Oberyn rode through the snow-covered lands of the North, his heart heavy with hope and apprehension. He had received a letter from his dear sister Elia that spoke of safety and warmth for her and her children in the halls of House Aurelius. As he approached the imposing walls of Frosthold Keep, he couldn't shake the doubt lingering in the back of his mind. Was this indeed a haven for his sister and her children, or was it a trap laid by enemies unknown?
As Oberyn was ushered into the great hall, he was greeted by the sight of Tharren, an imposing figure with a stoic face that spoke of years of wisdom and experience. By his side sat Lady Lilliana, a woman of grace and beauty, her sapphire blue eyes filled with kindness and understanding. But the young man standing slightly behind them caught Oberyn's attention - Aerian, the young Heir whose cunning had brought Elia and her children safely to the North.
Tharren welcomed Oberyn with a solemn nod, his voice resonating through the hall. "Prince Oberyn, we are honored by your presence. I trust your journey was uneventful?"
Oberyn returned the nod, his dark eyes scanning the room for his sister. "It was as smooth as could be expected in these lands, Lord Tharren. But I did not come here for pleasantries. I visited my sister and her children to ensure they are safe and well."
At his words, Elia entered the hall, her face a mix of relief and joy at the sight of her brother. Tears welled in her eyes as she rushed into Oberyn's arms, embracing him fiercely. "Oberyn, you came," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
Oberyn held her close, a wave of relief washing over him as he felt his sister's warmth against him. "I promised I would, Elia. I promised."
After a heartfelt reunion, Oberyn turned to Aerian, the young man who had planned everything to take his sister and her children out of danger and to safety, where he had the chance to see them again. "Aerian, I owe you a debt that I cannot repay. You are my gratitude for ensuring my sister's and her children's safety."
Adrian bowed his head respectfully. "It was my honor, Prince Oberyn. We were just in the right position to rescue the princesses and prince unnoticed."
Oberyn's nodded his head with gratitude as he turned to Tharren. "Lord Tharren, your Son and House has done the Martells and Dorne a great favor this time by saving my beloved sister, niece, and nephew. I read in the letter sent by my sister that House Aurelius will be looking to have talks of an alliance between our houses and a potential trade business with Dorne shortly. My brother has given me the power to negotiate on behalf of our family and Dorne, so I shall hope to be a guest in your home until we can agree on those matters."
Tharren nodded thoughtfully, his gaze meeting Oberyn's. "Yes, that is indeed the case, and you are more than welcome to stay here in our home while the negotiations are ongoing. We shall talk in the morning, as I am sure that you are tired from the long journey and would also like to spend time with your family after not seeing them for so long."
"Thank you, Lord Tharren. Indeed, after so long a time has passed, I would like to spend some time with my sister and the children," Oberyn said with a smile.
"Then let's end things here for the night and meet in the morning in my solar," Tharren said, rising from his seat and walking down the steps to stand in front of Oberyn. The two met eye to eye as they extended their hands, clasping them in a handshake, showing respect for each other.
Everyone then dispersed to do their activities, with Oberyn following his sister to the room where she was staying. Opening the door, what came into his site was his niece playing with her toys happily on the floor and his nephew asleep in his crib at the side of the bed. Seeing this, he couldn't help but smile and be thankful that the young Aerian had decided to save his family from the horrible fate awaiting them.
Hearing the door open and people enter, Rhaenys, playing with her toys, looked up to see her mother and a man walking into the room. Looking at the man, her eyes widened as she got up and ran into his arms at full speed, "Uncle."
Seeing the little bundle of joy barreling towards him, Oberyn crouched down and scooped her into his arms, embracing her tightly. "Nice to see you again, my little princess," he said, kissing her cheek and letting her back down afterward. "I hope you have been behaving well for your mother."
"I am uncle, right, mama?" she said, grabbing onto her mother's dress and smiling up at her.
"Yes, my little princess, you have been a good girl." Elia smiled playfully, pinching her little nose.
Sitting down on the bed, Oberyn looked over to his sister and said, "So, sister, tell me how you have been and about the members of the Aurelius House."
