ALICENT


The walls of Tumbleton seemed smaller the last time Alicent was here.

Yet the last time I was here, I was a maiden, she thought, following my father who wanted to wed me to a king. Small wonder that the world had seemed so small then, when she was promised everything. But now, she was a woman aging, fleeing a castle and a war she made. Her grandchildren had to endure the pains of a forced march through paths that were never meant for even grown men.

Their escort had trailed off the Goldroad half a fortnight ago, and made their long journey through the stiff Pearl Mountains. The singers sang they were beautiful and glimmered white in the morning sunlight. It was the fantasy land where Charboy Robb and his Lady Tallis lived out the last of their days. It was also evident that the singers never passed through the mountains themselves.

The paths were treacherous to say the least, and they had to abandon the wheelhouse after the first mile. For two miles they proceeded on horseback as the earth heaved and fell below them, and they began to climb upon the side of a mountain where a dark valley loomed not fifty steps to the side. A few daring squires had stepped to the edge and kicked rocks into the emptiness, and none of them could hear them land. That was until one of the squires pushed a boy he hated off the edge. The king's men hanged the murderer, and no one ever set foot near the edge again.

But after two miles, it became too treacherous even to ride. Even Alicent and the king's council had to dismount and lead their horses like the common soldiers. The wider wagons had to be abandoned whilst their contents were packed onto narrower cousins. Gold was the first priority, then food, and so they left behind their clothes, their blankets, spare weapons, and anything else that could be thrown away into the valleys. The nights were cold without the blankets, and she heard many a tale of soldiers who threw the pieces of gold they had been paid with into the valley, praying to the Seven to give them clothes. She and the king's council had furs to warm them, and she knew how the soldiers were looking at them.

The true problem in the first few days of their march was that no one knew who was in command of this retreat. "We should stop calling it a retreat," Ser Jasper said to her on the third day,"It is clear we are fleeing. Might as well say so, and we will run all the faster." But Alicent knew that they could not run any faster without a true command.

Helaena was more often than not absent, riding Dreamfyre over the clouds to scout for any of Rhaenyra's dragons. Alicent thought that she was even sleeping sometimes in the saddle. The princes were too young, and Helaena had ordered them hidden anyway to protect from threats both without and within. Alicent did not even know where the dragons of the young princes were, except that they were in one of the wagons where soldiers routinely brought slaughtered sheep.

Ser Jasper, for all his complaints, would not take command, Gwayne was with Father, and Ser Tyland was a craven. And Aegon and Aemond are not here, Alicent bit her lip when she thought of them. Damn Father and all his schemes.

She was one of the only ones who knew the truth of their "scouting" to the west. "Sunfyre and Vhagar will fly off until Your Graces cannot see the camp," she remembered the fires flickering on Father's face as he relayed the plan to Aegon and Aemond,"Ascend into the clouds, and then ride south until you reach the Red Mountains. Find Lord Borros, and command him with your dragons to march and meet me and Ser Criston in the Rainwood. Rhaenyra will believe that the true threat, the four dragons, lay in the southwest, and she will give chase to our armies to put an end to Aegon's claim."

"The whore will hear of dragons in the Stormlands," Ser Criston continued,"but she will dismiss them as the rumours of peasants. And whilst she sends her dragons to chase after the king, our own host will creep north under the cover of the Rainwood and then the kingswood. She will believe that it is a common army, enough to destroy with Syrax, until our dragons take her by surprise." He threw a dagger onto the table,"And put an end to her claim."

"Are you certain of this ruse?" Helaena had asked,"If she does not send all her dragons into the west, if she does not choose to stay in King's Landing and leaves it an empty prize? So many things may go wrong."

"If she does not send all her dragons into the west," Ser Otto said,"She will not claim victory against our four dragons. You know Rhaenyra's pride, and the Iron Throne is too sweet of a symbol to abandon."

"Your plan hinges on Baratheon, Grandfather," Helaena said,"I did not oppose you at the Small Council, for I saw the wisdom in retreat. But I do not want to rely upon lords who may have lost heart when they saw Rhaenyra with more dragons and their own king abandoning the Iron Throne."

"Baratheon will never turn, Hel," Aemond said,"He cut off that path at Storm's End. It is Tyrell you should worry of. You are fleeing into his jaws with one dragon."

"Two," Helaena said,"You forget Daeron." She then turned to Ser Otto,"Very well, Grandfather."

