The King's Feast 26: Otto IV
The two green sphinxes lay still, as it had done for a thousand years before that, watching guard over all the people that entered. They both had the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and a long serpentine tail. But one had the face of a man, and the other had the face of a woman. They both glowed in the early morning sun, the green marble glimmering as if they were cut from emeralds. Otto Hightower, along with his daughter, and two handmaidens carrying his granddaughter walked between the two sphinxes and under the massive stone arch into the Citadel.
Just beyond the arches were the Scribe's Hearth, and as well as the Seneschal's Court just to the left. To the right was a small river, with small boats taking people to and from the Isle of Ravens. None of those places were where Otto wanted to go, however. He wanted to go to the Chambers of the Academics. It was just beyond where the small boats were, and easily noticeable. The Chambers of the Academics were the largest building in the citadel, a gigantic tower with a domed roof, all of it made with white stone and marble, that had turned yellow from years of aging. The entrance was guarded by two men in silver and green armour, but they quickly moved out of the way when they saw Otto.
The large oak door swung open with a loud creak, and Otto and Alicent walked in. The maids passed the babe to Alicent, and waited outside, since people that were not members of the Hightower family or a maester were not allowed in, especially women. Despite its gargantuan size, the interior of the Chambers was modest, with a medium sized round hall, and spiral staircases made of pinewood and birch leading to the different floors and twisting hallways leading away from the hall littered across the edge of the hall. It smelt of candlewax, and old leather, likely due to all the books coming in and out of there. A maester rushed by, carrying a stack of around seven books, and nodded at Otto as he scampered up the stairs.
"I've never been in here before." Alicent said, gazing at the large chandelier hanging from the centre of the room.
Otto walked up to the man on the dais, who seemed to be engrossed in reading some dusty scroll with his Myrish lens. He seemed to still be in his youth, but already had a full link of chains. Otto saw links of gold, iron, copper, tin, and platinum on there. He had most of his links, but noticeably, no Valyrian Steel link. The small piece of parchment laid out in front of him seemed to display Munkun on it. Otto cleared his throat to notify the young maester of his presence.
"What... Yes?" the man hastily asked, displeased to have been disturbed. "Oh... Ser Otto Hightower... I did not... notice you there... what brings you to the Chambers of the Academics, good Ser?"
"Maester... Munkun, I would like directions to Archmaester Vaegon's quarters." Otto calmly replied.
"V-Vaegon?" Maester Munkun repeated. "He... absolutely, Ser. His abode is on this floor... in fact. It is the third door to your left. Through that hallway, there. But... forgive me, Ser, for asking, but what purpose do you need with Archmaester Vaegon... his senses have left him many years prior..."
Then I have failed him by not visiting sooner.
"Thank you, Maester Munkun." Otto curtly replied, before him and Alicent, who was carrying Jocelyn, walked to the hallway where the Archmaester's chambers were.
Otto knocked on the wooden door twice, and the voice of an elderly man shouted back.
"Gods! Yes, I am coming Pate!" Vaegon shouted angrily from the door, but when he opened it, his tone softened. "What do you... Otto!"
Despite only being around ten years Otto's senior, Archmaester Vaegon looked about thirty years his elder. He was hunched over, his skin saggy and pale. He used a cane to walk around, and his nose hung like a beak. His face was still as pinched as Otto remembered, but his lilac eyes drooped even lower than it did before.
Gods, you've gone old, Vaegon.
Vaegon was always like an older brother to Otto when he grew up in Oldtown, teaching him mathematics and astronomy outside of Otto's regular lessons with the maesters, but now Vaegon could pass as Otto's father or even his grandfather. Vaegon moved his thin arms and embraced Otto, his whole body shaking when he did.
"It is so good to see you again, Otto. Why did you not..." he said, before erupting into a coughing fit.
"There, there, take a seat, Vaegon." Otto gently said.
Vaegon shuffled back to his bed, and plopped himself down, groaning in pain as his knobbly knees bent.
"Yes... Otto... you have not come... all this time..." Vaegon said. "You returned to Oldtown for some weeks now... see... I still have my wits... but you only visit me now..."
"Forgive me, Vaegon, I had duties..."
"Duties... I had duties once... now Munkun keeps me locked in here..." he spat. "Doing my duties... it was the only thing I could do... now they say my wits are too far gone... they took away by duties... gave it to some other lad... they even stole my bloody chain..."