As the night went by, the brother and sister sat and talked about all the things that happened from the time they were rescued from Kings Landing to the time they spent here in Frosthold and how nice they were treated here. Oberyn was happy that his sister was safe and sound and treated with care here, which gave him a much favorable impression of House Aurelius.
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The following day, after everyone sat and broke their fast, Tharren, Oberyn, and Aerian met in Tharren's solar to begin discussing the alliance between their houses and future trade agreements. Tharren sat behind his desk, Aerian stood at his side, and Oberyn sat across from them.
"Prince Oberyn, I hope that everything was to your liking last night and that you rested well," Tharren said in greeting.
"Yes, thank you, Lord Tharren. The beds were quite comfortable. I am just sorry that I couldn't bring my paramour with me on this journey. I am sure she would have loved it." Oberyn said with some regret on his face at his paramour's absence.
"That is good to hear. If things go well between our houses, you can take another trip up here so that she can have the chance to experience the North and its beauty."
Oberyn crossed his legs. "That would be great, and I am sure she would love it up here. Now, shall we move on to the important matters at hand?"
"Yes, we shall. I will let my son explain the matters on the trade business first before we get to the other matters," Tharren said, gesturing for his son to speak.
Aerian stepped forward and explained their plans to begin trading new alcohols and an item called soap, which Elia showed Oberyn last night as Aerian had given her one to try out as an experiment. Adrian explained the need for Dorne to help build some ships and to let them run their trade business from Dorne until they could carve a pathway through the back mountain to the shoreline on the other side. Oberyne, listening to the plans, didn't find them too excessive, and if the products sold well like they thought the soap definitely would, then it would bring a lot more traders to Dorne, which means more gold.
After explaining his plans, Aerian had a servant bring a box of soap plus a bottle of the newly made vodka for Oberyn to try. Seeing the box of soap and the bottle of alcohol that he had never seen, Oberyn poured himself a glass before tasting the contents. He was surprised at the taste and how strong it was, with the burning sensation going down his throat into his stomach.
"This is amazing; a few glasses of this would have men drunker than any ale or wine could." Oberyn praised sincerely.
"I'm glad you think so, Prince Oberyn, as this is only one of four new alcoholic drinks we plan to introduce to the realm," Adrian said with a smile.
"Amazing; if the others are as good as this, then along with the soap, your trade business would explode with the nobles buying in quantities for their parties and tourneys." Oberyn was excited to see the potential popularity of these products and the success they would bring.
And so, as the snow continued to fall outside, Oberyn, Tharren, and Aerian sat down to negotiate the terms of the trade agreements and the building of the ships. They ended with talks of the new alliance, one forged in good faith, with the hope of a brighter future for both Dorne and the North.
The negotiations were intense, with both parties laying out their conditions and expectations for the alliance. Oberyn was a skilled diplomat; his sharp mind and quick wit were valuable assets in the discussions. Tharren, on the other hand, was a seasoned strategist, and his years of experience guided him in navigating the intricacies of the negotiations.
As the talks progressed, it became clear that House Martell and House Aurelius had much to offer each other. Dorne's exotic goods and strategic location made it a valuable partner for the North, while House Aurelius's resources and military prowess could prove invaluable assets for Dorne.
After hours of deliberation, a tentative agreement was reached. Trade routes would be established between Dorne and the North, allowing for exchanging goods and resources that would benefit both regions. Military alliances would also be formed, with each house pledging to help the other in times of need.
With the terms agreed upon, Oberyn turned to Aerian, a look of gratitude in his eyes. " Once again, you have done great service to my family, Aerian. House Martell will not forget the kindness you have shown us."
Aerian smiled humbly, his eyes shining with pride. "It was the least I could do, Prince Oberyn. Your sister and her children are safe now, and that is all that matters."
As the negotiations ended, Oberyn couldn't help but say, "You know my brother has a Daughter about the same age as Aerian. A potential match between the two can be the spark to cement this alliance for future generations."
That statement stunned both the father and son as they were not expecting the sudden topic of marriage proposals. "I think that is something we will have to discuss on a letter date, Prince Oberyn."
"Don't worry, Lord Tharren. I was just making an observation that may be helpful in the future," Oberyn said while rising from his seat and giving a respectful nod to Tharren. After that, he proceeded to walk out of the solar to go see his sister and tell her the results of the negotiations.