Drama Queen // Otto Hightower // Thea Queen

16. Vacancy

Fetish/ Larys Strong Out now!
Yes You read that correctly.

'Apologies for the late hour, my Lord."

"What is it?' Otto hissed wanting to get back to bed, get back to Thea.

'A messenger brings word from the White Worm.'

+

Many years ago

Thea was screaming at the top of her lungs. Hysterical. She was yelling that her stuffed animals are gonna kill her, she knew they were going to kill her. She was rolling around on the floor, bruising her sides as she thrashed around, bumping into couch legs and edges of dressers. She was screaming, screaming, screaming until...

"And Scene!" Tommy declared.

"Good right?" Thea questioned getting up and rubbing at her sore side.

"For psycho possessed child about to get an exorcism from the septa..." Oliver countered.

"Something like that. The theater." Tommy corrected.

Thea had always been their drama queen. Oliver always thought that she would run away with the circus or join the closest show and never look back. But he thought that Thea stayed for him. Stayed because of their mother. As much as Thea hated Moira she wanted to make her proud. As much as she put up a stink about marrying Otto, Thea did like him. 

Oliver wondered as Thea danced to the music, critiqued the plays what her life would have looked like if she followed her own passions and not just what their mother wanted for her. 

 So seeing the shows that night in flee bottom took her back to all those memories of wanting to be an actress. Wanting to be the star.  She had smiled leaning into Oliver before heading back to the castle. 

"Going to see your husband?"  Oliver questioned curiously. 

"I might." Thea agreed. 

"He will be worried about you. He cares about you. A lot Thea." Oliver remarked. "He really cares about you."

"I like him." Thea offered simply.  But waking up and not having him beside her was confusing. She reached over and felt the cold, vacant side of the bed. He had not just left. But where was he going this early? Why was he going? It made her very insecure. 

+

'Come. What is it?'

'I apologize for the early hour, Your Grace. I have, um... discomforting news. I thought it best shared discreetly before the council convenes.' Otto told Viserys. Viserys sighed but nodded 'The Sea Snake. I'm afraid it concerns the Princess, my King.'

'Has she been harmed?'

'It is no easy thing to tell a father of his daughter's exploits. I had considered saying nothing, but...' Otto said hesitantly.

'What has she done?' Viserys demanded

'The Princess was spied last evening... beyond the walls of the Keep... in a pleasure house.' Otto told him.

'What of it?'

'She was carrying on with her uncle. They were engaged in behaviors unbecoming of a maiden... of a Princess.' Otto informed him.

'What behaviors?'

'Well, must I say it, Your Grace?'

'You enter my bedchamber, accusing my daughter of something. Now speak it... plainly.' Viserys demanded. Alicent lay in bed motionless.

'Daemon and Rhaenyra were seen together... in the bowels of a pleasure den.' Otto told him and Viserys sighed deeply, Daemon was a thorn in his side. 'Coupling.'

'This is a lie.' Viserys told him with a chuckle, Rhaenyra would never. 'You have been lied to.'

'I only wish that were true, Your Grace.' Otto offered. He wished he stayed in bed more like it. 

'Who is responsible for this gossip? Have this rumormonger brought before me at once. And I will take their eyes.' Viserys told him confidently.

'As your Hand, I must maintain trusted sources of information. And this one, as yet, has never led me astray. And several of the servants have now admitted to seeing her, the Princess... creeping through the gates from King's Landing, disguised as a page during the hour of the owl.' Otto told him victoriously.

'Are you so sick with ambition that you would have my daughter stalked? Spied upon? Awaiting your best chance to destroy her reputation?' Viserys questioned defensively

'I have no such intent, Your Grace.' Otto corrected. Yes he wanted what Aegon deserved, the crown but he was being honest. His spy had seen it and white worm had been useful in delivering shady yet useful information. Otto had no reason to distrust the mysterious informant. 

'You think yourself a cunning man. Your designs are obvious. Do you wish to have your blood on the Iron Throne so badly that you are willing to destroy mine own? Just get out. Leave me... at once.'

When he returned thea was still in bed, she had closed her eyes hoping to sleep away the day. Otto slid in next to her kissing her shoulder blade and neck.

"Where did you go?" Thea questioned. 

"Official Hand business." Otto offered holding her closer. "I hated to leave you. I can spent all morning making it up to you." He offered kissing along her shoulder again. Thea smiled back at him and Otto thought just maybe they were going to be okay.