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Alicent could only faintly recall her youth before arriving at the red keep with her father. Her childhood consisted of being taught how to be a proper lady, and how to continue her future husband's lineage.
Her father had been distant, her mother had been focused on her brothers making sure they would be good men and marry well. It had not been too long after she had died that Alicent had been taken to King's Landing.
She had been upset and she had mourned, but her father had taught her never to mourn the dead for too long, especially if they were good in their faith.
Another lesson her father Otto Hightower would later try and teach her was about the Targaryens. She had been the same age as the princess, her father had wanted them to be companions. He had told her.
“Targaryens are not pure, they are worshippers of devilish gods, they’ve done horrible things in the name of their gods. One thing to never forget when dealing with them is they are temptation in the skin, they are of blood and fire, they will always tempt the people to stray away from the right path.”
Alicent had listened and made sure to always be cautious around the princess, she would try and bring her to the sept, teach her things and be there for her.
It would take Alicent years to even realise the princess had been exactly as every other Targaryen. Blood and fire ran rampant through their lineage, it would always happen they did not care for others they only cared for carnage.
Alicent had first noticed Rhaenyras temper, it was a noticeable thing, it wasn’t always that she would get mad however she was rash and she didn’t think things through properly.
Alicent didn’t care, the lesson her father had taught her was forgotten. She let herself be dragged along with the princesses' schemes and she had fun. Her father didn’t say anything, he was too busy with his own duties. Being Hand of the King was stressful, she was sure.
“Alicent do you think other ladies are pretty?” The question had caught her off guard, but the princess often did that. “Of course, some ladies are very beautiful.” Rhaenyra was lying on her lap looking up at her smiling.
“Do you think me beautiful?” Rhaenyra made eye contact, and she looked the most sincere she ever had. Alicent knew her answer would be yes of course, Rhaenyra was the only princess so far, her pale silver hair and purple eyes only made her beauty more noticeable.
“I do, you’re very beautiful Rhaenyra.” There had been a silence a moment too long, a moment where it could have been mistaken for something more than just two friends talking about the beauty of the ladies of the lands.
“I believe that no matter how much we’re enjoying our time together currently, we both have different matters to attend to.” Alicent rushed out, she needed an excuse to get away from Rhaenyra right now, she didn’t know why, but the way Rhaenyra had looked at her had made her feel an unfamiliar feeling.
Rhaenyra nodded. “Of course lady Alicent, I have to attend to my lady mother.” As Rhaenyra got up and left, Alicent looked and waited a moment before she too got up and started to make her way to her lessons.
She did not know of the Queen's state, she only knew she was with child and that she remained hidden. Alicent could sympathise with the Queen, she had been pregnant with no result many times and the looks could become overwhelming.
Alicent had gotten some looks when walking and talking with Rhaenyra, it had made her unbelievably anxious, she had gotten used to it. The thought of having that many eyes on her because she had failed to produce an heir however would be too much. For she knew her fathers eyes would be in the crowd, should she also fail.
She let that trail of thought fall away in her hurry to get to her lesson, Rhaenyra had kept her longer than usual.
She soon made it to the Septa and took her seat at a table, the septa had been one originally from Oldtown. She had been strict and bordering cruel, she had mellowed out only when Rhaenyra had been present, no one wanted to make the only child of the king mad.
“You made it on time, surprising I was sure the princess would have kept you much longer, I do hope you made an excuse that was plausible enough for her not to notice you being in a haste?” Alicent nodded, whilst her lessons were mostly about being a good wife and mother, a lot of it was also how to remain composed and ladylike throughout all social interactions.
The Septa nodded. “Good, have you gotten rid of that nasty habit you developed?” Alicent shook her head.
“Stupid girl, it should not be so difficult to stop tearing your fingers apart, no man will want a lady with ruined hands.”
The lesson had continued with Alicent getting sharply questioned about history and the proper way to address people.
That lesson had been a long time ago, Alicent had almost forgotten about it. Almost.
It was the same with her fathers lessons, they never quite got completely forgotten no matter how much Alicent wished they could.
It mattered not, not now. All her lessons preparing her to be a wife and a mother had never prepared her to be queen.
Queen Aemmas' passing had come as a surprise, but it had ultimately only been a matter of time. Her father had put her hand forward to the king, not long after the queen had died.
He had also arranged a secret meeting between Alicent and the king where they would talk about many things.
