Chapter 63: Something isn’t right
(One Month Later)
(Skyreach)
It was noon and the sun was shining across the great barren plains of Dorne, sand blew in the wind and the heat was almost unbearable for those who had not accumulated to it, Skyreach a man and two women both sat near a water fountain as they had a picnic though the man was not very happy to be there.
"Mmm here try this..."
"Noooo try this first"
"Jeyne! Stop ruining our picnic"
"Hmpf I think me and Robb are enjoying ourselves quite well"
"Girls please don't start arguing again, look I'll try both you see" Robb said as he quickly took the food from both of the girls eating it hoping to appease them.
Jennelyn looked at Robb with narrowed eyes "Why did you eat Jeynes offering first Robb, aren't I your favourite?" She said as she crossed her arms. Robb was no master of seduction but even he recognised a trap when he saw it and so he wisely just smiled and laughed nervously, which sadly also turned out to be the wrong answer "I knew it Jeyne is your favourite!!!" She said holding her hand to her mouth in disbelief.
Jeyne giggled triumphantly "Of course I am sister, I've always been the more beautiful of us two" she said with a smug smile.
Jennelyn glared at her sister "We look the same you fool, though mayhaps I got a lion's share of the mind" she retorted.
Jeyne scowled "We do but it seems one of us has a bigger preference for lemon cakes than the other" she said before pinching the side of her belly. Jennelyn opens her mouth in shock before slapping her hand away. They then begin to full on argue while Robb sits there sighing, it had been a tough couple of weeks and most of it was spent putting together the broken pieces of his memory and even now he did not know most of what was going on nor how he got here, the twins were not to helpful in that regard just saying he was injured in a fight.
But at least he knew who he was Robb Stark, Heir to Winterfell. But the real question was what he was doing so far away from home, a lot of things here didn't make sense, the primary one being that Lord Fowler refused to see him. Robb was Heir to one of the great houses and yet he didn't want to see him, and he also seemed to have no issue with his daughters sharing his bed every night 'Something is wrong here' he thought to himself, but at the moment he was still too weak to leave so he had to rely upon their kindness.
He had asked if he could send a letter North but he was told that none of them had any ravens that went there, and when he suggested Kings Landing he was denied again, Robb wasn't stupid he was aware when someone was keeping him in the dark. As Robb was deep in his thoughts his gaze drifted to a hooded figure, he had seen them a lot throughout his stay here they seemed to be priests but of what religion he did not know, nor did he recognise the symbol that they wore.
'A triangle inside of a circle, I wonder if there is any information inside the library' he thought, but then he immediately cast those thoughts away, he needed to focus on regaining his memories and discovering just what was going on.
"Robbbbb we are going to go swimming now," Jeyne said teasingly as she started to undress, her sister doing the same thing.
'Maybe later...'
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Robb managed to get himself free of the twins and was now looking through the library, it wasn't much of a library but it was better than nothing. Robb flipped through the pages of a book that was about the history of Westeros, usually, this would include the religions of each kingdom before and after the Andal invasion going forward to the Targaryen conquest, unfortunately, none of it mentioned or showed the symbol Robb had witnessed. Robb surmised it was either a foreign religion or not one at all, he closed the book with a sigh as he leaned back in the chair.
As he put the book down his gaze drifted to one of the bookshelves as a clothed figure turned the corner "Who's there?" Robb asked as he stood up from the table and walked towards the bookshelf, as he arrived he saw no one was there. Robb had felt he was being watched for a while now though at first he thought it was perhaps his own paranoia, but now he was certain he was right.
"I need to find a way to leave," he said to himself, he knew he wasn't a prisoner but that was because he hadn't attempted to leave yet, going from how people behaved around here he was sure that would change fast as soon as he tried to leave.
'Keep healing, leave when I get the chance, get back North' he thought about his goals before going back to his seat.
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(Dornish Camp)
Oberyn cursed and flipped the table in the war room as he read the letter that was sent to him by his brother "This is absolute madness!" He shouted to the people present as he held the letter up in his hands. Oberyn had heard reports that the combined armies of the Stormlands, the Reach and the Westerlands were almost gathered and once they were they would march down the Boneway to enter Dorne, this was something he expected but what he had not expected was his brother's response to it.
*March your Army to Wyl and meet the enemy army in battle*
That was it, a mere two lines of writing dooming him and his men to death and leaving the entrance to Dorne completely unguarded "Uncle are we sure that this letter is from Doran?" Aegon asked, Oberyn had to school his face when he was called Uncle as it made him sick but he looked at Aegon and nodded "I would recognise my brother's writing anywhere, however, I struggle to believe they are his words" he replied, the rest of the commanders in the tent murmured in agreement however soon a voice rose above theirs.
