3rd Month of 289 A.C. Red Keep
Lady Ellaria Sand
Dark Wings, Dark Words that was the saying whenever a raven came. And the raven that had come from Tyrosh had brought more than just dark words, it had brought her whole world shattering down around her. Oberyn, her love, her soul, her very self was gone, dead, poisoned, and she knew not what to do. She had received the word from Lord Rickard, the Lord Regent and her grief and anger had been all consuming, she had not known what to do. The hardest part had been telling their Sand Snakes- for though Obara, Nymeria, Tyene and Sarella were not her blood they were as good as her daughters- that their father was dead. The girls had had varying reactions, Obara had sworn a bloody vengeance, as had Nymeria, whilst Tyene had remained silent and peaceful, Sarella and Elia had cried fitfully, though Ellaria was not sure just how much they understood of it all.
In the midst of it all, had been her own grief and anger. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. She had her own suspects as to whom could have had her beloved Oberyn poisoned and top of that list was the smirking lion who sat as hand of the king. She had been preparing to make moves against him when word had come from Sunspear. Her love's brother Prince Doran urged caution and had asked that some of the girls return to the Water Gardens for their safety. Doran had all but said that he did not truly believe Tywin Lannister powerful enough to have Oberyn killed away from Westeros, and that it was necessary for her to find out more before they acted. She listened to his advice albeit reluctantly.
Ellaria was willing to allow caution but as for allowing the girls to return to Dorne now in winter, she had refused that and was now speaking to them, well the three eldest girls about what their plans were. As always with her sandsnakes there was some debate and discussion. "Patience is what Prince Doran has advised girls, and it is patience that we must have. Right now things are too tense, one wrong move and everything shall go wrong."
"So we are just supposed to sit down and twiddle our thumbs whilst Tywin Lannister gets to roam around King's Landing knowing our father is dead? I think not. He has drawn first blood, it is time we bloodied him and his golden children as well." Obara fumed.
"And where pray tell, is the absolute proof that Tywin Lannister did this deed Obara?" Ellaria said. "Yes, Martells and Lannisters have not been the best of friends since Elia and her children died. But to kill Prince Oberyn in such a manner would no doubt draw attention and suspicion to him, and despite what we might think, Tywin Lannister is not a complete fool."
"So he will get away with it then? Even though we all know he did it!" Obara fumed. "The proof is in the fact that the man waited until father was away from Westeros to kill him."
"Father did always say that if a man knows you are his enemy he will wait until you least expect it to have you removed. And this is what Tywin Lannister has done." Nymeria, always the most perceptive of their Sandsnakes says.
Ellaria sighs. "And then when the man lies dead before you what would you do? All eyes and suspicion would be brought before us then, and the blame would fall squarely at our feet rightly. We cannot afford to draw too much attention to ourselves right now."
"So we are to just sit back and allow things to go as they would normally? I had never thought you were like uncle Doran, Ellaria. I thought you had fire and drive." Obara said.
Ellaria is somewhat stung by the accusation she sees in Obara's eyes and she reminds herself that the girl has lost her father before responding. "Your uncle has been planning things since the day he learnt of Elia's death in the sack of King's Landing. Oberyn's death has only spurred him onto furthering his plans. But I would not have asked to remain here if I had not thought we could do somethings of use."
At this Obara's eyes widen and she asks her voice soft. "What sort of plans do you have?"
"We must gather information and learn what we can about what happened in Tyrosh. Already I have begun looking through your father's notes and reports to see if there is any clue there. Whilst we cannot completely rule out Tywin Lannister, it would be foolish to go after him now. Wait until things have simmered down somewhat, and then when the time is right attack." Ellaria responded.
"What are your plans?" Obara asks again.
Ellaria sighs and says. "You are a warrior Obara, and it is in that skill I need you. You are going to serve as our guard, along with the other men part of your father's guard here. But you shall be the main eyes and ears that I rely on. Gather information you can from the sparring yard and report back. Fight and injure those whom Lannister relies on to inforce himself in King's Landing." Obara nods seemingly pleased. Ellaria looks at Nymeria then. "Nym, I want you with me when I go about the court, charm those who you do not know particularly that Tyrell woman it will be important to have her on side. Sooner or later she will be needed and I suspect you will be more to her tastes." Nymeria nods and then Ellaria looks at Tyene and sighs. "I need you in the Sept of Baelor Tyene. The Faith would be more than willing to have you with them, you will be my ears in the faith, use your skills to charm them my dear." The thirteen year old Tyene nods.
