Aegon had nearly cornered an evasive serving girl who did everything in her power not to look him in the eyes. The alcohol kept him from sensing her extreme discomfort. Or perhaps he just didn't care.
"Your Prince ordered a fresh pint of wine," he lowly told her as she nodded in compliance, still not meeting his glare. She nearly began trembling when feeling the Prince's sickly fingers wrap themselves in her golden locks. Aegon may've been a boy of thirteen, but he could not've frightened her more than if he had been a grown burly man.
"The next time I am forced to tread halfway across the damned Red Keep just to-"
A pair of rough hands captured the unexpecting Prince and pulled him through the large wooden doors of the Hand's quarters.
Aegon yelped and immediately protested, "What is the meaning of this?!"
His demands died away when meeting the furious stare of his grandsire, one of very few people in the world who were allowed to handle him like this.
For a moment nothing was shared between the two. A heavy impatience stirred inside Otto, and he suddenly struck Aegon across the face, smacking half the buzz out of his system.
"You damned fool..." Otto growled under his breath before dragging his flustered grandson across the room and over to the burning fireplace.
"The Gods gift us an opportunity and you already seek to destroy it." he bantered angrily. His gold Hand pin gleamed intimidatingly at the boy. Otto made Aegon stand up straight before fixing his posture.
When Aegon's proper senses returned, he noticed the filled serving tray before him. His face started to hurt. But what held most of his attention was the extravagant wine that was ready for enjoyment. Certainly none of this could be for him, could it?
"What is-"
"Not for you, boy." Otto confirmed (much to Aegon's disappointment). "Your sister is back in the Red Keep." the older man began explaining. Aegon knew well of who he was referring to.
"You are to go and offer this to her yourself." he kept explaining.
"All of it?" Aegon questioned, still eyeing the fresh pitcher. Otto couldn't tell if he was being honest or not. It almost earned the boy another slap.
"These cakes are fresh and have been prepared delicately and specifically with the Princess Rhaenyra in mind. They're her favorites. The Arbor Gold is a final touch to this charity. None of which is to touch your lips." Otto told him.
"Even if she wished to share-" Aegon was cut off when Otto aggressively shook him back into focus.
"When you deliver your gift you are to tell the Princess that you are sorry for her predicament, that your prayers are with her, and that you are there for her whenever she needs of you. Because you are family." Otto instructed.
"Do you understand?" he questioned firmly.
Aegon struggled to digest this information and expectations that struck him all at once. His grandfather was really commanding him to offer his sister company? Right at this second? And with gifts?
Would Rhaenyra even want to accept his company? he wondered.
Despite his haughty bragging over the assurance-possibility-of being betrothed to the Heir earlier, Aegon hadn't even thought this far into it. He had not the confidence to perform this daunting duty of facing his own sister, the beautiful Princess Rhaenyra.
"Do you understand?" Otto repeated when his grandson was mute. His grip on the boy painfully tightened.
Aegon, still mentally spinning in confusion, finally gave a small nod in cooperation. And then a small gulp. Otto relinquished his hold on his grandson's collar. He called out, and a serving girl entered the room; the same one that Aegon harassed. She simply bowed and kept her composure.
"Dyana, would you please be so kind as to escort my idiot grandson to the Princess Rhaenyra's chambers?" Otto requested before picking up the tray of sweet gifts and handing it to her. He knew damn-well that if he entrusted Aegon with this physical task, the tasty contents would be all over the floors before he even made it back to the Godswood.
"Yes, my Lord." she agreed.
"And make sure he delivers this personally to the Princess." Otto reiterated when casting a vexed eye at the baffled Prince. He was given a nod and then another bow. Dyana was quick to make for the large doors, balancing everything on the tray with great care.
"Go." Otto ordered Aegon before roughly pushing him toward the doors.