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Felix thought he would be used to the heat by now.
He’s been in Dorne for a little less than a year and still every day he wakes to arid heat and barely any relief. He sits in the shade, is given cold drink after cold drink to combat it, but it never lasts long enough to make any difference. He should’ve expected this, to wed someone from this part of Westeros meant living in this weather, and he knew far ahead of time that he was to move and not his husband. It made sense. He was the spare, far down the line to sit on the iron throne. Bringing Dorne back into the Seven Kingdoms was a deal brokered by his uncle, yes, but it would be Felix’s responsibility to prove that Dorne had made the right choice.
So, he must bear this heat, for the good of the realm.
Today he sat by the orchards, watching the leaves sway in the warm breeze, the scent of oranges in the air. He had tried them on his first night, his wedding night, they were unlike any fruit he had had in Red Keep before. A burst of citrus that would make anyone’s tastebuds sing. Seeing them being picked by the workers made him excited to see what new recipes they would be used in for this afternoon’s luncheon. He turned his gaze to the man behind him holding a parasol. “Are you too hot?” he asked the man, conscious of how long he’d been standing there with no break. “Do you need some water?”
“No, my prince.” the servant said with a smile. “I am quite used to the sun.”
“Ah,” Felix said, nodding. “I see. Please tell me if you are uncomfortable and I will see to it that you get a break.”
The servant bowed and thanked him, before they both fell into silence once more. The young prince closed his eyes, focusing on the sounds of waves he could hear faintly in the distance.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
He peeked an eye open at the voice. The servant immediately dipped into a bow. Felix tried to hide the blush on his already sun pinked cheeks. It was his husband. He wore the colours of his house, a beautiful burnt orange and reds. His dark hair was swept away from his face, the tresses highlighted gold from the sun. He was much more tan than Felix, obviously having spent much of his younger years lounging in the sun. He stood in the archway, leaning against the clay wall with a smile.
Felix opened his eyes properly now, holding out his hand for him to take. “Not at all, Chan. Your presence makes the view much better.”
Chan quirked a brow at him, sauntering up to him to take the hand offered to him. He pressed his lips to the back of it, Felix’s hand much smaller in his palm. “It is you who makes this view so inviting, my dear.” Felix felt his stomach flutter.
Shaking his head in amusement, Felix crossed one leg on top of the other, relaxing into the rattan chair under him. “Do you need me for anything?” he asked.
The Dornish prince above him smiled down at him adoringly. “To be honest, I was hoping to steal you away for a bit. There is something that requires both of our attention, and I need your opinion on such matters.”
Despite his husband's jovial tone, Felix sat up straighter at his words. He hadn’t been here long enough to truly involve himself in Dornish Court matters just yet, despite the fact he would rule with his husband in years to come. So to know that something to do with Dorne needed his involvement made him perk up, even though it may be serious.
“Lead the way, my prince.” Felix said, standing up, slipping his sandals back on in the process. Chan nodded once he was ready, dismissed his servant, and led him through the open halls of the Old Palace of Sunspear. The palace, the ancestral seat of the Bang’s house, was oddly designed. Sun shone in, providing no protection or respite in the cool shade. At least in the Red Keep, for all its spikes and menacing architecture, did allow some protection from the elements. This palace was so open that even sand from the beaches, as far away as they were, would blow in on the winds, coating everything in a light crust. It was a wonder that Felix’s chambers had windows that closed at all, and not just light curtains covering an archway like many rooms in this place. Though it was a boon, come sunset. To watch the blazing sun fall beyond the horizon from the comfort of the castle was something Felix would never forget in his lifetime.
The two princes weave their way out to the palace entrance. Felix frowned as he spotted a carriage waiting for them. “Where are we going?”
Chan opened the door to the carriage, still smiling. “Do you trust me?”
Felix scoffed. “You’ve given me no reason not to.”
“Then just relax and enjoy the ride.” To punctuate his point, Chan hit the top of the carriage, alerting the driver that they were ready to go.
Out on the road, the heat roared around them. Felix let out a breath as he felt the warm air envelope them in the carriage. He pulls the tunic from his chest, fanning it against his sternum to try and cool himself off. Sweat began to bead on his forehead. Subconsciously, he hoped Chan would not pay that much attention to him during the ride. He probably looked half way drenched already. He looked nowhere near the beautiful Lee prince he usually was.
