Part One - News from Westeros
King’s Landing - After Princess Rhaenyra’s departure to Stepstone Isles.
Ser Otto Hightower, Lord Hand to King Viserys Targaryen and father of Queen Alicent, felt as if he was on top of the world.
He had finally eliminated the last obstacle to his grandson’s ascendancy to the Iron Throne, the stupid chit now being banished to the no man’s land to die in exile. All they need now is for Aegon to bond with his own dragon, one grand enough to reign supremacy over all the dragons in Westeros.
Thank the Seven Viserys is a pliant fool, he mentally sneered as he scribbled down a plan to host the grandest investiture ceremony to highlight the Hightowers rise as the top family in Westeros.
“What do you mean we don’t have the budget to host the investiture ceremony?!” Otto growled angrily at Lyman Beesbury, who for once, doesn’t look too bothered with the state of the Royal Treasury. They were all gathered for the Small Council except for the King, who was with the Queen, following her announcement that she was pregnant again.
“With Princess Rhaenyra’s move to Stepstones and the payment of her dowry to her, the Royal Treasury cannot cope with another big expenditure.” He smiled blandly.
“What dowry?” Ser Tyland Lannister, interim Master of Ships asked curiously.
“The dowry that she inherited from Queen Aemma, in which including interest accumulated for the past seventeen years; all four million and two hundred thousand Golden Dragons were paid in full to Princess Rhaenyra.” Grand Maester Mellos could be heard choking on the wine he was sipping on while Ser Tyland turned pale in shock. Otto couldn’t help but notice that Lord Strong did not look too surprised at the announcement.
“How is that possible?!” Otto said furiously. “Surely that is not legal?!”
“Unfortunately for the Crown, the bridal contract was negotiated by the late Lord Rodrik Arryn of Vale between Good Queen Alysanne and he was foresighted enough to make sure the crown cannot touch the accumulated amount.” Lord Lyonel said offhandedly, waving the cupbearer away from his empty goblet. “King Viserys himself signed off the full payment to Princess Rhaenyra to be paid in full before her departure for Stepstone.
“Sure there is still some gold left in the Royal Treasury? Especially with the annexation of Stepstone?” Otto tried to make sense of the situation.
“Unfortunately the Crown had just paid its tithe to the Faith and the money left in the Royal Treasury are the reserve for possible famine or fatal plagues. As for the riches gained from the annexation were never given to the Crown but were gifted by Prince Daemon to Princess Rhaenyra as part of her dowry.” Lord Lyman perused his notes, ignoring the furious Hand. “And if we were to wait for the annual taxes from the Seven Kingdom to replenish the Treasury, it would take at least three years for it to reach the same level it was last year. Unless, of course, House Hightower would like to foot the entire expense for Prince Aegon’s investiture?” He smiled blandly.
Otto cursed mentally at the men in front of him and at Princess Rhaenyra for finding a way to ruin his day when she was not even in Westeros.
“Talya, bring me my pearl tiara set. I want to wear it to the feast tonight.”
Alicent stretches languidly as she speaks,Viserys had wanted to fete her that evening after the news of her pregnancy with an impromptu feast and she had wanted to wear the beautiful pearl jewelry set that belonged to Queen Aemma that she had coveted back when she was still the Queen’s lady in waiting. Surely she would look like a pious queen blessed by the Mother herself with such divine jewelry.
To her surprise, instead of fetching the piece, the young woman flush and shuffle her feet awkwardly.
“Your Grace…the piece you want…It isn’t in your jewel casket.”
“What do you mean it’s not there?!” she grits out. “Find it! Find it, or I swear to the Mother I’ll send you all packing!”
A lady in waiting stepped forward, a daughter to the current Lord Redwyne. “Your Grace, all jewelries and items that once belonged to Queen Aemma Targaryen were taken by Princess Rhaenyra as part of her dowry.”
