The King sat on the Iron Throne, the crown on his head, the ancestral blade of House Targaryen in his hands and his face impassive. The court was not gathered for the morning, but the small council minus one was there and stood on one side. On the other side stood Princess Rhaenyra with Queen Alicent and Prince Daemon. Acting as a wall between the two sides and the King were the Kingsguard, stood at the foot of the Throne. The Hand was the only one missing, and he was the last one to come.

Surprise and then suspicion played on the man's face as he eyed everyone in the room, gaze lingering on Daemon who was smirking at him. "Your Grace" Otto Hightower greeted with a bow, "I was not aware that you would be holding an audience. Else I would have been here earlier," the man said. He moved to join the other members of the Council but was stopped by the Kingsguard. "Your Grace?"

"Stand back in the middle, Otto," the King said sternly. The man listened to his King, confusion on his face. "Five days" the King began, confusing Ser Otto even more. "Though it was some time ago, the details… they fade in memory. My father was a hale and healthy warrior and dragonrider at the peak of his abilities. Jaehaerys named a great royal hunt to celebrate him being named the Hand of the King. Five days later my father lay dead" the King let out a shaky chuckle, and his younger brother's head lowered. "Tourneys last longer" the King took a pause, looking as if reminiscing, "Baelon the Brave, rider of Vhagar, heir to the Iron Throne… dead of a burst belly. The gods have a dark wit."

"It was a grim day. I recall it all too well" Ser Otto said in a low grumbling voice, filled with a sort of sadness that Brynden had not expected from him.

"Yeah…" the King mumbled, "it was a good day for you. Jaehaerys named you Hand in Baelon's stead."

A moment of tense silence followed, Brynden taking that chance to observe the faces of everyone in the room. The Council members and Kingsguard remained passive, as did Daemon surprisingly, head held high and silently gazing at Otto. Rhaenyra's head remained lowered while the Queen resorted to the habit she developed when nervous, picking at the skin around her nail. Their eyes met and she looked away.

"That's hardly how I viewed it, Your Grace" Ser Otto finally said. "It was a duty."

"You served my grandsire nobly in his final days," the King said gently, "you are the man that taught me how to be King."

"You honour me, Your Grace," the Hand said with a small but proud smile.

"Just five days… you went from being another man in Jaehaerys' court to the second most powerful man in the realm. I wonder... how long did it take you to choose yourself over your King?"

The smile fell, replaced by shock. "Your grace?" asked Otto Hightower.

"I will never recover from Aemma's death. But Alicent, she took me through the worst of my grief. She was a calculated distraction. Only now I realize how well calculated it was."

"That is an absurdity" the younger Hightower son argued. "The Queen loves you… as I know you love her."

"Your interests no longer align with those of the realm," the King said, eyes fixed on the man who stood accused. But two sets of eyes were on the Queen, who bit her bottom lip. "Your judgment has been compromised."

"A loyal Hand must tell his King a discomforting truth from time to time, Your Grace. If he doesn't… he's failed as a servant."

"You were a faithful servant, Otto" the King rose. Slowly he descended the steps of the Throne, handing his sword to Ser Harrold. He stopped in front of the Hand of the King. Slowly and with the care he removed the pin of the Hand from the man's vest. "The Crown and the Realm both owe you a debt that can never be repaid. But I can no longer trust your judgment."

A knock on the door, a moment of silence, and then a call to enter. Brynden entered the chambers of the Queen. The Queen was staring out the window. She was alone, dressed in a gown of black and red.

"Close the door please, Lord Brynden," the Queen said in an authoritative tone. Brynden followed the order. She was not happy and he could tell. "My father… I'm assuming that you were the one to tell about his transgressions to the King?"

"Aye, your Grace" Brynden admitted. "One of my 'eyes' as I call them, had come to me with disturbing reports. Last night the Princess and Prince Daemon were seen on the Streets of Kingslanding under the guise of common folk. They attended the mummers show being held in the town square."

"And?"

"Ser Otto is aware of this source and through whom they work for me. He contacted the head of the source and wanted them to feed me false information, one that painted Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon fucking in the whore house that I own."

