***ARIANNE MARTELL***
Overseeing construction of several small new harbors in the southwest region of her principality, Arianne Martell was accompannied by Maester Ajax, who was a tall gaunt man with a deep voice and an accent from The Westerlands. His eyes were dark silver and his hair a dark blonde like old gold that was passed around far too many times. He made sure to stay close to her while her princess guards walked behind her, looking around for dangers from every angle.
"There was a strange sensation I got when his grace looked at me, Ajax. It was like more than one person was watching and hearing everything I was saying to him. Im not sure if it was my nerves or my anxiety. I understand he isn't a normal king and a self-proclaimed former Stark, but he has this air of sincerity and honesty about him. I wanted to marry him even before he regained the use of his legs. An official royal marriage between our houses would have corrected so many problems of the past. I just don't know why he wants to marry a Dornish girl from a low or new house, how does that help him."
"He might have seen, with whatever powers or gifts he has, that although an official marriage between you two might have drawn Dorne closer to the crown. Even children between you two would have made relations between Dorne and The North strong given his sister's husband has a massive army. But at least a Dornish girl regardless of whichever house she comes from, will grace her people and her princess, by becoming his grace's first wife and Queen of the six kingdoms. Im sure you, like I, can't wait for that marriage that will be attended by noble dignitaries from all over Westeros."
"I suppose as long as his first Queen is a girl from Dorne, I can keep a close eye and ears on her. Have you anymore news to report on the affairs going on in Westeros." Princess Arianne asked.
"Tyrion Lannister, I heard, has just won or is on the cusp of winning against the turncoat faction of his family who tried to assasinate him and his wife and their supporters on his wedding day. Spies and locals who spread the news by word of mouth have described a scene straight out of the worst hell imaginable. Ungodly piles the size of hills, made up of burnt and melted human remains including horses and armor litter the fields. They're calling it the 'second field of fire' and it was all from help from Tyrion's foreign wife."
"I wonder if we should be worried about the little lion's new wife. Have you noticed something maester Ajax. King Bran has married that foreign girl who looks like a Targaryen even though she says shes not one. Queen Sansa has married a powerful prince from an extremely wealthy principality in Essos. He brought over one hundred thousand soldiers including members of his principality. And Tyrion Lannister has assailed impossible odds by defeating an army three times larger than his own, with help from his foreign wife."
"It seems that powerful people in Westeros are breaking from tradition and marying outside the realm, for what purpose? Love, power, influence, magical abilities, whose to say. What's on your mind my princess." Maester Ajax asked her, looking concerned.
"if a marriage between me and The King is off the table, how would a marriage to a foreigner benefit House Martell and Dorne. What do you think Ajax."
"Well my princess if you are speaking seriously, there are a few options that I can think of. What are you looking for specifically, good stock for a future leader, an inventor a warrior, or perhaps something mysterious."
"I would like a man who is strong, powerful, and has all the good markers of a dependable and courageous leader."
Maester Ajax walked a few steps forward, eyes focused, mind lost in deep thought. "There is an island nation in the eastern ocean called Doran. It is a large island ruled and inhabited entirely by men. Now that may seem normal or common by the sound of it, but Doran has no women living on it. We maesters catalog all known and semi known countries, city states, nation states and island nations. This is information brought to us by explorers who bring evidence with them and not just by word of mouth. The Doranese men keep their island populated by bringing and inviting women for a weeklong orgy. When the women give birth to sons, the boys are kept to be raised by the men. If they bear girls, they and the mother leave the island. The women are given gold and jewelry and food as payment and gratitude."
"That sounds rather strange, its a strange custom but not the strangest ive heards" Arianne said.
"Its not their customs I speak of, but their history. Westeros isn't the only realm to speak of non-human tribes and races inhabitting its lands. Doran is a fertile verdant island with rare minerals and in their ancient history, the Doranese men fended off invasions from non human armies coming from all sides of the ocean. Time and time again they lost great numbers but the resistance they put with nothing but sheer will and human strength is almost supernatural. Their armor doesn't cover their entire body, only the most important areas. Gems as big as a mans fist are embedded on to their armor for extra protection. These men are all tall and have the strength of three men. But don't think of them as brutes, in fact, they themselves know they are a very violent and war and warrior based society that they choose self isolation."
"There are changes coming."
"Would you like for me to send out an invitation to a pirate I know that knows one of the Doranese."