( Prince Oberyn Martell POV )
Oberyn Martell was rather enjoying travel. He quite thought it suited him, sailing about from place to place, meeting new lords and small folk alike. It was a life of adventure that called to him.
Not one for seasickness, and a quick hand at just about anything, in his own estimation, he spent most of his time aboard the Sun-dagger on the deck, watching the captain drive the men, learning the ways of wind and sail, and chipping in to help here and there. The sailors certainly appreciated it, and nothing made Oberyn smile quite as wide as hearing the men call him a friend.
It was the sort of life he'd dreamed about, growing up in Sandspear. He'd sail the Stepstones fighting pirates, quest to Essos, and visit the ancient homeland of his Rhoynar ancestors. With the wind in his hair, he'd journey to far Yi-Ti and the shadowlands of Asshai, and see all that the world had to offer. In truth, his dreams hadn't changed much since he was a child, only that he'd discovered women in the meantime and found other things he wanted to explore also.
For now, however, he was under his mother's supervision, and Princess Ennella Martel had ruled all of Dorne by her wit and perception. He knew that he could get away with little while she was here.
"You're fidgeting Oberyn." The woman in question commented idly, sitting on the deck of the ship like she owned it, which she did. "Calm down, we'll be able to see the Rock soon enough."
"How do you know mother? You've never even seen the Rock yourself?" Elia, sitting beside her, asked curiously.
"Because child, we've passed Lobster Point, several hours ago and we're making a steady clip. The Rock is nearly half a mile high and six miles long. We'll be able to see it long before we see… ah, I believe that's it there now."
Oberyn blinked, following his mother's outstretched finger to see a distant red bump on the horizon. Glancing back at her he gave a pleading look. "Mother, may I hav-"
"Yes Oberyn, you may use the Far Eye." She smiled and shook her head. "Just share with your sister alright?"
"Of course!" Oberyn snatched the device up from beside his mother, and along with Elia rushed to the prow of the ship, pressing the bronze tube to his eye.
Over the distant bounding main, he could see the massive face of the Stony mountain rising up above the distant waves as if it stood alone a titan on the ocean. Red-brown stone in a monolithic shape. With the Far Eye's aid, he could make out along its walls countless tiny windows, balconies, lookouts, and battlements, covering the huge mountain as if it were an anthill. At its very top, he made out what looked like a watchtower, protruding from the summit. The top of the watchtower had some sort of wooden structure with windows that glinted in the sun's light, but he couldn't make out more than that from so far away.
"That is a big castle…" the Princeling mumbled, of those windows and battlements were of normal size… "You could fit the whole town of Sunspear inside that mountain and the back end of it would reach nearly to the Water Gardens." He idly handed the far eye off to his sister, his eyes still fixed on that distant red lump on the horizon. Oberyn had seen the Hightower in Oldtown just a few weeks ago, but the sheer difference in scope was enormous. "I can see why they call it the greatest seat in the Seven Kingdoms." He murmured to himself. "Just the sheer distance you'd need to walk from one end of the castle to the other."
"They must have miles of passageways," Elia noted beside him. "Running all through it like a beehive. Halls and tombs and mines… I hear the Lannisters have been mining the Rock for thousands of years and yet still find new veins of gold there. No wonder they say Lord Tywin shits gold-"
"Elia!" Their mother chastised them. "We're going to meet that Lord Tywin, do try to keep your tongue in check girl."
"Sorry Mother…" his sister grumped, before handing him back the far eye. He could see Lannisport now as well, the city stretching out to the South of the Rock and its busy harbor filled with merchants and warships.
"Seems the Lannister fleet is in the harbor. Will we be docking there?"
"No." Ennella shook her head. "According to the letters, we should dock inside the Rock."
"Inside?" Elia sounded curious, but Oberyn didn't hand her the far eye back yet. He was curious himself after all.
"Ah, I see, there are great caves in the ocean at its base. The Lannisters must have a dock inside." Oberyn smirked as a thrill went through him, handing the far eye back to Elia once again. "The world is truly full of wonders. I had thought Old Town was impressive, but this castle holds greater wonders yet!" He paused for a moment. "Only, I hope this doesn't spoil me on smaller castles."
