She burned as bright as any man, and so shall I

princess eleyana of house martell

[eleyanamrtll]

dastan-allyrion​:

eleyana:

His brother Hasaryn had always loved the stars. Had he not been a lord, an heir, Dastan was certain his brother would have chosen to be a maester and dedicate his life to the pursuit of knowledge and deep understanding of everything unknown, especially regarding the cosmos. And then after the boy’s untimely passing, his mother had conjured up that idea that Hasa might live on in the stars, watching over them all and offering quiet wisdom in moments of introspection when they needed it most. Few things had brought Dastan even an ounce of comfort when the death of his brother -his closest friend- was too recent a wound as the idea that a part of Hasaryn’s essence might live amongst the stars. Even now, with that wound turned an aching scar, Dastan still sought some comfort in seeing sunsets turn to night skies, admiring glimmers of starlight across that darkening veil.

The lord stood by the railing, like a soldier at ease, head slightly tilted upwards. He was no expert seafarer but he did appreciate a journey aboard a vessel every now and then, calmed by the serene endlessness of ocean and sky wherever one looked. It didn’t feel overwhelming to him, how vast it was, and how small people were compared to it. For a while, it was like being plucked away from reality, standing elsewhere, away from all. Perhaps he shouldn’t have felt so at ease in such notions of isolation, but he did. He wasn’t a stranger to the rare solitude of feeling alone even in the company of others. It happened even in the company of his family because he never wished to bring to them what might weigh him down. So actually standing alone on a ship in the middle of the ocean didn’t feel as much of a change. Until he no longer was alone…

He turned as Eleyana spoke and his lips tugged up into a subtle smile for a moment. “You think too highly of me. I wasn’t actually standing watch,” he admitted, leaning forward towards the railing, resting his arms against it. “I was just- distracted, I suppose. Looking up,” he chuckled softly, sheepishly almost. She’d find it amusing if he told her why he was looking up, surely. “I like watching them. The stars,” he added, glancing up.

.

her expression softened at his words. to just look up at the stars sounded so simple to her. a gentle reminder that things didn’t always have to be so hard. eleyana looked up and watched the stars that spotted the evening sky, a scatter of dim lights that dared to peak out of the last moments of sunlight. she always believed that the veil between her world and whatever world lived in the vastness of the sky thinned ever so slightly during this time. the two worlds collided in a flurry of white dazzling light and a fire-lit sky. in her darkest times the vulnerability of this time made her feel exposed, as if each of those specs of light were watching her. she often wondered if the stars could speak, what stories they would tell about her? yet, no matter the paranoia of watchful eyes, the time the princess spent looking up at the night sky was the closest thing that eleyana came to wishing upon something. even if that was to wish for a morsel of mercy. 

“be wary of such things. they say if you look up at the stars for too long you can lose your in them,” she said softly and hoped for a moment the storm that swirled in her eyes could ease and be replaced by the sparkling light of the evening sky. it was a dangerous thing to wish, a lovely thing to desire, but dangerous nonetheless. for then her fate would be in the hands of the hands of some power she could not control. her gaze fell back down to the rippling current as she heeded her own warning. 

her eyes made their way back to dastan, a quiet sigh escaped her lips. she wondered where he traveled when he looked up at the stars, if he found some sort of peace in them or used their beauty to escape. wherever his mind wandered to she wondered if he would ever make it back to her. perhaps it was a selfish thing for eleyana to want for he was not hers to call upon. but how could she resist such a thing? “what’s on your mind?” she asked dastan, her own curiosity getting the better of her. 

