[(King's Landing Palace Courtyard, 289 AC – King Aegon VI adjusts his crown while Queen Rhaella organizes scrolls, both preparing for the Small Council meeting. The morning sun glints off the Red Keep's towers as servants scurry about.)
Rhaella: (tapping a parchment) "You do realize Tywin will spit fire when you announce Stokeworth's reassignment?"
Aegon VI: (smirking) "Good thing we have actual dragons to counter his metaphorical ones."
Rhaella: "First you make Rhaegar's bastard Lord of Pyke, now you gift his trueborn son stolen lands? You're determined to give Tywin an ulcer."
Aegon VI: "Balance, my love. The Martells need to see Aegon VII rewarded, especially after..."
(He trails off, glancing at the Tower of the Hand.)
Rhaella: (dry) "After you let Cersei marry Daeron and infest Dragonstone with Lannisters? Yes, that."
Aegon VI: (grimacing) "In my defense, I didn't anticipate her being quite so..."
Rhaella: "Poisonous? Conniving? Generally Cersei-like?"
Aegon VI: "I was going to say 'fertile.' Two heirs and another on the way. At this rate, half the realm will be golden-haired in a generation."
(A messenger approaches hesitantly.)
Messenger: "Your Graces... Lord Tywin requests the meeting begin early. He says—"
Rhaella: (interrupting) "Let me guess: 'The realm won't govern itself'?"
Messenger: (nervous) "Almost word for word, Your Grace."
Aegon VI: (sighing) "Very well. Let's go watch the Lion of Lannister pretend he doesn't want to strangle me."
(As they walk toward the council chambers, Rhaella adjusts her husband's cloak.)
Rhaella: "Remember - when Tywin starts that slow blinking thing he does..."
Aegon VI: "It means he's imagining my funeral pyre. Yes, I'm familiar."
Rhaella: (grinning) "And Varys will likely 'accidentally' mention how House Stokeworth still has those excellent vineyards..."
Aegon VI: "Which is code for 'they're still useful to me.'"
(They pause outside the ornate doors.)
Rhaella: "Last chance to claim sudden illness and let Daeron handle this."
Aegon VI: (straightening) "And miss Tywin's priceless expression when I legitimize Rhaegar's line while slighting his grandchildren? Not for all the gold in Casterly Rock."
(The doors swing open to reveal the Small Council already assembled - Tywin's fingers steepled, Varys smiling serenely, and Steffon Baratheon already halfway through a flagon of wine. The game continues.)
[(Small Council Chamber, Red Keep – 289 AC. The morning light filters through stained glass windows as King Aegon VI and Queen Rhaella take their seats at the head of the table. Tywin Lannister's golden hand brooch glints as he studies parchments, while Prince Daeron meticulously organizes his notes. Steffon Baratheon drains his wine cup with impressive speed.)
Aegon VI: (leaning forward) "Now that we've settled the Iron Islands matter, there's another issue to address—House Stokeworth."
Tywin: (without looking up) "Ah. The house that still hasn't learned to grovel properly."
Varys: (smiling serenely) "Lady Tana does have such... resilient pride."
Rhaella: (dry) "Resilient enough to back the wrong rebellion and still expect to keep her lands."
Steffon: (grunting) "Should've burned the place down when we had the chance."
Daeron: (frowning) "Father, if this is about reassigning Stokeworth, we should consider—"
Aegon VI: (raising a hand) "It's already decided. Prince Aegon VII will inherit the lands."
(A beat of silence. Tywin's fingers still on the parchment. Varys' smile doesn't waver, but his eyes sharpen.)
Tywin: (slowly) "Prince Aegon VII."
Aegon VI: (calm) "Rhaegar's trueborn son. The boy deserves more than just a name."
Monford Velaryon: (leaning in) "And Lady Tana?"
Rhaella: "Will be generously allowed to retire. Somewhere far from court. Very far."
Tywin: (icy) "You're rewarding Dorne again."
Aegon VI: "I'm balancing the scales. Aegon Snow gets Pyke. Aegon Targaryen gets Stokeworth."
Daeron: (carefully neutral) "And what of the current Stokeworth heirs?"
Varys: (smoothly) "Two daughters, both unmarried. One reportedly fond of singing. Dreadfully fond."
