"Does it feel strange going to your chambers?" I teased Oberyn.

We were walking arm-in-arm through the corridors of the Maidenvault which housed the chambers of his Dornishmen and daughters.

"They're more the girls chambers than my own." Oberyn chuckled, a genuine smile gracing his face as it always did when talking about his girls.

I hummed in agreement, guiding him through the main entrance. On the other side was a large anteroom that connected corridors leading to their particular set of guest apartments.

Nearing closer, I tried to refrain myself from chewing on my lip in nervousness. Oberyn had made clear the girls were incredibly important to him, a fact that the people of the seven kingdoms knew well. The rumours had spread like wildfire when the news of illegitimate children was discovered. Unlike the majority of noblemen, Oberyn didn't hide his girls away and stepped up to claim them as his own flesh and blood.

Before Oberyn could guide me into their chambers, I pulled us to a halt.

"What if they don't like me?" I asked, squeezing onto his upper arm for support.

"They will." Oberyn's words were confident, the complete opposite of how I felt. Anxiousness was poisoning my body like a disease, overtaking my mind until the only thing standing in front of me was the girl's rejection.

Oberyn's arms snaked around my waist, pulling me into his body in an attempt to put out the fire of nerves.

"What if they think I'm too young for you, too naive and silly."

"No 'what ifs' Kendra." He mumbles into my hair.

I pull away from him slightly, just enough space between us for me to rest my chin on his chest. I looked up into his eyes poking out my bottom lip, wanting to escape to our chambers or the gardens or anywhere but here.

"They're going to like you just as much as I do." Oberyn smiled, his eyes softening the more he spoke. "And you know why?"

"Why?" I whispered.

"Because you're strong-"

I scoffed at his words, strong? People had called me many things but strong was never one of them. I wasn't even strong enough to stand up to my perfect little brother or my standoffish mother.

"No, you are strong." He repeated, gently circling his thumbs around in the fabric resting on my hips. "I'm not wasting my time, merely building a life with my future wife. My future wife who is beautiful, kind and strong."

"Your Mother has made many tremble with fear but you toss her words to the side as if they were dust on a mantle piece." He smirks, clearly remembering the times Mother's words have only made my eyes roll. Perhaps that was a victory in itself. To not retaliate to my mother's taunts was the opposite of what she wanted.

"Well, not everyone knows she's really a cat in a lion's skin." I smiled, letting my self-confidence override my doubt as if it were the heat that evaporated water.

"Feeling better now?" Oberyn asked, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitance.

"Yes, thank you." I smiled, leaning up on my tiptoes to connect our lips in a sweet kiss. "Now lets meet those sandsnakes of yours."

Oberyn chuckled, offering his arm once again to pull me through the doors of his chambers.

We entered, to my surprise the room was empty but Oberyn's smile stayed fixed on his face as he walked us towards the balcony. Once outside a burst of wind cooled the nervous sweat layering my skin.

And there they stood, the Sand Snakes, yet only four of the eight were present in a small line they had created.

Instead of focusing on the lack thereof, I payed attention to the girls in front of me. My gaze moved along the line of the three Sand Snakes, the first could not be more than five years younger than I. She was a understated beauty; her hair was not blonde nor her eyes green like a Lannister but she radiated a look of simplicity. Perhaps it was the way her olive skin glowed or the way her eyes lit up at the sight of her Father that made me feel at ease in her presence. Her long lashes framed her eyes and her plump lips smiled softly, she wore her long black hair in a single braid which matched the naturalness of her beauty. The next girl looked much like her older sister although her hair was styled more intricately, the same goes for her style of dressing. Her embroidered gown being the opposite of the elder sister's trousers and tunic. Then the next girl, she looked awfully familiar. Her golden dress covered in small suns sent a pang of recognition through my body and It wasn't until I looked into the blue eyes that were a near replica of her Father's did it click inside my brain of who she was, Dorea. The last Sand Snake stood fiddling with her small fingers, she was by far the youngest of the four and similarly shared her sisters features.

I didn't know what to expect from Oberyn's girls but the child I'd thought a servant took me by surprise. Although her playfulness at the time should have been a hint at her parentage.

