Chapter 10
The only reason Otto Hightower was still in King's Landing was because Alicent had pleaded on her hands and knees to the King. She had begged him not to send away her father, saying she had lost her daughter and grandchildren, and her sons would not speak to her, please do not take the last piece of her family from her!
So, The Hand stayed.
Or, the former Hand stayed at the Red Keep.
After the departure of Helaena and Lucerys, The Kind told Ser Harrold to find out everything that had been kept from him during the months of Lucerys' pregnancy. Otto had tried to say he would tell the King everything, but that conversation ended with Viserys ordering Ser Harrold to remove the Hand Pin from Hightower's shirt.
After hearing that her father had been demoted, the Queen clawed her way into the King's chambers, begging that Otto Hightower not be sent away. The King only agreed to stop her screams.
He penned a letter to Dragonstone, inviting Daemon to sit as his Hand, remembering the confrontation they had before he exiled Daemon after the death of Aemma and Baelon,
"You've only ever tried to send me away, to the Vale! To the City Watch! Anywhere but by your side! Ten years you've been King and not once have you asked me to be your Hand!" Daemon yelled, his voice echoing across the empty throne room.
Viserys shook his head as he listened to the admittance of ambition from his brother,
"Why would I do that?"
"Because I'm your brother," Was The Rogue Prince's answer, "And the blood of the dragon runs thick,"
"Then why do you cut me so deep?" Viserys asked,
"I've only ever spoken the truth. I see Otto Hightower for what he is,"
Viserys raised his brow, "An unwavering and loyal Hand-"
"A cunt! A second son who stands to inherit nothing he doesn't seize for himself,"
"Otto Hightower is a more honorable man than you could ever be,"
Daemon was quick to snap back, "He doesn't seek to protect you. I would!"
"From what?" His brother's answer came just as quickly, but ten times quieter, and felt louder than the roar of a dragon,
"Yourself," He stared at Daemon who continued, "You're weak, Viserys. That council of leeches knows it they all prey on you for their own ends,"
Viserys, having grown tired of this back-and-forth between himself and his brother leaned back on the throne while readjusting his grip on Blackfyre, readying for the inevitable fight Daemon would put up,
"I have decided to name a new heir,"
The confusion on his brother's face was almost laughable, "I'm your heir-"
"Not anymore! You are to return to Runestone, to your Lady Wife. And you will do so, without quarrel. By order of your King!"
Daemon took a step forward and the Kingsguard all moved, closing rank before the throne while grabbing their swords as Viserys adjusted the grip on his own.
He waited for his brother to pounce, to scream while drawing Dark Sister about this betrayal.
Instead, Daemon's eyes rose to meet Viserys' as he answered,
"Your Grace," He gave a slight bow, then turned and walked away.
Viserys watched him go, expecting his brother to turn and have the last word. But the doors were opening and he was not slowing his pace. The King rose slightly off of the throne and opened his mouth to call for Daemon, but the words stuck against his throat.
When Daemon could no longer be seen, Viserys fell back and lifted his hand to his head, pausing at the blood welling up in the cut he had just received from the throne
Viserys could now see how wrong he had been, for defending Otto Hightower, for not hearing Daemon's version of events.
For sending his brother away.
Viserys hoped, that this offer would be the first step in rebuilding the bridge between him and Daemon, and with hope, Rhaenyra. And that as the relationships were mended, Lucerys and Aemond would mend their bond as well so the pups, Aenyra and Aemma, would have their fathers united as they grow.
But it was too much to hope for.
He received an answer on the same day from Daemon, a simple one-worded response.
No.
The Queen was in her chambers, sitting at the table across from her father as her nails were picked red and bloody.
The absence of her dear daughter and grandchildren was felt.
She would never admit it in her present company, but she felt Lucerys' absence too. The Queen did not realize she had grown accustomed to the Omegan Prince until he was no longer in the Keep.
Helaena was always a quiet, but bright presence during these rare meals together, and when Lucerys had begun to join them, Alicent hated to admit it, but her daughter had smiled more. Had spoken more. The two young Omegas would have quiet conversations together and when her daughter recited one of her poems or riddles, Lucerys would listen with an attentive gaze, making a comment that none of them could hear as Helaena smiled at him. Again, the Queen had to admit something she hated: Her daughter seemed to smile more since Lucerys had begun living at the Keep.
