9

My eyes were dried from crying and soon I felt I was floating away. I needed water and I drank as much as I could before just sitting on the end of my bed thinking of this horrible deal, horrible proposal. How could I escape this? There was no way I could speak to King Robert. I didn't know him and he would have no reason to listen to me. It was like I was in a dream, a very bad dream that I could never awake from. There was a light knock on the door and I didn't even respond. I was sure it was my father and I didn't want to speak to him at the moment. But if it were Prince Doran I could not deny him entry.

"Come." I said just loud enough for anyone to hear me on the other end of the door. It slowly opened and I glanced up to see a face that brought even more sadness to me. I whimpered and stood up swiftly running over to Oberyn after he closed the door. He embraced me hard and I just held him close.

"Tell me this is not true." I whispered as I melted into his chest.

"It would bring me nothing but joy to tell you this my love. But sadly, this is a nightmare we are both stuck in." he said and pulled back to look down at me. The pain in his eyes resembled my own and I just whimpered some as I pulled back and turned from him.

"Gregor Clegane… a monster in disguise of a soldier." I said walking around in the room.

"He cannot hurt you. He will not." Oberyn stated and I turned to him sharply.

"You cannot promise this, you cannot promise me anything!" I said loudly and he approached me.

"If he does hurt you, then that will break the treaty between Dorne and Kings Landing. I know Robert Baratheon will keep his dog under control." he said and I scowled and looked away.

"Of course. And while he behaves he will be permitted to mount me and do what he wishes in the meantime." I said and a heavy frown played across his face.

"I will not allow him to put a child inside you." he said bitterly before reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a small white vile. I knew what it was. Elm's wood, a serum that stops fertility. "If you drink this then you will not have his children." I looked at it now thinking it should have brought me relief, but instead it brought me more anger.

"Drinking this could have horrible effects not just stopping my fertility." I said turning from him. I felt him grab my arm and turn me back to him. "Then take the strangler or tears of lys."

"Oberyn stop it!" I demanded ripping my arm from his hold and he looked at me stunned, almost confused at how I could refuse the thoughts of poisoning my betrothed. I shook my head. "I know you are hurting far more than I. But speaking like this, is dangerous. We are surrounded by spies and this could be seen as some sort of plot."

"It is a plot." he stated and I shook my head feeling as though there was nothing to be said or done about what has happened.

"I am a lady of Dorne, a servant of Sunspear and Prince Doran. I don't have a choice." I said weakly and he winced and shook his head.

"I won't accept this." he said and I shook my head.

"It doesn't matter if you accept this or not… it doesn't matter if I accept this or not. In a year's time I will be married off to him. But at least I have a year to spend time with my loved ones until it I can longer come back." I said weakly and with each word spoken, I could see his eyes glazing over with pain and sadness. He walked up to me and grabbed my face pulling me into him, our lips smashing against each other. As usual I feel completely dominated by the mere feel of his lips and I gently hold on to his wrists as I respond.

"I will not stop until I find a way to get you out of this. Doran says if another Martell can take your place then he will consider marrying them to The Mountain." he said heatedly against my lips and I winced.

"What dornishman would give their daughter willingly to a man from King's Landing, let alone to Clegane?" I said and he gave a shuddered breath.

"I will find a way." he said and I shook my head. To give one our maidens to this man would be a fate worse than death.

"You cannot sacrifice them to such a fate." I said softly. I watched as tears streamed down his face as he shook his head at me. I had never seen him cry before. I have only imagined him crying over Elia's death.

"I will not let my brother sacrifice you to such a fate." he said. I felt my eyes watering now as I looked down taking his hands in mine and bringing them to my lips and gently pressing my lips to his knuckles. There was nothing else to say about it. This was not about me or him. It's about forming alliances for Dorne. I was chosen for this and so I could not and would not let Doran down.

"It has been decided. There is nothing else to say about it." I said finally looking up at him. He just stared with pained eyes. There was another knock on the door and it opened to Murron. She remained in the doorway.

