3 nights had gone by, and whilst Lynesse’s stay was becoming permanent, Alicent felt her life becoming uneasy.
“I told you, we can not” she whispers to Cole, who stood outside her chamber door.
“We can not do what?” He whispered back, “I am just stood here. Nothing more.”
“You know what I speak of” Alicent responded, “with Lynesse around, and my husband’s will to have her by his side-!”
“Do you truly care?” Cole asks, “Lynesse is a young woman, it is your word, over hers. You are a Queen, a good one at that. She can not speak against you.”
“What makes you so sure?” Alicent asks.
“I will not allow her to” Cole took Alicent’s hand in his, staring into the depths of her heart.
“What will you do? Kill her?” Alicent hand kept his hand held, almost wishing to place a kiss against it, his scent soft and calming.
“I am sworn to protect you” His answer had implied the lengths Cole was willing to go to.
With a scoff, Alicent pulled her hand away, “she is my sister, Cole. I will not have you touch her.”
“Do not touch her” Alicent warns him.
“After everything she does, and how she treats you? You wish for her safety when she is costing yours?” Cole found himself baffled.
“She is my sister. She is young, and lost. I will not have her killed because of mistakes she makes and certainly not by you” Alicent responds, “if you touch her Cole, I shall kill you myself.”
As the morning had come, the council room was once again occupied, yet they had begun without the King.
“Should you not wait?” Lynesse asks her father, who seemed to be leading the council table, “for his Grace?”
“The King is unwell” Otto responds, “this discussion will continue without him.”
“And he has left you to lead the council, has he?” Lynesse asks.
“Lynesse” Alicent calls out to her, “it is fine. I have asked that our father leads today’s council.”
“Your job is to pour the Lord’s cups of wine and nothing more” Otto spat out, “do not interfere.”
“Very well” Lynesse nods, saying no more.
Which Alicent found confusing. She knew her sister well enough to know, she would not simply accept her father’s words.
And yet now, she had silently gone back to pouring cups of wine.
“Ser Vaemond wishes to discuss the succession of House Velaryon” Otto explains.
“Lord Corlys had already named his successor. His grandson, Lucerys Velaryon” Lord Tyland responded, looking around in confusion, “or perhaps I have missed something.”
“As we know, Lord Corlys is unwell. He can not speak for himself, given his circumstances and so, his brother will speak on behalf of him” Otto explains.
“Princess Rhaenys is Lord Corlys’ wife, is she not, sister?” Lynesse asks.
“Yes, she is” Alicent held her father back from his anger, as she answered to her sister, “why do you ask?”
“Then it should be her that answers on Lord Corlys’ behalf. Not Ser Vaemond. He has no authority to discuss who Driftmark shall pass to” Lynesse responds, before glancing at her father, “or perhaps it is a problem because she is a woman?”
“This is not your discussion to make” Otto responded, “you have no experiences in knowing how this works.”
“No, of course not” Lynesse chuckled, “but if you go ahead with this then I must at least warn my sister, that the King will not approve of this. And neither would Lord Corlys.”
The table has become silent, glances shared around as they all knew she had spoken the truth.
Lynesse had filled up the last cup, looking up to Lord Tyland who seemed impressed by her knowledge, given his playful smile.
“Enjoy” Lynesse whispered back, before turning away.
Alicent’s eyes follow as she watches her sister place the jug of wine to the table, and turns to the door.
“Where are you off to?” Alicent asks.
“I have done what needs to be done. I have nothing else here. Besides, I had promised the Prince his time this afternoon” Lynesse responds.
“For what, exactly?” Alicent asks.
“I guess we shall find out” Lynesse shrugged, turning to the door and making her way out.
Alicent turned her head to Cole, who silently turned away, and headed out, after her.
Lynesse knew that someone would be sent after her. After all, they all knew of her duties requested by the King himself, and now she was present in a council meeting held without him.
With perfect knowledge of it all, it made much sense to have her heading to the Kings chamber.
But Lynesse was no fool, to have herself found out.
Instead, she had headed to find her nephew, whilst Ser Cole was heading to the Kings chamber.
It was a while after, that Ser Cole had made his way to the grounds, in order for yet another lesson, amongst the younger men.
“Sorry I’m late” Cole announced.
“I had started us off” Aemond responds, “it seems you were occupied elsewhere.”
“Your mother had me on duty” Cole responded, his eyes searching around, “where is your brother?”
“Aegon is with my aunt. He asked for her time this afternoon” Aemond’s sword pointed ahead.
As Cole’s eyes followed in this direction, it had led to Aegon and Lynesse sat beside one another, under the oak tree.
His eyes filled with spite towards the young woman, as she sat with a melodious smile, her laughter echoing beside the gusting wind.
