The Warning

“Be careful,” Otto warns. “We can`t to give them a reason to suspect something. The sooner they crawl back to their lair, the better.” “I know,” there is a polite annoyance in the Alicent`s voice. He lectures her like she is a little girl. She was long past the age when she needed an explanation for a thread of palace intrigue. Is she her father`s daughter, isn`t she? No way to spend so many time with Otto Hightower and still do not understand obvious things. And it`s very hard not to notice the Vaemond Velarion`s corpse. This is a warning to all enemies of Daemon and Rhaenyra, first of all, to her and Otto. Perhaps Rhaenyra returned from Dragonstone for a reason, and she cares about more than just the Driftwood Throne. Otto squints. “I would like to believe. You didn't part well with Rhaenyra, you shouldn't give her a reason to remember that.” “I know,” she repeats, louder now.”Do you think, that I am that naive?” “Aegon and Aemond worry me. Especially Aemond. I'm afraid he hasn't forgotten that incident.” Asking Aegon to behave himself is useless, as for Aemond... Alycent has not been able to forgive Rhaenyra for lying for more than a decade, and she was already an adult when it all happened, a queen, a mother of two children. Over time, others were added to that insult, it's true (and these insults still burn her inside), but how can you forgive someone who crippled you for life? Alicent does not believe that this is possible, and even asking for it is an insult. Yes, Otto is now talking for a lesser concession, and yet... “All right. I'll ask Aemond not to run into quarrels. As for Aegon, I'm sorry, but the more I ask him to be a good boy with guests, the more likely he can do something. We do not devoted him to our plans for very specific reasons.” After a pause, Otto nods. “All right,” - the Hand of the King Otto Hightower, with all his experience with intrigues, still prefers to transfer problems with his grandchildren to her. What Otto isn't very good at is dealing with children, and Aemond and Aegon still sometimes behave like children. Alicent hopes Aemond doesn`t mess things up. Alicent is used to the antics of her eldest son: they are disgusting, but at least she knows what to expect. Besides, no one (not even herself) takes Aegon seriously. If he does something again, it will probably be easy to hush it up. This is something she's learned over the years, Alicent thinks bitterly. But Aemond... He`s different. He is well-mannered, serious, never shows disrespect to mother or father; and he is much smarter than his older brother - and not only because Aemond spends more time on books. Alicent believes: of her children, he is the one who can do great things. That case with Vhagar proved it. And deep down she knows she can't control her youngest son. She doesn't want to, yes. But more importantly, she can't do it. You cannot control a hurricane or a raging wildfire or a flooded river. Why exactly the youngest son, and not the stupid and always drunk elder one, causes such thoughts in her, Alicent herself cannot really understand. But this strange knowledge has been living in her heart for some time, and she is unable to explain it even to herself, not to mention Otto. Her father thinks in rational categories, such a thing as superstitious fear is inaccessible to his cold logical mind. I have to protect my children from Rhaenyra.They have already suffered enough because of her, it cannot be allowed to pass power to her. We can't let Viserys remember who his favorite daughter is and start dancing to her tune. At dinner, Rhaenyra delivers a laudatory toast in honor of Alicent - what a snake, every word is insincere shameless flattery! - and Alicent`s lips easy utter the answering lie: “You will make a fine queen,” she says, raising her goblet and smiling. When I am cold in my grave.