Alicent shifted her eyes to her right where Aegon was sitting, staring at the wine pitcher in front of him but making to move to fill his dry cup as he pushed food around his plate.
To her left was Aemond, sitting away from the table so that his back was to her father and his missing eye was facing her. His fingers tapped lightly on the table, no doubt waiting for the right moment to excuse himself.
The silence was suffocating with the only sound being the scrapping of silverware against plates as her father stared at Aegon, then Aemond, and then at her. It took every ounce of willpower not to flinch under his gaze.
He set his utensils down and cleared his throat, eyeing both of her sons.
Aegon made eye contact with his grandfather and froze slightly under his gaze.
Aemond did not move.
Otto glowered and Alicent quickly reached for her son,
"Aemond-" The hand he had resting on the table was snatched away.
Alicent felt her expression shatter as she slowly put her hand in her lap as her father turned his heated gaze to her,
"This month is coming to an end, and the two of you will be going to Dragonstone," He waited as if expecting one of them to protest or voice their displeasure at leaving King's Landing, "I will begin making preparations on the morrow to for a vessel-"
Aegon snorted, cutting off Otto who looked at him with thinly veiled anger,
"Yeah. Rhaenyra's not going to let Aemond and I show up with a ship filled with people you chose," He muttered,
"Aegon, your grandfather just wants to ensure you and your brother's journey is safe-"
"And it will be safe. On Sunfyre and Vhagar," Alicent shook her head and was about to protest when Aemond spoke for the first time that evening,
"Rhaenyra and Daemon will be expecting us on dragon back. If we arrive by boat, Corlys Velaryon could cut us off from Dragonstone with his fleet," Otto scowled at his youngest grandson's back,
"Then they would be risking war against the crown-"
"And, since that would be too much trouble, Aemond and I should just go by dragon back," The glare was now pinned on Aegon who shrugged while staring at his empty cup.
Alicent looked to the ground as she picked her fingers under the table as blood welled up around the beds as Otto spoke through gritted teeth,
"The King, would not approve of the two of you going alone-"
"I thought The Hand was the only one privy to the King's thoughts. Or the Queen. But you were fired and she's here and not with him," Otto stood from his seat in anger and glared down at Aegon who grinned as Alicent quickly spoke up,
"It would not be my desire for the two of you to go alone," She looked between her sons, hoping to catch Aemond's gaze.
But her youngest stood without looking at her and stalked out of the room.
When the door slammed behind him, Aegon stood as well with a slight laugh while saying,
"Aemond does not seem to care for your desires anymore, mother,"
After Aegon left, Otto sat back down as Alicent put her head in her hands,
"The fate of the realm rests on those boys' shoulders, and at this point, it will collapse into ruin," He glowered at Alicent, "All because you could not keep from spreading discord because of your hatred of Rhaenyra's sons," The Queen looked sharply at her father and shot up from her seat,
"I did not start those rumors! I was not the one who began whispering about my granddaughters' legitimacy!" Otto stared at Alicent before shaking his head and heading toward the door,
"Perhaps you can ask your dear friend, the Master of Whispers where these rumors started. Seeing as the two of you are so close,"
Alicent flinched when the door slammed behind her father as she sank back into her chair.
Thwack.
Aenyra. The name of his eldest daughter.
Thwack.
Aemma. The name of his youngest daughter.
Thwack.
Aenyra. Like her father, had no dragon egg.
Thack!
Aemma. Like her sister, had no dragon egg.
Thwack! Thwack!
Aenyra. Named for his eldest sister, despite Aemond telling Lucerys he was not comfortable with that when it was suggested.
Thwack! Thwack!
Aemma. Named after his father's first wife, despite the possibility of the name being mentioned.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Aenyra. Instead of Nymeria.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Aemma. Instead of any name he and Lucerys had discussed.
Thwack!
No dragon eggs.
Thwack!
Different names.
Thwack!
His daughters and his Lucerys, gone!
Crack!
The training dummy Aemond had been pummeling with his sword collapsed next to the others the Prince had destroyed moments earlier,
"They are all dead, my Prince," He grits his teeth at the sound of Ser Criston entering the training grounds, "If you still wish to train, you know I will happily assist,"
Like the Queen, Cole did not receive an answer as Aemond turned away and stalked toward the archery range while pulling out the dagger he kept at his hip.
