Otto sat at his solar, inside the tower of the hand, the sun had broken from the dark clouds that had it trapped into within its grasp during that even darker day. His finished breakfast sat on the edge of his desk. It would not long till he and Prince Daemon would have to be escorted to the city's harbour and make their way to Dragonstone to meet with Lord Corlys at his seat in High Tide.
They had only received a reply from Lord Corlys agreeing to hold negotiations just a few days ago, after over a tense week of waiting and wondering with debates over whether to amass their own forces were held in the small council, each time Daemon argued patience and restraint in the face of calls for action.
Otto tapped his pen against his desk, as he looked at it he wondered about Viserys' younger brother; he did not know what to make of Daemon, from the stories before his accident it was said the Prince was an highly prideful, impetuous but a very ambitious man who wielded Darksister, tamed Caraxes and openly insulted his lady-wife and her house as their own wedding.
That had been known even within the halls of Oldtown and the citadel.
And yet when he arrived at King's Landing, first to act as an advisor to the King, though in truth it was to Prince Baelon who ruled in his father's stead he had heard nothing but thee opposite; instead of an impetuous prince he heard of one who had spent days buried within books and his own writings, both while he was bed bound and even afterwards. Instead of a prince who was highly prideful he heard of one who lowered himself to the work of even scullery maids and finally, when the two became aquatinted in person, had not seen a Prince who hated his lady-wife but instead one who was not without both his lady-wife or his son by his side whom he had shown nothing but tender affection for.
But as he held his 'pen' a contraption that one day found it's way to King's Landing and gained rapid popularity among the learned people's of the city enough that Baelon signed off on replacing quill and pots with them, and when it was made known to them that he had been key to negotiations over who would serve as overlord of the Vale, Otto knew that the talks of ambition may have quite a bit of truth in them.
Ambition comes in many forms…
What did you get out of that exactly? What is what I wonder.
Outside his door he could hear his children running around the halls as the servants and maids attended to them.
No doubt Jana is also there too, trying to get them ready.
He still needed to say goodbye to them before he left. Otto stood up from his seat and walked into the hallway. "Lord Hand." One of the servants spoke, bowing their head "A carriage to the harbour has been prepared with your belongings." He said. "Lady Jana and your children await by the entrance."
Otto nodded his head and dismissed him, fixing his coat and his broach that hung on the right side of his chest. He walked down to see his family; at the entrance his wife Jana stood with their four children.
"Lord Husband, we wish you safe travels and success on your journey." His wife spoke.
"I thank you, Lady-wife." He placed a chaste kiss on her lips before then looking to his children "Be good, Bryndon, you must take charge while I am gone and look after you brothers and sister." He told his eldest son.
"I shall father."
"Myles, Gwanye, I expect to hear that you are taking to your studies."
"Yes father." They both told him.
"Alicent, I expect the same from you, be sure to listen to your mother and Septa."
"Of course, father."
He place a kiss on each of their heads before he stepped into the carriage with his belongings inside. The journey to the harbour was not a long one but still, Otto found it a tedious journey ; the roads bumpy, likely not changed since the time of Rego Draz.
The harbour of King's Landing was always a busy place; trade coming in, travellers and merchants docking at port and people from around the Realm or beyond seeking one thing or another. Lively and open.
But today, despite the still large numbers of people around there was a tension in the air and hushed whispered among the people and sailors, many of whom will have likely seen the Velaryon ships patrolling the Gullet and the presence of the royal navy just within the Blackwater bay.
Even the harbour had seen an increase in security; the city guards forces now supplemented with a number of soldiers dressed in the livery of House Targeryen, as if expecting an attack from the sea at any moment.
Guards escorted Otto to a dock closed off by a line of guards who parted ways for him to walk through. There he spotted the Prince, with him his wife and son.
"I shall be back soon." He heard him say to her "I promise I shall not do anything foolish this time." Kissing her before taking his son into his arms, patting his back and kissing the crown of his head. "You take care of your mother, little one." He told the boy, who seemed more interested in the bronze coloured wooden dragon toy in his hands.
"Prince Daemon." Otto called, approaching him.
Daemon turned his head, still holding Baelor "Lord Hand, I hope your morning was well." He spoke "Forgive me I was just saying goodbye to my family one last time."
