One Good Reason / Lucerys Velaryon

4. Bitter Dead Man

''Though it is the great hope of this court that Lord Corlys Velaryon survive his wounds, we gather here with the grim task of dealing with the succession of Driftmark. As Hand, I speak with the King's voice on this and all other matters.'' Otto remarked sitting proudly on the throne. "The crown will now hear the petitions. Ser Vaemond of House Velaryon." He decreed.

"Where is Sera?" Aemond questioned. Aegon shrugged indifferent. Alicent peered around.  "She said she was going to be here."

"Oh... she is." Aegon agreed nodding to Luke and Jace.

''-for as long as House Targaryen has ruled the skies, House Velaryon has ruled the seas. When the Doom fell on Valyria, our houses became the last of their kind." Vaemond went on but Sera was only half listening.

"You look really beautiful." Luke whispered.

"Thank you." Sera answered.

"Thank you for standing with us." Rhaenyra added. "It means a great deal."

"Of course." Sera agreed.

''I have spent my entire life on Driftmark defending my brother's seat. I am Lord Corlys's closest kin, his own blood. The true, unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins." Vaemond went on.

''As it does in my sons, the offspring of Laenor Velaryon. If you cared so much about your house's blood, Ser Vaemond, you would not be so bold as to supplant its rightful heir.'' Rhaenyra spoke up. ''No, you only speak for yourself and for your own ambition.'' Rhaenyra declared.

Ambition was a strange thing. It turned men into monsters and women into witches. Ambition for a claim for a crown.  Ambition for lands. Sera looked to Luke he had a small smile on his face as he stared back at her clearly not paying attention to the words vaemond spat out like venom on his tongue.

Sera wasn't listening much either. She heard alicents voice drifting to them but knew her queenly tone and her actual kindness and compassionate tone and right now she was playing queen with false courtesy.

''What do you know of Velaryon blood, Princess?'' Vaemond went on. Sera held back a yawn. ''I could cut my veins and show it to you and you still wouldn't recognize it. This is about the future and survival of my house, not yours.'' Vaemond turned back to Otto and Alicent. ''My Queen, my Lord Hand. This is a matter of blood, not ambition. I place the continuation of the survival of my house and my line above all. I humbly put myself before you as my brother's successor... the Lord of Driftmark and Lord of the Tides.''

Sera gave lukes arm a squeeze and he lifted his hand taking hers in his. Sera was taller and a few years older than luke. She moved to stand behind him drapping her arms over his shoulders locking her arms around him. Luke smiled softly his eyes drifting up to her as he leaned into sera. Jace was glad that luke wasnt worried, that sera was keeping him content because their mother was certainly anxious. Otto instructed it was rhaenyras turn to speak and Rhaenyra stepped forward a heavy breath in her lungs.

''If I am to grace this farce with some answer, I will start by reminding the court that nearly 20 years ago, in this very...'' Rhaenyra began but the doors swung open and Viserys came in, cane in hand as he took shaky steps forward. A golden mask covering his lack of eye as he moved closer and closer all could see the age and pain and disease that spread over his body.

" King Viserys of House Targaryen, the First of His Name, King of the Andals, and the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm." Was announced. Sera glanced back. Considering how ling she lived at the capital she really didnt know the king much. She didnt know aegon much either.