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THE COUNCIL chamber of Winterfell hummed with an undercurrent of tension as lords and bannermen took their seats around the long table. Cregan Stark presided at the head, a map of the North unfurled before him, its edges frayed from years of scrutiny. The discussion had quickly turned to the unrest simmering in the South, and the looming threat of war hung heavily in the air.
"Lord Stark," one of his bannermen spoke up, breaking the silence. "We cannot ignore the whispers coming from the Vale. There are those who believe Rhaenyra Targaryen has the rightful claim to the Iron Throne, and if House Arryn sides with her, we could find ourselves at a significant disadvantage."
Cregan nodded, brow furrowed in contemplation. "We need to secure an alliance with House Arryn before it is too late."
Maelys Targaryen, seated beside Cregan, felt a surge of anger at the mere mention of Rhaenyra's name. "If House Arryn aligns with her, it will be a mistake of monumental proportions," she declared, her voice low and fierce. "Rhaenyra is not fit to rule. Aegon should be the rightful king."
Cregan regarded her, sensing the fire in her words. "I understand your loyalty to your brother, but we cannot ignore the reality of the situation. If we want to maintain our influence, we must at least attempt to broker an alliance with House Arryn. We cannot risk losing the Vale's support."
"An alliance built on a foundation of betrayal is no alliance at all!" Maelys snapped, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "House Stark siding with Rhaenyra is an affront to my family and our name. How can you even consider it?"
Cregan met her gaze, unyielding. "It is not a matter of loyalty; it is a matter of strategy. We must think beyond personal grievances. If we do not act now, the North will be swept away in a tide of conflict, and the chaos will consume us all."
Maelys's jaw clenched, her anger boiling just beneath the surface. "So, we are to ignore the truth? We are to pretend that Rhaenyra is a rightful heir when we know that Aegon is the one who should sit the Iron Throne?"
Cregan sighed, frustration lacing his tone. "I cannot let my emotions dictate our course of action. If we can show strength in our unity, we might sway House Arryn to reconsider their position. But if we let our feelings cloud our judgment, we risk losing everything."
The room fell silent as the bannermen exchanged glances, weighing Cregan's words. Maelys felt the weight of their scrutiny, her frustration mounting. "Then we are not united," she shot back, her voice rising. "If House Stark turns against Aegon, it could mean the end for our house."
"Your loyalty to Aegon is commendable," Cregan replied, his voice calm yet firm. "But we cannot let sentimentality dictate our actions. We must act in the best interest of the North."
"I will not pander to Rhaenyra's supporters!" Maelys hissed, standing abruptly, her chair scraping against the stone floor. "I refuse to participate in this charade."
