He did, though his time away from capital was dulling his understanding.
Alicent did not always see clearly, and the spies he had remaining were not as closely placed to certain players as he wished.
Elaena herself was a bit of a mystery to him.
This visit presented an excellent opportunity to rectify that.
…
A few days later Otto watched the silver dragon descend outside of the walls of Oldtown.
He was familiar with dragons and noted immediately the grace with which the dragon landed.
Otto saw Elaena speak and then the dragon took off.
“Princess Elaena, you honor us with your visit,” he intoned and bowed his head as she approached.
“This here is Ormund, my nephew, heir to the lordship of Oldtown.” He gestured to his other side, “And this is my eldest son, Gunthor.”
The petite princess accepted their greetings with formal courtesies, but softened with a slight smile upon her face.
“A pleasure to meet you all.”
“Princess, I saw your dragon fly off, is that safe?” Ormund questioned.
“Quite safe.
Viktoriya is well trained.
She’ll hunt, but only fish and wild animals.
No horses, people, or animals owned by your people.”
Otto directed them through the gates of Old Town.
He escorted her to the Citadel and discussed what she would be learning as they travelled.
“I have an interest in the weather of Westeros.
The changing of the seasons is so ununiform, I wish to learn of the causes.
I am also interested in learning more of the healing arts, especially as it pertains to childbirth.”
“Oh, because of Queen Aemma, that makes sense.” Ormund replied.
Otto was too disciplined to shake his head at the rather tactless way he responded.
However, Elaena did not seem to take any offense.
“It is often said that the birthing bed is the woman’s battlefield.
It would put me at ease if I knew more of the process surrounding it, for when my time comes.
Though, I should say that my good-brother Laenor’s stories of battle in the Stepstones sound quite exciting.
If I have time, it would be interesting to speak with the Archmaester of iron.”
Gunthor chuckled, “What do Maesters know of war?
I respect them for their knowledge, but I’ll not trust their council in matters of warcraft until I see one with a sword in hand.”
“That would be a sight to see!
Can you imagine, Grand Maester Mellos charging a battlement?” Elaena jested and both of Otto’s younger kin grinned in response.
She’s good.
We are fortunate she is not the elder.
They arrived at the Citadel and Otto gave her two guards who would be escorting her wherever she wished to go within Oldtown.
There would be a formal welcoming feast on the following day, but beyond that her time was fully her own.
The Maesters had mixed feelings about the whole affair, but Otto didn’t care about their idiosyncrasies.
The Grand Maester, the Lord of Oldtown, and the King himself had all granted approval for the princess to study and do as she wished.
Being a gracious host would lay the seeds for Otto’s eventual return to King’s Landing, and he intended for there to be no complaints to Viserys about the treatment of his daughter.
…
Grim news from the Vale, his good-sister Rhea Royce was dead from a fall from a horse.
She had deserved a better husband and a better end.
It was ill news, but not what had him frustrated.
Daemon had abandoned the Stepstones and flown to the Vale to claim the Royce lands.
Only Jeyne Arryn, Lady Paramount of the Vale, had denied him.
The King’s brother was still exiled from court, but he had sent a missive by raven demanding that Viserys step in and enforce his claim.
The utter gall of the man, he had failed to do his duty as a husband, and now he wished to reap the benefits of his wife’s untimely death?
He had refused him, and then refused again when another raven came with Daemon asking to return to court to plead his case in person.
Daemon would certainly be angry, but he had made his bed and it was time for him to deal with it.
Naturally, Viserys had expected him to return to his ‘kingdom’ of the Stepstones, but evidently, he had soured of the whole affair.
Which led to the Sea Snake once again asking the crown to intervene, because House Velaryon was now quite outnumbered without the rest of the Seven Kingdoms willing to aid.
His distracted mood drew the attention of his wife.
“Viserys, is everything well?
Is your toe bothering you again?”
He waved that concern aside.
His right foot’s toe had turned red and bulbous, but the Grand Maester had administered a salve that reduced the swelling and decreased the pain.
No, his concerns were political of nature.
“It is my brother and now Corlys.
