The Sound & Senseless | 01
Part 2
You were the truest embodiment of fire and blood, bound to not one but two dragons. Your brother, Viserys, found it hellish to find you a suitable match, and for all your suitors, you were given to the one man who adamantly did not want you.
Ormund Hightower x Reader | 2k+ | cw: fem!reader, pre-show timeline, Targ!reader, implied daemon x reader, slight targcest, arranged/forced marriage, enemies to lovers, ormund HATES you, reader is a lil shit, ragebating as a love language, low key black cat x golden retriever, fluff, typos, etc.
A/N: I want to stress this man OUT btw | crossposted on ao3
"I don't see need in this conversation," I pop a grape into my mouth, "I'll happily marry the pretty boy."
My eldest brother sighs, lifting his gaze from his papers to where I sat by the window. He narrows his eyes in irritation, "which pretty boy?"
I turn to him, "Gwayne Hightower."
Daemon scoffs, sinking into the chair across the king's desk, "if by pretty you mean a piece of fucking shit—"
"Daemon!"
"What?!"
"Watch your fucking tongue," Viserys slams his hands on the table then wipes his face.
Daemon begins to spew a long thread of threats in High Valyrian, of what he'll do to Gwayne if he becomes his good-brother. I chuckle and finish the last of my grapes before walking over to my him, "oh, lykirī lēkia." Oh, be calm (older) brother.
His eyes flash with rage, "when you're pointedly fucking with me?"
"I'm not," I shrug and purse my lips, "my clothes are on."
Daemon immediately stands, looming over me to intimidate. I merely look back and taunt, "dracarys."
Viserys immediately snaps out my name.
I yelp when Daemon painfully yanks my hair. I immediately retaliate by battering his chest. He grabs more of my hair and pulls harder. I punch him in the gut but he dodges.
"KELIGON!" Viserys stands abruptly. STOP!
We freeze and turn to him.
Our brother sighs, muttering something about the gods claiming our parents too soon. He wipes his face again and points a finger at us, "we will not leave this room without deciding on a fucking husband."
I raise a hand, "that's why I said Gwa—"
"I will fucking maim that fool and drag him by the balls across—"
"Gwayne is out of the question," Viserys waves decisively, "I will not inspire a war from what should be an alliance."
"But he is pretty!"
"Oh, please," he sits back down, "you are excited at how asinine Daemon gets at the prospect."
I turn to Daemon, who turns to me. I cross my arms and turn back to the king, "and so what if I do?"
Daemon tugs my hair again.
"STOP IT!" I hit his shoulder.
Viserys rolls his eyes, "I'm better off murdering you both."
Daemon evades my next punch, circling quickly around the desk to our brother's side. He shakes his head, "you are better off marrying us both."
I fume at him and gather my hair over my shoulder, combing through the silver locks that grew past my knees.
"Absolutely not," Viserys doesn't even look at him.
"I am the only man who can temper her sp—"
"Temper her," he scoffs, sifting through his documents, "you mean enable. If I give her to you, you will not only have Caraxes, but also Vermithor and Nightsong."
"Vermithor and Nightsong heed only to my command," I say rather indignantly.
Viserys furrows his brows, "oooooooh yessss," he waves his hands, "now you're going to tell me you're immune to Daemon's influence when you're, in fact, his consistent first victim!" He points a finger.
"Hush now," Daemon slaps a hand on Viserys's shoulder, "do not fault my sweet sister for admiring me so."
Viserys whips his head back to glare at him.
I scowl at him too, "I admire how that much more of airheaded you can become."
Daemon smirks at me, unbothered by how the conversation has progressed, "you're welcome."
"Enough," sighs the king, "I would agree with Gwayne Hightower, had I not feared you'd be a widow the day after your wedding—"
Daemon tries to get a word in but Viserys raise his voice and continues.
"Sons from great houses seem too eager; between Lannisters and Arryns, I see more that you'd be weaponized than guided."
I finally stop combing through my hair.
"I would not award you a lesser man, but one overly ambitious would pose a threat not just to you, but the whole realm."
"Then why not give me to your favorite Gold Cloak?" I raise a brow, "I know a few who are to my taste."
"Few?" Daemon instantly snaps, "like who?"
"Harwin Strong."
"Harwin fucking Strong?!" he blurts, shaking his head exaggeratedly, "he would banish you to the fucking Riverlands!"
I shrug, holding back a smug smile, "Nightsong is fond of the rain."
"Cease trying to spur his wrath, sister," Viserys whines, scratching his eyes.
"I am not!" I raise my pale brows, "I genuinely offer sensible alternati—"
"Sensible?!"