Alicent had never spoken that night, nor did Aegon. However, when Alicent looked at her eldest son, she saw that his eyes were shining bright in the firelight. She knew that he was glad to at last see battle. Alicent bit her lip, swallowing the words that bade Aegon not to go risk himself in war.

Neither Aegon or Aemond were here to command. The choices left to Alicent were precious few. She could not take command herself, for it will surely give offense to Helaena. And Helaena was most dangerous now, with her dragon. And of the knights with them, the only candidates were the men whom Father trusted enough to give white cloaks and name unto the Kingsguard. But Gyles Belgrave was a dullard, Lamont Honeys a brute. Alicent knew she had to act quickly before Helaena planted her own man. Ser Gaston was not the one Alicent would have wanted to command their retreat, as he was scarce seen along the column and the soldiers neither loved nor feared him, but he was the best man.

Alicent had ears in Ser Gaston's council, and they reported to her of whispers of mutiny amongst some Merryweather soldiers. Lord Merryweather himself and a knight named Ser Raymond Spring volunteered to catch the traitors, but Ser Gaston initially dismissed them. So Alicent had her ears inform Ser Gaston that the fires of mutiny must be put out before they spread. Ser Gaston was loyal, as least, and obeyed. A dozen would-be mutineers hanged the next day along the path of their march. As Alicent passed their bloated corpses, she wondered how many soldiers still whispered mutiny silent in their hearts.

Where are Lord Strong and his birds when you need him? Alicent remembered how the spymaster had disappeared two days into their march. Lord Strong left a letter stating that he was returning to King's Landing to command Aegon's spies and undermine traitor rule, but Alicent believed more and more with each passing day that Lord Strong had fled. Mayhaps the lord was already on a wine-laden ship bound for the Free Cities. He would be brought to justice, Alicent assured herself. Any ship bound to the Free Cities would be waylaid by the Triarchy's fleet, and they were still Aegon's men.

It was during a misty morning when Alicent at last emerged from the Pearl Mountains to find a wide yellow plain below her. The white raven had not yet come, but the land was already beginning to turn. Several leagues away were a road which led to Tumbleton, but Dreamfyre above led them through the tall yellow grasses along a different path to the town. "We could have taken the road," Ser Jasper complained,"and naught will happen. We have not seen even a glimpse of Rhaenyra's dragons."

"It is better to not see a glimpse and be safe," Ser Tyland said,"than see a glimpse whilst exposed. Ser Gaston was wise to lead us through the mountains and the fields."

Three leagues out from Tumbleton, Alicent began to glimpse another dragon she knew in the skies. Daeron, Alicent's heart leapt as she saw the sun glint off Tessarion's blue scales. But she only truly breathed when she saw Tumbleton's gates at last arising from the horizon. They were large enough to swallow her whole, and she was glad for it. The castle would shield her. She realized how much of a fool she was as a girl, pretending the castle was tiny at her feet. Why stand at the top of the world, Alicent wondered, when you can be burned by dragons?

Most of Tumbleton was a market, a thin wooden palisade erected around countless hovels, merchants' stalls, and market squares. Yet now, it had none of the sounds of bustling trade, with ravens flying above the camps. The war has reached them, Alicent knew, and the merchants were wise enough to take their trade elsewhere. Tumbleton's gates were wide open, with only two guards standing sentry. They barely turned as the royal procession walked through.

The royal procession walked through a deserted market town. Here and there were signs of life as lone merchants yelled about fresh fish and sweet apples. Some of the soldiers detached from the column to buy refreshments, but most followed the procession through the lonely town. All they passed, whether inns or septs or two-storied shops, were barred up with wooden boards. A tall statue of the Warrior with his seven-starred sword loomed above an empty market square, his helm stained with the droppings of birds.

A small keep with eight towers stood at the centre of the town, a shallow moat around it lined with spikes. The keep was the only place where there was activity. Banners of the Footly caltrops dotted the battlements as hundreds of spears and crossbows glinted in the sunlight. When the advance party of the royal procession approached, the drawbridge lowered across the moat and a small procession came out to greet them.

Lord Benjamen Footly was a tall man with thick shoulders, wearing a black surcoat dotted with white caltrops. His wife Lady Sharis emerged with him, a beautiful woman with golden hair and a bright smile. Behind them was Tumbleton's maester, a line of knights, retainers, stewards, serving women, and common folk who hid within the castle.

But Alicent's eyes were drawn to the skies, where Tessarion began to descend in wide circles. As the dragon did its last circle, Alicent began to see the silver hair of its rider, and she smiled. Tessarion landed beside Footly's procession without raising even a grain of dust, the blue dragon giving a satisfied growl as the copper scales along its crest stretched and glinted in the sun.

