FIVE MONTHS LATER

It's been 5 moons since what is now know as the red wedding, the realm seems at peace now, at least from a distance.

Victoria sits on the bench near her parents graves, her breaths are deep and the sounds of the waves accompany her intakes. Her eyes are closed as she takes in the cool breeze passing and Greywind's deep breathing is slowly putting her to sleep, she hasn't been able to do much of it since nearing the end of her pregnancy. Both hands pressed lightly over her belly she feels at peace, serene to the circumstances around her, something still not accustom.

"You're awake early, your Lady Elaine will grow weary of where you are when she wakes up."

Oberyn Martell appears, she'd heard him walking up from a distance, he'd been kicking dead leaves around the graveyard while he approached. She knew her uncle could be as silent as the night, and yet out of respect for her he always gently announced his presence rather then surprise. It was what most people did now for her, since escaping the twins she had been on edge for a long time, often she couldn't sleep alone at first, but now it had lessened.

"I'm sure my guards have alerted Lord Monterroso to my location," she softly stated and her eyes trailed over to the pair of guards a distance away, they didn't ever leave her side, not even when she slept. Round the clock someone would be there, ready to defend her, it was a promise her Uncle Doran had made her and entrusted Lord Monterroso to execute. "He's like a hawk, refuses to let me so much as walk the gardens."

Oberyn laughed softly, taking a seat on the bench across and admiring his beautiful niece. She looked so much like his cousin, Amara, but with her growing belly and the trouble look on her face she appeared like Elia. He decided not to voice his thoughts, after all she had survived what most Dornish royalty didn't, the Lannisters. "The maesters expect you to go into labor at any moment, you shouldn't have even gone on this walk."

Victoria laughed softly, "uncle, you know that the women of our family rarely listen to the word no."

He nodded in agreement, "oh I know quite well."

"I can't sleep," she murmured softly after a moment of silence. "Every night I see Robb's body propped up, that wolf they killed for him. Did you know they still say they killed the king in the north and his dog? Did you hear how they threw his body in a river alongside his mothers? How they slit her throat to the bone? How they murdered his wife by stabbing her in her pregnant belly?"

He nodded his head, "my spies tell me, Lord Frey, was more upset you killed his own sons then the idea of them attacking you. You fought back well, they said he bled out for quite some time."

"I had too," she mentioned and rubbed her belly. "I needed to, Robb begged me of it."

"It's funny," Oberyn adjusted in his seat and grew more comfortable, "when you talk about him to most you speak with such anger, there's so much animosity there it's almost as if you're glad he's dead." Victoria looked up, meeting his eyes, she gulped as he spoke. "And yet when you speak of his death, of these fleeting moments you two had I see it, this sparkle in your eyes it's all I can see. You loved him, and it was so strong you still love him."

His words carried in the air, and as if Robb could hear a gust of wind gently pulled a piece of Victoria hair and caressed her lips. She pulled it back, swallowing thickly from crying and said for the first time in forever, "he was my great love uncle, my great love and my great tragedy."

Oberyn smiled fondly, "you sound like your Aunt Elia. She said the very same thing to me in red keep one day, when Rheagar was beginning to drift. And I begged her to come back to Dorne everyday after that, it's like only one of you listened."

Victoria nodded, "and here you are, going to the red keep with Amina, while it's still under a Lannister's rule."

"We must start the attack, Victoria, we've talked about this." He sighed.

"Uncle, leading yourself into the lions den is not a plan, it's a suicide mission. I've seen them at war, I know they would do whatever necessary to win. They don't care who it hurts or how many babies they murder. They murdered my child and both my childrens grandfathers within the same night. They show no mercy. At least wait until I've given birth, give me a chance to help." She pleaded.

"No," Oberyn shook his head, "my love, you must tend to your children for now. They may rule Westeros one day if we play our cards right."

"They can't," she refused. "And you can't stop me."

