A Crown for Aegon (ChatGPT)

[The Red Keep's main courtyard buzzed with activity as servants prepared for the decennial celebrations. King Aegon VI and Queen Rhaella stood on the elevated walkway overlooking the scene, their children arrayed below in formal attire. The distant sound of Dornish horns announced the Martell party's arrival.]

PRINCE DAEMON: (adjusting his collar) "Seven hells, why must we stand about like statues? They're just Dornishmen."

PRINCE DAERON: (glancing toward the gates) "They're bringing Princess Elia. Your future good-sister, if Rhaegar has his way."

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (flushing) "Nothing's decided yet."

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (grinning) "Oh please, you've been reading Dornish poetry for weeks. You're practically betrothed already."

[The gates swung open to reveal the Martell procession - Princess Loreza leading her children Doran, Oberyn, and Elia, with Ashara Dayne riding beside them. The Dornish party's colorful silks contrasted sharply with the Targaryens' formal blacks and reds.]

KING AEGON VI: (murmuring to Rhaella) "Remember, let the children make their own impressions first."

QUEEN RHAELLA: (wry smile) "As if we could stop Daemon from making an impression."

[True to form, Prince Daemon broke protocol first, striding forward to greet the newcomers with an exaggerated bow.]

PRINCE DAEMON: "Princess Loreza! Your beauty puts our Red Keep to shame."

PRINCE OBERYN: (snorting) "And your flattery puts Dornish courtesans to shame."

ASHARA DAYNE: (laughing behind her hand) "Careful, my prince. Oberyn bites."

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning) "I like dangerous women."

[King Aegon sighed as Queen Rhaella pinched the bridge of her nose. Meanwhile, Prince Rhaegar approached Princess Elia with considerably more decorum.]

PRINCE RHAEGAR: "My princess. Your letters about the Water Gardens were most enlightening."

PRINCESS ELIA: (smiling) "And your thoughts on Dornish irrigation systems were... unexpectedly practical for a prince."

[Nearby, Princess Alyssa sized up the Martell brothers while Prince Daeron stood stiffly beside Lord Tywin and Cersei Lannister.]

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (to Doran) "You're the heir? You look more like a maester than a prince."

PRINCE DORAN: (amused) "And you sound more Dornish than northern, despite your Stark blood."

PRINCESS LOREZA: (approaching the king and queen) "Your Grace, we bring gifts from Sunspear - including a rather interesting proposal regarding your heir."

KING AEGON VI: (The courtyard's chatter died down as all eyes turned to the rulers. King Aegon VI smiled diplomatically) "We welcome all proposals, Princess. But tonight, let us celebrate ten years of peace before discussing the next ten."

[As servants ushered everyone toward the feast, the royal children exchanged glances - all acutely aware that this celebration was about far more than just anniversaries.]

[The Great Hall of the Red Keep glittered with candlelight as the royal family and their guests took their seats around the massive feasting table. King Aegon VI sat at the head, with Queen Rhaella to his right and Princess Loreza Martell to his left. The younger generation had been strategically seated near their potential matches—Rhaegar beside Elia, Daemon next to Ashara, Daeron across from Cersei, and Alyssa paired with a stiff-backed Stannis Baratheon.]

PRINCE OBERYN: (raising his wine cup) "To the happy couples-to-be! May their unions be as fiery as Dornish peppers!"

LORD TYWIN: (dryly) "Or as prosperous as Lannister gold mines."

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (muttering to Stannis) "Seven hells, this is worse than a tourney melee."

STANNIS BARATHEON: (stiffly) "Proper betrothals require formal observation."

[At the high table, Princess Loreza leaned toward the king with a knowing smile.]

PRINCESS LOREZA: "Your Grace, in Dorne we believe long engagements allow couples to... become acquainted. Elia and Prince Rhaegar should spend time together before any formal ceremony."

QUEEN RHAELLA: (diplomatically) "A wise suggestion. Though we'd want chaperones, of course."

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning at Ashara) "No need to chaperone us. I'm perfectly happy being corrupted."

ASHARA DAYNE: (laughing) "My prince, I believe you have that backwards."

[Down the table, Cersei Lannister studied Prince Daeron like a merchant inspecting goods.]

CERSEI LANNISTER: "They say you can recite every trade route in the Crownlands. How... quaint."

PRINCE DAERON: (meeting her gaze) "And they say you can list every House's debts to yours. How... practical."

[Tywin's mouth twitched in what might have been approval while Steffon Baratheon chuckled into his wine.]

PRINCE RHAEGAR: (softly to Elia) "Would you like to see the Red Keep's library tomorrow? I've acquired some Dornish histories you might—"

PRINCE OBERYN: (leaning over) "Oh please, spare her the dusty tomes. Take her hawking instead!"

PRINCESS ELIA: (smiling) "Actually, I'd love to see the library. And perhaps you could show me where you compose your music, my prince?"

[King Aegon exchanged an amused glance with Queen Rhaella as their children navigated the awkward dance of courtship. The servants began bringing out the first course—a delicate Dornish soup that Prince Daemon immediately spilled on himself.]

PRINCE DAEMON: "There. Now I look properly 'engaged'."

ASHARA DAYNE: (dabbing at his tunic with her napkin) "I believe the word you want is 'disgraced.'"

