sat in front of him with his face at her back, but she faced him instead, sitting at the opposite side of the circular tub.

“I want to travel.”

“So do that what is stopping you.” She said, raising an eyebrow and gesturing at him.

“I cannot leave you here”

She scoffed, wading the water so she was directly in front of him, “who said you were leaving me”

“You’re getting married, you’ll start a family soon. Your life will remain here. Where is my place in it if I am gone?”

She held his face in her hands, willing her feelings to go right through him, “Jaqen has homes both here and in Lorath. If you wish to go to the Summer Isles, then go and I will come with you, and he will be there when he wants to be. Life does not end in marriage. I do not become cattle for a man to shuttle around as he wishes. I will go where I want and where I want is where you go. As long as you don’t take me on a trip around the Seven Kingdoms, I will follow you, and my husband, well, my fiancé will come as he pleases because I am not his keeper, and he is a free man.”

“Have you even spoken to him about it?” He gently pulled her hands from his face, pulling her into a hug instead and kissing the top of her head.

“Clearly not because you just told me about it. But I will and I will take his feelings and thoughts into account, but you must know he is not that type of man.”

“I do know.” He said into her hair.

“Through the two conversations you’ve had with him,” she laughed lightly shaking her head and looking up at him.

His eyebrows were furrowed, “I’m a good judge of character.”

“Are you, or am I a good judge of character, and we only talk to the same people as each other.”

He tilted his head to the side and nodded lightly while she laughed. “You make a fair point my love.”

“Are you okay with him? With my feelings towards him?”

“I meant what I said. You have tolerated all sorts from me. My admissions of love for some whore, my children by other women. Who am I to stand in the way of your happiness when you have only let me live in mine?” He kissed her head and pulled her up to kiss down her neck.

Before he could reach her chest, she pulled him up, again looking at him straight. “I want you to know that none of your children I am angry or upset about. How can I be when they were made through such happiness and love? I love your children equally and I accept every person you claim to love. As I will forever, unless I hate them, then you have bad taste.”

“How can I have bad taste when you are my greatest love.”

“That is a good point.” She made small ripples in the water pushing the flowers away from her.

She stayed at the palace for three more days, revelling in the continued admissions of love from him. They walked the gardens and studied flowers, he sparred with her, showing her how to use her new weapon. He had made it light; it helped her movements to stay swift. She watched the lust practically drip from him when she completed a sequence, but his smile was always wide when she beamed at him because of it.

[demoncryptspanties]

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne

A/N: Just something I've been working on for a hot minute. Hope you enjoy it. Also, I'm in my final year at Uni so updates to this may be a little sporadic. I also promise the pairings will make sense later.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Word count: 7,689

Series Masterlist

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Beginnings

There were always the strings of fate, pulling together lives, love, death and other events, both minuscule and vast but nobody ever paid attention just how much their lives were subject to the strings passed down from a higher power. The coincidence that makes a simple event happens also ripples like a rock in a river, changing the lives of so many others. A simple look creating lifelong friends, a different expression creating intense hatred. Life is simply the shared experience of insignificant moments across time.

Jaqen was born of coincidence like this. The origins of his family are unknown save for the features etched into the boy. Their story remains just as lost. He was found in Lorath, in a crate on the edge of the docks seemingly put there by travellers. He couldn’t have been older than 1 when dockers opened the box and looked inside to see the boy in a bed of hay.

A working girl had spotted the commotion and without thinking claimed the child. She said it must have been her sister’s son with such red hair though the snow-white that covered the other side of his head she had no explanation for. He did not cry or squeal or even make a sound when the woman he would later refer to as mother brought him back home and gave him a name.

Lady Phassirah had not been so lucky with her temperament when she was born. She was pulled out between her mothers’ legs, her squealing even gave her mother a start, that was until she opened her eyes to look at her father. Her eyes were big as babies’ eyes often were and every ounce of anger at being born seemed to leave her immediately. When her father had finally looked away from the new joy the sun had come out lighting the room up with life.

She was walking and talking with such intelligence for such a small body when her brother was born too focused on the baby in the opposite room to notice how distraught the maester and assistants had been. She was too focused on how small he was to notice that a life had been lost. She was too young to fully remember the funeral, but she was not too young to only feel an overwhelming sense of love her mother had left behind.

She took him everywhere, introduced him to everyone she knew when he could walk and when the two were able to converse decently, she made sure he was included in everything. Love in every fashion was present in her life. Her father had always been close to the royalty of Dorne and thus it was only natural that the children of each would be close as well.

Oberyn, being the youngest, only a year or so older than the lady, Elia 5 years older than him and Doran the oldest. Elia was always a girl to look up to. Beautiful, free intelligent and overwhelmingly Dornish. It was no wonder that even at the tender age of 10 Y/N tried everything to emulate the being she saw as so much greater than anyone in her small world. It was also then she noticed the woman, her mother but not her mother, the constant, loving being that always knew what to say and what to do.

Everyone played as children do until it was abundantly clear who was a child and who was not. While Y/N was still learning her needlework and mucking about in the mud with her brother, Oberyn was trying to figure out his interests, the kind of person he wanted to be and Elia, the Goddess, the constant, had carried on her life, far from the land that birthed her. She married and it was then that she truly noticed the differences in the people she grew up around.

The talking, the private lessons, the council meeting. A child always thought they were more important than they were and so when Oberyn left to the citadel and Doran had other business to attend that meant he could not entertain the minds of a child. She was left alone. The shock of distance to her system changed the way she thought as it usually does, and she worked harder, learnt what she needed to, determined to grow old enough to catch up.

The years had changed more than her looks, her thinking, her wit, her intelligence grew greatly as she did. At 18 she was older and wiser than her years. As capable as any man and as cunning as any woman. She had caught up and become the being she wished. It was only natural given his nature that Oberyn would return having decided that being a maester was not the path he wished his life to go in. The sweet boy who had left had matured though his wit and energy had stayed the same.

Though they both noticed the difference in each other at the change in the wording of letters, the jokes that each other would tell and the stories each had to give each other, it was different to see it. She realised when she looked at the smirk and watched him wink at her that the rumours were all true. She also noticed that he was handsome, very handsome. The first time they slept together was under the stars after he of course relayed some of the things he had learnt about the night sky.

Everyone had seen it happening, predicted it even, but after a stern talk with Aneera, they let them be. Dornish women were different, not confined to the curse of being female and who could deny them when they looked at each other like that.

It did not mean that Oberyn suddenly settled down, his nature had never been like that, he never gave up the brothels and sometimes she would join him. This also didn’t mean that her father didn’t try to secure a marriage for her but he would not confine her to a life she hated, and she would never let him.

This is why the dinners were frequent, once a month at least. Oberyn took every single evening she had them off so that he could accompany her on this endeavour. People would come from across the kingdom and yet there was not one person who could hold her interest the way he did.

She found herself walking down a dirt path, leaving her horse a couple of streets away to the place she knew so well. She had tried two already, but he was not there, and nobody seemed to know where he was, so she went looking herself. She should be changing but she had never been to one without him and the advance of some men, was too funny of a thing for Oberyn not to witness.

She opened the doors herself, nobody stopping her, startling some of the people in the waiting room. The room was full of earthy colours which were unusual for such a place, but it put her at ease. She scanned the room for the girl she was looking for and spotted her deep in conversation with a man she had never seen before. He looked foreign but his demeanour was too easy to have come from anywhere else in the 7 kingdoms.

She waited for a moment hoping that he would finish but lost her patience when he did not, “Mara dearest, please tell me that Oberyn is here.” There was a sharpness in her voice she did to expect but at this point, she did not care.

The man she was talking to turned around slowly and raised an eyebrow with a smile on his face, it was when he turned that she noticed the snow-white of the other side of his hair and the easy, disarming smile he had. While the red and white of his hair was split down the middle of his head it did not affect the rest of his face whose hair was that same red.

Mara seemed to recover quickly pushing the man away from her lightly, “Lady Phassirah please let me lead you to them, I did not realise you would be joining them, or I would have sent a different girl. You see she’s not exactly –“ the lady cut her off with a huff and followed her up the stairs of the brothel.

“I am not here to join him; he’s not supposed to be here since he has promises he’s supposed to keep.” She grumbled. The other woman let out a small hum in response and led her to the last door on that floor.

She waited for the woman to open it taking in the large room with a large circular bed of cushions. Oberyn himself was feeding a young woman with fruits, a look of curiosity and amusement on his face. The girl hadn’t noticed the intrusion and giggled letting the juice drip from the peach down her chin and into the crevice of her breasts. It was only when Oberyn made a move to lick the juices that he looked up at the two women in the doorway.

“Y/N my flower I did not realise you were joining me today.” He had an eyebrow raised though not in surprise or questioning.

“I am not. You have somewhere to be.” Since she was being ignored, the girl in front of Oberyn pulled the straps up her shoulders slowly though not to draw attention to herself.

Her movement made the Lady look up at the woman. The woman cringed when she had been noticed. “Mara why is she here,” her eyes did not leave the other woman and her voice was low, words sharp.

“I am sorry my lady but – “

“I would rather you use my name when you explain why she is here when I specifically asked that I or Oberyn never see her presence.” Oberyn looked a little confused but made no move to say anything, looking at the Lady with a soft smile on his face.

The girl on the floor made a move to leave the room but Y/N put a hand out stopping her, “you can stay and maybe explain to me why the fuck you are here.”

“I apologise Y/N they were both rather insistent and I tried to get Layla but when I got back, they had both left.” Mara looked down at her hands, the disappointment in herself clear.

“I have to add in Lady Phassirah, but the prince was extremely keen on bedding me.” The girl had a smirk on her face.

“Girl you are but a flavour I have not tasted. I don’t even know your name. Now, why is my flower so offended by you.” Though his smile was still present, his face hardened as he got up.

“Besides the insults about my family and relationship. The food she threw at me, the fact she spat at me. I have to admit, you have more courage than most that are in love with the prince.”

“Why did you not tell me,” the prince asked.

“Because I handled it myself.” There was a moment of silence as everyone looked at each other.

“Well from now on I shall not have any girl you wish me not to.”

She let out a huff and shook her head lightly, “I will not control you like that.”

“Control me how.” He said with a light laugh.

“Control your choices.” She exasperated.

“You’re hardly controlling my choices by asking I do not sleep with a few people.” He was laughing again, she crossed her arms and moved away from him with a small pout. “Though I am interested in what she said that pushed you to such a state outside your usual nature.”

“This is hardly gossip between our families that you can entertain yourself with, I’d rather not repeat it,” she let out a breath and looked straight at him, pleading that he would not ask her again.

Before Oberyn could say something, a voice came from behind the woman, “the girl is fired I apologise for any harm she has caused.” The man smiled at the guests in the room until he met the eyes of the girl, his smile grew almost sickly and the girl almost ran out of the room past them. “I apologise for us not having met before, you must be the prince and his paramour.”

Oberyn nodded slowly, an eyebrow raised. Y/N was too engrossed in the man to give any kind of response, she felt heat rush up her body and took a step back unable to look the man in his eyes. Oberyn looked at her with interest for a moment but let out a huff of a laugh pulling his hand round her body to run a hand across her nipple in full view of the room.

She slapped his hand away quickly giving him a look of annoyance while he laughed to himself. “Just exactly who are.”

“I own the fruit brothels. I am sorry we haven’t met sooner.”

She noted the slight accent in his voice she was unsure how she didn’t notice it before, he had to be from Essos she would guess somewhere on the coast. “I gathered that; I meant your name.”

“Jaqen Hagar.” He reached out for her hand which she gave and almost too slowly he kissed her knuckles and straightened up, not letting go of her hand. Though she held a pleasant smile, she felt disarmed by his presence.

“I do not mean to cut this incredibly entertaining meeting short, but I have a dinner I’m supposed to be at. Y/N here is having several suitors coming for her hand and someone must keep her company through the ordeal of men with awful conversational skills.” Y/N whipped her head round to look at him, her mouth opened in slight surprise.

“You knew this whole time and were here whoring around and making me visit every brothel in the area to find you.” Though her tone was annoyed she couldn’t help but smile at him.

“You are very welcome to join us Jaqen, I’m sure she’d love the company. You’re from Essos I believe, well our dearest princess here loves to hear about travelling.” Oberyn raised an eyebrow at the man.

“I would be honoured to learn about our most valued customers. I have a few things to settle and then I shall accompany you.”

YN made a happy hum at his words not quite trusting herself to speak. Once he had stepped out of the room, she felt her shoulder slump and she leant back into the arms of Oberyn. “You like him don’t you. He seems interested in you.”

“You say that about every man I talk to. They cannot all be interested in me. He seems like he would be a good conversationalist.” His smile turned into a smirk and he pulled her to him forcefully. They were lost in each other for a moment, but she pushed him away and straightened her dress.

“He did not say how long he would be, how about you join me.” Oberyn stepped further into the room but she pulled him to her, kissing him again before he could sit in the bed of pillows.

“No, I have to get the horses and we are already late. Aneera may be worried.”

“That woman can tell the future, she knows where you are.” He looked down at her with a frown.

She laughed at him and turned to leave, “she cannot tell the future. She can almost tell the future. You know how she says the future is always fluid.”

“Yes, except certain events. She’s seen my death hasn’t she.” His face lost its easy smile.

Y/N turned to him, taking his hand in her own and staring into his eyes. “I don’t know why you are so obsessed with that; she has not seen your death.” He gritted his teeth but nodded slowly at her, the disturbed look was still there when they exited the building. Y/N looked around the room quickly but could not see Jaqen.

“She’s always looking at me sadly.” He sighed, speaking up after the moment of silence.

“She doesn’t look at you sadly. Anyways it maybe something to do with me. Talking about that, she insisted that I come personally to seek you out today.”

“Because of the girl or the man.” His smile and tone came back as easily as it left, it reminded her of her brother, perhaps they had spent too much time with each other.

“Well, I think the man.”

“You’re telling me he’s part of your destiny and future.” He made a motion with his hands, mocking her.

She put a hand to her just in mock annoyance and walked closer to him. “Don’t mock me, I don’t know yet. He could be.”

“Maybe he’s the reason she won’t let me marry you.” He poked her in the chest lightly, setting his other hand on her waist.

“Maybe we are both meant for other people.”

“Me, let go of you in favour of someone else. The world itself would have to collapse first.” They were looking at each other, the world seemed to melt away around them, her smile was large and she fought the urge to kiss him.

“Are you about to do your speech, oh love of my life, my sun, moon and stars? My personal Goddess and reason for living.” He raised an eyebrow at her hand movements, laughing lightly to himself. She took two steps towards him, so they were back in the same position. “You were always in favour of dramatics and I adore you for it.”

“It is all true.” He raised a hand, resting it on her cheek.

“I know, you would never lie to me. My soul belongs to you.” She took his hand in her own and kissed his palm.

“And you say I’m dramatic.” They both laughed a little before she kissed him. They stood there for a moment, engrossed in the feeling of each other until there was a slight cough behind them.

The short journey was done in relative silence Oberyn and Jaqen were having some conversation behind the Lady, but she paid no attention to their rambling and thought about the night ahead of her. They seemed to reach the house in record time, the carriages and horses tied to whatever surface they could be.

