Red Keep ― Maegor's Holdfast…
Viserys spent his morning in his private chambers, contemplating. Reflecting on past events and toward the future. It has been more than a week since the royal party's return to King's Landing from Driftmark. Although successful in negotiating terms of marriage between Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor Velaryon, the king's burdens only increased with an anonymous message entailing his daughter's further escapades. Viserys couldn't believe that was not just Daemon that Rhaenyra had a dalliance with, but with other men too. The message wouldn't say who, although the sigil on the bottom left corner of the page depicted an albino serpent.
"The vulture perched upon your throne gave you a partial truth, but there was more than what he led on. But what loyal servant deliberately spies on your own family and shames them under the guise of duty without reproach?"
« As your Hand, I must maintain trusted sources of information. »
Viserys shook his head when he re-read the message repeatedly. There was no way this message could implicate his Hand, Ser Otto, of wrongdoing. He asked Beatrice about it, but the queen denied it. He asked Aeonar, yet he was in the middle of an investigation of his own. Viserys knew well enough to know this signature did not belong to either of them, but the lingering memories of Rhaenyra's escapades were still fresh in his mind. Why the secrecy? Why tell him of the events that transpired between his brother and his daughter, and not tell him who told him this in the first place? The king tolerated the rivalry between Otto and Daemon for years, but to tell him about the incestuous affair and knowing that it was more than one person Rhaenyra was associated with? This was all too much. It went beyond a personal vendetta; all too self-serving. When he heard the doors open behind him, Viserys knew that it was Otto. He didn't even need to turn around to know it was him.
"Your Grace. You summoned me?" Otto asked.
"Five days," Viserys stated plainly.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace?"
"Though it was some time ago. The details… they fade in memory, some more than others. But I still remember it as clearly as if it happened yesterday. I remember. On the shores of Blackwater Bay, my father, Prince Baelon, died in front of all of us. My son… he was only six when he saw him die. He couldn't understand the concept of death; he was too young. Only a year after that… fateful tragedy did he now know that 'grandpa' was never coming back. I remembered him crying in his room for seven days and seven nights. He wouldn't eat. He couldn't sleep. Neither of us saw it coming."
Otto vaguely remembered his predecessor quite well. Prince Baelon Targaryen was smaller compared to his older brother, Prince Aemon, but louder, lustier, and bolder. Known as 'the Spring Prince' after the season of his birth, he eventually came to be remembered as 'Baelon the Brave' for hitting Balerion the Black Dread on the snout. He was a brave man, a good father, and an attentive grandfather to Aeonar and Rhaenyra, always taking them for a ride atop Vhagar. When Baelon was appointed Hand of the King to his father, King Jaehaerys arranged a celebratory hunt in the kingswood in his honor. Before that, he complained of a stitch in his side. On the fifth day, however, Baelon took Aeonar on one final trip flying through the skies with Vhagar before collapsing on the shores of Blackwater Bay clutching his side in agony. By the time help arrived, they were already too late. After the funeral, Jaehaerys named Otto as his son's successor. It was when he and his family met Viserys, Aemma, and their two children for the first time.
"My father was a strong, healthy warrior and dragonrider in his prime. The peak of his abilities," Viserys continued. "Grandfather named a great royal hunt to celebrate him being named the Hand of the King. Five days later my… my father lay dead. Tourneys last longer. Baelon the Brave, the Spring Prince, rider of Vhagar, heir to the Iron Throne… dead of a burst belly. Huh! The gods have a dark wit."
"I remember. It was a grim day. I recall it all too well," Otto concurred.
"Yeah… a terrible day for us, but a good one for you – wasn't it? Jaehaerys named you Hand in Baelon's stead."
"That's hardly how I viewed it, Your Grace. It was a duty. A solemn pledge to a king I could not refuse."
"You served my grandfather dutifully, faithfully, and nobly until his final days. You are the man who taught me how to be a king."
"Oh, you honor me, Your Grace."
Viserys sighed. "Just five days… you went from being another man in King Jaehaerys the Wise's court, to the second most powerful man in the realm. I wonder… how long did it take you to choose yourself over your king? How I demanded you swear an oath to not breathe a word of the allegations you informed me of surrounding my daughter weeks ago until they suddenly began to spread like wildfire," he questioned.
Otto stood puzzled. This was not like Viserys at all, not in the fifteen years he's known him. He couldn't help but suspect something was up. "Your… Your Grace?" he asked confused.
