112 A.L King's Landing
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen
Winter had finally come to Westeros, summer had lasted what seemed an age, truly Rhaenys was convinced that there had never been a longer summer than the one they had just had. It has lasted for twelve years after all, of course there had been a lot for her to do in the past year. She and her husband had broken the Triarchy's fleet outside the Stepstones, and then she had returned to King's Landing with her husband and their eldest daughter Alysanne for Alysanne's wedding to Ser Aenys Celtigar, Alysanne had given birth to a son whom she had named Aemon. After the wedding, Rhaenys had headed north to the Sisters to settle the issue of war between the Starks and the Arryns. The war which had begun over control over the Three Sisters had lasted for two years before Rhaenys had come and brought it to an end. When she had arrived at Sisterton, both Lord Benjen Stark and Lord Jonnel Arryn were present and both men were very, very angry. Benjen Stark an old man who knew more about the game than anyone Rhaenys had every met before, demanded that the Sisters be recognised as belonging to him now, and that those lords who had betrayed him be executed, Lord Jonnel Arryn was younger, Aemma's brother was a broader and a much more terrifying man, and he too demanded that the Sisters be recognised as belonging to the Vale, and that Stark pay him heavy reparations for the damage done to Gulltown, his people and his fleet. Neither man's demand would bring the peace that Rhaenys knew her father wanted, and so she had come up with a compromise. Lord Sunderland was to be fed to Meleys for his treason, the houses of the Sisters were to be attainted, and the sisters were to be formally recognised as belonging to the north. Though in order to make up for this, the taxes and tolls from the sisters would go to the Arryns for the next ten years, and Benjen Stark would have to send a hostage to King's Landing. Both men had agreed to this compromise and Rhaenys had seen it put into place immediately, Sunderland had been replaced by Stark's own man Rickard Cassel an affable fellow who was a warrior more than a thinker, and Bennard Stark, Lord Benjen's second son had come south with Rhaenys.
Once she had returned from doing her duty in the sisters, Rhaenys had learnt that there were still things going on in the rest of the realm, such as a conflict between the Reach and Dorne, which had actually been used as an excuse by Ser Otto Hightower to lure her husband Prince Aemon to the Hightower. Where the man had tried to force her husband to formally set her aside and marry his own daughter Alicent Hightower. Her husband had finally shown his backbone and that he was a true dragon, using his cousin he had refused to accept the offer and instead had flown to the Arbor, where Daemon Velaryon had then mobilised his fleet and begun assaulting the Hightower. When later asked why he had done what he had done, Daemon had simply said that Lord Hightower had been attacking his own people and his own family and as such was no longer fit to rule. Aemon and Rhaenys had both been happy with this explanation and so had allowed Daemon to wed his cousin Vaemond to Alicent Hightower, thus giving them more control over the Reach. Lord Crakehall had also come to King's Landing to answer for his extermination of the Kennings of Kayce, Crakehall's explanation of something to do with treachery and Ironborn subversion had been found completely lacking and Rhaenys had decreed that he and his heir would be sent north to the wall to take the black. Whilst his second son would grow up in King's Landing a hostage for the rest of their family's good behaviour.
During all of this, Rhaenys had given birth to twin girls, who she had named Saera and Daenaerys. Though she was frustrated that she had yet to produce a male heir for her husband, as she knew that the birth of two more daughters would only keep the rumour mill going, she could not help but love these two new daughters of hers something fierce. Alysanne, her eldest was a woman wedded with a son of her own and a dragon of her own as well, Rhaenys knew she would be just fine with her husband. Vaelana was betrothed to Rickon Stark, and though she was anxious about allowing her daughter north after what had happened with her aunt Vaella, she knew she needed to cement the alliance with the Starks. Visenya was only five but she was already developing into a fighter and she had been betrothed to Addam Velaryon the grandson of Ser Laenor. Rhaenys loved her daughters something fierce but could not help praying for a son, to ease the nerves she felt.
As she arrived at the council chambers with her husband, she suspected that the council might very well bring up the issue of a male heir. The members of the council were, her cousin Prince Viserys as hand of the king, Lord Lyman Beesbury as master of coin, Lord Larys Strong as master of whispers, Ser Aenys Celtigar as master of laws and Grand Maester Runciter. Aemon bid them all sit and then spoke, his voice tired sounding. "I thank you all for coming my lords. It has been some time since my wife attended a council session, and though our daughters are hale and healthy, we both thought it was time that she was brought up to date on the affairs of the realm. So, who would like to begin first?"
Their cousin Viserys spoke first. "Well Your Graces. There has been word from the King. It appears that both Myr and Tyrosh have fallen and are now part of the Iron Throne's dominions. Those members of the Triarchy in the two cities who did not bend the knee were executed, and those who did bend the knee were welcomed into the fold. His Grace and the army shall be moving towards Lys to finish off the job and do hope to be done by later on this year, and hope to be home by the new year."
Rhaenys nodded and smiled at that. "That is good news indeed. Did his grace say what has been done about those men and women who continued to put up a fight against the throne and refused to surrender?"
Viserys was silent for a moment before he said. "His Grace has written that Ser Laenor and some 2,000 men have been sent out to deal with those who continue to refuse to submit even when all is lost to them and theirs. He is confident that they shall be brought down before year's end."
Rhaenys nodded and then asked. "Now is there still trouble between the Marcher lords or have they finally seen sense?"
Viserys sighed. "I am afraid that the peace we had thought possible following the settlement has been broken once more. Lord Swann feels that Lady Caron has insulted him in some manner or the other, and has now begun encroaching on her territory claiming that a woman needs no vast swathes of land when it is just her and her daughters."
Rhaenys felt Aemon tense beside her and she put her hand on his leg to soothe him before calmly responding. "Oh? And what has Lady Caron done in response to this infringement on her lands?"
Viserys was silent once more before he said simply. "She has assembled a force of men and riding out to give combat to Lord Swann and his men. Lord Dondarrion and Lord Boiling are also marching, but whether they mean to see Lady Caron secure in her right or not I do not know. And with Lord Borros away from Storm's End, it seems that it will be a matter for the crown to deal with."
Rhaenys sighs then and says. "Then we shall have to take action and soon. The realm cannot afford another full blown conflict like what happened between the Starks and the Arryns. I shall need to depart soon enough."
"And why must it be you, princess?" Lord Larys asked. "When Prince Aemon is here and has dealt with such conflict before?"
"My wife has also dealt with such conflicts before Lord Larys." Aemon said his voice rising with anger. "In case you have forgotten it was Rhaenys who ended the Stark-Arryn conflict and came up with a solution that appealed to both parties. She is the right person for ending this silly conflict in the Stormlands and ensuring that there is finally peace between our lords."
Lord Larys held his hands up in a concillatory manner and said silkily. "I was merely asking if her grace knew what would happen if she were the one to leave to deal with this issue."
Now Rhaenys was intrigued. "Oh? And what do you believe will happen Lord Larys?"
"The lords will whisper and will plot anew, if they know that it is you and not Prince Aemon who settles this matter. For you are a woman who can be bent to their will." Lord Larys said.
In that moment Rhaenys knew then who the traitor in their midst was.