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“Where is duty? Where is sacrifice? It's trampled under your pretty foot again.” Rhaenyra stared deep into Alicent’s brown eyes. It may have been a decade since they were friends, but even now the Princess could see the pain, the anger, the frustration, in the Queen’s eyes. Yet she also saw something else as well. She had seen it when they were young and it had seemed to never have gone away. A lust, a desire, a need, for something. When they were but children Rhaenyra had dared not hope that it could possibly be what Rhaenyra desired it to be. After Alicent had become The Queen, Rhaenyra had thought it was a lust for power. A need to displace her and her heirs. If anything, Alicent’s actions were now proof that she would stop at nothing to achieve it. The Princess could have called Alicent out on it, showed her to all the court for the hypocrite that she was. Yet, something in Rhaenyra knew that only pain and suffering would follow. Perhaps it was the part of being a Targaryen that had guided Daenys, Aegon, and her own father. Perhaps it was simple intuition. Mayhaps it was just her own long simmering desire finally boiling over. Looking back, Rhaenyra could never know exactly why she did what she did. She tilted her head, leaned forward, and pressed her lips into Alicent’s.
Rhaenyra was shocked when Alicent didn’t pull back, in fact she leaned into it. Rhaenyra loosened her grip on the arm holding the knife. She was so focused on kissing Alicent that she didn’t realize the knife was coming down until it sliced open her arm.
“Agh!” Rhaenyra released an involuntary gasp of pain as she pulled back. Seeing what she had done, Alicent quickly dropped the knife.
“Oh Gods, I am so sorry Rhaenyra! I didn’t mean to do it!” Alicent moved to push her own sleeve down to try to stop the bleeding and as she did so, Rhaenyra began to glance around the room, noticing it was now as silent as a tomb, with all eyes staring at the two of them. Her father was looking at her only with intense shock in his eyes. Aegon looked upon her with something bordering on disgust. Otto was as furious as she had even seen him. Daemon and Cole had even stopped their tussle and when her eyes met Daemon’s, he began to laugh.
That seemed to be what finally shattered the sense of shock that had gripped the entire room. Rhaenyra grew still as she saw everyone in the room begin to move. It was Otto that would set things in motion, though.
He walked up next to Viserys before saying, “Your Grace, perhaps we should have the Kingsguard escort the Princess and Queen to their chambers while we discuss tonight’s events and so the Princess can be tended to by the Maester.” Viserys nodded weakly and the white clad knights moved into action. Cole was the first to move quickly pulling Alicent away. Alicent barely protested, her hands and dress stained with Rhaenyra’s blood. Rhaenyra was only able to meet her eyes one last time before she disappeared behind the wall of people, seeing a glimpse of anxiety and fear.
Rhaenyra continued to be gripped by her shock at what had transpired and had barely felt Luke’s hand slide into hers. When Alicent had passed behind the crowd, her eyes had turned back to her father where they sat until an arm was placed on her shoulder and a voice that she had known and trusted since childhood.
“My Princess, it is best if you came with me to see the Maester.” Rhaenyra nodded as she let Lord Commander Westerling lead her out of the Hall and to an uncertain fate.
Alicent was escorted to her chambers by a less than amused Cole. Any of her attempts to talk with him were shut down with a simple yes or no followed by, “my Queen.” Upon her arrival, she was informed that she was to remain until the King or Hand summoned her and Criston shut the door, trapping her alone inside.
It only took a few hours for Alicent to realize that either her kids didn’t, or weren’t allowed to, visit her and except for a few servants, she had no visitors. Yet even then, sleep would elude her. It wasn’t until light had started shining through the window that Criston opened the door to let a guest in. Alicent was surprised when he announced not the King or her father, but Prince Daemon Targaryen.
“You can go, Ser Crispin. I promise I will not harm the Queen.” It still took a nod from Alicent before the disgruntled Kingsguard left them alone.
Alicent pulled herself up from the chair she had been resting in before addressing the Prince, “I confess, I am surprised you are the one to visit me Prince, of all people. I thought mayhaps I wasn’t allowed to see anyone except my husband or father.”
Daemon sauntered over to a table before pouring himself a glass of wine, “Initially that was the case. My dear brother wanted to confront you and Rhaenyra immediately but cousin Rhaenys convinced him to cool off. I believe she has convinced him to wait before making any decisions. For why I am here, well I find my brother is quite amenable to me when I am not the one he is furious with.”
