Tower of the Sun

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"No, but I would like something to do, something that will keep my mind occupied. Spending time on things like this seems the most sense to me." She hoped he would understand. "And if there is a war then it will be fortunate that I prepared in advance for everything. Had the supplies ready." She took a deep breath but let out an exhale slowly through her nose. "What do you think?"

[Lord Harold Tully]

He makes some jots in his book, and it looks like hes drawing something. "Alright, we could plan that. I could have shipments of wood sent down here. But the question is, what do you wish to offer us, this project will take a lot of wood. And if you want to oversee this entire project it will take time that is away from the Riverlands itself." He looks to her.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"Wines, olive oil, the things we have but the Riverlands do not. That or gold over time. I can see about lowering taxes for Riverland ships so that even your traders will benefit from a partnership between our houses." Lyssandra had never made a bargain of this nature before, but it was she who knew most of matters pertaining to war, so she felt justified in making the decision to do this.

[Lord Harold Tully]

"That sounds fair. I can see about the same, did we want to keep this strictly a trade agreement?" He looks to her. "I feel we could gain much from a full Alliance."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open a little bit, "A marriage?" It as all she could manage to say at the moment. It seemed too grand a notion for her to process.

[Lord Harold Tully]

He blinked and looked to her, putting his quill down. "It is a fair question, Lyssasndra. I feel like it would be in our benefit if we do have an Alliance." He raised a brow. "Unless you disagree."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"My brother is a widower, if you have a sister." It was the first thought in her mind, she knew her eldest sister would not be pleased with a marriage, and her other brother seemed a man that went after his own design and she respected that. "I also have a nephew, a young boy fostering at court in King's Landing." She studied Lord Tully's expression. "Do you feel the need for an alliance? It makes and sends a bold message"

[Lord Harold Tully]

"I do feel the need Lyssandra, all my neighbors are Allied with one another. Starks to Royces, Lannisters to Baratheons. And with the riverlands right in the middle." He lets out a sigh. "The fact of the matter is, if we are at war, a trade alliance will be pointless as we probably would have no trade. You are a fierce warrior Lyssandra, but you are also an intelligent woman, and I respect that, your support would aid us in thinking that we are not so easy targets."

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"You are not so easy a target Lord Tully and a marriage between those houses does not mean they will fight side by side. It's mostly ceremonial." She tried not to sound harsh, but in her mind, marriages did not really prevent wars between houses. "Do you really feel threatened, have there been any indications of a war coming?"

[Lord Harold Tully]

"The Lannisters seem to be raising arms, some say its in support of the exiled prince, should that come to war I feel the Bratheons will join them." He looks to her. "And I thank you for your praise but history has proven the Riverlands to be war grounds in times of war, I simply wish some reason as to show them its a bad idea to do that." He looks to her.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Tully was in the right about the Riverlands being in the centre of things, it was plain geography. "You can not ally everyone it seems..even if you had an alliance with two it would not change where your lands are." Lyssandra sipped at her wine. "Are you on good terms with the LAnnisters and Baratheons?" Lyssandra tried to take a different approach, "Is it wise to take sides before a conflict even begins? Or be tied to a sinking ship?"

[Lord Harold Tully]

"Do you consider yourself a sinking ship?" He sits back. "And I feel like if I do not act now, then I will be caught off guard for when something does happen, do tell me would you be any more keen to the idea if I was in the middle of war?"

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

"If I made a mistake and the realm turned against me, it would not be in your interest to aid me, and in fact, it would be bad that you were in support of me in the first place. House Martell is in the same position as you are, we have no formal alliances and are weak to an attack should the Baratheons or Tyrells decide to march south. Yet I feel comfortable in our position. Should I be worried?"

[Lord Harold Tully]

"If the Martells or the Baratheons attack you, it would be unprovoked. There is no reason to attack you other then greed itself, though that has been enough for some men. However, I think you are smart enough to not make a mistake, that I am putting my faith in the Father in, I have fought beside you seen your skills in battle myself." He looked to her. "That is the risk I am willing to make Lyssandra, I would agree to the Riverlands and Dorne to have a formal alliance, if you feel that risk is too much, if you feel I am in a danger zone, or simply too incompetent to run the Riverlands then do not feel you need to accept. But know that I am willing to put my support for you no matter the situation." He looks to her with serous eyes.

[Princess Lyssandra Martell]

Lyssandra finished her wine and felt like she needed more, "If you need help then you can always ask me." She also felt like she needed to sit down but not in the hall. "I feel you are not telling me something." She looked at him evenly with some concern.