Viper meets a Kraken
Oberyn POV
Fifty ships lay in front of us. The Ironborn, with only a name, anyone could know what they want and what they will do. At least, that was in the past. Now, I couldn't understand what was going on. Fifty isn't a small number if you want to raid some villages, but this is Sunspear. Even if it's one of the smallest cities in Westeros, what kind of madman would attack it with only fifty ships?
Doran kept a close eye on this madman, but even he couldn't have predicted him to come there. Theon Greyjoy, the Black King. It even shocked my brother when he heard that he became the king of the Iron Islands so soon after returning home. Even if Balon Greyjoy died, he had to be very charismatic for the Ironborn to follow him so soon.
The fact was we didn't know much about him. He seemed to have close ties with the Starks but was not serving under King Robb. I heard he helped Stannis, but only once before their parted ways. Was he willing to work with others but not get close to them? Or was he trying to test others and see if there are worth working with them?
When I worked as a sellsword, it was a common tactic to work with one another before becoming enemies on different battlefields. It was hard to read what kind of person Theon Greyjoy was, yet now he was before me with a white flag asking for parley. I have heard he did it with Stannis and the Hightower brat at Oldtown.
"Look at him, griping his spear so tight that it almost started to splinter," Theon Greyjoy laughed as he came before me. "Does prince Oberyn want to fight me so much?"
"I heard many tales, especially when you ripped one of the Mountains eyes and ate before him," I replied. "Or how you toyed with lions as they were mere kittens."
"Well, from where I stood, their banners looked like cats begging to be played with," Theon laughed. "And eating eye of the Mountain? Don't say something so disgusting. I am not so desperate to eat a dog."
"Heh, so was it a lie?" I asked.
"I only poked him with this dagger," Theon whirled a Vlayrian steel dagger in his hand as he replied. "The Mountain was just unlucky that it landed in his eye. You should have heard him scream in pain. He looked like he was ready to rip me apart, but the dog ran away when he saw banners of a wolf."
"Well, I would love to hear more about it, but before that, I would like to know why are you here?" No matter how much I loved to hear his words, I needed to get serious.
"But of course, where are my manners," Theon Greyjoy gracefully bowed to me. "I am Theon Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands came to propose marriage between House Greyjoy and House Martell."
A madman indeed. None of my or my brother's predictions have come to this conclusion. Nobody could have predicted this. Theon Greyjoy is more dangerous of a person than we have thought. All I could do now was bring him to my brother. Well, if these two worked together, I could not see anyone able to stop them.
…
Those men in grey cloaks were dangerous. Just from the way they walked and observed the environment. They were cautious, and I could guess they had been in plenty of battles from their build. I have heard that the Iron Islands have plenty of great warriors. I would like to have a few exchanges with them, especially with Theon Greyjoy.
Ever since I heard what he did to the Mountain, I wanted to meet him. So far, he has not disappointed me. He walks with the pride of a king. His men look at him with respect. Even the men in my sellsword company didn't look at me like that. It is clear how good of a leader he is.
"I'm sorry to ask, but your men will have to wait outside," I stopped before the solar of my brother.
"Your Grace," The men in grey cloaks didn't look like they liked the idea.
"What are you worried about?" Theon laughed. "Do you think they will kill me?"
"Of course not, your grace," The redhead seemed to be closest to Theon. I should ask my daughters to get close to him. "But we can't let you go alone."
"Prince Oberyn is quite a dangerous man after all," Theon turned to me. "I will bring my priest with me. That wouldn't be an inconvenience for you, would it?"
"No, please forgive me for not considering your position," I replied.
"Somehow, being polite doesn't suit you," Theon got close to me and wrapped his arm around me. "Act more comfortable around me, uncle."
This madman already considers himself as a family. Well, once he talks with my brother, he will understand that his situation isn't as simple as he expects it to be. Either my brother will refuse outright, or he will ask something too much from Theon. The Ironborn weren't people we should get involved with.
Doran sat within his solar. Only his faithful guard stood next to him. Theon bowed once before taking a seat in front of my brother. I still couldn't understand if the arrogance of confidence let him move freely and without worry. In status, he was equal to Doran, if not higher. Nobody could underestimate Theon after his feats. And the Iron Islands were feared for a reason.
"Theon Greyjoy, King of the Iron Islands, greets prince Doran Martell," Theon slightly bowed his head. "Well, now that we have done with our greetings, let's start our negotiations."
"Negotiations? An interesting word you use." Doran replied.
"I want your spears," Theon said.