"Lord Monterroso can," he retorted. "And so can Doran, even Obara, you will not jeopardize yourself whilst in this condition. I'm sorry Victoria, but you will not be like my sister." He had never spoken so harshly to her, in truth her uncle often let his daughters do as they wish but this seemed like familiar territory for him, of which the ending had never been good.

She was at a loss for words the longer they stared at one another, the red viper and the panther, deadly and yet sympathetic for one another tragedies. From beside her Greywind huffed, as if in agreement with her uncle.

Oberyn broke their long pause by looking at the beast, "I am not the only one in agreement, it appears your direwolf approves."

Victoria looked down at Greywind, ruffling his feathers. "Perhaps you're right uncle, but it is not right. None of what my children have endured before their birth is, none of what my cousins endured before their death is. The Lannisters spend years riding on the misfortune of others because of god fortune and luck. You need to be careful and wise, Robb thought he had them, he was within distance of taking Casterly Rock and now look."

Oberyn Martell stood, holding his hand out he helped her stand, and the two began walking back to Valiente castle. Victoria wondered if the silence was her uncle thinking about everything she'd just said or if it was all just a plot to get her home. "You know the maesters say today is the last warm day for Dorne, after this temperatures decrease slowly until winter arrives."

Victoria wondered what his sudden change in conversation meant but decided it best to just go along. "I know, which is why I want to walk. I feel faint pains throughout the night, I'm hoping it means these children will come today, I'd like them to know at least one hot Dornish day."

"I walked these same paths with your mother right before you came into this world," he remarked. "I never wanted her here, I never wanted her so far from home and her offspring somehow ended up so far north but you came back, and now you are here awaiting labor. How peculiar the way things go."

Victoria nodded, "indeed, it seems like no matter what I did it all led me back here."

"Yes, I felt the same way. I traveled so far, met so many beautiful places I could've called home and yet I always returned, nothing was ever truly like this place." He agreed. "Perhaps it is because we were always meant to be here, to rule here. Doran May sit on the throne of Dorne and make the decision but it is us that the people also look to for direction. And your people see a fierce warrior in you, I've heard it, the one who lived. You must protect it, you must protect your babes and keep them safe."

"What are you saying uncle?" Victoria finally inquired.

He stopped, mulling over the words in his head and finally spoke, "I've received word they may know you're with child. A Stark heir is not good for them."

"My children are not Stark's nor will they ever be named as such," she responded, "they will be Valientes before they are anything else. Uncle Doran has agreed, that cannot be changed."

"Even so, my love, they have Stark blood in their vein and winter is coming. They will be legitimate heirs, they can claim if all and..." he trailed and pulled a scroll from his pocket, lifting it to her she saw the sigil marked. She saw the royal bindings of the hand.

She didn't reach for it, dead striking her. "What does it say?"

"Tywin has personally invited you to the wedding of King Joffrey and Margary Tyrell. He claims to want to apologize for the Frey's behavior and ensure you know none of what happened was ever meant to game you." He noted, "it seems innocent enough but—"

"It's a trap," she retorted. "He wants to see me for himself, to know if I am with child or not. If I am, he will have me killed, and if I am not he will offer me a husband, likely someone of his lineage, either way it's a death sentence."

Oberyn nodded in agreement, "which is why you must stay here."

Victoria paused, she felt fear and anger racing through her veins. Every ounce of her being wanted to scream again, she felt useless stuck in this state.

"Victoria? Are you alright?" Oberyn questioned, stepping closer.

She hadn't realize she'd held her breath, exhaling her lungs felt like solid flames as she soaked in fresh air and suddenly a scorching pain went through her lower body. It was like something released, hot liquid soaking her inner thighs and dripping down her legs she looked up in panic.

"Uncle?" She muttered as he jumped forward to hold her weight.

Pain suddenly descended upon her, she heard her uncle yell out, "Guards! Get the Maester! She's going into labor."