"And as I say," I chuckle out, "Gwayne Hightower is more than—"
"Wait," Viserys perks, "he has a cousin, does he not? Heir to Oldtown and the Citadel?"
I shrug, "beats me."
"No, no, no, NO!" Daemon whines and raises his voice, "enough talk of High-fucking-tow—"
"The king speaks!" Viserys snaps, standing to glare at Daemon, "I have had enough of you," he turns to me, "both of you!"
I purse my lips and cross my arms.
"I summoned you to both to be of help but you have done the exact opposite!" he chastises, suddenly then pushing Daemon and I out of his office. "I have heard enough from my petulant siblings!"
I gasp when he shoves me rather roughly out his door.
"I will decide on my own and what I decide shall be final!
I frown at his angry expression.
Daemon's eye twitches, "Viserys, ple—"
"If decide on Jason Lannister, Gwayne Hightower, or fucking Philip, son of a smith and a whore, so be it!" he snaps at his younger brother, "I will not hear a word about it," he raises a finger then finally turns to me, "and I do not want to hear any more provocations from you!"
With that, the king slams the door shut.
I do not hear about this matter until a week after, when I pass a man across the hall after returning from dragon riding. I would not have paid him mind, had he not called out to me and curled his face in displeasure. I turn back to him, my own brows curling at how he uncorks a vial of sorts and inhales deeply. I tilt my head, "are you ill, ser?"
The man breathes out before forcing a smile to his face, "not at all." He huffs, "we have not been introduced."
I watch him lower his vial and take a slow step back.
"I am Ormund Hightower."
"Hightower?" my brows lift in curiosity. I observe his dark green doublet, "ah. You must be Gwayne's cousin."
"Yes," he nods, rubbing his nose.
I narrow my eyes at him, "have you come to King's Landing to marry me, Ormund Hightower?"
"Yes," he blurts, then motions with a finger, "did you... you smell of something incredibly... potent." He shakes his head, clearly finding the smell more pressing than my enquiry, "where have you been?"
"Where?" I find myself chuckling, "I flew over the Blackwater and the Kingswood, my lord."
"Mmm," he clenches his teeth when I take a step forward, "dragon."
I snort and tilt my head, "does it make you sick to your stomach?"
Ormund clears his throat, feeling his hand twitch for his fragrance. He cannot help himself; he uncorks it and takes a large step back.
I laugh, clutching my belly before I pull my long braid towards my nose. I sniff my hair and hum, "it is not so bad. Smells of sulfur, but not unpleasant."
"It is to me," he nearly retches, "might you go wash and change before we speak?"
I stare at this man for a moment, finding it wholly amusing and borderline endearing at how queasy he's become at the mere lingering scent of dragon, "no."
He looks to me, a line deepening between his brows, "no?"
I shake my head and purse my lips, "no."
He straightens up in alarm, his lips slightly parting in shock, "it is not—"
"You should know your persuasion means nothing to me now, my lord," I raise a gloved hand at him, "I have decided your discomfort is most amusing, therefore I will do anything but change and bathe."
Ormund's jaw slacks completely.
I am teeming with amusement, "have you come all this way from your silly High Tower just to bring me and my dragon stench back with you?"
"My lady," he coughs roughly, "I think we have started on the wrong foot."
I raise my brows and pretend to care for his explanation. I cross my arms and nod, "do tell."
"With regards to the smell, I—"
"I am a princess, by the way."
"..."
"It is a blatant disregard to my station and lineage for you to refer to me as anything otherwise," I lift my chin.
I watch his jaw feather.
I pretend to observe birds to mask my smile.
"Forgive me," he bows and sighs deeply, "princess."
I blink rapidly at his very obvious struggle to compose himself when he so clearly wishes to be somewhere, anywhere, else.
He clears his throat again and rubs his nose, "I- I mean no offense to you when I bring to mind... scents. It is only that I-"
"Let me stop you there," I raise a hand, "I actually don't care for your explanation, so I'll simply be on my way and hope you find me at a time where I have actually bathed and changed."
Ormund watches as I walk off. He equally shocked at how easily he is dismissed and how long the hair behind me trails, bouncing off the hem of my riding coat. While he should be relieved to be free from the overbearing scent, instead he is left offended and vexed. He grits his teeth and agrees with himself to speak to the king about this.
The next morning, we meet again, this time, by the gardens where I was enjoying some tea and tea cakes.
"I see you have finally been persuaded to bathe and change."
I look over my shoulder, finding a smiling Ormund Hightower. His smile seems to me that he is happy I no longer stink.
"Red and orange suits you, princess."
I snort, "good morrow to you too, sour puss." I turn to one of the nearby flower bushes, "have you come to smell the fresh blooms?"
"No," he moves toward the available seat to my right, "I have come to speak to you."