"And when will you decide what to do about Tywin Lannister mother?" Tyene asks sweetly.
Ellaria looks at the girl and considers her answer. "Sooner or later the man will slip up, and when he does we shall be there to make sure he never gets back up." The girls nod appreciatively at this and then Ellaria calls for Ser Mors Sand to stand guard alongside Oberyn's former squire Daemon Sand, the lad who had just come back from Tyrosh. She moves from their rooms and walks towards the Lord Regent's Solar, she knocks once and then enters.
The Lord Regent is sat at his desk looking over some letter or the other in the dim candle light, but stops when she enters, he stands and says. "Ah Lady Ellaria, thank you for coming. Please take a seat." When they are both seated, there is a brief silence before the man asks. "Have you given much thought to what I said my lady?"
That the man has not bothered with needless condolences makes her think even more highly of him than she did when Oberyn was still alive. "I have indeed thought about it my lord regent. And I am more than happy to accept the position of mistress of whispers, on one condition."
"And what would that be?" the lord regent asks.
"That when the time comes, you do not stand in the way of justice." She responds.
The lord regent looks at her for a long time, and in the silence Ellaria wonders what this man is thinking. Eventually he sighs and says. "So long as you make it as discrete as possible I have no problems." Ellaria nods and then the man asks. "Now what information have you gathered so far?"
"According to Oberyn's notes it seems he had tracked the magister as far as Tyrosh, but had lost his trail from there." Ellaria responds.
The Lord Regent nods. "That would explain his willingness to go to Tyrosh. What more have you been able to deduce?"
Ellaria thinks for a moment and then says. "There is a connection between the Magister and Rohanne of Tyrosh that much was made clear by some of Oberyn's findings. What the connection was I am not sure, but it is there, and that was why the man was in Tyrosh."
The Lord Regent grumbles then. "That damned woman's name always keep appearing. How many pies did she have her fingers in?"
"It would appear to be quite a few my lord regent. She had a lot of children both before and after the rebellion. And now they are coming back to haunt us." Ellaria said.
The man nods. "It would appear so. Is there anything more you have discovered on this issue?
Ellaria considers this a moment and then says. "Nothing that could of use at this present time my lord regent." The man nods and then Ellaria asks a question she has wanted to for some time. "My lord regent, if you do not mind me asking, why did you name me mistress of whispers?"
The man looks at her a long time before he speaks, and when he does his voice is slow and considerate. "Because you have proven to be a valuable ally my lady. Prince Oberyn often remarked on how it was due to you that he knew so much about what was happening in the Red Keep. I wish to use your services for the good of the kingdom and to ensure the King can live until he is old and grey. That we have a mutual enemy also helps."
Ellaria nods. "But will this not bring issue to the other members of the council? After all we both know how Maegor Targaryen's council members reacted to his appointment of Tyanna of Pentos, to the post. And Tywin Lannister is not a man to suffer women lightly."
Stark looks bemused at that. "Ah but you are not Tyanna of Pentos and I am not Maegor the Cruel. Tywin Lannister is Hand that is true, but he does not have as much power as he would like, and your appointment to the council means his power is further reduced. He will not like it, but with the other members of the council having supported my decision he cannot do anything that would further jeopardize his position. You are safe my lady."
Ellaria nods then. A silence follows for some time afterward as they both consider the direction they are going in now. Eventually Ellaria speaks once more. "There is one more thing my lord, what do you intend to do about the issues with the Faith? That was the one thing Oberyn and I were both intrigued about."
"And why is that my lady?" the regent asks.
Ellaria smiles. "Because the Faith have been trying most desperately to get us to appeal to you regarding the king's education, they fear that you are trying to remove them from their place at the left hand of the King's Court. And I want to know what you wish for my role to be in that struggle?"
"Prince Oberyn had a daughter by a Septa did he not?" the regent asks.
"He did indeed, Tyene is her name. Why ever do you ask?" Ellaria asks, though she suspects she knows where the man is going with this.
"I have a source within the Faith that has told me that the High Septon is looking to wield considerably more power over the smallfolk and the lesser nobility than he currently does. I need someone who has the wiles and the charm to undermine the man whilst also working alongside him. Whom better than a daughter of the Red Viper himself?" the regent states.
Ellaria looks at the man before her, and sees just how determined the man is to ensure that his grandson controls everything when he comes to maturity. She is silent a moment before responding. "I believe such a thing could be done, and would suit both our needs. I shall speak with Tyene and see how she feels about seeing her aunt once more."