Lady Alerie nodded. Noblewomen understood how power worked in their own right, and she already counted as a member of House Tyrell.
"The Red Viper wrote me a letter concerning Willas."
"The Red Viper? What did he write for? He dared write to you?" Alerie was immediately enraged.
"About Willas's marriage, of course. I've been making plans for my eldest grandson all these years, but after considering everyone, it seems the only suitable candidate left now really is Arianne Martell, Dorne's eldest princess."
The lions already stank beyond endurance, the falcons looked likely to die out, and the stags had only a little girl with greyscale left. Looking over the choices...
"But I've heard that girl is rather promiscuous, and a little short, though her face and figure are good... Aren't there still Sansa Stark and Arya Stark? Arya is too young, but Sansa is just right. House Stark is also an ancient royal house, and she looks like a beautiful lady who would be fertile and prolific." Alerie made her suggestion cautiously.
"Now you're being picky.
Stop setting your sights on that Sansa. That girl is always hanging around the king, and she's still a maiden in the first blush of youth. Willas isn't to her taste. Besides, Lady Catelyn would never agree... Let it be Arianne. Her mother from Norvos was very fertile. If she hadn't separated from Doran, she could probably have had five or six children. That girl is no fool. Once she marries into Highgarden, she'll learn to be a rose."
"All right." Lady Alerie reluctantly agreed. "So I'll have Dornish-flavored grandchildren?"
"..." The Queen of Thorns glanced at her daughter-in-law. "If I don't object, what are you objecting to? As for Mace, he won't have any objections."
"But my sweetheart is still at the