« The seeds of corruption have been supplanted in this castle and were left to spread for a time. Not from outside, but from within. »
The words of his son-in-law and heir to the Iron Throne soon resonated in Otto's mind. Now it made sense. Otto knew that Viserys was being manipulated – subtly, but manipulated, nonetheless, by a third party. "This is an absurdity, Your Grace. I've known you for fifteen years," he stated. "Your son, my daughter… they love each other, as I know you understand. All the work we have done was solely for the benefit of the crown. To uphold and honor King Jaehaerys's legacy."
"Yes, Otto. I know. I will never recover from Aemma's death. Your daughter made my heir the happiest he's ever been in a long time since his mother passed, they blessed us with three wonderful little grandchildren... I do not doubt that your intentions were good and that you meant well, but I'm afraid your interests no longer align with those of my house or that of the realm. Your judgment has been compromised because of that."
« I highly recommend you instead look more inward. Father is too amiable, open-handed, and eager to please. He'll never see it coming until it blows up in his face. »
"A loyal Hand must tell his king a discomforting truth from time to time, Your Grace, even if it is something he does not wish to hear. If he doesn't… he's failed as a servant."
"You were a good servant, Otto," Viserys nodded. He will not deny his words. Nevertheless, he felt that the allegations were now being made known and the White Worm's message informing him that his family was being spied upon was something he had to personally deal with. Reaching over, he gently removed the Hand's badge of office from Otto's tunic. "The crown and the realm both owe you a debt that can never be repaid. But I can no longer trust your judgment."
Otto, now dismissed from his role as Hand of the King, could not help but graciously bow before Viserys and turned to leave. He had to gather his household guard for the long journey back to Oldtown from the roseroad along with his three sons but had to leave Alicent behind. She was the princess consort and could not go with him, unlike her brothers as she was still a direct line of contact with Viserys. As he turned the corner, a few servants hurriedly rushed away from him. Otto will just now have to jump through more loops to get what he wants.
« I trust you'll make the right choice. »
The silent, stern, highly intellectual knight of House Hightower could now affirm that there was political subterfuge being carried out… and he was among one of many victims targeted in this treacherous ploy. But Otto won't be silent for long. No, he had to rally support from the other houses with as much influence as he could muster. Thunder rumbled in the background as the rain slowly began to pour into the castle courtyard.
Red Keep ― Outer courtyard…
"Father!" Alicent cried out in a panic. "Father? Father!" Searching through the halls, she searched for Otto. Word soon spread that King Viserys had stripped his Hand of the office and was sending him away. When she stepped outside, Alicent spotted her father and what remained of his household guards readying to depart. She rushed towards him, accompanied by a servant holding a large umbrella to shelter her from the rain. "Father, wait! Wait!" she called out again. "I do not wish to see you go!"
Otto looked at his daughter. He could tell she was emotionally distressed that he was leaving. "Such is the king's decision," he replied coolly.
"But why? There must be something going on. You were a loyal Hand. Fifteen years of faithful, loyal service! And… and you're being sent away? Why? Please, father…"
"It seems that there are indeed enemies who plot our downfall from within. The rumors about Rhaenyra were only the spark that started the fire."
"But… but she swore her innocence, and I believed her. What would she benefit from lying?"
"You wanted to believe her, as did her father. You both did but we know that is not the case," Otto gravely chides her. "Listen to me, daughter. The king will die. It may be months or years, but Viserys will not live to be an old man. We've known there is a power struggle taking place in the shadows between the queen and Aeonar. It's only a matter of time before tensions reach their peak and when it happens, war will follow, do you understand? You know it. You're no fool, and yet you choose not to see it. Well, you should have seen it. You will see it. The time is coming, Alicent. Either you prepare Jaehaerys for the inevitable or watch as Beatrice puts your children to the sword to secure Aegon's claim."
Alicent was crying. "Fa… Father," she wept. Her world was gradually falling apart. First, her mother passed away from an illness, and now her father was being sent away with her brothers. She felt so isolated, so lonely, and soon without any proximity to familial support.
Unable to express in words that he loves her and wants to protect her, Otto gives Alicent a desperate final embrace before riding out of the castle. Alicent remained crying in the courtyard as her father soon disappeared. She raised her hand to her mouth, biting and chewing on her fingernails. She was so focused on her father – who was no longer in sight – that she did not hear the footsteps behind her.
"Alicent."
Alicent turned to see Aeonar closing in. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy. The Young Dragon noticed the tip of her fingers were being torn again – a clear sign of anxiety and emotional distress.
"Come. We're going back inside. Now, Alicent. Come on."