[Laughter echoed through the hall, easing the formal tension. Even Stannis cracked a slight smile as Alyssa stole a lemon cake from his plate. The game of thrones would continue tomorrow—but for tonight, there was only the warmth of good food and the promise of new alliances.]

[The clinking of silverware paused as King Aegon VI rose from his seat, raising a jeweled goblet. The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the faces of the assembled nobles.]

KING AEGON VI: (tapping his cup) "If I might have your attention... There is another reason we've gathered you all here beyond celebrating ten years of peace."

[A hushed anticipation fell over the hall. Prince Daemon nearly choked on his wine, while Princess Elia politely set down her fork. Cersei Lannister's emerald eyes gleamed with calculated interest.]

QUEEN RHAELLA: (placing a steadying hand on Aegon's arm) "What my husband means to say is—"

KING AEGON VI: (smiling) "Is that we'll be announcing formal betrothals after the decennial celebrations and Rhaegar's Dragonstone ceremony."

[A flurry of reactions erupted around the table:]

PRINCE OBERYN: (grinning) "Ah! So this is a courtship feast disguised as an anniversary!"

LORD TYWIN: (calmly slicing his meat) "How... economical of Your Grace."

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (groaning) "Father, must we wait that long? The suspense is worse than Stannis's jokes."

STANNIS BARATHEON: (frowning) "I don't make jokes."

[Prince Rhaegar had gone pale, while Princess Elia studied him with amused curiosity. Ashara Dayne whispered something that made Prince Daemon burst out laughing.]

PRINCE DAERON: (to Cersei, quietly) "I suppose this means we're expected to... interact before being shackled together."

CERSEI LANNISTER: (arching a perfect brow) "How terrifying for you, prince."

[King Aegon raised his hands for quiet, the rubies at his wrists catching the light.]

KING AEGON VI: "This interim period will allow proper courtship traditions to be observed. Rhaegar will host Princess Elia in Dragonstone's library—"

PRINCE OBERYN: "Boring!"

KING AEGON VI: (ignoring him) "—Daeron and Lady Cersei may review the guild accounts together—"

CERSEI: (smirking) "Now that's a proper courtship."

KING AEGON VI: "—Daemon and Lady Ashara will—"

PRINCE DAEMON: (grinning) "Absolutely nothing appropriate, I assure you."

[Laughter rippled through the hall as Ashara blushed violet. Queen Rhaella stood to join her husband.]

QUEEN RHAELLA: "And Alyssa and Stannis will... (sighing) Well, try not to kill each other before the announcement."

PRINCESS ALYSSA: (raising her cup) "No promises!"

[As the feast resumed, the clatter of dishes and lively conversations filled the hall. Prince Doran Martell leaned toward the high table with a knowing smile.]

PRINCE DORAN: "Clever, Your Grace. By making them wait, you've ensured they'll actually try to get along."

KING AEGON VI: (sipping his wine) "That, Prince Doran, is what we call 'kingly wisdom.'"

[At the far end of the table, Prince Oberyn had already started taking bets on which couple would cause the most scandal before the official announcement, while the would-be pairs cautiously began their dance of courtship under the watchful eyes of Westeros' most powerful families.]

[Tywin Lannister's office was bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, the scent of parchment and ink lingering in the air. Cersei paced like a caged lioness, her emerald eyes flashing with barely contained frustration as her father sat impassively behind his desk.]

CERSEI: (slamming her hands on the desk) "I was meant to be queen, not some spare's wife! Why must I be shackled to Daeron when Rhaegar sits as heir?"

TYWIN: (calmly setting down his quill) "Because Aegon's guilt over Summerhall blinds him to tradition. But bloodlines have a way of... correcting themselves."

[Cersei paused, her gaze sharpening like Valyrian steel.]

CERSEI: "You speak of Rhaegar's death."

TYWIN: (steepling his fingers) "I speak of possibilities. The Prince of Dragonstone is bookish, prone to melancholy. Not exactly the picture of robust health."

[A slow, calculating smile spread across Cersei's face as she leaned forward.]

CERSEI: "And if something were to befall dear Rhaegar... Daeron would become heir."

TYWIN: (nodding slightly) "Precisely. The Prince of Summerhall would trade his title for Dragonstone in a heartbeat. And you would ascend with him."

[Outside, the distant sounds of the castle carried through the window—the clanging of swords from the yard where Rhaegar and Daeron trained together.]

CERSEI: (running a finger along the edge of Tywin's desk) "But what of Rhaegar's future children? Would Aegon bypass them to keep Daeron as heir?"

TYWIN: (leaning back) "Unlikely. The king clings to principle. But..." (He opened a ledger, revealing the Crown Merchant Guild's financial reports) "Daeron's inheritance isn't just Summerhall. He'll control the wealth of the realm through the guild. Gold is power, Cersei. And power can... influence succession."

[Cersei's eyes gleamed as she understood. She straightened, smoothing her gown with newfound purpose.]

CERSEI: "So I play the dutiful betrothed. Endure Daeron's tedious ledgers and moralizing. And wait."

TYWIN: (standing, his shadow stretching across the room) "Patience is a weapon. And House Lannister always collects its debts."

[As the sun dipped below the towers of King's Landing, casting the office in twilight, father and daughter shared a look of perfect understanding—two lions circling the Iron Throne.]