Dragonborn

SEVEN

Communication, trust, love, and respect.

In my opinion, those are the keys to a healthy relationship. Which — coincidentally — is what Nyra and Alicent have been doing since they were kids.

Heck. They're even the poster couple for a healthy relationship. And I know I wasn't supposed to meddle, blah, blah, blah. But if there is a chance to piss off Otto and his delicate sensibilities while preventing my sister's relationship from crumbling, well, you can bet your ass I'll take it.

A flash of green caught my eyes and sighted Alicent walking — marching, more like — towards us sporting an impressive scowl. Trip, the good bit that he is, trotted happily beside the girl. The Hand was nowhere in sight though much to my disappointment.

Anyway, back to Alicent. There are two things I could think of that'd put that scowl on the younger girl.

Either, she found out about Nyra's once-in-a-blue-moon stupidity or Otto did something again. Which, on second thought, might result in the former happening.

We stopped — or I did. Rhaenyra bumped into me and we almost crashed on the floor. My eyebrows rose in surprise as she let out an impressive array of curses that'd make a pirate blush. "We're gonna talk about that language later." She gave me an unimpressed glare. "Look sharp, little sister, storm Alicent is approaching."

Rhaenyra straightened, drawing out to her full height and looking every bit of a Targaryen princess readying for battle. It would've been funny if not for the fact that this would either make or break it for them. "Make good decisions, Rhae. And remember, honesty is the best policy."

Alicent finally made it to us. She curtsies, greeting me with a smile that I returned before giving my sister a look. Rhaenyra nodded to me and said to Alicent, "May we talk?"

I winced at the frosty look she sent Rhaenyra. "I don't know, princess. Must we? You seem content to not talk to me about your recent engagement to Laenor Velaryon."

"Please, Ali?" There was a tense moment where I almost thought she was going to reject Rhaenyra's plea and I held my breath, only letting it out when she nodded. My sister looked like a breath away from kissing Alicent right there and then so I decided to make myself scarce.

"Okay. I'm gonna go and let you talk. Privately. Without me. I'm going now." Situations like this always — without fail — lure out Awkward Me™ okay? And that part of me tends to ramble. "Come on, boy."

Trip nosed Alicent's hand one more time and followed me away from them. "I'm telling you, boy, they're gonna be making out under the weirwood tree before the day is out. What do you think? Want to ditch the council meeting and laze around with me?" He chuffed, butting his head at the back of my knees. I laughed under my breath and brushed my hand against his head affectionately. "I'm going. Jeez, I think you picked up Alicent's banal ways to always be responsible."

*****

A council meeting only truly starts when the calm discussions escalate to a screamfest and petty insults. Hearing the creative ways these oh-so-noble Lords devolve into petty squabbling is amusing on most days. Not today though.

It seems that the Triarchy has been harassing the Velaryon Fleet for the last three months and Lord Corlys' pleas for aid were being ignored. If the Triarchy conquered the Stepstones we'd lose the shipping lanes and we'd lose one of the strongest fleets since Aegon the Conqueror's time.

Coincidentally, if the Stepstones fall the trade will go to a longer route, possibly by land through the Oldtown.

Through the Hightowers.