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Before this moment, Zipporah felt that a situation could never be as awkward as when she witnessed a smile grace Kylo Ren's normally fierce features.

She had been wrong. This breakfast situation was becoming increasingly more awkward as each member of House Stark excused themselves from the table. It wasn't long before it was just Robb, Zipporah, Ellaria, and the Prince himself. She silently cursed the elder Starks for ditching them. How was she supposed to deal with royalty? They sure as hell were not the same as Princess Leia Organa Solo.

Pleasant conversations of travel and weather had passed. Zipporah sensed the Prince wanted to ask rather blunt questions but refrained. 'Propriety' he thought sarcastically.

Zipporah could literally see him trying to dream up who her parents could be. Which house did she really belong to? When did she arrive in Westeros? What did this mean for House Stark?

He kept returning his thoughts to House Targaryen but dismissed this notion because of the rumors emerging from Pentos concerning two young dragons deciding which moves to make.

No doubt they wanted to reclaim the throne; and Dorne would help in any way they could, but what about the North? Would Eddard Stark, Warden of the North, aid Robert Baratheon again? Prince Oberyn was weighing his options. He needed the odds to shift.

An alliance with the North would be fortuitous.

He wants an alliance.

With whom?

House Stark. He believes the Targaryens are making moves in a place called Pentos? And.... he's trying to figure out my heritage.

Who is he guessing?

House Targaryen.

Robb mentally snorted in reply causing her to mentally laugh with him. The Prince had a lot of work to do. How creative could his thinking get?

"Lady Zipporah, how is marriage treating you thus far?" Ellaria asked with a pleasant smile and tone. She was buttering Zipporah up. Classic tactic of fishing for information. Zi had seen her fair share of interrogations. They usually start off with a vanilla question.

"It is treating me quite well, Lady Ellaria. Thank you for asking." Her answer rolled off her tongue easily, but she hated the formality. It felt disingenuous.

"Excellent. It seems Lord Stark made a smart match. You are quite the beauty. What House are you from?" She pushed as she placed her chin on her hands. Her actions reminded Zipporah of when Bran and Rickon listened to her stories about her adventures with the Rebel Alliance.

"I am not a noble, milady. Just a blessed northerner." Zipporah smiled sweetly in return and mirrored Ellarias position. The two gentlemen silently watched the exchange.

"Very blessed indeed." The prince's beau conceded with a faint smile.

Robb nodded as he moved to address the Prince, "Prince Oberyn, it is time for myself and others to practice in the yard. Would you care to accompany us? My ladies, would you like to observe?"

"I would love to participate in this so called practice yard. Ellaria will be my cheerleader. I believe your Lady wife shall be yours."

Zipporah knew what Oberyn was thinking. He was going to show a boy how to fight like a man. There was no way in hell that she'd tell Robb that Oberyn saw him as a boy. Robb was in the process of killing the boy within him, but she desperately wanted to preserve his wolfish smile. A smile that only emerged when he was being mischievous. It was easy to see that the North called for those who resided there to mature early on. Zi, of course, matured because of her father's lack of parenting. Robb had been furious when she showed him small tidbits of her childhood. He spat quite a few choice words at her missing father.

Oberyn was also thinking about how to tease Robb about Zi herself. He was struggling with what would bother the young man the most. Inwardly rolling her eyes, Zi felt her legs take her to the overlook deck where Lady Stark already stood. Ellaria and Zi joined her with greetings and turned their attention to their men below them.

"Prince Oberyn, you are joining this practice session?" Lord Stark affirmed as he pushed Theon's elbow up ever so slightly.

"I figured it would be entertaining to see these boys try to imitate being men." The Prince offered nonchalantly. His body language was carefree and lacked intimidation. He thought it would be too much for the honorable Stark's to handle. Foolish man.

Robb immediately stiffened, and his steel blues flashed with annoyance. Lord Stark sent him a warning look effectively barring the young lord from returning a choice comment of his own.

"Aye, perhaps you could teach them a thing or two? Your footwork is renowned, Red Viper."

Prince Oberyn smirked and bowed, "I would be honored to teach these boys."

Robb gritted his teeth but somehow managed to choke out his thanks. As the boys suited up, Zipporah's eyes scanned the yard for anything out of place. Ever since her dreams had intensified, she had become hyper-vigilant. Something dark was approaching the North, Zi could not figure out which direction the threat would emerge from. The Martells seemed to have light side inspired auras. Zi knew there was a darkness lurking in Prince Oberyn, and it looked like he wanted revenge for what happened to his sister. No doubt, his anger was well founded.

The sound of wood meeting wood snapped her from her musings. Robb was currently taking on Jory with practice swords as Lord Stark and Prince Oberyn offered critiques. Zipporah knew this method would not work on Robb. He didn't respond well to real-time critiquing.

Easy my love. We both know Jory has a weak right side. Ignore them and remember what we practiced.

She knew there would not be a reply. His focus was on the chess-like game in front of him. Robb closed his eyes for but a moment and visibly relaxed. Shifting his feet, his new stance gave him greater balance and stability. Jory seemed to be enjoying this non-threatening Robb for he tried to land a number of blows, but Robb easily parried them. With each movement, Robb purposefully kept his distance and landed his strikes with speed, precision, and power.

Once Robb had moved out of Jory's advance, he easily landed a would be death blow to the soldier. Clapping sounded from Prince Oberyn's direction, "Lord Stark, I underestimated your boy. He fights well."

"Aye, he works hard with the blade." Lord Stark confirmed. Zi knew her Lord father was proud of Robb's success.

"I'm impressed. A northerner who practices balance, patience, and a hint of relaxation. Do you have a southerner training your son?" Prince Oberyn quirked his thin eyebrow at the older man.

"It's his lady wife. She works with him." Theon rudely interjected. Zipporah clucked her teeth at the stupid boy. He gave away pertinent information. Zi and Robb desperately wanted to keep their sessions private. It was not proper for a woman to fight in Westeros, especially when she was the one training a man.

"His lady wife?" Prince Oberyn mused aloud. "She fights as well? Are you sure she is not from Dorne?"

"I can attest that she is not from the South. She is a northerner." Lord Stark stated with confidence.

"I see. Ellaria has trained as well. Shall we see a battle of the femme fatales?"

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Thanks for reading...I see the beginnings of a beautiful friendship...