Post by whitewolfstark on Jan 17, 2017 2:22:48 GMT
Previously on Game of Thrones...
TYWIN
You will marry Ser Loras and Lady Margaery’s eldest brother, Willas Tyrell.
BEAT
CERSEI
I will not, especially not to a cripple that can barely walk.
TYWIN
Unlike his younger brother Loras, Willas is heir to Highgarden, and he is unwed.
TYWIN
If I’m not mistaken, you have two other grandsons besides to carry on the family name—more than enough for the health of any family.
OLENNA outright snorts laughter at this.
OLENNA
If you can forget one of them is marrying your daughter who—
TYWIN
(interrupting)
Is the richest, the most beautiful woman in all seven kingdoms... and the mother of the king.
OLENNA
Old.
TYWIN
Old?
OLENNA
Old. (She laughs) I'm something of an expert on the subject. Her change will be upon her before long. I'll spare you the details of what will happen then. You men may have a stomach for bloodshed and slaughter, but this is another matter entirely.
TYWIN
The years punish us as well, I promise you that. My stomach remains quite strong, however. The only thing that might turn it are details of your grandson's nocturnal activities. (BEAT) Do you deny them?
OLENNA
Oh, not at all. Loras is a sword swallower through and through. I suspect he’ll enjoying the opportunity to stand around all day next to other big strong men. At least he won’t have to worry about being forced to father children. (sighs) It doesn’t of course change the fact you’re practically dooming my house by marrying your daughter to my grandson Willas, and putting the other one on the bloody Kingsguard. It’s a pity too. I had been planning on negotiating with Doran Martell on a match between his heir and daughter and Willas.
TYWIN
And you're one to talk of Cersei being too old. No wonder you were looking to other groves for the future of your house, with such a marriage in mind for your heir.
OLENNA
Better a woman who's seen seven and twenty namedays who still has another decade to pop out more than enough heirs, than a woman who’s lived more than seven and thirty namedays, and might not even be able to give my grandson Willas a single heir.
~~*~~
~~*~~
EPISODE ONE: THE RED WOMAN
TYWIN
You will marry Ser Loras and Lady Margaery’s eldest brother, Willas Tyrell.
BEAT
CERSEI
I will not, especially not to a cripple that can barely walk.
TYWIN
Unlike his younger brother Loras, Willas is heir to Highgarden, and he is unwed.
~~*~~
TYWIN
If I’m not mistaken, you have two other grandsons besides to carry on the family name—more than enough for the health of any family.
OLENNA outright snorts laughter at this.
OLENNA
If you can forget one of them is marrying your daughter who—
TYWIN
(interrupting)
Is the richest, the most beautiful woman in all seven kingdoms... and the mother of the king.
OLENNA
Old.
TYWIN
Old?
OLENNA
Old. (She laughs) I'm something of an expert on the subject. Her change will be upon her before long. I'll spare you the details of what will happen then. You men may have a stomach for bloodshed and slaughter, but this is another matter entirely.
TYWIN
The years punish us as well, I promise you that. My stomach remains quite strong, however. The only thing that might turn it are details of your grandson's nocturnal activities. (BEAT) Do you deny them?
OLENNA
Oh, not at all. Loras is a sword swallower through and through. I suspect he’ll enjoying the opportunity to stand around all day next to other big strong men. At least he won’t have to worry about being forced to father children. (sighs) It doesn’t of course change the fact you’re practically dooming my house by marrying your daughter to my grandson Willas, and putting the other one on the bloody Kingsguard. It’s a pity too. I had been planning on negotiating with Doran Martell on a match between his heir and daughter and Willas.
TYWIN
And you're one to talk of Cersei being too old. No wonder you were looking to other groves for the future of your house, with such a marriage in mind for your heir.
OLENNA
Better a woman who's seen seven and twenty namedays who still has another decade to pop out more than enough heirs, than a woman who’s lived more than seven and thirty namedays, and might not even be able to give my grandson Willas a single heir.