“All?” Alicent gasped before turning away, hurried into her bedchamber to look for her greatest prize, the beautifully illustrated and bedecked with pearl and moonstone Seven Pointed Star prayer book that once belonged to Queen Aemma was missing from her desk. She then realized some of the decorative pieces and items were missing in her suite, all once belonging to the Queen she usurped.
That little brat!!
Lord Lyonel drank in the letters sent by his daughters. He had trepidations at first, sending both the Princess and her entourage, that includes two of his children to Stepstones but it seems his fears were unwarranted.
“Lyonel.” The Master of Law looked up to see his friend, Lyman, entering his solar. “I take it you received letters from your daughters as well?”
“And you too, my friend?” Lyman sat down at one of the comfortable chairs and the both of them swapped letters. “It’s good to see Lady Elyse is staying as the Princess’s chatelaine and teaching the girls to be good ladies in waiting.” He mused out loud. “Even Martyn is thankful for her help in the matter of the household.” He then frowned. “Did your daughters mention their failed harvest attempts? Apparently attempts on some of the islands were too unsuitable for farming. I wonder if the princess would accept my suggestion of using glasshouses for farming while they investigate the other islands.”
“Glasshouses? Would it not be an expensive venture? Importing quality glass from Myr could be a major drain to the Princess’s resources.” Lyonel mused.
“Yes, if they used Myrish glass, but Santh glass are of the same quality but much cheaper. In fact, I’m willing to send the princess a contact I know in Santh to help facilitate the order. Not that I can use it anyways as the Crown rejected the proposal to switch to Santh to cut costs for the new Grand Sept.” Both masters grimaced, remembering Alicent’s shrill comments of daring to use substandard material for the Sept.
“Do what you can Lyman. Harwin wrote about the surplus of seeds during our latest harvest. I will tell him to coordinate with Ser Symon and send them to Stepstones.” Both of them immediately wrote their letters.
Viserys was in a foul mood as they had to cancel the impromptu feast celebrating Alicent’s second pregnancy due to lack of budget and finding out that his daughter had taken all the keepsakes that belonged to his beloved Aemma, including their wedding rings and the bridal cloak Aemma had sewed for Rhaenyra when she was born.
Even his new heir was unable to distract from his mood. In fact he was so annoyed when Aegon accidentally touched his Valyrian model that he had painstakingly worked on for years that he yelled at him before sending the crying toddler with nursemaids away, ignoring the babe’s distress of being yelled at by his own father.
Staring longingly out the window and at the Blackwater Bay, he wondered if Rhaenyra was doing well.
Digging her nails into her fingers, Alicent could only watch in terror as her father stomped around in his solar, reading furiously at the letter he just received from Oldtown.
“Your uncle,” Otto finally spat out, throwing the letter at his daughter, “ finally agrees to pay for the investiture ceremony but he has some concessions about it.” He sneered. “Wanting it to be hosted during the Day of the Father to show the piety of the future king, and wanting a royal match for one of his grandchildren.”
“Lynesse for Aegon?” Alicent blurted out then flinched as Otto snarled at her. “No! Aegon will have a grand match, one that would support our standing in Westeros, maybe with the Baratheons or the Lannisters. No, one of the spare princes will do. At least we can make sure the dragon riding ability would stay in our family.” He mused out loud. He then looked suspiciously at her. “You must bear more heirs for Viserys, each son your bore will keep our family safe. Do you understand?!”
Alicent nodded wordlessly, digging her now bloodied fingers into her dress.
“Now I want you to approach Lord Strong and Lord Beesbury and offer to take their kins as your ladies in waiting. We must shore up our support for Aegon.”
“What do you mean, you’re declining my offer?” Alicent asked bewildered, forgetting that she was in public. She had approached the two men in the middle of the crowded passage and asked that their daughters and granddaughter be sent for as she had a place for them in her royal household.
“We are honored with the invitations Your Grace,” Lord Lyonel said politely, “but both Morna and Layla are unable to join your household.”
