Better Than Revenge// Otto Hightower (1)

4. Lies

'Is it healing?'

'It has grown slightly, Your Grace.' Mellos told him as he examined the wound

'Can you say yet what it is?' Otto questioned

'We've sent inquiries to the Citadel. They are searching the texts for similar cases.' Mellos told him

'It's a small cut from sitting the throne. It's nothing.' Viserys told them.

'The King has been under heavy stresses preparing for the birth. Bad humors of the mind can adversely affect the body.' Mellos assured

'Whatever it is, it needs to be kept quiet.' Otto remarked. No one need know that the king was sick.

'We should leech it again, maester.'

'It's a wound that refuses to heal, Grand Maester. Might I suggest cauterization?' one of the maester suggested poking at the wound on Viserys back.

'Cauterization would be a wise course of treatment, Your Grace. It will be painful...' Mellos warned.

'Fine. Fine.' Viserys agreed.

"Hello brother... Otto." Gaena said as she entered with a small knock. "Oh my." Gaena said her face pinched as she looked to Viserys wounds.

"It's nothing my dear." Viserys told her.

"Lies." Gaena said sweetly as she let her body graze against otto as she passed him. "Are you sick?" Gaena knew, she had her ways of keeping tabs on the capital while she was at Casterly rock. She knew that Viserys got many wounds, wounds that refused to heal from the throne. she didn't know what it meant but nothing good, surely.

"Gaena I'm fine my dear, I swear it. Just a few cuts from that awful throne." Viserys assured.

"Perhaps a less deadly throne or thicker clothing?" Gaena offered as hand trailed gently along Otto's back as she passed him to get to her brother.

"A fine idea." Viserys agreed.

"I'm full of fine ideas." Gaena agreed smugly. "Gods Viserys that doesn't look good." Gaena remarked touching the edge of the wound gently with her fingers so featherlight it sent a shiver down Viserys spine.

"For a dragon you have the coldest hands." Viserys remarked grabbing her hands and holding them between his warm fingers.

"Viserys, tell me whats going on." Gaena begged.

"I'm fine." Viserys urged. Gaena looked to Otto, she could get the truth from someone if not her brother. Gaena was going to tell him that Daemon was in town but if he was already stressed, wounds not healing she didn't want to add to it.

"Perhaps I could steal Lord Otto," Gaena asked. "He could catch me up on your condition if you refuse to be honest with your favorite sibling." Gaena remarked.

"Steal him but know he is loyal to me." Viserys reminded her and Gaena smirked.

+

'You spend more time in that bath than I do on the throne.' Viserys told his wife as he came into their room. She was soaking in the tub her large pregnant belly sticking out of the water. She sighed as she looked over to him.

'This is the only place I can find comfort these days.' Viserys ran his fingers over the water.

'It's tepid.' He remarked with distaste.

'It's as warm as the maesters will allow.'

'Don't they know dragons prefer heat?' Viserys reminded her with a grin.

'Hm. After this miserable pregnancy... I wouldn't be surprised if I hatched an actual dragon.' Aemma told him and he laughed out happily.

'Then he will be loved and cherished.'

'Rhaenyra has already declared that she is to have a sister.' Aemma told him

'Really?' Viserys said trying to hide the edge from his voice, he needed a son, not another daughter. He needed a son. It was going to be a son.

'She even named her.'

'Dare I ask?'

'Visenya.' Aemma told him and he chuckled. 'She chose a dragon's egg for the cradle that she said reminded her of Vhagar.'

'Gods be good. This family already has its Visenya.'

"gaena is here."

"I know I saw her." Viserys agreed happily.

"Your sister has a way of making you smile like no other." Aemma remarked.

"I adore Gaena, im very glad she is back." Viserys agreed. "Especially with a new little one coming." Viserys said running a hand over her wet stomach.

'Has there been any word from your dear brother?' Aemma mused

'Not since I named him Commander of the City Watch. I'm sure he will reemerge for the tourney. He could never stay away from the lists.' Viserys told her

'The tourney... to celebrate the firstborn son that we presently do not have.' Aemma reminded him stiffly. 'You do understand nothing will cause the babe to grow a cock if it does not already possess one?'

'This child is a boy, Aemma.' Viserys told her and she scoffed 'I'm certain of it. I've never been more certain of anything. The dream. It was clearer than a memory. Our son was born wearing Aegon's iron crown. When I heard the sound of thundering hooves splintering shields, and ringing swords and I placed our son upon the Iron Throne as the bells of the Grand Sept tolled and all the dragons roared as one.'

'Born wearing a crown? Gods spare me... birth is unpleasant enough as it is.' Aemma told him 'This is the last time, Viserys. I've lost one babe in the cradle, had two stillbirths, and two pregnancies ended well before their term. That's five... in twice as many years. I know it is my duty to provide you an heir, and I'm sorry if I have failed you in that. I am. But I've mourned all the dead that I can.'

++

'Commander on the floor!' Captain Randyll Barret declared getting the troops at attention as Daemon came into the room.

'When I took command of the Watch, you were stray mongrels... starving and undisciplined. Now... you're a pack of hounds.' Daemon declared. 'You're sated and honed for the hunt.' They all started howling. 'My brother's city has fallen into squalor. Crime of every breed has been allowed to thrive. No longer. Beginning tonight, King's Landing will learn to fear the color gold.' A war cry erupted and they were off...

+

"If you wish to know of your brother-" Otto began.

"no, I know everything." Gaena remarked as they walked.

"Do you?" Otto questioned discreetly looking her over.

"Of course." Gaena agreed. "I missed being home." Gaena said softly as he lead her through the gardens. "There is something about being with the people you love that makes any place feel like home."

"I couldn't agree more."