Ch24. Dorne 2

Bellatrix was shown the Water Gardens since Prince Doran was seemingly too busy. She was aware it was just a stalling tactic so he could discuss her personality for the upcoming negotiation. She would have to adjust her behavior and get them out of their wits at the start it would seem.

The Gardens were beautiful though. She now knew what her next project at home will be. She will be damned if she did not create such a relaxing nice spot in her castle.

The only problem was the yapping woman, Elliara, next to her who was showing them around. If only everyone was like Pietra. Calm and quiet.

...

It took them two hours to call for Bellatrix and she was sure they dragged it on only to 'make her sweat'.

As she entered the meeting room, she spotted Prince Oberyn standing next to Prince Doran. A man in a wheelchair. A devious smile spread through Bella's face as she now knew exactly how to get an instant upper hand in these negotiations.

"Well, the sight is indeed crippling, isn't it Pietra?" Bella turned to her companion without even greeting the men.

"Indeed it is, Milady." Pietra indifferently agreed, carefully watching Oberyn's twitching hand.

Instead of awkward silence, Prince Doran used his extensive experience and knew it would be best to fluidly continue the conversation rather than dumbly stare at the woman in front of him.

"Greetings, Lady Black. I must agree, I may be the right sight some of these days." He forced as natural a chuckle out as he managed. "But we are not here to discuss my disability..." He trailed off.

"I see. One brother is a cripple and all talk while the other is rash musclebrain. The future of Dorne doesn't look very bright." Bellatrix smiled in pity.

Prince Doran was pensive, looking at Bella, not understanding what she was doing. Her insults were not even veiled. She acted as if she was more interested in making enemies than negotiating an alliance... Obery would... Obery? OBERYN!

Before his head could snap in the direction of his hotheaded brother he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking towards Oberyn, he was surprised to meet his eyes. They told it all.

'She is baiting you.'

Doran could only weakly smile in return when he heard Bellatrix speak again.

"Well, at least your issues can be resolved rather quickly." She quipped and jabbed her wand in Doran's direction.

Doran gasped as he felt his injured leg stop hurting, strength returned to him and he suddenly got an overpowering urge to stand up. He grasped the armrests of his wheelchair and slowly pulled himself up, aware of Oberyn's astonished stare.

"Magic." Oberyn respectfully muttered in awe.

Even Doran had to agree. He never expected to stand again. The more pondering side of his brain kicked in then and he realized. House Martell now owed a debt to the woman in front of them. His mood soured as he mused if being able to talk is worth it to have to deal with someone so bipolar...

"Thank you, Lady Black. House Martell is gra-" Doran slightly bowed towards her but then was interrupted.

"Owes me." Bella plainly stated as the Princes could only blink at her bluntness.

"Yes..." Doran relented.

"Well, you are no Lannister so no need to concern yourself with repaying it." Bellatrix told them and her lips twitched upwards as she watched the flicker of anger in their eyes.

"But that's beside the point, I know standing is quite the novelty for you, Prince Doran." She pouted childishly. "I, however, do not enjoy the act as much."

Doran then realized he let her stand in front of the door and became quite embarrassed.

"Ah, certainly, Lady Black. Do come in and sit down."

Bellatrix marched inside as if she owned the place, Pietra hot at her heels and sat down on a chair opposite Doran. In the middle of the table was a tray with a glassy jar full of water and a few glasses. Bellatrix took two glasses and with a quick wordless Aguamenti Charm filled them with water before putting on glass in front of Pietra who thanked her.

Doran and Oberyn could only gape at the action while Bellatrix enjoyed their shocked gazes.

Doran finally recollected himself, his lips thinning as he stared at Bellatrix, not sure how to proceed. He was spooked now. He had to completely reevaluate the prowess of the Iron Islands.

Nevertheless, he had a negotiation to start.

"Lady Black, the raven mentioned a possible alliance, would you care to elaborate?"

Bellatrix just gestured to Pietra who pulled out two parchments and handed them to Doran.

"One is a trade agreement while the other is for the alliance." Bellatrix informed them.

Doran flipped through the trade agreement and his eyes widened. They offered them twice as much food as the Dorne was now buying from Tyrrells for three-quarters of the Tyrrell prices. Luxurious glass, clothes, tools, and much more so cheaply he gulped. Just because of this trade agreement, he was half-convinced to sign the alliance.

He then read the alliance agreement and couldn't help but get dizzy. They wanted House Martell and Dorne as their Vassals. In any other instance, he would curse the diplomat to hell for their audacity. Now though, he was gritting his teeth. The benefits were too good!

At least, if they could deliver. He gave Bellatrix a side-glance and was about to ask for a proof.

"Proof is it?" Bella amusedly quipped, making Doran wince. She gestured to Pietra who took out a big bowl, wide enough for a head to fit inside.