Otto looked around the room. It was spacious, bigger than any other bedchamber that a maester would sleep in, but it was empty. Nothing was dirty, but there were no decorations hanging about, nor any books laying around, but underneath a pile of rags, Otto spied Vaegon's maester chain.
I truly have come too late; he certainly has lost his wits years ago.
"I came to show you my granddaughter, Vaegon." Otto said, gesturing for Alicent to bring Jocelyn closer.
She brought the babe nearer, and Vaegon took them in his bony hands, and cradled the sleeping child.
"Oh... little Alicent... you shall grow to be a noble woman..." Vaegon said, with the hint of a smile on his face.
"Archmaester, this-" Alicent began, before Otto put his hand on her daughter to stop her.
I have not seen Vaegon smile ever since young Gwayne was born, I shall let him have his moment.
After a while, Vaegon handed the babe back to Alicent, and began rambling on about how his brothers forced him to train in the yard and that he does not want to marry, even if his father forced him.
Mayhaps the Archmaester would take a liking to Princess Rhaenyra as well since they had that in common.
Alicent then prepared a warm tea for Vaegon, and gently combed his long, scraggly, white beard, after he finished drinking it. The man was tired by then, and the sun was starting to reach its zenith, so Otto had to take his leave to let the man sleep. He sent Alicent out of the room with Jocelyn, before speaking in private to Vaegon this time.
"One... more thing, Vaegon..." Otto said.
"What is it, lad?" Vaegon croaked.
"My sons... they are to set sail for the Stepstones today... I could not bear to tell my brother I mislike the idea of sending them, but they are still so young... I know I could tell you this…"
Vaegon frowned. "If you are looking for a way out of this, Otto, I... shall not be the one to grant you... If it is their duty to lead Oldtown's army... then they have no choice..."
I accepted Corlys Velaryon's proposal of House Hightower's involvement in the Stepstones. It is my fault that they shall go to war.
"That is what my brother would have said, too."
"Then... he has learned his duties better than you have." Vaegon laughed. "Aemon and Baelon flew off to Dorne last week... did they not... did they… I did not have much common cause with my elder brothers... but I still did not want them to go... either way... it is your sons' duties to fight for your house... I was not a fighting man... I still am not... heh… but if they die in glory... if they survive... then they did their duty... and that is what they did…"
It is my sons' duties because I sent them off myself. If anything should happen to them, it shall be my burden to bear.
"Thank you, Vaegon." Otto sighed, before leaving the room.
"Do visit... more Otto. Take care, lad." Vaegon said, as he left.
I shall.
Otto walked back to the main hall, pondering on what Vaegon told him. It was nothing new, it was what he had been told all of his life, by his father, by his brother, and by Vaegon before. In truth, Otto found doing his duties easy, but that was because he had never sent his own children to fight in a war hundreds of miles away.
A war that I agreed to take part in. I could've refused that part of Corlys Velaryon's offer... no, why do I lie to myself... he would not have accepted the marriage pact if it weren't for Oldtown's help against the Triarchy… so maybe I should have made an offer to Corlys… but then I would come back to Oldtown with my head bowed in shame…
Lord Hobert declared that his son, Ser Ormund, would remain at Oldtown as he had a duty to his lady wife, and as heir to Oldtown, so Gwayne and Thoren would need to represent House Hightower in the Stepstones.
"It is a good deal you have struck with the Velaryons, and for that I am happy for you." Hobert said to him when he returned to Oldtown. "But I did not give you leave to start a war on our house's behalf. The Hightower fleet shall partake, and it shall be your sons to join them. Our fleet needs a leader from our own household, and your boys shall lead the way, as you are the one who dragged us into this war. Thoren has been eager for battle for years, he is a natural commander. And it would serve Gwayne better to learn a lesson out at sea rather than empty his cups in brothels and inns every damned evening."
Otto thought about sending some other Hightower cousin in his son's stead, but his brother had ordered for his sons to go.
Disrespecting my brother's commands goes against everything I have been taught. Doing duties. Lighting the way. All of that. They must go to the Stepstones. They are grown men now. Gwayne is already two-and-twenty, and Thoren is nine-and-ten. They shall manage. Alicent shall still be here at Oldtown with me at least.
