Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

20. Veto

Who's afraid of little old me / HOTD out now!

"Criston got to name this one and since you named your son Arthur against my wishes and Criston really likes-"

"You had veto power" Criston reminded her.

"guess what he choose? The doofus." Mallory grumbled but she smiled down at her baby boy.

"Merlin." criston answered proudly.

"Oh that's so sweet!" Tully declared.

"See tully likes it!" Criston agreed.

"Merlin and Arthur," luke chuckled. "Don't give me that look Mallory. We had a boy first."

"Aurora and Arthur would have been so cute-"

"They could fall in love." Criston countered.

"Merlin." Mallory chuckled.

"It's adorable." Tully declared.

"Merlin! How sweet!" Willa cooed. "Stephen loves the story of Arthur and the knights of the round table. Speaking of tables, I should get back to work."

"Nonsense, Mallory has everything under control." Tully assured.

"I really do. Sit back, relax." Mallory agreed with a snap of her fingers. No one really thought Rhaenyra was the queen, for all she did seemed insignificant to what Mallory did. Commanded really. Mallory was queen of every room she walked into. She held more sway and more fear in the eyes of others to do her bidding instantly. While Rhaenyra they all seemed to tolerate.

"You need not worry, or lift a finger. Others can handle that. We can dote on Arthur and Merlin." Mallory added.

"Oh speaking of kids, Helaena wrote." Tully remarked. "The kids are growing fast, she is doing well in old town. Her mother actually..." Tully stopped herself as Rhaenyra came up to them.

"How is my grandchild?" Rhaenyra questioned. Tully smiled down at Arthur asleep in her arms.

"Perfect. Just like I'm sure Luke was at this age." Tully answered. Rhaenyra smiled softly before catching sight of Daemon running out again. Tully followed her gaze, as did Willa and Mallory.

"He is a busy man these days." Rhaenyra sighed. Larys turned the corner and saw the women gathered and smiled at the sight of willa before him. He sat at her side kissing her cheek. Rhaenyra couldnt believe a slimy cripple like Larys found someone when Daemon couldnt keep it in his pants.

"Luke was telling me Daemon found another rider for sheepstealer, was that its name? What a funny name but I suppose if you steal sheep, you get that name." Tully added. "Neetles? I think that was her name. That must be exciting for Prince Daemon, training a new rider."

"Yes." Rhaenyra agreed relaxing. Neetles, the ugly little bastard that got lucky. Daemon wouldnt care for her, if he was training that child then Rhaenyra had absolutely nothing to worry about. She glanced to Larys knowing him the master of spies, but he was focused on Willa Swann. If Rhaenyra wanted information she just needed to ask him. Larys was family now, she supposed he had been for a long while but Rhaenyra thought herself better than him still. If only Harwin was still here, if only Larys had died then Rhaenyra could truly be happy. She could still have her lover and she wouldnt care what Daemon did or didnt do.

"How is little Merlin?" Larys questioned as Rhaenyra sauntered off. Larys smiled down at Arthur Larys Velaryon. Tully leaned into him as he kissed her cheek.

"The name is growing on me." Mallory decided. "Because he is certainly magical."

xxxx

"Lord larys."

"Your grace" he answered.

"I wondered if you might have heard anything about... Daemon."

"Your grace?" Larys countered cautiously of course he heard many things of daemon. All scandalous and all true.

"He is... he has been seen with whores. I dont care about that. He is mine and i am his but he has been spending a lot of time with the new dragon riders." Rhaenyra informed him bluntly. Larys recovered quickly from his shock of her admittance of daemons high infidelity.

Looking into daemons eyes she saw a lavender haze that kept her coming back to him. He whispered sweet nothings in her ear before leaving her thinking unspeakable thoughts.

They had avoided the great war but it hit different thinking of daemon with another woman that he actually liked not just someone that he used for their cunt.

"Neetles." Larys answered.

"What do you know of her?" Rhaenyra demanded.

"Shes a no one. A bastard of dragonseed no doubt but-"

"A hideous little beast she is." Rhaenyra corrected.

"The capital is a labyrinth if you want answers-" larys added.

"I will make you bejeweled if you find out whats going on between them." Rhaenyra instructed. Larys bowed his head to her.

"Consider it done."

"Your job is kind of scary." Willa remarked.

"No. Its just as safe as anyone elses." Larys assured.

"Larys." Willa tsked

"Im good at my job. Im quite invisible." He reminded her.

"I worry when you are gone." Willa countered. Larys took a step closer and kissed her. "I wanted to make it official." She added.

"What?" Larys questioned.

"Move in with us." Willa begged. "Stephen loves you so much and... well i do to. You are here every night anyways and well... what do you think?"

"Can i move in?" Tully questioned.

"What?" Larys countered packing up thr remainder of his clothes.

"Here. Luke and Vivian and little Arthur. Can we move in?" Tully questioned. "I love this home. You raised me here. I have so many memories here. I was talking to luke about wanting a place of our own-"

"Yes of course Tully." Larys agreed. "Im glad you will be able to make new memories with your family here."