Almost a year after the Lord Baelin Lannister’s sixteenth Nameday celebration, Princess Silya Targaryen received a most curious letter that would have been more of a surprise, had her youngest sister done a better job of hiding several meetings she’d had with a certain young Lord over the past few months.
“Princess Silya Targaryen,
I know House Lannister has, of late, made an enemy of your father’s house, but I beg your condescension in reading this letter till its end, as my intentions are honorable. It has been some time now since I have become acquainted with your ward, the Lady Visenya Targaryen. Allow me to assure you that our meetings have been respectable, largely during important festivities.
In consideration of the bad blood between our two houses, we have maintained only amiable relations, but my deep regard for the Lady Visenya has grown so great that I must beg to be allowed to correspond with her openly, in the hopes of one day seeking her hand in marriage. I have not met a woman I have thought more precious, more beautiful, more interesting and thoughtful, and certainly more worthy to be Lady of House Lannister someday.
Please be not alarmed that this be some act of vengeance or politic against House Velaryon or Seven forbid House Targaryen. While the only assurance I can give you is one of words, I hope you will believe the sincerity of my affections towards Lady Visenya, and ask that you put aside this feud, as I intend to convince my father and aunt to do the same.
Your servant,
Lord Baelin Lannister.”
Two letters were sent from Dragonstone that day, one by the normal courier, one by a very specific crow. The first was simple and blunt, though it had given her no small amount of amusement to write it in the first place.
“My Lord Baelin Lannister,
You have certainly impressed upon me your feelings for the Lady you write of, but I am afraid you have been most unhappily deceived. There is no Visenya Targaryen,” and here she made a point of underlying the Targaryen name twice for his benefit, “among my acquaintance. Nor do I believe there has been a Targaryen of that name for some generations.
To reflect a measure of the goodwill you have extended to us, however, I will task the Master of Whisperers to aid you in a search for the lady, if you still wish to find her. Send him a letter detailing all you know to be true. I am sure he shall not fail you.
I am most truly sorry I could not help you further,
Princess Silya Targaryen”
The second was received by Princess Emma Martell within a day of its sending, and both women had quite a hearty laugh about it.
“Emma,
I have just received a most interesting letter from the heir of House Lannister, detailing his undying love for a certain Visenya Targaryen supposedly in my charge. You know it gives me little pleasure to write you, but I know we can agree that our beloved sister’s affairs are important enough to set aside our differences for a day.
I have referred him to your husband, the Master of Whisperers, with assurances that Prince Kassian will help him search for her, if he wishes to, but ask the information provided be limited to the lady’s upcoming excursion to King’s Landing. I am sure you will not guess at my reasons.
Sil”