"Of course, my Prince." Otto said.
Daemon turned back to his wife, kissing her once more before handing Baelor back to her and embracing them both. "I love you both so much."
"We know, we love you too." Rhea said "Get back safely."
"I shall, I promise." They shared one last kiss before Daemon joined Otto, walking from the docks and onto the galley, the black sail with the red dragon flapping against the wind. "It seems as though the Gods conspire to keep me away from them." Daemon said to him as the galley left the dock, waving at them.
"The duties to the realm can place us in places we find undesirable." Otto said. "How long will it take to reach Driftmark?"
"By dragon back, maybe half a day." Daemon said "By sail, I'd say maybe a day and a half."
"It seems we have some time to get well aquatinted." Otto commented, Daemon smiled before placing his hand on his chest, rubbing into it as he shut his eyes "Are you well, Prince Daemon?"
"I am well." He replied quickly "After the accident I have been experiencing chest pains but they disappear quickly." Otto nodded in acknowledgement "But yes, I do think we should become more acquainted with each other, seeing as the fate of the Realm may depend on what we do."
Otto laughed politely "Indeed, for the Realm's sake let us hope that Lord Corlys sees sense." He looked out into the line where the water met the sky. "We now sail into the jaws of the Seahorse."
"Do seahorses even have jaws?" Daemon asked in a jest.
"I do not think so, but this seahorse definitely has teeth." That had earnt a chuckle from the Prince, Otto smiled as Daemon patted him on the shoulder.
For the rest of the day the two kept to themselves; Daemon had seemed to lock himself away in his own cabin or wonder the deck doing the odd task with the sailors while Otto issued commands to those aboard and read through his reports.
It was only until dinner did the two sit down and properly converse with each other, a time for Otto to try and get the full measure of Daemon's character.
The meal was a simple one; a dish of mutton stew with carrots and turnips while the Prince ate a pork pie with leeks and spinach. They dined in Otto's cabin alone with only the guard standing outside.
"It was rather brave of you to volunteer to speak on your family's behalf, Prince Daemon." Otto said.
"I thank you, Lord Hand."
"Please, Lord Otto or even Otto will be fine." He said, taking a sip of Arbor gold from his cup.
"In that case then Daemon is also more than acceptable." He said "I would actually prefer it."
"You do not like your title?" Otto asked curiously.
"I've discovered that people find it difficult to speak to me when referring to my station first." Daemon said "Removing it seems to put them more at ease, I only use it during more formal occasions."
"Indeed, I am surprised that his Grace did allow you to go rather than your brother Prince Viserys." Otto said "Corlys will be like to say it should be Viserys as he is the one who desires to succeed your grandsire."
"He would." Daemon agreed, wiping his mouth after eating a piece of pie "But it would be foolish for him to set foot on Driftmark, then Corlys would have both major claimants to the throne in his grasp." He took a sip from his cup "We could not risk that."
"Wouldn't you say allowing yourself into his grasp brings an element of risk too?" Otto asked before taking a spoonful of stew.
"Yes, not to speak ill of my grandsire, I am the only capable dragon rider in our family." Daemon said "Putting aside my cousin Rhaenys who will be pushing Laenor's claim."
"Those supporters of Viserys will be at a great disadvantage if they were to lose you." Otto pointed out.
"That is true but I like to view this as a gesture of peace, meeting someone halfway." Daemon stated "The only dragon rider and Prince who is second in line to the throne willing to put himself at the mercy of the house with a rival claimant? I doubt he is reckless or foolish to try and hold me hostage, a very ambition man yes but that seems to be the standard among lords in Westeros."
"Hmm, quite."
"And, I may as well be honest, I have met with Corlys before not too long ago." Daemon admitted.
"Have you?" Otto asked.
"Yes, I was on my way to Dragonstone." Daemon suddenly became more solemn, his face dropping and the corners of his mouth creasing into a frown "I had stopped at Driftmark at the request of my cousin, I had breakfast with Corlys and his family." He took a another sip of wine "My cousin's children are delightful, I wished I had seen them before in better times and wish now that the circumstances around seeing them again will be much better."