“I can not believe my mother is making me marry her” Aegon scoffed, “i mean.. she is my sister!”
“I do not agree with it either Aegon” Lynesse sighed, “but i can not help you. I do not have a say in this. But what i do have a say in, is how you treat her.”
“She is an idiot” Aegon took his cup to his lips.
But his beverage was regarded, as Lynesse had snatched it out his hand.
“The first rule is to have yourself sober” Lynesse responds, “the second rule, is to be kind to her. Helena is not stupid. She is.. different. But that does not mean you call her names.”
“She is hardly my type i mean-?” Aegon ended his sentence with a flinch, after Lynesse had gave him a light slap against his arm.
“What was my second rule?” Lynesse asks him.
“To be nice” Aegon rolled his eyes with a sigh.
“Good. Now-?” Before Lynesse could move on to speak about Aegon’s drinking problems, other problems seemed to occur, as Ser Cole had approached them.
“Mind your hands when you sit beside the Prince, young lady” Cole spoke out, after witnessing her light slap against Aegon’s arm.
“I’m sorry?” Lynesse stood up, facing him as she questioned his motive.
“Ser Cole, everything is fine here. She is my aunt” Aegon responded, as he tried his best to wiggle his way in between them.
“You are a Prince, she has no right to touch you that way” Ser Cole responds.
“And you are a guard? Questioning me?” Lynesse asks.
“I am sworn to protect these boys, as i am the Queen. It is my duty-!”
“Your duty, Ser Criston Cole, is to sit back and teach the young men how to use their swords. It is not your duty to interfere with a conversation between me and my nephew” Lynesse took a step closer.
She held her head high, her eyes displaying her anger.
The two glare at one another, Cole falling silent as Aegon did not instruct him to take any action for what Lynesse had done.
Whilst Aegon knew his Aunt’s behaviour, he knew very well, that she would not be put down without a fight.
“How about we all just stay calm?” Aegon pushed Lynesse away from Ser Cole.
“Do not question my Aunt again, Ser Cole. I appreciate you wishing to look out for me. However, she is my aunt. And i have no problem with what she has done” Aegon then turns his head to Cole as he explains himself.
Lynesse had managed to get herself together, before turning back to Aegon with a calming smile, “you should join your brother.”
“We can have this conversation another time. Perhaps somewhere a little bit more private” Lynesse responds.
Aegon nods understandably, as Lynesse’s shoulder had pushed past Ser Cole’s herself storming back inside.
“Your grace” the Kingsguard whispered, “Miss Hightower is here, to see you.”
“Send her in” Viserys responded.
It was a couple of minutes wait, until Lynesse was allowed in, her eyes terrified at the sight of Viserys, his health clearly worsening by the day.
“Your grace” Lynesse gave a courtesy, before joining him, as she sits beside his bed.
“I hope you have some good news, for me?” Viserys asks, with his croaked voice.
“In fact, i do” Lynesse responded, a light smirk on her face.
As she made her way out, Lynesse turned to find Alicent walking in her direction.
And whilst she remained calm, it seemed Alicent had been losing her mind. Completely.
“What are you doing here?” Alicent asks.
“Do you not remember? I was asked to search for possible reasons rumours are spreading towards the Velaryon brothers” Lynesse responds.
“Lynesse, what did you do?” Alicent whispered out of fear.
“Perhaps you should go in and find out for yourself” Lynesse shrugged.
“So that is it? Due to petty rivalry, you have me and our father hanged? Is that what you truly wish?” Alicent asks.
“And why would it come to that?” Lynesse asks.
“You know exactly why” Alicent responded.
“I’m not quite sure i do” Lynesse responds, “enlighten me.”
“Lynesse you have heard everything. You know it was me, who had approved of those rumours” Alicent looked at her pleadingly.
“I did not. But it nice to see you so self aware!” Lynesse responded with sarcasm, and a sarcastic smile just after.
“What do you mean?” Alicent gulped, as her face became pale.
“As i had said, go in and find out for yourself” Lynesse responds, “now if you will excuse me, his Grace has been generous enough to offer me a reward.”
She held a raven in her hand with a smirk, before turning away from her sister.
Rushing out, Lynesse searches the crown before finding what she was looking for.
A carriage, that was still yet to go ahead.
Without warning, she had helped herself to open the carriage doors, finding Lord Tyland sat, turning to look at her confused.
“Miss Hightower?” Lord Tyland questions her.
“It seems i have found my reward” she gives him a playful smile, before handing over the raven in his hand.
Lord Tyland unraveled the raven in his hand, reading through, before looking up to Lynesse, who had closed the door behind her.
Moments after, Lynesse had left the carriage, her hair in a slight mess, yet she managed to have herself look presentable, before turning around to face Lord Tyland, who was sat, baffled, in red cheeks, with his buttons undone, and his hair out of place.
