Ronnet Connington SI

-Chapter 38-

-POV Oberyn-

I followed the tall and robust figure of the man who had brought the Lannisters to their knees, 'literally,' I thought as I looked at the Queen Regent showing signs of pregnancy.

And I found myself admiring this man, a few years younger than me, who had made his house one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, in the kingdom in less than five years.

Once the guards left with Varys's corpse, I followed the man because I wanted to have a real conversation with him.

I found him staring at the Iron Throne, and I said jokingly, "Do you want to sit on it?"

He nodded and said, "I'd like to, but I'm not legitimate enough, nor powerful enough. Sitting on the Iron Throne will bring me nothing but more and more trouble."

I nodded distractedly and then said, "You don't seem to hate or despise the Dornish. Most Stormlanders don't appreciate us."

"They are stupid. I'd like to have a friend like you, and I mean that sincerely, despite the fact that you probably want to tear my future child apart."

'Is that really what they think of me? Yes, I hate the Lannisters, but I would never kill a child.'

"Never..." I began, but he raised his hand and said, "I know, I shouldn't have insinuated such things. To be honest, if you ever want the Mountain's head, just say the word. I wasn't old enough back then, but such things won't happen again as long as I live."

I scrutinized his eyes and said, "You're very frank. That's rare in this cesspool to find someone so honest."

"That's why it works so well between Cersei and me. I'm the only person who tells her the truth because I'm naturally frank."

"You said frank, not honest?"

"I'm not an honest person, at least not all the time. I served Renly because I expected something from him, not because I loved him or even because he had a special charisma. I avenged him to claim the Stormlands and eliminate all possible opponents to my rise, as well as to take revenge on the houses that stripped us. I killed Stannis not because I loved the two kings I agreed to serve, but because I wanted his Valyrian steel sword, because I wanted to eliminate the last person who could have stood in my way, and to avenge Cersei."

I was stunned by his confession and said, "You're not afraid I'll tell all this now?"

"Everyone who could cause me problems already understands why I did what I did. And as I said, I hope to become your friend, but first, you need to understand that if you ever become a thorn in my side, I will have to eliminate you."

I frowned, ready to respond to his threats, but he raised his hand again and said, "I'm going to be a father. Don't take these as threats; I'm truly sincere. I don't want to, but I will if I must."

"The Lannisters took Elia from us."

"And you can take revenge on the old lion anytime you want. I don't care, but if you ever find yourself in contact with Daenerys Targaryen or Aegon Blackfyre, I will personally come to Sunspear, not because I want to, but because she will spare no family allied with the Lannisters."

"Hence the royal marriage of the king with the Tyrells. You want to unite the Kingdom against the dragons before they set foot on Westeros," I said, realizing why he was in such a hurry to unite the kingdom with the marriage of Tommen and Margaery, as well as his and Cersei's.

'He's afraid,' I thought.

"I don't want to fight; unfortunately, I'm extremely good at it," I said.

"A man against a dragon is not a fair fight."

He smiled confidently and then said, "I pity the dragon that stands in my way."

I stayed in the throne room alone and then shook my head in derision of his words.

'As if a human could kill a dragon.'