"And you just…believed them?"

"Of course not my Queen, I am a careful man you know that well. Even my sources have eyes on them. I checked in on those, the ones that nobody but I am aware of. They have confirmed the story told by the former sources. I am sorry my Queen, but your father wanted to sabotage the Princess."

"Why?" she asked in a whisper, turning to face him. She was crying, her red eyes and tears told him as much. "Why didn't you come to me before going to the King? I could have talked to my father, and brought him under control. I could have talked sense into him!"

"We both know how that would end up, my Queen" Brynden's tone was gentle, his eyes caring as he looked at the hurt Queen. "Your father wanted your son on the Throne for the realm's peace. I share that much of his sentiment. But he had reached too far this time, he had crossed a line he shouldn't have" he paused, "when I was appointed to the position I am in now, I swore an oath to the King in the sight of the Weirwood Tree in the Godswood. That I would tell him anything I learn of value concerning the realm and his family. We do not share a religion my Queen, but both our religions speak of the importance of keeping the vows we swear."

"Tell me honestly, Brynden. Did Rhaenyra and Daemon-"

"They did not, my Queen. There was a moment but my 'eyes' made sure they did not. I would not let such a thing come to pass."

The Queen's lip wobbled before she fell back on her chair, her legs finally giving out under her. Brynden rushed to her side, to catch her should she fall further. "The King called me a distraction, my husband called me a calculated distraction… is that all that I am to him? A well-calculated distraction sent by my father."

"Your father was not wrong about one thing my Queen, King Viserys loves you. Queen Aemma was… she was a woman that the King fell in love with on a level that is quite rare. I would say, she is someone in the King's life that is irreplaceable. But you are not a distraction. A distraction would not be bearing him children now would she?"

"I already knew that" Alicent muttered, covering her mouth and holding back a sob. Brynden took her hand in his and from his pocket pulled out a piece of cloth. He dabbed her tears away gently, before doing the same to her finger where she had picked the skin till she was bleeding. "I will get the Maester to look at this."

"No… no I can manage this" she mumbled softly, wet eyes looking at her friend. She stood and bid him to stand as well. "Thank you, for always being here for me" she mumbled with half a smile, kissing his cheek and then hugging him tightly. He returned the hug after a moment.

The sky split in half at the roar of dragons. Two of them descended, one scarlet and the other pale silver-grey. Under them came a ship with the symbol of House Velaryon displayed proudly.

Months had passed since the dismissal of Otto Hightower, and quite a few things had happened right after. The biggest two of which were Princess Rhaenyra's betrothal to her uncle Prince Daemon and her being named the Lady of Dragonstone, while the other was the young Prince Aegon being named the heir to The Iron Throne. It was a change that the realm had no problems with accepting. They did not care whether Dragonstone seated the heir or not anymore, they only cared about who sat on the Iron Throne.

Lord Brynden was elevated to the position of Hand of the King, Larys Strong being named his replacement as Master of Whispers by the man himself.

Lords from all over the realm had come to swear their allegiance to Aegon ll Targaryen, the new heir to the Throne. His older sister Rhaenyra was the first one to do so, her betrothed doing it with her. All houses major and minor had come for it and would remain for the wedding celebrations of Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon. The King, Queen and Hand worked together to make all the arrangements happen for the wedding. A Valyrian wedding, performed in the ways of Valyrian traditions. A union by blood as it was called.

The Hand and Queen welcomed the guests as they came through. When the Velaryons came only Lord Corlys seemed just a little sour. Princess Rhaenys on the other hand looked jolly, giving Brynden a smile and a sly look. Brynden let out an amused smile before moving on to the next set of guests. The Hightowers were present as well. Ser Otto congratulated Brynden for the promotion, as did his brother. Both were in high spirits. Brynden couldn't blame them, they felt like their plans were coming to fruition. But Brynden had other plans for them.

The swearing-in went without a fuss. And when it was time for the wedding, the festivities were in full swing. Brynden kept his eyes peeled for any issues. Luckily there were none. The first part of his plans was a success, it was time for the next one.