"Size is good, but it's not the only thing that matters Oberyn." His mother teased, making him blanch at her innuendo, while Elia only laughed.
"So this was Lady Joanna's home, mother?"
"Indeed." The Princess of Dorne nodded. "She spoke of it fondly when we were in the Queen's service together. She said it was far better than King's Landing. I have to admit I see the appeal, we could smell King's Landing from here if we were visiting the city."
They all got a good laugh at that. Their mother smiled along and speculated on just how much gold was really hidden inside the Rock and how far one had to walk to find a privy as the crew of their ship brought them at last into the towering caves at the base of the mountain.
The smooth rock of the cave mouth formed an oval some 200 feet high, which in Oberyn's mind put into perspective that yes, all of those battlements and balconies he had seen on the mountain above were full-sized. This castle truly was the largest in the world.
The inside of the bay held a large dockwork, with eight or nine piers and several shipyards. Along the roof, there were great cranes strung up, which seemed to be built to carry ships up onto a series of stilts that sat back inside the depths of the enormous cave. He could see several ships on those stilts now, where workers scurried about chipping barnacles off of the planks of well-traveled Dromonds or assembling new hulls entirely within the sea cave. The sounds of their hammers and words echoed around the high stone roof and made the cave feel alive with industry.
As they reached the dock within, and the gangplank was lowered, they were met by a greeting party of blond-haired, green-eyed nobility, with bright smiles and all-around Pleasantries.
"Welcome Princess Ennella, Princess Elia, and Prince Oberyn as well of course." A slightly portly blond man greeted them. "I'm Ser Kevan Lannister, brother and Castellan of my Lord Tywin, and this is my sister Lady Genna." He gestured to the cheerful blond next to him, who gave them all a friendly wave.
"And of course, these three youths are Tywin's children, my nephew's Jaime and Callum Lannister, and their sister Cersei." The two boys bowed slightly, while Cersei curtsied. Oberyn glanced down at them as the Dornish party descended the gangplank. They were quite a bit younger than him. Perhaps eight or so years, for the older ones, and ten for the younger. Still, they seemed pleasant enough. He knew that Jaime was the son and heir, but he hadn't heard of Callum or Cersei, so he greeted them in turn after their mother, who stopped to coo over the younger one, Callum.
"Ooh, you look just like your mother." She said sweetly, stopping to hold the boy's face up. "She had those same freckles."
"Ah-" the boy replied, seemingly taken aback by the closeness. Oberyn found it often put the Non-Dornish off guard. "I suppose. I've been told I also have her chin, her hair, and her eyes." Callum replied, before smiling. "I've also been told I've got my Father's mind though."
"And his bookishness." The boy's older sister chimed in, with a teasing but slightly mean tone.
"Cersei!" The elder brother said in faux shock before all three siblings started to giggle. Lady Genna seemed to join in on the laughter, while Ser Kevan looked distressed.
Oberyn blinked.
These blonds were strange.
Still, he supposed they made a better first impression than the Hightowers.
Who made you walk up eight hundred steps before they even greeted you?
'Then again…' Oberyn glanced over to the back of the Cave and noted the spiral staircase rather prominently rising into the rest of the castle. He thought of just how tall that watchtower at the top was and shuddered.
It seemed he'd be walking up steps whether he wanted to or not.
...
Chronicle of the Targaryen Dynasty in the Seven Kingdoms
Maester Willem
275 AC- Third moon
Princess Ennella Martell and two of her children arrive in Casterly Rock to visit with House Lannister at the end of their tour through Dorne, the Reach, and the Westerlands.
Lord Tywin Lannister takes a leave of absence as Hand of the King and returns to Casterly Rock to host them, but is delayed by a spring snowstorm on the Gold Road and arrives two weeks after the Dorneish party. Balon Greyjoy, son of Lord Quellon Greyjoy, suggests the creation of a standing navy controlled by the Seastone Chair in the Iron Council at Pyke but is rebutted by his lord father.
=======================
If you'd like to support my work, or get early access to chapters before public release you can join my P atreon
Link to join my p treon :
[email protected]/moonlight10