Title: Summer of the Snakes
Author: LiviieMarie
Type: Game of Thrones one shot
Reason: writing contest entry
Note: For imperio-'s writing contest. It turned out a lot longer than I expected, but I hope it meets your expectations.

Ellenwyn Sand greatly enjoyed the sun. She had the tanned skin that only a Dornishwoman could posses, coupled with dark, almond shaped eyes, high cheek bones and long black hair that fell past her waist. That still did not stop her from lounging in the sun whenever she could, tanning her already tanned skin. She was laying naked on a stretch of beach outside of Sunspear when she heard the distant sound of hooves through the sand. Closing her eyes against the sun and it's blasting heat, Elle pretended she couldn't hear it at all, focusing instead in the sound of the waves of the Narrow Sea crashing against the beach.

"Have you no modesty sister?" The chiding voice of her half sister, Obera called down to her from atop her horse.

Despite herself, Elle smiled a bit. "I didn't want the sun to darken my skin unevenly."

"Get dressed," Obera scoffed and the swish of fabric was he only warning Elle got before her clothes were thrown over her face. "Father sent me to find you."

Elle carefully brushed the sand from her body and donned her clothes, loose pants and a shirt, both white and made of thin material to keep her from overheating in the desert sun, and a hood and scarf to keep the sand from her hair and face. Twin swords were strapped to her back and gleaned in the sunlight when she moved.

"Has he summoned us all?" The Sand Snakes, the bastard daughter of Prince Oberyn Martell, were highly notorious in Dorne, but Elle was probably the most notorious of all. She had her father's wit and prowess along with her mother's grace, beauty and wisdom, at least, that's what her father said. While her sister's tended to keep close to Sunspear and their father, Elle had taken several years to travel all across Dorne. She learned new languages and different styles of combat. She even inherited her father's taste in the ways of pleasure and was constantly known to take many lovers to her bed. She was the reason the name The Sand Snakes was feared and respected across Dorne. Of course, her sister's had their own names to uphold. None of them disappointed their father. Only four of them were of age, Obera, Elle, Nym and Tyene. If their father was calling all four of them together, something must be wrong.

Obera nodded looking uncertain and even a bit scared. "Even Ellaria and the young ones are there." Obera never showed fear to anyone except Elle. They were close, being only a few month apart in age. To both of their mothers' fury, Oberyn had impregnated them both at the same time. They were born only a month apart with Obera being the eldest. Elle's mother, a whore, had died in childbirth so she had been raise by Oberyn her entire life. Once Obera was old enough, she had been allowed to make the choice to stay with her mother or come with him and Elle. She had chosen the latter, so Elle and Obera grew up and were trained personally by Oberyn together. It wasn't until Elle was 16 that she left for the first time to begin traveling, only returning home occasionally. Still, their bond as sisters remained strong. Elle was the calm to Obera's storm. They relied on one another and valued each other's council more than the others.

Elle had only been back in Sunspear for a handful of weeks after spending several months in the Red Mountains. She had hoped to just relax, but that didn't seem to be the case. Oberyn was summoning them all, which could only mean he had a task for them. "Any idea on what is going on?" she asked her sister as she swung into the saddle of her horse, a black beauty.

"No idea," Obera replied and the two sisters set off, using the scarfs to cover their faces and protect it from flying sand. Yellow dunes gave away to hard, packed ground, trampled by centuries of feet, yet just as yellow as the rest of the desert as then made their way to the gates of Sunspear. Bastards they may be, but they were treated as royalty, servant coming to take their horses.

The sun bared down on them, causing both to sweat even in such light clothing. Hardened sand cracked beneath their sandals as the sun baked it. This was summer, heat so intense that it was common to see people collapse from dehydration.

They made their way to the Water Gardens, the favorite hideaway of Prince Doran, where Oberyn was most likely waiting for them. Elle and Obera were the last to arrive, Oberyn, his paramour and the rest of the Sand Snakes already waiting for them.

"Obera," he smiled at his eldest daughter and greeted her. "And Ellenwyn, it's about time."

Elle hated the use of her full name, but knew better than to chide her own father for using it. "Father," she said in response and stepped into his open arms. Obera and Elle were his pride and joy, his prodigies.

