Chapter 11: Her Fight

The castle was in a mess now. People rushed in and out of corridors, terrified of Daemon's attack.

What could I do? Alys may have told me that I had superpowers, but I didn't feel that I had any. I'd probably have to get to a clearing where I could observe Daemon and Caraxes, then think of a strategy…

"Alicent! What are you doing out here?" Otto yelled, striding across the corridor and catching me before I could even answer. "Viserys told me you're poisoned by Runciter, but he then didn't let us see you. Has something happened between the two of you? This is… most unusual."

So that's the excuse he gave them?

"I…"

"No, never mind, come with me first," he suggested, cutting off my reply. "We're not safe here."

He hadn't given me a chance to refuse before he started to pull me along. I wouldn't be able to attack Daemon if I was with the Hightowers, but what reason could I give him—

"Let me go!" Rhaenyra's sharp voices echoed through my ears. "I don't need you anymore! Let go of me!"

Don't tell me…

I looked around and located her with... Cole, on the other end of the hallway. Rhaenyra was desperately trying to break away from him but Cole had a firm grip on her arm.

Oh, for the sake of—

"Father! I'll meet up with you later!" I slipped away from Otto, ignoring his shouting behind me.

—

"Rhaenyra, this is madness!"

"I shall hear no more of it! Take your hands off me!"

They were still in a deadlock when I arrived. "Cole! Release her immediately!" I ordered, barely able to catch my breath, Rhaenyra taking advantage of my arrival to shove him off. "Don't!" Cole cried behind her, but she raced off without acknowledging him.

Cole turned towards me, eyes blazing with hatred. "Why did you stop me? She's going to fight Daemon!"

"What?" If she's fighting him, then that meant... "She's riding Syrax?!"

"She's the only dragon rider in King's Landing, and she very well knows it!" He clenched his fists. "I'm her knight... yet I can't protect her…"

Time is running out, Alys had told me. Was it not just about stopping Daemon, but Rhaenyra too? "We have to chase after her! Cole, she's going to the dragon pit, right? We have to go now!"

"You..." He stared at me for a brief moment, eyes wide as saucers. Then he nodded. "This way!"

Myles and Gwayne found us as we tried to get a horse. "Alicent! Where are you going? Father's very worried. He told us to find you."

"There's no time to explain! Give us a ride. We need to go to the dragon pit as fast as possible!"

"But…"

"Gwayne, please! Just this once!"

"You're going no matter what we say, right?" Myles sighed. "Come on then."

"It's for Rhaenyra," Cole added.

"Very well," Gwayne agreed reluctantly.

When the four of us arrived, the flapping of dragon-wings high in the sky all but mocked our late arrival.

"Rhaenyra—!" Cole shouted, and she turned to glance at us. Even at this distance, I thought I could see her eyes widening. "Why... Why are you here, Alicent?" She asked.

"For you, of course! Come back down!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Daemon won't be merciful on you!"

"I'm the only hope we have against him!" Her voice was fading as Syrax ascended, "I am no coward! The blood of the Dragon does not hide. I'll…"

"I'll protect you, father, and everyone!" These were the last words she left behind…

"No..." But we could only look on as she raced towards the clear skies.

You're... you're a true friend, Rhaenyra…

Was there nothing I could do?

I looked up, struck dumb by fear as my worst fears came true. A red monster was flying straight towards Syrax. Daemon's beast.

"You?" I could faintly hear Daemon's mocking tone even with the winds roaring around the two dragons. "Viserys sent you against me? No, that can't be. You snuck out on your own."

"Yes. I did." Despite her best efforts, Rhaenrya was clearly scared out of her mind. "How... how dare you come back here?!" She stuttered.

"How cute of you to think you can come and talk me down." Daemon's laughter chilled me to the bones. "But why should I keep you alive? Corlys shall wed Laena to me after I take the Iron Throne. Nothing less, nothing more."

"The Velaryons are his allies?!" Myles asked, his mouth agape. "If they're backing him, then we have no chance... they have three dragons, all battle ready!"

"But they're not here." Gwayne's tone was a lot calmer. "If they're with him, why don't we see them?"

