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When Alicent left Viserys chambers after he told her a lot of foolish nonsense she started to felt dizzy and lightheaded, she grabbed onto the nearest wall for support but soon her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she passed out

"Lady Alicent!! Lady Alicent!!" overbearing shouting is how Alicent woke up, she opened her eyes and was startled to find her old septa staring at her, but that had to be impossible, septa Marlowe died when Aegon was four name days old, this must be her mind making up tricks to her "Foolish girl, you sneaked into the princess's chambers again didn't you? You two will give me more grays than I already have" she murmured the last part to herself but Alicent still heard her

"What...what happened" she murmured while getting up with the help of her arms, her eyes inspectioned the chambers she was in and found herself in the one's when her father had her living with him in the tower of the hand

"Foolish children" the septa murmured while grabbing a drees and tossing it at her "Get ready now child, the princess will be done anytime now"

"Ready for what?" she asked still confused, she was not understanding anything

"To go to the dragon-pit for the princess early riding, you as the princess's lady in waiting have to acompany her everywhere she goes, now get ready" with one final glance her way the speta left the room

"What a more realistic dream I'm having, I blame Aegon for allowing him to give me a lot of wine in supper" she murmured while pinching her arm but when only pain greeted her she stopped, she got up and went to nearest mirror she could reach and she let out the most orrific scream at what she saw

"Wow Ali, are you alright? I think they heard  you even in Dorne" a new voice reached her ears making her turn to the door so fast she almost gave herself a whiplash

"Rhaenyra.." the princess was infront of her, looking 15 name days and wearing her riding gear, she was as beatiful as ever, her white locks were perfectly arranged out of her face and held in a simple hairstyle, her beatiful lilac eyes were full of life, joy and mischief, she wouls never admit it but she missed that amazing spark that defined Rhaenyra as Rhaenyra, over the years she had to watch that spark dissapear completely because of different burdens and of course almost all of it was her fault

"Are you okay Ali?" Rhaenyra asked concerned for her best friend, she got closer to her a took Alicent's hand in her own but retracted them when her friend flinched "I'm sorry...I didn't want to startle you" the princess apologized sincerely and gosh...did Alicent missed her voice more than anything "are you alright? If you feel ill you can stay here, I can go riding on Syrax alone and I'll visit you after"

That was all it took for Alicent to pass out her body no longer being able to bear whatever was happening to her, the las thing she heard before everything went black was Rhaenyra shouting for a maester

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"You scared me to death Ali, please take care of yourself some more" Rhaenyra pleaded to her best friend, said best friend in question was laying down in her bed, propped up with some pillows against the headboard, drinking the horrible tasteful tea the maester gave her

"I'm sorry..."she murmured while gawking at the princess, she still could not grasp the fact that she was in the past, how did this happen? She had no idea, maybe the gods finally answered her prayers for a better life and sended her back in time to fix things for herself, still she was more grateful for the fact that she could once again see Rhaenyra in all her full glory, and what was best is that Rhaenyra looked at her as if she was her world, the last time Rhaenyra looked at her like that was in that awful godforsaken meeting in which the King announced their betrothal and before the reality settled in the princess

"Do not apologize, not to me, just promise me you'll take care of yourself" the princes told her while reaching for her hand, but retracting it as if she remembered Alicent's reaction when she did it earlier

"I promise" the princess smiled at her but she did not understood the double meaning of Alicent's words, now Alicent promised Rhaenyra and herself she would do everything in her power to change how everything went, she would still obey her father in visiting the king once the Queen passes but she will not hide the truth from Rhaenyra this time

"I have to go now but I'll come back later okay?" She nodded to the princess words, Rhaenyra got up from the chair she was sitting in and walked closer to the bed and kissed her best friend's forehead, Alicent closed her eyes basking herself in the feeling of Rhaenyra's lips on her forehead

Once the princes left her chambers Alicent began scheming in her mind what she was going to do, according to Rhaenyra tomorrow was going to be the Heir's tourney, so tomorrow Queen Aemma and Baelon will die and her father will send her to the king's chambers that night, tomorrow was going to be the day that ruined her life, she would follow her fathers order just for her to gain power, and after that she planned to go to Rhaenyra and explain everything and putting her father as the villain she knew he was, she now realized after her last conversation with older Rhaenyra that she would never harm her children

It was all a plan of her father to make her fear Rhaenyra and push Aegon to the throne... gosh Aegon, how horrible she treated her once sweet boy, forcing him to attend lessons he didn't want to, pinning him against his older sister, grounding him when he got together with Rhaenyra's boys, marrying him to Helaena her sweet Helaena who did not deserved everything she went trough

