Burn The Ships / Viserys Targaryen / Larys Strong

8. Advice

"Your grace?" Lucia was confused when he appeared at her chamber door. 

"Hello Lucia, might I come in?" viserys questioned. She pulled open the door gesturing for him to join her. Larys glanced back at them from the chair.

"Your grace." Larys offered confused. 

"I know the hour is late." Viserys remarked. "But... I wanted to see your sister. I..." he fiddled with a scroll. 

"What is that?" Lucia questioned. "For me?"

'A letter... from Vaemond Velaryon.' Viserys corrected. 

'The Sea Snake's brother.'' Larys agreed. 

''Yeah. He's fighting in the Stepstones, with all the rest of them.' Viserys told them. 

"And you wanted my opinion?" Lucia mused. 

"Yes actually. I find your honesty refreshing, your smile... enlightening." Viserys remarked and Lucia blushed, Larys didnt like that one bit. 

''May I?' she questioned and he nodded she read it over as the fire crackled between them, Larys shifted moving to his sisters side. ''Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon are losing their war.'' Lucia realized. 

''Badly, by all accounts.'' Viserys agreed. 

''This is a plea for aid. Then why not send it?'' Lucia questioned confused. 

''Because it is a war started by two malcontents, unhappy with decisions I made. If I now provide Daemon and Corlys succor, what will that say of their king?'' Viserys countered. 

''Perhaps, that he is a good man who loves his brother.'' Lucia offered. "If my brothers were in danger I would do everything in my power to save them." Lucia informed him. "I think you are fool enough to forgive your brother time and time again, you dont want him to die." Viserys sighed his head tipping to the sky as if asking the Gods for an answer. 

''Well, if you truly believe that, my dear... then you possess a generous spirit.' Viserys told her

'What do you believe, Viserys?'' Lucia questioned and Larys was surprised that Lucia called him Viserys and not your grace. That Viserys didnt seem to care that she didnt address him formally. 

''That I am forever doomed to anger one person in the pleasing of another.' Viserys told her

''Then I pose a simpler question. Is it better for the realm if the Crabfeeder thrives, or is vanquished?' Lucia offered

"I knew coming to you would make things clearer." Viserys offered. "Thank you, LUcia." 

"Anytime." Lucia agreed as she handed back the scroll. Larys eyes went wide as Viserys pressed a kiss to her cheek. 

"Goodnight my lady... my lord." Viserys offered before heading out. Larys waited until the door was closed before turning sharply to Lucia. 

"What the literal hell was that?" 

+

"Make haste to Dwarfstone, Ser Addam.' Viserys instructed ''Hand-deliver this to Prince Daemon yourself.''

'At once, Your Grace.' He agreed

'Dwarfstone?' Rhaenyra questioned

'I'm sending word to Daemon. Aid is sailing to the Stepstones.'

'Did he make call for help?'

'He would sooner die. But Lucia reminded me that I love my brother, no matter how much he irks me. But Daemon would die and his king does not mean to allow that.' Viserys told his daughter as she took a seat. 'Do you not think my decision correct?''

'It is no consequence to what I think... as I'm often reminded.' Rhaenyra told him calmly. Viserys found it strange that Lucia and Rhaenyra had two such opposite views on life and war. 

''Daemon is thorn enough in my flesh. Will you insist on taking after him? Must everything be a battle?'' viserys questioned. 

''If you refer to your attempt to marry me off to Casterly Rock.' Rhaenyra told him stubbornly

'I am sorry, Rhaenyra. I was trying to help you. Will you not be helped? Why must every effort on your behalf be resisted as if to the death?' Viserys asked

'Because you mean to replace me... with Alicent Hightower's son, the boy you always wanted. You have him in hands now. Y-You have no further use for me.' Rhaenyra told him sadly. 'You might as well peddle me for what you can. A mountain stronghold or a fleet of ships.'

''You have misjudged me, Rhaenyra.''

''We all know it. Jason Lannister knows it. You said it yourself, the lords of the realm gather like vultures to a carcass, hoping to feast on my bones.' Rhaenyra told him

''It is true that as rulers we must marry for advantage to forge alliances and bolster our strength. You have always understood this.' Viserys reminded her 'I myself was promised to your mother when I was...''

''ten-and-seven years of age. The Vale had an army to rival the North. I've heard that story since I've had ears to.' Rhaenyra reminded him

''I loved her. She made a man of me. I do not seek to replace you, child. You've been much alone these last few years. Alone and angry.' Viserys agreed 'I will not live forever. I wish to see you contented, happy even.''

''You think a man will do it?''

''A family.'' He corrected.

"My loving wonderful family." Lyonel remarked. "I see we all kept our heads about us." Lucia rolled her eyes. 

"The king likes me." Lucia corrected. 

"Oh trust me I know." LYonel agreed. "He asked about you my dear."

"He did?" Larys asked accusatorily. 

"He did. He likes Lucia's smile." Lyonel remarked touching Lucia's cheek. 

"It's a nice smile." Harwin agreed. 

"Oh my dear family, do continue to boost my ego." Lucia mused. 

''I had a family.' Rhaenyra reminded him

''What would you have me do?!' Viserys houted. 

''If it was for advantage, you would've wed Laena Velaryon!' Rhaenyra shouted back

'That is true enough. You must marry, strengthen your own claim, shore up your succession, multiply. As to your match... make it yourself.' Viserys told her 'Search him out. Find one that pleases you, as I did.'' Viserys offered looking down at her. 'Rhaenyra... I did waver at one time. But I swear to you now, on your mother's memory, you will not be supplanted.''

"I think the king coming into Lucia's chambers late at night will give people the wrong idea." Larys cut in. 

"He came back after the feast? After the hunt?" Lyonel questioned confused. 

"He had a problem that I solved for him, I think." Lucia agreed. 

"Why did he come to you?" Lyonel countered. 

"He knows I'm smart." Lucia offered. "I offered him some advice at the feast about being wrong about naming Rhaenyra heir and apparently he liked what I had to say." 

"You didnt!" Harwin declared. 

"I did and he came back for more." Lucia agreed. "I dont see what the big deal is. I didnt seek him out, he sot me out." 

"I think we are skipping over the fact that the king came into Lucia's chambers and if I wasnt there to supervise-" Larys cut in. 

"He is married." Lucia corrected. Larys bit his lip, lucia didnt say gross, or not my type, simply he is married. 

"And if he wasnt?" Larys countered. 

"You planning on killing the queen?" Lucia mused. 

"LUCIA!" Lyonel declared slapping a hand to his face. "Do you need etiquette lessons?" 

"Gross, no."