Chapter 39
Kingslanding could be seen in the distance. The city was a mess. That was clear from above. Understandable. All ships that came to the capitol were anchored along the rocky structures in Blackwater bay. The City was still locked tight. Disappointing but not surprising. Maenera was more than sure that Viserys had still not left his chambers and has not dealt with anything related to his role as King. She felt for her brother, it was an ugly situation and as expected Viserys' answer to ugly situations was to shut down and hide away. His method of coping was not healthy but until she and Daemon arrived to get him out of his stupor it was the best he could do.
This whole situation made her so angry. She wanted to turn back and burn the Hightowers again. Resurrect them and torture them until they begged for mercy. She didn't know exactly what she would find in the Red Keep but it surely was nothing short of chaos. She was grateful for Daemon. Him being with her was a tremendous help. He knew Viserys better than any of them and if there was a person who could help her brother out of a difficult time it was Daemon.
Her mind was already buzzing with plans. She would, naturally, visit her brother first and assess his condition leaving him with Daemon afterwards. Then she would have to speak with Vaegon about his physical state. Meet with the Lord Hand. Have a talk with Larys about what he found and only then call on a Council meeting to see if her orders had been followed. It was a lot to do and she didn't have a lot of time. The city needed to start functioning again or the small folk would revolt and so would the merchants whose ships were blocked in the port.
She signaled Daemon to follow her as she made her way to the destroyed courtyard in the Red Keep. She landed followed by Daemon on Caraxes. Guards were already waiting with Lord Commander Westerling at the front. He had a grim expression on his face. Maenera didn't like that.
"What happened?" She asked him.
"The King has locked himself in his room and refuses any contact, even from the Princess. The Princess is enraged and she is creating a disturbance at the moment. Quite a few members of the small council think that the King is dead or dying and they begin talking about funeral arrangements. Quite a few of them tried to send ravens to their Houses about the situation."
"Have the ravens been stopped?" Daemon asked.
"Yes my Prince. They were all stopped or shot down as soon as possible."
"We will go to my brother first. Ask Lord Strong to wait in my rooms for a meeting. " Said Daemon.
"And Larys. Vaegon as well." She added.
They made their way down the corridors to Viserys rooms. Soldiers lining the walls as they passed.
"I see that you made use of my gold cloaks." Daemon said. She didn't responded just stopped in front of Viserys door and tried to open it. The door didn't budge.
"Open up brother!" She shouted but received no response. "Viserys!" She tried again banging on the door.
"Let me try." Daemon said getting in front of the door." Visērȳs! Ziry iksos Daemon, rōva lēkia. Iksan lenton!" (Viserys! It's Daemon, big brother. I am home! ). Still no response.
"Should we try the passages?" Maenera asked.
"No. He knows about them now. He surely blocked them. Step back, I am going to break the door down." He said. She did as he asked. Kick after kick he rained on the door until it finally gave. The door was in shambles by the time he finished with it. The soldiers were looking at them strangely but she didn't care. They needed to get to their brother.
They entered the rooms. She wondered where the fuck Harwin was. She left him instructions to guard the King from inside his rooms.
They found Viserys in the room with the Valyrian Model. He was wearing just his trousers and he was working on his model. Picking at one of the figurines.
"After all these years you two still didn't learn the meaning of privacy." Viserys said his voice cracking from unuse.
"And, you, after all these years, still didn't learn that you can't keep me out." Said Daemon approaching him. "You look dreadful." Daemon continued. And he did. He looked like he lost weight, he had bags under his eyes, his face was gaunt. His hair was unwashed and seemed to have lost its life. His golden silver hair adopting a dead appearance.
"How are you feeling?" Maenera asked taking a seat beside him.
"I am fine." He responded not looking at them.
"You are not fine, Viserys. You look like a corpse." Ah... Yes... Here was Daemon and his famous tact. Viserys let out a small laugh.
"I missed you, valonqar." (Little brother)
"I missed you too, Viserys."
"What happened to you was awful, Viserys." Said Maenera addressing the elephant in the room.
"Nothing happened to me." Responded Viserys. Daemon and Maenera shared a look. So this is how it's going to be.
"It did happen, Viserys. And I am sorry it did. I am sorry I didn't see it sooner."
"I do not remember anything happening. I got drunk, blacked out, woke up two days later with a headache. That's it." He said courtly. It seemed like Viserys was adopting Daemon's method of coping. Denial and anger.
"Then why are you locked in your rooms?" Daemon asked.
"I wanted some privacy."
"That is why you refuse to see even Rhaenyra?" That got a reaction out of him. He banged his fist on the model distorting quite a bit of his own work. He didn't seem to care. He averted his eyes and Maenera could see his shoulders shaking while he tried to calm his breathing. All of the sudden he deflated falling back into his chair.
"I wasn't lying. I do not remember. I do not remember anything. I just know what Vaegon told me."
"And what is that?"
"That... That after I passed out, SHE came to my rooms and..."
He seemed unable to put into words what happened. He also refused to say her name.
"We are here with you now." Daemon said landing a hand on Viserys shoulder.
"Don't leave me alone again." Videos demanded looking at them with a broken expression.
"We won't. We will stay right here, as long as you need us." She said tentatively puting her arms around Viserys.
