Fetish / Larys Strong

2. Beautiful Mystery

"Don't get me wrong, Bly, I want him here but... I feel like I can breathe better without him sometimes." Alicent admitted.

"If only you didnt get my good looks, then the king wouldnt have looked twice at you." Blyana offered trying to lighten the mood. 

"are you alright Bly?" Alicent questioned as Blyana rolled her neck. "I know stress isnt good for..." 

Everything. Blyana thought as she felt a stabbing pain in her knee. The maesters never gave her a diagnosis, not a treatment plan. Diagnosis that she could manage but stress and skipping doses, not eating proper meals, made her symptoms worse. She wondered if she would always feel like this, so vulnerable.

Blyana managed her flare ups, the migraines, the joint pain that was crippling, the sudden feeling as though she was swaying on solid ground. She managed it for the most part but other days she couldn't control it. 

Her father being sacked was definitely a stressor.

"I just dont think I ate yet today." Blyana offered. 

"Lets get you something to eat." Alicent agreed. That was another reason Otto knew Bly would be okay because Alicent would look out for her too. The sisters needed each other, Otto hoped they would be able to keep each other safe in the capital. 

Walking into the gardens Larys looked to Blyana and he stared at her, she had such a crippling beauty that left him awestruck every time she visited the capital. 

Blyana offered him a small smile and he noticed himself straightening his spine, lifting his head.

''An outsider... among the natives.'' Larys remarked looking between the sisters. His gaze stuck on Blyana.

''Lord Larys.'' Alicent remarked. Larys watched as Blyana's knee shook slightly as she left Alicents side moving to the flower. 

''Malvales." Blyana offered.

"That's right." Larys agreed as she brought her nose to the flower, breathing in the scent.  "A rare bloom." he added.

 "Indigenous to Braavos I believe." Blyana remarked. 

"By all rights, it shouldn't be thriving here. Nature... such mystery.'' Larys remarked he gripped to his cane as he looked over at her still admiring the flowers. Blyana loved the flowers, loved the gardens in every region she got to visit. When she was bedridden Otto had gotten her books on all the plants, with illustrations for her so when she finally was walking again she knew what they looked like. 

''The weather has been lovely.'' Alicent remarked softly.

"Flowers do tend to like the rain." Blyana added. 

''Indeed.'' Larys agreed ''And yet it is a dark day for the realm. Your father was a good man.''

"He is." Blyana agreed turning to them, Larys noticed how she leaned on the tree for support. 

''As is yours who took his place.'' Alicent informed him.

''Yet still, the manner of your father's departure... it feels something of an injustice.'' Larys remarked and Alicent stiffened as the thunder raged on around them.

'What do you know of the matter of his leaving?" Alicent questioned stepping forward. Blyana's eyes jumped between them. 

''When one is never invited to speak, one learns instead to, um... observe. You're perhaps in need of an ally?' Larys suggested cautiously.

''I'm the Queen. I have no shortage of allies.'' Alicent corrected as she moved to help Bly. "Come on Bly-"

''Naturally. Princess Rhaenyra, for example.'' Larys agreed sarcastically.

''State your purpose, my lord.'' Alicent demanded.

''Uh... I did wonder if she could be relied upon now that she is... unwell.'' Larys offered cautiously, Bly looked to Alicent. She knew Rhaenyra and Alicent hadnt been close since Alicent was announced to be Viserys bride and Bly didnt really pay attention to royal dilemma if it didnt involve her sister. 

''Unwell? I haven't heard anything.'' Alicent countered as her grip tightened on Bly's arm. 

''Begging your pardon, Your Grace, I may be mistaken. It's just that on the very same night your father was dismissed, the Grand Maester delivered a tea to the Princess's chambers.'' Larys informed her.

''A tea?'' Bly questioned. 

'Yes.'' Larys agreed taking another step forward. 

''That the Grand Maester himself brought?'' Alicent questioned confused.

''At the direction of the King, as I understand it. I do hope she's not unwell.'' Larys said kindly.

''Rhaenyra sailed with the King to Driftmark yesterday at daybreak.'' Alicent but her brain began to spiral.

''Oh, what good news. I must've been in error. Oh, a relief.'' Larys told her taking unsteady steps towards her. ''See, I thought for Mellos himself, well... her condition must be something very serious. What happiness it is to have been wrong.''

"Teas can mean many things." Blyana offered knowing full well she had many teas brought to her and none of them were moon teas like Alicent's mind was suddenly racing to.  

"Of course," Larys agreed. 

"The grand maester." Alicent murmured. 

"He makes teas for me and its nothing scandalous." Blyana offered gently. 

"Excuse us, Blyana hasnt broken fast and the day is quite late already." ALicent declared. 

For as much as Larys listened and knew of everyone and their secrets, he knew fairly little about Otto's elder daughter, Blyana. 

Larys heard she had a vast knowledge of herbs and healing drafts, poisons as well, clearly she knew her greenery, and he sometimes would hear her singing drifting through the castle. 

But otherwise Blyana was beautiful mystery.