Chapter Text
Being the only lady in waiting and friend of the only daughter of a ruling monarch was a boon that Alicent often forgot. Most of her time was spent with Rhaenyra fooling around, eating cake, telling tales, and wrangling the young princess to take her lessons from septa. However, sometimes, she was reminded of this privilege in the most opulent way possible.
She was sitting beside her, cheering the knights jousting against each other in the tourney, but compared to Rhaenyra, her cheers were much more subdued. Everyone could see that the young Princess was impressed with a few knights, namely, the handsome Dornish man who managed to do the unheard feat of defeating Prince Daemon. Consequently, many were expecting a reward suitable for such achievement. An elevation in the status, perhaps.
It was expected.
As the jousts concluded, and the winners were announced, the King looked at his daughter and asked if she wanted to reward the winner. And Rhaenyra, her spoiled friend requested one thing.
“I want that man to become a knight of my household!”
The King chuckled, amused by his daughter’s exuberance. “Aye! As my lovely Princess wishes! He will be your shield.”
It was not surprising that this had happened. The king was known to indulge in the whims of his only child, and today was no different.
But the Princess was not satisfied with that.
“No, father,” she shook her head, letting a bit of a spoilt tone leak into her voice. “Not for me. Kingsguards are enough to guard me, I do not want him as my shield.”
All of them were curious as to what the Princess wanted to say.
“Then what exactly is it you want, Rhaenyra? Speak plainly.”
The young girl smiled, her dimples making her look childish yet beautiful at the same time. “I want him to protect my only friend, Lady Alicent!”
That was… surprising to say the least. Rhaenyra continued, beaming at both her and the King. “I know Ser Otto employs Hightower guards, and Ser Gwayne is also there to protect her, but I am her only friend here. Shouldn’t it fall to me to look out for her? Hence I want a capable knight to protect my dearest companion, and who better than the knight who defeated my uncle!”
Alicent was flattered. Everyone else oohed and aahed at Princess’ request, gushing at how she cared for her only companion. The King was more jubilant if that could be possible. “You have suggested a truly marvelous idea! What do you say, Lady Alicent? Do you accept this favor?”
Alicent looked at her father, who smiled at her encouragingly. Gaining his acceptance, Alicent also gave her agreement. “If it pleases you and the Princess, your grace.” She demurred.
“Splendid!” The King was happy to fulfill this wish of his daughter. “He will be employed by the Princess, but he will be Lady Alicent’s shield as my daughter has requested!”
Alicent felt overwhelmed by the envious stares she got from others, yet she was secretly pleased. Such a kind of favor was unheard of. A Princess, employing one of the best knights in the realm, not for herself but for her lady-in-waiting? Truly, the treatment the Princess bestowed upon her only companion was deserving of envy. Even her father was happy.
“Tis a good sign she favors you so much,” he murmured to her. “This shows how much she values you and holds our house in esteem. You have done a marvelous work with Princess.”
She beamed at her father. Yes, Rhaenyra was her only friend and companion, but that did not mean there were no ulterior motives involved from her father, yet Alicent didn’t pay much attention to these things. Rhaenyra loved her, her father was proud of her, what more could she ask for?
She spent the entire day beaming with happiness. Too bad neither she nor her father caught the Princess looking at them, her eyes glinting with terrifying darkness.
Spending time with Ser Cole was not what she imagined.
The man was handsome, she was aware of that, but there was more to him than his face. He was charming, witty, sensible, dutiful, and most of all, loyal.
“Are you sure you do not mind being my shield, Ser Cole?” She was nervous. Although he was gifted to her, she still was afraid that he might resent her. “With your achievement, you might have expected more than being a knight for a lowly lady like me.”
The handsome Dornish Knight smiled at her, dimples flashing. “Princess Rhaenyra met with me after the celebratory feast. She was quite insistent that I give my word that I will protect you as if I was protecting her. She had also, in her enthusiasm, promised that if I protect you with my life, she will see to my elevation to the Kingsgurads, and the King also agreed with her. She values you, Lady Hightower, and so does the King due to his friendship with your father. You do not need to lower your self-esteem.”
Alicent sighed in relief, her nervousness settling down.
Truly, she had not realized before how alone she was. Sure, she had Rhaenyra as a companion and dear friend, but she had no one else. All her brothers except Gwayne had left for Old Town to fulfill their responsibilities for their House, and Gwayne was, well, he was a man. He was often busy, running errands for their father.