Daeron unchained himself from his saddle and climbed down from his dragon. He spoke to Tessarion in Valyrian as he stroked it gently with his palm. Daeron then turned and greeted Lord Footly, and followed the lord as he strode forward.

The knights before Alicent parted to allow Lord Benjamen to approach Alicent's horse. She dismounted, and offered her hand to the lord. The lord knelt and kissed it. "Your Grace," Lord Benjamen said,"Tumbleton is yours."

"Arise, my lord," Alicent said.

"Our prayers have been always with Your Grace when we heard that Your Grace was walking across the Pearl Mountains," Lady Sharis then stepped in front of Alicent and curtsied,"The gods are good, and our prayers were answered."

"Good men will always find their prayers answered," Alicent returned the lady's smile. Lady Sharis retreated, and Alicent then turned to Daeron. Alicent saw how much her son had grown since the last time she saw him three years ago. He was taller than her now, and stubble had begun to appear on his cheek. But his face was still the face of the boy she remembered, with his sharp cheekbones, thin nose, and his eyes which were a deep blue instead of purple. His smile was thin and wan, and he lowered his head shyly. "Mother," he greeted,"It is good to see you again."

He looked more like Aemond than Aegon, Alicent noticed, but she brushed that aside. Alicent stepped forward and wrapped Daeron in an embrace, and kissed him on his cheek. She pulled away and looked up at him,"You have grown."

"You should thank Uncle Ormund," Daeron said,"He has been feeding me well."

"I would hope so," Alicent said,"else I would have his skin." She looked beyond Daeron,"Where is your uncle? I have not seen his army either."

Daeron's smile faded,"We marched only as far as Bitterbridge when we received Grandfather's raven telling us that Rhaenyra sought to attack King's Landing. Uncle Ormund ordered a forced march at once, but the Reach is vast, and he feared that we would not reach you in time. I had always slowed my dragon to follow the host's march. When we received your raven, Uncle Ormund commanded me to ride full speed forward to assist you in any way I could whilst he followed. When I reached Tumbleton, Lord Footly told me that you were coming."

"Your uncle was wise," Alicent said.

"Where are Aegon and Aemond?" Daeron asked,"I wanted to see my brothers again, and the missive said that they were coming."

"Your Graces," Lord Benjamen said,"Here is not a fit place for conversation. I promise that my warm comforting halls will be better suited."

Alicent understood what Lord Benjamen meant, and smiled at him,"Certainly, my lord." Lord Benjamen beckoned for his servants to bring forth bread and salt, and Alicent took it. Daeron had already eaten of it when he arrived at Tumbleton, so he broke off pieces for Ser Tyland, Ser Jasper, Orwyle, and Septon Eustace. All of the Small Council thanked the prince.

Lord Benjamen's hall was indeed warm, and the lord feasted them on stewed venison dipped in butter, rolls of bread decked in lettuce and tomatoes, and pickled herring from the Mander. There was raucous laughter outside, as Lord Benjamen feasted even the soldiers. "You should especially try our apples," Lady Sharis said to Alicent,"The kind the peasants sell in the markets are plagued by rot and worms, but we raise ours in our clean orchards."

The apple was indeed delicious, and Ser Jasper even ate three. Even Ser Tyland broke his composure to rip into the venison. The only one who did not gorge himself besides Alicent was Daeron, who sat to the left of Lord Benjamen whilst Alicent sat to his right.

"Do you know when Her Grace Helaena would come down and join us?" Lord Benjamen asked.

"We discussed it in the air," Daeron said,"and she said that she could not risk Rhaenyra's dragons coming upon us whilst we are unaware. I would have taken her place as the scout, if not for the fact that first I wished to speak with Mother."

"Very well," Lord Benjamen said,"I pray that Her Grace does not exhaust herself."

Lady Sharis nudged Alicent's elbow, and whispered in her ear,"Your courteous son does not want to say it and disrupt my husband's feast, but he wishes very terribly to speak with you right now."

Alicent nodded, and turned to Lord Benjamen,"My lord."

"Your Grace," Lord Benjamen turned.

"It has been so long since I saw my son," Alicent said,"Might we speak privily?"

"Certainly," Lord Benjamen waved his hand to summon a servant,"Lead Queen Alicent and Prince Daeron to the chambers I have prepared as royal apartments. Make certain that they shall have anything they need that is within my power."

"What is it you want with me, Daeron?" Alicent asked in one of the lavish chambers Lord Benjamen prepared for them.

