Archive of Our Own

“Rhaenyra?”

Alicent enters her best friends bedchambers quietly after barely evading the attention of her father. She needs to care for the girl who needs it most.

She’s sure King Viserys has his own ways of entertaining himself, and despite her father’s strange suggestion she did not care to check on him.

The silver haired girl does not make herself known in the room until Alicent lays her eyes on the bed she is tucked into.

Her eyes are red and empty, and all her attention seems to be taken by the rough tides outside her window.

“Rhaenyra? I’m here.” Alicent whispers, crossing the room to stand beside her.

When her attention breaks Rhaenyra wipes harshly at her eyes until Alicent reaches out to stop her.

The day dragged on for the Targaryen’s; even after the funeral of her mother and brother, Rhaenyra had to entertain the visitors of the capital with her father.

The two of them made a sorry, sad looking pair today, and Alicent’s only wish was to stand beside her best friend.

“Don’t hurt yourself, Rhaenyra.” She whispers, holding her wrists. The girl falls backwards onto her bed with a sigh, and Alicent stands to keep eyes on her.

Her lip seems to quiver but she bites it to keep down a sob, and Alicent’s heart aches for her.

“What do you need from me, Nyra? Do you want me to sit with you? Find you some food?”

“Sit.” Comes Rhaenyra’s scratchy voice, and Alicent smiles in relief and quickly steps out of her shoes. She reaches a hand around her back and is only able to loosen a part of her dress.

She would leave it on, but it was made new and she would not want to ruin it.

“Rhaenyra…I’m sorry, but would you?”

Rhaenyra sits up, and seeing what is being asked of her takes the strings in her hands and unties them for Alicent. When she is met with her friend’s sheer slip, she traces a finger down her spine and watches the dress fall.

Alicent’s breath catches as Rhaenyra’s hand reaches around her waist and her chin rests upon her shoulder.

“Would you lay with me, Allie?”

Nodding, Alicent turns and walks to the other side of the bed, getting under the covers beside Rhaenyra.

The Princess is on her side facing her when she climbs in, looking much smaller than normal. Usually she has a certain air about her, but today it seems a dark cloud follows her around instead.

“How are you feeling, Rhaenyra?”

She rolls onto her back with a sigh, “Empty.”

“I felt the same when my mother…”

Rhaenyra’s hand finds hers under the covers, and her eyes wander back to the sea. “While my mother was dying, I was cheering for stupid duels. And I was scared a brother might overshadow me so much that I…I wished him away.”

“That is not true Rhaenyra, none of this is your fault.” Alicent whispers, shifting closer to her Princess until her head can rest on her body.

“Then why do I feel such guilt? Such grief?”

“You’ve suffered a great loss,” Alicent says, stroking her hand up and down Rhaenyra’s arm. “It is okay to feel…empty, as you said.”

Rhaenyra sighs and turns away from the sea with wetness in her eyes and falling to her cheeks. Alicent frowns, the sight almost bringing her to tears as she gathers the Princess up in her arms and allows her to cry herself dry.

After hours of dry sobs and empty sniffles, Rhaenyra finally rests in Alicent’s lap, her head safely held against the chest of the one person she trusts.

“Thank you Allie,” Rhaenyra mumbles, sending a chill up Alicent’s spine as she feels the words on her neck more than she hears them.

The Hightower smiles to herself as she reaches down and pulls the wool cover over the both of them and falls asleep only once she knows Rhaenyra has already fallen asleep.

-

Every once in a while, Rhaenyra visits Alicent in her bedroom. It’s smaller than her own, of course, and it's rare for her to show up unannounced.

“Alicent.” Rhaenyra says as she enters the small bedroom. Immediately, Alicent is more interested in the girl in front of her than her book.

“Rhaenyra, what is it?”

The silver haired girl looks unsettled, though to anyone else she would appear normal. Alicent can see by the slight raise in her brow and her biting of her lip that the Princess’ mind is preoccupied.

“Is everything alright?”

“Yes, yes. Sorry I—well I wish to tell you in private.”

Alicent nods, gathering her book and a blanket, knowing that privacy means their tree.

Once they are settled, meaning Rhaenyra’s head rests in her lap and—a new addition, her hand is in hers, Rhaenyra starts to cue Alicent in.

“My father is going to name a new heir.” She says, her eyes on Alicent’s face for her reaction.

“Is Daemon not his heir?”

Rhaenyra shakes her head slowly, “He said…something about Baelon being heir for only a day.”

Alicent gasps, instinctively brushing a hand through Rhaenyra’s hair. “Oh Rhaenyra, why would he say such a thing?”

“Apparently he was implying he is hard to replace as heir. So my father is replacing him.”

“But with who? Daemon has no sons, there are no other brothers unless…your cousins?”

