When arriving on the back of a dragon with another flanking you as an escort, it was impossible to hide yourself when landing in Dorne. Rhaena had first gone to Sunspear but upon finding none of the Martell household there other than some terrified servants and quaking soldiers, she soon learned that the family were gathered at a place called the Water Gardens. She turned her dragons about and flew the short distance there instead. Of course upon arrival she was met by a full guard of soldiers and archers, each of them aiming for her dragons who snarled and snapped as they found places to land though there was very little room for them. Rhaena, who had been riding Rhaegal once more, had him land in the gardens themselves whilst Viserion put himself down upon the rooftops, baring his fangs at the archers though Rhaena called for them both not to attack and to be friendly to their hosts. Utterly at ease, Rhaena slid from Rhaegal's back and her hand naturally rose to stroke the underside of his neck and jaw as she walked forwards, looking calmly at the guard before her as they tightly clutched their spears and looked rather nervously between her dragons. "Be calm! I mean no harm to anyone. My dragons will not attack unless they feel threatened, so pointing weapons in their direction is probably the unwise choice." Raising her voice, Rhaena allowed a little magic to work into her voice so that the guards and archers would feel more at ease.
"Who are you to come here without invitation and bring such dangerous beasts with you?" The voice which spoke came from above, so Rhaena twisted her neck in order to look upwards and see a man sitting upon a chair on a balcony which overlooked the gardens. Judging from his mantle and the poised guard beside him, Rhaena reasoned that this must be Prince Doran himself. Slipping into her courtly manners, Rhaena lowered herself down in order to bow respectfully to the prince.
"I am Rhaena Targaryen." A murmur rippled through the guards and Rhaena lifted her gaze once more to catch a glance between the prince and his guard.
"Why are you come here?"
"Can family not choose to visit after so long an estrangement, Prince Doran? We are related by marriage. Perhaps my visit was simply long overdue." Her eyes continued to survey the guards before her. "May I come to you? There are many things I should like to discuss, and I do not much like having to raise my voice in order to call to you from down here. I give you my word that neither I nor my dragons shall harm you or any of yours. It if please you, I shall even relinquish my weapons." From his high perch, Prince Doran looked down upon the young woman who had arrived in such a thunderous announcement and considered. From this distance all he could tell of her was the bright silver white of her hair, proving beyond a doubt she was who she says. Why a Targaryen would come to the Water Gardens, however…Prince Doran could not help but be intrigued, but most of all considering the horrific monstrosity of two dragons glowering threateningly at him, he could not very well refuse. He invited the woman to join him, calling for refreshments to be served and for his men to stand down but remain on guard whilst allowing Rhaena to keep her weapons. Anyone willing to give up their weapons so easily were either entirely confident in themselves or utterly foolish. Prince Doran would soon see which applied to this Rhaena Targaryen.
A trembling servant led the way, Rhaena leaving with instruction to both Rhaegal and Viserion to relax and stay where they were unless she called for them, and to also do their best not to break anything. Both growled shortly before allowing themselves to investigate their surroundings, sniffing at plants and lapping at the ponds in order to take a drink to quench their thirst. By the time she had reached the balcony, wine and food had been spread upon a table with Prince Doran awaiting her, seated upon an ornate chair. He did not rise. Rhaena recalled hearing rumours of the prince's ill health so chose to not take it as an insult as she was presented to him, for she herself must look quite a fright. "Princess Rhaena Targaryen." Inclining his head delicately, Prince Doran greeted his unexpected guest. "This is Areo Hotah, captain of my guard." Glancing to the thickly built man who stood protectively beside Prince Doran, Rhaena allowed a curt nod of respect to the seasoned warrior before returning her attention to the prince who now invited her to sit and take rest. "Would you prefer to bathe and change first, princess?"