But now everything was going to change, she'll make sure of that and the first step was gain power so she could pretty much do anything and to do that she'll have to make Viserys like her so she could easily manipulate him, the second step was stopping Rhaenyra from doing anything stupid but her priority was to make sure that she stays hers and hers alone, maybe Laenor's too since he preffered the company of men, yeah she'll marry them to each other, third step was getting her father fired as hand and make sure he does not have any power in King's Landing, she was going to make sure that in this second chance she gets everything she wanted and that was Rhaenyra to be only hers and nobody elses
♤♤♤♤♤

Once again Rhaenyra entered her chambers in a mouse like manner, all shy and careful, she missed this adorable side of the princess only she got to witness, to the rest of the kingdoms Rhaenyra Targaryen was a rebellious, cunning princess, the Realm's delight, but to Alicent she was only Nyra, her Nyra that sneaked into the kitchens just so she could get Alicent the cake she liked, the one who let her read to her from hours and hours and not once stopping her, the one who hugged her and told her everything was going to be fine once her mother passed, the one who begged endless times for her to come and ride Syrax with her, in this life she would accept the offer, the only person who stopped her from hurting herself, grabbing her hand in hers once she started to pick at her fingers making them bleed

"How are you feeling?" the princess seated herself in the chair from earlier and Alicent wished that she would lay beside her on the bed but she had to be patient, soon Rhaenyra would be her lover and they would have endless opportunities to lay together

"Much better now that you are here" her comment only made Rhanyra blush

"Who wouldn't miss me?" the princess cheekily answered while trying and failing to rid herself from the redness of her checks

"Oh yeah because you are the realm's delight, I forgot" she smiled at her wetting a wilder one in return

"Who are you and what have you done to my shy Ali" the princess dared to ask but she did not stop smiling, liking this version of Alicent that was confident and not shy in talking back to her

"I'm a new woman now, get used to it" her answer only made the princess chuckle while getting herself comfortable on the chair

"Well I'll admit I like this version of you, it's kind of hot" now it was her turn to blush hiding her face in her hands "not so brave now are you" that only got Rhaenyra a pillow to her face

"You are such a fool" she laughed at the offended expression on the princess face

"Striking your princess, that is treason, I could have you executed for that" the princess warned playfully

"You wouldn't do that, you'd miss me too much" she smiled

"You give yourself to much credit Lady Alicent" the princess replied

"Do I?" she carefully got up from the bed making Rhaenyra almost fall on herself while she tried to reach her to help her "you're telling me you wouldn't miss me?" she asked while getting closer and closer to the princess making her fall down on the chair she was seated previously, now towering over her Alicent felt powerful, the doe eye look Rhaenyra was giving her was the most innocent thing in this life

She put her hands on the armrests on the chair and watched intently as Rhaenyra gulped down hard, exhaling softly while she looked her directly to the eyes sadly their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door

"Yes?" she called out as Rhaenyra was still stunned from her actions, but she did not move from her position

"My lady, the King is requesting the princess to his chambers" Ser Harold's voice was heard through the door, she exhaled angrily and removed herself from her position allowing Rhanyra to get up, of course Viserys was ruining their moment, he always had impeccable timing

"I'll see you tomorrow princess" she kissed her check and Rhaenyra left still not processing what happened mere moments ago

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I'm sorry if you were waiting for an update but I hurted one of my hands in a basketball match and I twisted it badly so the doctor ordered a week on full rest, so I'll try to update but it may take two or three days, again sorry for it, but maybe you could leave some suggestions about what you'll like to see in future chapters :)

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The next day Alicent got ready with dread filling her stomach, today Rhaenyra would offer to go away together, to explore the world and eat only cake, today was Queen Aemma's and Prince Baelon's death day, today her father would summon her to his chambers in the night and order her to go and offer comfort to the King in his grief, today was the day her life would start to go downhill, but that was in her past life, in this new life things would be different or at least she hopes so

"My lady, Princess Rhaenyra" the guard outside her room announced before opening the door and letting the princess in, wearing her black riding gear and looking absolutely beautiful

"My princess" she greeted with a shy smile

"My lady" Rhaenyra answered playfully “are you ready?”