"I heard Uncle Ormund tell me that Aegon stripped the Velaryons of Driftmark to grant it to me," Daeron said,"I want Aegon to know that I do not want it."

"Why?" Alicent demanded,"It was a reward for your stunning victory over the traitors at the Honeywine."

"A tainted reward," Daeron said,"Uncle Ormund had me educated by the most learned men in Oldtown, the archmaesters of the Citadel. And Archmaester Berris, who teaches history, taught me that the goal of war has always been to make a peace. 'The kings who lose sight of that goal,' the Archmaester said,'soon cease to be kings'. The Velaryons are the chief pillars of Rhaenyra's strength, and if we are to make a peace, it will be through them. How are we to do that if we strip away their lands and lordship?"

"It is one thing to learn, Daeron," Alicent said,"and another to rule. You and your maesters can sit around a table debating for years on some forgotten war and think you come to some insight. But when you truly rule, you find that everything is different. The Velaryons arose in treason, and if they are not punished, others would find it in them to usurp the dragon. And what of your peace then, Daeron?"

Daeron hesitated for a moment, then spoke again,"Do you know how I won that victory at the Honeywine, Mother?"

"Your dragon," Alicent said,"That is all the realm need know."

"I might have with Tessarion alone," Daeron said,"but the battle would have been far bloodier, and Uncle Ormund's host so wounded that we would not yet have made it past Highgarden yet. But on the eve of the battle, I heard of a large host gathering at Dunstonbury. My uncle sent me to scout, and he may have told you that I descended amongst them and won them to the king's banner by my inspiring words, but truthfully I watched only from afar as they marched to join my uncle, and I joined only when the was already won. That day I learned that dragons are not enough to win a war, and that I must…"

"Bow to the whims of lowly men?" Alicent sniggered.

"Win the hearts of loyal men," Daeron said,"and their swords will come in turn. They would not die for a cause if they see that their heads could easily be separated. But spare the Velaryons, and the lords will see Aegon a merciful king, with a rule that they feel safe in. I know the hearts of these lords who joined us at the Honeywine. Lord Thaddeus Rowan is loyal and honourable to a fault. Ser Tom Flowers wants to prove himself to his father and be legitimized one day. Lord Unwin Peake has ambitions to one day be Hand of the King. None of them will feel well beneath a tyrant."

"Are you naming your brother a tyrant?" Alicent asked, her voice cold.

"I am trying to get him to not be a tyrant," Daeron pleaded,"Why cannot you see, Mother?"

"I see very clearly, Daeron," Alicent said,"You are too young to know the ways of the realm. There is still much for you to learn."

Daeron opened his mouth, then closed it. "I beg my leave, Mother," he said instead.

Alicent nodded, and Daeron departed the chamber. But he remembered his courtesies, and he set the door gently behind him.

When he sees Driftmark, Alicent thought, he will be grateful. She strode to her bed and lay on the sheets without undressing, the tiredness of the journey catching up to her. She was about to doze off when she heard a dragon screech.

Alicent stood up in an instant and slammed the door open, lifting her skirts to run outside onto the balcony. The night was descending around them, and she expected to see the sky lit afire as Rhaenyra's dragons descended. But the sky was cloudless and silent, and there was only one dragon to be seen. Alicent's eyes fluttered down to the yard, and she saw that Dreamfyre was descending. Alicent turned from the balcony and had guards escort her down into the yard.

Dreamfyre was feasting on a live bull when Alicent descended. She was already unsaddled, and Helaena was nowhere to be seen. That is until Alicent spotted Daeron, Orwyle, and Tumbleton's maester kneeling before a stretcher, Ser Tyland and Ser Jasper standing behind them. Lord Benjamen and a host of Footly men stood guard around the courtyard. Alicent strode to Daeron and knelt beside him, and looked down on the stretcher to see Helaena's sleeping face. Heavy bags bulged under her eyes whilst her lips lay cracked. Helaena's silver hair lay tousled about her face, and Daeron had removed her crown.

"She fell unconscious whilst on her dragon," Orwyle turned to Alicent,"We have finished examining her, Your Grace, and there is no injury besides exhaustion and dehydration. Still that is very severe. She should be put to bed at once, and it may take half a fortnight of great care before she recovers."

"I shall see to that at once," Lord Benjamen stepped forward and waved to his men.

As Lord Benjamen's men lifted Helaena up, Daeron leaned forward and pressed a kiss on Helaena's cheek. "Sister," he said,"I shall take it from here."