"My Lord, my Princess has requested your presence," Corlys glanced at the comely dark haired serving girl as she grasped the hem of her dark blue skirts and curtseyed before him. His youngest brother, Monford, slapped him on the shoulder before moving his gaze up and down the girl's body.
"Well brother, it seems your Princess has a need for you! Best not keep her waiting," Corlys rolled his eyes as Monford snorted into his wine. His brother never did have any sense. Corlys rose to his feet and handed his drink to Monford, knowing full well the man would be able to finish it off. He nodded at the serving girl in consent, before waving off the rest of his party to ensure they did not come after him,
The serving girl was quiet as he followed her to a chamber a short walk away from the hall that he knew was not Rhaenys'. Nonetheless, he followed her through the thick wooden doors anyway, thinking perhaps that his future bride had wished to meet with him alone. To his surprise, the room was plain, with no tapestries or adornments on the walls, and clearly abandoned. Corlys noticed trails of dust on the floors and the only light came from a singular window, no candles having been lit.
"Thank you, Vera," a small voice commented from the other side of the chamber. Corlys noticed a slight slip of a girl leaning back in a large armchair opposite a wooden table and another chair. She was incredibly pale, her skin had a sickly look to it, and her long, loose silver hair was held back by a cobalt headband. Realization dawned on Corlys when he spotted the tall, dark wooden staff leaning against the chair. "Please make sure that no one interrupts?" Princess Gael requested with a friendly smile.
"Of course, my Princess," the serving girl swiftly left the room with a curtsey before shutting the doors behind him.
"My Lord Velaryon," Princess Gael clasped her pale hands together on the table before her, raising her neck to meet his eyes. "Would you not sit down?" she waved her hand on the seat across from her.
"Princess Gael," he acknowledged with a bow of his head as he pulled out the chair and took a seat.
"I suppose I should congratulate you, my Lord. On your betrothal," the Princess smiled brightly. "Despite my frequent persuasions that having a future good nephew five and twenty years my senior would be rather absurd, my niece has made it clear that she will marry no other man but you," she stated firmly.
"Should I not be pleased to know that my future bride only has eyes for me?" Corlys replied, glancing down at the frail Princess.
"Regardless of my concern over your significant age," Corlys scoffed at that, only to receive a raised eyebrow from the girl, "I do believe that she will be quite pleased with you as her husband. You are an impressive man, Lord Velaryon." The Princess tilted her head in acknowledgment. "Yet I fear that you are not capable of giving nor ensuring that Princess Rhaenys claims what is rightfully hers."
"The Iron Throne," Corlys leaned to the side of the table to grab a pitcher before pouring himself a goblet of wine. "For a known lackwit, you have quite the silver tongue, Princess," Corlys lifted his goblet to take a sip.
"You have sailed to the end of the world, Lord Velaryon. Already a legend while you still live. Surely you of all people know the difference between the eyes of an honest man and what everybody knows?" Princess Gael looked younger than her years as she sat timidly before him, fiddling with a loose curl then placing it behind her ear. However when she spoke, Corlys could not picture her as a girl of ten.
"Indeed, Princess. You are a clever girl, too clever. Yet Aemon has made it clear, Rhaenys is his heir."
"He is the Prince of Dragonstone, not the King. Should my Father declare to the Realm that Baelon in second in line after Aemon the Lords would follow suit," Princess Gael interjected. "Lords who happened to believe that House Velaryon has risen above their station, all in thanks to you, Sea Snake."
"Our King and Queen have a Velaryon mother. As did the Conqueror and his sisters. There is Targaryen blood in every Velaryon and Velaryon blood in every Targaryen. I care not for the opinions of Andal Lords when my House is the Blood of Old Valyria," Corlys dismissed.
"Even dragons have to play the Game of Thrones, Lord Velaryon," Princess Gael countered. "The Conqueror may have changed the rules but at the end of the day he still played. Did he not rule in peace? How might the Realm have fared if his sons had understood when to play the Game and when to bring Fire and Blood? Rhaenys has been a part of the board from the day she entered the world, and she is about to make a gamble with her next move."
"There it is," Corlys scoffed. "You tried to convince Rhaenys to marry Prince Viserys. To unite the claims. I will admit, the plan had merit. Was this your goal, Princess? To persuade me after you failed with Rhaenys?"
"I am not arrogant to believe that anything I say could possibly dissuade you," the Princess reached across the table to grab his wine before taking a sip."I do not trust you, Lord Velaryon, not yet, at least. However I have accepted that you will fight until your last breath to crown Rhaenys and her line," the Princess laughed as she handed his wine back to him. "After all, what man would not wish to make his son a King?"
"You seem quite concerned that His Grace will name Prince Baelon heir, and Prince Viserys after him. If you are so confident with your assessment, Princess, your nephew is still unmarried. Wed him and perhaps you could be the mother of a King. After all, what little girl does not dream of being the Queen?" Corlys mocked, placing his goblet back on the table.
"I shall not wed Viserys, Lord Velaryon," the Princess shook her head. "Rhaenys will have you as her husband and Lord Baratheon as her uncle. Who does Viserys have? Should the King pass over the rightful heir then he must wed Viserys to the daughter of a Great House. Not his simpleton Aunt… Rhaenys is everything to me, Lord Velaryon. I will not betray her position as Queen Regnant to be a mere Consort." The girl's expression was a mask of courtesy but Corlys was not blind to see the fire in the little Princess' purple eyes.
"What do you want from me, Princess?"
"Regardless of our selfish motivations, Rhaenys would be an excellent Queen. Far better than Viserys could ever be a King," the Princess leaned forward, her voice lowering. "I want you to help me guarantee that she sits on the Iron Throne. To ensure that you understand that her position is not, and has never been, secure."
"An alliance then," Corlys threw his head back and laughed. "Forgive me, Princess, it is not every day that a man finds an ally in a child!"
"Do not mock me, my Lord. You are wealthy and powerful, yet your status ensures that every move you make in this cesspool my Father calls court is watched. Who besides my mother and Rhaenys watches the poor, frail, but sweet Winter Child?" The Princess spat out the final words. "The daggers in the night are just as deadly as the swords in the day, Lord Velaryon. There is value in being invisible, my Lord, and I care not for recognition and glory as you may, so long as my Queen receives her due."
"You will be wiser than your Father one day, Princess. I understand now, why Rhaenys places such faith in you. Yet you have admitted yourself that you do not trust me. Why should I ally myself with you?" Corlys pondered.
"I have no reason to deceive you. Your wedding will bind you to Rhaenys, Lord Velaryon. To turn on you would be to turn on my niece. For Rhaenys, there is nothing I will not do, even if it means giving you my trust."
"For Rhaenys…" he mused. "I believe we have an arrangement then Princess."
"Good," she sternly replied without a blink.
Corlys scooted his chair back and rose to his feet before holding out his hand. The Princess grasped her staff and slowly began to stand, her pale blue dress shifting from her movements. She reached and grasped his sleeve, her delicate hand not large enough to fit even half way around his forearm despite her best efforts.
"What is our next step then, Princess Gael?" Corlys questioned as he wrapped his right hand around her forearm.
"The Queen in the East became a dragonrider at twelve. Her record has held for more than fifty years," the Princess' grin was enough to make Corlys shudder. "Don't you think it's about time for another Princess to take the mantle?"
What have I got myself into? Was all Corlys Velaryon, the legendary Sea Snake, could think as he looked down upon Alysanne's Winter Child.