Maegor's Holdfast - The Chambers of Shaera Targaryen

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Dowager Queen

The private chambers of the Dowager Queen

Shaera Targaryen - Rickard Stark

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Diana Stark (6) Torrhen Stark (5)

Queensguard
715 Crownlander Knights (+2 to battles in the Crownlands)

[The Mad Skylord]

A message from the king arrives, asking his mother to go to the Summer Isles to negotiate trade with King's Landing.

[Honors Bastion]

Acting upon the Queen's summons, Ser Edmund Hightower arrives at the entrance of the Queen's Chambers and informs the guards of her summons.

[Pontifex Maximus]

He is admitted discreetly where he finds the Queen in an antechamber to her private living quarters. It was a small but functional space, and rustically appointed. When Edmund came into her presence, she stood. "They have told me you are Ser Edmund Hightower, is that correct?"

[Honors Bastion]

"Yes Queen Shaera. I am Ser Edmund Hightower, son of Lord Godric Hightower at your service." said Edmund somewhat nervously. To be summoned by the Dowager Queen was unusual for the young man who spent most of his life within the confines of Oldtown and her surrounding lands. "What do you need of me my Queen?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Queen motioned for him to be seated. "My fate is tied to that of the King, as I daresay is the whole kingdom's. Maelys conceals his true nature behind a diplomatic facade, but he cannot hide his cruel, twisted nature from me any better than he could hide his deformities. When he has killed my son and daughter, he will look for ways to legitimate his rule. I will become a pawn for his power play if I am taken alive." She had started abruptly, launching right into business. She did little to gauge the young man's intellect, but he appeared bright enough. "What say you of my analysis? What would you do in a similar position?"

[Honors Bastion]

Taken by surprise by the Queen's statement, Edmund took a few short moments to form his reply carefully before he said "While your analysis technically correct my Queen, there is one flaw to your words for I doubt that your daughter would die by Maelys hand. If my knowledge of Targaryen tradition is correct, the pretender would be a fool to kill her when he could just as easily force her to become his bride and continue the Targaryen tradition of marrying his own kin even if a distant one to cement his own rule." He paused for a few seconds to allow his words to take effect before he continued "I say this with the utmost respect, for a younger, more fertile bride who can still produce a valid heir is more valuable than your majesty who cannot. As for your second question, my answer would be simple. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best, sending those who you love away to someplace where Maelys will not easily be able to lay his hands on."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Shaera smiled and nodded approvingly. He was a sharp wit, even if he was ten years her junior. And he cut through the niceties, straight to the point. "I have the insight of a mother. The Princess would not survive Maelys' onslaught, she would not allow herself to be taken. Whether by suicide, cold blooded murder, or in self defense, she would never be his bride. But to protect her, I would make the sacrifice. I would marry my husband's enemy to save her and consign myself to whatever fate would be mine. My child bearing years are not yet done, and he could whelp some children off of me yet or discard me when I stopped becoming useful" She gave a short laugh "that is, if I was a helpless dolt. I propose something entirely different. Oldtown is a refuge, to be sure, and I would rather plan for a merrier outcome, as you say."

She rose and looked out the window, the city was alive beneath her. "The King will marry his sister, of course, but that leaves me. I need to shore up support and secure my family's continued dominance in Westeros not just for my sake, but for the Kingdom. I propose a marriage between our houses. As I said, I am still of child bearing years, and an alliance at this particular time could prove mutually beneficial."

[Honors Bastion]

Edmund's eyes widened unexpectedly at the Queen's offer and he stuttered "My queen ... I do not know what to say to you. While your proposal is tempting ... I am afraid that I do not have the power to accept such an offer myself. Only my Lord father has that ability for I will not commit my own House to war when we are not yet fully vested in it."

[Pontifex Maximus]

She nodded "I surmised as much. Such proposals are ill made by ravens, and I can trust you to deliver the proposal. Maelys has exhausted his greatest advantages in surprise, and he has no hope of victory unless he can attract wayward lords to his side. If the Kingdom stays united, this threat can be easily averted. I shall eagerly await the response." She smiled and returned to her work, indicating the audience was a an end.

[Honors Bastion]

She nodded "I surmised as much. Such proposals are ill made by ravens, and I can trust you to deliver the proposal. Maelys has exhausted his greatest advantages in surprise, and he has no hope of victory unless he can attract wayward lords to his side. If the Kingdom stays united, this threat can be easily averted. I shall eagerly await the response." She smiled and returned to her work, indicating the audience was a an end.

"Very well my Queen. I will report this proposal to my father with haste." With that, Edmund left the Queen's chambers and immediately went to ready a raven reporting this new turn of events.

[Roxas]

Whilst her brother was kept constantly busy by his royal duties 'Queen' Rhaella had decided to leave him to his own devices and visit her mother who she had only had brief encounters with since Aery's coronation. Rapping the door to her mother's chambers delicately with her knuckles, she called out in a hushed tone.

"Mother? Are you in there?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Yes, come in." Came a muffled reply as Shaera donned a silk robe

[Roxas]

Rhaella carefully entered the chambers, giving a courteous bow as she came into her mothers view as a sign of familial respect.

"I hope I am not disturbing mother..." She paused, "and I am sorry for not visiting you sooner, It has been very hectic lately and I figured you might want some time alone after all that has happened."

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Not at all." She said, embracing her daughter. "Is something troubling you?"

[Pinkerton]

Soon after the visit of the royal envoy, Arthur Fowler asked for an appointment to see the Queen Regent privately.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Fowler was granted an audience with the Queen

[Pinkerton]

Fowler was granted an audience with the Queen

After being told he had been granted an audience, Arthur walked into the Queen's chambers and introduced himself

"Your majesty, my name is Arthur Fowler, Lord Fowler's brother, and I am part of Prince Doran's entourage. The King seemed fit to name me his Master of Coin. I thought it would be wise to present myself and inform you of his decision."

[Pontifex Maximus]

After being told he had been granted an audience, Arthur walked into the Queen's chambers and introduced himself

"Your majesty, my name is Arthur Fowler, Lord Fowler's brother, and I am part of Prince Doran's entourage. The King seemed fit to name me his Master of Coin. I thought it would be wise to present myself and inform you of his decision."

Shaera looked the man up and down. "Ah, another man of Dorne. Your number is growing in the capital, though I do not think we can rely on direct military support from the south." She set aside what she had been working on "We shall be working closely together then for the next several months, or even years if the war drags out. Tell me, what do you hope to accomplish in your post?"

[Pinkerton]

Shaera looked the man up and down. "Ah, another man of Dorne. Your number is growing in the capital, though I do not think we can rely on direct military support from the south." She set aside what she had been working on "We shall be working closely together then for the next several months, or even years if the war drags out. Tell me, what do you hope to accomplish in your post?"

Dorne is a long way from here

"My duty is to administer the King's treasury and all the matters related to it, your majesty. My hope is to accomplish that in a succesful way."

Arthur spoke in a monotone and boring voice