~~*~~
OLENNA
Your father, in his infinite wisdom left Ser Renyard Florent as castellan of Highgarden, and he's been writing to Lord Randyll Tarly about aiding Stannis Baratheon, or so Lord Randyll tells me by sending on Ser Renyard's letters. Your older brothers and I intend to do something about those Florents once and for all. Willas and I shall see to Ser Renyard, while Garlan will clean out Brightwater Keep of any and all foxes.
MARGAERY
Sounds like quite the adventure, I almost envy them. (BEAT) I shall miss you grandmother.
OLENNA
No doubt, given Lord Oaf's companionship. (sighs) The important thing is to secure that Tommen wants what you have, then nothing can touch you, not even Cersei.
Your father, in his infinite wisdom left Ser Renyard Florent as castellan of Highgarden, and he's been writing to Lord Randyll Tarly about aiding Stannis Baratheon, or so Lord Randyll tells me by sending on Ser Renyard's letters. Your older brothers and I intend to do something about those Florents once and for all. Willas and I shall see to Ser Renyard, while Garlan will clean out Brightwater Keep of any and all foxes.
MARGAERY
Sounds like quite the adventure, I almost envy them. (BEAT) I shall miss you grandmother.
OLENNA
No doubt, given Lord Oaf's companionship. (sighs) The important thing is to secure that Tommen wants what you have, then nothing can touch you, not even Cersei.
~~*~~
EPISODE ONE: THE RED WOMAN
EXT. STREETS OF MEEREEN - DAY
We see VARYS and TYRION, dressed as merchants, walking down a street in Meereen.
VARYS
I cannot understand how you can be so flippant with safety after your kidnapping.
TYRION
The word you’re looking for is flagrant, and no I’m not. Are we dressed as two Westerosi?
VARYS
The Sons of the Harpy had the city nearly on its knees a few weeks ago.
TYRION
Aye, a few weeks ago. Since we’ve brought in food from outside the city and upped the number of patrols there are, attacks have plummeted.
VARYS
It is still extremely dangerous to be out beyond the Pyramid alone and unguarded.
TYRION
We’re just two merchants, out for a stroll in the city.
VARYS
Let’s say for one moment that they happen to believe that, and what if they ask for all our gold in exchange for our lives?
TYRION
You, my friend need to leave the pyramid more often.
VARYS
I do, but when I do it’s usually in better disguises than this sorry affair. And no disguise will hide you, you’re too distinctive.
TYRION spots a woman with an infant on the side of the road up ahead of them.
TYRION
You said I had a good hand at ruling a city, and in order to do that, I need to know what that city is thinking. Which means seeing how things lay myself.
TYRION approaches the woman, as he does so, he pulls out a coin and holds it out to the WOMAN. The WOMAN looks confused.
TYRION
(in Gschari)
For your baby. To eat.
BEAT. WOMAN pulls her baby away.
VARYS approaches.
VARYS
She thinks you want to eat her baby.
VARYS
(in Gschari)
Excuse my friend, his Gschari is terrible. He merely wanted to give you money so that you and your baby could eat.
WOMAN looks between VARYS and TYRION and then cautiously takes the coin. TYRION nods. They continue on their way. The camera cuts to the perspective of someone hiding in a building that they’re passing, watching them as they stroll down the street.
VARYS
You stick out like a sore thumb.
TYRION
I’ve had sore thumbs, rarely do they ever stick out.
VARYS
Your Gschari is barely comprehensible, your disguise is laughable, and you walk like a rich man.
The camera cuts back to TYRION and VARYS directly.
TYRION
And how does a rich man walk?
VARYS
As though he owns the street. When I was a boy I would have stolen from you—picked you right out of the crowd and picked your pocket without you ever knowing.
VARYS holds a purse in his hand and TYRION notices that it’s his coin purse, looks at his belt, finds it missing and then takes it from VARYS.
TYRION
Your point?
VARYS
You don’t know the first thing of how to blend in in Essos.
TYRION
Well, it’s time I learned then.
BEAT. VARYS stops.
VARYS
Can’t argue with that.
They continue until they come across a wall where written in blood is: Death to the Masters. Mhysa is a Master, written in Gschari.
TYRION
Ahh, ample practice for my atrocious Gschari.
VARYS stops and looks at the wall.
TYRION
I recognize the word Death… and of course Mhysa means mother in Gschari… hmm… Death masters mother?
