Fetish / Larys Strong

11. Suffer

Alicent loved her big sister and saw the love in her eyes every night she went out with Larys. It was cute. Alicent didn't understand didnt even think they kissed maybe they were just friends but Blyana always came back smiling.

"You kiss him?" Alicent questioned making Blyana jump.

"Jeeze!" Blyana declared her hand on her chest.

"I will take that as a no."

"Its not like that." Blyana offered softly. "He doesnt like me like that." She corrected.

"Of course he does. Hes smitten with you." Alicent declared.

"He just wants a friend. He doesnt want... me"

"You are so beautiful and so self conscious." Alicent informed her. "Bly you are perfect. Its him I dont see your infatuation with."

"Hes sweet. Smart. He listens." Blyana declared. "No no dont give me that look. I do like him Ali. I like him a lot."

"Dont get your hopes up." Alicent offered.

"We are just friends." Blyana corrected.

"But you want more."

"Ive never really had a friend that wasnt you or father." Blyana remarked. "I like him and of course I want more but Im content for now in friendship."

+

When Aemond was born, Blyana thought him the sweetest little thing. But within a moon he was sick.

"I don't understand." Blyana declared as a maester tended to the littlest prince. "He was happy and healthy. What changed?"

"Thats what Im trying to find out my lady." The maester remarked.

"Im quite knowledgeable in herbs." Blyana informed him. "I want to help."

"We are quite skilled. You can tend to the queen."

"Ali doesnt need me but Aemond does." Blyana declared. So Blyana recommended some herbs to help break the fever help with the cough and inflammation.

"Elderberry, Oscillococcinum, Echinacea, Ginseng." Blyana remarked following the maester around.

"I know what Im doing i have been doing this longer than you have been alive." Mellos reminded her.

"Elderberry across the narrow sea they call is Sambucus nigra." Blyana remarked as she peered around "-is an herb that is used to remedy for colds, sinus infections, and the flu."

"I know what it is."

"Then get it!" Blyana demanded.

"I dont have any. More stores are not filled but there might be some in the garden." So blyana took of.

"Larys would you happen to know if the gardens have any elderberry plants?" Blyana questioned when she saw him.

"I believe so. I could show you." Larys offered.

"Thank you. Aemond is sick and the old maester is useless." Blyana mumbled larys had never seen her angry but she looked it. "Did you know elderberry extracts have been found to fight off viruses. That certains compounds found naturally in elderberries, may be the active component that strengthens the immune system and blocks the flu virus from sticking to cells."

"You are quite brilliant Blyana." Larys declared.

"Oh I just read a lot," Blyana countered.

"And so modest. You are brilliant Blyana."

Could Alicent be right? Could larys like her? She forgot why they were in the gardens until he reached behind her.

"Here they are." He offered holding it out she took it gently from him.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"What else do you need?" Larys questioned taking a step closer.

"Echinacea." Blyana rasped.

"This way." Larys agreed.  "Did you know that There are several types of echinacea, including Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea Angustifolia, and Echinacea pallida."

"I did. I do." Blyana agreed. "The leaves, flowers, and stems of Echinacea purpurea have the best supporting evidence of flu reduction within just a few days." She added and Larys smiled over at her and her heart felt full.

"I was given echinacea every two to three hours total daily doses were..." blyana searched her mind "i believe the maesters in old town said a total of three or more grams per day at the first sign of symptoms. After several days, the dose was reduced and continued for the following week."

Larys thought Blyana should be a maester. She was certainly working harder than Mellos crew of professionals.

Blyana hated seeing little Aemond so weak and pitiful. She cradled him to her with a sigh. His little lungs coughed out.

Honey is a cough treatment. Honey also has antibacterial properties that can fight infections. Blyana knew this well. She dipped her finger in a little bowl of honey bringing it to Aemonds lips. He suckled on her finger as she repeated the process before he fell back asleep on her chest.

Aemond wasnt sleeping at night and the handmaidens were useless. Everyone was useless in Blyanas eyes.

Alicent didnt want Blyana getting sick from this mysterious alement that Aemond had caught. Alicent knew Blyanas own immune system was compromised and she caught every little virus leaving her bed ridden for weeks. Which is why she knew all the tricks but still Aemond was getting weaker and Blyana was filled with worry.

"Larys could you help me?" Blyana questioned as Aemond coughed out she wiped at his nose trying to get the mucus out.

"Anything at all." Larys agreed.

"I need camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol if you can find it they are cough suppressants." Blyana remarked. Larys repeated them back to her nodding. "Also if you can find cedarleaf, nutmeg, petrolatum, thymol and turpentine."

"I will be back," larys agreed and she listened to his cane clicking down the hall.

"Im going to make you better." Blyana assured Aemond.

Blyana got the blankets toasty putting them beside the fire and putting hot coals in an iron trap to stick under the matress.

When Larys got back she turned the ingredients into a paste smashing them down with a mortar and pestle.  Larys watched curiously as she rubbed the paste over Aemonds chest and feet before bundling him back up again.

"I was reading a book about toxins." Larys remarked. "It was curious and strange..."

"What did it say?" Blyana asked eagerly.

"To Peel an onion, cut it in two, and place on either side of a child's bed." Larys remarked.

"Onions?" Blyana countered confused.

"The onion supposedly absorbs toxins and germs and is thought to purify the air." Larys offered.

"Lets give it a shot." Blyana agreed.

But the onions were not a cure all. Although Aemond slept and didnt cry or cough out with Blyanas concoction he was still getting weaker thats when Blyana noticed it.

"Ali his wet nurse has sores." Blyana remarked when she came in for Aemonds feeding. "Shes sick. She is hurting Aemond."

"What? No. I would never." Wet nurses were paid well for their services of letting royalty suck from their breasts she wouldnt risk that. "Its just a..."

"Your body is not strong and therefore the milk you are giving Aemond is not strong enough. He needs you Ali. Not this stranger" Blyana declared. So Alicent did as Blyana suggested and breast fed her child. She had not done so for Helaena or Aegon but Blyana was right. Aemond started feeling better growing stronger.

"You saved him." Alicent declared.

"Sometimes the Gods make you suffer so you can help others through their pain." Blyana remarked smiling down at Aemond.