[eleyanamrtll]

@dastan-allyrion​ !! setting: on a boat in the middle of the narrow sea traveling back to the vale 

she knew that look in his eyes when he arrived at sunspear with intentions to escort her back to the vale. eleyana knew it well, a look that told her that he would always be home to her, that he would always find a way back to her. but she knew that was not always true. she wished she didn’t notice such a look, a painful reminder that dastan would not always be there to calm the storm that raged on in her heart. it was destructive and was felt so deeply, eleyana wondered if this was fate telling her that he didn’t deserve to be caught in such torrential downpour for much longer. the gentle sway of the dornish ship reminded her that there was nowhere to run. in this moment she couldn’t avoid the feelings that set heavy on her chest, feelings that gnawed so intensely at her, twisting her stomach into knots. no matter the turning feeling within herself the only person she wished to see was dastan. 

nimble fingers secured her outer cloak before stepping out from the lower cabin to the upper deck to seek him out. there was a sense of calm among the ship as most of the guards and crew retired below for evening meals and a night of heavy drinking. the afternoon turned into evening and the sky became a haze of orange and purple hues as the sun set where the narrow sea met the dornish sea. her gaze fell heavy on him and paused for a moment, watching his still stature on edge of the ship. 

it would be easy for her to turn back now and never have to address the feelings that sought to claw themselves out from her skin. she would possibly live her life with an abundance of polite smiles and cordial nods that the dornish lords were obliged to show towards the martells. it could be as simple as that, a princess and the lord that pledged his allegiance to her family. that would be easy for eleyana, but would never feel right to her. it would be a disservice to the both of them to call what they had as just cordial. despite the pain at the sight of him there was also an overwhelming sense of familiarity. it was something that never failed to spark a smile on a woman who once believed that her own sadness would consume her joy. the princess wondered how long she could keep herself afloat among such rocky waters. 

despite her own fears she took a couple of steps towards him slowly until she was on the edge of stepping on his shadow. “you do realize this is a martell vessel, lord allyrion. we have a whole crew aboard so you are not obliged to stay and stand watch.” she joked lightly as she moved next to him, a place she was all too comfortable with being. she settled her attention on the waves that surrounded the two before taking the time to glance over at him. she thought in that moment she could stand there with him until her last day. oh what a privilege to live a life of quick glances and fleeting kisses shared in passing moments, to live without the dread of knowing that those would not be their last. 

[eleyanamrtll]

@opheliafowler​ !! setting: sunspear, before eleyana’s first arrival in the vale (flashback) 

light fingertips tapped on the tiled balcony, one after another in a rhythm that repeated itself in eleyana’s mind. the tapping. at this point it had been incessant for days, a nasty habit she developed years ago to cope with stress and restless thoughts. it was a motion she hid in private for she was far too embarrassed of the possibility of gazing eyes witness such a thing. how could she let them see? to everyone else she was so composed, a graceful fighter that moved as easily as the wind that swirled through the rolling dunes. oh how well she fooled others to think that nothing could ever spark fear in her veins. the princess never dared to let them see her as anything but that image of her. after all, what could possibly trouble the eldest daughter of nymor martell and allyria yronwood? this question more times than not played in harmony with the beat of the tapping. 

she peered out at the sea below her, a familiar view that simultaneously brought her a sense of comfort and dread from the idea of not knowing how much longer she would be able to gaze at such a view. the times she spent in the moment were often few and far apart with each passing year. eleyana often wondered how much time she wasted living a life she had not even lived yet but rather planned out in her mind. tap. tap. tap. 

as quickly as the tapping began it stopped in an instant when she heard footsteps behind her, the quick shuffling of feet, light ones that were delicate yet quick. by the sound of it, at least two, perhaps even three people. after spending her whole life in such a place she spent her time trying to remember each person’s unique noise they made when they approached her and she had more than enough time to practice. “princess... sorry to bother you, but lady fowler has arrived,” she heard one of her servants say as the princess quickly turned to greet the familiar face. 

"ophelia, you’ve made it,” she uttered with almost a sense of relief as the princess quickly made her way to greet her. friendships outside of her own family were hard to come by for eleyana but she always treasured the one she shared with ophelia, so much so that she was not afraid to stretch the truth a little bit about needing her services every now and again. it was always a sore muscle here or a odd ache there to urge the healer to pay a visit to sunspear.

[sebcastellanos]

countdown to season 8 → favourite location: the water gardens in dorne

People everywhere have their differences. In some places the highborn frown upon those of low birth. In other places, the rape and murder of women and children is considered… distasteful. What a fortunate thing for you, former Queen Regent, that your daughter Myrcella has been sent to live in the latter sort of place.