"No, my prince, if you do not mind my ragged appearance. I trust I do not carry an unpleasant scent, but this business I flew here to discuss with you cannot wait." Removing herself of her bow, arrows and sword, Rhaena put them down delicately beside the chair which the prince had offered to her and settled herself down, glancing over the balcony to see Rhaegal was resting in the gardens still and Viserion had taken flight in order to soar in the warm skies. A servant poured wine for Rheana, proper Dornish wine with a sweet taste and excellent flavour. "I thank you for your hospitality and apologise for the rudeness of my arrival."
"All is forgiven, princess. You are right in saying that we are family through my marriage. My sister married your brother and bore him children. Were they still alive, we would both be aunt and uncle to them." Prince Doran reasoned as he studied the woman before him. He too had heard stories of the Targaryen girl who had been taken hostage and kept alive all these years out of mercy. He heard how she had been mistreated and neglected, but looking upon her now, he saw nothing but a princess in everyway which mattered. She did not require a fine dress and a crown, it was expressed in her air and bearing as she sipped delicately at her wine and returned Prince Doran's look with a steady and unaffected gaze. The violet shade of her eyes were keen and beguiling, something Prince Doran suspected the princess knew and used to her advantage. "But seeing as you flew here on the back of dragons, I can only assume your reason must be important. We all thought the last dragons to be extinct."
"There are still dragons yet breathing, my prince, as you see before you. Rhaegal and Viserion required some exercise and I had purpose to come here so they carried me to you. Before I begin my business, however, I would ask if you would be willing to tell me what you know of the happenings in Westeros. It has been some time since I was here last, I do not know currently what is happening." Chiefly it was Robb and Tyrion Rhaena worried for as she set down her wine and looked expectantly at Prince Doran who sighed softly. Having no reason to withhold the truth, Prince Doran told Rhaena of the wedding between Joffrey and Margery which had ended in the king's death, before then proceeding with all the events he knew of, chiefly of the trial of Tyrion Lannister who was blamed for the death of the former king. He also told her how Robb Stark was still very much alive and had joined forces with Stannis Baratheon who had moved his army to the far north in order to aid the Night's Watch in the defence of the Wall against the Wildling army that had attempted to break through. Rhaena listened attentively to all Prince Doran informed her, gripping onto her seat tightly as she listened to tales of Robb and of how Tyrion had demanded a trial by combat in order to prove his innocence, where Oberyn Martell had elected himself to be his champion against The Mountain, who championed against him. Briefly Rhaena had hoped that Oberyn had won, only to discover that the prince's brother had been killed in the battle which meant that Tyrion's life was forfeit. Her blood ran cold. "I…I am sorry for your loss, my prince."
"As am I, princess. I loved my brother dearly. He was all I had left after my sister met her fate all those years ago." Prince Doran's voice was steady and did not betray his emotion, but Rhaena could sense it in the air as she lifted her gaze to meet his. Tyrion. So, he had lost his gamble, the fool. He should have…he should have named someone else. Anyone else. If he had even asked for her, she would have come back for him. She should have gone back for him. Rhaena should never have left King's Landing without dragging Tyrion along behind her. "If your sorrow lies with the fate of Tyrion Lannister, then I would not weep for him so soon, princess. He vanished before he could face execution and murdered his father during his escape." Having felt so morose only a moment ago, the sharp shock of hearing that Tyrion was not only alive but had also killed his father Tywin was enough to make her jaw go slack. "No one knows where he is. It is said that the Spider, Varys, also vanished from the castle the same night. One can only assume they were colluding together."
"That is good. Very good." Rhaena breathed with relief as her hand touched against her chest where her heart fluttered chaotically. "So long as Tyrion is safe then that is all that matters to me. I owe him a great deal. I should feel rotten if he were to die before I can repay him all that I owe." Offering Prince Doran and apologetic look, she once again gave him her condolences for his brother. "The gods take away those who deserve to live yet preserve those who deserve death too often in the face of judgement. It is enough to make one wonder if they truly know mercy and justice at all."
