Chapter 6: Half Past Eternity

I hid in an alley, watching the lights. The sun had set.

It's late... I should go back home. Mama and papa must be worried sick about me...

But how? Everywhere was blocked. All transportation had been stopped.

It's too late—

It's far too late.

I shouldn't... I...

...I was a fool.

...

"What do we do with this one?"

"Ahh, it'll be a trouble if we bring it back. ***** ** **** the ***."

"Won't that be suspicious? **** ****..."

"You still have the nerve to mention **** ****? Go get more *****."

"Okay..."

—

"Ha... ha... ha..." I was out of breath. I sat up, my hands desperately searched for a drink.

Shaking, I brought the goblet to my lips, but I started to cough and spit it out.

"...It's all over the bed..." Calming down for a bit, I whimpered. I needed to get someone to clean this.

Sighing, I left my room. How many times did I have this dream?

It came to me every few weeks, ever since I've come to Westeros... but there wasn't a real pattern to it. It's all the same, I was on the street, running away from something...

...But the end of it was still unclear.

Come to think of it, it's almost a year since I arrived in Westeros.

I had basically given up on going back home by now, but the visions from my past life still haunted me.

...Why was I hiding? What was I running from? I knew nothing about it.

However, I felt that it's related to the reason I was self-inserted...

"Argh..." The pain from my brain sharply increased, preventing me from thinking further.

Eh, whatever. I'd just go down the hall. Everyone would be surprised to see me being the first on the breakfast table.

—

"Alicent... you're drooling," Viserys said.

"Mmm? Ehh, sorry." I quickly wiped my mouth. Almost fell asleep right there.

"Almost fell asleep? You definitely fell asleep. How?" Rhaenyra's eyes were rolled to the back of her skull, "If you fall asleep during the tourney later today, don't blame me for laughing at you."

"Tourney is boring." I always hated watching sports and tourneys were no different.

"You won't find anyone that agrees with you on that." She said certainly.

Well, yeah, I knew. Tourneys were the big game in Westeros after all. But to me, it's just as boring as sports day at school.

"Indeed, I'd rather not have you fall asleep during the tourney," Viserys looked at me worriedly, "But your health is more important. Are you unwell? You don't have to attend the tourney if so..."

"I'm fine! Just had a nightmare." I waved away his concern, "It's the tourney for our fifth anniversary, right? I can't be absent."

...Distantly, I also recalled that something happened during this tourney.

Daemon coming back, wasn't it? He offered his crown to Viserys or something. I remembered seeing that scene in a fanfic.

I was no expert on Dance, so I wasn't completely certain whether it's canon or not. It could also be another anniversary tourney, but I had to be there just to be sure.

I wouldn't let him touch Rhaenyra or my children.

After breakfast, Otto caught me before the tourney started. I knew what wanted to say before he opened his mouth.

"No, father, I won't help you to persuade Viserys. In fact, I told him to refuse you." Seriously, how many times was he going to bring it up?

I should know something was up back when he started to be nice to Rhaenyra. Betrothing Aegon and her? No way in hell.

He glared at me, "They get along well and it's Targaryen tradition."

"What happened to our supposed close ties to the Faith? That match is gross as hell. No." I put up a big cross with my arms to establish my point.

"You're going to be the death of me," He said, exasperated, "What's the point of building up their good relationship if you aren't going to use it?"

"I'm going to use it. Just not the way you're doing." To ensure we don't die horribly, of course.

Defeated, he walked away... or I thought he would, as he stopped halfway and looked at me, "There's soup stain on the hem of your dress."

"What... ahhh!" I must have dropped it during breakfast. Damn, it's awfully visible on that pink. "How come no one told me before?"

"You're the queen," He sighed, "Do me a favor and change your clothes now."

"Yeah, thanks, father!" I rushed back to my room. I gotta be fast otherwise I would be late!

—

...Yeah, this was boring.

I struggled to stay awake as people around me shouted and cheered. What's so fun about this?

"Alicent, your brother is up next." Viserys noticed my status and reminded me.

"Right, Gwayne," I tried to sit back straight. Gwayne and some other Hightowers were on the field to defend my honor, but I still wasn't interested.

My eyelids started to close as Gwayne was facing off Cole (wearing Rhaenyra's favor), but then—

A great shadow covered us.

"Oh shit." Another bloody dragon.

That thing descended to the ground, leaving just enough time for people to evacuate. On top of it, sat a man with long, wavy silver hair.

Yep, that's the rogue prince alright.

"Daemon," Thankfully Viserys didn't approve, "What's with this entrance? You almost crushed our knights!"

"No one's hurt," The long hair shit said as he jumped down from the dragon's back, "I timed it well. As for the way I chose to appear... a hero has to land dramatically, you know?"

A hero? A devil, more like. Despite thinking that, his response drew a giggle out of me.

He raised his head to look at us. Huh... he's indeed very handsome. I could see why in canon Laena and Rhaenyra would be tricked.

But I wasn't that stupid. The evil prince's smile deepened as he saw me on Viserys' side, before kneeling in front of his brother.

"Dear brother, your grace," He held out a crown, "I, Daemon Targaryen, hereby renounce my kingship to the Stepstones and Narrow Sea, and offer my crown to you as a loyal subject of the Iron Throne."