“Yeah I am, let’s go” she approached the princess and took her hand leading her out of the room, Rhaenyra surprised her by intertwining their fingers but she did not do anything and let her be, she remembers how in the previous one, she got so nervous she ended up letting go of the princess hand

“Good morrow Ser Harold” the princess greeted her sword shield while he held the door to their carriage open

“Good morrow Princess, Lady Alicent” the knight bowed his head lightly to the two of them

“Good morrow Ser” Alicent admired Ser Harold more than she’ll ever admit, his loyalty to Rhaenyra and the King was not swayed, both her and Rhaenyra entered the carriage and it started to move seconds after

“Will this finally be the day that you’ll be brave enough to get close to Syrax?” the princess asked with a hopeful expression and Alicent could not help herself but to compare her to a greedy puppy and it was honestly adorable

“Do you promise that Syrax will not hurt me?” she asked wearily, the gold dragon has never showed any intention in harming her but she couldn’t help herself, she was not a Targaryen and maybe Syrax would be able to tell and burn her without hesitation

“I promise, she will know that I like you so she would never harm you” Rhanyra took her friend’s hand in her own

“Then maybe I’ll accept the offer princess” they both smiled at each other and Alicnet was beaming in her mind, maybe this time around she’ll get the life she wants to have

The rest of the ride was spent in silence with the both of them not wanting to disturb the peaceful setting they were in, until finally the carriage stopped and Ser Harold opened the dor for them signaling that they were in the dragon pit

“Come on, is time for you to meet Syrax formally” the princess leaded the both of them out of the carriage and Syrax was already outside and waiting for her rider “rytsas riña, iksan vaoreznuni syt missing īlva sōvegon mōrītubis, ñuha raqiros jorrāelatan nyke” she spoke softly to her mount while with her free hand caressing her dragon’s snout “Syrax jaelan ao naejot rhaenagon ñuha raqiros” with utter care she beckoned Alicent closer until they were standing side by side “bisa iksis alicent” carefully she placed Alicent’s hand on Syrax’s snout and the Hightower girl could only hold her breathing in hopes that the she-dragon would not dime her as a threat to her rider and let her live “she likes you” Rhaenyra’s voice broke her out of her trance

“Why do you say” she asked curiously while doing that she did not see that she has started to caress Syrax but the princess did and she only widened her smile at that

“She never lets the dragon keepers to be this close to her or well anyone that is not me, besides she can feel my love for you trough our bond” Alicent just nodded along the princess words hoping that they were true “I’ll assume that this will be the most process we’ll have today so now, my lady enjoy your reading while I enjoy my ride” the princess smiled at her and then mounted Syrax and soon they were taking the skies together, Alicent admired then until they disappeared from view so she walked back to the carriage and inside she would in fact start to plot how everything could turn out and what decisions must be done so that everything goes on her favor

♤♤♤♤♤

After a while Alicent heard Syrax roar meaning that she was getting closer and alerting the keepers that she’ll be arriving soon, she hid her notebook in a saddle bag she brought and went to the entrance of the carriage to wait for Rhaenyra, she watched as she unmounted Syrax petted her on the side and take off one of her gloves with her mouth, gods Rhanyra was so attractive

“You know Syrax is growing rather quickly, soon she’ll put Caraxes to shame” she jested when the princess grew closer

“Yeah almost large enough to saddle two” the princess replied hopeful that one day she and Alicent will be able to take over the sky together

“We’ll see princess” she teased while entering the carriage once more not missing out the sigh Rhanyra made while following her into the structure closing the door behind her

“Your mother requested that you go to her chambers immediately after you arrive at the keep” she informed her while taking one Rhanyra’s hands and tracing the lines her palm had

“I bet she’s going to scold me for going flying while she is reaching the last term of her pregnancy” the princess muttered with a sly grin on her lips while looking at her with mischief in her eyes

“You mother only worries for you Rhaenyra” she lightly scolded her

“She has nothing to be worried about, I’ve been riding almost all my life, Syrax would never harm me or let any harm be done to my person” the white haired girl pouted

“Yes well, she loves you and she will forever be worried for you because you’re her daughter, Rhanyra don’t take that for granted” she eased her scolding having missed this Rhaenyra, the pout only making her more adorable

“I don’t, I just think she mothers me too much, I’m already 15 name days old” the future heir replied

“No matter what age you get, you’ll always be her baby” Alicent caressed her friends hand trying to get her to see her point

“You’re right, I’ll try to be more cautious with her wishes”

“That’s all she’s asking” soon they arrived at the keep, a guard opening the carriage for them to step out “Come on go take a bath, change your clothes and we’ll see your lady mother after that because you stink of dragon” she ordered while they walked into the castle, Rhanyra intertwining their arms

“You’re so bossy lately, what’s gotten into you” Rhaenyra laughed “please tell me that at least you will still come with me to steal cakes from the kitchens in the nights” she pleaded

“Like you’ll let me pass” she rolled her eyes fondly “I’m only following your mothers the Queen’s orders Nyra” that was a completely lie but Alicent would be lying if she did not liked the way that Rhanyra followed almost all of her orders like a cute puppy wanting a treat after doing them “Come on if you do it fast enough I’ll have a lemon cake waiting for you” Rhanyra smiled and all but sprinted to her chambers making Alicent laugh and walk to the kitchens to retrieve the promised treat for her princess