Gwyneth Hightower: (snorting) "Meaning she's terrible at it."
Aegon VI: "The girls will be compensated, of course. But the name Stokeworth ends with Lady Tana."
Tywin: (leaning back) "And what will Prince Aegon call this new house?"
Aegon VI: (smiling faintly) "That will be his choice. A fresh start for a new line."
Steffon: (grinning into his wine) "Gods, I hope he picks something embarrassing. 'House Fluffy Bunny' or the like."
Pyrcelle: (clearing his throat) "Your Grace, the Stokeworths did eventually bend the knee after the rebellion..."
Rhaella: "A year too late and with more excuses than a whore in a sept."
Tywin: (finally looking up) "And when does this... transition occur?"
Aegon VI: "After Prince Aegon comes of age. Until then, the lands will be managed by the Crown."
Varys: (murmuring) "How very... symbolic."
Daeron: (glancing at his father) "And the Dornish?"
Aegon VI: "Will hopefully stop sending me passive-aggressive letters about 'neglected lineages.'"
Tywin: (standing abruptly) "If that's all, I have actual governance to attend to."
Rhaella: (sweetly) "Do give Cersei our regards. How far along is she now?"
(Tywin's jaw tightens imperceptibly before he strides out. The door shuts with a firm click.)
Steffon: (laughing) "Seven hells, I haven't seen him that pissed since Robert..." (trails off awkwardly)
Aegon VI: (ignoring the slip) "This meeting is adjourned."
(As the council disperses, Varys lingers, his smile knowing.)
Varys: "A new house, a new legacy. How very... poetic."
Aegon VI: (quietly) "Just politics, Lord Varys."
Varys: (bowing) "Of course, Your Grace. Of course."
(The door closes behind him, leaving only the faint scent of lilacs—and the unspoken truth that the game is far from over.)
[(Small Council Chamber, Red Keep – 289 AC. The heavy oak doors close behind the last departing council member, leaving King Aegon VI, Queen Rhaella, and Prince Daeron in the now-quiet room. The afternoon sun casts long shadows across the table strewn with parchments and half-empty wine cups.)
Daeron: (rubbing his temples) "That could have gone worse."
Rhaella: (snorting) "Yes, Tywin only looked like he was contemplating regicide twice during that meeting."
Aegon VI: (pouring himself a goblet of water) "He'll recover. The man has survived worse insults than a land redistribution."
Daeron: (grimacing) "It's not just the lands. It's the implication. You're strengthening Rhaegar's line while his own grandchildren—"
Aegon VI: (cutting in) "—are already heirs to Dragonstone and possibly Casterly Rock. Tywin's blood will rule half the realm soon enough. He can afford to share."
Rhaella: (leaning against the table) "The problem, my dear son, is that Tywin doesn't want to share. He wants to own."
Daeron: (sighing) "And I'm the one who has to sleep in the same castle as him."
Aegon VI: (firm) "Which is why you need to be sharper. Stronger. You can't let him maneuver around you."
Daeron: (dry) "Ah yes, the daily 'don't be a puppet' lecture. I've taken notes."
Rhaella: (flicking his ear) "Less sarcasm, more survival instinct. That man is playing a different game than the rest of us."
Aegon VI: "He's already positioning Maekar for Casterly Rock. And if Cersei births another son..."
Daeron: (flat) "Then I suppose I'll have two children being groomed as Tywin's perfect heirs."
Rhaella: (muttering) "Gods, we should've betrothed Baelon to a Dothraki horselord instead. At least they're honest about their threats."
Aegon VI: (ignoring her) "You need to be present, Daeron. Not just in body, but in mind. Train with Arthur in the yard. Sit in on more councils. Make sure Tywin knows you're watching."
Daeron: (rubbing the bridge of his nose) "I do watch. I watch him outmaneuver everyone in this castle on a daily basis."
Rhaella: (smirking) "Then start learning from him. The best way to counter a player is to steal his moves."
Aegon VI: (nodding) "And for the love of the Seven, stop letting Cersei dictate your household. The last time I visited Dragonstone, half your servants were Lannister spies."
Daeron: (raising an eyebrow) "And the other half are your spies, so I'd say it's a balanced court."
Rhaella: (grinning) "He's got you there."