"It is not our place to question their judgement, only to trust in their superior wisdom." To this Rhaena had to fight the urge to snort derisively. The gods were fools just as much as man, if there were any gods to be believed in. No, she would much rather put faith in herself these days. In herself and her dragons, because she knew that they would never turn their backs upon her or let her down. "And now I have told you what you wished to know; I must insist you tell me why it is you have come here. You must understand, appearing with two dragons is a rather threatening move."
"It was not intended as a threat, my prince. Only a precaution. I have long since learned not to trust a man until I have sat down and conversed with him whilst looking him in the eye." Responding smoothly, Rhaena took another sip of wine before deciding that she may as well begin the negotiations with the prince to hand over the Princess Myrcella to her as there was no point in further courtesies and avoiding the subject. It was the sole reason she had flown all the way here, after all. "My intention in coming here, Prince Doran, was to request that the Princess Myrcella be handed over into my care, and that you allow me to take her with me back to Meereen where Queen Daenerys resides." Prince Doran stared at Rhaena in astonishment.
"This is out of the question. Myrcella is a guest here and under my protection."
"You misunderstand me, my prince. I have no intention of harming her. You will not be compromising your charge if you were to give her over." Leaning back in her seat Rhaena began to tap a finger against the rest of the chair in thought, studying the sickly prince before her as the guard at his shoulder frowned disapprovingly upon her with a tight grip upon his rather impressive looking weapon. "Princess Myrcella is the only daughter of Queen Cersei and the sister to King Tommen. Now, Tommen is a sweet boy, I know this very well, but he is young and a rather naïve little thing. In addition, if the rumours are true then he is also the product of incest between Cersei and her brother Jaime. He has no right to sit on that throne by blood or conquest. There is already an ongoing war with Robb and Stannis, but soon enough my sister shall sail west and lay claim to the Iron Throne herself." Reclining still in her seat, Rhaena used all her political learning in order to attempt to persuade Prince Doran to loosen his grasp upon Myrcella, choosing to imbue her words with a little of her magic also. "It will become a bloodbath and so often it is true that innocents are caught within the conflict. Tommen will be dethroned one way or another, and Myrcella will be written off as a bastard child if she is not killed or executed alongside her mother. No one will be safe, and it will be long before heads are clear enough to realise what has been done and by then it would be too late to stop it."
"War will not come to Dorne. She will be safe here."
"You do not know Cersei as I do. She will demand the return of her daughter to have her back under her control. A mother will keep her children close if she senses a threat, and Cersei is surrounded by enemies. The Lannisters have risen high, but now their position is weakening. They have no friends other than the ones they buy with gold, but what good will gold do against a storm of dragon fire? They will be abandoned, and my sister shall claim victory against them, for three dragons are more than enough to vanquish any number of armies." Gradually Rhaena could see that Prince Doran was thinking over her words and considering their truth. "Even if you do not send Myrcella back to her family, Cersei will not take no for an answer. She will get her daughter back, one way or another, even if that means declaring war on your House or stealing her away in the night. Once war begins, you will be expected to choose aside, Prince Doran, you cannot hide from this. A decision must be made and sooner is better than later. When my sister comes, she will call for her allies from the Houses of Westeros and invite them to join her in taking back her throne and putting the Lannisters in their place. Surely House Martell has just as great a cause as any to want revenge upon the Lannisters? My brother's wife was your sister, and as you reminded me before, we were both an aunt and an uncle to little Rhaenys and Aegon who were murdered before their mother's eyes before she herself was raped and brutally killed by Gregor Clegane himself." With a hardness in her expression that seemed as cold as steel, Rhaena suddenly leaned forwards with such intensity that Areo twitched his grasp on his weapon but stilled himself from lowering his blade at the woman as she continued. "She was your sister. Your blood. Do you not wish to see her avenged?"
