OF BASTARDS & DRAGONS || Aenar Targaryen [1]

108 • BOUND BY BLOOD

Orbs of brown, against orbs of green. Queen Alicent and Queen Cersei we're on each other's tail, trying to showcase their prowess and power dynamic. The rumours regulating around them were cynical yet true, for in the court's of shadow, whispers carry the the sharpest daggers.

Princess Rheanys waited and said, "Otto must have some pretext to justify his rebellion, he lost the battle. What did you expect him to write? Aegon is Viserys true born son, and by marriage and law King Aenar's son and heir." She reminds the council.

Hearing this Cersei flares up "I will not suffer to be called a whore, accused of vile incest, tis a defamation of my character! My virtue! An act of treason!"

"And it will be resolved....my Queen." Aenar assures. "These baseless claims are false. We will send word throughout the realm denying these accusations, telling all, that Otto Hightower and Lancelot Strong are only trying to tear the realm apart with vile rumours." He tools around the table, before landing his gaze on the Grand Maester. "Orywell?"

"At once... Your Grace. It shall be done." The Black man responds, his chain of office clinking as he nodded.

Daemon cleared his throat. "Dorne is currently mustering armies, they plan to plunge war against Seven Kingdoms."

Lord Broome tapped the paper. "And now it would seem the Greens have the upper hand. We can use their weapons against them. Urge the High Septon to reveal how Otto has turned against the gods as well as his rightful king..."

"Yes, yes, and what about the insults levied against my virtue?" Cersei asked impatiently, looking around the table.

Aenar sighs. "I thought you heard me earlier, a decree will be issued out."

"First we must stop this filth from spreading further. The council must issue an edict, not a decree my lord husband. Any man heard speaking of incest in my name or calling Aegon a bastard should lose his tongue for it."

"A prudent measure, I agree." said Alicent Hightower, concurring with her rival to Dave face.

"A folly," sighed Daemon. "When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say."

"So what would you have us do?" Alicent demanded, sharping gazing at her brother in-law.

"Very little. Let them whisper, they'll grow bored with the tale soon enough. Any man with a thimble of sense will see it for a clumsy attempt to justify usurping the crown. Does Lancelot Strong offer proof?How could he,when it never happened?" Daemon gave his sister-in-law his sweetest smile.

"That's so," Alicent had to say. "Still...tis insufficient."

"A half measure." Cersei scoffs.

"Your Grace, Prince Daemon has the right of this. "Ser Tyland Lannister steepled his fingers. "If we attempt to silence this talk, we only lend it credence. Better to treat it with contempt, like the pathetic lie it is. And meantime, fight fire with fire."

King Aenar gave him a measuring look. "What sort of fire?"

"A tale of some what the same nature, perhaps. But more easily believed. Lancelot Strong has spent most of his life as a deformed frustrated man, without a wife nor children." Ser Tyland began.