“I should hope to see you at the next council meeting” Lynesse calls out.
Lord Tyland could only nod, before turning his head, Lynesse closing the door behind him.
Turning around, she began to smile to herself, the adrenaline feeling within her, satisfied.
Looking up, she found both her father, as sister, stood staring directly at her.
But she knew they could not tell her otherwise, and with a wipe against her bottom lip, Lynesse had left her sister with a wink.
“Perhaps it was a bad idea to bring her here” Otto whispered.
“We can not send her back” Alicent responds, “Viserys will only find it more suspicious.”
“What will we do with her?” Cole asks, “she is clearly out of control.”
“Just leave it to me” Alicent responds, “Lynesse is young. And she is not to blame.”
Otto turns his head to find Alicent giving him a side eye.
“So it is my fault?” Otto asks.
“You have no exactly been easy with her, father. It is no wonder she is looking to ruffle your feathers. But it only depends on how you respond. Lynesse will get bored, eventually. But if you continue to torment her, she will only get worse” Alicent warns her father as she turns to walk away from the two men who stood awkwardly in silent.
The day had come to its evening, as everyone was sat for dinner.
As the family were enjoying each other’s company, it had fallen silent by Viserys’ entrance, as he was escorted to his seat.
“Are you sure you are well to be sitting here?” Alicent asks, her eyes in worry as she pulls herself closer to him.
“I am.. fine” Visery’s nods slowly.
Lynesse, who was made to stand not far from Ser Cole, turns to face him, after hearing his low sigh.
His eyes pointing in Alicent’s direction, and it seemed he was unhappy.
“You’re not jealous are you?” Lynesse whispered, her head leaning to his side.
“Jealous of what?” Cole spat out in response, yet both their voices low.
“My sister can not sit beside you so openly as she does with his Grace, can she?” Lynesse raised her eyebrows in suspicion.
“I do not know what you’re implying” Cole’s eyes shift away from Alicent.
“Do not be so shy about it now” Lynesse responds, “you follow Alicent around everywhere. It seems she has you held by a leash, and yet, she can only respond the way you wish at night. That must kill you.”
“She is my Queen. There is nothing else to it” Cole responds.
“You can lie as much as you wish. Your eyes tell me something else entirely” Lynesse responds, “a man who has gone against his vows for a woman who can not speak to him so publicly. Must be a shame.”
Before Cole could respond, Viserys had turned in their direction, having Lynesse straighten her posture.
“Lynesse? What are you doing, standing there?” He asks, “take a seat. Eat.”
“Oh that is not necessary your grace” Lynesse politely rejected, “my father asked that i eat before hand, so that i can be of assistance to you all.”
“That is nonsense” Viserys responded, looking to his children, “you are their aunt. You should be sat beside them.”
“There is a seat beside me” Aemond offers up the empty seat beside him.
“He is right” Alicent responds, “come, sister.”
Lynesse accepted with a smile, taking a seat beside Aemond.
Her eyes darted opposite, to her father, who sat with a grimace look on his face.
It had only made her enjoy it even more.
“So, Helena” Lynesse had decided to engage in conversation with her nephews and nieces, “have you been reading the book i had given you?”
“Yes. It has been quite helpful” Helena nods, “but I can’t seem to focus, due to the noise.”
“What noise?” Aegon asks.
“The rats, within our walls” Helena responds bluntly.
Aegon turns his head, as he gives Lynesse a stare stating ‘I-told-you-so.’
Lynesse’s eyes had widened as she glared back at Aegon, reminding him to be polite to his sister.
“What book is it?” Alicent asks.
“She is studying on the Westerosi history of Princess Nymeria, so I had given her the book of Nymeria and her Thousand Ships” Lynesse responds, “I thought it may be of use to her.”
“That is.. thoughtful, of you” Alicent responds.
“Of course” Lynesse responds.
“I would like to thank you again, for completing your duties well” Viserys responds, as he looks around at the table, “it seems these rumours were circling amongst the training yard, the lot of boys.”
Cole turned to Lynesse with question, after he had thought of her to have spoken the truth, knowing exactly the way Otto had spoken on Rhaenyra’s children.
But it seemed she did not wish to out her father.
However, in Lynesse’s defence, she did not wish to see her nephew’s in trouble, due to their mother’s open mouth in front of them.
“If there is anything else to look out for, I will be happy in reporting it back to you, Your Grace” Lynesse nods.
Viserys gives her a weak smile, not realising the shift of pleasantry beside him, as Otto and Alicent were both sat, on edge and in discomfort, after fearing for their lives.
Through it all, Lynesse could only smile, realising that perhaps, she would enjoy her time here after all.
