Knowledge is power and ignorance is bliss.

However true that statement is, I was soon to find out.

My family wanted to protect me from the harsh realities of life in Westeros but I was soon to be thrown into a viper pit. The contradiction was so typical of court life.

The streets of King's Landing were always a marriage of sounds and the street of silks was tenfold, from vendors hollering to harlots seducing. Even in broad daylight the shenanigans continued. Although the tall buildings and narrow alleyways hardly allowed for much sunlight to shine through. The air still hummed with life from people moving every which way; a maze of music, song and desire.

I continued on my route, weaving between the people and avoiding their curious gaze. I attempted to disguise myself with a large black cloak but it hadn't the desired affect.

All the hustle and bustle caused a panicked heat over my skin. I held my breath and pursed my lips to steel myself against the feeling of being exposed.

The entrance to my destination was nondescript. A set of faded brown doors. Did one knock as they entered a brothel?

I twisted the knob and opened the door. 

The air felt heavy as I walked through its hallways. Its stagnant smell surrounded me as I flitted between hot, sweaty bodies.

The brothel was busy by all accounts. The main entrance had lead to an open court yard, corridors branching off to what I assumed were private rooms.

Silk canopies hung from the ceiling giving a bewitching feel to the otherwise run down building.

Couples were scattered throughout the space; kissing, touching and moaning. Almost like they took pleasure being out in the open, in being watched by others.

Gods, what was I doing here?

One look of recognition could have my reputation in tatters. I suppose then I would be out of this mess, but then thrown in to another.

Growing up in the Keep, I had watched courtiers come and go. Young ladies so full of life and excitement, the diamonds were married off quickly and others would wait on the side lines for their fairytale endings. Then there were the unlucky girls, swept up in a romance only to be ruined by rumour and innocent touches. I still remembered the poor Lady Marya who had been caught kissing the pirate lord, Davos Seaworth. It was the scandal of the Season.

Arranged marriages were very common in the Seven Kingdoms. More times than not, these marriages were a loveless political game. Almost a chess match between the high families.

It wasn't unusual for a husband to take lovers or even a long standing paramour.

Nevertheless, I hadn't pictured myself in such a position. To be quite honest with myself I hadn't thought much of the future. Was this the last time I would hunt for my husband in a dingy brothel?

I was the daughter of the King. I wasn't an ordinary highborn lady. I deserved the very best of men. Even if our marriage wasn't a love match.  

This wasn't what I wanted for myself.

How I longed to be free of the burdens I carried with me. Oberyn was a free man. Never restricted by the tight confines of a corset. Both physically and metaphorically, for I could feel the tightness in my chest from the boned structure I wore sunrise to nightfall. I was trapped at Court. My every move followed and whispered about. Even here surrounded by love-makers who paid me no mind; I was never alone, never unobserved.

The daughter of a king was the optimum of decorum and etiquette. I was expected to follow my duty, swallow my nerves and hold my head high. I most definitely wasn't supposed to be here, I shouldn't even know of its existence.

Maybe Oberyn was an unknowing gift. Would he be my escape from this gold gilded prison?

"I should have known you would follow me."

Shocked by the recognisable voice, I turned around quickly to find my uncle and his entourage.

With his gaze solely on me, he stood rigidly crossing his arms in front of himself, an unmistakable frown possessed his face. "My dear niece, must you always be such a curious little thing."

"Curiosity killed the cat." I began tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, a nervous habit I had adopted from Ada. "But satisfaction brought him back. Although I can't say my curiosity has been satisfied, did you find the Prince?" I questioned.

Tyrion sighed knowing I wouldn't let him brush away my questions. He nodded his towards the exit and we made our way out of the whorehouse.

"The Prince will be at the feast, that's all you need to know Kendra." He explained.

"What happened Uncle? If you found him why is he not with you?" I questioned him further, immediately forgetting about my guilt for exploring a house of ill repute and being caught by him. For why should the guilt lay with me, I was an innocent virgin princess and Oberyn was the one gallivanting around town.

"The Prince holds a hatred for certain members of the family." He said, referring to the animosity between the Houses Martell and Lannister. "He wanted a reaction from us, so let us leave the matter Kendra."

We walked away from the scandalous brothel and I denied the temptation to look back, knowing it would only displease me.

It took little time to return to the Red Keep. The familiar sight brought comfort to me and I split away from my uncle. My feet found the familiar path down through the cobblestones, the passageways were carved all throughout the belly of the Red Keep. As a young child I had explored my home, inside and out, the known and unknown quarters.