[anyataylorjoys-deactivated20171]

[eleyanamrtll]

dastan-allyrion​:

eleyana:

eleyana shrugged her shoulders, her head shaking slightly at his words in some sort of defeat. “well, if that’s true.. you’re doomed dastan allyrion,” she teased, her a tight-lipped smug smile appeared across her face. the princess knew his allegiance to house martell, a bond far too strong to ever overstep no matter how badly that feeling burned deep in the pit of her stomach. for eleyana she understood dastan was in no position to cross that boundary with her father, but she wondered if she could ever collect that type of strength to do so. for years she had to be strong for herself and her family she wondered if all that strength finally ran out, dried out in the dornish sun. 

there was a part of her that wished that dastan’s words were just polite formalities that any noble lord would throw out to their ruling family. maybe then the words would sting less once they parted again, a feeling that eleyana began to familiarize herself with. in the end, she knew there was always something driving them apart. “i would hope so,” she murmured softly as her eyes studied a face that she had done hundreds of times over and over again. eleyana’s smile faltered slightly as she came back to earth and her better judgement rested heavy in the middle of her forehead. 

her gaze moved to look down at the ground for a moment, well aware of where they were and what they were to each other now. “you know, for years i wished for nothing more to venture out of dorne, to explore the rest of westeros. but now that i’m here i wish nothing more to go back home. i suppose it’s all one cruel joke.” 

Dastan smiled briefly. He could almost laugh, and when he did it sounded like a scoff and a sigh all at once. Eley was saying he was a doomed man. Didn’t he know it… Many people called him lucky growing up, saying how blessed he ought to feel for being alive when his brother had the misfortune of having the accident. Dastan had been there. It could have easily been him. He thought about it constantly, almost feeling like he was living on borrowed time for being the lucky one when Hasaryn wasn’t. And his father… He would soon bury his father, he could feel it in his bones. Lord Arstan didn’t have much time left, and just thinking about losing a man he respected and loved so deeply- The lord put an abrupt end to that train of thought. And here, looking at Eleyana, being around her; it was hard not to think of what they once had and how it had been lost forever. Another thing to add to that quiet sorrow that his mother said ran through his veins. He had been fortunate in so many ways, ways he didn’t take for granted. But it was hard to ignore than when life, fate, the Gods; had chosen to rip away something, it always was what lived inside his heart. One day there might not be anything left in it.

“Careful what you wish for. Isn’t that what some say?” he mentioned with a quiet voice, trying to sound light-hearted as he was too acutely aware of the depths which their conversation might.go into. He could open his heart and mind to Eleyana any other time, but not here and not now. There were plenty of people in attendance and the relative privacy of this moment was sure to end soon. He felt somewhat fortunate that he had already gotten this time before someone came to get the princess to meet and talk with other royals and noble folk, or before someone came looking for him. “I am glad you finally see the world outside of Dorne,” he added after a moment, inevitably recalling those times when they had spoken about it when they were younger and more naive. Seeing the world for curiosity’s sake, for adventure’s sake. Now they were both outside their homeland and it was just for politics. “If only it was under your terms,” he dared to say, aware of the defiant subtext against her father -maybe even against her brother, his good friend- but his words didn’t ring poisonous, more like a hopeful but withering wish.

And there it was. One of his men called his name from a few meters away, excusing himself for interrupting. An inaudible sigh escaped him and he turned back to Eleyana with a gentle smile across his lips, a smile that didn’t truly reach his eyes. “Duty calls,” he told her. “I’m glad we got to talk for a bit, Eley,” he said as he reached for her hand, placing a light kiss to her knuckles. He couldn’t help but hope he might get another chance to be around her later in the evening.

fin

[eleyanamrtll]

