Bodyguard/ Helaena Targaryen / Scott Lang

2. Watching You

"Hi I'm Scott. Scott Lang." He introduced. "It's nice to meet you, officially that is, i have been watching you for a while- that sounded weird. Not watching like I'm watching you, but more like it was my duty now and again to-" Scott clamped his lips shut. He was getting fired today. 

"Helaena." 

"I know who you are my queen, as I said.. I'm going to stop talking." Helaena stared back at him curiously. "I'm your sworn sword, whatever you need, whenever you need it. I'm your man."  SHe nodded slowly. Scott took a step closer and grabbed her hand gently. She stared down at his hand in hers. "I'm so sorry about your son. I can't imagine... I'm so sorry, Helaena. We will get justice for the prince." Helaena couldnt think past his hand in hers. How long had it been since she had real human contact, how long had it been since someone cared this deeply to hold her and try to comfort her. 

"Thank you Ser Scott." 

"Name." Scott remarked when Alicent approached. Criston gave him a shove out of the way. "Okay but if she pulls a blade on the queen, its on you Ser." Scott corrected. Alicent rolled her eyes giving Criston a pointed look. "I'm just kidding, I know who you are your former grace, your still grace? How does that work?" Scott questioned. "Let me get that door for you, do I announce you-"

"Shut up Lang." Criston begged. "You chose him, remember your grace?" Criston added. "Kind eyes."

"You thought I had kind eyes?" Scott cooed. "Thats so sweet. Thank you."

"I should have had a conversation with you, maybe I would have changed my mind." Alicent decided. Scott clamped his lips shut. 

"I'm silent as the night.... in flee bottom." He added. "It's super loud down there- right shutting up."

"There's to be a funeral for Jaehaerys." Alicent informed helaena as she clutched at her bed post there was a distance in her eyes as she relived the moment over and over again. "We've been asked to ride on a wagon behind his body."

"I don't want to." Helaena corrected. 

"A funeral, they are parading the body around? His head was chopped off." Scott whispered. 

"Learn to hold your tongue." Criston instructed. 

"They can't make the queen do that, she is-" 

"Lang." Criston demanded. 

"Neither do I." Alicent assured. "But when a thing like this happens... a blow to the king is a blow to the realm. When the people share our grief, they draw closer to us."

"I don't want them closer." Helaena corrected "I don't know them."

"Sometimes, we have to pretend." Alicent admitted.

"Why?"

"We are representatives of the throne. We have a duty." Alicent offered moving closer. "Helaena, what you saw last night when you came to my room..."

"This is for my boy." she whispered staring down at the little dragon toy. 

"You look beautiful. I mean sad and beautiful and... can I help you into the carriage?" Scott questioned. Helaena nodded softly as he offered her a hand up. "If you need me I'm right here, at the ready." Scott assured. She nodded again looking to her hands, cuticles bleeding as she pulled at her nails. 

"Behold the works of Rhaenyra Targaryen!"

"Our Queen!" The people called out

"Pretender to the throne!" The herald declared " Kinslayer!"

Helaena tried not to listen, not to notice, everyone was screaming for her, offering their condolences and apologizes for what happened but she didnt want to be near them, she didnt want their sorry's, she wanted to go home and grieve her son alone. 

"Queen Helaena!" The people called for her and threw rice up as they passed they all called out for her but she had never felt more alone. The carriage bumped to a stop.

"What's happening there?" A kingsguard shouted. "What's going on? Move it, then!"

" Queen Helaena!"

"Helaena."

"Queen Helaena!" The people got closer as they stopped reaching out for her. But helaena whimpered out she didn't pull away when alicent grabbed her hand.

"Helaena." Alicent whispered

" Heave! Heave!"

"A curse, a curse on Rhaenyra, the monstrous!"

"My Queen." Scott held out a hand and she took it cowering into him. 

"Ser what are you doing?" ALicent demanded. 

"This is no place for a queen." Scott answered. "For anyone." Helaena threw down her veil and hid her face in his side as he led her back to the castle. 

Helaena was grateful when they got back to the castle- Scott swore the was the longest he went without talking because he knew her brain must be spiraling and his constant chatter wasnt going to help. She locked herself in her chambers and Scott sighed. He was doing a bang up job at protecting her. 

"What is this?"

"It's a reminder of yesterday, I think." Arryk answered looking to his muddy cloak. "The procession was muddy. I'll replace it hence."

"Do it now."

"The night was long, Ser Criston," arryk informed him "and I had not eaten..."

Scott hesitated. Sworn swords were supposed to be with their person always but what about sleep and eating and shitting. Surely he couldnt say, dont move for a moment I need to take a crap, dont die or get attacked or let two men come in and decapitate your remaining son either. 

"You defy my authority, Ser Arryk."

"I do not." he corrected. 

"The white cloak is a symbol of our purity... our fidelity. Kingsguard are a sacred trust. Will you so easily sully our ancient honor?" Criston demanded. Arryk sighed heavily as the other guards glanced their way.

"I have erred, my lord. I'll remedy the error." He agreed getting up.

"Where were you when Jaehaerys was murdered?" Criston questioned following him

"With King Aegon" arryk answered. Where was scott? Scott debated that, probably asleep, he hated night watch, he was more of an early bird if early was 9 to 2. That was his peak time, he was sure of it, he worked best on a full nights sleep and with a filling breakfast in the morning. Yep, he was going to be in for a wake up call. 

" And you were not in the private quarters where you might have prevented the crime" criston realized.

"His Grace wished to entertain his companions in the throne room." Arryk answered

"But if you had thought to go upstairs..."

"Where were you, Lord Commander?" Arryk challenged "And why has Helaena the queen been granted no sworn protector? Surely once she ascended, she..."

"Ser Scott Lang is her sworn protector now. Nothing like that will ever happen again." Criston assured him.  Scott ducked down, hiding from his commander and running back to his post. He was supposed to live at her door apparently, he wasnt going to question it.