“So why are you here?”
Daemon looked at her like a predator toying with its prey, “I certainly knew my niece had feelings for you but I was never quite sure if you returned them. And after all this time as well,” Daemon leaned against a chair before continuing, “A decade of rivalry and plotting against each other and yet still you kiss in front of the entire court! If I knew this would have happened, I would have returned to King’s Landing years ago.”
Alicent took a step towards Daemon, “And why does my relationship with the Princess interest you so much? We are both married and like you said, you haven’t been at court for years. In fact I do believe my husband had you exiled.”
Daemon’s smile only grew, “I confess, I lied to my brother all those years ago. Rhaenyra and I never went all the way in the brothel that night. I just said that to hurt him,” Alicent felt her heart flutter at these words. She also had a feeling of uncertainty over the fact she may have hated Rhaenyra all these years for something that was a lie but these feelings were quickly extinguished by Daemon’s next words, “Last night during our, what did Rhaenyra call it? Walk? During our walk, well, Rhaenyra finally got what she wanted.”
For the first time in years, Alicent began to pick at her fingernails as she tried to resist the urge to verbally lash out at Daemon, “And why should I believe you? You already admitted you lied to the King, perhaps you are lying now. And why should I care? I have known for years that Rhaenyra is a whore, what you are saying just confirms that.”
Daemon finished his glass before moving towards the door, “Because very little has given me as much satisfaction as seeing Otto’s perfect daughter lose her composure and disappoint him. I want to see you do that more. Rebel against him. Get what you want and ruin his plans,” Daemon gave her one last smirk before opening the door, “Also I thought I would do the honorable thing and warn you. If you don’t claim Rhaenyra, your Grace, I will.”
In another chamber on Driftmark, Rhaenyra’s situation was similar to Alicent’s. Beyond the Maester, who had just finished stitching up her arm, and a few servants, Rhaenyra was afforded no guests. So it came as a surprise when Ser Steffon Darklyn opened the door to allow in her husband, Laenor. “I heard what happened and your father finally allowed me to come visit you. I should have been there.”
“Those should be our house words,” Rhaenyra scoffed as Laenor took a seat across from her, “How are the children? I haven’t seen them since…”
Laenor gave her a small smile, “A broken nose was the worst of it. They are tough little boys. My mother is with them as well as their cousins. They are fine. I am much more worried for you now.”
“Aemond called our sons bastards. I will not apologize for how I defended them. But how I responded to Alicent was...unwise I admit,” Rhaenyra twisted the rings on her fingers, unsure how Laenor would respond to her actions of the last night.
“You did what you had to so you could defend our boys, you never have to apologize for that,” Laenor reached out and grabbed her hand, “while displaying your feelings for Alicent in such a public way was most certainly unwise, I am the last person who could hate you for having them.”
Rhaenyra placed her hand upon his, “Thank you Laenor. Your support means everything to me. Are you not truly mad that I have feelings for Alcient?”
Laenor chuckled, “I do question your taste considering what that woman has put us through in the last decade but if you wish to pursue her, well, we made our agreement to dine as we see fit and you will always have my support.”
Rhaenyra let herself smile for a moment before continuing, “Do you know what is to happen now?”
“My mother believes that tonight Viserys will call you and Alicent before him and his advisors, and there he will decide what is to happen,” Laenor clutched her hands tighter, “no matter what, Qarl and I will be with you the entire time and we are not in King’s Landing, we are in my father’s keep. It will be fine.”
Rhaenyra gave a soft nod, allowing herself to believe just briefly that her husband spoke truly.
It was the afternoon when Alicent’s door opened next as Ser Criston announced her visitor, “Your Grace, the Hand.”
Alicent just glanced at Otto, “Father.”
“Daughter,” the Hand responded simply as he walked over to her. Then he just stood there staring at her.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Alicent broke it, “Say your peace.”
“And what peace is that?”
“I have conducted myself in a manner unbecoming of my station or any other,” she turned to face him, “I lost composure, assaulted the princess. Already the gossip is spreading, the speculation that I have gone mad. I disgraced myself and ensured that my husband's favor will forever rest on her.”
Her father stared at her for a moment before responding, “And yet I have never seen that side of you, my daughter. I even doubted its existence.”