Rhaenyra finally lets a small smirk grace her face. “Me.”

“You?!”

“Well don’t sound so surprised, Alicent.”

“I am!” Alicent explains, smiling. “Not that you won’t be a great Queen, Rhaenyra, I just—it’s unexpected is all.”

“I know.” Rhaenyra smiles, “the first female heir.”

Alicent smiles down at her, and reaching down to hold her face between her hands she whispers, “My heir.”

-

That night, following the announcement that Rhaenyra is to formally become heir to the Iron Throne, Alicent is there to prepare her.

“Are you nervous?” Alicent asks, tightening the gorgeous red dress and tying it off.

“No.” Rhaenyra says, her chin raising in confidence.

Alicent’s hands rest on her shoulders, “It’s me, Rhaenyra. You can tell me the truth.”

“I am not nervous, not really. I only wonder what will happen.”

“I wonder too.” Alicent whispers as Rhaenyra pulls her closer. “And I am nervous for you.”

Rhaenyra smiles at this. “I can tell. You need not be nervous, I am the same me with a different title. Gods know things will be different—I may have more to do, but you know me, Allie.”

“Right. I just, I…no nevermind it. You are right, you will not change.”

“What is it, Alicent?”

“I worry that…we might change. That I will see you less.”

Rhaenyra smiles, turning to hold Alicent’s cheeks gently. “My only wish is to see you every day, Alicent. That will not change.”

The silver haired, soon to be heir then leans in and presses a firm kiss to Alicent’s lips.

“I promise.” Rhaenyra whispers, her forehead pressed against Alicent’s, and the Hightower leans in for one more lingering kiss before her princess becomes her heir.

At the ceremony Alicent watches her best friend, her love, disappear under the heavy gold crown and necklaces that only appear to be making her smaller. And despite herself, she picks at her nails.

-

Rhaenyra told Alicent to meet her back in her room after the ceremony, and Alicent is only waiting a moment before Rhaenyra returns, looking only more Queen like up close.

The smirk on her face tells Alicent that Rhaenyra has gotten what she wants, and that whatever her father discussed after the meeting with her did not upset her.

“Lady Hightower,” Rhaenyra greets her, pulling her up by her hands.

“Tell me,” she says, her hands snaking around Alicent, her mouth level with her ear. “Would you like to help the Queen undress?”

Alicent blushes a bright red and grips Rhaenyra’s arms.

“You aren’t the Queen yet, Rhaenyra.” She quips, taking pleasure in the chuckle that escapes Rhaenyra’s lips.

“So you won’t bend the knee for me?” Rhaenyra teases, her hands dropping lower and stealing all words from Alicent’s lips.

Alicent’s knees buckle, but she recovers and spins, moving behind Rhaenyra and guiding her toward her mirror.

She unties the red dress, her eyes locked with Rhaenyra’s in the mirror.

Slowly, her hand reaches around her neck to unhook the heavy necklace and place it on the table in front of Rhaenyra as the girl takes a seat.

In a flash, Rhaenyra has pulled her into her lap with a bright smile, and her lips land on hers before Alicent can even stop herself from laughing.

Rhaenyra’s skillful hands untie Alicent’s dress as she stands and carries her to the large bed behind them.

She insists upon placing the crown on Alicent’s head as she slowly undresses her, her strong hands climbing up and down her sides.

“I’ll love you until my final days, Alicent.” Rhaenyra whispers into her ear, her hands cupping Alicent’s chest between them and pulling a whimper from the Hightower.

Alicent reaches for the back of Rhaenyra’s neck, pulling her lips toward hers as the heir’s hand travels down her thighs.

A moan is cut short and absorbed by Rhaenyra’s mouth, which does nothing but encourage the smirk on her lips.

“Rhaenyra,” Alicent mutters, her eyes squeezing shut as Rhaenyra’s movements quicken. “I’ll love you until the end of time.”

The words spur Rhaenyra on, making her grip stronger, her lips harsher on Alicent’s neck, and her movements deeper.

Alicent hardly lasts long, coming undone with the crown on her head and Rhaenyra’s strong body above her.

It’s hours later before either girl needs sleep, but their tiredness is prolonged by talking with both their heads resting on the same pillow.

“I wish we could be married and have children of our own.” Rhaenyra whispers, her eyes fluttering open.

Alicent’s hand reaches for her cheek, “I wish the same every night. I wish we were not expected to marry any other.”

“The Gods must know any children made by two women would make much better heirs.” Rhaenyra muses, and Alicent laughs.

“Our children would bring peace to the kingdoms for years to come.”

“If only men did not exist.” Rhaenyra sighs, “But no matter. I have you.”

Alicent smiles, pushing her forehead against Rhaenyra’s. “Always.” She mutters before sleep envelopes the pair.