"If you think that I do not mourn my sister as I do my brother still after all these years, then you are mistaken," Prince Doran informed her quietly, his voice also taking on a biting edge. "I would see the Lannisters pay for their crimes, but I will not lead my people to war. We are at peace here in Dorne, and here the Princess Myrcella is safe. She will wed my son, Trystane, and become a Martell. One of us."
"Although a Baratheon in name, by blood she is a Lannister bastard." Rhaena reminded him simply, retreating back gradually once again in order to recline against her seat. "Is a bastard truly a suitable bride for your heir? I was led to believe that even here in Dorne there are rules about marrying below your station." This gave Prince Doran pause, unable to deny this fact. If the rumours of Myrcella's birth were true then she truly had no claim to the Baratheon name, nor was by any right a true princess. "I remember Myrcella to be a lovely, kind natured girl and I doubt she has changed much in the years I have not known her. She would make any man a fine wife, even your son despite her bloodline. She has been raised as a princess and Robert died still believing she was his child. Most likely she herself is unaware of the rumours, but ignorance will not protect her. Someone will come for her after me. Whether it be her mother, a kidnapper, an army, another enemy, all will fight over fair headed little Myrcella until she is ripped apart by the squabbling." Lowering her voice, Rhaena now put her magic to the test as she focused its power upon convincing Prince Doran to release Myrcella into her hands. "Either way, she will be a pawn. Give her to me and I can guarantee her safety. I give you my word of honour, in the name of House Targaryen, no one shall hurt Myrcella. She will be treated with kindness and respect, kept away from the dangers of this land and the fighting within. Once the war is over, she will be returned to her family, or to you if you desire it, to live out the rest of her days in peace." The magic wrought itself into her words and Prince Doran found himself unable to resist believing entirely in Princess Rhaena's words.
He saw the sense and wisdom in her reasoning for it was clear cut and logical. In any case, he also knew of more threats which surrounded Myrcella. Not so long ago Ellaria Sand had come to him demanding he make war upon the Lannisters for the murder of his brother. She had stood upon this very same balcony and begged him to give her Myrcella so that she might return pieces of the girl to her mother little by little in revenge. Myrcella was no longer safe here. Not whilst Ellaria still roamed. Already he suspected that she would move against him despite his orders with the children of Oberyn who were known as the Sand Snakes. They loved their father, to their credit. But war was not the answer to his own brother's reckless foolishness and pride. If Myrcella were to remain then she would face the threat of torture and death. In her time here, he had grown fond of the girl who had always treated him like a second father. It was impossible not to love such a king, sweet tempered and noble girl. He had to protect her, and as loathe as he was to think it, sending her into the claws of an enemy might be the only way to ensure her survival. Prince Doran dared Ellaria to try and take the prey out of the dragon's mouth. She would not find it as easy as she might think. "If I agree to this…then you can give me your word no harm will come to her? What of your sister? What will your sister do to her?"
"Nothing." Rhaena stated flatly, for it was the truth. "My sister is not in the habit of taking vengeance upon innocent little girls merely because they share the same blood as the ones who harmed us. In any case, Myrcella would remain under my care. She will have her own rooms and servants to attend her, the finest silks for her dresses and ice for her drinks. There will be guards to protect her and food served to her on golden platters until she has eaten her fill, and each night she will lay her head upon the softest of pillows swathed in the lightest of sheets upon a mattress stuffed with swan feathers. The girl will want for nothing. Yes, she will be a hostage, but there are worse ways to be treated. She will be there only to ensure that her mother does not act too recklessly once we return to Westeros. Once all is settled, I shall personally see her back to whomever it is Myrcella wishes to return to. I swear this by the old gods and the new." Nodding his head acceptingly, Prince Doran thought to himself that Princess Rhaena seemed to be a woman of her word. "So will you give her to me, my prince?"
"I shall…discuss it with Myrcella and my son Trystane. There is much they will need to understand. Myrcella will not take this easily. This is her home, and she will not want to part from it. I shall try to make her understand that it is for the best." Rhaena glanced to the sky over her shoulder and judged that it would soon be darkening.