"Ah yes, I imagine the last time you saw them was at the funeral of your Aunt Princess Gael." Otto said, Daemon nodded his head "Did you perhaps get them a gift?"
"Hopefully better, I had promised to tell them a great story when I see them again." Daemon said, eating another piece of his piece "I'm sure even Corlys will love it, it's about a seafaring king on his way home."
"Speaking of Lord Corlys, what else did he say? Did he wish to discuss anything specific?" Otto asked, hoping to get any further details about the man who he himself had not met yet in his short time as hand.
"From what I recall he was, and still is, angered over the passing of Rhaenys by my grandsire." Daemon said "He was trying to coax me into being an ally for his cause."
"And what did you tell him?" Otto asked, as he picked up a slice of carrot from his stew.
Will Corlys perhaps be able to convince Daemon of Laenor's claim?
"I was polite; I told him that should there be a chance to mend the divide between our houses then I would work to ensure both our houses' interests are met." Daemon said, cutting into his leeks before eating it.
A vague promise…
"But." Daemon said "Viserys will take the throne after my grandfather, that shall be my redline."
"Red line?"
Daemon looked startled for a moment "The one thing I shall not compromise on." He smiled "It is a saying that I had saw in a book."
"I have not heard the term but I quite like it." Otto said, finishing his dinner "That shall be our 'red line' in these negotiations."
It was into the early hours of the next day did they spot the Velaryon fleet; many of the crew and sailors came to the deck and looked upon them in both wonder and fear. Otto's throat dried quickly at the sight as Daemon looked with open mouth.
As far as they could see, were galleys with the sea green sails of house Velaryon, the silver seahorse becoming clearer the closer they approached. Soon enough they were trapped within a forest of ships and galleys, passing through Otto could make out the crew on nearby ships.
They were watching them as they passed through this vast armada.
"Get to your positions and continuing sailing." Otto commanded to the captains "They will not attack us, Lord Corlys will have ordered as much." He made sure speak loudly and firmly enough, was it instil confidence in the crew or to tell those ships nearby them to back off he was not sure.
"Even if I had brought Caraxes… I do not think we would have survived." Daemon commented in a hushed tone.
"Even if he has a fleet this large, Corlys and his allies lack the manpower." Otto reasoned, his own tone a hushed whisper "His primary allies consisted of the North and the Stormlands, large kingdoms but known for their sparse population, they wouldn't come close to fielding the numbers the Rock and Reach could."
"So we're looking at a prolonged stalemate with neither side able to breach the other's defences?" Daemon observed. "With High Tide placing a blockade around the capital in an attempt place pressure on us?"
"It appears so." Otto agreed, the observation of such an event leaving him uneasy. "Let us hope that Corlys is just a man of ambition and one who can compromise." It was only a few more hours until they reached the coast, a smaller fleet of ships blocked their view of Spicetown as they sailed by the coast until they finally reached High Tide.
At another time Otto might have taken the time to properly take in the beauty of the place, as a learned man he enjoyed taking in new experiences and information. Yet hanging over them was the heavy weight of foreboding. The tall walls and tower of High Tide loomed over them as they docked themselves at it's own harbour and stepped onto the pier.
Greeting them on the pier was large guard of men dressed in the seagreen livery with another man standing ahead of them, dressed in a same colours of seagreen and silver on his doublet, he had the colourings of a Valyrian. "Prince Daemon and Lord Hand." He called to them, bowing his head as the two walked towards him "I am lord Daemion, have been asked by my brother to greet and escort you to the Hall of High Tide." He said, his eyes turning from Otto to Daemon "He and Princess Rhaenys await you in the grand hall."
"You have our thanks, Lord Daemion." Otto replied. "Lead the way." The two followed him through the pier and up the stairs leading to the castle. The guards surrounding them on all sides.
Before they stepped through the large wooden doors of High Tide a servant offered them a plate of bread and salt, as another held a tray holding two cups of wine.
Otto took a piece of break, dipping it on salt before consuming and washing it down with wine, Daemon doing the same.
They were marched through the large doors and through the grand hall, stopping only as they reached the wooden throne sitting upon a dais. Lord Corlys sitting upon the seat while Rhaenys stood before them with Laenor and Laena standing just in front of Rhaenys, her hands placed on the shoulder of each of them almost protectively.
