Mastermind // Aemond Targaryen (1)

28. Act like it

"You are so pretty." Aegon said drunkenly. "Why are you fucking my brother?"

"You are so irresponsible," Uri countered ''why are they making you king?" Aemond couldn't help but smile.

"I don't want a crown." Aegon told her. "I want to fuck every maiden from here to Dorne."

"Poor them." Uri murmured.

"I am a prince!" Aegon reminded her as he stumbled but Criston kept a tight hold on him.

"Then start acting like it." Uri offered.

"You can't talk to me like this!" Aegon shouted.

"Why?" Uri countered.

"I am the-"

"Yes I heard you the first few times." Uri agreed. "But drinking and whoring doesn't make a good leader." Uri informed him and Aemond laughed out. Criston stared perplexed. "Your family should have slapped you upside the head more as a child."

"You can't-"

"Why? What are you going to do, Aegon?" Uri smirked. "you don't hold any power right now." Aegon stared at her, everyone gave him what he wanted, always. Or he took it. He was a challenge and Aegon was ready for a challenge. Aemond knew that look though and pulled Uri to him.

"I am to be king." Aegon seethed.

"Something you don't want obviously, because you ran away and got shit face drunk." Uri countered. Criston couldn't believe the bravery of this girl. Talking back to a prince, even if Aemond was protecting her the queen would like this if Aegon told her, if Criston told her.

"You can't talk to me like that!" Aegon demanded stumbling forward.

"You see, I'm not from around here. I don't give a damn about tradition and politics." Uri informed him. "So if I wanted to kick your ass to the ground, know I could."

"Do it then." Aegon challenged trying to find his footing. "I would love to get my hands on you."

"Uri." Criston warned.

"I'm just listening to instructions." Uri said innocently. Aemond smirked taking a step back as Criston let go of Aegon with a sigh.

"I have been winning tourneys since I was child." Aegon boasted.

"And ive been training since I could walk." Uri countered grabbing his arm and spinning under it pulling it back, he cried out. She kicked his legs apart before giving a swift kick to the back of his knee he dropped to his knees and she let go of his arm. He whimpered out.

"I had plans for today. Riding a dragon was apart of that." Uri told him. "You douchbag had us running all around looking for your sorry ass."

"How did you-"

"I told you already I'm not from here." Uri reminded him and Aemond had never thought her more sexy. Uri smirked moving towards him. "You like that?" Uri questioned as his lips collided with her. Criston pulled Aegon up, Aegon stared back baffled.

+

"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

''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. 

"A sacrifice. 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."

"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

"Criston Cole will be named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. 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.

"You look so much like your mother in certain lights." Otto remarked gently Alicent hissed out a breath as she turned and stormed out the door slammed closed behind her. "As you wish..."

+

"What did you do?" Criston asked looking to Uri after they returned Aegon.

"Kicked his ass." Uri offered as Aemond led her away.

"Before." Criston said stopping them.

"Before?" Uri famed ignorance.

"Erryk."

"Erryk?" Uri offered again.

"His sword." Criston said stiffly.

"His sword?"

"Stop parroting me." Criston demanded and Uri chuckled.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Uri said innocently.

"You asked if I needed help and it was as though his blade was hot to touch, burning his skin." Criston told her. Uri shrugged.

"It looked like you had things under control." Uri offered as Aemond pulled her into his room. "He always like that?"

"Stick up his ass? Yeah." Aemond agreed.

"He has the hots for your mom." Uri added.

"I know." Aemond agreed.

"Scandalous." Uri said softly kissing him again. "I think you would make a good king."

"Still time." Aemond reminded her.

+

Alicent stomped down the corridor pouring herself a drink as she entered her chambers and then heard Larys voice echoing.

"Your Grace." Larys said softly.

"The hour is late, Lord Larys." Alicent reminded him.

"I've found out something that you should know. Have you asked yourself, I wonder..." Larys began and Alicent put her feet up on the table.  ''how it is... that your father, the Hand... found Aegon first?" Alicent sighed, waiting. "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.

'Um...' Larys waited as she pulled off her stocking. ''One of the little spiders is your lady-in-waiting.'

''Talya?''

''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 and Alicent nodded turned away from him her feet visible as he began to stroke himself.