Better Than Revenge// Otto Hightower (1)

11. Rare

'Your Grace.' The door opened and Rhaenyra approached her father.

'Father.'

'Balerion was the last living creature to have seen Old Valyria before the Doom. Its greatness and its flaws. When you look at the dragons, what do you see?' Viserys questioned as his fingers tranced along the monument.

'What?' Rhaenyra questioned confused. 'You haven't spoken a word to me since Mother's funeral, and now you send your Kings guard down...'

'Answer me.'

'It's important.'

'What do you see?' Viserys pushed, Gaena lurked in the doorway silently.

'I suppose I see us.' Rhaenyra answered

'Tell me.' Viserys urged.

'Everyone says Targaryens are closer to gods than to men, but they say that because of our dragons. Without them, we're just like everyone else. The idea that we control the dragons... is an illusion. They're a power man should never have trifled with. One that brought Valyria its doom.' Rhaenyra told him.

'If we don't mind our own histories, it will do the same to us. Targaryen must understand this to be King... or Queen.' Viserys told her confidently.

'What?" She didn't understand

'I'm sorry, Rhaenyra. I have wasted the years since you were born... wanting for a son.' Viserys told her sadly. 'You are the very best of your mother. And I believe it, I know she did, that you could be a great ruling queen.'

'Daemon is your heir.' Rhaenyra reminded him.

'Daemon was not made to wear the crown. But I believe that you were.' Viserys told his daughter confidently. 'This is no trivial gesture, Rhaenyra. A dragon's saddle is one thing, but the Iron Throne is the most dangerous seat in the realm.' Viserys warned.

'Corlys of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark.' Mellos introduced

'I, Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark, promise to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the Princess Rhaenyra. I pledge fealty to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit. I swear this by the old gods and the new.'

' I, Lord Hobert Hightower, Beacon of the South, Defender of the Citadel, and Voice of Oldtown, promise to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the Princess Rhaenyra. I pledge fealty to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit. I swear this by the old gods and the new.' Gaena stood by otto her fingers brushing up against his as she listened to the lords of each of the great houses to swear their loyalty to Rhaenyra.

'I, Boremund Baratheon... promise to be faithful to King Viserys...'

'There's something else that I need to tell you. It might be difficult for you to understand, but you must hear it. Our histories... they tell us that Aegon looked across the Blackwater from Dragonstone, and saw a rich land ripe for the capture. But ambition alone is not what drove him to conquest. It was a dream. And just as Daenys foresaw the end of Valyria, Aegon foresaw the end of the world of men.' Viserys told her letting out a long sigh. ''Tis to begin with a terrible winter gusting out of the distant north.'

'I, Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell...'

'Aegon saw absolute darkness riding on those winds. And whatever dwells within will destroy the world of the living. When this Great Winter comes, Rhaenyra... all of Westeros must stand against it. And if the world of men is to survive, a Targaryen must be seated on the Iron Throne. A king or queen, strong enough to unite the realm against the cold and the dark. Aegon called his dream "The Song of Ice and Fire." This secret... it's been passed from king to heir since Aegon's time. Now you must promise to carry it... and protect it. Promise me this, Rhaenyra. Promise me.'

' I, Viserys Targaryen, first of his name... King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm, do hereby name... Rhaenyra Targaryen Princess of Dragonstone and heir to the Iron Throne.'

They were entering a new era, one of female empowerment and dragon queens. Gaena couldn't help but be slightly envious of her niece. Getting to be the first queen. But then again when Rhaenyra was married the lord or knight that was chosen for her would take power as men always did and she would lose that power. 

If Viserys remarried that woman would steal Rhaenyras power as well. Power was a tricky thing. Being a Targaryen was a tricky thing. Everyone wanted something, Viserys council all wanted something. Otto seemed genuine in his council, that's what Gaena liked about him. He had helped their grandfather as hand when he was a younger man himself and now he was leading and guiding Viserys. Telling him the things most hands would hide. 

Gaena admired that about him. She also greatly appreciated a man that stayed in shape through the years, it showed care for their body, most men of higher standings didn't care what they looked like, thought themselves Gods and fucked all the whores in their region and every region they passed. She was proud of Viserys for that as well. She knew he was hurting, his body failing him but he tried to be healthy and he was faithful to his wife. An admirable quality. She knew daemon frequented brothels, knew he had a certain whore to which he frequented but his wife Rhae of Runestone she never bed.

Gaena knew that rhea was a skilled rider and hunter and a stubborn woman but Daemon was a stubborn man. Being married and expected to keep your virtue was... a downside of being a woman. Women were always the one to carry the burden of children, bastards, Gaena knew as a Targaryen had her husband ever stepped away from his whores long enough her children would have silver hair as beautiful as her own. Then a panic arose in Gaena as she remembered her night with Otto. She closed her eyes thinking if she needed to make a tea, she had done it before she knew how to but she would rather not be seen buying supplies at a time of grieving and mourning of her family. No, he pulled out, Gaena recalled, a real gentleman, that was hard to find.

 Also that he wanted her again, that was rare, Otto was a rare man. Gaena knew their... relationship whatever it advanced to or didn't would have to remain quiet. At least until she spoke with Viserys, talked with otto more and decided if she really wanted him or if this was just a fling. But it felt like something real. But she wouldn't allow herself to be happy and falling into a blissful state when her brother was a mess.