"I thought you wanted my daughter, was I mistaken?"
"I heard she was the most beautiful woman in the known world, with elegance and grace that none could be compared to," Theon was somehow good with his words. "Yet what I want the most right now is the head of the Old lion."
I could see Doran's eyes sharpening at the last words of Theon. Even I couldn't contain my expression. This madman was serious. He was after Tywin Lannister. But that wasn't enough to convince my brother. Even I knew that if we waited a bit longer, the Old lion would be defeated; if not, he would be too weak to fight against us.
"Yet I still do not see a reason to involve myself in this war," Doran replied.
"But you don't have a choice anymore," Theon's smile was quite evil. "I wonder what the rest of the kingdoms will think when they hear that I visited you personally."
"We still didn't make any deal with you," I said, not liking where he was going with it.
"But no one else knows that. Everyone will think of what kind of deal we made when I leave, not if we made a deal," Shit, we were had.
"It seems you might be more dangerous than I thought. Still, if that is how you were going to play, then you should give me a reason to let you leave," Theon only laughed at Doran's words.
"Kill me," He said.
I thought that Theon would try to threaten us or offer something, but those simple words were more effective than anything else could be. Killing him will not only not help us, but we will gain wrath from all of the Ironborn, and knowing the relationship between him and Robb Stark, the North would not let this incident go.
"You are a cunning man. Did Lord Eddard Stark teach you to be like this?" Doran asked.
"If lord Stark were still alive, I would be too embarrassed to stand in front of him as I am right now," Theon replied. "Lord Stark taught me to be a good, honorable man. Yet my blood is boiling. My anger clouds my mind. I cannot let that bastard named Tywin Lannister sit on the throne and think he can forget all his crimes. I will not let him enjoy the power he got. I can tell from your eyes, prince Doran, that you are the same. You might sit there doing nothing, but your eyes want the blood of the Lannisters. The difference is that you have children to care for, while I don't even care if I die."
It wasn't just words. I could see his eyes go mad for a moment. His will is convincing, at least to me. I don't know what the Old Lion did, but Theon Greyjoy wasn't someone who would let his prey get away, and to a Kraken, a lion was just a prey. Yet, we couldn't move only for his words.
"As you say, I will not easily enter this war. I must think of my family, after all," Doran replied.
"Enough with the excuses. Tell me what you want?" Theon asked.
"I want a King," I didn't understand what my brother meant.
"Even if I don't like it, Stannis seemed to be the only choice," Theon replied as he understood.
"There is another choice. If you bring her home, I will give you my spears and my daughter as well," What was he talking about?
"Her?" Theon asked. "I see, you sly old bastard."
"Your grace," Theon's priest tried to inquire what they were talking about just before I did.
"It seems your wish will come true, Thoros. We will go to Essos to look for her majesty, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Daenerys Targaryen."
"You grasped my intentions faster than I expected," I was surprised too.
"You not the only one who thought of her," Theon replied. "So, let's get it clear if I bring back Daenerys Targaryen. I will have your full support. I am right?"
"I would do anything for my son."
After talking for a while, Doran bid farewell to Theon and instructed him to get some rest. Theon accepted the offer and left with servants leading the way. I stayed behind, as I still couldn't believe what they talked about. Turning to Doran, I saw my brother motion me to sit down.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"He is more dangerous than anyone could have anticipated," Doran began. "Alone with the Iron Islands, he could wreak havoc wherever he went, yet the fact that he is looking for allies makes him even more dangerous."
"Will you leave him to find Daenerys?" I asked. "I still have some connections in Essos. If she is still alive, I can find her myself."
"I would have left it to you if Theon had not come," Doran said. "But now it only benefits us to ally with him. If he kneels to Daenerys, we won't have to worry about the Iron Islands in the future. If it only takes to marry my daughter to him, it is a fair price I am willing to pay."
"Can we trust him?" I asked because I didn't believe so.
"No, that's why you will be coming with him," Doran replied. "You will take a hundred men and Quentyn with you."
"What are you planning?" It wasn't so simple.
"We need to make sure that the Queen is tied to us, Quentyn is about her age, and if she likes older men, there will be you."
"You can't be serious, me?"
"I'm sure you can catch her eye. She is just a girl without any education. We will have to teach her how to rule the Seven Kingdoms."
So, to the end, Doran will use everyone and everything to advance his plans. I didn't care much about anything else, but if Daenerys could make my brother move to take down the Lannisters, I would bring her to him. Firstly, I will need to see Theon and tell him that I will be coming with him.