She ushered the two men into the hall and walked upstairs, her handmaidens running behind her. There was a white garment she hadn’t seen before on her bed and someone had called Aneera, who she had spotted as she entered the house, with her father.

Aneera had a small frown when she walked in, deep in thought. “By the God’s I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”

“Oh, please my father is a fantastic host, and I am often late. You cannot tell me you didn’t enjoy my fathers’ personal company either.” Y/N laughed at her comment while Aneera just frowned at the woman.

The dress she wore was longer than necessary, but it meant that she couldn’t get up to anything in the gardens with her brother. There was a time he had roped her into a sword fight at one of these dinners, the other time they raced around the grounds which Oberyn joined in. They almost had a joust one time but that got shut down almost as quickly as the idea had arisen.

“You really should stop whoring around with Oberyn before these things, it doesn’t exactly set the right impression,” Aneera’s smirk was clear and she looked down at the other woman.

“Oh please, I’m pretty sure all of Dorne knows about our – discretions – and anyways you were waiting for today weren’t you.” She couldn’t contain the smile on her face.

“So, how is he?” she questioned.

“Nice to look at and well-travelled, intriguing.” The girl shifted under the knowing gaze of her mother and refused to look her in the eye, instead, fixing her hair in the mirror.

“He’s bold too.”

“Of course, he is.” Aneera let out a knowing laugh and the two women walked down the stairs and into the small hall.

Aneera immediately went to Oran who was seemed to be eating as much food as he could without being caught and had a whole jug of wine to himself. He didn’t really hate being at these things but some of the men came early, Y/N was always late and none of these men were usually good company. She watched her father and brother move at the same time both lightly scolding the boy and then going about their business around the room.

She walked around the room herself, letting the sons present themselves and mothers and fathers present their sons. Once the obligatory hellos were done, she walked towards the small group huddled in a corner. She stood a few steps back and watched Jaqen finish a story with a slight smile and a cocked head.

Doran who was at the other side of the room building connections noticed her watching and placed a hand lightly on her back making her jump. She turned to the man with a practised smile that only got bigger once she realised who it was, “Doran, though I knew you were coming I didn’t expect you to come.”

“I had nothing better to do.” He looked down at her raising his eyebrows though she was not looking at him.

“So, you decided to spend time with the commoners,” they both laughed lightly at the statement.,

Doran gestured to the open door and they both stepped out into the cooler night. The stars, per usual in Dorne were bright. They took a seat on the bench her brother made a few years back. “Of course not, I wanted to truly see how much you had grown.”

“Every action you do is to serve a purpose, Doran.” She put her feet on the bench, pushing Doran to lean against the other side, the goblet of wine in his hand was forgotten on the floor.

“You know you’re the only person aside from Elia who holds our brother’s attention so well.” While she couldn’t quite meet his gaze, he stared at her intently waiting for her to answer.

She thought for a moment and put her head up to stare directly at him, “maybe if you understood him better you would hold his attention too.”

“I do understand him.”

“You don’t, but you are two very different people, it’s understandable. He could use some of your patience.” Y/N gestured across the garden, Dorne followed her gaze and breathed out a sigh.

“He could use some of my intelligence too.” He was smiling, though his words made her clench her jaw and look away from him.

“He is extremely intelligent, just also extremely passionate.” He hummed and they sat in silence while she played with her dress, “do you ever wish it were different between you two. It only got worse when Elia left.”

“To be like you and Oran. I am a prince and you two are too much trouble.” She let out a breath of air in a laugh and looked at his smiling face.

“I’m serious.”

“I love him, and I respect him, but we are too different now and I’m happy where we are.” His smile never changed, always polite and never telling.

“I never know when you’re lying to me.”

“That’s because I never lie to you, you would know it.” He stood up suddenly and put his hand out for the younger woman, “forgive me, I have papers to look at. Come find me when you aren’t busy with my brother. I figure there are a few things for us to discuss.”

“To be a prince,” She laughed, but nodded her head at him anyway and led him back through the house, “of course I’ll find you, by your tone I’m guessing I should find you soon.”

“It isn’t urgent, there’s no need to worry.” She gave him a small smile which he returned before he walked across the dirt and she shut the door.

When she went back inside the hall, everyone was still engrossed in conversation, so she went back to where she was before and inserted herself in the conversation with Oran, Oberyn and Jaqen. “I feel like I’ve missed a lot of good stories.”

“You have, but there is always time for that,” she nodded and the red-haired man and turned to Oberyn.

“Your brother has left, he had work.”

“He always has work.” The smile on his face faltered but he recovered quickly and gave Oran a firm slap on the back. “So kid, you were talking about a girl,”

Y/N laughed and turned away from them, doing a quick scan around the room for her father or Aneera. They were both in some conversation with a family she had seen over and over again and yet did not know the name of.

“You look like you’re looking for an escape my lady,” Jaqen said.

“I just don’t wish to hear about my brother’s endeavours,”

“Perhaps I could entertain you instead,” Y/N raised her eyebrows at his comment but let herself be led away from the other two. She had yet to notice Oberyn watching her walk away.

Rather than sit with everyone else Y/N led the man upstairs and out on the balcony she often watched the sunset from. The women who were previously in the room lit a few candles and left the two. “It’s a rather nice view from here.”

“I live on a hill in Dorne, there are only nice views. Though I thought you would appreciate it.” She had a feeling he would and by his relaxed demeanour, it seems she guessed right.

“And why do you think that?” he asked, taking in the charcoal sky and the plethora of stars it held. He took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out while he tipped his head towards the sky. She stared at him with a head cocked to one side. She looked like a cat, he thought, curious but not innocent.

“You seem like a man who enjoys simple pleasures.” She was right in a way, she knew she was, the quirk of his lips being telling enough.

He pulled her closer with one hand so that they were about the distance of a hand away from each other. He had expected her to falter but she instead gave him a toothy grin which he returned, “I enjoy most pleasures.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Why are you trying to impress me.” He took her hand and rested the other on the balcony staring out into the open.

“I just want decent company for the night.” Her voice was low, dangerous even. If he recognised her tone he did not show it, his eyes still locked into the distance.

“And your lover is not decent company.” He whispered.

She let out a short laugh, nearer to a scoff really, “my lover is currently asking my brother what women he has fucked.”

“You don’t seem the timid type.” He commented.

“I am not but learning about my brother’s private activities is not in the realm of knowledge I wish to receive.” He hummed in what seemed to be understanding before answering, “that is fair enough.”

There was a moment of silence where she pulled their hands to the railing, “tell me a story,” her voice was soft. He turned his head, an easy smile on his face. He put a hand under her chin so that she could look at him directly in the eyes. She smiled at him, not shying away from his grip, “the stars are bright in the sky tonight; they ask for a story.”

She led him away from the balcony onto the couch that had been decorated while they stood outside. “What sort of story,” He asked once he made himself comfortable.

“One that’s real.” She said simply, helping herself to a goblet that was on the table between them.

“Real stories are dark and painful.” He raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for a response.

“Not always.” She answered and looked down to the floor and then to him before she got up and sat on the same couch as him.

“There was a king once he was Dothraki, handsome and young and a brilliant fighter.” She laughed under her breathe prompting his silence.

“I have known some Dothraki men. Is this a real story?”

“You can tell me if it is at the end.” She nodded in response and pulled her feet onto the couch leaving the sandals on the floor. “The only problem with him was that while he was not cruel to his people, he took a beautiful wife every full moon but by the next, she would be dead.”

“And here I thought you would have told something lighter or romantic.” She said through her goblet.

“I’m telling you a story you would have interest in.” He looked down at her the smile was gone but his easy demeanour was the same. “They would find the brides one night with her throat slit as fine as silk. The brides would be delivered back to their families and on the next full moon, he would take a new bride. One day there was a woman who was afraid her beautiful sister would become the next bride, so she hid her and presented herself instead. The king thought her pretty and took her as the bride. So that night in their chambers, she asked him to tell her a story,”

“Like now.” She whispered

“Yes, like now.” His tone was snappy.

She looked down at her drink and let out a small laugh. “Sorry, I’m trying to figure out whether you’ve made this up or not.”

“Long story short, she told him such a beautiful story that he asked again the next night for another one. And so forth as they fell in love. As she would tell the stories, she would make patterns in the sky. With every story, she drew out the darkness in him and he fell deeper in love.”

“Is that the end then?” He frowned at her and got up putting a hand out for her as well. He plucked a few grapes from the middle of the table and walked slowly towards the door.

“Yes. Have you determined whether the story is real or not?” He asked

“It's fake.” She wasn’t looking at his face and instead followed his hands as they moved the grapes around.

“And how do you know?”

She sighed unknowingly and met his gaze, “no real story has a completely happy ending.”

“And yet all fake stories are based in truth are they not.” The smile was back, while she could not help but smile back, she turned away from him, walking past towards the door.

“The complete truth is ugly, and it hurts.”

She attempted to leave the room but his hand met her arm, firmly but not harshly, “is your complete truth ugly, does it hurt?”

“Not yet.” She said meeting his gaze once again and put the hand that had left her arm in her own, pulling him down the stairs with her. When she walked in her father gave her a harsh glare while quite a few eyes turned her way.

She spotted Oberyn in the corner still talking to her brother. He looked her way, winked and then turned back to the conversation he was having. Before she could reach him, however, her father's voice rose among the chatter and she took a deep breath, stood straight up and smiled letting go of Jaqen for the moment.

The speech was a blur, something she had heard over and over again, once a month without fail. She was not expecting, at the very end when her father asked whether there were invitations for her hand for Jaqen to speak up. His words were a complete haze as she stared at him to Oberyn who seemed as confused as she was but quickly slipped into the guise of somewhat amused.

She gritted her teeth and smiled as he finished and while her father asked whether she would take any of these invitations further she found herself saying yes. Aneera, sitting to her right sipped her wine to hide her smile and her father faltered with the next part of the practised speech.

Oran's face had dropped completely, and he tried to signal to his sister, but she turned away from him and looked right at the man who had just asked for her hand, he nodded slowly at her and she smiled sweetly and he did the same.

The room filtered out quickly after the food was brought in and the conversations were over. Oberyn had left early for whatever reason, deciding not to say goodbye but leaving something in the care of one of her handmaids. Her brother tried to pull her aside but Aneera said she needed help with something elsewhere and with gritted teeth he left. Her father seemed to be living among the clouds, chattering to everyone with a large smile on his face and already asking the opinions of the servants on wedding foods.

Jaqen took this as a time to leave, meeting her eye and then weaving his way through the servants that were clearing up. She followed him of course, still in a daze until they were outside in the cool air. “I didn’t realise I intrigued you that much,” she looked down at her hand suddenly feeling how cold she was.

“I thought I would be too boring for you. The Prince as your love, your clear independence and intelligence.” He pulled her hand so that she dropped down a step closer to him and kissed her knuckles softly.

“What and not my beauty.”

“Of course, your beauty,” he pulled her further still so that that they were less than a step closer to each other.

“I hope you don’t expect me to give him up.” She said voice small.

“I admire your independence, why would I ask you to give up a portion of your own happiness.”

“Not all men are as generous.” She laughed but the sound died quickly in her throat. Her head cocked to the side she waited, either for him to move or say something but he was still locked in her gaze.

His gaze shifted to something beyond her and she looked at her again and spoke again a little unsure of himself, “you feel it too right, something bigger.”

“Something divine.” He smiled instantly at her words and pulled her closer still. He repeated her words to himself and let their lips meet in an embrace she was waiting for.

Her hand immediately went past the white side of his hair and to the nape of his neck where the colours met, the other settle above his ribs, inside the outer garment he wore. His hands were at both sides of her face, she felt their warmth and sighed into the kiss.

She heard a step behind her and pulled away pulling him into a hug instead. “Perhaps I should take you on a tour around Sunspear,” she said sweetly, head buried in his chest.

“It will have to wait a few days but I shall dream of it,” she let out a laugh and pulled away from him, wiping her lips and turning back to the house.

“In 4 days, at dawn.” He repeated what she said and stepped closer to her before she could walk away, kissing her softly. He tapped her lips with his thumb before he walked down the sand path and out of view. She, still in a daze walked up into her own house.

The day after, she was still in a daze, much like she was floating in the middle of a warm lake. She spent the morning in a dream but got on a horse at about midday to bother the Prince whose attention she had not commanded the night before. She had planned to take her brother but he was nowhere to be seen, apparently left early in the morning with a package of food and hadn’t been seen since.

She walked through the Palace unbothered, some members of the Palace help had even stopped and put their heads down in a polite bow before going back to their own business. Instead of walking down the familiar corridors to find the Prince, she walked in the opposite direction, admiring the bright walls the portraits and architecture of this section. While she had run through these walls as a youth, it had been a while since she looked around at the work of people who had come before her.

She had tapped someone to ask where Doran was but they hadn’t known so she walked through the hallways a little while longer until a man with a soft face walked up to her, a hand on the sword at his hip.

“Doran has asked you to join him in the strategy room.” She nodded at the man and followed him till they came outside 2 wooden doors with a sun carved in the middle. The man pushed them open and stood outside.

She had been in here before, the room hardly used since the war was not something that came often to Dorne, but even still, the room had no dust and the seats were not broken. The layout had changed with new brickwork covering the back wall, likely to extend the room. There was an old wooden bookshelf full of bound books of many colours.

She walked towards them, lightly tracing her hand over the old spines and pulling out an older one, bound with dyed leather. The language was one she did not recognise, but the photos were of several different weapons native to certain areas mainly in Essos. She had recognised the shape of about 2 but beyond that the illustrations were new. Even the hilts of each blade were drawn to perfection, the smallest carved detail in black ink.

She placed the book back and sighed deeply looking up to the ceiling for the first time, it was made differently than the rest of the room, styled to be holy. The ceiling was low enough for her to see the shapes painted on but too high for her to make out the intricate details of each shape.

She heard the door close behind her and saw Doran making his way to sit on a chair close to her. She sat opposite him and they both looked and each other in silence until Y/N started scanning the room.

“Honestly I think it's best if we just talk about whatever you wanted to talk about.”

“I thought it would be obvious.” His tone was unbothered, teasing even.

“Don’t ask me to guess, I’m not a child and it doesn’t seem like a good surprise,” he chuckled at her words and put both hands on the table in front of him.

“You need to marry my brother.”

“No.” she scoffed at him immediately getting out of her seat.

He leaned forward and looked up at her. “Yes. You know he’ll say yes if it’s something you want, and it’ll be good for the family. This way he’s even married for love.”

“Like you.” She laughed looking at him with an expression he could not quite decipher, “I can’t.”

“You keep saying you can’t like something is physically stopping you. They are the words of one woman, can you not see what is right in front of you.” He looked away from her out of the window and into the courtyard.

“He’s meant for something else; I’m meant for something else.”

“What, you really believe in her nonsense about destiny and the future.” His words were clipped, he hadn’t expected this much push from her.

She had stopped wondering the room and instead leant on the chair at the head of the table, staring at the back of his head. “What and you don’t. Who was it that said you would get married to Mellario and predicated the birth of Arianne?”

“Your mother.” He gritted his teeth and looked back at her, “There needs to be an heir.”