@riyanshmartell​ !! setting: after the dornish-reach banquet

in some aspects of her life eleyana could practice patients and see how the tides would turn. she was used to waiting and observing how others would react to try predict their next moves. but in other moments, especially ones concerning her family, her patience and temper held a short fuse. the princess barged past the guards into her brother’s chambers moments after the the gathering ended. she felt as if she waited the anger would build and build until she finally burst. her frame pushed past the heavy chamber door and entered without a single knock or notice. “well... did you honestly think that telling me about loreza’s betrothal for the first in front of all those people was a smart move?” this wasn’t exactly a time for hello or how are you. 

the words said in those moments rang in her head as she looked at her brother dead in the eyes. she may have felt insecure and even embarrassed at the banquet from both of her brothers remarks, but now in this moment those feelings melted away and exposed the fury that she failed to show earlier. as a little girl she wanted nothing more to be like him, strong like him, talented like him, a fighter just like him. but now as she stood before him she didn’t see the person she wished to emulate so deeply. all she saw was a fool. perhaps she had finally become just like him after all. eleyana felt the air around them grow thicker and thicker with each passing moment. the rage she bottled up in her chest during the dinner finally spilling out in pools around the room.

 “was it amusing for you? to watch my eyes widen in shock and my chest tighten before your very eyes? to see me look like a surprised, naive girl in front of everyone.” she mocked as she stood firmly in place. her tone was cruel and spiteful, a feeling familiar to eleyana and one that came natural to her, no matter how much she hated to admit it. she remembered the blank stare she gave at the dinner table and how small it made her feel. while others might have rejoiced in such celebratory news eleyana saw it as nothing but a shortcoming of her family. and for what reason? all because of her brother’s own pride? 

[eleyanamrtll]

rhea-florent​:

eleyana​:

“Gods,” Rhea spoke in a breathy, surprised manner as a dagger flew mere inches away from her. For a moment her heart began to race, an immediate surge of adrenaline kicking in due to that swift brush with danger. The Mistress of Whispers schooled her expression into a calm one, however, easily appearing serene and polite. “Perhaps I should have had someone announce me first, your Grace,” she stated with a soft chuckle, daring to keep moving towards the Martell princess at a leisurely pace. She stopped just a couple of paces away from her and bowed her head in a gracious manner, “I apologize, I didn’t mean to disturb your practice. My name is Rhea Florent. It is a pleasure to formally meet you”.

Rhea had only seen Eleyana briefly in past occasions and no words had been exchanged then. It seemed the princess had only recently begun travelling out of Dorne. She was someone the lady had studied, of course, and if the whispers she had heard about her were true -and Rhea had reliable enough sources to know they were-, the princess was a very formidable young woman, someone who had started to mold her fate after an unfortunate past circumstance. She was the sort of person the Florent lady would wish to keep as an ally. “Your skill with those daggers is impressive,” she mentioned, “and I can see your aim is true”. The blades deeply embedded on the target ahead were enough evidence that had Eleyana wanted her throwing dagger to sink in Rhea’s chest as she approached, it would have.

.

her brows furrowed as she watched as the woman walked closer. she knew then that this woman must have been more than just a curious eye. any other observer would simply apologize and run off or even flee before eleyana could utter a word. florent. that name sounded strangely familiar to the princess, but she couldn’t exactly pin point the reason why it sounded familiar. eleyana knew that it was a name from the reach and normally she was kept up to date of the important people from the kingdom due to their rather tumultuous relationship with dorne. as cunning as she was it was surprising eleyana could not predict what lady florent’s intentions were with this meeting. the treaties were settled and the negotiations were finished,  meaning this business was separate from anything else. 

“no need. i should be the one apologizing to you after my rather unsavory first impression. pleasure to meet you as well, lady florent.” her voice composed yet skeptical of the woman’s agenda. but the princess hardly minded. for eleyana, she saw this interaction as a potentially lucrative connection to have in her back pocket if ever needed. any relations she could form with the reach after their treaty could do nothing but ensure that the kingdoms stayed in each other’s good graces. “thank you, i appreciate the kind words,” eleyana said with a faint smirk as she looked behind her at the targets and back at rhea. if her father could see her now she didn’t know if he would be disappointed at her bold behavior, actions that teeter the edge of threatening, or if he would be impressed at her aim. “do you partake in such... hobbies?” 

