Traitor / Larys Strong / Otto Hightower (3)

17. Bowels

The Prophecy / Aegon Targaryen out now!

" Come." Alicent rasped. "Lord Larys, lord hand." she looked pale, a hot pack against her stomach, her breath wheezing.

"You look like shit." Aelsa decided.

"I thought I'd look in on you, Your Grace, after your absence from the small council." Larys added. "I feared something was amiss." He had a gentler touch.

" You're kind to do so, my lord, but indulgence was my sin. I... ventured into the lamprey pie at last night's supper. Too far, I fear."

" That is a rich indulgence are you sure it wasn't a going away present from Cole?" Aelsa pondered. Larys pinched her waist.

"Was anything of note discussed at the council?" Alicent countered.

"Daemon having seized Harrenhal and His Grace's resulting displeasure." Aelsa agreed. "He threw a hissy fit, Aemond was being a dick, so the usual." Aelsa assured.

" I would've thought you would be the most aggrieved, my lord." Alicent countered looking to a calm larys.

"I see it as a loss for our greater good. Dragonstone's attentions are greatly divided. First in the Riverlands and the Gullet, and now the Crownlands. Ser Criston wins every challenge he faces there. That truth alone is like to incite Rhaenyra's fury." Larys assured.

" He's covered himself in glory, to be sure." Alicent agreed.

"And you must worry for him? Your sworn sword.. on the march, ever exposed to dragons?" Larys looked to her. "It is a perilous road."

"Perilous indeed." Aelsa agreed.

"Ser Criston is the commander. We should all pray for his victory and safe return." Alicent added stiffly.

"Indeed." he agreed rising up. "If I may be so bold, my queen... you have not seemed yourself of late."

"Only weeks ago, my lord husband was alive and the realm was at peace. Now, I've... barely had the hours to grieve one tragedy before suffering the next." Alicent agreed. "I regret if I have not been myself..."

"I regret staying to deal with you people but you still see me dealing with your shithead sons." Aelsa countered.

" I did not know you shared your lord husband's love... for the histories." Larys remarked picking up a book.

"If not his love, then certainly an... an abiding interest." Alicent agreed. "The voices of history guided Viserys. He knew that his wisdom alone could only reach so far."

"Do you think that is why he changed his mind... in the end?" Larys pondered. "No matter how suited he thought Rhaenyra for the crown, the, uh, voices of history, as you say, would have told him how the realm would react to her succession."

"It was impossible to know what steered his thoughts in those final hours."

"Do you now doubt his intentions?" Aelsa pondered.

"Rhaenyra's supporters will believe what they wish" Alicent corrected. "And so will Aegon's The war will be fought, many will die... and the victor will eventually ascend the throne. The significance of Viserys' intentions died with him." Larys sealed the book.

"Yes, it did."

"Aemond a word..." Aelsa instructed in a tone that said it wasn't a request. He turned to her. "What did I tell you about saying things of importance in front of aegon?"

"Whoops." Aemond answered

"No. That was not what I said and you know it because I made you repeat it back to me when I told you do not piss off the King." Aelsa hissed.

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not because you're a cocky and pain in the ass just like your brother." Aelsa corrected

"I'm sorry I angered you. I'm not sorry I said it."

"Well... that doesn't really help me now doesn't because now I have to deal with your temperamental, big brother. "

"I'm heading out soon."

"Yes, I gathered," aelsa drawled.

"I will come back victorious."

"Please don't embarrass us all you mother fucker." Aelsa begged. "Be smarter than Cole."

"I am." Aemond assured.

"I will be glad if we do not have to bury you." Aelsa said honestly.

"I think you like me." Aemond decided.

"I think me not wanting you dead and liking you are too completely different things". Aelsa countered marching off.

"You mum is smoking hot."

"I will rip out your good eye." Ollivander warned.

XXX

"You like to push."

"I love to push." Aelsa agreed. "What are we going to do about Aemond?"

"What are we going to do about the lack of livestock for the dragons?" Larys countered.

"Damn dragons, useful and awful at the same time." Aelsa mumbled. "Tomorrow problem? Can it be a tomorrow problem?" she begged. But the night didnt bring any peace.

"Honey?" larys questioned through the darkness hearing Aelsa rummaging around.

"Go back to bed."

"Are you alright?" Larys countered getting up.

"This family made me constipated I asked for something from the maester and its working... in the middle of the fucking night." Aelsa informed him. "Look away. I don't want to lose my sex appeal." Larys chuckled

"Do you need anything?"

"No. Go back to bed. I might toss this out the window in hopes of it landing on aegon or aemond those fuckers ruining my life and my happiness and my bowels."