“Arianne is already born, there does not need to be an heir. Elia is married. He’s the youngest leave him be.” Rather than look her in the eye, he followed her hand movements.

She noticed he seemed uncomfortable, as though he were hiding information he would much rather share. “I can’t do that.”

“I’m engaged so you’re going to have to.” He took the moment she was not looking at him to stare right at her face. She pulled the chair out and sat back down.

“You got engaged last night. To whom?” he said incredulously.

“The brothel owner.”

“What brothel owner.” The hands that previously sat still on the table were now gesturing to her in annoyance.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter.” He groaned, “You just fucked up my plans.”

“What plans, we are at peace what are you planning.” She looked again at his eyes trying to deduce what he was hiding but his eyebrows settled into a frown and he was no longer paying attention to her. “What do you know.”

“It hardly matters now. I have always admired your independence, but this may cost him his happiness. It may cost you yours as well.” He got up, looking at the bookshelf and correcting the book she had not put back.

“He won’t marry anyone else; he’ll never agree to it.”

“Exactly.” She did not have time to ponder or answer his word since he walked out of the room in a move of annoyance. He did give her a soft smile as he left but his face fell just as quickly as he closed the door.

She got up with a small groan and waited until he would be out of the corridor before leaving herself. Letting her eyes wander to the bookshelf for a moment before closing the door behind herself. The same guard as before was posted outside and as she stepped towards the palace gardens, he stepped with her.

She turned back to him, jaw tight, “I don’t need a guard posted in this palace.”

“I’ve been asked by Prince Doran to accompany you whenever you visit here.” She groaned again but made no move to stop him and went to the palace gardens. There was a bench that gave a nice view of the rest of the garden that she often sat on, she went again today. She traced her name that Oberyn has carved into when he was younger and sat back for a moment, watching the clouds move in the air.

By the time she got home, the sun had left the horizon, putting the entire of bright Dorne into the soft darkness. She walked towards the candles in her home and tapped one of her handmaids, “I’ll take dinner in my room.”

“Dinner is already there with Aneera my lady.”

The was no time for her to gather her thoughts or prepare for the conversation Aneera would bring up, so she didn’t try and instead sat in front of the woman eating her food in silence.

“You’re not as happy as I thought you would be.” Her head was cocked to the side, the soft smile hiding what Y/N assumed to be genuine confusion.

“Something happened today is all.” She put down the cup in her hand and wring her fingers together on her lap.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Y/N sighed deeply, looking around the room while Aneera sat patiently. “You don’t give guidance on what to do, you say what is already destined to happen. So, what if you’re wrong and I’m not supposed to do that.”

“But it feels so right does it not.” Her voice was soft, comforting.

“Yes.” She said slowly.

“Then you have our answer.”

She whined quietly, moving her hands around as to try and convey her point better. “I feel like I’m making a mistake though. Yes, it feels right, it feels good and I like him. But how is this man I met yesterday supposed to be better than the man I’ve known and loved my whole life.”

“Who said he was better, and we’ve established that you’ll have the both of them.”

“Would it change so much to happen if I married Oberyn instead?” She looked down at her hands.

Aneera sighed deeply, having had this conversation before. “You would marry a prince. It would change everything that is to come and not for the better.”

“How do you know.”

“Destiny is not always fixed. Some parts are fluid, that can change. Even death could be reversed in some circumstances. This is the path I set you on because this is the better one. The happier one. You sacrifice one thing and gain so much more. When you’re my age you’ll look back and understand.”

“I hope I do.” The two finished their dinner in silence and went their separate ways, leading the lady to stew in her thoughts through the night. That night she dreamt about a fire, burning and hot, licking her skin, the pain was enough to make her move in her sleep and eventually wake her up. There was a pain deep in her stomach and an ache for something lost though she could not feel what.

She was unable to sleep again and instead watched the sunrise with a book in her hand, balcony doors open, letting the Dornish air flow right through her.

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne Masterlist

Chapter 1 - Beginnings

Chapter 2 - Dreams

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne - Chapter 2

A/N: Hi guys, here's the second part, a shorter chapter this time but I hope you enjoy it.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Warnings: Bad spelling, violence, bad grammar, smut.

Word Count: 6009

Masterlist

Series masterlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Dreams

She had half expected to see Oberyn waiting for her when she had officially arisen. He had a habit of loitering in her gardens when he wanted to see her. Oran was the same, loitering or flirting with one of the handmaidens who were certainly too old for him but the house this day was almost empty. Silence filled the usually filled halls and laughter was not heard. She felt a shift in the energy of the air, something had changed and yet it was unclear what.

Her dream still made her body heat up to an uncomfortable amount meaning the clothes she wore were loose and comfortable. Usually, she would have classes or other work to attend to but today there was nothing scheduled. A free day for her to do what she pleased. She resolved to wonder around until something took her fancy but that did not take long. With a book in hand, she got as far as the stables and looked inside at her black mare.

It was a gift from Aneera and smarter than most horses. She called it Wind. The mare seemed to look at her with a sense of knowing and bent its head down while she redyed the saddle. She rode fast, the reliable mare like a gust of wind under her touch, it was her namesake after all. She prided herself in that the horse would not let anyone that was not her ride it.

It was only a short time later when she reached the gates of the palace as she had done the day before. The gates opened for her yet again, but she was asked to wait at the entrance mostly likely for her new bodyguard. The man came as the Lady handed her horse over to the nearest person.

“If you’re going to follow me around like a lost dog you might as well tell me your name.” Despite her hostile tone, she took a step closer to him, so they were walking side by side.

He shifted at her movement and took a step away from her. “It is my job my Lady, and my name is Essino.”

“You’re Dothraki. You look it.” She took a step closer to him again, an amused smile on her face.

To be polite, he stayed where he was. “Partially Dothraki. You know the language.”

“Somewhat, it means to be different I believe.”

“Yes, it does.” They had stopped in front of a large door which she knocked on hard. There were no guards outside the door but that was fairly normal. Oberyn had once said that he didn’t like to feel watched or encaged, the palace he had said before was a gilded cage, the title of a prince even more so. Expectations upon expectations and he had broken almost every single one.

He opened the door with a book in his hand, head cocked to the side and missing a garment to cover the top half of himself. “Who’s he.”

“Ask your brother.” She nodded at Essino while Oberyn made a face and grabbed onto her arm gently, pulling her into the room and into a searing kiss. She smiled against his lips as he shut the door with his free hand. The two made their way over to the large bed with its still tousled sheets.

She put a hand on his arm gently pushing him off her, “wait, I think we should talk first.”

“I think we should too,” he pulled back for a moment and then gave her a chaste kiss, giving her space to pull herself together.

His smile was just as playful as it usually would be, “so, how are you feeling,” she asked chewing at her lower lip.

“Not jealous if that’s what you’re looking for.” His expression did not change. He lay down pulling her into his chest.

She took a deep breath in and out before answering, “I’m not looking for jealousy.”

“I know you’re not but - I’m happy for you. Truly. As long as this doesn’t change anything between us of course.” He took her hand in his own drawing small circles gently.

“He said it wouldn’t.” It was his turn to sigh, his jaw tightened, and he looked away from her. She removed her hand from his grasp and stroked his jaw.

He waited a moment, “Then I’m fine, my sun.” She looked up at him unconvinced until he smiled, she searched his face for a sense of concealment, but he seemed as calm as he was when she first asked to talk.

A smile graced her face, wide and childlike, “I love it when you call me that.”

“I know that’s why I do it.” She let herself be lost in the moment, looking up at her lover, waiting for him to make a move. She almost let herself go but a glance at the book on the table made her groan.

“The other thing is your brother.” She sighed and lay down next to him, the action like an annoyed child.

“I’m assuming it has something to do with the guard that’s following you around.” He had a small smirk on his face.

“I am very capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know that.” He placed a light kiss on her cheek and lay down next to her, so they were side by side.

“He’s doing something dangerous, that putting all of us at risk and he asked me to marry you instead of letting Jaqen court me. I don’t understand why. What is he trying to secure? I think he planned to marry you to me so that you cannot be used as a political pawn later on in whatever deals he’s brokering.”

“I think you are thinking too far ahead. While I am not happy about whatever he is doing that requires these guards he would never use me as a pawn. He cannot. I would simply refuse.” He had an air of easy confidence about him, he was completely and utterly certain about his brother’s actions.

“You didn’t see him that day. He seemed worried. He is a smart man and a good one and yet when the circumstance calls for it a smart man would keep an eye on every piece they have in the game. He is the patriarch of an important family, he does not have the luxury of not treating the people around him like objects.” She held her breath waiting to see whether he would be quick to anger in this matter.

“I understand your concern, but he is my brother. He would discuss it all with me beforehand. There is only tension in the other kingdoms. Nothing worrying of yet. My sister is safe and Dorne is safe. He is not one to incite conflict.” He looked at the ceiling but held her hand in his.

She lifted herself onto her forearm, staring down at the man who had taken her heart. “That does not mean that conflict will not come to him.”

“Did you see something, in a dream?”

“I think it was a fire, I felt my skin melt and the heat was so intense it made me sick afterwards. I didn’t see anyone, just the feeling.” She shook her head at how vague the dream was, groaning lowly to herself with the realisation of how useless her ability was in this moment.

“Something to do with those dragon people most likely. It’s too little to be worried about.” He dismissed her with an easy smile and a soft touch.

“I’m not entirely sure about that, if anything becomes clear I shall tell you but for now you are right, too little to be worried about.” She smiled down at him, his soft brown eyes staring back at her own.

Her movement was slow and soft, fingers tracing his side as she hovered over his face. Their lips touched for a moment before she pulled away to look at his eyes again, his smile was curious and so he did not move to touch her. She lowered herself again, this time with more passion but still, the movement was lazy as though they had all the time in the world. He took this as a sign to move his hands undoing the ties on her garment, the whole piece slipping down to her waist after she pulled off the sleeves.

His fingers immediately went to the exposed skin, caressing knowingly, in motions and patterns that only he could. She pulled away for a moment to pull her dress completely off of herself, he stared at her exposed body with wonder as though this was the first time he had seen her so vulnerable. He gestured for her to come closer, once he had had his fill and again moved to caress her breasts.

“You move as though you have never seen me before.” Just at that moment, he attached his lips to her nipple, sucking gently while looking at her through his lashes.

“How can I help being in awe every time I see you.” He smiled at her before biting her nipple gently. The sound she made would be considered vulgar anywhere outside of Dorne.

He moved on to the other while she ran her fingers through his hair lightly moaning in content every few seconds. Her hand snaked down his chest to the waistband of his trousers. He stopped her with one hand making her whine in annoyance. “Why did you do that. I want to taste you.”

“Me first,” he waits for a beat before adding, “please.”

She sighed deeply at him, looking at the smile on his face and the colour of his eyes against the sunlight. She pushed him down gently, climbing up his body before hovering over his head. She waited for his action and it came. He pulled her hips down harshly, his tongue immediately coming out of his mouth and moving just as roughly. He moved like a man starved, one hand caressing her ass and the other moving up and down her back.

She threw her head back putting a bit of weight into his arm and tried to stop herself from grinding too hard down on him. As though he could feel her restraint, he pulled her down harder, sucking hard on her clit. She braced herself groaning lightly, “Please lover.”

He hummed in response picking up the pace as her breathing became more erratic. The slurping and sucking sounded just the right amount of erotic to both their ears and she noticed as she bent further backwards, one arm on the bed and turning slightly to put a hand on his growing length. He groaned into her making her legs shudder and causing her to clench around nothing.

He was always attentive, noticing the fluttering clenching and the tightness that her leg muscles seemed to have. His tongue went in and out of her causing her to almost pulse and the lack of something substantial. “My love, please. I cannot, not right now.”

He pulled away and she whined loudly, pushing herself further upright to look at him. He watched the furrow of her eyebrows, the way her mouth parted, her breath shallow. He was never too cruel a lover but he always loved these moments, of slight desperation. He waited for the confused furrow to be a frustrated frown and for her head to cock to the side just slightly. “You look magnificent like this my love.”

“I can look magnificent later, please, my prince, please.” Only in these moments did she call him that, they were equals in every way except rank and it was only here that she would make it clear that she was at his mercy. Only here would she give him the choice, as though he would ever deny her.

“Only because you asked my love,” his head disappeared again, and she jerked at the touch of his lips. A viper he was in more ways than one. His pace was unfair, tongue flicking against her clit.

It didn’t take long for her to pause completely, tendons taught and muscles tense. He carried on this pace as she cried out and only pulled her down tighter as she went through her high. He looked up, waiting for her to open her eyes and for her breathing to slow, laying his head on the inside of her thigh.

“Are you alright my love?” She waited for a beat and moved off of him, slowly lowering herself to lie next to him.

“You know what you do to me Oberyn, am I ever okay when you’re finished with me?” He chuckled lightly and she swiped a finger over his bottom lip capturing what was left of her release and letting him suck on it.

He leaned back onto the bed looking at the ceiling with a soft smile on his face before turning to her suddenly, “that is a good question, you’re beautiful when you finish, head tilted back and...” She cut him off before he could go into a detailed description.

“You don’t need to describe what has just happened my love, I was there.” She chuckled lightly to herself and held his gaze.

“Can you move?” She almost scoffed in response.

“Of course, you deserve to feel this as well,” she scooted down the bed so she could reach the band of his trousers.

“You seemed like you were thinking really hard about something during that release are you sure?”

It made her smile, the way he could catch how tension caught differently in her muscles, the differences in her moans, just the way he knew her body. “Giving you pleasure always gives me pleasure.”

She stayed the night as per usual and they were just as engrossed in each other the next morning. It was only the next evening where she forced herself to leave so she would have a day to herself to prepare herself for her meeting. She was restless, unable to sleep, bewitched by an emotion she hadn’t felt since Oberyn came back all those years ago.

By dawn she was already dressed and had eaten, she thought it easier to go to the market before he came to give her something to do. Though when she pulled her other mare named dagger, a gift from Oberyn of course, down the hill she caught a glimpse of red hair she stopped as did he.

“If you’re not careful I might believe you’re eager to see me.” They both chuckled, bringing their horses so they were trotting side by side down the dirt path.

“Is it so bad that I am eager?” The smile on his face made her look down at her horse, fiddling with its reigns. This was new, not that Oberyn had never said things to her like this and not that many other men and women hadn’t, but this felt different. Like in the early days when it felt like Oberyn was courting her.

“No, in fact, it is welcomed, I know I’m brilliant company, but it is nice to hear it.”

“I didn’t expect you to be leaving, especially not alone.” He said, looking at the path in front of him.

She scoffed lightly, “I am a busy woman with things to do, and I am capable enough of protecting myself.”

“I am very sure of that.” He said with a slight smile on his face.

She huffed a laugh, “you sound like Doran.”

“The prince Doran.” He asked in question.

“Is there any other Doran I would know personally?”

He chuckled to himself and breathed in heavily, “I suppose not. Where were you going?”

“Since you wanted to interrupt my morning, we are going to the market.”

“Let’s make a day of it.” He took a moment seemingly pondering something before gesturing to her, “I’ll buy you anything you want.”