"Unfortunately, time is not something I have in abundance, my prince. I intend to leave at sundown, so if I am to leave with Myrcella then she must be informed immediately. She must prepare her belongings to be packed and be brought here. I flew here on my dragons; she will leave with me the same way. If she resists, then I am afraid she will either have to be subjected to restraint or rendered unconscious." Rising to her feet, Rhaena continued to look evenly at the prince before her. No matter how Rhaena had delivered the request, it was only made from courtesy and respect. No matter his opinion, Rhaena intended to leave today with Myrcella Baratheon in tow. The dragons were enough of a warning to tell Prince Doran that he had better not refuse her, she had merely delivered her reasons as to why he should agree as a means to help him understand that it was also in the interest of Myrcella's safety that she leave. Were she to be refused, Rhaena possessed the power to burn the Water Garden to cinders and reduce it's refreshing beauty to ash. She had arrived in a manner to show them her power, her conduct demonstrated her character, and her words conveyed her political tongue. A rather overwhelming combination to behold, especially in a woman.
"Very well. In this case, there is little I can do otherwise. But what of when I am demanded to return Cersei's daughter and I am unable to give her back? The Crown will wage war upon Dorne if they learn that I gave the princess over to their enemies." He reasoned, still hesitant to entirely agree. Prince Doran had been manoeuvred into a trap with opponents on all sides. If he refused Rhaena, she would see him as an enemy and treat him as such, possibly burning down his home before leaving. Even if he complies, he will make an enemy of the Queen and her boy-king. No matter which way he looked, Prince Doran could see no safe way out of this conundrum. Rhaena, however, understood his position and did not wish to leave him completely at the mercy of Cersei.
"Then you tell whoever Cersei sends that I came upon the back of a dragon with a second at my wing. You tell them that I came and demanded the princess be turned over to me, and if she was not, I vowed to burn the Water Gardens and Sunspear to the ground with all of its inhabitants and people to be left nothing more than charred corpses roasted and ready for the feasting of crows, including the princess herself. You tell them it was Princess Rhaena Targaryen who came and stole Myrcella away, and that she left with a message for Queen Cersei. Tell them she said…A Lannister must pay their debts, and I am owed many. If you tell them this, then you are blameless. Of course, Cersei will blame you regardless, but that hardly matters. Her focus will be upon me. I shall dance the dance with Cersei as I have done all my life at court. I know how to play this game, so you may leave the next steps to me." With no excuses left, Prince Doran could only silently acquiesce. Ordering the servants to prepare the princess for departure, the two left the balcony in order to descend into the Water Gardens as Rhaena had offered to introduce the prince to Rhaegal who was still exactly as she had left him, dutifully awaiting her return. Sensing her approaching, Rhaegal lifted his head and opened his mouth in order to taste the air, catching Rhaena's scent upon his tongue so he shifted his weight in order to watch her approach, lifting his tail over a fountain as not to break the stone sculpture before settling it down once again. "Rhaegal." He chittered when he heard her speak his name.
"Incredible…" Prince Dorian breathed as he beheld the sight of a live dragon, one of the first in centuries. "Is it completely under your control? It seems to listen and obey your word."
"We are equals, my prince. Rhaegal is no more under my control as I am under his. We trust one another and our minds are like one. His will is mine and my desires are his. If I ask something of him he will do it, as if he were to ask something of me I shall also gladly comply with his wish. You do not tame a dragon, Prince Doran. You earn their love and their respect." Extending her hand, Rhaena indicated for the prince to give her his hand whilst she placed hers firmly against Rhaegal's face, murmuring to him soothingly in High Valyrian as he listened. At first Prince Doran trembled as Rhaena guided his hand to press against the rough snout of the best before him, but the moment he realised that he was in fact touching a dragon, a real dragon, his awe overpowered his fears and he stared agape as the creature turned its gaze to stare back at him. It was a terrifying sight to behold, as if the dragon were ripping him apart layer by layer to see what lay underneath to leave him fully exposed with nowhere to hide his secrets. Rhaegal growled deeply, a slow rumble which rippled up and down his throat before finally exhaling sharply outwards through his nostrils to completely engulf the prince in air far hotter even than a scorching Dornish day. "Be polite now, Rhaegal. This man is our host, and a most gracious one at that." Rhaena chided softly but smiled all the same. Rhaegal dipped his head towards her in order to accept her touches and fusses before settling once more to bask in the sun.