Ser Cole, in contrast, was only responsible for her. Not her father, not the princess, just her, just Alicent. And so, days passed, as they started to form a companionship, and she didn’t know when but he changed from Ser Cole to Ser Criston and her from Lady Alicent to Lady Hightower.
But good things never last, as the Queen’s death heralded a new chapter in their lives.
“I tried so hard,” Rhaenyra told her the day after the Queen’s death, holding in her sobs. “I tried so hard to save her. I summoned the best healers, I strictly looked after her food, I took her duties upon myself to elevate pressure from her, but nothing worked. She still left me.” She shook with grief, her shoulders hunching inwards. Alicent tried her best to comfort her.
“It was her time, Rhaenyra. We cannot fight against the will of seven.”
The young girl broke down as Alicent hugged her, clutching at her to give her some semblance of comfort.
After the Princess had succumbed to exhaustion, Alicent left her chambers, Ser Criston loyally shadowing her as always.
“Poor Princess,” she sighed. “I know how much she worried this time for the Queen. She had never taken any interest in the responsibilities of the Royal household, yet ever since the Queen started getting sick, Rhaenyra changed, as if she had suddenly grown up. She even interrogated all the healers against King’s opposition! Yet none of her efforts managed to save the queen.”
She knew more than anyone, considering the constant complaints her father kept making about the Princess and her growing influence and Alicent's failure to curb her.
Her shield shifted behind her. “It is a regrettable occasion,” he admitted in a low voice. “Yet, as you told her, we cannot fight against the will of seven.”
“You are right.” She sighed. “I can’t still help but worry. I hope she is not too affected by her mother’s death.”
Ser Criston hummed, and she sent a prayer to the seven in her heart for the Princess.
Nothing changed in the next week though, except for the Princess’ demeanor. She grew colder, harsher if it could be called that. But it was understandable. The wound was too raw, the grief still new. Alicent hoped to accompany her through these troubled times, yet all her hopes and plans were dashed when she met her father on the night of the funeral.
You might wear one of your mother's dresses.
It was only a matter of time before Ser Criston discovered her visits to the King’s chambers.
“Why would you even do such a thing?”
Alicent flinched from the judgmental tone in his voice. She could not bear to hear such words from the only person who, as of now, was aware of all her secrets.”
“I had no choice.” She lowered her head, tearing her nails. “I must do what my father asks, and he asked me to keep me company to the King at a time when he is at his lowest.”
The man shifted on his heels. “Lady High- Alicent, you must understand what this looks like to anyone from the outside! What would anyone think when they discover you visiting the king’s chambers, alone, without any chaperone, during nights?”
Her eyes widened at the insinuation. “Ser Criston!” She protested. “Nothing untoward happened between us. I only keep him company, reading him stories and histories, nothing more.”
He sighed in frustration. “I know that, you know that and your father at most. But what if anyone discovered it? Do you even know what people whisper about you and King Jaehaerys as well as Prince Daemon? Those foul, vile accusations came only when you were a child. Imagine what they will do to you once they learn of this!”
She bit her lip. He was right. “You are right, Ser Criston.” She admitted in a low voice. “But I have no other choice. I must listen to my father, and I am not bold enough to question his wisdom.”
Ser Criston looked away. “Does Princess Rhaenyra know?”
Alicent scratched at her cuticles. “The King forbade me to mention even a word to her. He says that she won’t understand.”
The man took a long breath. “Fine. I will not question you or force you to go against those above you. But Lady Alicent, please allow me to accompany you at least, for the sake of your reputation, if nothing else.”
That was something she could do. “Thank you, Ser Criston,” she told him, grateful for his understanding. “I will take you up on your offer.”
It was only through her visits to the King that despite all the pretenses, she knew that something was brewing under the surface among the remaining royal family.
“Rhaenyra remains stiff with me. Despite the preparations for her investiture ceremony, she prefers to stay away from me. She may not say it, but she surely blames me for Aemma’s death.”
Alicent tried to console him. “Your Grace, maybe you are thinking too much? She loves you just as much as her mother, surely both of you will be able to overcome your grief together? I am confident that she will not resent you for circumstances beyond your control.”
He chuckled sadly. “You are too wise for your years, Alicent. But what she needs is time for this wound to heal.”
