Queen's Headquarters, Queenscrown

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel Targaryen arrived at the Queen's headquarters in the village of Queenscrown, wearing her usual cloak-and-shawl setup over her Targaryen dress. Pulling back the hood, she looked at the Queensguard on duty. "Her Grace has requested my presence. I have come."

[Marie]

She was allowed to enter the queen's makeshift solar. Another Queensguard was present, as well as Maekar Blackfyre, who'd refused to leave his queen's side, and Euric Dayne. Rhaenys sat in a chair, sipping at a cup of wine. She was clothed in red and black, her hair tied back from her face.

"Welcome, Ariel," she said. "Will you take a cup of wine with us?"

[Flex]

Euric stood beside Rhaenys, dressed in pleasant black and lavender. Dawn't hilt was poking over the top of his left shoulder but his expression was friendly.

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel nodded. "Certainly, Your Grace," she said, taking a careful seat across from Rhaenys and smiling at the Queen.

"It seems that there's been far more trouble in this army than it appears at first glance. Even I heard about the mess that broke out when Tarly went hunting for me. Just what was the man doing?" She coughed. "Besides getting half his men killed off, including his liege lord."

[Marie]

"He was overly zealous in his desire to do his duty," Rhaenys answered. "It was most unfortunate but I want to put it behind us now. All I wanted him to do was find out where you'd gone after you escaped our attempt to take you into custody, for my own peace of mind. It wasn't easy for me to see you around Castle Black knowing you'd challenged my right to rule. It was a political matter, not personal."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel nodded. "Exactly. Though it's partly because of the perfect storm the whole thing set off that I came here at all. If my agents tell me true, you're losing the army. It's not just the Ironborn talking about going home now. If we don't do something, it'll splinter beyond repair."

She looked at Rhaenys. "I'm prepared to accept your claim, cousin, as the heir to Saella the Conqueror and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and bring my expertise, my agents, and a bit of sharp steel to aid your rule, in exchange for a degree of recognition and reward. And now is the ideal time to do it and bring honor to both of us."

[Marie]

Maekar frowned.

"The Ironborn won't leave if Lord Drumm values his brother's safety. The younger Drumm and his friend remain with us, cousin Ariel."

Rhaenys thought very carefully before answering Ariel.

"That is most generous of you, cousin. I am thankful for your cooperation. I wish that you had being willing to talk earlier then all the trouble might have been avoided. But that's life. What exactly do you want from me in terms of recognition and reward?"

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel shrugged. "Well, when you issued your call to council, I had to either kneel or be seen not kneeling. I intended to keep my speech short and speak with you afterwards. But when Selwyn made his threat, empty though it proved to be..." She shrugged.

"Five points. First should be no difficulty; I wish my name and lineage recognized without dispute. Second, while I will not reveal their names, I ask that you pardon anyone who conspired with me while I was in rebellion." She smiled. "That's a point of formality, as I know you weren't planning to lop any heads just now, but it needed to be asked anyway. Now, formalities aside, the rewards."

She looked to Rhaenys. "The last male Hightower is dead, leaving the Far Reach in question. Normally, it would clearly go to Lord Simon Tarly or one of his kin...but given the circumstances of James' death, that would be..." She chuckled briefly, then continued. "Rather improper. With that thought in mind, I would think that the clearest way to come out of this unspattered would be to make your displeasure with Simon clear, which brings me to points three and four."

"I ask to be made Lady of Oldtown, Lady Paramount of the Far Reach, and Mistress of Laws. There's no clearer way to announce to the assembled Lords our reconciliation with honor, and simultaneously show them that you will not reward foolishness. And it's one of the strongest awards that I could ask for; for that, I will give my oath."

[Marie]

She asks a lot, when I could have her killed so easily, if I possessed fewer scruples.

"I will recognise you as blood kin so long as you swear a public oath of fealty to me and forsake your own claim to the throne," Rhaenys agreed. "We would have to consider exactly what your legal position is, but I've three sisters so it hardly matters at present. Being recognised as a Targaryen will surely suffice. As to the other matters, I don't know who the rebels were so I don't even need to pardon them. "

She paused, thought about it.

"Your other suggestions will not serve. Lord Tarly remains on my Small Council. Yes, he displeased me, but I need him still, and his initial orders did come from me. That shows that he is loyal, at least. As to the Hightower, it has its lady now. Her name is...Danyella, I believe. She is to be made my ward and placed in the guardianship of someone I trust. So, no, you cannot have the Hightower, but you may have lands. My lords will not be pleased if I give you a peach as ripe as that one. I will make my promise here and now that I will find you a suitable castle, or else give you permission to build one."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel smiled. "Simple. Follow the usual succession rules. I'm willing to swear fealty and accept your conquest of Baratheon and the line of Aegon." She shrugged. "If you must know, I did the research before I made my claim. If Saella's line dies, I'm next. Over the head of Prince Aegon, but I'm sure you'll shed scant tears for him."

Ariel then raised a brow at Rhaenys. "A bannerlordship. I suppose you offer it sincerely and seriously. But it's worse than worthless, in the most literal sense. A lesser lordship saps coin rather than earns it, saddles me with duty without granting me even a hint of power."

She looked at Rhaenys. "Competence is as important as loyalty in a councillor, as I'm sure you knew when selecting Lord Marbrand. But I accept your terms."

[Marie]

Rhaenys breathed a sigh of relief. She had feared Ariel would raise many more objections.

"Thank you. I did not think to humble you by placing you in fealty to some other lord. You are, after all, a Targaryen. You would hold the lands directly from me. It is an unusual move, I know, but it can be done, I believe. I would, however, have to consult with my lords as to finding you suitable lands. Surely you will prefer that."

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel nodded. "My loyalty is given to you, for what little reward it'll earn me. But the safety of the Realm comes above my ambitions." She smiled and stood.

"Shall we have the oathgiving now, or later? I will swear in Dornish fashion, if it does not displease you, Your Grace."

[Marie]

Rhaenys raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"You may swear to me now in the Dornish fashion, if it please you, but you absolutely must swear fealty to me in the proper form of Westeros before my Small Council. I wish this done openly so that all may know the truth. Incidentally, how is the Dornish manner of swearing diferent?"

[Princess Ariel Targaryen]

Ariel smiled at Rhaenys. "The privilege of those of Martell blood when swearing to the King, is that it may be done on one's feet. "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken." Dates from the marriage of Daeron II."

[Marie]

It seemed pointless to argue the matter. The words were the same, after all. Rhaenys gave her assent.

"As you will. But you will swear in the normal way before my Small Council tomorrow. My lords will expect it. Once that is done, I will consult them on the matter of suitable lands for you."