Draping his cloak over hers, Aeonar could care less about how drenched he was. But to retrieve Alicent back inside the Red Keep. He already heard what had transpired and needed a private word for her, even if it was something she didn't want to hear.
Red Keep ― Maegor's Holdfast...
Aeonar stood in front of the fireplace, the flames burning hot as the wood crackled under the intense heat. Beside him, Alicent was wrapped in a warm blanket to keep her warm after catching her standing outside in the freezing rain. "I heard what happened," he said.
Alicent sniffled. She continued staring into the fire; she was tempted to pick at her fingernails again, but her husband was watching her closely. "Why?" she asked, her throat hoarse. "Why did he do it?"
"It's just as Otto said. A ploy from the shadows. Those who seek to bring about our ruin see only the greatest threat to their plans as obstacles they need to get rid of. Divide and conqueror. The House of the Dragon is at its strongest when we come together as one, but weak when we stand divided. Aegon the Conqueror changed the rules when he invaded Westeros. No one wants to remain at the bottom forever. Or be stuck as a second. This game… political intrigue, the same double dealings, and solidifying your power base and eliminating potential rivals to secure your status." Aeonar turned to his wife. "When you play the game of thrones, Alicent, you either play to win… or you die. Your father knew this. It's how he lasted this long as Hand." He turned to the fire. "Still, I admired Otto for playing the game. He played it well. But all it takes is for one slipup to lose it all."
"Game… is this what all this is? A game to be played?"
"No one wants to play it, but we find ourselves involved whether we know it or not. In this world, you're either a willing participant or a sacrificial pawn… but watching from the sidelines is not an option. I know this may sound harsh, Alicent, but you must stop being a bystander. Stop running. There's no justice in the world, not unless we make it." Fiddling with the Hand's pin in his hand, Aeonar's eyes seemed to emanate a pale lilac hue from the embers.
Alicent looked at the badge of office that had only a few hours ago been pinned to Otto's tunic. One of her earliest memories was of him polishing the badge until it shined in even the dimmest of lights. It felt odd seeing it anywhere else but him. "Well…" her throat still ached. "What does the spymaster see when he watches all of this?"
Aeonar listened closely. He looked at Alicent who returned his gaze. Her brown eyes pleaded for an answer, another for closure, but the other… "Despite our past disagreements, I believe your father is innocent. I believe there is more going on than anyone cares to admit. And I believe that no one else gives a shit nor will they do anything about it," he replied. "They'd rather close their eyes and bury their heads in the sand rather than see the cold, hard truth. Beatrice and her ilk are up to something." He clenched the Hand's pin in his hand. "Now that my investigation is complete, I've compiled all the evidence I need to bring this mummer's farce to a close."
"Then…"
"Yes, Alicent. Listen…"
Aeonar leaned close and brushed a strand of hair away from Alicent before whispering silently into her ear. Alicent listened intently. Every word, every detail, all of it was processed until it finally clicked. Her mouth went wide with shock, utterly stunned to learn of this. "She… Then she…"
« This… is a vile accusation! Alicent, sister… You must know I would, I would never! You cannot believe such gossip. He could not have witnessed such a thing. Because it did not happen! […] But I swear, upon the memory of my dead mother, Daemon never touched me! »
"Yes. As painful as it is for me to say it… Rhaenyra… lied to us both," Aeonar confirmed. "Indeed, she didn't fuck Daemon, but she wasn't a virgin either."
Holding back tears, Alicent realized that Rhaenyra used a lie of exact words to swear on her dead mother's memory that she never had sex with Daemon, but she still wasn't a virgin. While some of the details were inaccurate, Otto was fundamentally correct to suspect Rhaenyra of losing her virginity and jeopardizing the upcoming marriage alliance, thus she indirectly cost Alicent's father his high-ranking position at court. "When did you find out?" she asked quietly.
"On the way back from Driftmark. I needed to double-check my findings to be certain and the results came back the same."
"Does… anyone else know?"
"You're the first one I've told, though I'm certain Beatrice is also aware of this."
"If Rhaenyra didn't have sex with Daemon… then who did she lose her virginity to?"
Aeonar felt the bitterness rising. His eyes burned with disgust. "Ser Criston Cole, a knight of the Kingsguard," he revealed. Criston, you are backstabbing little…! I trusted you; I called you a friend, and you both made a fool out of me! You and Rhaenyra! For the last time… "Still uncertain? Here. Take a look for yourself," he handed the compiled documents over.