“Likewise Your Grace, I would have to decline your offer for my Rosamund.” Lord Lyman interjected.
“Why not?! To serve the Queen as one of her ladies in waiting is a great honor.” Alicent complained loudly, ignoring the fact people were whispering around them. “What would they be doing that is so important that they are willing to snub me?”
Lord Lyonel sighed but after sharing a look with Lyman, decided to tell the truth. “My daughters and Lord Beesbury granddaughter are currently serving as Princess Rhaenyra’s companions in Stepstones.”
Alicent and her ladies laughed but then stopped when they realized they were serious. “You’re actually being serious, my Lords.”
“Yes, Your Grace, they have been there since the day the Princess departed for the isles.” Lord Lyonel explained.
“What a waste. Choosing a desolate place to serve rather than to serve me.” She sneered then left rudely, snubbing both councilmen in the process.
Lord Lyonel and Lord Beesbury looked at each other then decided to ignore the insult, continuing their conversation before the Queen had interrupted them.
After the salt industry began its production in Stepstones
“Is this true, Theodred?” Lord Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of North couldn’t help but be surprised with the proposal Lord Theodred Manderly brought to him. “Yes, Lord Rickon, Princess Rhaenyra wanted to establish a trade between the North and the Stepstones Isle, our lumber and iron ore in return for salt and the grain they are currently growing and an offer of a more favorable taxes rates while using the Narrow sea, one would benefit the North, especially with our trade in Essos and Dorne.”
And how much is she offering for the salt?” Lord Manderly named a price that had Lord Rickon eyebrows raised so high, it was hidden by his hair. “That much?!” The warden of the North thought of how much food they can preserve with that much salt.
He turned to the map that encompassed the entire vast Northern region. The princess’s request to buy lumber and iron ore from the North would surely help with the economy, including Barrowton, Last Hearth and Karhold, where they have deposits of iron ores that can be harvested immediately.
He couldn’t help but cast his memory back to the first (and only time) he had met the former crown princess during her investiture ceremony, her gentle dignity as everyone came forward to swear their allegiance and loyalty to the heir of the Iron Throne had left a deep impression on him.
(He silently compared it to the recent, less grand investiture ceremony he was forced to attend for Crown Prince Aegon, who threw a tantrum almost at the beginning of the ceremony, biting his nursemaids and screaming during the feast like a spoiled brat he was.)
Pity the kingdom lost Princess Rhaenyra, she would have made a great Queen to work with while protecting the realm, he sighed mentally.
“I will write to the Princess to accept this generous offer and call for the Northern Lords to discuss the offer with them.”
When Otto returned after going to Dragonstone to confront Prince Daemon
Alicent bit her nails in frustration. Her father had left to confront Prince Daemon and his hostile takeover of her son’s rightful place as the Prince of Dragonstone and she feared that he might be killed, hence she sending off her sworn shield (the very handsome Ser Criston Cole) and begged Viserys to sent Lord Commander himself to accompany her father.
Ignoring her children, Aegon and Helaena, who were in the solar with her, the queen caressed her swollen stomach, praying the new babe she was carrying was a boy.
(She flinched when she remembered the beating her father had given her when Helaena was born, and him forcing her to enter Viserys’s bed before she was ready in order to create the spare prince they needed.)
She was startled by her troubled daydreaming at the loud ruckus by her window. Looking out, she was surprised to see her father and the royal guards were back from their trip. Telling the nurses to take the children back to the Royal Nursery, Alicent quickly went to the Small Council room, just in time to hear her father reporting to Viserys and the rest of the members.
“- only the castellan was there to receive us with the dragon egg secured.” Otto explained.
“And my brother was not there?” Viserys looked bewildered with the whole situation. “Nor his men?”
“Even the maester that was assigned to Dragonstone was not there.” Ser Otto answered grimly. “It seems that Princess Rhaenyra was there before we arrived and whatever she said to the Prince had gotten him to leave the egg and left with her, along with his men, the maester and more than half of the dragonseeds that were living in Dragonstone.”