She was sitting patiently at one of the chairs in the main hall, desperately trying to avoid eye contact with Maester Munkun, who seemed to be irritated by Alicent and Jocelyn's mere presence. She stood up, carrying the sleeping baby, and as they walked out of the Chamber of the Academics, they heard a large sigh of relief coming from Munkun.
They exited the Citadel, passing by even more crowds of young novices rushing around under the hot sun. A carriage was waiting for them outside, pulled by two white horses and surrounded by Hightower guards. They all climbed in, and they made their way to the harbour.
"It is sad, father, seeing the state Archmaester Vaegon Targaryen is in now. I know... I know that he was like a brother to you." Alicent said, gently, putting her hand on Otto's knee.
She was correct, Vaegon acted as a mentor to Otto, whilst Hobert was busy as the Lord of Oldtown at such a young age following their father's early presence.
"Yes, it is sad." Otto replied.
"I know what you spoke about in there. In-in the room, with V-Vaegon." Alicent said. "I know that you do not wish to send Gwayne and Thoren to the Stepstones."
"No, I do not want to. But I have to, for the alliance."
"For the alliance, father. Yes, we all have to do our duties." Alicent replied, scornfully. "But did you really have to endanger your son's lives in order for a chance to put your blood on the throne? First you sent me to the King's chambers, then sent Thoren to woo the Princess. Now you send him and Gwayne to fight in war, when neither of them have ever seen true battle? You are condemning them to die!"
She is not wrong.
"For our house, I made this deal. And for our house, sacrifices must be made, Alicent. Sacrifices such as these. I mislike sending them off, but what choice did I have? What choice does anyone have?"
"You could have chosen to not forge an alliance with the Sea Snake."
"And look a fool in front of my brother and the rest of Oldtown, being dismissed dishonourably as Hand, and no royal marriage to show for it. That is what you would rather me do?"
"Yes, that is, father." Alicent coldly said.
That is what I would have rather done, too.
The remainder of the ride to the harbour was in silence, as the carriage bumped over the cobbled streets, and twisted through the winding roads. The early afternoon sun beat down on them, and even in protection of the carriage, Otto could feel the heat. Regardless of the heat, Oldtown still smelled lovely, like perfume and flowers, better than the rancid smell of pig shit and rotting fish back in King's Landing.
After a while, they reached the harbour, and they both climbed out. They were greeted by the smell of fresh seawater and the sounds of the many tongues of passing traders. A pack of white ravens flew overhead, while two peasant children ran around. The harbour was massive, with essentially the entire city encircling it, with sea walls protecting the exit into the Whispering Sound. The blue-green water was littered with ships of many sizes, galleys, longships, even some swan ships. Most proudly displayed the banners of House Hightower, the white High Tower, on a field of dark grey. Some of the ships flew banners from different houses from across the Seven Kingdoms. Otto spotted a Lannister ships, and one belonging to House Grafton. One of the swan ships flew no banner, but from the painted wood, they were clearly from the Summer Isles.
Otto also saw some ships belonging to House Hightower's vassals. Around ten-and-five ships displayed the orange butterflies of the Mullendores, and just as many with the white bull of Bulwer. There were also some with the quartered arms of House Costayne, but noticeable no ships belonging to House Beesbury or House Cuy.
Lord Lyman chose not to follow his liege lord into war.
Ships circled the grand harbour in and out of the main sea wall, but in the middle of the waters where the Honeywine opened up was the Battle Isle. It was a small island in the very middle of the harbour. The bottom of the island was filled with pine trees atop the rocky cliffs that were raised three times as high as a carrack. Then on the island sat the High Tower, the towering structure that was said to be taller the Wall at the end of the world, with its beacon at the very top burning a bright scarlet and orange flame. The High Tower was built on a base of oily black stone, smoother than a baby's cheeks. It marvelled Otto whenever he saw the thing, and he always wondered how whoever built it made it to be like that.
They all exited the carriage, and were greeted by Otto's brother, Lord Hobert; as well as his son Ormund, who had his two sons, Martyn, and Lyonel, clinging by his side; and Otto's youngest son, Thoren.
"Father." Thoren nodded. He had a smile on his face, and for the past few days, he constantly mentioned how excited he was to go fight in the Stepstones, but Otto knew when he had a hint of worry in his voice.