The thought niggled at her. Rhaenyra was indeed busy, too busy in fact. Things had changed even before the death of Queen Aemma. The Princess, seeking to elevate some burdens from her ailing mother, had started taking on some of the responsibilities that belonged to the Queen. This had lessened their time together, much more so after the death of Queen Aemma, as Rhaenyra had completely taken over the household as a matriarch even before she was announced as the heir to King Viserys. She was now accompanied by the same hoard of ladies that used to tend to the deceased wife of the King, who now assisted their lady’s daughter instead. Alicent had been thankful for this since this would lessen the chance of her friend noticing her only lady-in-waiting spending less and less time with her. But they still kept each other company, and it was on one of those occasions where she broached the subject delicately.
The Princess snorted derisively. “You think too beautifully, Alicent. It is not me who keeps avoiding him, it is him! During the days, he is busy with the council. During nights, he rejects my offers to accompany him. How can I give him time when he doesn’t want to see my face? I have learned my lesson, I will not bother him anymore.”
This was opposite to what the King had told her. The miscommunication between both was widening the gap between them. Yet, she persisted. Rhaenyra was her friend, and the King was, well, King. If she could ease some of their burdens…
“Your Grace, pardon me if it seems like I am getting out of line, but Princess does miss you. It has been days now. Won’t it be better if you talk to her yourself instead of waiting for her?”
The King looked at her sadly. “Oh, how I wish it was as easy as you say, Alicent. But I fear that she will not understand what I went through, what Aemma went through. She is so young, and I fear she will blame me for it.”
The young Hightower was not so sure. “Maybe if you talk to her, you will find out if that is not the case?”
The man remained silent. Princess, on the other hand, was very forthcoming in comparison.
“It’s not that simple, Alicent.” Rhaenyra expressed her frustration in answer to her inquiry. “Mother and I, we are not just Targaryens. We are Arryn too. As high as honor. Do we not know not know our duty? Do I not understand why it was so important for a mother to give birth to a son, an heir? I am a princess; I am more than aware of what our responsibilities are, especially as the members of the royal family. Soon, I will face the same trials. And yet, I couldn’t help but worry for mother. I did everything to ease her burdens. I summoned the best healers; I fought with my father to replace Maester Mellos with Maester Gerardys. Yet all my efforts went to waste as she succumbed to the birthing fever.”
She was aware of that. Her father had complained about Rhaenyra clashing and constantly insulting Maester Mellos, but they all chalked it up to her paranoia. “It is still a concerning matter, Rhaenyra. The king is your father. Surely he will appreciate you giving him some company.”
The Princess was firm in her rejection. “And as I have said before, if he wants to amend his relationship with me, he will have to extend his hand first. I have tried, and I will not bother again.”
She wanted to throw her hands in the air in exasperation.
Alicent knew better than most that Rhaenyra was stubborn. It was something that people could never ignore. Even her loyal companion advised her to be careful.
“The Princess is still processing her grief.” He tried reassuring her. “It makes sense that she is refusing to listen to your advice right now. Give her time, mayhaps she and the King will get better and recover their cheer as time goes on?”
Alicent was not so sure. “Both of them confide in me, Ser Criston. Any hurt that stems between them is due to a lack of communication with each other. If only they would talk for once!”
Ser Criston was not discouraged. “As I have told you before, give them time. Do not interfere too much, lest the Princess discovers your visits to the King.”
She agreed. And yet, she couldn’t help but talk to the King again.
“Won’t it be better if you try to communicate with Rhaenyra and explain to her your reasons for what happened?”
He shook his head. “I am going to be honest. Rhaenyra resents me. She thinks I had a hand in her mother’s demise. That I drove Aemma to an early grave. And there is nothing that will convince Rhaenyra of otherwise.”
She fell silent, not seeing any sense in fighting a losing battle.
Although scared, the next day, Alicent still tried one more time.
“Do not tell it to anyone,” she licked her lips. “I have heard from my father that the king thinks you blame him for Queen’s death.”
Rhaenyra looked enraged, even if her anger was controlled. “Good. Let him think that. Let him blame himself. He is the most responsible for what happened to mother.”
Alicent gapped at her. “Rhaenyra! That is the King you are talking about! And just now you said you understood what your mother’s duty was. Surely you do not still blame the King?”