"Milady, I have been instructed to… bring you to Sir Clegane." she said carefully and Oberyn's eyes were filled with rage at the sentence and I held his arms hard keeping his body from moving from mine. I was sure he would want to come along as well so he could most likely kill Gregor.

"I will be allowed to leave with you all. Do nothing that will cause me to have to stay here permanently." I said swiftly and he just frowned at the girl before looking at me and I could tell he was fighting his instincts still but he nodded and I did the same and turned and moved over to the door and followed Murron into the hall. I was not properly dressed to the standards of the people here. I was in my panties and under garment that wrapped around my chest with a silk robe that sparkled in the sunlight. My hair was not braided or pinned up, but down letting my curls flow heavily. Murron was trying her hardest not to glance back. Soldiers and noblemen and women stared at me as I passed them, whispering harshly as they passed.

But I did not care. I did not care what any of them thought of me. I would dress comfortably as I would if I was in my own homeland. As we walked a small boy ran across the hall wielding a wooden sword. He was laughing and poking at Murron and I. Murron quickly bowed her head and I did so as well. Soon the boy ran off laughing wickedly almost. I looked at Murron and she cleared her throat.

"That is Prince Joffrey." she replied and kept walking. She didn't seem too happy the boy came around. I had almost forgotten the king and queen had a child. Now I winced with disdain. To think I'd have to give The Mountain children. I shivered at the thought. I wondered how people here in King's Landing courted each other. I guess the common folk had the time to talk and get to know each other before deciding if they wanted to marry. In Dorne when there were arranged marriages for the common people, the two were allowed to talk and get to know each other. Even though outcome would still be marriage, they at least got to spend time together and know one another. For royalty the two had a few days to know each other. But here, it would be one day of meeting and then that was it.

Maybe I should count myself lucky that I get a year to know him. As we exited through a hall, I could see a small garden coming into view and I squinted as the sun hit my face. There were soldiers against the wall and I took note of the small venue we were at. Flowers bloomed all over even close to the ground that led to a fountain. Murron led me over to it and then turned to her right down another side of the area and I immediately saw the large man at the end of the garden. He was in large grey robes and his back was to me at the moment. I was growing more fearful as we grew closer to him. What was I to say, what was I to do? Murron finally stopped and curtsied.

"Lady Isolda Hotah of Sunspear." she announced before turning and quickly speeding away. The large man finally turned and I now had a full view of him. How his arms and legs fit into his clothing were beyond me. His eyes were hard as he looked down at me. That gaze alone scared me and at the moment I wish I wasn't in his sights right now. My stomach was forming knots as he approached, but he didn't past the small table that had bread and cheese on it. That's a bad joke if it was meant for us. I guess it was expected for me to meet him the rest of the way. I took small steps toward him, watching as he eyes took in my form. Now I felt like a complete fool to not be so dressed. Once I was close enough I gave a respectful bow.

"Sir Clegane." I said softly, my voice dry and cracking now. I looked at his boots. His feet were huge. I watched them turn and move around me. I expected he was just going to walk away, but I listened to the sound his feet made as the circled around me. I lifted my head just a bit watching as he circled me a few times. I felt his fingers in my hair feeling them. I felt his hand move across my bottom lightly. His palm was hard and strong. I guess he was making sure I was suitable. I wondered what would happen if he didn't like me. He only circled me once before he stop right in front of me, closer than he was before. I let in a exhale as I felt his hand grip my chin. Even his fingers were as firm as steel. He made me look up at him and I just stared at him for a moment as he continued t look over my face.

"Never betray me and this marriage may work." he said with command I felt my body shivering at his words. He released me and walked around me now and I just remained in place as he left me standing there. I let out a few even breaths finally feeling relief that he was no longer so close to me. I closed my eyes and looked down wondering what all his definitions of betrayal could have been. Was he a man of many words? Probably not. Would I be walking sharp swords? Absolutely.