Fffc Bingo Card - Open invitation

[m_findlow]

Title: Open invitation
Fandom: Game of Thrones
Characters: Ellaria Sand, Oberyn Martell
Author: m_findlow
Rating: M
Length: 500 words
Content notes: none
Author notes: Written for Bingo Card Prompt - Invitation at fffc
Summary: Ellaria has misgivings about their journey to King's Landing.

'Please reconsider, my love,' Oberyn beseeched his paramour. He reached out a hand to her elbow but Ellaria snatched it away from his grasp.

'How can you even think of going there? It is filthy and cold and the streets are filled with beggars and thieves. King's Landing is a shit pile.'

'It is indeed a shit pile,' Oberyn agreed, trying to appease her mood, 'but it is an invitation we cannot refuse.'

Ellaria snorted and folded her arms. 'Since when are you one to follow orders?'

'Doran would never make it to King's Landing, even by ship. The pain would be too much for him. He has asked that I go in his place to represent Sunspear.'

'You?' she teased. 'As far removed from any ambassador as I've ever met.'

'It is a royal wedding,' he replied, keeping his voice even. 'We must attend and observe the niceties.'

'Do not feed me such lies, Oberyn,' she sneered. 'You do not believe in the King any more than I do. Why else would your brother fashion and name himself prince? If he had any spine he would name himself a king and be done with it.'

'The title is old and not of his making. Please,' he begged her again. 'Come with me. I cannot bear to have you far from my side.'

Ellaria narrowed her eyes at him. He must have been desperate. 'They should beg us to come after what they did to us,' she spat. 'She was your sister, Oberyn,' she reminded him, 'and they butchered her and her children. I would not share a cup of wine with such murderous pigs.'

Oberyn flinched and she knew she'd struck a nerve. 'I loved Elia. So did my brother. And one day I will avenge her death.'

'By simpering to Lannisters at a wedding that solidifies their power,' she finished. 'All of Dorne will spit on us for bowing to them. Your brother is weak to yield to their request, and weaker still to make you go in his stead. It will be your shame.'

Oberyn grabbed her and pulled her close to him. 'I am the greatest warrior in all of Dorne. They will fear me in King's Landing. If the chance comes to reap the justice that is owed to us, I will take it. The Mountain is mine and no one else shall ever take him from me.'

'Then what do you need me for?'

He brushed his fingers through her hair. 'Because you are not only the most beautiful woman in all of Dorne, but of the entire Seven Kingdoms. I should like it very much to have them stare at the most beautiful couple and forget all about the King and his new Queen.'

Ellaria ran her fingers across his lips. 'We are very beautiful.'

'The whore houses of King's Landing shall be honored to have us as their guests,' Oberyn agreed. 'No one said anything about us having to stay at court.'