51. Don't grovel

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Better than Revenge // Otto Hightower out now...

Yes... you read that correctly. Otto.

+

''What are you going to do?'' Davina questioned innocently

''Take a page out of your playbook dear sister.'' Daemon said kissing her gently. "You will see the extents to which I will go to win back into your good graces." Daemon assured her. 

"I wait eagerly for that day, Daemon."

+

''Good morrow, Lady Rhea.''

''Cousin.'' Rhae answered stiffly from horseback.

''What's today's quarry?'' he pondered ''Rabbit?''

''Deer.'' She corrected

''Oh. Fine challenge. Care for some company?'' he offered

'I'd rather ride alone.'' Rhae told him as she rode off.

'Good fortune to you.' He called after her. Birds were squawking in the distance as Rhae rode farther away but suddenly her horse snorted and neighed coming to an abrupt halt

'Husband. What brings you to the Vale?'' Rhae said stiffly as she looked down at Daemon. ''Or have you at last come to consummate our marriage? The Vale's sheep might be willing, even if I'm not.'' Daemon approached her slowly. ''Our sheep are prettier, after all.'' She recalled word of him saying that and thought she might throw it back in his face. ''Or perhaps your brother has at last had his fill of your company. Cast you aside in favor of a little girl.'' Daemon still said nothing as he got closer, her horses shifted uneasy before him.

''What will you do now? Will you strike the child down? Or?'' Daemon lunged forward her horse bucked sending Rhae flying off getting crushed under his weight. Her horse whinnied as Rhea grunted, she winced, and whimpered as Daemon stepped down on her arm. Satisfied that she would die on her own he walked away.

'I knew you couldn't finish. Coward!" Rhae seethed back at him, Daemon turned back around. Fury in his eyes as he picked up a rock budging her.

+

The seas were ragged and rough as they sailed to driftmark. King Viserys groaned out as he vomited over the edge of the ship. The rain was falling hard as the thunder rumbled on.

"Oh brother dearest..." Davina said patting his back. "This is a sign."

"Davina, love please." Viserys groaned.

"This is below you, you are the king. Kings don't grovel!" Davina told him.

"Davina-'

"I'm trying to remind you that you are a dragon, dragons don't quiver and beg." Davina told him.
"I'm not quivering or begging." Viserys said as Davina helped him sit back down.

"You vomiting over the edge of the ship says otherwise." Davina murmured.

"Davina I don't feel well." Viserys told her.

"I know, which is why you should have summon the bitch to kings landing."

"Davina she is our cousin." Viserys reminded her.

"Bitch cousin that wants your crown and is going to get it." Davina corrected.

+

''A moment. I do not wish to see you go.'' Alicent said running up to her father.

''Such is the King's decision.'' Otto reminded her solemnly.

''A decision I most bitterly regret.'

''And yet, you made it possible. You chose Rhaenyra.'' Otto reminded her.

''She swore her innocence, and I believed her.'' Alicent retorted

''You wanted to believe her, as did her father'.

''Your informant was wrong. An honest mistake, perhaps, but I did not foresee this!'' Alicent countered

''You should have.'' Otto warned

'If you had not been so relentless in advancing Aegon as heir!' Thunder rumbled as the rain poured down around them.

'Listen to me, daughter. The King will die. It may be months or years, but he'll not live to be an old man. And if Rhaenyra succeeds him, war will follow, do you understand? The realm will not accept her. And to secure her claim, she'll have to put your children to the sword. She'll have no choice. Her aunt will come for you as well, we all know davina's temper you will fall, you and your children if Rhaenyra and Davina see power.'' Otto warned her and Alicent started to whimper 'You know it. You're no fool, and yet you choose not to see it. The time is coming, Alicent. Either you prepare Aegon to rule, or you cleave to Rhaenyra and pray for her mercy.'' Otto hugged her goodbye before he headed off.

+

'' Where is Lord Corlys? He should be here to receive the King.'' Lyonel demanded. Davina offered Viserys her hand but Viserys wanted to show he was strong but she saw him wavering.

''Welcome to High Tide, Your Grace.'' Laena remarked as she came down the steps to greet them.

''What is the meaning of this, Lady Laena?"" Lyonel shouted through the rain but Viserys was too tired and too weak to deal with such nonsense today. ''Is this how House Velaryon greets its King?''

''My father has but just returned from his long journey and he has hastened to the Hall of Nine to await Your Grace's arrival.''

''Let's just get on with it.'' Viserys said marching past but he griped tight to Davina's hand using her for support as he moved.

+

''An outsider... among the natives.'' Larys strong said as Alicent approached him in the gardens at the capital

''Lord Larys.'' Alicent remarked.

''Malvales. A rare bloom. Indigenous to Braavos. By all rights, it shouldn't be thriving here. Nature... such mystery.'' Larys remarked he gripped to his cane as he looked over at her.

''The weather has been lovely.'' Alicent remarked softly.

''Indeed.'' Larys agreed ''And yet it is a dark day for the realm. Your father was a good man.''

''As is yours who took his place.'' Alicent informed him.

''Yet still, the manner of your father's departure... it feels something of an injustice.'' Larys remarked and Alicent stiffened as the thunder raged on around them.

'What do you know of the matter of his leaving?" Alicent questioned stepping forward.

''When one is never invited to speak, one learns instead to, um... observe. You're perhaps in need of an ally?' Larys suggested cautiously.

''I'm the Queen. I have no shortage of allies.''

''Naturally. Princess Rhaenyra, and the Princess Davina for example.'' Larys agreed sarcastically.

''State your purpose, my lord.'' Alicent demanded.

''Uh... I did wonder if she could be relied upon now that she is... unwell.''

''Unwell? I haven't heard anything.'' Alicent countered

''Begging your pardon, Your Grace, I may be mistaken. It's just that on the very same night your father was dismissed, the Grand Maester delivered a tea to the Princess's chambers.'' Larys informed her.

''A tea?''

'Yes.'' Larys agreed

''That the Grand Maester himself brought?'' Alicent questioned confused.

''At the direction of the King, as I understand it. I do hope she's not unwell.'' Larys said kindly.

''Rhaenyra sailed with the King to Driftmark yesterday at daybreak.'' Alicent but her brain began to spiral.

''Oh, what good news. I must've been in error. Oh, a relief.'' Larys told her taking unsteady steps towards her. ''See, I thought for Mellos himself, well... her condition must be something very serious. What happiness it is to have been wrong.''

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