They stayed like that for a time. Basking in each others arms. She hoped that their actions helped him, at least a little. She was at a loss. She didn't really knew how to help him and he was reticent in disclosing his feelings. Rationally she knew he needed time to heal. Even if he didn't remember the fact that he vas violated still remained. She wished she could take his pain away, but she wasn't capable of that. All she could do was to offer her support and take care of his duties while he recovered.
***
Maenera left Daemon alone with Viserys after a while. She had things to do and Daemon suggested to help Viserys have a bath and eat something. Maybe he would feel better afterwards.
She made her way to Daemons chambers where the men she asked for were waiting. To her surprise Harwin was also there. Good. She needed answers.
When she entered the room the men got up from their seats and bowed. She wave it off. She didn't have time for courtesies.
"Vaegon. Tell me of the Kings health." She started.
"His Grace recovered well after the tainted wine. I did not see any lingering effects. Of course I didn't have much time to observe before he ordered me away from his chambers." She nodded.
"Thank you, Vaegon. You may leave if you have any other engagements to attend." She said and Vaegon bowed again leaving the rooms after her dismissal.
"Lord Hand. Anything of notice since my departure?" She asked turning to Lord Strong.
"Nothing extreme Princess. There is some unrest amongst the small folk. The fact that the City is closed without any explanation seemed to have caused them to be fearful but nothing the City Watch could not manage."
"What about the council?"
"They are definitely not happy with your ultimatum. The King not making an appearance started rumors amongst them. Thinking that the King was in fact dead and that a succecion crisis has been raised."
"What succession crisis? Even if Viserys was in fact dead the succession is clear. The King's brother Prince Daemon is to take the crown."
"It seems that in his Grace's, Prince Daemon's, absence there has been talk of a possible change in the succession."
"Hmmm.... Who are they considering for the succession?"
"Princess Rhaenyra, naturally and yourself Princess."
"Myself?" She asked stunned. She expected Rhaenyra to be preferred by some but her nomination has been a complete surprise.
"Indeed, it seems that your work with the small folk and your help concerning the Ladies of noble Houses has gained you quite a bit of support."
"We will need to squash that in the bud. The king is not dead, there will be no change in succession, the war for the Stepstones has ended and the Hightowers have burned. Larys, after this meeting please spread the word." She said.
"Of course Princess." Larys responded. He was frighteningly good at finding and spreading rumors. Useful in any kinds of situations. Today's news being a good example.
"Good. Now tell me of the perpetrators. We know of the Hightowers involvement, that was quite clear, I, now, want to know about their helpers."
"They had quite a few, Princess. A notable one being the High Septon. He arranged for Lady Allicent to serve in Kingslanding as a septa, keeping her hidden inside the city until the proper moment. Another is the Grand Maester. He is one that informed the Hightowers of the comings and goings of the royal family. A kingsguard was involved as well. The rest were only paid nobodies that had no idea what they were dealing with."
She thought about it. It was a delicate place to be in. On one hand she couldn't leave them unpunished on the other hand this could start a war with the Faith and could win the displeasure of the Citadel. Worrisome outcomes either way. She didn't know what to do. They couldn't afford a war with the Faith. Too much unrest at the moment. All the changes she had done, the war in Stepstones, the burning of the Hightowers and the City closing, now this.
Her eyes unfocused for a minute a vision hitting her full force. When she came back saw the worrying glances the men in the room sent her. She shook her head getting rid of the images and continued her instructions
"Send men to detain everyone involved with the exception of the High Septon." She said.
"Your Grace, I would advise to punish all perpetrators." Said Lord Strong.
"And I will. We cannot start a war with the Faith, and that is exactly what will happen if we detain and subsequently kill the High Septon. That is why an accident will occur in the following weeks pertaining his holyness. Truly tragic, I am sure we will all be very sad." She responded.
Lord Strong seemed displeased by this course of action but understood. Larys giving her a silent nod assuring her that he will take care of it.
"Harwin. Please tell me why you disobeyed my orders about guarding the King."
I am sorry my Princess, but the King asked for an explanation regarding my presence in his rooms. I informed him about your orders. Then he send me to guard the Princess Rhaenyra. I could not disobey my King."
"Yes, I understand. We all are after all loyal subjects of his Grace the King." She said, the words leaving a sour taste in her mouth. Harwin looked at her curiously sensing something wrong. "And how is the Princess?" She asked and the man hesitated for a moment.
"The Princess is understandably upset about the news regarding her father's illness. She was aggravated by his rejection concerning her desire to visit him. Her inability to leave the Red Keep to visit her dragon Syrax making her irritable." She curled her lips in displeasure.
"So in other words the Princess threw a tantrum because she wasn't allowed to do what she wanted in a time of crisis." She said and none of the men said anything about her remark.
What a disaster. Why was she the one to always solve the problems of this fucking family? Why was she the one to get them out of the pile of shit and still get blamed for the problem in the first place.
"Sent the men to make the arrests and call the Small Council. Ser Harwin you are hereby relived of your duty to Princess Rhaenyra, you will continue to follow me as your duty as sworn shield. Larys you have your orders." She said dismissing the men.
Sometimes she really hated this family.