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Alicent waited for the princess outside her chambers, in her hands lay a lemon cake, with a big slice on it, knowing that it was Rhaenyra’s favorite part to eat

“Where’s my gift?” the princess voice snapped her out of her thoughts

“Here you go, a lemon cake just for you” Alicent smiled while she presented the treat to the princess who took it from her hands with a big smile that even her dimples showed

“Thank you” the princess almost started to skip over to her mother’s chambers but refrained from doing so and instead focused on the cake in her hands

Alicent smiled fondly at the younger girl and she took care of her by preventing Rhaenyra from crashing into walls, doors and pillars on the way to the Queen’s chambers because the princess was so engrossed in the dessert that she disconnected from reality

“Princess, Lady Alicent” the guard at the Queen’s door greeted them while opening the door to them

“Ser” both girls replied respectfully, once they entered the guard closed the door and returned to his duty

Alicent hovered behind Rhaenyra while they approached the place where the Queen was with at least five maids trying to make her as comfortable as possible, adjusting the pillows, closing the curtains, blowing out the candles, and other works that Alicent didn’t bothered to pay attention too, she just looked around the quarters that for 22 years have been her home, she sees what changes she made, what she kept, what she missed the most were her books, she always read them when she was bored and had nothing to do which was something rare especially the last five years in which Viserys was a walking corpse and she had to rule in his absence

“Ah... Rhaenyra” the Queen’s voice shocked her out of her daydreaming “You know I don't like you to go flying while I'm in this condition” the kind woman scolds her daughter

“You don't like me to go flying while you're in any condition” the comeback was witty and fast making Queen Aemma frown, oh her beautiful daughter, how many more headaches will she bring to her?

“Your Grace” Alicent spoke still rotted in place while smiling softly at the Queen, she feels sorry for the woman but she knows there’s nothing she can do to change her fate, Viserys once let it slip that Aemma was going to die no matter what they did

“Good morrow Alicent” Rhaenyra took this chance to get closer to her mother

“Did you sleep?” asked a concerned Rhaenyra

“I slept” was the brief answer the Queen gave and Alicent felt her, the last stages of the pregnancy were the worst ones to bare

“How long?” Rhanyera sat down in a stool close to her mother while the Queen took a more relaxed posture since the servants finally left

“I don’t need mothering Rhaenyra”

“Well here you are surrounded by attendants, all of them focused on the babe, someone has to attend to you” the Princess leaned a little bit closer as if to make her point known

“You will lie in this bed soon enough, Rhaenyra” the Queen said softly, while her daughter looked at her doubtful, would she be capable of giving birth? She hopes not, almost all her life she has watched her mother suffer each pregnancy from afar and can do nothing to alleviate her pain and her grief each time the babe dies “this discomfort is how we serve the realm”

If only the Queen knew

“I'd rather serve as a knight and ride to battle and glory” the Princess jests and both of them laugh well three of them but Alicents masks her laugh and tries to focus on something else feeling an ache in her chest, more specifically in her heart, this will be the last time that Rhaenyra speaks with her mother, the last time she will see her, hear her laugh and appreciate her smile

“We have royal wombs you and I, the childbirth is our battlefield, we must learn to face it with a stiff lip” the Princess looks out of the window upset as once again she is reminded that she only serves as a broodmare and nothing more, something similar happening with her best friend a few steps back, Alicent wants to throw up at the Queen words, all of women were nothing more than cattle to the men, waiting to be sold off to the highest bidder, and while Alicent was wed to the King she still lived in a cage all her life, with no freedom, all because she was born with a cunt and not a cock “Now come one, you father is in a meeting and your presence is required” the Queen smiles softly at her daughter and wondering when did her little girl grew up so much

“Okay, love you mama” the princess returns her mother’s smile before getting up and walking out, Alicent was going to follow her but she lingers in the entrance and walks until she is in front of the Queen

“Is something wrong Alicent?” the Queen asks concerned watching as the young girl fidgets in place and strats to destroy her flesh on her fingers

“Your grace…” gods, what will she even say? “I…”

“It’s alright Alicent, you can trust me” she wants to cry so bad, this beautiful, amazing, humble and simply wonderful woman will die in a few hours for a babe that didn’t even lived

“I just wanted to say that no matter what Rhaenyra will always have me, I will do my best to protect her and will give my best efforts in loving her the way she deserves to be loved, you have my word” she looked down to her feet, not ready to see the expression the Queen must have now

“Alicent” the Queen whispers her name and she reluctantly lifts her head to see the woman who she will end up replacing “Thank you”