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Alicent regretted every single life choice that led her to this moment.
“Don’t fret,” Rhaenyra looked back at her and her hushed voice echoed through the dark tunnel. “It’s completely safe,” the smirk on the girl’s face did nothing to smooth Alicent’s nerves. She had quite a few retorts on her mind. Safe for you. You are a Targaryen.
“Uhum,” was all she said. “Are you sure we won’t get into trouble for sneaking in here?”
“I am the princess,” Rhaenyra said, and her silver hair glittered by the torch light. “I do as I like.”
“Then why are you whispering?” Alicent hissed. The answer came in the form of a distant growl from the darkness in front of them and Alicent ran up to Rhaenyra, standing as close to her as possible.
“We are almost there,” the other girl answered and her soft hand found Alicent’s in the dark.
Alicent swallowed hard. It seemed so innocent a day ago. She did not like wagers. She did not like risks. Maybe it was the excitement of the tourney. Or the fact that the Rogue Prince asked for her favour and not Rhaenyra’s. That Daemon smiled at her, and his violet eyes, same as hers, winked up at her. Maybe it was that. When Rhaenyra suggested the bet, she was sure to win it. How could a hedge knight, an unknown Dornish man defeat the Prince of Dragonstone? Turns out that with blood and sweat he can.
“Here we are,” Rhaenyra pulled Alicent after her at a turn. The pit was lit with hundreds of torches, and somewhere way above the sunlight sneaked in, providing a halo of brightness. Still, the bottom of the pit was endless black. Rhaenyra dropped her torch into an empty plate and stood at the edge of the platform leading into the chamber. “Māzīs,” her voice was strong now, and the command echoed through the stone walls.
“Maybe she doesn’t feel like it,” Alicent grabbed her friend’s arm. Would it be too low to beg her to abandon this stupid idea? Before she could have considered it further, a screech came from the deep, followed by a flutter of wings.
Syrax landed gracefully on the stone platform, between them and the door. There was nowhere to hide, but for a moment Alicent forgot it all. She has seen the beast countless times, but never here. The torchlight danced across the golden scales, highlighting sleek shape and strong wings. She looked as if made out of liquid gold.
“Gevi,” Rhaenyra’s voice purred as the dragon muzzled against her palm. Alicent knew what that word meant, good. Rhaenyra sometimes said it to her, when she recited a story or sang nicely. She blushed at the thought and hoped the darkness hid her embarrassment. “Come,” the girl reached out for her hand, and after a moment of resistance placed it on the hot scales. “You need to stop shaking,” she chuckled and placed her own hand on top of hers, calming the tremors.
“I cannot help it,” Alicent grumbled, and her stomach tightened as Rhaenyra’s thumb smoothed the side of her palm. “This is much closer to a dragon than I ever desired to be.”
“Well, you will have to get closer to ride her,” she shrugged and patted the step of the saddle.
“About that…” Alicent heard the edge of panic in her own voice.
“Come on,” Rhaenyra nudged her. “I never knew you as one to back down from a challenge,” and she offered her hand. Alicent wished to tell her that it was because she was never challenged. She avoided challenges and hard choices, and stepping out of line. But it was too late now. And she looked at her with so much hope in her violet eyes.
She placed one foot on the step of the saddle as she saw Rhaenyra do it, and she grabbed the hand offered. Rhaenyra gave her a gentle shove and suddenly she was in the saddle of the dragon. To Alicent’s dismay, Syrax turned towards her, her golden-green eyes examining the new weight upon her back.
“Syrax, lykirī,” Rhaenyra said in a soothing voice. In a moment she was sitting behind Alicent in the saddle. This seemed to calm Syrax, who gently rolled her shoulders, and let out an excited growl. “I will strap us in,” she offered. Alicent knew what she meant. She watched Rhaenyra plenty of times. It was a set of belts, attached to the saddle, making sure the rider wouldn’t fall out when they did tricks and flips in the air… Oh, no. “Here we go,” before she could get a word out the belt was around her stomach. Rhaenyra fastened it around the two of them and the restrain pushed her against Alicent’s back, closer than they have ever been. “We are one rider now,” the princess’s breath tickled her ear and sent shivers down her spine. It felt different from the fear that gripped her a moment before.