“How about I buy you anything your heart desires, and I mean anything.” She said, pulling her horse as close as she could to his and leaning towards him.

“Perhaps we should wait a moment for that anything but fine, anything within reason.” She smiled, pleased with herself.

She waited for a moment before speeding up, pulling her horse off the dirt path. She had expected to see him quite the ways behind her but when she glanced back, he was there, just a little to her right. She let out a loud laugh and sped up again, seeing whether she could lose him until eventually, they got back to a dirt path, and she slowed.

“I am an expert rider you know.” The smile on both their faces were mirrors of each other, there was a sense of amazement that the two had of each other.

“Well, I know that now.”

“Was that supposed to be a test?” He asked

She giggled at him, “Of course not, just a bit of fun.”

While they were moving through large paths, none were as busy as the one they were on now. She got off her horse as did he and then pulled them both to the nearest stable, paying the man and walking outside to Jaqen who was looking around for something.

“An arm my lady,” he pulled out an arm for her to hold and looked at her when she didn’t take it.

“A hand would be better.” He nodded slowly and put his arm down, laying out his hand instead.

She led him right through the market choosing to work her way from the back forward. She took note of anything he seemed to be looking hard enough at and decided she would go back when they were separated to get him something. While she had not known this man for long, it seemed as though he would be apprehensive about spending her money.

“Did you come to get anything in particular?” He asked.

“No, I like to look around when they have new shipments, to see whether they have foreign objects.” As she was talking, they came across a small stall hidden between bigger ones selling jewellery. “As much as I adore my homeland, there is always a want to leave it, and when I cannot these foreign things do that for me.

She looked over all the jewellery before settling on the ring section. The worker looked at them with a tired smile but bright eyes, “exactly like here. One would never find these rocks in Dorne, where would they even come from. I personally prefer Dothraki jewels but where do you think this one is from?”

He was running his hand over some necklaces but looked up at the ring in the woman’s hand, the jewel a bright green. “I am not well versed in jewels, so I am not sure. Why do you prefer the Dothraki ones?”

She picked up a different one, seemingly engrossed in the glow of the white jewel within a silver band. “There’s a story, not necessarily a good one, about a Dothraki king and how he would adorn his wife with these jewels to show his love for her. While that wasn’t a large point of the story I loved the idea of that, that he loved to see her adorned with the most precious things he could find. That maybe one of these precious things would match her in beauty. They never did of course.”

“I didn’t expect that of you.” She looked up at him to find him looking straight at her.

She frowned with a confused smile, “expect what?”

“That these stories play such a huge part in your life. You seem so rooted in truth and reality, I like this side of you.” He nodded slowly and turned back to the necklaces.

“Stories told me what was possible. That the impossible was possible. They taught me about the beauty in ugly things, that there is always an ending even if it is a cliffhanger. Stories are my comfort and my guide.”

“And why is that?” He took a step towards her so that if he reached up he could touch her face.

She sighed with a slight laugh, “because stories are only able to exist through the limits of our imagination. There is truth to all of them if you know where to look.”

He hesitated before speaking, seemingly pondering his own words, “I may not have known you for as long or as intimately as others in your life but in you I only see greatness. I feel as though you would make my impossible possible.”

“What does that even mean,” she giggled.

“I’ll know it when I see it.”

She put a hand on his chest looking up at his eyes, “ thank you Jaqen, in you I see and feel freedom, knowledge and wonder. You are the start of something great.”

Now it was his turn to laugh heartedly, “and what is this something great.”

“I'll tell you once I know.” She captured his lips in a soft kiss, forgetting herself in him. Taking a deep breath she pulled him away from the stall and led him back through the market.

“Why are we walking away you looked like you liked those rings?”

“You may not have a trained eye for jewels but you’re an inquisitive man. Those jewels were fake, likely just glass.” She laughed at him, and he joined in after a moment of mock frowning.

They moved through the small crowds of people, her choosing garments and a few accessories, him picking up a thing here or there before she led him down to a back alley towards the bakery, she knew all too well.

“There’s a baker here that makes the best pastries. The Gods themselves I’m sure would love them.”

“If it is fit for the Gods, I’m sure it will be fit enough for me,” she giggled and walked faster, a small pep in her step.

“One thought you were in the mood for tea,” they both turned at the new voice coming from the alley to their right. A woman walked out into the light; her clothing was all dark green with black accents. She wore a scarf but no veil the same as her dress with black trim pulled partly on her head. She was adorned with jewels and even with her trained eye the Lady could not tell whether they were fake or not, each seemed to shine as though they were something in it and the longer, she stared at the pendant at the woman’s chest the hotter she became.

There was a tug on her arm and only then did the Lady notice that she had taken a few steps forward almost now directly in front of the woman and yet she was still in a haze. Not even Aneera had had that effect on her, almost as though someone had slipped a herb into her drink.

“There is something you must see; a woman must show you.” The woman turned down the alleyway waiting no moment for the two to follow.

Lady Phassirah looked at the man next to her, almost asking him what to do. “She’s from Lorath.” He said and then turned and started walking after her with no reservation.

She jogged a few steps to catch up and captured his hand again, “I know. I never asked why you don’t speak the same way.”

“I came here for trade, it’s like speaking another language, I learnt to blend in. To not seem too foreign, people are more likely to trust you that way.” He said offhandedly, watching the woman in front of him. He turned a sharp corner almost pulling the Lady into a wall and walked faster. He finally stopped at a door and turned into it.

The house had a staircase directly in front of them which they did not go up, instead, Jaqen turned to the room on the left which had a low table with cushions across the floor. The woman was standing up at a higher table at the far wall pouring what both Jaqen and Lady Phassirah assumed to be tea into 2 cups. She knelt at the head of the table setting the cups down in front of the two guests who sat opposite from one another.

The room itself was too dark, see-through draping’s of dark materials in purples and greens hid the windows and the candles were too few around the room. Lady Phassirah found this to be a little unnerving. though Jaqen seemed calm, looking down at the Lady with concern.

“If you do not wish to do anything we can walk right out of that door and leave.”

She reflected for a moment before smiling brightly, “I always love a little adventure.”

“Then let us have one.” His smile did not quite match her own, but he seemed content enough with her answer.

“What is your name, woman.”

The woman only nodded slowly, “There is power in a name.”

“Yes.” Lady Phassirah said slowly.

“Yours is known but a woman’s is not.”

“No.” The Lady drummed he fingers lightly on the table making the other woman frown deeply.

“It is not to be told today.” The woman said sharply, gesturing to the drinks.

The Lady frowned but nodded slowly, “alright.”

“You must drink if you wish to gain knowledge.”

She put her hand palm up on the table and instead of taking it Jaqen drew patterns across her hand, looking at her with a tilted head and hooded eyes. She slowly brought the porcelain cup to her lips and sipped. The liquid was sweet, just short of being sickly so. She glanced up at Jaqen who was doing the same. A hand went to the cup at her lips and pushed it gently upwards and she drank the rest of the liquid putting the cup down gently on the table.

It wasn’t immediate, it took a breath or two for the change to fully happen. She felt happier like she could break into manic laughter any moment. She looked up at Jaqen, the colour of his hair swirling in her mind. She must have collapsed, ended up with a head on the cushions as though she had fallen asleep. Her head was heavy and hard to lift but she did anyway. Jaqen was exactly where she left him in those few seconds, his hair floating around as if he were underwater, his eyes so dark as though she were looking into the depths of the sea from the side of a ship. She had the sudden urge to kiss him, to let herself meld to him completely, to let him consume her in any way he wished.

There was a sound behind her, like a whisper and she stood and turned. The room was now one long corridor stretching out further than her eye could see, only lit up by torches for a few steps. She took a torch off the wall and followed the whispering, still unable to make out the words. The corridor kept going until it opened up into a large staircase.

She followed the staircase up and found herself on a balcony looking out, it was cold, and the floor seemed covered in snow, if it weren’t for the red of his hair, she would have missed Jaqen, making steps in the snow wearing white. She called out to him, but the wind seemed to carry her voice away. There was a pull deep in her stomach asking her to jump, so she did, like a bird over the balcony and let herself fall and fall until something grabbed her hard from behind.

A man was towering over her in full armour with a white cape of the king’s guard holding on her hard, she struggled and fell but his grip never faltered. He took a step backwards and then another, dragging her with him and in a state of panic, she threw herself forward trying to get out of his grip. Somehow in this mess, she managed to land on the floor and as he bent down to grab her again, she kicked him hard in the knee making him falter and fall, there was a large rock beside her and his helmet had fallen off, he was looking to the side, hair covering his face. She moved to turn his face so she could see his face, but her vision went black and now the man on the floor was Oberyn, a smile on his face but his eyes so empty and skin cold to the touch.

She took a step backwards, and then two, walking into the chest of someone. The smell was somewhat familiar and the red hair in the corner of her vision made her visibly relax. Before she could fully turn she felt a heat harsh under her feet in such a way it made her jump. She teetered backwards but it felt as if there were a hot poker at the back of her neck and a fire began around her. There was a screech above her, and she looked up to see a dragon as large as the legends flying above her. She could only smell smoke now and there was no presence behind her. She took a step forward out of the fire and towards the crowd of people that seemed to have just appeared in front of her.

While she was outside before, she now seemed to be in some sort of hall. Two jaguars were sitting at the head of the room near what looked like a throne, before she could look at them too closely, however, a woman with red hair pulled her to dance, they twirled and jumped to the cheery music that had started up seemingly out of nowhere. Every time the woman twirled, however, the room and outfits were different colours, red and gold, orange-yellow and red, green and black and finally all white.

She looked over at the jaguar and instead of the two of them snuggled together black as ink, the other was replaced with a lion, pacing slowly in front of the jaguar, his attention at the crowd of dancing people. The intensity of its gaze made her stop and run out of the arms of the dancing woman and instead walk away from the crowd.

She was looking around the room for something and through the dancing people came a woman with long black hair, dark eyes and a slender figure looking right at her. The woman turned and walked quickly away and Y/N followed her, pushing through people and eventually down the corridors of what seemed like a palace that was very unlike that of Sunspear until she turned into a room. The Lady looked at the doors which were only partially open. They were shaped like an arch and golden, a large sun of the same colour was carved into the middle.

The Lady walked through the door, pushing it lightly closed behind her. The woman beckoned the Lady forward to a bed underneath a large window. There was a man on the bed, leaning against the frame, as the woman moved out of the way, her lover tilted his head chewing a mouthful of fruit. The woman curled up into the arm furthest away from the Lady and beckoned her forward.

“Lover, we may have forever ahead of us, but I would like to use every moment of that with you that is possible.” The softness of the woman’s voice made the Lady relax and she took a few steps towards them, kissing Oberyn lightly. He tasted of honey and wine. She felt almost emotional, her eyes filling with tears as she curled into his chest to match the woman on the other side of him. She reached a hand out to her almost out of instinct but the other woman had bent over her and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

She must have blinked for the image had changed. She was back in the room she had drunk the tea in. It smelled faintly of honey which made her sigh lightly. She looked around, the room had changed from before, the furniture was older and the cloths at the windows had gone, as was the woman. Had there not been two cups on the table she would have thought the whole thing was a bad dream.

She hadn’t registered Jaqen behind her until he stirred, the hand that was around her stomach tightening as he was interrupted from what seemed like sleep. It took him a few breaths to sit up and release his hand from her.

“Are you alright?” She asked, turning to face him and caressing his face gently with her hand.

He put a hand on her wrist to stop her movement at his cheek, causing her to cup it and kiss him lightly, first on his lips and then between his brows that had furrowed into a deep frown. “That was weird.” He spoke.

“I have dreams like that. Seemingly prophetic. They’re usually vague but it was like having a bunch of them at once.”

“Are they ever useful?” He drew her into him not wanting her to pull away and kissed the top of her head repeatedly.

She leaned further into him, putting her arms around his torso. “Sometimes. They’re vague so often I don’t know what they mean until the event is happening. These ones had people I had never met in them; places I had never been to.”

“Perhaps they will make sense in the future then.”

“Perhaps, how about yours. Was your journey the same?” she asked looking up at him. His eyes were tired, but he pecked her lips just once

“No, a man was having a very long conversation.”

“A man?” She asked, a slight smile on her face.

“Sorry.”

She squeezed him gently before asking again, “are you alright?”

“Shaken but I’ll be fine. Let us not follow random women into houses and drink poisoned tea again.”

“It wasn’t a poison.” He looked at her smiling face and laughed lightly, standing up and offering her a hand.

“I don’t mean to cut this day short, but I would like to go home. I have a few things to think about.”

“My lady not to hurt your feelings at all but I was going to suggest the same.” They both let out a light sigh and looked at each other with a smile. He offered his hand which she gladly took as lovers would and left the empty house.

The Lady retraced their steps back to the top of the market collecting their horses and in silence, they both rode gently back to hers. He had expected him to diverge at some point but the constant and steady beat of his horse's hooves were all she heard the whole way home.

“I’m sorry that today went like this.” He had gotten off his horse as did she, giving hers to the stable boy. He pulled her gently to face him.

“There are a hundred better days to come and a thousand other journeys to take. I’m glad we both had the experience.” He smiled at her gently, tilting his head a little to the right looking down at her. She had expected him to maybe kiss her softly, but he only squeezed her arm with a sad smile and left. She didn’t call out to him, instead, she watched as he rode down the hill and away.

She had expected Aneera to sense something, an energy shift but the woman was not in the house. Her father didn’t greet her and the door and her brother missing per usual. The whole day seemed to see a change in energy, and it made the lady uneasy as she slept.

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne - Chapter 2

A/N: Hi guys, here's the second part, a shorter chapter this time but I hope you enjoy it.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Warnings: Bad spelling, violence, bad grammar, smut.

Word Count: 6009

Masterlist

Series masterlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Dreams

She had half expected to see Oberyn waiting for her when she had officially arisen. He had a habit of loitering in her gardens when he wanted to see her. Oran was the same, loitering or flirting with one of the handmaidens who were certainly too old for him but the house this day was almost empty. Silence filled the usually filled halls and laughter was not heard. She felt a shift in the energy of the air, something had changed and yet it was unclear what.

Her dream still made her body heat up to an uncomfortable amount meaning the clothes she wore were loose and comfortable. Usually, she would have classes or other work to attend to but today there was nothing scheduled. A free day for her to do what she pleased. She resolved to wonder around until something took her fancy but that did not take long. With a book in hand, she got as far as the stables and looked inside at her black mare.

It was a gift from Aneera and smarter than most horses. She called it Wind. The mare seemed to look at her with a sense of knowing and bent its head down while she redyed the saddle. She rode fast, the reliable mare like a gust of wind under her touch, it was her namesake after all. She prided herself in that the horse would not let anyone that was not her ride it.

It was only a short time later when she reached the gates of the palace as she had done the day before. The gates opened for her yet again, but she was asked to wait at the entrance mostly likely for her new bodyguard. The man came as the Lady handed her horse over to the nearest person.

“If you’re going to follow me around like a lost dog you might as well tell me your name.” Despite her hostile tone, she took a step closer to him, so they were walking side by side.

He shifted at her movement and took a step away from her. “It is my job my Lady, and my name is Essino.”