“Rhaenyra?! Did he see her? How did she look? And what is it said between them?” Viserys said with such naked longing, everyone looked away in embarrassment, Alicent, clenching her fists into her dress in frustration.
Ser Otto shook his head, “Ser Alfred was not close enough to see her or heard the conversation, only that Prince Daemon packed his things and left immediately after that.”
“How about the heirlooms and the dragon eggs?” Alicent asked urgently, ignoring Viserys’s surprised look, too terrified he or Rhaenyra had taken one of the eggs or worse, one of the older dragon with them.
Otto threw a glare at his daughter before reporting. “The dragon keepers assured me that no eggs or dragons, tamed or wild, were missing. Ser Alfred also confirmed that all the heirlooms were not plundered. Your Grace, this is a concerning matter that Prince Daemon had joined Princess Rhaenyra. It is possible there is a sinister plot brewing that can impact your rule.”
“Are you accusing Princess Rhaenyra of treason?” Ser Lyonel asked in aghast, not believing the gall of this man.
“Yes Otto, what are you accusing my daughter here? Are you saying my daughter is plotting to overthrow me and my chosen heir?!” Viserys, snapped out of his brief melancholy, said furiously, not liking the implication.
“No, Your Grace,” Otto tried to placate the king, “but it is a concern that the Prince is with her. Princess Rhaenyra is a young girl in a high position of power that can be influenced by her uncle. He can manipulate her into giving him Stepstones to him or worse, use her to take over your throne.”
Noticing Viserys’s contemplative expression, Lord Lyman knew he had to cut Otto before he can influence the king into doing something detrimental to the kingdom. “I believe the princess only wanted family with her. And I would think Grand Maester Vaegon and Septa Rhaella would stop Daemon from influencing the princess into doing something she doesn’t want to do.” Lyman name dropped the two elder Targaryens.
“Grand Maester Vaegon? Septa Rhaella?” Otto asked skeptically. “Have you forgotten Lord Beesbury, that both of them are in Oldtown, in the Citadel and the Grand Sept, serving their duties?” He added with an undertone that implies that Lord Lyman was getting senile.
Lord Lyman coughed loudly, hiding his snort. “Grand Maester Vaegon and Septa Rhaella had been in the Stepstones Isle for the last two years. According to my granddaughter, Rosamund, the Grand Maester had worked hard to educate them to the point she had nightmares of those lessons and Septa Rhaella dotes on the princess.”
“Lord Beesbury is right, Your Grace. My daughters had said the same in their letters.” Lord Lyonel quickly supported him.
“Granduncle Vaegon and Grandaunt Rhaella are with Rhaenyra?” Viserys looked so confused. “Why hasn't anyone told me?”
“Your Grace.” Otto tried to pull his attention to him, mentally he was furious such information was withheld from him. “It is a serious matter that Prince Daemon is with Princess Rhaenyra.”
Viserys shook his head. “No, Lord Beesbury is right, Rhaenyra adores her uncle, she would want family by her side. I do wish she had written to me.” He muttered softly but everyone in the room could still hear him. “Let them be for now. Maybe Daemon would show some restraint while visiting Rhaenyra.”
“What should we do with the dragon egg, Your Grace?” Lord Commander Westerling suddenly asked and Alicent finally noticed the same warming chest that is used for transporting eggs from its incubation chamber. “Should I send it to the dragon pit?”
“No, keep it here. I will present it to my new son when he is born, maybe this one would be a cradle hatch.” Viserys said distractedly before leaving the chamber.
Everyone quickly filed out, leaving only Otto and Alicent in the room. He suddenly leaned forward and grabbed his daughter by the arm. “You better pray this child is a boy, Alicent, we need a dragon-riding prince now more than ever.” He hissed furiously. Alicent could only nodded tearfully, horrified of the carnage Daemon and Rhaenyra would rain over her children.