[eleyanamrtll]

dastan-allyrion​:

eleyana:

Dastan nodded slowly, solemnly. He was here for Dorne’s sake. For his family’s sake. An alliance to the Vale, the Reach or the Westerlands would do. Her family would appreciate the strengthening bonds his family was seeking to establish… even if Eleyana might not feel too content about it. Gods, what would he say to her? She wasn’t his, he wasn’t hers, and yet- At some point he would have to tell her of his father’s wishes and how that had taken shape in Dastan’s intent to keep them.

“Too late. He has heard me say it, Eley,” he admitted with a chuckle, before he took a sip of his wine. He was sworn to House Martell, after all. His vows to stand by them weren’t just something intangible he inherited from his father’s allegiance to them, Dastan had actually promised it before Nymor and Riyansh. He would have liked to make such a promise before Eleyana as well, but at that time, unbeknownst to him, his father kept her in a tower. He only learned that truth from Eley herself much later and Dastan couldn’t help but wonder if he would have made that promise to her father had he known he was the one responsible for the way she vanished one day…

“I’m glad you’re here as well,” he easily confessed, offering a smile to the Dornish princess as their glasses clinked together. He raised his glass in silent toast after that, looking at her in the eyes as he drank. Some said it was bad luck to toast without eye contact. Not that Dastan was too superstitious, but why tempt fate? And he couldn’t say he was against that particular superstition at the moment.

.

eleyana shrugged her shoulders, her head shaking slightly at his words in some sort of defeat. “well, if that’s true.. you’re doomed dastan allyrion,” she teased, her a tight-lipped smug smile appeared across her face. the princess knew his allegiance to house martell, a bond far too strong to ever overstep no matter how badly that feeling burned deep in the pit of her stomach. for eleyana she understood dastan was in no position to cross that boundary with her father, but she wondered if she could ever collect that type of strength to do so. for years she had to be strong for herself and her family she wondered if all that strength finally ran out, dried out in the dornish sun. 

there was a part of her that wished that dastan’s words were just polite formalities that any noble lord would throw out to their ruling family. maybe then the words would sting less once they parted again, a feeling that eleyana began to familiarize herself with. in the end, she knew there was always something driving them apart. “i would hope so,” she murmured softly as her eyes studied a face that she had done hundreds of times over and over again. eleyana’s smile faltered slightly as she came back to earth and her better judgement rested heavy in the middle of her forehead. 

her gaze moved to look down at the ground for a moment, well aware of where they were and what they were to each other now. “you know, for years i wished for nothing more to venture out of dorne, to explore the rest of westeros. but now that i’m here i wish nothing more to go back home. i suppose it’s all one cruel joke.” 

[angel-e-v-a]

Yennefer of Vengerberg | 01x07 ➤ Before a Fall

[eleyanamrtll]

lys-loanshark​:

The Shadows We Live In

@eleyanamrtll

Amon was not one to cause a heated debate with his own father. They tended to always disagree between themselves in a backbiting manner. Amon would hide the evidence of ever knowing his fathers intentions. It would be all the more fun to see the control slip from his fingers.

He made his preparation under the guise of visitation based purely on business, a harmless venture in his fathers eyes. He didn’t know what Amon had discovered yet. The bigger concern was how he could secure such ties and simultaneously bleed his fathers wealth into his own image. He assume watch the man drown on his own greed than give him a victory pioneered on Amons shoulders.

Eleyana Martell was not a hard woman to find. A name he knew well, a far better match than the previous attempt. He was led in by a servant and sat at a table with some fresh fruit for the taking. Unannounced visits were his specialty. Carefully worded, he instructed them to announce that lord Rogare was passing by and needed to discuss business with lady Eleyana Martel.

Amon positioned his back to the door so that all one could see was the outline of crossed legs exposed about the edges of a tall backed armchair. He could hear the rushing as she entered the room, a couple smile tugging at his lips, “hello, it’s lovely to meet you. I fear that my father failed to mention he was speaking on my behalf. Please sit, we have business to discuss.”

