Chapter 10 - My Court

(Mc pov)

My head rest atop my hand, my legs crossed as I lazed about, my other playing with my hair, as I looked at the two flowers laughing. We did not speak much just small talks of the past, I did not wish to spend time recounting things of old.

"When I asked you to come along, I had thought it was to retell tales of the world. Yet you sit lazing about without a care." turning her head to me, Rhaenyra spoke playfully, Her face full of smiles as I tilted my head to her.

"It was you who wished it so, I never agreed to tell you." laughing lightly at her pouting face, I waved my hand as if to blow away her pouting air, "I just wished to see more of this flower, tell me Alicent, does your lord father Otto, have plans to Wed you?" I teased, not really caring either way about the situation.

"uh, ehh, it is still undecided prince Keth.." Alicent said, stumbling over her words, her hand playing with her hair as she blushed, lowering her head.

"Uncle! How could you be so straight forward, she is still a lady.." Rhaenyra said, laughing at the Blushing Alicent. "And Alicent, you answered far too quickly." she continued, making Alicent turn her eyes away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"It is good to be eager when you are young, to have a goal, lest you lose the choice to have one." I said winking at the both of them, as I looked outside. "Plus who knows, she may very well be my wife in the future." chuckling, I spoke words of teasing once more, trying to bring the air back to a less embarrassing one.

"ehh, maybe.." Alicent said, her face blushing but soon flashed a somber look that didn't escape my eye, watching her grip her dress lightly.

"Why not Alicent? I could always ask my father.. it would bring us closer.." Rhaenyra said jokingly, i don't think she picked up on everything, but she could see Alicent's somber face.

"Let us forget the topic for now, both of you have plenty of time to think about marriage." Watching Alicent grip her dress even more as I leaned forward, placing my hand on hers. "No one's fate is truly written in stone." Hearing my words, her hand soon relaxed as I leaned back.

"It seems you have a way to get into young maidens' hearts. You have quite the way with words uncle, is that what you spend time doing on your journey.." Rhaenyra said jokingly, as she looked at me with a smile, her eyes speaking to me as she looked at Alicent's hand.

"Among many other things.. maybe when you have your own adventures, you can recount me tales of your great deeds in love." Laughing, I guess she got my meaning, my eyes smirking as her face finally blushed.

"It seems even you can get flustered, Princess.." My eyes watched her look away, her head towards Alicent as she heard my tease, "well that is enough for today, it seems we finally made it. Such a dreadfully long ride.." Feeling the carriage stop, growing tired of the bumps along the whole fucking ground.

"And yet you said you wished to spend time with young maidens, how quickly you take back your words." Rhaenyra, lifted herself from her seat as she spoke, laughing as I smirked lightly.

"hmm?" Standing, the light of the sun, shone into the carriage, only to be met with the darkness of the high walls of the castle. Taking a step forward, I stopped, feeling a hand grip two of my fingers as I turned my head.

"Prince Keth, I don't understand.." Alicent who had stopped me, spoke as she showed a small key I had placed in her hand earlier.

"Come to my room within the keep, if ever you need someone to lessen your burden." I said, holding her hand as my thumb rubbed her fingers. "Do not think me wanting, it is easy to misunderstand, I only know this, there is your life, and the life your family wishes for you. Sometimes it is better to be selfish, than it is to hate what you see yourself become." I spoke, watching the guards confused as I just stood in the doorway of the carriage.

"I am here if ever there is a reason.." I say as I step outside. "or throw it over the wall, whatever will you." continuing I turned, seeing a smile grace her lips as I watched her grip the key.

"Thank you, prince Keth.." I heard Alicent speak in a low voice, ignoring the guards, but for one as I took the sack, bowing to Rhaenyra who did the same as I walked within the castle.

"it's been a lifetime.." Looking at the large doors in front of me, pulling the hood of my cloak up as I watched the maids, and other servants moving in a hurry all around me.

(Viserys pov)

"Fucking Maliketh.." My mouth utter these words, but I couldn't help but shake my head in my mind, at the foolishness I had just spoken.

"Your grace? what is it you mean, by bringing up your brother, prince Maliketh now?" Squeezing my hand, I tap my chin as I watched the shadow of Fortassax, flying in the sky above, her mere shadow darkening the keep as she did. Only being brought out of my thoughts by Otto, I could see the look of confusion written on his face as he questioned.

