Red // Otto Hightower (1)

20. Settle Down

'Is everything all right, Viserys?" Aelsa questioned coming up to a large and crackling fire where Viserys stood, needing solace.

'You know, I... I named her... to protect the realm from Daemon. She was my only child. "The Realm's Delight." I named her out of love because I no longer believed...''

'Believed what, vis?" Aelsa questioned and Viserys sighed. "Tell me. Im your friend. Let me help you if I can."

'Many in my line have been dragon riders. Very few among us have been dreamers. What is the power of a dragon... next to the power of prophecy.' Viserys told her

'Im sorry viserys. I don't understand.'' aelsa admitted.

'When Rhaenyra was a child... I saw it in a dream... as vivid as these flames, I saw it. A male babe born to me... wearing the Conqueror's crown.' Viserys told her confidently.

"That sounds painful," aelsa remarked.

"Aemma said the same." Viserys admitted. "Yet I so wanted it to be true, to be a dreamer myself. I sought that vision again, night after night... but it never came again. I poured all my thought and will into it. And my obsession killed Rhaenyra's mother.'

'Viserys you didnt kill her-" aelsa tried to calm him

'I did and I thought Rhaenyra was the way out of my abyss of grief and regret. And naming her heir would begin to set things right.' Viserys huffed a breath.

'It did it did.' Aelsa assured "for a time rhat is."

'I never imagined I would remarry... that I would have a son.' Viserys told her his confidence wavering. 'What if I was wrong?' he heard a horn blowing in the distance the beast had been found.

"Go win the hunt." Aelsa suggested.
+

'He may not be white, Your Grace. But he's a big lad.' Harwin remarked as they got closer to the Hart.

'Your Grace... for the kill'. Jason offered his spear and Viserys took it. The hart bellowed and thrashed in their restraints.

'Right here, Your Grace.' A huntsman remarked showing him where to strike. The hart wailed but didn't fall 'One more time, Your Grace. A little bit to your left.' The huntsman told him so again Viserys struck. The hart shrieked before collapsing to the ground. The hunter applauded their king.

Aelsa and otto rode back that night in the dark. Otto got them a carriage for the way back and aelsa lay her head in his lap closing her eyes letting the bumpy road lull her to sleep. Otto ran a hand over her hair. He wanted to tell the world how he felt. But he knew Aelsa wanted her work to come first. He respected that about her. Loved that about her. He loved her.

"Im going to drop you off at home." Otto whispered when her eyes flickered open.

"Castle first." Aelsa murmured. "I have one more thing I need to do." Otto knew better than to argue with her. He agreed and she headed offnin way direction while otto went to check on his daughter.

'Come, sweet Prince. Let's give Her Grace some peace.' The handmaiden requested taking aegon away. he continued to scream alicent huffed a breath. She didnt have that motherly touch like aelsa did  not even with her own child.

' Did you enjoy the hunt, Your Grace?' Otto asked his daughter

'Well enough.'

'How fared my grandson?'

'The ladies Lannister and Redwyne were quite taken with him.' Alicent remarked. Lady lannister, otto choked back a gag. That woman was shameless.

'As they should be." Otto agreed smiling back at her. Forcing Ceira from his mind and thinking of Aelsa instead. "He's the future of the realm. Well, you yourself witnessed the scale of the celebration, how it's united the men. When you bore the King a son, you ended 15 years of uncertainty and doubt. Aegon, like his namesake, was born to rule the Seven Kingdoms. If Viserys were to name him heir, the realm would fete him for it.' Otto remarked but Alicent stayed silent. 'And does this not please you? Do you not want your son to be King?''