Doran II

292 AC

"Just let me go already."

Doran felt a headache coming on. He had needed to waylay his daughter and have her taken back to her room, as she had climbed out of the thrice damped window trying to go meet Arthur ahead of time.

Except of course that it wasn't ahead of time, and he had been coming to get her as she went, Now they were delayed by near an hour because of her antic and now she was probably going to…

'urgh,' he grumbled, trying to work his way around his daughter's twisted logic.

"Alright." He finally said. "Well both go see him now."

"Really?" There seemed to be an inordinate amount of joy in her eyes.

"Yes, let's just hope that Prince Arthur is not overly insulted by the long wait."

"I'm sure it'll be fine." his daughter said with confidence. "Once he lays eyes on me he'll…"

Doran mustered his best glare, albeit a largely fake one.

"Oops. Uh, I mean that I'll make sure to drive him off."

"Good," he said plainly, already feeling he needed a bottle of wine to deal with his daughter's antics, even if they were intentional. That kind of slip up might get her killed one day.

The two walked down towards the hall of tapestries where Oberyn had left the young man, though Arianne had to help him down the steps. His legs were going and he could feel it.

They found the boy sitting on one of the sofa's, apparently writing in a small journal of some sort, though as he heard them enter he quickly closed it and pushed it into a pouch at his side.

"Prince Doran and Princess Arianne I presume?" he said, getting up from the cushion and bowing, though it was hardly necessary with his status, it still showed decorum.

"Ah, Prince Arthur," he said quite calmly, while Arianne curtailed at an angle that was surely designed to let the boy see as much of her as possible. He didn't say anything, however.

"My prince."

Doran struggled to get a better look at the boy, who seemed cheerful enough, and unoffended by their lateness, which was good for their chances at least.

Still, he felt compelled to apologize. "I'm quite sorry that you were left for some time, my daughter needed to prepare herself to meet you."

Arianne made a noise beside him but he ignored it, instead of continuing to observe the boy. He had Baratheon features mostly, only a little bit of Florent in the shape. The greyscale was more prominent than he expected but obviously old with its dried out color. The clothes he wore were fitting, though of no style he recognized, and well dyed. There was a scent of the sea to him, but that was to be expected.

Overall there were no issues he would consider pressing in regards to the boys' appearance.

"Oh, I assure you it was little trouble, waiting in such a beautiful chamber is far more pleasant than doing so in my quarters aboard the Sword of Baratheon at least."

"Oh?" Doran said sitting, as he gestured for the two children to do the same. "I take it with a name like that that she is a proper warship?"

"Yes, though all the Galleons can serve as such in a pinch. She is to be the flagship of the company fleet." the boy nodded. "I am quite proud of her."

"Mhm," he said, gesturing to the servants that had followed them in. They would bring a bowl of plums in a moment. "An interesting vessel to take on a cruise."

He saw his daughter fidgeting from the corner of his eye and almost felt like holding his own brow again. "Arianne, you may ask your question."

His daughter smiled at him, which was a nice sight for once, before turning to the Young Baratheon.

"How has your trip been my prince?"

The boy smiled at her, meeting her eyes. "Quite pleasant so far, I've gotten to see so much more of Westeros. From my Father's vassals on the Blackwater Bay to Tarth and through the Stepstones on the way here, and now Sunspear as well." He turned back to Doran, "I must say that your city is very nice. Quite distinct from anywhere else I have been."

"Indeed, Sunspear has the finest Rhoynnish Architecture left in the world." He started, but his daughter cut in before he could continue.

"Ah, you must let me take you down through the Bazaars while you're here my prince, we have goods from all across Essos and the Summer Isles."

He turned a glare that should look harsh on his daughter, but she seemed to ignore it. The bright boy across from them on the other hand only smiled.

"Certainly Princess, I'm always looking for new opportunities." he turned to Doran. "If that's acceptable to your father that is."

He had an urge to sigh as his daughter's face dropped.

"That is… acceptable, as long as you are accompanied of course."

"Certainly."

"In the morning then." Arianne broke in almost immediately. "That's when they have all the best things anyway. Tonight we should get to know each other better."

Doran very nearly groaned even as the plums were brought in, but sated himself on merely biting into one instead.

He dearly hoped that his daughter did not mess this up.