VARYS
Death to the Masters, and Mhysa is a Master.
TYRION
Ahh, you know Gschari could use smaller words like to and is in its vocabulary.
VARYS
They’re implied as part of the verbs.
TYRION
Still, that doesn’t bode well for our Dragon Queen.
VARYS
To say the least.
VARYS notices a small gathering of freed men and merchants around a priest, and points it out to TYRION. They approach the gathering and listen at the back.
RED PRIEST
(in Gschari)
Daenerys is R’hollor’s chosen, Azor Ahai come again, to bring an end to darkness and everlasting night. She was born beneath a bleeding star among salt and smoke…
TYRION and VARYS move away. As they do, one of the merchants, whose face is covered, follows after them, keeping a distance at first, so as to be inconspicuous. The MASKED MAN walks with what appears to be a walking stick with a piece of cloth wrapped around the top. As they walk through the streets, the camera cuts to the perspective of someone observing TYRION and VARYS walking down the street from behind the corner of a building.
VARYS
More fire priests, a growing concern.
TYRION
A people without a leader soon look to fill the void left without with something, anything.
VARYS
Fundamentalism needs only the promise of something better to spread.
The camera cuts to another view of someone watching TYRION and VARYS pass beneath a window.
TYRION
Did you catch what they were calling her?
VARYS
Azor Ahai.
The camera cuts back to TYRION and VARYS proper. VARYS notices the masked merchant who is following them.
TYRION
Aye. There was that priestess on Dragonstone who declared Stannis to be Azor Ahai.
VARYS
Melisandre of Ashai, aye. That entire prophecy comes from Ashai. (VARYS drops his voice) We’re being followed.
TYRION starts to look back, but Varys stops him from doing so.
VARYS
Keep walking. We can take a turn up here and lose him in the market.
They turn into the market and find it oddly abandoned.
TYRION
I don’t like the looks of this.
From one of the shops emerges a masked Son of the Harpy (FIRST HARPY) appears. He notices TYRION and VARYS and begin to approach, spear in hand.
TYRION
Run!
TYRION and VARYS turn around to see a SECOND HARPY approaching from behind. They turn a third direction and see a THIRD HARPY approaching.
VARYS
I told you it was reckless to leave the pyramid!
Just then the MASKED MAN charges in, unwrapping his stick to reveal a spear of his own, spearing the SECOND HARPY by surprise. VARYS and TYRION take the opportunity to hide behind an abandoned market cart. The FIRST and THIRD HARPY move to engage the MASKED MAN. A battle ensues in which it looks clear that the MASKED MAN is likely to lose, when suddenly a knife comes flying and kills the THIRD HARPY. TYRION and VARYS look up and notice a small boy, WEX, ready with another throwing knife.
TYRION
One of your little birds?
VARYS
No. Though I will be sure to make an inquiry.
The MASKED MAN and the FIRST HARPY continue to duel, with eventually the MASKED MAN winning. VARYS and TYRION, who took cover behind an abandoned cart during the fight come out from hiding.
VARYS
(in Ghscari)
Thank you friend, we humble merchants—
The MASKED MAN signals VARYS to stop.
MASKED MAN
I speak the Common Tongue.
VARYS
A Westerosi it would seem.
TYRION
Fair fortune indeed, for we hail from those lands. (he pulls out his purse of coins) I wish I had more silver with which to repay you for saving our lives, but I’m afraid I have invested most of my gold in a ship bound for Volantis.
TYRION tosses the bag to the MASKED MAN.
TYRION
Tell me, do they still parade a cloth dragon through the streets of King’s Landing to celebrate the Conquest?
The MASKED MAN tosses the bag back to TYRION.
MASKED MAN
You may keep your silver. I have no need of it, myself. If you could but point me in the direction of where her grace Queen Daenerys is, that would be all I require.
BEAT. TYRION and VARYS share a look.
VARYS
Her grace, I am afraid to say is not in the city.
MASKED MAN
Where is she?
TYRION
The last any man has seen of her, she was atop her great black dragon flying North.
MASKED MAN
North to where?
VARYS
Nobody knows, least of all two merchants such as we.