"Why have you summoned us?" Nymeria, the third eldest called. Her voice carried a calculating tone. Of all the Sand Snakes, Nym was the most analytical. Her chosen weapon, a twelve foot whip was coiled and hung at her waist. "Has something happened?"

"Dose a man need a reason to see his daughters?" Oberyn said with a chuckle, clapping both Obera and Elle on the shoulders before turning to face the rest of the Sand Snakes. "Come, have a drink with me, relax in the water gardens. This heat is intense, is it not?"

The sun was indeed glaring down on them relentlessly, reflecting off every surface and causing a blinding glare. Oberyn walked to a table he had set up that help a pitcher of something sweet to drink as well as enough glasses for all of them. Sweat beaded on the pitcher and the cool drink fought to stay cold against the sun. He poured them all a glass, serving himself last. "To the Sand Snakes," he said, raising his glass in a toast. Sunlight glinted off the crystal.

"To the Sand Snakes," they all muttered in response. Elle took a sip and felt instantly relieved. The liquid was cold and sweet as it slid down her throat, offering a small reprise from the heat of the summer. She couldn't quite place the taste, but Elle was sure it was made of some sort of berry, possibly from the north. The only thing it was missing was the bite of alcohol, but with the younger Sand Snakes around, no one would risk spiking the punch.

"You know," Oberyn said, his eyes skimming over each of the sister. "I am very proud of all of you. All across Dorne, your names are whispered and nearly worshiped." His eyes lingered on Elle, who couldn't help but smile at his praise. "They are even calling this the Summer of the Snakes in your honor." Once again, he toasted them and the sisters, even the young ones who had yet to win themselves any glory or live up to the their legacy, shared smirks.

After that, it didn't take much encouraging to send the little ones into the Water Gardens to play. Soon, the garden was filled with the sounds of splashing and their laugher as they played with each other and Ellaria. Oberyn sat with his four eldest daughters. Since his toast, Nym had been giving him suspicious glances. She clearly didn't believe seeing them was the only reason he had called them together, and for the record, Elle wasn't entirely convinced either. However, while Nym looked like she was about to call out and demand answers at any moment, Elle sat quietly and waited. Oberyn would speak when he was ready. In the mean time, Elle relaxed in her chair, basking in the sun and letting a very pretty maid servant braid her black hair, her swords at her feet.

"Tyene," Oberyn called to her after some time. "I think Dorea is calling for you."

Tyene glared at him and her three sisters before storming off to Dorea. They all knew that Dorea hadn't called out to her, and Tyene understood that Oberyn wanted to speak to Obera, Elle and Nym alone, but that didn't mean she had to like it. She tried so hard to live up to her sister's expectations and be like them, but she just hadn't found her place yet and it made her jealous.

Once Tyene was out of earshot, Oberyn beckoned the three girls closer so he wouldn't be over heard. Elle couldn't help but compare them all. Obera was the spitting image of their father while Elle looked greatly like her mother. Nym was the tallest, but Obera was the most muscular and Elle was typically classified as the prettiest.

"Are we about to learn why you really called us here today?" Nym asked, sounded a bit smug. Elle had to resist the urge to smack the smirk off her face. Nym might have been the most calculating and analytical, but Elle was wisest and the most level headed and the most respectful.

Oberyn looked between the three of them. "I'm leaving for King's Landing in a week's time."

"Why?" This time, the outburst came from Obera, and Elle couldn't blame her.

"King Joffery is getting married and Dorne received an invitation," he explained calmly. "I go to represent my people, and it would be rude to turn down."

Obera sucked in a lungful of dry, desert air, no doubt to lecture her father on exactly why that was a bad idea, but Elle wrapped her slim fingers around her warm wrist and Obera seemed to deflate.

Oberyn nodded, like he was satisfied with her reaction. "I'm brining Ellaria with me, and while I'm gone, you must be careful. I've heard some dreadful rumors from the north."

"That's why you're going, isn't it?" Elle asked, speaking for the first time. Her hand was still closed around Obera's wrist. "You want to find out how true these rumors are?"

