Allyrion
The sun had risen brighter and warmer than expected on a winter's day. Even in Dorne, they had been seeing snows, and the desert was as cold and bleak as anywhere in the seven kingdoms. The black silk jerkin would be suitable, and the purple and black cloak.
"Allyrion!"
"What do you want?"
"2 ravens have arrived, one for me, one for you." Allyria said, excitedly.
She handed his letter to him, and ripped open hers, while Allyrion did the same.
Dear Allyrion, my Lord of Dayne
I am Daena Targaryen, younger sister of King Rhaegar I Targaryen. To be frank, your father, Lord Edric planned to foster you at court, to be a squire and page to the king, and a companion to his heir, Prince Aelyx and his twin, Aelora. However, as you know, he died in battle against Vaegon Blackfyre, and his bastard-sword, Dawn, stolen. My king is prepared to offer you, and your sister 2 dragon's eggs, in recovery of your father's sword. In exchange for three things. The first is that you and your sister shall come to court, as promised by your father. The second is that, providing you accept all 3 conditions, you will use your dragons to help us find our ancestral weapons, Dark Sister and Blackfyre. The third is that your sister, Allyria will wed Prince Aelyx. You may wed a Targaryen, Velaryon or any house of Valyrian descent. If you have dragons, your children must be descended from dragon lords. Since this is a matter that others need not know about, King Rhaegar has summoned you to court so that these matters may be discussed in privy.
Yours faithfully,
Princess Daena Targaryen.
"Allyria, is yours from - "
"Princess Daena… do we have to go to King's Landing?"
"I don't think we have a choice. Did yours say anything about Prince Aelyx?"
Allyria paled
"I have to wed him."
"We're 13, there will most like, be a betrothal, until you flower, and he comes of age."
"But still – "
"I'm going to talk to Ser Edmyn. I think he'll make all the arrangements for our travel."
Ser Edmyn of House Blackwood was a tall, thin man with wits as sharp as a whip, yet amiable, wise and trustworthy.
"Well lad, there is nothing to consider. Dawn was not just your father's sword. It was the weapon of every Sword of the Morning before – "
"With all due respect, Ser, I know about the Sword of the Morning, and the history, but should we accept the King's offer?"
"It was Princess Daena's idea to be sure yet nonetheless, you must accept. If you do as they bid, your sister will wed the Prince of Dragonstone and the first in line to the throne. You will wed the second. In any case, a Dayne is almost guaranteed to be a consort to the monarch. And 2 dragons for House Dayne; You could be the most powerful house in all of Dorne."
Allyrion noticed how he said 'you,' not "we."
"But who will take care of Starfall when we are gone? Surely, we will take a retinue, and mother is ill. Most like she will not survive the journey if we take her. What if she dies when we are gone? She will die without us and without companions."
"Calm yourself boy. All this will be sorted in due course. By your leave, my lord, I will remain here as castellan."
"Granted, ser."
"Then I will arrange with Mors and Jon for your travel."
Allyria and Allyrion rode, side-by-side, Allyrion on his jet-black sand-steed, Allyria on her pale white palfrey. Their retinue followed suit, made up of Septon Harwin, Ser Wyman Dayne of High Hermitage, Mors (the master of horse), 8 household knights and Robert Yronwood, their steward.
"My lord!"
"Yes Robert."
"The castle you see up ahead, that is Storm's End. I have arranged with Lord Edric for us to stay for the night. Maybe you can acquaintance yourself with his heir, Robert."
"Robert, I've met him. He is an arrogant, stubborn dimwit whose friends only surround him for a position of power."
"He is the heir to Storm's End, and it would not hurt for you to make friends among the Great Houses. This is an opportunity for you to have allies in House Baratheon."
"Why would I need allies?"
"The seeds of war are sowed in times of peace, my lord."
Boremund
Boremund hated Storm's End for 2 reasons. His father, and his brother. His mother died in childbed 6 years before, giving birth to his youngest sister, Argella, yet his father took another wife, Aemma Rowan, even his mother had given Lord Edric 5 strong children, 3 daughters and 2 sons. His brother, Robert, was a horrible, witless bully, who preyed on Argella since he seemed to think it was her fault their mother died. Storm's End would never be Boremund's, and he would never love it again. He counted the days until he could return to the Eyrie for his fostering. He had not needed to attend the wedding, but his father was a stickler for tradition.
"Boremund."
His father stood 6-and-a-half feet tall, had coal black hair (now laced with a few strands of grey) and bright blue eyes. Boremund had the golden hair and lean build of a Lannister, but had the blue eyes, and pride of a Baratheon.
"We have guests. Lord Allyrion Dayne and his retinue are staying here until the morrow, on their way to King's Landing. I want you to treat him well, and if you find him a good lad, befriend him."
"Yes, my lord."
"I'm your father you know. You can talk to me if there is anything troubling you." His father told him, not unkindly.
"Just … why not ask Robert. He is your heir; wouldn't it be better for him to befriend Lord Dayne."
"Truth be told, I think your brother would scare him off."
Boremund remained emotionless. His father stood, oddly formal.
"I shall see you at the feast tonight, lad."
"See you, my lord."
Edric Baratheon left the chamber.
Seven save me, I should not harbor bad feelings against my family, but he does not care about mother's death, even if he remembers her at all. At least Robert honors her on the name day of her death, every year. Father just drinks himself blind, then fights squires in the yard, according to Maris.
Boremund strode to the ruins of castle godswood. The smell of rain usually helped clear his mind. After the godswood and the weirwood had been burnt, some 30 years before, his father had replaced all the burnt trees, found a new weirwood to plant, and made it a beautiful place of tranquility. This is one of the things my father has actually done right. Boremund scampered up the branches of one of the great oak trees and began to think.
All my sisters hate Robert, but who will actually stand up to him when I'm gone. Argella is but 6, Maris sees, but does not act and Shireen keeps herself well away from him but cannot always help Argella. None of his friends or anyone around the castle dare anger their future Lord.
A childish giggle interrupted his thoughts.
"Hello Boremund."
A flurry of black curls came running into the godswood.
"Good morrow, Argella."
"Shireen, help me up."
Shireen was his oldest sibling, at five and ten, and had the classical Baratheon features, the black hair and blue eyes, but aside from that, she was almost identical to their mother, who had the golden hair and green eyes of a Lannister.
"Good morrow, Shireen."
She smiled up at him.
"Father has just informed Argella, and I that Lord Dayne shall be coming here to spend the night."
"He already told me this."
"But did he tell you that he has a beautiful twin sister/"