It would greatly upset Rhaenyra had she known Alicent knew this, she also knew her father would never listen to her about putting an end to it.
Rhaenyra had just been named heir, the king getting married so soon after that would basically be a message that even though he had his heir he needed more, potentially he still needed a son.
Whilst Alicent had been waiting in her chambers a handmaiden had arrived and told her the princess had requested for her.
Did the princess know? Would she want a private discussion about it with Alicent? Clear the rumours? Alicent did not know. She did however thank the handmaid and quickly left.
When she had arrived outside of the princesses chambers, she took a breath and knocked. It took a second before she heard a faint. “Enter.” Pushing the door and entering the room, Alicent took in how the princess was smiling at her.
“Your grace, you requested my presence may I ask why?” Rhaenyras smile lessened a bit at the formal way Alicent greeted her.
“Well I figured it had been a while since we had just been together, so I wanted to suggest taking a walk in the gardens.” Alicent nodded. “Shall we get going then?” Rhaenyra quickly got up and linked her arms with Alicent as she began walking.
Rhaenyra didn’t know, Alicent knew this for if she did she would not have been received so warmly.
The walk to the garden was quiet, Alicent could feel some form of pressure forming, she was still worried but it seemed that Rhaenyra was even more skittish than Alicent usually was.
Soon enough they were passing by some of the most beautiful flowers, they were delightful, some smelled like summer and others were faintly reminiscent of a nostalgic scent Alicent couldn’t quite place.
Rhaenyra didn’t talk, and neither did Alicent. They were approaching the weirwood tree that was in the centre of the garden. Their sanctuary, it had always been their place. Alicent had no clue why a tree that was a model for the old gods was so comforting to her but it seemed to also be a comfort for Rhaenyra.
Whilst Rhaenyra was leading them there, she suddenly stopped and fully turned towards Alicent facing her. She took her arms in her own, and she looked more serious than Alicent had ever seen before.
“Alicent, do you remember the time I asked you to ride away with me, on dragonback, just us two and Syrax of course.” Alicent nodded, she remembered, and the offer had been too tempting. Her father might’ve let her disappear, but the king would never stop a search for Rhaenyra.
“I meant that, I need to know if you’re still not…If you still want to stay here.” Alicents answer would remain the same.
“I have to say no Rhaenyra, it’s just I have my father here and leaving him behind would be painful, not to mention all of the memories.” Rhaenyra nodded although she looked a bit hurt.
“Alright, then let me swear this to you Alicent. I will always be here for you, to protect you through all of the darkness in life, I will be your comfort as you will be mine….hopefully.” Rhaenyra smiled, Alicent had no idea if Rhaenyra had any sense of what she had just sworn to her. It was a wedding vow, she had sworn her protection and comfort. In front of a weirwood tree no less.
Alicent knew if this was to be witnessed by anyone rumors would spread, and the fact that they'd almost be lawfully wed in the old ways was tempting. Too tempting.
“I swear to you Rhaenyra, whatever you swore to me I will return to you. I will do with the best of my power to return all of the protection and comfort.” Alicent didn’t care, she wanted the closeness with Rhaenyra, it was a temptation. She knew it had taken her all of this time to recognize it but she had fallen deep.
Rhaenyra was smiling; she looked so happy, so fulfilled, a sinner through and through but at the moment so was Alicent.
Rhaenyra pulled out two rings, one with a ruby and the other with an emerald. The rings themselves looked to be gold carved into dragons holding the different jewels. Rhaenyra gave her the ruby one and put the emerald one on her own finger.
The smile she gave Alicent that night was the closest they had ever been. Rhaenyra kissed her forehead. It sent shivers down Alicents spine, Rhaenyra gave a small smile and bid her goodnight before leaving.
Alicent had her first wedding, it was the happiest she had ever been.
The following month, she and Rhaenyra no longer talked. Alicent had married the king. She had fallen pregnant almost instantly. It was not noticeable yet, but many knew.
The many following months were dreadful. Pregnancy was horrid. She was almost at the end, and she was terrified. Her father was proud, as proud as he could be. She knew she had to give birth to a boy. Her father was still here, she could feel the eyes.
However, now she doesn't even have the comforting presence of Rhaenyra.
It was a boy, she was happy the labour had been intense. The king hadn’t even been near and there had been no comfort to find.