“It was an ugly thing, I regret it.”
Otto’s gaze never wavered as he continued, “We play an ugly game and now for the first time I see you have the determination to win it. When the King summons you and the Princess tonight, play the penitent mother, plead your son's injuries. Keep a grip on your passions. Claim it was Rhaenyra who initiated the kiss and that you were shocked and didn’t know how to respond. Do this, and I promise that together, in time, we will prevail.”
Alicent stood there for a moment, processing what her father had said. She figured he was right. They both knew Viserys well. If she just played the card of a destressed mother and blamed Rhaenyra for their impropriety in the hall, she might just be able to salvage this situation. Even more than that, it felt like for the first time in her life her father was truly, genuinely proud of her. It was an unfamiliar feeling but one she certainly could use more of.
“What that rogue Aemond has done, in winning Vhagar to our side…the boy was right, it is worth a thousand times the price he paid,”with those words, the feeling of pride turned to ash in her mouth.
Alicent barely noticed as her father departed, the sick feeling in her stomach was too great. Her children were no more than pawns to him. No one truly cared about her children, not their own father, not their grandfather, only her. They were just as much pawns in this as she was at their age and she could do little to protect them. At least not alone. Alicent fell back into her chair as she began to think and scheme, weighing everything Rhaenyra, Daemon, and Otto had said over the past day, weighing her duty against her desires.
True to his word, Laenor and Ser Qarl were waiting, armed, for Rhaenyra when she arrived at Driftmark’s great hall. Her husband gave her a nod as the Kingsguard opened the door. Her father was seated on the driftwood throne with a look of exhaustion on his face that struck at her heart. On his left stood Daemon, Corlys, and Rhaenys, and on his right the Hand and the Queen. As she approached her father, Alicent moved to stand beside her, turning to face her. As they drew closer, Rhaenyra could see that Alicent’s hands were lightly bleeding.
Rhaenyra had barely come to a halt before Alicent began to speak in soft tones, “Your Grace, Princess, I must apologize for my actions last night. I was driven by concern for my son. I was not thinking as a Queen when I drew a dagger on the Princess Rhaenyra, I was purely driven by mjy pain. It was ugly, improper, and not befitting of my station as the Queen. I can only hope you can accept my apologies in time and I can truly show my regret and penance in the years to come.”
Rhaenyra began to respond, “Your Grace I-,” yet Alicent held up her hand to stop her.
“Regarding my further actions that night, I hope the Princess can understand I never meant to cut her and it was truly, deeply, an accident.” Rhaenyra glanced at her father, seeing his face begin to soften as it became clear he believed Alicent’s apology.
Alicent turned to Viserys and continued, “Regarding my part in the spontaneous display of physical affection between the Princess and myself, I admit that it was improper and ill timed,” Rhaenyra then noticed Alicent’s eyes turn to the Hand, “but I will not apologize for its intent on my part. I have had deep affection for the Princess Rhaenyra since we were children and despite everything, it has not diminished. These feelings are not proper or holy, but they are my own and I can not hide them any further. I most certainly will not hide them for matters of political expediency.”
While Rhaenyra was certainly shocked by Alicent’s confession, it seemed dwarfed by the look of pure confusion and anger that had covered the Hand’s face. It was perhaps the most satisfying sight Rhaenyra had seen in years.
“Your, your Grace,” Otto spurted out to the King, “It is clear that the Princess Rhaenyra has misled the Queen and-”
Feeling emboldened by Alicent’s actions, and determined to match them, Rhaenyra stepped forward, grabbing Alicent’s hand. The Queen grasped her tightly, her arms shaking against Rhaenyra’s, “Lord Hand, I did what? Please speak plainly. I think we are all sick of your riddles and false truths.”
Otto had turned towards her, his eyes burning with such intensity she could swear she saw the flames of the Hightower behind them, “It is an open secret in this court what kind of lovers her husband prefers. Clearly his lax morals extend to his so-called wife who already has done a poor show of hiding her own daliences.”
At this Laenor stepped forward, pulling his sword slightly out of its sheath, “Mind your words Hightower, if you insult my wife again I will cut out your tongue.”
Rhaenyra noted Corlys turning towards Otto, while a smirking Daemon had let his hand close around the hilt of Dark Sister. The Princess Rhaenys marched forward, standing beside Rhaenyra, “Lord Hand, if you levy any more vile accusations against my son and his wife, you will answer to Meleys.”