TYRION
Mayhaps you should inquire of her advisors, who rule the city in her absence.
MASKED MAN
And where could I find these advisors?
VARYS
They live atop the Great Pyramid. You can’t miss it, it’s the largest one—with the dragon banner flying atop of it where once the Harpy stood.
MASKED MAN
Again, I thank you, and wish you well.
The MASKED MAN whistles, and WEX comes running up to him and the two EXIT.
TYRION
See, our disguise worked.
VARYS
We should return before that Dornishman arrives at the pyramid.
TYRION
Let Missandei and Greyworm meet with him first. That way he cannot say the Queen owes him for saving the lives of two of her most valued advisors.
BEAT.
VARYS
If you thought like that more often, I wouldn’t need to worry about walking the city with you.
TYRION stops, and notices a rising smoke column not far off.
TYRION
Smoke.
From off screen we hear screams. TYRION runs in that direction. VARYS hesitates, sighs and follows after. We cut to the harbor and see Sons of the Harpy running from ship to ship with torches. Several ships are in the process of leaving, only for Sons of the Harpy to shoot flaming arrows at ships attempting to escape.
TYRION
Her grace’s ships!
VARYS
We need to return to the pyramid, now!
EXT. A SHIP DECK – BLACKWATER BAY OFF KING’S LANDING
We see JAIME and TYENE atop deck as they approach King’s Landing. We see a close up of TYENE and then a close up of the Great Sept of Baelor. We see a close up of JAIME and then a close up of the Red Keep.
TYENE
What will you do with me?
JAIME
You were to take holy vows, weren’t you?
TYENE
Aye, but that was before I had value as a hostage.
JAIME
Don’t flatter yourself. Do you really think your Uncle would bother ransoming for his bastard niece? The man didn’t stir himself when his sister was brutally murdered.
TYENE
So then?
JAIME
So then, you will proceed to the Sept of Baelor, where you will take your holy vows unimpeded or whatever it is that novices do before becoming Septas. Out of the affection Princess Myrcella had for you, I will not tell my uncle of your presence in King’s Landing.
TYENE sighs in relief.
JAIME grabs TYENE by the elbow and leans in close to her to whisper.
JAIME
And in exchange, I want you to work your way into this High Sparrow’s good graces and tell me everything you can find out about him. Last I’d heard, he’d imprisoned my sister and Queen Margaery. You will inform me personally of how they are faring, of where he keeps them locked away, and who guards their cells. You will inform me of what strength and support the High Sparrow has in King’s Landing among the smallfolk and Faith Millitant. You will inform me if any other Septon starts talking about how wonderful it would be to see the Sparrow out of the way. I don’t care if you send ravens to your Uncle as well, I’ll deal with him later, but you will keep me informed.
TYENE nods her head, and JAIME lets TYENE go and leaves.
INT. OLENNA’S COMPARTMENTS – THE RED KEEP - W
We see a young man, GARLAN standing and speaking to OLENNA, who is sitting at her table. GARLAN has a cup of wine in his hand that he drinks from.
OLENNA
Thank the gods you’ve arrived.
GARLAN
I would have been here sooner, but Brightwater Keep took longer to take than I thought it would, grandmother. Willas sends his love.
OLENNA
Thoughtful boys, you both. Did you receive my second raven?
GARLAN
Aye, I looked it over.
OLENNA
How thoroughly?
GARLAN
Enough to understand that the Queen and the High Sparrow are a danger to the future of our house.
OLENNA
Your father, like always has messed everything up. He abandoned your brother and sister to dance to the Queen’s tune in Braavos. We need to get Margaery and Loras out of that dungeon of a Sept.
GARLAN
Agreed.
GARLAN reaches for more wine, but OLENNA puts her hand over the pitcher.
OLENNA
And in order to do that, I need that keen strategic mind of yours completely alert.
GARLAN frowns.
GARLAN
You don’t mean to have me siege the Sept of Baelor, do you?
OLENNA removes her hand from the pitcher.
OLENNA
Would that it were so simple as that. But you might need to storm the Sept. And if that means killing a few sparrows in the process… well who ever missed that birdsong?
GARLAN
I’m going to have to study the Sept first. See what the layout of the structure is, and so forth.
