Pedro Pascal Character Imagines

Of Princes and Fairytales (Oberyn Martell)

Summary: Prince Oberyn is visiting and Corella is less than excited about it.

To say that Corella Koval was less than enthused that the Prince of Dorne was coming to visit would be an understatement. Had she been younger, she might have been more excited. Growing up, tales of princes and dragons had been her favorite. She loved how the prince was dashing and would risk anything to save the princess.

But then she'd spent a month at King's Landing with the horrible Prince Joffrey. He had been so cruel to her. He destroyed her favorite book of fairytales and laughed when she cried. The lords residing in the Red Keep were much along the same lines. Tywin looked at her like she was a stupid little girl and made sure she knew as much.

Tyrion was the only one who treated her with any kindness. After years in the Red Keep, Corella returned home no longer a bright-eyed child, but a quiet and reserved young woman.

"You could look a little more pleased to be in the presence of a Prince!" her handmaiden, Riva, scolded her.

Corella simply rolled her eyes and went back to her reading. Her mother had demanded she read up on Dornish customs and history.

The young girls of the castle couldn't stop talking about how attractive Prince Oberyn was, despite his age.

She wanted to tell him that the princes of fairytales didn't exist. It was a lie told to little girls to shield them from the harshness of this world.

Finally the day had come and the Prince's retinue arrived. Prince Oberyn rode at the front of the party, much like a King would. He was dressed in bright yellow robes with a generous amount of his bare chest showing.

Corella felt her cheeks burn at the sight of his golden skin and cast her eyes to the ground.

"Prince Oberyn! It is an honor to have you here!" her father greeted him.

Prince Oberyn smiled and shook his hand. "The honor is all ours, but I thank you for allowing us to stay here. My girls are very tired from the journey."

Two young girls poked their head out of their carriage.

Her father went down the line introducing his children until he came to Corella.

Corella kept her eyes trained on his boots, unlike her siblings.

A hand grasped her chin and tilted it up until her eyes met his. "There you are, little one. It is a shame to not grace the world with your beauty."

Corella wanted to rip her head out of his hand, but found herself unable to.

His brown eyes were so deep she wanted to drown in them. His thumb slid up to stroke her cheekbone as he stared down at her.

Her father cleared his throat.

Prince Oberyn stepped back from and grabbed her small hand in his much larger one. He brought it to his mouth and placed a soft kiss on her palm, all the while holding her gaze.

Corella felt her heart melt as he stepped away from her.

Everyone's eyes were on her as the Prince and his daughters went inside.

Corella made a point to avoid Oberyn at dinner that night and instead retired to her chambers early. Long after dinner had finished, there was a knock at her door. She threw on a dressing gown and opened the door.

There stood the Prince in an orange robe and tunic.

"Prince Oberyn!" Corella exclaimed, quickly tying her dressing gown shut.

"Oberyn, please. There is no need for formalities." He stepped into her room and looked around. "You were not at dinner."

"No. I wasn't."

Oberyn turned to her. "Can I ask why?"

"Why does it matter?"

Oberyn approached her carefully and cupped her face in his hands. "It matters to me, little one. I meant to ask you to dance with me, but I was saddened to see you were not there."

Corella wanted to laugh. She took Oberyn's hands and pulled them away from her face. "If I were only younger..."

Oberyn's brows furrowed. "I do not understand."

"When I was younger, I would have jumped at the chance to dance with a prince. Now..."

Oberyn finally understood. Why she wouldn't look him the eye earlier. Why she was so quiet and reserved. "Oh, my poor little Dove. Your gentle and pure heart does not belong here in the North. It has taught you that authority is something to be feared, especially when that figure is male."

"I...I do not want you think I am a silly girl."

Oberyn placed a hand on the side of her neck, rubbing his thumb across her pulse point. "You are not a silly girl. You deserve someone who is worthy of you. Someone to show you that not all princes are cruel. Sometimes, fairytales can be real."

Corella raised her eyes to look at Oberyn. "Please," she whispered.

Oberyn leaned down and kissed her softly.

It was everything Corella could have hoped for in a first kiss.