108 AC
Kingslanding
Rhaenyra POV:
The air here in kingslanding is suffocating, I'm all alone, my best friend is now my mother, my uncle is gone and it looks like he is rebelling by taking part in the war for the stepstones without father's approval, Damien is also gone and now he plans to leave westeros to explore the world. Father has made me his heir but truthfully nothing has changed, I'm only a cupbearer in the council meetings and they won't even listen to my suggestions. Otto seems to want to supplant my position as heir and place Aegon as heir, and Alicent is a traitor. I wish Damien were here he has the mind for politics and schemes even if he finds them boring and uncle Daemon would be a good supporter as well despite his hurtful words about my brother I still miss him. Haa and now father wants me to get betrothed, but the best person to get betrothed to doesn't like kingslanding and now he's leaving to see the world, I envy that. I too wish I could just mount syrax and see where the wind takes us, unfortunately I am the heir and as Damien so aptly put it since I'm a woman I have to be twice as good as a prince would be, he even suggested I take up the sword so people would see a queen Visenya in me. Heh me taking up the sword, why would I need a sword when I have a dragon, sometimes he likes to make things more complicated than they need to be. I should get ready soon because father has decided to host a royal hunt in honour of Aegeon's second nameday. I should write a letter to Damien about my troubles before he leaves for his travels if he hasn't already.
I start walking out of the godswood and start heading to the redkeep when I see an unexpected face, Alicent. Of course she would know about this place, after all I used to vent my frustrations to her here. "Your grace". I say to her in a flat tone, making my dislike of her plain to see and hear. She grimaces at the tone, and I feel some satisfaction at that. "Please Rhaenyra I am still your friend, there is no need for such coldness between us". She pleads a little.
"Considering the circumstances I think I'm justified in my feelings, wouldn't you if you were in my position? My best friend seducing my grief stricken father to further your House's ambitions, if you ever my friend to begin with that is". I say to her with as much venom I can muster in my tone after all we were more than just friends, I wouldn't say lovers but something close. She winces as if she were burning, good. "I was your friend Rhaenyra, I still am". She says in placating manner but I don't answer her as walk past her. "If you will excuse me your grace". Now I'm angry again, the sight of her makes me want scream and strangle her. I should focus on the upcoming hunt to distract myself from thoughts of her and her ambitions.
Viserys POV:
I was never meant for kinghood, I can honestly admit that to myself. When I won at the great council I was happy, proud and felt I would be a good, just king like my grandfather the conciliator, but the crown and it's duties weigh on me. Rhaenys should have been queen, she would have been better suited to the iron throne. Before Aemma's death I thought everything was going well but now, Daemon has essentially rebelled by waging war on the stepstones despite my word on the matter, the lords think me weak for not punishing him, some think so for me refusing on joining the war and if I help him they will think me weaker still, I thought making Rhaenyra heir was the right thing to do but now that Aegon has been born the lickspittles are wagging their tongues saying I should name him heir and remove Rhaenyra as my heir. My daughter, the last thing I have of my dear Aemma, cunts the lot of them. If only Damien were here I could have betrothed him to Rhaenyra and the whisperers would stop, he would be the perfect king but as king consort he could also help Rhaenyra better than I ever could. I also have to worry about the Velaryons with Laena Velaryon being the rider of vhagar and seasmoke already being a tested in war, perhaps a betrothal for Rhaenyra with the Lannisters will be of help as Otto suggested. I take my cup of wine and drain it. I am tired, I think as I rub my head.
The royal hunt for Aegon will be good to get my mind off of these struggles, I hope Damien and Daemon stay safe,the house of the dragon has lost many of it's members. I can't help but feel a bit of anger and jealousy at Daemon, 'heir for a day', what a callous thing to say and yet the gods have blessed him with a blessed son, everything a father could ever hope for in a son and more. The thought sat bitterly in my mind.
I should get some rest. I start heading out of my solar and going to my bed chambers to rest my eyes for a while.
Otto Hightower POV:
I am in my solar finishing the work on my desk, the king's work,but then considering how he only knows how to drink and throw feasts it is better for the kingdoms that I do it. Haa. I exhale a little as a small smile starts showing on my face,my plan was successful Alicent did well with the king despite her early protests and know she has given the king a son and she is also heavy with child, now is the right time to get the king to name Aegon as his heir.
The plan is coming together, with a king with Hightower blood in his veins my house will rise higher than ever before, I have also come further than any second has before me. Besides Rhaenyra is a foolish child unsuited to rule like her father and she has no supporters here in court, heh, I should thank Daemon for saying those words all those years ago, and luckily Damien also isn't here, now he is a problem, very well liked by the people because he used to visit the orphanages with donations and his work while he was the vice commander of the city watch was exceptional the capital was never safer, he is martially inclined, a blooded commander thanks to his campaign to clear the mountain clans, a wealthy merchant with a mind for coin, rider of the third largest dragon, youngest knight in westeros and also someone with seven chains from the citadel. He is currently the most dangerous person in the house of the dragon, which is why I'm happy when he is not here. I was scared when I heard reports that his campaign of cleaning the mountains was complete, a feat never before achieved by any king, lord paramount, or lord before him.
The demon dragon indeed, even the rogue prince seems manageable compared to his son. I was immensely relieved when he sent the letters to the king and Rhaenyra about his plans to see the world, it will give me years to prepare the court if he ever decides to come back to the capital, my spies have mentioned he does not enjoy being in the capital all that much and has been vocal about his dislike for the viper's nest as he called it. If Rhaenyra was betrothed to him my plans would be over, luckily the gods seem to be in my favour.
I put the thoughts of Damien out of my mind as I think of the scheme for the royal hunt about my suggestion to his grace about betrothing Rhaenyra to the Lannister boy. I know she will do something foolish in response to a betrothal and with the lords there to see she is unsuited to be heir I can get more lords to support Aegon. It will not be hard considering that the Viserys became king the same way.
Everything is going great for house Hightower, I cannot wait to see my blood on that ugly chair, I shall be the longest hand the ever was. Let me finish this work so I can get some sleep. I think as look at the paper on my desk.