“I do.” Her voice was firm. “I do blame him. Did you know that my mother was too young when she married? Father was already ten six summers at the time. Despite the warning of Maester Runciter, he still consummated the marriage too early and got my mother with a child. The old Maester often said if Father was not hasty, Mother would have an easy time with childbirth, and she may have been able to deliver many children with success if she was given some time to recover. Father says he loved her, and yet he never thought of her as a person. Her wishes and wants never mattered to him, only his own, even if they were at her expense.”
She had heard some whispers but this was still new information to her. She had spent years among the royal family, yet there were so many things she was unaware of.
Her days were not just filled with doom and gloom. There were brief intervals where she found peace. When she and Rhaenyra would talk about the silliest matters and throw all their worries to the side, as always, Princess would bring up one topic repeatedly: her marriage.
“Enough of these depressing matters, let us talk of something else. Tell me, now that you are of age, do you have your eye on someone?”
Unbidden, charming green eyes set in a tanned face framed by dark hair flashed in her mind. As if she could read her mind, the Princess’ eyes widened and she let out a squeal.
“You do! You do! Tell me, who is the lucky man?” she asked her mischievously. Mortified, Alicent hid her face in her hands. “Rhaenyra!” she scolded her, but Princess laughed.
“I bet the man must be very handsome if he caught your eye, septa Alicent. A knight, perhaps? Or a lordling?” she teased, yet Alicent hid her face more.
“It is a knight then!” Rhaenyra let out a cheer, and she had to shush her. “Stop that!”
The Princess pouted. “Fine, have your fun. But I will find out who the lucky man is.”
Alicent could only groan in exasperation.
Later that day, Ser Criston also commented on their banter.
“Princess Rhaenyra truly cares for you, lady Alicent,” he told her, his tone soft. She blushed, remembering the topic her shield might have eavesdropped on, and let out a vague hmm.
“She does, doesn’t she?” Although they were speaking about Rhaenyra, it felt as if they were talking about something else.
Alas, the respites didn’t last for long.
A few nights later, while talking to the King, the topic of his previous wife came up. The King lamented the short time he had with his wife.
“There is so much I regret. I regret not spending more time with her. I regret not being there for sweet Aemma when she needed me. I regret…” he sighed mournfully. Alicent comforted him. And days later, she tried defending him to his daughter.
“Still, we cannot fault the King for fulfilling his marital duties. He is a man, after all.”
Rhaenyra stared at her silently, her eyes glinting with darkness. And then, she spoke in a cold voice. “Did you know that Mellos suggested they cut mother’s belly to get the child out, and Father, the King gave his consent for it?”
She let out a horrified gasp. “What?”
The Princess let out a wry smirk. “Ah, so the matter is still under wraps? It doesn’t matter. Maester Gerardys told him that there was a high probability that the child wouldn’t survive either way, yet Father still gave Mellos permission to murder Mother. If it wasn’t for me protesting it, he would have succeeded in becoming a kinsalyer. Maester Gerardys somehow succeeded in getting the baby out without cutting Mother. And his prediction came true; Baelon didn’t even survive for a day.”
Alicent was utterly horrified. Despite her doubts, despite her persistence, every little nugget of information that she unearthed painted a very bleak picture of the royal family.
She had pretty much stopped defending the King in front of Rhaenyra by now. Yet still, the Princess often told her things that made her shudder.
“Everyone says that mother and father loved each other. Although their match was arranged, they had managed to find love in their union. Yet all I remember of mother was struggling to get up in the mornings, or to hold her tongue whenever father mentioned they were going to have a son soon, and the tears she had to swallow when he let the courtiers disparage her ability to birth a child and would not defend her. All I remember is his callousness and disregard for her, nothing more.”
“Maybe you remember wrong? They never appeared as you are describing them.”
“There is a lot that is covered under the shine of crown and pretty clothes and jewels, right? But I remember it right. If he could do such a thing to a person he claimed to love, what would he do to the rest of us?”
“But everyone says they loved each other-”
“No, Alicent,” Rhaenyra firmly stopped her. “He didn’t love her. He never did. He is a man, and men never love anyone except their pride.”
Alicent frowned, but she had learned better than defending the king by now. Rhaenyra, judging her mood, changed the subject, and started talking about the newest batch of fabrics they were due to receive from Essos the next week.
Days went on. She visited the King, reported to her father regularly, and spent time with Rhaenyra, whenever she could, with most of it deflecting attention from the topic of her marriage. On the other hand, her friendship with Ser Criston deepened to the point where she considered him to be her friend, her only secret keeper.