It did not take long for both Princess Myrcella and the young heir, Trystane Martell, to come storming into the gardens in search of Prince Doran to know the meaning of his orders, wanting to know why Myrcella's things were currently being packed. Myrcella was set to plead with Prince Doran to allow her to stay, unable to think of what she might have done wrong but the moment they entered the gardens and turned the path which would lead them directly down the main route, Myrcella had released a sharp scream when her eyes fell upon the monstrous nightmare which lay across the gardens, ridged and horned and ugly, with huge leathery wings and claws the size of curved swords. She fainted directly into Trystane's arms from the shock who had been halfway to reaching for his sword when she fell. Turning her head, Rhaena looked with amusement to the now limp form of the fair haired princess in the arms of her betrothed who struggled with her for a moment before setting her down. "Well, at least she will be easier to transport if she is not awake."
"Please do not say such things, princess." Sighing heavily, Prince Doran turned his chair around in order to see his son who was currently frozen in place, uncertain of what to do. Clearly there was a monster in their Water Gardens, and yet his father did not seem at all troubled by its presence. The servants had all been whispering of a stranger who had arrived upon the back of a great beast, but this was not what he had imagined. Now with Myrcella fainted he was unable to draw his sword, but even then he was beginning to think that drawing a sword might not be the wise thing to do for it might anger the monster with his father so close to its maw.
"Father," Trystane began slowly with great uncertainty as he embraced Myrcella protectively in his arms. "What is happening here?"
"Come my son. Do not be afraid. The creature is perfectly safe so long as Princess Rhaena is with us." Snapping his fingers, Prince Doran ordered for a reclining chair to be brought for Myrcella as Trystane hesitantly approached with her in his arms. The servants were swift with their task, bringing a red velvet couch with cushions upon it where Trystane set his love down so that she would be comfortable, brushing lightly at her hair and cheek before then turning and standing over her with a hand resting upon the hilt of his sword, now glowering suspiciously at the stranger who had watched him with a certain curiosity all the while, as if she had been amused by the entire scene. "Stay your hand, Trystane. Princess Rhaena is my guest."
"As you wish, father." He released his sword but he did not move aside from Myrcella. "Father, why are servants packing Myrcella's things? Is she to leave us? She is my betrothed. Her place is here, with me." To this Prince Doran glanced at Rhaena who remained silent and still, her eyes fixed upon his son with a steady contemplation. Her expression made him uneasy.
"Myrcella is to go with Princess Rhaena Targaryen. I am surrendering her for the sake of peace."
"Peace?" Trystane all but spat the word from his mouth as a swell of rage and indignation overcame him. "Myrcella is under our protection by royal decree! If the king were to learn of this treachery, then…"
"He will do nothing." Rhaena interrupted smoothly, using her voice to calm the situation as she sensed Rhaegal stirring against the boy's angered tones. "Tommen is only a boy. He is king in name but name only. It is his mother who rules him, his mother and his wife, I believe. Only Cersei will care for what happens to Myrcella, and she will not be able to chase us across the Narrow Sea. Not with so many other enemies demanding her attention. I will take Myrcella as my hostage so that when my sister Queen Daenerys leads her army and her dragons across the ocean to Westeros, we might take back the Iron Throne with relatively little bloodshed." Stepping closer to the boy, Rhaena continued to judge him as she looked him up and down. Handsome, young, untested. There was still a great deal of learning this boy yet needed if he was ever to become an effective leader of his House. He was still green, it was clear by the look in his eyes and the nervous twitching of his hands. "But there will be bloodshed, mark my words. It is best if Myrcella is kept far from it. Trust me. This is for her own good." Unable to understand entirely how this was for Myrcella's own benefit, Trystane looked to his father for guidance.
