Tatiana awoke, just as the morning sun was breaking on the horizon. She slid around carefully in bed, so she could watch Oberyn sleep.

She smiled, watching as his chest rose and fell, with each breath he took. He truly was a handsome man.

As much as Tatiana hated the arrangement, she thought that at least her new husband was easy on the eyes.

And as she told Zara, he'd been kind to her. Oberyn stirred and Tatiana smiled as his eyes fluttered open.

He caught sight of Tatiana, lying there, awake and smiled himself. Oberyn reached for her and immediately Tatiana snuggled up against him.

"What would you doing just now, my love?" Tatiana giggled, reaching out to touch Oberyn's beard.

"I was thinking about taking advantage of you, in your sleepy state." Oberyn made a face.

"How incredibly naughty of you!" Oberyn suddenly grinned wickedly.

"You're a woman after my heart." Oberyn drew Tatiana closer, kissing her greedily.

There was a loud knock on their bed chambers door and a shout. Tatiana tensed up. What was happening?

Oberyn released Tatiana and tore the blankets aside, stepping out of bed and hurrying towards the door, hauling it open.

"What's happened?" Oberyn asked, his deep voice aggravated and tense.

"I beg your pardon, my lord, but a messenger has arrived early this morning."

The guard thrust a parchment of paper into Oberyn's hands, as Tatiana wrapped a blanket around her slender frame and exited the bed herself, joining her husband.

Oberyn opened up the letter, quickly reading it. Tatiana peered over his arm, trying to see what the news could be.

Her heart began pounding as she read the words. She looked at Oberyn, whose face had turned to stone.

"Oh, Oberyn! Whatever are we do to?"

"Fight, my love. It's the only option."

......

Oberyn had called in his guards, informing them of the threat of war, declared by Lord Werther.

Tatiana sat rigidly beside her husband, her entire being feeling more and more with dread as each minute passed.

She had known that Lord Werther was up to no good when she'd met them them a few weeks ago.

Her blood boiled at the very thought of that awful man trying to bully Oberyn into surrendering his kingdom to him!

Tatiana shifted uneasily in her seat. She wished she could tell Lord Werther a few things! And believe her, they wouldn't be anything polite.

Oberyn was was making a plan of attack with his guards and Tatiana watched his face. He looked so serene, yet strong.

Tatiana felt such admiration for this man sitting beside her that she wanted to reach out and hold him close.

However, that wasn't the proper action at this time. Her tenderness towards Oberyn could wait. His people needed him now.

They're very lives depended on it.

......

"I appreciate your patience and support, my princess." Tatiana finally had a moment alone with her husband and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close.

"I'm here for you, my Oberyn. I only wish I could be of more assistance."

"You're already doing more than enough, my love." Oberyn roughly kissed her and Tatiana kissed him back.

"How could they?" Tatiana whispered against Oberyn's cheek. "Try and lay claim to your throne?"

"Such is the life of a royal." Oberyn sighed, immediately looking as though he'd aged.

"I won't stand for such insubordination!" Tatiana cried, rage flowing through her veins, her pretty face twisted with anger.

Oberyn drew her close once again and held Tatiana's trembling form. He smiled. Perhaps he had been granted a great favor by marrying her.

"I feel as you do, Tatiana. Our foes shall not be victorious. We will prevail against them."

"I don't understand how you can stay so serene in this madness."

"I have no other choice, my sweet. Showing my rage during this time will only fuel Lord Werther's delight in my despair. I refuse to dignity that by reacting irrationally."

Tatiana leaned heavily against Oberyn. She knew he spoke words of wisdom. However, she wasn't sure that she'd be able to lead in his example.

........

Thane rode to the castle, hoping to catch at least a glimpse of Tatiana. He couldn't stop thinking about her.

It didn't help matters that Zara had continuedly taunted him by saying how much Tatiana seemed to be infatuated with The Red Viper himself .

Damn it all to hell! However could anyone, especially someone as sweet and innocent as Tatiana, far for that viper's pit of deceit?

Thane just didn't understand that.

Oberyn Martell was the devil himself. He had no morals. He took many people to his bed chambers and had his way with them before tossing them aside, like shit, when he was finished.

He had a cruel way of handling those who opposed him. He had a warped outlook on life.

Oberyn Martell thought that if he was decent enough to a few, then what did did it matter if the rest of the time he went around killing innocent people and screwing around even more?

It made Thane want to behead the bastard. Which is precisely what Oberyn Martell was. Nothing but a bastard son of a bastard son.

And his beloved Tatiana was trapped inside that twisted and perverse world, unable to be set free.

.......

Tatiana was out, having a horse ride. It felt good to get out of the stuffy castle and away from the heavy cloak of an impending war, waiting to erupt at any time.

Oberyn had insisted that a few guards accompany Tatiana and she was fine with such an arrangement.

With all the uncertainty and discord looming on the horizon, Tatiana had no desire to find herself taken prisoner in Lord Werther's estate, using her as a means to dethrone Oberyn.

Tatiana was lost in thought, when she was shocked back to reality by a few guards shouting at a lone rider, heading in her direction.

"Fear not, your highness," a guard assured Tatiana. "I will protect your life with mine."

As the rider drew nearer, Tatiana sucked in her breath. No. It couldn't be. How was it that Lord Thane Vaughn was here, in Dorne?

"Tatiana!" Thane shouted. "Tatiana, may I speak with you? Please? I'm begging of you!"

"How dare you address the princess so informally, sir!" A guard shouted, his sword posed for battle, if necessary.

"The princess," Thane snapped impatiently. "Is an old acquaintance of mine. We were quite close."

"That's of no concern now, sir! I will expect you to properly address her royal highness!"

Thane dismounted and walked over to Tatiana, giving an almost exaggerated bow.

"Your royal highness, would you speak with me momentarily?"

Tatiana nodded and a guard came to assist her down from her horse. Thane immediately took Tatiana's hand, raising it to his lips and kissing it.

Tatiana gave him a tense smile and quickly pulled her hand free. She had no intention of allowing Thane to be so intimate towards her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to make certain that you were all right, Tatiana. I hate that you're involved with that bastard, Oberyn."

"Hold your tongue!" Tatiana snapped, her face flushed red with anger.

"Oberyn is a kind and decent man! He's done nothing to you for you to feel such venom towards him!"

"He's a snake in royal clothing! He's not to be trusted." Thane gave Tatiana a long look.

"I thought you had more sense in that head of yours. Are you so bewitched by him already that you can't see him for he truly is?"

"Oberyn has done nothing to make me despise him," Tatiana replied haughtily. "He is a good man. Regardless of what shit you choose to believe."

Thane suddenly grabbed Tatiana, smashing his lips on to hers. The guards shouted, rushing towards Thane.

Tatiana immediately brought her hands up between them, shoving Thane so roughly that it caused him to stumble.

"Do not touch me in such a disrespectful manner ever again, Lord Vaughn! I am no longer yours! I belong to Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne!"

Tatiana hurried towards her horse,where a guard assisted her in mounting.

One guard had his sword pressed into Thane's chest.

"Shall I dispose of him, your highness?" The guard asked, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

"No. Come! Leave this traitor be." Tatiana rode towards the stables, trembling and angry.

"I'm not going to allow you to become brain washed by that bastard viper, Tatiana! You'll see! You'll all see!"

Tatiana closed her eyes briefly.

The whole damn world had gone mad.