Camp of the Targaryens

[Marie]

She looked interested.

"Oh yes? What about the women? Do you find them beautiful?"

[Aerys]

"There are beautiful women in every one of the Seven Kingdoms."

[Marie]

"There are," Rhaenys agreed. "But I wanted to know what you think of Dornish women in particular. Could you see yourself sharing a Dornish woman's bed night after night for all the years to come?"

[Aerys]

Aegon shrugged. He knew where this was going.

"I don't see why not. Targaryens have wed Dornish women in the past."

"What do you have in mind Rhaenys?"

[Marie]

She smiled.

"If you marry Princess Aurora, assuming she agrees, you would be consort to the next Princess of Dorne, and it would free Liliyana up for marriage to a lord's heir. You would have the status you crave and the Martells will get an heir with Targaryen blood in the direct line of descent."

[Aerys]

Aegon shook his head smiling.

"I am a pure-blood Targaryen on both sides, stretching back to my great-grand-father at least and most likely further. I have status...just no lands or titles.

"And I would only be consort to the Princess of Dorne. That of course means no lands in my own right."

He leaned forward still smiling gently and locked his eyes on hers.

"Tell me Rhaenys. Would any children of Aegon Targaryen and Aurora Martell be Targaryens or Martells?"

[Marie]

"Martells, of course," Rhaenys answered. "Aurora's eldest child shall be the heir to Sunspear after Aurora herself. However, it is not impossible that you could give one of your younger children the Targaryen name. You could always ask Horas to grant you lands and a keep in Dorne, if there's one requriing a master, or else to raise your own keep. You'd have my backing, if Horas is willing. I would, however, advise you not to press the matter at this stage. The Martells do not know you, eyt. They would likely want to see what manner of man you are."

[Aerys]

Aegon shook his head and the smile left his face.

"A keep in Dorne. Is that what you have in mind for me? That's a position and title worthy of my birth as a royal Targaryen?

"I lose my name and have to rely on the possible granting of lands by my father-in-law. Not an attractive proposition."

[Marie]

Rhaenys felt her anger flare up; she felt it was a generous offer.

"Well, I had not known you to be so ungrateful, cousin! I offered you a place by the side of the future Princess of Dorne, a woman who will come second only to our own bloodline. Our ancestors often married Martells, as you well know. You wouldn't have to lose your own name, anyway. Plenty of Martell women have married men who kept their own name. And what does a keep of your own matter when you'd, one dayh, be the most important man in Dorne itself?"

She paused to suck in a breath, green eyes glazing with anger.

"Take it or leave it, I have nothing else to suggest while the realm is so unstable."

[Aerys]

Aegon didn't flinch at the queen's anger.

"I'll leave it.

"There's only one way I would accept such an offer and that would be if I had a title and lands of my own already. I would then be able to approach the Martells on a more equal standing. I will not go to the Martells as a supplicant. I do have some pride Rhaenys."

[Marie]

"The Martells won't care about you having lands already, Aegon. In fact I'm sure they'd rather be the ones to give you lands, if you agreed to marry Aurora. Besides, what lands am I supposed to give you when most of the realm isn't in our hands and I know not what we will find the further south we go?"

[Aerys]

Aegon shook his head again.

"I'm the Targaryen commander of 200 men...no more and no less. I have no titles, no lands and not even a place on your Small Council. I have the blood most certainly. Yet I think Horas Martell is a practical man and he will still see me as a supplicant for his daughter's hand. Until I am something more, even in title, I will not approach the Martells."

He paused, reaching across for a goblet of wine that was on the nearby table.

"If they were to approach me.....well that may be a different matter. But why would they? They've had three years to do so and haven't yet. Even since Saella's Fall they've had their chances and have not. What does that tell you Rhaenys?"

[Marie]

"it tells me that the Martells were waiting for us to make them an offer!" She snapped. "There's nothing wrong in that. As to why you have no lands and titles, well, don't blame me for something that is the fault of our ancestors and the lords who were supposed to follow them!"

Her eyes were like green fire as she stood before him, smaller and slighter than he but twice as fierce, her cloak billowing in the breeze.

"I'd give you lands if I were in a position to do so but I am not. I don't think you understand that. As to why you don't have a place on my Small Council, it's no wonder, when you dare to talk to me the way you do! As it is, I think you must be given a reminder who is the queen here, so I'm taking back my men. Maekar will command, until such time as I find someone fitting to take permanent command. You are officially relieved of command, Aegon, so now you can either find a way to prove yourself loyal or you can bugger off back to Sothorys if you won't obey me. Understood?"

[Aerys]

Aegon's own anger blazed for the first time.

"You came here Rhaenys, asking what I wanted! I did not seek you out for any marriage....nor did I seek you out for any lands!

I refuse your offer quite reasonably and explain quite reasonably why I did so. Whether you grant me lands, titles or whatever or not is completely up to you. However do not take offense because I refuse what you think is a generous offer. I do not."

[Marie]

She gave him a look full of both sadness and anger.

"You told me you wanted a position and title worthy of a Targaryen. I made an offer that I deemed suitable and you refused it. There is nothing more to be said for the time being. We'll speak again when the time is right. Good day, Aegon."

She stalked away back to the castle.