A blatant display of force if I've ever seen one.
"Thank you brother." Corlys said, Daemion bowed his head and stood to the side "Lord Hand and Prince Daemon." He announced, his voice bouncing off the walls as he turned his focus to them "I and my wife Princess Rhaenys welcome you to High Tide." His tone spoke more of authority than kindness.
Otto noticed Daemon look at the two children, as if to acknowledge them, Otto noticed Rhaenys pull them closer towards her as her cousin as he waved and smiled at them.
Does he seek to undermine the authority of his cousin by loosening the tension?
"We thank you, Lord Corlys." Otto spoke. "I must say that words to not do justice to High Tide, truly it is a wonder to behold." He hoped to flatter the Master of Driftmark.
"I thank you for you kind words, Lord Hand." Corlys spoke, his tone not changing.
He did not rise to the bait…
"Lord Corlys, it is a pleasure to meet you again." Daemon spoke, he turned his head to his cousin "Princess Rhaenys, you still look as beautiful as ever." He then looked to the children and smiled "Laena, Laenor, I promised you I would tell you a story next time we meet and I mean to keep that promise." The two smiled at him.
"We thank you, dear cousin." Rhaenys spoke. "I only regret that we have reunited under better circumstances."
"Indeed, it seems as though we now only meet in times of loss or crisis." Daemon spoke "I hope that the future has happier times ahead."
"We agree." Rhaenys spoke.
"We are grateful to have this opportunity to speak to you, it is our desire to come to a resolution to this issue." Otto said "For the good of the Realm, I hope we can come to an arrangement that best suits the houses Targeryen and Velaryon."
"That is good, both my wife and I share this desire too." Corlys said, he turned to Daemon "Prince Daemon, you have my condolences for the loss of your father; he was a good man, it was an honour to have met and worked with him."
Otto watched Daemon's face; it looked to be calm as he looked upon the Lord of the Tides, yet as Daemon pressed and rubbed his fingers into his chest he noticed his eye twitch slightly.
He offers his condolences regarding his father after trying to displace Baelon's son as heir, they did not even turn up to his funeral.
"You have my thanks, Lord Corlys." Daemon replied "His passing has been difficult for both my and my brother's families as well as the Realm as a whole."
"The Realm mourns for him." Rhaenys spoke "I will not forget the kindness he had shown me as a child and his love of my father."
"His loss is all of ours." Otto said. "Forgive me, Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys, but we had not come to exchange pleasantries, we-"
"Came to resolve the matter of succession." Corlys finished, interrupting Otto. "Yes, I would say that matter of succession is clear; His Grace, King Jaehaerys, had passed over Aemon's daughter and only child on account of her sex and chose Prince Baelon instead, while my family were spurred by this, I acknowledge that it is the King's right." He stated "However we no longer have such an issue; Princess Rhaenys has a son, a grandson who claims descent from Jaehaerys's eldest son Prince Aemon, by Andal law he should be heir, I am merely protecting what should be Laenor's birthright."
Otto was silent, he knew that arguing on the matter in this position would be futile; Corlys wanted to demonstrate his authority and strength, sitting over them while surrounded by guards.
It is here as this, he is at his strongest.
Through the silence he could hear Daemon's breathing as the prince rubbed his chest. "I do not believe this is the place to discuss the matter, my Lord." Daemon spoke "Perhaps we should go to a more private setting?"
Corlys was silent for a moment, he turned to Rhaenys who nodded her head. "I agree, come and attend to me at my solar." He spoke standing up from the throne. "The rest of you are dismissed for now." The guards who had surrounded them bowed their heads and quickly dispersed from the hall, with some taking their place the pillars that held the room.
Corlys walked towards Rhaenys and placed a kiss on her lips before kneeling down towards his children, his focus lingering around Laenor, the boy he would try to make a king. His family descended the steps of the dais.
Rhaenys took Daemon in a formal embrace before curtseying before Otto who bowed his own head to the Princess, her children following her example as they followed her out of the hall.
"Follow me." Corlys said, walking down the steps of the dais, looking first to Otto and then to Daemon "We have much to discuss."