Princess Rhaenys Targaryen

Long journeys such as the one she had undertaken to Winterfell often made Rhaenys think of her family. She had a lot of time as she rode on Meleys' back to think of her father, husband and children. Her father was a man she respected and loved dearly, King Aemon had always been a very good father, a good mix of strict and kind, he had taught her all she knew about ruling and politics, he had also taught her the importance of bonding and spending time with one's dragon. And as such Meleys her fierce red dragon had become as much a part of her as breathing or her children. As to her husband, Rhaenys loved her husband, who was also her brother Aemon dearly, her brother was younger than her by two years and yet he was so filled with life that Rhaenys could not but help love him. He had a way of making even the worst things in life turn joyful, though he did lack in confidence on some matters something that was not made better by being in their father's shadow. Rhaenys knew their father did not approve of Aemon constantly relying on her in difficult situations, but she did not truly mind, her brother had other talents and she was more than happy to help her beloved where she could. As to her and Aemon's children, well she loved them fiercely. So far they had two daughters, Alysanne and Vaelana, Alysanne was a fiery twelve year old who reminded Rhaenys a lot of herself at that age, that she had bonded with a dragon whom she had named Tyraxes was only further proof of that, Vaelana was calmer and much more willing to accept things as they came, she had not bonded with a dragon but simply said that she would so when the time came. Rhaenys loved both her daughters fiercely, but could not help but pray for a son to come, for only then would she and Aemon be able to rest easy.

There were various things happening in Westeros that were drawing her father's attention, the rampage that Prince Alric Martell of Dorne was going on in the southern reach was causing much destruction and was wreaking havoc on the crops and produce from the Reach. Rhaenys knew her father was deeply angered and disturbed by this, considering that things had been very, very peaceful between the Iron Throne and Dorne during the reign of her grandfather the old king. She wondered if this Prince was an opportunist or if he had always been a mad man lurking in the wings. Rhaenys knew her father did not wish to have to bring the full might of House Targaryen down on the Dornish or on Dorne, but she also knew that he could see no other solution to what had become an almost untenable position. Aemon and their father had flown south to Highgarden with men from the Crownlands to speak with Lord Tyrell to see if a peaceful solution could still be reached, and whether or not the Dornish were still scared over the threat of dragon fire to be subdued enough to have the mad man removed, somehow Rhaenys doubted that would be the case. As to the rest of what had been causing some interesting tension within the court, the Reynes and Tarbecks had finally decided to give up on their subtle push for more leniency and possible independence, and had decided to co-operate with Lord Tygett Lannister in ending the feuds between the Crakehalls and the Kennings of Kayce. That was a deep relief for all concerned as it meant that should war truly break out with Dorne then at least the main kingdoms would be united against the Dornish. The Vale itself was at peace, but Rhaenys had been hearing rumours of the Three Sisters slowly raising taxes on trade in the narrow sea something that was angering Lord Corlys Velaryon and various other lords in the narrow sea as well as some very important people in the Free Cities such as the Sealord of Bravos and the Magister of Pentos. Her father was concerned about this, as was Aemon and they both knew they would need a smooth hand to deal with that situation and so the king had sent Prince Viserys and Ser Otto Hightower off to negotiate with the Three Sisters to get them to stop being so foolhardy.

Rhaenys herself had been tasked with heading north to Winterfell to put to bed these talks of northern independence. Rhaenys knew her father had a very tense relationship with Lord Benjen Stark, after all the man had been married to her aunt Vaella and though she did not know all of the details, the marriage had not been a very happy one, and her aunt had often begged her father to come and take her home. That he had not been able to, or had not done so Rhaenys knew was one of her father's biggest regrets and one of the few things he cursed King Jaehaerys about. Still her father was smart enough to put personal grudges aside and had sent her north to use their mutual kinship to encourage the man to end his ambitions before he even realised he had them. It was with this in mind that Rhaenys had headed north accompanied by two knights of the Kingsguard, her childhood friend Ser Bennard Stark who was also Lord Benjen's brother, and Ser Harrold Westerling a sterling knight who had fought in the north once before. She had also come north with Lord Tion Blackwood and her cousin Ser Borros Baratheon a man who would tower above most grown men and make them shake. She also was accompanied by her aunt Lady Saera Velaryon and her dragon Seasmoke. Rhaenys had spoken to her friend Ser Bennard about his brother to get a general feeling about him and Bennard's response had not exactly filled her with confidence. "Benjen is a complicated man. He plays as if he does not care about the south and the politics there. But he does, he cares more than he will ever admit, and he cares what his bannermen think of him. He will be hard to speak with, but he will see sense eventually."

So far she had been in Winterfell for four days and had yet to speak with Benjen Stark, the man had been away for sometime before she had arrived, somewhere in the furthest reaches of the north according to his maester and had only returned the day before. He had finally agreed to see her in his solar, Rhaenys had brought both her white knights with her as well as her aunt and cousin. She looked at the man who had wed her aunt those many long years ago, and saw an old man nearing his last days. "My lord," she began. "I thank you for seeing me. I know you are a busy man, but I am here on behalf of my father his grace King Aemon Targaryen. We have been hearing rumours from our sources, that you have been arming your men and bannermen, and that I myself saw the beginnings of what looked like the refortications of Moat Cailin. Our sources claim that you are doing all of these things in preparation for a declaration of independence."

The man was silent for a long time before he said. "I will not lie to you Princess. Ever since your grandfather, the old king died, my bannermen have been at me to declare the north independent. They have been saying we would be better off without the Iron Throne's control. And I must say to an extent I agree completely with what they say. We can make much more money and can improve our people's livelihoods as an independent nation then we ever could under the Iron Throne's control."

Rhaenys looked at Bennard and saw him visibly shaking his head at his brother's answer. She then turned to look at the Lord of Winterfell, and said as calmly as she possibly could. "Well my lord, if you still have doubts over what course of action is the right course of action for both yourself and your people I suggest you look outside. There are two dragons outside and they are not even the full extent of the might of what my father could summon. Your bannermen might be telling you that the north can withstand an army from the south and might even be able to survive the dragons. But they are wrong on one count. My father is not some foolish king, he knows how your lords think, he would not even both sending an invasion force up the neck, he would simply mount Vhagar and send other dragons. And once past your borders he would burn Moat Cailin, Winterfell and White Harbour to ashes. Leaving the north nothing but ashes and dust. There is a reason your great grandfather bent the knee to the conqueror my lord."

Lord Benjen Stark looked at her for a long moment before saying. "Aye those are bold words my princess. But were those not the same words your namesake and ancestor used on the Yellow Toad? And look where that got her, she died in an invasion and her dragon with her. We are not southerners to be blind to how strong your dragons are. But this is the north and winter is coming. Sooner or later your dragons would perish, and then we could strike ourselves out. But I am not so great a fool as to risk my people for some stupid goal that should have died when Torrhen knelt."

Rhaenys looked at the man and then said. "I was hoping you would say that my lord. My father is willing to forget that you ever considered rebelling, in fact he is willing of give some very good trade contracts to White Harbour, some of the best dealings will go there. He will also send some high value recruits to the Night's Watch and will begin a campaign to increase the prestige of the Watch to encourage greater demand. Furthermore, the Iron Throne is willing to fund the rebuilding of those towers in the courtyard of Winterfell that have been broken for many years. What say you?"

The man was silent for a long moment and then he said. "I accept. Tell your father I will end all talk of rebellion and return to the fold for those conditions. What does your father want in return?"

Rhaenys smiled her best smile then and outside Meleys growled. "Why only your undying loyalty and the renewal of the pledge Torrhen Stark made all those years ago."