Ch.2 Smitten by Beauty

"All right brat, You've trained hard every day, but unfortunately, you are too young to participate in the tourney… perhaps I can reward you in another way?" Oberyn said with a smirk on his face.

"Just give me Nymeria and I'll be happy," Sylas said sarcastically while looking outside of the carriage with a smile. 'I can't wait to see Harrenhal.' he thought with some excitement

"You are no fun kid." Oberyn said while laughing "Are you excited for the tourney?"

"Not for the tourney, didn't you see into little Arianne's carriage?" Sylas looked at him with a smirk.

Since Sylas and Oberyn have been sharing every day for a few years now, they were as close as friends since Oberyn noticed Sylas' intelligence and the way he carried himself. Oberyn saw a little brother, whom he had to teach everything so that he wouldn't have a problem, as for Sylas, he saw a friend and brother that tried to shield him and taught him everything that this new world could offer him.

"Ashara Dayne, she is around your age, beautiful pale skin, just like yours, but instead of your cute blue eyes she was a purple pair, didn't she? I never thought I would see the day that my little squire would be smitten by the beauty of a woman after seeing you ignore that Lyseni girl in King's Landing or the many 'servants' that gave you the cute eyes in Dorne." He looked at him with a smirk while yelling loudly.

"Yeah, you've been teaching me for almost two years, the thing you've taught me the most is how to behave in front of women, so I hope I don't find trouble," Sylas said while rolling his eyes.

"I can't even make fun of you, my cute little toy knight." Oberyn was pouting while looking outside of the carriage. "We are almost there, start preparing your armor and sword." He said seriously. "These dumbasses care way too much about how you look, although with your looks I don't think women will want you to wear clothes."

Laughing a bit while starting to put on his armor, Sylas asked "You know the reason for the tourney?"

"It's to celebrate Lord's Whent daughter's name day, but something smells… off." He said slowly, giving his squire a knowing look.

"Must be King's Landing, I can smell it too," Sylas said and the two started laughing loudly.

"Prince Oberyn, we are already here." A voice came from outside, calling for the two.

"All right brat, I'll get Elia out of the carriage and you go and help that Dayne girl," Oberyn said while winking.

After getting out of our carriage, we quickly went towards the carriage of Elia Martell and her ladies-in-waiting. There, Oberyn helped his dear sister out of the carriage slowly and with patience, the woman was beautiful, but it looked like it would break at any time.

"Thank you, dear brother." She said softly while smiling at him.

Sylas moved quickly to assist the other ladies-in-waiting who had yet to leave the carriage, there were four more girls, two lowborn girls from King's Landing, the daughter of a noble from the crownlands, and Ashara Dayne. Since Ashara was the last, Sylas was able to grab graciously her hand and helped her to step out of the carriage.

Ashara, like the other girls, blushed slightly as her eyes met Sylas'. Her smile took on a shy and flirtatious look, indicating a hint of attraction to the young squire.

Sylas had been working hard since he was around four namedays, he was now eleven, just a few months short from twelve, but he seemed to be at least fourteen namedays, as he was tall, his complexion fair with a face sculpted by the goddess, it didn't have much fat on it, and his masculine features were starting to develop, yet the baby fat still lingered, making a balance of youthfulness and a small air of adulthood.

"My lady," Sylas said while smiling softly at her. 'Inspect.' Sylas said softly to himself.

#

Name: Ashara Dayne

Age: 12

Affiliation: House Dayne / Princess Elia Martell

Loyalty: 30%

Skills

-Administration: Ability with numbers and letters. A gifted person when it comes to administrating people and their needs. (Diplomacy ability grants thought speed, charm, and charisma.)

-Noblesse: Natural born beauty, ability to move people easily with your beauty and words. (Diplomacy ability grants thought speed, charm, and charisma.)

#

'Two skills?! Only a few possess skills and she possesses two of them, damn, I have to win her over…' Sylas thought while maintaining his smile.

"Ser." She said, giggling gracefully. "That sigil on your clothing… You must be Sylas Fowler, right? My name is Ashara Dayne, pleased to meet you, Ser." She said with a bow after she saw his embroidered blue hawk.

"Yes, my lady, Sylas Fowler at your service," Sylas said while giggling as well.

"I've heard many things about you, Ser Sylas," Ashara said without letting his hand go.

He didn't dislike her touch as her skin was smooth and warm. "I hope good things? Although with my teacher, I'm bound to have a 'good' reputation, just like him." Sylas said while smiling and looking at the back of Oberyn and Elia walking in front of them.

"Just good things, the genius of Skyreach, little swordsman, many praise your talents, I wonder if the tales are true." She said while looking into my eyes.

"Unfortunately, tales tend to exaggerate things quite a lot, but I'm proud of what I have accomplished in my little time under the guidance of Ser Oberyn," Sylas said while smiling at Ashara with his eyes almost closed.

She looked quickly in front, and was a bit flustered, "At least, I can see that the rumors about your beauty aren't unfounded."

Sylas could only see her almost completely red profile. "I cannot hope to compare with the beauty of my lady." He said softly while looking behind us to get close to her ear.

Now Ashara was completely red, unfortunately for her, Oberyn looked back and Ashara saw him giving her a thumbs up, as Sylas was looking behind, he didn't see it.

"A magnificent castle, isn't it, my lady," Sylas said softly.