.

eleyana could hardly shake the uneasiness she felt from the moment she woke. her mind never stopped racing thinking about the future she was securing for herself. no matter what scenarios she played in her mind none of her options were simple or easy. all came with a certain level of sacrifice that made her question her decisions and her happiness. as if happiness had anything to do with all of this. the princess was well aware of the power she now held to decide her next steps. after years of feeling like a captive in her own home it all started to unravel before her own eyes. eleyana often dreamed of what this feeling would be like, lying awake thinking how it must feel to have that type of free will. now that she had it she all she could feel was a sharp pain in her side. eleyana let out a small sigh as she pushed through the doors of her chambers to try and relax after another restless night. 

she wasn’t alone. the princess let out a quiet gasp, eyes widened as she heard the unfamiliar voice speak. she wondered what her guards were even good for at this point. her hand immediately reached for the sun pendant that was strapped to her arm. to the unknown eye it glistened like a beautiful piece of jewelry to represent house martell. but for eleyana she knew better as she had this armlet custom made specifically for her.  each ray of the sun was sharpened nearly as precisely as one of her daggers. it wasn’t a weapon that could necessarily kill but enough to distract and surely enough to wound. father? her face dropped. she stopped herself before allowing herself to throw at the realization of who stood in presence set in.

 “amon rogare,” eleyana uttered in shock, her heart rattling like a wild bird in her ribcage. she didn’t expect him to join them in the vale and she truly thought she would meet this man for the first time just days before their own wedding. they were strangers to each other, only knowing bit and pieces of each other’s lives, the pieces that others chose to tell. if this was what he believed would be a good first impression it was clearer now more than ever that these two knew nothing of each other. “i was not informed you would me making the journey here.” she admitted and finally took a breath. “to say that this is a surprise would be quite the understatement.” 

[eleyanamrtll]

@rhea-florent​ !!

hazel hues narrowed at the target in front of her, the gold plating the only visible part of her dagger which was sticking straight of the slab of wood. it was an odd feeling for her to train outside of dorne. she remembered one of her earliest mentors telling her to never reveal the full potential of her talents. she was taught that surprise was her biggest advantage to take down any possible threat in her way. it seems as though that mantra carried far longer and deeper than she ever expected. she felt her chest heave up as she examined her work from a distance. it was nearly perfect, for her standards at least. not much had changed since she left dorne and all of this felt like second-nature to the princess. at this point her daggers were merely an extension of her own hands, much like a long sword to a solider. but unlike a long sword eleyana was able to extend her hand far greater distances than any solider with their sword ever could. 

she had mastered a deadly skill that had the potential to kill anyone at anytime with one throw. yet, it was a skill that was not useful in a battle field and could hardly get recognition on some of the largest stages among westeros. though, it hardly made her any less grateful of her abilities and after all it kept her safe. her eyebrow raised slightly at a shuffle coming from behind her. eleyana felt her breathing slow slightly as she carefully reached for one of her daggers resting along her hip. she knew that the eyrie was allegedly safe for all the nobles that resided there for the time being, but that never stopped eleyana feeling like she was always being watched. it was a feeling that would make even the most sane man feel paranoid.

 in one swift motion, her arm quickly grabbed the dagger and with a back-handed throw she flung the dagger in the direction of the suspected person. it all happened seemingly in one hazy flash. she watched from the corner of her eye as the dagger closely grazed the person, without  actually slicing them or intending to cause harm. eleyana turned fully to face the person she nearly used as her next practice target. her racing heart started to calm as she looked at the face that was staring back at her. it wasn’t one that she recognized, but she could say that about most of the people here. all she knew for sure that this woman wasn’t an imminent threat to her. a threat in general? now that was something the princess was still unsure about. “gods... i thought...” she trailed off before collecting herself. “my deepest apologies for that. i wasn’t expecting any spectators.” 

[eleyanamrtll]

riyanshmartell​:

𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑎 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙.