The boy was named Aegon, it was not Alicents choice, It had been her fathers. She did not argue, as soon as it was possible to walk. She had given Aegon to some handmaids and she hadn’t bothered to ask where they were taking him.
Two months had passed and Alicent did not even bother going to the nursery with her son inside it.
She hated him, what he represented, it was sickening. Creating him had been vile, it had been unnatural.
It hadn’t been too long after Aegon's first name day that Rhaenyra herself had gotten married. To Laenor Velaryon.
The rumours were out of control, soon enough Rhaenyra had given birth to not only one obvious bastard but three. At first one might assume it was because she did not like her husband and wanted him to suffer. The Rhaenyra Alicent knew would not do such a thing.
She had found out it had been an arraignment through accidentally walking by the room they were in.
Years had passed since Rhaenyra and Alicent had even talked, but Alicent still had her ring. She did not wear it, nor did Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra had taken it off during the announcement of the wedding of her and the king.
Alicent had recently given birth to her second son. Aemond, she had three children now. Aegon, Helaena and Aemond. She loved them, with Aegon it had taken a while. He had been the product of Alicent having lost her first love.
When it had been nearing Aegon's 16th name day. Laenor Velaryon had been declared deceased. All of the celebrations towards Aegon's name day were forgotten. Alicent did not mind.
She had seen how Rhaenyra did not seem too upset, her children seemed positively destroyed. So whilst Rhaenyra had been gone taking care of her late husband's family arriving.
Alicent had found her ring, she always had it on her, in some form. A necklace usually. She removed the ring from the necklace, and she put it on her finger.
Then, she went over to the three brown haired boys.
They did not even notice her presence before she was already right in front of them. The youngest was only shy of 3 years. The eldest was 10.
They didn’t notice who she was, only that suddenly there was a woman in front of them with her arms spread, an invitation for a hug.
The youngest, Joffrey jumped into her arms instantly crying. The second child was Lucerys, the boy was going to inherit driftmark. The eldest did not exactly hug her, he was also the only one who realised who she was. The two other boys did not care and were hugging her whilst crying.
With the commotion, it did not take long for the rest of the family to look over, and do a double take.
Rhaenyra looked like she first wanted to strangle Alicent for even touching her boys. Then her eyes looked towards her hand, her eyes widened. She was looking at the ring.
The other people at the funeral seemed to disappear, it was only her and Rhaenyra as it should be.
Rhaenyra slowly pulled out her own necklace, it looked to be valyrian steel. It didn’t take Alicent long to notice however the emerald ring was also hanging on.
Rhaenyra walked over, she took her sons from Alicent. She whispered something to them, they nodded and walked towards their remaining family.
“Your grace, I believe with today's events. Perhaps it would do us well to take a walk.” Rhaenyra wanted to talk alone. Alicent silently agreed, privacy was needed for this.
“May I suggest we visit the garden of our youth?” Rhaenyra looked a bit shocked but regained her composure quickly enough. She smiled, a rarity these days it seemed. It was warm and it had been years since she had smiled at Alicent that way.
Rhaenyra let her arm out, Alicent took it. Rhaenyra led them out, she took them on the familiar path. The weirwood tree still stood impressive.
Rhaenyra sat down. “Sit down, I believe we have much to discuss.” Alicent nodded and sat down beside Rhaenyra.
“Tell me about your youth Alicent, I realised I don’t know about it.” Alicent was silent for a moment.
“My life, before coming to the redkeep was, boring. I had no friends and my brothers did not want to play with the only girl. I was alone, my mother was either with my brothers or with my father.” Without noticing it Rhaenyra had laid down in her lap. Just like she used to. Rhaenyre looked up at her, waiting for her to continue.
“My life after arriving here was less boring, in fact seeing and meeting dragons was way better than having to sit through boring lessons about etiquette and history.” Alicent started playing with Rhaenyras hair.
“My father used to give me private lessons when I needed to know something crucial. Although that only ever happened after we arrived here.” Rhaenyra looked curious.
“What kind of lessons?” Alicent frowned. “How to deal with Targaryens, how to be on the right path.”
Rhaenyra smirked. “How does one deal with Targaryens if I may ask?” Alicents lip twitched.
“By reminding yourself that Targaryens are pure temptation and one should never fall for temptation.” Rhaenyra looked positively enlightened.
“Alicent, if I'm temptation. You would be Devotion.” With that Rhaenyra finally sat up, cupped her hands around Alicents face and brought them together with a kiss.