The Lord's Tower

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

Aldric laughs also, "Ah yes when I refused to do my sums for the day it was a clip around the ear for me." Slicing off a piece of cold chicken and popping it into his mouth Aldric slowly chews, "So is it only books and tomes that interest you, Your Highness?"

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

Shrugging,"I guess yes, until I had an opportunity to actually see some of people and things I have read about." Smiling as she ate more,"I finally get to be around other people besides my family."

"I like animals as well", she looked at him,"I remember the first time I saw the dragons of my house. It almost scared me to death until the Maester taught to understand them. They are majestic as they are dangerous."

Taking a sip of her drink,"I have also always wanted to see a direwolf."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"Ah yes a direwolf I do not know how sucessful that maybe. Lord Stark is the closest thing I think you may find." Aldric took a deep breath, "I think we should talk now about why you have come here. I will be straight with you Aelinor, what I want is a woman who would be my equal be Lady Arryn in not only name but position. The Vale would be looked after by the two of us."

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

She nodded at the reference to Lord Stark,"Well hopefully when we make our rest there, I maybe able to see one." Aelinor smiled at the thought of maybe having a pup of her own, even it was fantasy.

Taking another bite of her meal, she listened to Lord Aldric, then she wiped the corners of her mouth. "Well as you know Lord Aldric, I am visiting each house to see if there is a viable suitor for my intentions, one that I will respect me for who I am and not see being married to the royal princess as a trophy or a direct line to the throne."

Shaking her head lightly,"I refuse to be a conduit to my King Father for a power play against the other houses of the kingdom."

Taking another sip of her drink,""I know that is an impossible aspiration,"she looked at him,"but I think I can find someone like that. As you say someone who can be my equal."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"Then all I can do is offer my words. If I had the power of the Seven I would of very much of liked for you coming here to take place at another time but I do not so I am helpless. Only a fool would say you are not beautiful but from what you have said being told that is nothing new."

Picking up an apple Aldric carefully cut out a piece, "Your smart and well educated which I find very appealing. You have a sense of humour which I was always told was a good thing for a marriage. Finally could you not simply fall in love with this view every morning."

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

Aelinor looked at him and smiled lightly,"Lord Aldric, I thank you for your honesty." She took another sip from her glass,"And again I am sorry for your loss, I heard that your father was a great man."

Her violet eyes looked over the view from the balcony,"I have one question to pose to you..."

"Being that you are loyal to him and his wishes, would you really marry outside of your Andal tradition?" Aelinor looked at him,"You are a good man, and this place is wonderful and I have never seen such sights as this, but I do not wish to cause any problems for your house."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"My father believed in our House keeping true to there traditions which is why he married my mother a good Andal woman of a Vale house." Slowly eating another piece of apple Aldric looks the princess in the eye, "I am not my father your Highness. We Arryns have been to cold to this land and all of Westeros. We almost make Starks look happy. I have other plans for my house which is why I want a strong wife next to me."

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

Aelinor nodded, smiling to herself. "I see that you are not your father, and yes you do deserve a strong woman by your side to live and take care of this place with you as her Lord."

Moving her fingers over the top of the goblet,"And I have found through my reading that it is often good to break from tradition, that each generation makes their own path."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"Yes you yourself marrying someone from out of the Targaryen family will be a rare honour for that house." Aldric took a sip of wine now thinking he had enough of the water, "But yes enough of all this marriage stuff please tell me Aelinor what you wish to do with your life."

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

Looking into her goblet,"I wish to be happy, not be a spinster... My life goal before I started this was to sit on my father's council, to serve the kingdom." Aelinor took a long swallow of her drink,"Now I have been given the opportunity that is rare to princess to fine her own love and husband."

"Honestly Lord Alric, I just want someone who is able to see past my Targaryen features and see a woman, to see past my crown and love me." She chuckling, then looked at him,"My Lady Lorraine seems to think that is something naive to want, but I still think it is possible."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"Anything is possible. All I've wanted is to have a family. Its an odd thing to want isnt to just want a loving wife and some sons and daughters." Aldric looks around, "I must admit I am glad we are alone I have never told anyone my deepest wants and desires."

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

"That is why we are here isn't", she grinned, holding her goblet."To talk and get to know one another." Once again she looked out at the view,"I can say I have no deep desires except like you to love and be loved and have a family."

Her violet eyes smiled at him again,"Those are not impossible feats. It just takes a little work to get them."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"A few private dinners on a balcony helps dont you think." Aldric smiles at Aelinor. There was a soft knock at the door, "Ah dessert has arrived." Standing Aldric walks over to the door taking the small tray from the servant then closing the door once more, "I hope you enjoy caramilised fruit and peach tarts."

[Princess Aelinor Targaryen]

"Yes it does", she smiled and then watched him get up to retrieve the dessert.

"And yes I think caramelized fruit tarts are fine, Lord Aldric", taking another sip,"I have missed such things being on this trip."

[Lord Aldric Arryn]

"Well you are visiting some of the most powerful Lords of the realms your going to have to get use to this. I dont mean to slander Lord Stark but I do believe he will do his best to out do me." Aldric starts with a small bite, "Apart from Wilhelm who else are you visiting."