One of the guards ran off, back to the castle as another approached and helped the Prince. Together they took most of Victoria weight and began carrying her off to the castle, she groaned as the pains lessened and sucked in cold air. Her uncle laughed slowly, "you'll be getting your wish my niece, the last children of summer."

|•|•|•|•|

It was a brutal 5 hours the lady of Valiente castle endured, in that time she screamed loud enough the Lannisters might have heard. Her Uncle Oberyn held her hand throughout it all and never left her side, Greywind stood by the bed as guard and watched carefully at everyone who came inside. Elaine was there as well, tirelessly helping the maesters and speaking for the Lady when she couldn't herself. The guards and most of Dorne held their breath as the hours ticked by. Outside she heard the brief murmurs of her guards and Amina who paced the walls of her room and spouted to the maesters and midwives to aide.

The maesters worked around the day to help, but Victoria was as valiant as her name and in the end she held two beautiful babes just as the sun began to set.

The warmth from the suns rays kissed her bare skin, both children nursed from her breasts. She couldn't stop staring at them, nor had she allowed for them to leave her side.

"You're very tired," Elaine commented as she came into the room and set a tray down. Everyone had left the room and allowed Lady Valiente her space as a new mother.

"Not anymore, it's like looking at them has breathed life into me," she said softly as her children slept. A beautiful baby boy and girl, they had barely cried when they'd arrived to this world and Victoria felt like she already knew them the second she saw.

"Do they look like your dream?" Elaine asked softly, her elbows touched the soft linens of the bed to get a closer look.

"It's hard to tell now, but it feels like they do." Victoria stated, the girl unlatched herself, she yawned softly, rosebud lips peaking up. Elaine softly cooed at the baby and Victoria looked up. "Would you like to hold one?"

Elaine felt her blue eyes light up, suddenly she felt her throat full and she only nodded. Victoria carefully extended her arm and Elaine held the little girl.

She was so tiny and beautiful. Her lips were full and the colors of roses in full bloom, her skin had a faint tan to it that contrasted with the paleness that Starks were known for. She looked so restful, like nothing had bothered her in the 9 months it had taken to come into the world.

"I can't believe they're here," Elaine remarked softly. She felt tears spring to her eyes as the last months passed over her, so much time has been spent fighting for their well being and now they were here, peacefully sleeping.

Victoria played with her sons tiny hand, his grasp was on her index finger and she lifted it as he nursed. A smile came to her lips, "yes. It's strange isn't it? All that arguing? The blood that was shed, all of it for this moment."

Elaine could stop staring, she felt transfixed, "Lord Monterroso has already asked if I would want some of my own, can you believe it?"

Victoria laughed softly, looking her best friend in the eyes, "well at least you went about it better then I did, you're already married."

Elaine smiled, they'd wed a month after arriving in Dorne. Lord Monterroso two boys from his first marriage had welcomed her with open arms and the new family has gotten along quite well, she'd even been the one to ask about a simple ceremony. Her Lord husband has been quite relieved and they'd married soon after, as a gift Victoria had given them lands to the east, near enough so they could see one another constantly but far enough so they would be able to rule over their own people.

"This, I want this but not until we are all safe." Elaine commented, "I want to see a world without the Lannisters."

"Yes, so do I," Victoria commented. "And I promise that, we just need to enjoy our little victories for now."

"Have you given them a name?" Elaine wondered. "We never talked about it before but now it seems important."

"Actually," Victoria took a deep breath, "I've been contemplating the names. She looked at the baby boy in her arms, the child slept so soundly she wished not to disturb him but she softly said, "Aleksander?"

The baby boy moved, tucking deeper into his mothers side and she knew.

Elaine smiles, "Aleksander, it means warrior of his people."

"Aye, and she will be Valeria, a name strong and great, one of her dynasty." Victoria took her daughter back, holding both babes in each arm. "Together they will rule this castle."

Elaine smiled and pushed Aleksander's hair back, it shown a deep red in the sunlight but presented as a dark brown in natural settings. "That's a nice idea, but you know one has to heir. One will have to take control, and you must choose, otherwise we will have another dance of dragons on our hands."