Almost immediately Dorea came running in my direction, wrapping her delicate arms around my waist. She stared up at me with the same innocents as before and snuggled her cheek into my stomach.

"Dorea, it's lovely to see you again." I smiled, my voice making her head raise up and rest her chin on my midsection.

"Kendra, I knew you were the princess."

"And to think I had you fooled," I laughed stroking her messy hair away from her face. She loosened her surprisingly tight grip on me and I fell to my knees to be level with the Sand Snake. "You didn't get into too much trouble I hope?"

She sends me a toothy grin, "Me? Never."

"I suppose you were just playing games." I smiled and teared my eyes away from her form to find Oberyn gazing at us curiously.

When he noticed me looking in his direction the corners of his lips turn up into a smile, muttering about his Dorea already betraying him.

"Well are you secretly acquainted with all my children or do you need introductions?" I shake my head in response, both Dorea and I laughing at Oberyn's raised eyebrow and smirk.

Oberyn moves himself to stand behind the tallest Sand Snake. "Elia," he named the girl kissing her cheek before moving along the small line. "Obella," he nodded towards the middle child. "And my youngest Loreza."

The Sand Snake stood timidly in front of her father, reaching her small hands back to grab Oberyn's trouser legs. He bent down whispering unknown words into her ear and she immediately cheered up. Loreza looked sickly sweet with wispy black hair, bright eyes and olive tanned skin.

"Now girls, I believe the chef has prepared some pastries for you."

At his words the two youngest Sand Snakes raced into the adjacent chamber, Elia and Obella following behind them to sit at the table adorned with various cakes, biscuits and teas.

Oberyn joined my side, resting his hand on the small of my back as we walked towards the girls. His hand discreetly lowered to cup my arse cheek, smirking when I yelped in surprise and smacked his hand away. I made my own way to the table with a flushed face and small smile.

Oberyn's face showcased a wide grin as he sat himself between me and Loreza, the young girl ignoring her place and moving to settle herself on her father's lap. I smile at the sight, gazing at the Sand Snake with longing. My craving for a child of my own was not a new desire, well known by Oberyn and my family.

"So, how do you like the capitol?" I asked.

"It isn't as nice as Dorne," Elia spoke first. "It isn't anywhere near as hot and the Blackwater Rush is freezing-"

"You swam in the river?" Oberyn spoke, intrigued by his daughters activities around King's Landing.

"Yes." She giggled, raising her fork of strawberry pie to her mouth.

"What am I to do with you, Elia Sand." Oberyn sighed. He was clearly joking, a brazen smile gracing his lips.

We talked for what seemed like hours, Oberyn and I keeping the conversation alive with giggles and stories of Dorne from Elia and Obella.

Elia spoke of her passion for horse riding and weaponry, not a surprise for the offspring of a Dornish warrior. Obella told stories of her adventures in the Water Gardens, whilst Dorea and Loreza's mouths were too full of food to even attempt conversation they looked at their sisters in amazement. It was easy to see the two youngest Sand Snakes worshipped their older siblings.

"Father?" Loreza interrupted Obella's description of the bay at Sunspear, she turned herself around in Oberyn's lap, licking the last of the lemon cake off her fingers before speaking. "Is Princess Kendra to be our new mama?"

I wasn't sure who was more shocked by Loreza's question, Oberyn or I. Whilst my heart filled with acceptance and love I didn't know if Oberyn felt the same rush of emotions. We had connected over the past days but whether or not he was ready to immerse me into his life was another question.

Before he had the chance to reply a womanly chuckle filled the room, "Loreza my little snake, why would you ask such a question?"

My body felt frozen at the sight of the exotic woman leaning against the doorway, her short curly hair bounced around her shoulders like black waves in a rough sea. She held her head high as she sauntered further into the room, I had never seen a woman look so determined as her eyes scanned Oberyn's close proximity to me. I too found myself analysing the woman's beauty gazing far too long for it to go unnoticed, the look of triumph on her face twisted a ball of jealousy in the pit of my stomach.

This was Ellaria Sand, beloved paramour of Oberyn Martell and mother to the four children whom had wiggled their way into my heart in a matter of hours.