Better Than Revenge// Otto Hightower (1)

17. You tell me

'The Small Council is urging me to remarry. It seems the realm wants for a new queen." Viserys told her

"A good and kind queen will give comfort to your subjects." Alicent offered. "Does the Small Council have a particular lady in mind?'

"Uh..." Viserys said awkwardly. "Lord Corlys Velaryon has offered the hand of his daughter, the Lady Laena."

"A very strong match, Your Grace." Alicent agreed as Gaena came in.

"A shit match brother and you know it." Gaena countered and Viserys sighed, Gaena was a smart girl, much like him he thought. She was calculated and confident, she had connections throughout westeros but a mouth as blunt as Daemon.

"I must admit, I, I don't know Laena very well." Viserys admitted.

"That is because she is a child and you don't spend your days with children..." Gaena turned her gaze to Alicent. "Or do you now?" Alicent cleared her throat as she looked to Viserys.

"I'm sure that she is good and kind, and that she will enjoy your company, as I have, Your Grace." Alicent told him kindly, her father would not be happy about that. "I brought you something. I asked the stonemasons to mend it."

"This is, um, a very kind gesture, Alicent." Viserys remarked. 'Very kind.' He said looking over the chest inside revealed a little dragon statue. He ran his hands along the dragon when a knock rapped on the door. 'Come.' Gaena took it from him looking it over and suddenly her breath was hot in her chest and she felt her heart pounding, pounding, pounding.

'The Hand, Your Grace.' Harrold told him closing the door as Otto walked in. Gaena kept her face down at the statue as Otto smiled softly at her but noticed what her focus was on before looking to Viserys.

'Your Grace, I've called the Small Council to an emergency session.' Otto said his face pinched as he felt himself losing the best thing to ever happen to him.

"Why?" Viserys questioned.

"I think it best you hear it directly." Otto told him.

"Very well." Viserys agreed as they headed out. Otto's hand grazed Gaena's as they walked but she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Gaena.'' He whispered a hand trailing gently over her back. "What happened?"

"You tell me." Gaena hissed marching into the small council room.

+

'Daemon.'

'The Prince left a missive, which I believe might explain.' He cleared his through reading the scroll "It is the pleasure of Daemon Targaryen, the Prince of Dragonstone and rightful heir to the Iron Throne, to announce that he is to take a second wife in the tradition of Old Valyria. She is to assume the title Lady Mysaria of Dragonstone. Her Grace is with child and is to have a dragon's egg placed in the babe's cradle in the custom of House Targaryen." Viserys stared, annoyance filled him.

"Fucking hell Daemon." Gaena grumbled.

"The Prince has invited you to his wedding, Your Grace. It is in two days' time."

"Gods be good. Who is Lady Mysaria?" Viserys muttered

"You don't want to know." Gaena told him as Mellos spoke up nervously.

"We believe..." Mellos said slowly looking around the group.

"Daemon's whοre." Otto spoke up clearly.

'This is nothing less than sedition.'

'I strongly agree, sire.' Otto told him.

"My brother wishes to provoke me. To answer is to give him what he wants." Viserys remarked his hand fisting, needing to punch something.

"To do nothing though?" Gaena countered. "Not wise." Otto nodded in agreement.

"The realm is watching, Your Grace." Otto reminded him.

"What would you have me do? Send him to the Wall? Perhaps I could put his head on a spike." Viserys mused.

"Daemon has seized Dragonstone, has surrounded himself with an army of gold cloaks, and has now stolen a dangerous weapon..." Otto told him.

'Assemble a detachment, Otto. I will go to Dragonstone and drag Daemon back to face justice myself.' Viserys told him.

'Your Grace. My apologies, Your Grace, but I cannot allow it. It's too dangerous.' Mellos told him.

'Daemon is without limit.'

'Let me go to Dragonstone.' Rhaenyra offered and Gaena turned around to her. Rhaenyra, ever the brave and fearless.

"Oh to have a dragon." Gaena murmured.

+

'You're the most comely girl at court. Why do you destroy yourself? Hm?" Otto questioned grabbing his daughters hand to stop her from destroying her nails. 'Will you see the King tonight?'

'If you wish it.' Alicent agreed. 'Good day, Ser Criston.'

'My Lady. I've assembled 20 of your best household guards, my Lord Hand. Sir Harrold will also join us.' Cole told them as Alicent tried to act natural and calm but she was failing she was a mess of nerves.

'Please look after the Hand, Ser Criston.' Alicent said as she headed out. Otto saw Gaena staring at him from the opposite end of the hallway, he glanced back at his men as they prepared before moving to her.

"What are you doing?" Gaena hissed.

"Going to get the egg back from Prince Daemon." Otto told her tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"What are you and Alicent doing?" Gaena clarified and Otto stared at her. "The dragon statue, so beautiful. I saw you getting it from the stone masons just the other day." Gaena remarked. "What are you doing otto?" Gaena hissed.

"Alicent-''

'Didn't give a damn about my brother but now she doesn't talk to Rhaenyra, she is picking her nails apart to the point of bleeding and visiting my brother and dresses not becoming of a child of 14." Gaena told him.

"Gaena I don't know what you mean...' Otto told her nervously.

"I think you do." Gaena countered.

"I have to go to dragonstone... can we talk tonight?" Otto requested but Gaena stomped off. "GAENA!" He called but she kept going a shaky breath escaped her lungs. How could she have let this happen? How could she have not seen it? Oh that's right because he treated her like she was special. He loved her right and she thought he didn't want a crown. She was wrong. Everyone wanted something, there were no good men in this world.