"No," Victoria firmly said, "my children will be different, my children will be kind. I will it, they will decide, one will rule and the other will guide."

Elaine laughed, "strangely enough, I believe you'll get your way."

|•|•|•|•|

Days later

Victoria sat in the balcony with her children, her rocking chair slowly swayed as she held her daughter in her hands and nursed.

Amina walked out, she looked vastly different to the girl Victoria had known. Her hair was not in its usual bun knotted at the base of her neck but now tumbled in waves down her shoulder in a dark wave. Her face was blemish free, not the usual cut lip or scratch from her time spent practicing with the rest of the Sand Snakes, and most of all the trousers she usually wore for adaptability were traded for a beautiful silk gown, loose it hung off her shoulders and tightened at her chest, revealing the deep V that left very little to the imagination. This gown was not stained or even dirtied but was crease free and spread around as she walked. Amina hated it all.

Victoria smirked at her, "not used too this are you?"

Amina uncomfortably adjusted in it, "this is the very reason I left for Mereen, I'd sooner face a bloodrider then walk in this absurd dress up."

Victoria smirked back and adjusted in her chair, she held Aleks as he's woken rather fussy, Valeria was awake now, just staring at the open sky and listening to her mother nurse. Her older brother, Aleks, as his mother had so adoringly nicknamed him starred up at his mum as she talked and seemed content with her soft voice.

"So what house are you to portray?" Victoria questioned.

"House Blackmont," Amina responded. "I am to be Lord Blackmont's daughter, one of which has been on an extended holiday with some of her mothers relatives."

"How much are they paying the Lord to go along with this?"

"Well you know the grand Blackmont," Amina responded sarcastically and rolled her eyes. She looked at her nails, they had never been so clean, most of her life there was always dirty under them or blood, and now her hands were soft and manicured. How long had it been since anyone had really considered her a lady? Her whole life she'd fought this side of being born a Martell, some of her sisters were better at it then she and when they'd learned to defend themselves it's all she wanted. She wanted the life a warrior more then that of being a Lady, and so her life had taken a different course. At seven and twenty she'd seen more battle then most of the country, her legs were covered in scars and fading bruises, she'd seen grown men fall at her feet in mercy and the monsters that lay in Sothoryos. She'd seen enough to make sense of the world and that of riches and royalty status did not matter, because one day they would be ashes if not properly watched. She knew the real war was beyond the walls of the north and the lands Assaih, the doom of Valyria was still impending, and yet here she was.

She fidgeted in her stance and pushed away the though, centering on her reality. Victoria seemed so at ease with this, but there was much to the life of a gracious women. She noted how her cousin sat with a straightened back, and adjusted her posture subconsciously.

Victoria cause the slight movement, "you're doing great, I think you'll be wonderful."

"I have to be perfect, otherwise the Lannisters will kill me." She noted, taking the seat next to her cousin, twisting her fingers together and wondering. She had spent her last few years in Essos, Assaih, Lys, and even Braavos. How many men had tried to kill her? How many times had she narrowly escaped death and yet when her father came for her, when she was finally chosen it felt like this would be her doom. Everything she was led to believe about the Lannisters was true, and she would be coming up against the grand lion himself, the kingslayer, but was he so horrible as they said?

"If you have something to say please speak your mind, cousin, I've seen that look on your face for days now." Victoria commented, placing Aleks back in his crib with Valeria. She sat back, allowing the sun to touch her bare skin.

Amina stared at her cousin, the light lol dress she wore was off the shoulder and displayed her tanned skin, she looked supple now compared to a short few months ago. Victoria now looked and felt much better.

"You spent time with him, with all of them. What are they like? What does Jamie Lannister want in this," Amina questioned. "Papa only speaks about his time after the war, he instilled in my sisters and I fear of them, and within that fear anger but there is more."