Every time I believe the realm is stable and all crises are over and done with, something else comes up.
My brother has abandoned the Stepstones and upset the Vale.
I have nobles to appease and now Corlys is urging me to confront the Triarchy and Dorne.
Lyman is attempting to start our bank and we were counting on Laena’s betrothal to the Sea Lord’s son to smooth things over with the Iron Bank, and the man dies of sickness.”
Alicent listened and then came around behind where he was seated and began to massage his shoulders.
“Seven preserve his soul, and I have no wish to be cheerful over the passing of another, but is this not a beneficial thing?
Isn’t Laena’s betrothed now the Sealord?”
“No, they do things queerly in Braavos.
Some sort of vote among the keyholders of the city.
I’m told the young man is not even in consideration.”
“I see.
Does not House Velaryon command three formidable dragons?
What need do they have for aid?”
Viserys frowned.
“Laenor is Rhaenyra’s husband and they have young children.
A showing of force is one thing, but a prolonged deployment to the Stepstones would not be fair to my daughter.
Rhaenys is probably capable, but is on the older side for a military campaign.
Laena has the opposite problem as she is young and has never fought in war.”
Alicent was quiet for a few minutes as Viserys closed his eyes and enjoyed the relieving of tension in his shoulders.
“I still feel as if this is his problem, not ours.
I know how proud you are of having kept the peace during your reign, I would not see your aim dismissed over the Sea Snake’s greed.”
Viserys agreed.
Though he also wondered what trouble his younger brother would get in now that he was not preoccupied with war.
His musings were interrupted when Ser Harrold Westerling, the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard, entered.
The man was past his prime, but was more solidly built than men ten years his junior.
A smile bloomed on the King’s face.
“Send her in after she has refreshed herself.”
The Kingsguard bowed and left them.
Alicent took a seat next to Viserys and had a smile on her face as well.
It was one of the things he loved about Alicent, how she had taken in Aemma’s last gift and raised her as her own.
If only she could have kept cordial with Rhaenyra.
Elaena entered and approached the two of them exchanging hugs and assurances that she was well after her flight.
Viserys still wondered at how the girl had convinced both he and Alicent of her ability to travel so far on her own.
Rhaenyra and Laenor both crediting her flying prowess had lent weight, but still, in hindsight he had worried quite a bit until a raven had come from Oldtown.
“How was your adventure?” Alicent asked.
“Quite productive.
I did not learn about any banking history in Old Valyria, but did have a text copied that described some of the buildings.
From my memory of your model, father, there may be some minor alterations for you to make.
Beyond that, I studied the healing arts as well as astronomy and weather patterns.
I discovered that the Citadel knows much about what it does not know.
There are some interesting theories involving triangulation and the axis in which the world sits, but it does not explain the lack of uniformity of the seasons… oh I apologize, I am rambling a bit.”
Viserys laughed, “I am pleased you found such topics so enthralling.
I trust the Hightowers treated you well?”
“Yes, mother’s family was most gracious and welcoming.
Lord Hobert was oft busy, but Ormund and Gunthor regularly checked in on me and supped with me.
Oldtown is a wonderful city, and I enjoyed my time there immensely, thank you for allowing me to go.”
The King basked in his decision-making aplomb and the three of them discussed more of the trip for several hours.
The hour grew late and as they said their goodnights, Elaena asked about continuing their walks.
“We can, though you’ll have to bear with me a bit.
A minor ailment has me less spry.”
“Oh?”
“Nothing to worry about, we will just need to take it slower, and possibly cut it short.
But if it proves too short, we can start breaking our fast in the mornings together.
I find our conversations just what is needed to clear my head before court and council meetings.”
“Of course, father, and mayhap I can put my Citadel learning of the healing arts to the test.
I’m sure Grand Maester Mellos has things well in hand, but it might be intriguing to attempt to diagnose you myself.”
Viserys had no concerns with it.
As they gave each other a final embrace before departing, he already started feeling better.
The stresses and decisions of the morrow, could wait for the morrow.
Elaena bid them goodbye and promised Alicent she’d spend most of the day with her siblings.
…
Who knew?
So …
just keep tossing them 😉
…