"I've heard many stories about it, none ended well." Her eyes were shining while speaking. "There are rumors about it being haunted, do you think so?" She looked at Sylas expectantly.

"Our world is one of magnificent wonders and many mysteries, I can't help but believe some of them," Sylas said slowly.

"Which ones do you believe?" She asked eagerly.

"Dragons," Sylas said while smirking at Ashara, she pouted immediately. "Hehe, Have you heard about Mother Rhoyne?" he asked the lady beside him.

"Princess Nymeria and her ten thousand boats and Mother Rhoyne were stories that I grew up with." She smiled.

"Great water mages that were able to control rivers with ease, great mages that were able to control shadows, fire, blood, dragons. There are many legends about magical things, many times, legends and myths are born with some truth to them, I can't confirm the existence of magic, just remembering the tales that Oberyn told me from Asshai makes me shudder." Sylas said softly. "My teacher, Oberyn, has told me as many tales, From the white walkers of the north to the drowned god and the Kraken of the Ironborn, R'hllor, and many prophets from Yi Ti, Leng, and mages from Asshai, he has seen everything and has told me many of this things."

Ashara was listening with complete focus, but Sylas's stories had to wait a bit.

"All right, Lady Ashara, Elia is calling for you, you should give her some company," Oberyn said while smiling at her. Ashara nodded and said goodbye to Sylas, and just now she let go of his hand. "Although you are beautiful enough, it still amazes me how easy you make a woman fall for you, I'm kind of jealous," Oberyn said while grabbing Sylas's shoulder.

"They fall for me because they know that I don't talk to them just to have sex," Sylas said while looking around. "And the sissy prince?" He asked, almost murmuring.

"He and Elia will be staying inside the castle, so you'll see Ashara when the tourney starts, there are still two days for it." Said Oberyn calmly, smiling softly at the name that his squire gave the prince of the Seven Kingdoms.

"I'm going to start polishing your armor then I'll train for a bit," Sylas said nonchalantly.

The next two days went by rather quickly as Sylas just trained and got Oberyn's items to shine.

.-Ashara-.

"Princess, what do you think about Sylas?" Asked Ashara while walking towards Elia's room.

"Hmm, why, is my little Ashara in love?" Elia smiled softly at her

"I, I don't know about that, it's just that I've heard my father saying that Sylas Fowler is a candidate to take my hand," Ashara said while fidgeting with her fingers and a red face.

"Hihihi." Elia laughed while covering her mouth. "Oberyn has told me wonders about him, he said that he was dedicated, hard-working, diligent, brave, strong, and noble, he just has praise for him, also for his beauty," Elia said while winking at Ashara when she said the last part.

"He seems smart and kind to me," Ashara said softly.

"Men have many sides to them, Rhaegar is kind and sings beautifully, but he can be smart and cunning or strong and fierce, you should spend this time and see if he is suited for you, just remember, his teacher is Oberyn Martell, the red viper, he has fathered at least four bastard daughters, I don't know what he'll teach that boy, but if he is as Oberyn has told me, you can expect that the boy will have some lovers or some paramours, he said that he had a great charisma with looks to accompany, and seeing your face I'm inclined to believe. Now it's up to you to gauge him and think if it would be worth it to love such a man." Elia said while entering her room.

"Is Prince Rhaegar like that?" Ashara asked while sitting on the bed with Elia.

"No, he is not, we just married, so I don't know him really well, but everyone can see that he doesn't love me, at least he appreciates me, he seems to be in love with his music and his bloodline…" Elia said softly. "I'm happy with such an arrangement, at least I got someone decent, if you can, you should seek someone who loves you and you love back, that's where you will be truly happy, but remember, temptations are hard to resist,'' Elia said while looking out the window.

"If he meets other women, does that not mean that he doesn't love me?" Ashara asked innocently.

"Men are completely different from us, they think with their lower head and love with the one above, on the other hand, love with the heart and your body is for he whom you'll love," Elia said with a smile. "And, surprisingly or not, great men and women attract many of the other genders, just remember Princess Nymeria, she married many men who were attracted to her beauty and her greatness. Power, talent, prowess, smarts, feats, those are the things that many women find extremely attractive, it is difficult to resist temptation, so if you just accept it, everything will be easier and you'll have a happier life"

"What if I don't want to accept it?" Ashara asked, fearing the answer.

"He can just get someone who accepts it, there are many lowborn girls that are just as beautiful as you and they would allow their husband to be with a whole city if it meant that they'll love them and take care of their needs, also, you aren't the only noble lady who seeks someone great, there are many women who look for happiness, most ladies lives are so bleak that just the fact that they husband appreciates them is enough for them to be in bliss, unfortunately, such a thing is common in the seven kingdoms and you'll compete with them for his heart, not even the cold northerners will remain completely faithful, now think about a hot blooded Dornish man" Elia smiled at Ashara.

"What would you do if the prince gets someone else?" Ashar asked softly.

"Move on, from the start our marriage wasn't one of love, as long as he takes care of my children and allows me to live a simple and calm life I don't mind him taking the whole kingdom, as long as I can take care of my children"

"Niece, how do you feel?" Prince Lewyn Martell appeared suddenly at the door.

"I'm feeling great, don't worry about me, would you mind taking Ashara to her room? I'm a little tired" Elia said.

"Don't worry" Said Lewyn. Ashara stood up, thanked the princess, and followed the prince.

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