"That is the reason for the mess outside, and why the damned guards are having a hard time figuring out what is going on outside the dragon pit." I spoke, turning from the window, my steps crisp as if each person was holding their breath.

"Lord, do not tell me.." Otto spoke up first, shifting in his seat as he looked at me, my head turning away as I placed my hand on my chair.

"I have sent for Prince Maliketh, my brother to come home, it Is only natural that each of my brothers to be here to see the birth of my heir, their future king." Sighing I sat, my head already beating as I watched the lords of my council change their facial expressions over time.

"I understand your reasoning your grace, but do you think it wise to allow the prince within the city." Mellos, Grand Maester, his voice polite but questioning as always.

"Is it not right to allow my brother this small favor? while me and Daemon feast and celebrate the birth of my son, you would have him still hunting like a mad dog?" I said, and while I could understand their concern, no matter what my brother has done he was loyal to me.

"That is what he is your grace! A mad man with a dragon! allowing him to roam the city unchecked could bring about a calamity." I waited, watching the lords think on my words, but Otto was the one who first spook out, his voice slightly raised as he spoke these words.

"That mad man is my brother! even more so, he is loyal to me! do you not think the city would be at peace If he truly came here with malice!" I said, slamming my hand lightly as I listened to his words.

"That is just the point your grace, mad Keth might be but stupid he is not, allowing him to roam and do as he pleases is risky." To my surprise, it was no one else but Corlys who spoke up, his arm resting on the table as he gave his opinion.

"And when has lord Corlys Velaryon, ever agreed with my hand." I couldn't help but say, it was rare to see them agree on anything, and at my words the rest of the lords nodded. "Very well, to set your mind at ease, he will be watched and when the tourney passes I will send him to.." I was going to say, I knew it would do nothing but sow more cracks in my council.

"Stop."

"no one is allowed and audience with the king at.." When I was going to speak again, yelling was heard outside of the chamber, my eyes watch the door open as Maliketh headbutted one of the guards.

"I told you who I was and yet you still obstructed my way.." I heard his deep voice speak, his hand on his Warhammer as he looked down at the guards, sliding it out slowly.

"That is enough Maliketh! back home less then a day and you already stir trouble, even in my court!" Raising my voice, I looked at my brother, his head tilted as he pulled his Warhammer out, only to reach it out to the soldier as he pulled him up.

"I merely was helping the man up, Viserys, nothing more." Keth said to me, his face smiling as the guard stood, trying to slam into his shoulder as he walked by only for keth to stand unmoving like a wall.

"You will talk to his grace, your king, with all do respect. it is your grace, prince Maliketh.." My wind was taken from my sails, as Otto spoke out before me, his voice stern as he did.

"Ah, Lord Otto, I did not see you there, for some reason I thought I was speaking to my brother." keth said, placing his hammer back as he looked at Otto.

"All the same, you will address your brother, the king with respect." Otto retorted, his hand gripping the table as he did so.

The sun light moved, shifting shadows with light, my mouth opening many times as Otto spoke, his every word cutting me off as I tried to speak.

"I grow tired of this, lord Otto, only you have been speaking, are you the voice of my brother? Is he Viserys? As if the greatest power within this room is you, lord Otto. You act as if I am here to take what is rightfully my brothers, as you pretend it is your place. If I wanted it I would take it by force, not with words that mean nothing in the face of fire." Keth said, his head tilted as he looked down on Otto, his hand dragging along the table as he drew closer.

"I could have what you said taken as treason and.." Otto said, looking at Keth in the eyes as he placed his hand on his hammer.

"What will you do, have my tongue cut out, but surely the job would not be done by you, you've barely broken in a sword, how could you be expected to break bone." Keth said lowly, in a voice only the ones closest to him could hear.

"Enough Keth, you come into my home, barged into my court, spoke words of treason and I turn a blind eye. What need do you have for doing this?" Seeing Otto was frozen for a second I spoke, my words filling the chamber as I looked into his eyes.

"Forgive me, brother.." Bowing his head, Keth spoke as he pulled something connected to his armor. The blood dripped from it, hitting the table as it rolled, only to throw it to lord Corlys.

"The crabfeeders that flew too close to the sun, have been dealt with.." Keth said, seeing the blood on his hands, armor and hair. I watched as Corlys eyes went a little wide, looking at Maliketh with meaning before he turned around.

"Your grace.." Keth said, his body moving out of the room as he left these words.