Chapter 282 - 282

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[STANNIS' CAMP; SHIREEN'S TENT]

[SHIREEN is reading one of her books. DAVOS enters.]

"What's this one now?"

"The Dance of Dragons: A True Telling by Grand Maester Munkun."

"You're really interested in Targaryen History, aren't you" Rhaegar commented with a smile.

"I lived in Dragonstone all my life... Hard not to be interested" Shireen shrugged with a small smile. Her attention though was still on her father, who looked terrified and gripped her tightly.

"Ser Byron Swann wanted to kill the dragon Vhagar. He polished his shield for a week, til the steel was like a mirror. Then he crouched behind it, and crept forward, hoping the dragon would only see his own reflection."

"But the dragon only saw a dumb man, holding a mirrored shield" Rhaegar whispered.

"But the dragon only saw a dumb man, holding a mirrored shield."

"And burnt him to a crisp."

[DAVOS and SHIREEN share a laugh.]

"Thus ending the dragon-slaying career of Ser Byron Swann. I made you something, Princess.'

[DAVOS hands her a stag carved out of wood.]

"Do you like it?"

"He's beautiful."

[SHIREEN kisses him on the cheek.]

"He's so good with her" Margaery said with a smile.

"Ser Davos is a good man," Shireen said with a smile.

"Will you make me a doe, too, so that he can have company?"

"Of course I will."

"But why am I getting a present?"

"Because you deserve it. My son was always on me trying to teach me to read. Gods, I was stubborn about it. Made it this far without reading, seemed to me I could make it to the grave. I wish I had listened to them. This is my own poor way of saying thank you for teaching me to be a grown-up."

Shireen's smile widened. Ser Davos was like an uncle to her, a caring and loving one rather than the two she had.

"I'll be gone for a few days, Princess. I'll want to hear all about the dance of dragons when I'm back."

"You'll just have to read it yourself."

[DAVOS kisses SHIREEN on her forehead then leaves. SHIREEN looks over the stag.]

[DORNE; PALACE]

[JAIME is escorted by AREO to DORAN'S room. JAIME bows to Doran in greeting and then greets his niece.]

"What a lovely dress."

"You don't like it?"

"It's a perfectly beautiful dress and you look perfectly beautiful in it" Elia commented with a smile.

Myrcella smiled back. She liked how she looked in the dress too.

"You must be cold."

"In that weather?" Tyrion raised a brow

"Clearly I'm making small talk to cut the tension" Jaime rolled his eyes.

"Not at all. The Dornish climate agrees with me."

"Prince Trystane. How's your jaw?"

"A fleabite."

"What are you doing in Dorne?"

"Saving Myrcella from you, you witch" Jaime hissed under his breath.

Tyrion patted his brother on the knee.

"Looking out for the safety of my niece, the princess Myrcella."

"And rather than send a raven or speak to me directly you decided to enter my country in secret and abduct our guest by force."

"We received a threatening message. The princess's necklace in the jaws of a viper."

"That necklace was stolen from my room!"

"Of course it was" Jaime muttered.

[DORAN looks at ELLARIA. A servant sets down food and drink before JAIME]

"Ah. Excellent. The last meal before the beheading."

"We don't do that without valid cause, Ser Jaime. I can assure you, I will not be beheading you anytime soon in that vision" Doran said.

Jaime only nodded, still unsure about the Dornish party. Elia he knew and could trust to be as she portrayed herself, Oberyn was brash and made sure everyone knew what was on his mind most of the time... But Doran was a man of little speech and men of little speech were always those Jaime trusted least. He didn't know what was going on in their minds.

"We can't behead you. Many in Dorne want war. But I've seen war. I've seen the bodies piled on the battlefields. I've seen the orphans starving in the cities. I don't want to lead my people into that hell."

Elia nods. Good, war was something they needed to avoid at all costs... For now at least.

"No, you want to break bread with the Lannisters."

"And that is precisely what we are doing. Let us drink to Tommen, the first of his name, the King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms."

[Everyone drinks. ELLARIA dumps her cup out on the floor and looks at DORAN.]

"She's going to be a problem," Doran said with a frown.

"She's grieving. She won't be the same once we return" Oberyn assured him.

"King Tommen insists on his sister's return to the capital?"

"I'm afraid he does."

"I cannot disobey my King's command. She will return with you to King's Landing. And my son, Prince Trystane, will accompany you both. If the alliance between Dorne and the Iron Throne is to continue, their engagement must stand."

"I accept."

"One more thing. My brother was named to the small council before his death. Your father understood the importance of keeping Dorne in the loop. With Oberyn gone, Trystane will take his place on the small council."

"You have my word."

"The word of a Kingslayer."

[ELLARIA gets up and walks to DORAN.]

"No wonder you can't stand. You have no spine."

Oberyn winced. Foolish woman...

[ELLARIA tries to leave the room. DORAN grabs her wrist.]

"You are the mother to four of my nieces, girls I love very much. For their sake, I hope you live a long life. Talk to me that way again and you won't."

"Perhaps it would be better if you clued her in on the plans you have, rather than threaten her when she's already against you" Elia whispered loud enough for just Oberyn and Doran to hear.

Doran frowned.

"She will not understand."

"Or she may understand better than you expected. And having an extra ally at your side never hurts."

Doran's frown turned thoughtful. It was certainly something to think about.

[BRAAVOS; RAGMAN HARBOR]

[ARYA pushes her oyster cart through the street.]

Ned and Catelyn both sat straighter.

"I'm selling oysters?" Arya asked in confusion.

"Maybe you failed their training and they kicked you out" Bran suggested.

Arya whacked him on the arm for it.

"If you are selling Oysters, then it is somehow part of your training," Oberyn said. "I heard stories of how they teach you to blend into the crowd, maybe this is that."

"Would make sense why you're selling Osters" Robb muttered.

"Better than being kicked out" Arya muttered.

[Two shady looking men approach her. They make a rude comment before laughing and walking away.]

"Bastards" Jon muttered angrily.

[ARYA looks down the street and sees the Thin Man, looking over another sailor's application. ARYA stops her cart, inspects the vial JAQEN gave to her, and tucks it back in her pouch. She starts pushing the cart again and makes eye contact with the Thin Man.]

"You're out to assassinate someone," Varys said with a smile. "Someone must have given a name to the many-faced god."

Both Ned and Catelyn did not look the least bit comforted by that statement. An assassin! Their girl!

[ARYA stares off into the distance.]

"Some oysters, girl! I'm talking to you! Girl?! Are you deaf? Girl?!"

[ARYA looks to the dock and sees MERYN TRANT and MACE TYRELL being helped off the boat. An Iron Banker approaches him and ARYA starts walking away from the Thin Man and towards them.]

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, young Lady Stark. The House of Black and White punishes failed missions severely."

"How do you know that?" Arya turned to the fat man.

Varys smiled without an answer.

[ARYA studies the group, focuses on MERYN, and begins following them with her cart. She follows them to the bank and waits on the steps of the building opposite the bank. A long time later the men start walking out of the Bank. ARYA is eating her Oysters.]

"It's not good to eat your own merchandise" Gendry clicked his tongue. "A good salesman leaves as much as he could sell."

"There's still enough to sell" Arya huffed.

[ARYA follows them in silence. MACE TYRELL has been left at the house he was renting for the duration of his stay while MERYN TRANT and his men walk away from the house. ARYA follows them in silence and pulls up to a doorway with her cart and sees the men entering a brothel.]

"Don't do anything stupid" Catelyn prayed under her breath.