Traitor / Larys Strong / Otto Hightower (3)

11. Obedience

Full Bloom / Alicent Hightower out now!

"It is ignorance and vanity." Otto hissed. "You know as well as I do that Aegon must be kept in check. As does Ser Criston. The two of them together... "

"Ser Criston is not temperate..." Alicent countered. "but his devotion cannot be questioned. If it does come to war..."

" He's ensured it. He's young and unschooled. His faith is in steel and bone. He has not the long view." Otto countered.

"None of them do." Alicent agreed.

"They wish now not for the good of the realm, but for the petty satisfaction of vengeance."

"Aegon is still malleable. It is the death of the child that has unstrung him." Alicent assured.

"I can't stay here. Exiled from the council. Witness to the blundering of our plans." Otto admitted. "I'll return to Oldtown. The Hightowers still have strength, and you have a son there who will take more kindly to instruction. Daeron may yet help us in weeks to come." Otto added.

"Go rather to Highgarden. The Tyrells must be taken in hand." Alicent countered. "Their bannermen are wavering. While you're gone, I'll speak sense to him. His blood will cool. In time, you may yet return."

"The young are peacocks... all shrieking and feathers." 

"He removed me from the council." Otto told Aelsa as he packed. 

"For what?" She countered. 

"Calling him an idiot." otto answered

"Yeah that would do it." She agreed.

"I'm leaving."

"What? Where?"

"Old town"

"Oh." It more an exhale of breath than an answer.

"I have my sons and grandson-"

"How is dearon?" Aelsa questioned

"I suppose I will find out. "

"I will miss you." Aelsa countered. "I..."

"I can't stay here." Otto breathed back resting his forehead against hers. "I love you but..."

"You keep leaving me Otto." Aelsa whispered.

"I'm sorry... maybe in another life we would have been leaving together." 

Aelsa cleared her throat moving to Aegon's chambers, she pushed open the door, with a smug smile. Criston rose up bowing his head to her. 

"So... I heard what you planned." Aelsa said slowly. "If it were to work I will apologize and applaud you." Aelsa assured looking to criston. "But when he doesn't come back because he is dead or their prisoner you will listen me without fail." She took another step forward and slapped criston across the face. He didnt flinch, but his lips pursed. "You are an idiot. And you- Aegon are a fool to listen to him. TO agree to this. Otto was right."

"Then I suppose we wait and see." Aegon agreed. 

"We shall." Aelsa agreed. "Arryk was a great sword." Aelsa reminded them. "He was loyal and unwavering. It's hard to find men like that in a war like this and you just sent him to his death."

"Or his victory." Criston countered and aegon clapped out. 

"Yes! That is the kind of thinking I like!" Aegon declared. "I need a strong hand."

"Aegon." Aelsa warned. 

"You can fill in for my grandfathers position." Aegon offered. "criston will be my hand and rule with an iron fist and victory on his mind  not defeat." 

"Take it." Aelsa agreed. "And when Arryk doesnt come back?'

"I will get on my knees and beg your forgiveness." Aegon assured thinking that would never happen. 

Aelsa threw it down to Criston. 

Larys noticed the lack of pin when she returned. 

"It's temporary." She assured. "Arryk will die and I will be hand again and Aegon will listen to me." Larys nodded settling back in bed. "I hate him. I really hate him sometimes." 

"Yet you are invested now." Larys agreed. "You need to see this through."

"I do." She agreed. "It's awful but I do."

"It's not awful." Larys assured. 

"Arryk was a good sword. Aegon trusted him, liked him. He had been part of the castle for years.... him and his brother." 

"His traitor brother." Larys countered. 

"You agreed he was loyal." Aelsa countered. 

"He was. I'm just trying to lessen the blow for when he doesnt come back." 

Dead.

Aelsa kept the skip from her step although it could have been warranted. She went to the council room where aegon was spinning a marble bored. 

"You know when you are wrong and you make a mistake and you think apologize and things could be better." Aelsa offered. 

"You are trying to slow walk me to an epiphany but lets just jump to it." Aegon countered.

"Arryk is dead." Aelsa answered throwing down the scroll. "He failed. I was right. Criston was wrong. Big surprise." 

Aegon read over the scroll as Criston took off the pin silently. 

"On your knees Aegon, you promised. If you are a man of your word, you will get down," Aelsa reminded him. "ANd beg for my forgiveness and then listen to me. I want your unwavering obedience."