History of Man / Laenor Velaryon / Aislynn Hightower / Animal Kingdom Crossover

10. Manipulation

Now that we don't talk / Otto Hightower Out now!

Burn the Ships / Viserys Targaryen / Larys Strong out Now!

Karma / Criston Cole / aemond Targaryen out now!

"Daemon was kicked out yesterday, Viserys beat him up too." TOmmy remarked. "It was quite the show." 

"Damnit I missed it." Aislynn grumbled. 

"You shouldnt have put all your eggs in the Daemon basket." Arthur mused. 

"I didnt put any eggs in the daemon... basket." Aislynn giggled back. "I knew it would fail but I needed him back, I needed him to do something stupid, and he did it, with the most magnificent outcome possible!" Aislynn declared. 

"You knew he would fuck up your plan?" John countered. 

"I'm like Tom and Baz." aislynn remarked looking between her brothers. "I'm always working on the next plan." 

"What is plan B?"

+

"I never meant for this to happen." Alicent whimpered

"What do you mean?" Aislynn countered.

"I spoke... I spoke to the king again." Alicent admitted.

"And said what?" Aislynn countered.

"That I believed Rhaenyra." Alicent whispered.

"ALICENT!" Aislynn shouted.

"Rhaenyra wants father sacked! you have to believe me, Lynnie I didnt know! I just..."

"You saw the best in Rhaenyra but there is no best in Rhaenyra. She lied. I know it." Aislynn declared.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didnt mean to... What do we do?" Alicent whimpered as she hugged Aislynn.

"It's not your fault. I'm just mad." Aislynn whispered rubbing a hand over Alicent's back.

"I'm sorry Lynnie."

"It's not your fault." Aislynn repeated.

"What do we do?"

"Do? No no I talk to the king."

So thats what Aislynn did.

"Where are you going?" 

"To talk to the king." Aislynn grumbled. "Alicent, bless her big heart is fucking things up. She believes Rhaenyra and that is going to get father sacked. Rhaenyra-"

"Demanded that father be sacked and she will marry whatever lord Viserys wants. There will be no convincing him." Tommy corrected. "He needs her wed off now more than ever." Aislynn halted in the middle of the hall. 

"Fuck." Aislynn bite back. "What are you we going to do then?" 

"Plan C?" Tommy offered. 

"Plan C won't work, I think I'm on plan... L already." Aislynn mused as she marched back down the hall, grumbling to herself. 

+

"I hope you can forgive the late hour, Princess. I took great care in its preparation. If not brewed properly, it can either prove ineffective or else bear unpleasant...' the maester said putting a glass down in front of her

'Brewed properly? I'm sorry, what is that?' Rhaenyra said giving it a sniff.

'A tea, Princess. From the King. It will rid you of any unwanted consequences.' She put is back down and watched him go. Hell, her life was going to hell and for some reason, Rhaenyra blamed Aislynn Hightower. So Rhaenyra was doing her the same courtesy and hopefully ruining Aislynn's life as well. It was the least she could do.

+

'Your Grace.'

'Five days.' Viserys told Otto

'I'm sorry, Your Grace?' Otto questioned

'Though it was some time ago. The details... they fade in memory. My father was a hale and healthy warrior and dragon rider at the peak of his abilities. Jaehaerys named a great royal hunt to celebrate him being named the Hand of the King. Five days later my... my father lay dead. Tourneys last longer. Baelon the Brave, rider of Vhagar, heir to the Iron Throne... dead of a burst belly. The gods have a dark wit.' Viserys reminded him.

'It was a grim day.'

'I recall it all too well. Yeah... It was a good day for you. Jaehaerys named you Hand in Baelon's stead.' Viserys recalled

'That's hardly how I viewed it, Your Grace. It was a duty.' Otto assured. Aislynn remained silent as she peered in, her breath hitched in her throat, what was Viserys doing? What was he planning? No, Rhaenyra couldnt win, they were winning, things were going her way. She misjudged how much Viserys loved his daughter even in the midst of a scandal as large scale as Rhaenyra's. 

'You served my grand sire nobly in his final days. You are the man that taught me how to be King.'

'Oh, you honor me, Your Grace.' Otto said happily but King Viserys sighed.

'Just five days... you went from being another man in Jaehaerys's court, to the second most powerful man in the realm. I wonder... how long did it take you to choose yourself over your King?'

'Your Grace?'

'I will never recover from Aemma's death. But Alicent... she took me through the worst of my grief. She was a calculated distraction. I only now realize how well-calculated it was.' Viserys told him stiffly.

'That is an absurdity. The Queen loves you... as I know you love her.' Otto remarked and Aislynn held back a scoff, Alicent didnt love the king. Viserys might have loved mounting his child wife but the love was not reciprocated.

'Your interests no longer align with those of the realm. Your judgment has been compromised.' Viserys said confidently.

"What?" Aislynn rasped. "No..." 

''A loyal Hand must tell his king a discomforting truth from time to time, Your Grace. If he doesn't... he's failed as a servant.' Otto offered taking a step forward. 

''You were a faithful servant, Otto. The crown and the realm both owe you a debt that can never be repaid. But I can no longer trust your judgment.' Viserys told him. Aislynn faltered back running down to hall to Alicent's room. But Rhaenyra found her first. 

"hurts doesnt it?" Rhaenyra questioned. AIslynn turned slowly to face her. "Being manipulated." 

"Oh Rhaenyra, you havent seen anything yet."