The Queen's Solar (98AL)

About two days before the beginning of the Queen's Festival, Lord Hand Jaymes Tyrell comes to the Rhaena's solar, requesting a private audience with her grace, the Queen.

"Good afternoon, your grace. There were a number of things I had hoped to discuss today," he replied, waving away the cupbearer who began to pour for him. "First; your grace's son, the prince Maegor, came to speak with me several days ago. He expressed an interest in the runnings of the realm, a promising change I should think. He also, however, had some rather... awkward questions about your grace's late husband," he continued, his nervousness beginning to show.

"The manner of your late husband's death was the purpose for his questions, I believe. Your grace may rest assured that I explained the truth of... er, what happened, satisfactorily. I still thought, however, that your grace should be made aware of his inquiry," he replied.

"He did not, your grace, and I did not feel as though it were my place to ask. I suspect it was mere youthful inquiry, a curiosity hopefully sated," the Hand replied somewhat stiltedly; he was clearly growing more nervous as this conversation continued.

"Additionally, I wished to inform your grace that my spies in Sunspear notified me that Prince Trystane Martell rode north from the city, with over a hundred of his mother's knights with him; a full party, with squires and attendants and extra horses. My man reported that they were outfitted for war," he said, changing the subject from Maegor and Aegon. "He had no information as to the Prince's destination or intentions but is knowledge is important; word only arrived this morning, which means that it was six days ago that the Prince departed from Sunspear."

"He may well have been riding out to quell a rebellious vassal your graxe. There are a number of houses north of Sunspear who love the Martells not, and if his destination was the Marches I should think he would have ridden west," the Hand replied. He shifted in his seat when the queen said she would fly south herself.

"Is it wise to delay the festival, your grace? Lords have already begun to arrive and it will.make the Iron Throne look weak, to postpone such an important event because of the Dornish," he added. "I will send your grace's orders of course, but there is also the matter of Nightsong's custody. My brother, Ser Garen, is a leal knight with many years of experience fighting the Dornish in the mountains. He serves as my castellan currently, and I do not doubt he would give your grace service of an equal quality in holding Nightsong."

"With respect, your grace, I have received a report about the Daynes and the Blackmonts raising their banners every three months, for twenty years," he replied. "The border houses are always inflating the strength of the enemy so as to sound more credible when they ask for men and gold. It is likely that Lord Dondarrion was being alarmist, and your lords will not be well pleased if they incur the expenses of preparing for a campaign and the alarm turns out to be false."

Almost as an afterthought, he spoke up again. "It will also be seen as rather rude of your grace shuns attending her own festival."

"If your grace is truly concerned by Lord Dondarrion's request, then send a dragonrider or two to Yronwood to keep watch over the area," he replied. "Perhaps one of your sons with Ser Maratrys to advise him. Even a short tour of the Marches will remind the Dornish of our strength, and of the folly of of them moving against us."

"If your grace does intend to invade Dorne, however, arrangements will have to be made now. We cannot live off the land once we cross into Dorne, so we must ensure that any army is well enough supplied or else men will begin to starve and desert when they cross the mountains," he said. "I will call my banners if that is your grace's wish, but in truth I suspect many of my liegemen will beg poverty or illness to escape sending their men off to a war from which they gain nothing personally."

The Hand nodded. "I will send the orders to the lords, though in truth many of the border lords often keep their castles well provisioned in case of an attack. The drawback, of course, to keeping a large garrison is that they eat through one's supplies rather quickly," Lord Tyrell added, shaking his head as if he could not understand why common soldiers needed so much food. "Your grace's son Daemon is a good choice, unblooded yet but with good counsel from Lord Baratheon he will serve admirably I am sure. I would, however, recommend sending one of your grace's own advisors with him, for Lord Barathon is a good man it cannot be denied, but his first loyalty is to Storm's End."

He handed the Queen a report he had prepared, compiled from the border lords. Nightsong kept a three-hundred man standing Garrison, Blackhaven and Wyl an equal number, while Yronwood itself kept an unprecedented five hundred men manning the walls at all times. They were each well provisioned and supplied, and Rhaena estimated that the garrisons could all last at least a month, three if they rationed carefully, on the supplies they had on hand already, more than enough time for the Queen to mobilize a small army to break a siege.

"I know only what I have heard, your grace, but it seems as though each of the Free Cities is sending a delegate to Pentos; they are fearful of this Burned Rider I should think. Does your grace mean to send an envoy to represent Westeros at their table?" the Hand asked.

"That is an appropriate delegation, your grace; two of your Councilors, two dragons, and your heir will send a powerful message to the Free Cities, and all will know that they carry the weight of your writ with them. Should you choose to aid them, however, I suspect that two dragons would mean little against the Black Dread, and they are worth far more to your grace than the crown debt ten times over," the Hand replied evenly. "Can your grace even spare any dragon riders for such an extended period? Perhaps the Lords Velaryon, but would they even go if asked? Those two were ever against doing something that they did not directly receive the benefit from."

"Vhagar's presence in the Marches would surely cause the Dornish to return to their sand-holes in terror, and not poke their noses out for quite some time," he agreed, pointedly not mentioning the Master of Laws by name; it was well known that the two men despised each other.

"That would send a strong message, your grace. If your grace herself goes -with Commander Snow and Ser Matarys, I should think as your guard?- with Lord Baelon and Lord Lyonel, that would be a powerful delegation for the Free Cities indeed. With four dragons, I should think you could make whatever demands of them that you choose, in exchange for our support," the Hand replied. "I am also quite certain that Prince Maegor and Prince Traegon, with counsel from your grace's loyal servants, of course, will perform admirably in officiating the Festival."

"Of course, your grace," Lord Jaymes replied, almost as if he were insulted that she would ask. Though an excellent steward and strategist, humor was one of the things Lord Tyrell had never understood."You need not fear for your kingdom in your absence; I will speak with your voice and give your sons leal counsel in the time that you are away."

The Hand nodded as she spoke; he never needed to take notes, possessing an excellent memory for faces and conversations. "It will be as you say, your grace. Is there anything else that your grace requires, or shall I make the preparations?" he asked.