As the passageway began to expend a bundle of yellow hurried past me, pushing me against the rough stoned walls.

"I'm sorry Miss." A timid voice spoke and the yellow mass slowed down to a halt.

The young girl stood before me, her face split between cheekiness and guilt.

"It's alright." I assured, a few scraps on my hand was nothing really.

The Keep housed a great many servants and their families. The little creatures had minds of their own most times, defying rules and adventuring through all the hiding spots of the Keep.

Her eyes caught my attention the most; they gleamed with an innocent sparkle and were so incredibly dark you could hardly see her pupils. She wore a pale yellow dress, it was a plain garment finishing just below her knees, her feet were covered by a pair of shoes embroidered with little yellow suns to match and her hair, a deep black colour, fell in dainty curls along her neck.

Once she realised no harm would come, her lips stretched into a smile reaching her eyes and showing off her teeth.

The young girl let out a giggle moving her hand to grip my own, "I'm Dorea."

"Kendra." I grinned at her, continuing to hold her small hand. 

"Like the Princess." She commented, smiling widely as she swung our joined hands back and forth.

"Yes, I suppose so." I chuckled to myself at the irony. "What has you scurrying about so urgently?"

Dorea's bright smile transitioned to a coy smirk. She let go of my hand and her chubby little fingers moved to brush her curls away from her face. "I was just playing."

I hummed along, wondering what sort of trouble she was up to.

"I'll leave you to your games." I smiled. Dorea nodded her head politely, giggled a quiet goodbye and whizzed away. She was still in my view as she turned around a waved towards me, I returned the kind gesture and remained stood in the dim light.

I had no time to be dillydallying and with that in mind, I walked swiftly into my chambers.

"You know the feast is soon." Ada stated, eyeing up my dirty gown.

"I'm sorry, Ada, truly." I muttered, smoothing down the creases in my skirt.

Ada quickly had me strip and change into a new gown. Hopefully Oberyn would be present this time and Ada's effort wouldn't be for nought. The dress was a beautiful garment, the bodice a dark black material embroidered with golden detailing and a full black skirt followed. I would be wearing the colours of our house with pride.

Ada then motioned to my vanity and I took my seat in front of it. Whilst she fixed my hair pulling back any strands that had been freed since this morn, I took one of my many perfume bottles and dabbed it behind my ears and neck. The perfume had been imported from Dorne, and carried the scent of sweet exotic flowers.

"I must say you look beautiful." Ada said, stepping back from fiddling with my hair and to my side. She had redone my hair from this morning into a braid that pulled the top half of my locks away from my face, leaving the rest to fall down freely.

"Thank you Ada, you're a darling." I smiled, fondly clasping her hand in my own.

After taking a moment to compose myself I slowly began walking out of my chambers and down the hallway to Father's apartments. The guards immediately opened the doors for me to walk through, my parents already standing on the other side impatiently waiting to leave.

"How is it that you are always the one to delay us." Mother spat, the annoyance clear in her voice. She stood in an imposing manner holding tightly onto Joff's arm, he adorned an expression of irritation that conveyed Mother's tone of voice. Always Mother's copycat our Joffrey.

"I'm sorry Mother." I apologised bowing my head in her direction.

"There is no need to be sorry Kendra," Father objected, moving from the far side of the room to tenderly place a kiss upon my forehead. "Now let us be on our way."

The feast was well underway, music replacing the silent air and chatter overbearing the flutes. From our seats at the high table Father tapped my arm and directed my attention to the entrance of the hall. There I noticed an unknown man dressed in yellow and orange robes enter the feasting hall with an entourage of Dornish men.

It wasn't his goodlooks that captivated my interest but the way his tired eyes flashed with a sequence of emotions.

A small smile appeared on his face as he focused on the young children dancing and fooling around in front of the banquet tables, next they trailed along the wide range of foods placed a top of the long tables and his expression changed to one of hunger. The blue hue of his eyes found my grandfather and although it didn't seem possible to put so much anger into one look, they narrowed into a resentful glare. His eyes ran along the table passing my uncles with a glimpse of recognition and soon after to Father, then to me. I felt a hot blush rush up my neck and for a moment I thought my face was on fire from his heated gaze.

Prince Oberyn's eyes stared so intensely into my own that I thought I would faint at his power. He held a look of lust and desire.