"I know well," Victoria exhaled and looked out to the waves crashing against the walls off the cliffs, "Uncle Oberyn is a brilliant man, but he lacks the sight when it comes to the lions. They are a family cousin, a tad different then ours but intent on keeping their family on top. Cersei Lannister is the definition of a lioness, the one day I knew her, she narrowed her eyes at me as if I would be swallowed by the ground with her simple stare. She is the one to be most fearful of. Tyrion is brilliant, and possibly the smartest man in that family, not that any of them would give the time of day. He is smart and sly, so never think him too close a friend cause whatever bond formed does not outlive the one of blood. And Jamie, well he is simply a bad mix of both siblings, he's helplessly arrogant and unnaturally handsome, it's as if the devil himself spat him out. He was the first to warn me about Robb you know, he saw right through his appearance and told me it all. At first I thought he did it to mock me, appease his sister but now I know he did it as a sort of grim gift. In his words he held many truths, most of which I was not ready to listen too."

Amina took her words in, she had now looked to the horizon, the sun was setting before them, horizon still visible.

"Do you think I can do it?" She questioned softly. They hasn't spoken much of her future, after all no one wanted to speak about what would no doubt be a pivotal moment in history.

"Kill Jamie?" Victoria said softly, still neither turned to the other and they spoke softly as to not let the words hang in the air. "That will be the easiest part, everything after will be the monster."

"And if we can't? If I somehow am discovered or papa? If the plot is unraveled? What will happen then."

"Then you will die, and likely so will Uncle Oberyn." Victoria blatantly said. "You already know that though, either you win or die, that's the game, cousin, and the Lannisters are quite good but we have 1 advantage now, they don't know we've entered."

Amina swallowed thickly, her expression was mute and they listened to the coo of the babies and their soft snores. She listened to the waves nearby, the sounds of happy birds and sighed, "if I never see this again, promise me you'll come out here and say a toast to me at this exact time, right as the sun kisses the ocean and the color turns these colors. You won't cry, you won't mourn, you'll celebrate."

Victoria finally looked over at her, Amina's beautiful face was concentrating on the sunset, likely committing it to memory. Her eyebrows knitted together and the brilliant blue of her eyes glossed, she knew Amina was scared, after all she'd done this it. Her cousin had travelled to Valyria in search of Dark Sister, the infamous sword, she'd gone to the depths of Assaih for answers to their ancestors, and defied the very crown that they served for her own wonders but this moment was the only time she'd seen her falter.

Victoria reached over and gripped her hand, tightening and nodding, "alright, I'll celebrate, and I'll get drunk, but the very next day I release war."

"Even if Uncle Doran says no?" Amina questioned.

"Many men have tried to say no to me before, all of them have been defeated or dead." Victoria responded, "he won't say no. Besides, the infamous Amina Sand cannot die, legend says Death himself kicked her out."

Amina laughed softly, remembering the lore one drunken fool had sang about her in the whorehouses of Lys. She grew more comfortable, sadly she knew their time was almost up, before the sun had risen tomorrow she would be on the boat taking them to the Crownlands of Westeros where the real war began.

"So then we fight, either way we just come to terms with a battle." Amina softly commented.

Victoria nodded softly, and admitted something she hadn't said to her blood relatives yet, "my men have begun to take the reach lands. They've strategized with gold and promises of a better future the smalls towns from here until Highgarden will be taken before your return."

"Do you not think that dangerous?" Amina stated, eyebrow raised. "The Tyrell's will tell the Lannisters and they'll unite forces."

"Could be," Victoria agreed, "but I want to poke the lion while it's under duress, if I distract it enough you may be able to make your move."

"Yes, killing Jamie Lannister," Amina whispered softly, "how in seven hells will I do that?"

|•|•|•|•|

What do you think will happen now that she's escaped?

Amina Sand has her own storyline I could start as a continuation, would you be interested in that?

AMINA SAND PLAYED BY KARLA SOUZA

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-Ash 🤍