"This is called Pensieve, it can show memories. The proof is in there, as is a quick overview of the Iron Islands development in the last four years." Doran and Oberyn looked interested as their curiosity peaked but Bella quickly poured cold water on their expectations. "Prince Doran, you may get your proof there. The artifact is enchanted to prevent you from speaking about what you see so no information leak will occur." She beamed at the dejected expression of Oberyn, making him scowl.

The bowl was placed in front of Doran as he looked at the mysterious light blue glow coming out of the clear liquid inside.

"Just sink your head into the water." Bellatrix informed him.

Doran did so and instantly found himself in the clouds. He first panicked, as his feet were standing in the air but then calmed down when he realized he was not falling. He curiously looked around, until he spotted a person floating in the air not far from him. He was about to approach her but then he heard a soft feminine voice and a shudder ran through his spine.

"Universe One."

What he saw, will be forever etched into his mind.

The next instances showed him the key parts of the Iron Islands development, making him widen his eyes more with each passing memory.

Finally, his head left the bowl as he noticed worried Oberyn and amused Bella.

"We accept." Doran sighed, knowing he did right by his countrymen but was not particularly happy as he thought about the problems that would arise due to his decision.

"But the problem is, we have a treaty with the Seven Kingdoms."

"Ah," Bella waved her hand in dismissal. "Just a scrap of paper. You can always act like you still abide by it. Becoming our Vassals won't be something you will have to announce openly. But be warned, Doran. The treaty in front of you is magically binding. Once you sing it, there will be no coming back. You will be under the jurisdiction of the Iron Islands."

Doran smiled at the implications.

"That just means you will have to deliver what you promised, then."

"Indeed." Bella nodded bemused. "Indeed it does."

Bella's gaze started to grow progressively colder as she looked into Doran's eyes. Not a moment later, the sentence left his lips.

"Let's talk about marriage contracts, then." He stated.

"No." Bella coldly declined, making the men look at her bewildered. "I get it. You can't imagine an alliance like this without the 'joining of Bloodlines' but there will be no such thing."

Bellatrix sighed in exasperation at their protesting expressions.

"You will be able to send your people into the Belserion Institute to learn magic. And albeit they will be only able to teach their direct descendants who will also have such restrictions imposed upon them, we are giving you much more than a measly marriage contract. If your children find someone they love during their stay at the Iron Islands, we won't protest but we also won't make any arrangements either."

Doran reluctantly nodded in understanding, and with head shake signed the treaty and the trade agreement. It was an opportunity of a lifetime for Dorne. No matter how much he feared war with the Seven, uh, Six Kingdoms he had to sign. If he didn't he would be written into history as a man that doomed Dorne!

"On the happier note," Bellatrix pulled him out of his reverie, "Pietra here will be the ambassador for the Iron Islands for the foreseeable future. Treat her well, kay? I will stay for two days, you can inform me of your ambassador duri-"

"No need, I will go." Oberyn exclaimed with a wild smile. "Can't miss an opportunity for such an adventure, now, can I?" He rhetorically asked, showing his decision is final.

"Well, then, Prince Oberyn, Prince Doran, we will be on our way. I quite enjoy your Gardens." Bellatrix and Pietra left the room and Oberyn's smile instantly fell.

"What the hell brother?" He asked Doran angrily. "Why did you sign it right away? We should have asked for a few days for consideration at least! We could have negotiated for better terms!"

Doran blinked in confusion.

"Why indeed. I-, I don't know... But the treaty is good. No, it is too good to be true for us. And-"

Oberyn wanted to scream at him but held himself back.

"Give it to me." He asked for the treaty and when Doran gave the parchment to him, he started to read it.

His eyes widened comically as his jaw hung low.

"What the hell brother!" He shakily put the treaty down. "I understand why you signed it now..." He flopped into the chair where previously Bella sat.

"No, Oberyn, I doubt you do." Doran shook his head and indicated at the half-full glass of water. "She showed that water thingie on purpose, just think brother. If we had a hundred people able to do that our country would never lack water anymore."

Oberyn blinked in shock as the realization hit him. He smiled in content.

"Then we have already won. Water supply was always the biggest problem for our people. But then there is the trade agreement..." His smile started widening in excitement when he understood just how much will Dorne gain.

"Yes," Doran nodded. "It will certainly make our country richer. No wonder she came with such an attitude." He shook his head exasperatedly. "She won before she even stepped inside and she clearly knew it..."

...

In the Water Gardens, Bellatrix and Pietra relaxed when Pietra suddenly stated, a question visible in her eyes.

"The negotiation went quite well, Mistress."

"Ah, yes, Pietra. I finally confirmed my theory." Bella beamed in childish joy. "While my Passive Legilimency could not sway someone as strong-minded as Oberyn, his brother Doran was another point entirely!"

"So much fear. So much self-doubt. So many worries." Bellatrix dreamily stated, intoxicated. "It was almost as addictive as it was easy to nudge his thoughts in the direction I wanted. His overthinking pensive nature did the rest for me." Bella shook her head bemusedly in a 'yare-yare' motion.

"Atta boy." Pietra indifferently stated with an even tone.