OLENNA
What’s there to study? It’s a great big marble building with seven sides and one door and a bunch of steps in the front.
GARLAN
You’re good with politics grandmother, but I’ve the mind for strategy. Let me plan this matter how I see fit.
OLENNA nods reluctantly.
INT. THRONE ROOM – MEEREEN
MISSANDEI and GREYWORM stand at the top of the dais where DAENERYS’ bench was stationed in Season 5. Standing at the base of the steps l below is the MASKED MAN. WEX is seen hiding out in the corridor. Elsewhere we see TYRION hiding behind a pillar in the room.
MISSANDEI
What is your business here in Meereen?
MASKED MAN
I have come to speak with her grace, Queen Daenerys, on a rather serious matter.
GREYWORM
And what be this serious matter?
MASKED MAN
Marriage.
BEAT.
MISSANDEI
Your interest shall be noted, but I should warn you that her grace is but recently widowed.
MASKED MAN
If she wishes to take back the Seven Kingdoms, she’ll want to marry me.
GREYWORM
And how help you with that?
The MASKED MAN takes off his mask to reveal himself as TRYSTANE.
TRYSTANE
Tell her that marrying Prince Trystane of House Martell would bring her not only the Seven Kingdoms, but I will do so while riding a dragon at her side.
BEAT.
MISSANDEI
Your request will be delivered to her grace, you may leave.
TRYSTANE turns and leaves. The camera cuts to out in the hallway outside the throne room, where TRYSTANE motions for WEX to stay where he is as he continues to walk past. WEX leans in closer. The camera cuts back to MISSANDEI and GREYWORM.
MISSANDEI
That’s all the petitioners.
GREYWORM
The Queen would never marry a little worm such as he.
MISSANDEI
It’s her choice.
TYRION steps out from his hiding spot.
TYRION
On the contrary my friends, her grace will need to make marriage alliances when she returns to Westeros.
WEX pokes his head around the corner, peering into the throne room for a few seconds before pulling it back.
GREYWORM
To leave Meereen would give it back to the masters.
MISSANDEI
And the people of Meereen wouldn’t take kindly to her marrying a foreigner. They already resent us for being foreigners.
TYRION
Shouldn’t there be an elected freedman on our council? I seem to recall discussions on that near a moon ago. And a representative from the former wise masters too, since Hizdar has died.
GREYWORM
The Harpies have been killing any who dare declare interest in such positions.
TYRION
Then it’s time we chose them.
BEAT.
GREYWORM
Without elections?
MISSANDEI
Her grace would be seen to be going back on her promises to the freed people of this city.
TYRION
And as long as our council is only made up of foreigners, we shall be seen exactly how the Sons of the Harpy wish to see us: Invaders who care little for their lives. I don’t care how it’s done, find a freedman and a master who are amenable, and drag them onto our council if you have to. Quarter their families in the pyramid, send Unsullied to guard their property—I don’t care what has to be done, simply that it is done.
BEAT. MISSANDEI and GREYWORM eye one another.
GREYWORM
It shall be done.
GREYWORM departs the throne room, taking a few Unsullied guards with him.
TYRION
Good. Now, as for the business of that young man you just saw, we need to have him lodged here in the pyramid.
MISSANDEI
Whatever for? You’re not suggesting we actually consider his betrothal on behalf of her grace, are you?
TYRION
Normally, I would agree with you. If he wants to stay and woo her grace, then he should find his own accommodations, but that man just claimed he could ride dragons, and I would like to learn how he came to think he could without ever meeting a dragon.
MISSANDEI
You have a point, but he has already left.
TYRION
The throne room, aye, but it’s a long way down to the bottom of the pyramid, and he just so happened to have left us a little bird behind.
MISSANDEI
What do you mean?
TYRION
Come in boy.
The camera cuts back to WEX, who pushes his back against the wall.
TYRION
Unsullied, could one you bring in that boy from out in the hall? (BEAT) Please?
(BEAT)
An UNSULLIED drags WEX into the room.
TYRION
Thank you. (to WEX) Now, you’re Prince Trystane’s servant, aren’t you?
