Council Meeting Time Who: Polonius Haine, councilmembers, William Stark, whoever else might get to sit in on it. When: Day 29. Morning. Where: the council chamber Rating: PG-13 Status: Open.
Polonius stalked through the doors of the council room, ignoring the gold cloaks stationed on either side. This session would needs be closed and kept well behind these doors. He had spent near the entirety of the day before in the blood and chaos of Aenyris' chambers. He was giving serious thought to suggesting William simply burn the Maidenvault and start new.
And if that hadn't been enough, he'd gotten word that Elia Martell was gravely hurt. There was a dark thought- specifically the thought of the horde of angry Dornishmen likely to be appearing on their doorsteps in a matter of days. He wasn't sure how quickly Myrwin Martell could arrive in Kingslanding- or with how many men- but he wasn't eager to find out. Elia had been at odds with Kaelyn Stark to begin with- had doubtlessly sent word of it to Sunspear... and now this.
He had done his best to keep knowlege of Elia's wounds restricted to the palace but word was creeping out. The Princess of Dorne, Aeria's sister, Prince Jaehaerys' favorite, the martyred Aenyris' close friend... near killed the same night while the last of the dragons was butchered. Worse was that Elia had seduced the heir to Riverrun. Thomas Tully was not Percival- and too damn gallant by half. Polonius scowled.
A double assassination botched? A lovers quarrel? Gods knew, Aenyris had been remarkably circumspect there but perhaps she and Elia might have been lovers... perhaps this matter of Thomas Tully could have been involved. They needed to have something to tell Henry and Myrwin Martell... preferably before an angry Sun appeared at the walls. If the court thought Prosperyn a viper, it would be amusing to see what they made of Aeria's brothers.
Princess Aenyris was gone- and no close family would take up her cause. That... was more easily dealt with. Though Polonius himself wanted the truth of that matter. Who could gain from her death? The Starks. their allies perhaps... He knew what the whispers were already saying: they talked of the Dreadfort and dark Northron rites and magic. They talked of ravenous wolves devouring maidens. Could William Stark have sought to eliminate the last close heir to the throne and weaken Dorne in one stroke? If Elia had been killed... the Dornish succession would have been in question, the last close court ties to the previous reign severed. It would have been a neat trick to pull off in one quiet evening.
And yet, nothing seemed to explain the gifts the assassin had left behind. Skin and pain to Elia, blood and flesh to William, a heart and liver to Tymor Lannister... All of them belonging to Aenyris Targaryen, the Last Dragon.
Polonius looked around the council chamber somberly, wondering if his dreams would ever be quiet again.