Riyansh didn’t often speak or think ill of their father and his decisions. For the longest time he had the mans undivided attention – years after his sisters were born even, considering there was little their father could entrust to them but his affections while they were children. The trajectory his life compared to his sisters was very different and they were met with a very different paternal figure as well as the years took their toll. Riyanash hadn’t realized it when he was younger perhaps but reflecting back he could note the change in Nymor after the death of his mother, he’d been too young to truly gage the bond they’d shared back then but if it was anything like what he felt for his beloveds he could only imagine, even if love could be found again such a lose would always linger.

Though even he could see his fathers inconsistencies and shortcomings in recent years. Riyansh was in a privileged position where their father heeded his council, and often reconsidered their course upon his insistence, and he knew this was not always the case with his sisters, and most often Eleyana. “If it wasn’t a course I supported I’d hardly present it to you, Eleyana. The Eyrie is soon to be vacated by it’s most prominent guests, your time will be far better spent sharing your observations with father in person to better plan our next course of action. And of course considering your safety is my preeminent duty.” As he finished some of the sternness left his face and he offered her a warm smile. “Are you too old now to allow your elder brother that mercy, Eleya?”

.

mercy. she stopped herself from rolling her eyes at her brother’s comment. she hoped her siblings knew better than anyone else that mercy was a luxury eleyana only afforded to them. it was an act that she believed few deserved to experience, so much so she rarely even allowed it for herself. “have i ever showed you anything less than mercy, brother?” eleyana said lightly and returned riyanish’s smile, an action that was second-nature to her. she owed some of her fondest moments from her childhood to her older brother, a safety net for her fear since she was a young girl. now instead he acted as a buffer between her and her father. 

eleyana pulled the dagger from the wooden table in one swift motion and secured it back into the strap that clung against her bare thigh. she never could shake the paranoid thoughts that at any moment she would have to protect her own life. the sound of home lifted some of the weight she felt while being here in the vale. the princess did not know if it was the high altitude or the fear of disappointing dorne that often left her breathless within the castle walls. “going back home sounds like a dream,” she admitted as her face softened and the memories of sunspear and the water garden flooded her mind. the image of their youngest sister waiting for their arrival back home. 

“even if it is only a short amount of time,” the tenderness of her facial features suddenly turned hard and stoic. her voice became low as a mass formed in her throat. she prayed more than anything that her brother could see behind her fear. “i’m sure father has informed you that i have secured a betrothal with amon rogare of lys.” eleyana kept her tone steady and her focus remained on a spot on floor in front of her, afraid that if she looked her brother in the eye he would see her quake in trepidation. all she wished for in this moment was the strength to hold herself and her family together. 

[laurens-german]

Anya Chalotra as Yennefer of Vengerberg in The Witcher (2019—)

[eleyanamrtll]

ofthedunes​:

longevity, the greater picture. they were all words that sounded beautiful, optimistic and drenched in a sweet sense of idealism. there was much the lord of blackmont had sacrificed in his life for the sake of duty, including any of the small moments of happiness that could once have been; it was by pushing away these small moments of happiness did he keep such a firm grip on his sense of duty. for love was the death of duty, as it always had been, for all of time. letting out a low sigh, the man simply looked sideways at the woman, somewhat surprised by her open nature; calling him brother - though perhaps not entirely displeased.

“when this all comes down on us…” he began, getting to his feet and extending a hand for the woman to help rise herself from her seat. they had soon gotten lost in time, speaking of matters that needed to be brought into the open, and the sun had long since set in the sky. “which it will…” with so many strangers in a castle where they too were perhaps more strangers than anyone, he intended on escorting the martell princess back to her chambers for the night. it were unlike them, considering the lands where they came from was one where a woman, whether she be princess or commoner, was able to walk safe - for the most part. 

“i’ll resist the i told you so.” no, instead he would be there, ready to defend his house, his people, and by extension, those he shared blood with - to his dying breath. watching as the woman got to her feet, he cleared his throat somewhat and allowed her to take the lead, remaining a few steps behind her. “and you?” he asked - how are you? though such words seemed to choke before coming from his tongue. “anything interesting?”