Rhaenyra seemed to have reached the same conclusion in the sky. "You lied. If Laena is to be your wife, she would be fighting alongside you right now. Besides, you're already married!"

"She will be on my side after I win," Daemon spat. "And that bitch is no wife of mine. Unless you choose to submit now, then I'll take you instead. You'll serve well as my mount." He licked his lips.

"Not in Seven Hells! You tried to rape Alicent!" Rhaenyra screamed. "And now... you're going to kill everyone!"

"So what?" He didn't even bother hiding his true intentions now that the truth was out. "She was mine! The Iron Throne should be mine! Viserys never did anything, yet the gods smiled on him! I built a whole kingdom with my own hands, what did he ever accomplish? I'm just here to take what is mine!"

Then Caraxes made its first attack. I held my breath as Syrax barely managed to dodge it.

I had to do something. Neither Rhaenyra nor Syrax had fought before, sooner or later she would…

"Extend!" Seeing no other alternative, I raised my arms in the air and yelled. "Extend, damnit!"

"What are you doing?" Myles asked, clearly puzzled.

"Trying to— get my hands— to reach them!" I hissed. If I imagined hard enough... if I truly believed I could touch them…

But no matter how my fingers scratched, they only uselessly crawled in the air. Frustrated, I yanked on my right hand with my left, hoping to go even one centimetre further.

Gwayne caught my hand. "Stop! Why are you hurting yourself? I know you're worried, but this isn't going to help!"

"You don't understand! She... everyone will die at this rate!" Above us, Syrax let out a roar as Caraxes' flame licked her flank.

Calm down, I told myself. Think again. What did Alys tell me?

"If you can overlook the lies your eyes told you... you can do anything as long as you believe in it strongly enough."

The lies my eyes told me... believe in it strongly…

My eyes...

My gaze moved towards where my invisible hand should be. It's there, I just couldn't see it...

If I could use this illusion to strengthen my beliefs—

If I could convince myself—

"Is it... that simple all along?" I blurted out. The only thing left was to convince others. "Myles! Please, cut off my arm!"

"What? No!" Myles shook me as if I were a madwoman - which of course I was. "This is madness!"

"Alicent, don't lose your mind now!" Gwayne tried to encourage me. "We can still win!"

"We'll only have a chance to win if you cut my arm off right now!" I shove him away. If they wouldn't do it... "Cole! Cut off my arm!"

"What in the Seven Hells are you playing—"

"It's to save Rhaenyra!" I pleaded.

He paused. "How…"

"Cut off my arm right now! Will you defy your queen's order?" I put my arm forwards. "Just do it!"

"Cole, don't!" Gwayne drew his sword. But Cole was faster.

"Argh!" I definitely felt the instant when metal cut into my flesh. I lost my balance and fell onto the ground, rolling in pain, growling all the way. "Ahh... ehh…"

But through the overwhelming pain, I could feel another type of pain if I focused enough.

My invisible hand, bouncing on the floor.

"Your body is but an extension of your consciousness."

Even when severed, it's still a part of me.

And I... could will it.

I tried to control the fingers on my right hand. I could feel my nails digging into the rough ground.

"Argh... good..." Through my pain, I managed to squeeze out a grin.

"Now... float!" I commanded.

It rose unsteadily, not unlike a wizard's broom on his first flying lesson.

I could feel the air on my fingers, my palm, my front arm, and the bits Cole cut. I could feel every drop of blood, sliding down and hitting the ground.

But this wasn't enough. A fist meant nothing to Daemon. I would need to speed up... like a bullet.

I turned my eyes into the sky. My vision... was fading. Must be the blood loss... I couldn't see him clearly.

It didn't matter. I remembered what he looked like.

When he had appeared in front of us. When he was playing Rummikub with us. When he took me on top of Caraxes to see the sunrise…

...And when he pushed me onto the ground, trying to force himself on me.

My eyes narrowed. My teeth clenched.

I would admit I once thought he wasn't actually a bad person. That I could feel comfortable talking with him. That misjudgment, that shame... only served to fuel the fire.

"I hate you, Daemon!" I screamed, "You're the collection of everything I loathe!"

The winds ripped through my open wound, making the pain all but unbearable. I gasped and clenched my fists.