"Thoren." Otto calmly replied. "Is Gwayne not here with you?"
Thoren looked around, confused. "No... I thought he was with you this morning?"
"Gods, that boy..." Otto cursed.
"I- Ser Otto?" asked Ser Qarl Correy, one of the young household knights in service to House Hightower. "I saw hi- Ser Gwayne in the Quill and Tankard last night, mayhaps he may still be there now?"
Gods, getting drunk is a sport for that lad.
"Send some guards to check that bloody tavern. Quickly. You go with them, Ser Qarl. If he is, bring him to me, at once." Otto ordered.
After the men went off in search of Gwayne, Alicent embraced her other brother, hugging him tightly.
"I shall miss you, Thoren. Do come back in one piece." Alicent said.
"Do not worry, sister. I shall cut off that Crabfeeder's head myself." Thoren laughed.
Whilst Alicent said her goodbyes to her brother, Otto went to speak to his brother and nephew.
"My poor cousin would hardly last a fortnight in the state he's in." Ormund mused.
"Then the war shall make a man of Gwayne." Hobert responded. "He shall either sink or swim."
He shall either die at sea or come back a broken man.
Otto thought about objecting to sending Gwayne, but Hobert had heard his pleas half a hundred times and gave the same answer each time.
"You sent us into this war, now your blood has to fight in it." He would respond.
And die in it.
"Let us hope that the war is dealt with swiftly, for all our sakes." Otto said to Hobert and Ormund.
"Yes. If the Gods are good, then it shall be. Then Lady Alicent shall soon marry Ser Laenor Velaryon, and we can prepare Jocelyn to be the future Queen-"
Hobert was interrupted by the sound of men shouting.
Ser Qarl and his men had brought back Gwayne from that tavern, kicking and screaming.
"Leave me... where are we..." Gwayne mumbled, being dragged across the floor by the guards. They dropped him by Otto's feet, and Gwayne promptly puked out onto the wed cobbled stones.
Ormund is wrong, he will barely last a day at sea.
"Get up, boy!" Otto said, dragging his son to his feet.
He pulled Gwayne so close that he could smell his vomit filled breath, and whispered to him.
"The morning that you are to set out for the Stepstones, and you are found sleeping in a fucking tavern?! Get on that fucking boat, and maybe you can restore some honour onto your besmirched name. Go, boy!"
"Y-Yes... father..." Gwayne slurred, before stumbling onto Honour of Oldtown, the flagship of House Hightower, almost falling off the side as he climbed on. It was a massive carrack, with multiple sails, and its hold was the size of a small castle. It was not to be used in battle, but instead to carry soldiers and provisions, and to also strike fear into the opposing navy through its imposing size.
Alicent and Thoren walked over to Otto and sighed at the sight of their brother.
"I shall look after Gwayne, father, do not worry." Thoren proudly declared before giving his sister another embrace.
"Good lad." Otto said to his son, before giving him a small pat on his shoulder. "I am proud of you. Both of you. Gwayne too. Tell him I said that."
And I'm sorry for sending you off to war at such a young age and sending Gwayne off when he clearly isn't fit for it.
Thoren climbed aboard the large ship and when he got on board, he dragged Gwayne to the prow and waved at Otto as they set off.
The Honour of Oldtown, along with Huntress, Lady of the Tower, Seven Blessings, The Greenhand, King Uthor, and countless other Hightower ships departed from the Harbour and out to sail to the Stepstones. Most of them would return but for some, it would be the last time their crew would ever see the High Tower; the Citadel; or the Starry Sept.
It may be the last time my sons see me.
Alicent waved at her brothers until they were completely out of sight, and they all stood there watching the ships slowly exit the harbour until there were only a few left. Otto then gave Alicent a small embrace and whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry Alicent."
"Tell that to Gwayne and Thoren." Alicent coldly replied, before walking back to the carriage
Once most of the ships had departed, as well as most of the onlookers, Otto again looked up at the High Tower.
It still had its oily black base, and was still as tall as it was, with its white stone sides. But the flame of the beacon had gone out. Suddenly, another flame erupted from the tower, but this time it wasn't the red and orange of before.
This time, for the first time in decades, the beacon burned green, signalling that House Hightower had gone to war.