“You’re Dothraki. You look it.” She took a step closer to him again, an amused smile on her face.

To be polite, he stayed where he was. “Partially Dothraki. You know the language.”

“Somewhat, it means to be different I believe.”

“Yes, it does.” They had stopped in front of a large door which she knocked on hard. There were no guards outside the door but that was fairly normal. Oberyn had once said that he didn’t like to feel watched or encaged, the palace he had said before was a gilded cage, the title of a prince even more so. Expectations upon expectations and he had broken almost every single one.

He opened the door with a book in his hand, head cocked to the side and missing a garment to cover the top half of himself. “Who’s he.”

“Ask your brother.” She nodded at Essino while Oberyn made a face and grabbed onto her arm gently, pulling her into the room and into a searing kiss. She smiled against his lips as he shut the door with his free hand. The two made their way over to the large bed with its still tousled sheets.

She put a hand on his arm gently pushing him off her, “wait, I think we should talk first.”

“I think we should too,” he pulled back for a moment and then gave her a chaste kiss, giving her space to pull herself together.

His smile was just as playful as it usually would be, “so, how are you feeling,” she asked chewing at her lower lip.

“Not jealous if that’s what you’re looking for.” His expression did not change. He lay down pulling her into his chest.

She took a deep breath in and out before answering, “I’m not looking for jealousy.”

“I know you’re not but - I’m happy for you. Truly. As long as this doesn’t change anything between us of course.” He took her hand in his own drawing small circles gently.

“He said it wouldn’t.” It was his turn to sigh, his jaw tightened, and he looked away from her. She removed her hand from his grasp and stroked his jaw.

He waited a moment, “Then I’m fine, my sun.” She looked up at him unconvinced until he smiled, she searched his face for a sense of concealment, but he seemed as calm as he was when she first asked to talk.

A smile graced her face, wide and childlike, “I love it when you call me that.”

“I know that’s why I do it.” She let herself be lost in the moment, looking up at her lover, waiting for him to make a move. She almost let herself go but a glance at the book on the table made her groan.

“The other thing is your brother.” She sighed and lay down next to him, the action like an annoyed child.

“I’m assuming it has something to do with the guard that’s following you around.” He had a small smirk on his face.

“I am very capable of taking care of myself.”

“I know that.” He placed a light kiss on her cheek and lay down next to her, so they were side by side.

“He’s doing something dangerous, that putting all of us at risk and he asked me to marry you instead of letting Jaqen court me. I don’t understand why. What is he trying to secure? I think he planned to marry you to me so that you cannot be used as a political pawn later on in whatever deals he’s brokering.”

“I think you are thinking too far ahead. While I am not happy about whatever he is doing that requires these guards he would never use me as a pawn. He cannot. I would simply refuse.” He had an air of easy confidence about him, he was completely and utterly certain about his brother’s actions.

“You didn’t see him that day. He seemed worried. He is a smart man and a good one and yet when the circumstance calls for it a smart man would keep an eye on every piece they have in the game. He is the patriarch of an important family, he does not have the luxury of not treating the people around him like objects.” She held her breath waiting to see whether he would be quick to anger in this matter.

“I understand your concern, but he is my brother. He would discuss it all with me beforehand. There is only tension in the other kingdoms. Nothing worrying of yet. My sister is safe and Dorne is safe. He is not one to incite conflict.” He looked at the ceiling but held her hand in his.

She lifted herself onto her forearm, staring down at the man who had taken her heart. “That does not mean that conflict will not come to him.”

“Did you see something, in a dream?”

“I think it was a fire, I felt my skin melt and the heat was so intense it made me sick afterwards. I didn’t see anyone, just the feeling.” She shook her head at how vague the dream was, groaning lowly to herself with the realisation of how useless her ability was in this moment.

“Something to do with those dragon people most likely. It’s too little to be worried about.” He dismissed her with an easy smile and a soft touch.

“I’m not entirely sure about that, if anything becomes clear I shall tell you but for now you are right, too little to be worried about.” She smiled down at him, his soft brown eyes staring back at her own.

Her movement was slow and soft, fingers tracing his side as she hovered over his face. Their lips touched for a moment before she pulled away to look at his eyes again, his smile was curious and so he did not move to touch her. She lowered herself again, this time with more passion but still, the movement was lazy as though they had all the time in the world. He took this as a sign to move his hands undoing the ties on her garment, the whole piece slipping down to her waist after she pulled off the sleeves.

His fingers immediately went to the exposed skin, caressing knowingly, in motions and patterns that only he could. She pulled away for a moment to pull her dress completely off of herself, he stared at her exposed body with wonder as though this was the first time he had seen her so vulnerable. He gestured for her to come closer, once he had had his fill and again moved to caress her breasts.

“You move as though you have never seen me before.” Just at that moment, he attached his lips to her nipple, sucking gently while looking at her through his lashes.

“How can I help being in awe every time I see you.” He smiled at her before biting her nipple gently. The sound she made would be considered vulgar anywhere outside of Dorne.

He moved on to the other while she ran her fingers through his hair lightly moaning in content every few seconds. Her hand snaked down his chest to the waistband of his trousers. He stopped her with one hand making her whine in annoyance. “Why did you do that. I want to taste you.”

“Me first,” he waits for a beat before adding, “please.”

She sighed deeply at him, looking at the smile on his face and the colour of his eyes against the sunlight. She pushed him down gently, climbing up his body before hovering over his head. She waited for his action and it came. He pulled her hips down harshly, his tongue immediately coming out of his mouth and moving just as roughly. He moved like a man starved, one hand caressing her ass and the other moving up and down her back.

She threw her head back putting a bit of weight into his arm and tried to stop herself from grinding too hard down on him. As though he could feel her restraint, he pulled her down harder, sucking hard on her clit. She braced herself groaning lightly, “Please lover.”

He hummed in response picking up the pace as her breathing became more erratic. The slurping and sucking sounded just the right amount of erotic to both their ears and she noticed as she bent further backwards, one arm on the bed and turning slightly to put a hand on his growing length. He groaned into her making her legs shudder and causing her to clench around nothing.

He was always attentive, noticing the fluttering clenching and the tightness that her leg muscles seemed to have. His tongue went in and out of her causing her to almost pulse and the lack of something substantial. “My love, please. I cannot, not right now.”

He pulled away and she whined loudly, pushing herself further upright to look at him. He watched the furrow of her eyebrows, the way her mouth parted, her breath shallow. He was never too cruel a lover but he always loved these moments, of slight desperation. He waited for the confused furrow to be a frustrated frown and for her head to cock to the side just slightly. “You look magnificent like this my love.”

“I can look magnificent later, please, my prince, please.” Only in these moments did she call him that, they were equals in every way except rank and it was only here that she would make it clear that she was at his mercy. Only here would she give him the choice, as though he would ever deny her.

“Only because you asked my love,” his head disappeared again, and she jerked at the touch of his lips. A viper he was in more ways than one. His pace was unfair, tongue flicking against her clit.

It didn’t take long for her to pause completely, tendons taught and muscles tense. He carried on this pace as she cried out and only pulled her down tighter as she went through her high. He looked up, waiting for her to open her eyes and for her breathing to slow, laying his head on the inside of her thigh.

“Are you alright my love?” She waited for a beat and moved off of him, slowly lowering herself to lie next to him.

“You know what you do to me Oberyn, am I ever okay when you’re finished with me?” He chuckled lightly and she swiped a finger over his bottom lip capturing what was left of her release and letting him suck on it.

He leaned back onto the bed looking at the ceiling with a soft smile on his face before turning to her suddenly, “that is a good question, you’re beautiful when you finish, head tilted back and...” She cut him off before he could go into a detailed description.

“You don’t need to describe what has just happened my love, I was there.” She chuckled lightly to herself and held his gaze.

“Can you move?” She almost scoffed in response.

“Of course, you deserve to feel this as well,” she scooted down the bed so she could reach the band of his trousers.

“You seemed like you were thinking really hard about something during that release are you sure?”

It made her smile, the way he could catch how tension caught differently in her muscles, the differences in her moans, just the way he knew her body. “Giving you pleasure always gives me pleasure.”

She stayed the night as per usual and they were just as engrossed in each other the next morning. It was only the next evening where she forced herself to leave so she would have a day to herself to prepare herself for her meeting. She was restless, unable to sleep, bewitched by an emotion she hadn’t felt since Oberyn came back all those years ago.

By dawn she was already dressed and had eaten, she thought it easier to go to the market before he came to give her something to do. Though when she pulled her other mare named dagger, a gift from Oberyn of course, down the hill she caught a glimpse of red hair she stopped as did he.

“If you’re not careful I might believe you’re eager to see me.” They both chuckled, bringing their horses so they were trotting side by side down the dirt path.

“Is it so bad that I am eager?” The smile on his face made her look down at her horse, fiddling with its reigns. This was new, not that Oberyn had never said things to her like this and not that many other men and women hadn’t, but this felt different. Like in the early days when it felt like Oberyn was courting her.

“No, in fact, it is welcomed, I know I’m brilliant company, but it is nice to hear it.”

“I didn’t expect you to be leaving, especially not alone.” He said, looking at the path in front of him.

She scoffed lightly, “I am a busy woman with things to do, and I am capable enough of protecting myself.”

“I am very sure of that.” He said with a slight smile on his face.

She huffed a laugh, “you sound like Doran.”

“The prince Doran.” He asked in question.

“Is there any other Doran I would know personally?”

He chuckled to himself and breathed in heavily, “I suppose not. Where were you going?”

“Since you wanted to interrupt my morning, we are going to the market.”

“Let’s make a day of it.” He took a moment seemingly pondering something before gesturing to her, “I’ll buy you anything you want.”

“How about I buy you anything your heart desires, and I mean anything.” She said, pulling her horse as close as she could to his and leaning towards him.

“Perhaps we should wait a moment for that anything but fine, anything within reason.” She smiled, pleased with herself.

She waited for a moment before speeding up, pulling her horse off the dirt path. She had expected to see him quite the ways behind her but when she glanced back, he was there, just a little to her right. She let out a loud laugh and sped up again, seeing whether she could lose him until eventually, they got back to a dirt path, and she slowed.

“I am an expert rider you know.” The smile on both their faces were mirrors of each other, there was a sense of amazement that the two had of each other.

“Well, I know that now.”

“Was that supposed to be a test?” He asked

She giggled at him, “Of course not, just a bit of fun.”

While they were moving through large paths, none were as busy as the one they were on now. She got off her horse as did he and then pulled them both to the nearest stable, paying the man and walking outside to Jaqen who was looking around for something.

“An arm my lady,” he pulled out an arm for her to hold and looked at her when she didn’t take it.

“A hand would be better.” He nodded slowly and put his arm down, laying out his hand instead.

She led him right through the market choosing to work her way from the back forward. She took note of anything he seemed to be looking hard enough at and decided she would go back when they were separated to get him something. While she had not known this man for long, it seemed as though he would be apprehensive about spending her money.

“Did you come to get anything in particular?” He asked.

“No, I like to look around when they have new shipments, to see whether they have foreign objects.” As she was talking, they came across a small stall hidden between bigger ones selling jewellery. “As much as I adore my homeland, there is always a want to leave it, and when I cannot these foreign things do that for me.

She looked over all the jewellery before settling on the ring section. The worker looked at them with a tired smile but bright eyes, “exactly like here. One would never find these rocks in Dorne, where would they even come from. I personally prefer Dothraki jewels but where do you think this one is from?”

He was running his hand over some necklaces but looked up at the ring in the woman’s hand, the jewel a bright green. “I am not well versed in jewels, so I am not sure. Why do you prefer the Dothraki ones?”

She picked up a different one, seemingly engrossed in the glow of the white jewel within a silver band. “There’s a story, not necessarily a good one, about a Dothraki king and how he would adorn his wife with these jewels to show his love for her. While that wasn’t a large point of the story I loved the idea of that, that he loved to see her adorned with the most precious things he could find. That maybe one of these precious things would match her in beauty. They never did of course.”

“I didn’t expect that of you.” She looked up at him to find him looking straight at her.

She frowned with a confused smile, “expect what?”

“That these stories play such a huge part in your life. You seem so rooted in truth and reality, I like this side of you.” He nodded slowly and turned back to the necklaces.

“Stories told me what was possible. That the impossible was possible. They taught me about the beauty in ugly things, that there is always an ending even if it is a cliffhanger. Stories are my comfort and my guide.”

“And why is that?” He took a step towards her so that if he reached up he could touch her face.

She sighed with a slight laugh, “because stories are only able to exist through the limits of our imagination. There is truth to all of them if you know where to look.”

He hesitated before speaking, seemingly pondering his own words, “I may not have known you for as long or as intimately as others in your life but in you I only see greatness. I feel as though you would make my impossible possible.”

“What does that even mean,” she giggled.

“I’ll know it when I see it.”

She put a hand on his chest looking up at his eyes, “ thank you Jaqen, in you I see and feel freedom, knowledge and wonder. You are the start of something great.”

Now it was his turn to laugh heartedly, “and what is this something great.”

“I'll tell you once I know.” She captured his lips in a soft kiss, forgetting herself in him. Taking a deep breath she pulled him away from the stall and led him back through the market.

“Why are we walking away you looked like you liked those rings?”

“You may not have a trained eye for jewels but you’re an inquisitive man. Those jewels were fake, likely just glass.” She laughed at him, and he joined in after a moment of mock frowning.

They moved through the small crowds of people, her choosing garments and a few accessories, him picking up a thing here or there before she led him down to a back alley towards the bakery, she knew all too well.

“There’s a baker here that makes the best pastries. The Gods themselves I’m sure would love them.”

“If it is fit for the Gods, I’m sure it will be fit enough for me,” she giggled and walked faster, a small pep in her step.

“One thought you were in the mood for tea,” they both turned at the new voice coming from the alley to their right. A woman walked out into the light; her clothing was all dark green with black accents. She wore a scarf but no veil the same as her dress with black trim pulled partly on her head. She was adorned with jewels and even with her trained eye the Lady could not tell whether they were fake or not, each seemed to shine as though they were something in it and the longer, she stared at the pendant at the woman’s chest the hotter she became.

There was a tug on her arm and only then did the Lady notice that she had taken a few steps forward almost now directly in front of the woman and yet she was still in a haze. Not even Aneera had had that effect on her, almost as though someone had slipped a herb into her drink.

“There is something you must see; a woman must show you.” The woman turned down the alleyway waiting no moment for the two to follow.

Lady Phassirah looked at the man next to her, almost asking him what to do. “She’s from Lorath.” He said and then turned and started walking after her with no reservation.

She jogged a few steps to catch up and captured his hand again, “I know. I never asked why you don’t speak the same way.”

“I came here for trade, it’s like speaking another language, I learnt to blend in. To not seem too foreign, people are more likely to trust you that way.” He said offhandedly, watching the woman in front of him. He turned a sharp corner almost pulling the Lady into a wall and walked faster. He finally stopped at a door and turned into it.

The house had a staircase directly in front of them which they did not go up, instead, Jaqen turned to the room on the left which had a low table with cushions across the floor. The woman was standing up at a higher table at the far wall pouring what both Jaqen and Lady Phassirah assumed to be tea into 2 cups. She knelt at the head of the table setting the cups down in front of the two guests who sat opposite from one another.

