(Vaelor's POV)
"What's going on?" I asked Baelon, who was standing next to me, "Why was I summoned? I was planning on training today."
I was called over to the main hall, where there were plenty of Lords and Ladies gathered about, murmuring amongst themselves. I saw Mother somewhere in the midst, conversing with some Ladies. I had approached Baelon, who stood on the edge of the crowd, wearing fancy attire that he only wears to formal events.
"Oh. I suppose Father has called some Lords over." Baelon shrugged, "Something about suitors."
"Suitors?" I raised an eyebrow, "For who?"
"You." He said with his arms crossed
"Me?" I asked as I looked at the crowd, "They want me to marry already? I'm 12."
"I guess they do." He said, "Some young lords are trying to court Daella."
"She's 11." I said with a frown, "I figured Father wasn't going to worry about any of that since Vaegon threw his fit and decided to go to the Citadel."
"I thought as much as well, but Mother says that the sooner the two of you find suitors, the better." Baelon said, "But I doubt they'll marry you right away, it's just a way to establish alliances. To make sure everyone is on the same page."
I blinked, "That's dumb." I said as I looked to the side, "I already said I wouldn't mind marrying Daella. I don't want to deal with the headache of some Lord's daughter trying to please me. It's annoying."
Baelon shrugged, "This is what being a Prince is, Vaelor." He said, "You know that. Politics. Marriages. It is what's necessary for the Realm's peace."
I frowned, "You're one to talk, having an easy match and marrying Alyssa." I said, "All you two do is fly about in the skies atop Vhagar and Meleys. I want to do that too!"
He chuckled and ruffled my hair, "Mayhaps one day, you'll do the same." He said, "But sometimes, Fate has different plans for us."
"Yea, yea...." I muttered
As I pulled away from him, I saw a young woman approach us. She seemed to be a bit older than Baelon, and Aemon, too. She had dark brown hair and pretty blue eyes. I had to admit that she was quite beautiful, but I didn't recognize her. I was too busy admiring the way her dark green dress was draped over her body. There was quite an interesting pattern embroidered on the side of the dress, it was a bit alluring.
"Hello, My Princes." She said as she bowed slightly, "It is quite a wonderful day, is it not?"
"Lady Ellyn." Baelon said, "It is good to see that your Father, the Lord Tyrell, was able to come all this way despite his health."
She smiled, "Thank you, Prince Baelon." She said, "I appreciate the kind words."
Baelon nudged my shoulder, "Greet her, you buffoon."
"Oh." I cleared my throat, "L-Lady Ellyn, daughter of Lord Tyrell....yes, my apologies."
She smiled, "Prince Vaelor, I hear you are a dragonrider." She said softly, her sweet tone entering my ears smoothly, "Your dragon is as white as the pure pearls around my neck."
She gently touched her pearl necklace, which I didn't notice before. I looked at them, seeing how they rested over her exposed chest, my eyes slowly drifting to her cleavage, which is not something I intended to do.
"Right...." I said, "Shrykos is indeed quite white. His eyes are a pale blue, once you look at them, you'll feel really relaxed."
"I see." She said, "Mayhaps one day you'll show them to me. After the wedding, of course."
I blinked, "Pardon?"
"What wedding may you speak of, Lady Ellyn?" Baelon asked, "You're getting married?"
She looked at us with a bit of surprise, "O-Oh...." She said, "I thought you have already known."
Baelon and I looked at each other, a bit confused.
"N-No...." Baelon said as he looked at her, "What may you be speaking of?"
"Ah, there you are, Vaelor." I heard Father's voice
I turned to see him approaching us, wearing his usual regal attire, covered in his large fur cloak.
"Your Grace." Lady Ellyn bowed, "My apologies, I thought that the Princes were aware of your decision."
Father reached us, "Oh, you told them?" He asked, "Yes, I suppose the fault is mine. Vaelor, it has been decided. To establish a strong relationship with House Tyrell and their resources, we will have to arrange a marriage. Lady Ellyn Tyrell, his third daughter, will marry you."
"Eh?" I blinked, "You're serious?"
He nodded, "I don't jest, boy."
"That was quite fast." Baelon said, "What is this event for then?"
"Daella. And potentially Saera for the future." Father said, "But unlike Vaelor, they will simply be promised and won't marry until they are capable of bearing children without risk."
"Wait, what do you mean, unlike me?" I asked, "I'm to marry already?"
He nodded, "Yes." He said seriously before walking past us, "That is final."
I simply watched as he walked towards the crowd, seeing how the Lords parted and bowed as the King walked towards my Mother.
I noticed Lady Ellyn looked at me with a slight frown, "My apologies, Prince Vaelor." She said, "I didn't mean for you to learn of this this way. I genuinely thought you were already aware."
I scratched my cheek, "Hm....."
"Well, congratulations, I suppose." Baelon patted my shoulder, "You're getting married."
*********************
"ughhhhh..." I said as I sat on my couch, "This is annoying....."
"It is expected." I heard Aemon say as I looked up at the ceiling of my children, "You are one of the four sons of King Jaehaerys. A Prince. Of course, everyone would like to get a piece. But to think that Lord Tyrell won the bidding war."
I sat up and looked at my Eldest Brother, who was standing tall next to Baelon, who was sitting down on the chair, fidgeting with some strange wooden device from Essos.
"What do you mean, bidding war?" I asked with a frown
"Baelon and I are already married." He told me, "That leaves two Princes that haven't yet been married to their sisters. And of the two, you are the only dragonrider. That makes you somewhat valuable to them. They may not have the direct heir nor Baelon, who is after me in the succession, but they'll have someone with a powerful weapon. Clearly, they will want to get on your good graces and will try to make moves for you. That and Vaegon has a foul reputation despite being so young. And he's sworn to celibacy."
"Yea, that started a bidding war. Letters from all over the Realm, including Winterfell, rained in over the last few months and Mother has been having meetings with many Lords and their daughters, sisters, nieces, or cousins." Baelon continued, "Lord Tyrell won the bidding due to the fact that Father has taken an interest in getting more food and resources from the Reach. That and he respects Lord Tyrell so he figured that having you marry his daughter was the right choice."
"Mother also seems to like Lady Ellyn." Aemon added at the end
I blinked, "Tch...." I said as I leaned back, "Politics."
"You don't seem excited." Aemon said
"Lady Ellyn seems like a nice woman." I said, "But I didn't really expect to have this happen."
"She was promised to a Riverlord for the longest time." Baelon started, "But that old fart died a few years ago when she was around my age. Then, they tried marrying her off to Corlys Velaryon, but he denied. And before the bidding war for you started, Lord Tyrell offered her to Dorne but they didn't seem interested. Seems she was finally happy in being promised to a young dragonrider."
I sat up again and looked at my brothers, "What of Daella???"
"What of her?" Aemon asked with a raised eyebrow
"What will become of her?" I asked, "Father said the suitors are trying to court her."
"Well, yes." Baelon said, "But like he said as well, we won't worry about her marrying until long after her first bleeding."
"Mother doesn't feel comfortable with some old lord marrying her and putting a child inside her so early." Aemon told me, "Alyssa has protested this as well."
"Daella can't just marry anyone." I said, "That person has to treat her well!"
"They have to!"