Little fires everywhere but no Aegon in sight. Erryk and Arryk looked around before hearing soft whimpers.
''"Listen.'' Coughing... groaning... the brothers shared a victorious grin before moving a panel from under the alter and pulling Prince Aegon out.
"No... No! No! Agh!" They hauled him to his feet and he groaned and shouted in protest.
''Where is the White Worm?'' Aegon demanded drunkenly.
'' She sold you for a price." Erryk informed him
''And why have you paid it?" Aegon questioned looking between them as they each held an arm captive in their grip. "I want my mother." Aegon demanded.
''Your grandfather, the Hand, will meet you outside the city walls.'' Erryk corrected. Aegon grunted pushing them away as he ran but on drunken feet he didn't get far.
"You flee what other men die seeking, Aegon." Arryk said pushing him down. Belling tolling in the distance as they made it to the light, Aemond and Criston saw Aegon being brought out.
"Found him." Jaeton declared. "That wasnt soo hard... who are they again?" Criston stepped forward.
"Stay put Jaeton." Criston instructed.
"Damnit, I wanted in on the action." Jaeton countered.
"Day's still young." Aemond mused.
''I do regret this, friend.'' Criston said pointing his sword at Erryk. Aegon threw an elbow back and made a run for it. Criston attacked Erryk as Jaeton tackled Aegon.
"Told you." Aemond remarked watching Aegon struggle under Jaeton.
''No! Stop! No.'' Aegon shouted. Jaeton got him on his back and Aegon started giggling.
" I was hoping you disappeared." Aemond seethed coming up to them.
'' Is our father truly dead?'' Aegon asked his smile falling.
''Yes... and they're going to make you king.'' Aemond hissed and Aegon spit up at Jaeton and Jaeton faltered back wiping at his eyes, Aegon jumped up and ran again.
Jaeton grumbled lunging at Aegon and catching him easily.
"No!" Aegon screamed out struggling in Jaeton's strong grasp.
"Are you going to help me?!" Erryk asked looking up to his brother staring down at them from a safe distance. Aemond pulled Aegon back forcing him into submission. Jaeton was strong, but Aegon was bigger and elder. Aemond could see Jaeton needed some assistance with such a squirmy Aegon.
"No! Let me go!" Aegon contined to trash in Aemond's grip.
"Where's your brother, huh?" Criston mused his eyes darting around as his blade stayed focused on Erryk.
"Let me go! Brother! Ahh! Let me go! I have no wish to rule! No taste for duty!" Aegon pleaded. "I'm not suited."
"You'll get no argument from me." Aemond said dully.
"You let me go, I will find a ship and sail away, never to be found." Aegon continued to plead.
"It's a good idea." Jaeton offered. Aemond shook his head shoving Aegon forward.
"The Queen awaits." Aemond hissed.
+
"Well played." Otto remarked as Alicent approached.
"None of this is a game." Alicent seethed.
''And yet you treat it as one." Otto countered. "A charming contest, the... prize, a pouch of silver." Otto put down his cup as he moved across the room to her. "We have relied on one another these many years. And now it is the good of the family that we both desire. Whatever our differences, our hearts remain as one."
"Our hearts were never one. I see that now. Rather, I have been a piece that you moved about the board." Alicent corrected.
"I feel like I havent seen you all day and I hate that but..." Aislynn whispered kissing Criston again.
"I will meet you in bed." Criston offered.
"Ohh get a bath ready." Aislynn requested kissing him again as she pushed open her fathers office.
''If that is true, then I made you Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Would you have desired it otherwise?" otto retorted.
"How could I know? I wanted whatever you impressed upon me to want. And now the debt comes due. A debt you were happy enough to pay." Alicent reminded him stiffly.
"She's not wrong. I was really pissed at you for that. The boys had to stop me from killing you." Aislynn recalled.
"Aislynn understands sacrifice." Otto countered turning the tables. "A sacrifice made for the stability of the realm. No king has ever lived that hasn't had to forfeit the lives of a few to protect the many. Though I understand your squeamishness." Otto demanded
"Reluctance to murder is not a weakness!" Alicent spat. 'I have Aegon. We'll proceed now as I see fit.'' Alicent let out a heavy sigh. ''We will send terms to Rhaenyra on Dragonstone. True terms, such that she may accept without shame." Aislynn's face scrunched up as she tipped her head side to side.
"I dont like that idea." Aislynn countered. "If she lives, her allies will mass behind her banners, looking for her return."
"Then she must not return. My husband would have desired this mercy be shown to his daughter." Alicent said confidently.
"Your husband? Or you, his daughter's childhood companion?" Otto countered.
"Ali, you are a sweet girl, a smart girl, we are just trying to protect our family. You understand that this decision is not to hurt you, the person you once knew... that person is long since gone and I think you know it." Aislynn remarked and Alicent sighed knowing Aislynn was right.
"Criston Cole will be named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard." Alicent remarked.
"Oh, good choice." Aislynn agreed. "Can I tell him? I'm telling him." Aislynn declared completely giddy.
"My son will be anointed tomorrow at dawn. The whole of King's Landing must witness his ascent. He will assume authority. There will be no more dithering. My son will take the crown of his namesake, the Conqueror, and carry Blackfyre, his sword. Let the people remember the ancient strength of House Targaryen." Alicent said as confident as a queen.
"House Hightower." Aislynn corrected.
"Goodnight." Alicent begged as she headed out. Aislynn chuckled looking to Otto.
"I'm coming with you when the announcement false peace treaty is delivered." Aislynn informed him.
"I thought you would." Otto agreed. She smiled back at him and he sighed pressing a kiss to her forehead. "You look so much like your mother in certain lights." Otto remarked gently.
"Tommy has her magic though." Aislynn whispered. "I still cant read the leaves... shit gypsy I am."
"You my dear are magic." Otto assured.
"Night daddio." Aislynn coed as she headed out.
"Lynnie-" Alicent called back to her. "-a drink?"
"Make it quick I need to fuck my commander husband." Aislynn agreed hooking an arm with her.
"Your Grace." Larys said softly. "Aislynn."
"The hour is late, Lord Larys." Alicent reminded him.
"It must be bad." Aislynn countered as she plopped down on the couch beside him.
"I've found out something that you should know. Have you asked yourself, I wonder..." Larys began and he had long since ignored his fetish for friendship but Aislynn put her feet in his lap.
"Really get in there, busy day yelling at incompetent fools." Aislynn remarked and Larys chuckled. "Best foot massages." Aislynn purred tipping her head back over the edge of the couch.
''how it is... that your father, the Hand... found Aegon first?" Larys pondered, Alicent sighed, waiting for the real info as she took a sip of her drink. "There is a web of spies at work in the Red Keep. Along its threads travels news of all our doings. Your father knows this, but has left it in place. More than once, it has proved advantageous to those willing to... feed the weaver."
"And this weaver watches me?" Alicent asked.
"Harder." Aislynn instructed and Alicent rolled her eyes.
''One of the little spiders is your lady-in-waiting.' Larys agreed kneading into her souls.
''Talya?''
"Right there." Aislynn hummed out.
''There are more like her. Even I do not know their number. There is one way to destroy his advantage. It must be taken out at the head." Larys informed her. ''When the Queen dies, the bees fly without purpose. Begging your pardon for the turn of phrase, Your Grace."
''I assume this task falls within your expertise.' Alicent drawled out.
''If you wish it... it will be done.' Larys agreed.
"See useful." Aislynn agreed.