dancing with our hands tied | r. targaryen

xli.

132 A.C.
SUNSPEAR
•••

BERIC AND ALIANDRA WERE MARRIED IN THE SPRING OF THE 132ND YEAR AFTER AEGON'S CONQUEST. The ceremony took place on Sunspear and lords from the Stormlands and Dorne gathered to watch the official end of feuding on their borders.

"Are you happy?" Alayne asked her son after the ceremony. The main goal was achieving political peace, but she genuinely cared about her son was happy and content. Beric being her eldest son and the first of her children married off left her feeling a sense of bittersweet happiness as she wasn't yet ready to part with him.

Beric smiles at his mother and nods his head, "I am. I fear I could not have asked for a better bride than Aliandra."

"Good," Alayne says, "I do hope you find as much happiness in your marriage as your father and I have found in our own."

Beric nods and his smile widens as he pulls his mother in for a hug, "I can sense that you are worried, but I ensure you I will be fine mother. And should war come, and I will ensure that Dorne is on our side."

Alayne is surprised by Beric's words, and she pulls away to look her son in the eye to find that he had the determined look that all of her children seemed to have inherited from her. Beric looks around the festivities at everyone laughing and then looks at his mother.

"We have our roles in the upcoming war," Beric tells his mother, "I will fight at father's side to protect the Stormlands, but until then my job is securing that my father-in-law is not willing to side with the Greens or the Blacks without first consulting with House Baratheon."

"You are right," Alayne states, "I do hope I've taught you well?"

Beric chuckles, "You have. Never tell them exactly what we want, or our enemies will work twice as hard to keep it from us. Coax it out of them. Seduce it out of them. But ever let them know your next move."

Alayne smiles proudly at her son and cups his cheeks, "My brilliant boy. I am so proud of you." She kisses Beric on the forehead and looks at him once more. Her son was no longer a boy. He was a man and she had to let him go. She nods toward the celebration, "Go enjoy yourself."

"You as well," Beric says, "We're the first outsiders to be accepted in Dorne. Let us celebrate that."

Alayne laughs at her son's words and watches as Beric makes his way over to his new brothers-in-law who embrace him with smiles on their faces. Alayne smiles at the sight before making her way over to a table that seats Brandon and Lord Vorian Dayne.

"Lady Alayne," Vorian states with a smile.

"Lord Vorian," Alayne says, "What have you and my husband been discussing?"

"Things of great interest," Vorian answers, "The two of us actually fought one another in the Dornish Marches. We were green lads."

"Green indeed," Brandon says with a laugh, "You still managed to knock me on my ass."

"Nothing more satisfying than a Baratheon kneeling before you for mercy," Vorian says with a smirk.

"Is that so, Lord Vorian?" Alayne asks amused. Vorian looks over at Alayne and winks at her, making her laugh aloud, "Where is your wife, my lord?"

"Somewhere trying to wrangle our children," Vorian says as he looks around, "I should probably help her." Vorian stands and points to Alayne and Brandon, "Do not move a muscle."

"We'll be here," Brandon responds and Vorian smiles before heading off. Alayne chuckles as she looks over at her husband.

"Lord Vorian wants you to kneel at his mercy," Alayne says with a smile.