The room itself was too dark, see-through draping’s of dark materials in purples and greens hid the windows and the candles were too few around the room. Lady Phassirah found this to be a little unnerving. though Jaqen seemed calm, looking down at the Lady with concern.

“If you do not wish to do anything we can walk right out of that door and leave.”

She reflected for a moment before smiling brightly, “I always love a little adventure.”

“Then let us have one.” His smile did not quite match her own, but he seemed content enough with her answer.

“What is your name, woman.”

The woman only nodded slowly, “There is power in a name.”

“Yes.” Lady Phassirah said slowly.

“Yours is known but a woman’s is not.”

“No.” The Lady drummed he fingers lightly on the table making the other woman frown deeply.

“It is not to be told today.” The woman said sharply, gesturing to the drinks.

The Lady frowned but nodded slowly, “alright.”

“You must drink if you wish to gain knowledge.”

She put her hand palm up on the table and instead of taking it Jaqen drew patterns across her hand, looking at her with a tilted head and hooded eyes. She slowly brought the porcelain cup to her lips and sipped. The liquid was sweet, just short of being sickly so. She glanced up at Jaqen who was doing the same. A hand went to the cup at her lips and pushed it gently upwards and she drank the rest of the liquid putting the cup down gently on the table.

It wasn’t immediate, it took a breath or two for the change to fully happen. She felt happier like she could break into manic laughter any moment. She looked up at Jaqen, the colour of his hair swirling in her mind. She must have collapsed, ended up with a head on the cushions as though she had fallen asleep. Her head was heavy and hard to lift but she did anyway. Jaqen was exactly where she left him in those few seconds, his hair floating around as if he were underwater, his eyes so dark as though she were looking into the depths of the sea from the side of a ship. She had the sudden urge to kiss him, to let herself meld to him completely, to let him consume her in any way he wished.

There was a sound behind her, like a whisper and she stood and turned. The room was now one long corridor stretching out further than her eye could see, only lit up by torches for a few steps. She took a torch off the wall and followed the whispering, still unable to make out the words. The corridor kept going until it opened up into a large staircase.

She followed the staircase up and found herself on a balcony looking out, it was cold, and the floor seemed covered in snow, if it weren’t for the red of his hair, she would have missed Jaqen, making steps in the snow wearing white. She called out to him, but the wind seemed to carry her voice away. There was a pull deep in her stomach asking her to jump, so she did, like a bird over the balcony and let herself fall and fall until something grabbed her hard from behind.

A man was towering over her in full armour with a white cape of the king’s guard holding on her hard, she struggled and fell but his grip never faltered. He took a step backwards and then another, dragging her with him and in a state of panic, she threw herself forward trying to get out of his grip. Somehow in this mess, she managed to land on the floor and as he bent down to grab her again, she kicked him hard in the knee making him falter and fall, there was a large rock beside her and his helmet had fallen off, he was looking to the side, hair covering his face. She moved to turn his face so she could see his face, but her vision went black and now the man on the floor was Oberyn, a smile on his face but his eyes so empty and skin cold to the touch.

She took a step backwards, and then two, walking into the chest of someone. The smell was somewhat familiar and the red hair in the corner of her vision made her visibly relax. Before she could fully turn she felt a heat harsh under her feet in such a way it made her jump. She teetered backwards but it felt as if there were a hot poker at the back of her neck and a fire began around her. There was a screech above her, and she looked up to see a dragon as large as the legends flying above her. She could only smell smoke now and there was no presence behind her. She took a step forward out of the fire and towards the crowd of people that seemed to have just appeared in front of her.

While she was outside before, she now seemed to be in some sort of hall. Two jaguars were sitting at the head of the room near what looked like a throne, before she could look at them too closely, however, a woman with red hair pulled her to dance, they twirled and jumped to the cheery music that had started up seemingly out of nowhere. Every time the woman twirled, however, the room and outfits were different colours, red and gold, orange-yellow and red, green and black and finally all white.

She looked over at the jaguar and instead of the two of them snuggled together black as ink, the other was replaced with a lion, pacing slowly in front of the jaguar, his attention at the crowd of dancing people. The intensity of its gaze made her stop and run out of the arms of the dancing woman and instead walk away from the crowd.

She was looking around the room for something and through the dancing people came a woman with long black hair, dark eyes and a slender figure looking right at her. The woman turned and walked quickly away and Y/N followed her, pushing through people and eventually down the corridors of what seemed like a palace that was very unlike that of Sunspear until she turned into a room. The Lady looked at the doors which were only partially open. They were shaped like an arch and golden, a large sun of the same colour was carved into the middle.

The Lady walked through the door, pushing it lightly closed behind her. The woman beckoned the Lady forward to a bed underneath a large window. There was a man on the bed, leaning against the frame, as the woman moved out of the way, her lover tilted his head chewing a mouthful of fruit. The woman curled up into the arm furthest away from the Lady and beckoned her forward.

“Lover, we may have forever ahead of us, but I would like to use every moment of that with you that is possible.” The softness of the woman’s voice made the Lady relax and she took a few steps towards them, kissing Oberyn lightly. He tasted of honey and wine. She felt almost emotional, her eyes filling with tears as she curled into his chest to match the woman on the other side of him. She reached a hand out to her almost out of instinct but the other woman had bent over her and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

She must have blinked for the image had changed. She was back in the room she had drunk the tea in. It smelled faintly of honey which made her sigh lightly. She looked around, the room had changed from before, the furniture was older and the cloths at the windows had gone, as was the woman. Had there not been two cups on the table she would have thought the whole thing was a bad dream.

She hadn’t registered Jaqen behind her until he stirred, the hand that was around her stomach tightening as he was interrupted from what seemed like sleep. It took him a few breaths to sit up and release his hand from her.

“Are you alright?” She asked, turning to face him and caressing his face gently with her hand.

He put a hand on her wrist to stop her movement at his cheek, causing her to cup it and kiss him lightly, first on his lips and then between his brows that had furrowed into a deep frown. “That was weird.” He spoke.

“I have dreams like that. Seemingly prophetic. They’re usually vague but it was like having a bunch of them at once.”

“Are they ever useful?” He drew her into him not wanting her to pull away and kissed the top of her head repeatedly.

She leaned further into him, putting her arms around his torso. “Sometimes. They’re vague so often I don’t know what they mean until the event is happening. These ones had people I had never met in them; places I had never been to.”

“Perhaps they will make sense in the future then.”

“Perhaps, how about yours. Was your journey the same?” she asked looking up at him. His eyes were tired, but he pecked her lips just once

“No, a man was having a very long conversation.”

“A man?” She asked, a slight smile on her face.

“Sorry.”

She squeezed him gently before asking again, “are you alright?”

“Shaken but I’ll be fine. Let us not follow random women into houses and drink poisoned tea again.”

“It wasn’t a poison.” He looked at her smiling face and laughed lightly, standing up and offering her a hand.

“I don’t mean to cut this day short, but I would like to go home. I have a few things to think about.”

“My lady not to hurt your feelings at all but I was going to suggest the same.” They both let out a light sigh and looked at each other with a smile. He offered his hand which she gladly took as lovers would and left the empty house.

The Lady retraced their steps back to the top of the market collecting their horses and in silence, they both rode gently back to hers. He had expected him to diverge at some point but the constant and steady beat of his horse's hooves were all she heard the whole way home.

“I’m sorry that today went like this.” He had gotten off his horse as did she, giving hers to the stable boy. He pulled her gently to face him.

“There are a hundred better days to come and a thousand other journeys to take. I’m glad we both had the experience.” He smiled at her gently, tilting his head a little to the right looking down at her. She had expected him to maybe kiss her softly, but he only squeezed her arm with a sad smile and left. She didn’t call out to him, instead, she watched as he rode down the hill and away.

She had expected Aneera to sense something, an energy shift but the woman was not in the house. Her father didn’t greet her and the door and her brother missing per usual. The whole day seemed to see a change in energy, and it made the lady uneasy as she slept.

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne Masterlist

Chapter 1 - Beginnings

Chapter 2 - Dreams

Chapter 3 - Moments in Love

Chapter 4 - Look at the Moon

Chapter 5 - Secret Secrets

[demoncryptspanties]

Dorne

A/N: Just something I've been working on for a hot minute. Hope you enjoy it. Also, I'm in my final year at Uni so updates to this may be a little sporadic. I also promise the pairings will make sense later.

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x Female!Reader, Jaqen Hagar x Female!Reader, (Future!Ellaria Sand x Female!reader, Future!Sandor Clegane x female!Reader, Future!Tywin Lannister x Female!Reader)

Word count: 7,689

Series Masterlist

Chapter 2

Chapter 1

Beginnings

There were always the strings of fate, pulling together lives, love, death and other events, both minuscule and vast but nobody ever paid attention just how much their lives were subject to the strings passed down from a higher power. The coincidence that makes a simple event happens also ripples like a rock in a river, changing the lives of so many others. A simple look creating lifelong friends, a different expression creating intense hatred. Life is simply the shared experience of insignificant moments across time.

Jaqen was born of coincidence like this. The origins of his family are unknown save for the features etched into the boy. Their story remains just as lost. He was found in Lorath, in a crate on the edge of the docks seemingly put there by travellers. He couldn’t have been older than 1 when dockers opened the box and looked inside to see the boy in a bed of hay.

A working girl had spotted the commotion and without thinking claimed the child. She said it must have been her sister’s son with such red hair though the snow-white that covered the other side of his head she had no explanation for. He did not cry or squeal or even make a sound when the woman he would later refer to as mother brought him back home and gave him a name.

Lady Phassirah had not been so lucky with her temperament when she was born. She was pulled out between her mothers’ legs, her squealing even gave her mother a start, that was until she opened her eyes to look at her father. Her eyes were big as babies’ eyes often were and every ounce of anger at being born seemed to leave her immediately. When her father had finally looked away from the new joy the sun had come out lighting the room up with life.

She was walking and talking with such intelligence for such a small body when her brother was born too focused on the baby in the opposite room to notice how distraught the maester and assistants had been. She was too focused on how small he was to notice that a life had been lost. She was too young to fully remember the funeral, but she was not too young to only feel an overwhelming sense of love her mother had left behind.

She took him everywhere, introduced him to everyone she knew when he could walk and when the two were able to converse decently, she made sure he was included in everything. Love in every fashion was present in her life. Her father had always been close to the royalty of Dorne and thus it was only natural that the children of each would be close as well.

Oberyn, being the youngest, only a year or so older than the lady, Elia 5 years older than him and Doran the oldest. Elia was always a girl to look up to. Beautiful, free intelligent and overwhelmingly Dornish. It was no wonder that even at the tender age of 10 Y/N tried everything to emulate the being she saw as so much greater than anyone in her small world. It was also then she noticed the woman, her mother but not her mother, the constant, loving being that always knew what to say and what to do.

Everyone played as children do until it was abundantly clear who was a child and who was not. While Y/N was still learning her needlework and mucking about in the mud with her brother, Oberyn was trying to figure out his interests, the kind of person he wanted to be and Elia, the Goddess, the constant, had carried on her life, far from the land that birthed her. She married and it was then that she truly noticed the differences in the people she grew up around.

The talking, the private lessons, the council meeting. A child always thought they were more important than they were and so when Oberyn left to the citadel and Doran had other business to attend that meant he could not entertain the minds of a child. She was left alone. The shock of distance to her system changed the way she thought as it usually does, and she worked harder, learnt what she needed to, determined to grow old enough to catch up.

The years had changed more than her looks, her thinking, her wit, her intelligence grew greatly as she did. At 18 she was older and wiser than her years. As capable as any man and as cunning as any woman. She had caught up and become the being she wished. It was only natural given his nature that Oberyn would return having decided that being a maester was not the path he wished his life to go in. The sweet boy who had left had matured though his wit and energy had stayed the same.

Though they both noticed the difference in each other at the change in the wording of letters, the jokes that each other would tell and the stories each had to give each other, it was different to see it. She realised when she looked at the smirk and watched him wink at her that the rumours were all true. She also noticed that he was handsome, very handsome. The first time they slept together was under the stars after he of course relayed some of the things he had learnt about the night sky.

Everyone had seen it happening, predicted it even, but after a stern talk with Aneera, they let them be. Dornish women were different, not confined to the curse of being female and who could deny them when they looked at each other like that.

It did not mean that Oberyn suddenly settled down, his nature had never been like that, he never gave up the brothels and sometimes she would join him. This also didn’t mean that her father didn’t try to secure a marriage for her but he would not confine her to a life she hated, and she would never let him.

This is why the dinners were frequent, once a month at least. Oberyn took every single evening she had them off so that he could accompany her on this endeavour. People would come from across the kingdom and yet there was not one person who could hold her interest the way he did.

She found herself walking down a dirt path, leaving her horse a couple of streets away to the place she knew so well. She had tried two already, but he was not there, and nobody seemed to know where he was, so she went looking herself. She should be changing but she had never been to one without him and the advance of some men, was too funny of a thing for Oberyn not to witness.

She opened the doors herself, nobody stopping her, startling some of the people in the waiting room. The room was full of earthy colours which were unusual for such a place, but it put her at ease. She scanned the room for the girl she was looking for and spotted her deep in conversation with a man she had never seen before. He looked foreign but his demeanour was too easy to have come from anywhere else in the 7 kingdoms.

She waited for a moment hoping that he would finish but lost her patience when he did not, “Mara dearest, please tell me that Oberyn is here.” There was a sharpness in her voice she did to expect but at this point, she did not care.

The man she was talking to turned around slowly and raised an eyebrow with a smile on his face, it was when he turned that she noticed the snow-white of the other side of his hair and the easy, disarming smile he had. While the red and white of his hair was split down the middle of his head it did not affect the rest of his face whose hair was that same red.

Mara seemed to recover quickly pushing the man away from her lightly, “Lady Phassirah please let me lead you to them, I did not realise you would be joining them, or I would have sent a different girl. You see she’s not exactly –“ the lady cut her off with a huff and followed her up the stairs of the brothel.

“I am not here to join him; he’s not supposed to be here since he has promises he’s supposed to keep.” She grumbled. The other woman let out a small hum in response and led her to the last door on that floor.

She waited for the woman to open it taking in the large room with a large circular bed of cushions. Oberyn himself was feeding a young woman with fruits, a look of curiosity and amusement on his face. The girl hadn’t noticed the intrusion and giggled letting the juice drip from the peach down her chin and into the crevice of her breasts. It was only when Oberyn made a move to lick the juices that he looked up at the two women in the doorway.

“Y/N my flower I did not realise you were joining me today.” He had an eyebrow raised though not in surprise or questioning.

“I am not. You have somewhere to be.” Since she was being ignored, the girl in front of Oberyn pulled the straps up her shoulders slowly though not to draw attention to herself.

Her movement made the Lady look up at the woman. The woman cringed when she had been noticed. “Mara why is she here,” her eyes did not leave the other woman and her voice was low, words sharp.

“I am sorry my lady but – “

“I would rather you use my name when you explain why she is here when I specifically asked that I or Oberyn never see her presence.” Oberyn looked a little confused but made no move to say anything, looking at the Lady with a soft smile on his face.