He assumed the appropriate stance, ignoring Cole as he stood behind him and threw the blade.
Swish.
Thunk!
Aenyra.
Aemond grabbed the dagger from where it had sunk into the target and walked back to where he had been standing and threw it a second time.
Swish.
Thunk!
Aemma.
His girls, his mate, gone.
Despite what the King thought about hope for him and Lucerys, Aemond knew there was none. Despite the traitorous voice in his head that whispered that there was! There was because Lucerys was his! The twins were his daughters and they all belonged together!
Prince Aemond, lost any right to name my daughters before they were even born!
That is what Lucerys said, and Aemond believed there was more than just their names that he had lost the right to,
"You cannot blame yourself for this," Cole said as Aemond went to retrieve the dagger again, "The bastard is the son of a whore. It is understandable that you would believe the rumors about his pups being bas-" The Kingsguard jolted back as a stinging pain raced across his face and through the top of his ear.
He blinked in shock as his blood began to run in rivets down his face and dripped in his ear.
Cole didn't register that he was shoved to the ground until he was staring up at Aemond's singular violet eye that burned with rage as he spat out,
"Do you remember the night I lost my eye? The decree my father made when he learned of the insults I threw at my then future-husband and his brother?" The dagger was back in his hand, blood dripping from the tip, "He declared that anyone who questions the legitimacy of my half-sister's children should have their tongue removed!"
The dagger was dangerously close to Cole's mouth as Aemond's arm pressed down on his throat, cutting off his air,
"And now I make the same! Anyone who so much as thinks that my daughters are bastards shall lose their tongues!" Cole's eyes were darting between the Prince and the dagger, but he sighed in relief as the blade was pulled back and Aemond stood up, "Make sure to tell everyone you see on the way to the Maesters,"
The Prince left the training grounds and Cole and stormed back into the Keep.
The door to the Queen's chambers opened, followed by the shuffling footsteps of Larys Strong,
"You requested my presence, Your Grace," The Master of Whispers called as Alicent turned from the window.
The Omegan Queen's eyes were bloodshot as her red fingers ran over the ragged mating mark on her shoulder, smearing small bits of blood over the silver scar left by the King,
"Shut the door," She said, not moving from her place as Larys did as she bid before sitting at his usual place on the sofa.
Alicent said nothing as Larys made himself comfortable before slowly walking over. She made sure there was still a good distance between them before saying,
"Years ago, you said when, the Queen makes a wish, what servant of the realm would not strive to fulfill it?" She met his dead eyes and hesitantly asked, "Did that, happen, again?"
The Master of Whispers rested his chin upon his cane, eyes still trained on Alicent,
"I assume you are referring to the rumors that surrounded your son's Omega? Of his children?" He waited until she nodded and hummed, but did not give an answer as his gaze lowered.
Until he was looking at her shoes that poked out just past the edge of her dress.
Alicent shuddered as nausea pooled in her stomach, but she walked to the sofa across from Larys and sat down. She reached down, Larys following her hand as it grabbed her shoes and slipped them off before placing her feet on the table between them, with her only her toes peaking over the edge,
"I will admit, they were started from a wish you made. One that stemmed from wanting the marriage of Prince Aemond and Prince Lucerys absolved," The Master of Whispers paused.
The Queen closed her eyes and shakily peeled her stockings down her legs,
"A few words given to two servants who are known to gossip near the right Kingsguard, who wants to ensure the safety of his Queen," She slowly slid her foot onto the table, "And as he discovers more people, nobles and servants alike, what can he do but his duty to the Queen and the Prince?"
Alicent's throat went dry.
Ser Criston had been the one to bring the rumors to her and Aemond's attention, but, despite his best intentions, Cole had just done what Larys had wanted.
Because she made the mistake of mentioning a desire in his presence.
There was a clearing of a throat and Alicent jolted back to the situation in front of her. She blinked harshly, trying to stop her tears of disgust while moving to bring her feet up to the couch when Larys stood,
"While I do thank you for indulging me, Your Grace, since this was not a wish fulfilled, but a failure, I do not believe this reward is necessary tonight," He smiled at Alicent and bid her good night as he hobbled out of her chambers.
When the door shut and she could no longer hear the shuffling of his walk, Alicent rang for a bath, needing to wash Larys' gaze off of her.