Alicent took the papers and skimmed each page, her eyes tracing over each report one by one, from what Rhaenyra told them to the conclusion upon their return from Driftmark. Each one was heavily detailed, and connections were traced, but the evidence was all there plain as day in black and white as clear as crystal. Why? Rhaenyra, why? How could you… "I need to speak to her. Get her to admit what she did," she said plainly.
"I think we both need to do so," Aeonar concluded.
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Rhaenyra sat at the edge of her bed, glancing at her feet. Her room was uncomfortably quiet since her return from Driftmark. Seven hells, this was not how she wanted things to go. Criston rejected her proposal to be an active participant in her open marriage which would further violate his vows, Beatrice finds out about the affair, and now Aeonar has too. She heard the doors open, revealing Alicent and Aeonar had entered to confront her. Rhaenyra noticed the look on their faces. She knew it was time to face the music.
"Why?" Alicent spoke first, hurt at first but had a hint of betrayal. "Why did you lie to me?"
"I never meant to lie to you," Rhaenyra admitted. "But when I did, I knew I couldn't take it back." She looked up at them. "I was afraid you'd think less of me if you knew everything about what happened that day during the Summer Festival. It was supposed to be fun, but I guess it didn't matter regardless."
"You wanted me to think it was all relatively harmless? That it meant nothing? You swore to me that you were still a maiden, Rhaenyra. You swore on Queen Aemma's memory… You promised me!"
Aeonar towered over his sister. "When you came to me asking for my help, I thought it was understood what would happen if it turned out you've been lying," he said sternly. "Turns out you knew more than what you initially told us. So, we'd like to discuss your blatant abuse of our hospitality."
"I didn't lie about the brothel bit. Daemon ran off before things could escalate―"
"Yet you settled for Ser Criston Cole as a backup instead."
Rhaenyra froze. It was over. She was caught.
"You're wondering how I know? Well…" Aeonar reached into his pocket and revealed the map of Rhaenyra's room, including the diagram detailing the hidden passageway behind one of her painted panels. "You look surprised. Did you think I wouldn't find out? That Criston's little 'outburst' on the ride back home made me realize something. So, I dug a little deeper and Seven hells did my people find something quite incriminating. While the investigation did clear you of any wrongdoing with our uncle, the evidence about your innocence suggests otherwise." He leaned close. "What's more… you still lied to us, Rhaenyra. You lied about still being a virgin, but it seems that's no longer the case."
Rhaenyra visibly paled and her eyes widened slightly at the menacing aura coming from Aeonar. The princess seemed at a loss for words. "I… it was…" she stammered.
"I told you, didn't I? My agents have been watching you from start to finish ever since the allegations started spreading all over the place. After your little 'fun' in a whore house, before the Summer Festival, you were seen returning to the Red Keep through the secret passage you used to sneak out in the first place. Afterward, you were seen bringing in a certain someone into your bedchamber. And there was only one person who stood outside your door that night... Ser Criston Cole, a knight of the Kingsguard was assigned to guard your room by Lord Commander Harrold, but for some reason, he wasn't at his post and wasn't seen until the first crack of dawn. When you came to me for help, Alicent believed your protestations wholeheartedly. She believed you were innocent of the accusations you were accused of. However, as you were telling me your side of the story, I noticed something was different about you. You walked a little funny, you smelt differently, you couldn't look me in the eye, and your testimony… I had hoped – for the sake of our dead mother – that it was nothing, that it was mere paranoia, but it was all a lie. I am so pissed at you, Rhaenyra, I can't think straight!"
"You'd broken my trust to vindicate yourself. To make it better?" Alicent shook her head, trying not to cry again. She was so visibly hurt that her childhood best friend/sister-in-law would lie to her face like that. "We've been friends for fifteen years – FIFTEEN years, Rhaeynyra! – and you'd put it all in jeopardy for a lie? By the Mother, you're like a sister to me, our sons adore you! I-I never thought of you as someone who'd do such a thing. Just… Why?"
Rhaenyra shook her head. "Because I was aroused! Everything I saw on the streets, on the Street of Silk, the brothel… so many people were having sex that night I-I wanted to know what it was like," she confessed. "Daemon told me that fucking is a pleasure. For the woman as it is the man. I-It hurt at first, but gradually it felt so good I couldn't stop. I wanted more. I wanted to know how you two felt whenever you both had sex, Alicent, I thought you'd pass out from all the times I saw Aeonar fucking you that ni―" She quickly covered her mouth, but it was too late.
Alicent, frozen in absolute shock, was stunned by what she had just heard. "Y-You DID WHAT?!" she nearly screamed.
"What did you just say?" Aeonar's eyes narrowed, his face mixed with outrage and disgust.