Following canon, it'd seem. I wouldn't let him do what he wanted. "Why're you here?"

He innocently widened his eyes, "I heard you're wounded in an incident, so I instantly came back to look after you. Aren't we friends?"

"Since when?" Friends, hahaha, what a filthy liar. You're no friend of Alicent Hightower, that I was sure.

"Ouch, how heartless." He mockingly put a hand on his chest, "Forgetting your best friend and wingman."

"Enough with this bickering, Daemon, Alicent doesn't remember much about you." Viserys said, "Come take a seat and we'll talk of your place in court..."

—

"So, you lost your memories and gained an invisible arm? Fascinating." Daemon said as he looked over the rack.

"...Right, 'fascinating'. Not 'this is horrible and I hope you recover swiftly'." Friend, my ass.

"If not for this accident, you'd never discover your talent in designing games," He said as he put down the last of his tile, "I win."

"How?" Rhaenyra screamed, "This is the first time you play!"

"Dear Rhaenyra," Daemon smirked, "I, your uncle, am very smart."

"Well done, Daemon." Viserys clapped.

"Are we going to ignore the truth that he has watched us for two rounds before joining himself?" And plainly sneaking hints to Rhaenyra to suck her up during that period. "My father won his first game too, and he didn't watch us play."

"Otto? Get him here and I can beat him too." Daemon boasted.

"You two started to argue whenever you're in the same room," Viserys said, "This is the gaming night, not the debate night."

"What a shame," He didn't sound disappointed at all, "Want to hear a tale of the Stepstones?"

"We're all ears," Rhaenyra said excitedly.

"So, I was on..." I wasn't keen on listening. Instead, I glared at his side, thinking of what to do.

When Viserys invited him to our gaming night I was afraid of the worst, but so far, he had proven himself to be an excellent conversationalist and quite easy-going at that.

Still, I couldn't relax. He's a terrific foe, and he's still clearly trying to butter up Rhaenyra. I mustn't let them spend any time alone.

Yeah, going forward, that's what I'd do. Determined, I moved my gaze from Daemon's face and found out that Viserys was staring at me, frowning.

"Eh? Did something stick to my face again?" I swear, I had wiped my face, but they just wouldn't go away.

He shook his head and smiled, "No, nothing. It's getting late, I'm thinking it's time to retire."

"Good point," I yawned, "Storytime is over, Rhaenyra. Time to return to your room and sleep like the good girl you're."

"Huh? But it's just getting good!" She protested.

"You'll have all the time to hear about it tomorrow," Surprisingly Daemon agreed with me, "Go to sleep and leave them some time to spend on a bed together."

I blushed, "Um, no, I'm returning to my room too."

"Ohhh?" He raised a brow, his eyes gleaming as if he just found some precious treasure, "Bedroom problem?"

"You shut the hell up," I snapped, the same time Viserys said, "I promised to wait for her to recover."

"Recover? It has been a whole year; she isn't going to remember if she hasn't yet. My advice, she might remember more if you do her tonight—"

"Enough!" Viserys barked, his expression darker than I had ever seen, "You've crossed a line, Daemon. We'll not talk of this again."

"Hmph. I can find you a nice girl in the street of—"

"Daemon!"

"Fine. We'll talk more tomorrow, have a sweet dream, a beautiful princess." With that last line on Rhaenyra, he left us, leaving me angry and embarrassed.

"That's not a very nice thing to say to your face, but I think he means well..."

"Rhaenyra, don't you stick up for him. Also, make sure Cole or some other people are always with you if you're spending time with him." I would prefer it if she didn't spend time with him at all, but there's a limit to what I could do.

She rolled her eyes, "He's my uncle. You're saying like he wants to murder me."

"He's known to have japed at your brother's death and left King's Landing in anger when you're declared heir." Also, he wanted to bed you rather than kill you because he's a power-hungry asshole.

"I don't believe Daemon will harm Rhaenyra," Viserys said tiredly, "But it isn't bad to ensure a kingsguard is always on your side."

"Criston already does," She glanced at the doorway, where the knight in question was standing.

"Good. Now, good night, Rhaenyra."

"Good night, father. Good night, Alicent."

I was supposed to leave right after her, but Viserys pulled me aside and stopped me. "Do you not remember Daemon?"

"Remember... what?" Was I too obvious in my hatred of him? But that could be explained easily enough. "I remember that he's your brother, and father had told me many times about his deeds and character."

He forced out a smile, "I presume it wouldn't be flattering."

"Yeah, I'm sure you can imagine it." I expected he'd let me go then, but he kept me locked there, staring at my face with an unreadable expression. "...?"

"...What Daemon said... pay no mind to it," He eventually said, "I'll not take a mistress."

"I don't mind... I mean I don't care what he said at all!" Oops, almost slipped. I quickly added, "You're the best, most understanding husband I can think of."

"Thanks. I know you'll remember... you'll remember someday." He let me go, but the longing and desperation in his words gave me a shiver. Was I keeping him hanging for too long?

Would he one day decide he couldn't wait anymore?

I felt sorry for him, I did, but I didn't want to be raped. Facing this challenge, I chose to escape. "I think so too. See you tomorrow!" Gotta run!

He didn't react to my abrupt exit, only continued to stare at me strangely. I had a bad feeling about this…