Aegon VI: (unamused) "This isn't a joke. Tywin is a knife at your throat every moment you're in that castle. And if you won't harden yourself for your own sake, do it for your children."
(A beat of silence. Daeron's usual dry demeanor falters slightly at the mention of his sons.)
Daeron: (quietly) "Baelon may be betrothed to Rhaenys, but Tywin looks at Maekar like he's a blank parchment waiting for Lannister red."
Rhaella: (softening) "Then give Maekar something else to be. Before Tywin writes his story for him."
Aegon VI: "You're a Targaryen. Act like one."
(Daeron exhales sharply, then stands, straightening his doublet with a sharp tug.)
Daeron: "Fine. But when I start 'acting like a Targaryen' and accidentally burn down half of Dragonstone in a power struggle, don't blame me."
Rhaella: (calling after him as he leaves) "Just avoid the expensive half!"
(The door shuts behind him. Aegon and Rhaella exchange a look.)
Aegon VI: "He'll be fine."
Rhaella: (sipping wine) "Either that or we'll be attending a very awkward funeral soon."
Aegon VI: (grimacing) "Remind me again why we didn't just marry Daenerys to Tywin and be done with it?"
Rhaella: "Because she's six, and even I have limits."
(They sit in companionable silence, the weight of family, power, and the ever-present shadow of the Lion of Lannister hanging heavy in the air.)
[(Sunspear Courtyard, Dorne – 289 AC. The morning sun bakes the pale stone as Doran Martell (INTJ) sips his spiced tea, Oberyn (ESFP) lounges with a plate of figs, and Elia (ISFJ) delicately peels an orange. A servant approaches with a sealed scroll bearing the Targaryen sigil.)
Servant: (bowing) "A raven from King's Landing, my prince."
Oberyn: (plucking the scroll mid-air) "Let me guess—another politely worded 'sorry we let your husband get killed and his bastard get rewarded'?"
Doran: (extending a hand) "Give it here, Oberyn."
(Elia watches silently as Doran reads, his expression unreadable. Then—)
Doran: (slowly) "Well. It seems King Aegon has finally decided to acknowledge Rhaegar's trueborn son."
Elia: (setting down her orange) "What do you mean?"
Doran: "Prince Aegon is to inherit the lands of House Stokeworth. The king is dissolving their house and granting the territory to him."
Oberyn: (barking a laugh) "Stokeworth? That backwater? After he made Rhaegar's bastard Lord of Pyke?"
Elia: (quietly) "It's something."
Doran: (rereading the letter) "He's allowing Aegon to establish a new house name. No more 'Stokeworth.'"
Oberyn: (grinning) "House Martell-Targaryen, then? Or perhaps House 'Finally-Not-Ignored'?"
Elia: (ignoring him, looking at Doran) "Is this a true honor... or another political game?"
Doran: (folding the letter) "Both. Aegon VI needs to placate Dorne after elevating Lyanna's son. But it's also a message—Rhaegar's trueborn line will have power in the Crownlands."
Oberyn: (mocking) "Ah yes, the prestigious Crownlands. Just a stone's throw from all those thrilling sheep pastures."
Elia: (sharply) "It's land, Oberyn. It's legitimacy."
Oberyn: (leaning forward) "It's scraps, sister. While the wolf-bitch's bastard gets an entire kingdom!"
Doran: (calm but firm) "Enough. This is a foothold. Aegon VII will have his own seat, his own legacy—separate from the stain of his father's mistakes."
Elia: (softly) "And Rhaenys? What of her?"
Doran: "She remains betrothed to Prince Baelon. One day, she could be Queen."
Oberyn: (muttering) "If the Lannisters don't poison her first."
Elia: (standing abruptly) "Then we ensure Aegon's new house is strong enough to protect her. If the king wants to play at balancing scales, we'll add our own weight."
Doran: (nodding) "I'll send word to Aegon at Water Gardens. He should know his future before the rest of the realm does."
Oberyn: (grinning darkly) "I'll start drafting insulting names for Stokeworth's replacement. House 'Better-Than-Snow' has a nice ring."
(Elia exhales, watching a hawk circle overhead—her thoughts as sharp as its talons. The game continues, but now, her son has a piece on the board.)