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

41. Confirmed

"You're sure?" Alicent questioned and Talya nodded once and a sob escaped Alicent's lips.

''With his own eyes, Your Grace.' Talya confirmed. Alicent sat in bed, tears in her eyes.

"Uh... Stay here." Alicent instructed wiping at her tears as she got up. ''Tell, tell no one. Help me dress.''

''Who knows?'' Otto questioned as Alicent had told him of Viserys passing.

''My handmaiden, Talya. Some of the servants.'' Alicent answered. "I saw him last night... before he..." Alicent leaned back in the chair, a shaky breath on her lips. ''He told me he wished for Aegon to be king." Alicent relayed and Otto stared back at her from the fireplace. ''It is the truth. Uttered with his own lips. His last words to me and I was the only one to hear it. And now he's dead.''

''What is it that could not have waited an hour? Was Dorne invaded?" Tyland mused as they gathered around the council table.

''The King is dead.'' Otto told them all. Alicent sat at the kings seat silently. Tears in her eyes her hands clasped on the table. ''We grieve for Viserys the Peaceful... our sovereign... our friend. But he has left us a gift.'' Otto went on calmly. ''With his last breath, he impressed upon the Queen his final wish: that his son, Aegon... should succeed him as Lord of the Seven Kingdoms." There was a small sigh of relief as the council was eager to get this started for Aegons rule.

''Then we may proceed now with the full assurance of his blessing on our long-laid plans."

''Yes. There is much to be done, as we've previously discussed." Otto agreed. Alicent stared at them in disbelief.

''Now, there are two among the captains of the City Watch that remain loyal to Daemon.''

"Let us replace them... Lord Lannister." Otto encouraged

''The Treasury is well in hand. The gold will be divided for safekeeping." Tyland assured. Alicent stared confused and speechlessly

''Let ravens be sent to our allies, Riverrun and Highgarden." Otto went on. "If Corlys lives I'm confident he will side with us, Aisha being here. She has shown her support for Aegon and Aemond's true claims for years. Her parents would do well to follow her example."

"Agreed. The Velaryon's control the bend, whoever controls driftmark essentially has control over the seas."

"We should name Aisha the lady of driftmark, kick out the claim Viserys deemed of Lucaerys." Otto agreed.

"She knows those boys are not her kin and she has no love for the princess Rhaenyra and Daemon." Criston added and otto nodded.

"Good, we can use that if there is any resistance." Otto agreed. "We should handle them swiftly though either way."

"Aegon's-"

" Am I to understand that members of the small council have been planning secretly to install my son without me?" Alicent finally spoke up

''My Queen, there was no need to sully you with darkling schemes." They assured

''I will not have this.'' Beesbury declared standing up in outrage. ''To hear that you are plotting to replace the King's chosen heir with an imposter!''

''His firstborn son is hardly an imposter." Tyland reminded him

''Hundreds of lords and landed knights swore fealty to the Princess." Beesbury countered defensively.

''That was some 20 years ago. Most of them now dead." Tyland added smugly.

''You heard the Lord Hand. Plot or no, the King changed his mind." Jasper Wylde told them.