Midnight Rain // Aemond Targaryen // Aegon II Targaryen (1)

16. To Love

Viserys sat with a sigh when he got to his chambers as Alicent put a blanket over his lap.

''I do not need the blanket...' Alicent gave it to him anyways.

''The Hand, Your Grace.'' Criston remarked

''The King is resting.'' Alicent spat.

''I will see him.'' Viserys corrected.

''Lean forward.'' Alicent demanded fluffing his pillow.

''I'm being endlessly fussed over, Lyonel.'' Viserys remarked ''It's a wonder I can visit the privy alone.''

''Your Grace.''

''What might this errand be about, Lord Lyonel?''

''Your Grace, I feel... I have come to resign my position as Hand of the King. The episode in the yard this morning. My son Harwin has disgraced himself and every fishwife in King's Landing will soon be telling the tale.'' Lyonel told them.

''Young Harwin's outburst was unfortunate, it's true. But he's been expelled from the City Watch. That seems punishment enough.'' Viserys told him

''Forgive me, Your Grace, it is not.'' Lyonel told them sadly.

''You have served me faithfully for many years, 10 as Hand. Your advice has been sage, unmarked by self-interest... which stands in contrast to all others.'' Viserys assured

''You speak kind words... but there is a shadow over my house and it grows... ever darker. I can no longer serve you with integrity.'' Lyonel told him solemnly.

''What is this shadow? Name it, if it casts such a gloom.'' Viserys offered

''Yes... we must have your reasoning in plain language.'' Alicent agreed smugly.

''I cannot.'' Lyonel told him.

''Then I cannot accept this.''

''My dear husband...'' Alicent offered, anything to get her father back as hand.

''I said no!'' Viserys spat.

''If you insist, my King.'' Lyonel said softly

''I do. You will continue in your service to the crown.'' Viserys said through a deep breath.

''I would then ask leave to take my son from court and escort him back to the family seat at Harrenhal. He is my heir and will be lord of Harren's castle one day. It is time he assumed his duties there.'' Lyonel countered

''Do it'' Viserys agreed sitting back down. ''Aren't you gonna help me?'' Viserys mused looking to an annoyed Alicent.

+

''I took the liberty of beginning without you, Your Grace. It seemed a sin to let such a pie grow cold.'' Larys remarked as Alicent sat across from him

''You did wisely, Lord Larys.'' Alicent agreed ''Though you had no such worry about the wine, surely.''

''Meat without wine is also a sin.''

''Mm.'' Alicent agreed

''It's been my duty to tell you of happenings about the castle, but tonight you know, and I do not.''' Larys told her ''The King had an audience with my father.''

''He attempted to resign his post.''

''I thought as much. His honor's always been a millstone about his esteemed neck. Interesting you said "attempted"?'' Larys remarked

''My lord husband refused to accept.''

''Then he fell short of confessing my brother's... transgressions.''

''With his eruption in the yard, your brother all but confessed the truth himself.'' Alicent hissed

''Truth has many flavors, Your Grace. Do you expect the King to doom his dear daughter to exile, or even...'' Larys silenced himself as the door opened

''Talya, not now.'' Alicent said and she headed right back out.

''It's a willful blindness, the King.'' Larys said as the door closed. ''I mean, you'd surely suffer the same affliction, if it came to it.''

''I would not. Lord Lyonel is to escort Ser Harwin back to Harrenhal to watch over his seat whilst he continues to serve as Hand.'' Alicent informed him

''But the Hand is compromised by the acts of his son. My father... cannot give unbiased counsel to the King.'' Larys said confidently.

''It is now that I most rue the absence of my own father. He wouldn't hesitate to speak the truth to the King. If Otto Hightower were still Hand...''

''You cannot say, my Queen, that your father would be impartial in this matter.'' Larys reminded her

''No, but he would be partial to me!'' Alicent spat back before letting out a long sigh. ''In all of King's Landing, is there no one to take my side?''

+

"I heard that Princess Rhaenyra offered Jace up for Helaena." Aisha remarked.

"Oh? Poor lad." Aegon mused, Aisha slapped at him as he pulled her closer into the waters. "What? Hela is a freak and you know it."

"She is in her own little world.' Aisha corrected.

"We can be in our own little world." Aegon suggested kissing her softly. "Can you hide us from the guards?" Aegon whispered and Aisha moved her hands gently the waves crashed tall around them but they remained in a safe calm of the waters in the middle. Her legs wrapped around him and Aegon kissed her completely.

To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that's everything.

+

''What a collection of heroes I have before me.'' Larys remarked his cane clicking on the ground as he made it to the prison. ''A murderer... a deviant... a traitor to the crown. For your crimes, you've been sentenced to death by hanging.''

''What do you want with us?''

''I am prepared to offer you mercy... if you're prepared to pay a little price.'' Larys told him confidently. They were willing and their tongues were removed burned off they wailed and wailed.