His smile was all the confirmation she needed. Nym had fallen silent, frowning at the sand. Even Obera had nothing left to say.

"The long summer is coming to end," Oberyn said, looking at each of them steadily, like he was trying to convey a message to each of them without words. "The Summer of the Snakes is over. Winter is Coming."

Elle instantly recognized the words of House Stark, the farthest house in the north, from her lessons as a child. It seemed both Nym and Obera knew too.

"You're going into the lion's den, and you're warning us to be careful?" Elle asked.

"Yes," he rasped, fatherly concern tugging at his voice. "I do not know how this will end, or if I will even return from the capital, but no matter what happens to me, you must keep your noses clean and protect your sisters, protect our house and our name. Do not make any rash decisions and do not give them any reason to harm you."

Obera looked ready to loose her temper again, but Elle and Nym nodded their understanding, Elle's braid swaying slightly. Even braided, Elle had the longest hair.

"Good," Oberyn said and hugged all three of them. "If all goes according to plan, you won't have to worry about anything." Before any of them could ask what the plan was, Oberyn turned on his heel and walked over to the pools. Elle caught Ellaria watching them, but she didn't say anything.

"Anyone fancy a drink?" Elle asked, and her two sisters nodded.

The sun was setting when the three sisters arrived at their favorite inn that severe the best ales and wines. Even with the sun gone for the night, the air was still dry, humid and hot. Elle was the first off her horse, swinging from the saddle with graceful movements that her sisters seemed to lack. Even her walk was graceful, like the hungry prowl of a predator or the hypnotic sway of a snake.

When the door opened, they were greeted with the harsh smell of alcohol and unwashed bodies. Elle wrinkled her nose, but walked inside. Greetings were called out to them over the shouts of drunken men and squealing whores. The sisters responded in kind and took their usual seats. A bar maid brought them drinks. She was a pretty thing, and if Elle hadn't been so worried about her father's words, she might have pulled the bar maid into her lap and maybe even taken her home. While Elle still appreciated her simple beauty, there would be no times for games tonight.

"What do you think father is planning?" Nym asked. Despite the din of the inn, she was careful to keep her voice low.

"Something stupid, I'm sure," Obera scoffed and lifted her tankard to her lips. Elle followed suit, drinking the delicious ale that was spiced with Dornish spices. It was nothing compared to the cool, refreshing punch that kept the heat of summer at bay, but it was still satisfying. She could think of several reasons their father would want to go to the capital, but saying them out loud might cause more worry.

"Elle? Ellenwyn?" Fingers snapping in front of her face made her snap out of her thoughts.

"Are you alright?" Obera asked. Nym was frowning at her.

"Sorry," Elle gave her head a small shake and too another long drink. "I was lost in my thoughts."

"We asked if you had any ideas as to what father might be after in King's Landing? Because he surely wouldn't be going there for no reason." Nym's voice was hard, almost accusing.

Elle forced nonchalance and shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe he truly believes it would be rude to refuse." She didn't like lying to her sisters, but not even Oberyn knew what she knew. She had learned things on her travels.

They didn't seem to notice she was lying, though Nym did give Elle a hard look before the subject changed.

After her drink, Elle excused herself, saying she wanted to take a night ride and that she meet up with her sisters back in Sunspear. Once outside, she launched herself into her horse's saddle and took off.

The moon had now fully risen, leaching the normally yellow sand dunes of all their color, painting it to be a desert of black and white. Elle stretched over the neck of her horse as sand flew beneath them. The scarf protected her face from the sand, but her braid flew in the wind behind her, snapping like a tail. She wasn't sure how long she was running for, but when she stopped, both her and the horse were breathing hard.

The city of Sunspear glittered behind her and the moon continued to rise before her as Elle and her horse crested another dune. Suddenly, Elle's long braid whipped in a sudden chill wind that blew from the north. It was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving Elle to wonder if she imagined it. The desert was just as hot and dry as it should be in the summer. Still, Elle looked to north, squinting her eyes like she could see all the way to the wall and another small breeze picked up. This time, there was no doubting the chill in the air that the wind was now carrying. At least Oberyn had been right about one thing: Winter was Coming.