Red // Otto Hightower (1)

24. Plague

Aelsa groaned rolling her shoulders and hips feeling the joints crack and pop into place. Another knock on the door. She rolled over burying her face in Ottos chest.

"Dont move." Otto whispered getting up. He tugged on a robe and some pants and headed to the door. He wanted to be snuggled up in bed with his wonderful woman but no he was dragged away at some unGodly hour to answer the door.

'Apologies for the late hour, my Lord."

" What is it?'' Otto questioned.

'A messenger brings urgent word from the White Worm.'

White worm, Otto thought as he clenched his jaw. The infamous white worm usually had information for him good and useful information. Scandalous information even. And if this was urgent, it might time sensitive. He took the scroll reading it over. This wasn't good at all. This was a very bad indeed.

Aelsa read it over when otto got back to bed.

"I have to tell the king-"

"No. You have to sit your ass down and let me do it." Aelsa countered.

"Aelsa-"

"I have no reason to want aegon on the throne he will see right through you." Aelsa countered.

"And if he doesn't trust you and sends you back to casterly rock?"

"I always land on my feet." Aelsa assured him.

"You are risking yourself, for me." Otto remarked.

"Well I like you." Aelsa admitted as she got dressed. "Dont act so surprised, thats old news, Otto. I assure you."

"Is it? I certainly like to hear it." Otto countered.

"I like you, I dont want you losing your job over this." Aelsa remarked. " Besides, why would he sack me? I'm just telling him some news that he might not like. I have no ulterior motives, besides letting him know some scandalous deeds, his daughter partook in."

"You are young and good at this-"

"Which is why he won't sack me." Aelsa agreed. " I'm a good hand of the king and you know it. Everyone knows it and I'm confident that he trusts me on the topic of his children more than you right now which is why it has to be me."

+

'Come. What is it?'

'I apologize for the early hour, viserys. I have, um... discomforting news. I thought it best shared discreetly before the council convenes.' Aelsa told Viserys. Viserys sighed but nodded. Aelsa knew she had to tread gently rhaenyra was a soft spot for viserys. 

"The Sea Snake?"

 "I'm afraid it concerns the dear Princess.' Aelsa corrected. 

''Has she been harmed?'

'It is no easy thing to tell a father of his daughter's exploits. I had considered saying nothing, but... if it were my child, I would want to know." Aelsa remarked.

'What has she done?' Viserys demanded

'The Princess was spied last evening... beyond the walls of the Keep... in a pleasure house.' Aelsa told him.

'What of it?'

'What of it?" She repeated as though that wasn't bad enough for the princess and crowned heir of the iron throne "She was carrying on with her uncle. They were engaged in behaviors unbecoming of a maiden... of a Princess.' Aelsa informed him.

'What behaviors?'

'Well, must I say it, Your Grace?' Was he truly that oblivious to what teenage girls did? Especially with handsome men out late pass the curfew in the most scandalous of places.