The girl on the floor made a move to leave the room but Y/N put a hand out stopping her, “you can stay and maybe explain to me why the fuck you are here.”

“I apologise Y/N they were both rather insistent and I tried to get Layla but when I got back, they had both left.” Mara looked down at her hands, the disappointment in herself clear.

“I have to add in Lady Phassirah, but the prince was extremely keen on bedding me.” The girl had a smirk on her face.

“Girl you are but a flavour I have not tasted. I don’t even know your name. Now, why is my flower so offended by you.” Though his smile was still present, his face hardened as he got up.

“Besides the insults about my family and relationship. The food she threw at me, the fact she spat at me. I have to admit, you have more courage than most that are in love with the prince.”

“Why did you not tell me,” the prince asked.

“Because I handled it myself.” There was a moment of silence as everyone looked at each other.

“Well from now on I shall not have any girl you wish me not to.”

She let out a huff and shook her head lightly, “I will not control you like that.”

“Control me how.” He said with a light laugh.

“Control your choices.” She exasperated.

“You’re hardly controlling my choices by asking I do not sleep with a few people.” He was laughing again, she crossed her arms and moved away from him with a small pout. “Though I am interested in what she said that pushed you to such a state outside your usual nature.”

“This is hardly gossip between our families that you can entertain yourself with, I’d rather not repeat it,” she let out a breath and looked straight at him, pleading that he would not ask her again.

Before Oberyn could say something, a voice came from behind the woman, “the girl is fired I apologise for any harm she has caused.” The man smiled at the guests in the room until he met the eyes of the girl, his smile grew almost sickly and the girl almost ran out of the room past them. “I apologise for us not having met before, you must be the prince and his paramour.”

Oberyn nodded slowly, an eyebrow raised. Y/N was too engrossed in the man to give any kind of response, she felt heat rush up her body and took a step back unable to look the man in his eyes. Oberyn looked at her with interest for a moment but let out a huff of a laugh pulling his hand round her body to run a hand across her nipple in full view of the room.

She slapped his hand away quickly giving him a look of annoyance while he laughed to himself. “Just exactly who are.”

“I own the fruit brothels. I am sorry we haven’t met sooner.”

She noted the slight accent in his voice she was unsure how she didn’t notice it before, he had to be from Essos she would guess somewhere on the coast. “I gathered that; I meant your name.”

“Jaqen Hagar.” He reached out for her hand which she gave and almost too slowly he kissed her knuckles and straightened up, not letting go of her hand. Though she held a pleasant smile, she felt disarmed by his presence.

“I do not mean to cut this incredibly entertaining meeting short, but I have a dinner I’m supposed to be at. Y/N here is having several suitors coming for her hand and someone must keep her company through the ordeal of men with awful conversational skills.” Y/N whipped her head round to look at him, her mouth opened in slight surprise.

“You knew this whole time and were here whoring around and making me visit every brothel in the area to find you.” Though her tone was annoyed she couldn’t help but smile at him.

“You are very welcome to join us Jaqen, I’m sure she’d love the company. You’re from Essos I believe, well our dearest princess here loves to hear about travelling.” Oberyn raised an eyebrow at the man.

“I would be honoured to learn about our most valued customers. I have a few things to settle and then I shall accompany you.”

YN made a happy hum at his words not quite trusting herself to speak. Once he had stepped out of the room, she felt her shoulder slump and she leant back into the arms of Oberyn. “You like him don’t you. He seems interested in you.”

“You say that about every man I talk to. They cannot all be interested in me. He seems like he would be a good conversationalist.” His smile turned into a smirk and he pulled her to him forcefully. They were lost in each other for a moment, but she pushed him away and straightened her dress.

“He did not say how long he would be, how about you join me.” Oberyn stepped further into the room but she pulled him to her, kissing him again before he could sit in the bed of pillows.

“No, I have to get the horses and we are already late. Aneera may be worried.”

“That woman can tell the future, she knows where you are.” He looked down at her with a frown.

She laughed at him and turned to leave, “she cannot tell the future. She can almost tell the future. You know how she says the future is always fluid.”

“Yes, except certain events. She’s seen my death hasn’t she.” His face lost its easy smile.

Y/N turned to him, taking his hand in her own and staring into his eyes. “I don’t know why you are so obsessed with that; she has not seen your death.” He gritted his teeth but nodded slowly at her, the disturbed look was still there when they exited the building. Y/N looked around the room quickly but could not see Jaqen.

“She’s always looking at me sadly.” He sighed, speaking up after the moment of silence.

“She doesn’t look at you sadly. Anyways it maybe something to do with me. Talking about that, she insisted that I come personally to seek you out today.”

“Because of the girl or the man.” His smile and tone came back as easily as it left, it reminded her of her brother, perhaps they had spent too much time with each other.

“Well, I think the man.”

“You’re telling me he’s part of your destiny and future.” He made a motion with his hands, mocking her.

She put a hand to her just in mock annoyance and walked closer to him. “Don’t mock me, I don’t know yet. He could be.”

“Maybe he’s the reason she won’t let me marry you.” He poked her in the chest lightly, setting his other hand on her waist.

“Maybe we are both meant for other people.”

“Me, let go of you in favour of someone else. The world itself would have to collapse first.” They were looking at each other, the world seemed to melt away around them, her smile was large and she fought the urge to kiss him.

“Are you about to do your speech, oh love of my life, my sun, moon and stars? My personal Goddess and reason for living.” He raised an eyebrow at her hand movements, laughing lightly to himself. She took two steps towards him, so they were back in the same position. “You were always in favour of dramatics and I adore you for it.”

“It is all true.” He raised a hand, resting it on her cheek.

“I know, you would never lie to me. My soul belongs to you.” She took his hand in her own and kissed his palm.

“And you say I’m dramatic.” They both laughed a little before she kissed him. They stood there for a moment, engrossed in the feeling of each other until there was a slight cough behind them.

The short journey was done in relative silence Oberyn and Jaqen were having some conversation behind the Lady, but she paid no attention to their rambling and thought about the night ahead of her. They seemed to reach the house in record time, the carriages and horses tied to whatever surface they could be.

She ushered the two men into the hall and walked upstairs, her handmaidens running behind her. There was a white garment she hadn’t seen before on her bed and someone had called Aneera, who she had spotted as she entered the house, with her father.

Aneera had a small frown when she walked in, deep in thought. “By the God’s I was starting to think you weren’t coming.”

“Oh, please my father is a fantastic host, and I am often late. You cannot tell me you didn’t enjoy my fathers’ personal company either.” Y/N laughed at her comment while Aneera just frowned at the woman.

The dress she wore was longer than necessary, but it meant that she couldn’t get up to anything in the gardens with her brother. There was a time he had roped her into a sword fight at one of these dinners, the other time they raced around the grounds which Oberyn joined in. They almost had a joust one time but that got shut down almost as quickly as the idea had arisen.

“You really should stop whoring around with Oberyn before these things, it doesn’t exactly set the right impression,” Aneera’s smirk was clear and she looked down at the other woman.

“Oh please, I’m pretty sure all of Dorne knows about our – discretions – and anyways you were waiting for today weren’t you.” She couldn’t contain the smile on her face.

“So, how is he?” she questioned.

“Nice to look at and well-travelled, intriguing.” The girl shifted under the knowing gaze of her mother and refused to look her in the eye, instead, fixing her hair in the mirror.

“He’s bold too.”

“Of course, he is.” Aneera let out a knowing laugh and the two women walked down the stairs and into the small hall.

Aneera immediately went to Oran who was seemed to be eating as much food as he could without being caught and had a whole jug of wine to himself. He didn’t really hate being at these things but some of the men came early, Y/N was always late and none of these men were usually good company. She watched her father and brother move at the same time both lightly scolding the boy and then going about their business around the room.

She walked around the room herself, letting the sons present themselves and mothers and fathers present their sons. Once the obligatory hellos were done, she walked towards the small group huddled in a corner. She stood a few steps back and watched Jaqen finish a story with a slight smile and a cocked head.

Doran who was at the other side of the room building connections noticed her watching and placed a hand lightly on her back making her jump. She turned to the man with a practised smile that only got bigger once she realised who it was, “Doran, though I knew you were coming I didn’t expect you to come.”

“I had nothing better to do.” He looked down at her raising his eyebrows though she was not looking at him.

“So, you decided to spend time with the commoners,” they both laughed lightly at the statement.,

Doran gestured to the open door and they both stepped out into the cooler night. The stars, per usual in Dorne were bright. They took a seat on the bench her brother made a few years back. “Of course not, I wanted to truly see how much you had grown.”

“Every action you do is to serve a purpose, Doran.” She put her feet on the bench, pushing Doran to lean against the other side, the goblet of wine in his hand was forgotten on the floor.

“You know you’re the only person aside from Elia who holds our brother’s attention so well.” While she couldn’t quite meet his gaze, he stared at her intently waiting for her to answer.

She thought for a moment and put her head up to stare directly at him, “maybe if you understood him better you would hold his attention too.”

“I do understand him.”

“You don’t, but you are two very different people, it’s understandable. He could use some of your patience.” Y/N gestured across the garden, Dorne followed her gaze and breathed out a sigh.

“He could use some of my intelligence too.” He was smiling, though his words made her clench her jaw and look away from him.

“He is extremely intelligent, just also extremely passionate.” He hummed and they sat in silence while she played with her dress, “do you ever wish it were different between you two. It only got worse when Elia left.”

“To be like you and Oran. I am a prince and you two are too much trouble.” She let out a breath of air in a laugh and looked at his smiling face.

“I’m serious.”

“I love him, and I respect him, but we are too different now and I’m happy where we are.” His smile never changed, always polite and never telling.

“I never know when you’re lying to me.”

“That’s because I never lie to you, you would know it.” He stood up suddenly and put his hand out for the younger woman, “forgive me, I have papers to look at. Come find me when you aren’t busy with my brother. I figure there are a few things for us to discuss.”

“To be a prince,” She laughed, but nodded her head at him anyway and led him back through the house, “of course I’ll find you, by your tone I’m guessing I should find you soon.”

“It isn’t urgent, there’s no need to worry.” She gave him a small smile which he returned before he walked across the dirt and she shut the door.

When she went back inside the hall, everyone was still engrossed in conversation, so she went back to where she was before and inserted herself in the conversation with Oran, Oberyn and Jaqen. “I feel like I’ve missed a lot of good stories.”

“You have, but there is always time for that,” she nodded and the red-haired man and turned to Oberyn.

“Your brother has left, he had work.”

“He always has work.” The smile on his face faltered but he recovered quickly and gave Oran a firm slap on the back. “So kid, you were talking about a girl,”

Y/N laughed and turned away from them, doing a quick scan around the room for her father or Aneera. They were both in some conversation with a family she had seen over and over again and yet did not know the name of.

“You look like you’re looking for an escape my lady,” Jaqen said.

“I just don’t wish to hear about my brother’s endeavours,”

“Perhaps I could entertain you instead,” Y/N raised her eyebrows at his comment but let herself be led away from the other two. She had yet to notice Oberyn watching her walk away.

Rather than sit with everyone else Y/N led the man upstairs and out on the balcony she often watched the sunset from. The women who were previously in the room lit a few candles and left the two. “It’s a rather nice view from here.”

“I live on a hill in Dorne, there are only nice views. Though I thought you would appreciate it.” She had a feeling he would and by his relaxed demeanour, it seems she guessed right.

“And why do you think that?” he asked, taking in the charcoal sky and the plethora of stars it held. He took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out while he tipped his head towards the sky. She stared at him with a head cocked to one side. She looked like a cat, he thought, curious but not innocent.

“You seem like a man who enjoys simple pleasures.” She was right in a way, she knew she was, the quirk of his lips being telling enough.

He pulled her closer with one hand so that they were about the distance of a hand away from each other. He had expected her to falter but she instead gave him a toothy grin which he returned, “I enjoy most pleasures.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“Why are you trying to impress me.” He took her hand and rested the other on the balcony staring out into the open.

“I just want decent company for the night.” Her voice was low, dangerous even. If he recognised her tone he did not show it, his eyes still locked into the distance.

“And your lover is not decent company.” He whispered.

She let out a short laugh, nearer to a scoff really, “my lover is currently asking my brother what women he has fucked.”

“You don’t seem the timid type.” He commented.

“I am not but learning about my brother’s private activities is not in the realm of knowledge I wish to receive.” He hummed in what seemed to be understanding before answering, “that is fair enough.”

There was a moment of silence where she pulled their hands to the railing, “tell me a story,” her voice was soft. He turned his head, an easy smile on his face. He put a hand under her chin so that she could look at him directly in the eyes. She smiled at him, not shying away from his grip, “the stars are bright in the sky tonight; they ask for a story.”

She led him away from the balcony onto the couch that had been decorated while they stood outside. “What sort of story,” He asked once he made himself comfortable.

“One that’s real.” She said simply, helping herself to a goblet that was on the table between them.

“Real stories are dark and painful.” He raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for a response.

“Not always.” She answered and looked down to the floor and then to him before she got up and sat on the same couch as him.

“There was a king once he was Dothraki, handsome and young and a brilliant fighter.” She laughed under her breathe prompting his silence.

“I have known some Dothraki men. Is this a real story?”

“You can tell me if it is at the end.” She nodded in response and pulled her feet onto the couch leaving the sandals on the floor. “The only problem with him was that while he was not cruel to his people, he took a beautiful wife every full moon but by the next, she would be dead.”

“And here I thought you would have told something lighter or romantic.” She said through her goblet.

“I’m telling you a story you would have interest in.” He looked down at her the smile was gone but his easy demeanour was the same. “They would find the brides one night with her throat slit as fine as silk. The brides would be delivered back to their families and on the next full moon, he would take a new bride. One day there was a woman who was afraid her beautiful sister would become the next bride, so she hid her and presented herself instead. The king thought her pretty and took her as the bride. So that night in their chambers, she asked him to tell her a story,”

“Like now.” She whispered

“Yes, like now.” His tone was snappy.

She looked down at her drink and let out a small laugh. “Sorry, I’m trying to figure out whether you’ve made this up or not.”

“Long story short, she told him such a beautiful story that he asked again the next night for another one. And so forth as they fell in love. As she would tell the stories, she would make patterns in the sky. With every story, she drew out the darkness in him and he fell deeper in love.”

“Is that the end then?” He frowned at her and got up putting a hand out for her as well. He plucked a few grapes from the middle of the table and walked slowly towards the door.

“Yes. Have you determined whether the story is real or not?” He asked

“It's fake.” She wasn’t looking at his face and instead followed his hands as they moved the grapes around.

“And how do you know?”

She sighed unknowingly and met his gaze, “no real story has a completely happy ending.”

“And yet all fake stories are based in truth are they not.” The smile was back, while she could not help but smile back, she turned away from him, walking past towards the door.

“The complete truth is ugly, and it hurts.”

She attempted to leave the room but his hand met her arm, firmly but not harshly, “is your complete truth ugly, does it hurt?”

“Not yet.” She said meeting his gaze once again and put the hand that had left her arm in her own, pulling him down the stairs with her. When she walked in her father gave her a harsh glare while quite a few eyes turned her way.