"If they're your Prince's orders should they not be followed?" Rhaenys stated as she sat next to Aegon with a small smile on her face. Oberyn clenched his teeth so hard he thought they might crack, he did not know who this woman was but ever since she had arrived a dark shadow had been caused over their camp, sickness, rotten food, maggots, rats, usually Oberyn would narrow this down to bad luck but they had no issues before Aegon and Rhaenys arrival. Oberyn knew something was wrong with her, but he couldn't say what it was.
The worst part was when he discovered her wearing a necklace, one that Oberyn had given Rhaenys on her nameday so many years ago, in Starfall Rhaenys had mentioned how it was stolen while she was in Pentos, now it was clear where it had gone "My brother is not the commander of this army, I will not senselessly lead men into a fight that we cannot win, we stick with our plan, it is a good plan and will ensure our men survive" Oberyn replied to the agreement of the others there.
Rhaenys maintained her smile as she stared at Oberyn and he met her gaze though he instantly regretted it as he saw nothing behind her eyes, she was like an empty shell with nothing but a void inside her. He looked away "Order the men to start laying the traps, once they reach Wyl we will retreat back into Dorne" Oberyn commanded the rest of the men they all nodded and began to file out of the tent.
"Uncle...do you think it's wise to so blatantly disobey orders," Rhaenys said as she stood up, placing her hand over her pregnant belly.
"Rhaenys if you could step outside, I wish to talk to Aegon for a moment... alone" Oberyn said ignoring her words. Rhaenys with a smile still on her face turned her head "Very well uncle" she said before leaving the tent.
Aegon frowned at Oberyn "Uncle is there a problem between you two?" He asked as he stood up. Oberyn who was still looking to the entrance of the tent shook his head "There is no issue between me and Rhaenys" Oberyn replied 'Though there is a great issue between me and that woman pretending to be her' he thought to himself.
Oberyn sat down as he contemplated these events, something was happening in Sunspear, these orders that his brother was sending were too out of character for Oberyn to not be concerned "Aegon I believe that Doran might be in trouble, but in what kind I can not say" he told him
Aegon frowned "Then we must help him, I shall gather my men and we will march to Sunspear" he said with determination but Oberyn shook his head "We need the Army to stay, if something is wrong an army will warn the perpetrators it is best we go alone, will you come with me?" He asked. Of course, Oberyn did not invite Aegon to join him because he trusted him it was rather the opposite, he did not trust Aegon not to fuck up the plans that he'd entrusted to his commanders. Aegon nodded "Of course uncle just let me know when to be ready"
Oberyn hoped he could get to the bottom of this, there were dark times ahead and there were so many ways everything could go wrong.
"My Lord!!!"
One of Oberyn's men rushed into the tent in a slight panic "Lord Stark has managed to escape!!!" He shouted.
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(Narrow Sea)
"Try again" Arthur said as he disarmed Viserys kicking him to the floor, ever since they had been on the ship the Prince had asked Arthur to show him how to use the sword. Being a member of the royal family Arthur had no choice but to oblige and so began the torturous lessons day in and day out.
Viserys had no natural talent but one thing he did have was an unyielding will to be better as he wanted to protect his family, he also wanted to be able to serve his nephew and king when the time came. Daeron had thought that perhaps Viserys would have had an issue with him becoming King but he did not, he simply said that 'I was never suited to become king, you being here has lifted that burden from my shoulders' Daeron did understand his uncle words as being King was a burden. Like his ancestor had once said a king should never sit easy, he was not even a king yet and he already felt the weight upon his shoulders as if he carried a horse upon them.
Daeron sat upon the edge of the ship looking out to sea "What will you do once we go to Valyria Daeron" Ashara asked as she stood next to him. Daeron looked back and shrugged his shoulders "I hope Nissa will be able to guide me as I know not what I look for only the name it is called" he replied.
"I am sure she will not leave you in ignorance Daeron, what will we do after" she asked.
Daeron then looks back out across the sea "The only wish I have is to be with my family..." he said wistfully as he thought of Rhaenys and everyone else.
"Daeron, mayhaps you should join in lest your sword skills start to rust, you did almost lose against the Khal did you not" Arthur said with a smirk on his face.
Daeron returned the smirk and jumped off the edge back onto the ship "Very well but do not cry when I take the title of Sword of the Morning from you" he said as he unsheathed his sword.
(AN: shorter chapter than usual it's basically setting up the stories. Ugh ngl this Arc is gonna be a pain in the arse to write as I'll essentially be writing three separate stories. Westeros, Valyria and Astapor, but it's all part of the story so I'll have to, though it'll mean I have to take more time with the chapters as up till now I haven't really been giving them much thought, just writing as I go)
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