“Could we maybe… fly in an orderly way?” she thought it was not too late to negotiate. The manoeuvres she saw Rhaenyra do regularly, made her stomach flip, even on the ground.
“It’s a dragon, Alicent, not a carriage,” the other girl laughed and reached around her waist to grab the rein. “Hold on to the saddle,” she suggested, and Alicent didn’t need to be told twice. “Sōvēs,” Alicent knew this command and swallowed hard, trying to recite a prayer to the Seven. Her knuckles went white as Syrax lunged forward, falling for a moment into the darkness of the pit before her wings spread and they started rising.
Alicent blinked as the sudden sunlight blinded her. She struggled to open her eyes against the rushing wind, but once she did a small gasp left her lips. They were above King’s Landing, so high that the city resembled more a map than actual buildings. The air was fresh and tasted like salt. In her wonder, she relaxed and her body curved into Rhaenyra’s behind her.
“Not so bad, huh?” Rhaenyra rested her head on her shoulder, their cold cheeks against one another. “Syrax, let’s show Alicent what you can do,” she called out and pulled on the reins.
“Please, no need for tha…,” her last word turned into a scream as the dragon sped up and spun around leaving her hanging upside down for a second. The belt held her firmly in place and upon the second turn, she allowed herself a smile, as they straightened out.
“You are doing really well,” her friend called out. She noted some surprise in her voice.
“It feels so…,” Alicent struggled to find the right word and her eyes fixed on the rushing fields below them.
“Free?” Rhaenyra asked with a laugh. Yes. Alicent thought to her surprise. It felt free. “Hold these,” and to her dismay, she handed her the reins. Before she could protest, she felt the princess’s nimble fingers at the nape of her neck. One by one, she took out the pins from her hair, letting it fall in red locks. Alicent has done this often for Rhaenyra after a long day, but it rarely happened the other way around. Her fingers were gentle and after a minute her hair flew freely behind her. Rhaenyra planted her head on Alicent’s shoulder. “Let go,” she touched her hands which pinned the reins to the saddle. “I’ve got you,” she whispered, and her lips graced her ears.
Rhaenyra’s hands slid to her waist and wrapped around her, pulling her even closer. Alicent hesitated then finger by finger let go. Her hands went out and she let the wind rush between her fingers. Free.
They landed on a flat bit of rocks by the sea. The city seemed distant, and the only sound was the waves crashing against the shore. Rhaenyra undid the straps and slid down. Without her Alicent felt suddenly cold. She slowly lifted her leg over and thin but strong arms grabbed her waist, helping her down.
“You must be one of the first women in Westeros to ride a dragon and not be a Targaryen,” Rhaenyra smirked and looked her over. Alicent knew her gown was wrinkled and her hair wild and frizzled by the wind. She directed her gaze at her feet.
“How could that be?” she asked and her hand hesitantly touched Syrax’s hot scales.
“The bond between a dragon and its rider is special,” Rhaenyra stood next to her. “I think she sometimes knows what I want without saying,” she caressed the beast. “She must know how I feel about you.”
“How?” Alicent said almost inaudible.
“I care for you deeply,” Rhaenyra took her hand and let their fingers intertwine.
“So do I,” Alicent turned to her and felt a tug at her heart. She did not know what gave her the courage. Maybe it was the fact that she just rode a dragon. Or that Rhaenyra squeezed her hand, her violet eyes buried in hers. She closed the distance between them and kissed her. Her lips tasted like honey and parted slightly at her touch. She moved back but Rhaenyra’s hands wrapped around her, pulling her in again.
“We should have done this a long time ago,” the princess rested her forehead against hers.
“The flying?” Alicent blushed and her hand rested on the other girl’s back.
“The kissing,” Rhaenyra smirked and pulled Alicent in for another kiss, this one even sweeter than the first.