Darken Rahl in Game of Thrones

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***

Darken Rahl.

When I found out what Quentin and Rhys had pulled, I laughed for a long time.

I was amused by the audience's reaction after hearing what he said. Admittedly, I didn't immediately understand Alice's reaction. She got very thoughtful and withdrawn for most of the evening, and then started talking to Mellaria about something.

But perhaps the most amusing reaction was still that of my dear cousins. They realised, despite the wine intoxication, the full extent of my accomplishments and achievements. Not only them, though, but Doran Martell and my dear father also reflected seriously on what had been said.

Obara and Jon were able to ratchet up the tension to a more joyous level by starting the musicians and dancers.

Once again the songs and melodies I already knew were heard. Afterwards I went to my chambers, where I spent the rest of the night in the company of Alishara and Nyssa.

The morning was rather dull in some ways. Rhys was so drunk that he had to be carried away from the feast by John and the Red Spear. Miriam, on the other hand, had managed more than a dozen duels. We'll have to find out who she's dueled with and why.

Gendry Waters is also sleeping in the arms of some whore. Herold Dane.

Ser Herold, on the other hand, has been an active part of Oberyn's warm-up routine since this morning. My seven illegitimate sisters, Elaria, my father's squire, my mother, Mellaria with Doran and Ariana, Tristan, Quentin, and a few guards were watching.

I, on the other hand, crept between them under the cover of the Fire Chain spell. The magic concealed me completely, though I stood a metre away from my uncle.

- Ser Herold fights well. But his opponent is clearly uncomfortable for him. Different styles and different skills. However, they are both very experienced fighters. - Miriam has reached her verdict.

- Father will win! - declared little Elia.

- It is possible. - smiled at my little sister.

As soon as she said that, Oberyn managed to disarm Dane with a deft move and put the tip of the spear to his throat.

- Victory is yours this time, Prince. - Herold Dane smiled at him.

- Just like the last two times we met. It seems to be a pattern. - Oberyn smiled back at him.

- What "seems" does not always come true, Prince Oberyn. - I broke the spell and was amused by the reaction of the crowd that had just now seen me. Jon and Rhys had already noticed me first, as had my Mord-Sith, but for the others it was a surprise. Mum didn't show her consternation though, she knows how to keep a straight face.

- Can you sneak up on everyone like that? - he asked with a little excitement and even embarrassment.

- Almost. There's no such thing as perfection, no matter how much we wish there was. My magic doesn't focus on silent assassinations. For that, I have my men who are trained for it.

- I thought I promised you back in Panizharth I'd give you some lessons in spear fighting. Any Dornish can handle a spear as well as his cock.

- Does Obara have a cock?" and he looked at her pelvic area with a thoughtful look. - I didn't realise she had such 'manly' features.

A chuckle was heard from the younger snakes, to which Obara grudgingly tsked, threatening them with a look of all the possible punishments of this world.

- So you mean you don't want to stretch? - He didn't stop and let the Obara joke pass his ears.

- From what? It's about time I remembered some of the skills I learnt thanks to Miriam.

- Your "some skills" is a bit of a mouthful. - Scarlet grinned and closed her eyes. - You never became the warrior you could have been. Your path is still magic and politics. It was only by understanding that and accepting it that I let you go from my apprenticeship.

- Rahl is magic, we are steel. - Boros said succinctly as he stood beside me. - His Majesty doesn't need to personally use steel in battle as long as he has us. And we don't need to wield magic as long as we have him.

I threw off my spacious and long dressing gown and picked up the simple spear my father's squire had given me.

We got into fighting stances and watched each other for a few seconds, I was the first to attack.

Not much for spears, but I'll have to remember what I learnt.

Oberyn dodged my lunge rather quickly and counterattacked.

Oberyn lunged with his spear, but I took the blow on the sturdy shaft and lunged at him again. Father bounced back, unharmed, and his spear lunged forward at me again in response. I almost struck him with my spear, but Martell jerked the spear away and struck again from another position. The blade of the spearhead passed close to me, tearing my waistcoat a little and leaving a bright scratch on the top of my left breast.

The spear slid to my stomach, but there I was able to jump aside. Oberyn delivered another smooth stabbing blow with the spear, but missed.

The spear danced around me, and I dodged like a snake, flicking up and down. The prince missed; none of his blows could hurt me again. I joined the fight. He kept circling, lunging and bouncing back, forcing me to keep turning in his direction and repositioning my feet. It was annoying. I deliberately didn't use magic for my own enjoyment and skill testing, but he was crowding me.