.

eleyana did not need ryon blackmont to show her brotherly love or even agree with her for that matter, but she did need him to understand her and why she thought the way she did. it would be that very understanding that would sustain their kingdom in such an otherwise volatile future. the princess set her eyes on his extended hand and paused for a moment before taking it. “i wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” the princess said with a small smile as she looked up at him. 

for eleyana it was a pleasant change to feel a slight weight lifted from her shoulders. not every moment needed to be so heavy, they both at least deserved that simple relief.  maybe this offer was a small start for the two. yet, eleyana was cautious enough to not celebrate, knowing that they had a very long way to go. the pair walked in silence for a moment with only the sound of their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. 

“interesting?” her voice trailed off thinking about where to even begin. she was always so used to putting on a facade around others for her own personal gain that she didn’t know how to interact with a person she cared for but still saw as a stranger. “in the positions we live in we run across the spectrum of unspeakable pain on one end and the lavish ways we cope with it on the other. not much usually lies between.” her tone was calm and for a moment looking down the seemingly never-ending hallway she forgot she was in the presence of another person. “so in short... no, nothing interesting has been going on in my life as of late.” she remarked as she came back into her body. “and yourself?” she asked, glancing over at him. 

[eleyanamrtll]

dastan-allyrion​:

eleyana​:

Always a loyal man towards the Dornish rulers, Dastan would have acted according to what House Martell asked of him. But this wasn’t such an occasion. “Believe it or not, this time I was sent here at the request of my own father,” the lord admitted. He deeply trusted Eleyana but he wasn’t quite certain this was the place to inform her about his father’s decreasing health. Lord Arstan Allyrion was far past his prime, and while still possessing a healthy mind, the same couldn’t be said about his general physical state. It wasn’t discussed often amongst the family because none of them could conjure up an unfortunate future by speaking it into existence. His father had talked directly to him, however. He wished to see Dastan married and with an heir of his own before dying, to have some assurance that House Allyrion continued to lay foundations for a stable future. House Martell was moving pieces on the board and their sworn houses were doing so as well, seeking to strengthen Dorne as a whole. So he was to seek beneficial alliances for his people. Marriage. But he could never marry the one woman he would have chosen because the decision of Eleyana’s future would never be up to him. “Your father and mine have a way of seeing eye to eye,” he managed a light-hearted chuckle, “so here I am. A humble servant”. He had to swallow down the irony of how much that statement didn’t apply in the single matter he wished it could. Too much joined their houses. Nymor Martell and Arstan Allyrion were close friends, a son and a daughter had joined in matrimony. Too much… So there was no point in seeking further closeness when they already had it all. 

.

her brow furrowed slightly at his words and she wondered the motive behind arstan allyrion’s plans to send dastan if not for her father’s command. it was no secret that the more dornish support the martells had in the vale was always a comfort to her family. but it was not a journey that a lord would not choose to make without the possibility of a high reward. no natter the reason though she knew for certain that being able to stand with dastan in this moment was a comfort to her. home didn’t seem as far away now. 

“well i know better than to question your father’s motives. his decisions have never wronged us in the past,” she shrugged as she poured more wine into both of their glasses. eleyana was more than familiar with the closeness of their fathers and despite their friendship it was not enough. it never seemed to be enough. her gaze lifted from their cups to match his own and she couldn’t help but let a content smile spread across her face at the realization that dastan was actually here with her. the look in her eyes possessed a familiar kind of hue to it.

 “gods...don’t let my father hear you say that, for your own sake and sanity,” she teased. her tone might have been light-hearted, but she knew all too well the weight that her family put on duty. perhaps she also knew deep in her mind that this weight  was heavy enough to crush the both of them. “he will never let live down your word.” eleyana wasn’t quite sure if she was warning dastan or herself, maybe both. “well regardless of whoever sent you here to the eyrie i’m sure they’re grateful for you venturing so far from home,” she smiled and clinked her glass against his lightly. “i know i am.” 

[moirainedamodred]

tell me what you want  I want everything!