“Enough!” The King’s voice cut across the room, “I wish to speak to my wife and daughter alone. All of you out!” It took a moment but with some somber ‘Your Grace’s’ everyone began to leave. The last one to pass was Daemon, who barely looked at Rhaenyra instead giving Alicent a hard pat on the shoulder, “well done Your Grace. Well done.” Then he too departed, leaving the King, Queen, and Princess alone.
The three remain silent for several moments, the only movement being Alicent sliding her hand out of Rhaenyra’s. Rhaenyra, for her part, did not dare speak before her father did.
“It appears I am more blind than I thought. I considered myself aware of the actions of mine own family, knowing which actions to turn a blind eye to and which to confront. Yet it appears I completely missed,” he gestured in between the two of them, “this affection develop between the two of you. When did it start? As your King, I demand you answer honestly.”
Rhaenyra glanced at Alicent, who had begun picking at her fingers again, before responding, “I believe the Queen said her feelings began when we were children. While I myself wasn’t quite able to understand or name what I was feeling until later, I believe mine must have started at a similar time.”
“So before I remarried…” Viserys lowered his face into his palm, “I am so sorry if I had known… I am sorry.”
Alicent finally spoke up, her voice unusually shaky, “You… you are not angry? You won’t punish me?”
Rhaenyra saw a look of horror appear on her father’s face, “You are the two women left to me who I hold most dear. I could never harm either of you.” He stood up, “It has been my dearest wish over the past ten years that you two reconcile and become the friends you once were. If what it takes on my part to effect this reconciliation is to turn a blind eye and to share the affections of my wife with another,” Viserys gave Rhaenyra a sad smile, “then it is a small price to pay for a happy family. Naming you heir was how I was to make amends for what I did to your mother. It seems this is what I shall do to make amends both to you and Alicent for requiring her to marry a sad old man.” With that the King stepped down from the Driftwood throne and began his slow march out of the hall.
As he went by Rhaenyra reached out, tears in her eyes, “Father…thank you. I don’t have the words, but thank you.”
Viserys looked at her, tears in his eyes as well, “All I want is you to be happy, daughter. No matter what.” He looked at Alicent, who was so overcome with emotion she wasn’t able to speak. She did manage to grasp Viserys’ hand and gave him a teary nod before she allowed him to depart.
Soon it was just the two of them, alone in Driftmark’s Great Hall. Alicent was back to picking at her fingers and it pained Rhaenyra to watch the Queen hurt herself. Rhaenyra started to reach out but stopped. Even after the events of the past two days, it has still been 10 years and Rhaenyra wasn’t confident in how Alicent would respond. Instead she decided to try to lighten the mood, “So you had improper thoughts about me since we were children? How scandalous Your Grace!”
“Really Rhaenyra, you jest about this? This is serious, it could destroy us both! We need to discuss what is to happen now.”
Some of Rhaenyra’s bravado slipped away at the prospect of facing what was to lie ahead, “And what is to happen Alicent? We can not go back. I will not go back. You know how I feel, how I have always felt. We have to decide what we will do,” Rhaenyra took a step forward, “and I know that, if you are willing, I wouldn’t be opposed to exploring these feelings.”
Alicent stared at her hands for a moment, “I would like that Rhaenyra,” the Princess began to feel her heart swell, “but I need to know a few things first. And you must be honest, I couldn’t take you lying to me again, not about something this important. It will require complete trust, for both our sakes and our childrens’”
Without even thinking, much like she had a decade ago in the Godswood, Rhaenyra grabbed Alicent’s bloody hands, “I swear it. I will be completely honest. If this is to work, there must not be any more secrets between us.”
Alicent held Rhaenyra’s hands tight and stared into her eyes, “Daemon visited me and told me that you two had coupled last night. Is this true? And why? Do you love him?”
“After I left King’s Landing,” Rhaenyra paused for a moment as she bit back the lies that slipped so easily from her tongue, “After I heard about Harwin, I felt so alone. Laenor may be a friend whom I love dearly, but he isn’t Harwin. I need allies. I need someone there for me and Daemon, he could be that. I need allies and there are few stronger than him. Do I love him? Of course, he is my Uncle. But last night made clear that as much as I love him, he isn’t Harwin and,” Rhaenyra choked a bit before continuing, “he can’t replace the hole the loss of our friendship left.”