No matter what... I'd stop you!

"Ahhh!" I yelled as I envisioned my fist hitting his face…

...And it did.

"What is this?!" I could hear Daemon even from here, "What in the Seven Hells was that?!"

Then an intense pain shot through my whole body.

"Argh... ahh..." Every part of my body was wrong. Not just the section Cole severed, but more…

"Why did he pull out Dark Sister?" Myles asked, his voice seemingly far away.

Daemon must have cut my front arm into two…

I felt my conscience slipping.

No, I couldn't give up here! I was so close to making it!

If he cut it off, then every part of me would hit him like a bullet!

I need to focus. I could still feel my arm... my flesh... in the air, dropping.

I stopped them. Then…

Accelerate.

The second wave of my attack hadn't caught Daemon by surprise. He still had Dark Sister in hand, and his reflex was so good that he could deflect invisible attacks now that the element of surprise was gone.

But I kept coming back. No matter how many pieces my arm was cut into.

As long as it stalled him long enough for Syrax and Rhaenyra to prepare their attack.

"Rhaenyra! Finish him!" I cried, as a silvery light dropped from the sky.

"He dropped Dark Sister!" Gwayne shouted. "Why? Unless…"

I forced my eyes to focus on Daemon. He... he's covering his eyes, with several wounds on his neck and face, howling in pain…

Did I do it?

"Alicent!" I could still recognise the loveliest voice in Westeros even amidst the pain. "Why are you here? You're hurt!"

Oh, Viserys…

"That's what.. what I want to ask you too..." I coughed. "You should... stay inside…"

He knelt beside me, holding onto my left hand. "What king would I be, if I let my precious Rhaenrya fight for me, while I hide within the safety of my castle's walls? But you…"

He squeezed my hand, the simple gesture warming my heart. "I told you to stay in your chambers."

"I... I'm not…"

"I know," he sighed. "But this wasn't all a lie, was it?"

I—

"Viserys!" Daemon roared. "You've finally come out!"

"Yield, Daemon! I shall spare your life if you yield!"

"Yield? Me? Never!" What was he preparing...? "If I die here, you'll die with me!" Caraxes abandoned Syrax and barrelled towards us, fire spitting out from mouth of the beast of death—

"Father! NO!"

"I won't let you do this—!"

Summoning every bit of my flesh, I hurled what was left of myself towards Daemon's head near the speed of light as Rhaenyra and Syrax smashed into Caraxes.

And both Daemon and Caraxes fell,

Crashing onto the ground before us,

A rumbling shook through my body,

Then I... knew nothing.

—

"Mama," I asked, "What will you do if I die?"

"This isn't funny." She frowned. "I'll cry my eyes out, so don't you dare to die before us."

"Okay okay," I wasn't being serious anyway, "Then what should I do when you and papa are gone?"

She pursed her lips, "Believe in yourself." Eventually she added, "And as long as you can, don't stop believing!"

"...Wow. Cheesy." I giggled.

"Don't laugh," She pouted. "You aren't allowed to laugh at your mother." After a thoughtful pause, she added, "And remember…"

"Don't forget to love yourself... and people around you. There's always someone you can love."

"I love you and papa!" I gave her a hug.

She smiled and hugged me back, "As long as you remember... then we would always be with you, no matter how far away."

"We always love you."

—

"Alicent!" Viserys howled. "Alicent!"

"Father, why? I saw Alicent here before... who is this girl?"

"This is the Alicent you know, she just looked different! Alicent... screw it, Amy! Open your eyes!"

"Vi... Viserys..." My eyelids were heavier than lead, but I tried my best to open them. "Rhae... Rhaenyra."

Two worried, ash-streaked faces lingering in my vision. Neither seemed to be wounded.

I finally did it. I had protected the people I loved…

Perhaps with my very life.

"I..." My lips were shaking. How much blood did I lose? "...I love... you all…"

I had no regrets.

"Amy—!" Viserys screamed.

Don't be so sad, my love.

Maybe if I die now, your wife will return.

Without Daemon, there won't be a Dance, right?

This is fine—

With that thought, my heart stopped beating,

And my conscience slipped into a field of nothingness.