They told each other about everything, him capturing his beautiful homeland in detail, painting a vivid picture for her, and she would regale him with the might of her home, the Old Town. With every word, every whisper, their bond deepened.
She knew what she felt was a shameful thing. She was an unmarried maiden. Ser Criston, although very charming and such a loyal shield, was only a steward’s son, on a path to becoming kingsguard. Her father would never agree on the match, so she never let those thoughts grow. She was dutiful to her father, and she would not sully his name by entertaining such silly ideas.
But she was feeling a bit… tense. Nervous, to be accurate. A storm was brewing, and she didn’t know what she would do if she was caught in it.
But life went on, without paying any heed to her concerns.
“You have really changed, Rhaenyra.” She commented softly. They were sitting under the heart tree today, something that had become a rarity for them recently. “Months ago, you were only concerned with listening to stories and eating cakes. Now, every time I see you, you are either herding all the ladies in the castle or screaming at the steward for misplaced coins.”
The Princess was leaning against the tree, eyes closed, enjoying the light breeze. She hummed. “That was bound to happen, Alicent. Father made me the heir. Did you think things would go on like before? I am supposed to handle these responsibilities one day. Better if I do it this early.”
She didn’t want to ruin the mode. “Have you ever given a thought to the matter of remarriage of king?”
Rhaenyra didn’t bother to open her eyes. “Pardon?”
“The King,” she hesitated. “Your father has to marry one day. Have you given thought to it?”
The Princess’ lips rose in a wry smirk. “I know the lords are chomping at bits to replace me, but why does he need to marry? He already has an heir, me, and a spare, Daemon. Despite all his faults, Uncle has been very loyal to Father. Why does he need to marry again?”
Nervously, she started to peel the skin around her nails. “But that is not enough, is it? He needs children of his own, every man does. What will you do then?”
Rhaenyra was stubborn in her stance. “He already has a child of his own. Why would he need more?”
Alicent was starting to feel a bit frustrated. “Wasn’t it for his wish of a son that the late Queen returned to bed every year? You cannot claim that he must have stopped desiring for a son anymore.”
She finally opened her eyes and looked at her. “Even if he still desires a son, so what? His second marriage and having a child from another woman will do nothing but lead the realm to war. The very first scenario leads him to formally disinherit me, and even if I step back, what about my children? Or their children? Will they not rise up against the line of his second wife? What about Daemon? Right now he is bound to Rhea Royce but that may not always be the case. His children will be blood princes or princesses. What if they rebel? And it's the same with Velaryons. The second scenario involves me not being disinherited, and it leads to the same path. Already, Vale is unhappy with the Crown over a long list of matters, and disinheriting me will be nothing short of a signal for civil war. Do you think Father is stupid enough to lay down the foundation of civil war with his own days?”
If she didn’t know better, she would have thought that Rhaenyra was purposefully stepping around the question. “Didn’t the King choose you as his heir? But even then, humor me. What if he does marry? What then? What will you do?”
The Princess smoothed over the wrinkles in her gown. “Alright. The biggest question, if we disregard everything I just said, is who will he marry? Jeyne Arryn is young, and there is no way she will leave her place as the Lady of Vale, I know her enough to say that. Another important house in Vale is Royce, which is already in matrimony with our house. Lord Tyrell’s daughters have all been wed just a few years after my parent’s marriage. Your uncle, Lord Hobert Hightower has no daughters yet to present, and no other Reach house would offer their children from the fear of your House and Tyrells. Lord Baratheon only has one son, and even there are no suitable candidates of age or unmarried in the Stormlands. Starks also have no maiden to present, neither do Manderlys, and the rest of the houses do not hold much sway this far up the south. Westerlands? Sure, if there was not the blatant dislike of King Jaehaerys for Lannisters still remembered in our family, a match could be considered there. Riverlands? Same problems. That leaves Laena Velaryon. To phrase it better, as of right now, there is no one who is better than Laena as the prospective queen. No one offers to the Crown as much as her. She has the Targaryen blood, knows our traditions and faith, has dragon rider’s blood, comes with a lot of coin and trade as dowry, and most important of all, her marriage with Father will soothe the past hurts. It will be not wrong to say that if Father chooses any maiden other than Laena, the Velaryons will pose a sizeable threat to us. Princess Rhaenys was already passed over once, what if their line one day decided to take back what is rightfully theirs?”
