5th Month of 298 A.C. Volantis
King Viserys III Targaryen
"Doran Martell is dead." the words are simple enough to say, but their meaning is something that is only truly beginning to sink in for Viserys. Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne, the man who was a guaranteed ally in the war for the throne is gone, and now his daughter is the ruling Princess of Dorne. Viserys looks around the room, seeing the various members of his war council shifting, looking strangely despondent. Viserys looks at Ser Jonothor and asks. "Do we know how he died?"
"From gout Your Grace." The old knight of the Kingsguard replies.
Viserys nods, and then asks. "What is his daughter like?"
It is Ser Arthur who replies. "From what I remember of her, she was bold and adventurous, as a child."
Viserys snorts. "She is not a child now Ser. She is a woman grown, a woman who now rules one of the realms that makes up my kingdom. Will she remain true to the alliance her father made with us? Will she want a marriage, or will she want something else?"
There is an uncomfortable silence following his question, as the members of his war council consider what he has asked. None of them know for sure, that much is for certain. They had not counted on Prince Doran dying as he did, the man seemed as though he would live forever. Eventually, Jon is the one to break the silence. "Surely she will not break the alliance? Dorne still hungers for revenge, and you are the best chance for that Your Grace. Furthermore, they are at odds with the usurper and his court and have been since the rebellion. They cannot change that course of action now."
Viserys nods, acknowledging the sense in what his nephew says. It is why he says. "Perhaps the time would be right to extend an offer of marriage to her as well." He sees something like fear flit across his nephew's face then, and knows that the boy is thinking of Daenerys, there is something there, Viserys knows, between his nephew and his sister, but for now, he will let Jon think over that. "A marriage might well be the best way to secure Dorne, firmly. They are far too slippery when it comes to this, better to tie them to us through more definitive methods."
"You would use one of them as a hostage?" Lyanna asks something akin to disgust in her voice.
Viserys stares at the woman, he has never truly liked Lyanna Stark, but he has come to accept her as family, though he does not quite approve of her flirtations with Ser Desmond, he lets it slide. This time though, his anger fills his voice. "I will do what is necessary to ensure that they do not betray us. If I need to use one of them as a hostage against their Princess, I will."
"A wise move Your Grace." Lord Jon Connington says, the man looks in better shape than he has done previously, the thought of returning home clearly filling him with excitement. "The Martells must realise they are depending on us just as much as we are depending on them."
"What about Jon Arryn?" Jon asks then. "The Hand of the King to the usurper is dead, and now the usurper will be looking to bring the Starks into the fold. The man's death is a big blow for the usurper. Will we exploit that?"
Viserys nods approvingly at his nephew, proud at the man his nephew is becoming. He looks around the room and says. "Yes, we shall definitely exploit that. If I remember correctly, Lysa Arryn has never liked the Lannisters, and her son is but a boy. That cannot be easy for her, her son's bannermen will be looking to take advantage of that. Perhaps we can make her an offer that she would be a fool to refuse."
"What sort of offer Your Grace?" Lord Raymun asks curiously, Viserys does not fail to note how close the man is sitting to Benjen Stark, something that brings a smile to his face.
"I shall offer her the protection of the crown. The usurper has removed the title of Warden of the East from her son, and given it to the Kingslayer," here saying that man's name forces a snarl to come to his voice. "I shall restore it back, and extend the right of the King to the Vale." An ancient privilege exercised only once before, but something the lords had welcomed all the same. The Right of the King would mean any who questioned Lysa Arryn or whoever was regent of the Vale would answer to him. And if he is correct in his estimation, that would be enough to convince her.
"How will you extend the right Your Grace?" the Half Maester asks, Viserys does not quite trust the man, not after what Lyanna had said.
"I will send word to my sources there, and let them know to inform the woman of the offer. If she rejects it, then she is a fool. And I do not think any daughter of Hoster Tully would be a fool." Viserys responds confidently.
"What of Hoster Tully himself Your Grace?" Lord Raymun asks, something akin to malice in his voice.
"I believe Tully will join us, he'd be a fool not to with the Lannisters and Freys closing in around him. But still the time is come for us to make more of a presence within Westeros." Viserys replies.
"What do you mean by that Your Grace?" Lyanna asks.
Viserys looks at her and then at the room at large "Our friends at court are going to be making a lot of noise very soon. The usurper will have a choice to make, and whatever he chooses will decide his fate."
"What does that mean Your Grace?" Lyanna asks once more.
Viserys looks at her, he stares right at her and says. "It means, Lady Lyanna, that my time of waiting is over. We shall muster and we will take back what was taken."