“And what about Harwin? What was he to you?” Alicent asked in such a soft and delicate way.
Rhaenyra paused, considering how best to phrase her response, “He was far more than a friend. He desired me and I desired him in return. I trusted him completely. He was a good and honorable man. He was also so good with the boys, well, his sons. I do believe I truly loved him.”
Alicent pulled her into a tight hug and whispered, “I am so sorry Nyra. Will you be alright?”
Despite her pain, and the beginning of tears, Rhaenyra smiled. It was so good to be this close to Alicent again, “I will be alright, with time. I have lost people. We both have. It takes time but I will endure.”
Alicent pulled away just enough to look into her eyes, “Still, if you need anything or you want to talk about it, I can be there.”
Something about how genuine Alicent sounded made her chuckle. The Queen raised her brow at that, “Sorry, it's just last night Daemon implied that you and your father had the Strongs killed. I told him that you couldn’t commit cold murder and talking wiith you know, I just know I am right.”
Alicent seemed to suddenly freeze, “Rhaenyra… I am so sorry. We promised no secrets between us. There is something you must know about their deaths.”
“Dracarys!”
Alicent watched as Syrax burned Larys alive. After her confession, Rhaenyra had gone straight to Viserys and demanded Larys pay for his crimes. She had also been stubborn that she (or more particularly her dragon) had done it. Alicent had chimed in only to confirm her allegations to the King and Lord Corlys, and to try to argue that Larys should face justice in a less politically explosive way. And despite everything, she didn’t believe anyone deserved such a brutal death. But an angry look from Rhaenyra and she watched helplessly as Viserys caved to his daughter’s demands, again. Corlys had at least backed her up, and despite knowing such an ambitious man would likely prove a problem in the future, it did help her feel a bit better that he now wore her father’s Hand pin.
Rhaenyra had not talked to her since then, instead returning to her rooms to see her children. She hadn’t even looked at Alicent this morning, and she felt that she had undid everything that they had accomplished the night before.
Once the fire had died down, Larys little more than charred bones, Rhaenyra left the beach, heading back up the steps. Along the way she stopped and gave a small smile to Daemon. Alicent felt something hurt in her stomach and she began to pick at her nails. But then Rhaenyra moved on and started towards her.
“Your Grace,” Rhaenyra then looked down at the smoldering beach then back to Alicent, “I suppose we need a new Lord of Harrenhall. Harren’s curse has claimed another house.”
“Do you have a suggestion you would like me to convey to the King, Princess?” If Rhaenyra was going to play it formally and discuss Crown business, so could she.
“Yes, I was thinking my son Joffrey would be a strong candidate for the position.”
Alicent felt her face twisting into something resembling a look of horror when Rhaenyra started laughing, “It was worth it just for the look on your face. Truly I have missed teasing you Ali.”
Alicent tried to hold back a smile, “Nyra, I appreciate it as well but we must be careful in public. You aren’t subtle when it comes to your feelings that are not considered proper.”
Rhaenyra nodded, “I know. But everyone here already saw us kiss. Yet, I shall be discrete upon my return to King’s Landing.”
Alicent felt her heart flutter at those words, “So you shall return? I wasn’t sure if you would be living on Dragonstone, despite everything.”
Rhaenyra nodded, “I shall head to Dragonstone for a time. I wish to spend time with my children and I do not believe it is yet wise for our kids to be in the same place, at least until tempers have cooled. I also think it would be best if I waited until rumors about the past few nights quiet down. I will have to rely on you to send me a raven when the time is right.”
Alicent smiled and took Rhaenyra’s arm into her hands, “The King and I would like that,” yet there was still a small cloud upon her thoughts, “will Daemon be joining you on Dragonstone?”
Rhaenyra gave her a smirk, “Are you a little jealous, Your Grace? Don’t be. Yes, he will be there, Rhaena and Baela have been through a tough time and I know Laenor would appreciate having his nieces close,” Rhaenyra reached up to brush a strand of hair out of Alicent’s face, “Do not fret, though. I swear, I only hold room in my heart for you now, not Daemon. And I shall see you soon.”
Alicent couldn’t suppress the smile that was spreading across her face. For the first time in years, perhaps since Rhaenyra was named heir, she felt that things might be alright.