Oberyn was making good use of both that, the length of his spear and his own agility. A true serpent. He's earned his nickname.

This went on for a very long time and started to irritate me even more. We circled the court and tried to hurt each other. But it didn't work. The odds were stacked against us.

Well, since I can't beat him fairly, I'll use magic and speed up like I did with Clegane. My father wasn't known for fair fights, either.

For a few seconds I was still doing my old speed, and then I started attacking and accelerating more often.

Within a minute, Oberyn was exhausted from my pace, and now I was slashing him with the spearhead and striking him in the legs with the shaft, causing him to fall to one knee, but quickly getting to his feet. And then he would also fall quickly.

Finally, I decided to end the circus, and with a powerful blow to the shaft, I chopped it from Oberyn's body and put the heated tip to his throat.

- You lose. - calmly, but still with a slight puff of breath, I told him.

- That's to be expected of Darken. - Mother was pleased with me.

- Congratulations, Darken. - Oberyn smiled at me. But looked unhappily at the stumps of his spear. - But, did you have to destroy my favourite spear?

- I promise you'll get a new one soon enough, and one as good as Obara's.

- Hmm. I'll be fine with that. - he nodded. It seemed that he wanted to say something else, but it didn't happen because another Mord-Sith had arrived.

- Master Rahl. You have a message from Panisheart.

Well, the talk with Father is postponed.

I walked under the concerned gazes of my kin to the girl with the Valyrian features and took the message. It was sent by Qyburn.

"The king is dead. Ned Stark has been arrested for treason. War breaks out in Westeros. Tywin is rallying the troops, the North and the Riverlands as well. Renly wants to wear the crown, and Stannis won't let go of "what is rightfully his." Baelish acts. Varys has let it be known that he's willing to co-operate. The Nightmare has returned from the Shadowlands with a gift, which may either make you happy or sad. Panisheart has new guests and opportunities. The dragons have spread their wings."

Yeah, I sense a lot is going to happen in the near future. Time to go home.

- Time to go home. - I turn to the Dornish. - I'm sorry to have to leave you because of important events.

- What happened? - Rhys asked, though he was probably guessing and playing a skit for the rest of us.

- Ned Stark has been arrested on suspicion of treason. A protracted war is about to break out in Westeros. Renly Baratheon wants to try the crown on his head, he is likely to be supported by the Tyrells, Stannis is also willing to "take his own". The North is gathering banners, the Riverlands and the West as well.

- War. Once more. - Doran Martell murmured thoughtfully. - Much blood will be shed and many houses will fall, regardless of the outcome of the war.

- You are not to be envied. - Rhys smiled at them, "Such a hard war will surely weigh on the minds of the Dornish no matter what. And the other sides will want to drag you into the war.

But no one answered his words, all were busy calculating possible futures.

- Nyssa, Red Spear, get ready to leave for the capital. There's someone waiting for us there.

They saluted and left.

- Father? - Oberyn woke from his sleep and stared at me in disbelief. - I hope we will have a chance to speak more privately in the future. Alas, I must sail now.- I'll be waiting.

In the evening we sailed from Sunspear to Panizhart, I used magic to speed up the ship and by lunchtime the next day we arrived in the capital.

We were met by Ocris, who wanted to report on the affairs of the Empire at once, but he was sidelined by Quibern, who reported some important information about the Seven Kingdoms and that someone who was "very important" was waiting for me in the Throne Room.

I listened to him in amazement and then headed with Rhys, Ocris, Nyssa, Boros, Belves and Mum to the Throne Room.

But as soon as I crossed the threshold of the hall, I felt something familiar in the magical background. But I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was.

And then I saw a boy sitting on my throne, wearing rather unkempt, tattered clothes. At first it made me angry. After all, I hadn't seen him before, and now this little boy was sitting on my throne and smiling at me. But then came the realisation that I had seen this face before: the violet eyes, the dark hair, the pallor of the skin, the shape of the lips, the nose, those cheeks....

I activated the magic search and was almost stunned by what I recognised.

- Impossible! - I exclaimed.

- Darken? - The mother grabbed my arm worriedly and stared at the boy, frowning.

And Rhys started laughing like a madman. Boros and Nissa and Okris just kept quiet, but collated some facts. And Mellaria and Belvas were probably the only ones who didn't understand what was going on.

- Perhaps-possibly father. - smiled the boy.

- Richard? - I asked him.

- Did you really recognise me, father? I'm so happy about our reunion. You won't even believe how much I want to tell you about what happened to me.....

To be continued...