She spotted Oberyn in the corner still talking to her brother. He looked her way, winked and then turned back to the conversation he was having. Before she could reach him, however, her father's voice rose among the chatter and she took a deep breath, stood straight up and smiled letting go of Jaqen for the moment.

The speech was a blur, something she had heard over and over again, once a month without fail. She was not expecting, at the very end when her father asked whether there were invitations for her hand for Jaqen to speak up. His words were a complete haze as she stared at him to Oberyn who seemed as confused as she was but quickly slipped into the guise of somewhat amused.

She gritted her teeth and smiled as he finished and while her father asked whether she would take any of these invitations further she found herself saying yes. Aneera, sitting to her right sipped her wine to hide her smile and her father faltered with the next part of the practised speech.

Oran's face had dropped completely, and he tried to signal to his sister, but she turned away from him and looked right at the man who had just asked for her hand, he nodded slowly at her and she smiled sweetly and he did the same.

The room filtered out quickly after the food was brought in and the conversations were over. Oberyn had left early for whatever reason, deciding not to say goodbye but leaving something in the care of one of her handmaids. Her brother tried to pull her aside but Aneera said she needed help with something elsewhere and with gritted teeth he left. Her father seemed to be living among the clouds, chattering to everyone with a large smile on his face and already asking the opinions of the servants on wedding foods.

Jaqen took this as a time to leave, meeting her eye and then weaving his way through the servants that were clearing up. She followed him of course, still in a daze until they were outside in the cool air. “I didn’t realise I intrigued you that much,” she looked down at her hand suddenly feeling how cold she was.

“I thought I would be too boring for you. The Prince as your love, your clear independence and intelligence.” He pulled her hand so that she dropped down a step closer to him and kissed her knuckles softly.

“What and not my beauty.”

“Of course, your beauty,” he pulled her further still so that that they were less than a step closer to each other.

“I hope you don’t expect me to give him up.” She said voice small.

“I admire your independence, why would I ask you to give up a portion of your own happiness.”

“Not all men are as generous.” She laughed but the sound died quickly in her throat. Her head cocked to the side she waited, either for him to move or say something but he was still locked in her gaze.

His gaze shifted to something beyond her and she looked at her again and spoke again a little unsure of himself, “you feel it too right, something bigger.”

“Something divine.” He smiled instantly at her words and pulled her closer still. He repeated her words to himself and let their lips meet in an embrace she was waiting for.

Her hand immediately went past the white side of his hair and to the nape of his neck where the colours met, the other settle above his ribs, inside the outer garment he wore. His hands were at both sides of her face, she felt their warmth and sighed into the kiss.

She heard a step behind her and pulled away pulling him into a hug instead. “Perhaps I should take you on a tour around Sunspear,” she said sweetly, head buried in his chest.

“It will have to wait a few days but I shall dream of it,” she let out a laugh and pulled away from him, wiping her lips and turning back to the house.

“In 4 days, at dawn.” He repeated what she said and stepped closer to her before she could walk away, kissing her softly. He tapped her lips with his thumb before he walked down the sand path and out of view. She, still in a daze walked up into her own house.

The day after, she was still in a daze, much like she was floating in the middle of a warm lake. She spent the morning in a dream but got on a horse at about midday to bother the Prince whose attention she had not commanded the night before. She had planned to take her brother but he was nowhere to be seen, apparently left early in the morning with a package of food and hadn’t been seen since.

She walked through the Palace unbothered, some members of the Palace help had even stopped and put their heads down in a polite bow before going back to their own business. Instead of walking down the familiar corridors to find the Prince, she walked in the opposite direction, admiring the bright walls the portraits and architecture of this section. While she had run through these walls as a youth, it had been a while since she looked around at the work of people who had come before her.

She had tapped someone to ask where Doran was but they hadn’t known so she walked through the hallways a little while longer until a man with a soft face walked up to her, a hand on the sword at his hip.

“Doran has asked you to join him in the strategy room.” She nodded at the man and followed him till they came outside 2 wooden doors with a sun carved in the middle. The man pushed them open and stood outside.

She had been in here before, the room hardly used since the war was not something that came often to Dorne, but even still, the room had no dust and the seats were not broken. The layout had changed with new brickwork covering the back wall, likely to extend the room. There was an old wooden bookshelf full of bound books of many colours.

She walked towards them, lightly tracing her hand over the old spines and pulling out an older one, bound with dyed leather. The language was one she did not recognise, but the photos were of several different weapons native to certain areas mainly in Essos. She had recognised the shape of about 2 but beyond that the illustrations were new. Even the hilts of each blade were drawn to perfection, the smallest carved detail in black ink.

She placed the book back and sighed deeply looking up to the ceiling for the first time, it was made differently than the rest of the room, styled to be holy. The ceiling was low enough for her to see the shapes painted on but too high for her to make out the intricate details of each shape.

She heard the door close behind her and saw Doran making his way to sit on a chair close to her. She sat opposite him and they both looked and each other in silence until Y/N started scanning the room.

“Honestly I think it's best if we just talk about whatever you wanted to talk about.”

“I thought it would be obvious.” His tone was unbothered, teasing even.

“Don’t ask me to guess, I’m not a child and it doesn’t seem like a good surprise,” he chuckled at her words and put both hands on the table in front of him.

“You need to marry my brother.”

“No.” she scoffed at him immediately getting out of her seat.

He leaned forward and looked up at her. “Yes. You know he’ll say yes if it’s something you want, and it’ll be good for the family. This way he’s even married for love.”

“Like you.” She laughed looking at him with an expression he could not quite decipher, “I can’t.”

“You keep saying you can’t like something is physically stopping you. They are the words of one woman, can you not see what is right in front of you.” He looked away from her out of the window and into the courtyard.

“He’s meant for something else; I’m meant for something else.”

“What, you really believe in her nonsense about destiny and the future.” His words were clipped, he hadn’t expected this much push from her.

She had stopped wondering the room and instead leant on the chair at the head of the table, staring at the back of his head. “What and you don’t. Who was it that said you would get married to Mellario and predicated the birth of Arianne?”

“Your mother.” He gritted his teeth and looked back at her, “There needs to be an heir.”

“Arianne is already born, there does not need to be an heir. Elia is married. He’s the youngest leave him be.” Rather than look her in the eye, he followed her hand movements.

She noticed he seemed uncomfortable, as though he were hiding information he would much rather share. “I can’t do that.”

“I’m engaged so you’re going to have to.” He took the moment she was not looking at him to stare right at her face. She pulled the chair out and sat back down.

“You got engaged last night. To whom?” he said incredulously.

“The brothel owner.”

“What brothel owner.” The hands that previously sat still on the table were now gesturing to her in annoyance.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does matter.” He groaned, “You just fucked up my plans.”

“What plans, we are at peace what are you planning.” She looked again at his eyes trying to deduce what he was hiding but his eyebrows settled into a frown and he was no longer paying attention to her. “What do you know.”

“It hardly matters now. I have always admired your independence, but this may cost him his happiness. It may cost you yours as well.” He got up, looking at the bookshelf and correcting the book she had not put back.

“He won’t marry anyone else; he’ll never agree to it.”

“Exactly.” She did not have time to ponder or answer his word since he walked out of the room in a move of annoyance. He did give her a soft smile as he left but his face fell just as quickly as he closed the door.

She got up with a small groan and waited until he would be out of the corridor before leaving herself. Letting her eyes wander to the bookshelf for a moment before closing the door behind herself. The same guard as before was posted outside and as she stepped towards the palace gardens, he stepped with her.

She turned back to him, jaw tight, “I don’t need a guard posted in this palace.”

“I’ve been asked by Prince Doran to accompany you whenever you visit here.” She groaned again but made no move to stop him and went to the palace gardens. There was a bench that gave a nice view of the rest of the garden that she often sat on, she went again today. She traced her name that Oberyn has carved into when he was younger and sat back for a moment, watching the clouds move in the air.

By the time she got home, the sun had left the horizon, putting the entire of bright Dorne into the soft darkness. She walked towards the candles in her home and tapped one of her handmaids, “I’ll take dinner in my room.”

“Dinner is already there with Aneera my lady.”

The was no time for her to gather her thoughts or prepare for the conversation Aneera would bring up, so she didn’t try and instead sat in front of the woman eating her food in silence.

“You’re not as happy as I thought you would be.” Her head was cocked to the side, the soft smile hiding what Y/N assumed to be genuine confusion.

“Something happened today is all.” She put down the cup in her hand and wring her fingers together on her lap.

“Would you like to talk about it?”

Y/N sighed deeply, looking around the room while Aneera sat patiently. “You don’t give guidance on what to do, you say what is already destined to happen. So, what if you’re wrong and I’m not supposed to do that.”

“But it feels so right does it not.” Her voice was soft, comforting.

“Yes.” She said slowly.

“Then you have our answer.”

She whined quietly, moving her hands around as to try and convey her point better. “I feel like I’m making a mistake though. Yes, it feels right, it feels good and I like him. But how is this man I met yesterday supposed to be better than the man I’ve known and loved my whole life.”

“Who said he was better, and we’ve established that you’ll have the both of them.”

“Would it change so much to happen if I married Oberyn instead?” She looked down at her hands.

Aneera sighed deeply, having had this conversation before. “You would marry a prince. It would change everything that is to come and not for the better.”

“How do you know.”

“Destiny is not always fixed. Some parts are fluid, that can change. Even death could be reversed in some circumstances. This is the path I set you on because this is the better one. The happier one. You sacrifice one thing and gain so much more. When you’re my age you’ll look back and understand.”

“I hope I do.” The two finished their dinner in silence and went their separate ways, leading the lady to stew in her thoughts through the night. That night she dreamt about a fire, burning and hot, licking her skin, the pain was enough to make her move in her sleep and eventually wake her up. There was a pain deep in her stomach and an ache for something lost though she could not feel what.

She was unable to sleep again and instead watched the sunrise with a book in her hand, balcony doors open, letting the Dornish air flow right through her.

[demoncryptspanties]

Can you please do a Suicide Squad imagine where the reader is Rick's wife and George flirts with her and rubs her thighs, which makes Rick extremely angry?

A/N Thanks for sending this in, I haven't written in like forever so sorry for the length of it. Hope you enjoy x.

Pairings: Rick Flag x Reader

Warnings: swearing and slight spoilers for the beginning of The Suicide Squad.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Marriage is a partnership between two people. Not someone becoming whole or completing you, it’s a partnership and every partnership s different. Requires a different way of doing things and in a situation like this, the only option was to be unconventional. There was no white picket fence, you weren’t a housewife, there was just an apartment barely lived in, rooms in the compound and then of course each other.

You knew it would be like this when you married him, looked in his eyes, the hope in it before you said yes. You both had a willingness to make things work and that you did. There were times you have separated thanks to Waller, but you were the best, better than that and you worked better as a team. It was why you married each other in the first place.

You each had a person, he had Harley, who was insane in the most entertaining way possible, and you had Harkness, or George, Boomer or even Captain when you wanted to see the tight jaw and frown of Ricks face. It was just a harmless game, a little flirting on both of your sides, you’d never let it get too far but it was a way to make things interesting on these suicidal missions you went on.

This took you to now, sitting in a plane, laughing at half the team being scared of a damn weasel, Boomer strapped down on your left while you stood, a hand on the strap above you. “I’m starting to think none of you have seen anything outside of a damn prison cell because how the fuck did you mistake a weasel for a dog.”

“Don’t group me in with these fuckers’ sweetheart, I actually have a brain on me,” Harkness said, looking up at you, the smile on his face the same as always, he was this close to saying something maybe a little too suggestive.

“Oh please, the only thing you’re good for here is your aim. I’m the brains of every operation were on.” You smiled down at him.

“My aim isn’t just good with these boomerangs.” You chuckled lightly but before you could respond Rick stalked over to your side of the plane.

“Aright everyone up, we’re jumping, Boomerang first,” Rick shouted the order looking straight at Boomerang as you opened up the door over the open sea. He stood at the opposite side of the doors, frown on his face per usual, Boomerang always the joker picked up on it.

“If you think I’m that much a threat to your girl you should make your aim a little better than mine.” You tilted your head at Rick with an expression he interpreted as leave it alone. He grumbled something neither of you caught and took a step away from the man.

“No, but seriously, you should leave that guy, he’s too boring for you,” Harkness said, making you scoff. His hand moved to tap your ass lightly and slide across your thigh.

“George, stop.” You said sternly pulling his hand roughly from you but before you could turn to scold him a foot hit his back making him stumble out of the plane.

It took you a moment after he hit the water for you to turn to Rick. “Did you have to kick him off the plane?”

“He’s fine.” He said, turning away from you gesturing for everyone to line up to jump.

You scoffed, looking between Boomerang in the water and your husband who couldn’t quite look you in the eye. “I’m not exactly sure he’s going to stay fine with that look on your face.”

“If he dies, he dies, it’s the job.” He shrugged.

“Rick are you being serious. Are you jealous right now? The man is literally a criminal, in jail and I can handle myself.” You said in disbelief at his actions.

“I know you can handle yourself I just don’t like the way he talks to you. Is he like this all the time, the two of you work together daily?” His shoulders relaxed with a sigh as he realised just exactly what he implied.

“He’s like that with everyone, and we make a good team, take it up with Waller if you have a problem.” You said back at him, turning to the open sea.

“We make a good team, he’s just second best.” He was starting to sound a little childish, it was making you get increasingly annoyed at the man.

“Seriously Rick I don’t sit here jealous of Harley I love the girl.” You said gritting your teeth.

“She’s right captain, she really does like me, remember when she got us that night out at a bar after Fiji.” You both turned to her, a light smile on your face and the signature frown on his.

“Everyone out of the damn plane.” He shouted.

Harley was the first to move with a salute, “fine captain, Mrs Captain.”

The others shuffled out slowly, wanting more to see the argument brewing between the two of you than facing whatever they would on that beach. The weasel was last, it tried to communicate something to the two of you but in his impatience, Rick pushed it into the water.

You watched for a moment, before looking at Rick who was huffing at the wall. “I’m not entirely certain the weasel can swim.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“No look.” The weasel flounders for a moment as the both of you jump down. Waller confirms that the weasel has died as Savant drags it onto the beach.

Instead of carrying on with the mission like professionals, Rick looks at you about to say something when you cut him off “I’m not having this argument with you on this damn beach in the middle of nowhere. Especially not about fucking Harkness. What is it are you insecure, of him? How many times do I have to say he’s in jail?" You sighed deeply before looking him straight in the eye, "I love you, I chose you I married you, Rick”

“He shouldn’t be touching you like that.” You groaned at him.

“And he won’t again, I would have handled it had you waited 30 seconds.” He turned to you with a sigh pulling you into him with his free arm. “Are you alright now.” You whispered.

“Yeah, it's fine, just try not to die.” He kissed your forehead and you smiled up at him.

“I love you too Rick.”

Just when you were about to move into your own position the comms opened up, “can you stop with the sappy shit and do your damn job.” Waller said sternly from her office.

“Yes ma’am.” You both mumbled in unison, smiling at each other before you walked into the absolute shit show of a mission.

[demoncryptspanties]