Alicent was a bit confused. This was so much information, most of it was new to her. She really wondered when Rhaenyra had grown up to the point where she rashly made such an analysis on the spot, but there was one thing that she couldn’t let go of, hence her interruption. “Velaryons? But didn’t the council decide-”
“It doesn’t matter what the council decided,” Rhaenyra cut her off. “Velaryon law states that the eldest inherits. It was one of the main reasons Aegon married Visenya. Even in Andal law and the First Men, it says that daughters come before uncles and their sons. What happened at the Grand Council broke the inheritance laws in many, many ways. You cannot use the council as a precedent without mentioning how it violated the inheritance laws of every party involved.”
The legal jargon, although simplified, was a bit confusing to her, since she was never interested in it, thus she went back to her original question. “Fine. Let’s say it’s Lady Laena Velaryon who your father marries. What then?”
The Princess leaned forward, stretching to straighten her back. “Well, Laena is family, after all. She is fond of me, as I am of her. Lord Corlys is ambitious, but his influence on Father is not heavy, so it matters not what he will push. She is also young, which means by the time she bears a child I may already be married and possibly have a child of my own. Regardless of whether I am disinherited for her child or not, our children can be married to each other to combine our claims. She is family, and even before Princess Rhaenys and Lord Corlys refused to push their claim if it led to war, so the same sentiments may remain even in our future generations. Most importantly, she is young, and I am the one acting as a matriarch. She will be reliant on me, at least for the first few years. It will not be hard to foster a fond relationship between us both.
But despite all of that, I truly pity whoever marries him again. Who knows how long his second wife will survive?” The last sentence was a whisper, but Alicent still heard it.
The conversation was truly making her nervous by now. Looking at her worried expression, Rhaenyra tilted her head curiously. “What’s with all the questions today? I wasn’t aware you were interested in politics.”
Alicent swallowed bile. “Nothing, just feeling curious.”
The younger girl stared at her. “Is there something you want to share with me, Alicent? Anything?”
She had to hold back a flinch. “It’s nothing, just haven’t slept properly for days.”
Rhaenyra smirked. “You are not sleeping properly? Why so? Are you having some adventures?” she wagged her eyebrows.
It took her a minute to understand, and when she did, all her nervousness was replaced by indignation. “Rhaenyra!” she cried out, smacking the princess with the cushion. The princess laughed, dodging her attempts to hit her. “No seriously, if you have someone, you can tell me. You know that, right? Things are different now. I hold a significant amount of leeway as well as connections in the court. If you like someone, I can arrange a match for you. You are my lady in waiting after all, if I won’t do it, who will?”
Alicent smiled wryly. “Thanking the Princess for her generous offer, but I have to turn it down. I have no such thoughts in my mind as of now.”
She was right. She had no such thoughts. Even if she was afraid. Even if she was scared. Even if she-
“Ser Criston? If there was a way you could change something, will you do it?”
The man huffed in amusement. “I need more information than that to give my answer, Lady Alicent.”
She looked at her bloodied nails. “If there was a chance you could do something for yourself, even if it came at the cost of your family’s happiness, will you do it? Will you strive for your own happiness, or will you remain on the path that your duty commands you? Duty to your family, to your faith, to the seven?”
He silently contemplated her inquiry. “I suppose… if it comes at the cost of ruining my life, I will do it, however, duty is a must. Not every happiness can be bought at the ruination of my faith and family.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Ser Criston.” She whispered silently.
She was not naïve.
She knew what her father was doing.
All she could do was wait to descend in the eye of the storm.
“I intend to marry the Lady Alicent Hightower before spring’s end.”
As the King said these words, Alicent was unable to worry about the judgmental gaze of her shield or the dark one of Rhaenyra. All she could remember was what Princess had told to her.
Father says he loved her, and yet he never thought of her as a person.
.
Her wishes and wants never mattered to him, only his own, even if they were at her expense.
.
Did you know that Mellos suggested they cut Mother’s belly to get the child out, and Father, the King gave his consent for it?
.
If he could do such a thing to a person he claimed to love, what would he do to the rest of us?
.
Who knows how long his second wife will survive?
.
He is a man, and men never love anyone except their pride.
.
.
.
Men never love anyone except their pride.
The storm was here.
And she was in the eye of it.