Malak and Astera Martell
Barbara Stark might have been surprised if she could read the mind of the man sitting only a few dozen feet away in a far less opulent box. Malak Martell was seated on a cushion of burnt orange, the golden tassels swinging slightly whenever he shifted his weight. He was half watching the armoured fools below as he cast his gaze between the Lannisters and the Starks. His father had given him a very specific mission for this visit. They had been seated in the Water Gardens, the sound of small brooks and rippling fountains filling their ears and bringing such peace as a man might find nowhere else.
"You must be the judge Malak." The older man had said. "Who are we to follow, if any at all. The Targaryens are not dead, that much is proven, their heirs still alive and very much in power if the rumours of their Dragons are true." Rhaman had reached out with a battle scarred hand and gently tapped his sons leg. "Dorne must be her own again, you will tell me how we can do that."
Malak was still amazed his father had sent him on this trip but he was no fool either. Astera was with him and the old man would listen to her advice before his own of that he was glad. He had never quite gotten his head wrapped around intrigue and politics but she had taken it in stride and almost made a game of it.
"You look pensive husband." Her soft voice came from his right and he shook himself from his thoughts and turned, smiling fondly at her.
"I am. I was just thinking over my fathers words to me before we left. It is not easy task that we have here." The two were speaking Dornish, a language rare enough outside of Dorne but they kept their voices lowered anyway.
"No, it is not, but what a task. Look at this tournament. It is not often we have such grand events at home." She laughed when she saw the look on his face at the words and kissed him lightly. "I mean no offense my love. Dorne is home but it is wonderful to see some of the world from time to time is it not?"
He nodded. He loved Dorne. The rolling hills, the endless desert, the towering peaks and all of it with the sea ever at their backs. It was a land of great mystery, unimaginable luxury and heart wrenching poverty. It was home.
"Perhaps when we return home we can visit the new Water Palace, it should be finished by then." She said soothingly, seeing his brow furrow. The Water Palace was the new country home of the Dornish royal family. A massive fortress palace of brilliant white walls that nestles amidst the Water Gardens. It was an impressive place and a sign of the wealth of Dorne thanks to the peace that had held them in thrall for so long.
"That would be wonderful." He said with a smile. At that moment he caught sight of Lyla down by the edge of the ring. She was with a young woman he did not recognize but her two bodyguards were clos nearby so he did not fear for her safety. She had been the main reason he had agreed to this journey, her interest in everything on Essos had been fed by her Great Uncle Akaris. She had begged him to allow her to join them for this trip and like all of her other requests, he had been unable to refuse.
She caught his eye and waved, husband and wife waved back with broad smiles. Let the other families see the Martells were true to one another.
"You must be the judge Malak." The older man had said. "Who are we to follow, if any at all. The Targaryens are not dead, that much is proven, their heirs still alive and very much in power if the rumours of their Dragons are true." Rhaman had reached out with a battle scarred hand and gently tapped his sons leg. "Dorne must be her own again, you will tell me how we can do that."
Malak was still amazed his father had sent him on this trip but he was no fool either. Astera was with him and the old man would listen to her advice before his own of that he was glad. He had never quite gotten his head wrapped around intrigue and politics but she had taken it in stride and almost made a game of it.
"You look pensive husband." Her soft voice came from his right and he shook himself from his thoughts and turned, smiling fondly at her.
"I am. I was just thinking over my fathers words to me before we left. It is not easy task that we have here." The two were speaking Dornish, a language rare enough outside of Dorne but they kept their voices lowered anyway.
"No, it is not, but what a task. Look at this tournament. It is not often we have such grand events at home." She laughed when she saw the look on his face at the words and kissed him lightly. "I mean no offense my love. Dorne is home but it is wonderful to see some of the world from time to time is it not?"
He nodded. He loved Dorne. The rolling hills, the endless desert, the towering peaks and all of it with the sea ever at their backs. It was a land of great mystery, unimaginable luxury and heart wrenching poverty. It was home.
"Perhaps when we return home we can visit the new Water Palace, it should be finished by then." She said soothingly, seeing his brow furrow. The Water Palace was the new country home of the Dornish royal family. A massive fortress palace of brilliant white walls that nestles amidst the Water Gardens. It was an impressive place and a sign of the wealth of Dorne thanks to the peace that had held them in thrall for so long.
"That would be wonderful." He said with a smile. At that moment he caught sight of Lyla down by the edge of the ring. She was with a young woman he did not recognize but her two bodyguards were clos nearby so he did not fear for her safety. She had been the main reason he had agreed to this journey, her interest in everything on Essos had been fed by her Great Uncle Akaris. She had begged him to allow her to join them for this trip and like all of her other requests, he had been unable to refuse.
She caught his eye and waved, husband and wife waved back with broad smiles. Let the other families see the Martells were true to one another.