WEX looks about the room. The camera cuts to show plenty of Unsullied standing guard about the room from WEX’s perspective. The camera cuts back to a medium shot of WEX who then nods his head.
TYRION
Good. Now, run along and tell him that her grace’s advisors wish to host him in the Great Pyramid.
WEX nods, rises slowly, wary of the Unsullied, and then runs out of the room.
MISSANDEI
I hope you know what you’re doing.
TYRION
So do I.
EXT. THE BONEWAY – THE RED MOUNTAINS – NEAR YRONWOOD CASTLE
We see the speared sun banner of House Martell fluttering in the wind, and below it the rotting severed head of BRONN. The camera pulls back to reveal ARIANNE and OBARA riding at the head of an army marching up a narrow desert canyon, the Boneway, both dressed in armor. OBARA looks determined and ARIANNE is smirking.
ARIANNE
I don’t know why you’re so unhappy, cousin, you got the war you wanted.
OBARA
Then why are we headed up the Boneway instead of the Prince’s Pass?
ARIANNE
Are you still upset that we’re not going to sack Oldtown first? I told you—
OBARA
Aye that Lord Yronwood sent you a raven saying he had an offer that you couldn’t refuse, instead of his banners.
ARIANNE
And I just so happened to bring the rest of my bannermen with me to hear this offer. I hope it’s a good one, I would hate to lose such an old and strong house such as the Yronwoods to a simple misunderstanding.
OBARA
You should sack and burn his castle to the ground.
ARIANNE
I fully intend on doing so, should his offer prove the least distasteful. House Martell does not negotiate with its own bannermen.
The camera cuts back to give a wide shot of the army making a turn in the Boneway and revealing a small party of riders not far up ahead of the approaching army. The camera cuts to a medium shot revealing Lord ANDERS Yronwood, his son Ser CLETUS Yronwood, and several guards all bedecked in the surcoat of House Yronwood and displaying its banner, which is a sable portcullis on a sandy field. Lord ANDERS peers through a Myrish Far-Eye.
CLETUS
Has she brought the rest of Dorne with her?
ANDERS
I’d have thought less of the girl if she hadn’t. (to one of the guards) Be ready at my signal should anything go awry.
The camera cuts back to OBARA and ARIANNE. ARIANNE signals for the army to halt.
OBARA
I like this less and less. (looks up to either side of the canyon) There’s likely archers up there, hidden among the cliffs. This is a trap!
ARIANNE
No, Lord Anders would not leave the security of his castle were this a trap... especially with his only heir. Come, let us hear this offer.
ARIANNE urges her horse forward, OBARA and a handful of guards follow. The rest of the army stays put. When ARIANNE is halfway between her army and ANDERS, she halts and stops. ANDERS then approaches with CLETUS and half his guards. The other half remain back, guarding a cage that was previously hidden from view. Inside the cage is a man dressed only in his smallclothes whose identity is obscured by a bag over his head.
ANDERS stops his horse a few feet in front of ARIANNE. The two stare at one another for a few seconds.
ANDERS
My Princess, may I introduce my son and heir, Ser Cletus.
ARIANNE
Lord Anders, Ser Cletus, this is my cousin, Obara Sand.
OBARA
It is customary for a bannerman to bend the knee when entering the presence of the Princess of Dorne.
ANDERS
And it is customary for a bastard girl to hold her tongue until spoken to.
CLETUS
Peace, father. (to Obara) You must forgive my father, his knees have come to bother him with age. But I shall bend the knee in his stead.
CLETUS dismounts and takes the knee in front of ARIANNE.
ARIANNE
I thank you for your loyalty, Ser Cletus. (to Anders) What is your offer, Lord Anders? I tire of this mummer’s farce as much as you do, I expect.
CLETUS
I stand before you.
BEAT.
ARIANNE
You are offering me your son and heir?!
OBARA
Is this some kind of trick?
ANDERS
You are a woman grown and all but thirty namedays old, without any heirs of your own. My son Cletus is ten namedays your junior, but what he lacks in age he makes up for in martial skill. I taught him as well as I did your brother, if you need a witness to that. Take him, wed him, and bed him and you shall have my banners alongside of yours as you ride to take the war to the Lannisters.