I watch him sit down and push the plate of cakes towards him.
He takes a piece and a eats half.
"You make a fuss of my bathing and changing, but here you are in the same green doublet from yesterday."
He licks his lips and swallows before responding, "how terribly unobservant of you. I have bathed and changed," he puts a hand into his breast, "this one has pockets."
I snort and shake my head with laughter.
Ormund brushes off his fingers, his back straightening at the sound.
I look back at him and lower my tea cup, "are all your clothes green and ugly?"
His nostrils flare. He is not as offended as he should be and the thought offends him enough as he'd ought to, "and do you often speak insults so freely?"
"Insults?" I take a quick sip of tea before propping the saucer on the table altogether, "not at all. I merely speak to amuse myself." I smile, "always."
"Even to offense of another?"
I tilt my head and shrug, "it is not my fault you are easily offended, Ormund."
He nearly squishes the remaining cake between his fingers, "my lord."
I raise my brows at him.
"I am a lord in my own right. I am to inherit Oldtown. You should honor my title as I honor yours."
I purse my lips in faux thought, "well, you ought to inherit something if I am to marry you. Even if it is only just Oldtown."
He draws a deep breath from his nose.
I break a tea cake in half and eat it whole.
"Your brother, the king, has informed me how you so enjoy provocation, taunting, and teasing."
"Oh, I reserve this only for people I care for," I shake my head profusely, "you needn't fret for I care little for you," I lick icing off my thumb, "if at all."
Ormund gulps, feeling his upper lip curl.
"Don't worry," I turn to him with a smile, "I am inclined to care deeply for you once you cloak me with your colors. In fact, I tell you now, I am grateful to have you instead of your cousin."
He pulls his head back.
I cannot mask my pleasure when I realize I struck a chord in him.
"My cousin?"
"Yes," I nod, "Gwayne." I sigh wistfully and look out to the garden, "he was my first, and only choice, really. He is gallant and beautiful, and everything I ever hoped for in a husband."
He puts his remaining cake down, fearing what he'd do with it. He shakes his head, his brows furrowing deeply, "I did not realize you thought so highly of Gwayne."
"Lord Gwayne," I turn to him.
He clenches his teeth; it's a miracle they don't break.
I look away again, "but yes. He is a man I admire."
Ormund dusts his hands off rougher than he needs to.
"But I suppose you can be admired too," I turn back to him, "and..." I narrow my eyes, "you have some... other sort of comeliness about you, if one can call it such."
He scoffs in sharp disbelief, "I beg your pardon."
"Please," I raise a hand, "you do not have to apologize for the face you were born with."
He is so shocked, he does not register that he's been left alone at the table. He quickly goes after me, huffing loudly once he is by my side.
I casually turn from the flower I was smelling to his hardened expression, "Lord Ormund," I smile, "so you did come to smell the flowers."
"I came to tell you that King Viserys himself entrusted me to discipline you how I see fit," he leans closer, enough that he can smell the scent of oranges and lavender on me, "that you might be guided to reason rather than destruction."
"Discipline?" I look up at him and hum, "so you mean to be my father, not my husband?"
"I am to be your liege lord," he corrects, "and the lord of the house disciplines servants and wives the same."
I raise my brows, "you mean to treat me like a servant?."
"I mean to treat you like a queen."
I open my mouth but my retort evades me at the sound of his response.
"And you are to treat me like a king."
I take in the lines on his face. He has deeper lines between his brows than on the sides of his eyes. That will either change or worsen upon our marriage. Either way, the thought excites me. "That is treason."
Ormund looks at the silver curls billowing softly with the wind before muttering, "I mean to be the king of your heart."
I snort, but my belly drops all the same. "No man has ever spoken such romantically ludicrous notions to me."
"I am not like other men who easily wither under your gaze" he leans towards my ear, his voice gravelly as he says, "princess."
I snort at his actions, playing it off to a degree as he made my heart race, "there is only one king in my heart, and he is my brother."
He purses his lips and nods, "and I am not a romantic."
I snort again, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Nor am I ludicrous," Ormund's lips curl into the faintest of smiles as he mimics my gesture.
Once we are both cross-armed, I feel my eyes crinkle in delight. I openly confess, "I will enjoy being married to you."
He finds himself laughing at the sentiment, realizing too late I was being sincere.
I laugh when his expression drops and unfurl my arms, "don't worry." I pat his shoulder, "you'll be used to the scent of my two dragons soon enough."
I walk away from him, and again he realizes something too late. He calls out, "what do you mean, two dragons?"
I look over my shoulder and giggle, though I do not stop or return to him.
"You cannot have two dragons at once!" He shakes his head, "c-can you?"
"What a darling imbecile."











