Gold Rush // Harwin Strong

5. Bad Side

"No, please, Lord Lyonel. I have come looking for an unencumbered opinion." Viserys remarked leaning over the table with urgency.

"That's all I would ever give, Your Grace." Lyonel assured.

"Ever since my name was read by the arch maesters at the Great Council, I have felt Corlys Velaryon's envious gaze staring at me from across the Blackwater."

"You sit upon the highest seat in the realm, Your Grace. Proud men don't like having to look up."Lyonel remarked.

"Laena Velaryon."

"Lord Corlys is your Master of Ships and she is the eldest daughter of the wealthiest house in the realm. She comes from unimpeachable Velaryon stock and she has Targaryen blood." Lyonel told him. "What's to mislike?"

"She is 12."

"She will mature. " Lyonel offered

"I never asked to remarry."

" As King, you have a claim on all things. Even those you don't want. Marriage is not an obligation you can put off for long."

"What if I was to reject Lord Corlys's proposal?" Viserys suggested

"He would not be like to take it well. I fear nothing short of a direct line to the Iron Throne would satisfy him. You should also consider that we find ourselves on the precipice of war in the Stepstones. And the Sea Snake holds claim to nearly half the realm's ships." Lyonel told him.

"He would not dare withhold them in the face of the realm's need. Who is he to hector me?" Viserys countered

"No one, Your Grace. But Driftmark makes for a better ally than it does an enemy. The Sea Snake has made a calculated reach, a fair play for a man of his position. If you truly want my unencumbered opinion..." Lyonel questioned.

"I do."

"You should wed Laena Velaryon, Your Grace. Sate Lord Corlys and fix him at your side, permanently, as an ally." Lyonel told him honestly.

"What of Aelsa Lannister? That is good bond, the Lannister's are well in power and knowledge, they have wealth and ports, controlling areas west to east along westeros." Viserys offered.

"Yes the lannisters are a wise match but.. perhaps not for a king." Lyonel offered.

"Why not?''

"I just think that Corlys will take offense and that relationship with be strained." Lyonel offered. "I'm sure that Aelsa Lannister is a fine girl-'

'Woman." Viserys corrected. 'she is nine and ten... not a child."

"It is your choice but you must think of the good of the realm."

"The lannister's are a strong house a good match, a fine woman." Viserys reasoned.

"Seems as though you already made up your mind." Lyonel offered.

"No." Viserys admitted. "I enjoy Aelsa's company but Corlys and his vague threats loom over me."

"But it is your life, your marriage." Lyonel agreed as the door swung open.

"Your Grace," Ser Steffon announced. 'the Princess has returned from Dragonstone.'

'Dragonstone?' Viserys questioned.

+

"Your Grace."

"You disobeyed me. You fled King's Landing without a word and you acted without The Crown's leave. You are my only heir. You could've been killed." Viserys shouted at his daughter.

"May I sit?" Rhaenyra said bored as she walked past him to take a seat.

"You went to Dragonstone." Viserys shouted.

"And retrieved the egg without bloodshed." Rhaenyra told him calmly. "A feat I'm not sure Ser Otto could've accomplished alone." She added

"Yes, well..." Viserys chuckled. 'I sometimes forget how alike you both were.' He said with a sigh. 'Your mother's absence is a wound that will never heal. Without her... the Red Keep has lost a warmth that I dare say it will never recover."

"It pleases me to hear you say this." Rhaenyra told him "To know that I'm not alone in my grief."

"I wish I had known better what to say to you in the aftermath. I struggled to realize that my daughter had so quickly become a woman grown. But I know... she understands what is now expected of me." Viserys told her

"The King must take a new wife."

"I could never replace your mother. No more than I intend to replace you as heir. But you are my only heir and our line is vulnerable, too easily ended. And by marrying again, I may begin to ensure that we are better defended." Viserys told her.

"Against whom?"

"Whomever may dare to challenge us. I do not wish to make us estranged."'

"You are the King... and so, your first duty is to the realm. Mother would've understood this. Just as I do." Rhaenyra assured him.

+
"Well?"

"You have to stop sneaking into my rooms its not right, what will people think of the lannister's good name?" Aelsa pondered.

"our cousins have been married plenty of times." Tyland corrected.

"I don't want those thoughts in peoples minds about me though. Blondes are not my type." Aelsa corrected.

"Well silver better be." Tyland told her.

"It can be, for the moment." Aelsa assured.

"I think he will pick his next queen soon." Tyland remarked.

"Oh?"

"The council is pushing for a union, do you think you made a good enough impression?"

"I always make an impression." Aelsa corrected smugly.

"I saw you talking with the guards-'

'I cant talk to other men now? since when is talking to men a crime?" Aelsa spat.

"It's not but people-'

'Let their tongues wag, I haven't done anything. I just asked about a knight," Aelsa said innocently.

"What knight?" Tyland mused.

"His name is Ser Harwin Strong. Gods even his name is gorgeous!" Aelsa declared. "They call him Break bones, the strongest man in the whole of westeros."

"Stop, wipe that smile off your face." Tyland demanded.

"What?"

"You cant fuck a member of the kings guard!"

"I didn't even talk to him yet." Aelsa countered.

"You are going to be queen-'

'He didn't pick me yet." Aelsa reminded him.

"He will and when he does your cunt belongs to him. To the king." Tyland reminded her.

"I know... that is what everyone shall believe." Aelsa assured. "I'm not wasting my youth on his dick alone." She informed her cousin. "If I want to fuck the handsome knight, I shall. And you will say nothing to anything because if my reputation is tainted then so is yours." Aelsa reminded and Tyland groaned.

"Don't mess this up Aelsa, getting a Lannister on the throne is a big fucking deal."

"You think I don't know that? I do. I want to be queen. I will be the queen." Aelsa hissed. "But I wont have a crown on my head and no power over myself and my body."

"Aelsa please-'

'Men can fuck whatever they want and not bear the consequences they have teas-'

'you cant be seen asking for teas Aelsa!" Tyland hissed.

"I know how to make them," Aelsa told him. "Please this is not my first bit of fun." Aelsa informed him smugly.

"You have to have an heir, a Targaryen heir!" Tyland reminded her.

"I will." Aelsa assured. "You doubt me, cousin? Don't." Aelsa warned. "I will be queen and you will bow down before me, don't get on my bad side before then."