ARIANNE
You would merge our houses, bringing an end to centuries of feuding, war and bloodshed so easily? Why?
ANDERS
Cletus is my only surviving heir. After him my lands would go to my brother’s son, Archibald—and I hate Archibald. He’d be the ruin of my house should he ever get his hands on the castle—and he has it in mind to do so.
ARIANNE
But you need not marry your heir to me to keep your house’s line going, my Lord.
ANDERS
No, but by marrying you, House Yronwood would return to its rightful place as the rulers of Dorne. And that I would not pass over for all the gold in Casterly Rock.
ARIANNE
I would not give up my family name in marriage, nor would our children.
ANDERS
Then quarter your house banners with mine and upon my death, give Yronwood Castle to your firstborn heir to rule until your own demise, and I would call it even.
BEAT.
ARIANNE
What have you to say for yourself, Ser Cletus? You’re very quiet.
CLETUS
I listen, my Princess, and watch.
ARIANNE
If we are to be wed, you will call me by my name, do you understand?
CLETUS
Yes, my… (smirks) my Arianne.
ARIANNE gives a small laugh. OBARA rolls her eyes.
ARIANNE
And?
CLETUS
And in my own defense, I know I am not that handsome with my lazy eye, but I am loyal and good with a sword, and good friends with your brother. Is he back at Sunspear?
ARIANNE
You do yourself a great injustice. You are handsome in spite of your lazy eye, Ser.
CLETUS
Cletus. If I am to call you Arianne, you must call me Cletus.
ARIANNE smirks.
ARIANNE
(to Anders)
You give a tempting offer, my Lord, extremely tempting.
ANDERS
If you need more convincing, I have brought you your wedding gift.
ANDERS whistles and the guards near the cage pick it up and begin bringing it closer.
ARIANNE
That’s rather presumptuous of you.
ANDERS
Tell me, when you’ve married my son, do you intend to march straight on for King’s Landing?
ARIANNE
That would require me to travel through the Stormlands, and last I had heard they were pledged to Stannis who wasn’t too fond of Dornishmen marching through his lands.
ANDERS
That’s where my gift will aid you, my Princess.
The guards drop the cage in front of ARIANNE. ARIANNE looks at the caged man with a bag over his head.
ARIANNE
And how will he do that?
ANDERS
Stannis is dead, and the Stormlords now face the wrath of King’s Landing for supporting him as long as they did. They lack a ruler, and many of them find bending their knees to that incestuous bastard boy king sitting on the Iron Throne to be repulsive. He, shall give you the Stormlords, and then you can march straight on to King’s Landing or wherever else, and Dorne would have marches of their own to keep those northern bastards at bay.
ARIANNE
I would see the face of this miracle that would bring Stormlords and Dornishmen together.
ANDERS nods to one of his guards, who then reaches in and pulls off the bag to reveal the man as GENDRY. He looks gaunt and tired.
ANDERS
One of my smallfolk found this boy and his rowboat smashed to pieces upon my shores. From what my men have gotten out of him, he got lost trying to row away from Dragonstone, lost one , and then was adrift for over a moon at sea before he washed up on my beaches nearly half-drowned. I fought against Robert Baratheon at the Trident during the Rebellion. I knew the boy to be his bastard on sight. Been keeping him in my dungeons ever since in case he should prove useful, given that Stannis and his daughter were the last legitimate Baratheons and all.
CLETUS
Is there such a thing as a legitimate Baratheon, father? Recall, Orys Baratheon was a bastard himself.
OBARA purses her lips. ARIANNE turns and looks at CLETUS and laughs.
BEAT.
ARIANNE
And how do I know this boy is what you say he is?
ANDERS
Believe me or not, that's your choice, Princess. All that matters is what the Stormlords will believe. And one look at that face is all the excuse they'll need to declare for Dorne.
BEAT.
ARIANNE
I trust you have a Septon at Yronwood, Lord Anders?
ANDERS smiles.
ANDERS
I do, and a feast prepared for the occasion.
ARIANNE
Good, for I’ll have a want of fine food and wine after taking my vows. Cletus, we will wed this eve, (BEAT. She eyes GENDRY) and we will march for Storm’s End on the morrow.