𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 | 𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆𝗲𝗻

Chapter 10: travel planning

119 d. C

The morning after the raven of ser Harwin was received Rhaenyra made her way towards her fathers chambers. She knew that she needed to take the children outside King's Landing if she wanted them to have a better life or, at least, a better childhood.
With Otto Hightower once more as the hand of the king she didn't want to wait to see what he would do. It was him that had poisoned the relationship between her and Alicent and she wasn't going to let that happen again with her siblings and children.

Once she made it to his chamber she took a last calming breath before nodding to the guard motioning for him to announce her presence.

As the doors opened she could see the model of old Valyria and her father seated by it carving a new building to add to the growing collection. Even after all this time her father only found relief from his duties when he worked on his model. Alicent was also in the room keeping her father company.

Hearing the doors opening and seeing Rhaenyra entering the room Viserys tried to get up to greet her but getting light headed he stopped and seated again. On the other hand Alicent remained seated.

"Good morning darling" Viserys said as he watched her approach him.

"Good morning father. My queen. Father, do you have a moment to talk with me?" Rhaenyra hoped her father would grant her wish but with the queen present she knew it would be difficult.

"Of course, is something the matter?" She barely frecuentes his quarters so he was a little concerned about her visit.

Making her way towards the chair nearest to her father Rhaenyra sat and faced him.

"I was thinking of making a trip to Dragonstone with the children. So they can learn about new places and take a break from the capital." She carefully worded her thoughts knowing their conversation wasn't private.

The idea seemed to be of the likes of the kings for as soon as he heard her intentions of traveling to Dragonstone his face lit up.

"Oh that's a wonderful idea. Let the kids be kids and enjoy Dragonstone. When did you and Laenor plan to part?" Viserys wanted his family to remain united and them going to their ancestral home seemed like a great idea to him.

Alicent did not. As soon as she heard the offer she turned to her husband and step-daughter.

"Wait a moment my love. I don't think it's appropriate for her to take my children to some island where we won't be certain they would be safe." She wasn't going to allow Rhaenyra to separate her from her kids.

"Well I think it's a good idea for them to go there, family must remain united" Viserys usually left most of the children's upbringing in the hands of Alicent so he was not surprised that it was difficult for her to part with them.

"I am their family and I don't see it convenient for them to leave. They are as much as my children as they are yours" Alicent was starting to get nervous. Her father had advised her to keep her children near in case Rhaenyra decided to try and get rid of them. He had installed that fear in her and she didn't see any other logic as to why Rhaenyra had decided to take her children from her. Maybe she had discovered that Larry's was the culprit of the fire and had associated her with the attempted murder.

"Alicent to make things more complicated. All the kids will go and they will have a good time and bond further" He didn't want to argue and the fact that Alicent would contradict him was something new for him. He didn't know what to do.

Rhaenyra, on the other hand, had decided to keep quiet. If she knew anything, it was choosing her battles and the fact that Alicent began to contradict her father meant a change of dynamics in the relationship between them. It meant that his father would start to see the Hightowers' attempts at manipulating him once and for all.

"No Viserys, I also have a right on the decisions about our children and I decided that they are to remain here," With that she stood up from her chair and approached Viserys, casting a soft kiss on his cheek. "Now if you excuse me I'm going to the sept. I need to pray."

Giving Rhaenyra a nod she left the king's chambers and made her way to her father. She needed to know if she made the right decision preventing her children from leaving.

At a loss of words Viserys wished Rhaenyra a safe journey and retired for the day. That minuscule argument had ended with his last forces. 

Walking out of the room Rhaenyra thought of how she would break the news to her siblings and children. They hadn't parted for more than a few days in their lives and now they would find themselves divided between Dragonstone and King's Landing.

But what worried her most was Aemond's reaction. He wasn't going to take his separation from Shiera well.
She prayed to the gods that Shiera and Aemond would not suffer too much during their time apart.