"It is true, my son. Myrcella is no longer safe here. I fear she will face danger if she remains, even from one of our own. Your uncle's paramour…she came to me not two days ago. She would have vengeance for Oberyn through Myrcella. If you love her, my son, then you must allow her to go." But still Trystane could not bring himself to relent.
"It does not seem right. Nor honourable. It would be as if we were abandoning her, father, after swearing to give her protection and hospitality. We would be breaking our word." Deciding that she rather liked this boy, Rhaena smiled to him.
"Your honour does you credit, Trystane Martell. It is a fine quality. Do not fear, you shall see your beloved again once the war is over. Should you still desire to marry her, then I am certain your father will not oppose it. But either way, I shall leave with her, and you cannot stop me. If you could help me persuade her, however, then it shall go easier on all of us if she is compliant." Caught between his duties to his father but also to his love, Trystane pondered for a few moments to consider what was best to be done. If his father had already agreed to give up Myrcella then he would not argue against it no matter his own opinions, he trusted and respected his father too much to question him in public but he had also been taught by his father to consider every decision with wisdom and patience. Actions taken in recklessness often lead to mistakes. No matter what thought entered his mind, however, Trystane found himself only able to think of Myrcella.
"I wish to go with her." He finally announced, much to the surprise of everyone present. Even Rhaena had not anticipated such a bold decision. "Father, if I go with Myrcella and act as her guardian, then I shall sleep easier at night. This way we will not be breaking our vows to her. I can keep her safe and she will have someone with her she can trust. I shall become a hostage too, so that the Targayens will not suspect us of treachery, and the Crown will not suspect us of betrayal. We can tell them I was taken by force alongside Myrcella." This was now going far better than Rhaena had anticipated. Having Princess Myrcella would have been enough, but to have Trystane Martell too was an added boon she could not turn down.
"You are my son and my heir, Trystane. I cannot let you go recklessly."
"It is the right thing to do, father. You know it is true." Unable to deny this, Prince Doran pressed his eyes shut and hung his head against his head wearily as Areo continued to stand at his shoulder. "Please say you will agree, father. It is the least we can do for Myrcella."
"Alright. I shall agree." Holding up his hand to quieten his son before he could launch himself into a further tirade of his duty to his betrothed and how his honour demanded that he be remain faithful to his word. "Princess Rhaena, may I have your word that the same vows you made to protect Myrcella will now apply to my son? He is my son and my heir…you must understand what it costs me to agree to releasing him to you also." Hiding the smirk of amusement at the boy's brashness, Rhaena turned to Prince Doran and elected to kneel before him, lowering her head respectfully to show her sincerity as she gave her word that she would also protect Trystane and that he too would be returned safely to him once the war had concluded.
"Who knows? Perhaps we might even teach him a thing or two." Rhaena suggested as she glanced the boy over once again. "Before the war's end, we might see if he has any skill with that blade of his." Looking to the rather ornately hilted sword at his hip, Trystane flushed heatedly at Rhaena's jape but did not rise against it, taking a deep breath in order to calm himself. Invited to dine for dinner, Rhaena accepted the offer since there was still some time before sundown and it was better to take off with a full meal in one's stomach. She told Rhaegal to go and join Viserion and to keep out of trouble and out of sight of any populated areas, stroking his face before he took off into the skies where his wings sent cooling bursts of air down upon everyone below. All that remained was to wake Myrcella and inform her of the decision which had been made whilst she was unconscious. Once recovered, it was understandable then that she had begun to weep. Rhaena feared it would be a rather long and tiresome journey back to Meereen.