“It’s not a long ride.” Chan confirmed, looking out the window. “But I think you’ll like our destination.” the way he was speaking, it was like he knew far more than he let on. This made the younger prince even more confused at the need for his involvement.
True to his word, the carriage ride was not as long as he thought, and it seemed as the closer they got to their destination, the heat began to abate. It became less dry, the heat didn’t cling to him as closely. Felix visibly relaxed as he felt a cool breeze, though his confusion increased as he tried to figure out where it was coming from. He knew that the beaches surrounding Sunspear were close, but they had gone the opposite way, so that couldn’t be where they were going. Only time would tell, it seemed, as his dear husband wasn’t saying anything.
Around ten minutes later, the carriage stopped, indicating their arrival. Chan broke out in a laugh, waiting for the servants to open the carriage door and let them out. He bounded out, reaching out for Felix to take his hand. Once the prince descended onto the dirt road, only then did he see their destination.
A giant castle, so unlike the Old Palace, stood before them. At his feet was pink marble, paving a walkway sheltered by the most amazing orange trees, the fruit dangling from branches, begging to be picked. As Felix walked, amazed, down the path, he arrived at a courtyard. “Chan…” he breathed, utterly speechless.
In the courtyard, blue and crisp and inviting, were numerous crystalline pools of water. They stretched down until they reached the palace. There were many comfortable seats around the pools, each designed to be lounged on in the shade to relax. Felix glanced up to the palace to see terraces overlooking the pools.
“What…What is this place?” he asked, eyes wide in utter astonishment. Had he just stumbled upon this place on one of his trading excursions? Hardly, this place looked brand new.
“This, little one, is my wedding gift to you.”
Chan stood directly where the sun’s rays hit the ground. He looked illuminated, like the Father himself had allowed Felix the opportunity to gaze upon him. When he realised Felix was too shocked to respond, he continued. “I have seen you struggle with the heat pretty much since the day you arrived on our shores. I wished to provide you a safe haven in which you could enjoy our beautiful lands and yet find relief when the sun becomes too much.” he gestured to the pools below his feet. “I call this my wedding gift to you, as it also contains a vow.”
Chan took two steps toward him, guiding him toward the palace and up the spiral staircase leading up to the terrace. He knelt at the younger prince’s feet. Felix felt the entire world disappear, leaving just the two of them in this paradise. “Prince Felix of House Lee. I vow to you that as long as I am of this world, you will never want for anything again. You will never know discomfort, or displeasure. You come from a land that is cruel and unkind and I wish to erase all of that from your mind and body. I wish to raise our children, both in Sunspear and here, so they know that their father was so in love with his dragon prince, that he was willing to build an ocean to provide him rest.”
Once he rose from his knees, all Felix could do in response was kiss him silly.
He wrapped himself around the older man, not caring that was probably still slightly damp with sweat. Chan didn’t seem to mind as he responded to the kiss with as much enthusiasm as he got. As the sun began to set, the two princes sealed their love with a kiss artists would only kill to paint. Chan’s hand cupped the back of his husband’s silver hair, combing his fingers through the locks. Using his strength, he picked him up by the waist, spinning them around as they hugged.
“You are utterly impossible.” Felix breathed, holding him close. “Shall I expect a palace built for me every year, then?”
Chan chuckled, eyes glittering in the sun. “If that is what you require.”
Felix knocked his forehead lightly against his affectionately. He released himself from his husband's arms, looking down at the sun reflecting off the rippling water.
“We cannot keep this to ourselves.”
He felt arms wrap around his middle as he thought. “Hmm?”
“These pools. The people of this land will surely benefit from a day of rest within these pools. Think of the children that would play in these waters.” he smiled fondly, his hand covering Chan’s. “Imagine our children among them, no barrier between lowborn and noble.”
A kiss was placed on his cheek, soft and so very gentle. “You will be revered by the small folk if you do.”
It did not matter to him if he was revered by the lowborn.
He already had a devotee as his husband, and that was more than enough for him.