"Y-You… You spied on us…?! Rha… Rhaenyra… H-How could you?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
"I-I-I… I didn't mean…"
Alicent's eyes were widening, her pupils dilated, and she felt a shortness of breath, a rapid pounding heartbeat rise, and inevitable chest pain. Gasping, she covered her mouth with both hands. Her body shook and she looked like she was about to faint.
Not good. She's having an anxiety attack! Aeonar recognized immediately.
"A-Alicent, I'm sorry! Please, I'm sorry! I didn't mean―" Rhaenyra tried to reach out to her.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Alicent wailed in despair, quickly turning on her heels, and ran away. Never had she ever felt so disrespected, so violated by the one person in the Red Keep she trusted like that.
Aeonar tried to grasp his wife's arm, but Alicent was too quick. She was no doubt heading to their guest room. The handmaidens most likely heard her screams and ran in pursuit. This was the last straw. The nerves in his head twitched and tugged so hard. Turning his head around, Aeonar glared daggers at his sister. His eyes were filled with white-hot rage. "Now do you see what you've done. What your actions have caused?" he hissed.
"Aeonar, I―"
"You… are a princess of House Targaryen, the most powerful dynasty in the world. The blood of Old Valyria runs through our veins, yet you've soiled our house and name BY SPREADING YOUR LEGS LIKE A COMMON WHORE AND ACT LIKE YOU'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG?! THAT YOU ARE ABOVE REPROACH?! ALICENT BELIEVED YOU, RHAENYRA! SHE TRUSTED YOU! SHE DEFENDED YOU! AND YOU LIED TO HER! YOU MADE HER CRY! It seems that corruption has been allowed to fester. It needs to be purged. As long as I'm still around, you'd best learn to sleep with both eyes open because I will not permit such foolishness to run rampant anymore. I've put up with a lot of bullshit because of you, but this is the last time. Never again!"
"I never intended for any of it to get this far!―"
"Your intentions ceased to matter when you disgraced our house and hurt Alicent the way you did. I am rescinding the protections bestowed upon you. From now on, whenever you make a mistake, you have to clean it up… by yourself! Without any assistance from anyone. Maybe this will finally teach you to take some responsibility for once in your life."
Aeonar left before Rhaenyra could respond to his ultimatums. A major blow had been struck, but the Young Dragon would not stand idle. No, he would retaliate. After all, he had eyes and ears everywhere throughout the Seven Kingdoms. And he had more than plenty of support in his power base to go on the offensive. For he knew who benefited from all the scandals.
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Aeonar held Alicent as she kept her face buried in his neck as they lay on the bed. Her breathing returned to normal levels, but the revelations still lingered. His left hand brushed her hair, his right hand stroking her back, he worked to soothe his wife's distress. Before returning, Aeonar noticed a letter placed in an obscure corner of the desk waiting for him. A logo displaying the purple cobra, the Lykirī Mēre once again.
"The song has been sung. Your allies gather. They await your command."
Allun Caswell, Lord Merryweather, Lady Fell, Harwin Strong, Bartimos Celtigar, Gurnar Bar Emmon, Cargos Sunglass, Gormon Massey, Simon Staunton… more of his supporters were flocking to the capital. His ranks were growing in numbers. It was time for Aeonar to act. With Otto gone, he needed to act first before Beatrice could. His eyes glanced at the window to see a Lykirī Mēre acolyte. Giving a brief nod, the order was silently given. Acknowledging the order, the acolyte dropped to the ground below discretely.
"How could she…?" Alicent bemoaned.
"What Rhaenyra did was unforgivable," Aeonar agreed. "But who do you think truly benefits? Who do you think gains the most with getting your father dismissed from court?"
For a while, Alicent remained silent.
« We've known there is a power struggle taking place in the shadows between the queen and Aeonar. »
"Queen Beatrice…" Alicent finally answered.
"Yes," Aeonar said. "She's torn our families apart, all for the sake of pursuing power. It's her nature. How people like her are left unchecked to cause so much trouble."
"No. No, she won't…" Alicent soon raised her head. Her eyes, still red and puffy, had a hardened look about them. Now realizing who their true enemy is, she was done playing nice. She knew Beatrice was involved in her father getting stripped as Hand. "I'll… I'll send a raven to Oldtown. Tell my uncle Lord Hobert everything that's happened. We have more support than the queen realizes." She again buries her face in her husband's neck, sniffling one more time before she strengthens her new resolve.
"I am yours, and you are mine. From this day…"
"…until the end of our days. Whatever may come."